As time goes by...

Well, I really don't have much to say this post.  I have some pictures of blooms of spring to share.  I took these April 10th so Spring has really sprung since they were taken.  But,,here goes...
  Our crab-apple tree is lovely this year and the birds are enjoying it too.

I had to take another picture of the forsythia bush before it turned green.  Oh, we have bluebird babies in the birdhouse there!

The peach trees are blooming.  JP did a good job pruning them this year; I kind of hacked them up last year so he had some repair work to do.  I had to get the shot of the blooms against the solid blue sky (get me being artsy,,haha.)

 I know I take a picture of this almost every year but I love that God left us with beautiful weeds!  In a couple of sections of our yard there are these beautiful purple wild pansy looking flower/weeds.  I love them.

So, the pack gathered to watch me as I tromped all around the yard taking pictures; Charlie was the most concerned since he feels he must go everywhere I go.  I tried to get all six in one picture...



But Speedbump wanted to say a special hello I guess.  I love that face.  She's my beauty.

I pray you all have a safe weekend and blessings from the holler...

WE GOT SNOW...

These pictures are late.  The snow happened last week but, hey, a week late is really not bad for my track record.  Anyway, there was just a small percentage forecast (we usually believe it when we see it) so when I opened the door Monday (I think that's the day,,,like I say it was a week ago) and saw this little bit on the ground I knew the dogs would enjoy it very much.  They did!  Well, all except for Corrie and Violet, they don't "do" cold.  Oh, let me explain the picture above.  The five gallon bucket inverted above has an old plastic tray with a rock inside to hold it down.  That is our water bowl for the birds.  They really like hanging out in the forsythia and jumping down to get water there.  It's not pretty but it does work.  Pretty soon we'll have other flowers blooming but for now I love that explosion of yellow!  Okay, now back to the dogs at play in the snow.

Scrappy went hunting for mice along the fence line.  I know, ewwwww.

Speedbump just was enjoying the bliss of freezing cold wind and snow.  This is her kind of weather.  Fun fact,,,her face and butt are facing north--into the wind.

AND,,,last but not least,,it's not a day in the holler if we don't have "stick game."  This just happens to be a bonus "snowy stick game."

Daisy says,,,mom,,,Charlie won't share the stick!  He never, ever, ever shares the stick. 

Have a great week to you all.  Blessings to you all from the holler...

I can't believe it's already end of March...

This year is flying by!  It was snowing just a little this morning in the holler so Speedbump was very happy about that.  All the pack have had a really good play time and are in for their nap.  There is no better behaved dog than a tired dog.

Last week I sent off this quilt to our god-daughter and niece in Washington for her baby boy.  I really cut it close this time.  He was born yesterday!

It seems kind of "off" with the weather being so cold, but I guess it's time to get the hummingbird nectar out.  I always put it out end of March for the early guests we have.  We usually see some in April here.  I'm sure they'd appreciate some food out---I know I would!

Last week I remembered that we still had elderberries in the freezer from last year and made jelly.  I got 3 pints and a little for the refrigerator to sample.  Well, that's the latest news from the holler.

We hope that you worship our Risen Lord this coming Sunday and have a blessed Easter.  Blessings from the holler...

  

this and that time of year again...

Doesn't that look good?  JP made it.  Potatoes, onions and jalapenos on the bottom and his home-made Smoked Hunter's sausage on top.  I just had to take a picture because it looked so good.  He's become quite the sausage maker lately.  

This post was to document our annual trip to the vets office.  It takes a week to get all six dogs there and this year the prices have gone up so it's taking a bigger chunk out of the budget but they are worth it and are our responsibility.  Violet doesn't mind it so much and visits with everyone.  She was the morning trip.

Oh, here are some of our neighbors.  These goats refuse to stay in their fence and most everyone slows down to make sure they are safe.  Those baby goats are soooo cute!

Then the afternoon appointment came and it was Corrie's turn.  She shakes and trembles when I cut her nails at home so you know she's a bundle of nerves here.  But, they've had their check-ups, shots and it's all in the past.

 Tomorrow Scrappy and Daisy will have their turn and then Friday will be Speedbump and Charlie.  We will be done for another year!  The last four love to visit to the vet.  They get so much attention and act like we never pet them at home.

I know that each year I take a picture of these buttercups by the creek but I love them.  They are our first sign of spring here in the holler and even though there is more winter yet to come it's just so good to see the color they bring.

Blessings to you all from the holler...

It's not much but we're trying!...

As you can tell from the calendar these pictures were taken in January and with good intent to come straight in here to the computer and put them on the blog.  Alas, life just got right in the way plus I am such a procrastinator.  Anyway, this is a picture of a potholder I made and the flowers are from our 28th anniversary.  But back to the potholder.  I was inspired by my aunt who lives in Florida.  She is the one who taught me to quilt long ago and this year for Christmas she sent my mother a lovely potholder like this one.  Hers was done in beautiful reds and greens and is a true work of art.  It captured my crafters heart and I called her a couple of times to make sure I was on the right path.  I must say that her star points were going in all the right directions,,,not like mine which seem to wander, but this was done without a pattern so I am giving myself some slack and going to enjoy it.

Another thing that I've done which has brought me hours and hours of delight is made this porch bird feeder. I took an old window box feeder that I had and drilled some holes in the bottom for drainage because it still gets rain there. Then I cut some evergreen boughs to pad the bottom and make it "bird friendly," added rocks for my two little trays to sit on and then drilled holes in the trays so they would drain as well.  The birds just love it.  The wooden barrels give them a place to perch and munch.  We've attracted mostly small birds like Chickadees, Wrens, Tufted Titmouse, Finches, and a dove or two when it's really really cold. But I saw this idea in a Birding magazine I get and it's been a winner and so easy to do.

Other than upper respiratory infections, which we both have, JP and I are doing great.  We are blessed beyond measure and more than we deserve by our Lord Jesus Christ.  So, blessings to you all from the holler...