Black Eyed Susans

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.

August 26, 2010 1

Peaches

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.

August 17, 2010 1

Country Living

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.

August 6, 2010 1

Garden

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.

June 17, 2010 1

Garden

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.

June 3, 2010 3

Another Sign of Spring

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.

March 25, 2010 0

Geese are back

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.

March 15, 2010 0

Golden Hills

This was the view this morning from my kitchen window as I washed the morning dishes. Am I a blessed woman or what? We did get to have our Ladies Study today. Hallelujah! The snow has not started yet. They are predicting 10-13 inches. This will probably mean no church on Sunday which of course makes for a long week. However if all goes as planned Jess and crew will be coming up next weekend. She wants us to sew her some maternity clothes. We will be going to a local fabric store called Schoolhouse Fabrics. They have 3 stories full of nothing but cloth. Then we will come home and snuggle in for 2 days of sewing, and of course lots of MawMaw time. I can hardly wait! It is almost supper time. Tonights menu is one of Hubby’s favorite. Fried chicken, gravy, corn and biscuits. I think I’ll throw in some cooked apples too. YUM! Are you hungry yet? Well, I am. Guess I better get started frying that chicken. God Bless.

January 29, 2010 2

Wall hanging

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.

January 24, 2010 2

Corn Cutting Time

Corn cutting time is a very busy time here on the farm. A tremendous amount of corn is planted here. In October, they begin cutting it up into silage (hope I spelled that correct). The silage is then stored and fed to the cattle during winter. When we first moved here I was amazed with the corn cutting process so I thought you all might enjoy seeing it. Well it’s time for school and I want to get a quilt finished today. God Bless.

September 29, 2009 0