Hey-yo! I'm back and I have something I need to get off my chest.

This month is just whizzing on by.

Just in case you have been living under a rock, or you don't really "do" social media (which if you don't...its really annoying for your family and friends...however....I am slightly jealous..because I can't seem to quit). We are all suppose to be mad about the Starbucks red holiday cup. {insert eyeroll} Apparently it is not "Christian" enough. I don't see what any of their other holiday cups had to do with little baby Jesus in a manger, but that is neither here nor there. The solid red cup is, according to some, the sign of the debil and the heathen ways of this country.

I don't buy my coffee at Starbucks, except for a rare instance here and there. But I'm not really in the habit of buying my coffee anywhere other than at the grocery store to then prepare at home. For the record, I do not drink my homemade coffee in a holiday mug during the holiday season. I'm not sure what that says about me as a Christian.

There have been many, many funny meme's that have come out of this whole situation. And I have snorked out loud at a few.

But for the most part, I've sort of kept my opinion to myself over on the old book of faces. Mostly because, sharing something...for or against it, doesn't really DO anything. There is no action is telling other people on Facebook how ridiculous they are being while reminding them that there are much bigger problems in this world than a coffee cup.

I want to know what those people did, even in the tiniest way, to help fix those problems they keep reminding everyone else of. My view on my faith is that I cannot argue people into believing in my God. I cannot shame them...or belittle them...or guilt them. And I should not be trying to sway them by angry protest.

I can only try and love them.

Whoa! Hold on...I said the L word. I know that is really scary for some people. I don't really mean love them in the sense of trying to be overly kind to all those crazy people on Facebook. Some people are going to think and feel what they want.

What I mean is, instead of arguing back and forth about what the REAL meaning of Christmas is on Facebook, I'm trying to think of what ACTIONS I can take to SHOW what the real meaning of Christmas is.

And its all about the love and kindness and giving, people.

I am not trying to say I am the next Mother Teresa. I haven't taken any action to show what I feel the meaning of Christmas is...yet. But the thoughts are brewing in my mind as I type. So what I'd like to propose, although I'm sure tons of you will think this is way less fun than re-sharing something on Facebook, is that instead of posting to Facebook about the Great Red Cup Debate of 2016 (or any other seasonal debate that may come along...hello Target Ugly Sweater)...why don't you stop and think about something you can do for your community instead.

There are food banks near you that need food.

There are Toys for Tots that need toys.

There are Angel Tree recipients that need someone to be their angel this season.

There are homeless shelters, soup kitchens, church pantries, women's shelter, animal rescues..all right there in your community...that need your help.

So pick up a local newspaper or google your city...and find a way to SHOW people (that actually really need to see it) what the true meaning of Christmas is.

E is for....Enjoy the little things

5. Your Fall Bucket List

Prompts like these make it a little more difficult to stick to my ABC theme. How do you make a list when you are trying to keep it within the requirements of one letter...and a vowel, at that?!

In West Texas we don't exactly have four full seasons. We are on the edge of a dessert, so the "fall" and "spring" seasons you imagine in your minds don't really happen here. What we have is a lot of summer, a little of winter, and a smidge of fall and spring.

Honestly, this time of year isn't my favorite. It's actually really difficult for me. Blame it on SAD, it's probably the easiest explanation (although I'm not 100% sure that's what it is). But I'm trying to manage it this season, with positivity and gentleness.

So the only thing on my Fall bucket list is to enjoy the little things. Actively seek pleasure in what and who is around me. Take a moment to appreciate the crisp weather (we don't have it for long). Indulge in a cinnamon scented witches broom. Bake something, just because. Be ok with not decorating, if I don't feel like it...but enjoy the other homes that do (there is one house we passed yesterday that is decked out for Halloween..I think I counted at least three huge inflatables in the yard). Allowing myself to snuggle on the couch with a blanket, in my PJ's and fuzzy socks, with a book or a dog or cat..or all three at once (it's been known to happen in this house).

Basically, I just want to be happy. I don't want to let myself get sucked into the black hole that seems to consume me every year around this time. So, I'm going to sniff all the cinnamon things and drink all the pumpkin spice things, I'm going to wrap myself in a cocoon of fleece blankets and eat mini-chocolates. I am going to smile, I am going to laugh, I'm going to turn my face to the sun,

Life on the home front.

Every morning, when I walk out of the kitchen to the living room to open the curtains, Lola pops her leg up in the air and insists that I give her a belly rub. A morning belly rub to get her through the day. A day full of lolling and sleeping. Her life is so rough.

Summer is coming at us like a fright train, with temps reaching the 100's already. On days like that the ground gets too hot to take the dogs for walks. So we take them on rides instead, which suits Duke just fine...especially when we roll the window down for him.

Jeremy surprised me with roses, chocolates, and Mother's Day cards from him and the fur kids on Saturday. But that wasn't ALL..he also brought me new plants for our front yard. West Texas is in a serious drought. Just about everyone's lawn is brown and dead due to severe water restrictions. Between no water and the extreme heat in the summer and rare freezing temps we have had the last few winters, many of our trees and shrubs have died. So Jeremy spent his day out in the heat, chopping down trees and digging up plants. And planting new, pretty things.

 

On Sunday, we had my mom and Jeremy's parents over the lunch (next time I promise to have dessert, Mom). Dolly was there too, of course. I didn't get a picture, but I painted her nails a silvery-white (she brought me the polish she wanted to use). We also watched one of her favorite movies, currently, 'Dear Dumb Diary'. I swear the songs will be stuck in my head for days. But it was still a cute movie.

I hope you had a fabulous Mother's Day weekend!

Dear September

Have you been hanging out with August? Because y'all are both scorching hot...and not in a good way. Let me remind you that as much fun as you think August is that you are suppose to be bringing in the fall. I don't care that August has talked up summer time like its going out of style. It IS going out of style. We are all tired of summer. Besides, there will lots of other summers. Right now, it's time for fall. And I'm not even asking for instant fall. I don't need for it to go from hot as hell to fridged cold. Ok? I just need you to tone back on the heat thing. Let's say to a crisp coolness? Doesn't that sound nice?

Really, August is pretty mean. She is SO hot that not even pool days sound good. Not only is she too hot to enjoy being outside she also brings the start of school. That means all the stores are shoving FALL fashion down our throats all of August while August is still 100+.  That isn't fun at all, September. August is a boiling hot hearted bitch. She doesn't care about the people, or animals, or trees, or flowers, or grass. She turns everything in her wake to stiff yellow deadness. No fun, September, NO fun.

So maybe you can be the nicer month. Maybe you can take pity on us humans and bring us some weather that actually makes us want to leave our houses. Think of all the people that would be walking and jogging outside in your glorious fall weather? The families that will reconnect at the end of the day with a nice walk around the block? The dogs that will get daily walks after having to watch the outside world through the the window because the cement was like lava? Think of all the smiles you will see. Instead of the cringes that we put on now when we walk outside, throwing our hands up to shield our eyes from melting out of our heads. We live like vampires, September! VAMPIRES! And I, for one, am tired of it.

Think about it, okay? I have a pumpkin with your name written all over it if you bring the heat back down under 'death ray'.

Make It Stop!

This wonderful spring weather has brought with it the WORST case of allergies ever to the Just Jinny household. I don't normally even suffer from seasonal allergies and my eyes have been burning on and off for the last two weeks. Jeremy has been doing that 'clearing the back throat' cough/choke.

And the dogs. The dogs are both so itchy. A few weeks ago I mentioned Lola was shaking her head like her ear was bothering her. Turns out she had a sinus infection...from allergies. First time that has ever happened (hopefully the ONLY time..please, God). She has been doing her butt dance/fish flop because she can't reach her back to scratch any other way. And Duke has been chewing on himself...in the middle of the night..which is keeping me awake.

I've been trying to do my part, stepping up the sweeping and vacuuming to keep the dirt and pollen in the house to a minimum. I've been keeping both the dogs on allergy meds (and Duke has never needed them before) and trying to bath them at least once a week with hypo-allergenic shampoo.

*sigh*

It's exhausting. And slightly stressful.

I just wish that whatever is in the air that is bothering ALL of us would just move right along.

So tell me...do your animals suffer from seasonal allergies? How do y'all relieve their symptoms short of taking them to the vet for shots?

Day Thirteen: A Sign

Spring is here!

March Photo-a-day

A 108 Bulbs

This is how we spent our Saturday morning

Don't look at my husbands poor shoes.

Everyone wanted to help. Duke and Lola loved sittting in the dirt. Lil' Mama even came around to lend a paw. She had a lot of fun batting around the bulbs.

Grow, little bulb, grow!

It's fall, y'all!

I hit up Hobby Lobby today and found these beauties on sale for 50% off. The bag of pine cones/cinnamon sticks/filler bits was half off too. I also bought a grapevine wreath (on sale) and a seasonal floral bundle (sale), a craftable letter S (not the one in the picture), a piece of fall themed scrapebook paper, two bundles of fabric remnants.

Oh, and I bought Pumpkin ice cream at the grocery store.

Can you tell that I am just a teensy bit THRILLED that its October?

Seasonal Nothingness

I have nothing to blog about. I am too tired. I blame the seasons. It's that time of year, the transition from summer to fall. Even though most people will tell you that there is no such thing as fall in West Texas...we do have a period of change. The mornings seem much darker and are notably colder. It's harder to get out of bed in the morning. It seems to get darker earlier with the days growing shorter. It's a time of heaters running in the morning and air conditioners running in the afternoons. It takes its toll on a persons body. At least, that's the story I'm sticking to.

So, instead of blogging about something interesting I'll leave you with this photo:

More Pumpkins!

Get out of my head!

Blogtoberfest 2010

Jeremy: That's not going to be enough pumpkins, is it?

Me: *silence, since that was exactly what I was thinking*

Jeremy: That's what I thought. You're gonna need more pumpkins.

Me: You don't know me.

Weekly Winners ~ Photo Hunt ~ Shutter Sisters

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." ~ Edith Sitwell

I'm rolling a few different things together in todays post. First off, this weeks Photo Hunt was ruin(ed). I couldn't find a thing that was ruined..except for me. These kids have absolutely ruined me. They are amazing little people and I love watching them grow and learn and laugh.



Over at Shutter Sisters they asked about what we do to make indoor time at home fun and cozy or just bearable.

Well...We make chili and sweet cornbread. My husband makes the BEST chili. It's out of this world good. And when it gets colder its always the first thing we think of.



I break out my warm fuzzy socks.



I drink lots of coffee.



And I snuggle up with our fleece blankets and Lola. She is great for keeping me warm.



The kids have to find things to keep entertained as well, since the days can't be spent outside. We break out a lot of toys.




And we all dream about Sping when things start to warm back up again.



To see MORE weekly winners (trust me, you'll want to) check out Sarcastic Mom.

A View...into October

"Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter." ~ Carol Bishop Hipps











Come see other Photo Hunters and Weekly Winners!