Weekend Coffee Share....Come Sit with Me

It's another week of Weekend Coffee Share. I always love everyone's posts. Are you like me and try to visit everyone? It doesn't always happen but I try. I have loved getting to know different bloggers and I figure if they take the time to write a post, I'll find the time to visit, even if it's a week later.

If we were having coffee we'd probably talk about...

The weather:  Lots of rain and dropping temps. The fall leaf colors are finally making an appearance but not like we saw on our vacation. HOWEVER, it does make me appreciate what we have because it is pretty. We are on a "gale warning" which when I saw that I had to double check the location. Now, where I live, is within an hour and a half of the ocean and we are even closer to the large Columbia River, so we often get the coastal weather blowing in. They had a name for this front yesterday, but now I can't remember what it was. 

What we're thinking about: Honestly....I've been under the weather....a cold...but I haven't thought about much because I'm just tired and feeling blah! I'm sure I've thought of things but do I remember them? No! 

What we're thankful for: Being sick makes me thankful for being healthy! I know, real deep this week huh?

What we're reading or wanting to read: Still plugging away at my book club book. I suppose I could add the voters pamphlet...I need to sit down and study some things to know who to vote for. I just hate how superficial and attacking politicians can be. Just tell me why you're qualified and what you hope to do. I don't need you to slander the opposition. 

Around the house: Once again, nothing happening! Except that I really need to do some cleaning and organizing areas...mop floors...the fun stuff. Now, while nothing is tangibly taking place, I have thoughts swirling in my head for some spaces, and looking forward to thinking about decorating for Christmas. My youngest daughter and I have a few thoughts we're going to mention to the hubby about our office and the existing space where my desk is. I'm trying to make the pre-existing part of the house feel more like her space (minus our TV and workout equipment), but for that to happen I really need to move my desk to the office area in the new part. 

What we've watched or listened to: I half watched, half listened to the first Christmas movie of the year yesterday. My daughter was watching one downstairs while I was on the computer. I also listened to a few Ted Talks but not much else. When I don't feel well, it seems I don't retain what I listen to as well. I am home from work today (Friday) so I'm sure I'll watch a few shows and listen to a few things. Oh, and I may have added some songs to my Christmas playlist.

I just finished this one and am going to listen to it again because it was so good. Choices that can Change your Life by Caroline Myss

I'm currently listening to this one: Own Your Behaviours, master Your Communication, Determine your Success by Louise Evans

From the kitchen or restaurant: Soup season is here!!! I made a yummy beef and barley soup, tonight is chicken soup, yesterday we did simple tomato soup and grilled cheese. I also did a crockpot salisbury steak which turned out good. No restaurants this week. I'll be making my grocery list and menu for next week and will probably shop for that on Sunday. That seems to be how it goes. On Fridays I make the menu for the next week and then shop on Sunday for what I need. I try to plan what meals I'll make each day, especially on days I work later. It just helps me. Mondays and Tuesdays I shoot for crockpot meals or meals I can prep ahead of time and don't take long to cook when I get home. I know a lot of people like to eat late dinners, but we try and eat no later than 6:30/6:45. 

Favorite quote of the week: This weeks #WQW was the sense of touch/feeling. Here's my post though I kept it very short. Here is one quote I shared. You can see the others in the post. 

Photos from the week: 

How funny is this Indian corn that was found when putting out the displays at the Pumpkin Patch. Kind of looks like a cactus but also a chicken foot maybe? 

I really enjoy murals. I think Natalie helped spur a deeper interest, though I've always liked them. My daughter and son in law live in Kelso, Washington which is a neighbor to Longview, Wa. They're so close, I often don't know where one city starts and the other ends. I have seen several murals when driving around, and last Wednesday when I was going to pick up my grandson from Preschool I had some extra time, so I stopped and took some quick pictures of a few I saw on our route. I want to drive around and find some more. 

The one above says "Kelso, Wa- Smelt capital of the world"

The mural above and below (one wall that I couldn't quite fit into one photo at the time) was a collaboration between youth in the city and a local artist who put their interpretation of the city into photos. Here's a link that describes each piece. It was so good. 

I couldn't find any information on this one. Well, there was something but I would've had to subscribe to the page and I didn't want to do that. I will probably ask in one of the FB groups. 

Random and not so random things: I mentioned above that I decided to stay home today. I always have such a hard time doing that, especially when it's last minute...I mean there are only a handful of us who work where I work. We have two people who work each day. However, my boss is great and we always joke if it's just one of us, that we put a sign on the door that says something like this "Thank you for your patience. We are a one woman show today, grumpy people will be allowed in only if you have chocolate or donuts". That usually helps the moods of the people. So I plan to just lay low, listen to some good food for thought, watch a few shows I should catch up on.

Last Wednesday when I babysat I was informed by my daughter when I got there that I had to take Indy to preschool because in his mind, if his mommy took him, then I wasn't really "watching" him and he wanted me to "watch" him...soo, I drove her car with the kids and she drove my car. We took him to school and I told him I'd pick him up in a few hours. When I picked him up, we went to a consignment store, then to a local burger joint for lunch. We were also meeting his mom and cousin who babysits him on Tuesdays at an ice cream shop. We had a bit of time between lunch and dessert so we went to Petco pet store (which they loved) and then Michaels craft store (they loved all the Christmas things). It was a fun day and it is more fun now that they are getting older and can engage more. 

Tomorrow (hoping I'm feeling a lot better) I am signed up to attend a cheese making class. I'm pretty excited. I'll share about it next week. 

I've also finished my second post about our vacation. I'll post a link to each post as I get them written. 

NE States Road Trip part 1...planning and travel day

NE States Road Trip part 2...SE New Hampshire and Maine

Since I'm home today maybe I'll work on our third day! 

I think there were a few other things I was going to share here, but I can't remember what they were so I'll leave you for now. 

Check out all the other posts on Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. I'm off to go visit some now. #weekendcoffeeshare

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin