MerryHeartCrafts.comMountain Momma… Country Living

Look at these beautiful little violas!  They were hidden away beside some other larger flowers.  I think they are so cute.  They reminded me about how sometimes the beautiful things of God are hidden.  He wants us to put forth a little effort to find them.  Reading and studying His word, praying.  These are all things He wants us to do in order to see His beauty.  But I think also He wants us to listen.  This seems to be the hardest part for me.  Satan obviously knows this because he continuously puts things in my path to distract me and, of course, I allow it to work.  I want to do better.  Spend more time with Him. 

What better place to spend more time with Him than right here.  My front yard-looking down at the field.  The cows are up for their morning snack.  The sun is shining and for today (just today) we are almost caught up with the canning.  The girls and I are going to have a “girl day”.  We have some errands to run and then maybe do some fun stuff in town.  We are thinking about going to Goodwill or the Salvation Army, maybe both.  We might even go to Books-A-Million.  I’m not sure yet what we will do, other than have fun.

One more flower picture.  I thought you all might be getting tired of seeing pictures of canning jars.  A little color was needed.  We’re off to enjoy our day.  God bless.

The girls and I made salsa yesterday.  We ended up with 19 pints.  Counting what we made the other day, I think this is enough to last us through the winter.  We will be canning peaches today. 

Temperatures here are still cool and comfortable, 67 degrees.   Very overcast.  It is supposed to warm up throughout the week with a chance of thunderstorms.  I really like the cooler temps, I just wish the sun was shining.  Oh well, God knows what He’s doing. 

I was wondering if anyone out there had a good pizza sauce recipe.  I have one that is pretty good but I am always looking for new ones to try.  I guess I better get busy-peaches are calling.  Take care and God bless.

We were very blessed to have these peaches given to us.  They are called Saturn peaches or donut peaches.  These are very small and I was not really sure how to best use them.

As you can see, we had quite a few.  We decided to make something like an applesauce from them.  We used the food strainer.   We made a pie from our peach sauce yesterday to see how it would taste.  It actually was very good.   Hubby was home yesterday and he helped.  Thanks, Babe. 

Temperatures here are hot.  We are getting a small shower here  this morning.  Much needed.  However the sun is already back so it probably will get hot fast.  We are headed into town for piano practice.  I also need a few spices for the beets.  Enjoy your day 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.

We received our new school books for next year.  This is always an exciting time for us.  We love looking at them to see what the next year will be about.  Of course, about half way through them they will not be near as exciting.  Oh well, enjoy the moment, right.  Temperatures have been rather chilly here.  30 degrees this morning with scattered frost.  Hopefully no damage done.  We spent the weekend at Jessica’s.  Saturday was her baby shower day.  She received many nice things but of course I forgot my camera, so no pictures.  Her mother-in-law got her a really nice bassinet.  She is going to use this upstairs in the bedroom for a while.  Then they will put up his crib.   We also celebrated Hubby’s birthday while we were there.  Hot dogs with all the fixin’s and birthday cake.  We had a great time.  As usual, though, it goes by too quick.  When we came home last night, it was pretty chilly in the house.  We hurried and built a fire.  We still have one going today but I think it is going to warm up nicely.  The sun is shining and it looks beautiful outside.  Hubby and I are going to get another load of wood while the girls stay here and work on school.  Dale-a friend from church- is bringing over his wood splitter this evening to let us borrow.  Thank you Dale and thank you Lord for provided us with such good friends.  We are truly blessed.  Enjoy your day and God bless.

This boy has definitely grown.  I’m not sure based on the past year if he’ll ever grown up but he has certainly grown.  He is a very playful pup and has brought lots of love into our house.  (Lots of other things too-but we won’t go into that.)  Things have been busy around here for the last couple of days.  Saturday I went grocery shopping while Hubby worked on clearing out some stuff from his wood working building.  Sunday was church.  Then early Monday morning we decided to make a trip to Grundy to see George’s Mom and Dad.  We didn’t get back home until a little after 10:00 that night.  Long day.  Yesterday was piano and I attempted to move that mountain of laundry that had built up.  We had to dry everything inside.  It was very overcast, chilly and windy.  Today promises to be better.  The sun is shining already.  Hopefully we can use the clothesline today.  We have 5 baby geese on the pond.  Big excitement.  I hope to get a picture of them today so you all can see them.  Our rhubarb is ready.  I think I will make some strawberry-rhubarb jam.  It’s one of our favorites.  Well, I think my crew is hungry.  I better get some breakfast going.  Take care and God bless.

This is my friend Barbara.  No, she is not a real pioneer lady.   She is one of our Friday Ladies Study group.  She needed an outfit for a Red Hat function and this is what we come up with.  She looks so good!  I made the skirt and the apron for her.  She got the bonnet at Schoolhouse Fabrics here in Floyd.  I had so much fun making the apron.  I have never attempted an apron this this before.  It was challenging for me but I so enjoyed doing it.  I think I will make one for myself, maybe even the girls.  We think this would be an excellent costume for Christfest (halloween alternative) at church.  The sun is trying to shine here but the clouds seem to be winning the contest right now.  Hopefully it will be warmer today.  School as usual.  We are almost finished with spelling, only two more word lists.  This is when it starts getting exciting again.  When you can see the end in sight.  I have to make pickled eggs today.  My hubby loves pickled eggs.  I make  some every year at Easter and Christmas and sometimes in between.   I will try to document the process and post on it tomorrow.  Enjoy your day 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.

The field above our house has come to life.  Several new calves have been born.  They run and jump through the new grass.  They have so much fun and are such a joy to watch.  Today we worked outside most of the day,  picking up in the yard, getting the garden ready.  David, Jess, and Daniel came this afternoon.  We had hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill.  Ate them outside at the picnic table.  The sun was shining brightly.  A beautiful day. 

The girls enjoyed some fishing time.  It was one of those days that I just thank the Lord I live where I do.  Clothes blowing dry in the wind.  The birds are singing so  beautiful.  Frogs peeping.  It makes me want to do all my work outside.  I even open my window just a little bit at night so the frogs can sing me to sleep.   Wonderful time of the year in Floyd.  It’s been a really hard winter but spring in sweet.  Just like life.   Sometimes life is hard but the Lord is good and brings us through to spring.  Well, I must go.  My baby boy is here.  Take care and God bless.

Yes, I know to many of you who know me, this only confirms the fact that sometimes I am a little crazy.  The sun is shining so brightly here today.  The birds are singing everywhere.  A slight breeze is blowing.  How could I resist hanging my cloths on the line.  Yes, I admit it was cold.  About 36 degrees.  My hands definitely were cold by the time I was finished, but don’t they look absolutely beautiful blowing in the breeze.  They are going to smell soooooooo good!  Spring is coming and it feels so wonderful.  Thank you Lord!  Take care and God bless.