Wishing all my fellow bloggers and their families a Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a blessed day and make some memories!

Enjoy the day,

The House of Mugwump

...a hodge podge of goings on

Good morning, friends. As my eight year anniversary of blogging approaches, I am here today after a few months respite from social medium.

 Annie and I have been binge watching Hallmark Christmas movies. She loves the music and kids and animals...and especially all the snow. As for me, my teeth hurt as a result of all the saccharine plots. I have dialogs in my head with characters that have been making the very same bad choices for years. I watch because my daughter's eyes sparkle when it comes to anything Christmas related...and I like the snow, too. We cuddle up together on our cozy couch (a new and much improved version) and all the ugly out there in the world goes away. God bless Hallmark Christmas movies.

The gent in the pic above has been supervising me as I rework the three wreaths that hang on the outside of our windows and door for the holidays...our only outside Christmas decoration. I bought new wreaths this year as the old ones were a bit shabby. I also added the pineapples. The old fruit that has helped us welcome Christmas for over twenty five years has been given a new look with the addition of magnolia leaves. The wreath below is a work in progress. 

Halloween has come and gone. The "girls" above the kitchen sink were fascinated by the sparkly spiders that invaded their basket homes for October. These spiders are Annie's absolute favorite holiday decoration! She loves them!

A few autumn touches are still hanging around. We've had some cooler weather and the large pumpkins I place atop ivy in the black iron urns by the front door have fared well. The small pie pumpkins we place on the window ledges outside have been replaced a few times. Unfortunately, three of our neighbors have had trees removed lately. Large gorgeous pines and a few oaks have been taken down so that green lawns might fare better. I had to drink copious amounts of camomile tea and plug my ears during the three days this slaughter took place. Consequently, we now get lots of afternoon sun and our poor little pumpkins suffered for it.

For the third year in a row, Early American Life Magazine has offered a limited edition Shooner holiday platter. I think this one is my favorite so far.

For the first time in a few years, I removed the white slipcovers that had been on the camelback sofa and two wing backs in the living room. It's a whole new look! 

This is the chair where I sit when I stitch. Early morning sun rays cast shadows on the best seat in the house. Out the front window I watch the rowdy squirrels gather acorns from one of our noble live oaks. If I glance in the other direction, I spy our cardinal couple and a few friends helping themselves to breakfast at the feeder in the back yard. A dray of squirrels has long inhabited our yard. They are in the front and back yard all day long and make us laugh with their antics. None of our trees are going anywhere!

Wee bits of Christmas are popping up here and there. I try to do a little every day. Hope to finish up the wreaths for outside today. Then I can begin the inside in ernest.

In my continuing effort to "get rid of all this stuff", I reduced my Halloween decorations to two small bins from four. I was merciless!  Ravens, witches and pumpkins were boxed up and donated. It felt good. 

Also gone...years and years worth of magazines...primitive, country, early american, etc....loaded into the recycling bin. I went through a lot of these magazines and after a few it was like looking at the same one over and over again. I am so ready for a new look! 

I also donated some primitives. I remember years ago, when I would find a good deal at a second hand store and be thrilled. I hope to pass that feeling on.

So. that's it for now. I notice fewer and fewer blog posts from many bloggers. Life is busy. I wanted to say hello today...on my blogging anniversary...and thank you who have visited...and those who have left comments. I'm still here. 

Hope you all are enjoying the "wonder" that is this time of year!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Destin, Florida

We are just back from a weekend in beautiful Destin. Shot this pic from the balcony of our room at The Henderson Resort. The original hotel is the building you see out there on the beach. Our group (BOG) stayed in the newer and larger portion of the hotel. 

This resort is absolutely gorgeous...and the staff is A+...not always the case, even in five star digs.

I spent mornings on this balcony. It was a little slice of heaven. The weather was cool enough to require one of my Garnet Hill cashmere wraps...my equivalent to a winter coat. They are a travel must for me...in the car, in cold a.c. chilled rooms...and lovely early mornings by the sea. 

A cup of tea and my favorite magazine...perfection. My Peter Rabbit cup travels with me.

Last night, dinner was served on the green area you see...complete with sea breezes and twinkling lights.

Annie loves it when she can see the water from her bed!

And, when we can spend some time in the beautiful lobby or out on the deck.

It was a great weekend in a place we had never been before. We don't often visit the panhandle...this is only the second time. The beaches out there are gorgeous white sand as fine as sugar. The sands on these beaches sparkle because of the bits of quartz; part of the process that washed them down from the Appalachians via the Apalachicola River 20,000 years ago. We have this same white sand on our local beaches, but it's always nice to visit a new place and witness this natural beauty with fresh eyes. 

Nature preserves border the grounds...an added plus.

 This is one of the loveliest, most relaxing and naturally beautiful spots we have had the good fortune to visit during our tenure on the BOG.

Feeling well rested and ready for autumn. Picked up some pumpkins today. Guess what Annie and I will be doing tomorrow to welcome a new season. 

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Cokie Roberts

A lovely and gracious lady...rest in peace, Cokie.

We'll light a candle at our house today, in honor of this accomplished woman and role model.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

...here we go again...

Oh. poo! This was the forecast from yesterday. We will watch and plan accordingly all weekend. We are on the Gulf Coast...west of Tampa. Please keep us, and everyone in the path of the storm in your thoughts. So stressful for all of us in the path!!!

******************************

Hello, my blogging friends. I've been out of the loop this summer. I can't seem to get with the program these days. My autoimmune issues are zapping my energy and after my "mom" job, I don't have much energy for anything else. It is frustrating. I overdid on our trip to D.C. and have been struggling with the consequences of a flare ever since. Oh, boo hoo...enough about that!

*******************************

I don't know why, but I seem to pick up His Eye is on the Sparrow in the summer. I'll work on it and then take a long break...like months.

I recently started working on it again and am trying to stitch a little every day. I actually thought I was farther along than I am...but every little bit helps.

This stitch has proven to be therapy for me. I always feel better after I have taken a small bit of time to pull those lovely threads through this huge piece of linen. 

I have a stitching ritual. I turn on Gregorian chants...I adore the calmness and serenity they bring. Sometimes, I opt for silence with no background music. I light a candle. I grab a cup of green tea. I sit close to the window for good light...a window where I have a few myrtle topiaries and a large angel vine plant. My greenhouse. And I stitch. 

********************************

Pink needlepoint shoes! Who'd a thunk it? With bumblebees!

I am not a "shoe person". I wear them...but I usually pick something for comfort. These shoes are all about the pink...and the bees...and the needlepoint.

Bees...

I splurged.  These beauties are my reward, from me, for having reached three months of not eating sugar. No cookies, no cake, no pie...no chocolate. It wasn't easy! And very unfair since I have not lost but a couple pounds. Not everyone's taste, but I love these sweet bees!

**************************************

We had a fun trip to Key Largo in July. We had never been there and were delighted the new Bar president picked this Key instead of Key West to begin his presidency. 

I sat here one evening and relaxed...all by myself. Annie and Mr. MW joined the rest of our group on the beach for the annual Battle Of the Boards. It was so nice and peaceful...this small bit of solitude.

So that's what the House of Mugwump has been up to this summer. We skipped the Florida Bar Convention this year. We all agreed it was best to stay home and relax this year. 

Annie turned thirty three...complete with balloons, sunflowers and her requested gift of "office supplies". MR. MW and I celebrated our thirty seventh wedding anniversary and we all celebrated our 30th year of living in our little cottage. 

Hope this finds your all well and enjoying the waning days of summer 2019. I will reply to comments here.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Key Largo

Right outside my door this morning...the Atlantic Ocean.

Have a wonderful weekend! Stay safe...and hydrated!!!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Keeping Busy

Hello, friends! I hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July. We had a nice family day which included a trip to Hobby Lobby, hotdogs, red, white and blue glow sticks and watching the fireworks on t.v....the only way to do it in steamy, buggy Florida. 

I cannot get this pic to stay rotated! I found this pillow to hold all the pins we have collected on our trips. It's a neutral feed sack type material.

It was fun remembering all our adventures as I pinned them on. I mentioned this project in my last post and was glad to finally get it done. Now we can remember everyday.

*******************************

I have been working on His Eye is on the Sparrow a little...not enough to post much progress. 

I have been journaling a lot. Does anyone else do this?

This is the insert to my Traveler's Journal that I am using to document our recent trip to D.C. This section...signature...slips into a leather cover. There are a couple of signatures in my journal...each with it's own subject or use...maybe a calendar of events or a list of things to do. 

The sweet girl was drawn by an artist I ordered from on Etsy...she was on the box. Now, she is with me on my travels.

I keep it simple so Annie can read it and enjoy. When I was teaching, my classroom was my canvas. Now I play with paper.

This journal is more of a visual remembrance of each day, than a record. I am also working on a larger more detailed journal of our trip. That journal will be full of facts and events from our days. 

I save every piece of paper from our trips...receipts, maps, brochures, tickets. They all go in a box and are pulled out when I'm ready to make the journal of that trip. Those details will be included in the large journal.

This small travel journal slips into my purse or tote.

Love this tartan paper on the Alexandria page. Alexandria has a sister city in Scotland and has a definite Scottish influence.

Vintage stamps are one of my favorite embellishments I use in my journals...and this one is perfect! 

I also keep a Gratitude Journal. I don't get to it everyday, but I try. If I skip a day or two it's o.k. I like to scribble out a page pretty fast and get on with the day.

I'm not an artist...I rely on stamps for this journal...but I like to doodle while remembering how fortunate I am. 

I am not the first in my family to save paper ephemera. I have my father's letters to my mother from WWII. I have holy cards given to my father by nuns when he was in elementary school. I have the snip of a note Sister Mary Edward wrote in my planbook after she reviewed my lessons for the week..."Congratulations on your engagement!" it reads. I've saved paper for a very long time!

Do you keep a Gratitude Journal? Do you document your memories? Are you a "paper hound" like me?

************************************

My summer reading is The British are Coming by Rick Atkinson. It is the first book in a trilogy the author is writing about the American Revolution. I can't seem to get enough history of that time in our nation! It's the most detailed account I have read of all it took to make us a free country. Just finished the battles of Lexington and Concord and learned things I never knew...always good!

I hope you are all enjoying your summer! 

Enjoy the day,

Robyn