Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Weekend Adventures

If the balloon extravaganza wasn't enough fun... we had even more on the weekend agenda.

A tea party at a local historical home Sunday afternoon, to be specific. This was a budget cruncher but the lady who invited us wanted us to come along, in the worst way, so much so that paid for half the ticket price. And the ten bones it took from the September budget was worth it.

The food was good. Tea cakes, cookies, cucumber sandwiches, scones, the basic tea party goodies. But the information was fascinating.

Did you know that The Underground Railroad has a legend attached to it?

There are locations within my town that were part of The Underground Railroad, the pathway formed for Civil War slaves from the south to travel as fugitives to the freedom found in the north during. But I didn't even think about the cleverness needed for communicating whether it was safe to approach the homes, or for directions along the way. Of course, with legends, there are always questions. But the speakers at the tea went through the significance of the Civil War sampler quilts that contained multiple quilt blocks with specific and helpful meaning.

Based on information found by author Jacqueline Tobin, the story is fascinating to consider.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Up in the Air, But Not Locked Out

We had a few adventures this past weekend. Not like my poor cousin, Scott, who got detained at a gas station for an hour in an attempt to get his 6-month-old Wheaten Terrier to retrace the steps she took when triggering the electric locking system. Bet he'll never leave his keys in the car again, ever!

I'll be sharing some of our weekend adventures which did NOT include locking ourselves or anyone else out of a car.

Friday night was to be a night of fun, music, and balloons. But it rained. However, there were three more opportunities to see floating balloons and we thought we'd for sure catch one of them. The next mornings' 6:30 a.m. flight was out of question since we had to begin a road trip at 8:00 a.m. But that evening as we rolled back into town we got to experience a little bit of the thrill.

(Sorry for the lack of photographic integrity. (aka poopy pictures) The photos were snapped on my phone and edited so that we could actually see the balloons. Ha. My good camera was at home. Right where I left it.)

I am really glad I got the pictures I did. Because when we rose at 5:45 to get decent for the 6:30 a.m. flight the next morning, I did grab the good camera. We got there a little late, parked, hiked and joined the throng of people. However, the whole thing lacked something. There were trucks and official looking ballooners and even a random basket here and there. But there were no balloons in sight. And we knew that balloons are touchy and weather has to be just right, etc. etc. etc. but...... Apparently the "start" of the event was a suggested, maybe even random, time. Turns out they weren't even starting til 45 minutes later... the exact time we all needed to be home so we could get ready for church.

: ( Oh, sad.

So. We sucked it up, called it an adventure, and are clutching these substandard pictures to our breast and calling them souvenirs.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Technology Might Be My Friend....We'll See

I'm back. Kind of. The modem is in a box on my kitchen table and I'm in a coffee shop.

I had $2.00 left on a gift card so my wi-fi is truly "free." So no dipping into the fun money.

Hopefully, I'll be able to translate the instructions on the modem and get it installed and become back-back since this is going to be a challenging "fun money" month and I don't have weekly lattes figured into the mix.

But while the internet was uncontrolled at home I accomplished some of the following:

Lots of dog walks". Canning 14 jars of salsa. Playing some fun games... Catan and Bananagrams shout out! "Making" my own "sun-dried" tomatoes. Praying lots and getting some reading done.

Hope you have had a rewarding and growth-producing week.

Scribbles and Scrambles-Tired of My Thoughts...So Posting Wisdom

Job 42:3 You asked, "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?" It is I --- and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. Job 42:5 and 6. I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.

Scribbles and Scrambles-Technology

Kip Dynamite sang about technology... I`m not. Gotta say it`s nice to be able to post from my phone. Really. But there are a few issues. A) the teeny tiny screen and tinier print upon it. B) The lack of squiggly res lines that tell me I spelled something wacky_do. C) The epic fail when I spent 20 minutes typing a blog entry in my dentist`s waiting room and my phone died...dead as a doornail...and ate my post....D) Haven`t figured out how to post pictures. Now. I`m pressing POST before I get a text message or phone call and lose this. Sorry for any typos...the characters look like fly specks.

Scribbles and Scrambles-Happy Mon/Labor Day

so. strangley. I`m attempting to post a blog entry via cellphone. Big stretch. Our modem died and I get to be really creative til the new one comes on Friday. Oy!

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ All Roads....

I'm glad everyone enjoyed Rob's Wyoming photos. He's got a great eye. I'm going to have to join him sometime. It's Wyoming him...3, Wyoming me...zip

Speaking of trips. Just got back, (yesterday at 4:00 p.m. to be exact) from a trip to Minnesota. Friday to Wednesday full of shopping, laughing, talking and eating. Great time. I always feel a little guilty abandoning Rob. I didn't even talk to him save for two short texts telling him we'd made it in one piece and that I loved him. But. He was glad to see me and thrilled that I made him coffee this morning. : ). (Takes so little sometimes. Ha.)

Shopping. Did I say shopping? Yes. And I'm on this Cut the Crapola excess dump. How did that work? It was a little painful. We hit an outlet mall for an entire day and then spent a few hours at Mall of America. How did I do that and not blow every bit of my six-month budget of $300.00 to cover anything and everything fun and fluffy?

I did spend some. I bought two "fabulous-deal" gifts which do not come out of the fun and fluffy fund. We ate Indian food for lunch and went out for coffee for breakfast which did require shaking moulah from the fund. Then I found some amazing bargains. Clearance with an additional 40 or 50% off. This is the test of all tests in the area of self-control. There is nothing I love more than super clearance. And I bought. But. I got away with a mere $13.99 for three CUTE shirts. Making my total for the entire month of August just a fraction under $28.00. I'm okay with that. It's good practical experience and knowledge for our upcoming road trip to New Mexico.

We packed food so we didn't spend a thing on the road. We can do that for New Mexico which will take exactly twice as long travelwise. So I'm feeling pretty confident that I can keep this up and actually stay under budget. September's portion of $50 is already taking a hit. I've committed to two social activities that are going to eat up around $25.00. So outside of those, I'm going to have to be pretty squeaky tight.

We also finished out the month praying for our people every day, reading the things that we committed to read, and getting in our daily workouts. Month one was a total success. Month two goals are going to include immersing myself in music, increasing the amount I'm running, and purging my house of stuff I don't need or use as well as continuing to pray and grow and cut.