Note Card Party at VEE's Place!

Ready for Vee's Note Card Party???

This week I was looking through my photos and trying to come up with worthy photos, and my kitties kept jumping out at me!  So I thought I'd put together some kitty pictures to offer as note cards this week ---

Oct 25, 2010

Alice is relaxing under the wagon of mums...

June 19, 2010

Is there ANYTHING cuter than a little kitten?????

Aug 31, 2011

Sambo ruined my pot plants - guess he liked the cool dirt...

Jan 25, 2011

This kitty Jasper was my mouser/gopher-catcher.  Sadly, he went missing, but he was a beautiful cat with aqua blue eyes.  Sigh...

I'm looking forward to checking out your note cards!  Hop on over to Vee's blog and see who else is playing!

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!

More snow...

WOW - two years in a row - this is unbelievable!  Who'da  thunk it???  This is the wildest weather I remember in a long time here in Texas!  Last week, I missed a couple days of work because of icy road conditions, and today at the farm it was in the upper sixties.  We worked outside for a couple hours after church and lunch. I snapped a few pics the other day of the snow at the farm.  Indulge me, won't you?  This is such a rarity down here, I have to document it for those years when we don't see any!

Lots of tracks in the snow in my garden area.  Can you tell what these are???

CROWS!  I tell you what, we got lots of crows.  Last year, they picked my purple hull peas out of the ground before they sprouted, they poked little holes in my cucumbers and pumpkins.  I need to station one of my kids out back with a pellet gun or some bird shot.  When I get some electric run out to the garden shed, I can leave a radio on.  That'll keep em away some.

Just a little snow left around the garden shed. 

Lookin' towards the back of the house ...

Mr. Jasper is following me around...

I sorta liked the way the shadows were laying across the ground...

Went down the pond on the Mule and we still had some ice on the pond and snow around. 

A little trek through the woods.  It's amazing how much you can SEE in the woods when there's snow on the ground.

Now, I don't know if you can tell what this horse is doing.  Our neighbors behind us whose house burned down... The ice is melting off the stable roof, and this horse is catching the drips.  This was so cute!  I watched him for several minutes.  He turned and looked at me, and then went back to catching the drips off the icicles!

Jasper was so glad to have his people come outside and play with him. I just love his eyes - they are kind of turquoise-y.  He's so sweet.  He rears up on our legs like a dog and grabs our hands so we will pet him.  He tells me he's lonesome, but I reminded him that he HAD a playmate, Alice, but he kept chasing her onto the house and up into the big oak tree and so we let her go live with my future daughter in law.  I'm sure Alice is loving Miss Lindsey.  Alice gets to snuggle with Lindsey on the couch, and I think she gets to sleep with her, too!  I don't think she'd wanna trade back, do you???   ; )

I've gotta call a plumber tomorrow.  One of our pipes froze at the farm.  There was water standing in the bathroom around the sink.  I sure  hope it's not under the house, cuz we'll have to take all the skirting off the house and it's going to be a big headache to get to the pipes.  There's minimal crawl-space under there.  I dread getting into all that mess...

Hubby watched the Super Bowl while I dozed a bit.  Sometimes we have friends over or go to others' houses, but today we just chilled at home.  Hotdogs and Klondikes - how does that sound for Super Bowl fare?  It was purty good.  We didn't really have a favorite team.  It's not as much fun when the Cowboys aren't there, and they ain't been there in a few years.  I'm kinda disappointed in them. Oh well.

Have a great week, my dear friends!  I'll try to get around to visit everyone soon. I've been working alot - my other office person has been out sick.  I hope she'll be back this week AND leave her sick germs at home!

Merry Christmas to All My Blog Buddies!!!

We'll be Christmasing for the next few days at least, but I wanted to check in and wish you all a wonderful season of home, family, friends, giving, peace, joy and love for the Savior as we remember His Holy Birth. God gave us the best gift of all - His precious Son, and this gift was totally free - just because of His great love while we were still sinners!  It's almost too much to comprehend!  Rejoice, Rejoice and praise His Holy Name!!!  Sending my love and best wishes to you all for a spectacular Christmas and a Happy New Year!

And Merry Christmas from Alice, the washing machine cat!!!

And it's a chilly 78 degrees here today!!!

PS - Edited to add - NOPE IT'S 81 DEGREES HERE!!!

Cats, Christmas and Tractor Girl

Guess what I did Saturday afternoon?  You'll never guess.  It won't be that exciting to you, but I had fun.  We had cleared some big piles of old rusted hay rings, old fencing and aluminum gates, etc., hauled all that off to the bulk metal place and gotten our little pile of money.  Then what was left was a jagged, holey and hilly landscape behind the barn - not huge, but unsightly and you couldn't drive on it easily.  So, hubby was manning the burning pile, and me?  Well, ME was manning the tractor and doing some leveling.  Moving dirt from here to there - there's a trick to handling the bucket and I think I've got it!  It's sorta fun!

None of my friends know how to run a tractor and bucket and brush hog and box blade but I do. I'm sure alot of you people do, too, especially those of you that have a farm or ranch. Imagine this - It was 65 degrees and the wind was blowing. The husband was cleaning up and piling up stuff for the burning pile (and there was alot of stuff), loading metal onto the big trailer, and here I am in my capris and flip-flops and a cap driving the tractor around dragging the bucket across big mounds of dirt to level it, picking up big loads of dirt and dropping it in the gulleys. Husband said I did a good job. Sorry I don't have a picture.

Guess I'm a farm girl now - cuz I can man the tractor  AND  I can operate that tractor in capris and flip-flops! Now how's that!  Actually, I think probably some of my friends and family think I've absolutely lost my mind, but that's okay - I'm doing exactly what I've wanted to do since I was a small kid. I'm still plotting when I'm gonna get my chickens.  I'm determined to have chickens in the spring. I'm gonna get my dad and me and him are going to get my coop built. I think I've about worn the husband down into letting me get some.

Went to the Farm/Ranch/Feed store Saturday, too, to pick up some more gopher traps. It was customer appreciation day, and Joe Bob had cooked two huge cauldrons of beef stew! Hot and mild - with big man-sized chunks of beef and vegetables, and a good seasoned broth with jalapenos and a touch of chili pepper.  MMMMMAAAAAANNNNN!  I think Joe Bob makes the best stew I've ever eaten!  I ate two bowls full! With crackers and cookies and soft drinks!  I love customer appreciation day at the Feed Store! And Joe Bob's stew!

Wanna see sumpin' purdy?

My roses are popping! They look great right now.  Thought you folks in the blizzard zone might like to see some flowers right about now...  It's just now starting to get cold. We've had only a couple of freezing nights or just below and the flowers are still thriving.  Here's another...

The window box is full of petunias.  The flower beds could use some attention, and the yard actually needs mowing one more time before real winter sets in.  Cain't even see the edge of the bed right now! The dadgum clover junk starts growing when it gets cool and tries to take over.  Gotta squash that quick!

I've done a good raking once already, but will have to do it again. The catawba trees are dropping their foot long bean pods and they ARE messy.  And they'll keep adroppin' 'em til spring.

Not much Christmasing going on yet.  We are having some renovations done at our house and so it puts a damper on trying to decorate - we're getting a new roof and gutters due to hail damage.  We had the outside painted, and next is the inside... May be putting the tree up on Christmas eve!!!

New topic - I'm looking for a new home for my kitty, Alice.  I've tried every way I can think of to keep her. She's having to stay in the house all the time now due to Jasper.  He beats her up if she steps one little toe out of the door.  He's been neutered, and Alice spayed, but we think he's just being territorial and agressive towards her.  He beats her up and he's so mean to her.  Otherwise, he is the sweetest and nicest cat you'd ever meet.  The other reason is that my allergies to Alice are making me sick.  I thought I was gonna have two nice outside cats, but I can't let her out or...

THIS is where she stays!  Up on the roof!  And in this weather, I just can't let her up there.  Jasper can't follow her up the big oak tree - he's too heavy, but he CAN get on the roof and chase her.  I'm scared she's gonna fall off.  AND she's not being a mouser/gopherer.  Jasper catches mice and gophers all the time! He's such a great farm cat - and HE is what I was looking for.  He eats his kills - all except the heads - he leaves them around for us to find them.  Ugh.  I've contacted family and friends and hopefully I'll be able to find a good home for Alice.

Hope your holiday busy-ness is fun and Christmasy and cozy! I appreciate you all more than you know!

Giving Thanks November 4

Today among other things, I'm thankful for the successful surgery of my sweet kitty, Alice.  She got spayed  Monday, and came home yesterday.  She's doing well.  It's a little thing, but I get attached to my critters and worry about them.  Alice has a place in the laundry room until she heals up, a litter box and a little comfy bed.  She's enjoying being away from Jasper, too. Thanks for humoring me...

Happy Halloween Weekend!

Halloween was so fun when our kids were little!  I miss those times when they would get all dressed up and we'd carry them all over our neighborhood trick or treating.  We had one of those great neighborhoods that was chock full of young families and wonderful friends - a place where families from all over our little town would bring THEIR kids to trick or treat!  It was like one big neighborhood party on Halloween! I miss that...  And this is not necessarily a Halloween post.  Just didn't know what to call this 'un! 

Alice has been up to her antics.  Last night she climbed up the giant sycamore tree. I heard her meowing up there and looked for her with a flashlight.  She was WAYYYYY up there at least 20-25 feet off the grown. She wasn't trying to get down, just enjoying the view I guess.  Maybe trying to get away from Jasper (or CB as we call him sometimes - Cry Baby). 

Anyway, there is a big hole in the middle of the truck that we've seen owls get in before.  Alice found the hole, and she was having a ball playing around in there.  I couldn't convince her it was time to come down so we left her up there.  She's good at climbing trees and backing down.  Hayley and I were outside at the fire pit enjoying the chilly autumn evening and the warm fire.

Isn't she cute???

"Alice, don't you wanna come down  now?"  "No way, Jose," she says. "Jasper is still out there on the loose!"

"Come on down, Alice,  we'll give you a treat???"

"Nope," she says.  "I'm going to stay up here and scare away all the goblins on Halloween night!"

"BOO!!!"

Fall on the Farm

Last hay cut for the season at Sand Flat Farm.  The hay is already all sold and that's good. When we get our own livestock, I'm sure we'll be keeping some of that.  Below the sycamore tree is turning golden - I think these are my favorite tree - I love the graceful way the branches grow and the white bark with the different colors of grey and green and brown sheets of bark that peel off.  They kinda remind me of aspens on steroids. I love 'em!

We're starting to see color around here.  I spotted this beautiful red maple on the way to work last week. They don't last long, but they're gorgeous while they last!

There is a new cat hanging around - I have named him Jasper (just for you Aunt Amelia). He is a complete and utter nuisance.  He's a big cry-baby, meowing all the time and he's LOUD, and gets all underfoot.  He sits at the front or back door and yowls and cries for someone to come outside and feed him at all hours, AND he's finicky!  He won't eat the canned catfood that comes in little chunks - he only wants the solid stuff and Meow Mix crunchy food. He'll turn his nose up at anything else.

I'm sure Miss Alice is  attracting boyfriends right now, but she goes to the vet Monday for her spay. I cannot make this Jasper leave.  I'm about ready to haul him off and drop him in somebody else's neighborhood.  You can tell that he's been around people.  I figger somebody dropped him at our farmhouse, too.  If he'd quit waking us up and caterwauling at all hours of the day and night I wouldn't mind him staying - 'specially since Mr. Sam disappeared  :(   I did tell Jasper, however, that he would be making a trip to the vet for an anatomy alteration, too, should he decide to stay...

He's a nice big tomcat with beautiful markings, looks like he's been drinking chocolate milk, AND he's got pretty blue-green eyes.

Alice doesn't like him. She's been either under the porch OR on the roof.  Jasper is very put out that I'm feeding him at the garden shed, and I'm letting Alice in to eat.  He eats all her food, and she's not getting anything. Here she's hiding from him under my wagon full of mums. Very cute!

Now I'll leave with you these beautiful autumn sunsets.  The golden glow of autumn sunsets - it's magical and beautiful to me to see the palette of God streaming across the sky. Enjoy!!!

Gophers and my Not-So-Farm-Cat Alice

WE GOT SOME RAIN  MONDAY!  After about two whole months or longer with nary a drop!

Goin' gopher huntin' today... several new mounds have popped up around our place since it rained.  They have to remodel their runs after the rains.  And since it practically hasn't rained most of the summer, they've got some major overhaulin'  and cleanin' out to do.

Above - here's the one from last spring that I sported as a hood ornament on my car...

Anyway, that's what I'm doin' later on today.   Dear Daughter, if you're readin' this, just look away and shake your head in disgust and you can be embarrassed all you want.  I'm sorry, but your mama is a true country gal at heart - I know you'd like me to be a little more refined, but sorry, it ain't gonna happen in this lifetime... Ok, it's evening now, and I set out two traps - will check them in the morning.  Alice was following me around while I was digging in the mounds and setting the traps.  She like to have got her little paw squished in the trap.  I jerked it out of her reach just in time!

AND since Alice the cat hasn't been much of a mouser or gopher-er yet, I guess I gotta do it.

Speaking of Alice, I was really put out with her yesterday.  In addition to gophers, we've also got moles.  Since the rain on Monday, there are little runs all over sections of the back yard.  Well, I was poking around in one of them and she came over trying to see.  Then she proceeded to dig a little herself and started sticking her clean white front legs down into the runs up to nearly her shoulder and reaching as far as she could into their tunnels.

"Oh Great!" I thought, "maybe she's decided she's going to hunt and kill gophers now! That would be wonderful!"  Well, she dug around and felt all down in the runs and smelled and sniffed and acted all excited!

Then she turned around, squatted and did her job in the mole run!!!  That little toot!  Didn't even bother to cover it up either - just took off runnin' like a baboon!  And here I thought she was gonna make a good outdoor gopher/mole cat!

Which brings me to my next question...  I've had cats all my life, mostly indoor cats.  I had one big ole Siamese Tomcat named "Bandit" that was in and out.  I'm sure Alice can find a place to stay warm, but I'm a little worried about her I guess.  I don't want to have a house or box for her because I'm afraid she'll get trapped in it if a coyote or something came sniffing around. I'm not sure what to do about it. I think she still gets up under the house, but I want to have a safe and warm place for her during the winter.  Got any ideas?

What do you other outdoor cat owners do during the cold weather?  I see other cats outside in bad weather and I'm sure I'm just worrying too much.  But see, I get attached and always start babying my pets.  I wanted a "farm cat" and now I've got one.  I just want to feel good about her having a safe place outside...

So  ya'll tell me what you do with your outside kitties!

Remember to pop over to Margo's Industrial Chic linky party to view all the cool decor AND to see what prizes she's offering!

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!

Farmhouse Renovations 2

Just thought I'd post a few more peeks at the farmhouse before I go on. Then I won't force you to look at any more for a long, long time!

We had SO much fun doing the "Pink" room for my daughter.  She actually did alot of the priming, sanding, and painting by herself - walls and woodwork as well as refinishing and repurposing furniture.  I have to say that she has alot of artistic talent, and when she takes on a task like this I know I am leaving it in good hands.  She is a perfectionist like her mom, and I know that her job will be finished and perfectly accomplished!  And as you can see, she did not disappoint!!!

(above)

We found this old vanity at a garage sale already stripped and sanded for just a few dollars. Princess restored this little baby and added the fountain chair and it turned out beautifully.  She had to take the mirror apart to paint and she also added glass knobs. It's so cute!

(above) This cute little chest was in my husband's family for a long time. Not sure where it came from, but we got it sanded down and painted for the pink room, and added a shutter shelf that I bought from Margo at Margo's Junkin' Journal.  You'll also see one of Miss Sandy's beautiful shoe creations sitting on the shelf! Do you see the candlestick on the left side of the chest?  It was sent to me by Sher at Old Time Artist! If you haven't visited these lovely ladies, YOU REALLY SHOULD!!!

(above) more garage sale finds...

(above)

This beautiful Yellow/Pink/Green Wedding Ring quilt was made by my husband's grandmother. It's gorgeous and barely used. I have secretly coveted it for years and it finally came down to me last year! I'm so happy, I'm thinking of finding a place to hang it on the wall.  It's too lovely to just lay on the foot of the bed!

(above)  A few items on the vanity... old lacy gloves, a fancy floweredy hat on a hat stand, old vintage perfume bottles and little dishes that ladies love.  AND we thought the little Christmas tree was so cute there, we just left it!

A cute wall pocket

(above

The shelves by the fridge in the kitchen have collected a few more things - cookbooks, bread box, old vintage utensils, a shoe-shine kit...

(above) 

This picture and the next are for Vee at A Haven for Vee.  She kinda got me started on this apron on the door thing a couple of years ago.  I didn't know I was going to collect vintage aprons, but I started seeing them at sales and I found a few in my grandmother's and Tony's grandmother's things.  Next thing I know, I've got a dozen or so, and decided to display them on the back of the door. Now, when we have guests and church get-togethers, I have all the ladies that want to don a vintage apron to help with kitchen preparations!  It's fun, and I think they all enjoy it, too!  I make everyone eat on different vintage plates as well. It does make us have to wash dishes but it's so much "cooler" than eating off of styrofoam!!!

(below)

This little shabby bookshelf was also a garage sale find.  It's hard to tell, but it IS pink and it holds some fun things and old books that I've run across.  I've got quite a few vintage books, but I don't buy books that I know nothing about. I like to buy old ones that I've read, or vintage kids' books.

(below)

This beautiful cross stitch came from a garage sale, too.  There was a very old man having the sale at his home. He had this and also some beautiful porcelain birds (which I bought for my sister). I asked him about all the lovely things that he was selling, and he said "well, my wife left me..."

And then he paused, and I was about to say, "oh I'm sorry." 

Then he said, "Yes, she left me to go be with the Lord in heaven and I'm gonna join her someday soon."

He wanted to start getting rid of things and "let somebody else enjoy them". Sweet dear man...

(below)

This beautiful old pie safe was built by Old Great Uncle Claude who built this little farmhouse back in the '30's.  It's all hand done.  I thought about painting it at one time, but I decided that it needed to stay just like it was!

(below) This cute little floor clock in my hallway was a gift that one of my dear friends ran across at Canton.  She HAD to buy it for me!  I absolutely love it!  And it's that beautiful vintage aqua green color!

(above) 

A ladder holds a bunch of my vintage linens and you can also see more old family quilts from my husband's grandmothers...

(above)

This super neat old screened window was a purchase from Margo, also. She added shelves and I added a piece of old quilt behind it.  It covers an ugle breaker box on the bedroom wall!

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See this old familiar print? I've run across it a couple of times in my junk shopping. It fits right in with my farmhouse theme. Know where I got it?
From the dumpster at my self-storage office! Yeppers, I'm a dumpster diver - actually a dumpster-reacher-inner - I won't get into the dumpster.  But anything I can reach or fish out with my nifty homemade "hook" is mine for the taking! This print had a banged up frame and it was almost too dirty and dusty to even make out the picture. But after cleaning it off and giving it a barnwood frame, I loved it! (my daughter hates that I get stuff out of the dumpster - she hopes no one ever sees me!)

(below)

BUT>>>>  see the white floor lamp in the living room?  Again, vintage floor lamp in the dumpster! It was already painted white! All I added was a  beaded shade!

(above)

Here's another shot of the living room fireplace and my $4 TV cabinet.  We're looking around my dumpster floor lamp...

And last but certainly not least are the two farm kitties - Alice and Sam - their names have morphed into Ali and Sambo. Ali is a sweet kitty and she will let you know when she wants to be petted.  She's very much a princess diva cat.

Sambo, on the other hand, is all over you all the time.  He's one of those cats you see little kids carrying around all floppy and he could care less what you do to him.  He NEVER gets upset, he never grabs your hand and kicks with his back feet.  He wants to be in your lap at all times.  He walks up your chest and licks your chin and then wants to nibble.  He licks your hands and arms - don't know if he likes the salt or what. He has a very loud "motor" and it runs non-stop! Ali will get into your lap for a few minutes and then she finds something else to do.  We've started calling them "the dogs".  They follow us all over the farm. They both want to be right in the middle of whatever we're doing. So fun to watch! I love cats and it's good to have them again!  Sam likes to squash my potted plants... I guess the dirt is cool... Another month, and then it's off to the vet to get them both "fixed"!

Ok people - that's all the farmhouse renovations. We'll move on to another subject next time! Thanks for taking the time to look - this has been a job and a joy to fix up the farmhouse.  Don't know if I'd do it again - well, maybe ...  Have a wonderful day and go by and visit the ladies I've mentioned today! I'll get by to do some visitin' myself today I hope!