I Guess I'm Done... This Is The End...

Scared ya, didn't I?

I'm just talking about my garden  :)   It's over and done with for the summer!  I'm always sad and always GLAD!  So much fun, but so much work.  This was a great garden year for us.  Alas, my volunteer pumpkins did not make it.  Well, they matured and I had some fine specimens, but just too early for fall decorating... they started rotting and then got attacked by squash bugs.  Yuck.. oh well...

Tony's tractor made small work of the remains of the garden.  Still needs a little care, but all the vines and everything have been piled up to burn after a good rain. Wonder when that'll be?  I thought for SURE we'd get in on the tail-end of that storm that went through far northeast Texas yesterday, but it dried up before it got here.

The last of my fresh tomatoes... Boy howdy, I hated to pull up those tomato vines.  But it was time.  Yes, there were still a very few small 'maters on them, but the heat is in the 100's again, and it was just a matter of time.  It's been hot and they were beginning to get spots on them that would rot before they got good and ripe.  So these were the last of the lucky ones... Maybe a big salad with chunks of tomatoes in it for supper. Maybe hamburgers with a couple of big slices.  Maybe I'll just stand over the sink and sprinkle a little salt on 'em and eat 'em and let the juice run down my arm and savor every last summer bite!

My freezer is full to overflowing, the top, the bottom, the door, AND my fridge freezer - not to mention all the canned goods from this year's harvest.  The good Lord has really blessed us here on this little piece of land this year!  Just look at the hay up there in the top picture!  It's been lush and green and abundant, too!

New Topic ---  I can't walk outside or open the back door unless THIS happens...

Of all the cluckin' and fussin' and pushin' and shovin' - you just wouldn't believe.  I'd like to think they love me for me, but NOOOO.  They only love me for what treats I bring!  Or they wanna get out and roam and look for bugs.  They fall all over themselves at the door to the pen.  When I open it, they jump and try to see what I'm bringing.  Lately (and you may have seen it in the freezer) I've been giving them watermelon - FROZEN watermelon in the hot afternoons.  They love it - it's cold, it gives them something to do, and I'm hoping it helps keep them cool.  They also love when I spray water into a corner and make some puddles.  They get in that mud and pick around and I guess it cools them off, too.

Well, my dear ones - gotta run - one last thing...  here's what's on my easel... just a sneak peak - I'll be posting over at my art blog, South Light, in a short.  Have a great weekend! 

Oh yeah - and keep yer dress down...

Aurora, CO Shooting

To say the least, I am shocked and horrified at the news this morning that a gunman entered into a movie theatre last night and opened fire on a Batman movie audience killing 12 and injuring about 40 other people. WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?  I am so sad for the families involved.  Please keep these folks in your prayers as authorities search for answers...  I'm praying for them today....

I LAID AN EGG!

Well, I feel like I did!  Just Look!!!

A DOUBLE-YOLKER!!!

My Rhode Island Red hen laid this egg and believe me - it was JUMBO in size.  I've worked so hard at taking care of the chickens and making sure they get lots of scraps and greens and ranging about in the yard - And I guess it's paid off!  They haven't been laying that long!  It was a huge egg, and I saved it and fixed it for myself this morning.  I figured, I've done all the hard work (except laying the egg :) so I get to eat it!

Been working on a few little pieces of artwork.  These were some quick little paintings I did today.  I'm trying to do some to sell if I can.  Hayley's having a sale on her re-furbished vintage/western style furniture and she wanted me to do some things for her sale.  Only problem is - she wants to keep whatever I paint!  That defeats the purpose - I'll do her some after her sale is over...

I didn't take pictures of the process - they were moving rather quickly and I just went ahead and hurried them done.  See whatcha thank.... the first is a 12x12, gallery-wrapped 1" sides painted, stapled in the back...

Next up - "Longhorn"  16x20, 1" gallery-wrapped sides painted, stapled in the back...

Trying to get a little funky with the colors here - trying my best to loosen up - I paint SO TIGHT!!!

Well, That's about all for tonight.  Going to a birthday lunch tomorrow and then I'll come home and try to get some more painting done.

Have a good 'un!

Note Card Party at Vee's Place!

It is SO HOT, so today for Vee's note card party, I am going to do cards with lots of sunshine and blue, blue ocean to cool off your eyes (at least).  Don't know if we'll be going on any kind of vacation this year, but I can dream, can't I?  These photos are from our last trip to Akumal, summer of '10 and here...

Mexico, sigh............. One of our favorite places to go.  Oh, how I LOVE to fall sleep and wake up listening to the ocean rushing onto the rocks or just lapping the beach.  Feeling the sultry, salty air and the breeze on my sticky, sun-warmed skin...

A sleepy, slower way of life, never getting in any hurry, just a very relaxed way about this place...

Seems like the skies and the water are so clear - like clear mountain vistas.....

You can swim in the ocean and snorkel and take in all the coral and timid sea life, or simply relax in the pool, rest your chin on your hands and close your eyes.  Let the sun and the cool water and breeze carry all your burdens away as you doze.  A day spent in the sun and water makes you feel so drowsy, doesn't it?   This kind of relaxing is soooo good for the body, mind and soul.  So have a little bite to eat, lie back in your lounge by the beach and watch the sun go down and the moon come up over the ocean...

Enjoy your trip?

Go see Vee's blog for a list of others who've joined the party! You can be next!

GIVEAWAY at River Bend Farm!

It's GIVEAWAY TIME!  Oh, not for me just yet, but for Berte at River Bend Farm!  She has reached a goal of 100 followers and she's having a contest about Blessings in your life.  She wants to bless the winner of her giveaway with one of her yellow spatterware bread pans, a cute napkin and a recipe keeper!  Jump over there and visit this wonderful Texas gal (a kindred sister :) and see for yourself what makes her so special!

I LOVE Spatterware!  So, run on over to Berte's place and sign up!

We've been so blessed these past couple of weeks with scattered showers - usually, we are not in the "scattered" areas, but recently the showers have scattered all over us!   This is my perennial garden - I know you can't really tell what's in there.  Some of it's been cut back and dead-headed - it was getting out of control.  I have some herbs like basil and rosemary and lavender, some purple coneflowers, lantana, clematis (it's little - just starting to climb that little thingie there, and some other flowers.  The lantana is still in need of a haircut so I may move it somewhere else come fall.  I don't know why the grasshoppers are eating the clematis leaves and they won't eat the lantana leaves.  That would solve a big problem!

Sunflowers are going great! They're so cheery and they make me happy!

My daughter's birthday is coming up next week, and we are planning on going out to visit her and probably take her and her boyfriend out to eat or something.  Along with her job, she is a "junkin" gal.  She likes to buy cheap, paint and fix up and sell on craigslist, ebay or her area "buy, sell & trade" facebook page.  She loves a rustic or western theme.  Doing pretty good, too!  She's very artistic and knows how to make things look good.  If she lived closer, she and I would have our own little business together - we've talked about it...it would be so fun!

Josh and Lindsey are settling in at her folks' B and B - they are staying in one of the cottages right now until they decide what they are going to do.  Job hunting starts tomorrow for Josh!  Hope he can find something pretty soon!  Lindsey's parents are re-vamping an old country house right now and I imagine Josh is going to be working on that project as well to supplement his income...I'm SO jealous of that house - it has a screened-in sleeping porch - HOW WONDERFUL!  Pictures will be forthcoming as they complete

the re-do.

We're going to Nashville in a couple of weeks to visit my oldest son, Adam. It's been awhile since we've been up there and it's time for a visit.  Sure miss that boy!

Dolores at Moving Forward With Alzheimers shared this video on her blog...

Well, back to work for me tomorrow.  Thank goodness I'm down to two days a week - which is not bad at all - but I'd like it to be a BIG FAT ZERO days a week!  One of these days...

Keep yer dress down, friends.

This 'N That...

Oh JOY!  We've been having scattered showers for the last few days, and let me tell you - right here near the middle of July, it's been WONDERFUL!!!  Thank you, Lord!  After last year's drought conditions and 100+ temps for 2 months, it's been such a blessing!  It's been a bit cooler the last few days, too...

I love in the afternoons and evenings to see these big thunderheads building up - they are so beautiful!

The evening sky last night was so pretty after the rain!

This was our sunset!

Boy howdy, are y'all in for a real treat.  Not only do I have a video of my chickens but you get to hear my East Texas accent!  You think Arkansans are bad, just wait til you hear this (sorry, Arkansas)!  We had divested the tomato plants of some horn-worms awhile back and one of my Black Stars had swindled it away from the other chickens...  (besides, everybody else does little videos of their chickens so why can't I?)  Just a little over a minute - that's all, can you stand it for a little over a minute?  I watched this first and though, "eh, it's not so interesting," til I got to nearly the end and heard myself talking.  Then I thought, "WHOA - my peeps might like a good laugh!"

Ooooweeee!  Is that accent bad or what!  I hate to hear myself on audio!  (scratching my foot - fire ant bites...)  Don't these chicks have a nice place to live?  Dad did such a good job on my coop and run!

Josh has missed his chihuahua, Bug!  He loves this little pooch.  Lindsey just shakes her head.  But she's got a kitty-cat, Alice, that she is crazy about so I guess they're even (remember Alice? She used to live here with me...).  Bug was so glad to see Josh, too!  I was really hoping that nothing would happen to her before they got home from New Zealand.  She's about 13 now and is having problems getting around.  

Bug was so excited to see Josh, too!

Well, y'all have a great Thursday - I've got some more tomatoes to process into spaghetti sauce today, and a few more pickles to make before the cucumbers turn to mush.  Take it easy on yourself!  Sending you all a BIG HUG from BUG!

BACK TO THE FUTURE! Josh & Lindsey are HOME!

THE KIWIS HAVE LANDED!!!

Our Kiwi Kids, Josh and Lindsey, are home safe and sound after a 22 hour journey from Wellington, New Zealand.  Thank the Lord they had a safe trip and are fine and dandy!  We picked them up from DFW last night and probably everyone got to bed around 1:30 or 2:00 a.m.  

We couldn't stop kissing and hugging them!  They were probably thinking, "OK, that's good - 'nuff hugs and kisses for now..." 

"Back to the Future" - they left New Zealand on Tuesday and arrived in Texas on Tuesday - they went back across the International Date Line and got here on Tuesday!  Isn't that wild???

They were exhausted after that long trip, but all smiles and happy, and there were lots of tears from both sets of parents.  Lindsey was a little teary, too, tho - she was tired and SO happy to see her family!

And happy tears are the BEST!

Lindsey's sweet sister and her two little precious boys, and her parents were thrilled to see their "baby girl"!

Her mom had American flags and red/white/blue leis for the kids and we all welcomed them back to the good ole U S of A (and especially to the Great State of TEXAS :)!!!

I imagine they'll be sleeping and resting today (and maybe tomorrow!), but I know that we'll be spending some fun times together here in the next few days.  We've got LOTS of catching up to do!

(and more hugging and kissing!)

And seeing what's next on the radar for Josh and Lindey's next Big Adventure!

Keep yer dress down!

My Week Past...

Welllll....., as you can see, I am in the egg production business now.  Seven of my 9 hens are now officially laying - some eggs smaller than others, but nevertheless, laying.  We are excited!  Well, I am, my husband just looks at me and rolls his eyes and smiles!  He just won't admit it!  We're getting 5-6 eggs a day from those seven pullets - they're about 6-7 mos old now... Mom and Dad are happily accepting eggs from us, and I imagine I'll have even a few more to give away or sell.  

We went to my beautiful niece's wedding this past weekend. An outside wedding, it was only 95 degrees and the same number humidity. Why, oh why, do people wanna get married OUTSIDE in the middle of the summer in TEXAS!!!  We were dripping wet (including my underwear!) within being there about 15 minutes.   BUT, I have to say, the bride and groom did a short service and it was so sweet, totally worth the few minutes in the heat - it was lovely!  And we wouldn't have missed it for the world!  I loved that they printed the programs on little old-timey looking hand fans for all the guests - and you can bet your booty there was some fannin' goin' on! The reception was outside, too, but it was a bit cooler and later in the evening.  My sister and her husband threw a good old Texas barbecue with all the trimmings for the reception and dancing for the kids, no alcohol, and a great time was had by all!

My nephew, Clay, was able to come home for the wedding - wow, has he grown up.  He'll be getting out of the Navy in the spring - four years... it went by fast.  He's been all over the world in the Navy - probably some places we don't even know about.  They were stationed in the Persian gulf at times, but it's so good to have him stateside now.  One more short voyage and then he'll be out.  He plans on continuing his education here in Texas at an as yet to be determined university.  I love this kid, um young man - we be buddies!  Here, he escorts his mama, my sister, down the aisle... She looks beautiful...

  My beautiful red-headed niece and her proud daddy...

Me, my sister and my mama at the wedding.  These are such precious people in my life.  My sister is my bestest friend in the whole world, and my mama is, too!  We can really get into some trouble when we hang out together!

Here's a little picture of my crooked flag-pole and my bunting that I put out for July 4th.  I think it looked purdy.   It's gotten so hot in Texas now, the grass is getting crunchy and my flowers are suffering.  We had several pretty good rains early on, but now it's getting summer's usual dry days with the grasshoppers eating everything in sight and the locusts humming in the stillness.  My yard has turned to sugar sand, the grassburrs are popping up everywhere and if you walk across the yard, you might break your ankle if you step in a mole run.  Summer in East Texas... The bahia grass is knee-high, too - why, oh, why did Texas A&M think bahia grass was such a great thing...

I'm doing alot of moaning today, aren't I?  Why, oh why...

Well, guess that's all for now.  I hope you're all enjoying your summer days.  I could sure use some days on the beach... with cool water just a few feet away... and not a care in the world.....

Keep your dress down.

"We Hold These Truths..."

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, remember this day...remember this country, the forefathers that fought and died for our independence, and PRAY that God STILL may bless AMERICA.

 Find a copy of the Declaration of Independence online and read every single word...

...And fall to your knees and give thanks that we live in the most wonderful country in the world and pray that the hearts of Americans will turn to the Lord, ask for forgiveness, and once again be

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

(courtesy photos unknown)