Just Some Ramblings & More!
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I’ve been told I love to ramble on, so why not pass along some of my ramblings from this past month to all of you!
Welcome to My Life Abundant, a collection of ideas, tips, inspiration, and just thoughts. I love to share everything happening in my abundant life and the inspiration I have found from others around the World Wide Web.
I went to Destin to meet my brother and his family a couple of weeks ago, and I haven’t laughed that hard in so long, especially after Mr. G’s passing. I needed this time with my family to not only catch up, but to bond with them since I live in another state.
We sat on the beach, played in the water, collected seashells, overate, drove around Destin so they could see the area, and played games. We played 1 game of Uno that lasted for hours, while watching a movie at the same time. Almost peed my pants, we were laughing so hard! We realized that having 2-3 decks of Uno would’ve been nice. We also played the viral Magnet Game, and that was fun too!
When I got back, the weather was fall-like!! It was nice to sit outside and take Dixie on longer walks. I love this time of the year and hope it stays this way until April of 2026.
I also realized that my 20-year-old fridge wasn’t working as well. It’s a miracle that I was able to save what I had in the fridge, which was mainly condiments. So, once again, I had to dig into my savings to replace this item. But, when it comes time to sell my home, the appliances will be newer to help with the sale. I have to keep my home up to get the most I can out of it when it does sell, so I will have money to live on the rest of my life.
Happy Birthday to Juliette Gordon Low! The visionary who showed generations of girls just how far courage, confidence, and character can take them! 🌟
From that first troop meeting in 1912 to millions of Girl Scouts worldwide today, her legacy lives on in every cookie seller, badge earner, and barrier breaker. 💚
I was a Girl Scout for 12 years, and I have so many memories of this wonderful organization. All the friends and all the things I learned during that time are so important to me. Camping, canoeing, learning to cook over an open fire, the latrines (and cleaning them), and especially all the lifelong friends I made.
If you are ever in Savannah, GA, take time to visit her home. What a great story she has to tell.
Here’s to dreaming big, lifting others up, and leaving the world a little better than we found it — just like Juliette did. 🫶
🪴WIDOW LIFE: It’s been 6 months since Mr. G passed, and the days are somewhat better. Staying busy has helped a lot. I’ve learned I can’t do everything around the house, and I’ve had to hire a handyman to fix a few things. October has been a harder month since it was Mr. G’s favorite time of the year, because of baseball playoffs, SEC football is getting exciting, and it was his birthday month. Football season was special for us to enjoy together since we both had rival teams. On his birthday, I just wanted to stay home and remember all the good times. I normally fixed his favorite meal that day, and we would enjoy ice cream. I miss cooking meals like that. Tears were shed for the memories I miss, but the memory becomes a treasure forever. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” – Matthew 5:4
🎄GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS – I’m always looking for cute Christmas projects to make and pass along to friends for an easy gift or add to Christmas gifts. I found these embossed clay ornaments I’m dying to make. And these macrame ornaments bring out my ’70s soul. If you love rustic, these DIY Christmas tree ornaments are for you.
🐕🦺DIXIE UPDATE: She is just the best!! She is learning more and more, but still won’t learn to shake. Can’t figure that one out. Her favorite thing is still taking a quick walk first thing in the morning to smell all the dogs before her and enjoy being outside.
While I was in Destin, she stayed with a friend who dog-sits, and I have to admit. I was a bit nervous about how she would do being with me for only a few months. But, seems she had a ball! Lots of new smells and things to see while sitting outside in the bird cage. A bird cage is a large screened-in area you usually put over a pool to keep bugs and gators out of it. It’s a Florida thing.
My friend was so complimentary of how Dixie acted. She was so sweet and cuddly. Loved to do a zoomie now and again. I know in the future, she will be in good hands with her new babysitter.
Remember, when it comes to training a dog, practice really works. Just a few minutes each day will make a big difference.
🍎APPLE CIDER BRAISED PORK SHOULDER: Preheat oven to 325°F. Trim 4–5 lb boneless pork shoulder roast and cut into 4 large pieces. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp neutral oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat; sear pork 4–5 minutes per side until browned. In a bowl, whisk 2 cups of apple cider, 2 cups of chicken stock, 2 tbsp of Dijon mustard, and 1 tbsp of dehydrated minced onion. Add to pot with pork, 3 rosemary sprigs, 4 thyme sprigs, and 1 head of garlic (top sliced off). Cover and bake 2 1/2 hours, turning once. Add 1 sliced red onion and 2 peeled, wedged apples; cover and bake 30–45 minutes more until tender. Rest 30 minutes, squeeze garlic into broth, season, and serve pork with apples, onions, and pan juices.
🎃 FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS: What is leaf peeping? What does the word Halloween mean? Leaf peeping is the practice of traveling to tour, photograph, and appreciate areas where fall leaves are changing color. Halloween comes from All Hallows’ Eve, which is the evening before All Saints’ Day, which celebrates all the holy ones, or saints. Over time, All Hallows’ Eve was shortened to Halloween! Now you know!
⛪ IN CLOSING: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. – Romans 6:14
Something to chew on
“AS YOU GROW WISER…your hearing gets worse, but you listen a lot better. Your sight gets blurry, but your vision becomes more clear. You sometimes can’t think of the right words, but you’re no longer just throwing out any that come to mind without care. You realize that your heart doesn’t pump quite as well, but that every beat counts, because every beat means that you are still here, still learning, and still loving as time goes by.”~Doe Zantamata
💗What I’m loving this month
- These straight-leg jeans for less
- Super cute sneakers in several sizes and widths
- My all-time favorite crew neck sweatshirt with high-low hem in so many colors
- This pumpkin loaf pan is perfect for all those pumpkin bread recipes
- The easiest 2-ingredient pumpkin cake recipe
- Skinny Pumpkin Whip for your coffee
- Cute mid-rise skinny jeans
- These ceramic ornaments
- Love these tailgating ideas
- These 22 apple recipes
- This cute cardigan in several colors and styles
What I’m watching, reading & listening to
📺 If you’ve been here for a minute, you know I love a good murder mystery podcast or show. And I’m really all about anything that has to do with the Murdaugh murders. Hulu recently came out with a series called Murdaugh: Death in the Family. It’s one of the best I’ve seen, and the acting is superb. Hulu also released the series by journalist Mandy Matney, which the series was based on. You meet the actors who played the major parts, and Mandy really gets into the guts of this chilling story. Another good show is called The Perfect Neighbor on Netflix. Sad story…..
🎥 All my favorite fall movies. Mona Lisa Smile, Stepmom, Kramer vs. Kramer, Baby Boom, and my favs, When Harry Met Sally and You’ve Got Mail. What are your favorite fall movies?
🎄Are you ready for this? The Hallmark Christmas movie schedule is out. Do you love those movies as much as I do?
Fall Inspiration
fall decor
My Fall Favs
Shop my favorite fall decor favorites.
My LTK Finds
Sharing some great items for fashion, home, and life in general.
Our Books and coloring books
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. – John 10:10
⬇️ Find out what that verse is all about from our books ⬇️
Free Fall Essentials Printable
Looking for a printable to use for fall?
This is an 8.5 x 11 printable to print and frame at home using heavyweight cardstock. Or send it to your favorite printer for no-worry printing. I prefer this method for a more true color printing.
Click on the button below to download the print to your computer.
the ultimate garden planner
Make your garden the best it can be
It’s time to plan that dream garden with our digital garden planner, and the printables feature a range of topics, including planning, planting, growing, and maintaining your garden.
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Tammy
I’m just a country girl loving my geeky life, always taking pictures, getting my hands dirty in the garden, exploring with travels, and enjoying thrifting. But above all, living my faith as a child of God!
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I am so glad you got away and had some laughs and made new memories. It is coming up to 9 months since I lost my husband and last night I broke all over again. I am sorry about your fridge as well but glad you did not lose too much
I’m so glad you were able to embrace those memories, no matter how bittersweet. My thoughts and prayers are always with you!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts so openly! Your honesty and reflection are truly uplifting — it feels like I’ve been invited into a safe space to pause, breathe, and think. This post came at just the right moment for me 🙏
I really enjoyed reading this! It’s refreshing how you blend everyday stories, humor, and honesty.
This was such a good read. You blend all of life’s tribulations together so well.
This is great, i love to read people’s updates. It sounds like such a needed and fun time with your brother. I love a good laugh and some games with the family too.
It’s so wonderful that you got to go out and visit your family. There’s nothing quite like it! I love the idea of “leaf peeping!” I never heard that term used before! In that case, I love to leaf peep!
I love how simple your recipes are, love them…I can’t wait to try out the apple cider braised pork shoulder, can’t wait! I will get the ingredients tomorrow. Thank you so much.
Sounds like you had such a nice time visiting your brother, I bet it did you the world of good. I need to work out what Christmas movies I want to watch this year as I know the next few months are going to disappear x
That is impressive that your fridge lasted for 20 years! But it seems like older appliances do seem to last longer than the ones that are made now. Those Christmas crafts are lovely and I like the nature vibe.
Tammy,
Sorry I have not commented in a bit but I am sure you know that is just life…Glad to read that you were able to get away to spend time with family…And I am happy to see that you are realizing that you can not do everything yourself around the house…I too had to learn that and hire a landscaper to take care of the slope in front of my house. I am going on 19 months as a widow and it does get easier but I too have my moments..I finally was able to go through my husband’s vast collection of Pittsburgh sports memorabilia that was displayed in my bedroom…My sons took some, my nieces will take some and I am using some of it to make up a theme basket to be chanced off along with others at an event at my church. Some I kept and will see if I can sell them as they might be worth money….I can now say that I have claimed the bedroom as mine and it is now arranged just for me…I think I was tearful the whole time doing so but felt really good afterward…Time does heal you and will bring a smile when you remember, replacing the tears…Take car.e…..,
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
Love the ramble 🙂 , the apple cider pork sounds incredible! Could just eat that right now
Oh wow, what a lovely rambling! It’s nice to hear you are finding joy, even when things are still going a bit sour.