A little bit of Fall nesting going on.

 The other day I was out looking at the grapes.  I came across this.  Aren't they so lovely?  Did you know that people have phobia's of dragonflies?  What do you think of this one Matt K.?

Mr. Ted here loves the pumpkins.  He'll bite the stems and roll them around.  I had a few of them on my fireplace hearth and he would decide to play with them in the middle of the night.

 I love to see this when I go walking.  I always have my camera in case I come across the momma deer and her two babies.

 I got this shot of Mt. Baker while I was waiting at the bus stop for the younger kids. The corn was almost ready to be cut down.

 The day after the corn was cut down I kept hearing all kinds of chirping and screeching sounds.  I was on our couch watching out the window and saw a bald eagle and a hawk fighting on the ground.  I ran outside to catch a pic, but scared them off.

 You can see the eagle in the middle of the picture.

 The two eagles are sitting on the branch sticking out the farthest.  The hawk is circling above them.  After observing them for a few hours I think the hawks must have a nest close by in another stand of trees.

 I got these shots while I was coming back from trying to get pictures of the eagles and hawks.  I'm sad the corn is gone.  It was so beautiful and I loved listening to them rustling in the wind.  Speaking of wind, the pine trees around the house sway like crazy when it's windy.  Sometimes it's a little freaky.  None of them are close enough to fall on the house.  I made sure of that.

 Waiting for the little kids to get off the bus.  Izzie knows when the are coming and gets so excited.

 Love the pumpkins they have along the roads here.

 The house is somewhat clean so I thought I would show some of my fall decorating. 

 Not a fan of the drapes in the house.  Oh well, just have to work with them.

 These are the hazelnuts that I gathered, dried and peeled. 

The poplars down the road.  I am waiting for them to turn colors.  Can't wait!

Life is great.

Father, We Thank Thee.

For flowers that bloom about our feet,
Father, we that Thee,
For tender grass so fresh and sweet,
Father, we thank Thee,
For the Song of bird and hum of bee,
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in Heaven, we thank Thee.

For blue of stream and blue of sky,
Father, we thank Thee,
For pleasant shade of branches high,
Father, we thank Thee,
For fragrant air and cooling breeze,
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in Heaven, we thank Thee.

For this new morning with its light,
Father, we thank Thee,
For rest and shelter of the night,
Father, we thank Thee,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends,
Father in Heaven, we thank Thee.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson


At the Dunow house we have been going through the yucky bugs. We all start to feel better then something else comes up. I was getting pretty burned out on it all. Saturday I drove the kids up to this place that Troy was doing some Scouting stuff. While I was there I watched the kids all play and be one with nature. I sat and watched Logan help cook for the leaders and was amazed how grown up he is. I am so proud of the person he is. Being in a place that our Heavenly Father has created for us, I was overwhelmed how blessed Troy and I are. I am the luckiest gal to have Troy.

All I needed was to sit back, take a deep breath and look around me. The beauty and fresh air around me is what I needed to put things into perspective. Life is great.

My life today.

I really am getting antsy for Autumn to come to New Mexico. Every year right at the end of August I get this irresistible urge to get out all my fall decorations for the house. I make myself wait until the first of September though. Ugh, this is killing me. Maybe I will just put a few out to hold me over until the first of September. These are a few things that are going on in my life right now.


making- some homemade birthday presents.

cooking- some apple muffins.

drinking- lady grey tea, with a splash of milk-no sugar.

reading- Pride and Prejudice.

wanting- my kids to keep their bathroom clean.

looking- very tired, black circles under eyes.

playing- Celtic Women, A New Journey.

wasting- time I should be organizing the house.

liking- the rain that we have had.

wondering- if I should paint my hallway and kitchen.

loving- watching my husband kiss the kids goodbye in the morning.

hoping- that I can get some projects done this week.

marveling- at my three year old's imagination.

needing- a full time cook.

smelling- Paula Deen scented candles.

wearing- what else- jeans and t-shirt.

following- Ree Drummond with the Pioneer Woman.

noticing- that I need to give myself a manicure.

knowing- how many blessing I have.

thinking- I need to take the dogs on a walk.

bookmarking- Vintage pictures of Fall.

wishing- for new couches, White slip covered ones.

opening- way to much junk mail.

feeling- tired, didn't sleep well last night.