ANNUAL GARDEN JUBILEE

Earlier than usual alarm this Saturday morning as we try and get to market before all the parking spots in market's lot are taken up by customers going to the Garden Jubilee up on Main Street.
Memorial Day weekend calls for the patriotic clothing today.

I hurried though chores and we made it to market about an hour earlier than usual. Market was bustling when we got there at 8:15.

Daughter and IR were already there manning the office.
Hubbie and I got set up and then I manned out booth while he and IR went on a long walk .
She went to sleep and slept for a good nap even with everyone oohing and awing over her.

She was hubbie's job today as daughter stayed busy with market business and I stayed very busy with our baked goods . We had a very good day for this holiday weekend.

After market hubbie went home to hopefully get a start on mowing the grass before the rains move in.

Daughter , IR and I decided to make our annual trip up the street to the Garden Jubilee. We usually load up on flowers and herbs from there but this year she is living in an apartment and I am just not in the mood to plant a lot of things. This was our lightest load ever from this festival as I only bought one plant and a birthday gift for RL and daughter only bought a sign to put in her new house kitchen.

It was a beautiful day for the festival and there was a lot of interesting things to see, this tea party set was one of my favorites.

As we headed back to the cars we could hear thunder in the distance getting closer and closer.

We made it back to the cars and headed home.

I ran into heavy rain about a mile before I got to my house. It was raining so hard when I got home that I sat in the Honda and waited for the rain to slack off some.

We finally got things unloaded. Hubbie hadn't gotten any lawn mowing done and it rained all afternoon into the evening.

We rested and watched the rain then had to get out anyway and get the chores done. I had to change pants when I got inside and hang the ones I had on up to dry.

Thankfully #1 son's family had some nice sunshine for the kids to enjoy the camping trip in today.

I dumped almost 1 inch of rain from the gauge already for us and there must have been some heavier rain further up the creek because as we drove over the creek on the way out to Ingles tonight the creek was very high already. We ran out to Ingles to get cook out supplies for lunch tomorrow.

Thankful for a wonderfully busy day and the strength that God blesses me with each and every day.

God Bless and Good Night.

LAST DAY OF PRE-SCHOOL THIS YEAR

T.G.I.F  rolls around again and it seems as I get up to get the chores done and get RL to pre-school that it was last Friday just yesterday !!!
Today is RL's last day of pre-school for this year. She will move up to the 2-year class next year. Since her birthday is in September and our school cut off is August 25th she will always seem to be a year behind. But thankfully several of the kids she goes to pre-school with have similar birthdays.
She talked about a pizza party all the way to school this morning and she was excited.
This is Ms. Jodi the head teacher who has taught this same age class for 15 years and has made this an awesome year for RL.

These two helpers made the year run smoothly and RL loved both Christina and Tess.

This is her class as they came inside from the playground.

Hubbie and I did house cleaning this morning until I went to get my hair cut .

When I got back we had lunch then this little girl finally conked out for a nap after spending an active morning playing.

While she slept I baked cakes, 12 caramel, 4 chocolate, 2 pound and 1 pan of brownies.

I was just finishing up when daughter came to pick up IR. She was taking her to Blue Ridge Community College with her to prepare for their high school athletic banquet tonight.

I did chores a little early so I could start my cake icing.

The juvenile guineas seem to really like their new house.

 And they really love this roosting pole .

After chores #1 son came up to get a dozen eggs, a bike carrier and some queen size sheets to take on their camping trip. They are leaving tonight and driving to Cherokee to meet some friends, Chad and Brianna and their kids for the long weekend.

They borrowed John, d-in-love's mom's friend's camper to use.

I pray that the weather doesn't really turn bad for them this weekend as this first named tropical storm of the season heads into the gulf and then brings a lot of rain to us through the middle of next week.

The 2018 hurricane season doesn't officially start until next Friday but Alberto came a week early.

These are all the names for this season's Atlantic storms.

Thankfully #1 son's family made it safely to their camping destination this evening even in the heavy traffic.

We went to bed tonight and were lulled to sleep by the sound of rain on our roof once again.

Thankful for all my blessings of this day and for the love of a wonderful Savior.

God Bless and Good Night 

GOOD MARKET DAY AND 1998 MEMORY

Woke early to the sound of the g-girls getting here. I got up earlier today to get things ready for market. I did chores and then we loaded the girls. I dropped RL off at her pre-school and IR and I met hubbie at market. We took turns holding her and getting unloaded and set up then I fixed her a bottle and she had breakfast.
Hubbie had stopped and bought us a bacon, egg and cheese biscuits on his way and IR loved having some of these also.
Connie picked her up about 10:00.
Sales were pretty slow today so hubbie left early and ran his errands on his way home.
I did manage to have a pretty good day with the 6 cake order I already had and some other sales.
I left market and went to the bank, PO, Ingles and Aldi on the way home for groceries and baking supplies.
I made it home about 3:30 and hubbie helped me unload. It has looked like rain any minute all afternoon but so far none has fallen.
Hubbie and I decided to work on the wire lot for my new guinea house. We worked until chore time.
I did chores and then came inside to watch the late news.
Back in May of 1998 hubbie and I were selling crafts on the Tractor Show circuit and this month we were at a show in Dacusville, SC. I remember this was a lovely location on the banks of a large creek that this covered bridge went over.

The kids always traveled with us and these were some special memories. 

Thankful for the precious memories of my families earlier days and for the blessings of this day.

God Bless and Good Night.

ANNUAL EYE EXAM REVEALS BAD NEWS

Hoping for a better feeling day as I get started this morning. I got the chores done and then took RL to pre-school and came home to have breakfast and feed IR her bottle.
I got ready and went to my annual eye exam at 10:30. Hubbie was going with me but IR went to sleep so he stayed home with her.
I have been noticing lately that my distance vision has improved so much that I actually take my glasses off sometimes to watch the TV because I can see better without them. When I told the doc this he made a bad face and said uh oh !!
After doing all the routine exam things he agreed my vision for distance had drastically improved so much so that he was suspicious of what might be going on in one of my eyes. In order to check it he had to use some special drops that were super strong dilators. He said most people have to go home and sleep them off. I must have gave him a look when he said that because the nurse laughed and said I don't think that's in her plans !!
His suspicion was correct and I have a cataract starting to grow on one of my eyes. He said when these cataracts start the pressure of their growth actually reshapes the iris and either make your vision worse or better pretty quickly. Thankful that mine got better !!!
My mother had cataracts and so have some of my cousins so they definitely run in my family history.
The doc said we would just watch this one and see how fast it grows.
But it did cause me to have to get new glasses with less strength in the distance lens. That was an unexpected $600  expense we weren't expecting. I could actually go without glasses now for distance but I need them for up close.
After I sat around the office for a little while to let my eyes refocus I went to Go Grocery and Aldi to pick up some baking supplies.
I usually get a headache from the dilation drops but I was hoping today if I wore these dark glasses they gave me maybe I wouldn't because they were definitely warranted today out in the brought sunlight.

I made it home around 1:00 and had a late lunch of more fresh garden vegetables before starting my baking.
RL made these "knokulars" at school today ,she said they were for seeing "what God made", I love this little school and what they are teaching her .

Hubbie couldn't believe how dilated my eyes were and they did actually ache but no sleeping it off for me this afternoon.  I fixed IR her afternoon bottle and then started baking.
I baked 6 caramel, 2 chocolate, 1 pound, 1 blackberry wine, and 1 pan of brownies.
Daughter came in after IR and met her surveyor with the land survey he had done. She had to take it over to show ,Rita, the land owner  to see if she agreed.  She said it looked good so now daughter is on to the the next step. While daughter was gone g-son came to stay while his mom and dad went to pick up d-in-love's car from the shop and IR was glad to have someone new to play with.

After she left with IR and g-son ,taking him home, I layed down on the couch to ease my eyes and hubbie woke me up an hour later  !!!!
I felt like I was in a groggy dream for a long time but managed to get the evening feeding chores done in slow motion.
Thankfully I felt better when I got back inside and ate something. I did weekly paperwork and paid bills then watched Survivor on TV while I iced cakes and got things ready for market.
I made it bed about midnight and knew I would have trouble getting to sleep even then after that long nap this evening.
Thankful for the blessings of this day and for the grace and love of our Precious Savior Jesus Christ.
God Bless and Good Night.
,

SLOW DAY AND 1958 and 1978 MAY MEMORIES

Woke to a really cloudy morning and the laughter of the g-girls as they came in together this morning.
I got chores done and took RL to pre-school.  She complained about the sun being in her eyes and I gave her the extra sunglasses I had.

She asked several times to stay home today so the end of the full time school year is probably coming at the right time.
She always runs right in and starts playing when we get there so all is well.
I came home, had breakfast , fixed IR a bottle and then did some ironing and sewing. I finished this full adult size apron and matching bonnet before it was time to go pick up RL .

Hubbie and IR rode with me on this last pick up day for me in this school year.
RL had another good day and ate her chicken nuggets and fell right to sleep on the way home.
She took a good nap while IR hubbie and I had lunch then hubbie went outside for a while to work on mowing with the push mower in the spots he can't ride while I played with IR.
RL woke up and had a snack and then her and IR watched cartoons and played.
I had a Curb Market board meeting at 3:30 at the market so I left hubbie with both girls and headed to town.
Only 4 of our board members made it to the meeting but we got a lot discussed and made some key decisions.
I made it home at 5:45, daughter was still here since she also had a meeting after school and she worked on some things for market on my computer for a while before she and IR went home.
I did chores then rested.
I have not felt good all day. I feel like I could sleep all day, have no energy at all and my joints are more achy than usual. I really hope I am not getting sick.
I skipped over these May decade photos of me enjoying some flowers back in May of 1958. I remember this little circle bed outlined with rocks in our yard many years after these pics.

By the look of the smile on my face I was having fun with my friend Sally back in May of 1978.

I am going to bed early tonight to get a good night's sleep and see if that helps.
Thankful for the blessings of this day.
God Bless and Good Night

BACK TO ROUTINE MONDAY

Early back to the regular routine Monday today. I got chores done while the girls had breakfast of pancakes and cantaloupe.
I took RL to her last Monday of pre-school this year. I only hope she is as happy with her teachers and classmates next year as she has been this year.
Even after a week at home getting spoiled because she was so sick she bounced right into the classroom and gave the teacher and assistant teacher a big hug to let them know how much she missed them.
I came home and had breakfast then fixed IR her bottle before getting the weekly laundry started.
IR went down for a nap and while she napped and did laundry hubbie went up to find some post to make the lot on my guinea house with.
The clouds and sun are battling today and there is a cool wind blowing making it feel sooo much better outside.
I went after RL and she was so tired from her active morning that she ate her chicken nuggets and went to sleep even before we left the church parking lot.
Hubbie carried her inside when I got home and then IR woke up to have lunch with us.
I went up to the garden and got this for part of my lunch. I love this time of year when the fresh vegetables start coming in. The food straight from the garden just taste sooo much better !!

After lunch IR and I sat out in the sunroom while hubbie climbed up on the roof and cleaned out our gutters since more heavy rains are predicted at the end of the week.

IR watched for her Pawpaw to come back from the shed.

She is on the verge of walking and wants to so bad. She wants to be on the outside of all her bouncy seats now and thinks it is just grand to hold on and walk around them.

RL woke up and wanted a corn snack and then she helped IR walk with her learner walker.

They also enjoyed playing all the sound things on the front of it.

Hubbie looked at me when he came in and saw the interaction between the two of them and he said "this is really going to be fun"   , I definitely agree.

RL was making up for not eating all last week today with eating constantly. She made herself some toast with cream cheese and strawberries when she got home and it looks like she was happy with her creation.

Daughter and hubbie went over to her land to meet the surveyor who is going to survey tomorrow and IR and I stayed here. IR was worn out after her active afternoon and had to take a short nap while they were gone. Nothing more peaceful than a sleeping baby.

When they got back she woke up and they went home.

I watched the news then did chores. Hubbie hoed more weeds from the garden while I took a walk around the farm.

There is a sweet patch of these Daisys above the lower barn and I have always loved this flower. Daisys always look so fresh and clean.

The sweet tasting Honeysuckle is blooming along the driveway bank.

And all the Buttercups that hubbie bush hogged in the upper pasture have been replaced with clover blossoms.

When I look around at all the beauty in nature it impresses me so much that even after all the heavy rains and flooding of just a few days ago I can see no evidence of the harsh weather now. If only we as humans could shed off all the heavy weights that we carry around and bounce back with no evidence of our burdens.

I strive each day to lay my burdens at the feet of Jesus Christ and as the valleys of life come upon me I strive to always know that the light of Jesus is always in view and there are always only a few steps ahead to climb the next mountain out of the valley with the hand of Jesus guiding me.

God Bless and Good Night

BLESSED SUNDAY

A little extra sleep this morning felt sooooo  good. Sunday mornings are always slow and easy around here.
I got chores done, had breakfast then cooked some scalloped potatoes for lunch and left them in the oven to keep warm.
We headed to church on a nice warm cloudy morning.
We had a young man that has recently been called to be God's servant from his job as a highway patrolman preaching the sermon today and he did a great job. Kyle Smith definitely has a servants heart as I have watched him for several years since he and his family joined our church several years ago. Even while he was working for the highway patrol he always managed to serve in any way he could at church. So I wasn't surprised when he announced he felt called by God. I was a little worried that his demeanor of quiet and humble wouldn't give him the voice projection he would need to preach but today after hearing him preach those fears vanished because he did a great job.
We came home to a lunch or roast beef, corn on the cob, green beans, scalloped potatoes, biscuits and sour dough bread toast.
#1 son's family and Aa's family joined us  and the kids all had a great time together.
After everyone left hubbie broke the golden rule and mowed the grass today since this is the first non-rainy day this week  and tomorrow has another high percentage of rain prediction. This is surely how everyone in our area feels.

I took a break and sat on the porch in my favorite rocking chair. Unfortunately the view from the porch is now completely blocked by the lush greenery of spring and summer.

Now our "porch settin" will have to move to the covered patio so we can look down over the road and out into the mountains.

When hubbie finished mowing we made a trip to Tractor Supply to pick up some fencing and overhead netting for the new guinea house lot.

We came home and watched the news which is still filled with the Friday night flooding pics in Polk County which now clearly show the devastation there.

We got chores done in a light sprinkle of rain but that is all we have gotten today for the rain free'est day in a week.

This little nugget turned 11 months old today as her family returned home from a weekend visit to some family in Mocksville,NC.

To continue with some of the May decade memories here is my report card at the end of my 8th grade year.

Back then the 7th thru 12th grades were in the same building and I knew the seniors that were graduating because we actually all went to school together . This is the 1968 graduation ceremony program and a list of the graduating seniors.

Going into another week counting my blessings and prayerfully asking for God's grace for my family as we move toward the end of another month.

God Bless and Good Night