Christmas in the holler...

I have missed yall.  I haven't posted in a long time because my Dad had a stroke.  He's doing much better now.  God is our Faithful Healer.  I wanted to show you that even though we've been busy with hospitals and doctors and rehab places we did decorate to celebrate the Advent of our Lord Jesus.

Scrappy decided to get in on this picture and say hello. 

This is one of my favorite manger scenes.  I collect them and they're everywhere but I have this one separate and simple.  I like it that way.

Here's the other side of the room.  I didn't put up the large tree this year, just a small one but it's just right.

On my kitchen window sill I have some of my little favorites.  Here are some egg manger scenes.

These are just my favorite pretties.  The center piece has been in our family for years.  It holds tiny candles, like birthday size.  I just love it.

So, I'm off to visit your blogs. At least in the next few days hopefully I'll catch up on what's been happening in your life.  As always we are blessed far more than we deserve and send you Christmas blessings from the holler...

Fall in the holler...

Last week, before we had a really windy storm I got out and took a few pictures of our fall colors.  The morning that the rains came I ran out and gathered what I thought to be "the perfect" specimens that I could find.  I had fun standing under our big Sycamore tree while the rain misted.  Then, with my treasures, I put my head down and made my way up the hill to the house (hairdo trashed for the day, haha, but who cares)

The day before the storm.

My beautiful leaves spread out over the backside of two placemats.

  Isn't amazing how they differ in in size and color?  Our Creator didn't leave a boring place for us to live but beauty for us to enjoy and friends to share it with.  

You know, after all that, those trees didn't lose all their leaves.  Some trees did, sure. But the ones that are left are all the more beautiful for hanging on; at least, I think so!  Blessings to you all from the holler...

We had a visitor drop in...

Yesterday evening as dusk was setting in JP and I both noticed a pair of large wings settle on our bird feeder.  This is unusual because our standard visitors are chickadees, finches and the like.  Maybe something as large as a woodpecker comes to visit the suet cake sometime.  This was bigger, much bigger, it was a hawk!

 We both went into the kitchen to get a better look at him (we're going to call it a him) and he turned his head and looked right at JP. So, JP turned the kitchen light off to gain us more time before he flew away.  I went for the camera and was only able to get a few pictures.  Oddly, the one from inside the house is the clearest.  My hands were shaking because I was hurrying while I was outside.  I even tried to calm my breathing but to no avail.  This is the best I could do.

Here he is just under our bird feeder.  His feathers are all ruffled out.  Until he moved I thought he had one of our usual visitors in his talons for his supper but he was just sitting there.

This picture is taken from our back porch and he is sitting by our fence.  I tried to zoom in but it just all happened so fast.  Isn't he beautiful though?

Oh, here I finally got the zoom to clear up some and my hands to stop shaking.  Then...

He flew off... and this is all I could capture.  Woosh.....my heart was beating out of my chest.

God certainly made some majestic creatures and we are so blessed to live here in the holler where we see some of them.  We got a special "up close" blessing yesterday and wanted to share.  Have a great week and watch for God's blessings around you too.  Blessings from the holler...

A few things from the holler...

My BFF's birthday was recently so I made the table runner above for her.  She was raised in Ohio, so I learned this patten called Buckeye Beauty.  I don't know why this picture shows the muslin with darker spots.  Really, I didn't have one hand full of chocolate and one hand on my sewing while I was doing this, although it looks like it!

Our burning bush is full of berries and really starting to sparkle.  The birds love this bush, as do I.

I know I show y'all this plant every year, but it amazes me!  Here's how it goes: after it blooms like it's doing now it will die back for the winter and I'll chunk it out of the container over the porch railing (thinking, "oh well, it was beautiful again this year).  Next spring I'll be in the area where I "chunked" it, and I'll see it coming back to life.  Knowing it's potential, I will put it in a pot for the porch and by fall here we'll be again.  I think I've done this for at least 4 years now.  I love a plant that's hardy, but this plant takes abuse like nothing I've ever seen.  I'm not sure what kind it is....maybe in the Wandering Jew family?

 Next is my little project that I did this week.  I made liquid soap!  I've seen this on Pinterest.com and wanted to do it, so I saved up my empty dispensers and went for it.  All you need is 1 1/2 bars of soap and 1 gallon of water.  I had a lovely lemon eucalyptus bar I'd bought in Amish country a while back, and some of JP's soap I found. I zipped it through the food processor.

The next step is to put it on the stove with a gallon of water and melt it.  This didn't take very long, about 20-30 min on low heat.  I'm guessing boiling would be bad because that would creat bubbles,,,oh my!  The next step is to let it cool.  Mine took about 2 hours.  It'll start to feel gelatenous when you stir it.



Then you fill your bottles and, voilá, hand soap for very little money!  Get me, being all frugal and stuff,,haha.
OH and clean-up is a breeze.  It's soap, so all you do is rinse!!!



Well, we are all blessed beyond measure.  Everyone in the pack is doing well.  Have a great week.  Blessings from the holler...

May I suggest a great read?...

You may have already read this book.  If so, like me, you might want a copy on your kindle.  A fellow blogger wrote the story of her life and times with her dog Max.  Now it's available on Kindle for only $2.99!!!  I have it in both formats and highly suggest her book.  If you love animals, you will love this book.  I have included the link below sweet Max's picture.

  Go by her blog and give her your feedback on the book she would love to hear from you.  Also, she now has Toby and Lexi, two wonderful Golden retreivers who are absolute loves.  She is still living life to the Max...

  Living Life To The Max Blog....

.Link to Amazon to buy MaxDog for $2.99!!

Blessings from the holler to you all...

Meet our new neighbor...

This morning I looked out the window and saw our new neighbor.  This little one is obviously a new addition to our neighbor's herd and I'm delighted to get to watch him/her today.  The mom probably heard I have great references,,,haha.



  I used to worry when the mom's would go off and leave the baby calves here.  Then one day after I had watched and watched a particular calf lay in the shade here I called our neighbor and they told me that the mommas to that.  They put them in the shade while they go and graze!  See, I don't remember my Dad's cows doing that but this herd does and now I'm happy they do because I get to have the nursery here.

What a little doll, welcome to the world little one.

 

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  Blessings to you all from all of us in the holler...

I wish I could relax like this...

JP and I have our chairs that we sit in when we're in the den (which is most of the time.)  The futon stays covered until company comes.  Therefore, Scrappy has claimed it as her own since she is the only one we allow on the furniture, she is queen of the castle in her little world.

Look at this dog!  No worries right?

I wish I could relax that completely.

She did stir after the flash went off a few times and gave me the look.   As if to say, "really, can't a gal just take a nap without you putting that flashy thing in my face.  I do this all day everyday,,,what is your deal? "

She is cute and because of that she gets away with quite the superior 'tude.  We just laugh and let her go.

I hope that you are having a relaxing day and as always,,,blessings from the holler...

Our latest visitors to the holler...

Do you have more butterflies this year?  I think we do.

The other afternoon I looked out my window at this huge oregano plant that has all but taken over our front flower garden and it was covered in butterflies.  Huh, it's not just for cooking!  I had planned to try to kill this plant this year.  Maybe put some in a container for our kitchen use, but now I think maybe I'll just try to somehow contain it there if I can and let the butterflies have it they're so pretty.

Weekend blessings from all of us in the holler...

Guess where the end of the rainbow was yesterday...

The end of the rainbow was literally here in the holler!  I had just finished talking with my mom-in-law and it had rained some, then the sun came out and I noticed a rainbow out the front window.  Well, I love a rainbow and went out on the porch to get a better view.  I was stunned, ran into the house to get the camera hoping to get this captured, the end of rainbow was right in front of me.  I am so glad that we don't have to wait on film anymore.  Do you remember that agony?



see it coming through the trees there? squeal....



Then to my surprise, not only could I see one end, but both ends.  Wouldn't you know it, JP was driving right underneath the one end coming home from work.  I guess he is my pot of gold, right?  What I didn't even see in my short-sightedness was the double-rainbow above it.  I was so busy looking right in front of me that I missed the other beauty.  Thank goodness I have pictures.  Now that I'm calm I can enjoy both rainbows.

So, that's enough excitement for me for awhile.  I'm easy,,hahaha.  I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend.  If it rains, look for the rainbow.  Blessings from the holler...

What is their secret?...

Today a friend of ours is going through a great trial; his wife is in the waiting room also going through a great trial: Waiting.  This is not their first test of faith; no, not by any means.  But, that is not the point here.  We all go through trials, it is a fact of living on this earth.  Their secret is their faith in God.

God is real!  He has given us many promises in His Word.  He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus to die for our sins, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life. (John chapter 3 verse 16).  Jesus did not stay dead, though.  He is alive, and proved it for 40 days for His apostles, then He went to heaven.  Read Acts chapter 1.

That is how we can get through these trials on this earth!  Because God has never lied, He has always been faithful to His people, He loves us, He is FOR us.   God is for our friend and his wife.  He is for you and me. He loves you.  It says so in His word.

So, we will be praying for them and God will answer.  Whatever is best will be His answer.  If you have a prayer request feel free to e-mail me or post it in the comment section.  I will not publish it if you do not wish me to do so.  Also, if you don't know Jesus as your Savior and want to ask questions, that's great.  If I don't know the answer, JP will because he is really smart :)  God loves you and we do too,,,blessings from the holler...

Summer beauty...

I decided to bring a sample of what's blooming outside to the inside for the weekend.  It's kind of lopsided but it's colorful and pleasing.

Charlie and Corrie decided to cooperate for a picture.  Speedbump and Violet were being shy and Scrappy was just shamefully dirty, but...

Here's Daisy, she's all healed up and working on growing her hair back from having that cyst removed.  We're so glad that's over and she is good as new.  It's amazing how she still plays even though she's 12 yrs. old.  I am so thankful for her.

We pray that you take the time to enjoy all of the beauty God has put around us in His creation this summer.  As always, blessings from the holler...

Babies on parade...

Yesterday was a lovely day in the holler.  It was rainy and the mists hovered between the hills like smoke. Evidently this all made for a perfect day for the animal moms to bring their babies out.  Before JP went to work, I looked out the front window and there were three turkey moms with their chicks feeding in the front yard.  I had never seen this before.  They usually sneak the babes up through the tallest grass they can find and hide them under a spruce tree while they eat.  We haven't been able to get out and mow because it has been raining every day so the grass in the front gets taller and taller, maybe that's why.  So, I got the camera and snapped a picture or 30!  You can hardly see the baby turkeys but here's the best ones.

Later in the afternoon, Charlie gave me his "big boy bark" and I looked out and this baby deer and his mom were in the same spot where the turkeys were.  What a delight watching this young one kicking up his heels like he was in a rodeo!  The momma deer was more guarded and scooted away to the creek when I peeked out the front door with the camera, but you can tell the little one still has his spots. awwww!

So, all that action just made my day.  What a treat to get to see these little darlings.  I hope you enjoy them too.  Blessings from the holler...

We have been pretty busy...

We just finished a project that JP has been wanting to do for quite some time.  We made Sauerkraut!  JP got a special pickling crock, a book called "The Joy of Pickling," and we went to it.  We started it back on May 5th, putting it in a closet that we kept cool.  Actually, we ended up keeping the house at around 70 degrees so I was glad for the project to end to celebrate summer temperatures.  But the end product was worth it.

He chopped the cabbage, packed it in the crock (which has this water seal so you don't have to smell the krauty smells), and on May 29th we got our first taste of the best sauerkraut I have ever had.  It's crunchy and so delicious.  This week I plan to cook it in a proper pork and kraut dish but it was great on a hot dog.

It is all stored in jars and in the refrigerator.  I don't think it will last very long.  We gave one jar away and we've eaten one. Hmmm.....

Another project completed is this baby blanket.  I made it for a friend who is going to be a grandma.  That square in the middle is an antique.  It's hand stitched onto flour sack material. awwwww.

Well, that's all the pictures I have.  Blessings to you all from the holler...

Weekend update from the holler...

Daisy and her cone got to be a real terror around the house but thankfully the cone of terror is gone!!  She still has a little place that is healing but she is doing well and so glad to be free from that contraption and so are the rest of us.  I don't think anyone escaped bruising from that massive thing.  Thus, I finally had to make, at least, appear friendly with some hearts and flowers to amuse myself.

In other happenings, the turkeys are strutting!!!  The boys were out in the front yard the other day strutting their collective stuff. Thanks to JP spotting them, I got this really cool picture with the morning sun shining on them and through two of their butt feathers (I'm sure there's a more technical term.)  Forgive the picture quality please, this was taken through our front window which hasn't been cleaned since.....well, a long time, hehe.

This weekend we are remembering the Veterans who have given their lives for our country.  We are thankful for them, their families sacrifice, and for God's blessings.  Blesssings from the holler...

Beauty on Monday...

We hope that you have a beautiful Monday.  Take time to appreciate all the beauty God has put here for us to enjoy.  Blessings from the holler...

Daisy is home and doing well...

The title really says it all, Daisy is home and doing well after her surgery.  If you are squimish about incisions at all then don't look at her pictures because it's not pretty.  However, the doctor did a fine job and removed the cyst which was fluid filled and no danger....yippee!

Daisy first day home and on her "good drugs"



We are to limit her activity for the next 5-7 days which means walking her outdoors but she is no trouble at all.  Today, she is feeling some better and I am sure will get better each day.  I learned the hard way that she must wear her cone when I'm not around because the first night she removed a stitch.  The vet said one stitch  is nothing to worry about since it's one of many layers of stitches but use the cone for the next few days.

Daisy today after a walk outside.



So, thanks for your prayers and well wishes.  We certainly appreciate you all and are glad to have are pack back!  Blessings from the holler...

The Pack is out of wack...

We are minus one in our pack for the next few days and it is so weird.  You would think with six dogs it would be like the "Old Woman who lived in a shoe she had so many children she didn't know what to do."  But we are missing our sweet Daisy who is spending the weekend at the vets office.  She has a cyst on her side and we've been told not to worry, it's not attached and we've been watching it for a couple of years.  Yesterday, though, things changed it got much bigger and opened up (we'll leave it at that.)



So, after a call to our Vet this a.m. I took her in and they are going to give her antibiotics over the weekend and she will have surgery to remove it first thing Monday morning.  I was thinking on the way to the vet's office what does God think about my sweetheart in the back seat.  Here are the comforting word's that came to mind from my Heavenly Father.

Matthew 6:26 & 34- Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them, aren't you worth much more than they?  So, do not worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will take care of itself.  Each day has enough trouble of it's own.
AND
I Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

So, in those two passages I am extremely comforted in that God cares about my worries and He cares about Daisy.  What a loving thing to be comforted right before I had to leave her.  I desperately hate that confused look they give me when they go in their kennel there and I have to leave them.

LET'S LIGHTEN UP!!! Tomorrow I am blessed to spend the afternoon with my mother and son.

This is my mom on her graduation day. Isn't she pretty?

 Mom holding me. awww

Me and JP,jr ..... he gives the best hugs!

Blessings to you all from the holler....