MARCH GOES OUT LIKE A WARM LAMB

Up and out this morning to tackle my busy day. I looked at the embers in the downstairs wood stove as I put a load of extra laundry in before I headed out to do the chores and thought hopefully this might be the last fire of the season, but somehow I doubt it !
After chores and breakfast I took a short walk on this gorgeous sunny warm morning. I called my hairdresser/friend Markeeta, while I walked and she said come on over to get a haircut so I cut my walk short.
She does a good quick job and I like the way she fixed my hair today. It is always fun to catch up with each other while she works.
Back home by 11:00 and got the first load of covers hung out on the line in a perfect drying day. The wind is actually a little strong hopefully it won't break the clothes line whipping the sheets around.
I spent the remainder of the morning housecleaning and doing three loads of laundry.
After a quick lunch I did more housecleaning, finishing around 2:30 when I mopped myself out the back door into the sunshine. I took a nice vitamin D break while waiting for the floors to dry and letting my muscles rest from all the vacuuming and mopping.
The sunshine was hot today in the 72 degree afternoon and felt so good on my skin.
I came back inside to cool off and did my daily sewing . Since everything is running a little behind schedule with the haircut time this morning I only got these two little baby bonnets finished today before hubbie came in with a rotovater to work in the garden with that I needed to help get unloaded.

We had to use the boom pole to lift the rotovater out of the truck bed. My bother , Robert, came out and held it steady while I drove the truck out from under it.
This implement turns the plowed garden into a smooth seed bed ready for planting.

After chores g-son came to stay while his mom went to music practice at church and his dad was working.
I planted the Hyacinths and Tulips that I had and a Black Raspberry that I bought about a month ago.
On the news they talked about a huge 500 acre plus fire in the Black Mountain area that had burned multiple homes in it's path.

Until this weather pattern changes I sure hope folks are careful about burning anything outside.
This pretty sky held the last sunset of this month today.

I sat out in the outside patio and reflected over this month this evening.
Not much big news has happened this month. #2 son and daughter, Re and little EL all became another year older. The weather has been pretty calm with the first thunder heard just yesterday and only a couple times of fleeting snowflakes. We had a lot of dreary drizzly days but not much significant rain, leaving us already with an over three inch deficit for the year .
We decided it was safe this month to announce d-in- loves pregnancy after the dangerous 12 week  timeline passed.
#2 son took 2 weeks off this month to use up some of the vacation he has accumulated before he lost it. He went to Myrtle Beach for a few days to golf with a couple friends and accompanied hubbie and I on an early Pickens flea market trip.
Daughter finally finished coaching and is enjoying her afternoons off .
Re took the kids to Ohio to have a visit with her family while Aa stayed here.  They are starting to grade a driveway on their property after picking out a double wide to put over there.
We brought a new friend into our family as a special lady named Susan and her little boy became a part of our family. She is what my friend called a "God Wink", that is when God puts someone in your life because you need them or they need you at that time.
Market has been slow this month for me. I started adding some sewing time into my schedule last week to help restock my depleted craft supplies at market.
I finished the first 3 month volume of the last 6 months of 2014 and have the last 3 months downloaded ready for editing. I also finished 2014 photo printing  and got all them in albums.
March 2015 is history for my family as of tonight and it has been a blessed one. With God always in our hearts and in our actions we continue to strive to glorify Him in everything we do.
Good Night and God Bless

FIRST THUNDERSTORM OF THE SEASON AND UNDATED OLD PICS

Woke early this morning about 6am to the sounds of the first thunder storm of this season. The storm moved quickly through our area and only dropped 3/10ths inch of rain but the thunder claps were loud and frequent.
I slept in a little after spending time awake during the storm.
I did the chores and had breakfast. Hubbie said he didn't feel well this morning, I think the pollen is affecting him along with me. I have had a hoarse voice and scratchy throat for a couple weeks that gets worse with the wind that is blowing like today.
I started laundry after breakfast and hubbie went up to his shop.
While the laundry washed I changed all the furniture covers and bed clothes. Making for several extra loads of laundry this week.
I did 4 loads today and will do more tomorrow of the big things so I can hang them on the outside clothes line.
We met daughter at an apartment her BF is moving into to move some things around for the friend who owns the apartment.
This evening the sun shined beautifully but the wind made the lower 60's feel cooler. As I started out on a walk this evening after chores and supper this little guy caught my attention as he sat on this log eating a nut with the sun reflecting off his fur.

Caught a glimpse of this Mallard duck patroling the waters in the creek this evening.

I came inside when I got back and downloaded my next 3 months blog book to finish out 2014.
I also worked on getting some photos downloaded to Walgreens so I can get prints made.
The last decade pictures for this month are the undated pics I am going through and want to preserve.
This first photo is of my Aunt Ella Souther.

I remember the little log cabin she lived in with her sister for years.
This next picture was sent to me several years ago by another cousin, this is my cousin Paul Pryor with a couple of his granddaughters.

In this old photo this is my Uncle Victor's cattle out in Oklahoma.

And last this is my great uncle William Pryor's family.

These are great old memories but I would love to know dates for these pics and names in the old family pic if anyone out there has any info please let me know.
I was impressed with the clear moon in the sky this evening.

As I shut the doors on the chicken's houses late this evening I took this pic of the late evening with some spring color still visible.

God is so good to me and I strive each day to glorify His name in all that I do.  Thankful for all the grace God gives me along with all the undeserved blessing each day.
Good Night and God Bless.

2015 PALM SUNDAY AND 1995 DECADE PICS

25 degrees this morning , that will do quite a bit of damage to any blooming fruit trees in the area.
Church was good today as we went over the Palm Sunday chapter in Matthew.
I got my new "secret sister" name today. I like doing secret sister and sneaking little gifts and cards in for them each month.
Today's lunch bunch was smaller then normal as #2 son is golfing in SC and then helping a friend replace an outside heat pump unit on a rental house he owns down there, Re and the kids are visiting family and Aa is working today. That left #1 son's family, daughter , Susan, hubbie and I.
After everyone left today hubbie and daughter went over to her house to do some spring work.
I decided to go to Sam's Club for a deal on a pressure cooker and grill I saw on their mark down shelf  last week.

Another pressure cooker will come in handy for Sunday lunches and this grill looks really interesting. I can't wait to try it out on some steaks. This combo was a display model and was originally priced at $179. I got it today for $109, the grill alone is in Walmart for $149, the pressure pot is missing a cover for the pressure release valve on the lid which I am going to call tomorrow and order along with hopefully the manuels that go with both.
I met daughter and hubbie at Home Depot to help her pick out some things for her yard and I bought a couple things for me also . I got another purple Hyacinth that smells heavenly.
I spent a cool evening relaxing and catching up on some blog reading. We also watched Duke defeat Gonzaga to get into the final four.  Michigan State defeated Louisville earlier in the day so the final four is set for next weekend as these two join Wisconsin and Kentucky.
It is nearing the end of the month and I still have a couple decade post to do so tonight this is what was going on in March 1995.
#2 son turned 12 years old on the first day of March. He celebrated with his bother and sister and a couple younger cousins.

And birthday time again on the 26th when daughter turned 10 this year. She celebrated with her best friend Carla, who was a frequent visitor at our house, and her brothers and younger cousins.

It is strange to look back on these pictures and feel as if they were just yesterday but then I remember, #2 son turned 32 this March and daughter just turned 30, Carla is a married lady now with 2 little boys of her own, the oldest cousin Susie lives and works in Asheville, NC, the other little girl cousin Carla is holding is getting ready to graduate college this spring and the blonde headed little boy cousin #1 is holding now works with hubbie at the school system.  Amazing !!!!

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday the day Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem on the streets with Palm fronds and glad people shouting Hosanna as He rode by.

Good Night and God Bless.

WINERY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Brrrrr !!!! 27 windy degrees this morning as I got the chores done and we headed for market.
Market was really slow as I expected. I wouldn't be out here if I didn't need to be for sure this morning. I had to get my long underwear back out this morning to help fend off the overnight cold held in this concrete floor and uninsulated concrete block walls.
Daughter and BF Josh came by after finishing their morning runs for a visit.
Hubbie left to get to Sam's Club to pick up a few things and Susan came to keep me company for the slow day.  I am very thankful for what I did sell.
We left market and I came home to unload and take off some of these warm clothing I had on as we were going over to one of the local Winerys to celebrate daughter's big 30 birthday with her and some friends. This is the first time I have been in a Winery and I was impressed with how nice it was and with the very courteous service we received.
Saint Paul Winery is less than 2 miles from our house and it is owned by a man I went to school with, Alan Ward, so I am super glad he has been so successful.

There were a lot of daughter's friends there and fun was had by all.

#2 son and me ........

Daughter and BF Josh......

Well fun was had by almost all................

I am still adjusting to the fact that my baby is now 30 years old !!!!!!

We visited with her friends until about 6:00 and had to get home to get the animals fed and put up for another very cold night.

It was a March madness kind of night for hubbie and I as we watched some of the last basketball games of the year tonight as the final 4 teams are emerging. So far Wisconsin and Kentucky are in as they defected Arizona and Notre Dame respectively tonight with two more to be decided tomorrow.
Susan left daughter's birthday gathering and drove to a place called Jump Off Rock that looks down over the city of Hendersonville.

These are pics of Susan as she waits on sunset.

And God did not disappoint as the sun dropped over the city in a blaze of glory on this very chilly windy but clear evening.

God is always with us and only ask for our love in return for His many rich blessings. Tomorrow marks the beginning of the journey that led to the greatest sacrifice ever made for all mankind everywhere as on Palm Sunday Jesus enter Jerusalem.
Good Night and God Bless

FREEZE WARNING

Heard the rain this morning before the alarm went off. The temperature was predicted to drop steadily throughout the day today so it looks to be a really nasty day.
I finished chores and hurried back inside out of the light cold rain.
After an inside walking video today I got busy baking a few cakes for orders tomorrow. I baked 2 chocolate, 2 pound cakes and a blackberry wine cake. I predict it will be a very slow market day with the cold weather and even a chance of some snow early in the morning.
Our entire area is under a hard freeze advisory for tonight with upper 20's expected and then tomorrow night it is going to be even colder with lows expected to reach the lower 20's.

The area peach farmers are already counting their loses as the trees are all in full bloom now which is about 2 weeks early in most places.  The weatherman called this "Dogwood" winter but I disagree as I have not seen any Dogwoods in bloom around here yet.
I think this is just a March cold snap and we have our "Dogwood", "Blackberry", and Easter "cold spells to get through yet.
Around our farm nothing is out far enough for this cold snap to hurt except the Plum trees but we kind of expect them to get hit as they always bloom too early for this area.
After lunch I cleaned the kitchen, plus cleaned out the refrigerator and freezer.
With the rain still misting outside and the wind getting up I built a fire in the wood stove downstairs to knock off the chill and dampness in the house and keep the heat pump from running constantly. It felt rally good.
I tackled my sewing stack and before my shoulder muscles screamed at me to take a break I got 1 large bonnet and 2  small bonnets made.

I sell a lot of bonnets for Easter so hopefully I can get more made before next week.
I took a break out in the sunroom with a hot cup of tea and a new "Our State" magazine. I also caught a glimpse of the first Brown Headed Cowbirds today as they took advantage of the refilled feeders. This is the handsome male.

I always hope these songbird nest invaders quickly pass through our area and move on north.
After chores I emptied 3/10ths inch of rain from the gauge as the wind really picked up making the upper 30's temps feel like the teens, brrrrr.
After supper I iced cakes then hubbie and I watched more March madness as we watched NC State Loose to Louisville and the UNC women loose a close game to SC on a heart breaking last second shot. 
I am grateful to God tonight for all the blessings of this day and for the wonderful sacrifice He made for all man kind as Holy Week approaches.
Good Night and God Bless.

HAPPY 30th TO DAUGHTER

As I woke up this morning and looked out at the cloudy sky I thought about this day 30 years ago, oh my 30 years ????  
Yes my youngest child is 30 years old today !!
Daughter was born around 6pm after an interesting day for me. My water had broke while I was shopping, my sister in-law drove me to the hospital while hubbie tried to get back from another county where he was delivering uniforms in his job.  I was known for long labor and although this was the shortest labor of the three kids it still lasted about 4 hours so there was time for everything to settle down before she made her appearance.
The decade pictures last night show her birth and she was a lovely little 6 lb. 14 oz girl.
With 2 older brothers she routinely dressed in blue in her early years.

Daughter has become a wonderful adult. She teaches and coaches with the same caring, faithful that way she lives her life.

She is a wonderful sister and a very special aunt.

She is a very supportive friend and goes beyond the call of duty in all that she does.

HAPPY  30th  BIRTHDAY DAUGHTER, we are very proud of you.
I did manage to face this day feeling a bit older, haha !!
After chores and breakfast I took a nice walk around the farm. Noticing some new bloomers this morning encouraged by the recent rains I'm sure.
These little blue flowers  seem to be taking over the upper part of the lawn.

I saw the first Wild Wood Hyacinths this morning.

And also the Dandelions are just now starting to poke their pretty blooms up.

After my walk I went into town to run the weekly errands and pick up baking supplies and groceries. This is the last Thursday before market starts back next week on Thursdays.
I went by Sam's Club to pick up a few things and do some price comparisons between Sam's and Amazon, Sams was cheaper on the things we buy.
I got home about 2:00 and had a late lunch before starting my sewing for the day. As I tried to sew some of the material I cut out yesterday I decided all of it needed ironing so I ironed instead of sewing today.
I took a cake order on the phone , then the neighbor came by and ordered and paid for 2 caramel cakes to be delivered the next two Sundays.
When hubbie got home we went up to #2 son's to check out his new fire pit.  He did a great job on it and surrounded it with the rubber mulch. It looks great, I'll have to go back and make photos as I didn't think about it today.
After chores and supper we watched UNC play their last basketball game of the season as they lost to Wisconsin in the sweet 16 round of the tournamnet.It was a very good clean close game so they can be proud of the way they played.
Guess we are NC State fans now as they play tomorrow night against Louisville.
I reviewed my blog book and it is ready to purchase when I find a coupon like I always use.
The weather is taking a turn back toward winter for the next few days. We may even get some snow with the mid to low 20's overnight temps the next couple days.

After the upper 60's temperatures of the last week tomorrow's 40's and Saturday's 30's during the day are going to be a reminder that this is very early spring  and anything can happen !!
Friday and Saturday nights temps are hard freeze warning temps in the mid to low 20's.  Thankfully we don't have much blooming except our plum trees.
Thanking God again tonight for the wonderful memories of my life and prayerfully hoping it is His will that I have many more.
Good Night and God Bless.