Mums The Word

Yes, I know it is almost past mum season but I just had to share this. We attended a banquet given by my husbands company a few weeks ago and at the end of the night, they gave away the centerpieces at each table. My husband got lucky and won ours so I just wanted to share a picture of it. Too bad they don't last very long. It is already starting to fade. I think I will plant it in the yard and see what happens next year. Wish me luck.

Not Ready For Daylight Savings

The title says it all. I still had several projects to finish and now with dark upon us when we get home from work, it has thrown me off. I haven't posted in a few days due to being tired and a little under the weather. I guess it could be because it is my first week of the new diet. It has been windy this week and tonight it is supposed to get down to 24 degrees. I can hear the wind blowing right now. This is unseasonable for Arkansas to get this cold so early. Well, I am working on a croquet project right now and hope to get that posted before the weekend is over so check back. But, for now I would like to share with you a terrific recipe that is painfully easy. Everyone always loves it and I guarantee they will be licking the bowl clean.

Hot Chicken Dip

1 pkg. cream cheese

1 small can chicken

1 can cream of mushroom soup

Tabasco to taste

1 tbsp. lemon juice

Put all of this in a saucepan, stir and heat, or microwave This is good to take to the office in a small crock pot. I recommend you make a double batch!

Please Don't Rush Christmas

This time of year everyone starts talking about Christmas. Everywhere you go from around October 1st, you see X-mas decorations, etc. Well, what about Thanksgiving? I actually like Thanksgiving better because it sort of signifies Autumn. It's just the feeling I get when the days get shorter, the leaves start changing and you can break out the fall colors. All these things seem to put me in a state of mind where I can feel warm and snugly inside. Besides, turkey & dressing is my favorite food. I always fix it again around April or May, who said it's just a Thanksgiving meal. I can't wait till Turkey Day!

FEEDING THE HUNGRY

The Arkansas Rice Depot is a non-profit organization working to alleviate hunger in Arkansas. Your donation will make a difference to a child or person who is hungry right now. Whether you are an Arkansan or not, you can still visit www.ricedepot.org. They have an online catalog where you can buy mixes & gift baskets. Just click on "Simple Pleasures" at the bottom of the home page. Or you can contact your local chamber of commerce to find similar programs in your state.

World Kindness Day

Did you know today (11/13) is World Kindness Day? I had never heard of this special day, but I guess everyday should be celebrated in some way. I found a cool wesite for you to check out if you are wondering what you can do. If you are reading this after 11/13, just pretend every day is WKD. It can only make our world a better place.

Natures Oddities

Nature gives us so many wonderful things in some of the most unusual places. Sometimes almost hidden if you don't look very close, step back and use your imagination. Sometimes we see faces:Sometimes we see one-in-a-million oddities:And sometimes we have to go looking:

Hiking In Arkansas

This past weekend in central Ark. was gorgeous for getting outside. We only had to travel about 1 hour to Petit Jean State Park. They have so many things to do there and many different trails to hike. We had been on the Cedar Falls Trail before and knew it was a little difficult due to the uphill climb getting back, so we opted for an easier hike on the Bear Cave & Rock House Cave trails. We were absolutely thrilled with our decision. Bear Cave trail was great and we both recommend it to anyone, in fact I encourage anyone to go on this trail even if you don't do anything else in the park. This time of the year is perfect, before it gets too cold and the ground gets soggy. It would be bad if the conditions were wet because it would be too slippery since you will want to climb on the rocks. Bear Cave trail is FULL of huge rocks, overhangs and passages. It starts out immediately from the entrance off the parking area into the rocks, no long hike just to get there.







Rock House Cave was also great. It didn't take quite as long because there were not as many passageways to weave through. The trail starts out through a short woodsy trail into a rock clearing where you walk through the Turtle Rocks.





Then on into the woods again a short distance where you will come to a HUGE opening in the rock ledge, Rock House Cave.




We had a Blast! Feeling like kids again, exploring with our granddaughter. Climbing the rocks, taking pictures and imagining where the bears and other animals probably lived. We ended our day with a short visit to Petit Jean Overlook. There is a very nice wooden walkway around the end of the bluff where you can walk and look out over the valley below, where you can see the Arkansas River meandering through.


OUR RATING: 2 BIG THUMBS UP!

AQUARIUS, AM I

Always loyal in everything.
Questions everything with an open mind.
Unwavering honesty & integrity.
An excellent listener. Likes
Relationships built on trust. Can’t
Imagine life without an intelligent spouse.
Utterly dislikes being reminded of the past.
Slow to take offense & takes criticism well.

by Liz P.

Good Bye Mosquito, So-Long Spider, Adios Flea

Now that Fall has arrived, winter is right around the corner and just in time when most folks are tired of fighting the “bugs”, especially if you are from the south. If you ARE from the south, you know what I am talking about so I don’t really have to elaborate any further so, let’s just say you aren’t from the south. If you live in a climate that is not rich in the insect world, let me say. “YOU ARE ONE LUCKY PERSON”. Maybe you have heard people joke about the bugs being so big in the south that they will carry you away or the one that cracked your windshield of your car or broke your tooth while riding your motorcycle. Yes, it gets pretty bad down here. I DO NOT go outside during the summer months at night unless it is an actual emergency. Not only are the mosquito’s bad but, the spiders! YIKES, they are everywhere, spinning their webs along the eaves of the house or across the railings of the porch. Once, I stumbled at the top of the deck steps and a web broke my fall. Well, only because I saw it and practically killed myself to keep from going down, there. And don’t even think about getting by with the el-cheapo brand of flea treatment for your pet. It doesn’t work here. You have to get the good stuff or your house and pet will be infested in no time. I cringe at the knowledge that some countries actually supplement their diets with bugs. (YUMM PROTEIN) Now those places really know about some creepy crawlies. We don’t hold a candle to them, so I guess we should consider ourselves lucky. Our roaches are only ½”-2” long. Some countries have them up to 6” long with a wingspan of over 1 foot wide. I’m sure you can hear those suckers scurrying along. Talk about being carried away. Thanks, but I think I will stay in the south.
Helpful Hints: To rid your house of roaches; mix sugar & baking soda, 50/50 then sprinkle inside cabinets. Get rid of spiders; use Borax or baking soda, sprinkle in problem areas.