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Friday Favorites

As I mentioned last week, LB and I took a quick trip north to enjoy the season.  We went to Amicalola State Park and Lodge in Dawsonville, GA and then to Highlands, NC for shopping.  In Highlands we decided that we would NEVER AGAIN visit on a Saturday.

PSA: DO NOT go to Highlands main street on a Saturday!

Everyone and their dogs were there.  The small shops were so crowded it was difficult to move around.  Nevertheless, I managed to come away with a few treasures

Favorite # ONE

Shopping Boutiques

It’s what I do.

~

When we returned home on Sunday, it was time to get it together for a party.  My youngest turned 36 on November 9th and he is well worth celebrating

Favorite # TWO

Richard

He’s all grown up, but he’s still a good boy!

Yes, I made the cake.

~

Favorite # THREE

A MAN CALLED OVE

I started this book on November 3rd and finished it Tuesday, November 10th.  It was good and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I gave it five stars.

Recently LB and I watched the 2022 movie based on the book

Favorite # FOUR

A MAN CALLED OTTO

Both the book and the movie will make you cry.

As a side note [but not a favorite] LB and I also watched

It is on Amazon Prime and it is weirdly entertaining.

~

It has been a few years since LB and I visited Alexander’s in Blairsville, GA.  We weren’t able to visit on our recent trip due to major flooding in the area.  I hope all is well.

But last time we were there he bought me this adorable sweatshirt.

Favorite # FIVE

It’s nice and cool today, so I’m wearing it for our Friday adventure.  I’ll tell you all about it next week!

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

This week is an easy list of Friday Favorites because the fall activities have begun.

Let’s start with Saturday which was Halloween.

Our 2026 Halloween costumes featured LB as the BIG BAD WOLF.

Favorite # ONE

The Big Bad Wolf

His costume was elaborate.

My costume included a red hooded cape.

LB was definitely the star of the show!

 

and as we do every year, LB and I attended

Favorite # TWO

The Ballasso Halloween Party

Laurie decorates inside and sets up an amazing spread in the kitchen/dining room.

Wayne decorates the exterior of the house and front yard… and pretty much the whole street.  They always do a fabulous job!

~

Sunday started a brand new month… Welcome November!

On Sunday November 1st we celebrated my

Favorite # THREE

Stephanie

Stephanie is my firstborn.  I won’t say her age, but I’m 60 and she was born when I was 19 lol.  We had the whole famdamily over for dinner then cake & ice cream.  The cake was my creation, but sadly I was so involved in creating, that I forgot to document (no TikTok).

~

Every twelve weeks I head to Demetra’s place for a trim and partial highlights

Favorite # FOUR

Hair Do

It always makes me feel better about my old graying head.

~

For several years LB & I have headed north [every October] to join the other leaf lookers driving through the mountains (see this post and this post).

Last year we skipped our fall vacation because little Elvis was so sick.  We couldn’t bring ourselves to leave him.  This year we decided to do a late and abbreviated version of the annual event which is my

Favorite # FIVE

Fall Vacation

Here we go!

Steph will be house sitting/Ozzy sitting so LB and I will be able to relax and enjoy.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

I am thankful and grateful for the beautiful weather we have had!  The rain has stopped and my mucky yard is drying out nicely.  The temperatures have been perfect.  I love sunny days and 70° highs!

Favorite # ONE

Looks like we’re good until next Saturday.

~

Last Friday, I had my annual eye appointment.  Good news… my prescription hasn’t changed.  After my appointment, LB and I walked around Target.

I picked up a couple of cute things…

Favorite # TWO

Ozzy wasn’t thrilled that he had to pose for pictures in this pumpkin hat, but he sure did look cute!

Speaking of Ozzy, on October 22nd he had a birthday.

His FIRST birthday…

Favorite # THREE

~

I haven’t done much shopping since my last LOFT fiasco delivery, but I saw these on deal at 43% off and thought I might need them.

I was right.

Fav0rite # FOUR

Suede Western Knee High Cowgirl Boots in beige

~

Every week, LB buys a 4 pack of muffins from ALDI and puts them in the freezer.  When he gets a hankering for a muffin, he pulls one out and toasts it, usually for a mid morning snack.  This past week he dropped the box of muffins on the floor.  No 5 second rule for LB, they all went into the trash.  And I’m pretty sure he muttered a bad word lol.  Feeling sorry for him, I decided to make some homemade muffins that he could enjoy

Favorite # FIVE

Pumpkin Muffins

I used this recipe from Andi Anne Recipes

LB is a happy boy once again!

 

 

We haven’t been out and about much lately, it has been a slow and relaxing couple of weeks.  But things are about to change… starting next weekend.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

This week’s favorites start with a no brainer since we began the week by celebrating my little sister’s birthday…

Favorite # ONE

Gina

pictured with that famous lemon cake I single-handedly tried to destroy.

We met for another family meeting on Sunday to celebrate Gina’s birthday.  We enjoyed appetizers, dessert, and craft time since that is what she wanted to do.

Happy birthday Gina!

~

On Monday, LB had a special delivery

Favorite # TWO

Dirt

We have several large trees on our property and their roots have emerged.  In an effort to keep the lawn mower blade intact, LB decided that I should cover those roots.  So this week I moved dirt.  One shovel-full at a time.  It was a pleasure.

~

Tuesday was voting day, so…

Favorite # THREE

WE VOTED

~

This morning, LB met his friend Wayne for coffee and catch-up time at one of their favorite coffee meeting places.  So I decided to treat myself to

Favorite # FOUR

Steak & Eggs

A perfect way to start the day!

~

We have gotten a lot of rain lately.  I haven’t had to pull the hose around the house in over a week.  Even Mama, who has been known to water her plants right before a storm, has skipped watering.  I haven’t seen her in the yard even once.  But I’m not complaining because the plants and flowers love it.  They are my

Favorite # FIVE

I don’t know why but my plants and flowers make me happy!

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

So much has happened in the last 2 months!  We’ve been so busy that I haven’t had a chance to put anything in this blog.  Since it was May 1st that I published my last post, I figured I better publish something before wordpress shuts me down.  Here are my latest Friday Favorites…

Because we celebrated her birthday this week, she will be my

Favorite # ONE

LYDIA

She is 11 years old and I can’t believe it.

The party theme this year was Star Wars…

Everyone came to celebrate the day and shower Lydia with birthday gifts!

 

Glammy was in charge of the cake…

I’ve been thinking about doing a blog post all about the cakes I’ve made.

Maybe next week.

~

Favorite # TWO

I love these adorable little flowers.  They are called Catharanthus roseus and look like a miniature periwinkle (both are of the genus vinca).  The periwinkle is a perennial, which I appreciate, but sadly these little guys are not.  They will last and grow beautifully until we have a freeze.

~

Favorite # THREE

OZZY

is 9 months old.  He has quickly grown to be a big kitty, although he still behaves very much like a kitten.  In this picture he is resting after a major case of the zoomies.  He is so worn out that he didn’t even object to me putting his mouse in his ear 🤪

~

This month the Book Club is reading my

Favorite # FOUR

Cold Sassy Tree

I’m on chapter 42 and so far it has been a fun story.

~

In honor of my paternal grandmother’s birthday, Mema Reid is my

Favorite # FIVE

Irma Nell Knox-Reid was born July 16, 1929.  I published a post all about her here.

Happy Birthday in Heaven Mema!

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog

Family Day 2026

I am fortunate to be a part of a very tightly knit group.  Until recently I defined this group as my extended family.  During the photography portion of my niece Sydney’s wedding, my sister (Gina) set me straight saying:

“THIS is immediate family”

Mama, My sister, Me, our spouses, children and grandchildren.

My Immediate Family

~

We get together to celebrate so often that LB will jokingly say, “well let’s go, I can’t remember when we last got together”.

Recently, one of our OG members made a decision that will change everything going forward.  My nephew Clay will be taking his family out of the country and into the mission field.  Here is his story: Clay Rigdon – 6:8 Ministries

My sister wanted to send them off with a family gathering that would leave them wanting for nothing.  Her plan was to “have a Seasons Party or Year in the Life kind of situation” highlighting “the major holidays and also celebrate Adrian’s upcoming birthday”

To begin, on Sunday morning everyone went to Jones Road Baptist Church to hear Clay deliver a sermon.  After a tearful dedication and laying on of hands we departed and gathered again at our home base, the house where my sister and I grew up.  We kicked off the event with a celebration of Adrian’s upcoming 8th birthday and a specially made with love kitty cat birthday cake.

She told Amanda it was the “best day of her life”.

~

Because we had recently celebrated Easter…

we moved forward with a celebration of the Fourth of July

which included a cookout in the backyard, rocket pop-sicles, and sparklers…

..

~

The next Family day event to celebrate was Halloween…

which included masking up to go “trick-or-treating”

~

What comes after Halloween?

You know!

We didn’t have any pumpkin pie, but we did enjoy some sausage puff appetizers and apple cider while sharing the things we are most thankful for

~

Christmas would be observed by a reading of the birth of Jesus from the book of Luke

followed by a brutal game of Dirty Santa.  The gift stealing was so intense that hardly any photos were taken.  It was worth every minute.

Gina had gifts for the kids that she designed and several photos were taken of them….

The tee shirts were designed with each name of Mary Reid’s great grandchildren shaped into a heart along with a bible verse…

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you”  (Philippians 1:3)

~

There were 2 more holidays that followed Christmas

and

In honor of the next new year, Dillon made a toast and said a prayer then Sydney handed out Valentine’s Day treats as parting party favors.

At this point we were all overwhelmed.

My heart is full.  My life is blessed.

~

 

Please pray for Clay, Chynna, Levi, Thea, Adrian, and Eden as they depart for Costa Rica this week.  Please pray for the rest of us as we remain in Florida without them.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Don’t be scared

Sweet 16

My baby is sixteen years old today!

Elvis has been with me since he was three months old.

It was December 12, 2009 and my plan was to give my oldest daughter Stephanie a kitten for Christmas.  LB and I went to the Humane Society and looked at all the adorable kitties that were living there.  Some of them were in crates; some of them were playing together in the Kitty Cabana.  As we walked into the Kitty Cabana I noticed one little black fur ball scurry behind a kitty play set. Of course I went after him.  Given the fact that he was so skittish, I was surprised that he let me pick him up.  Not only did he let me pick him up, he let me hold him close and snuggle.  I had found a winner.
We took him home.


My plan was to keep him for the next several days before Christmas and then take him to Stephanie on Christmas morning.

It was only a few days that he was with us and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to part with him.


The decision was made that I would keep Elvis and go back to the Humane Society for another rescue.

 

Exactly one week later, we went back and adopted Aymie.  She and Stephanie are inseparable.  Aymie is obviously a good sport.

~

If you have a kitty in your life, you know just how special he can be.

Elvis used to go everywhere with me.  Now he is a homebody.  He tolerates no visitors and hides under the bed as soon as he is aware that company has arrived.  To most people, he seems very unsociable.
However, when he detects that his mama has arrived home, he comes running.  He then leads me to the living room for some hello-let’s-have-a-brush time.

Elvis sleeps on my bed at my feet. He is anxious for me to get up in the morning and has been known to sit by my head and pat my nose. His favorite time is when I’m sitting in my living room chair letting him sleep on my lap. 

He is sleeping on the recliner next to me as I type this post.

He is just a precious little fur ball, and I’m so happy to have him in my life.

Happy Birthday Elvis!

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

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