Make Hay While the Sun Shines!

Last Thursday we put up hay here on our little farm. It is a first for us,
and it will be a blessing to be able to provide for the cows this winter.

It is amazing to me that God can take this..............














And make this......................













To feed these hungry girls bellies..........

Blackberries!

The blackberry vines are full again this year! I found a really yummy recipe for Blackberry Pie Bars @JoytheBaker. These were very easy to make and a nice switch from cobbler. Oh, and these are definately not on the Weight Watcher's diet plan!
If you have blackberries to spare.....here is the link to the recipe. Check out her entire blog, she has some really good recipes.
http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2009/06/blackberry-pie-bars/#more-845

Father's Day and a June Birthday

This blog entry gives me a good opportunity to use the picture I have of my Dad and my 'baby' brother....who celebrated his 35th birthday on the 10th of June. Late post, I know, but I was busy taking tests that day, and on the weekend, making birthday cake and yeast rolls! On our birthdays, we get to pick the meal we want, and Anthony always picks grilling out! We had barbeque chicken, corn-on-the-cob, hash brown casserole, baked beans, salad, and yeast rolls. It was great, just like the guy who's day we celebrated!

If you have never made corn-on-the-cob on the grill, try it sometime. Simply soak your corn ears (yes, soak shucks and all) in a sink or bucket of water for approximately an hour or longer. Then lay them on the grill and let them steam for about an hour. The silks fall away from the corn! It is easy and keeps the kitchen cool!

Today we are going to the parents house for a Father's Day celebration. I have the best Dad I could have ever asked for. The love Dad has for his family is evident in everything he does. I cannot even begin to name all the things Dad has done for me over my lifetime. Some of the time I didn't like the lesson I was being taught, but all these years later, I am so thankful Dad stayed firm, even though I know it would have been easier for him to give in!

A funny story that comes to mind is when I started buying furniture for the house I had bought after my divorce. I loved the 'shabby' look.....and the shabbier, the better! Dad didn't get the distressed look at all! He asked me if I needed some money to buy 'good' furniture!

I love you Dad! Thanks for understanding me!

National Cancer Survivors Day

Today is National Cancer Survivors Day. Today is also my Dad and Mom's 51st wedding anniversary. They are both survivors of cancer, along with my sister, Susan. I am thankful for the advances made in cancer treatment that has allowed me to keep my family a little bit longer. See Susie smile in the photo above? That is the same constant smile she wore all during her chemo and radiation treatments. When her hair fell out, that smile was so bright that you didn't much notice how perfectly round her little bald head was. She is a 7 year survivor of breast cancer and she is my hero.
When my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he said he couldn't complain about anything after what Susie had been through, and he didn't. She was an inspiration to him, and he has been a survivor for 6 years.
My Mom is going through her second round with cancer. She is a fighter! She says she doesn't have time to mess with cancer, there is too much other stuff to do. I like her spirit. This round is breast cancer, and it was caught early by a mammogram, thanks to the efforts of her doctor.

I have two friends whose mothers are going through cancer treatments. I am praying that next year we can celebrate with them as survivors as well!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! I love you both!

Is It June Already?

I can't believe it is June already! Time passes so fast as I get older. Daisies, my favorite flower, are out in full bloom and I see fields of them on my way home from town. This is one of the many reasons why I love where I live, way out in the middle of nowhere! When I lived in town, I didn't see the different flowers blooming naturally from season to season along the roadside, that is something I forgot happened. Now I don't mean to say there are not beautiful flowers in town! My sister Lori has a beautiful back yard in town with flowers blooming everywhere. I will have to take my camera over to her house one day and show you all of the hard work she has put into her little corner of the world. Lori has the plant growing talent in our family. As for me, I am just going to have to rely on God to do my landscaping.......and He is doing a great job!

How to Wash Off Mud....by Lucas

Lucas made himself a mudpit yesterday. He had lots of fun running his John Deere tractor through it and popping 'wheelies'. Plenty of mud was slung while Grammy sat here and watched....

But soon, muddy boys want to come inside to cool off and have an ice cream sandwich. How do you clean up such a muddy little fellow? Lucas had the answer......Slip and Slide! A birthday gift from Old Papaw Kenny and Mamaw Sue. Lucas thinks this a much more fun way to get clean rather than a bath....but it doesn't get mud out of his ears!

Even though I didn't get one thing done yesterday, I did get a reward. Lucas told me he had so much fun that he could play here forever!

The Hen House

Here is where the girls make their home....and deposit their rent payments!

Bluebird-Bluebird

It is the second year this little bluebird and its mate have made their nest in the primitive birdhouse built by my Uncle Kenny. It is fun to sit and watch the two bring in twigs, string, and various other objects to feather their nest.

Last year three little bluebirds were born in the little bird house. I have not yet peeped inside to see how many tiny eggs are snuggled in the nest this year. The parents are very protective of their young, so you have to be ready when they are both gone, and that is a rare occasion, to take your look inside.

Does anyone remember the game "Bluebird-Bluebird"? This little bluebird reminded me of playing that game with my friends in second grade on the old Emerson School basketball court. I don't recall much of the game except holding hands to form a circle and dancing around singing Bluebird, Bluebird. One morning at recess I was playing this game and my little blue spectacles fell off my head, and all I heard was awful crunching noises, and of course, the chanting of Bluebird, Bluebird!

The next morning I was sporting a new pair of pink glasses with three tiny diamonds (or so I thought!) mounted in the pointy ended frames, and I never played Bluebird, Bluebird again.

RIP Ruby

After four years of faithful service, Ruby quietly passed away yesterday afternoon. Thanks for all the omelets Ruby.

A New Granddaughter

This is Emma on her first day in this big world. She is granddaughter #1. Today she is one week old.

Grandsons

Grandson #1 is Lucas!

He is 5 years old and loves to play ball.

He is also big into cowboy stuff...more on that later!

Grandson #2 (only by birth order!) Conner is Emma's big brother. He is 16 months old and sweet as can be.

Beginnings....

Okay, here I am, beginning a blog of my own!
I love reading everyone's blogs, getting great new ideas and recipes and seeing the friendships made along the way.
I want a blog to sort of keep track of life. It goes by so fast. I want a place to keep memories and share ideas and dreams.
So.......here goes!