NOVEMBER FAVE FIVE 2

Ok....this week flew by....did any one else feel this way??

It's Friday and time to find those 5 special things that God blessed or surprised us with and that make our fave list!  My list includes Snow, Sales, and Special Times/Special People

To play along, head over to our Canadian friend, Susanne @ Living to Tell the Story where she hosts this each week......and check out her book list!  She has an amazing reading list...I always get good ideas from Susanne.

Hope and Donny
2009

• FOOD, FUN, FELLOWSHIP!  My sister Hope and her hubby Donny visited us last Saturday afternoon for lunch, conversation, and a rousing game of Settlers of Catan!  Hope is 5 years younger than I am but we have always been close.  Her husband and mine get along great and my daughters love them....they think it's neat that they raise hens for eggs.....and Hope surprised me with a dozen of their organic, fresh eggs.  They live in the central part of NYS so we don't get together all that much....maybe about 2-3 times per year...but we always have fun when we do!

Our front yard and street
Monday 8 November 2010

the deck on 8 November 2010

• FIRST SNOW!  No...winter is NOT my fave season nor was the weather in eastern NYS my fave thing on Monday.  However...the first snow IS a favorite of mine.....it'd be best if it was late December, but hey....We were surprised by the Lord with a wintry mix across the Capital Region of NYS.  Our school district was not let out early (altho some were) and all after-school activities went on as usual which meant yes...after leaving the classroom, I had to drive in the icky, slushy mess THREE different times....(Claire still had jazz that evening and by then it had turned to sleet/rain & Courtney still had a club meeting).  BUT....given the mess of the day and evening, it actually looked kinda pretty.....and forced me to realize my days of sitting on the deck are done until April..........and now this weekend we get to put the deck umbrella away.....of course the snow only lasted about 24 hours but still....was very pretty for the first hour or two....:)

• SWEATER SALE!  While my youngest was at her ballet classes on Tuesday evening, I hopped over to a fave discount store in our town to do some xmas shopping for my oldest girl.  While there, I saw the sweaters with this label! (they have some of my fave sweaters....) WOW....I was able to get 2 sweaters, originally over $60.00  for less than $20 each!  How awesome is that!!  And I found an AE shirt that my teen wanted for Xmas...for only $10!!  Hooray.....

Hazelnut Coffee

• COFFEE AND CONVERSATION WITH A CLOSE FRIEND!  My friend Lynn and I met for coffee early on Thursday morning since I had the day off and our daughters had no school.  We met at Brueggers and had great coffee (I hadn't been there in a long time and had forgotten they sell my fave brand!)  I enjoyed a steaming cup of Hazelnut and we talked for over an hour.....we try to stay connected a couple of times per month other than our small group time.  We caught each other up with what is going on with us spiritually and in the families....we ended up chatting for over an hour and it was well worth getting up early!  There is nothing like a good conversation, with a good cup of coffee and knowing you are united in Christ in your friendship.  Always a fave with me......

Dave and Faith
on the metro
Paris 4/10

Super Easy Apple Pie

• SURPRISE, SWEETS, SPECIAL TIME!  Wednesday, at about 11:30 pm, as I was just drifting off to sleep, my husband surprised me by arriving home from his out of state business trip.  I thought he was coming back on Thursday morning but, rather, he came in late Wednesday.  That was such a pleasant surprise....we talked awhile and then last night for dessert, I made the above apple pie. You can find it by clicking here.  And what a special time I had while he and my youngest were out at junior high youth group!  My oldest was typing a paper in the basement office and I had the entire upstairs to my self. I lit an Autumn Leaves candle, put on Maple Cinnamon coffee and had a piece of the pie.....all while reading a suspence book (posted on the sidebar)....a special quiet evening after a full day off from school that was jammed packed with xmas shopping, housework, cooking, baking, and planning for Thanksgiving.  Those special quiet times with a good book are ones that I savor......

Now...what about you?  I want each and every person reading this post to leave me a comment stating one favorite thing from your week.  It can be anything:  a Scripture, a food, a coffee, a person, a moment, a book.....come on and join in.....and if you have a blog, head over to Susanne's site....and check it out!


and...enjoy the weekend everyone.....I have a busy one coming up with Thanksgiving prep and starting to pack for the feast at the beach house.......so...I won't be on here much.....It's my hubby's turn (and mine) to cook for his clan...so...this means lots of shopping, planning, and prepping....on top of helping the senior get her art portfolio organized and onto a CD for mailing into the college art department, proof-reading her Art essay, proof reading another essay for another college application, and spending some time with my youngest.....but...busy weekends are ok!  God bless you!