Happy Monday - Last of the Hooked Pumpkins!

It's Monday night and the day has almost slipped away from me without blogging since Friday! I don't have much to say but wanted to check in anyway.


I've posted my last hooked jack-o-lantern into my Etsy shop. I figured at this point in October the Halloween sales are going to slack off.
He is a cutie - one of my favorites!

Happy Columbus Day too! If you had the day off I hope it was a good one.

Cheers!

How fantastic - one of my neighbors stopped over to congratulate me with a bottle of champagne! How sweet is that?!
I wish I could share it with you all!

I'm working at the shop tomorrow.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Cheers!

Sugar Maples and My New Bargain Chair

The Sugar Maple next to our house is looking beautiful!
There is also another one behind it which you can't see.


This is the one in the back yard.
We used to have a gi-normous Sugar Maple in the front yard but sadly we lost it about 15 months ago. It killed me to lose that tree - I fell in love with the tree before I even looked at the house when we were purchasing it 19 years ago! Our neighbor across the street lost 2 Sugar Maples in the last couple of years too. When the kids were little there were such huge piles of leaves for them to jump in - no fun to rake but sure fun to play in. I guess we should be thankful we have less to rake, but I do miss them.

As you can see by the blue sky it was a beautiful day here - really windy (wind gusts up to 52 mph) but lovely! Surprised there are any leaves left on the trees!

Here's my bargain wicker chair. I love it!


I can't wait to get started on the room. Hopefully George will get the paint and we can get started on it this weekend, however I am working in the local shop Saturday so less man-power! The chair is sitting in our living room right now (rather than moving it up and having to move more furniture to paint). The carpet in the room is brown and the cushion will be perfect. I just happened to have the throw pillow which coordinates perfectly.

Thank You and More Pumpkins

Wow!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you all! I know your comments about my good news were from the heart. I commented to another blogger the other day I'm generally a quiet and private person but blogging has opened up a whole new world for me and one chock-full of friends who genuinely care about me.
You're all special and you all have wonderful talents. I admire each and everyone of you. You're an unending source of inspiration in my life. I'm honored to be part of your lives. I thank you for that and for all of your support to me over these last months.
It's so weird to say I'm stress free right now!

Thanks for the concern that I won't be blogging much when I go back to work - I'm sure gonna try.
And, don't worry, my hooking will not go away. I actually used to hook more when I was working - always did it at night to unwind.

I went to get my drug test this morning (supposed to within 48 hours of the offer). That was a different experience coming from one who has never had one! For a moment there, I thought the technician was going to stay with me in the toilet!

I decided to treat myself to a little bit of shopping on the way home. I stopped at Pier One and found a lovely white wicker chair. It was marked down from $249 to $48! I could not pass it up, especially since Brian moved out and I want to redecorate his room. Darn - I forgot to take a picture of it and its too dark now.

From there I went to Nordstroms Rack and found a pair of black slacks and a turquoise wrap sweater both marked down, with an additional 75% off. I got both for under $15! Could it be that evil eye again, finding those bargains for me?!

Since I was so excited yesterday I only blogged about my job, I did not show my latest creations. I did get my hooking done Sunday evening and Monday morning I made the hooked pieces into pillows.
This cute little mini Jack was added to my shop -

I'll add this Rusty Jack tomorrow -

Guess What - I Got a Job!!!!!

It happened! I did it! I got an offer and I accepted it!
Wow!
I received a phone call after 7 PM Friday night with an offer - I was so dumbstruck I could not accept on the spot (although I knew it was right) so I said I would call today. Needless to say, I called today and gladly accepted.

I will be working for U.S. Liability Insurance Group (a Berkshire Hathaway Company). A new industry for me. They really seemed impressed with ME from the start and they moved quickly. The entire process from application, through interviews, to the offer was less than 2 weeks. The entire time I was thinking, Wow, they are impressed with ME and are moving quickly. I guess it is just fate. It was meant to be!
I start in 2 weeks (10/19).

Oh these last 8 months! You have no idea how relieved I am to have this is all behind me - I don't have to feel bad about myself anymore, don't have to second guess myself, and can get on with my life. Oh you have no idea...........
Popped the champagne this evening.
Cheers!
(thank you all for your months of listening and your unending support - love ya all!)

P.S I came across this quotation which really captures my feelings. It was in an Etsy shop, cathycullis - What a talented artist. Her words spoke to me and I hope she does not mind me sharing them here -

October spell'

today my hopelessness
no longer a burden
a pleasure in the taste
of fire as I walk
through leaves
this October spell
holds my heart

Indian Summer!

It is a gorgeous day here in Southeastern Pennsylvania! It is sunny and in the 70s. A beautiful Indian Summer day.
We always say why can't it be like this every day, but then one would not be able to enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature and all of her seasons.

George took out some of the old summer flowers today that we dying back but we brought these Zinnias in to enjoy. They are so pretty. Zinnias are one of those flowers that never fails to disappoint.

I was busy hooking last night - trying to get more pumpkins ready for the shop since they seem to be selling. I'm too distracted today with the nice weather to hook - maybe tonight! It was so nice we even washed my car this morning. Just a perfect day to be outside.

I hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday.

Yesterday's Accomplishments

I got a lot done yesterday - I put this jack-o-lantern together (did the hooking last week), and I did two little Sweet Nothing stitchings!
I think they are sweet!




It was nice to do some stitching again after a lot of hooking recently.