This 'N That

Howdy-doody, peeps! Hope your Autumn week is going well. Mine's been awful busy. I've not been posting as often as I'd like, but I'm still here, still kickin' and checking in on you all when I can.

Well, this week we've been having a touch of cooler temps. 'Spose to be back up in the mid 80's, but the nights are cooler and it's been such a relief.  I hear out in California and the desert they are having over 100's. Bless ya'll's hearts.  I'm sorry for ya'll, really I am.  I know how it feels. 

We're still busy cleaning out, throwing away, and trying to decide whether to save any of the junk we've accumulated for the past 20 years at our house OR if it's worth trying to have another garage sale OR just donate to Good Will or something (I'm giving it serious consideration)  I hate to just give ALL of it away. I know there will be some things that we'll donate, but I could sure use the extra $$ a sale might bring in. It's just such a headache and a hassle to put one on and get everything priced.  But I probably will...

My little Sam never showed back up, so I guess something happened to him. I'm gonna get another cat, tho, as poor little stand-offish Alice has become so sweet since she's by herself now.  She won't leave us alone and she hates when we leave.  Tries to come out to the car with us...

A few Autumn vignettes for your viewing pleasure.  Random shots from last year, cuz we don't have much, if any, fall color yet.  But I gotta keep up with all you guys!  You're showing off such beautiful Autumn colors!

(above)  My front porch... still gotta get the porch painted!

From the Franklin, TN, Farmer's Market last fall while visiting Adam...I was going to save some corn stalks from my garden this year for Fall decorating, but they got plowed under before I could rescue them.  Plus, Tony said he really didn't want to find a place to store them for a couple of months until they were needed...

(above)  Beautiful Sycamore tree down the road from us...

(above)  Another shot from the Franklin Farmer's Market - They had more different kinds of pumpkins than I believe I've ever seen!

In other news, we'll have all the kids home this weekend.  I love when they come home. Adam doesn't come this way from Nashville very often.  With his music writing and performing every weekend and some weeknights AND his real estate business starting up he's SO busy.  But he's actually coming home twice this month for "have-to" things!  Her Royal Highness Princess Hayley is also coming home. It'll be good to see her again, too!  I miss 'em when they're gone, but we're sure busy when they're home! Busy is good!

I just LOVE Autumn! Please make Christmas wait!  I wanna soak up all the colors, the coolness, the warm sun on my chilly face, the snuggly clothes, the pink cheeks, the hot soups and breads, the pumpkin pies, the bonfires, the cookouts, the blankets at the football games & hot chocolate, the leaves crunching under my feet,  the togetherness with family & friends, & the Friskiness of FALL!

Fishin' with the Folks

Daddy asked me if I wanted to go fishin' Tuesday evening.  Duh, YEAH.  I'm always up for fishin'!  Don't have to ask me twice!  We were going to one of Dad's buddys' private lake to go perch-jerkin'. SO much fun. Those perch really fight and they get hooked nearly every cast!  Usually it's just me and Dad, but this time Mom decided to come and do some fishin'!

It was a warm sunny afternoon, clear as a bell... We were using canned corn for bait and the perch were lovin' it!!  We also spent a good deal of time re-corning our hooks!

I have to say, Mom was haulin' 'em in right and left!  I guess she was holdin' her mouth right or somethin'... Look how cute she looks with her fish!  Dad had a big Atwood's bucket full of lake water that we tossed the perch in after we took 'em off the hook.  They kept floppin' and sometimes they'd flop out of the bucket.  Mom would squeal and she screamed one time when one flopped on her shoe!

THIS below is a really nice perch!  I wanted her picture holding it, but she wouldn't hold it - too stinky, slimy and she might get finned.  Dad and  I both did get finned taking the fish off the hook.  I have pics of my kids kissin' their fish, but I couldn't get her to do that!

Dad didn't have much time to fish while we were ketchin' fish. He was busy with the electric knife cleaning and fileting those little boogers.

We caught 17 perch in about 45 minutes, and I decided to get out the plastic worms and see if I could snag some bass.  My training has paid off!  Dad was so proud!  I caught several bass, and turned them loose as Dad and I both have a freezer full of bass.  But it was sure fun ketchin' 'em!

Mom slipped up on me and Daddy and got our picture.  I love this - me and Dad doin' what we love to do TOGETHER.  I would NOT  take anything in the world for the times that I get to spend with them.  I'm so blessed to still have both my parents! Thank you Lord!!!

Dad finally got a chance to sit down and do a little perch-jerkin' himself...

Above - a little thunderstorm blew up but went just west of us...  We got about 5 inches.......

..... in between raindrops!

Above, a beautiful rainbow came out when it passed... and below, you can see it's reflection in the water!

Oops!  I got these two photos reversed!!!

It was a wonderful afternoon spent with two of my favorite people in all the world!   Makin' memories!  I love you, Mom and Dad!!!

Sam is Missing....

With a heavy heart, I am sad to report that Sam, one of our farm cats, has gone missing.  He was there Thursday, and Friday, we could find not a trace of him.  Don't know what happened. 

We have two kitties with very distinct personalities.  Alice is cautious, flighty at loud noises and runs at the sight of a new person or animal.  She's always on guard.  Sam, on the other hand, is very laid back almost to the point of appearing to be lazy.  He loves new people, is curious about new animals, lolls about in the yard and on the porch, and runs to the front gate when he sees people approaching.  They are both almost grown...

I'm trying to believe that perhaps Sam decided to follow one of the  "walkers" that stroll by our place at any given time of day.  I'd like to think he decided to take up with somebody like that.  Perhaps someone decided they needed this friendly kitty at their house and let him come with them.  Perhaps he decided to go hunt for a girlfriend (he was scheduled to be 'fixed' in a couple of weeks) but I don't know why since he's got lovely Alice right there with him.

I don't wanna think the worst.  I refuse to think the worst.  So, what do I do?  Take a chance and get me another kitty to keep Alice company?  I'd like to, but at the same time, we'd already had all their shots and vet visits and all that was left was the neutering.  It does get expensive.  I really need another skittish kitty like Alice. My Mamaw's barn cats were almost feral.  Of course, you couldn't catch them for any kind of health care and there were always kittens, but they kind of fended for themselves and did their own hunting even tho Mamaw threw out scraps for them every day..  I did not want to get too attached to my cats cuz I knew that living on the farm can be perilous at times for the animals.  But I guess it's almost impossible NOT to get somewhat attached.

On a lighter note, my future daughter in law, Lindsey, and her mom and Josh invited me to go with them Friday evening and all day Saturday to look at possible wedding venues.  They want an outdoor wedding and we looked at four different settings in our area.  A ranch wedding, a lakeside wedding, a beautiful estate wedding and a wedding at an Arabian horse farm.  All very different, all beautiful.  I'm curious to see what they will choose.  They have a couple more they are going to look at, but they need to decide probably THIS week what they'll do.  Dates are filling up fast!  Lindsey and Josh are wanting their fairy tale wedding!  I know it'll be wonderful!



I was SO touched that they invited me.  Usually, the wedding is mostly planned by the bride and her mother.  But Lindsey and her mom want me to be involved in the process - I think that is so special!  Her mother is an absolute jewel and I know from whom Lindsey gets her sweet nature.  This photo of the "kids" was taken after Josh had taken Lindsey fishing. He proposed on the lake after they got through fishing. Lindsey was wanting to go cuz she'd never been before!  It was sweet, and my family and Lindsey's family were all at the farm to greet them after the big event for their party!  (they DID catch some fish, too!)

Well, I gotta get busy here at work.  I'm sorry I'm not able to post more right now.  It's been SO hectic with the ... well.... you know.... you're all busy, too.  I think we have something going nearly every single weekend this fall - ALREADY - My calendar is FULL!  It's that time of year, and the holidays will be here before we know it.  Oh PLEEEEAAAZZZEEE, can we skip Christmas this year??????  I just want Autumn and Thanksgiving to last and last!  I love Thanksgiving!  Autumn kinda gets skipped over here in Texas cuz it's so blasted HOT til right before Thanksgiving. I want a looooooonnnnngggg  Autumn this year! Christmas is too much pressure - it all falls on ME.  Whine, whine, whine!!!  And we still are having near record high temps in the mid-90's and TOMORROW'S THE FIRST DAY OF FALL, FOR PETE'S SAKE!

source - (http://dclips.fundraw.com/pngmax/ciuccio.png)

Ya'll have a great week, 'n Keep your dress down!

Blueberry Biscuits!!!

Do you LOVE blueberries as much as we do around our house???   We LOVE blueberries!  I keep fresh ones and frozen ones around nearly all the time.  You probably know that you can freeze fresh ones on a cookie sheet and then bag them to put in the freezer.  That way, they won't stick together and get soggy!

Tony was looking at the Food Section in our local newspaper the other day, and he ran across this recipe and brought it home to me.  He loves baked goods, and so I thought I'd give them a try.  SUPER EASY!
And delicious!  This recipe is one I'm keeping!  It did not have a name on it so I don't know who to give credit to for it.

Here's the recipe for

LEMON-GLAZED  BLUEBERRY  BISCUITS

For the Biscuits:

3 c. buttermilk biscuit mix (I used Bisquick)

1/4 c. sugar

1 c. milk

1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries

For the Glaze:

1/2 c powdered sugar

1 T lemon juice

In a large bowl, combine the baking mix and sugar.  Stir milk into the dry ingredients just until moistened.  Fold in blueberries gently.  If using frozen berries, do not thaw first or biscuits will turn blue.  Turn out gently on lightly floured surface (I used a little more Bisquick).  Pat to 3/4 inch thick and cut with a 2-inch cutter, without twisting.  Place 1-inches apart onto a greased baking sheet.  Back at 400 degrees for 11-13 minutes until lightly browned.  Combine glaze ingredients and drizzle over warm biscuits.  Makes 9 - 12 biscuits depending on thickness.

NOTE:  my recipe made 10 biscuits and I increased the glaze mixture a little bit cuz I ran out.  I also added a little dab of butter in the glaze mix "just because".  Also, as you can see by my picture that we'd already gotten into 'em before we thought to take a  picture!  Tony now reminds me of things that I should have pictures of to put on the blog...

THESE WERE GREAT!  You have to gently work the berries into the thick mix or your biscuits do start turning blue-ish.  They were so good.  Just a hint of sweetness, not much, and slathered with real butter (with or without jelly or preserves)  they were delicious. And so easy!

Well, gals, this is all for the day.  Short but sweet - not my usual, eh?  Well, I'm giving you a break today, cuz I'm in a hurry. Take care - go get you some Bisquick and blueberries.  Think I'm going to go right home and make another batch.  They were just too good!

The Hermitage, Nashville, TN

Hey folks - back from Music City and back to the old grind at work again... sigh... a wonderful time was had by all in the 'Ville.  We took advantage of the long weekend and went to see Adam, our oldest.  While there, the weather was absolutely fantabulous - cool nights and warmish days - but not so warm that an outside adventure is out of the question.   We LOVE to visit historical sites. And Nashville and surrounding area is full of them.  Adam loves this stuff, too.  We decided to visit The Hermitage, the plantation home of President Andrew Jackson.  It was gorgeous, immaculately up kept and preserved and the perennial gardens were out of this world!  If only I could duplicate that at home!

Let me take you on a brief tour.  I believe the tour guide told us that the Jacksons had around 1,200 acres and today still they have all but about 80 or so.  We had these headsets that we could wear and take our own tour at our own pace. Sweeeeet!  Andrew Jackson bought this place and he and his wife first lived in one of the log cabins on their place and later built the big home that we see today. His son inherited it later on, wasted alot of the money, and a grand-daughter took over the place and had it restored to a museum and historical landmark.  I believe her foundation still maintains the upkeep even today.

There is a nice museum and gift shop and restaurant on the property - not attached to the main house.

There are several oil portraits in the museum of Andrew Jackson, photos of the family, the slaves, and lots of interesting information about the family and their lives and history.  They have a movie about the Hermitage also, but we did not take that in.

(above)  This picket fence is what you see on approaching the house...

(below) the family carriage and Jackson's personal phaeton are housed in the museum...

(below)  The staff would not let us take photos inside the house - everything is under glass and climate controlled to prevent mold and decay.  Everything is much the same and they have most of the original furniture in the house.  Original French wallpaper murals adorn the entryway, library, and upstairs bedrooms. It's QUITE beautiful... wish I could show you pictures...

(above) We were able to take a picure of this dining room.  Very nice - notice the old linoleum... Just outside the dining room was the chef's pantry where all the dishes and serving pieces were kept.  Normally, the affluent kept a sugar cabinet in the parlor or the formal dining room.  It was a sign of wealth.  There was also another pantry that was kept under lock and key, and the mistress of the house kept the keys.  All food was raised on the farm, but anything else they wanted was shipped in and kept locked up for special occasions and special guests.

An outside kitchen was later built - There was a kitchen in the house at one time, but people used to have outside kitchens, in case it caught fire it wouldn't burn the whole house down...

THIS (above) was the smokehouse right outside the kitchen.  They would butcher the hogs here, drain the blood in these big vats carved from some mighty thick trees and  hang the meat in the rafters and they would smoke the meat for about 6 weeks to cure it...

(above) a view of the back of the house...

(above) horse-drawn wagon tours available, too!  How fun!

(above) The Jacksons had an English styled garden - foursquare and all symmetrical.  The family graveyard is there, too.  They did own slaves and at least one of the men is buried near Jackson.  They had a beautiful monument/tomb erected from Andrew and his wife surrounded by the gardens...

(above and below)  The whole garden was very "Monet-ish" and provided lovely photo ops and painting ops for me!  YEA!  Hope to get to that pretty soon!

(above and below)  The monument that contains the tomb of Mr. & Mrs. Jackson...

A side view of the house from the gardens...

(above) Adam reading some of the headstones in the garden and family burial plot...

HAD to get a picture of these two hard workers!

(above)   Adam and I in the garden - notice the sunspot on my nose!

(above & below)  one of the cabins on the property.  I think the one above was converted into a barn structure.  See this sleepy guy hanging out?

This is a renovated cabin believed to be the first cabin that Andrew Jackson built on the property - later converted to slave quarters.  To the left of this cabin behind the trees were the "Field Quarters" - a couple of hundred acres where the slave cabins were - they must have had quite a few to take care of this large estate- the gardening, the field crops, cotton, the animals and the daily tasks of running the home.

(below)  These were the resident roosters - Dave & Buster.  They crowed the entire 2 and 1/2 hrs that we were there...

(above)  My guys along with one of two of the other draft horses that pulled the wagon.

And, you might be a redneck if.....

You wrap your carport in Confederate flags, and sell steaks and seafood out of your home!!!   (spotted in Arkansas...but why am I surprised?  No offense, Arkansas - we got stuff like that in Texas, too!)

 You might be a redneck if you use your defunct tractor as a pond fountain to aerate for your catfish!!!!

Spotted in Pittsburg, Texas (I think)

And just one more...

You might be a redneck...

If you ride ON the mower ON the trailer from job to job

And get your picture taken not once but twice while stopped at a red light!!!  I had a guy even pull his car out of the way so I could get my shot!  (spotted in Arkansas - sorry Arkansas - gotcha twice on this trip, I did!)

Next up - a few shots of Adam and his Rock 'n Roll show at Big Shotz, downtown Nashville Saturday night Sept. 5!       Hope you all had as wonderful a weekend as I did!

Update

Thank you SO much dear blog friends!!!  For your well wishes, your PRAYERS and your kind words!  Lindsey's Dad came through his by-pass surgery, is in recovery, and is doing well.  Thanks be to the Lord above for watching over this good Christian man.  We're all breathing a great sigh of relief, and I am so appreciative of you, my prayer warriors!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!  Will be back soon!

Great News and Bad News...

GREAT WONDERFUL FABULOUS EXCITING NEWS!!!!

Josh, my middle son, and his girlfriend, Lindsey, became engaged Sunday evening!  They've been dating since Christmas, and they fell in love almost immediately - it was DEFINITELY a "God thing" for them both.  We've been watching the way the Lord has worked in their lives thru the last few months.  I knew "this one" was different.  We've been praying for this young lady ever since Josh was born - just didn't know who she would be until we met her in December.  Tony and I have ABSOLUTELY NO reservations about this match!  We've met and had dinner with her parents a couple of times.  Good Christian family that has raised two wonderful Christian girls, one of which we can now call our own!

They are thinking about April next spring for their wedding.  Don't they look young? But they'll both be 25.  We are SO excited!  Can't wait!  Our whole family just fell in love with her.  Our daughter is thrilled that she'll finally have a "sister".  Lindsey passed the "sister test"!

NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS!

Monday evening, Lindsey's dad had to go to the emergency room with chest pressure and pain. This very morning he's having by-pass surgery.  It was good that he went on to the hospital.  I'm asking for your prayers today for him, for the doctors, and for a speedy recovery.  It's been very hard on Lindsey and her family to be so excited about her engagement and having to deal with a serious health issue for her dad. He will also have to have his gall bladder out in 5-6 weeks as it's been making him violently ill, too.  I'm asking that you add  him and the family to your prayer list, those of you that I know I can count on as prayer warriors.  I appreciate it SO much and I know that Lindsey and her family will, too. Will keep you posted...