WhimiZical Birdhouses~

LaMarr,loves birds,he has birdhouses all over the property,several I have added grapevine wreaths,planted ornamental cabbage,and wild moss in burlap sacks around the posts.makes a pretty setting for his birds,they seem to like the little homes with a garden~ smile~

~Wine Country~

LaMarr and I had a wonderful day trip to Wine Counrty..Wolf Mountain
This winery is gorgeous,lush grapes hanging on the vines,the wines and cheeses are so smooth.
We found a box of vintage crackers from England,lemon and butter flavor.
A bottle of blackberry muscadine/wine..and a extra sharp white cheese.devine~~

We love wineries because you can taste the wine before purchasing.
We stopped off at the fresh market for shell shrimp,a rose cocktail sauce,and a hot pepper cheese ball mix.."Willow Wind" brand ..made a cheese ball with cream cheese,and butter,rolled in pepper flakes.. YUM ..
When we arrived home,made my cheese ball while LaMarr cleaned the pool.
Chiiled the shrimp on ice and lemon.
Uncorked the wine....ummmm great day with my man~~
Evening..
LaMarr lite the torches,and firepit,,the pool is so inviting,the water so warm,we ate on the veranda,the "fireflies".. twinkling,the "hoot owls" hooting their errie sounds..the land we live on was an Indian Reservation once,the civil war was fought on White Oak Mtn... when the smoke rises on the mountain you can= feel the presence of our ancestors.

Remembering "Iva Marie" My granny

Had a wonderful breakfast at Cracker Barrel,with a great friend,Elaine~
Shopped a bit..no one can go in CB without shopping.smile~
Found a jar of blackberry pie filling Yum,make a homemade crust,add home made vanilla bean ice cream,dessert for Saturdays dinner.
Found these summer wedge shoes,a cute green tshirt and a summers song necklace with red birds smile~
The bag I found at a resale shoppe it is a pretty straw/flower hand bag.
I have a weakness for shoes and purses~

My shopping all done for the week..I purchased a pineapple cutter from ebay..now to see how it works,

Elaine, told me a nice story about "Memory Bread",
she said her mother made it when she was growing up,It can be made with any grains/herbs..then everyone breaks a chunk off to eat..you are to remember something in your life that brings a memory to mind..the object is to rememeber something "you thought you had forgotten",hence the name of the bread.."Memory Bread".

Today I wish you Happy Birthday granny,I love you with all my heart,

I like old traditions handed down the line to families,my granny's yellow potato salad comes to mind,
I would wait for her by the gate,watch her walk from the bus stop to our home,she always had a brown paper bag,filled with goodies for the children.
She let me trim the potatoes,Granny's "Yellow Potatoes"
had lots of creamy mustard. Even today I cannot get her recipe correct,she said it was her "secret recipe",and she would smile.

I see her old house today,and I can see her in her rocker on the front porch,tending her "midnight blue morning glories".
For years after granny passed away,
I would plant her favorite flower still do today~

Julie and Tom~ Dad's Parents

My grandparents lived in a old house,handed down through the years,I was scared in that old house and slept with granny,almost under her,the evening granny died I was by her side,the old house creaked,somewhere in the back rooms,something made this walking sound,the old time folks said," When a soul departs this life,you have to open a window to let the soul depart to heaven."
I was 8 years old,and I remember granny like it was yesterday,she would let me comb her hair,and then she would twist it into a bun,her hair was past her waist,she did not beleive in cutting a womans hair, strange my dad was the same way.


Today it brings a sweet memory of my granny She never drove a car, old fashion in her ways but enduring.

Not enough hours in the day~

Woke in the am..need to send a huge order to Lisa, as I was filling the order I realized I had not finished the Treasure Hunt Collection,so that was a dilly to get together..Later..

Beautiful morning

Morning:
Woke this morning to the birds chirping..
sat out on the top veranda watched day break, the sun rises up over the mountains..the smokey haze drifted like spun cotton above the trees..

Sitting here going over in my mind what kind of day I would like to have..
To the barn for the John Deer start on the grass before the sun comes up...the wildflowers are abundent in the pasture ...
pretty straw flowers,bacherlor buttons,wild thyme,mullet...wild daisies in yellows and whites..
Looking at the back pasture.LaMarr needs to get the trasher out..
Time to cut the hay..smells so sweet...the crows will be out following the tractor...

Across the way old Harley Syler is cutting his pasture..
I imagine he is in his 90's but works everydsy..farmers are a breed apart from the men today...sun scorched faces..time worn overalls....
lways respectful to others..will give a helping hand to anyone..
I hope it never changes...but more and more the farms are going..
new generations..the old ones dying..and the ones left with the farms don't seem to care about the land..if they only knew what they were missing..
to watch the sun rise..see all God's creatures in their own habitit..watch a creek gurgle and follow the lay of the land...sit quietly and watch the day began and end...the creatures around you..

My daddy was a man of this beautiful earth,,he taught me to enjoy the small things in life..he said..
"The earth we live on is on loan..enjoy the little things..thats whats important."

Evening update:

canalope seedlings

Tomatoe Plants

This Land We Live On.

This land we live on, is not just dirt,a plot of land.it is part of my soul. My family's blood,sweat,and tears went into this land..
I have walked every step of this land,in Fall,Winter,Spring and Summer, I have watched it turn a crimsom of colors at the beginning of autumn,to the cold bare winters snow,the spingtime wildflowers in the meadows to summers bounty.
I love this land with all my heart,to feel the warm soil beneath my feet,this land anchors me...

Haze on the mountains

Up early this morning,you can tell it is going to be a scorcher, the haze on White Oak Min, is heavy,floating up from the tree tops,Smokey Mountains..the owls are hooting,the creatures up and eating morning breakfast.

Sitting here on the porch,the fountain in the pool tinkling,
My day begans...
A pot turned on its side drenched in morning sun.