Monday Musings, September 30

Good Morning Lovelies!

Boy, did I need that relaxing weekend of knitting and football watching, with a wee bit of yard work thrown to assuage our conscience.

When we last ‘chatted’ last Monday, I was on my way to my SIL’s home to help her declutter. Wow…both she and I were thrilled with the progress we made! I’m a little bummed that I had to come leave because we were so productive! I can’t even begin to tell you how many carloads of donations we made to their local shelters and libraries. And I learned a great deal about helping someone else declutter that I’ll be sharing with you all in the near future. 

I do have to share this beautiful picture I snapped as I was getting in the car to head home. They live on the Albermarle Sound and this is their backyard! Isn’t it stunning? And can you see the Osprey, her fledglings and nest in the upper right corner? (What you can’t see is that I lay down on her dock to snap this picture, only to realize as I got up that I actually was laying on petrified goose poop!? )

And remember how I told you I was excited about the ride because of the Up and Vanished podcast? Well, if you are looking for a long-term podcast relationship ?‍♀️?‍♀️?‍♀️ and you like true crime stories, then this one is for you. I listened to it non-stop for the 3.5 hours to and from my SIL’s home and then again for another 2.5 hours up and back on another road trip I took last week…and I still haven’t finished it! In fact, the podcast has re-energized me (along with the cooler temperatures) to get back to my brisk walks in the morning…it’s somewhat of a treat to have the one-hour uninterrupted listening time.

So, as I mentioned, I took another quick road trip last week to Burlington, NC! I was invited to attend the media night for the soon-t0-be open Factory Showroom of Haand Porcelain Pottery.   I love small-business success stories like this! Two high school friends, one pursued his passion for art and the other for numbers, came together years later and started this small business making hand-made porcelain dinnerware. They currently employ 15 in their 80-year factory, producing dinnerware for restaurants throughout the country. They have decided to turn slightly to more retail and so anyone can purchase their lovely and unique pieces from their website and their factory store in Burlington.

• About this time of the year I start thinking about what I want to gift to family and friends for the upcoming holidays, as well as fall birthdays. If you have a novice wine enthusiast or a wine connoisseur on your gift list, check out some of these gift ideas for wine lovers. OH, not for nothing, there is a GIVEAWAY! Yup, pop over to the post and chime in on your favorite wine accouterment for a chance to win one of our favorite wine tools. 
• Spiked Warm Apple Cider…yes, please! ?
• This Rosemary, Fig and Nut Bread is not only low carb but also one of my favorite ‘vehicles’ for getting meats, cheeses and jellies off of my charcuteries board and into my mouth!
• Holy Cow! I posted this image on my Facebook page and immediately received a slew of comments, both for an against. Where do you stand? I try to live by William Morris’s 100+-year-old quote: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
• For my fellow knitters….these Chunky Christmas Stockings knit up quickly!
• This list of Where to Take Your Decluttering Discards came in handy this past week!

Well, I have a bunch of projects up my sleeve that need my attention, so I am going to sign off. Wishing you a Marvelous Monday my friends.

Thanks for making my day by SHARING!!