Dollywood

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

May 18, 2012 5

Grapes

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

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

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.

May 8, 2012 5

Birds and Spring Cleaning

The other day when we went to work with Hubby, Grace got these pictures.

I think she did a really good job. Today was spring cleaning day at church. Every spring we set aside one Saturday to come and clean the church. Heavy duty cleaning. We had a great time and the church looks and smells really nice. We were hanging up the freshly washed curtains when I noticed how nice they smelled. I commented on it and was told they had been washed in the homemade lavender laundry soap that I made. How about that!

Here are a few random pictures taken today.

This picture is looking directly across the road from our church. See how green the trees are getting.

Grace cleaning the windows.

Steve cleaning the ramp.

Not sure what Ross is doing.

And they think we women talk a lot. Enjoy your day and God bless.

April 14, 2012 4

A New Apron

I thought I would show you all a picture of the apron I just finished today. I think it looks so cheerful. My friend, Vicki, found this pillowcase at a thrift store last summer. I think it turned out really nice. I like using old pillowcases to make aprons. They have a vintage look and the cost of material is greatly reduced. My aprons have not sold as much in the fall and winter as they did in the summer. I hope to make up quite a few this winter to have on hand for the upcoming summer.

The girls went to the Horn’s yesterday to celebrate Bubby’s birthday. They had a great time. Hubby and I went to C-burg to get tires put on the car so I had to miss Bubby’s cake. Our church collects fleece throws, lotion and socks for our local nursing home. The pastor’s wife meet us in town so we could deliver them. Today we have cleaned out the chicken house (YUCK!) The temperature here is mid 30’s. Not too bad. I know it could be lots colder.

Tonight’s menu is hamburgers on homemade buns, home fries and peach dumplings for dessert. I hope you all have a wonderful day and God bless.

December 29, 2011 5

Mrs. Sally’s Home

Thursday evening we went to our pastor’s home for a visit. We ate supper with them and had a wonderful visit. Mrs. Sally, pastor’s wife, had lots of beautiful Christmas decorations up. This nativity scene was purchased in Israel. It is made of olive wood. Very pretty.

This carousel came from Germany. You can’t really see it but on top of the carousel are propellers. The heat from the candles cause the carousel to go around.

This is Miss Izzy. Pastor Tom tells her all the time she is the most beautiful cat God ever created. I think she believes him.

Julie and Sadie had a great time together.

Mrs. Sally is a great seamstress. I think I have mentioned before she is teaching my girls to sew. This quilt was so bright and colorful. I thought you all would enjoy seeing it too.

We have still been having vehicle troubles. Today, we took the girls over to church for play practice. Our youth christmas play is tomorrow. Hubby thought the alternator was going bad on the van. We were going over to C-burg to Auto Zone to have them check it. We started having more serious trouble with it, so Hubby thought we should just try to make it home. We didn’t make it. About 4 miles from home, the van decided that was just all it could do. It stopped right in the middle of the road. I’m here to tell you all God is good! Not more that 5 min. after the van quit a young man came by that we used to go to church with. He went up to his Grandpaws and got a pickup truck and a chain. He and Hubby hooked the van up to the truck and he pulled us all the way home. No charge! Anyway, it is the alternator. So I guess the van will have to be parked for a few days until Hubby can get it fixed.

Well, that’s been our day. I hope you all have a great evening and God bless.

December 10, 2011 8

A Beautiful Sky

Yesterday morning, we had a beautiful start to our morning. I love sunrises and sunsets.

After church, we came home to eat lunch. We had hamburgers on homemade buns and fries. We ate as quickly as possible and left for town to watch the Christmas Parade. The parade is a big deal here in Floyd. Lots and lots of people come to watch and participate. Here are just a few pictures Grace took.

There are lots of old cars.

Marching bands.

Floats and

wagons pulled by horses. We had a great time! The girls are already anticipating next year’s parade. We have rain here today with fog. Not a good day for doing anything outside. Hubby is working on the bed but he has to do it inside his shop. He doesn’t have a lot of room in there so he doesn’t like to work inside. He is getting very close to being finished however he still does not have his brakes fixed on the van. He has taken the wheel off several times and did different things to it but it is still sticking. He wanted to replace the wheel cyclinder today but it is just too wet to work on it. Hopefully, this will fix it.

Today, I made a spice tea mix. I got the recipe from Nadine at http://nadinesnook.blogspot.com/ She also posted a recipe for chai tea mix that I want to make. These will make excellent gifts. Well, our lunch break is almost over. Enjoy your day and God bless.

November 28, 2011 5

Bottom Creek Gorge

Yesterday we went with the Horn’s to Bottom Creek Gorge. It was absolutely beautiful! So many beautiful colors.

We stopped at an overlook and I took these pictures.

We had a great time. We hiked and then came back on the Parkway to picnic. Such a wonderful day. I have so many beautiful pictures to show you all. Enjoy your day and God bless.

October 16, 2011 7

Picking Tomatoes

The girls picking tomatoes.

You all hear me talk about sitting on the green swing. Well, this is the view from it. As you can tell, there is lots of shade there, which is one of the reasons I love it.

This is a little bit closer view of the pond. See all the geese. Our pond has had lots of activity all summer.

A picture of the house as you turn down the driveway. To the left of the yard is the pond. Well, the yogurt turned out great. I think it is the best homemade yogurt I have ever made. I definitely will be making more. Also, the plum juice was very good. We enjoyed a cold glass of it this morning with our breakfast. I went to help Hubby today and the girls spent the day with the Horn’s. They had a great time. Temperatures here are still nice-upper 70’s today with a good wind. I hope you all enjoy your evening and God bless.

August 24, 2011 6

Double Duty

Here is a picture of our hens hard at work. For some reason, they all want to use the same nest. Yes, they do have other nests. At least, these are big enough for two at one time. Our rooster is still under consideration. We have not put the new chickens in with the old ones yet. We plan on increasing the size of our lot this Saturday. Anyway, I have a few questions to ask. My experience with roosters is not too pleasant so I think I might be prejudice. When I think of roosters, I think of flogging and aggressiveness. What do you all think? Have you all had good experiences with roosters. The girls have made such big pets of our hens. They will sit out there in the lot and pet them and the hens love it. Do you think a rooster would go along with that or would he try to run the girls out of the lot? As I said, I have not had good experiences with roosters and I do not want this to happen to the girls. We so enjoy hearing him crow but I’m just not sure. Please share your opinion on this. Here are a few pictures of flowers that are blooming around the house.

A rose of sharon bush my mother-in-law gave me when we first moved here.

A white hibiscus. Or as my aunt used to call them “a high biscuit”. We had a great time with the boys yesterday. We played outside, saw the chickens LOTS of times, picked blackberries and drank homemade apple juice. God is good!

Today, the girls and I will spend some time cleaning our poor, neglected home. Canning takes priority and the housecleaning gets behind. Enjoy your day and God bless.

August 5, 2011 4

Horseshoe Picnic

Yesterday was our second annual horseshoe pitching picnic. I thought I would share a few pictures with you all. We had a great time with lots of good food (of course), good fellowship and good music. I think that hammock is calling my name!

A few of the people sitting around enjoying themselves.

What do you think he might be looking at?

Deer, right across the river from where we were.

The creek.

The Lord blessed us with a beautiful day.

Our VBS starts tonight. The girls will be playing the music all 5 nights. Julie is in charge of the games tomorrow night. When did my babies become workers instead of just participants? Well, it does this mama’s heart good to see them serving the Lord.

Enjoy your day and God bless.

June 26, 2011 4