FOGGY MORNING ,BRIGHT SUNFLOWER AFTERNOON

Yessss!!! Alarm went off 30 minutes early and I actually heard it,good start to a busy day.After everything was ready and the van loaded I was 20 minutes earlier than usual just as hoped so I headed to my early Avon delivery,this is a place where all spanish speaking people work and we have a plan we follow to communicate,I deliver their orders on Thursday (they don't work on Friday) and give them a chance to see how much money they owe me then I go back Monday or Tuesday and collect for their orders at their morning break time.
There is an old saying that for every foggy morning in August their will be a snow in winter,well mark 1 snow down for this winter as I took this picture on my way out this morning.Market was pretty busy today and I packaged some dry basil to sell and crocheted tops on 3 towels between customers. Two Avon customer came after their orders.As I was leaving a neighbor who sells sunflowers gave me a bunch he didn't sell,they are so pretty I just had to share.I love sun flowers they just seem to brighten a room and they make you smile everytime you are near them,at least they do that for me.I hope he has some more Saturday and I will get some for church Sunday.
I had extra errands today after market and didn't get home until after 4:30,hubbie was here to help me unload and get everything put away.He ate supper but I have had an upset stomach all day and just not wanted anything to eat.I laid down on the couch to watch the news as it is starting to sprinkle rain again.I woke up an hour later starving,I guess what ever has been wrong with my stomach went away during my nap,Thanks Lord.I ate a salad and some leftover rice daughter had made last night and the last biscuit with more jam,yummm.Okay that feels so much better,it never really rained much but the grass is wet so I think I'll pass on my daily walk and go clean church a little early.
Hubbie's vacuum handle broke but he taped it to finish tonight and will try to glue it when we get home.
At home hubbie is getting ready for bed and as soon as I finish this I'm headed that way, I hope my little afternoon nap doesn't mess up my night sleep like it usually does.Well wonder what tomorrow will bring, it's always exciting to wake up to another day of serving our Lord and see what blessings He has in His plans for me.Good Night.

RAINY , EXTRA COOL AUGUST DAY

Woke to rain blowing against the window this morning.After regular chores I spent some time on the phone lining up some plumbers for bids on our job.Then I decided to take advantage of the 65 degree temps and work in my sewing shop.I needed to finish some doll cloths for a red riding hood doll and needed to make some more aprons for a church group in town who sponsors a "Feed the Kids" program,I made 25 aprons for them in May and June,they furnished the material and when I tried to give back what was left they said just to make more aprons.I have been so busy I just haven't had time so I made 5 more aprons today for them.
It was lunch time when I finished sewing,after a salad and sandwich I started laundry and housework.It has stopped raining but is still cloudy and cool outside about 76 now,pretty cool for August.I took 2 cake orders for Saturday,1 for 6 cakes.
While my freshly mopped floors dried I went in my office and payed bills for the week.My friend called and said my Avon order just came about 3:00 so I went to pick it up,I bagged it as soon as I got home and stamped all my books for delivery.Hubbie came in while I was working on this and started frying the okra he cut yesterday,we had baked chicken and tomatoes to go with it for supper and a biscuit with some of daughters black&blue berry jam for dessert.
He went to spray more fungicide on the beans and I went walking with the dogs to check the fence and waterhole, everything was fine..This is Annie keeping a watchful eye out for me, this isn't the picture I wanted as right before I took this one she stood up on her hind legs to see above the tall grass but I missed that one.She is my constant companion around the farm.
I came back in and rested for 30 minutes before it was time to start icing cakes,I iced 12 caramels,4 chocolates, 2 coconuts tonight.
Tomorrow afternoon will sure be alot easier if I can get left early enough in the morning to make 1 Avon delivery on the way to market,that's my plan so I'm off to bath and bed now.GOD BLESS and good night.

DAY FILLED WITH GOOD NEWS

Awoke to a bright sunny day,mornings are so nice and cool.After taking care of the animals and breakfast I started some laundry since I have a doctors appointment at 2:20 I didn't hang any outside,it will probably rain again today.While I did 2 loads of laundry I did some housework.
At 11:00 I started making my pasta sauce ,I've never made this before and it was a little more involved but it turned out good and really taste good.....At least my dining room table isn't
covered with baskets of tomatoes anymore.
It is getting time to get ready to go to the Dermatologist which is not my favorite place to go,my stomach has already started to churn,today I am having a re-check on a squamous cell cancer he cut off my lower leg in June,he will possibly shave it again and burn it to kill more cancer cells (OH JOY).
I have more reason to dread these visits,this all stared in April when he found a level 2 melanoma cancer on my arm,I went back in May for the second cut which took a large football shape chunk out of my arm,I have a terrible scar,but it is at my elbow joint and isn't so noticeable.The agony I went through waiting to find out if the cancer had spread to a much larger area was tough and I am very thankful for all the prayers that went up for me during this wait.By the Grace of God it had not spread and the doctor felt like all the cancer was gone with this second cut, here's a big HALLELUJAH.I truly felt like my guardian angle had snatched me from the brink of a health disaster for the second time in recent years as I waited and waited knowing that mole on my arm didn't look right before going to the doctor and have no idea why I decided to go when I did.I'm sure thankful that God just takes over sometimes when we don't realize what is best for us,He's just wonderfully caring like that.
I went back in June to have a full body exam and he found 2 more places he cut out and sent off,I dread the cuts because mine always get infected,anyway 1 of these came back in a moderate melanoma change and the other 1 came back a squamous cell cancer.I've decided my skin has declared war on me for all the years of sun abuse I put it through.
So that is where I'm at today with the squamous cell re-check.Another big HALLELUJAH when he looked at my leg he said he didn't need to make another cut as it showed no more signs of cancer.He actually called it Bowens disease which is a surface squamous cell and because he cauterized the spot when he cut it off and it had all but went away we are just going to watch it.
I haven't been surprised by the fact that I have skin cancer because I have spent all my life outside .I was raised on a cattle/crop farm and as soon as I could reach the brake petal on a tractor I was helping my daddy in the fields and sunscreen was never heard of back then,at least by my parents.I also loved laying in the sun in my teen years , then when I married, my husband and I farmed and I spent alot of time again on a tractor in the hay fields,still no sunscreen.I always used sunscreen at the lake or beach but never thought of it when we were working.But I still love the feel of the sun on my skin,I just have to be careful not to get too much,like doc says sun doesn't cause cancer,sunburn causes cancer.
Before I left his office I asked the girl at the desk to look up and tell me how much she thought my insurance was going to pay because I haven't gotten any statements from my insurance to see what they paid.And here is the biggest HALLELUJAH of all since all my specimens have had cancer cells in them my insurance has totally paid for everything ,there was not even a deductible because this is considered to be preventative treatment.GOOD NEWS GOOD NEWS!!
I left and went to a little store that was just up the road just to celebrate my good fortune by shopping. I found several things and had to laugh when I checked out as my bill was almost $50 and that is what I was expecting to pay the doctor today for my co-pay, but didn't have to pay him anything. It was pouring the rain when I left the store and headed home.By the time I got home it was just starting to rain here and it never did rain much , and now the sun is back out at 5:00.
Hubbie came home and layed down,he had worked outside all day and the heat just sapped all his energy.I am writing this long blog while he is taking his nap.
When hubbie got up he grilled the steaks we didn't eat Saturday and we ate supper.Afterward he went to the garden and cut okra,dug potatoes, and picked tomatoes and squash.We have so many red potatoes he dug some for me to sell at market Thursday,they won't keep in winter like white potatoes and we haven't ate as many as we usually do.I went to walk and found the waterhole filled with sticks,sand and trash from the high water yesterday,so hubbie had to dig it out.....The weather feels much better today 86 and not so humid this evening as it has been.I came back to the house and talked to daughter,she said b-friend didn't get the house he was looking at.I kind of think that might be a blessing due to all the issues with that house.
She was eating some of my salsa and talking about how good it was so I'm sure we will be making more for her as soon as we get enough tomatoes. I put away some of the big pots and bowls so I will have room to bake.I baked 48 layers tonight,my orders have slowed some in the last 2 weeks.It is almost 11:20 and I just put the last layers in so while I listen to the news I'm writing in my blog.This has been one of those days that things have just fell into place for me hope it continues tomorrow and so on.Praising God for all my blessings today and believe me I never fail to give all the credit for my good fortune to my Heavenly Father. Good Night.

HOLY COW I DID ALL THAT IN ONE DAY!!!!!!!!

WOW!!!What a day,when I got up this morning I had a list of "to do's" a mile long and only hoped to get some of it done.It is about 6:00 in the evening now and I am patting myself on the back for all I can mark off my list.Okay hang on ,the day started with a call from daughter-in-love saying g-son was coming late today,soooooooo!!! I had already washed 2 loads of laundry and hung them out to dry.Then it was salsa making time I doubled my recipe since I had so many tomatoes and made 10 pints.....Then I washed up all these huge bowls and pots that rarely ever get used except for this time of year,no wonder my cabinets look crammed full with all these in there,maybe 1 of these days I will have a cabinet just for canning time.I'll leave them out because I have more canning to do tonight and tomorrow.
While I was making salsa I finished and sent in my Avon order.
I had a tomato sandwich for lunch and took a small break outside.It is getting cloudy so I took the dry laundry off the lines and put it away.
Then it was on to my cabinet cleaning chores,since we are going to have our house replumbed I need to organize things under my sinks and in my towel closets so they can be easily emptied when the plumber gets here.Oh Dear what a mess,I can't remember the last time I was in some of these places,all the trash cans are full and I have a big basket of extra cleaning stuff and found some towels I haven't seen in quite a while,but the job is totally done,YEEESSSSS.
Daughter-in-love brought g-son in sound asleep,we layed him on the couch.I decided to catch up on my month end paperwork at least some of it and never expected to finish, but I did I am now officially through with the month of July YEEESSSSSS again.
Got a call from the Sheriffs Dept saying there was cows out on our road,it was quite a distance from us so I gave her the name of another man who's they probably are,then crossed my fingers and went looking for ours,"Thank you Lord", ours were all in the barn and upper pasture away from the road.I was worried because d-in-love said there was an accident right at our driveway as she went out to work so I was hoping a fence didn't get knocked down somewhere.
Hubbie came home ,g-son woke up and the storms started all at about the same time,hubbie said it was the neighbors cows out .It rained hard with thunder and lightening,we got 1 1/4" in about an hour.Then the sun came back out mountain weather,you gotta love it.
We fixed supper of left-overs and fixed g-son some macaroni and cheese.After we ate g-son wanted to play in his playroom with his pawpaw.So I am blogging now in case I get busy tonight,daughter and I are supposed to make her jam,I need to call her and see what her schedule is for tonight.I've got more tomatoes and tomorrow I will make some pasta sauce from them.
Went walking even in the wet grass, gosh it feels like a sauna outside,creek was really muddy and up some.....water is usually clear and meandering as pic on left but today it was muddy and in a big hurry.It must have rained harder up the creek than it did here.Hubbie will probably have more digging to do when it goes back down.
When I got back to the house daughter was here with sugar,wax and lids ready to make jam. We made 11 jars and had some left over to eat,boy is it good and it is really pretty in the jars,she is going to use some for Christmas presents......She is going back this weekend to pick more and make more jam and some berries to freeze,I told her she better watch for snakes in those berry patches.
After jam making I baked some cakes 1 granny pound, 2 blackberry wine and 1 chocolate pound. I just took them out of the ovens and put the glaze on the wine cakes.
So that pretty much wraps up all my "to do" list for today plus some and it is only 11:00,I wish I could get this much done everyday or, maybe not, I'm very tired .Tomorrow is another day and it will be here before I know it.ALL THE THINGS I ACCOMPLISHED TODAY I KNOW WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT HELP FROM MY HEAVENLY FATHER AND I LOVE HIM SO MUCH FOR STANDING BESIDE ME AND GIVING ME STRENGTH. GOOD NIGHT.

KILLER HEADACHE, CANNING LESSONS

Woke up early this morning with a splitting headache,it felt like my head was in a vice grip.Finally after 4 tylenol and 2 hours of a hot pack on it my head stopped hurting.We missed church and hubbie said he woke up with a headache also.I decided what caused mine was I didn't take time to eat much at all yesterday,plus we cooked that boston butt in the crock pot all night and it had a strong smell that seemed to settle in our bedroom,anyway just glad it is gone now,Thank You Lord.
We had lunch with daughter and father-in-law only today,as everyone else is elsewhere today,#2 son did come in late and eat by himself.
Daughter and hubbie had broke her beans this morning while I was down with my headache so I helped her can 16 pints this afternoon,she did a very good job....
She went with her girlfriend yesterday up on the parkway and picked over a gallon of wild blackberries and blueberries so we are going to make jam tomorrow night.
Boyfriend came over and they went to meet his realtor to make an offer on a house he likes.
#1 son and family came by this afternoon and stayed awhile and brought me a birthday card and gift,dang it!!! I try to forget I'm getting older but they're not gonna let me.Anyway I'll need that lavender diffuser tonight to help me sleep.Thanks daughter-in-love.
Hubbie left to take his dad home and I took several Avon orders.
When he got back I took the dogs out walking for the first time in over a week,it's nice to get back on my regular schedule.I enjoyed walking and talking with God as I enjoyed all his creations.
This is a 1 of hubbie's gourds that has climbed up in a tree,these are birdhouse gourds,but we usually have to dry them before we hang them up in the trees but mother nature hung this one herself.
Hubbie picked tomatoes and peppers form the garden this evening so I can make salsa in the morning before g-son gets here,our cup is running over with tomatoes right now....August is the busiest food preserving month of the year around here.I try not to let too much go to waste,you never know what will happen in winter time.
I wrote up my Avon orders tonight and put them on my website ready to send in the morning.
I didn't think I had many but it has taken me almost 3 hours to get it done.It is 1 am but because I slept in with my headache this morning I'm not sleepy yet,maybe a hot soak in the tub will help ,anyway that's where I'm headed now. Praise God for all things. Good Night.

MARKET DAY ,SURPRISE VISIT

Up and at it early this morning getting ready for market,we made it there at 9:25,customers were waiting.Hubbie stayed until 11:30 to help me because it was so busy.He left to go get his dad's groceries and check on him.I stayed busy all day,people were really buying today,all my neighbors were selling out and going home.
I left market and had to go to 2 different Ingles stores until I finally found blackberry jello.I went to Harris Teeter to get a Boston Butt to cook for tomorrow's lunch,then to Aldi and Walmart for baking supplies.I had to sit down on a bench in Walmart and take an Avon order a lady insisted on giving me right then.
I delivered an Avon order to a lady who has just got up here from Florida,she is the 1 I ship to all the time.She had to get out of the heat so she has rented a unit for 2 months.
When I got home Hubbie helped me unload and put away everything.We were getting ready to grill some steaks when a cousin I haven't seen in a very long time drove up in the yard,he came in and stayed about 3 hours, as we had a lot to catch up on,he is about 5 years younger than me,his mother died when he was15 and he moved in with us and my parents finished raising him,he didn't leave until 7:45.So no steaks for supper only tomato sandwiches and cheetos as we need to clean church tonight.
Church was surely dirty tonight as you would expect after 150 Bible school attendees all week.We worked mainly on the sanctuary as it was where everyone was and will be tomorrow.
When we got home I sorted through my pictures that I had picked up at Walgeens today on the way home,I have pictures for 7 different people,I'll give them out tomorrow at church.
I haven't even had a chance to read the paper today and am too tired now,I didn't sleep well last night so I'm looking forward to bed tonight.But first I need to wash my hair and wash 1 of my little dogs before going to bed. See you in God's House tomorrow Praising Jesus Christ.

BIBLE SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT NIGHT

Woke by the ringing phone this morning,it was an Avon customer coming by to pick up her order.Fast dressing is a skill I learned a long time ago.
After she left I had cereal and hot green tea for breakfast,hubbie is off today and he went out to spray weed killer on the road bank as it is getting hard to see on coming traffic when pulling out of our drive way.I did a laundry load of sheets and hung them out to dry,it is a beautiful day but is going to get hot.Then it was time to start baking layers for my cakes,I baked 22 layers,2 granny pound,1 7-up pound, 1 peach wine ,1 chocolate pound,2 loaves of blackberry bread,and an order of boyfriend cookies I promised a lady I would do for her grand opening celebration of her musical bear shop. I finished all this about 2:00.
#1 son brought g-son over about that time and he and pawpaw watched TV for awhile, while I did paperwork and gathered my sheets off the line, uuuuummmmmmm they smell sooooo good.
I went up to the garden to cut basil and oregano to sell at market tomorrow.Our garden is really doing well with all the rains we have had lately.I have enough tomatoes to make salsa this week.Daughter is suppose to pick her some beans to can tomorrow afternoon.I'll help her can them Sunday after lunch.Hubbie is helping her b-friend change the brake pads on his suv tomorrow afternoon when he gets home from his dad's.
Time for Bible school commencement and g-son is all excited he wanted to leave 20 minutes early but we waited.
Commencement went well we had 8 show up tonight and they all did amazingly well to sit through an hour program.We only had to intervene a couple of times when someone got a little to far from us but all in all they did wonderful.I love everyone of them they are all so sweet and are just like little sponges absorbing every little thing they see and hear.
We had a nice b-b-cue supper and talked with many friends afterwards.
I don't know when they are going to take down all the massive decorations so we'll come back later to clean.
Daughter and d-in-love went to a pet store to get a gerbil for d-in-love,son and g-son came home with us.I iced 6 caramel cakes, 3 chocolate, 2 coconuts, and wrapped all I could for tomorrow while they watched TV,g-son had to have a piece of cake with some caramel icing to go with a cup of milk before he left for home. He said he was tired, this has been a big week for him, he'll sleep well tonight.I am tired but content in the knowledge of a very successful week,pastor Mike said this was the best Bible school week ever (I think he says that every year) but this was a good week, just looking at all those kids tonight made me very glad to be a part of something so special and inspirational for all these young minds and souls. 2 kids accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior this week so every bit of work and time that went into it was well worth it. All the Glory be to God.
I love it at my house late at night 11:30 like this when everyone is gone and hubbie is in bed and it's just me and my blog,it seems good for my soul to think back over my days activities and write down some of my thoughts,it gives me a feeling of accomplishment to sleep by.This busy week isn't over yet so I'm off to bath and bed to rest for another busy day tomorrow God willing.
May all your dreams come true and may God richly bless each and everyone as he has me.
Good Night.