Train Date

Good Thursday morning!

The Gallery Pics are from my new fall arrangement... on the front steps. I have also added a picture of the new little pumpkins and gourds I purchased this morning. I will be working on my dining room centerpiece using these items.

I know what you're thinking. "Where are the pictures of people? These amateur fall arrangements are boring? Where are the Roxie, Josh, Mikie and the occasional Austin photos?"

In answer to your question, my family has run kicking and screaming away from me and my camera. I'm hoping it is a temporary breakdown of sorts, but until they come back around, pictures of inanimate objects will fill the Gallery. Get used to it!

RANDOMNESS #1 - The Chicken Saga continues with no end in sight. Mike is adamant. I still do not understand where this deep-seeded chicken resentment is coming from. It's starting to get on my nerves. I mean, I wore a plaid shirt AND overalls yesterday, and I got NOTHING for my effort. NADA!

The conversation went something like this...

"Hi, Mikie." (That's me talking, by the way.)

"Uh-oh. Why are you wearing your plaid shirt and overalls?"

"Because I want to ask you something, and I want you to keep an open mind."

"We are NEVER, EVER going to raise a chicken."

It was then I decided to pull the alpaca card. Oh, yeah. I meant business, Baby.

"Then I want an alpaca," I declared.

"A what? Do you mean one of those fuzzy, llama things? Absolutely not. It will spit and shed, and it will upset the beagles."

"Okay. Well, what about a little chicken?"

And so the conversation continued for well into the night. And just so you know, I really don't want an alpaca. Those things kind of give me the creeps. And as far as I know, they don't produce eggs or milk. Just saying.

RANDOMNESS #2 - I haven't posted an Austin Update in a while, so I wanted to share two little things with you regarding The Boy.

I asked The Boy to name ten things he remembered from his childhood. I was curious. I was intrigued. I wanted to know if the millions of hours (NO exaggeration) I had put into making his childhood unforgettable (in a good way) had been worth it. He sent me the following list.

1. Diving into the ten year-old birthday box. (For their tenth birthdays, I painted refrigerator boxes their favorite colors and put ten gifts inside the box. They had to crawl in and out to retrieve their gifts. That's ONE POINT for Mom!)

2. Watching Survivor as a family. (A simple, yet fun tradition we've practiced the past few years. That's TWO POINTS for Mom! And then it kind of stops here. Mom doesn't get any more points!)

3. Dad taking us to Auburn games. (ONE POINT for Mikie. That's okay. I'm pretty sure I planned the Auburn trips.)

4. Crashing on the bike ramp a neighborhood kid made (BY HIMSELF without adult supervision). (Bad, bad memory.)

5. Catching my first fish. (Not with Mom!)

6. Having The Talk for the first time. I was totally traumatized. (He wasn't the only one. I still have nightmares myself.)

7. Watching the Bourne movies for the first time with Dad. (Okay. This is getting ridiculous. ANOTHER POINT for Dad.)

8. Having ribs for the first time at Grandma’s.

9. Going to the hunting club with Granddaddy.

10. Eating biscuits for breakfast at Grandma's.

It's not the list I expected, but all in all, it isn't too bad. Except for the horrific bike crash and The Talk, the list consists of all good memories. At this point in my "motherhood" career, I'll accept this list. Eight out of ten is a B, isn't it? And I still have two more chances to get an A!

RANDOMNESS #3 - Austin went grocery shopping last night and bought a new shampoo/body wash. It was, of course, cheaper than what I usually buy, and it wasn't a name brand. He was proud about the "saving money" part, but he was also pretty excited because there was an added bonus.

"I smell like a cough drop after I get out of the shower," he told me.

"What are you talking about? What kind of cough drop?"

"You know. I smell like Vick's Mentholatum. So this shampoo/body wash is kind of a 'twofer.' It clears my sinuses and cleans everything at the same time. Plus, my head kind of tingles for a little while after I use it."

"Tingles... or burns?"

"It's hard to tell. It's still tingling though as we speak."

I'm going to Wal-Mart to buy a case of the good stuff today.

Blog Linkage - I only have one link to share today. I love hotels. One of my favorite shows on The Travel Channel was Samantha Brown's show touring different hotels all over the world. I would love to stay in as many of these wonderful rooms as possibly before I'm 90. It would be a dream come true. So in keeping with ALL things the Enchanting Belinda enjoys, check out the following...

Click on Confessions of a Pioneer Woman under My Blog List. At the top of her page, click on "Home and Garden." It will take you directly to a post she has written regarding a hotel room she visited recently. Within the post, you can click on a link which will take you to MANY hotel rooms she visited during her recent book tour. I LOVE these posts. It may not be your thing, but if it is, ENJOY!

Train Date

If your little guy or gal has a thing for trains, this is the date for you!

The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera is hosting "Steam Days" September 25 and 26. I'll share an excerpt of the article describing the activities.

"Visitors will relive the golden age of railroading with a 6-mile excursion pulled by the famous Flagg Coal #75, an operating coal-fired 0-4-0 steam locomotive built in 1930.

"Train rides will depart at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Passengers may ride in the Open Air Car, air-conditioned Long Island Commuter Coach, Southern Caboose or in the #75 Locomotive! Other activities during Steam Days include an antique car display, arts and crafts and a yard sale on the railroad museum grounds. On September 25 and 26, rides will be available on antique railroad motor cars."

For more information OR tickets visit www.HODRRM.org or call 205-280-0820.

The information for this date came straight from the Birmingham Christian Family Magazine. (An excellent publication I highly recommend!)

Have a unbelievably good Thursday. I'll be sharing Weekend Happenings and one more segment of the Austin Update (1/3 of an Empty Nest). I'll also have a reminder regarding the CONTEST which is coming up next Friday, October 1.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda