Happy Easter!

Happy Easter 

for those who celebrate it

 and a wonderful weekend 

to all!

Easter Sunday 1961
Grandma, Granddad
David and me

Mending Fences

This past Saturday I had the wonderful chore, along with a couple of cousins, to repair fences on our property after the recent flash floods we've had.  While participating in that, I caught a little peacefulness before heading off for my second reason of tagging along....... I was also on the lookout of those pesky moma cows and their newborn babies. My job was to get a head count, for some reason known only to my cousins...... personally, I think they just wanted to get rid of me...... just sayin'.  Anyway, the baby critters have a tendency to hide in the oddest places..... like say in an adjourning pasture because the little buggers have rolled under the fence somehow and are now stuck in the neighbor's place.
Did I mention that I don't really like things that are bigger, smaller, faster, buzz, fly, slither, swim, waddle, crawl, flitter....... need I list more!
Ah farm life.... 

Christmas Cheer!

Christmas Eve was spent with the boys, wives and of course my little princesses. Then today, Christmas day was spent with our church family and a tasty luncheon.
Now, I'm napping while the dishwasher does its thing.
I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Bees Do It

Being a retired science teacher, I just had to do a show and tell moment.  The first photo shows a little bee doing his/her thing by pollinating the blossom.  I was able to get very close because he/she was so busy buzzing around inside there.
The second photo shows the blossom turned under where the squash is developing.
This is one of those WOW moments..... nature is awesome, isn't it!

Big Reminder!!!

May 20th is drawing for the 15 fat quarters

from Tote It

Armed for Gardening

Let's see.....gloves-check, trowel-check, hat-check, seeds-check, plow-check, watering hose-check.........
What am I missing?  Oh, yea......shotgun-check.....you never know when some critter might appear to do you bodily harm.
Welcome to my meager garden in the country.  Let's hope something grows so that mom and I can enjoy the fruits of my labor, so to speak.
We have lots of deer around so I'm hoping this little fence will hold them off. I know it will keep the rabbits out.

Is It Spring Yet?

Well, not quite but close enough for me to make another Mug Rug. This is what I've gotten done so far.
Today, here in central Texas the skies are clear, it's sunny and 72 degrees........a perfect day that the Lord made.
Well back to sewing....with any luck, this will get finished by Monday.....LOL

Wintry Friday in February

It's strange...this weather here in central Texas....normally the temperature at this time is about 35 to 47 degrees but for some reason this whole week, Mother Nature decided to give us very cold, wet and snowy weather. 
Don't get me wrong, I'm retired with nowhere to be each day, so life is good.  But the people who have to go out to work like say Dallas and Ft. Worth....well they are having quite a time of it......snow and ice are not something we central to southern Texan are use to for the most part.  So our weather people are all over the television giving a blow by blow account of snow coverage.
Everyone is sort of worried about the Super Bowl folks but I'm thinking that this type of weather is commonplace for some of them.....no offense to anyone, mind you....I'm just stating my opinion. 
I think everything will go off without too much of a hitch...couldn't be any worse than last year's Texas/OU weekend and the train situation.........just sayin'

Hog Killing Weather

Disclaimer: This post may be distasteful to some but is told from my memory of long ago.

It's bitterly cold here in central-ish Texas.....around 27 degrees with a wind chill factor of 10 to 15 so that brings things down to 17-ish degrees........what we Texans call "hog killing" weather.
I remember those cold, blue northers sweeping in, blotting out the sun, chilling us to the bone.  On one of those times all the brothers and brothers-in-law, old and wise in their years gathered in our back yard in their long-john covered overalls, wool caps, coats of varied lengths, thick socks.......all in old mud cracked and caked boots. 
Granddad would load his double barrel shotgun in preparation for the "event."  My brother and I dawned our overcoats as grandma cautioned us to stay back and out of the way. Our eyes clear and shining, so excited to get to see this now forgotten experience.
Uncle Kenchion sharpened his ax as a large hog was moved from one pen to the next.  This prize hog would have been fed corn and other grains for a couple of months.  A large tree where a series of ropes hung behind the pen in readiness.
A shot rang out, the hog is dispatched instantly. Uncle K moves in to rope the hind legs of the hog and the other men hoist the 200 pound hog off the ground. A vein is opened with a sharp knife, draining the blood.  My brother and I move closer to see all the action. Gory but back then, a way of life.
Granddad places a large trough under the hog as Uncle K. uses is ax to open the underside of the hog.  The men move in and start to cut away the precious portions of the hog to be shared by many families.
Grandma helps to salt down the pork and rinses the intestines many times to clean them for use later.  Very little is wasted as the men work.
My brother and I are freezing but don't want to go inside and miss anything.  The men carry our portion of pork to the meat-house or smoke-house to be stored.  Salted meats could last quite a while during winter months. The other men wrapped they portions in bits of cloth to take home to their wives and families. This pork would feed several families for weeks to come.
The day is nearly over.  Grandma soaks the intestines in salty water to leave over night.  It's almost time for dinner.  My brother and I warm by the heater as Grandma begins to prepare the evening meal, Granddad gets cleaned up and Mom is home from school.
Those are the memories I had when it's so cold like it is now.

Ring Me Up......Scotty

This past Friday was our chosen "Girls Day Out" and Christmas celebration.

This year we decided on shopping for fabirc (go figure)

We visited one of our favorite quilt stores.....Common Threads

in Waxahachie, TX.

The ladies are always very friendly and helpful.

We had a photo opt in front of their beautiful tree and all was well.

Look at all the stuff we bought......well, you really can't see the fabric but trust me......we shopped the house down!  After all that shopping, it was time for lunch at the Dove's Nest, a wonderful little soup, sandwich and salad place.....sorry, no pictures. By the time I thought about pictures, I had a mouth filled with delish tuna with cranberries and bean sprouts.
Next, we decided to take in a movie, "The Tourist".........which we liked because the language and nudity was nearly non-existent!!!!

 

As we were leaving the movie theater, Molly spied a photo booth except this one was a camera behind a curtain which was much better than us trying to stuff ourselves (the 5) into a very tiny booth.....don't ask.....but we have tried that before.  If you're wondering why my face looks slightly larger than everyone else.....it's because I was stooping down in front and believe my thighs were KILLING me........and was very close to the camera......Six photos later and a prayer that I would be able to rise again, this is our best or should I say the one that I'm willing to share with you......LOL.......so has you can see......we had a blast!!!

Happy Easter

Jesus rose with all power in His hands.
His death and resurrection cleansed us of our sins.
He asceded into Heaven....
He intercedes on our behalf.

Happy Easter

53rd Church Homecoming

Brown Chapel welcomed its families, friends and community at our annual homecoming. Each family received a souvenir booklet of information concerning our church and cemetery.

Sunday Morning

The sky is overcast, it's drizzling, the leaves are shades of yellow, orange, brown and pale green. Yet this is a day that the Lord made and I am glad to be a part of Him and it. My life is rich because I know Him.

I have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness gentleness and I am striving for self-control.

Just wanted to share this with you. (Galatians 6:22-23)