NICE DAY, SLOW MARKET

A nice market day morning on this first Saturday of spring.
Market was really slow today , but I am thankful for all I did sell.   Susan brought her son Ben and kept me company on this slow sales day.
After market I stopped at Aldi to get some things for tomorrow's lunch and then came home to meet Susan as she needed to get her laundry done.
Hubbie helped me unload while Susan got her laundry started. Then we took Ben outside to play on this nice warm, mid 60's, sunny afternoon.
Ben liked playing in the Magnolia tree that g-son always called his playhouse tree.

There is just something about trees and little boys that is magnetic !
Re came over with the kids and we all walked over on their property where Aa has been working on starting the grading and road building today.

It already looks amazing and her has only worked a short time.
EL looks really weak and is still having stomach issues but hopefully she has turned the corner as she was hungry for some crackers today and seemed to be keeping them down okay.
We came back to the house and Susan finished her laundry while Ben played with legos and of course he and hubbie became fast friends.

After they went home hubbie and I watched our March Madness Saturday night games. Hurray for the North Carolina teams and we watched NC State defeat one of the number one seeds, Villanova and then watched UNC defeat Arkansas.
It is after midnight now as I type this but after two action packed , nail biting games , I am winding down before I get into bed.
Got a sad e-mail from another out of town cousin letting me know that another special cousin lost his battle with cancer last week. Hugh was a very special man as stated in the obit but I can personally attest to that as I remember each year when I was young getting a really nice Christmas gift from Hugh. It was a special surprise when my family was struggling and sometimes that gift was the highlight of that Christmas morning.  R. I. P. Hugh, I will never forget your kindness.

Thanking the Lord for a wonderful blessing filled day. I am glad that He brought Susan and Ben into our lives, it is a strange thing how God works sometimes.  My friend calls them "God Winks", when God puts people in our lives at certain times, sometimes they need us, sometimes we need them, sometimes it is a mutual need.   I wonder what His plans are for her and Ben and I wonder what my family's part will be in their lives.  As we try our best to live out the best possible glorifying Him life and patiently wait for His next move we will forever be grateful for all His love and grace in each of our lives.
Good Night and God Bless

WELCOME SPRING 2015 AND A 1965 MEMORY

This first day of spring broke cloudy with temps in the low 40's, but no rain or snow this year for us. Our northern friends aren't so lucky as we reach the "u" in the winter storm alphabet and Ultima ushers in spring for those folks.

I finished chores and had breakfast then finished paying some bills that were waiting on my desk and then took them to the P.O. I went to Ingles to pick up some extra sugar to make 3 caramel cakes and a couple blackberry wine cakes for late orders that came in.
I picked up little EL some Pediolyte and some other stuff the doctor told Re to get for her still upset tummy, bless her little heart.
I had lunch then baked my cakes, before cleaning up the kitchen.
I was determined to figure our my blurb book making problems this afternoon. I got my laptop out and tried downloading my blog post on it with the same results as my desk top. At least that tells me it is not a computer problem or a browser or operating program problem because my desk top and lap top have different programs on these.
I decided to try only three months at a time instead of six and it worked. Now I need to figure out how I can add the other three months or maybe my book will only be three months long this time.
While all this downloading was going on I almost got all last years photos in albums, only lacking a week at the end of the month.
When hubbie came home we rested ad watched Virginia win their tournament game , later Duke won also but I only caught glimpses of this one while I iced my cakes and got things ready for market.
On my way to the Edneyville P. O. this morning I got a really great memory jog.  Some trees had been cut down in from of this old house.

This old house is where one of my best friends and cousin's by marriage grew up. Her name was Renda Beddingfield,  we had many great times in this old house and I remember the wonderful wood cook stove aroma that filled this home as her mom cooked.

I talked to her at a basketball game last month but she didn't say anything about the old house. She and her husband and her brother's family all still live on the property that surrounds this old house.
A wonderful memory jog just for driving past !!
To continue with my decade pictures there is a picture of my dad's sister who was the Beddingfield connection as she had married a Beddingfield. She is the white haired lady in the back in this five generations photograph. Aunt Hattie or Kate as she was affectionately called died March 26,1965.

Others in the picture are seated my grandfather,Hattie's dad, Rickard Martin Pryor, Aunt Hattie Beddingfield, her daughter, Geneva Fletcher, Geneva's son Harry Fletcher and his wife ,Charlene and first born son Wayne who made the fifth generation.
Spring is my second favorite time of year behind Fall. I look forward each year to the fresh new colors as things wake up from their long winter's nap.
Love this Spring poem.

Thankful to God for the blessing of this wonderful time of year when all His creation seems to burst forth with beauty.
Good Night and God Bless.

RAIN AND COOL TEMPS RETURN

A yucky rainy morning today as I gather my rain gear to go do the outside chores.
Along with the rain the temperature has been dropping and it is into the low 40's with upper 30's expected in the afternoon.
I ate breakfast,then got ready to go shopping and run errands with Re and the kids.
We spent most of our time in Target getting things for EL's birthday party.
She loves trying on hats.

Baby BB is getting so big, but not quite big enough for this hat !!

After the rain got heavier we made a lunch stop at Sonic then took turns grocery shopping in Aldi so the kids wouldn't have to get out in the cold rain.
We got home and unloaded by nap time for the kids.
As I walked home from their house I passed this plum tree now fully bloomed out in it's snowy white blossoms.

Look how green the grass is getting with the warmth and recent rain we have had.
After having a hot cup of green tea to warm up and stoking the fire back into action I worked in my photo project for a nice , quiet rainy day afternoon.
I also made another attempt at downloading my blog to booksmart to make another book to no avail.
When hubbie came home we watched the news before sloshing back outside to do the chores. I emptied 3/10ths inch of rain from the guage this evening.
Daughter came by to pick up an extra dog cage to help with her dog sitting duty this weekend.
Also Susan came by to drop off some things for EL.
G-son who missed school today went to the doctor this afternoon and has a really bad looking throat but not strep. Hopefull he feels better quickly.
Little EL is still having some stomach issues we think because of her molars coming in.
I have what feels like swollen tonsils tonight,yuck !!!  I can't believe we all made it all winter and now on the verge of spring are all getting sick !!
Hubbie and I spent a typical for this time of year evening watching the March madness basketball games.
UNC won their first game against Harvard in a close game.
NC State won their game against LSU on a last second shot.
I am thankful tonight for a loving Lord who blesses me exceedingly each day with more blessings than I could ever deserve.
Good Night and God Bless.

EARLY FLEA MARKET TRIP

I am not an early morning person unless there is a reason for me to be , so I don't see many sunrises !
This morning I had a reason and I am thankful God decided to bless with me with a beautiful sunrise to reward my early morning wake up.

Late last night after listening to the late weather reports #2 son, hubbie and I decided to make a trip to the Pickens Flea Market today.  #2 son has never been with us down here so since he is off work this week it will be a new adventure for him.
We headed down the mountain a little before 8am. He always opts to drive, I think he is afraid he will get stuck in the back seat ???

Despite earlier weather reports for a cloudy maybe rainy day it looks like it will be nice.

When we got to the market we found a parking spot in the front lot which we have never done on any trip down before. That was the first bad sign for the day.  I don't know if it was the nasty weather predictions or the cool temps (which we never took our coats off all day in ) or maybe it is just a little early for the market to be in full swing but there were many empty tables and empty aisle today.

Hubbie and I still managed to find a few things that we use like shampoo, a pair of jeans for hubbie, some old jewelery pieces for me, a comfort mat to stand on at market and some food was all we came home with today.
Son didn't find  a thing he wanted .
We made it all the way through the market in record time and was pulling into our favorite place to have lunch at 12:30 today.  The Arbys we always eat at is right beside this old train that sits lonely and quiet on old tracks.

We came home and son went home with some strawberries.  I don't think he was impressed with the flea market at all !!
Hubbie and I rested and read the newspaper, we both felt like taking naps but resisted so we would sleep good tonight.
A customer came after a baby quilt this evening, reminding me that I really need to get some sewing done.
The day has been pretty much socked in with clouds although the temperature has been in the upper 50's it feels cooler than that outside.
After chores and supper I did some weekly paperwork and payed bills before watching Survivor on TV.
On a sad note today we lost another Curb Market member, neighbor and friend Sunday when Garland Lyda passed away.
Back in late December his wife Eunice , whom he had taken very good attentive care of during her sickness struggles of the last couple years, died , leaving him to live alone. Although his son lived next door and both daughter's also lived close by he just withered away without Eunice.
This is the picture of them in happier times at the market.

R.I.P.  Garland you will be missed here on earth but I am happy that you and Eunice are once again together.
Praying for this family tonight, may God bless them with the warmth of His loving arms during this time.

Thanking God for safe travel for my family today and for the blessing of another wonderful loving life day.
Good Night and God Bless.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Don't forget to wear your green today !!
After chores and breakfast I headed into town to the bank and to the box office for the downtown Flat Rock Playhouse.
G-son has been asking to go to a play at the playhouse and the youth theater are putting on The Wizard of Oz all this month so d-in-love called last night to ask if we wanted to go. This Sunday is only day left that everyone that wants to go can get it in their schedules.
The 2:00 slot was almost filled up but we found 8 seats in two rows that were empty so we all could sit close together.  Five seats in row 3 and three seats in row 4 isn't bad but the seats are at the back on one side of the stage. The lady in the box office assured me these were not bad seats, only time will tell. Looking forward to Sunday.
I came back home and did some house cleaning while trying to download my next blog book. I have used Booksmart's Blurb to make the first 10 volumes of my blog book but looks like I will be looking for another place to make this book as the Blurb site just isn't working this time. When I went into the discussion group there were alot of folks having the same problem as me. I asked for help from the support desk but am still waiting on a reply. Grrrrrr !!!
The sun was shining brightly again today and it was around 70 degrees for the second day in a row.
When hubbie came in from work we got the garden plowed. It is still pretty wet but it will dry nicely we think.

Sadie is checking the newly turned soil for any critters that might have been stirred up.
After chores I walked down in the pasture and along the creek just as the sun was going down.

This Plum tree has burst into bloom with the warm temps of the last few days.

Another beautiful sunset this evening as a few clouds make their way into the area with a front that is expected to bring rain by tomorrow night .

Today at the high school daughter teaches at was "teacher twin" day. The students picked a teacher and dressed like they did.  This is daughter and her " twin"  Reva .

Hope everyone had a wonderful St Patrick's Day and I hope all your wishes come true.
St. Patrick's Day celebrates the death of St. Patrick , the priest who shared God with the Irish people.

Thankful for a blessed day of warmth and sunshine.
Good Night and God Bless

NEW LIFE !!

Up to another beautiful morning.  Hubbie was already up and having breakfast getting ready to go get a haircut. After my chores and breakfast I got laundry started.
EL came to spend the morning with me while baby BB had an appointment with the doctor to get his routine shots.  She acted like she didn't feel good and complained a couple times with a belly ache.
She played quietly with the race tracks in the playroom.

After her mom picked her up for them to go home and take naps I headed outside to get some work done in this beautiful warm sunshine.
I used a small hand rotor tiller to work the soil up between my new walkway stones and then sowed the grass seed I bought last week around them. Hubbie came in from helping #2 son cut a big Poplar tree down at his house that was dieing.  He spread some left over straw on the seed to help hold it in place.
I also spread a bag of weed and feed fertilize on the rest of the lawn since we have a lot of broadleaf weeds trying to take over parts of the grass.
I also pulled up some of the kale that has started greening up again from the garden to give the hens some green, which they were thankful for.  Hopefully we can get the garden plowed tomorrow evening after hubbie gets home from work. We wanted to give it one more drying out day.
Re brought the kids back over this evening and we walked down to d-in-love's .  Then EL started not feeling well again so I carried her back to the house for a cold drink.
She played more outside then they went home, hope she gets to feeling better soon. We think she may be cutting her two year molars.
After finishing 4 loads of laundry and doing the feeding chores this evening I sat on the front porch in my rocking chair and watched a beautiful sunset.

Susan who was driving home sent me this picture as she knows I also love these beautiful sunsets.

We both bathe in the awesomeness of a loving Lord when we watch these beautiful sunsets.

I have an announcement to share that I have been guardedly keeping a secret for several months now.

This is my second grand child's first photographs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have been guardedly optomistic that this would be the right time for #1 son and d-in-love to have another baby after she has had three short term pregnancies that didn't last more than a few weeks.
This one soon will be 15 weeks which is according to the specialist she was going to is past the danger point this time.  I am prayerfully grateful for this new little family member.  G-son is so excited about becoming a big brother !!
Faithfully  thankful for this new little life growing inside d-in-love and for the many other blessings God blesses me with each and every day.
Good Night and God Bless.

WARM BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY

A surprise windy morning greeted us today.
I did the chores and got ready for church as usual on Sunday mornings.
Our senior pastor Mike Smith was back from mission today and delivered the message from 1 John about the Christian and sin.
After church we had #1 son, d-in-love, g-son, daughter, Aa, Re, little EL, baby BB, and Susan here for lunch.  We had the last of our smoked butts from the freezer with potatoes, baked beans, slaw, bread and sweet tea with fresh berries and cool whip brought by Susan over one of my pound cakes.
After everyone ate we visited for a little while before we all moved on to different Sunday afternoon adventures.  Susan did her laundry while she and I sat out in the warm sunshine of the afternoon and chatted.
Flash loves out newest adopted family member.

#2 son who had spent the day helping a friend put in some kitchen cabinets came by later for left overs and to see if hubbie could help him take a tree down at his house tomorrow.  He has the next 2 weeks off.
Aa and Re brought the kids back over later this evening and EL helped me give the chickens corn.
Then she gave her horse Cayenne some green grass.

After they went home hubbie watched TV and I dated November photographs getting them ready for the album.
I hope we have more days like today as we transition from a cold winter to a warm spring.
Hopefully our northern friends are sharing this warm weather after the record breaking amount of snow fall they received this year.

Thankful tonight for a beautiful day filled with the love of family and friends and especially the love of a wonderful Heavenly Father.
Good Night and God Bless.