Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Country Living - What More Do We Need?

This tiller is just my size. It is actually not mine.
It is my Sweet SIL, Bryans. We borrowed it last year and
hope he forgets about it. Ha! I really love this little tiller!
Planting lots of cucumbers that my dad raised from seed.

My Pond. See the Gourds? When we first put these gourds up we had lots of Martins move in. Then one winter we moved the pole with the gourds on it closer to the pond. The Martins didn't come back for several years.

We were so excited to see these few move in. Martins are great birds for eating flying insects. They are great to listen to also.
Most of the time they will return to the same place every spring so we hope they are here to set up housekeeping this year.
Sorry about the fuzzy picture but I tried to get pictures of my fish eating.
You can see 1 blue gill up at the top if you look real close.
Click on pictures to enlarge.

There are about 10-12 in this picture but you have to look really close. The blue gill are on bed right now. If you look real good you can see the holes they make for their beds.

My Sweet hubby called when he left for work and told me there was a turkey in the front yard. Did I run to see it? NO!! I ran to get my camera. By the time that I snapped the picture she was heading across the end of my driveway probably going back to her nest. We have saw her many times around here and usually when a hen is by herself at this time of year she has a nest nearby. I hope we see babies really soon.
I just love living out in the country! I love everything about it. I love the privacy. I love the quiet. I love having a little land. I love all of the surprise guests we have on our property.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Our Little Barn

The front of the barn!
We used to have animals but decided we have enough to take care of!
What does anyone do without a barn?

The back side of the barn.
My big vegetable garden is right down beside the barn.
I am just getting started on it.

What's in the left side of the barn?
Bikes, tractor & equipment, wood.
I used to wonder if we really needed the tractor
but I sure do miss it with my garden since it is tore up.
We are waiting on someone to come repair it.

The right side of the barn holds the trailer & 4 wheeler!

I asked my hubby if we really needed all of this stuff.
His answer was that we might need it one day!
We have switched roles. I used to say that!
Junk or Treasures?
The crazy thing is we have a separate garage next to the house that has stuff in it too!

Believe it or not, my husband is a perfectionist but
by looking at our barn it seems like he is saving everything!

Barrels of Work.....I mean FUN!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Granny Is Still Quilting Even On Wash Day!!!

Granny & "Little D" her great great grandson!
My daddy holding "Little D", his great grandson and Granny talking to him.

Granny's precious feet!
She never knows when I take a picture of her feet.
She is so used to me snapping pictures of her.
Don't ask me why I love her feet but I do.
Her ankle looks swollen to me. I didn't notice it at her house.
Granny's sewing machine is never out on "wash day" but it was today!
Here she is showing me what she has been doing.

Me & daddy went out to see his gardens which I will show you in another post and when we came back in Granny was at it again!

I was so glad to see her hard at work.

It always amazes me that she does a quilt a week.
This is the one she just finished.

Here she goes back to the back room and I am following her with camera in hand.
Where are you going Granny?
What is in there Granny?

For me Granny?
Pear preserves that she put up last summer!
She said the pears are white and she doesn't know why but she says they are good.
I can just taste them now with a homemade biscuit and butter! YUM!
This is her little box of canned goods.
She told me that she will never eat all of this.

Bye bye, baby!
Bye bye, Granny!

I never thought I would see the day that Granny would be quilting on "wash day." I usually don't visit her on Fridays because she is on a mission that day--Laundry! But I needed to go visit and I found her at the sewing machine. She had done her laundry and had started on another quilt. My dad was there helping her. He has been planting a garden at her house and when she needs anything done he does it--even cutting quilt squares. She just bragged on him. She was thrilled to see me and of course the baby! She just loves him. If you remember not to long ago Granny was thinking of quiting her quilting. But she is still quilting. She said she couldn't quit because I would get upset. Isn't that sweet? And I would! Granny looked great and seemed so happy! Thank you to everyone that has been emailing me and asking me about Granny. I think I counted 11 emails over the last week or so telling me that they miss her. She is the star of my blog - that is for sure!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Foot Surgery Again?

This is Maranda with her nephew before her surgery.
This is her 3rd foot surgery in 6 months.
They put screws in both feet during bunion surgery.
Now the screws are coming out so they have to be removed.
She is not a happy camper.

Lane (boyfriend) & Maranda before they took her back.
For some reason she looks a lot happier here.
Wonder why?


Papaw holding "Little D" at surgery center.
He had to go with us because his Mommy & Daddy were working.


Mom (me) & Dad with Maranda & "Little D."

She is getting nervous here but you can't tell it.

Lane holding "Little D" in waiting room. He is such a good baby.




Look what came out of her feet?
Not the spoon! ha!
The screws!
Maranda asked me why I put the spoon there.
Do you know?

Because I wanted to show you the size of the screws!
I was amazed how long they were.
Pictures do not do it justice.

So here she goes again. Recooperation time is not as long as the other surgeries though.
She is really doing good though for what she has been through. It just killed her to have to go through surgery again. She loves cute shoes & was just starting to get to wear some but it will be a while now. Keep her in your prayers.


Note: My other daughter, Mandy ("Little D's" Mom) also had a minor surgery today( I wasn't there to take pics or you would see her too) so please remember her as you pray. Also, please keep my MOM, my bff Vicki, & our special friends Krista & Charlie in your prayers. If you would like to read what Krista & Charlie have been going through, she is trying to do day by day posts when she can. It is still so fresh and they are hurting so much. If you would like to read about their journey just click here. They have been through a lot. Please remember all of these in your prayers.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Spring Has Sprung!

There were more tulips but didn't get the picture before they were already gone!
I bought this Japanese Maple tree in Helen Georgia 2 or 3 years ago.
It wasn't doing good where I first planted it so I transplanted in the front yard
last year and planted this monkey grass around it. It seems to be taking off now.
I love it.

I transplanted this from a neighbors yard several years ago.
It is really doing good this year.
I would have never known that this was anything except a weed
until our best friends, Vicki & Eddie showed us trillium on one of our annual trips
to Helen, Ga.
They know so much about any kinds of plants and flowers.
This actually is right next to our driveway. It should bloom any day now.
This is just one of the many Iris's that my mother gave me.
Purple is my favorite color!
I love it!
Isn't this just beautiful?
It is right next to our driveway too.
This is next to the driveway also.
I love the color!
Did I tell you that I love purple?
This azalea is in the middle of some ivy that we planted several years ago.
I love my ivy but I have to watch it because it climbs and overtakes trees and plants.
It sure does save on mulch though.
The azalea was here when we moved here 12 years ago but the ivy I transplanted from a friends house.

Maranda's Pineapple Pretzel Dessert

Pineapple Pretzel Dessert

Great salty and sweet combo!

1½ cups crushed pretzels (food processor)
1 cup sugar - divided in two
½ cup margarine
8 oz. Cool Whip 8 oz. cream cheese - softened
20 oz. can crushed pineapple in heavy syrup
2 tbs. cornstarch

Combine pretzels, ½ cup sugar, and butter. Press into 13x9 inch pan. Combine cool whip, cream cheese, ½ cup sugar. Beat well. Pour over pretzel crust. In saucepan combine pineapple and cornstarch. Cook until thickened. Spread over cream cheese. Chill and enjoy!

Monday, April 20, 2009

There Are No Words



My Newest Grandson
(the little baby girl is his girlfriend)
Baby Davis
Easter 2009

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Life's Little Garden Of Grace

BEFORE PICTURE
Today is the first day that I have been able to work outside since spring has arrived. I saw this mess of a garden and decided that is where I needed to start first. The last few years my Mom has blessed me by giving me lots of different flowers. I started planting them all in this little raised bed garden. This used to be my little vegetable garden. I have a big one now. As I looked at this garden I wondered if I could even find all my plants that I had planted. I thought to myself...."Is this even worth it?" Then I remembered that my Mom is the one that gave me all of these precious plants and I said to myself...."Yes, it is worth it." Anyway, I mulched this with straw last year around my day lilies, hostas & irises. This year the weeds took over before I could get to it, but today I tilled & pulled & howed & raked & weeded this mess. As I was working so hard I thought of my blog (imagine that?). I thought of the prayer I have on the heading of my blog and thought to myself that this is "Lifes Little Garden." This is an example of our life and how if neglected the weeds grow up around us and before we know it we cannot see the good in our lives. It is really amazing when you look at the before and after pictures of my garden (of our life.) Now that the weeds are gone my plants should begin to flourish and bloom but if I don't keep a watch on it the weeds will take over again. They sneak up on you. As I began to see the plants I was getting so excited knowing that my Mom's plants were still here hiding under all these weeds. Then I began to notice some had multiplied. I even have an iris that has a bloom. I could not see the beauty because of the weeds. In my own way I began to thank HIM for HIS grace and how it is so sufficient for me. I thought to myself this is "Lifes Little Garden of Grace." I named my garden this. Grace is my Mothers middle name. Lifes Little Garden Of Grace......Wow!

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (KJV) II Corinthians 12:9


Entrance to "Life's Little Garden Of Grace"

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Matthew 25:21 KJV

Do you like my chickens? They sit in the corner of my little garden in an ivy patch.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Matthew 23:37 KJV

AFTER PICTURE

"LIFE'S LITTLE GARDEN OF GRACE"

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me....

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now, I see."

It always amazes me how HE speaks in a still small voice.

Thank You Lord!

Prayer Requests:

My Mom who has not felt good.

My BFF Vicki who has been very sick.

Krista & Charlie & their family in the death of Charlies Parents.