Update 5-13-14

Hello there friends...

Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged.  I do miss you all and miss hearing about your lives and goings-on.  Just thought I'd check in and update you all.

My sister Lisa is still fighting her ovarian cancer.  She's one tough cookie.  Keep those prayers coming please.  I know several of you are keeping in touch via email and I really appreciate you!  Lisa has exciting news ~~~ SHE'S GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER IN JULY!!!  Her son and his wife are expecting her first grand baby!

Where should I begin... hmmm...

My daughter Hayley, just graduated from nursing school with her BSN and already has secured a job at a Ft Worth hospital.  YEA!  Nursing school is tough - those folks are on the front lines every day - I have a new respect for them - they are definitely Florence Nightingales and sometimes spend way more time and thought with their patients than the doctors do!  So proud of her!

Adam Fears, my country musician son, is still in Nashville and on the road touring, and his video, "Middle of Nowhere"came out TODAY on GAC Great American Playlist program at their "one to watch".  He made it.  It's been his dream since GAC's beginning to be on there!  Take a listen and a gander at his new video... If you're interested, the same show will repeat on May 22, 23 at 11:00 am Central time.  His songs are available on ITunes, too!

He's doing great!!!  If you like the song, pls go to www.gactv.com, go to videos and click "emerging artists" in the left column. Scroll down and you'll see Adam's video in the listing.  There's a place to send email requests and comments, too, if you're so inclined.  The more comments/requests he gets the better his songs get in the ratings!  Thanks!

In other news...

I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER IN OCTOBER!  Can you believe it's finally happening??? It's MY turn!  And me and my sister Lisa are BOTH expecting our first grand babies!  Lisa's first comments were "YEA!  We'll have babies at Christmas-time!" and "Vickie, it's just something else that we can share!"  We've not had any little ones at Christmas since my daughter and her son were young!  And they are 25 and 26!  My son and his wife are expecting - my New Zealand/Denver kids. Mine and Lisa's two kids that we thought would be the least likely to have babies, much less get married!  Couldn't have planned it if we'd tried...

Farm life is going ok, I'm still in the chicken business and working on my garden, altho it's smaller this year.  It's been a weird spring - the weather has been crazy up and down in temps.  We got a late freeze and it got my plum tree, but not the peaches.  Cut my grapevines way back and it looks like we're going to get ALOT of grapes this year. Been doing a little painting, too.  Will have to update my art blog...

Well, that's all the news for now.  I'll try to get around and do some visiting as I can.  The best thing that's going on (besides the babies) is that I'm getting to spend LOTS OF TIME with my dear little sister/best friend!  She is my heart...  Take care friends - will try to be back soon!

Autumn 2013, My Sister Lisa

Knock, knock?

Anybody out there?

Autumn is under way at Sand Flat Farm.  Our temps have been in the 70's the last week or so and will continue.  I still have time to winterize the chickie coop with plastic around the north side AND finish getting the garden put to bed.  We pulled and burned alot this past weekend, but there is still about a third of it to get done.  Flower beds need mulching again, altho the falling leaves do make a good protective cover. 

Shout out to Kathy at Spot On Cedar Pond - we've had some rain lately, and the gophers are popping up everywhere!  The moles, too!  I've got traps set all over the yard.  Not worried about the fields - our hay man takes care of that himself.  Gypsy can be spotted at any time of day with only her rear end sticking up above the hay digging for gophers.  (should be one more cutting before the first freeze)  You should see the holes she digs in our yard.  While it pains me to have to fill her holes, if she catches a gopher, that pleases me (I guess).  I was a little perturbed that she dug a huge trench in my rose bed that almost unearthed one of the bushes...

In other news, chickens are molting - they are hideous-looking and my #1 HCIC (head chicken in charge) is so embarrassed at her frock that she generally stays off to herself right now looking so forlorn.  Usually, she is keeping everybody in line and is always first in line for treats and to get out the door when they are ranging for the day.  She usually walks around with her chest puffed out like a little rooster and is not timid about attacking somebody that might get in her way to the food bowl...

Don't know how the autumn skies are where you are, but this is what our sunrises have been looking like lately.  They were utterly gorgeous - I've been out walking early...  Have to confess that I did amp up the color just a titch (like Vee says) but not much!  They were beautiful skies, and it makes me feel like heaven is coming down!

 

This is Texas Ranger Stadium in Arlington, Texas.  Many of you will recognize it.  This was the site on September 21 of the Ovarian Cancer Walk for the Cure.  Just about my whole family participated (including various significant others of the kids)  We walked in honor of my sister, Lisa.  She was there in fine form, but could not do the walk, but what a cheerleader she was!  It was a 5 K and we walked the course around the new Cowboy Stadium and Arlington Stadium and park areas.  It was a stellar day, and SO humbling to see all the family/friend teams walking for those they love.  Lots of survivors there, too!!!  We'll be doing this again!  Our team was called the Lollipops - my sister was called "Lollie" when she was young and momma still calls her that.  My niece named our team and had our Tshirts done - they were so cute!  Then we all went out to eat at Babe's to celebrate! 

L-R,   Lisa, Me, Mom, Lisa's daughter, & my daughter.  The menfolks were around somewhere... It was a great day!  Lisa has finished the first round of chemo.  3 weeks ago, she and I went to MD Anderson in Houston and she has begun another round.  Her hair is coming back and I like to pet her head.  She feels like a puppy...  Continue to pray for Lisa - she's a fighter and she has the most positive attitude!  God is with her and she is with Him every step of the way.  Thank you so much!!!

California, Here We Come! (rather - There We Went!)

 

 Hello from Sunny California!  Actually, we got back Monday night from San Luis Obispo in central Cali along the coast.  My nephew got married on the beach at Avila Golf Resort.  It was a beautiful place and lovely setting for a wedding!  My sister, Lisa, and her husband, my parents and Tony and I went to help celebrate this happy occasion!  The weather was perfect, and it was SO nice to get away from the Texas heatwave!  I know why people love living in California!

We got to Cali a day early and our plane flew into Santa Barbara so we took in the beautiful mission while we were passing through.  Here's me, Lisa and mom...

 

If you've never been there, the grounds are beautiful and there is a wonderful rose garden across the front of the property.  Many different kinds and colors of roses, but MY favorite is always The Yellow Rose of Texas!

 

Avila Beach Golf Resort is near San Luis Obispo so that's where we decided to stay - it's a pretty little town and has its own mission, too, which I'll show you in another post.  I just love the landscape out there with the mountains and eucalyptus trees.  It was quite dry this time of year and the grass was brown and crunchy, but it was nice to see something different...

 At the wedding, here's my nephew walking his mom, my sister Lisa, down the aisle.  It was a beautiful and informal wedding.  The bride chose lime green and black as her colors and it was gorgeous!  Isn't Lisa pretty! 

 My nephew's bride was stunning.  She's a beautiful young lady and they will make a handsome couple (and cute babies!)  And the best part is, they are moving home to Texas!  My nephew has been in the Navy and he put in for a transfer to Texas!  I'm So thrilled that he's going to be closer to his mom!

After the wedding festivities were over, we stayed a few extra days to have some R & R.  Took the family to the beach and  played...  Whatever we felt like doing!  Aren't vacations wonderful!

 

On one of our beach excursions, we spotted these lazy things laying on the beach - sea lions.  (sometimes I feel like this after a big meal, too!)  There were a couple of big males out in the water scuffling and making horrible noises with those big snouts of theirs.

 Well, so as not to make this post too picture-heavy, I'll close for now and post some more pics next time.  We visited the Hearst castle again with the family and I think the flowers were even more beautiful this visit!  Thanks to all of you who stopped by to say hi and let me know you're still my blogging buddy!  :)

Sister Update & Springtime!

I am determined to get a post done today.

Thanks to you ALL for hanging in there with me.  I'm back for a bit of update on what's going on at the farm and with my seester.  I've had the wonderful blessing of being able to spend some sister-time with her at her home (and her dear hubby hasn't minded at all me being in the way!)  She's moving forward with her chemo treatments - every third week she gets a double dose (two meds) and they REALLY kick butt.  This week (actually 2 weeks ago...) hasn't been too fun with nausea, tiredness, weight loss and inability to find anything that tastes good.  Her hair is gone, too.  That was not a fun thing.  But spirits are high, she's hanging on to the Lord for her strength and we're all doing our best to tempt her with food and drink.  Friends and loved ones come by to encourage and pray and love on her and it helps.

Must share - my son and daughter in law are members at a sweet little church in Colorado. The ladies of the church have a quilt ministry and they sent Sis a beautiful quilt to wrap herself up in.  I can just imagine all the love and prayers that L is covered up with.  She broke into a huge smile and we both even shed a few tears upon opening her package in the mail and seeing that sweet and heartfelt gift!

 

Not only did they send my sister one but they sent ME a quilt, too!  Boy, do we feel loved with the love of the Lord! And cared for and prayed over when we wrap those beautiful handmade quilts around us!  Their quilting ministry is such a great outreach!  Every time I run my hand over the quilt, it's as if I can touch the precious hands that created it! I know my sister has felt the same.  If you're interested,  the church is the Castle Rock Church of Christ just south of Denver.

Back to the future, my Navy nephew has come home from his last tour in the Persian Gulf.  He was busting a gusset to be home with his mom while she was going thru surgery and chemo. Such a comfort to them both!  He brought his beautiful fiance home with him and they are spending time with my sister and her family this week.  I've gotten to spend time with them this week, too!

My sister, L, has been strengthened so much by the Lord and she was able to come this way Monday for a fishing trip to our favorite private lake.  Her son, husband and future DIL came and we spent the day at the lake.  Lisa fished a little but mostly relaxed and visited and watched her kids. 

 

 

 Then, yesterday, we all met up in Ennis, TX, to visit some of the bluebonnet trails.  It was so fun and again it was a good day for my sister.

 

Garden is going well, I guess.  We've had several cold snaps this spring that has caused me to replant my peas twice already. Another cold blast tonight, and I might be doing it again.  "They" say that produce is going to be about a month behind this year.  Well, at least we didn't hit the 90's in the April this year! My spinach hasn't bolted yet!

 Well there you have it, friends.  We're keeping our heads above water here, some days - just barely.  But the Lord is always good, and He provides us with all we need, He daily bears our burdens and His mercies are new every morning!  Praying for blessings upon you all, my friends!  I'll try not to be so long in posting again.  Family comes first - Love you all!

What's Been Goin' On...

Hello friends ---

Sorry it's been awhile since I've surfaced.  Been spending time with one of the most important people in my life - my dear little sister!  The past 3 weeks have been a whirlwind - diagnosed with ovarian cancer, surgery and chemo started.  She's healing from her surgery, learning to manage her pain and nausea levels, and trying to get some much-needed sleep and rest her mind.  God is always good and He shows her daily that He's taking care of her.  The out-pouring of love, flowers, cards, meals from her church and work communities has been a testament of her love of people and her love of the Lord.  The hospital staff and even her surgeon have all commented that they have NEVER had such a crowd of people at the hospital in and out and some staying all day long to show their love and support of my dear sis.  There has been a steady stream of folks coming by her home to see her and leave meals.  I've been spending time with her and am taking our parents to her house tomorrow.  Thank you all for your prayers and your kind thoughts!  I treasure each and every one!

 

She's on the right - isn't she beautiful?  And just as beautiful on the inside!  Everyone loves her for she loves everyone first!   Thank you in advance for keeping her in prayer.  She has a long way to go - about 18-21 weeks of chemo - but she's strong in the Lord and with His help, she's going to overcome!

In other news, the garden's about in - just got my tomatoes planted.  It's a bit smaller this year as recent events have called me away, but it's done and I just feel like the Lord has blessed me with multiplied time this year.  He knows what we needed before we even ask!

My son, Adam Fears, the country-music singer/songwriter has released a new single ---

"There's A Girl Out There"

It's a great song, if I do say so myself!  (I'm a proud mama)  It was released to country radio this Monday past and you can call and request your local station very SOON to play it if you like!  The more hits he gets the better his single will rise up the country music charts.  That's how new artists get started, so get your phones ready and get requesting as soon as I get the green light from Adam!!!  Please!  If your local station doesn't have it yet, the station can go to 

http://allaccess.com to request it.  They have to be a member I think.

 

Now just look at that smile!  Don't you think a handsome guy like Adam needs to be a country music star???

They shot a music video (which I've seen) and it is awesome!  It won't be played unless the song does good, so that's another reason to request his new song! He's been playing, writing and singing since he was in high school, and been working his rear off in Nashville for the last 7 1/2 years.  I think it's high time that he succeeds, don't you?

http://www.reverbnation.com/adamfearsmusic

This is a popular place to hear Adam's new song - check it out! and share with anyone you want!  He has a twitter account, too - I think it's

Adam Fears @ AdamFearsMusic

I'll try to get around and do some visiting - it's just been so hectic - Thank you all again for your friendship and your caring!  Sending you all a Big Ole Texas Hug!!!

My Sister

Please pray for my dear sister as she begins a battle with ovarian cancer.  I treasure and cherish your prayers and your friendship.  I know there are great prayer warriors out there in my blog realm.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.... I'll be back soon......

 http://outshineovariancancer.blogspot.com/

Giving Thanks November 16

Hello, my friends... Sorry I've been out of town and I have let my Giving Thanks posts go this past week. Shame on me.  I thought I'd have access to a computer and I could keep up, but I didn't.  So let me catch up now!

I am SO thankful this week for the close relationship that I have with my seester. I've been to see her this week!  She is 3 years younger than I - when we were young, we used to fight alot.  I was bossy, I was older, I always got blamed for our fusses, and she was taller, thinner and prettier than me!  She was in the Tyler Junior College Apache Belles and was their poster child because she was so beautiful. I wish I had a photo of her from back then. You'd all agree with me, too!  I was always SOOOOO proud of her, and Still AM!

As we got older, got married and started having our kiddos, we became closer and closer.  She is my best friend.  Is it hard for those of you who have more than one sister to pick just one of them to be closest to? I've always wondered.  Since I only have one sister, I guess I don't have to worry about it. 

We share everything.  She's been there for me through all my ups and downs, and I've been there for her.  Sometimes, we'll both pick up the phone and call each other at the same time.  Same thing with email.  We think about each other at the same time.  It's neat to be together with the family or friends and if someone says something funny or wierd or odd, we both look at each other.  She knows what I'm going to say before I say it, and I know her thoughts as well.  What a blessing she is and has been in my life!  Don't know what I'd do without her!  I thank God for her daily - we're sisters and best friends!  What could be better than that!  Coming from the same family and having the same 'baggage', the same parents, the same beliefs and ways of doing things gives us a bond that is so strong.  My daughter looks more like my sister than she does me. And that's okay.  We use to go places all together, and everyone assumed that my daughter belonged to my sister!  Here's a photo of my beautiful sister and her daughter...

This weekend, I am also thankful that the colors of Autumn are finally here!  The colors popped over the last day or two.  Since I've been traveling, I've been able to see a myriad of color up and down the highway and no two colors are alike!  God's been swishing through with His big ole paintbrush and dabbing a little color here and there, and it's just gorgeous!

Ok, I'm tired, my friends.  I'm still so tired, but I have to go to bed  Maybe tomorrow I can post more. I'm just absolutely exhausted.  Hope you all have a wonderful week and a blessed week.



My Sis & Me & Alice

This past weekend, my sister came to the farm to help me make jelly and pickles.  We've got plums running out our ears around here from my daddy's tree.  We had two big ole 5 gallon buckets and another bucket full on Saturday.  I'd already put up a slew of jelly already, but we can't let this go to waste. There's also another bucketload of ripe plums still on the tree and a bunch on the ground! We've been givin' 'em away!

We cooked  plums down nearly all day long, and also made jelly while we waited. My seester is my bestest friend in the whole wide world. We're both country girls 'n we figger we can do just about anything alone or together that a man can do -'cept pee standin' up!  And we could probly do that, too, just might not be able to hit what we're aimin' for!  Why wait on your husband to do somethin' for ya when you can probly do it yourself, and you don't hafta wait!  Together me 'n her have gotten into some fine messes, but always got ourselves out of 'em.  We can fix stuff, build stuff, we can fish and hunt, and clean a deer & fish, we can re-wire a dryer from gas to electric (actually seester did most of that), you name it, we've probly done it.  We hung around with our do-it-all dad all the time.  He is still the bee's knees to us!

OK, back to jelly.

Here are the plums cookin' down. It smells heavenly to breathe in all that lusciousness!

Here's me in my farmhouse kitchen warshin' more plums for the jelly...

Sis is dipping up juice to run through the strainer. We put the whole plums in the pot, and the skins and seeds come out in the strainer and we're left with just juice!

We're havin' a laugh over somethin'.  We laughed all day long. AND we never could figger out who took our picture together. Was it Mom? She was there for awhile, or was it my daughter? She was there for awhile, too! Not the most flattering of photos, but good memories nonetheless!  And voila! The final product!!! I sent half home with her for her family and some to mom and dad.  It was so good!  Now with some homemade bread and real butter, I'll be in hog's heaven!  We still have almost a whole 'nuther bucket of plums, ripening and fermenting. I hope I can git 'em done before they rot!

Alice the farm kitten is doing so well.  She is growing right before our eyes.  She's getting less skittish and runs out to the car when we get to the farm.  Loud noises still make her nervous and sometimes she'll take off and run under the porch.  But she's getting better.  She's finally started purring whenever you pick her up and scratch her.  It's been awhile since I've had a cat.  I've had cats all my life and it's nice to have another one. I still think I'm gonna git her a buddy.

Is this not the cutest kitten you've ever seen? She always has dirt in her nose from playing under the porch all the time.  She seems very healthy and playful and she's eating like a little pig.  I'll have to get her to the vet for a check up soon.   Take care, people!  Have a great week!  And keep your dress down!