* IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD *

♪ ♪   It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood....   ♪ ♪

 

♪ ♪  Won't you be my neighbor?!  ♪ ♪

 

Ah, yes it is a glorious day in my neighborhood today: sweatshirt and jeans weather...my favorite!

 

I've been given a gift...to be outside enjoying this bright, sunny day with a crisp in the air...because I have to run some errands...post office, grocery store, etc. but just wanted to post something before I left.

 

Here are a couple of photos from my neighborhood from last fall - 2015. How fortunate I am to live in the beautiful Midwest!

 

 

 

 

 

Have a blissful, beautiful day!

 

 

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

 

“Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul... but I must confess that I love you only because you are a prelude to my beloved October.”
― Peggy Toney Horton

 

“October had tremendous possibility. The summer's oppressive heat was a distant memory, and the golden leaves promised a world full of beautiful adventures. They made me believe in miracles.”
― Sarah Guillory, Reclaimed

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday!

 

 

 

Yay! It's October and we've finally had some cooler temperatures here at the new homestead. I LOVE fall, as I've expressed many, many times on my blog! The leaves aren't changing colors yet, so I'm posting photos from times past....thus, the Nostalgic Sunday post. :)

 

 

 

 

These three pictures were taken on November 13, 2012...almost four years ago. It seems like a lifetime ago, and it seems like just the other day. Our lives were in the midst of changes, big changes, and the downsizing began.

 

 

I miss that house sometimes, and the happy memories that were made there, but one of the best things about "happy" memories, is that they go along with you, no matter where you are.

 

When I think all the way back to every house/apartment I ever lived in, I miss every one of them for various reasons(except the two crappy apartments in Germany...thank goodness we lived in nice ones the majority of those years) And even during those years of unhappiness and loneliness spent with my first husband...I have fond memories of the places we lived, because I enjoyed so much of how I made each of them into a "home." Does that make sense?

 

I've told Ron many times over the years that I would be happy living anywhere with him, no matter how small or old the place might be, and that's how it's always been and I know it always will be.

 

 (P.S. The new background photo is one I also took around the same time.)

 

 

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." - L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday!

 

 

Wow, this is my third Nostalgic Sunday in a row!
Will I be able to keep this up??

 

 

 

I borrowed the below photos from a blog post I wrote on November 18, 2011. Usually when I look back at memories, it doesn't seem like anything was so long ago, but for some reason, this particular memory does seem like it was five years ago...or even more.  

 

I think it's because we've moved twice since we lived in that home. We downsized both times and I've always been happy...or maybe the correct way of saying it would be "I chose to be happy" and "I've always bloomed wherever I've been planted."

 

 

So, why am I posting photos from almost five years ago?! Here is that link: http://beckypovich.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-wonder_18.html#comment-form 

 

Because I made two homemade apple pies this afternoon and everything looked just like these photos! I used the exact same recipe which is so simple, even I can bake great pies! And I love using my apple peeler/slicer/corer thingy, which still works great.

 

 

 

Today, I did use different apples because my local grocery store had some on sale. I used Honey Crisp and Sweet Tango. Yummy! 
(I've always used a variety in one pie: granny smith, gala, braeburn, cortland.)
 

 

I used my go-to pie crust - Pillsbury!
Sprinkle the apple slices with a cinnamon sugar mix.
 

 

 

The topping is flour, sugar, and butter. 
 

And...voila' ! 

 

(When you click on each photo, you can see a LARGE view!)


My husband, Ron, has already eaten almost half of one!
(Good reason to make two at a time!)
I'll be happy to post the recipe if anyone would like to see it.


How about it, everyone? Who likes to bake pies? Do you have a favorite recipe to share? Or do you prefer cakes? Now that the weather is finally cooling a bit, I'm ready to bake homemade bread, which I really haven't done in YEARS!
 



* MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT *

I haven't intentionally kept my major announcement a secret from y'all, but with all the other things going on the past few weeks, it just didn't seem the right time to share it. But tonight....

 

 

 

After Ron and I had to say goodbye on May 16th to our beloved lab/mix Vern, we both said, "Never again!" We truly believed that Vern was the last of the Best Dogs in the Whole World. We didn't even want to look at other dogs. None could ever "replace" Vern, we knew that of course, but we didn't want to ever feel that devastated again...

 

But time has a way of helping people look at things differently. We discovered we did want and need another furry member of our family. We still had lots of love to give, and we wanted another "older" shelter dog. And once again, serendipity worked its magic...

 

We are delighted to announce the adoption of...

 

Charlie: an 8 year old Beagle/mix

(I've always wanted a beagle!)

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the day he came to our condo for a "meet & greet" he appeared to feel very much at home with us. We've had him now for about a month and every day he gets cuter, and more fun, and more loving! Isn't he adorable?? (How could anyone leave this beautiful, sweet guy at a shelter?? Well, because they did, though, Charlie has a new, loving home, and Ron and I are so happy and full of joy again!)

 

 

 

Snoopy is a Beagle....Charlie is a Beagle/Mix.....

Get it?! Your comments will make Charlie happy! J

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

 

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

 

 

 

I can't believe it's Sunday already...

 

~~~

 

 

 

I'm feeling nostalgic today about music from another era, the 1960s.

 

 

 

One song I love, in particular, is "Moon River" by Andy Williams. It's one of those songs that just does something to me whenever I hear it. I also like it as an instrumental, but only Mr. Williams can sing it for me!

 

 

1960s performance

 

https://youtu.be/flm4xcOyiCo

 

 

AND

 

 

1970s performance

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi0UUP7g-0M

 

 

 

Do you have a preference between the two??

 

 

What about you? Do you have favorite songs from the 1960s?

 

 

P.S. I forgot to welcome my three new followers! - Lee, Delores, and Jennifer.  I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see. Thank you!





* WRITING CONTEST APPROACHES DEADLINE *

How many of you know about and/or read the magazine Real Simple ?

I have subscribed to it off and on and I really like it. It's always full of great ideas for every part of your life, and also recipes for those with more of a "gourmet talent" than I have! (And the pictures are nice to look at!)

Anyway...just today it popped into my head that I hadn't seen or heard anything about Real Simple's Annual Life Lessons Essay Contest. I remembered it was in the fall, so I went to their website, and voila'....there it was - - -

http://www.realsimple.com/magazine-more/inside-website/contests-sweepstakes/eighth-life-lessons-essay-contest-rules

Here is this year's question:

What was the most dramatic change you ever had to make?

Wow, can it already be the NINTH Annual?? I entered the contest a time or two, but always at the last minute, knowing even before I hit the Submit button that my essay wasn't anywhere near the quality of writing that was required.

There's still time! Here are four reasons why you should enter this contest!

1) It's FREE to enter.

2) The first place winner receives $3,000!

3)  The second-place winner will receive $750.

4)  The third-place winner will receive $500.


So, those of you who can whip up an essay in 1,500 words or less, and submit it online by 11:50 P.M. ET on September 19, 2016 (that's next Monday!)....give it a try!

I wish everyone the best of luck!

...or whatever your writerly drink of choice is!

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's time for another Nostalgic Sunday

 

 

 

 

 

All I really want to say on this particular Sunday, September 11th, is how this date in 2001 was so horrible it was beyond comprehension...and it was the day my naivety about the world we lived in, ended.

 

 

 

I still yearn for those days of innocence....

 

 

 

But I'm also so grateful that I was fortunate enough to enjoy

so many years of that innocence.

 



 

 

 

Lyrics from God Bless the USA,

by Lee Greenwood

 

 

...I thank my lucky stars
To be living here today
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom
And they can't take that away...

 

 

 

(I'll be back next Sunday with another visit to the Andy Taylor residence!)





* I WANT TO THANK YOU...*

Well, as I said in one of my replies to a comment in my most recent post.....

 

BECKY September 7, 2016 at 8:39 PM
 

"Jeanie, thank you very much! After reading your encouraging words, I feel kind of foolish for being so upset over a part-time job that I'd had for less than a year. It did hit me hard, but here...only 2 days later, I'm feeling a lot better. When I do allow myself to think about it, I get my mind off of it as soon as possible. There's absolutely no sense in reliving it over and over in my head...Thank you so much. I'm so blessed to have some awesome blog friends!"

 

 

♪ I want to thank you for giving me the best day(s) of my life
Oh just to be with you is having the best day(s) of my life ♪

 

 

 

AND, I reminded myself that I'm usually such a believer in inspirational quotes...

as I recently posted on my blog!

 

 

 

Posted on my blog on July 2nd

 

Posted on my blog on August 12th

 

 And what about that sense of humor of mine?

 

 

And so, I already have other ideas floating around in my mind, some of which haven't even materialized enough yet for me to realize what they are! Are they about a job, or writing, or what? I'm feeling so much better and a great deal of that is because of all my fantastic blog friends.

As Bette Midler sang: ♪♪ You got to have friends ♪♪

 

Thank you all so much!