Autumn, what a wonderful word.

I realize I haven't posted in forever so it is a little bizarre of me to just randomly write instead of recap, but I don't care--recap involves way too much thinking for me today!

I have the day off of school and it is rainy and autumny outside and I love it!

Random Spur of the Moment Reasons I love Autumn:

1. Sweaters that tie or wrap

2. Boots and tights

3. Pashminas, Pashminas, Pashminas, with everything please.

4. Baking--Carol's homemade bread, pumpkin pie, cranberry-orange bread, etc.

5. Football games--believe it or not I love going to or watching high school and college football games! So fun and maybe one of the few competitive things I enjoy.

6. Tea--Nambarrie, the wonderful tea of Northern Ireland, that I still have stock of today even though the last time I was there was 3 years ago...I kind of want to run out so I can go again soon!

7. Orange--I love the color, it is a part of me (aka I have ginger hair), and it surrounds me in this Oklahoma fall

Back to tea--I am sitting in my nightgown and mukluks watching Project Runway drinking my splendid Irish Tea and feeling super homesick for Northern Ireland, maybe it is the rainy gloomy weather that seems so Irish today!

In honor of that here are some of my favorite shots of my travels on that enchanted Emerald Isle!

Kansas Part Quatro

Then we ended the Kansas adventure with a church service and pizza. Jake and his older sister were singing at a local church service--so I was very lucky to hear their beautiful voices. Then after church Jake and Mr. Whitmore took us out to a nice lunch of Pizza Hut. To top off my Newton experience I was able to see Katie Funk-Dyck my neighbor back in the Mayfield days and one of the funnest girls around, what a treat, what a roadtrip!

Kansas Part Tres

Then the real party started. The whole reason for being in Kansas--Luke Davis and Ellen McCulley's wedding! What a night, what a party, what a couple! Such a beautiful wedding and awesome celebration. It was great to be a part of Luke and Ellen's special day and to get to have such a large JBU reunion complete with being really dressed up and dancing the night away!

Kansas Part Dos

Look what was waiting for me in front of a super cool old pub in downtown Newton, KS...........that's right Jakey.

After leaving Wichita I left for the metropolis of Newton to stay at my friend's house and enjoy some pre-wedding fun with JBU friends that were also in town for the wedding. I have always enjoyed my time in Newton and this time was no exception. We cooked and laughed and stayed up too late every night. I was even able to have coffee with Boone's mom Annie, which was so great, and see my long lost friend Ian.

Kansas Part Uno

So I am slacking so much at this!!!!!!!! Busyness is bringing my blogging down.

Weeks ago I went to Kansas for lots of fun events. First two of my best friends Kristen and David were in Wichita visiting from Mexico where they are English teachers and I got to spend a very short but fun time with them. We laughed, loved, fought (David and me only), and ate delicious homemade Mexican food. Good times.

Summer=Strawberry Jam

As a little girl I can remember spending summer days at my best friend Adrian's house and I can remembering her mom canning. She would can outside because it would get so hot inside. Barb knew how to do everything when it came to canning and making jam. I feel it is a lost art in my generation and I want to learn how to carry it on. Since we lost Barb last year we were determined to carry on the tradition--Adrian and her husband Trevor, my mom, and I bought pints of strawberries from the farmer's market and used Barb's old canning equipment to make our own jam. It was a lot of fun, an adventure, and something I definitely want to do again. Also our jam tasted awesome!

Belated 4th of July

Sorry it took me so long to post these and come back to my blog. I have no good excuse. But this was technically on the 3rd of July, we had a great time with our close friends and family at the Ellis's house. David S. these are for you!