Easy, simple Christmas idea.

I love magazines and there aren't many I don't already subscribe to. One of my best loved is Real Simple. In the November 2010 edition under the section called solutions, 6 new uses for a book, they showed an ingenious idea. I thought this would be great just about anywhere but especially in a library or in my daughter-in-laws English classroom. It certainly wouldn't damage the books. Many of us have old books gathering dust so this would be a super easy way to decorate and not spend a dime. If you don't have any old books I know they can be found at any thrift or Goodwill stores for very little. My childhood encyclopedia's would have worked perfectly for the base of the tree.

Well now it's time to sit back and savor my new Mary Jane's Farm magazine that just arrived. Oh that is another one of my best loved monthly addictions.

Floyd Central Theater does it again

Another wonderful evening spent with family at our local high school theater. Amy decided at the last minute to invited a friend of Patrick's to join us. What a fun treat that was. I so enjoy the company of my teenager grandson,add in a few of his friends and now you've got entertainment.
Derek and Patrick are class mates in Mr Bundy's drama class. They may be in other classes together as well, I'm not sure. But what fun they are together, Tweedledee Dee and Tweedledum Mr. Bundy called them when we laughed and spoke after the play. As Mr. Bundy put it " I never know what will come out of theirs mouths in class". They certainly keep him laughing.
Now back to the main subject, I tend to wonder off especially about my grand kiddos. The play we saw was the very funny The Drowsy Chaperone. It was wonderfully funny and so much fun. These kids, sometimes it is hard to remember that they are only high school children, hit the speech and tone of 1928. Most of these kids have probably never seen a movie from the 1930's. That time period had a certain type of speech and mannerism that was so very evident in this play.
If you are not familiar with the vast talent in our area high schools, check out the documentary entitled Guys 'N Divas battle of the high school musicals. Director Barry W. Blaustein ( a former writer for Saturday Night Live) produced and directed it. Showtime then aired it on August 27 2009. It highlighted the lives of each schools theater program. I must admit I am not very familiar with the program at New Albany H.S. and even less at the third school, Jeffersonville H.S. So I can't say if the documentary accurately portrayed each student or teacher fairly. I did enjoy watching it when it aired but fear that it may have been edited in such a way to make it more entertaining. Either way it was a wonderful opportunity for these dynamic theater programs to be seen by a wider audience.
Floyd Central and New Albany have both put on performances that could rival Broadway. Both schools have won many national awards allowing these schools to take their talents on the road. For many years our much loved Floyd Central H.S. has been able to perform in such places as Nebraska and Scotland.
What better way to spend 15.00 for an evening of entertainment than your local high school theater.
Support your local arts!

The creek behind our house has been such a fascination to all of us.Ever since Amy our daughter in law found an arrowhead we have been addicted with treasure hunting. The boys would be down there all the time if we let them,especially in the summer. We keep a box in the barn with their boots and buckets and tools all for exploring.I have to admit they have found some great fossils down there. But for some reason we have found lots of rocks that have a perfect circle cut out in them, or a concave area like a bowl shape. Then it seems we will find a perfectly round rock that can fit. I will gather these up and photograph them, because they are unusual.
I just had a thought. I have stamps for scrapbooking that when they are heated and then pressed against a surface it makes a reverse copy as a stamp. It then will stay that way until it is heated again to be removed or redone. I think this would be a great craft idea with the kiddos. That way we can share our great finds with eveyone in some pictures or gift wrap and tags.
Don't ya just love new craft ideas!

Treasure instead of trash

It easily pulls out. Now just remove the sticky tabs

Side view showing the cute picture

I was recently cleaning my desk in my office and was about to toss a Puffs tissue box in the trash. It was one I had bought from their Halloween collection. On one side it has a hologram picture I think it's called.You know where if you move the picture the characters move or change. I noticed I could easily tear the picture out to save. Not exactly sure what I plan to do with them, but I now have three set aside. Since I have three grandson's I think next year they could make a great addition to some handmade cards for Halloween. I think I do have some pack rat tendency, not to a bad, scary, family intervention level.....but sometimes trash can really become a wonderful free treasure!
I will let you all know.

Persimmons,Pumpkins & Pies

I so love the fall season. It really looked as if this fall wasn't going to be very pretty,blamed on the drought we have had. However as the season progressed suddenly the colors began to show.

 There was one particular morning while driving into the office that was most spectacular. The sun was so bright that morning, and was just beginning to peek over the tree tops. It was quite a sight to see as it  lit up a group of trees with their bright crimson red leaves. So bright they almost appeared on fire. It made a repetitive, mundane drive into work so much more enjoyable. I wish I could have snapped a photo, but I don't believe it would have done it justice.

Halloween was a wonderful day with the kiddos, each one in his costume and anxious to hit the street and scream TRICK OR TREAT! My oldest grandson who is now 15,and much too old to beg for candy, was encouraged to come up with a costume to hand out candy. And boy did he, four little letters written across his face.... BOOK. As my niece Lindsey said it best, the idea was BRILLIANT!!! ( even though he borrowed it from The Office). The funny part is not one of his friends figured it out. Oh how I love teenagers, they make me laugh daily.

So now with Halloween behind us it's on to Thanksgiving! So much to do. Dig out those serving platters and dishes. Shopping, cleaning and preparing for our family to all be together. It is a busy day for sure, and then it's up at the crack of dawn to kick off the Christmas shopping extravaganza. There's a menu to put together ,even though it seems we always serve the same basic dishes. I try to add something new each year.....but traditional dishes are sacred to most families, and never more than on Thanksgiving.

No more Persimmon trees

Nana's treasure hunters who have big imaginations

The only persimmon our one little tree produced

I am so sad that our once healthy persimmon trees have one by one died this year. It has been a huge mystery! Last year our little tree up near the house was so loaded with fruit that the branches nearly hit the ground. We know that the deer as well as the grand kids enjoyed running down to nab a few each day. We now seem to think that the trees have been infested with bugs. Could it be due to the drought? I wonder. How silly to be so sad over the loss of a few trees, but it is a fun treat we shared with the kiddos and now it's gone.