Wordless Wednesday [11.30]

Green Eyed Monster

We've all met her (or him) one time of another. This is the one who rears her ugly head every so often to knock you out of whack. This is the one who makes sure you recognize the differences between you and your peers. This is the one who pushes you to keep up with the Joneses. This is the green eyed monster and he/she is out in full force these days.

This is the time of year where we spend every last penny with have to give to others. In theory, this is a great concept. Sharing what you have with others-what could be so wrong about that? It goes wrong when we lose sight of why we are giving, and even worse, begin to demand things from others. When did this happen? What made it OK in our minds to begin creating Christmas lists? When did we lose sight of why we were truly celebrating? 

I must ashamedly admit my green eyed monster has poked her nose into my business a few times this season. She found her way to me the minute a family member asked what I wanted for Christmas. I wanted to scream and shout about every little item I'd seen recently that would look precious in our new home. I wanted to rant on and on about the new Kindle Fire I am stalking like a madwoman on Amazon. In fact, I did. It was only later that I realized how truly selfish I sounded. I have a freaking house, how many people can say that?! I can afford to buy books, why do I need to do it on an eReader?? It was a sock in the stomach when I realized how much I sounded like a brat.

So now that we all feel like a bunch of heathens. You don't? So it's just me? Awesome. Well, when you finally join the rest of the world in confession I challenge you to look introspectively at your holiday season. Peek at your spending habits and make sure you're buying for the right reasons. Take a gander at your calendar and ask yourself, "Why am I really going there? Can my time be better spent elsewhere helping others?".  Challenge your friends and family to serve your community in some way, shape, or form. How can you make it so your green eyed monster doesn't make an unwanted appearance?

Brown Bag Apple Pie

I must preface this by saying, if you like any type of apple pie you must give this a try! A woman in our community group made it for us one time, and David and I were hooked. I knew I needed to get the recipe for myself to make and share. It was a hit at supper with the Mobleys and I can't wait to make it again:-)

Crust:

 1-1/2 cup flour

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. sugar

1/2 cup oil

1tbsp. milk

Filling:

 6 large peeled/sliced apples

1/2 cup sugar

2 tbsp. flour

2 tsp cinnamon

Topping: 

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup flour

1/3 cup butter

Crust Instructions:

Mix ingredients and pack in pie plate.

Filling Instructions:

 Mix together and pour into pie shell.

Place filling in unbaked crust.

Sprinkle 2-3 tbsp. flour.

Topping Instructions:

Mix ingredients and pat on top of pie filling.

Place pie in brown bag. 

Fold end and staple.

Bake on cookie sheet for 1 hour at 425.

Enjoy!

Chopped apples ready to be tossed into the pie.

 Crust ingredients waiting to be mixed. 

 She was such a big helper-not!

 The insides all mixed together.

Do we really have to wait an hour??

The Magic Begins. . .

Christmas decorations went up last night-whoot! More pictures to come!

Roasted Beets

Recently David and I joined a Crop Share Organization at a local farm. For $120 we got a half share which will give us a box of fresh fruits and vegetables every Thursday from Barbee Farms. I am very excited about the opportunity to try all sorts of new recipes while also buying local! Here is a recipe from our first box:

Roasted Beets

Beets

Olive Oil

Preheat oven to 350.

Wash and scrub beets clean of any dirt. 

Trim stems and ends of beets.

Reserve beet leaves for later.

On a large baking sheet, cover with aluminum foil. Place prepared beets, in a single layer, on top. Toss lightly with some olive oil to coat the beets. 

Place another large sheet of aluminum foil on top of the beets and crunch up the sides of the aluminum foil together to seal.

Place in oven and roast approximately 1-2 hours,or until tender and easily pierced with knife. Remove from oven and take off the top foil. Set aside to cool enough to handle. 

When cool enough to handle, peel the skin off. They should peel easily by hand.

Sprinkle with a little salt and enjoy!

Beet Greens

Beet Greens (cut off the heavy stems and discard)
Butter
Salt
Pepper

Wash the fresh beet green in a sink filled with cold water.
Place cleaned and wet beet greens in a colander to let some of the water drain off.
Place washed beet greens in a large pot.
Cook, covered, over medium heat until the greens look wilted, approximately 3 to 5 minutes
When cooked, remove cooked beet greens to your serving bowl.
Season with some butter, salt, and pepper to your liking.
Enjoy!

For the record I have avoided beets like the plague for as long as I can remember, but when I saw them in the box I knew I knew I needed to get over that. Needless to say I am very glad we gave it a whirl! 

  

Embracing The Crazy

If you haven't figured it out yet, we don't exactly do things the traditional way in our house. I mean if the fact that my parents had five children before they were thirty should tell you we like to mix it up. Growing up was never dull, and our current adulthood only makes it more fun. We've decided not to let the crazy embarrass us and instead have decided to embrace it. Today's story of crazy is Christmas-themed. Get excited.

David and I arrived early Thursday morning at casa de Ward. The Momma had mentioned taking a Christmas picture before heading up the road to Oma & Pappy's (her parents) for a big Thanksgiving meal. All we were told was to dress "nice". So you can imagine our shock when we arrive and congregate with the other Wardlets to receive our "outfits". Yes, I said "outfits". My kind parents decided that Christmas sweaters and pajamas were too traditional for us and that we needed to up the ante for this year's picture. They had purchased elf costumes.

I'm sure you can imagine our initial response-heck no. Then we decided to embrace the crazy. We took in the costumes and matching accessories (booties and hats. What Christmas outfit wouldn't be complete without booties and hats??) and went with it. Here is evidence of the crazy:

Here come the elves on the Christmas train!

Who is that coming out of the woods? It's none other than the Wardlets!

"I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite"

 I love you. I love you! I LOVE YOU!

Chi-O elves!

Until next time, embrace the crazy:-)

Thankful Thursday-I'm Gonna Love You Through It

 When you’re weak, I’ll be strong
When you let go, I’ll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear that I’ll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can’t take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.

-Martina McBride

This post is coming to you a day late because I had so much to be thankful for I was too busy to write it! We've been fortunate enough to get to spend time with both of our amazing families these past few days. How many people can say they actually enjoy seeing their families AND their in-laws during the holiday season?! We sure do! Here are a few things I am thankful for today:

 husband

(he really is a rock star. No other way to say it. He is better than the prince charming I dreamed of as a little girl)

family/friends

(we may be busy this time of year, but we are fortunate enough to be busy with incredible family and friends)

delicious food

(from the steak dinner with the Mobleys to a massive Thanksgiving with the Wards/Metzgars, I couldn't ask for a better few days of pigging out)

freedom to worship and celebrate

(we are so blessed to live in a place that we can freely worship the one true God who gave us all we have!)

"filling my bucket"

(these few days off have been the perfect opportunity to "fill my bucket"-a concept I learned from a children's book when I was nannying. The time spent with family and friends is the perfect way to "fill my bucket" and rejuvenate me)

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend??

Wordless Wednesday [11.23]

(It should be noted that she chose this position the exact same time we started the full house cleaning. I'm not sure if it was the evil vacuum cleaner or the smells, but she booked it outside as soon as she could)

Lessons From Dogs

What We Can Learn From Dogs...
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
When it's in your best interest, always practice obedience.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
Take naps and always stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you are happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you are criticized, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout.
Run right back and make friends.

 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Who doesn't love anything pumpkin flavored? As soon as the pumpkin flavored items start rolling out on the shelves, I'm scoping out how much I can get away with making before my sweet husband revolts. At this point we're up to three sweet treats, but the season is still young! Here is a recipe I found online and couldn't resist. Hope y'all think it's as good as I did!

1 can pumpkin

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

walnuts (optional-I skipped them)

Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and eggs.

Stir flour, baking powder,  cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl.

Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in.

Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.

Add vanilla and chocolate chips.

Drop by spoonful on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for about 10 minutes, or until lightly brown and firm.

Enjoy!

Mountain Getaway

I mentioned in a post a few months ago how much David and I love a good deal. Well, last Christmas bought a "getaway" from Living Social to the Waynesville Inn Golf Resort & Spa in Waynesville, NC. We were super excited to use it when we got it, then promptly forgot about it until we received an email a month ago reminding us to use it. That email could not have come at a more perfect time. We were both swamped at work this week and a weekend away was exactly what we needed!

We arrived late Friday night and hit The Tap Room Bar & Grill. We were not disappointed. I ordered the rack of ribs and sweet potato fries (no the fries were not carb friendly, but a girl needs a break every now and then!) and David got a massive burger. I'm not exaggerating when I say those ribs may have been the best I have ever had. They were not fatty at all and were perfectly roasted. Nom. We stuck around and watched some football before heading back in time to our room.

Now, the Inn has been around since the 1920's and you can tell, not in a negative way though. Everything is rustically old-fashioned. From the cozy wood-paneled walls in the rooms to the stone walkways throughout. It was neat to snuggle down in the very toasty room as the temps rapidly dropped outside.

One of the most-anticipated parts of the trip was sleeping in, and I failed miserably at this. David rocked it. Me? I was up at six ready and roarin'. I was able to drift in and out of sleep before David finally awoke, but honestly, it was nice to not have to set an alarm. After I coaxed David out of bed we headed to breakfast where David's dreams came true-they had french toast sticks. This boy can put away some french toast sticks, so much so that he requests I not buy them because he will eat so much. We were on vacation though so he ate to his heart's, or tummy's, content.

We then headed to the on-site spa, The Balsam Spa, and we were not disappointed. We originally signed up for a 30-minute massage each, but my sweet husband bumped them both up to an hour. Greatest surprise ever! By the end of the hour neither of us wanted to go anywhere. If they hadn't had other customers waiting, I'm pretty sure David would have handed over the credit card and booked them for the day.

That afternoon we headed to Downtown Waynesville and wandered around. In and out of antique and gift shops, hour after hour, and not one complaint from David. He was a rock star! Then after we had worn out Main Street he suggested we go see the new Twilight movie, "Breaking Dawn-Part1". I've dragged the poor boy to the other three so now he's interested to see how it all ends. I've also been promising him since the first one that "Breaking Dawn" would have the most fighting of them all. He was happy to discover I was not lying. The movie was intense! I'm counting the days until the second part comes out in July.

After our adventure at the smallest movie theater known to man, we headed back to the Inn for supper at The Tap Room and more football. We even got to see the last five minutes of the NC State vs. Clemson game (GO PACK!). It was the perfect end to the perfect weekend away. A few pictures from our adventures:

A very happy boy  with his french toast sticks.

The beautiful view we woke up to.

The Waynesville Inn Golf Resort & Spa

 Downtown Waynesville

 Couldn't resist the photo op in front of the tree!

Wordless Wednesday [11.16]

Say What?

"What did I just say?" is a fairly common phrase in my classroom these days. I ask it often to see if the students are actually listening when I speak. It's actually kind of depressing how often they can't answer that question, but such is the life of a middle school teacher! My students aren't the only ones I ask this question of. Heck I ask any one any time I don't think they're paying attention, even my sweet husband. Side note: either he has me figured out or he is a really good pretender, but he is great about repeating things back to me:-) Communication is huge in any relationship and questions are huge in communication. Whether it's my relationship with the hubs, my kids, my co-workers, my family, friends, any one really, it is essential that we ask those important questions.

Today finds us in the thick of parent conference week, and we're getting a lot of questions. Some common ones: "how is he/she doing in class?", "are they turning their work in?", "what's the behavior like?", etc. These are all great questions to ask that enhance our communication regarding their students. They get us all on the same page so we can address any issues (if there are any) and move on with helping the students.

My question now is, why aren't we asking more questions? I mean honestly, how often do we assume something instead of taking the step to ask someone else a question? Far too often is the answer. I used to be afraid to ask a question for fear I would look stupid or that person would become angry with me, but in the end I just created more work for myself, and often them too, by not just getting straight to the point. In retrospect I could have saved myself a whole bunch of time re-completing assignments if I had just asked what the heck I was doing! I understand your boss/friend/coworker may be an unapproachable person, but don't you think they would appreciate you asking the question versus having you mess up in the long run?

Questions are an integral part of more than just the workplace; they can be huge assets in marriages and other relationships! How often are you frustrated with the way your spouse does something, and instead of asking why they do it that way you just jump down their throat about it? Or what about when a friend is upset about something and you can't seem to understand why that would make them upset. Ask them! Questions also do a great job of aiding every day conversations. When was the last time you asked how your friend's family is doing? Or, when did you last ask your coworker how their day was?

Asking the questions isn't the only part of the equation, though, you must also be willing and ready for the answer. You may find out your doing the project wrong. Can you humble yourself enough to then ask how to do it? You may discover your friend's family is struggling and they need guidance. Can you offer it? Your coworker may be swamped with work. Are you willing to offer help?

I challenge you to start asking more questions. Not just silly questions, but deeper questions. Questions that build relationships and fix issues. As for me, I'm an open book, so ask away. . .

Huzzah!

This morning we rose bright and early and headed out to the Carolina Renaissance Festival. For those of you who have never been to the Renaissance Festival, lucky you, there is one weekend left. It is definitely well-worth the money! I started going with Kelley and Kellie way back when it first began, and when we moved back to this area David and I made it a tradition of our own. How could you pass up the chance to go pig out on ridiculously-priced fair food while crazy people prance around you while speaking in a British accents? The answer is, you can't. A few pictures from our big adventure back in time:

 What? You mean you don't start drinking at 11am?

David wanted to buy this to put out whenever our future daughter's boyfriend comes over.

The new number one item on his Christmas list?

 Foothills Brewery Homebrew Winner-Wife's Wish

 I love this kid.

I told you the people were excited about the Renaissance

The awesome candle maker. His candles last 30 years!

The festival is here for one more weekend, so make the effort if you're in town!

Long Weekends

I think we can all agree that long weekends rock. Anyone who wants to argue that one will be hanging out alone for a very long time. It's funny, because to me it's not just having a day off from work, it's also the anticipation of the four-day workweek. The minute the master calendar is sent out, I'm the dork who is filling in her iCal and plotting the rest and relaxation months ahead.

Today is the beginning of a glorious three-day weekend. It started off pretty wonderfully too. I was able to stay up past 8pm last night and spend time with my husband, then not wake up til 6 this morning-score! I probably could have slept until noon had it not been for a certain princess's incessant whining to go out. . .

This morning I will be joining my amazing MIL, AIL (aunt in-law), and a family friend at the Southern Christmas Show. This type-A dork already has her list prepared of what to buy and for whom to buy for. I'm pretty stoked about all the arts and crafts and kitschy junk I don't need but will spend 20 minutes debating over purchasing. Jealous yet? Then, this evening David and I will be hanging out with our stellar Community Group! When I say they are stellar, I mean they are pretty awesome.

Tomorrow morning we will be rising bright and early to head out to the Carolina Renaissance Festival to eat ourselves into oblivion while watching medieval-obsessed commoners make fools of themselves. Jealous yet? The afternoon will then be capped off with more delicious food and football!
 
All in all it's looking to be a pretty rock star weekend. What's on your agenda?

Thankful Thursday-Wonderful

I feel wonderful because I see
The love light in your eyes.
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize how much I love you

-Eric Clapton

help

(it sounds so simple, but sometimes it's that simple offering of help that makes a world of difference)

catching up

(I was blessed enough to get to catch up with one of my very oldest and bestest friends last weekend, and it was wonderful! It's like we picked up right where we left off)

Thanksgiving

(I see people already preparing themselves for the Christmas seasons, but how can we forget a holiday focused on counting our blessings and chowing down?!?)

laughter

(sometimes in this crazy life, a good laugh is all you need)

girl time

(I am so excited about spending all day with a group of wonderful women at the Southern Women's Christmas Show! PS-I promise I'm not 80, I just love me some good crafts)

all the amazing Veterans

(I cannot put into words how thankful I am for every soldier and the sacrifices they continue to make so I can live my life freely)

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

Peanut Butter Pie

One of my mother-in-law's favorite treats is peanut butter pie, and can you honestly blame her? A good peanut butter pie is fantastic! Here is a good recipe Papa Ward found and passed on.

4oz cream cheese really soft
1 cup+3 tablespoons of powdered sugar
1/2 cup of milk
10 oz cool whip. Really defrosted!
2 graham cracker crusts
1/2 cup peanuts- finely chopped

Whip cream cheese at low speed, beat in sugar, andpeanut butter.
Slowly beat in milk.
Fold in cool whip
Pour into crusts.

Recipe makes 2 pies.

I add a little more cream cheese and more peanut butter.  About 3/4 - 1 cup total.  I like to do about half chunky and the rest smooth for some added texture.  I use the 8 oz cool whip & that's enough for one pie.  If you want to add some additional sweetness, melt chocolate chips and spread across the top! 

Enjoy!

Too Sweet For Words

It's been a few weeks since I've updated y'all on my deteriorating body, so I figured you were due to hear all about it. Try to contain your excitement. Without further adieu, here goes. . .

About a week and a half ago I started getting a nasty cough in my chest. I didn't really have any stuffiness or congestion, just a really nasty cough. We're talking I would have to pause the conversation and bend over to hack my lungs up. No bueno. I tried to rest and drink tea that weekend in hopes it would pass on its own. No such luck. That Thursday I headed to the doctor to get the verdict: bronchitis. Awesome.

He quickly prescribed a miracle drug, aka a z-pack, and prepared to send me on my merry way. But, alas, things are never that easy in real life. He said he was pleased with how I was progressing (the steroids seem to be working!) and hoped that by the time I finished the round in another four weeks I'd be good to go. He then asked how I was feeling. This is when I should have kept my big fact mouth shut. Instead, I chose to open it and mention how thirsty I have been recently. His response, "hmm". With that he ordered me to pee in a cup (we hold nothing back here at the merry mrs. mobley).

After a few minutes of catching up with the Momma and the other nurses he came back in with the diagnosis. Apparently I am now slightly diabetic thanks to the steroids. Superb. He told me my levels weren't crazy enough to require insulin (thank God!) but that I would need to watch what I ate. Those of you who have been keeping up with this saga know that I'm currently on a low-sodium, low happiness diet as it is. Now he wants to throw in low-carb as well?!? Just take away any and all fun in my life why don't ya. He handed me a blood sugar tester and sent me home.

Funny story, this whole blood sugar tester thingy-ma-jig is one complicated contraption and I still haven't figured out how to work it. I'm currently taking Skype appointments with whoever is patient enough to teach me about this thing. It shouldn't be rocket science!

It's been a few days and an adjustment, but I'm getting there. The hardest part has been the evenings when all I want is a sweet treat. I have serious issues with denying myself sweets. Just look at my Foodie page-the majority of recipes are sweets! I'm open to any and all suggestions of ways to adjust my recipes so I don't lose my mind.

Continued thanks for the prayers and support. According to all the doctors I'm on the road to a full recovery! I couldn't have done this without all the kind words and help from y'all :-)

Easy as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Being an NC State football fan is not an easy task. Upon making the fateful decision to attend NC State, I joined many other lifelong fans in the back and forth dance of celebration and agony depending on if our team decides to show up or not. We've had our good times (the Champs Bowl Game last December) and our bad times (too many to name at this point. . .), but part of being a fan is never giving up on your team. You can't jump ship just because they're having a bad few games, or season. A true fan wears their red and white every Saturday despite the knowing that red and white will probably bring on much ridicule. I once heard someone say, "your team is like an ugly child, you love 'em no matter what". Ain't that the truth!


Here in North Carolina, you either wear red or you wear that nasty blue color. In this house we will proudly wear that red. This past week there was some back and forth between the interim coach at UNC, Everett Withers, and our coach, Tom O'Brien. Withers took a shot at NC State claiming that UNC is the "flagship" school of North Carolina and that UNC's graduation rate of athletes is something to be proud of compared to NC State's own rate. Uh, exqueeze me? Mr. Withers, you do realize that the reason you are the current "coach" is due in part to that whole CHEATING scandal and illegal paying of players and agents? Or did that just slip your mind? O'Brien fired back with his own attack in regards to UNC's current NCAA situation, and the rivalry pot was stirred.

I won't bore you with the gruesome details of the game, but I am proud to say that the Mobleys will be wearing a whole lot of red and white. NC State not only beat UNC for the fifth year in a row, but our boys recorded a shut out! The final score was 13-0. GO PACK!! I'm beginning to agree with Mr. Withers that with all the schools in North Carolina, there should be a flagship, I just think that flagship should be one that can actually back up the talk.

We're the Red and White from State
And we know we are the best.
A hand behind our back,
We can take on all the rest.
Come over the hill, Caroline.
Devils and Deacs stand in line.
The Red and White from NC State.
GO STATE!!

Chicken Pot Pie

With the onslaught of cooler weather, I've been on the hunt for yummy comfort foods to make. The catch has been trying to find recipes that fit with my low-sodium diet. Oof. I managed to find a super easy and super yummy recipe for Chicken Pot Pie with only 670mg of sodium-score! Let me know what you think :-)

1 lb chicken, cooked and shredded

1-2/3 cup frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

2 cans lower sodium cream of chicken soup

1 cup Bisquick

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 400.

In an ungreased 9-inch pie pan mix chicken, vegetables, and soup.

In a separate bowl mix Bisquick, egg, and milk.

Pour Bisquick mixture over chicken mixture.

Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until crust is a golden brown.

Yummy Tip: Spread a little butter on top of the crust before cooking for extra deliciousness!

Enjoy!

Thankful Thursday-We Were Made For You

There is no one like You
You are the only Truth.
In a world that's so confused,
There is no one like You
-Aaron Gillespie 

I have so much to be thankful for in my life, but here are a few highlights from this week:

blogger app

(I love that I now have this app to blog from whenever I'm out and about. No excuses from me anymore!)

teamwork

(it is amazing how well things work when people work as a team. I am blessed to be a part of some stellar teams at work, church, and even in my relationships. If your team isn't working, figure out why and get it there!)

my kiddos

(I really lucked out with awesome kids. How many 8th graders do you know that would ask you every day how you're feeling and if they could have a hug? Not many!)

super double coupons

(hooray for Harris Teeter helping the Mobleys save some mad moola tho week!)

our neighbors

(I love that we can just sit out and talk with them about anything and everything. Good neighbors can make just about anything better!)

strong support system

(it's incredible how much harder I want to work towards something when i feel supported. At home, church, work, in family relationships, and in friendships I am surrounded by an amazing support system)

Wordless Wednesday [11.02]

New Beginnings In November

A few months ago I posted about my excitement to be done with July. Well, another ugly month has reared its head to rival July. That month is October. I've always loved the month of October since it typically means the beginnings of fall. This year that isn't the case. October brought a whole mess of stuff for us and I am ready to bid it adios! A few things I'm pleased to send on its merry way:

• Being sick. All of the fun kidney revolting began just as October began. Coincidence? I think not! I am ready for November to bring a decrease in the meds and a healthier Lauren.
• Work. In our profession the crazy normally picks up after the holidays and carries through until the end of the school year. This year it seems that our staff has been hit with a plethora of issues that no one could have seen coming. I think the entire school is ready for some normalcy! Side note: despite the teachers going cuckoo trying to stay on top of everything, the kids have been spectacular with adjusting! Yay kiddos!
• Busy weekends. There isn't much about this that is going to change, but it will be nice to have at least one day a weekend for just the two of us to be. And by "be" I mean be total and complete bumpkins watching football:-)

Most importantly I'm just ready for new beginnings. It's not that October was dreadful, but it wasn't exactly stable either. Here's to new beginnings in November!