GoodBye 2011

I've been missing, I know.  Been a lot going on here.  If anyone is still out there reading,  I'm sorry.  But I'm back now.  Starting to feel better after my surgery.  Still can't eat like I did, but I understand that is normal.  I've lost 20 pounds.  I would like to lose some more, so we will see.

We had a nice Christmas.  The family was able to get together and open gifts.  I came to realize since my birthday, that there is really nothing that I want or need any more.  So I'm thinking I would like to do something different next year, than receive gifts for myself.  I think I will ask for gifts for an organization, or a charity.  I have all year to think about that though.  I'm sure something will make itself obvious by then.

It has been busy around here, like I said earlier.  Our oldest twin is getting ready to start nursing school.  Her orientation is Wednesday, and she will have some oral surgery Thursday.  I'm not sure when her classes start, but it will be soon.  I think after her orientation she will have to gets scrubs and such.  How exciting for her.

Our second twin is talking to military recruiters.  She thought she wanted to go to the Navy, but now is leaning toward the Army because they will let her keep her hair!  She will take her paperwork back Tuesday, and go from there.  She would like to leave for basic in February.  Not long now. 

In the paper today, I noticed the comic for Family Circus.  The mom said "When all the kids are grown up and leave, it will just be the two of us".  And the dad said "It was just the two of us before the kids".  This is where we are in our life, and I need to commit this to memory.  New and exciting times are here for sure.  I have to remember that I can only see a small part of the picture.

My sister got engaged over Christmas!  I'm sure they are both excited.  She has been divorced for several years, and her children are grown, too.  She will be a "bonus" mom to two young boys.  I'm sure that will be new and exciting for her.   I don't know what their plans are yet.  But I know they seem very happy.  I hope they just go ahead and get married (without a long engagement), and start their new life together!

Today is my Aunt Betty's birthday.  It would also have been my father-in-law's birthday.  It is hard to believe he has been gone 10 years.  I know my husband misses him a lot, still.

Well, It won't be long now until the big ball drops.  When you all read this it will be the new year.  I hope 2012 is better than 2011.  I hope the economy turns around, and that jobs are created.  I hope banks start loaning money again and businesses are able to hire people.  I pray that the people study up on the candidates before the elections and vote for the best candidate for the job.  I pray that the Lord will keep His hand over our country and keep us from further decline.  I pray that great things are in store for our nation in 2012.

Happy New Year!  Love, Honey

GrandBoy and Pappy waiting for the Santa Train!  We all went for the train ride, all six of us!  GrandBoy loved the train, but was a little scared of Santa.  Wouldn't sit on his lap, but shook his hand and said, "You a good ole boy, Santa!"

Back from Surgery

I'm sorry I've been away for the last two weeks or so.  I had my surgery on Black Friday.  The surgery went well.  I had my gallbladder removed.  It was full of large stones and infected.  The only problem I've had really, since the surgery, is that I can't eat much.  At first I was taking bread and water.  The doctor says I can eat what ever I want, but I can't.  Any meat, or anything heavy, makes me sick.  So now I am eating mostly bread and vegetables.  And chocolate milk shakes!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  All my family, and a few friends also.  We have a lot to be thankful for.

We have had some changes with our children lately as well.  Daughter #1, our oldest twin, got accepted to nursing school!  She is very excited, and we are so proud of her.  She is very excited to get this part of her life started.

Daughter #2 is pretty sure she has decided to enlist in the Naval Reserves.  She decided this last week.  She would be leaving for basic in February.  She is very excited about the decision, and we are happy for her.

This year I'm not decorating much for Christmas.  I put up a small tree, and set out a few things.  That may be all that gets done this year.  I have to do some shopping this weekend.

Well, I think that is enough for tonight.  I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow!  Honey

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!  By the time you read this, Thanksgiving will be here, and may be already gone for another year.  I have so much to be thankful for, and I'd like to share a little of that with you.

When my girls were toddlers, we started a family tradition.  Starting November 1st of each year, once a day  I would take down our kitchen calendar and ask each daughter what she was thankful for.  Some days they would all be thankful for the same thing, maybe chocolate cake we had for desert.  Our maybe one daughter would be thankful for her favorite book every day for a week.  It didn't matter, I was just trying to get them to notice their blessings and be thankful.  What ever they said I would write down, until Thanksgiving.  Then My husband and I made a list also, and I would combine the lists and read them at dinner. 

Now our daughters are grown.  They write their own lists, and sometimes they don't chose to share them.  But we still record our thankful lists each year.  I remember one year my Aunt was with us, and she said, "you didn't tell us we had homework!"  One year after Thanksgiving, my sister gave me cute little Thankful cards after Thanksgiving to use the next year!

We also always invite others to share our meal with us.  This year I'm not sure who all will be at our table, since my daughters are grown and can invite their friends.  And even though I won't be able to eat what the others eat, I know we will have a wonderful time together.

Now, what I am thankful for this year.  I am thankful for having such a wonderful husband.  We have been together 30 years, and will be married 29 years next month.  He is always supportive of anything and everything I try. He is a wonderful provider and planner for our family.  He is a wonderful man.

I'm thankful for my three daughters.  We both really miss the three little girls who loved us and were so close.  But our girls are now grown.  I'm thankful they live near or with us.  I'm thankful they have jobs and are pursuing educations if they chose.  I'm glad they are safe and healthy.  I pray they continue to grow "in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man".

We are so thankful for our GrandBoy.  After raising three girls, this little boy is so different, and keeps us laughing all the time.  Today he didnt' want to do something Pappy told him to do.  So he told Pappy he could get a "new" boy.  When I got home, he told me, "Pappa going to get a new boy.  You tell him "NO", K Honey?"  I thought that was so cute! I hope this enjoyment continues for a long time.

I'm thankful Daughter # 3 and GrandBoy live down the road and are near enough that we can see them every day.  And I'm thankful that GrandBoy can start 3 year old kindergarten in our public school this fall.

I'm thankful Daughters 1 and 2 are in school, and pursing fields they will enjoy.  One in Nursing, and one in Criminal Justice.

I'm thankful to still have my parents, and my sister.  Some many people my age have neither parent, and so lucky to still have both.

I'm thankful for my job that I enjoy and go to each day. 

I'm thankful for our Church family, in our neighborhood church.  It is such an honor to study with people who are diligently seeking the Lord's truth.

I'm thankful that I am healthy.  And I'm thankful that after the medical scare I had Sunday evening, that I will be able to easily take care of this health problem and work on getting well quickly. 

I'm thankful for the friends I've made on the Internet, and the ladies that pray with me when I request it.

I'm thankful that we live on a farm and can easily produce a lot of what we eat.

I'm so thankful and blessed.  I can honestly say that there is really nothing that I need.  God has been good to us, and for that I am thankful. 

I hope you all have a wonderful day with your family and friends.  Happy Thanksgiving.  Honey

Surgery Scheduled

I saw my surgeon today.  My surgery for removal of my gall bladder and stones is scheduled for Friday at 1:00 p.m.  I have to be there at 11:00 am, and should be able to go home the same day.  My surgeon said the most important part is not to get overly tired in the first 7 - 10 days, or it will take me longer to heal and get well.  I'm a little concerned about what I will be able to eat afterwards.  But I'm so glad that what I have will be simple to fix.  Honey

Monday - My trip to the Hospital ER

Well last night was an eventful night for us!  It started out to be a normal Sunday.  We went to church.  After church, I was busy putting up the groceries for Thanksgiving dinner.  I ordered our Christmas cards and some business cards for Pappy and I.  I needed to go to the drug store to put some money on my "credit card" so I could pay for the order.  I decided that because we were so busy, I would pick up dinner on my way out.  I asked Pappy what he wanted to eat, and he said McDonald's was fine.  It is the closest to our farm, and has a drugstore next door.  So I went to the store, and then to the McDonald's drive through.  I got double cheeseburgers and fries for everyone.  Off the dollar menu, you know.  Then I went home to do more paperwork.

We ate, and I started the evictions.  I had 7 to get ready to post Monday.  That means the month is almost over, and 7 people haven't paid.  So I got my paperwork finished and wrote some cards to mail out.  I was starting to not feel so good.  I decided to take a bath, that would surely make me feel better.  Things really start escalate from here.

I thought I had indigestion.  I wondered why I was the only person who felt bad, when we all ate the same food.  I took 2 tums and got in the bath.  I stayed in the bath a total of about 5 minutes - just long enough to wash my face and rinse off.  I was so uncomfortable.  I decided I needed to lay down.  I was up and down, moving from room to room, and pacing.  At one point, Pappy said I could either get dressed, or he was calling an ambulance, but I was going to the hospital.  I had started to cry.  He had never seen me in so much pain.  I kept telling myself that I couldn't be having a heart attack.  Every time I have a check up they tell me how good my heart is, and my blood pressure.  I couldn't have a bad heart.  But I still thought I was dying!

My #1 Daughter helped me get dressed.  I couldn't lift my leg high enough to put my pants on.  I had a bra and shirt on, but had to take my bra off, because I was in so much pain, and couldn't breath!  My daughter said, "You aren't going to wear a bra to the hospital?"  I told her that I couldn't, I hurt too much.  My daughter has probably never seen me without a bra.  She knew I was sick.

So we get to the hospital and head into the ER.  There was a sign that said 4 hour wait.  The clerk asked if he could help me.  I said I don't think we can wait 4 hours.  Pappy said "she's having chest pains",  and the circus started.  Forget the four hour wait and the lobby full of people.  They rushed me around the ER, and called to report to someone that there was a "chest pain" in the chair.  People were grabbing my arms and doing different things and tests.  One person ran a thermometer around my whole face.  The guy doing my triage grabbed my shirt, pulled it up to put sticky things all over my chest, and was stunned!  I don't guess I looked like a person who wouldn't wear a bra.  His eyes got big as plates, and he jerked my shirt back down.  Then I guess he realized he had to get those sticky pads on my chest, so he hesitantly raised my shirt again.  My eyes rolled back in my head, and it was all I could do not to burst out laughing.  When it was all done, and they decided I was not currently having a heart attack, I announced that my daughter TOLD me not to come to the Er without a bra.  She's in nursing school, so I guess she knows those things.  You only ever hear about clean underwear, not bras.  But now I know.

In case you are wondering, I have gall stones.  I guess I have several, and a large one is blocking my duct.  The doctor wanted me to stay last night for surgery, but I asked to come home to schedule.  The surgeon agreed with me, so I am off to meet the surgeon tomorrow.  I will keep you posted on that development. 

And if you end up sick and have to go to the hospital, just pray that you hadn't just eaten McDonald's.  They will never believe that you rarely eat it any other time!  Trust me on that one.  Have a blessed week.  Honey

Sunday Promises

Today for my Sunday Promise, I would like to post a scripture reading that meant a lot to me when i was young.  This scripture reading is from 1 Corinthians 13.  I must have mentioned this story to my children once, because everytime they see something that references this scripture, they think we should have it!
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New International Version (NIV)

1 Corinthians 13

 ¹ If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
 ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Have a blessed week!  Honey

Friday: Proverbs 31

I have been thinking a lot recently about the examples of women in the Bible.  There are those who try to follow the Proverbs 31 example.  And Titus is another book that has several followers of Biblical womanhood.  Today I was reading, and saw a family that based their family life on Deuteronomy 32:46-47.  Of course, I had to stop what I was doing and look this verse up.

Amy at Raising Arrows says a lot of things about being a Godly wife.  Things I catch myself pondering at different odd minutes in the day.  I wasn't raised in a church-going family.  My husband isn't a believer.  So my views and ideas of what a Christian wife and mother might look like have changed over the years.  When I was young,  I worked outside the home.  I enjoyed my job and have worked for many years.  I remember thinking that the Bible didn't say that I couldn't work.  I did not see that addressed anywhere.  But as I aged, I become more mature in the Word.  I collect life experiences, and now I see where these examples would probably make life easier and better for everyone, but especially for my family. 

Last night I was aggravated about something.  Then my husband came into the kitchen and got a spoon.  He preceded to get spoonfuls of peanut butter to eat as a snack.  I know I said something to him, complained that he should find another snack, one that hadn't gone up in price 40% in the last few weeks!  Now normally, I am trying to keep him away from the sugar and sweets, because he is diabetic.  So this was a healthy snack, and he really was trying to please me.  And all the time I'm having this bad attitude I'm thinking, "Amy would think he should be able to eat peanut butter if he wants.  She probably would say he works hard and pays for it".  So Amy, if you see this, and you wouldn't have felt that way, I'm sorry.  But I am starting to stop what I'm doing to notice my husband and to think about how to honor my husband and show my appreciation of all he does.

I'm trying to be like those wives in the Bible.  But I know I have a long way to go.  We will be married 29 years next month.  That is a long time.  My husband retired last year, and my children are grown and really don't need me now.  So I need to invest time in this marriage of mine now that I have the time.  We have the opportunity to get to know each other again, and spend time on each other.  I think that sounds nice! 

Thursday

Hi friends. It is really windy here right now.  I hope things calm down before bedtime.  Today was a busy day.  Next week is Thanksgiving, and only about six more weeks in this year.  How depressing!  Time really flies.  I guess I need to get ready for next week.  Make a plan and a shopping list.  Decorate and clean.  All those things.  We invite lots of friends who we think my appreciate an invitation.  Singles, people who have family that lives away.  All kinds of different situations.  We always have a great time.

When I got off work, I picked up the glass order.  I went to Daughter #2's office and took her some snacks I had for her lunch.  Crackers and peanut butter, fruit, and water.  May not have been what she would have chosen, but she didn't starve!

I met two of my tenants to pick up rent.  I delivered the glass to the rental where Pappy was working today.  It was starting to get late.  I went to the two post offices that I go to daily.  I was on my way to the farm, when I got a call.  Someone wanted to pay their rent.  Daughter #1 needed to go to bed, so I stopped at the farm and picked up GrandBoy.  On the way home I stopped to pick up dinner.  Before we got home, GrandBoy had fallen asleep.  He has been asleep ever since.  This has never happened before.  I hope he is not getting sick. 

Tomorrow we are going to the dentist.  Pappy and I are having our teeth cleaned.  GrandBoy is having his looked at for the first time.  He has Medicaid.  It is hard to find a dentist for Medicaid.  Last year when I took him to see his dentist, he wouldn't open his mouth.  This year he is 3.  Right before his appointment, I get a call that the dentist has retired and the new dentist won't accept Medicaid.  So our dentist will just look at GrandBoy's teeth (for $20).  If there is a problem, I will need to find a Medicaid dentist.  But for now, this will do I think.

Daughter #2 planned to come to church tonight, but she had a flat tire.  Daughter #3 picked her up.  Maybe next week.

We have had a cold front come in today.  Yesterday I had the air on, and now it is cool outside.  Hello Autumn!  I will see you all tomorrow!  Honey!

Wednesday

I don't know why it is, but Wednesdays seem so busy lately.  It is really a busy day for me.  I have to pick up GrandBoy, if Daughter #1 doesn't have time to.  He comes to go to church and stay the night.  I try to go to the bank and post office each day to check for rent.  Tomorrow I have appointments at the insurance office at 2:30, I have to pick up some rent at 3:00, I need to pick up an order of window glass for one of the rental homes Pappy is working on.  And there is dinner to prepare and church at 6:30.  I guess it doesn't help that it gets dark earlier too.

Daughter #3 asked what I wanted for my birthday.  I told her I wanted her to come to church and spend the day with her family.  She said I could pick the day.  I chose November 20th, because I thought the congregation would have Thanksgiving dinner that day.  But it appears they are not going to do that at this congregation.  I haven't told daughter though, because I still want her to come.  So this morning when I got up, she had texted me to see if we could go to a nearby flea market after church.  I guess she is a little excited to be coming too.

Tonight for dinner we had lamb roast made in the crock pot with carrots, potatoes, and onions.  We also had rolls with butter.  The lamb was ours, and the potatoes.  It was delicious.

I'm starting to plan a little bit for Thanksgiving.  We always invite several friends, and any family that wants to attend.  I have to see what we need to purchase and make a big shopping trip this weekend. 

I love to read, and do so all the time.  I always have a book with me, sometimes more that one.  My favorite is mysteries, and a lot of non fiction.  When I was a little girl, ( I mean pretty little!) I remember that my Mom would take me to the local Salvation Army Thrift store.  There was a little stool in front of the book cases, and the ladies would place a brown paper bag on the floor beside me.  I would sit on the stool, and push it along while I looked at all the books.  I placed the keepers in my bag, and when it was full, I was done for that trip.  My Mom would pay and we would go home.  I have always loved to read.  I know books at the thrift store back then were probably only about a dime a piece but that was a lot to me.  Such a treat, and I loved to go to that store!  Now I take GrandBoy, and he loves books too!  So thankful that my Mom let me develop a love for books. 

See you tomorrow.  Honey

Tuesdays News

Welcome to my farm!  I'm so glad you stopped by to see me today!  Around here, we are getting ready for the stormy weather that is suppose to arrive tomorrow.  This involves putting the last of the bell peppers into our freezer, packing up items to donate or sell that are currently sitting on our carport, and picking up patio cushions to pack away for next year.  It is almost Thanksgiving, so I guess it is time for those things.  Today it was 77 degrees.  Still hot for November.  But that will change tomorrow with the rain.

Daughter #1 bought me a dress for my birthday.  But I needed to exchange it.  So I went to do that today.  I looked, and looked.  I bought one home without trying it on.  I had tried on several that didn't work.  If this one doesn't work, I'll be back at the store, I guess.  I hope it fits and I can wear it during the holidays.

Daughter #1 is sick.  She has been in bed most of the day, and may go to the doctor tomorrow and ask for a shot.  I don't know if she has a cold or the flu.  I hope no one else gets it.

Daughter #3 got a call today from the police that her items that had been recently stolen, have been recovered.  She went to claim them.  She was so excited.  She said they had many items that they didn't know who they belong to.

I have re-started my health program to try to control my fibroid tumors without surgery.  I was doing well until the tornado last spring.  So yesterday, I began my supplements again, and will make a more diligent effort to keep processed food out of my diet.  I need to cut white sugar also, but that is hard.  Most of the white sugar in my diet falls in the category of coffee and tea.  Neither are as good without white sugar!  One new change that I added is iodine.  I started with 4 drops a day in a drink.  I believe the goal is to work up to 40 drops once a day.  The iodine helps balance hormones (which I need) and it kills tumors from the inside out.  That would be nice.  More and more people are commenting on my "baby bump", when my due date is, etc.  I have developed those blue veins on my stomach.  It is impossible to find clothes to fit.  So If I don't do this, I may have to wear a mu mu!  The other new thing I'm trying is drinking "probiotic juice"  in the morning.  You get it in the organics section of the grocery store.  I drink just a small juice glass each morning.  I'll let you know how it goes!

GrandBoy Swinging at the Park!  Photo and moment by Daughter #2

Tonight for dinner, we had stuffed shells in tomato sauce, lima beans, and corn.  The lima beans, corn, and tomato sauce were all from our garden and canned by me!  You can't get much less "processed" than that!  See you tomorrow.  Honey

Monday - Life on the Farm

Hello friends.  Let me catch you up on farm life lately, while I have been unable to be here.  In the last 10 days, Pappy said we have had four calves.  We will be having more, soon.  Today Pappy loaded up four cows to take to the sale this week.  I think later in the week he plans to take some sheep to the sale. 

Today I did a little around here for food preserving for the winter.  To begin with, I harvested the rose hips on my rose bushes.  I know some use these to make tea.  I haven't studied up on that, and I'm not sure if I will try.  But I saw them used in a craft instead of holly berries.  So I thought that might be nice for the holidays.  I also picked up dogwood berries.  I canned 4 quarts and one pint of grape juice to try.  I put the last pint of tomatoes in the freezer.  All of our green ones turned, and I took down the hanging rack they were in.  Next weekend our wine will be ready to bottle!  Pappy picked a big basket of bell peppers today.  They are the last of our garden harvest for this year.

Our oldest daughter is sick in the bed.  Some type of flu I guess.  Hope she is better tomorrow.

We are taking some items to the thrift store tomorrow to donate.  We also cleared our a house this weekend. 

Well, I guess that is all the news from around here.  At least on the farm side.  I'll be seeing you again tomorrow, I hope!  Honey

Sunday Promises

I really am back this time.  My Internet and computer have been up and down in the last month.  But I got some new equipment, and finally everything seems to be working.  I had to wade through my email, and now I am caught up on everything excepting getting started again here.  I think I am going to make some changes to my blog.  Cover different topics on different day, etc.  But the first thing I am going to do is start posting scriptures on Sunday.  These scriptures will be special to me, and I hope that they will speak to you as well. 

Matthew 6:33

"But seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

God will give us everything we need.  He promises this, if only we seek Him first.  How often do we forget that part?  I know I do.  I get so distracted with life in general, with my family and job responsibilities.  But God wants to be first in our lives.  The last few years have taught me a lot.  I have really tried to start doing this in the last couple of years.  Nothing else matters, if you don't seek Him first.  And everything is easier when we do.  Join me in trying to prioritize this week.  Let's put God and His kingdom first, and see how our week ends up!  Honey

Ten Things That Happened in My Life While I Was Off The Internet

Hi friends.  I told you I would be back today, and here I am.  While I was gone off line a week, a lot of things happened in my life.  I'm going to highlite 10 of them today.

1.  I turned 48!  Yes, I did.  I had a wonderful day.  My parents were also married 49 years, the same exact day!

2.  We (mostly Pappy) finished the mobile home we were making ready for our Daughter #3.  She and our GrandBoy moved in today, just down the road from our farm.

3.  I canned sliced apples for pies and dinners this winter.

4.  I put quart bags of turnip greens in our freezer.  I found out that this is very hard work when done alone.  I have never put up turnip greens by myself before.  When my girls were little, they would help our elderly neighbor, Emma, to prepare the turnip greens.  She would always tell me the greens had been through "5 wash waters".  She would wash, the girls would sort the leaves and pull out the bad ones.  Then they would remove the stems.  She would blanch, and we would put into freezer containers.  This year, Miss Emma passed on.  My girls are all grown and  too busy to help their Mama put up turnip greens.  So this was the first time I've done it alone.  And I decided that it is a lot of work!

5.  I had a tooth pulled.  It was NOT fun!  The tooth had broken about three times during the last four years, but this time, there was very little left.  I was afraid it would become painful before I could get in to see the dentist.  I was lucky.  But the extraction was not pleasant.  This tooth was only suppose to have one root, but it had three.  A normal extraction takes about 10 minutes.  This extraction took about 40 minutes.  I never developed much pain, so that was a blessing. 

6.  Someone stole my pain pills. 

7.  My Dad had his birthday, and turned 70!  Everyone says he doesn't look his age, and he doesn't act it, either.

8.  I got a hair cut.  Actually, I got about 6 inches of hair cut off.  I thought about doing the "locks of love" thing, but I think Pappy was a bit afraid, that I would end up with no hair left.  So I didn't try that this time.

9.  Daughter #2 received an award at school "Most Ethical" or something.  She is in Criminal Justice, and was very honored.  She hung it in her room for inspiration on the days she wonders why she is there.

10.  Daughter #1 will find out in January if she gets in the LPN program.  We are

31 Days of My Real Farm Life - Day 31

Hello friends!  My Internet and computer are now working again, and I am back!  But I will start again for real tomorrow.  I was getting ready to fill you in on all the news, when my daughter called and told me they had been robbed, and she and the baby are on their way to stay the night.  So I am cleaning out his room so you can walk in there, and making the bed.  I'll see you all tomorrow.  Happy Halloween!  Honey

GrandBoy showing you how to "throw webs"

Computer problems - May Not See Me For a While

h friends. Our computer got spyware. In the process of removing it, the electricity went off. When it came back on, the computer would not load. I have to get a friend to come look at it. I'm updating this for you on my Blackberry. 2 inch screen. If you don't see me for a few days, you'll know why. I will miss you.  I  think the devil is behind this. Hope to see you soon  honeyi

31 Days of My Real Farm Life - Day 19

31 Days of Life on Our Farm!

Today is the day Fall decided to arrive in North Alabama.  Pappy and I moved my plants inside, including two budding Christmas cactuses that will bloom next month.  We picked the garden, moved the baby animals, put lights on the birds, and all sorts of chores like that.  I thought I would share the last of the blooming flowers with you before the frost gets them.  That is one thing about living in the South.  You never know what the weather will be like.  Monday GrandBoy was taking a nap on a pallet under a tree outside, without his shirt.  Tonight it will freeze, and tomorrow's temperatures will not get out of the 50's.

This rose we gave to Daughter #3 when her son was born.  At the time, they lived with us.  It blooms all summer long. 

GrandBoy's lonely tire horse swing

Mums that Pappy got me last year for my birthday!

This is a few of "last year's" pansies.  About time to buy more. 

Hope you all have a great Thursday.  Honey

31 Days of My Real Farm Life - Day 18

31 Days of Life on Our Farm!

Well, I made it through dental surgery.  I went yesterday at 1:00 pm to have my tooth pulled.  It took an hour to get the tooth out.  That must be unusual, because they said it never takes that long to pull a tooth.  This tooth should have had one root, and it had three.  So I guess it was somewhat of a big deal.  I kept ice on my face religiously to keep the swelling down.  This morning when i got up, my eyes were almost swelled shut, and my mouth drooped on the side the tooth was pulled.  I hope this isn't permanent!  Other that a soreness, from the pressure of pulling on my jaw for an hour, I really don't have pain.  I'm afraid I may start to bruise tomorrow, but we will see.  I'm glad the tooth is out. 

I had a hair appointment today, but I cancelled it.  I had to stay home from work today because I didn't think I should drive since I had been on pain medication the day before.  I went back to bed and slept till 10:30.  Tomorrow I will resume my normal life.  I really didn't need to lose two days of business, but that happens sometimes.

The neighbors brought over 3 grocery bags of turnip greens, and a bag of cayenne pepper.  I put the pepper in two baskets until I can do something with it.  The greens went into the refrigerator outside until I can process them for the freezer.

So there really wasn't much going on at the farm today.  It stormed here tonight, and we really needed the rain.  Pappy worked at daughter's trailer today, and bush hogged one of the pastures this evening.  So tomorrow everything will be back to normal tomorrow.  See you then.  Honey

31 Days of My Real Farm Life - Day 16

31 Days of Life on Our Farm!

Hello Friends!  Happy Sunday.  I hope you had a wonderful, restful day with your family.  A few days ago, I broke a tooth.  This tooth had actually been cracked for about four years.  Pieces had broken off twice since then.  But this time the tooth broke horizontally on the front.  It is broken off almost gum line, and I am afraid it will start hurting, if I don't get to the dentist quick!  The first appointment I could get is for tomorrow (Monday) at 1:00.  So far, the tooth area is tender, but not in killer pain.  So I am happy about that.

We may get our first freezing weather this week.  It will get to 35 or so mid week, so Pappy and I are keeping an eye on the situation.  If it does look like it will get to freezing, we have to do things in advance like move the doves to the green house, get all the house plants moved indoors, pick the garden one last time, and cut all the blooming flowers.  Some things I can cover with a sheet, like the mums.  I went ahead and picked all the tomatoes today.  I also picked that majority of the peppers, but left the small ones a little longer.  I picked the last of the beans, too.  I read this week that Fall is the country's favorite season.  Well, it isn't mine.  I think Fall is depressing.  Fall means that we are one step away from winter, and I hate to be cold.  It also means that year end is almost here, and I need to hurry up and finish all the things I need to have done before the year ends.  I'm a procrastinator, so there are always things I need to get done.  Pappy is one of the people who love Fall though.

These are the tomatoes I picked today.  Usually we have a lot more at the end of year, but because of the drought I guess we have slowed down here.

I separate the greens tomatoes from the red ones.  The red ones I will can.  I start out by washing them and then dipping them in boiling water.  The skin will split, and then you take them out and place them in cold water to chill.  Once cooled you can pull the peels off comfortably.  I will fill a jar with the skinned tomatoes.  Finish filling the jar with boiling water, add salt and lemon juice, and seal the jar with a hot flat and canning ring.  When all jars are ready, process at the specified time.  I use these tomatoes in tacos, spaghetti, soup, chili, anywhere and everywhere you would use canned tomatoes.  Some people also use them in garden salads, during the winter.  I haven't tried that, but plan to this year.

Each year I place my green tomatoes in this contraption to turn red and ripen.  And they do all turn red eventually.  I'm not sure what this is, because someone left it in one of our rental properties.  There are four spaces in it when fully extended.  I have all but one clipped together because I don't have that many tomatoes this year.  Some years the whole thing is full.  If anyone knows what this item is really used for, please let me know.  Pappy thinks it is a pie cooling rack.  Personally, I wouldn't want my pies swinging around in the air, but maybe others feel differently. 

Our neighbor just called us to see if we wanted to pick turnip greens tonight before the weather turns.  I told him that I would call Tuesday, after my dental appointment.  I don't think I will feel like fooling with them tomorrow.

Our neighbor also has more hot pepper.  That is kinds funny, because I just finished stringing the last of the pepper they brought us a month ago.  I did that yesterday while watching the Alabama Game.  I think I will make pepper sauce if I get some more this week.

My finished pepper strings.  These will dry, and can be used in cooking.  Just crumble into any recipe you would use pepper in.

                                    



I guess that is enough today from here.  I still have to find time this week to can apples.  I wish I had vacation time so I could get paid while doing some things around here.  If I can't figure out when to can apple slices, I guess I will put the apples in our roaster one night, and make apple sauce to can.  That will cook down on their own without my supervision.  I also purchased grapes to make grape juice to try. Just a couple of quarts.  I need to do that, too.

Come back to see us tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping by.  Honey

31 Days of My Real Farm Life - Day 13

31 Days of Life on Our Farm!

Today was one of those days where all you do all day is put out fires!  Or at least that was the way I felt.  I got up at 5:00 because GrandBoy couldn't find his paci.  At that time, the house was fine.  Since I still had an hour till time to get up, I reset the clock to ring at 6:30, and laid back down with GrandBoy.  When i got up at 6:30, I took one step into the bathroom, and knew immediately that the floor was wet.  So was the seat!  I thought the toilet had maybe overflowed.  Instead, what had happened was that we had a hard rain, and the roof leaked in that bathroom over the toilet. 

I wiped off the toilet, took the photos of the wall, moved the toilet tissue, and wiped up the floor.  I got dressed, got GrandBoy dressed, and woke up Daughter #2 and Pappy.  The time is now 7:40, and I should have left for work 10 minutes ago.  I still had not packed a lunch, loaded the car, and those sorts of things.  I called into work, and left a message that I would not be able to come today.  After things started to open for business, I called our roofer.  He said he would work me in, and call back.  Two tenants had rent to be collected, so I made appointments for that.  I filled up my car, and went  to both post offices, but there was no rent at either place.  Pappy called to say that the other car was ready to be picked up from the shop.  So I made plans to pick it up when Daughter #3 got home from work.  I also picked up milk, and got a few other marked down items, like organic butter, cookie dough, yogurt, bagels, and a deli pizza.  I deposited the rent I was able to collect, and went home to meet Daughter #1.   The roofers came and got started.  I told them I had to run pick up a car, and I would be back in about 15 minutes. 

When I got back the roofers were finishing up.  Pappy and GrandBoy pulled up.  I paid the roofer, and told Pappy that there was a pizza on the stove for lunch.  I ran and got  some more rent collected and came back within an hour.  After I got home, I took a bite of pizza, and my tooth broke off!  I had known it was going to break, and I had scheduled a dentist appointment for Monday.  So far, I am pain free.  I hope it stays that way.  I am covering my tooth in prayer, you can believe!

So I will be on track tomorrow.  Hope everything goes more smoothly then.  Talk tomorrow.  Honey

31 Days of My Real Farm Life - Day 12



31 Days of Life on Our Farm!


Hey!  Welcome back!  Today was a rainy Wednesday.  It was really a nice fall day.  After work, I ran a few errands.  Daughter #3 wanted me to come by her work, and I did.  I got a set of Bob books to teach GrandBoy to read.  I have a few, but not the whole set, in the box.  I was glad to find that.  I also got a book titled "Gathering Manna - Finding God's Grace in Life's Wilderness" by Sue Fallin.  This book is about Sue Fallin, and how she overcame and was healed of several diseases using her faith.  I was interested in the book, and dropped it in my cart.  While I was standing in line, I realized while flipping through the book, that it took place in the next large city to where we live.  That made it even more interesting.  I got home about 4:00, and since then, I've read about half the book.  I always said I was going to be a writer when I retire.  I better give that some thought.  I also got the book "The Red Tent"  that I have read a lot about.

I went by the post offices to pick up rent.  We just had one envelope containing $150.  Not one of my best days.  Then I ran by the daycare to pick up GrandBoy.  I haven't been to the daycare in about 3 weeks, and he was so excited to see me there.  We stopped by the trailer where they will be moving.  Pappy was working there today and tomorrow.  We had a nice visit, and got home in time to get ready for church.

This weekend I have a large list of produce to process.  I have cayenne pepper to make pepper sauce with.  I think I will also string some up to dry.  I have to can the last of the tomatoes.  I want to freeze the bell peppers.  I need to can apples.  I'm thinking about doing pie filling.  And I have a cabbage to put in the freezer.  I can't decide if I want to pick the cactus pears this year.  Last year I juiced them, but I haven't done anything with the juice yet.  Maybe I should try some.  I did it because the cactus pears are suppose to make the prettiest red jelly for Christmas. 

Well, that about covers it for today around here.  Hope to see you tomorrow.  Honey

31 Days of My Real Farm Life - Day 11

31 Days of Life on Our Farm!

Today is Tuesday.  It has been raining here, which is always a blessing.  My car is in the shop, so I am driving an extra car we have.  It seems my car is going to be very expensive to fix, maybe $1,000.  I'm praying that is not the case.  I told my husband to take all the sheep to the sale, and we would just have to postpone Christmas!  He told me not to worry about it, it would all work out.  So I have been praying about it.

Guess what!  I just got back from picking up my car!  And it was only $166.  I am so happy, and so thankful.  It only needed a water pump.  My car has only had two cylinders for a few months.  The garage we used to go to was going to fix it, but they went out of business.  When the new mechanic found this out, he thought the car had a cracked head.  So I need to plan to have this fixed, but all that had to be done today was the water pump.  What a wonderful day!

Pappy is at the trailer again.  The appliances were delivered yesterday.  Still a lot to do though.  It is coming together.  Our daughter seems so excited.  More like herself.  I hope it does her good being back near home and her family.  Maybe she will remember who she is, and who she needs to be.

Our electric bill dropped by half this month!  Last month it was over $400.  This month It was $240, I believe.  That is great.  I was looking forward to having a cold winter here like last year.  We actually had snow a few times.  But we never have winters like that two years in a row in the South.  The Farmer's Almanac says we will have a mild, wet winter.  Wet will be good, since it has been so dry here.  And I guess mild will be good for our budget!  One good thing about winters in the South, they don't last long.

Well, I think I need to go cook supper.  We are going to have breakfast.  Eggs, sausage, and biscuits.  Maybe some sliced tomatoes.  Talk to you tomorrow.  Honey

31 Days of My Real Farm Life - Day 10



31 Days of Life on Our Farm!

Hi!  I'm so glad to be able to talk to you today.  I tried to yesterday, but my page wouldn't load, and I thought I might not ever see you again.  It was still messed up  this morning, but sometime during the day it fixed itself.  I'm so glad.

Yesterday I made wine.  I usually follow the Welch's Grape Juice Wine recipe.  But I change it a little because we are using  our own fresh squeezed grape juice instead of frozen concentrate.  We had four gallons of juice, which made 5 and a half gallons of wine. 

I start with one gallon of grape juice.  I pour about half the gallon into a separate container.  I put 4 cups of sugar and 1/2 tsp of yeast into a bowl.  I add about a cup of warm water.  Just enough to dissolve the sugar and yeast.  I add this sugar mix back to the grape in the gallon jug.  I stir, then add some of the extra grape juice to finish filling the jug.  I leave about 1 - 2 inches empty.  To finish, I put a balloon on the neck of the bottle.  I numbered the balloons in the order I bottled them. 

Inabout an hour, the balloons will start to inflate as the yeast starts the brewing process.  The wine bottles will sit in a cool place for 6 - 8 weeks.  I will check them daily.  Sometimes the balloon blows off, and I have to put a new one on, and hope I found it in time!  One day after about 6 weeks, we will go in and the balloon will be deflated.  When that happens, the wine is ready!  Then we will re-bottle it, or just put the cap on the jug.  You can drink it at that point, or it will continue to age and get better the longer you leave it.  This is the fourth year I have made wine.  Last year Pappy was bored because he had just retired.  He experimented with several types of juices.  Every one's favorite wine that year was blackberry!  But, we didn't get to have any cobblers or pies because he stole all my fruit out of the freezer!  Some people use a rubber glove instead of balloons, on top of their jugs.  That is a comical sight!

Here are a few of the jugs on day 2.  Notice how the balloons are inflated? 

Last night was the Bible in 90 Days Congrats Twitter Party!  Saturday was day 90.  So many were able to finish the Bible (some for the first time) and we celebrated that last night.  I have read the Bible though three times previously.  I am not finished yet this time.  I got a little too distracted with life, I guess.  But I am starting John, and I think I will be finished in about a week.

Thanks for stopping by!  Honey

31 Days of My Real Farm Life - Days 8 & 9



31 Days of Life on Our Farm!

Hi all!  Hope you all had a peaceful weekend.  Ours was nice.  I am going to cheat and cover Saturday and Sunday with one post, so that I will be caught up.  I hope no one minds!  Saturday I got up about 8:00.  I piddled around with the computer and made coffee.  About 10, I went to the post offices to check for rent and cow checks and the bank to make a deposit.  Pappy wanted to me look to see if his cow sale check was here, because there will be no mail Monday.  He got it and we were very pleased!  We got $1,400 for our bull, like I said yesterday.  But the two calves we took also got $1,200.  That was a dollar a pound!  That was really good.  Next month, I'm going to sell a bunch of sheep.  I do that every year to pay for our Christmas. 

It was half price day at the thrift store, so I stopped by there, too, of course.  I had a shirt for Pappy to take back for credit because it was the wrong size.  I traded it for a deer feeder.  This is a stainless steel box with a door that can be pushed open.  The animal can feed at will.  It was marked $6.50, and the shirt I took back was $5.50, so they said we'd do an even trade.  I got a couple of other things, but for the life of me, I can't remember what.  No idea at the moment.  Oh, well.  Pappy liked the feeder.

After the thrift sale, I stopped at a yard sale, in a doctor's office parking lot.  The ladies all wore dresses, and I've been wearing skirts for about a year, so I picked up some clothes for me. 

About the time I got home, Daughter #3 called and was ready to drop off GrandBoy for the weekend.  She brought him over, and talked to her Dad about what she needed to work on at the trailer tomorrow.  She went over to drop off some appliances and paint the cabinets.  She hopes to move in the first of the month.

Yesterday was Pappy's 2nd annual retirement party.  Statistics say that police officers usually only live about five years after they retire.  Pappy has been retired a year October 1.  He says he is having a party every year the first five years, to break the curse!  Everyone had a great time.  GrandBoy thinks anywhere there are men, he is suppose to be there too.  So he was at the party, too. 

This morning we went to church.  Daughter #1 took GrandBoy with her to Sunday school, and I went for services.  I have fibroid tumors in my uterus.  I look pregnant, and strangers ask when I am due.  When I start my period, the first day is a killer.  I say that I only have one bad day a month.  My husband says that my bad days are rolling around more often than they used to.  So anyway, today was a bad day for me, pain wise.  But I can tell it is easing now, and tomorrow will be OK.  The only cure, per the doctors, is a hysterectomy.  Because of the size of my uterus and the number of tumors, I would be in the hospital for about five days for major surgery, and I would not be able to drive for 6 -8 weeks.  I just don't feel like I can do all that right now.  We are very busy people, and I take care of my grandson a lot.  Maybe in a year or two, when he doesn't need to be held or chased down, I will feel able to do the surgery.  But right now, I don't feel I can devote the time and energy to it.  Also, I am self-employed, so if I don't work, I don't get paid.  That is another reason.  I've been like this two years.  I was doing really well with taking some supplements and following an organic diet to control the growth of the tumors, and I lost a lot of weight in the process.  But when we had a tornado here in April, we were without electricity for a week, and I got off my schedule.  I have not really gotten back on it.  So I need to make an effort to do that and be healthier.  The tumors had shrank and I was doing well.  Now they are growing again, and so am I.  Sorry to go off on a rabbit trail.  I don't know what possessed me to go into all that. 

Earlier today I just laid around.  But this evening I had a good spell, and cleaned up a little.  Tomorrow after work, I will start our wine making.  I thought we still had plenty from last year, but we are down to about 6 bottles.  I also have some apples I need to can.

Saturday was day 90 of Bible in 90 Days.  I am half way through Luke.  So I will be finished in a week or sooner, but I didn't make the 90 days this time.  This will be the 4th time I've read the Bible through.  I'm so happy for all the ones who were able to finish.  It is a wonderful program and very encouraging if you decide to try it in the spring.

So that was our weekend.  It was warm here, and a little cool at night.  The trees are beginning to turn and lose their leaves.  And the deer hunters are driving along our property lines to the woods behind us looking for their next buck.

Talk tomorrow. Hope you have a good week.  Honey

31 Days of My Real Farm Life - Day 7

31 Days of Life on Our Farm!

Hi friends!  I can call friends, can't I?  Well, some of you may have noticed there was not a post on day 7.  That is because I had car trouble, and a lot of other things.  But I am going to post Day 7 and Day 8 today, so don't tell the 31 Day people, OK? 

Yesterday was Friday.  I worked from 8 until 12, like usual.  I told the man that I contract for about my plans to be off Monday.  He said that was fine, but he wouldn't be in Tuesday.  He has to take his sister to the hospital to have a procedure.  Since we won't work together or talk for 4 days, I told him I would come Monday.  I, as a rule, don't work bank and postal holidays.  Monday is Columbus Day.  But I will go in, get the messages and deposits ready for Tuesday.  And maybe if we are slow like we probably will be, I'll leave early.  So much for my house cleaning.  Since there will be no reason to go the PO boxes and banks, I can start on my house at 1:00.  That will be the new plan.  I need a house helper.  A maid.  Does anyone have a daughter that would like to be an apprentice?  She can board.  Let me know if you know someone.  I'm trying to tell Pappy we need to find a couple to move on the farm and help out.  I have not had any luck convincing him.

When I got off work, I had to meet Pappy at the bank to sign his paper work that I signed yesterday when he was at the cow sale.  I was having trouble with my car overheating on the way to the bank.  Pappy put water in my car Monday, and it needed water again.  So we decided that I should take it to the shop.  Daughter #1 was coming to meet me to go shopping so we left my car at the bank to cool off.  Pappy filled it with water.  He was prepared with a five gallon can of water on the truck.  I guess farmers are a lot like boy scouts.  Or maybe retired cops are.

Daughter #1 said she had to eat lunch, so we stopped at the Jacks.  She told me to call Pappy and see if he wanted to eat, too.  He stopped by, and we had lunch.  Then Daughter #1 and I went to the final 50% off days of Kids Market.  Kids Market is a local consignment sale.  I may have told you that GrandBoy doesn't seem to have many clothes.  His mom sells them at the end of the season.  I know this because two years in a row I have bought him clothes and when the season returns, he has nothing to wear and he has not grown much.  He just turned three and still can wear some 2s, and he can wear 3s.  So this would have been the same clothes he wore at the end of last winter.  He has jeans and church clothes at my house,  but I can't find many sweat pants.  I like him to wear those outside on the farm, so he doesn't mess up his jeans or rip them.  At Kids Market I got 28 "pieces" for 30 dollars.  Two toys, a pair of rain boots, a pair of crocks for the spring (boys can wear teal, can't they?), 6 pair of underwear, a "Cars" sandwich box and water bottle set, a John Deere toboggan, a camo hat, eight pairs of sweat pants, a red turtleneck, a Christmas sweater vest for church, and four "Cars" shirts.  He loves the movie "Cars".  I was pleased, and now he is set for winter.  I already bought some clothes and sent those to his Mom's.  So he is now ready at both places.

Next we went to a store called "Dirt Cheap".  This is a consolidation type store.  It was confusing to me.  My daughters love it, and my tenants shop there, but I know I won't go back by myself.  You have to look at charts to figure out the price, and there are discount signs on each shelf.  How do I know someone didn't just set the item down on the wrong shelf?  Any way, I spent $40 there.  Got Pappy a air compressor for the truck that runs off the cigarette lighter.  I get more flat tires than anyone in the world.  Probably should put it in my car.  I got some fall decorations.  A couple of towels with appliqued pumpkins, fake pumpkins and gourds, Some expensive fall paper plates for desert on Thanksgiving, some Thanksgiving cards to mail to the Texas family, and I don't know what else.  Daughter #1 bought some clothes.

Since Daughter #1 works nights she was getting tired, so we didn't make it to Aldis as I had planned.  We went home.  We couldn't find the garage, so Pappy followed me back there to drop off my car.  I think it may be a hose leaking.  We will see.

Pappy's niece had a baby yesterday!  It is her second girl, and they named the beautiful princess, Amelia!  She has a big sister waiting at home.  I was going to post a photo, but we are having cell phone tower issues in North Alabama, and I can't send the photo from my phone to my email this morning.  Maybe next time.

I guess that is all for today.  Everyone have a great weekend.  I'll post about Day 8 in a while.  Honey

31 Days of My Real Farm Life - Day 6



31 Days of Life on Our Farm!



Hi friends!  Today was Thursday.  Last night GrandBoy and I went to church.  He slept in his own bed, and he was so proud!  This morning I went to work, and GrandBoy and Pappy went to the cow sale.  I think it was quite a day.  GrandBoy wanted to stay out on the catwalk where you can see all the cows below.  But Pappy couldn't bid on the cows out there.  Grand Boy didn't want to go inside the arena, because he knew they would be sitting, and that's not fun for a three year old boy.  Pappy took two calves and a bull to the sale.  Our bull went for $1,400! That was a great surprise!  We were both very pleased.  Guess what!  I have always wanted a milk cow.  But they cost a lot of money, like $1,000.  And if I ever find dairy calves for sale, they are always bull calves.  So today Pappy came home from the sale with a Holstein!  She is six months bred, and he got her for about $600 for the pair.  That is amazing.  He will take the cow and calf back to the sale after the calf is born and make money off the transaction.  He told me if the calf is a female I can keep her for a milk cow!  We'll see how this goes, and I will keep you posted.  He also bought another bred cow.  AND he brought me a "present".  A box of apples!  He hadn't seen a need to try to buy any apples when I brought it up last week.  But when someone was selling them at the cow sale, he bought me a box because he thought of me!  He's so good to me.

Daughter #3 is so excited about moving to our place that we are setting up.  She asks me several times a day if we have done this, this, this.  It is just the 6th day of the month.  She will come over Sunday and help her Dad there, and paint the cabinets.

Today while Pappy was at the cow sale, I had to go to the bank to sign some paperwork.  While I was there, I got a call.  I had forgotten that I had an appointment with an insurance agent to give me a quote on the farm policy.  It is hard to find an insurance company here to insure farms.  So I told him I could be there in 30 minutes.  I met him at the farm and showed him around.  He will email me some questions, and hopefully we will get a better price.

Next on the errand list, I went to the post office boxes to pick up the mail, then to the bank to deposit rent.  I met a couple of tenants to get their rent in cash.  Pappy called, and I met him to get GrandBoy.  Then I waited about an hour to meet someone to pick GrandBoy up.  While we waited, we went back to the thrift store, where I got two skirts.  That's about the only place to go and wait in our small community that doesn't involve McDonalds and a play place.  I refuse to take GrandBoy to McDonalds.  So we browsed the thrift store for about 30 minutes while we waited.  I got the cutest book of blessings.  It is a child's book, and it was published in the 40's.  It is in mint condition and the illustrations are beautiful.

Tonight I was showing Daughter #1 some catelogs that came in the mail.  I had looked through them and marked several outfits I would like to duplicate.  I don't get catalogs like that, and I was surprised they came.  I enjoyed looking through them, and showed them to my daughter.  She liked them too.  I told her to look and see if they came to her by chance.  She looked, and laughed.  They weren't hers, and they weren't mine.  They came to the wrong address!  Oh, my.  Someone didn't get their catalogs.  But we enjoyed them, and I ordered them so we will get a set next time.

Daughter #2 asked me to meet her today for lunch.  She wanted to me pray with her.  Her relationship is ending, and she seems to be taking it hard.  She said she has been praying for two days and doesn't feel her prayers are doing any good or that God is hearing her.  I told her not to pray that things would work out with that man.  Pray that God will show her where He wants her to be, the path He wants her to follow, and the man He has chosen for her.  I did pray for her.  She was afraid her Dad and I would be disappointed about this break up.  She has made a lot of progress in the last six months since she returned home.  The man she was seeing is successful, but that doesn't mean that he is the one God has chosen for her.  I hope that she doesn't stumble through this, and that she continues to go forward in her progress.  I hope she is still, and feels God's hand on her life.  I'm praying for her.  God has great plans for her, I'm sure.

Daughter #1 is worried about her classes.  She is afraid her grades aren't as high as she would like and that she might not get into nursing school.  I'm praying for her, too.  I know that she will be successful, no matter what happens.

I noticed today that I need to pick the tomatoes.  I am planning to be off Monday in observance of Columbus Day.  I hope I will get a lot of things done at home.

Locally, today we got our first Aldi's Grocery Store.  I have wished for one here for a couple of years, and can't wait to go visit tomorrow.  My sister went today.  Most of you probably know that you have to have a quarter to get a cart.  My sister didn't have a quarter, so she carried things around the store in her arms.  Pumpkins were $1.99 each.  She got three.  I guess she kicked those around the store, or something!   She checked out three times, went to her car, and came back in for more.  The last time one man asked if he would see her again tonight!  She answered she thought she was done!  You also have to pay for bags, and she didn't bring her recycleables, so she carried items to the car herself. Milk was $1.99, and eggs .49 a dozen.  I'm pretty excited to try this store out.  Bananas were 28 cents a pound!  The bad bananas here that I buy are about 33 cents a pound.  This will be great, I think.

One of our peacocks are dead.  The young female.  Pappy thinks one of the turkeys may be sick, too.  I hope it doesn't die.  I'm afraid that the farmers around us (we are in the middle of 100 acres of crops.  Most years it is cotton, but this year it is soy beans) may have sprayed the crops again.  The soybeans are turning yellow, but I'm not sure if they die off like cotton does.  They spray cotton so the foliage dies, then they pick the cotton.  One year when they sprayed the fields we lost a sheep.  When we tried to figure out what happened, we noticed the sheeps' water was purple!  And we remembered the plane going over the day before.  So we dumped their water out, and no other animals died.  I hope that is not the case this time.

Well, I guess I should let you go.  Can you tell I don't have many lady friends?  I'm a busy, professional woman, and I think this is a problem for a lot of professional women.  Maybe all women.  Or maybe it's just me.  But anyway, its nice to talk to all of you.  Hope your evening is blessed!  Honey

31 Days of My Real Farm Life - Day 5



31 Days of Life on Our Farm!



Today in North Alabama, the temperatures were in the 80's.  Very nice if you need to be outside.  Our day started at 6:00, as usual.  I sat down in chair in ouroffice, and the phone rang.  Daughter #3 was on the phone, and was going to drop GrandBoy off at the road, if I would meet her there.  Our driveway is a half mile long.  No exaggeration!  So I met her at the mailbox, and picked up our boy.  When I got back to the house, the rest of the household was up, wondering where I had gone in my pajamas.  But they soon knew because GrandBoy let them know he was home as soon as he came through the door!  Daughter #1 watched him since it was her day off.  She also went grocery shopping and worked on party food for her Dad's party.

This  morning Pappy dropped off his trailer so the "barn dismantlers" could fill it with old hay.  Last night, the head guy helped Pappy load all the metal onto another trailer, and Pappy and GrandBoy unloaded it this afternoon.  GrandBoy would lift the corner of the next sheet, and hold it like that until Pappy came back from moving the previous sheet of metal.  GrandBoy was helping.  As he would say, he was "working"!

This is a sheet of the metal we purchased.  The barn was over 100 years old, with hand-carved oak beams and hand made nails.  We saved a couple of nails.  Pappy may buy some of the beams, when the guy decides how much he wants for them.  Pappy wants me to look up the metal we bought and see if it is 100 years old.  We will see.

Pappy went to Tennessee today and worked on one of the pastures we rent.  He sprayed the fence line and ditches.  He also checked all the fencing.  You have to have good fencing if you are going to keep cows.

The mobile home movers finally got finished.  They called me at 10 and wanted to get paid.  I told them I could meet them after 12, when I got off.  They wanted to come to my office.  I said "no".  We waited two days for them to get started.  They can wait 2 hours for me to get off.

When I got through going to the post offices and bank, I went by the house to pick up GrandBoy.  He and I went to the local elementary school where GrandBoy will go in the fall.  They have three year old preschool there.  GrandBoy could have gone this year, but his birthday is 2 weeks late.  He will definitely go in the fall.  The Preschool program is new here, and not available at each school.  So I wanted to make sure this program wasn't income based, and what the requirements were to attend.  The program is for any three year old who lives in the district.  So GrandBoy will definitely be going!  He was excited when he saw the playground.

Then we went to the local thrift store to return a vacuum cleaner I bought Saturday.  It didn't work, and I had 5 days to return it.  We looked around and picked up a few items.  GrandBoy wanted to look at the toys.  So that was the first stop.  We bought a bull dozier to play with in the sand box for 50 cents.  GrandBoy got a shirt, and Pappy got 2.  I got a book (but don't tell Pappy.  I told him I was trying not to buy any more books.  This made him very happy.).  I also got a Home Interiors Christmas picture that is framed.

Next stop was to Daughter #3's work.  This is GrandBoy's mom.  She works at a thrift store in the next big town to where we live.  I was carrying her some items that were at our house that she needed.  And while we were there, she asked me to pick up a few items for her.  She can't shop on a day she works.  She got some Christmas place mats.  I got some leg warmers to wear under my skirts, and some new Puma socks.  I also got Bubble bath.  I love bubble bath. I also got a rug for the bathroom, and a woven piece that I would like to make a rug out of.  We will see.

For dinner, I made hash out of the pork roast I cooked the other day.  I started by frying potatoes.  I love fried potatoes, but don't eat them often.  I added onions, green bell peppers, and a tomato that needed to be eaten.  When those veggies were cooked, I cut up the roast and let it heat through.  I added my favorite Soul Food Seasoning.  It was delicious.

Other than that, I'm still hanging out laundry, and I fed the chickens.  That about covers it here for the day.

Oh, I forgot to tell you.  Remember the guy who is in charge of barn demolition?  After I left yesterday, he told Pappy that he remembered where he knew me from.  Pappy said, "Well, where do you know her from?"  He said his brother used to rent from me.  And then he said, "And you know, she used to be married to a cop".  I was appalled that he thought I was divorced!  But Pappy thought it was funny.  He told the guy, "No, man, I am that cop". See Pappy has not cut his hair in the year he's been retired, so it is getting pretty long.  I guess he didn't look like a cop to that guy.  I guess it was pretty funny.  As long as I'm not divorced.  Honey