Rainy Saturday

It's a rainy day here on the mountain. I have the windows and the back porch door open so we can enjoy listening to the raindrops fall onto the tree leaves... The birds are singing and enjoying the weather as well and we all know how much the gardens LOVE fresh rain! I'm listing a few new items on eBay and Etsy... handmade primitives of course... and will be doing so the next few days. I love late spring and early summer and enjoy making Americana and summertime bowl fillers... I'm even going to start on a new doll soon... Enjoy your day and don't forget to feel the rain on your skin... take your shoes off and walk through the wet grass and stick your feet under the drain spout... if you're feeling REALLY daring, step into the mud, too! :)

John Deere Green

I have an old 1993 John Deere mower... I absolutely love it even though it usually takes more oil than gas to run. The yard looks so pretty after I mow it, especially with the peonies in bloom. Spring is almost over and summertime will be here before we know it. I usually cut the front yard, which is mostly sunny, on 3" in the spring, but as summer approaches and the hotter temperatures and drier weather reach us, I move the blade up to 3.5". Many people make the mistake of cutting their grass too short. The grass blades actually shade their own roots, and if cut too short in dry weather, you will surely have a brown yard.

Flu Season??

I didn't get a flu shot this past fall, nor do I intend on getting one. I decided to get a flu shot years ago and that is the only year of my life that I got the flu and actually dehydrated within a day. I think the flu bug is going around now. I know many people who have some type of cold/sinus issue or flu symptoms... Luckily, it's not lasting very long. We drink alot of green tea and plenty of water. Vitamins with added Vitamin C and orange juice in the fridge certainly helps. Campbell's chicken noodle soup another necessity during flu season... ahhh the old standby... used to be only sodium filled, but now we can purchase the low sodium cans of it, great if you suffer from high blood pressure, however, be careful, because it is still loaded with sodium, just not as much as the "regular" chicken noodle soup. Keep some tissues nearby and a good book... "this, too shall pass" :)

Remembering on MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ~

Is there someone military that you would like to mention, say a prayer for or honor from the past?

My Grandpa served in the military and is buried in Quantico, a military cemetary. My Father served in the army as well.

*Prayers going to all of us and may we take a moment at some point in our busy lives this weekend to remember, pray for and honor those that have given their lives so that we have the FREEDOM to pay high gas prices because we have gasoline... high heat bills because we have the freedom to purchase a house... high food costs because we have the means to put food on our tables... an internet bill so that we may work online and have online communcation... God bless the United States of America and the freedom that we so enjoy because of our fallen soldiers ~

Remembering on MEMORIAL DAY Weekend ~

Is there anyone in the military that you would like to mention, say a prayer for or honor from the past?

My Grandpa served in the military and is buried in Quantico, a military cemetary. My Father served in the army as well.

*Prayers going to all of us and may we take a moment at some point in our busy lives this weekend to remember, pray for and honor those that have given their lives so that we have the FREEDOM to pay high gas prices because we have gasoline... high heat bills because we have the freedom to purchase a house... high food costs because we have the means to put food on our tables... an internet bill so that we may work online and have online communcation... God bless the United States of America and the freedom that we so enjoy because of our fallen soldiers ~~ Pass this Memorial Candle to all of your friends and family

My latest creations...

My First Peony Bloom!

May always brings the beginnings of my peonies opening up... such gorgeous perennials and I love the variety that I have in our yard. They are over 20 years old and still give us such pleasure. We picked up the Jimmy today. The radiator had a crack in it, so it was repaired and now we can drive it again. The air conditioner compressor is broken in it and it costs 1300.00 to repair, so looks like we'll be rolling the windows down this summer ~ LOL! Quiet day here. We got alot of rain and I was able to find the time to tie the tomato plants up before the rain beat them down more. Gas is 3.89 per gallon here, which is tolerable, but we are anticipating the increase as everyone else throughout the states. Looks like we'll be shopping for a hybrid when the car dies. They get twice the gas mileage that our old vehicles that we have do... imagine the savings on the cost of gasoline alone... I hope "young David" wins American Idol. He sings so effortlessly. Getting off the computer to craft a bit before hitting the hay... I hope you had a wonderful day!!

Country Music Awards

We are watching the Country Music Awards... Garth Brooks is celebrating his Hall of Fame achievement. Kenny Chesney and George Strait sang their song and Taylor Swift was enjoying her moment in the spotlight and won New Female Vocalist of the Year... Had a great weekend, but always, way too short :)

Another Day in Paradise...

ROFL!! Well, this evening didn't turn out quite the way we planned, but if I had any thoughts left of driving a school bus at some point in my life, those aspirations went right out the window ~ I actually ran into our camper bumper with the riding mower and busted my rear tire. The John Deere dealership wants 35.00 to replace the tire and there is no place in our town that sells tractor tires, so hubby will stop by and pick one up for us tomorrow. If that wasn't enough, something is oozing out of our old Jimmy. It's antifreeze (the pet safe kind THANKFULLY) and hoping it is simply a hose, but we won't know for sure until we get it checked out. Other than that, life is good and today was a super day!! We are supposed to get rain here tonight through the weekend and I am glad we got the yard mowed. Hubby had to push mow the back, but he jumped right to it and didn't seem to mind. I think he likes it when I make big boo boos to make him feel that his are so minor ROFL!!!!! Anyway, my eyeballs are tired and I am going to get ready for bed... I hope you all had another day in paradise as well :)

Have you started planting your annuals yet? Rule of thumb here in West "by God" Virginia is after Mother's Day. Southern States has a wide variety of vegetable plants and annuals, however, I found out Saturday that they sell the very same brand that WalMart does and of course, WalMart's prices are less expensive. It is raining here today and calling for flash floods in our area. After the last few years of having such dry summers, we truly do welcome the rain... I love cool colors and these purple petunias are one of my favorites. Although the petunias tend to get very leggy by fall, if you remember to pinch them off and keep them shorter, they will bush out more and look nicer longer. Enjoy your day and say a prayer for those that have lost their homes due to the recent tornados across the United States. *keeping them in my prayers*

Happy Mother's Day!!

Look at these adorable primitive sheep!!

These are perfectly prim bowl fillers ~ I will be making more of these shortly. You can find these in my eBay store and on Etsy as well. Didn't they turn out adorable??

Mother's Day ~*~

I am blessed to be a Mother and what being a mom brings to my life. Happy Mother's Day to all!! xox

My Playlist

Well, I can't get into my playlist to add more music... says it does not recognize my username or password and they will not respond to my emails... Good grief... So, I hope you enjoy what few songs I have on there until I can either start another playlist or until someone kindly answers my request for assistance :)

Dirt Roads

What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have been paved. There's not a problem in America today, crime, drugs, education, divorce, delinquency that wouldn't be remedied, if we just had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character.

People that live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride.
That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it's worth it, if at the end is home...a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog.

We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom they learn how to get along. There was less crime in our streets before they were paved.

Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they'd be welcomed by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun and there were no drive by shootings. Our values were better when our roads were worse!

People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous, they didn't tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in front would choke you with dust & bust your windshield with rocks. Dirt Roads taught patience.

Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly, you didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk you walked to the barn for your milk. For your mail, you walked to the mail box.

What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was the best part, then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony rode on Daddy's shoulders and learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody. At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap.

Most paved roads lead to trouble, Dirt Roads more likely lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole. At the end of a Dirt Road, the only time we even locked our car was in August, because if we didn't some neighbor would fill it with too much zucchini.

At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income, from when city dudes would get stuck, you'd have to hitch up a team and pull them out. Usually you got a dollar...always you got a new friend...at the end of a Dirt Road! ~by Paul Harvey~

Weekend is Over....

What a gorgeous weekend we had here on the mountain... We took advantage of the wonderful weather and cleaned out the garage. We actually have space to walk around our vehicles now. Hubby and I went ahead and set our expired goods out at our trash spot JUST in case someone else needs an old mower that still runs or a toddler swing that can be bleached and cleaned for another little one to squeal with delight as they swing in it. We got a little sunshine on our faces and wore ourselves out to the point that we will rest great tonight. I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well :)