Little McDebbie Muffins

Little McDebbie Muffins is what my hubby calls these breakfast sandwiches that I made Saturday morning.  I made ten, with the intention of freezing most of them.  So I had to get organized.

While a small amount of oil was heating in the frying pan, I got out the eggs.

 

I split the English muffins and took the cheese slices out of the wrapping.

I fried the eggs in the hot oil.  If you push the whites of the eggs toward the center with a spatula, they are rounder and fit on the muffins better.  I also poked the yokes so that they would cook.  I didn't want runny eggs in the muffins.

I had Pandora radio going on the computer while I worked.  The station I created was instrumental/piano music. 

Here are the muffins with the eggs on them.

Then I added the Canadian Bacon on top of the eggs.

Followed by cheese.  A couple of them have Pepper Jack cheese for a little bite!

The finished sandwiches:

I put them in sandwich bags.

Eight of the individual sandwiches were put in a gallon size bag and two were put in the fridge for eating right away.

These sandwiches have about 300 calories.  Hubby can take one with him to work to heat up after he gets there.

Fall Shoes and a Fashion Question

Hounds tooth Checked Fabric Ballet Flats

These are a new pair of fall shoes I picked up this week.   My question.  Do you wear flats and heels without any socks, hose or tights?   I've noticed this trend, but  I'm having a hard time switching over to this!  My feet just don't look right without trouser socks or hose.  Of course, I wear sandals, both flats and heels, with no hose in warm weather, but the closed in shoes.... not so sure about that.  I've seen this even in very cold weather.

My feet.

Thanks for your input!

More Signs of Fall - Mums!

My hubby brought home these two huge mums on Friday.

There are hundreds of unopened buds on them.  When they fully open they will be so beautiful!

Happy Fall!

And the Saints Go Marching In.... A Heart Strings Post

We said good bye to Mama's last beloved brother this week.
 

I'm sure Mama met him at the Gates with great joy!  He was so sad when she left us and I never thought he'd be following her so soon, since he had always enjoyed good health.  But, the Lord took him swiftly.  He left behind his beloved wife of 59 years, who had fallen and broken her hip only a week before.

I read this devotion Sunday morning, based on Psalms 118:24:  This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

Then on Monday, when I saw the cover of Uncle B's Funeral program, I was pleasantly surprised to see the same Bible verse.  I know this is an often quoted and well known Bible verse, but is Somebody trying to tell me something?  Most of the time I probably miss these little gifts from the Lord because I'm not paying attention.  Note to self:  Be more observant.  There is so much wonder all around us, but we don't notice it.

A pearl from the devotion:  Be GLAD  G=Go to the Lord; L=Leave your burdens with him; A=Adore Him; D= Do these things Daily. 

The Devotion Book is Words of Encouragement for a Discouraged World.

Consignment Store Pocketbook

My plans to make a new fall pocketbook haven't happened yet! I found this one at a consignment shop and am loving it. It is kind of big.   Hubby calls it my suitcase.
 

Braided Handles

My purse organizer fits well with room to spare.

I am still planning to make one, just not sure when that is going to happen.

Signs of the Season

My hubby has a part time road side pumpkin stand!

Aren't they beautiful?

Happy Fall... just three more days.

How I Organize My Clothes For Transitioning Into Fall

We've had a few Fall-like days, so its time to organize my closet for the transitional weather we have this time of year. I'm done with some of my summer clothes until next spring. We'll still have hot days for the next month at least, but some mornings and some days will be cool.

So, I worked on organizing my clothes Saturday. I had at least 10 sleeveless tops hanging in my closet taking up space and hangers. I use these for layering year round or by themselves in the summer.
 

I learned from organizing expert, Alejandra Costello, to fold them in half twice and then roll them up.  They take up less space and are easy to see when opening the drawer, as opposed to just folding them and stacking them on top of each other.  If you have time, look at some of her videos for lots of organizing inspiration.

The other summer tops were switched out with some fall tops in the sewing room closet where I store off season clothes.  I kept some short sleeve tops in darker colors on the left side of the rod and some light weight long sleeve tops on the right side of the rod. 

On the bottom rod I placed some lighter weight jackets and sweaters.  I probably won't use these too much for a few more weeks.

This is the left side of my side of the closet where I hang pants, jeans, skirts and dresses.  There is also a hanging shoe organizer and a scarf organizer.  That little basket holds my every day underwear.  I think "life's too short to fold underwear", so I just toss them in this basket when doing laundry.   This way they still look neat and its so easy to grab a pair when getting dressed.

I still love this over the door shoe/sock organizer that I posted about last spring.

When I was in the off season clothing closet, I saw that I have plenty of winter sweaters.  When the weather changes over to cold in about mid-November, I'll put away the transitional fall clothes and get out the cold weather ones.

Also, on Saturday I found a few pieces of clothes that needed some mending and worked on that.

Going through clothes at the beginning of a season is a great time to figure out what you might need to buy or what you have plenty of.  I don't do too much clothes shopping, but when I do I'd like to know what I'm supposed to be looking for, instead of wandering around aimlessly.  I'm trying to look more "put together".

For example, in the past I often picked up a top that was cute, but didn't know how I was going to wear it.  I'm going to make another list of outfits, like I did at the beginning of the summer, complete with jewelry and shoes, so that I can get dressed quickly for work or church.  It seems I am always doing this at the last minute!

A Slice of My Life - Early September 2013

A Corner of the farmhouse.

The old school desk.

Guest room for NC State Fans.

Mama's table, Bible, book, teapot and doily. (lamp from Dollar General)

Mama's OLD electric clock.  I'm afraid to plug it in.

 

Had to get new tires and rims.



The tobacco of 2013 is history.  So glad its gone!

Beautiful Day.

Remnants of the raised bed.

Marigolds

Dining room corner.

Family Reunion at Rhodes Pond

The dam had broken, so the water was low temporarily.

The corn as been picked.

Decorating With Mama's Antique China Cabinet

We recently got Mama's antique china cabinet back from being refinished. It belonged to my grandmother and was then passed down to my mother and now to me. There is a matching side board/buffet, that my sister has.

I really did not think I had anywhere to put this piece of furniture, but we ended up putting it in the living room.  The kitchen and dining room are already full and it would be hidden in the hallway.  I am very happy with its new location.

On the top shelf the items are blue and white.  My mother had the one Blue Willow platter in the very back and the white with blue trim tea pot.  I found the blue willow tea cups and plates at a consignment shop and at a junk shop.  I already had the other white pitcher and bowl with the blue stripe.

On the middle shelf are some of my quilts and the bottom shelf has one of Mama's big bowls.  After looking on the bottom of the bowl and doing a little research, I learned that the bowl was made by McCoy Pottery.  I'm pretty sure Mama got hers in the early 70s.  She had three, but I only brought home one.   I found the matching cookie jar/canister at a consignment shop.  Its funny how collecting a certain thing gets started.  Now I will be looking for McCoy pottery and for Blue Willow china!  That's a battery operated candle in the bowl.  It looks kind of weird in the picture, but in real life its flickering looks very cozy.

This china cabinet has legs so there is a great place underneath to put things.  For the time being there is the very old suitcase found in Mama's attic and some baskets, etc.

I am enjoying leaving the china cabinet door open.  When it is closed you can't really see the contents very well.  Hanging on the door is a vintage linen dish towel that has fall colors on it.  Its not only decorative, but protects the cabinet.  Every time we walk by, our footsteps jar the cabinet and the door bumps against it.

On top of the china cabinet there is a wooden decorative piece on the front, so its a challenge to put things on top that can be seen behind it.  This tiered wire basket is tall, but even so, I had to sit it on top of a book.  I put some little pumpkins and fall leaves in the baskets.  At Christmas I can put in some shiny Christmas balls, little wrapped gifts and things like that.   All of the items on top of the cabinet are sitting on books to give them more height.   Another option would be to hang a picture on the wall above and behind the cabinet, instead of putting as many things on the cabinet.  I have one of Mama's large fall pictures that would be great for this.  But, for now, this is what I've done.

This is another of my treasured dishes from Mama.  I love the wheat design.  As with the Blue Willow dishes, there is only one piece remaining from what I assume began as a whole set.  It looks great for Fall decorating.  At Christmas I can temporarily replace it with a Christmas plate.  I think I have one of Mama's that I can use.

The great thing about decorating is that if you don't like something, its not set in stone.  I can change all of this in just a few minutes if I decide to.  I'm pleased with its slightly Fall touches and with the fact that many of Mama's things are incorporated into the design.