HAPPY 56TH TO ME !!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !!!My first car !!! I still have this old car although it does look a bit different now.
I looked back to my last years birthday blog post and was surprised I didn't even mention it,maybe I forgot which is entirely possible.
Our family will be making a trip tofor a nice dinner in the near future as the kids gave me a gift card from there. I don't eat out much but Cracker Barrel is my favorite place when I do go out. Thanks kids !!!!
I've had a nice day today, good market sales day, got soaked with much needed rain running errands on my way home.
Sat out in the sunroom listening to it rain on and off most of the evening, no watering today!!
My only plans for this evening are haircuts for Bernie and Dolly.
Still raining pretty hard at 11:00 as we finish up with the doggy haircuts and baths.
Hoping God has many more birthdays for me in His plans.
Good Night and God Bless.

UNEVENTFUL FRIDAY

Busy morning after chores baking and icing cakes.
#1 son came to meet his physical therapist at 11:00, another new one, each time this happens they spend 30 minutes getting acquainted with son's injury.
As with each new one who has come before her she found a different concern. She heard a pop in his ankle each time he tried to move his foot up and down.
At least he has a list of things to ask the doctor about !!
Daughter went to work but they didn't need her so she had a lady from church come over to talk with her about an insurance policy before she went to a dog sitting job.
While she was here hubbie and #1 son went to Sam's Club to pick up a few things.
I iced a chocolate birthday cake for one of daughter's friends and then did some paperwork.
Son's regular nurse came at 4 and while she was here I made 2 bonnets, I'm slowly working the pile of cut-outs beside my sewing machine down.
My favorite is the one with the old cars on it,I'll bet it sells fast.
I took a walk this evening after everyone left and relaxed,it wasn't so humid and the temperature was mid eighties which made for a more comfortable evening walk.
Mother Nature needs to have a talk with these guys...What they're sucking on is about as far away as you can get from a fragrant flower blossom !!!!!!!!!Annie loves water better than any dog I've ever had,she just gets in the middle of the creek and stands there,letting the cool water run around her.Our friend the Great White Egret takes a safe high perch when Annie and Sadie are around.He seems to be getting a little used to me sneaking around with a camera pointed at him as this is closer than I have ever gotten.

After playing round-up with one of our heifers who was determined to have the attention of the neighbor's bull and didn't like the idea of spending the night in the upper pasture away from his amorous stare from across the road, I got way more exercise than I expected. I watered plants again tonight,they are predicting rain for tomorrow but the way we've been going I didn't want to take a chance.
Hubbie and I finished work at church and headed home for an uneventful evening.
He went to bed early and I iced caramel and coconut cakes.
Thanking God for blessings that go unnoticed tonight.
Good Night and God Bless.

BLACKBERRY TIME

Busy market day today and still very hot inside market as evidenced by us as we wilt as the day goes by. I could hardly muster the energy to load my van this afternoon.
After errands and a couple Avon deliveries I was glad to get home and unloaded so I could crash for a while and re-energize (if that's possible at my age !!)
After a supper of all fresh veggies followed by fresh blackberry cobbler I was as energized as I'm gonna get.
A friend and co-worker of daughter's brought her 2 dish pans filled with blackberries today.
They were really ripe and very tasty. She is going to use some in her blackberry breads for market and we will have to freeze the rest tonight because they'll not last until tomorrow.
Hubbie and I went to work at church after evening chores and when we got home daughter was making her breads so her boyfriend helped me bag the rest of the berries and get them ready for the freezer, we had 10 quart bags along with 4 stained hands.
She will get more earlier in the week next week so we will have time to make jam.

Looked for the baby woodpecker this morning but there was no sign of him,maybe he figured out how to use his wings during the night and flew to safety.

Thanking God for providing us with wonderful fresh food to store up for the cold winter months ahead.
Good Night and God Bless.

POOR BABY WOODPECKER

After outside chores this morning I put in my last load of catch-up laundry and started icing caramel cakes.
I finished around lunch when #1 son came over to meet his wound care nurse who was bringing a trainee to watch today. This has happened a lot with his injury, his nurse said this is the worst knee/leg injury she has seen in all her nursing career.He seems to be in less pain than he has been in since the accident,the bad thing about that is now that he feels better he wants to drive and other things he is not supposed to be doing.
After they finished with his dressing change we headed out , I dropped him off at his friends packing house and I took #2 son's dog Flash to the vet for his first visit. He got shots and they checked him for worms and found he still has round worms. They gave him some heart worm medicine that will take care of all other worms also. I brought him here for the afternoon to watch to make sure he didn't have a reaction to the shots.
On the way out when I stopped at #2 son's house to get Flash I almost ran over this little Red Bellied Woodpecker fledgling who was on the side of the driveway.He was not happy when I tried to move him over in the grass under a big tree.
When I came back from the vet I stopped and he was actually on the side of the tree. I looked all around up in the tree to see the hole where the nest might be but couldn't. I have no idea what mom and dad can do with this fellow, he is pretty good size,already the same size as an adult Downy Woodpecker. He wasn't even trying to fly,the fall may have injured him,I took him some suet cake but all he wanted to do was get away from me. I left him alone because I didn't want him to get out in the open away from the tree. Good luck mom and dad !!!

I rested awhile before hubbie came home. He went to pick up #1 son and they started all his machinery before they came in for supper.
After we ate son went home, #2 son came after Flash and I watered my plants. We still haven't had any rain to speak of but I'm not complaining because I don't want one of the severe storms some places are getting.
I took a short walk tonight,my hips hurt last night and kept me awake till the wee hours of the morning, so I'm taking it easy tonight.
I payed bills and did some paperwork before finishing my icings and labeling all my cakes.
Thanking God for all His blessings.
Good Night and God Bless.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Hot already early as I took care of the chickens and dogs. Didn't quite make the early morning time I would have liked,but oh well, things will get done.
After baking 2 ovens of pound cakes I started my 2 weeks of laundry. I like my new washer but a couple times I over loaded it and had to spin them again. It has an automatic water level according to how many clothes you put in and you can't open the lid or it will over fill for your load size,sheeezzzz,these new fangled inventions !!!
I cleaned house between laundry loads.
Clouds hung around for most of the day but we got no rain until about 10 pm and then only a short shower.
Daughter came in this afternoon and picked blackberries ,then did some baking and made pesto. She froze the pesto in ice trays and will pop the cubes out and put them in a freezer bag so she can have individual servings.
I walked this evening and was greeted again at the pond by the Great White Egret and this time he posed in a tree for me.
As I walked I thought about why these were called the dog days of summer,this is a quite peaceful time. There is a lull in the garden produce that needs to be preserved ,it's too hot outside to do much work and everything just seems to be slow and lazy right now.Maybe it's the heat , maybe it's the time of year, maybe it's what I've been through the last 1 1/2 months, whatever it is today I just felt completely at peace with my life and all that surrounded me as I walked through our pastures and enjoyed just being ,yeah just BEING !! Enjoying these "hazy,lazy, crazy dog days of summer".
Praising God for all the little things that make our lives so enjoyable.
Good Night and God Bless.

STORM CLOUDS BREWING

Up extra early to take son to his 9:15 doctors appointment in Asheville,normally about 30 minutes would get you there but the road the office is on is closed this morning due to a broken water main so it will take longer to get there.
Thinking son would be up and ready hubbie and I left to go over to his house at 8:15. Weeelllll guess what son was still in bed and with one leg it is hard to hurry and get ready for anything. Soooooo we sat and waited,hubbie was going to get g-son up after we left and bring him over to our house for the day.
We wound up leaving at 8:50 and luckily we were only about 12 minutes late.
This was he first vascular doctor visit since his release from the hospital. After looking at the incision stitches he decided they needed another week before removal. Son talked to him about his pain management and he changed his medicine and told him if this one didn't work to give him a call back and he would change to something else. He didn't like the idea of the nerve block that the orthopedic dr. had made the appointment for and told son to cancel it and leave that as a last resort.
We left there and met hubbie and g-son at a shoe discount barn. Hubbie was looking for a pair of minnetonka moccasons and son wanted a pair of irish setter work boots. Both struck out and we left with only a pair of arch supports for me.
It is not quite as hot today but 92 is still plenty hot for me. It clouded up early afternoon and rain was all around again but just sprinkles for us.Everything seemed to be brighter today after the little bit of rain yesterday.Priceless expressions make wonderful memories.....
As both home health care nurses came this afternoon keeping son occupied and hubbie kept g-son occupied I worked on some more bonnets I had cut out week before last.
As I took a walk this evening I was greeted by this little fellow. I was startled by him even though he was not moving at all when I first saw him.I've always wondered why I get that adrenaline rush when I see a snake, I don't get that feeling when I see a lizard or a spider or any other creepy crawly thing, just snakes.
As I snapped pictures of this little guy as repulsed as I was with him I couldn't help but admire the beauty in the intricate designs of his scales. This little harmless Garter snake was allowed to go on his merry way after posing for my pictures.
Storms brewed for most of the evening creating some glorious photo ops in the sky.As the evening got later the humidity was smothering ,you could see it in the air as it look like a fog creeping closer and closer.I am so tired tonight from the early morning stressfulness and dealing with son in pain as he tries to get switched to the new medicine I'm foregoing baking cakes and going to bed early. I'd like to get my schedule changed to more early morning work instead of late night work.
I pray again for God's intervention into son's life as he deals with the aftermath of this injury.
Good Night and God Bless.

YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTRY IF.............

You know you live in the country when this is the traffic jam you get in on the way to church..
If you had visited our church for the first time today you would have gotten a surprise as our pastor was dressed in a cowboy shirt and blue jeans as he preached today.
You would have been welcomed by this wagon on the outside.And this would have been what you would have seen as soon as you entered...You might have surely thought all this a bit odd if you just hadn't happened to come down the front walk and see the other side of the outside wagon....Vacation Bible school is almost here,next week will be an excitingly busy week !!!
After church we had lunch of BBQ, fresh corn,beans and potatoes from our garden and I made a peach cobbler from some fresh peaches I got at market this week, yum , yum !!
#2 son,daughter and #1 son all made it to lunch, #1 son drove his truck over here for his first driving experience since his accident. He looks much better today, he is definitely on the mend now. I hope he doesn't do anything to cause a back set !!!
This afternoon it was to hot to do much of anything as the thermometer shows why again today..
Shortly after I took this picture,the clouds started rolling in and the thunder and lightning where fairly close. We fortunately missed the brunt of the storms but did get about 1/2" of much needed rain that fell slow and steady.
After the rain it was like a sauna outside, I had to take my glasses off as they kept steaming up.
I walked some today and was treated to some distant photos of this Great White Egret that was searching for dinner in our farm pond.This bird was very wary of any movement and even with my 300mm lens this was as close as I got before this beautiful bird took flight.Fortunately he circled around and came directly over my head as if to taunt me !!!

This has been a relaxing Sunday evening and as I sat and watched the little Wrens make tireless trips back and forth feeding their hungry,loud brood I said a thankful prayer to God for all His wondrous creations that are so lovely to behold.
Good Night and God Bless.

YIKES !!!! IT IS HOT !!!!

Man I knew it was gonna be a hot day before 8 am when I turned the hens out and they came out with their wings fluffed up. It is hardy ever this hot here this early in the morning.
Market was steamy all day even with all the fans going high speed. I had a crowd at my booth until about noon and then it was as if someone had yelled fire!!
Daughter and her boyfriend came by and brought me a greek salad for lunch,yumm. There is this place called "Hot Dog World" just down the street from the market and not only are their hot dogs the best I've ever tasted,their greek salad is to die for !
I slowly packed up and hit the road toward home in the blistering heat. Made 2 supply stops and got home about 3:15,hubbie was outside running the weed eater,we are still trying to catch up with our yard work,even in this heat. We unloaded and he ran out of gas so we took a much needed cooling break.As I layed down on the couch and looked up at the thermometer this is what I saw,wow!!We do not have many 98.5 degree days here in these mountains,can't wait to see what August brings !!!
Some people might think our indoor temp is high,but we work outside a lot and dehumidifyed 80 degree air is cool and comfortable to us.

After supper it clouded up and we could almost feel the rain nearby but not a drop for us.
Hubbie and I spent the evening turning these...........
Into these..........
And in the middle I wound up with 17 bags of creamed corn for those snowy days this coming winter,or just those family Sunday dinners even when it isn't snowing.
We kept about 2 dozen ears of this delicious corn to eat. We like to stick an ear in the microwave and make a meal of it.
Thanks to the wonderful friends who gave us all this sweet stuff!!
Thanking God for His blessings and looking forward to a worship filled Sunday.
Good Night and God Bless.

THE BUTTERFLY BUSH

Ever wonder why things are called what they are? This is one thing that definitely lives up to its name. The Butterfly Bush !!!!
My moment of normalcy in an otherwise hectic, harried day.
#1 son and g-son were here today,son's pain is increasing daily as the swelling continues to subside in his leg. Wound care and physical therapy were here today,the nurse called his doctor and had him call in some phenergrine (have no idea how that is spelled) for his upset stomach.
A couple of his friends came by today and brought me 2 bags full of corn. So you know what I'll be into tomorrow evening !!
G-son went with his aunt T to sis-in-law's pool for an afternoon of swimming on this very hot 95 degree day.
Son went with his dad to take the washing machine to a nearby metal yard and then he went to see one of his friends,to ride with him to check on their hunting spot.
While they were all gone I finished my baking and took my camera and wandered around outside for a few minutes. I also captured this wren coming out of the same little house where there was a bunch of wrens fledged from just recently.
Judging from the fecal sac it's official we have a second family of wrens in there.

After everyone left this evening hubbie and I went to finish work at church,there were several people setting up the stage for the Bible School musical Sunday night. Our church always goes all out for Bible School. I will be the assistant teacher in G-son's class.

Actually took time for a quite cup of coffee and a conversation with hubbie before getting back to icing and wrapping cakes.
Praying tonight for God's intervention into son's life.
Good Night and God Bless.

IT'S JULY FOR PETE'S SAKE, IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE HOT

The not so busy day at market almost felt good today,as I needed a little restful break. I cleaned off a bunch of money plant between customers and chatted with my neighbors. It was sure hot in there today,about 1:30 I broke out in a sweat and felt like I was having a major hot flash until I realized that all the fans had gone off in the market.
I hurriedly ran my errands,delivered a couple Avon orders and made it home about 4:00,unloaded and hit the couch for a much needed cool break,whew!!!
#2 son came up and while I babysat Flash he and hubbie installed my new washer.
A neighbor came by to pick up a caramel cake and talked for a while.
I watered my plants this evening as the rain passed us by again,it was sprinkling rain while I was in town but it didn't make it out here,sigh !!!
Hubbie and I went to work at church tonight and back home now I am sapped again by the heat in the church. The sanctuary area is only air conditioned when in use. If sweating is healthy,I 've got to be one healthy mama!!!!
Thankful to God for my health and blessings today.
Good Night and God Bless.

SCHEDULE, WHAT'S THAT ?????

Getting Dolly to the groomer is always a dramatic experience for her and me,she looks so pitiful when we get in the van,I think she knows exactly where we're going.Oh what a sad face !!!
They said she would be ready about 4:00,which will fit nicely into my schedule this afternoon.After leaving her I made a stop to get some more canning jar lids and then made it home in time to toss them in the house and head over to pick up #1 son for his doctor's appointment.
We didn't have to wait long until they called him back and the doctor came in. They unwrapped all the wounds and he cut out all the dead skin and tissue from them,it was very painful for son and the doctor seemed to be a bit rough on him as he did it.
He also said there were torn ligaments and something else damaged in the back of his knee that was causing some of the complaints son had. This was not something son needed to hear, although a lot of this repair can be done microscopically or as out patient. The doctor seemed to be in a bad mood all around this morning.
We went to Walgreens to pick up a his calcium and a few things the doctor had suggested and then picked up Sub-way sandwiches and headed home for lunch.
After lunch he watched TV and took a nap while I got ready to can beans. Almost got the jars filled and in the canner when the Home Depot delivery guy called and said they were 10 minutes away. I turned the stove off, went outside and put the dogs up as they tend to get in the way of large trucks when they came up the steep part of the drive.
They uncrated and sat the washer inside the downstairs ready for hubbie and #2 son to hook it up some time later.
While they were doing that the groomer called and said Dolly was ready,it is before 3:00,grrrrrrr!!! Any other time I would be glad to go get her early but my beans will ruin if I leave them that long.
As #1 son's home health nurse arrived I went back to my beans. My phone rang again and it was the groomers again,saying she wasn't sure she had called me before. I told her it would be a little while before I could get there and she said they had got finished early and were hoping to leave early,but couldn't get hold of another dog's mommy either so it would be okay to wait to come get her.
Isn't it funny how just when you think everything is going to go along on schedule, things always fly in your face. Oh well I got one canner of beans done,drove to pick Dolly up and did the 2nd canner when I got home, 13 more quarts,for a total of 45 , should do us fine for this winter.
The nurse put a wound vac on the cut on the side of son's leg as well as the hole in his shin. That makes me more comfortable about infection.
He is getting more and more feeling back into his foot, that's good and bad, as sometimes it comes with sharp pains.
Dolly pouted for a while after I picked her up almost as if she knew I could have been there earlier than I was.Bernie didn't care if she was pouting or not,he was just glad to have her home !I'm not real pleased with the haircut Dolly got this time, it's not short enough and her face isn't shave like I asked to keep the hairs out of her eyes. Guess I'll have to make myself clearer next time or find another groomer. I have been thinking about taking Bernie to the groomers at our vet's office to try them out. Right now it's hard for hubbie and I to find time to groom him either.
Tonight after doing paperwork for a couple hours I iced my caramel and chocolate cakes.
D-in-love was late picking son up and I think he was a little hurt when she didn't get here until almost 10:00.
Thanking God for the blessings of today.
Good Night and God Bless.

NOT A REGULAR TUESDAY

Busy day started off hot and humid early. After morning chores I went out on my Avon route. Luckily I made all my deliveries except 1 and have 2 orders that will be picked up.
Home around lunch, got a call from #1 son to see if I could take him to the doctor tomorrow at 10:45 to check out one of his cuts that the bandage came off of last night and he is afraid it might be getting infected.
I cleaned house for the rest of the afternoon,no laundry today because my new washer won't be here until tomorrow and then I will have to wait until we get it hooked up. Home Depot won't hook it up unless you buy new hoses and we bought new stainless steel hoses last August when we had the house re-plumbed.
I was surprised at how fast housecleaning went without the laundry interuptions,hmmmm I sense a new schedule coming up !!!
Went over to look at son's leg this evening and I don't think it looks infected but it has a stitch that needs to come out. He has went without a bandage all day to get it dried out and it looks like it is forming a scab.
I came home and transplanted some rooted basil and mint stems from water to little pots,hopefully they will take root in the soil and be ready to sell soon.
I finished breaking the beans hubbie picked last night and baked my layers for my caramel and chocolate cakes tonight.
Already have a full day planned for tomorrow. Dolly to the groomer,son to the doctor,
finish bean canning, ice cakes, weekly paperwork (uggghhh, you should see my desk!),
whew !!!! Guess I better get to bed.
God is good all the time,all the time God is good !!!
Good Night and God Bless.

GREEN BEAN MONDAY

Today started off a little shakey for me,I must have eaten something yesterday that didn't set so well on my stomach or maybe, just sat in my stomach all night, anyway I wasn't feeling quite up to par early. But like many days in the past there is no calling in sick on a farm,the animals have to be fed and turned out for the day,the beans have to be picked and broke , so once again I sucked it up and got better!!
#1 son and g-son slept in until around 10:30 before coming here by 11:00 to meet his nurse.

After some chicken noodle soup for lunch I spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening turning these...Into these.........................And these.........31 Quarts in all when I finished about 7 tonight.My canner which could qualify for antique status only holds 7 quarts, sometimes only 6 depending on the size of the jar. This old mirror canner belonged to my dad's 1st wife and my mom wouldn't use it. She had a double decker canner but it won't fit under my hood. I can still buy seals for this old canner at Ace Hardware stores so it just keeps on ticking. I have the pressure gauge checked and know it is a little high so I just adjust for it.

While I canned the last runs hubbie picked the remainder of the beans that escaped earlier because of a rain shower and came in with almost another bushel. They will have to wait for tomorrow.
All the dry weather didn't hurt the beans as much as I thought it did. The only thing I see is there are a lot of shelly beans in the jars,but we like them like that.
I want to try some "leather britches" but am wondering if these beans will lose their seeds as they dry?
These are 1/2 runners, I might have to get some blue lakes or some other bean with not so big a bean seed in them for drying.
I finished the evening baking several pound and wine cakes.
My left shoulder has been hurting all day with a burning type pain,I think it is coming from the nerve that I injured several years ago in my neck. It flared up when I was breaking beans,must have been the repetitive action.
Son had visits from his wound care nurse and physical therapist today and both were very positive about his improvements. He has eaten well and acts like he feels okay today.
Thanking God for His healing hand for son and me today,I'm so glad He is looking after things at my house !!
Good Night and God Bless.

STORMY SUNDAY

Joined hubbie and daughter in church this morning. #1 son didn't have a good night last night so they didn't make it today. Uplifting sermon and wonderful fellowship completed a very nice Sunday morning.
We fixed lunch and ate with daughter,then #1 son's family came ,#2 son is back from Los Vegas ,but only got home this morning sometime between when hubbie walked to get the paper and when daughter left at 9 to attend a Sunday School teachers meeting so he is still sleeping.
It started thundering in the early afternoon but we got only light rain while some of the neighbors around the county really got hammered with hard rain and wind and lightening.This tree took a direct hit of lightening !

After everyone left, hubbie and I went washing machine shopping,we looked at Sears, Home Depot and Lowes. I was looking at the same machine in all 3 stores , Sears - $518
Lowes- $549 and Home Depot $448 and after a 10% energy saving discount and a $25 discount for hubbie opening a new credit card account, the final cost was $380.
It pays to shop around !!!!After researching and talking to several people who have tried the new front and top loading machines I decided to go with the old stand by Maytag just like the one I have now.
They will be delivering it Wednesday.
With that task over I get to mark that off my to do list for this week.

#2 son came up and had supper,he said that would be his last trip to Vegas. He wasn't as lucky as he has been in the past,but he only lost $50, he usually at least wins enough to pay for his trip but not this time. He said it was so hot,during the day it was 115 and when they boarded the plane last night at 11:00 Vegas time it was 104,whew, even with less humidity that's still hot. He said he hated going on vacation and coming home tireder than he was when he left.
He took "Flash" and went home where they could get settled back in before dark.
As I went to shut my chickens up this evening I was greeted by this beautiful partially clearing sky.
A fitting sign-off for another wonderful Sunday.
Thanking God for all my blessings today and everyday.
Good Night and God Bless.

WELCOME PITTER PATTER OF RAIN DROPS

Market day again,another fairly busy day and very hot day at market.
The thunder started before I left market and as the dark clouds rolled in I could see the mountains disappearing as the rain moved in while I made my way toward home.
I made my first 2 stops and lucked out between showers but the last stop at Walmart I got soaked along with my groceries,thank goodness for plastic grocery bags!!
Wow !! What a difference rain makes !! Almost a 20 degree temperature drop in less than an hour.

Back home and unloaded I rested with my 4-legged kids while the rain continued to fall steadily for about 2 hours,just what we needed. God knows when to send rain better than we do.
Someone else besides my chickens like discarded watermelon rinds !!News on the historical oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, BP has a cap on the leaking well and it has stopped the flow of oil into the ocean at least for now.The whole country has its fingers crossed that finally they have found a solution to the millions of gallons of oil that has poured into the gulf waters.
But sadly it is too late for many of God's creatures.There are so many heart breaking images from down there,I could just cry each time I see something like this and can't help but feel partially responsible because of the gas that I use in my automobile and other products made from oil products.
It has been described as a sin against nature.

Praying for God's blessings on the people living and working around these oil filled waters.
Good Night and God Bless.