Happy November~ October Recap Part 1 ~ Trip with Mom (Queen Wilhemina)

Hello friends. I have not blogged our October trips and memories, but I really want to share my memories even though it is November. Mainly, for my own personal memories but I also love to share t with others that take the time to visit me. I have lots of memories from October to share so there will be several posts coming (hopefully). This is part 1!

Once Derrick was feeling better and released from recovery after surgery we decided I would get a few trips and activities in before he starts chemotherapy in November. He has three intense months ahead. We go THIS Wednesday to set up the schedule. I will not be getting out as often due to helping him as needed and to reduce getting him sick. We don't know how all of it will go but we are praying for the best case scenario. 

The first week of October held some fun times. My mom and I met for our annual outdoor trip where we visit a few different state parks and get our state park stamps for our stamp books. We hike, explore and just have fun. This trip was originally planned for this past May but due to my health and the passing of my husband's mother it was cancelled. 

So, here we go....

Hitting the road to Arkansas..........

Once I arrived at our destination, we had dinner and got to our hotel. We laughed, talked and stayed up way too late. The next morning, we headed to Queen Wilhelmena State Park. It was a beautiful ride. The weather was actually perfect. 

After our beautiful hike we enjoyed lunch and dessert at the state park lodge and restaurant. It had a beautiful view and the food was delish. Mom had a pecan dessert and I had cobbler. It was wonderful. 

Part 2 of visiting Mount Magazine State Park is next. Thanks for visiting.

Blessings, 

Chrissy T

Autumn Fun~ Dried Flower Pumpkin Craft & Fall Photo Walk Friend Day

 Happy Friday! I hope you all are doing well. This past Saturday I invited a friend over (last minute) to do a craft that I had been wanting to do. Most of you know I love dried flower crafts and even showed this summer my flower drying technique and press. These are not my dried flowers as mine were not quite ready for this project. 

I grabbed some white pumpkins, ordered some sheets of real dried flowers, and went to the cabinet for mod podge and sponge brushes. I washed the pumpkins and gave them a good wipe down. Then we had fun creating!

While we waited for our pumpkins to dry, we took a lovely fall walk at a walking path she had never been to, and I had only been once. It was an absolutely beautiful and perfect autumn like day. Leaves were flowing in the breeze and it was perfect temps. We both love nature and we had fun spotting neat things on our walks to take pictures of. We loved how the path was covered in leaves, so we even got down on the path to make fun pictures. We had a wonderful day.

I loved how both of them turned out. Here is my pumpkin...

Thanks for popping! Have a blessed weekend.

Checking In

 Hello everyone. I am sorry it has been a while. All is okay over here. Just really haven't had inspiration to blog much. But I do miss you all and hope to visit you all soon. 

As far as my husband... he is healing well from his surgery. They were able to remove the tumor. He will start 3 months of Chemo in November.

                                                    (Picture from a recent hiking trip)

Until Chemo starts, I have been getting in some outdoor time, spending time with some friends and our children. I also met up with my mom for our annual trip that we usually do in May, but I didn't get to go due to my surgery.  Once his chemotherapy starts, I have to be very limited about going out and about as well as who I spend time with for Derrick's safety. We are entering the "sick" season in my area. Colds, flu, strep and such typically are high during the late fall and winter here. We will need to be wise in this regard. :) 

I hope you all are well!  I plan to visit other blogs soon. I also want to thank those that supported my Pampered Chef party! I am so grateful.

Love,

Chrissy T

First Fall Walk & Husband Update & A New Venture

 Hello everyone! Fall is here but the heat is still sticking around a little bit. We are finally having a few cooler mornings. Today's high was 84 and it was so lovely!! HAHA! Compared to 105. :) 

I took my first early morning for the fall today. I enjoyed getting out to walk. I haven't been able to walk or get much out of the home lately.

 Here are some photos I took to today to remember the first week of autumn. I hope you enjoy a walk this week yourself. 

“It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.” — Sarah Addison Allen, First Frost

“And all the lives we ever lived and all the lives to be are full of trees and changing leaves…” — Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse

“Fall colors are funny. They’re so bright and intense and beautiful. It’s like nature is trying to fill you up with color, to saturate you so you can stockpile it before winter turns everything muted and dreary.” — Siobhan Vivian, Same Difference

 “There is something incredibly nostalgic and significant about the annual cascade of autumn leaves.” — Joe L. Wheeler

Update on Derrick

His follow up with his surgeon was good and he has been giving a green light to do a little lighter activity paced slowly and well balanced. He is feeling much better and getting stronger by the day. The biopsy showed a better result as far as the stage than we all including the doctors expected. He was originally diagnosed with stage 3 but they have dropped that to stage 2a which is wonderful. He will go to the oncologist Monday for further discussion about treatment options or monitoring. 

UPDATE for myself...

                                    New Limited Edition Maple Leaf Stoneware

I am relaunching my Pampered Chef business. Some of you know that I have sold Pampered Chef for years and have even been a customer in the past of mine. If you ever need anything I would love to help you. I have prayed long and hard about this. We need the extra income during this time to supplement with the medical bills and etc. I cannot currently work out of the home, so this seems like a good fit. I will not bombard you with this or mention it often, but I will share my link to my launch party (Party Shop Page) if anyone is interested or needs anything. From here on out I will have my link on my sidebar if you ever need anything you can shop any time from my personal website. 

I would love to invite you to my Launch my BIZ online party that you can join at any time starting today!!! If you have any questions, email me (chrissytownsend22@icloud.com) I would greatly appreciate your support! :) 

Click here!

** FUTURE Regular BLOG POSTS WILL BE TUESDAY & FRIDAY** There could be more post here and there weekly but setting days will help me stay connected to you all and help me during this time. I miss blogging and I miss visiting you all. I think having days set will help me. 

With Love, 

Chrissy T

Happy Fall! Summer 2026 Favorite Moments

Hello friends! This post of summer memories will look very different compared to last year's memories post. Last summer was filled with adventure and this one is more low key. 

Check out last year's Hello Fall! Summer 2025 post here.

I am sharing some of my favorite moments from the summer season as I close the door to one season and open the door to another season. 

Kicked off the summer season with a fun family fourth of July gathering.

Lots of fresh flowers were in our home this summer. From all the get well wishes from my surgery, birthday gifts and just weekly bouquets, our home was filled with so many beautiful flowers all the summer season.

My first outing after my 6 weeks at home recovery. Tea with my friend at a local tearoom. It was such a lovely, refreshing day.

Simple nature walks at our library nature walk. I have had a lot of these here and there. It calms that itch to be hiking in the forest or mountains. I haven't been in about 3 weeks. I am ready to take a little stroll. Hopefully this coming week if the husband is steadier on his feet.

Hannah and I had a neat unique pedicure this summer. We like going a few times a year together.

My husband and I received an invitation from the mayor to attend his annual prayer breakfast for our area. It was a nice event, and we were grateful for the invitation.

We had a fun ladies event this summer. We met at a local pizza parlor, and it was such a nice and relaxing evening. 

 

Attending our daughter's surprise engagement is a special memory for sure. 

The day of the surprise engagement my husband and I spent time enjoying the beach until the time of the engagement. We enjoyed breakfast looking at the beach as well.

We had to ride a ferry to the island that they were getting engaged at. That was a neat experience. I got this picture of the hubby! :) It was nice but windy day!

After the ferry ride, we had to hide on the island until Clayton told us to come so we found a park to sit and relax at. There wasn't much on the island, so we just walked around this park and then napped in the car in the shade. We had a long weekend. :) 

Hannah and I are apparently in our self-care beauty era! LOL! We tried a head spa for the first time. It was amazing. Our hair was so soft and felt so good afterwards. 

You all... I am using on a trail covered in mud, dirt and sweat. I had to be creative this year because I cannot hike much right now. So, I have been converted to spa fun. LOL! FOR NOW!!! In all honesty, our daughter is FULL ON GIRL... all things pink, spa, shopping and fun. I love this about her and so to spend time with her I tag along with her ideas. :) 

We celebrated Labor Day on Sunday this year with a family cookout right before Derrick's surgery to remove his tumor. This was two days before. We had a lovely day of food and laughter. Our youngest son was not able to be with us at that time but came later.

This last picture wraps up this summer well. I have spent a lot of time reading and resting. Lots of cozy moments this summer compared to the last few. To compare this summer to previous ones I would say it has been one I like I have never had before. It was different. Not bad, just different. It was hard but also joyful. It was challenging but yet eye opening and lots of lessons have been learned. I think this picture is perfect to wrap up my memories. In this picture I am reading, listening to quiet soft jazz and embracing the moment. As we enter this autumn, I am sure there will be more days like this.

Thanks for joining me as I reminisce about summer and move on into the new season. As always LIFE IS ONE SEASON TO THE NEXT!

With Love,

Chrissy T