Mostly Pictures

Hi everyone! It has been a while since I posted pictures of what it looks like here in yard. Today we worked on the gardens. Both gardens are planted. I am so happy. It has been a wet, cold spring here making it hard to get the gardens planted.

This one is just beans and corn.

Remember when I said Hubby was working on making a raised bed. Well, here it is and it is doing very well I think. We made another one today and planted herb seeds in it and another row of carrots. I think I like this raised bed gardening. Hoeing is so hard on my back.

Our rhubarb is doing nicely this year. I think it is time for some rhubarb dumplings, strawberry rhubarb jam, rhubarb pie,…….!!

This picture is looking at the back side of the house from the corner edge of the garden.

Irises.

A fern and hen and chicks. Thanks for the ferns, Jess! These hen and chicks belonged first to my grandmother, then to my mom and now to me. I love things like that. I found the metal thing up in the field above our home. I have no idea what it originally was but I think it makes a great container for them.

Our strawberries survived the winter and are blooming! Some already have small strawberries on them.

Lovage. It will get huge, over 6 ft. tall!

Clematis.

A nice place to relax. I hope you all have a great evening and God bless.

May 28, 2013 6

Wednesday

Hello everyone! Yesterday the girls and I made another trip down the Parkway to get cherries. This time we were getting the culls. They sell them for $10.00 for a 5 gal. bucket. We brought them home and used the steam juicer to make juice. We got enough to make 2 gal of juice. We had some this morning and it was VERY good. We had not had any homemade juice in about 3 months. I’m hoping this year to can more juice than we did last year. After having the real thing, store bought tastes very bland.

This is one of the most popular spots along our section of the Parkway. It is called Mabry Mill. Lots and lots of people visit this spot. They have demonstrations of how things were made during the time this mill was in operation. Yesterday, we noticed as we drove by they were demonstrating basket weaving.

On our way home yesterday, we decided to take a different route than the Parkway. This house was David’s Grandmother’s home. We thought Dave might enjoy seeing a picture of it.

And this is our home. The rock lillies are blooming so pretty this year. I almost forgot to tell you all, we made some homemade cherry ice cream yesterday that was so good. I got the recipe from here: http://homejoys.blogspot.com/2012/06/homemade-strawberry-ice-cream.html I just used cherries instead of strawberries. I want to try it with honey sometime but did not have enough honey yesterday so I used sugar instead. It was very good. I think the best fresh fruit ice cream I have ever made. It is definitely a keeper.

Today we will be doing school and working on the garden. I hope you all have a great day and God bless.

June 13, 2012 4

Old Things

I am a keeper of old things. This canister set belonged to my mom. It is the only set I can remember her owning. I love them. When I open the lid to get flour, sugar, or whatever I am getting, it gives me much pleasure to know she used it before me. I have my mom’s cast iron skillet, my grandmother’s bread bowl and many more things that have been handed down. They don’t have to have belonged in the family. I just like old things. I am always on the lookout at thrift stores or yard sales for things with character (older).

Today has been windy and fairly chilly here in Floyd. Without the wind, it would have been kinda nice. We have sunshine and that is always good. We did school as usual. I did two loads of laundry. One is drying on the front porch. I don’t like to hang clothes on the line when we have a fire. It always makes the clothes smell like smoke. The other load I will put on the drying rack tonight and it will be dry in the morning. I really enjoy using it.

Time for me to get busy cooking supper. We are trying a new recipe tonight. I’ll let you all know if it is a keeper. Enjoy your day and God bless.

January 18, 2012 5

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello ladies, I’m sorry I haven’t posted in a while. For some reason, things have been busy around here and it’s been difficult for me to make a post. Grace is feeling better and I thank you all for your prayers for her. So far, we have been blessed that no one else has gotten sick.

We are on Thanksgiving break from school. The girls are very happy. Today is planned out as just a fun day. We will watch a movie, The Prince of Egypt, also play a few games, and listen to Christmas music. I will also be busy baking today. We are doing Thanksgiving at Jessica’s. Everyone is bringing something. I am to bring the rolls and the ingredients for punch. The punch we all love is called Angel Punch. Jessica’s grandmother, Marie would always make this punch at Thanksgiving and Christmas. We really like it.

My bread machine just beeped so it is time to start shaping the rolls. I better get busy. I pray you all have a safe and happy thanksgiving. God bless.

November 23, 2011 7

Goldfinch

These beautiful yellow birds are one of my favorites. For years, I tried to get them to come into my feeders with no success. I bought the expensive thistle seeds that they are supposed to love. They were not interested. Then David’s grandmother, Doris, told me to buy the black oil sunflower seeds. Not to buy the wild bird mix, just the sunflower seeds. That was several years ago and she was absolutely right. We get all kinds of birds at our feeders and all I ever use is the sunflower seeds. Today was the first spotting of the goldfinch. Isn’t he breathtaking? I love the cheerful yellow of his feathers and of course their song is so pretty. We have had several male and females at the feeders all day. If you look closely you can see the sunflower seed in his mouth.

Grace is feeling some better and so far she is the only one sick. Thank you all for your prayers. Today our thermometer says 70 degrees!!!! I am so happy! After school, we plan on cleaning the inside of the car before taters start growing in there. Just kidding, its not that bad but it does need a good cleaning.

Enjoy your day and God bless.

April 7, 2011 5

Wheat

Today was spent running errands. The girls had dentists appointments this morning. We left home at 9:00 as it takes about an hour to get to Roanoke from here. After their appointments, we spent some time in Lifeway. I picked out several studies I think the ladies will enjoy doing. Then we went to Toys R Us. The girls wanted to look around.

When the girls were younger, we always called Roanoke “big big town, Christiansburg was “big town” and Floyd (our town) was called “little town” . So we came back, went to “little town” and picked up the wheat I had ordered. It is called Prairie Gold. It is a hard white spring wheat. It can be used in all baking, from bread to cookies. The price was $25.00 for a 50 lb. bag. Pretty good price. Tomorrow I hope to make cinnamon rolls to share with a friend on Thursday. If I’m really industrious, maybe a loaf of bread too. Our snow is melting more each day. Temperature today was about 60 degrees. I went out on my back porch and sat on my porch swing. I love porch swings. When I was a little girl, my grandmother had a porch swing and I have loved them ever since. To me, nothing says relaxing more than a swing, so I have 1 porch swing and 2 yard swings. All made for me by my loving Hubby. The girls have had 2 tree swings since they were very small and still enjoy them. I guess we’re just “a swingin” bunch. Take care and God bless.

March 9, 2010 3

Pretty

Today has been a foggy, cool day in Floyd, so I thought we would all enjoy some summer flowers. I love fall but I do dread to see the flowers disappear. My grandmother loved flowers and I like to think my love of flowers comes from her. One of my fondest memories of her involves her holding my hand, taking me through her yard and telling me the names of all her flowers. So not only do they remind me of summer but also of her. Today was one of those homeschooling days when you just know it’s all worth it. School went by steady without interruption. The girls were focused and so was I. A good day. Sometimes as a homeschooling Mom, I wonder “Am I really doing this right?” Thank God for days like today. It’s almost like God wants me to know every now and then that I am doing exactly what He wants me to be doing. Tomorrow I will be seeing an old friend. We don’t get to see each other very often as we now live far apart. I can’t wait to see her and get caught up on things. True friendship is hard to find and I value her greatly as a friend and also as a Christian Sister. I now have dinner to cook. Tonights menu is baked pork tenderloin, potatoes, (fresh dug from the garden) and canned green beans (also from our garden). I also baked fresh gingerbread to go with it. What do you all think? Cornbread or biscuits with this feast? God Bless.

October 6, 2009 2

New Cabinets!!!!

Here’s a picture of our new cabinets. Hubby designed and made them. I love them! The side pantry and the bottom cabinet has been made for a while. The top one we just put in today. I can’t wait to fill them up. Old Farmhouses never have enough cabinets or closets. The counter space will be used for a coffee area. 100_2162

The Blue Willow Sugar Bowl belonged to my grandmother. I just love old things. They have so much character. I think I need to grind some coffee and enjoy a cup. God Bless.

October 1, 2009 2