FLEA MARKET WEDNESDAY

Up to an early alarm this morning on everyone's day off so we could make a trip down the mountain to the Picken's Flea Market. Daughter, IR, d-in-love, RL and g-son all accompanied hubbie and I on the trip.
I got chores done and had a cup of coffee while waiting for daughter and IR to arrive to ride with us. She has a house showing this morning and is bringing her dogs over here to spend the day.
D-in-love is already gone to get the kids breakfast and we met up with her and headed down the mountain by about 8:00.
Traffic was already pretty heavy on the interstate but when we got off and hit highway 25 going down the mountain we had no traffic problems and the roads on the way to the market were very much empty.
There was more people than we expected at the flea market on the day before Thanksgiving and there were a lot of sellers there .
I tried out my new double stroller and the girls loved it and g-son loved to push them.

G-son was so excited about getting to come down here today so he could look for a helmet to wear while he rode his mini bike and we lucked out and found him a new one.

Which he wore for the rest of the day.

This is RL's first flea market trip since she has been walking so she enjoyed the shopping experience to the fullest.

I bought this "monkey on your back" child leash when g-son was about her age and I got it out last night and it came in handy today when she wanted to walk instead of ride.    

She discovered powder sugar coated do-nuts and loved them.

She also loved it when brother shared his orange snow cone with her.

Both girls took turns napping in the stroller .

We stayed at the market today longer than we usually do as the sellers weren't in such a hurry to leave today as the weather was perfect, sunny and mid 60's.

We loaded both vehicles with all our purchases and headed out to get a late lunch at Arbys in downtown Pickens. I really love this old Sears and Roebuck wagon I got at a bargain $25 price.

We had a picnic on the ground while RL slept in d-in-love's car.

We had to take an alternate route when we got back into Henderson County and stay off the parking lot interstate but we made it home about 3:00. 

We got things unloaded and then g-son couldn't wait to get some use out of his new helmet.

G-son's other grandfather, who passed away about 1 1/2 years ago won this little mini bike in a raffle when d-in-love was pregnant with g-son. He gave it to her and told her to keep it for g-son. It has been in a shed ever since then and #1 son got it out last weekend and got it started so g-son could learn to ride on it. He is a bit big for this one but when he learns to ride maybe he can get a bigger one. 

He couldn't keep the smile off his face all afternoon while he rode this bike around in the pastures under hubbie's watchful eyes. He loves this little bike for sure.

As I did chores and watched a beautiful sunset close out this very very fun day I am humbly thankful for the blessings of this day in traveling mercies and family.

God Bless and Good Night

    

TUESDAY MARKET DAY AND 1967 BASKETBALL BEGINNING

Up to greet g-daughter IR this morning . Thankfully my knees and hips are not as sore as they felt like they might be last night.
I did chores and got things all ready for market. Getting only the 3 of us ready was much easier than the 4 we usually get ready for weekday market days.
RL is still feeling bad so her other g-ma is keeping her at home again today.
We made it to market on time and only found a couple customers waiting for their orders.
We had a busy early morning but then business slacked off and stayed that way . Thankful for all the orders I had because I really didn't sell that much off the table. Some of the vegetable vendors were really disappointed as last year they sold out of pumpkins and gourds for table decorations and pies but this year there were plenty of pumpkins and everything else left.
Hubbie stayed all day and helped take care of IR who is always a very good market baby and all the customers just love her chatter and smiles.

She is a big 5 months old today !!!

After market IR and I stopped by the bank and PO on our way home. We took the back roads to avoid the reportedly over crowded main highways around town.
Hubbie did the same thing as he made a stop at the dump with our trash and to pick up a gasoline supply for our generator.
We got home about the same time and had time to relax before daughter came after IR.
She was going out to the basketball game to watch the girls play but I didn't feel up to that tonight.
IR thought it was a boring game !!!!!

Hubbie went out to work on his firewood stock and I rested to watch the news. Didn't get to rest long as d-in-love called and said g-son was home alone and there was cars in his driveway and he could hear people talking. As I started to walk down there I could see cars slowing on the road and could hear banging.
By the time I got to where I could see the road all the cars were gone and g-son met me at the gate to their yard and said he thought the people were at his dad's shed  down next to the road. But when we walked down there nothing was out of place and the lock was still secure.
I think someone lost something out of the back of their truck and they were picking it up and tossing it back in because of the banging I heard and the debri along side of the road.
G-son wanted to come home with me so we locked his house up and came up here.
He came inside and I did chores.
We all ate supper and then he and hubbie played some games on his chromebook.

Hubbie built another fire downstairs tonight to warm the house up before we get into bed. The nights are in the 30's but for some reason it feels really cold to us.
#1 son came after some hot tea this evening seems he is now taking his turn with a sore throat and feeling bad.
Back in November of 1967 my high school basketball career began. Earlier in my 7th grade year of school I had tried out for the cheerleading team and failed to make the team.
So when  basketball try outs came up I decided to try out for that team and made it without hardly even trying. I didn't put a lot of effort into the tryouts mainly because the sting was still there from not making the cheerleading team and I didn't want to get disappointed again.
I remember I was very happy to get that first school uniform and practiced at home in the uniform .

At that time my mom and dad raised German Shepherd puppies to sell for extra money.

They gave me a puppy and I named her Princess. She is sleeping in bad with me in this picture. 

She stayed outside during the day and I remember one time she wandered off and I looked and looked and looked for her and finally found her up on Huckleberry Mountain in someone else's house who  had found her wandering on the side of the road. I don't remember how I found out where she was but do remember how happy I was to have her back.

Thankful for the memories of the past and for the blessings of this day.

God Bless and Good Night

BUSY BAKING MONDAY

Woke early to the sound of #1 son bringing g-son here before 7am so that we could take him to school. D-in-love is staying out of work today with g-daughter RL who has ran a 102 fever all weekend and she is calling the doctor this morning for an appointment.
Hubbie fixed a big breakfast for himself and g-son while I caught a few more zzz's .
Daughter came in with g-daughter IR just as hubbie was leaving to take g-son to school. G-son wanted to get there early to do what he always does when he goes in early with his mom.
IR and me snuggled on this cold 27 degree morning while he was gone.
When hubbie got home I went out and did the chores and broke ice off all the water pans for the first time this season.
Jack Frost left his frosty handiwork heavily everywhere this morning.

Back inside I had my breakfast, seems funny not to be running out to take g-daughter RL to preschool.
This is a busy baking Monday for me today.
Before I got baking started I gathered the laundry and got the first load going.
I stayed in the kitchen until almost 2:00 with breaks only to move laundry from the washer to the dryer and get another load going in the washer and fix bottles for IR along with diaper changes.
I baked 18 caramel, 4 chocolate, 6 pound and 3 coconut cakes to fill the orders for tomorrow and to have on my market table on this one Tuesday that I go to market.
It definitely looks like holiday baking has begun at my house as this is just part of what I baked today.

I had a late lunch then took a hot cup of tea in the living room where IR was sleeping soundly and spelled hubbie so he could go gather some firewood and get out of the house for a while.
I enjoyed the quietness of the house with only the sound of g-daughter's even breathing .
G-daughter RL who has an early ear infection begged her mom to come up to our house for a little visit this afternoon and see her cousin IR before she went home.
 After they all left I did chores then headed for my office to get the weekly paperwork and bills paid early this week.
I spent the rest of the evening icing cakes and getting things ready for market.
Hubbie brought his truck down and loaded some of the boxed orders in it as I can't haul it all in my Honda.
I finally fell into bed at midnight with aching knees, hips and back. I hope some of the soreness goes away with the use of a heating pad over night or I'll be in trouble trying to get around in the morning.
I am forever thankful for the strength and energy God provides me with on these very busy days.
God Bless and Good Night

RESTFUL SUNDAY AND A 1937 MARRIAGE

A little extra snoozing this morning as the alarm can be turned off and the snooze button used on Sundays.
After chores were done we started doing the prep work for lunch. We cooked roast in the crock pots over night and this morning we added potatoes and carrots for delicious pot roast.
The wind was blowing pretty hard still this morning but we didn't need coats as the temp is still in the upper 40's.
Church was good today as the senior Pastor was back from his hunting trip and gave a good sermon on spreading the message of salvation in normal conversations.
Hubbie and I and d-in-love were the only attending family members this morning as g-daughter RL is running a fever this morning and #1son stayed home with her.
After church we came home to get corn and green beans cooked along with biscuits to go with the pot roast. Our lunch bunch was small today as Aa's family and #1 son and g-son were our only guest.
#2 son, Tif, daughter and son-in-love went to walk the land the friend of mine agreed to sell them for new houses this morning as both have pretty serious buyers looking at their houses.
G-daughter IR went along also and looks cute all bundled up.

Hubbie and I had a really restful afternoon as both of us dozed for a couple hours while the wind blew in the cold front .

The temps tonight will be in the mid 20's for the lowest of the season so far but then they warm back above freezing for the rest of the week.

Some places north of us got a nice snow covering today.

We had our first wood stove fire tonight and it felt really good  .

I did chores and then settled in for the evening. I searched for November decade pictures tonight as this is late to get started with these. 

The oldest thing I found was this marriage certificate for my paternal grandfather .

This was grandfather's 2nd marriage after my grandmother had died in 1935.
Daughter is already ready for Christmas at her house and g-daughter IR looks pretty happy about it tonight in front of her Christmas tree.

Thankful tonight for a very blessed Sunday and saying a prayer tonight for little g-daughter RL as she is still running a fever and is going to have to go to the doctor in the morning.
God Bless and Good Night

BUSY SATURDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING MARKET DAY

Up and out this Saturday market morning. I am expecting a pretty busy day with Thanksgiving next week.
I got chores done and we were a little early getting to market. We got set up and the crowds were very good today and they were buying so I had a good day. Which means  a lot more baking in my future before next Tuesday arrives.
I had several visits from friends who are in town for the holiday and it was nice to catch up with them.
I missed my helpers this morning as daughter and g-daughter IR took the FCA girls that she sponsors at the high school operation Christmas child box shopping. They had fun and filled lots of boxes to send out to needy kids overseas.G-daughter IR enjoyed all the attention from these girls.

I left market and stopped by Aldi for baking supplies and then went home where hubbie was watching IR while son-in-love and daughter went to a movie. The dark clouds were looking really threatening when I left market.

I got home around 3:00 and hubbie helped me unload while IR watched from a walker downstairs.
We came inside and all three rested and watched musical nursery rhymes which IR loves until her mom and dad came to pick her up after the movie.
Hubbie and I did chores and then the rain started falling lightly just as darkness settled in.
This rain front is bringing in another cold spell for tomorrow and tomorrow night.
We had a relaxing Saturday night .
Thankful for the blessings of this day.
God Bless and Good Night.

BUSY BAKING FRIDAY

As I dragged myself out of the nice warm comfortable bed this morning the thought crossed my mind as it always does when my busy holiday baking season begins that how it would feel like to not have a busy business to run around this time of year and what it would be like to just enjoy the season. Then I immediately felt guilty for even having this thought as I am so grateful for the blessings of good business that God allows me to have.
As I greeted the grand girls and got the chores done I felt a more grateful attitude sweeping my mind as I got the day started . And this beautiful view of the sunrise over a nicely groomed lawn made me smile humbly and thankfully.

I took RL to preschool and came straight back home to get started on the busy day. I had a big eggs,bacon and grits breakfast to give me the energy I need this morning.
I iced the 6 caramel cakes that I made Wednesday to get them out of the playroom before RL comes in from preschool. I gathered all the baking supplies for the day between getting IR fed and changed a couple times during the morning.
Hubbie and IR rode with me to pick up RL so IR would get a nap and we wanted to check out the fresh vegetable market for things for Sunday lunch.
The market had very little so we came home and with both girls napping we had our lunch then I started baking. I baked 12 caramel and 5 pound cakes . I needed another pound cake but ran out of flour.
During my baking frenzy this afternoon g-daughter RL insisted on helping. She loves to watch the mixer and help me count the eggs as I break them out of their shells.

She loves to act silly and entertain her little cousin IR.

Ahhhhh  !!!!  These two are going to be soooo fun !!!

                                                                

And did I mention RL also loves to lick the caramel icing off the spatula.

Just like her brother did when he was her age !!

This afternoon was hopefully the last gutter clean out hubbie will need to do this season. This scares me to death when he gets neat the edge of the roof especially on the 2 story end of our house.

After the girls were picked up hubbie and I did chores and then I took a rest break off my feet while I watched the evening news.
I spent the rest of the evening icing cakes and getting things ready for market.
I made it to bed just before midnight but thankfully we get an extra hour of sleep in the morning.
Thankful for a gracious Savior who forgives and loves us even in our weakest hours. Thankful for the blessings of this day and so so thankful for the health I have been blessed with.
God Bless and Good Night

NEW QUAIL

I only heard one car come through the yard this morning and was surprised when daughter came in with both grand-girls with her. D-in-love was late for work and daughter just picked up RL as she went by their house.
RL was clingy again this morning but at least she ate a good breakfast.
We got chores done and got everything ready for market . I dropped RL off at pre-school and IR and I met hubbie at market as usual. IR slept through all our unloading and set-up and a little before 10:00 just as she was starting to stir and get ready for her morning bottle Connie came to pick her up. She was taking her straight home to feed her .
Market was pretty slow today but I added several more orders for Tuesday to my already pretty long list so that is good.
 I only had 2 orders for today and only one so far for Saturday. Looks like Tuesday will be the only big sales day so far.
A customer / friend brought me a little female Quail today to go with with one of my lone male Quails.

I carefully loaded her in the back of the Honda and put all my groceries in the back seat to keep from disturbing her too much.
I made stops at Aldi and Ingles on the way home for groceries and baking supplies.
The little quail was very glad to be released in with a new boy friend and he was also very glad to have a mate to snuggle with this winter.
Hubbie and I got everything else unloaded and put away then he finished the leaf  blowing and lawn mowing for hopefully the last time this season and put things away.
Daughter came over to stay while they showed her house again this evening. She ate supper with us and IR looked and felt so much better this evening.
We did chores and shut all the animals up for a below freezing night at a predicted 31 degrees.
The big news so far this week is the news that #2 son has agreed to a buying  offer on his house if things work out he needs to be out of the house by December 18th.
Thankful for the blessings of this day  .
God Bless and Good Night