Early October Faves

This week flew by!

And because it's Friday, it's time to reflect back on the week and share the FIVE FAVES by linking up at Susanne's site.  

It is good to give thanks to the Lord and this is what this writing exercise is meant to be.  Those of us in the FFF community, share five blessings God brought our way.....even the simple things.

• HOMECOMING!  Last weekend was the high school's homecoming weekend which meant it was our baby's last homecoming!  Bittersweet time.  The photos are of her last Friday for Spirit Day and then the 2nd one is from Saturday evening before she left for the Homecoming Dance with her friends.  Claire is very different from her big sis. She is less high maintenance for one thing, choosing, instead of buying a brand new dress, to wear a skirt she wore for another event and for the top she chose a former ballet show costume leotard. She did her own nails in the school colors and just wanted her hair down.  EASY!

2016 Homecoming Spirit Day

Homecoming 2016!
Claire, age 17

• KAYAKS HOME!  On Saturday afternoon, Dave and I drove up to the state park lake where we have had our kayaks since May 1st and brought them home for the autumn/winter season.  We aren't sure if we are going to keep them up there next spring and summer or not.....there were pluses and minuses about doing so....but hopefully we will get at least one or 2 more kayaking trips in before Thanksgiving.  Our plan is to explore a little lake that just opened up to kayakers in our area.  There's a nice parking lot now and an official boat launch.  I'm excited to explore it!

Moreau Lake in early October 

• SEASONAL SALES!  This past week I happened to be running errands in two different stores and discovered that some seasonal items were already marked for a major discount!  As in half off and Halloween has not even happened yet!  I bought an adorable teal pumpkin (teal signifies that your home has non-food treats for children with food/allergy issues) and some little trinkets as well as some more pumpkins.  Some are real and some are fake.  It was fun to save money and add some more autumn decor around the house.

non food  Halloween treats for children with food issues

my backyard afternoon reading spot

on the front stoop to signify a non-food treat house
but yes....we will have candy to give out too!

under one of our cherry trees...a real white one :)

• NATURE WALKS:  How I am loving the mild temps, crisp, cool evenings and mornings, and glorious sun we have had this week.  I just love summer as you know but autumn is a very close 2nd....and now that I'm not working this year, it is even more of a fave. I had the privelege of walking along 2 different nature/bike paths this week and also a nature preserve hike with a friend.  Here are a few pics from my suburban town from 2 different parks.

Cows on my morning walk!

The path leading away from the cows at The Crossings Park

colored leaves are starting to arrive in NYS's Capital Region parks

my fave bike path to walk on during the daytime
already some leaves are falling here..this is a bit north of the other park in town
it runs east-west on the northern edge of town along the Mohawk River
and is a little less populated in the autumn than the town park pictured above

.

• PRAYER:  I love when my husband and I get a chance to actually pray together. We used to do this more often than we have lately. A reminder in a marriage sermon from our pastor spurred us on to do this more now, like in years past. There is nothing like being united in prayer for direction, wisdom, forgiveness, guidance.  Am so thankful we get to go directly to Jesus.

Those are some of the blessings from my week............

I hope you all have a lovely holiday weekend:  Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends and enjoy the Columbus Day weekend all of my USA friends.

Blessings,