Love early summer days...

Yesterday morning while I waited for my Dad and Mom to come pick me up to go strawberry pickin' I took some pictures of some of the sights in our yard.
The Coriopsis will bloom all summer and are nice for picking (since our granddaughter is obsessed with picking flowers.)
I stuck this amarylis plant behind the Irises last year, and see, it looks like Christmas.
I saw this weird looking butterfly or moth. It's kinda scarey looking. Anyone know what kind it is?

I wanted to take our camera to the strawberry patch but the battery went dead. As always, the Lord knows best because it was a good stretch of the leg from the car to the patch. We had our two baskets each picked in no time. I plan to make some jam, pies, and hopefully have enough to freeze for a cake later on in the year. Oh, and we got to keep the baskets - yippee!

As JP says, "I'm easy." I'm pretty easy to please, make laugh and cry. What concerns me is that lately it's easy to forget! Last night, I wanted to tell JP something so I went in the den and on the way there I forgot what it was. I turned around and went back in the office where the aforementioned thought popped into my head to begin with but that trip was to no avail. So I went back through the den and said something like "forget it,,maybe it wasn't important." I think I remembered it later but I forgot what it was now. Confused yet? Good, I like to keep you in my world. I'm ready for the wise cracks - go ahead it won't hurt my feelings, I can take it :O)

Oh, Corrie, Violet and Spaceghost said "hey, from the holler!"

Have a great weekend and God's blessings to you and yours.

Daisy's hip story...

In June 2007 I noticed that Daisy's back right leg didn't move smoothly. It looked like her leg was catching. I also noticed that she started favoring that leg and not using it at times. After x-rays at our vet's office we heard the dreaded news - hip dysplasia. I was heart sick and angry because the breeder told us her hips are "guaranteed." Fortunately, we have a wonderful Vet who really knows his stuff and teaches interns for the University of Tennessee Veterinary school. He explained that there were two options for us. One option was total hip replacement which they'd do in Knoxville, is very expensive, and risks involve her body rejecting the new hip. The other option was called Femoral head excision where he would remove the part of the hip bone that was supposed to go into the socket, reattach the muscle and tendons, is less expensive, and with faithful physical therapy on our part she'd be running in 6-8 weeks post op. We went for the later option because I trust our doctor and I didn't want Daisy to suffer any more. It was all I could do to leave her there on surgery eve and I cried all the way home. She stayed at the doctor's office for four days (they called me twice a day) and when she came home she had a cone collar on. Poor thing was confused about the collar but ran on three legs like it was no problem. Needless to say, I was diligent with her physical therapy. Three times a day I moved her leg up and down like she would if she were walking, then eventually increased the range of motion to full extension. She didn't like it so I started schmoozing her with treats during PT. Of course, she went for that part. She healed fine, got her stitches out and continued PT.

And then it happened like the doctor said, one day (about 8 weeks after surgery) she wanted to bark at the cows and she ran to the fence using both back legs. I wept for joy (that's right I cry at the drop of a hat.) Two years later, she's fine, still the boss (actually referee suits her more) and runs at the head of the pack.

Remember with us...

We have military folks on both sides of our family. We're proud to be military parents as well. Our son even met our lovely daughter-in-love while she was in the Air Force as their equivalent of an MP. So we have great reason to enjoy this holiday and remember those we know who serve and have served in our armed forces. Many families make the ultimate sacrifice and to them we humbly give our appreciation and prayers. We hope that you all have great weekend and take time to reflect and appreciate all the people you know who serve and have served our country. Blessings from the holler.

Picture pages.....

These pictures were taken of our sweet little granddaughter. There's a field not far from our house that is just covered in daffodils and bluebells in the early spring. I try to get pictures of her in her Easter dress out there. We've done this two years and they always turn out so good (of course I think that - but hey she's ours!)

Charlie's Rebellion....

This morning started like every other morning here. Here's how it goes, I feed the dogs, gather the bowls from inside, and Charlie brings his own bowl in. Except this morning Charlie decided to head up hill with his bowl. It was so funny because I called him and he turned around and couldn't see me because his big ole bowl was in the way. Then he dropped the bowl to see me and it went rolling so he had to fight it and then get it again. Then he came prancing down the hill like he was the leading clown in a parade. He's such a goof. I'm just glad the camera was handy. Blessings from the holler to you and yours.

We have protection...

Daisy is in charge of all home intruders but when we first moved back to Tennessee we had skunk troubles. That's a whole different kind of protection we needed. I've found a concoction that will almost get the smell out of dog fur. I say "almost" because it may take more than one application or days to wear off. The recipe is 1/2 box baking soda, 1 small bottle peroxide and 1/2 to 1 cup dish detergent (I like lemon scented) mixed together in an old tea pitcher with some warm water just enough to fill the pitcher. Apply liberally to the area/areas where the skunk hit his mark and then let the poor dear sit and wait for 5-10 minutes (the longer the better.) Use gloves or it'll get on you - believe me I speak from experience and this recipe makes enough for two dogs partially sprayed or one big dog that really got it and was too spirited to run away. Cowardice is a good trait when it comes to skunks. Daisy isn't a coward by any stretch of the imagination. Therefore, she got it in her mouth and all over her chest----YUK! I brushed her teeth with baking soda for days after the attack of course she also got "the bath."

Our skunk trouble isn't the reason for this post. All the above information you get free! What I learned from the skunk attacks is that varmints shy away from animal hair so when I brush the dogs I throw the hair over the fence. We haven't had another skunk attack since. Of course I did kill that one while JP was on the road that time and then he killed another one (both super funny stories I'll tell another time.) The varmints I'm guarding against are turkeys, rabbits and deer. I don't have a picture of the rabbits but I'm pretty sure they're the ones who hopped up to my herb garden and all but leveled it. Those wascally wabbits!!










All that to tell you that I've got two "dogs" guarding our vegetable garden. I made a short, small circle from chicken wire, staked it in the ground and fill it with dog hair that I collect during brush time. Charlie and Speedbump are the main contributors. That's right, they're earning their keep.

Here they are. One guards the tomato end and one is on the end with the corn (notice the matching tails) Also, appreciate the camera angle - I was on my knees to get these pictures just for you!
So far, so good. I think I should name them but I haven't come up with anything good yet. I think they look like little round Australian Shepherds. What do you think we should name them? How do you protect your garden from bunnies, deer, etc?

Garden update...

We're finally having some sunny days here and the garden is going wild. The weeds have almost taken over but I've been working at that. We have at least 6 inches around each plant weed free - the other will have to be chipped away as we can. Oh, I wish I had mulched the whole blooming thing!

The exciting news is that we have a peach. It will be the most pampered peach ever. Look,,isn't it so cute? And when it grows to be a big grown up peach we'll share it. Maybe next year we'll get enough for a cobbler or a pie.

Our tater tires are doing great. We're almost ready for the third tire. Lots of people have tires in their yards but ours are working it! By the way, we have potatoes in the ground in front there too!
Back to fruit, we have blueberries too. I'm excited about having them produce some this year. We have seven plants and they all have some berries.

Well that's just a little garden update. Oh, Corrie and Violet say hello from their sunbathing spot. Blessings from the holler.

Moms of our family...

I wanted to do a special post for Mother's day. JP had the idea of getting photos of our mom's and I went with it. I went all the way back to my great-great-grandmother. So pardon the quality of the photos. The top photo is JP's mom, his granny, and my mom. We're both blessed to have great mom's so here's to you both. Thank you for all you did to raise us and sacrificed on our behalf. I also want to say I count it as one of God's biggest blessings to be a mom and mamaw - our son and grand babies are a joy. Our daughter-in-love is a great mom and I could ask for no better.
This is my mom and me after building our first snowman after moving from Florida to Tennessee.
















This is my mom, aunt and my grandmother


















My Grandma on Ira - this is my dad's mom.



















My mom's grandmother they called her "little grandma"













Great grandmother Ellen



















Great grandma Hardee



















Our son giving me the bear hug - I hate it can you tell :O)



















And this is our daughter-in-love being the great mom she is.














Happy Mother's day to you all from the holler.

Showers of Blessings...

We have had so much rain here recently. It's a blessing really, but I do whine about not being able to be outside and having 24 wet paws bringing all outdoors in for me to see on our floors. Scrappy especially is a trial since she feels her day isn't complete unless she smells like something dead. I think she's had a bath almost everyday for about a week, sometimes more than one a day. As a matter of fact she needs one now. Okay, I'm done complaining and ready to rejoice. My troubles are minute and pale in comparison to the many blessings The Lord has given me. We have love, our health, our family and friends - the list could go on and on. For example, from my bedroom window is a view that truly blesses me. I grabbed the camera and got some pictures of the blessings right outside the window for our post today. I read from Psalm 40 this morning and started the day humbled by the remembrance of just how blessed I am. What a great way to start the day.

Psalm 40

¹ I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.

² He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.

³ He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.

⁴ Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.

⁵ Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.

Painted Daisies

We have a rose bush so full we'll have to prop it up. The Peonies are ready to pop. The Columbine decided to give us two colors this year. So look around and share with us your blessings. That's another thing, we are able to share our blessings. God's richest blessings to you and yours.

Days gone by or...I'll Share if you will..

Catchy title? Yesterday we had lunch with our dear friends and had so much fun. I was a bit of a party pooper because, for some reason, yesterday my ears decided to stop up. It was like my head was in a bucket so I felt like I was talking really loud so then I tried to speak softly - it was weird and I just knew that everyone was thinking "what's her deal?" Except that they have three children who JP and I love. I've stayed with them a couple of times and we have a pretty casual and honest relationship. I know that Lovely K would've said "Ummm,,Mrs. JP why are you talking all weird like that?" So I took comfort that I could count on the kids to tell me if I was being as weird as I felt. All that to say that at one point our conversation turned to how we looked in the 1980's. JP had long hair! Then our first few dates were spent changing his hair to the super cool punk look. That's right, I know it's hard to believe that conservative us were not so conservative once. Here's the deal...I'm dedicating this post to how we used to look. I dare you to do the same! Of course you know these aren't digital so excuse the quality of the pictures. Okay here's the picture map. The top photo is JP and I on our wedding day - fancy huh?

Here's us at my parents for Christmas.












JP at my parent's farm.

Our little family.

This is me and my dad.

Me in my cool fro at Christmas.

OK,,,we better see some pictures soon!