I could title this post, "A day without electricity" or "Blessed Simplicity." Oh, sorry; I haven't typed one sentence and already I'm rambling. You can tell what kind of post this will be--haphazard meandering thoughts. Anyway, last week, while some around us dealt with downed trees, and even worse devastation, from the storm front that came through here, our electricity went off around midnight. It was so dark and a fitful sleep without any air moving (we didn't dare open the windows, due to what it can do to my sinuses added to the dogs barking at every little noise outside). The dogs were restless as well, so I got up, lit a candle in the bathroom and that helped them to settled down.
When we got up that morning, I told JP "you go to Hardees for breakfast." I was throwing the towel in immediately. But JP said "we could boil water and run it thru the coffee filter and have coffee" - genius! We are blessed (and sometimes cursed, depending on the price of propane) to heat our home, heat our water and cook with gas, so our stove functions even when the power is out. Then he thought we could open the refrigerator one quick time to grab some ham and cheese, he was concerned that Hardees might not have power either and he would have to go hungry and w/out coffee all morning; so I did that and he got off to work with his usual coffee and a grilled ham and cheese. You can figure that that also means that I had my morning coffee - bliss.
Next came dog breakfast time - no problem. It was hard to read my Bible because it was still so cloudy and dark in the living room, but what I did manage to read was such a blessing. Next, I started my daily chores. I pulled some jeans out of the dryer. They weren't quite dry so I stretched them all over the place. As I did this simple chore I remembered that as I grew up, when we had a hard job or inconvenience like this, my Mom (champion of chores) would not complain but would make it play or an adventure - what a blessing. Oh, I must tell you that it was cool outside after the front passed, so with the windows open that day it felt like the air conditioning was on, so there was no hardship. I finished my chores and grabbed the camera to go see what I could see!
All the flowers were especially happy, and looking up close I could see the rain still on the blooms.
Behind all the other plants, I noticed that our amaryllis was blooming.
Spaceghost accompanied me during my walk around the yard. He's a good hunter and keeps the mice, etc., at bay.
Next up, the Cicadas, our visitors that come every 13 years. They aren't quite the plague that the media makes them out to be, but they are freakishly loud and really annoying when you're mowing, and they land on you like a kamikaze. Also, I find them really creepy with those red eyes...eeewww. I'll be glad when they go away.
After, my little yard tour I came in and decided this would be the perfect day to sit and harvest some oregano that I'd been drying in the house. It was so relaxing.
As I sat there, I realized that I am sensory overloaded, we all are. Technology, news, T.V., internet, all the noise that pulls at our thoughts. I think that sometimes I do too many things at once and don't do anything really well. Life isn't simple anymore.
Then,,,YIppee,,,the power came on!! The ceiling fans sart going, A/C starts running. I knew we'd sleep good tonight. Next, I felt myself pulled to turn on the Television or run to the computer. Instead, I turned the air conditioner off (it was still cool outside) and decided that I was going to gradually ease back into the noise of what it means to live in these days.
Don't get me wrong. I love my modern conveniences, but what I learned is to try and keep my heart quiet. Also, if it had been a hot day this would have been a much different post!! I can't stand to be hot. So, God gave me a little break and His peace flooded my soul. We are thankful that He protected us and our family during these storms and pray for all of those who lost loved ones or homes and possessions.
Blessings to you and yours from the holler...
We have had some lazy, rainy days recently. I couldn't help myself from taking these pictures of Scrappy. She has napping down to an art.
Today I picked these peaches. There are more on the counter waiting on me to peel and get in the freezer so it's time to tie the apron strings and giddy-up.
Blessings to you all from the holler...
Well, except for Scrappy, she didn't want to go outside so she's napping on "her chair."
We've had some rain lately and there's more to come. I love it because that means I don't have to water the garden. The peach trees are heavy laden with fruit that will soon be ripe.
In the vegetable garden we have zucchini, lots of tomatoes and some brussel sprouts. Last year we had one zucchini plant and had more than enough but the plants I got came in a four-pack so we'll have loads to share. 
Our tomato plants are just starting to have fruit. These are called "Big Mamas" they are a roma with less seeds so they make excellent marinara sauce.
Cherokee Purples that are so tasty.
This is a patch of basil, both Thai purple and regular sweet basil. I planted it last year and let it go to seed and now we have a really nice patch. I love a perennial!!!
The blueberries are doing pretty good. They are young plants but I hope to have enough to make a pie or two.
These white daises are to the point of being invasive but they are pretty when they bloom. 
This is also a new flower that my mom gave me a few years ago and is just now blooming. I think it's a gladiola,,am I right? Oh, I need to call and ask my mom. She had a bouquet on the table for Father's Day.
Blessings to you all from the holler...
Today I saw a winter picture on another blog and it was so refreshing. It has been really hot and dry here in the holler lately so I decided to post some winter pictures too.
Thinking cool thoughts and blessings to you all from the holler...
This is a couple of males strutting in the front yard. They really make a big show of themselves trying to impress the ladies.
So, pretty soon we'll see the momma turkeys marching their brood up the hill beside us where they roost at night. Of course, I'll try to get a picture of that cuteness.
Blessings to you all from the holler...
Well, maybe gross is the word. But, it's their property so whatever!
Have a great weekend. Blessings from the holler...
Next up, the Cicadas, our visitors that come every 13 years. They aren't quite the plague that the media makes them out to be, but they are freakishly loud and really annoying when you're mowing, and they land on you like a kamikaze. Also, I find them really creepy with those red eyes...eeewww. I'll be glad when they go away.
As I sat there, I realized that I am sensory overloaded, we all are. Technology, news, T.V., internet, all the noise that pulls at our thoughts. I think that sometimes I do too many things at once and don't do anything really well. Life isn't simple anymore. 