A Little More Fall

This is probably my favorite place to decorate for holidays. If I could only decorate one place in the house, this would be it.

I just stick holiday stuff inside around the everyday stuff

The top one says 'the witch is in'

October stamp 

Love these little jars - looks like I need to move that middle one over a bit. Funny the things you notice in pictures that you don't notice IRL.

All of the stitched pieces are previous finishes. I didn't get anything new stitched for this year. 

That's my sweetie - 55 years ago!

My great-grandmother made the afghan - I'm guessing in the seventies? I've had it for a few years but it's just been in a closet. Thought fall would be a good time to pull it out to use.

My poor pick-up truck looks like he needs some air in his tires!

That's all folks!

On the porch and in the kitchen

Not much changed on the porch this year

bought one real pumpkin for the flower bed

On the side porch

Same old stuff in the kitchen

I did buy the plate in the window - it was just too cute to pass up! 

Too cute for pie stays out all year. 

Little touch of fall in my metal tray.

Pics from the living room to come later!

This 'n That

I've got critters in my flower bed. Dang it. 

The quilting bee I sew with did a round robin - this is mine. I made the center square (from a Thimble Blossoms pattern) then it was traded off and I didn't see it again until I got it back last week. I'm debating if I need to add another border or if the binding will be enough. I have no idea where I will hang it - there isn't a wall space in my sewing room that is big enough. Right now I've got it taped to the top of a bookshelf so I can think about it.

I have been doing some stitching. I got this far on this one (Harvest Chalk Full by Hands on Design) before I had to set it aside and start on some Christmas gifts. I won't have anything else to show until I finish those and can stitch for me again.

I've put my fall stuff out but I have a little clutter I need to take care of before I take those pics. I don't usually do fall in the bathrooms but I finally got shelves up over the bath tub in the master bathroom and I still don't know exactly what I want to put on them but I stuck a couple of pumpkins and a small flower/pumpkin arrangement up there for now.

We had a couple of nice fall-like mornings but it's hot again this morning. Supposed to get up to 90 today then cool off again tomorrow. It was a more pleasant walk the last two mornings when it was in the 50s instead of 70s. It's already 75 this morning so I'm heading out before it gets any warmer.

Hope you have a great day!

Brian's Big Year

Today is Brian's birthday

Where do the years go?

It's a shame he doesn't look anything like his dad. 

                                                       
                                                            It's been a big year for him.

                                                                   He got engaged, 
                                                                   bought a house,
                                                                    turns 40 today
                                                              and in just over a month,
                                                                 he is getting married!

                                                       Happiest of birthdays to my first baby!

Happy Birthday!

Just have to say happy birthday to my sweetie!

Viva Las Vegas - the finale!

A few more pictures from the Bellagio

We wandered around there several times

It's a beautiful hotel - we want to stay there next time!

And the reason we went to Vegas in the hottest part of the year - we went to see Donny (and Marie) Osmond! It was a great show. They didn't allow photos during the show so we stopped and asked someone to take a pic of us with Donny's suit and mirror ball trophy from Dancing with the Stars.

My very first concert was The Osmond's in Little Rock, Arkansas - I'm guessing 1974. They showed some film clips from that time frame (think white, bedazzled jumpsuits) and Donny can still make all those moves!

Last ride down this elevator

The secret to a short TSA line - arrive at the airport at 2:30am. We weren't the first people there though - look closely, over by the window/pole - there is someone asleep on the floor over there!

We had a 5:00am flight and decided it would be easier to pack up and head for the airport than it would be to go to bed for 2 hours and try to sleep.

Snapped this out of the window as we approached LAX. I have no idea why we went to LA before coming back to Texas but now I can say I've been to California. I didn't step outside the secure area of the airport but I did have breakfast there!

That's it. It was a short trip but we had a great time. We definitely want to go again - just not in August!

Viva Las Vegas part two

After we caught our breath and had a snack we headed across the street to the Bellagio. The inside of this place is awesome. The displays are changed seasonally - I bet it is absolutely beautiful at Christmas!

We wandered around, in and out of shops and did a lot of window shopping. (can you say Tiffanys?)

This is chocolate! 

It was at a little patisserie inside the Bellagio. 

Looking back across the pond? Lake? Whatever you call the water feature in front of the Bellagio, towards the Flamingo, which is where we stayed. We were waiting for the fountain show.

I could not find a place to get good pictures.

We didn't get there early enough to get a 'front row seat' and we were too tired to wait for the next show.

The next day, we walked around some of the other hotels/casinos - this was inside Caesars Palace

This was also inside Caesars - it was a little shop that wasn't open yet, so I stuck my camera through the gate to get the photo - wouldn't you love to get your hands on some of those machines! 

We took the opportunity to get out of the heat for a bit and went to see a show. We bought tickets in the back but when we went in, they put us right in front of the stage! (our knees were basically touching the stage) 

If you get the chance to see this show, do it! It was hysterical! Laughed through the whole thing!

More walking around, (did 16,898 steps that day!) window shopping and had dinner before heading back to the hotel for the night.