Mama's dishes

Just thought I'd show you mama's dishes that were stolen. They're Currier & Ives, each piece is named something different. I think the dinner plate is "The Old Grist Mill". The different sizes of dishes all have a different title and picture. They were not expensive, but I loved them. I love blue transferware. Well, I went to Robbinsnest and Replacements.com and found them so I can replace most of them. I still have 2 dinnerplates and a couple of cups so they didn't clean me out completely. My grandmother's dishes are by Johnson Brothers and they're called "Tally Ho". Brown transferware with some burgandy and a little green on them and they depict different hunt scenes with horses, dogs, etc. They were beautiful, too. Anyway, just thought I'd show you my pretty plates!

Spring

I'm going to change the subject! I'm so sick and tired of complaining and whining about poor pitiful me (altho the last 2 weekends have been really crappy as my kids say). The weather here has been rather nice. Today it was almost balmy. Probably 75 or 80, but with a breeze which kept it from being too warm. I've been wanting to get out in the garden and do some planting, but experience tells me to wait a couple more weeks anyway to avoid a late freeze. It DOES happen even in Texas. The year my brother was born, March 15, 1963, my mama went to the hospital to have him and it snowed several inches and was freezing cold when my nanny took me and my sister to see our new little brother!

I have kept my pansies alive this winter - even remembered to feed them - they still look great! I sometimes have a brown thumb, but it's usually due to the lack of consistent care rather than just not knowing what to do. I have made a new resolution to pay the strictest of care with my plants and garden this year since we are getting started at the farm. I have been busy planting bulbs, and we have set out pecan, plum, peach, dogwood, and crepe myrtle, oh yeah, a few live oak trees, too. Of course we'll probably be dead and gone when the live oaks are big, but maybe our kids will get to enjoy them. We also got a new hybrid called a HICAN (cross pecan and hickory nut). My husband just wanted to get one and see what it did.

Right now we have wild daffodils growing everywhere along the barbed wired fence on the side of the house and they are so pretty. The pear trees are blossoming right now, they're always the first around here along with the tulip trees.

I hope to have tomatoes, carrots, corn, a little squash (cuz I'm the only one that eats it), onions, potatoes, maybe some cucumbers (cuz I have the BEST spicy sweet dill pickle recipe from my grandmother that I'll share with you this summer), purple hull peas and some pole beans. My grandmother taught me how to can, so I'll have to clear out some storage space for jars. In a few years I'll have plum and peach jelly and pear preserves. In the meantime, dad's got all the peaches and plums for that, and I get together with my sister and we make the jelly (mom doesn't like to do that stuff).

Here's a little shot of part of my garden area behind the house. We got it tilled up and are raking the dead weeds out. We'll make our rows this weekend and try to set the onions out. Bunches of folks have already done that. A little frost on the tops won't hurt them.

Well, that's about all for now. It cheers me up to see these flower pictures. I have to say, too, HOW VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE STOPPED BY TO GIVE ME SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. It's been a couple of hard weekends around our house, but your comments and kindnesses and support have been wonderful! Thank you all my bloggie friends out there. I can feel the friendship and the things we share in common and I'm so glad to have found you all! Vickie

Break In

Another stroke of bad luck - our little farmhouse was broken into during the day today while my husband and I were at work. We came in this evening and the thief or thieves had thrown a t-post through the back door double pane glass and came in. They ransacked the house and made a mess - didn't break anything - guess I should be thankful for that. They took our new flat panel TV, my brandnew $1200 laptop, AND, get this - my antique dishes that were my mother's and my grandmother's. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT! I have cried a river of tears over my dishes. The other things can be replaced easily, but the sentiment I feel about losing my dishes is overwhelming. They took a cordless drill, some walkie talkies, and several little antique occasional dishes, candy dishes, handpainted plates. They also took an old vintage green leather covered jewelry box full of vintage jewelry - mostly costume, but still it had some little 14k gold earrings with garnets and other semi-precious stones, some silver and opals and lots of 60's style jewelry. This person knew about antiques I guess. Wierdest thing I ever heard of. Even the sheriff's deputy said it was wierd. I'm wondering if it was a woman or women. I'm going to check around at some of the antique places etc., and see if any of my dishes turn up. The sheriff's dept. said they check regularly with the pawn shops for the electronics, etc.

My husband and I had talked about installing a security system in the house as late as last week, and I was all set to call and get estimates next week. You can bet your bippy I will be doing that. Is this what I'm going to be dealing with out here in the country? Do I feel so violated right now because this has never happened to me or us in my lifetime? Have I been that sheltered? Has this happened to any of you? I'm ANGRY, I'm frustrated, I'm hurt, and even a little scared. I should be glad that we were not home, or that this wasn't a violent crime. I should be glad that they didn't tear up the whole house or take any more than they did. Of course, with the exception of a few items, most everything is second hand. I imagine now that I will take anything of value back to my home and not leave it there. What I worry about now, is that they've cased our farmhouse and KNOW what we have and might be back!

But THAT was what my farmhouse was all about! Having all my OLD stuff there and all the remnants of long ago around me, my memories of my grandmothers & great grandmother, my mom, the quilts, the dishes, the pictures, the old furniture, all that goes with that. I'm so upset - my husband and I have had this dream, this vision, of what we're going to do with our farm, how we're going to live there, have horses and cows, have a big garden, maybe build a bigger more permanent home and keep the cottage for a guest house or an art studio, have a neat place for the grandkids to come and play and ride horses, etc. We have worked our tails off on this house for the last YEAR, and Tonight I just feel like someone popped our balloon, burst our bubble. I feel violated that someone came into my house and went through all my stuff, even emptied my dresser where my clothes are, and my closets, and my personal items.

My husband is my rock. He reminded me about "storing up treasures on earth where thieves break in and steal". I could care less about the TV and computer treasures - I just want my treasured dishes back. He said tomorrow will look brighter, and we may can still have our dream. We'll just have to think about it a little more. But you know, crime is all around us I guess. ANd I suppose that anytime you live out in the country, you are susceptible to things like this. Doesn't make me feel any better tho... My daughter's scared to stay home alone now. Guess we'll be beefing up security at our house, too. We've gotten too comfortable. Nothing's ever happened in our neighborhood in the 20 years we've been there. Our HOME home is close to the country but in a cul de sac and there was never any thru traffic. We could turn the kids loose and they would come home at lunch time and supper time.

What a week. It's definitely been one big pity party for me. And I'm not through grieving over my dishes and my feeling of loss yet. Maybe tomorrow will be better. I hope so.

LEND ME A PUPPY...

Lend Me A Puppy

I will lend you for a while

a puppy, God said.

For you to love while she lives,

and mourn when she is dead

Maybe for twelve or fourteen years,

or maybe two or three.

But will you, till I call her back,

take care of her for me?

She'll bring her charm to gladden you

and should her stay be brief,

you'll always have her memories

as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise she will stay,

since all from earth return,

but there are lessons taught below

this puppy is to learn.

I've looked the whole world over

in search of teachers true,

and from all the folks on earth

I have chosen you.

Now will you give her all your love,

not think the labor vain?

Nor hate me when I come to take

my puppy home again?

And my heart replied,

"My Lord, that will be done."

For all the joys this puppy brings,

The risk of grief I'll run.

We'll shelter her with tenderness,

We'll love her while we may,

And for the happiness we've known,

Forever grateful stay.

But should you call her back

Much sooner than we planned,

We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,

And try to understand.

If by our love we've managed

Your wishes to achieve,

In memory of her sweet love,

Please help us while we grieve

When our cherished puppy departs

this world of stress and strife,

please send yet another needing soul

to love for all her life

A fellow Pomeranian friend sent me this little poem when my Cookie died. We are in mourning again. Our little Bella fell ill this weekend and couldn't seem to get better. We had a really rough nite with her last night which I can't bear to talk about right now. We had to take her to the emergency vet and the decision was made that it would be better to put her down and not let her suffer anymore. My daughter and I are heartbroken, and it of course, brings back fresh memories of Cookie, too. We didn't have Bella very long, but we were deeply in love with her. She will be sorely missed.

My very first award! Thanks Sandy from the Quill! Sandy has been very kind to me since I've landed in blogland. I've enjoyed reading her blog immensely - she's so talented in writing and I'm glad she's taken the step of faith to reach for the stars in getting her work published. She has a God-given talent that she should use for encouraging others.

I'm supposed to give this award to 10 other people and tell something that inspires me about them and then they can pass it forward, but I hope you will forgive me. I am new to blogging and I don't feel like I know 10 people that well yet - But I would like to send this award on to 5 ladies whose blogs that I really enjoy and they are as follows:

1. Tina at Stitching in Texas -She was one of my first bloggie friends and is a great compadre and partner in crime to cruise Canton TX fleamarket! We have also have in common 2 sons in the entertainment business and can share in those concerns together!

2. Judy at My Front Porch - She is kind and caring and I love to look at her beautiful blog, as she relates her daily life, family & goings on through gorgeous photos of her lovely countryside and farm.

3. Tamy at 3 Sides of Crazy - I always love reading her blog - love the recipes and the Thursday Thirteen - it's never boring and always something different. I always get a chuckle and sometimes even expand my vocabulary!

4. Jamie at Simply Me Art - Her blog is just beautiful - amazing eye candy - I love looking at her creations. It's a neat place to visit!

5. Wanda at Snapdragon Antiques - I'm a big garage sale, junk sale, estate sale, yard sale, flea market fan, and I love how Wanda shows all the neat stuff she gets every week! I wish I could tag along with her on her jaunts around town. I'm rooting for her new antique store - wish I could visit in person.

Ok, perhaps when I get to know more of you better I'll add the other 5. You may have already received this award but you are going to receive it again from me because your blogs are regular places that I visit and I love to see what you all are up to. Thanks to all of you out there who check up on me! And thank you again Sandy for thinking of me with this award!

"There isn't enough darkness in the world to snuff out the light of one little candle" Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, founder of Buddhism, 563-483 BC

This little candle has traveled far, so let's see how much further it can travel...

Connie at Magnolia Street Style passed this little candle on to me. I have been amazed and touched by so many of you as I am new to blogging. I didn't know how this could go, and when it began for me I decided that it would be more of a diary or journal to myself of my thoughts. I guess that way, even if not many people read my blog I wouldn't be disappointed. But I have been touched in so many ways by so many of you - not just your comments to me, but by your lives, by your faith, by your love for your families and others, for your friendships in the blogging world. They are real, they are sincere, and I have witnessed by reading and following many blogs, that there is real concern here. I think it's a great outlet for women to share and speak their minds, for them to shine, to be appreciated and to appreciate, to encourage one another. I anxiously look forward to each time that I can get online and see what you all are up to and see what I can learn each day - about your talents, about your families, about your concerns and cares. Thank you all so much for being there. What a great support system this bloggie thing is!

I would like to pass this little candle on to Margo at Robolady blog because she is my first bloggie friend and got me hooked on this (like I didn't have enough to do already - but I'm not going to give this up!) She is so clever at constructing treasures from trash and I admire her talent so much. She is kind and encouraging to me and always is ready share her ideas, her home and her friendship! - thanks Margo!

The second person I'd like to pass this candle on to is Vee at A Haven for Vee. I always find inspiration on her blog as she has deep thoughts on all kinds of subjects. She also can always see the silver lining in the storms of life and her faith is strong. It strengthens me so. We also have great taste in names for our sons! I feel a kindred spirit there and I look forward to reading her blog every day.

There you have it - You ALL inspire me one way or another and light the way for others around you. Thanks to all of you for your "light".

New Laptop

Yea! I finally got me a new laptop. Everyone in my family had one except me. Bear with me - I'm setting it up and collecting my photos from the others' computers, my camera, etc. I'll be back soon....

Hail damage

Well, I'm so perturbed. I was at my mom's house yesterday afternoon about 5 or so, and the storm blew through in about 10 minutes. And with it came golf-ball size hail that pounded my car and put dings all in the top, the hood, the hatch-back and scratch marks all down the sides. It also chipped my windshield. What a bummer. I only have a $50 deductible, but it's time and inconvenience to get it fixed, and it'll never be the same. Wish I could get a new vehicle, but right now is not the time. This photo is a little too close, but you can see how big the pieces were. Can you see the dents in the roof of my van?

On a lighter note, we got a new puppy. It's a little blue/white (meaning dark grey) parti-Pomeranian female. She is so cute! She weighs 1 lb. 4 oz. and is 8 weeks old. I've been saying no,no,no to another puppy as long as I am working, but Princess talked me into it. I've missed Cookie so much I guess it wasn't too hard to be convinced. There's nothing like a Pom. We are calling her Bella. I think her name is going to be Bonnie Blue Bella (remember Gone with the Wind?) Heres a couple of photos of her. She's so prissy. She is at this moment wrapped up in a little blankie stuffed inside the front of my shirt. She got poo on her paws & bobo and I had to bathe her bottom and she got cold so she is warm and happy right now.

Isn't she the bee's knees? She actually belongs to Princess, but I volunteered to run home at lunch and let her out and feed her and clean up poo if need be. Princess works from 11-6 MWF and school on TTH but on TTH she gets a lunch break to come home and take care of Bella.

Well, actually I found my post about the Mexico Medical Missions trip. You'll have to look down several posts. Evidently, I saved it as a draft, then when I posted it, I couldn't change the date on it and it posted by date. So if you're interested, you'll have to look down a few posts. It's quite lengthly and I was sure mad when I thot I lost it. Tina at Stitching in Texas found it for me - Thanks Tina!

Well, gotta run - gotta think of sumpin for supper. The fam will be getting home soon and they'll be famished.Doncha ever git tired of tryin to think of somethin to feed your family? Boy I do! Wonder if I can get them to take me out?????? Vickie

How come I wrote you a nice long post about our medical missions trips to Mexico and I loaded all the photos and every time I try to post it, it disappears!!!!! I'm ticked! I haven't lost it, it just won't post. How frustrating!