Summer to Fall Shelfie

It doesn't feel like fall here yet. It has been a very hot summer. Public school has started here, however.  I thought I would show you my transitional shelfies.  I added in some different florals (dollar tree) and printed off some free sunflower art.  I moved more of my Madrid glassware (amber glass) above my sink.  It feels good to change it up.  I also got out some other figurines I had in my china cabinet.

Weekly Roll

 

I had to share the above because it cracked me up. Well done US Fish and Wildlife.

8 Year Old Sneaks Handwritten Book onto Library Shelf I just love this story and I thought the adults did an excellent job handling this.  THERE IS A WAITING LIST

Coleslaw with Apples and Almonds - We have been eating this on repeat this summer without the apples.  My husband can't eat raw apples. It is delicious. I feel like this is a pretty affordable side dish. 10 Secret Coleslaw Ingredients You Didn't Think Of

Sunflower Field Planted for Influencers - I kinda want to go.  It is sad people trampled private fields. I think this is a good solution.

Inappropriate Thoughts

Library book sales are my downfall.  $5 dollar a bag, yes ma'am.  Let me find some interesting kinda weird stuff. I think the oddest thing I got was the New Mexico Women's Bowling Association Cookbook.  

My favorite recipe so far was the Elephant Stew.

Deep Thoughts

The following quote from Theadore Roosevelt came up the other day. I used it in what I call my art journal. 

I also like this quote below

28 Years

 So glad we took the jump 28 years ago.

Sadly, the Neon Pink Shorts don't exist anymore.

NSDQ! 

Wordy Wednesday

 

Oh gosh, I know the in between.  

White Sands National Park

 

After we visited Pistachioland.  We decided to head to White Sands National Park.  It was pretty warm, so we did the dune drive.  In one of the pull outs, we noticed a work vehicle from my husband's work.  It was weird to see it in a National Park.  So, he went to talk to the person in the vehicle.  It turns out they don't know each other but know other people - less than 6 degrees of separation.

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It was a good day.

Influenced by a Billboard

 There are a few billboards in our county and surrounding county that advertise "the largest pistachio nut" or pistachio ice cream etc.. Frequently when I traveled without my oldest son, he would ask if I saw the world's largest pistachio. It has been quite a running joke in our family. We decided to have an adventure and go see the world's largest pistachio.   The world's largest pistachio is a 2-hour drive from our house to Alamogordo, NM. We visited McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch or Pistachioland.

They have a cute store with many pistachios and curios.  We did not take a tour of the farm, but we did have pistachios, pistachio ice cream, and pistachio fudge.  We covered all the food groups. My oldest was disappointed but my youngest said it exceeded his expectations.  

Billboards are the original influencers!

Weekly Roll

 Marty the Moose - My question is why Marty an outcast from his herd. 

FDA Approves Vyvanse Generic - The ADHD medication shortage has reached the expensive medication of Vyvanse.  Sorry ADHD friends in the trenches just trying to find their med. 

Ambassadors recommend the one book to read before visiting their country - interesting list.

Inappropriate Thoughts

Sorry not sorry, I started my Halloween shelf decorating. Please don't send the Halloween police.

Deep Thoughts

I have been struggling what to share here.  In some ways, I feel censored because some of the stories I wish to share aren't really mine to share.  Secondly, these deep thoughts often feel like downer's. Look at me I am struggling or not struggling.  Look what Heather still hasn't learned after 51 years on planet earth. I still have deep thoughts, but I haven't decided how I am going to share them here.

I do have one deep thought to share. Here it goes. If you have an intuition that something isn't right health wise. GET IT CHECKED OUT!  I have 2 friends with drastically different health issues that were found because they had an intuition that something was not right.  Taking care of yourself is important.

What I Read September

 I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone is reading this month.

Oh the reading has been eclectic! 

Life in the Jar by Jack Mayer

This is about the true story of 3 high school students that researched Irene Sendler and developed a play on her life for a National History Day Project.  Irene Sendler rescues countless Jewish children for the Ghetto in Poland during WWII.  

She was a social worker and allowed into the Jewish ghetto. This is an amazing story about her life. 

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

This was a quick interesting read for me.  Lisa See is a great storyteller and I found this story about a Female Chinese doctor so interesting. Lady Tan was a real doctor and wrote a book. This story is loosely based on her life. This is very well researched. I think this would make an excellent book club read with a tea tasting. Lisa See's Website

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See 

This was a quick read, but this book has a sequel, Dreams of Joy, which I haven't read. It is about 2 sisters, Pearl and May, who live in Shanghai and were models but then were put in an arranged marriage and make their way to America. This is happening during the backdrop of WWII. I had never heard of the term Paper Son or Paper Daughter.  This is an interesting look into immigration at the time.

Adult Arts and Crafts - Fall Watercolor Trees

 

Another Andrea Nelson Art Project.  I did a couple of these. They turned out okay. I had trouble with the masking tape sticking to paper.

Weekly Roll

 Linky Love

Road Runner - New Mexico Cuckoo Bird - I haven't seen one in the wild yet.

Bear Cam Viewers Save Stranded Hiker

Colorado Attraction Dubbed the Best Tourist Trap - I have been to 4 corners many moons ago. I remember my grandmother buying a corn necklace.

Inappropriate Thoughts

Sometimes it is fun to prank your kids. I couldn't resist when I saw this skeleton piranha. My son is big into aquaculture but yet has this empty aquarium in his room.

Fall Bucket List

 

I enjoyed my adult summer bucket list.  I thought I would give fall a shot too. I did put grow grass on there and I realized that isn't really bucket list idea, but it is something I would like to accomplish this fall.  

Wordy Wednesday

 

Adult Arts and Crafts - Highlighter Art

 

This is more like neurography art. This is strangely addicting. This is a good brain break.  I found this exercise at Mccraftyart. If you have colored highlighters you can do this.

Wrapping up the Summer Bucket List

 

I was wondering if I completed anything from my list.  Summer Bucket List Post

MAKE ART

What surprised me the most is how much art I did make. Below is a sampling.

highlighter art

seascape

cats

Read Books

I completed all my book club books plus some extras. I didn't make it to any Modern Mrs Darcy picks. Reviews on the books below are soon to come. 

Field Trip

I might be stretching the definition of this a bit.  My oldest and I visited Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell. Picture is from their aviation hanger.  They offer an A&P program.

We also tried to see the bats fly out of Carlsbad Caverns. The rain canceled the program, but we did get to see some rainbows.

We visited a few of the new murals in our town.

Aquatic Center

Well we only went once and only my oldest got in. It feels a lot like a middle school cruisin place. LOL

Grow Flowers

Yes, indeed I did that.  Happiness is flowers.

Library Programs

Interesting Genealogy program that led to an interesting discovery and discussion. View Post Here

Bake Treats

My youngest and I had a good time learning to make angel food cake, carrot cake without cinnamon, and baked many a cookie.  He is the first to suggest something to make.

Celebrate Birthday's

I am glad no one in my family reads this blog or I would have to take down this photo.  My Mom turned 80 and my Aunt 85.  My Mom is on the left in the striped shirt and my sister is in the middle and my aunt on the right. By the way, my aunt and mom didn't coordinate their outfits ahead of time.  This cracks me up.