MerryHeartCrafts.comMountain Momma… Country Living

This is a picture of our new shelf Hubby and I made yesterday for the new laundry room.  I’m sorry  it is not a very good picture.  I forgot to take the picture before we moved it into the room.  After it was in the room, I couldn’t get enough room to show the whole shelf.  The top shelf is 5 ft tall and it is 30 in. long with a depth of 9 in.  I will be storing all my laundry and cleaning supplies on it.   He will be building another shelf soon to store our bulk items. 

Temperature here is very nice today-upper 40′s.  Sunshine.  I love it.  The girls are working on school and I am getting ready to hang more clothes on the line outside.   Hubby is busy painting the old laundry room.  I am a blessed woman.

I am making homemade pizza for lunch.  Supper menu will be fried chicken, gravy, corn and homemade biscuits.  As I said earlier, I am a blessed woman.  Enjoy your day and God bless.

Yesterday was a fun day.  At the spur of the moment, we decided to travel down to Grundy and visit Hubby’s parents.  We took food for lunch.  We took canned beef, green beans, corn, and peaches.  We also dug some potatoes, gathered some tomatoes, cabbage and grapes.  This was a special treat for them as they are no longer able to raise a garden.  While we were there, she gave me some more empy canning jars.  This way hopefully we won’t have to buy any to finish up the canning.

She does have, though, growing on her hill a huge cushaw vine.  This is one of the hidden treasures it contains.  I really like cushaw, probably more than pumpkin.  I think it makes a better pie than pumpkin.  We really had a good visit.  We  took the scenic route home.  I’ll post some of those pictures hopefully tomorrow.

Today will be spent catching up and enjoying the day.  We will be starting school next Monday, so this is kinda our vacation week.  Take care and God bless.

Today has been a kinda slow day.  Julie went shooting at the shooting range with her Dad today. She had a really great time and says she wants to go again.  Grace and I stayed home.  We made applesauce muffins.  I got the recipe from one of my blogger friends.  Remember the “peach sauce” we made earlier in the summer, well, we used it instead of applesauce.  They turned out really good.  Then we made some homemade rolls to go with supper tonight.  We will be having beef roast, corn from the garden and potatoes, with the homemade rolls of course.  I think watermelon for dessert. 

Today is a beautiful day here in Floyd.  Temperatures in the upper 70′s, low 80′s.  One of those nice relaxing days.  I thought the picture of the cat summed up how the day has been.  Slow and lazy.  Yesterday was bible study day.  We only have one more lessons in I Corinthians and then we will start the Ruth study.  I am really looking forward to it.  I’m sure there will be lots to learn. 

Time for me to go enjoy some of that nice weather.  My green swing is calling me.  Of course, the other cat will have to move over. 

God bless.

I think these are such cheerful flowers.  I like their bright color.  They are among the last of the flowers to bloom in one of my flower gardens.  Fall is definitely in the air here in Floyd.  Cooler temperatures at night.  Upper 50′s lower 60′s.  We even spotted one tree that is starting to change colors.  I love fall!  Many people say summer has long lazy days.  This is usually not true for me.  Fall is more of a slow down time for us.  Most of the canning is done.  We can slow down and enjoy the cooler days.  I love it!  Of course,  I have had to slow down a little earlier than planned this year but I think I have learned a lot from this experience.  What have I learned?  I need to slow down a little, enjoy life more, laugh more, do more things with my girls.  There is much to be said for teaching my girls how to can and take care of the house but also there is much to be said for picnics under oak trees and hikes down favorite trails.  Balance-I think it is all about balance. 

Yesterday the girls and I made homemade vegetable beef soup with homemade rolls.  It is starting to feel like soup weather.  I told the girls the other day, these cooler temperatures makes me want to open up new school books.  Amazing-cooler temps does not have the same effect on them.   We wanted to make chocolate chip cookies yesterday but did not get them done.  I think that will be a project for today.  If we get to make them, I will try to post the recipe we use.  We have some corn that needs to be pulled and worked up so I guess that too will be on the list for today.  My list is not near as long as it was before the back pain.

Enjoy your day and God bless.

Today we have been busy with peaches.  We had 11 qts of peaches.  After peeling them, I decided to try out my new helper.  I put the peelings into the steamer juicer and got 2 qts of juice.  From that juice, I made 6 pts of jelly.  I think they look really pretty in the jar.  It was  easy to do.  I think it was a wise investment.  Supper this evening was fried chicken, gravy, corn and biscuits.  Of course, peach jelly for dessert. 

A new visitor to our pond.  He (or she) arrived the other day for a short visit.  Hubby says he thinks it is an egret.  Of course, he stood out with his white color.  I think the geese were a little amazed.  We have been having rain lately.  It is raining now as I am doing this post.  I had hoped to go to the garden and check on things but I don’t think that will be happening.  Oh well, maybe I’ll just rest.  Take care and God bless.

These are just a few pictures I took yesterday on our way into town.  This road runs alongside the Parkway for a while.  Then branches off into other roads.  It is one of the many roads we can take to get to town.  I thought you all might enjoy seeing it.

On the side of this road, fall flowers are already beginning to bloom.  Joe Pie and Goldenrod. 

A field on the same road.

In about another month, corn cutting will begin.  This hill will have lots of activity.  These are just a few things I am blessed to enjoy every day.  Sometimes the beauty of this place I live overwhelms me.  I haven’t lived very many places in my life but I do know this place I live now is very beautiful. 

The girls and I had fun yesterday.  We ran some errands, went to the Salvation Army and Goodwill, Wal-Mart of course.  I found Hubby a nice church outfit at the Salvation Army and a tie to match at Goodwill.  He normally doesn’t wear a tie but now that he is a deacon, they have to wear a tie on the day we do the Lord’s Supper.  We also found Grace a skirt and a top to match and both girls got a swim suit.  They did not have one and they hope to get to swim over the weekend at David’s mom’s pool.  We are going down this evening.  She has some more apples that are ripe and some pears. 

Today is Ladie’s Bible Study.  We are still doing it at Barbara’s house, probably all this month.  However today is starting out nice and cool so we might could have done it here.  Oh well.  We’ll just stick to our original plan.  I have dessert this week and I am taking a peach pie I made.  The girls are going to play at the Horn’s while I am doing bible study.  They are very excited.  It will be a fun day for everyone.  Vicki and I will visit when I come to pick the girls up.  I’m planning on surprising her with a new type of tea for us to share.  I guess though if she reads this before I get there it won’t be a surprise. 

Well, I gotta go.  There’s work to do.  We want to be ready to leave when Hubby comes in this evening.  Gotta go get me some MawMaw time.  Take care and God bless.

It’s been a while since I posted pictures of our garden.  It has really grown.  Everything looks to be doing really well.  You can’t tell it from the picture but the potatoes are beginning to bloom.

This is our beans and corn.  We kinda got a late start on planting them but they look strong and healthy.   Today is an absolutely beautiful day here in Floyd.  Temperatures are in the lower 70′s with a nice breeze.  It’s one of those days where it is hard to work inside.  I would much rather be outside enjoying the day.  Hopefully, later after our inside work is done.  I plan on spending some quality time with my green swing.

This is the kind of space I always dreamed of having.  It is one of the most peaceful places I know.  I so much enjoy coming and sitting down in this swing.  The Lord and I have had some of our best conversation here.   I am so thankful to my hubby for making this swing for me and for helping me keep this area beautiful.

I wanted to show you all how the sun was glistening off the rows of corn.  The corn stalks seem to be glowing.  I thought it was very pretty.  I guess I’d better get busy if I want to get my housework done today.  After all, the green swing IS calling my name.  Enjoy your day and God bless.

Here are just a few shots of our garden.  We hope to soon enjoy squash as you can see the bloom on it.  This one tomato plant will be an early one.  The others are not near as big.  Yesterday was a beautiful day here in Floyd.  Hubby and I finished getting the garden out.  We planted a few more tomatoes and beans and corn.

Later in the evening we got a good rain.  I guess God knew our seeds needed a drink.  The girls and I are working on cleaning the house today and washing clothes.  My house is a little behind as we have been doing up the beef.  Our total is 80 quarts of canned beef and 88 bags of hamburger.  Pretty good I think.  Tomorrow is bible study day.  We are studying I Corinthians. Little Samuel will be here in 4 more days.  Unless he decides to come before then.  We all can hardly wait to see him and hold him.  God is good!  Also hopefully David will have my computer back in operation soon.  I really miss it.  It’s sometimes hard for me and Hubby to coordinate on one computer.  His free time is usually my free time too.  Well, my time is up.  The wringer is calling my name.  Take care and God bless.

Another indicator of spring.  This flower is one of the early ones.  I’m not sure what it is but it comes up early every year.  Does anyone know it’s name?  Anyway it is always such an uplifting sight to see it coming out of the ground.  Today has been a little cool here, overcast, kinda dreary.  Yesterday was georgeous.  Windy but lots of sunshine.  Today has been school as usual.  We are all looking forward to finishing the year (hopefully) a little early.  Our expectations are to be finished around the first of May.  I guess that is if we don’t miss too many days between now and then.  Spring is the hardest for us.  We want to take too many days off and enjoy the sun.  I’ve still been working on Grace’s quilt.  I’m about 2/3 of the way finished.  I really want to get it done soon so I can put the quilting frame away for summer.  It always seems to me, spring is the time for new projects and it is hard to get old ones finished when so many new ones are calling.  I MUST REMAIN FOCUSED!  Tonight’s menu for supper is venison strips, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy and homemade biscuits.  Dessert will probably be honey and butter swirled together and put on hot biscuits.  YUM!  Tomorrow is  Ladies Bible Study day.  It is going really well.  A very good study.  I highly recommend it.  Well it is time for us to get some house cleaning done and then start on supper.  Take care and God Bless.

What are beautiful sight!  The geese are back.  They look so pretty on the pond with the sun shining on them.  We heard our first frogs peeping Saturday night.  Spring is on its way.  I will be posting pictures this week of other signs of Spring.  I am sooooooooo glad.  Yesterday was a good day.  Pastor Tom had a good message, then we had a team leaders meeting afterward.  Our Sunday School Director retired and George accepted the position.  We really have no idea what his duties will be as of it but I’m sure we will learn as we go.  Last night’s menu at church included a hamburger casserole, baked beans, potato salad, pretzels and dip, a peach jello salad, and brownies.  I took something no one from church had ate before, pickled corn.  It was a success.   Most seemed to like it.  I guess its kinda like kraut, you either like it or you don’t, not much in- between ground.    Today will be school as usual.  Tomorrow both girls have eye doctor appointments.  We plan to leave early in the morning so as to do some shopping for shoes.  Recital is this Sunday.  I hope to hang clothes on the line today.  It  gives me an opportunity to be outside, plus saves us money.  Temperature is supposed to get in the upper 40′s today.  Things are drying up from all the melting snow.   It will soon be time to start preparing the garden for summer.  I get excited just thinking about all this.  Well it is time to begin working.  Take care and God bless.