BREVARD SHOPPING TRIP

Only two days before Christmas and this is going to be a very busy time for me. I didn't even have a chance to post a blog so I did this one on Saturday night and back dated it.
Hubbie is off today thankfully so after our morning chores we went to work at church.
We finished just before lunch time so we ate and then met #2 son out town to help him pick a gift for g-son. He was going back home to plant 20 murray cypress trees hubbie had picked up for him yesterday evening. He is planting them along the road where he had some large pine trees taken down after the wind almost blew one of them on to his house. These trees only get about 30 feet so they won't reach his house.
Hubbie and I then headed to Brevard, one of our favorite Christmas shopping locals. We met daughter there as she was already on a dog sitting job in that area.
We had fun shopping in the small shops along main street. Unfortunately g-son didn't get to make the trip with us this year. D-in-loves family was having a get together this evening and it was about a 2 hour drive away.
He loved going in Opie Taylor's toy store and playing on this race track.

Hubbie and daughter tried their racing skills out in his absence.

We shopped till we dropped as the old saying goes. It was after dark when we finally made it home and got out the flashlights to do the chores once again.

A friend of mine picked up a couple cakes for her Christmas gathering and I got a call from another friend desperate for anything I might have for her party. At least I can feel accompanied in the fact that I' m not at all ready this year.

While hubbie snoozed in the recliner I made a list of all the food I was going to cook in the next 2 days and then woke him up to go drive me to the grocery store.

He also wanted to go check on daughter's house since she isn't home and the neighbor's house is getting foreclosed on next week and they were over there yesterday taking of their things away.

We got all the groceries, stopped by her house where all was quite and then hubbie decided he needed to stop by Wallyworld to pick up a race track g-son wanted. But unfortunately they didn't have it.

We are to old for this kind of night shopping trip and as we unloaded the van at midnight I could feel my age catching up with me quickly.

And the worst part is we're still not finished with our shopping !!!

I fell into bed and don't even remember closing my eyes.

Thanks be to God for the strength He gives me each day.

Good Night and God Bless.

WINTER ARRIVES AMID SPRING TEMPS AND SUMMER STORMS

HURRY,HURRY, that was the game of the morning as I got ready for market today. With the phone ringing with last minute request and the rain and mud to deal with while doing morning chores before I left I wasn't in a very good mood by the time I got in the van and started to market as I was already 10 minutes late. To top matters off before I traveled a mile out the road I ran into road construction. I stopped for the man with the stop sign and as I noticed him messing with his little walkie talkie thingy I wished he would just let me go by. Just as I sighed heavily thinking of the waiting customers at market he started to speak into his walkie talkie and he had it on speaker so I could hear what he was saying along with everyone else on the job.
He said very expressively "AND HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS " as he turned his sign to slow and I laughed as I realized I had forgotten that I had on my santa hat !!  As I smiled and waved at him as well as all the workers who had stopped their work to smile and wave as I passed.  My mood lifted and I met the waiting customers with such a Christmas spirit attitude everyone left happy.
It's always special to me at how God puts these little things in our paths to brighten our days if only we'll take the time to notice them .
Daughter was already at market when I got there and she and I stayed busy waiting on customers all day and had a very good day. Not as good as last year but good enough. I'm always thankful when this last market day before Christmas is done because then I know I can concentrate solely on my family and friends now.
As I left market the rain began to pour down but I ran some regular errands plus made a stop at a small country market to buy some dried cranberry beans and local honey before I headed home.
The rains didn't stop all evening and at times the thunder and lightening were just like a summer storm. It is 63 degrees so I guess the storms shouldn't be a surprise. I've heard the old saying that after thunder in winter snow will follow in 7 days. Guess we'll have to wait to see on that one.
The central part of our county has flooding roads as the news is on at 11:00 tonight but here in our section of the county there is only about 1" in the rain gauge so far tonight but I can here the water in the creek smacking against the bridge so it must be full.
Hubbie and I both rested this evening away glad to be off work and able to enjoy Christmas for the next few days.
In 2001 I either didn't take many pictures or have misplaced them. All I found was a picture of our tree.

And a picture of our then little dog, our beloved Pepper who died of old age several years ago.

She was one of the sweetest, smartest dogs we've ever had.

This first day of winter 2011 has been an interesting one with summer storms and spring temperatures.The low this morning was 47 and the high today was 63, not really winter temps even for the part of the sunny south where I live. We are about 20 degrees above normal !

I am looking forward to an earlier bedtime tonight and hopefully a quiet night since most of the storms and rain have passed on to the east of us.

Feeling wonderfully blessed by a loving Heavenly Father tonight.

Good Night and God Bless.

DOWNTOWN TRIP A RAINY ONE THIS YEAR

Greeted by a rainy day this morning but very warm temperatures as I did chores and watered the greenhouse plants. These plants think it is already summertime in the warmth of the cold frame green house.
I spent the morning icing caramel cakes, after icing 12 my back gave out on me and I decided to wait until tonight to ice the chocolate cakes.
After a salad for lunch daughter came over and we went to make our annual Christmas walk of mainstreet. It wasn't raining really hard at the time,just a light mist so we were hoping we could beat the hard rain. I had an Avon delivery and a cake delivery to make on the way to town and traffic was already a nightmare trying to get to town on the main road.
We finally made it to main street and even found a parking spot right on the street. We shopped up one side and down the other but the rains grew harder so we cut some of our stops short and others that we have enjoyed in the past years were out of business this year.
The city doesn't go all out with decorations like they used to and I also noticed this year they didn't have Christmas music playing as they have in the past years. Maybe the rain had something to do with that.

In the past 2 years these beds have been covered with snow but today they are filled with blooming pansies.

The weather takes the holiday feel right out of you when you are Christmas shopping without even a jacket.

Daughter or I didn't find a lot of things to buy. Mast General Store got most of our purchases. I made my yearly candy buy and got a couple of gifts for my newest great nephew.

I was disappointed at the prices in some of the smaller stores as we looked at things that were so over priced and I actually wondered who buys these things ??

Evidently someone does or they wouldn't still be in business !!!

We headed home around 5:00 so she could go home and get ready for a church social for the young people tonight.

I did chores while it wasn't raining so hard and then settled to watch a UNC b-ball game,they won easily again.

I iced my chocolate and coconut cakes tonight then remembered I forgot to do weekly paperwork and pay bills so I am closing this out about midnight.

It is 54 degrees at midnight , we got over 3/4 inch of rain today with more expected tonight and tomorrow.

Thanking God for a wonderful blessed day .

Good Night and God Bless

MARKET DAY TUESDAY

Strange Tuesday today as I get ready to go to market instead of starting laundry and housework. Got most of my work here done yesterday. With market closed on Saturday this week I decided I'd come  today to try to make up for a lost Saturday's sales. I have done pretty good ,especially for daughter who makes our pumpkin rolls. I sold 4 just as I got here this morning so that made her day. She is working at school today as her last day before holiday vacation begins.

I had a nice visit with a couple of neighbors who live just out the road from us that we hardly ever see because we are both so busy.
After market I picked up baking supplies and delivered an Avon order as well as buying a new printer from Staples for the computer downstairs. I planned on buying ink for it as daughter said she didn't think there was anything wrong with the old printer she had   but just being out of ink. When I went in Staples to pick up ink I saw a new HP all-in-one printer on sale  for $5 more than the ink for the old one so I now have a new wireless printer !!
I got everything put away and the chores finished as it started to rain lightly. It has been another warm day, 57 degrees and it has been very cloudy all evening. Tonight at almost midnight it is still 51 degrees !
Just before supper I had to make another Avon delivery over at a nearby Dollar General Store.
Hubbie and had baked potatoes for supper topped with cheese and bacon.
Daughter came in to pick up the supplies I got for her today and went home to do her baking.
I baked 32 layers plus some pound and wine cakes tonight.

The weather forecasters came out with a surprise tonight !!!  Now we could get a mix bag of precip. for Christmas.

After all this nice spring like weather wouldn't some snow for Christmas be a surprise ???

I don't think it will happen but after the last couple years who knows !!

I found some really cute wreaths while looking around on the internet today and thought I would share this picture of these easy to make wreaths.

These would make very nice gifts for the card player or anyone who is difficult to buy for. Maybe next year I'll make some to sell at market.
Grateful to God for the nearing celebration of the birth of His son.
Good Night and God Bless.

CAN THIS REALLY BE DECEMBER WEATHER ????

G-son got here at 7:30 this morning. His pre-school is already out for the holidays and hubbie is working today so he can be off Friday this week so it was just me and g-son today.
It was 30 degrees this morning so I fixed him waffles with syrup and chocolate milk and then went outside to feed all the animals their breakfast.
While he watched his morning TV shows I did housework and laundry. After lunch we headed outside to enjoy this beautiful weather while it lasts. I have a feeling it won't be near 60 degrees much longer.

G-son enjoyed being outside running around all afternoon.

Annie's always ready for a good belly scratch !!!

After mom came and got g-son I did some more laundry and took a couple cake orders and an Avon order.

When hubbie got home from work we did the evening chores and then made a trip to Walmart and Sam's to pick up a few things and get some baking supplies. My orders are still down but I got a couple really nice orders today so people may be waiting until the last minute.

We had a light supper when we got back home which for me was a mistake because it was 7:30 and I'm not used to eating that late so I felt miserable for a long time. I layed on the couch and watched the second half of a blow out UNC basketball victory.

I baked some cakes tonight although I'm not sure what kind of icing I will put on most of them. I'll wait and see what orders come in tomorrow.

I'm trying to get into bed a little earlier tonight after my early start this morning.

It's 11:00, the temperature is 33 and I'm off to ice coconut cakes before bedtime.

Grateful to God for a blessed day full of enjoyment and blessings.

Good Night and God Bless.

CHRISTMAS 1991 WAS A BUSY ONE

On this really nice Sunday morning hubbie and I had nursery duty at church. We kept ten ,2 and under kids occupied for almost 2 hours,whew !!!!  I needed a nap when I got home but of course that wasn't in my plans for today !
We had a spaghetti lunch with #2 son and daughter, as #1 son took g-son to a birthday party from 12-2 this afternoon.
After lunch #2 son and daughter left going to her house to work on some things. Hubbie finished the fence work he started yesterdayand headed over to help, and I  had plans to get my old computer which is now in my work room downstairs on line with a new USB adapter I bought last week.
Being as computer literate as I am it took me all afternoon with finally a call to daughter to get it up and running.
After chores I wasn't hungry  so I did some exercise downstairs and then watched the Survivor ending special .
As I exercised this evening I thought of all I need to do this week and how hectic things have been this month. But then I came upstairs and looked through some decade pictures for tonight's post and realized just how non-hectic Decembers are now for me.
You'll see what I mean as I take you through December 1991.
#1 and #2 son (seen here jumping) were both playing youth basketball that December on a team together that hubbie was helping coach. Every Saturday we were in a gym somewhere along with a couple nights a week practice.

Both boys were in Cub Scouts and Hubbie and I were both pack officials, this is the float we decorated to put in the Christmas parade that year. #1 son is off the float on the left side, #2 son is sitting in front of the fire in the black pants, hubbie is in the white cap on the right side of the float. There is a sweet manger scene on the back of the float behind the greenery.

I did a lot of volunteering at the elementary school where all the kids went and that year they ask me to paint this huge murial for the school Christmas play. I remember having these flags spread out on my dining room table for days.

Here is #2 son in the play in the green sweatshirt dancing in the center of the stage.

Then there was always the church Christmas play that all 3 kids were always in. We practiced every Sunday afternoon. The director was a close friend of mine and I always helped her with the play.

Here is #1 son doing his part in the play. That year all the kids were tourist sailing on the USS Christmas.

Here daughter bashfully does her part.

And here #2 son sings his part with a really nice in tune voice.

Finally finished with the scout activities,school and church plays we settled down for a busy Christmas.

On Christmas eve we always had Christmas with Hubbie's side of the family. His mom and dad sit in the background watching their 5 grandchildren opening presents.

Then it was time to put together and get things ready for Christmas morning. On this particular Christmas Santa was extra nice and even left a ping pong table downstairs for us to put together.

Here is our tree that year, we always took the kids to a tree farm and picked out a live tree.

A happy girl on Christmas morning.

#1 son has always been into guns of some sort.

#2 son was happy here and even happier when he saw the ping pong table downstairs.

One thing that makes this Christmas more memorable was when he went downstairs he said " I just can't believe Santa brought us all this stuff and it's all free",  the innocence of a child is a priceless gift.

He loved the pingpong table.

For lunch on Christmas day we loaded up and went up on Sugarloaf Mountain to eat with hubbie's grandmother and some of his family.

On Christmas day night we headed up to my mom's for my side of the family's celebration.

These are the cousins on my side, my 3 and my oldest brothers 1 daughter.

My 76 year old mom on that Christmas night.

And here is a tired hibbie and me on that night.

When I look back and see all this and know that along with all this we were running a cow/calf operation of about 60 head of cattle along with milking cows and goats and had chickens to take care of , maybe I don't think this year's december has been too hectic after all !!!!
I have been blessed beyond measure with wonderful memories of a very full life and I thank God each day for guiding me along the way.
Good Night and God Bless.

SHAPES IN THE CLOUDS

Another slow market day. It's hard to beleive Christmas is only a week away. Daughter didn't feel great today,said she thought she had the same thing I had Thursday so she left early to go take a nap.
I packed up and loaded the van then made a couple supply stops on the way home. Hubbie,#1 son and g-son were all headed to the bottom pasture to do some fence repairs. The grass in the upper pasture is all gone and to save hay we need to get the cattle down in the lower pasture.
After I got things put away and had a bowl of tomato soup with crackers and cheese I rested on the couch. Didn't turn on a TV or radio, just enjoyed the quiteness. I find I enjoy this way more and more recently.
It is getting colder this evening than it has been for a number of days. After giving the chickens and dogs a little extra feed to help knock the chill off  I watched the news and a Carolina basketball game while hubbie and I had steamed broccoli and fried ,baked potatoes for supper.
Carolina won the game without much challenge ,they were playing Appalachion .

Do you ever see things in the clouds ? I love to photograph the clouds in the sky and then see what shapes I can find.
Here are some examples, see if you see what I see ??

Oops, one of Santa's reindeer must have escaped !!

Flying dragon ( enlarge to see the scales on his side )

Do you see the spoon ??

Close up of the spoon.

The sun was beautiful today but the breeze reminded me it is December.

Talked to daughter tonight and she is feeling better, she got stakes tied to all the trees she set out last week so they won't blow over. Getting out in the fresh air sometimes is the best medicine.

#1 son took g-son to Hollywild tonight to see the lights and feed the animals.

I finally did some Christmas shopping on line today while market was slow,hopefully it will get here before Christmas. After all they guarantee it will !!!

I'm not a real shopper, I usually have a list and go after only the things on my list. When it comes to having to look around and pick something out I don't do well at that. I try to wait until daughter gets off work so she can go with me and help. She has to work an extra couple days this year before Christmas so we will only have 3 days and 1 of them is a market day. 

I have to decide if I'm going to market on Tuesday or not !! The way business has been I don't know if it would be worth it or not.

Good Night and God Bless.