Project reStart

A group of us from the office volunteered to serve lunch at a community outreach for homeless folks and families with no place to turn.

This program is called reStart and their intent is to provide shelter and food to folks and help them get back on their feet and into a home of their own.

It was such a blessing for us to go down and serve lunch and visit with the good people that work there and live there. I can't think of a better way to spend a few hours on a Sunday afternoon.

Hubs went along and before I knew it, he was washing dishes with the crew, and helping out wherever he could find a need.

He's a keeper!

I met alot of new friends today and one that really touched my heart was named Xavier. He is 5... going to be 6 soon - and I promised to come back and visit him soon.

who'd a thunk it

If you are like me, once in awhile you create a piece that you would rather keep than sell, but being a business woman, you feel like you should put it up for sale anyway.

That's how I felt about my latest Scarecrow on the TDIPT Mercantile. Yesterday, I spent the day decorating my house and realized I had the perfect spot for this guy that has been tugging at my heart for a couple of weeks now.

I think it was destiny... don't you?

Employee Appreciation Day

Have I mentioned lately that I work for the best company EVER?

It's true, they genuinely care about all of their associates and treat us like gold! Today is Employee Appreciation Day and the morning started with breakfast being catered, including pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice and fresh fruit.

These are a few random shots to share of folks I work with -

My sweet friend, Morabia is showing a little flair for the "birdie".

Everything was delightful but the best was to come after the meal. We had a little contest to see who could make the most creative pancake. You could do any design you wanted but you were only allowed one flip of the spatula and it was judged by applause.

We had everything from palm trees to T-Rex dinosaurs, Spongebob Squarepants to Mr. Bill! I was going to show my witty side and decided to pour a lightbulb ... thinking it was a "Bright Idea"! lol... needless to say, I didn't win but a big congratulations to Amy who poured an awesome butterfly and decorated it with pineapple, peached and strawberries!

This afternoon, the ice cream man will make the rounds.... yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

I Scream - You Scream - We All Scream - for Ice Cream!!

Let's Do Lunch....

Who'd a Thunk It?
Two of my very dearest friends share the same birthday and in honor of these girls, I'd love to do lunch with both of them!

Happy Birthday to my treasured friends -

Carol of Nostalgic Folkart

and

Peanut of Countryfolk Keepsakes

If you have a minute, wont you drop by and send them a birthday wish? I'm sure it would make their day!!

Love you guys so much!
God has blessed my life with YOU ♥

What a weekend!

We rode down to Ozark, MO early Saturday morning to attend a Bike Blessing at a fellow BFC (Bikers for Christ) chapter church. Their Sunday morning gathering and service was called Bikes, Bibles and Blessings.

We made great time going down, and were almost to our destination when the rains moved in on us. I dont think we have been on one ride this year without it rain and you would think I'd be used to it by now. Rain or not, we weren't about to let that stop our fun!

It was a great time visiting our south Missouri friends and spending time with them. God blessed our Sunday with nice weather (eventually) and a fantastic turnout of about 275 folk at the church.

We even made the local news ... check it out here.

God was Honored and Glorified!

Chief's Friday

Our office is big on community relations and company get togethers and it's always alot of fun and rewarding too!

Today was "Chiefs Friday" at the office, but we celebrate on Thursdays since 1/2 the crew get Friday afternoon off. It was a beautiful day and we were treated to an extended lunch with bbq hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken breast and all the trimmings. We had a football toss and the winner who could throw the football through a hoola hoop from the greatest distance won a gift card. It was so much fun - this is a picture of me and two of my co-workers. Laura (on the right) was runner-up in the football toss and I'm here to tell you - she has some kinda arm on her! Great fun today :)

In the past, we have donated and shipped goodie boxes to our soldiers, visited Nursing homes and homes for abandoned kids, participated in Breast Cancer awareness walks and helped hospitals by making huge red fleece stockings to put newborn babies in at Christmas, to name a few things. We always have fun with activities within our own company, like afternoons in the park playing games or leaving the office to go bowling together.

I count my blessings every day that I have this job. I work with the best bunch of girls and our corner of the office is known as "party cove" because we are always having fun over something!

Just a preview of the Merc

I have a couple of pieces that will be loaded up on the TDIPT Mercantile tonight and thought you might like a sneak peek.

Looks like old Scarecrow is working the fields, harvesting the sunflowers that are so pretty this time of the year. I really love this guy with his gussetted rag-stuffed bottom, bluejean overalls and red kerchief around his neck. Who says a straw stuffed fella can't be fun?

♥ LIL PUNK is a cupboard tuck measuring 11" tall. Ain't he jes precious?

NEVER FORGET....

Start Spreading the News

Over at the TDIPT blog, we are having a fun little contest to bring a chuckle and some frolick in your day.

We've got goats in tu-tus and doggies in baby bonnets ... but dont take my word for it! Come see for yourself and Please - VOTE for your favorite while you are there!

Hold the Phone... Here's more good news!

you really dont want to miss out on.

If you are familiar with Cart Before the Horse, then you will be as excited as I am to learn that Joee and Dylan are having a give-away!

Winners will be announced Oct. 1st.... I hope I see my name in the spotlight!!!

I need a vacation to rest up...

What a time we've had this long weekend ... it's been non-stop going since Friday morning, so I'll just run through a few highlights of the last few days.

Friday we got together with friends for a movie and dinner at my house. We watched State of Play - great movie, a real intense run for your money!

On Saturday evening, we hooked up with our old BBQ competition friends that we havent seen in 15 or 16 yrs. What a great evening together - we laughed till we cried and vowed to do this more regularly. I met up with the youngest Bevan, Carly a few weeks back when I learned she works at one of the restaurants we frequent. She was maybe 10 the last time I saw her and what a beauty she has become....
but then, check out her adorable parents - Debbie hasn't changed a bit and Danny is just as fun and funny as ever! What a blast it was catching up with everything we have done over the last 15 yrs.

Danny is such a nut - he's sporting my readers here to read the menu!

You may not realize it, but sharing specs is something that turns into a community thing at our age ♥


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On Sunday we took a drive over to Cassoday KS. Cassoday is a very small town of about 100 residents that sponsor a bike rally the first Sunday of every month from March thru October. We've tried going for several months and finally made it today - despite riding through dense fog as thick as pea soup for most of the morning.

It was a fun ride and I'll just share a few of my favorite pics with you... this was me and hubs cutting through the fog! My jeans were soaking wet from the knees down when we stopped for coffee 1/2 way there. It was about a 3 1/2 hour ride and the fog didnt even start letting up till about 11am.

Hubs is head over heels ga-ga with Indian motorcycles and is getting the hard sale from a dealer who brought a couple demos over from Wichita. In case you are wondering... no, that isn't fog in the air - its BBQ SMOKE!! :)

I thought this was a cute shirt and asked if I could take his picture... I could see my dad wearing something like this in his day! lol

STRETCH TRIKE??? and then... a classic!

UMMM... NO COMMENT ♥

And last but certainly not least, Hermann Munster would be green with envy if he saw the Apes on this ride! Great day all in all!

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On Monday, we went to another friends house for a huge bbq - the grill master was hard at work cooking everything to perfection. We had so many sides and desserts, it was hard to say no to so many good things. The kind of get-together that makes for a very happy Cookie.... lots of kids, lots of good food and lots of beautiful weather!

What a perfect end to a perfect weekend,

thanks for sharing the journey with me ♥