Dear Followers

Dear Followers,

I am sorry that I have been rather neglectful of my blog lately. I would like to warn you that this is only the beginning. Christmas break is quickly approaching, and I will be gone visiting family for most of it. I have a BIG research paper for school that is due right after Christmas break, but I would like to get it done before Christmas break starts. Plus, I am finishing up some Christmas presents. Thus, I have not taken many photos recently and I have not had much to write. I hope to get back into blogging regularly soon.

Love,

Emily.

And now, to leave you with some randomness: {don't worry, this was taken in the summer; I haven't worn sandals for, oh, a week and a half. ;) }

In Which I explain my Absence

I must apologize for my absence! If I had realized how busy I was going to be these past few days, I would have had some scheduled post. But, I didn't think of that. The past few days have been really full! On Thursday, I went to school and then spent the rest of the day at Merrill Auditorium in Portland for my orchestra concert. We had a dress rehearsal in the afternoon, I sat backstage while my sister had her dress rehearsal, and then it was the concert.

Friday was All State Audition day. I auditioned for chorus. After school, a group of chorus and band students auditioned for the All State band and chorus (All State is an auditioned group of people that rehearse one weekend and then perform at the end). I don't know whether I made it or now. I know my score (93.5 out of 120 points), but I don't know what the cut-off score is yet. Hopefully I will know soon! Friday was also my birthday. I was gone all day until 8:00, but we still had presents and cake. :)

Saturday morning I went out for breakfast with my dad. It is a birthday tradition in our family to go out to breakfast with Daddy on or near your birthday. We went to the Cracker Barrel (I am soo excited that we have one up here in very un-Southern Maine) and then went shopping. After that, I decorated for my birthday party, cooked meals for people in our church and wrapped the Operation Christmas Child gifts from our church with my Bible Study group, and had a joint birthday party with one of my friends whose birthday is in a week and a half. Here are some photos from the party:

I turned 16, she will be turning 15.

I GOT GIANT TANGLED COLORING PAGES!!!!!!!!! 

Then yesterday I went to church and was able to get on the computer, but only enough to catch up on e-mails, blogs, etc. 

That brings us to today. :) Today I went to school took some photos of my recent knitting projects, took care of my little sister, and read for a little while.

So, now we're all caught up! Thank you for being so understanding. :) Oh, and thank you to my new followers! I now have 33. You guys are great!

Fall Fashion Days 1 & 2

Hey, everyone! I am so sorry that I haven't posted much lately. I've been pretty busy and just didn't have a chance. Sorry!

Now, on to the Fall Fashion Challenge. Yesterday did not have a challenge to apply to your outfit. I was not able to get a photo of me wearing my outfit yesterday, but I got a photo of my outfit by itself:

Sweater: Hand-me-down

Skirt: Goodwill

Today's outfit challenge was to wear two colors that are not often put together. I thought of pink and green, but I wear those colors together a lot anyway. I decided to wear brown and black:

Sweater and skirt: hand-me-downs {Being a large family, people give us a lot of clothes. :) }

Please pardon the mess in the background! Everything looks messier in a photo than it does it real life...

You can also see my post on the Week in Feminine Dress blog here.

Now for the Scripture Memorization Challenge. Between yesterday and today, I memorized:

Ephesians 4:1-6:

I, therefor, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

This afternoon I baked Crumb Cake (see recipe and photos here). I tasted really good. :)

What did you do today?

Sorry again!

Like I said in my last post, I am sorry for my lack of posts over the past few days. I am also sorry that this is a rather hodge-podge post (I seem to have quite a few of those!). I am working on a real post. :)

On Sunday after church some of my siblings and I went on a spontaneous hiking trip with a couple other families from my church.

This tower was on top of the mountain.

This was the gorgeous view from the top of the tower.

This is the view looking down from the tower. :)

Yesterday I spent almost all afternoon cooking. My homework for one of my classes at school was to cook dinner for your family.

Now, on to the 31-Day Challenge.

Day 23 - A Photo of a Person playing a board game

Day 24 - A Photo Playing with Shadows

Day 25 - A Photo You Took a Year Ago

This photo was taken with my little old Kodak Easyshare Point and Shoot. I loved that camera...until the zoom broke. Then one of my best friends dropped it in the stream we were taking photos by. So, I got a new camera. :) It's not an DSLR, but it's better than my old one. :)

Go on over and check out Lily's Days 23 and 24. While you're there, enter her lovely giveaway! Here are some of my favorite prizes:

Flower Bobby Pins

Chocolate Raspberry Soap

A gorgeous autumn colored ring

I posted about a giveaway here. Well, I won it. :) I won this set of bobby pins:

{via}

You can visit Silver Lotus Designs here.

And, since we're speaking about giveaways, I thought I would mention another:

Johanna is hosting a giveaway here. The prize is a $15 gift certificate to this lovely Etsy shop.

I also love this post over at Jamie Delaine Blog.

Happy Autumn!

p.s. did you realize that it is now only two months until Christmas????