My October week and the pictures to prove it!

Time to recap the week.  Warning:  I took a lot of pictures this week that I can't help but share!

After I wrote my last post Sunday afternoon we went over to Anthony and Lori's for a cookout by the fire.  It was such a lovely fall evening.  Lisa wondered if we could please keep it like that for Thanksgiving when they are coming up.  If only!  Don't tell her - we had snow last year for Thanksgiving!

Austin had fun with some leftover sparklers from July 4th.

One day this week when I was about to leave their place I just had to get out of the car and take pictures.  This is the first we have seen the colors of autumn there, and it's just glorious!

On Wednesday we had a dinner and overnight guest.  Stephanie Graybill is in her grad program at Edinboro University and was here at Penn State for a two-day symposium.   She was from Grace Community Fellowship, our home church in Lancaster County, and we've known her parents ever since they were dating!  Steph used to be this adorable little thing at our home group meetings.

Now she's all grown up and a very dear friend.  You may remember that she spent two days here in June when her car broke down en route from home to Edinburg, and Dick fixed it for her.

This time, thankfully, her car was working just fine.  She was here for dinner Wednesday, then went along with us to our praise team practice at Houserville.  Then we came back home and talked until way too late (for me anyway!)  I don't exist on four hours of sleep a night like she does (and I used to!)

On Thursday I took a couple of hours off work at the church office to join her for the closing session of the symposium held at the beautiful Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on campus.  It was a very thought-provoking address by Sister Joan Chittister from the Benedictine Sisters near Erie, PA.  Then I headed back to work and she back to school.

As is usual in the fall, our weather is all over the place, from blissfully mild and sunny to blustery and very cool.  In fact, today we saw some sleet between the bursts of sunshine.  I dread the possibility of frost killing all my flowers.  To me that is such a sad event.

Yesterday morning as I glanced outside I thought I almost could have fooled myself into pretending it was a Spring morning, and we still had summer ahead.  We have mostly all evergreen trees on this street.

Then when I looked the other direction I couldn't pretend it was a Spring morning.  Those grasses are tall with tassels and the rosebush is full and blooming.

Like I said, I dread the thought that one of these nights Jack Frost will give these beautiful things the kiss of death.

Yesterday as I drove away from Anthony and Lori's place, I just had to keep my phone camera open to capture the beautiful things everywhere I looked.

I think I took this one earlier this week on my way to their place.

And the next two I took from the Weis Markets parking lot earlier in the day.

Last evening Dick and I went to a fund raising event for his co-worker's baby.  The baby has to be taken to CHOP in Philly three times a month, and it's a tremendous financial strain for them.  The fundraiser was a Tupperware party!  Now that took me back, haha!!  I haven't bought anything Tupperware in forever!  But back in the day I hosted lots of parties and got some really good stuff for hostess gifts, probably stuff I still use.  The prices of everything seemed so ridiculous, but I ordered some things anyway, because I really wanted to do what I could for Dick's co-worker.

Today I stayed home all day!!!  Haven't done that in a long while.  This morning I got some very much-needed organization to my choir music accomplished.  This afternoon I baked a whole lot of cookies while I listened to some of my worship CD's that I haven't listened to in a long time.   It was a wonderful afternoon.  

Oatmeal chocolate chip - Ray's favorite.

Peanut Blossoms - Destiny's favorite.  Except I forgot to buy Hershey Kisses!  So I substituted chocolate chips, and trust me, they taste just as good.  I had to try, just to be sure.

And Molasses Ginger Snaps - Jeremy and Lisa's favorite.

Most of these will be going into the freezer over at Anthony and Lori's until Thanksgiving weekend.  I am SO excited that almost the whole gang is coming up here for Thanksgiving this year, and I'm trying to work ahead so I have time for some fun.  

And what was Dick doing this afternoon while I was slaving away in the kitchen?  Sitting in his tree stand at Anthony and Lori's for the first time.  It is archery season, and he was up there with his bow and arrow.  

I would much rather have been baking cookies!

And now, I have a sink that needs to be cleaned up and some songs that need to be practiced on the piano. 

Have a good Sunday!