MerryHeartCrafts.comMountain Momma… Country Living

Beautiful grapes!  Last night a friend of ours called and said they had some grapes that we could have if we wanted them.  They had already used all they wanted so we loaded up and went over to pick.  We picked about 3 bushels.  The girls and I have been busy all day, processing them.    We are using the steam juicer.  I think we will end up with about 20 qts, maybe more.    What a blessing.  God is so good!

Guess what?  We have a broody hen!  Well, where I come from we call them setting hens but here most folks call them broody.  Anyway, she is only 4 months old.  I don’t think I have ever known one to set that young.  We have kept Mr. Rooster separate from the hens so her eggs would not hatch but she doesn’t seem to know that.  The girls and I wanted to put her back in the coup with Mr. Rooster so we could let her set but Hubby said no.  No more chickens-(this year).  Anyway, we moved her out into her own little coup for a few days.  The other hens were glad as she was hogging the only nest they will use.  They have two other nests but for some reason they all prefer to use just this one. 

I hope you all have a wonderful day and God bless.

Look what I found today at the dumpster.  Beautiful!  I should tell you all that at our dumpsters people set things out beside the dumpster for others to get.  It is amazing the things you will find.  It is not uncommon to find appliances like dryers, etc.  Sometimes they will even put a paper on it telling you what is wrong with it.  We call it “greenbox shopping” (our dumpsters are green).  Anyway, today when I stopped to put the trash in, there was a box with this beautiful teacup in it.

Also this set of old teacups.  No saucers though.  Oh well, I guess you can’t have everything.

And this old sugar bowl.  I could hardly wait to get home and clean them up.  I love old dishes.

Today was busy running errands and shopping.  We have been gone all day.  Thank the good Lord our car has air conditioning as it is hot again today.   Grace has a dentist appointment tomorrow so we will be gone most of the day again.  Well, it is past time for us to eat supper so I better get busy.  Tonight’s menu is garlic bread and baked spaghetti with cantalope for dessert.  Enjoy your evening and God bless.

We have a very small snowball bush that was given to us last year by a friend from church.  I was not sure it would survive the winter but it did and now has one beautiful bloom on it.  It also has several new starts coming up from the root.  Next year we are hoping for lots of bloom.

Yesterday the girls and I went to big town.  We needed chicken feed and a few other things.  We went to Books-A-Million, which is a big treat for us.  We used to have one in Christiansburg but they moved to Blacksburg.  The girls had some money they had been saving.  They each bought a new book with their money.  I found this documentary in the bargain DVD basket.   I am thinking of using it some for next year’s history course.

We have had several days of fog and rain.  Today, though, the sun is peeking through the fog.  Hopefully the weekend will be nice.  Dave, Jess, and the boys are supposed to come up for the weekend.  Our church is having a clay shoot tomorrow.  Dave is going with Hubby to shoot and the rest of us are going to a big yard and craft sale here in Floyd.  We hope to picnic Sunday and celebrate Hubby’s birthday.

Enjoy your day and God bless.

These beautiful yellow birds are one of my favorites.  For years, I tried to get them to come into my feeders with no success.  I bought the expensive thistle seeds that they are supposed to love.  They were not interested.  Then David’s grandmother, Doris, told me to buy the black oil sunflower seeds.  Not to buy the wild bird mix, just the sunflower seeds.  That was several years ago and she was absolutely right.  We get all kinds of birds at our feeders and all I ever use is the sunflower seeds.  Today was the first spotting of the goldfinch.  Isn’t he breathtaking?  I love the cheerful yellow of his feathers and of course their song is so pretty.  We have had several male and females at the feeders all day.  If you look closely you can see the sunflower seed in his mouth. 

Grace is feeling some better and so far she is the only one sick.  Thank you all for your prayers.  Today our thermometer says 70 degrees!!!!  I am so happy!  After school, we plan on cleaning the inside of the car before taters start growing in there.  Just kidding, its not that bad but it does need a good cleaning. 

Enjoy your day and God bless.

We’re getting snow!  The girls and I went to Roanoke today to do some shopping at Sam’s.  We knew the forecast was for snow so we didn’t take too long.  It started to snow just as we were leaving.   We decided not to take the parkway because we know how dangerous it can get.  We enjoyed a nice ride home.  The snow was beautiful.  However, by the time we got home the roads were started to get a little slick.  I’m glad we left when we did.

Beautiful!  I feel the urge to make cookies and drink some hot cocoa.  Enjoy your day and God bless.

Our Christmas cactus is blooming so beautiful this year.  It adds so much color to the room.  This plant was a gift years ago from one of the bible study ladies.  It is an easy plant to keep alive.

Today is ladies bible study.  We will be watching the movie “The book of Ruth”.  This will be the first time we have watched a movie on bible study day.  We thought that since we had just finished our study on Ruth it would be good to watch the movie as a little break before we start our new study next week.  I will also be busy making rolls for our thanksgiving meal at church.  I have never frozen the dough before so I hope it works out well.  I think I might make some cinnamon rolls to take also. 

We have sunshine here today.  A little cool but not too bad.  I think I will be able to hang our clothes outside to dry.   Enjoy your day and God bless.

What a difference a day can make.  Yesterday the snow was falling.  Today is equally as beautiful but in a different way.  The sun is shining and as you can see the sky is a georgeous blue.  It occurred to me that sometimes life is like that too.  Each day brings a different type of beauty.  Sometimes we have to look deeper to find the beauty and sometimes it is easier to find.  I believe God has a treasure for us each day, it is our responsiblity to search and find it.    Today will be another snuggle in day.  Church at home.  Maybe play some games with our girls.  Fun stuff.  Family stuff.  The things memories are made of.  I love days like these.  I wanted to tell everyone that I now have a comment link on each post.  If you want to leave a comment just click on the link.  It is always exciting when someone leaves a comment.  Thanks Dave for fixing this for me.  I want to take a minute to let you all know what a great son-in-law I have.  The Lord did a great job picking him out.  He is always ready to help us (no matter how dirty the job).  I just wanted you to know, Dave, we’re glad you are part of our family.  Okay enough of that, I don’t want his head to get too big.  Todays menus is venison roast cooking on the wood stove and also some beans.  I think maybe biscuits and fried potatoes would be good with this.  I try to cook on our wood stove as often as possible.  I think the food tastes better and of course it saves on the electric bill.  I’m always for saving money.  Well, I think I’ll get busy enjoying my day.  God Bless.

We went over to our friends house today to celebrate her  daughter’s birthday.    We had homemade pizza and birthday cake.  It was delicious.  Thanks again Vicki.  Then she gave me a surprise.  She made me this beautiful wall hanging!  I could’nt wait to get home and put it on my wall.  I think it looks just perfect in my dining room.  To me, nothing says you care about people more than hand made items.  I LOVE IT!  Tonight’s menu at church is baked spaghetti, salad, bread, green beans, corn, and cake with ice cream.  Sounds good, huh.   Weather here is rain, rain, and then maybe some more rain.  Oh well, at least its not ice.  We now have mud everywhere.  The snow has melted and the ice has melted and they say there is a chance for flooding.  I’m glad the Good Lord is in charge of all this and not me.  Well, I better get busy getting those green beans ready.  God Bless.

This picture was taken the other day when we went on our hike.  Absolutely beautiful.  Leaves were everywhere.  They sounded so nice when we walked on them.  Of course the batteries died in the camera before I got any other shots but this one is nice.  On our hike we spotted a baby possum walking on a log.  This would have been a great picture but the camera hung useless around my neck because we didn’t think to take extra batteries with us.   Oh well, life goes on.  We had a great hike and enjoyed outside time.  Today is overcast and slightly chilly.  Just enough to need a fire.  George and a friend of ours from church cut wood yesterday afternoon.  We heat this old farmhouse with wood and it takes a LOT of wood.  If the rain holds off we will be splitting and stacking the wood this evening.  Always work to do.  Speaking of work, lunch break is over and time for school.  Gotta go.  God Bless.