Weekend Happenings, Blog Linkage, Quotable Quotes

Good Friday morning!

It's going to be a very cool weekend... and I'm talking temps. I'm very excited that an early snowstorm in the Dakotas is resulting in Central Alabama having highs in the 60s Sunday. Did you hear me? The 60s!

RANDOMNESS #1 - Josh actually turned 19 yesterday, October 4. As is our tradition, when the kids enter college, we have a family party on the weekend and we celebrate their actual birthdate with The Faulkner Five at a restaurant I know/hope they will enjoy.

Josh is a "steak man," so we decided to go to Outback after Roxie's volleyball game... and I called Will, one of Josh's friends who is away at college, and discovered he was going to be home Wednesday through Sunday because of Fall Break.

He quickly accepted an invite to surprise Josh and take The Boy's place as the Fifth Faulkner (Austin was unable to come home last night because of an early class this morning).

It was a successful surprise (Josh was clueless), and it was a very good dinner.

We even did the "free birthday dessert" thing.

We are Faulkners, after all.

You can't tell in this photo, but Josh is thrilled Will joined us. However, he is not thrilled Will's food arrived first.

And do you think he willingly shared his birthday dessert with the rest of us? If you answered, "No. No, he did NOT willingly share his birthday dessert with his family... or Will," you would be correct.

Did we all get a bite?

Yes. Yes, we did.

Melia gave Josh a great gift last weekend. I saved it for Friday's post because I was running a little long on Monday. Imagine that!

Since Josh is taking Criminal Justice courses at Wallace right now, Melia went with a "policeman" theme for her gift.

She bought him a fake badge and walkie-talkie.

A very ill-fitting police helmet...

And a handwritten list of every Krispy Kreme Doughnut Shop (address and hours) in the State of Alabama. (I kept the list.)

The "actual" gift was a Krispy Kreme Gift Card.

Melia did a good job, didn't she? (And you wonder why we like her around here!)

RANDOMNESS #2 - It's Homecoming Week around these parts. Every day, the kids were supposed to dress up according to the "theme" for that day.

Roxie kind of did the "pick and choose" thing.

Monday was "Old Person Day."

I tried to get her to put her hair into a bun, but she declined.

I also tried to put powder on her head, but she nixed that idea, too.

She looks pretty old except for the cascading, voluminous auburn hair.

She decided to skip "Where's Waldo Day."

She dressed up as Captain America for "Superhero Day," but didn't like the picture so you aren't allowed to see that one.

She couldn't think of anything for "Salad Dressing Day." The Sophomores were supposed to dress up like Italians for Italian Dressing. One class had Ranch Dressing (cowboy clothes). Another had Thousand Island Dressing (Hawaiian clothes). And the last class had Blue Cheese Dressing (blue clothes).

Italian was a little tricky, I'll admit.

Today was easy. The theme... Homecoming T-Shirt Day. No-brainer.

Fun fact for you... Today was my favorite day!

RANDOMNESS #3 - You may recall Monday's post where I unveiled my small, yet eclectic, "pumpkin" collection for the front porch.

When I purchased the light orange, slightly long pumpkin, the cashier looked at me and said, "Are you going to cook this?"

"I'm going to use it on my porch for decoration," I replied, smiling.

"Hmmmph," she said as she punched in the price.

Sensing judgment on her part, I quickly added, "And then I'll probably make a bunch of pies or something and take them to sick people around town."

"Hmmmph," she said again.

I don't think she believed me.

And that pretty much determined the fate of the elongated pumpkin on my front porch.

Ms. Hmmmph is getting a big ol' elongated pumpkin pie at the end of October... and I may forget to add the sugar!

If you need to see me this weekend, I'll be dressed in my autumnal finery in the altar after the first service Sunday morning asking the Good Lord to give me an attitude adjustment.

Be sure to speak as I walk by... And by speak, I do not mean "Hmmmph!"

RANDOMNESS #4 - Mom had her second chemo treatment this past Wednesday. She goes downtown for her treatments, but her doctor's office is in a really pretty building with free outdoor parking... which is unheard of in downtown Birmingham.

While Mom takes her treatment, my day goes something like this...

After about an hour, I head to the Food Court in the adjoining building, and I get a Starbucks AND a small bag of glazed cashews covered with vanilla and pomegranates. It's a little bag of heaven, I tell you.

I then walk over to a huge empty area with lots of windows and light... and quiet.

It's a very cold building (even for me), but if you get in just the right seat, the sun hits the back of your neck and it is just the perfect blend of hot and cold.

My dream is one day to get up enough courage to curl up on the purple polka-dotted sofa (with the warm, warm sun spot), and take a little nap.

So far, my fear of people looking at me while I sleep has overcome that dream.

After an hour or so, I head back up to the waiting room, check on Mom in the back and settle into a chair... with the sun shining on the back of my neck. We're on the tenth floor, so this is part of my view during the time.

Hello, Vulcan.

And that's The Big Gold Van. I can watch and make sure no one tries to leave with my precious cargo-luggin' vehicle.

Hello, Big Gold Van.

Fun fact for you... I don't mind waiting rooms. In fact, I almost enjoy the quiet and the calm.

That wasn't always the case. The weeks and months I spent sitting in The Big Gold Van and the front office of the middle school when Josh was so, so sick, were not calming or quiet or peaceful.

When I look back, I see it was a time when I could totally be alone with my thoughts and with God as I tried to figure out what He wanted me and Mike to do next in that particular journey.

And because the journey is ever-changing, I now find waiting to be very theraputic... which may seem strange to some.

But I think we've always known I'm a little special, haven't we?

RANDOMNESS #5 - I found this on Pinterest, and I was intrigued. Some of these cupcake recipes are bizarre, but I am still drawn to them. Hmmm?

Riesling Cupcakes with Pear Mascarpone Frosting - I have no idea what some of these words mean, but my mouth is still watering.

Spam Cupcakes (A Sweet and Salty Delight) - Really?

Cupcakewurst

Potato and Egg Cupcakes

Lasagna Cupcakes

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Cupcakes

Buffalo Chicken Cupcakes for the Super Bowl

Apple Bacon Cheddar Cupcakes with Mesquite Buttercream

Sweet Pea and Ricotta Cupcakes - I don't think so.

Diwali Cupcakes with Carrot Halwa and Gulab Jamun - Say what?

While I'll have to think about the above, in the same list I found these little nuggets of deliciousness...

Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes with Orange Salted Caramel Buttercream

Cranberry and Cheese Danish Cupcakes - I am a lover of all things cranberry.

Angel Food Cupcakes

The Everything Fall Cupcake (Pumpkin, Apple, Maple, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon and Cranberry) - Oh, yeah, Baby!

Chocolate Cranberry Cupcakes

Apple Cobbler Cupcakes with Pumpkin Pie Frosting

I was going to bake a Pumpkin Dump Cake this weekend and share the recipe Monday, but things may have changed!

Quotable Quotes - Words to live by? I think so.

"Today will never come again. Be a blessing. Be a friend. Encourage someone. Take time to care. Let your words heal, and not wound."

Blog Linkage - Okay, Girls. Get busy.

1. Go to www.kellehampton.com and read Wednesday's post entitled "Wednesday Quickie." Again, I love how Kelle finds Fall in Southern Florida. It's all about how you look at things, isn't it?

2. If you love soup (and I know you do), go to Six Sisters' Stuff under My Blog List and click on today's post entitled "25 Yummy Fall Soup Recipes." (I saw SIX I wanted to try this weekend. SIX.)

3. If you need ANY Halloween (or October) ideas for you and yours, go to eighteen25 under My Blog List and check out "The Great Halloween Link Up Party." Hundreds of ideas at your fingertips!

Weekend Happenings

1. We are going to eat soup sometime this weekend. I don't know what kind or when, but it's on the schedule.

2. We are going on the First Faulkner Fun Fall Ride sometime this weekend. I don't know when or where.

3. Josh and Austin are playing football Sunday afternoon with friends.

4. Austin and Melia are watching two taped episodes of Elementary Sunday evening. (Josh and I already watched them. Very good show.)

5. Mike and I are going on a very, very RARE nighttime date sometime this weekend. I have no idea when or where.

6. We are going to church.

A more exciting weekend has never been planned! Or has it? Have a spectacular weekend. I'll be back Monday morning with many new (and old) autumnal things to talk about.

Take care, and I'll talk to you next week.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda