New Season of Faves!

Happy first day of Autumn, everyone!  

My fave season has begun and it's time to reflect back on this week, find five fave things/people/events, etc. and give God the glory for bringing them to us. Huge thank you's go out to Susanne from over here for hosting this every week.  Link up with her and join in on the fun!  Don't forget to leave a comment!

PLEASE NOTE:  if you want to listen/watch the video, please scroll down on the right hand side and pause my playlist so you aren't listening to 2 different songs at the same time! :)

My Faves will appear AFTER the photos this week.

• This song by Natalie Grant.  I heard this 3 different times this week on the way to or from work.  One day I really needed the message!  What a blessing and a fave to be able to listen to good Christian music on the drive over to the classroom....Air One Radio....a fave!

autumn flag from front stoop
c. faithe MTPics 9/21/11

• AUTUMN FLAG!  I love changing the flags that hang off my front porch  stoop.  This was the first autumnal decoration I put out this week.  I also added a couple of things in the house that I'll show in another post.  I love to change the decor for the seasons.....and today I will finish up the job for Autumn/Harvest.  Because we don't "celebrate" halloween, we tend to stick to harvest and autumnal themes.  I love the classic look of fat round pumpkins, bright red apples, and crisp-colored leaves...and this flag features 2 of those things plus the cocky little chickadee...always a fave.....

• HIKING!  Sunday was a beautiful day, so after church, Dave and I decided to explore some trails just outside our town limits that we just learned about by reading a book about hikes in the capital region.This particular hike is in Schenectady County which is just about 10 min. from our home. (we live in the northern part of Albany County) We've lived in our town for 21 years and had no idea this place existed so close by!  We enjoyed a lovely hike but due to the end of August rainstorms, it was very buggy.  ICK! So we only hiked for about an hour. It had some easy spots like the pic above but it also had its challenges like the pic below (we had to rock-hop across the stream to continue on the main trail).  We did get mixed up and ended up on a different trail but all trails were clearly marked and led back to the parking area so it wasn't too bad.  I think we'll try it again in early winter when the mosquitoes are gone....bugs or not, hiking is always a fave with me.....

the trail led down this ravine to the edge of the Lisha Kill
and yes....we had to hike back up!!  
do you see the stream below the line of trees? it was so pretty!

image taken from notesinmusic.com

• SELECT CHORUS AND TREBLE MAKERS!!  The ballerina informed me last week that she wanted to audition for the junior highSelect Chorus (co-ed) and Treble Makers (all girls chorus). I reminded her that it is a big school.  There are over 400 kids per grade (7th/8th).  A little over 100 students were trying out for Select Chorus.  I told her to just do her best and to please keep in mind that she might not get in, and that I was proud of her for being brave enough to try.  You know...all the right mom-words to say!  So...she tried out.  They only accepted 50 students for Select Chorus. She is one of them!  She then tried out for Treble Makers...usually the bulk of this smaller group are VERY good singers who are 8th graders. This year they chose a few 7th graders.  Claire is one of only 3 7th grade alternates!  This means, if someone drops out she will be put in.  We are very proud of her and can't wait for the first concert!  Having musical daughters...always a fave with me.....!

part of our dining room

• SIMPLE PLEASURES  I happened to be walking past our dining room one afternoon this week when the sun was just going around the corner of the house..this time of year that is about 1 pm.....the sheer curtains were blowing in a gentle breeze and for once, the worn hardwood floor looked pretty.  I used picnik to tweak the photo to a vignette look in golden yellow.....it just reminded me of how sometimes it is the simple pleasures, like a curtain blowing gently in a late summer wind, that makes our faves......

Those 5 things got me through the week.....a week with alot of ups and downs, emotionally, due to work, but overall, a week that held some wonderful moments.


How about you?  What kind of a week did you have? Can you find at least one favorite thing and share it?


HAPPY WEEKEND AND HAPPY AUTUMN!