October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month & Other Palaverin'...

I'm sure most of you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - GO GET YOUR MAMMOGRAMS and do your self-exams!!!  Do everything you can for yourself and your beloved family and friends to stay on top of technology and ways that we can help beat this disease. 

Seen this bumper sticker?  I've been seein' it around my hometown quite a bit lately.  A little chauvinistic, but you get the message.  I happen to love it!  A serious issue to be sure, but hey, whatever gets the message across! You know men can relate to this bumper sticker alot more than one that has the word "breast" on it - they can hardly even say the word!  much less warn the female members of their families.

On a more serious note, a good friend of mine here just had a double mastectomy last Friday, October 1.  She has breast cancer in her family, and they found a very small spot on one of her breasts.  She decided to make the ultimate sacrifice of losing both breasts in order to forestall any recurrence later on (Lord willing). What a tough choice to have to make - I know she was thinking of her husband and 4 kids as she made this decision.  Please keep my friend, Wanda, in your prayers...  thank you.

Now, on to other Palaverin'.....

My son's kitty, Lucy, loves to watch TV.  She prefers FOX news and Family Guy (which I detest - it's so crass) but she does this quite often.  Isn't she pretty?  My chihuahua, Bug, is staying at my son's house while we get the house re-vamped a little.  Bug has always hated other dogs, but she loves Lucy.  They play together, they eat together, they sleep together.  It's amazing.  They run and jump and mock-fight. Of course, Lucy has sharp toenails and sometimes we hear a yelp from Bug when the action gets a little too rough.  But it hasn't stopped Bug from snuggling up with Lucy on a blanket on the couch. 

You know how on a slick coated dog, if they get a little tuft of hair sticking up from the rest - if you pull on it, it comes out and usually has a little bitty scab attached?  Well, sometimes we find those on Bug - results from these two scuffling, I'm sure.  (was that gross? was it? I wasn't trying to be - just seein' if ya'll noticed stuff like that...)

Here's a few random Autumn scenes - paintings I have done in the past. The first one is a watercolor (under glass) of an old red barn in our area.  This is actually how it looked in Autumn.  I took some pictures of it several years ago, painted it a few years later, drove by the area a few months ago, and couldn't find it at all.  Don't know if it's been torn down or things just grew up around it.  It's sad to me to see the old things just fade away never to be seen or remembered again...

Below is a terrible photo of a plein-air 8x10 piece I did whilst in the company of some of my art friends.  We went out on a 40 degree day with the wind whipping around and we had very pink cheeks and noses, gloves on which made it very hard to paint, the oil paints were not moving around very well, and my eyes and nose were watering so badly, I just gave up and let 'em run.  But I got my painting done. Another old barn with a squeeze chute.  I love old barns...and other old structures out in the country...  sorry for the picture quality...

 

I also love back lighting from the sun or other light source. See below.  Late afternoon looking not quite into the sun and the trees were just starting to get some good color.  I love painting outside.  Sometimes I bring my 8x10 studies into the studio and then do a large painting of them.  I have 4 wonderful friends that I paint with.  We are all so different in the way we paint, the way we were brought up, the ways we believe, etc.  But one thing holds us together and makes us good friends - painting is our muse.  We "understand" each other.  We respect each other and our differences, and we love each other in spite of everything else. Painting/Art - seeing it, smelling it, touching it, breathing it in, absorbing ourselves in it.  We have to do it ---   or die.

I can't wait til 2-3 more weeks.  I've been working here for the last 8 years. I'm so ready to get back outside on a more regular basis and paint with my buddies.  I've hired another lady to work part-time.  (that's why I have been MIA here lately - along with all the other stuff going on in my life right now.) We are extending our business hours from 8-5 Mon-Sat. I will work Mon-Wed. and she is working Thurs - Sat.  My art gang is chomping at the bit for us all to get out and paint together, ALL of us, again like it used to be. They've missed me - it's good to be missed.  I've done a little painting these last 8 years, but not like I was before.  I'm hitting the road again, the hiways and byways, the parks, the countryside, wherever my muse stirs my soul.  I hope to start a painting blog when I get rolling again.  Wish me luck!

Enjoy this short Autumn season! and as always - Keep your dress down!

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!