FIRST THURSDAY AT MARKET IS OKAY

First Thursday market day of the year !
When I got there it did not look promising as the parking lot was empty except for vendor cars that I recognized.
I did some spring cleaning around my tables while I waited on the few customers that came through. Actually I wound up having a decent day after all. Even sold 1 of son's spoon/fork wind chimes.
I left a little early as the market emptied out and I had a lot of errands to run.
I went to 2 banks,the P.O.,picked up dry cleaning,picked up an unwanted Avon order,
picked up my regular Avon order,picked up baking supplies from Aldi and Walmart and Ingles, picked up a photo CD from Walgreens,whew and I still made it home by 4:00.
I had everything unloaded and put away by the time Hubbie came in from work and we headed to g-son's base ball game.
G-son didn't do as well tonight as he has been doing but even I got kind of bored tonight. Three games in four days is a bit much. Today's game seemed to go on forever .
I broke up my boredom watching this Robin search for his dinner in the community gardens that border the park.
There were lots of vegetables coming up in the raised beds of the garden, onions,peas,
lettuce and greens.
Hubbie and I had a quick hot dog supper when we got home and did our chores for the evening.
It has been a beautiful day with temperatures in the low 70's and not a cloud in the sky.
It is still 59 degrees at 11:00 tonight.
I am tired tonight from this schedule change in my activities. I've noticed as I age these changes get harder to adjust to. Couple that with a boring 5 hours at market and I feel like I have been running a race today.
I'm going to finish watching the news and head for bed.
Thankful to God for a wonderful blessing filled day.
Good Night and God Bless.

NICE BUT BREEZY DAY

30 degrees this morning ,looks like all the new blooms survived fine. After chores I started cleaning floors and finished the left over laundry from yesterday before picking up G-son from pre-school. He came skipping out ready to come home. After lunch I promised him if he would settle down and play alone until I finished cleaning we would spend the afternoon out in the warm sunshine. He was great,only asked a couple times if I was finished yet. The temperature outside was in the mid 50's but a little breeze made it feel cooler. Guess I wasn't moving as fast as g-son because he wasn't cool at all. We played what ever game he wanted which included freeze tag, red/light-green/light, played with balls on the slide and even got in a few rounds of hide and seek before his dad picked him up. I was hoping he wasn't as tired as me because he has another ball game this afternoon at 5:30. When I picked him up his class picture was ready He is in front in the red shirt. The teacher with the blue sweater is a long time friend of mine and I know how much she loves kids.

G-son had a really good game tonight,he hit the coache's pitches all 3 times at bat and wound up getting the game ball for doing the best job. He was so proud and happy !!! We noticed on the way home that the wind shield of my van has a huge chip in it . I have been very careful at the ball park to point it away from the playing fields so we figure a limb must have blown against it during the storm night before last. I'll take it by my insurance agent tomorrow if I have time. After getting home from his ballgame Hubbie and I did evening chores,Hubbie had eaten a hot dog at the ball game and I had a bowl of cereal for supper. Daughter came in and did more baking,then we all watched Survivor on TV. I did weekly paperwork and payed bills tonight on my new schedule and made out my to do list for after market tomorrow. It is long and if business is as slow as I think it will be I'll probably leave early to get things done as g-son has another ball game at 5;30 tomorrow . They are making up rain out games with 4 games this week !! I'll miss the Saturday game as it is at 10 am. I iced all my cakes tonight,got finished at 11:30 with just enough time to write this. I'll have to catch up reading blogs tomorrow . Thanking God for the blessings of today. Good Night and God Bless.

DAMAGING STORMS PASS THROUGH

Last night was a nerve racking night. With thunder,lightening, pouring rain and wind that blew so hard there was massive damage all around.We here in our neighborhood are in the lucky minority this morning who still have power. Some places will be without power until tomorrow night.
The sun is shining and besides branches and things blown all around the yard there is not much evidence of the horrible night time storm.
They started about midnight and lasted until at least 3 am or that's when I finally went to sleep.
The wind is still blowing today but not near as hard as it did last night.
I spent the cool morning as the temperatures aren't going to get out of the 40's today inside doing laundry and housework.
I've been mad at my washer for taking so long to wash each load and today I found out why when I took the hoses lose and looked at the screens and found the cold water completely clogged with black sand and grit. It made all the difference in the world in the time it took to do a load after it was cleaned out.
This is extra laundry week at the beginning of the month and I got all the extra covers and bed clothes washed except for one blanket.
When Hubbie got home from work we started putting my shed together and #1 son and g-son came by to help. The reviews on the internet said 2 people could put it together in 3 hours. Hubbie and #1 son had the job done in 1/2 that time with a little direction from me !!!
Daughter came home and started her baking while g-son came inside out of the cool wind and watched TV.
For another weather change we are under a freeze warning tonight with 29 degrees expected.
Things are really blooming and growing now so I hope it doesn't hurt things to bad.
This is my first blooming azalea of the year.
This bed of hosta is just at the tender stage.
One of my favorite early woodland flowers is these woods hyacinths .
My new schedule kicked in tonight as I baked 6 caramel, 2 coconut,2 chocolate,2 pound and 2 blackberry wine cakes.
We have 2 orders for Thursday so at least it won't be a total waste.
Grateful to God for escaping damage from last night's storm and for the beautiful day that followed the storm.
Good Night and God Bless.

ANOTHER GAME DAY

After chores and breakfast this morning Hubbie and I made a trip to Lowes to get another small storage shed.
This size Rubbermaid Shed is about 6 feet tall, almost 5 feet wide and 4 feet deep will be perfect for all g-son's wagons and jeep along with other items.
We didn't get it put together today as had hoped but we got a base made for it to sturdy up the floor and get it off the ground a little.
We worked on getting the 4 post out of the ground from the old carport while #1 son had his skid steer around.
It is a very nice sunny day but very windy. We are supposed to get harder winds tonight with thunder storms. If the wind gets much harder we'll be in trouble because it is already blowing trees down in some places.
Took a short break this afternoon and noticed these Gold Finches at the feeder,they look splotchy now but soon will look almost unreal in all their bright yellow feathers.This color change amazes me as they change from a dull no color winter coat to a breath taking bright summer coat very quickly.

G-son had another ball game this evening at 5:30.
He did well today except for one short crying episode that caused him to miss 1 of his at-bats.
The next time at bat though he was determined to hit that ball...... He told me he was going to hit the ball all the way out in the grass........
Just look at that determined face !!!!



Success, he hit a long drive out of the in-field into the grass and laughed all the way around the bases.


Get that ball !!!!!

Little boys and dirt, they just go together !!!

Hubbie and I discovered that the little girl on the team is some of our neighbors grand daughters so we had a nice visit during the game.
As the game wound down the storm clouds boiled up, covering the sun and darkening the fields.We hurried home after the game finished to try and get the chores done before the rain got here.
A few sprinkles were all that fell before dark but the weather wizards say we are in for a rough night of storms and wind.

A late supper and a restful evening tonight.

It is almost 11:00 and no storms yet but the temperature is still an unbelievable 71 degrees.

Thanking God tonight for a blessed day and for the many blessings of the day.
Good Night and God Bless.

QUITE RESTFUL SUNDAY

A very restful Sunday started with chores then church.

Hubbie and I are all alone today as #1 son's family and daughter went to the circus in Asheville and #2 son is golfing with his best friend in SC.

A beautiful warm sunny day was great for sitting outside soaking up sun while reading.
Hubbie's brother came by to show sis-in-law my sewing shop building. They are needing a storage building and wanted to look at mine and the upgrades I had done.

More lazy afternoon before Hubbie went off o his Deacon's meeting at 4.

#2 son came in from golfing to borrow my phone as he left his at his friend's house.
He stayed and had supper with us while he made a couple phone calls.

I sat outside in the sunroom and watched darkness overtake daylight this evening.

Just a much needed restful Sunday with no excitement.

Grateful to God for this wonderful day.

Good Night and God Bless.

GREAT GAME FOR G-SON

Up early after being awakened at dawn by a hard rain shower. It didn't last long but made up for the shortness with intensity. It's amazing what a difference a metal roof makes with the sound of rain !!!

By the time I got out to do the chores the sun was shining brightly and there was only puddles left to prove it rained.

Loaded and on the way to market a bit earlier than usual.

After we got set up at market several old friends stopped by for a visit.

Market was busier than I expected this morning,maybe this is a good sign. However it is noon now and I'm sitting here typing this on my lap top because there is not a customer to be seen anywhere in here!

As I look outside the wind is really flapping the canopes. I'm thinking about this afternoon sitting out at Jackson park at g-son's base ball game in this wind !

Brings back memories of early spring baseball games watching my boys.

Made some baking supply stops on the way home from market getting ready for a change in schedule this week as market will be open on Thursday.
Hubbie was mowing the lawn for the first time this spring when I got home.
I got everything put away about the time he finished mowing and we headed out to the ballgame.
After what I had heard about all the crying in the last game I wasn't to sure I even wanted to be there but I got a nice surprise as he had a very good day,hit the first pitch the coach threw him and caught a couple balls in the field and threw them back into the pitcher just as he was supposed to do.Pre-game instructions, G-son is #6.

Ready for the ball in the field, ready that is in case the team that was playing in the field beside us hits a ball into our field !!!!!


UHH UMMM fielding the ball !!!!!!!


Cheering from the dugout !! G-son is in the middle.



BATTER BATTER BATTER !!!!!!



SWING !!!!!!

The first time at bat he hit the coach's first pitch.
The second time at bat he was a little excited and swung before the ball got to him.
The coach throws 3 pitches to each boy and if they don't hit any of them they get to hit off the Tee.
Then they get to run the bases.


Annnndddd he's off !!!!



Rounding second !!!!


Heading for home !!!!!!


Early sportsmanship lessons.

Everyone gets to bat and play in the field twice ,it takes about an hour and that is about all the attention span of a four year old is good for.

Because this field is right beside the playground there is always promises of sliding after the game,evidently for all the players.
After the game and sliding g-son went to see the movie HOP with his aunt T ,his dad went home and Hubbie and I went to Walmart and Sam's Club to stock up on some groceries.

Back home we ate supper and watched parts of both final four games. Since the Tarheels lost,I really don't have a favorite with these four. I guess since Butler is a small school and is the underdog I'd like to see them win it all and they did win tonight. They will play UCONN for the championship .

VCU ,the team that played Butler tonight might be looking for a new coach as I've heard rumors that NC State is going to offer him their head coaching job.

Just think 1 more basketball game and the season is over.

Thanking God for a wonderful blessing filled day and looking forward to worship tomorrow.
Good Night and God Bless.

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY 2011

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY !!!!!!
Wow !!! what is that shinny object up there in the sky,why I think it is the long lost sun !!!
I'm glad it's back in it's rightful place ready to warm us with its golden rays.
After chores and breakfast I iced 3 caramel cakes , 2 chocolate and 2 coconuts. This is about 1/3 of the cakes I was baking last year at this time.
After lunch I went to work at church. It is such a beautiful day I wanted to hurry and get home to sit outside and soak up some of the greatly missed vitamin D filled sunshine.
As I sat and enjoyed the sun it was still a bit chilly, 50 degrees, I watched all the birds come and go at the feeders.
This little Black Capped Chickadee was singing her little heart out in the warm sunshine.



These Eastern Bluebirds never come into the yard to feed at the feeders but are always in the bushes in the pastures.



Now this is one guy that I'm glad doesn't come into my yard.When this hawk flies over and whistles all the chickens run for cover under their houses and all the birds get deathly quite. Thankfully for today he passed on by.

Hubbie brought a subway supper home tonight.

Some clouds moved back in this evening making for a colorful sunset.And ending this April Fools Day with a picture sent into a local TV station.....
Good Night and God Bless.