Picnic and a Surprise

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Tuesday we went for a picnic with the Horn’s.  We had a great time.  It was our first picnic of the season with them.

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The picnic spot was beautiful!

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Fresh strawberries from North Carolina.  It’s still too early here for them but these were delicious!

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I came home today to find this lounge chair being made.  I love it!  Thanks Hubby.  We have looked at this design for a while now and he said he thought today was a good day to build one.  It is chilly here today and very windy.  Our temperature is 50 degrees as I type.  I think there is a freeze warning in effect for tonight.  Wouldn’t you know it, we just got our plants in the ground this week.  I certainly hope they are wrong.  It has been a beautiful day though, just chilly.  Beautiful sunshine and the air is so clean and clear.  I do love days like this.

Have a great evening and God bless.

 

Mint Syrup

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This has  been a busy week for us.  On Friday, the girls and I cut some mint to try a new recipe.

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We wanted to make mint syrup.  One cup water, one cup mint and one cup sugar.  Bring it to a boil, reduce heat slightly, let simmer for 10 min.  Turn off heat and let it cool to room temperature.

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For a half gal of tea, we used 1 cup mint syrup and then filled up the half gallon with water. It is absolutely delicious!!  I have been making mint tea for years and I definitely think this is the best.

After making the mint syrup, we all worked in the garden.  We had to take down the old fence we had put up last year to keep the chickens out, pulled up the stakes and the tomato fence.  Then we got the tiller out and started getting it tilled.  We had high hopes of getting the plants in the ground but the rain was faster than we were.  Oh well, hopefully tomorrow (or the next day).  We have had rain all weekend.

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Yesterday, we went to the Greensboro Science Center with Dave, Jess and kids.   We had a great time!

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So much to see and do!

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Well, that’s about it for now.  We will be starting revival at church tonight so I guess I better be getting my crew ready to leave.  I hope you all have a great evening and God bless.

 

New Project

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Here is a picture of my lastest project.  This picture is of one I did several years ago.  Grace has requested one so I am working on hers now.  I have finished the pink and blue rows and will be starting on the red.  I also have found a new favorite way of making popcorn.  I am not found of microwave popcorn.  It always leaves a yucky taste in my mouth.  I have been making this recipe for microwave kettle corn and we all love it.  You can make it sweet like the recipe says or just leave out the sugar and make regular popcorn.

Much has been going on here for the last week.  That’s one reason why I haven’t made a post in a while.  First off, last week I threw my back out.  I used my mom’s old cane to walk around the last part of the week.  I am so thankful that I do not have chronic back problems.  It was intensely painful.  Then on Saturday we went down to Jessica’s for a pumpkin carving day.  We have never carved pumpkins before.  It was a lot of fun.

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Jess made this cheesecake.  It was the first cheesecake she had made.  It was very good.

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Everyone had a great time.

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Then Saturday evening we went to the “Critter Chompin”.  It is a wild game banquet that our church sponsors.  We do door prizes and I won a new bible “The Story”.  Have any of you ever heard of it?  It is supposed to be the bible but told in a story form   Later on that night though we had some bad news.  Hubby Dad had been taken to Pikeville hospital with a heart attack.  We went down to see him on Monday-11 hrs driving.  Hard day in MANY ways.  He is on a ventilator and unable to breathe on his own.  Later in the week, he had to undergo surgery for a preforated bowel.  Today he is still in extremely critical condition.  I would ask if anyone feels led to pray, we would certainly appreciate your prayers.  He is 81 years old, a Christian man, and wasn’t in very good health before all this happened.  Hubby and I are praying for God’s will to be done.

Well, that’s about it.  I will try to keep everyone posted.  Enjoy your day and God bless.

Tweetsie Trip

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Saturday we went to Tweetsie for the last time this season.  We had a lot of fun.  The fall colors were beautiful!

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Sam was so excited.  He loves riding the “choo choo”.

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Daniel had a great time.  He loves riding all the rides.

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This guy has a magic show.  The girls loved it.  They have always been interested in magic tricks.

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Friday we went bowling with the Horn’s.  We had so much fun.  On the first Friday of every month our bowling alley has homeschool day.   They offer discounts on games and shoe rental is free.  We are hoping to get to go again soon.

School is going good so far.  Of course, the first week or so usually does as it is mostly review.  I helped Hubby yesterday so we took our school to the job site, which is one of the reasons we love homeschooling.

Speaking of school, lunch break is almost over so I better get busy.  Enjoy your day and God bless.

Wednesday

Hi everyone.  I’m sorry about no pictures lately but I have been having trouble with my computer.  Hopefully all is fixed now.  Saturday, Dave, Jess and kids came up for a visit.  Dave and Hubby went to Pastor Tom’s shoot.  They had a great time.  Then on Saturday afternoon, Chuck and his kids came over too.  I was one happy mawmaw.  All my grandbabies here at one time.  I hope this becomes a habit.  We all went to cut wood.  I so wish I had taken my camera.  It was so cute seeing them all carrying wood to load in the truck.  Everyone went.  We even had Katie and Sam in the stroller, which did not make Sam happy.  He kept saying, “I wanna help PawPaw too.”  We thought Sam might be a little too much “help.”

We had a great supper of pork, pintos, mashed potatoes, rolls, peaches and pears.  After cutting, loading and unloading two truck loads of wood, everyone was hungry.  As they were leaving, I gave them all an apple for the road.  Alexius was getting in the car and got her finger shut in the car door.  Chuck asked her how she managed to do that and she said, “I was trying to hold my apple and I wanted to give MawMaw another hug”.  I felt so sorry for her.

I have been helping Hubby all this week with a bathroom remodel.  We finished it today.  Tomorrow, he will start installing the cabinets at the old farmhouse he has been working on.  We plan on going with the Horn’s this Saturday to Grayson Highlands for their fall festival.  We are looking forward to it.  It sounds like lots of fun.  Well, I think that’s about all that is happening around here.  I hope you all have a great evening and God bless.

 

Sunday

Hello everyone!!  Yesterday was our annual horseshoe picnic, however, being how I am I forgot the camera.  I did take pictures last year so if any of you haven’t saw where we do our horseshoe picnic, you can check out last year’s pictures here:  http://merryheartcrafts.com/2011/06/26/horseshoe-picnic/

We had a great time yesterday, with lots of good food(of course).  After eating we played horseshoes, had some pickin’ and grinnin’ (I did the grinnin’) and all around good fellowship.  I think we are very blessed at our church.  We have lots of fun together.  Next Sunday, will be our annual picnic and baptizing at Gallimore Pond.  We do not have a baptismal at our church.  We baptize at a beautiful pond that is close to our church.  And, of course, while we are there, we might as well eat.  The next Sunday will be our annual Sunday School breakfast at Smart View Park, just about a mile from our house.  We eat a wonderful breakfast and then have Sunday School.  There’s just something about eating outdoors that I love.  Every time we are having a church service out in the open like that, I feel so blessed to live in this country and so thankful to everyone who has sacrificed in one way or another so that we can freely worship where ever we choose.   There is just something special about the sound of hymns as they float through the trees. We take so much for granted here in this country.

Okay, sorry about going on like that but it is how I feel.  Tonight is our last study lesson on Titus.  I think we are going to do Exodus next.  Not sure though, we will decide tonight.  I hope you all have a great evening and God bless.

Tweetsie

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Yesterday we went to Tweetsie Railroad with Dave, Jess, and the kids.  We had a great time. 

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Cany you tell by Sam’s face? 

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It’s hard to get this boy to be still long enough for a picture.

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The highlight of the day was meeting this guy.  For those of you who don’t know him, this is Thomas the Train.  We all rode Thomas.  Every time during the day that we would hear his whistle blow, Sam would say “You hear that train, MawMaw?”  This was his birthday gift from his mom and dad.  His birthday was June 7th.  He is now 2 yrs old.  Amazing. 

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I think this picture says LOVE.  When a man the size of David squeezes himself into a car the size of this one just so your little boy can drive, that has to say love. 

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I think they are conspiring a plan!

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My cowgirl! 

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Can you tell we are tired?  Well, everyone except …..

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Miss Katie.  Enjoy your day and God bless.

 

 

Fairystone Park

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Yesterday we met Dave, Jess and kids at Fairystone Park for a picnic and a fun day out.  We have lived here in Floyd for almost 13 years.  This state park is just about 40 minutes from our house.  I have no idea why we have never been to it before.   We all had a great time.  We had grilled chicken, mac and cheese, potato salad, pork and beans, and a green salad.  Delicious!!

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Can you guess what we had for dessert?

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While Dave, Jess, Daniel, Sam, Julie, and Grace spent all day in the water, Pawpaw and MawMaw had the “hard” job of watching Katie.  She sure is growing.

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We all had a great time and definitely want to go again.  Enjoy your day and God bless.

Dollywood

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Wednesday, we had a GREAT time!!  We went with the Horn’s to Dollywood.  They had bought season tickets and got free one day passes to take a friend.  We were their friends.  Thanks again, guys.  We left Floyd at 7:00 that morning and got back home around midnight.  It was a long day but filled with fun.  Everyone was tired but happy.  Please be in prayer for Vicki and Quentin.  Quentin’s grandfather passed away yesterday morning. 

Yesterday was a dry day here in Floyd so I jumped in and started working on the garden.  

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I tillered both gardens and got them ready for planting.  It was a full day.  This morning I started getting the plants in the ground.  So far, I have planted the potatoes, corn, onions, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower.  After lunch, beans and tomatoes.  The girls will be helping me with them.  They have been inside doing the housework this morning while I worked outside. 

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These are the seeds the girls and I planted in the greenhouse.  They have done really well.  Maybe all we needed all along was a greenhouse.  They certainly look the best of any seeds we have started before.  Hopefully, they will do good when transferred into the garden.

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The squash and cucumbers have really grown.  Speaking of growing, look how big the goslings are.

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They were up in the field watching me while I worked.  Well, I think that’s about it.  I better get back into the garden.  Enjoy your day and God bless.

 

 

 

 

 

Grapes

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This picture of our grapevine was taken on April 12.  This is what it looked like last week.

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It seems to be growing every day and full of baby grapes!

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This makes me very happy.  I hope to make some jelly this year and lots and lots of grape juice!  We so enjoy having our own juice to drink.

Our weekend was a busy one.  I didn’t get to tell all about it on yesterdays post.  It was late and I was tired.  Anyway, on Friday, our church had a mother/daughter banquet.  It was lots of fun with about 25 ladies attending.  Then on Saturday, we had to go to Jessica’s to start working on some things her ins. agency said needed to be done.   After we got there, Hubby realized we would need the scaffold, so we came back home Saturday evening.  We went back down on Sunday and finished it up.  Jess, the kids, myself, Julie and Grace went to the Farmers Market on Sunday.  We had a great time just walking around looking at everything.  Okay, so I have to tell you, we rode Jessica’s van to the market.  7 of us.  We took the double stroller and the small stroller, plus, of course, all the other stuff you need for small kids.  Needless to say, her van was packed.  Then when we get there, the first thing Jess sees-2 HUGE hanging baskets, that would look just perfect on her front porch.  Now if you would like to have seen something funny, you should have been there in the parking lot watching us try to get all that stuff back in the van.  It really was hilarious!!  We finally did it though and didn’t even damage her new hanging baskets.  I guess we are just talented. 

Our lunch break is over and so I must get back to school.  Enjoy your day and God bless.