happy first day of fall!

hey I hope everyone is having a great fall equinox! (11:44am) summer comes to a close and it officially becomes fall Hooray!!:o)

here are some of my favorite things about fall:

1. running on cool, crisp fall mornings.. or even frosty late fall mornings! love it!

2. all the pretty leaves! and looking at the mtns! and even just the SMELL of fallen leaves on the creeper trail. 

3.  drinking hot apple cider, apple pie, just eating apples in general. ( nutmeg, ginger, cloves all remind me of fall too)

4. wearing jeans and hooded sweatshirts

5.  fall marathons!!!:o)

 I really hope you guys have a great day today! it's afresh new beginning/new season and I can't wait!

take care!

jenny:o)

sorry it's been so long since my last post!  Things have been fairly busy around here.   Today I just wanted to share a couple of books I find I use every single day! I love reference books!

First I read these Intellectual devotionals every morning: I read both the US History ( love history and the general one.  it kinda just gives my brain a boost, and something to reflect upon while I'm driving jack to school. 

Another book  I love just leafing through, and if I have a question on ANYTHING is the NY times Essential Guide to Knowledge

That book is SO freakin cool. If you are ever just roaming around a bookstore, go to the reference section and check it out, you will see what I mean.  oh if only I knew about this book when I was in high school, I would of been UNSTOPPABLE at model UN!!:o)

and lastly COOKING! I love to cook.  I love GOOD food. I happily and readily admit I listen to "the splendid table" every sunday and podcast it when I miss it.  Williams and Sanoma and Sur la Table are my favorite stores!  I love going to all the little gourmet wine and cheese shops in bristol and abingdon. SO the end of the day when i am preparing my evening meal, I ALWAYS end up looking at 2 books: JOY OF COOKING 

and the FOOD LOVERS COMPANION

well, I know this isn't that much of a post, but I just kinda wanted to share that because although, I read many books through out the year, the past several months ( years for JOY) those books have become a big part of my everyday life.. which I don't know if it's good, or just means I'm incredibly boring:o)

 the picture is one I took of a rainbow last week in my back yard.  It really reminded me of my cousin Amy who has a very entertaining blog I have listed in my "commonly read blogs" section. if you haven't already, CHECK IT OUT!  I love to read about her musings and adventures!

Cheers yall!:o)

what would it be like to live a century?

 I have been asking myself that lately. My grandmother is celebrating her 100th birthday on Saturday.  I am in awe of the "longevity gene" that runs on my mothers side of the family. My grandmother's mother lived to be 108.  I remember attending her 100th birthday party when i was a little girl. It was quite a large event, and here 26 years later her daughter, is celebrating her 100th birthday. wow. 

My grandmother has seen so many changes through out her lifetime, and so many historical events that occured through out the 20th century, it actually blows my mind how she can recount these events and give me her perspective on them through her eyes. She experienced many moments of sheer joy and happiness, and also moments of shattering heartbreak and toiled very hard many years while she raised her family of 11 children.  I asked her if she had any advice for me on how to "make it" through life. She told me to always trust in the Lord, not in people( because they can often disappoint you), and to be able to adapt and deal with change because that is what life is all about. Life is always in motion and always changing. So even when terrible events occur, it's important to just keep going, even when it's hard, even when it's the last thing you want to do, you have to "keep on going". 

such sound advice, from such a spectacular lady. 

  I had the pleasure of living with my grandmother for a summer after I graduated from college in 2001. It was such a positive experience for me to get to know her as a person. She taught me so many things. I am so appreciative to her for teaching me to make gravy, cornbread in a cast iron skillet. She taught me how to make biscuits and fry chicken. We tacked together several quilts that summer.  That summer although it wasn't that exciting to be living day in and day out up in a holler in buchanan co, va. probably taught me more about life in general, than a semester of college. It was time well spent, and an experience that I wouldn't trade for anything.

Happy Birthday Mamaw!! I Love you!

 the picture is one of a sunrise I took this weekend with my new Nikon D60.  I REALLY am starting to like this camera. 

busy week!

 This week has flown by! my oldest started preschool!! AW! It has gone very well. He loves school, and has made all sorts of new little friends. 

The weekend is almost here! HORRAY!  I am planning on going to boone, NC tomorrow. I am so excited. Boone is one of my favorite places to go visit! I love just walking down king st and looking at all the shops. There is a great health foodstore/supermarket, I always go to. Then I always have a delicious lunch either at Melanie's Food Fantasy or Black Cat Burrito. 

 I just love the hustle and bustle of this little mtn college town. There are always many cool things going on!

Saturday, I plan to go on a long run in Damascus, Va. Jump up on the AT for a little off of the creeper trail.  I will bring my camera and take some pictures,and post them on here. 

cheers yall!