More Farm Pictures

This is a far off picture of the graveyard that is on the farm. This picture was taken from the top of our driveway.

This is a closer shot. Right beside the graveyard is a hay barn.

I’m sure Jess will recognize this picture. On the left of this picture at the bottom of the hill is an old farmhouse. Dave and Jess lived there for several years before they moved to N.C.

Today will be school as usual, though we have not gotten our early start. We are running a little behind as Hubby and I did not wake up as early as usual. Saturday, we worked on cleaning up an area where we used to have the swimming pool. This was a major job which required almost 5 hrs. to finish. We had the back of the truck completely full of trash to haul to the dumpster. We had to cut the pool liner in pieces. It was too heavy to move in one solid piece. We kept the parts of the pool we thought we might could reuse. We were all muddy from head to toe, including the “bumpy truck”. But I am so glad to get this job done. Vicki and Quintin are giving us some strawberry plants and we plan on putting them in that space.

Yesterday’s menu at church was pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, green beans, cole slaw, beef strogonoff, key lime pie and cookies. We started our new study on Galatians. I think it will be a very good study. I better get busy or school will be starting really late. Enjoy your day and God bless.

March 21, 2011 4

A Ride Around the Farm

Yesterday evening the girls convinced me we needed to take a ride around the farm. Grace took pictures for me. Thank you, Grace. First we start up the hill.

I almost forgot, first we must get Shadow in the truck bed with the girls. When he was a young pup, he would run beside the truck. Now he rides in the truck bed. He’s too old and too heavy to jump in the truck bed so we back up to this little incline, let the tail gate down and then he can jump in. He loves it. As soon as the girls climb in the back of the truck, he starts getting excited.

See how the fields are starting to get green!

A little stream in the field.

A view from the top of the hill. These are just a few pictures Grace took. I will show more later. We have sunshine today. We did get some rain last night but I think it has already passed us by. We plan on getting some more outside work done today. Maybe even working some more on our surprise. Enjoy your day and God bless.

March 19, 2011 6

Grapevine

Our grapevine. You can see another smaller “brash” pile in the second garden. We are hoping to have lots and lots of grapes this year. Now that we have our steamer juicer, we are looking forward to making lots of grape juice . We certainly did enjoy the apple juice we made last year. I want to experiment with other types of fruit to make juice.

Today is another beautiful day here in Floyd. Very windy though, as usual. Temperature is already in the 50’s. Forecast is for rain over the weekend. I was hoping for sunshine and warm temperatures but I know we did rain too. The ladies will be coming in a little bit. We are planning on doing some more outside work after our study is finished. The girls work on school while the ladies and I are doing our bible study. We are working on a surprise outside which I will show you all when we get it finished.

Enjoy your day and God bless.

March 18, 2011 7

“Brash” Pile

This is one of our brush piles to be burned or as some of the old time Grundy people would say “brash”. I am assuming this would be some of our celtic roots coming through. I have no idea really. I do know the older people had a different word for lots of things. Help was hope, cover was kiver, boiled was biled. These are a few that come to mind right off the top of my head. Anyway we have this one piled in the first garden to be burned as soon as we can catch a day with not too much wind.

We are supposed to get much warmer today-upper 50’s I think. We will hopefully be doing more outside work after school. The sun is shining beautifully but it is still chilly right now-30 degrees. I have clothes that are ready to go to the line. I love it when we can dry them outside. The birds are telling me to hear out so I can hear them sing. God is so good!

Enjoy your day and God bless.

March 17, 2011 4

Lilac Bush

Our lilac bush has lots of buds on it. YEAH! If all goes well, it will have lots of beautiful, sweet smelling flowers soon. We have a small bush we just planted a few years ago at the edge of the garden and it is full of buds too. I love spring. I think our rain has stopped for a few days. It is still very cloudy but the forecast is for the sun to come peeping through this afternoon. It is already warmer than it was all day yesterday so that is a good sign. We are hoping to do some more outside work after school. We have been trying to start school a little earlier so that we can be finished around lunch. Then we have the afternoon for work and play. It seems to be working out well so far.

Yesterday, while the girls were at their piano lessons, I went into our local thrift store-Angels in the Attic. It operates entirely on donations and volunteers. All the profit each month is given to help local needs. It is amazing. They have moved 3 times because they keep growing. The last time they moved, they purchased the building and in about 2 years had it paid off. Since all workers are volunteer they have very little expense. It has really helped our community. The lady who thought it up is a Christian and tells everyone she can “It is all God”. Anyway I said all that to say this. Many years ago, my sister-in-law gave Hubby a coffee cup. He loves this cup and uses it every morning. Well, guess what I found. One that looks just like it at Angels for 25 cents. How exciting! This morning I put my coffee in the new cup so that our cups matched. Cute! Ialso found this pretty glass. I love old dishes and this glass just so wanted to come home with me.

I better get busy. It’s almost time for school. Enjoy your day and God bless.

March 16, 2011 5

“New” Books

Yesterday, we stopped at Goodwill while on our way to the eye doctor. The girls found these Narnia books. They were so happy. It is the complete set except for book 2 “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. We will have to be watching for it. Grace got a good report at the eye doctor. Her vision had improved some. She will be picking out new glasses next week. We have been blessed so much with improvement in her vision. She will probably always have to wear bifocals but she has definitely come a long way. We are extremely grateful to God for this blessing.

Today is still chilly here with a chance of rain for this afternoon but the rest of the week is supposed to be really nice-much warmer. We are doing school as usual. Later we will be going into town for piano lessons. Tonight’s menu is kielbasa, cooked cabbage, and potatoes. I think I will make a batch of rolls to go with it. Enjoy your day and God bless.

March 15, 2011 5

Crocus

We are finally getting a little color in our yard. I love these cheerful early flowers. They brighten up the landscape and our outlook so much, I think. Saturday was very nice here. We got all the trimming done. YEAH! Everything looks so much neater. It is all piled up in the garden to be burned whenever we can catch a day the wind isn’t blowing too hard. Yesterday, was absolutely beautiful. The temperature actually got up to 60 degrees. I sat outside for a very long time reading. Then Hubby came out and entertained me with his banjo. We had a team leaders meeting yesterday after church so we did not do our bible study last night.

Friday’s weather was very different from Saturday and Sunday. First we had quite a lot of rain.

Then we had some hail.

Today is chilly and overcast. They are calling for rain today and tomorrow. Grace has an appointment at the eye doctor later today. We will be doing school until lunch then leaving for the appointment. Enjoy your day and God bless.

March 14, 2011 4

Wonderful News

I want to share with you all our wonderful news. We just found out this morning that Jessica is pregnant. We are not sure how far along she is. She will be going to the doctor on Wednesday for her first appointment. God is SO good! His kindness toward His children always amazes me. Thank you Lord! I would so appreciate it if you all would be in prayer for her and this new life she carries.

We have sunshine today with wind gusts of about 50 mph. Temperature is cold. Actual temperature is 35 degrees. I’m not sure what the wind chill is but I know it is cold. I have one load of clothes on the line but I have to keep going out to pick them up off the ground. The wind keeps blowing them off the line. I think I’ll probably just go bring them in. I wanted to do some trimming today but I think I’ll have to postpone it until tomorrow. Hopefully it will be warmer then.

We had our first lesson today in our new study, NO OTHER GODS by Kelly Minter. It seems to be a good study. She asks a lot of questions that cause us to search ourselves for the answers. I think these are hard studies. I guess I’m just not very good at self evaluation.

Tonights menu will be ham biscuits, the leftover kale and potatoes. I made fresh rolls today for the ham however half of them have already been eaten. I love to cook things that get eaten quickly. It makes me fill happy inside. I also made a fifteen bean soup with ham for tomorrow. I like to make soup a day ahead when I can. I always think it taste better the next day.

Enjoy your day and God bless.

March 11, 2011 7

Signs of Spring

These are some of our earlier flowers. I’m not sure what they are because they were already here when we moved in. It is alway very exciting to see them start shooting up out of the ground. As you probably can tell by the picture, we have been getting lots of rain. It is still raining today but I think it is supposed to stop tonight. I am looking forward to doing more trimming Friday and Saturday. Being outside is so nice after being inside all winter.

Enjoy your day and God bless.

March 10, 2011 6

Christmas in March

I think my Christmas Cactus is confused. It bloomed around Christmas time and has decided (to our great pleasure) to bloom again. It looks so cheerful and happy in the room.

Todays temperature was a little warmer when we got up, 26 degrees. It is a little overcast but the sun is coming through. It is now about 30 degrees. I have one load of clothes on the line and am getting ready to take another. They are predicting rain for tomorrow.

On the menu for tonight is pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, and kale. I think I will do homemade biscuits with it and have cooked apples for dessert. Time for us to start school. Enjoy your day and God bless.

March 8, 2011 5