Camping Trip!

      Yes, we finally got to go camping! We had a great weekend with some great people! The weather was so nice, too! It was on a lake so there were lots of boats and people. At least everyone acted right, no wild parties or anything. Sometimes you don't know if the people around you will be nice or whatever. Our son went with us and had a great time as well. He actually helped take care of a little two-year-old who was with us. Her Mommy is about to give birth to her little sister in three weeks, so we kept a close eye on her. Mommy didn't go into labor or anything and seemed to enjoy herself in spite of herself. Camping is a wonderful way to connect with people and nature and we had a good combination of both. I didn't know my camera card was almost full (imagine that) so I didn't get to take very many pics. I got some good shots, though.


      Well, the weather has finally turned hot again after a week or two of spring-like weather. That's how I'm able to be inside this time of day writing a post. I actually came in at 11:30 burning from the sun with a sweaty forehead. The weather changes so abruptly here that one hardly has a chance to adjust! I don't think I'll ever adjust to that burning sun! It's 87 degrees! We seem to be experiencing a drought for this time of year. I don't like droughts! Our lush green grass quickly turns brown when that happens. There doesn't seem to be very many clouds so I don't think there's much chance of rain for today. At least when it's cloudy, the sun doesn't burn as bad. I'm discouraged about my garden because the green bean seeds and the cucumber seeds are not coming up. Neither are the straight neck squash. I'm concerned it may be too late to replant. I'll have to check with garden center and see if they have any more  of these seeds since WM didn't.


      I was going to post on Friday since that was the one year anniversary of the tornadoes that came through our state, and other states. I posted last year  with photos, so if you'd like to look in the archives under May 2011, you can see what happened just a few short miles from my home. Actually, it was just over that small mountain across the street! When I think about that day, I get really upset because so many people lost their lives and/or everything they owned! We came through that area on the way home from the camping trip and it still looks like a tornado came through! It will take a lifetime for all of those trees to grow back! Some people have built new homes, others chose to move away! Lots of trailers were destroyed and the people moved somewhere else. I can't blame folks for not wanting to live there! We were very fortunate that only a small twister came through our back yard and took down several large Hickory trees. I was so thankful they fell away from the house since it happened right next to our bedroom where I was still in bed! If the tree had fallen in a different direction, I might not be here to write this post! God spared our lives that day, and I want to serve Him and do whatever He has for me to do! Ya'll have a great week! I hope to be posting again this week! Blessings from Bama!

Cooking Ketchup!

One and a half pints of Ketchup.

Delicious Baked Potato Soup!

Can you believe this was growing on the side of the camper? And that I caught a hornet flying up to it!

This is what it looks like in real life.

He found the hornet's nest when he went to wash that side.

Hubs to the rescue!

This was the largest one that fell out. Could it be the queen?

What beautiful smiles!

Happy family!

What a way to start the day!

Second nature!

Look what he caught!

Bass Pros!

You don't expect me to believe that story! (He really didn't catch this fish; only dragged it in at the shore. It had just been released and looks like it's dying!)

She throws them and he picks them up!

Has March returned?

      Just listening and looking outside the window, it seems more like March than April. The temps are much cooler than we've been experiencing, and boy, is it ever windy! Some would probably call this blackberry winter. Could be, since the blackberries are still in bloom. I just know that I don't care to be outside when it's this windy and cool! I did walk around a bit this morning and gathered some eggs, however. Even the girls are not happy with the weather since they only laid two eggs. I've been gathering 5-6 eggs per day. Maybe by this afternoon there will be more. Some of the seeds I planted have come up, but some haven't and I would like to  re-plant, but now I need to wait on the ground to warm up again.


      I'm so thankful that God has given me the desire to homestead. A few years ago, I wouldn't even imagined that I would be doing all the things I am now! Do you think I have too much time on my hands? Some one said that to my husband when he told them some of the things I made from scratch. That person stated to my husband that I had too much time on my hands and I needed to get a job! That is both funny and sad, and yes it kind of bothered me a little. That is the mindset of every body I know. Sometimes it is discouraging to feel like you are the only one who thinks and does the things you do. I really wished I had an actual person to can beans, garden, sew, etc., with. It's supposed to be a community thing, but I've yet to find some one here to connect with who likes the same things I do. I believe in time that will happen. Until then, I guess I'll just have: Too much, time on my hands......! Blessings from Bama! (I'm thankful for my readers, though!)

The row in between the cardboard pieces are Yukon Gold Potatoes coming up.

Crookneck squash plant.

Butter head lettuces.

Red potatoes and red onions, growing very good!

How big is this thing going to get? I love it!

All the frames are filling up so we're going to add a top.

The Celebrity tomato plant is popular here, so I bought a few. They sure do taste good!

I planted this one in a hole in the cardboard. That is some rich dirt!

I adore the yellow finches!

More finches. I think these are female.

Male finch.

Homemade Ranch dressing. Tastes like the restaurant!

Pull a-part bread made with canned biscuits. (I don't care for them but the son loves this dish!)

Homemade Italian dressing mix. Used this in the pull-a-part bread.

Pickled cauliflower. Way too strong. I will continue to look for another recipe for this!

Pull-a-part bread just out of the oven.

W sat for quite some time playing with the tea set.

He enjoys playing with the girls when they come over.

I love these irises! Yes, we need to weedeat!

Up close.

Oak leaf hydrangeas grow in the woods behind the house.

Catching a glimpse of the neighbors horse and jack. He'll be weaned soon and she'll be gone. How sad!

Honeysuckle and a muscadine vine?

These irises are so dainty!

I love the miniature roses on this bush, even though they are not fragrant.

Sir Graham Thomas.

If you look closely at the bird on the back of the feeder, you'll see he has a strikingly red breast. He is a rose-breasted grosbeak. He is in flight back to the north, or northern Georgia, from the tropics. Maybe they'll stay here!

Hubs all suited up and ready to take cover off.

These things seem to be getting easier for him.

Bees are multiplying very good and filling up the frames, as they should.

Putting on the new top carefully so as not to squish a bee.

Now they have room to grow!

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring!

      I'm actually glad for the break, since I have so much to do inside. There's so much, that it would probably take me two or three days straight, to get caught up on the things I need/want to do inside. The outside is coming along much better, although I have plenty to do there, as well. We were very fortunate this past weekend to be spared of the storms! My thoughts and prayers are with those who did not fare well, however.


       I was just cutting up ginger to make homemade ginger ale, but there's only 1 cup and the recipe calls for 1&1/2 cups. Rats! I also need some cilantro for bean soup or bean burritos; rats, again! Hubs to the rescue! I just have to wait until he gets home with them, though. At least I had all of the ingredients to make terriyaki chicken for the freezer! I won't use boneless thighs again, though! It was so time consuming cutting off the fat! By the time I got that done, I could have just used a whole chicken, or chicken breasts, de-boned them, and cut them up! This was the first time I bought boneless chicken thighs and I got them on mark down, or I wouldn't have purchased them. I already had chicken breasts purchased on markdown in the freezer. Live and learn!


      I have some new irises blooming that are so beautiful! They have a small, almost lily like flower on them! Also, we have some more manure hay! They man next door was on his property next to ours. He was on his tractor, moving around fallen trees and branches from last year's storm, so I got his attention and asked if he would mind hoisting that pile over. He did, and now that's one less job for me and the buckets or wheelbarrow! I'm so glad! The stuff will eventually compost, but for now the chickens are loving it! Hope to chat with ya'll later! Have a great week! Blessings from Bama!

We're enjoying oranges on the patio. Isn't Jasmine getting to be a big girl? She'll be 3 in June. That's me with the hat! I wear it when I'm outside to protect my head from the heat in the summer, and wind in the winter.

Winterlynn is their cousin. She's two. (The children in these photos are my great-nieces.) We're in the process of cleaning up what you see in the background. Before long, there will be an above ground pool there. I'll really have to watch the children then!

Layla has bad allergies! Her eyes were swollen and tears were running down her face! She spits out her meds! That's why I was feeding them oranges; for the vitamin C.

He touched the mountains and they smoked. It always looks like this when it rains.

The new irises are the deep yellow in front.

Such a beautiful color!

How they look at a distance.

I don't know the name of this rose, but I wished ya'll could smell it!

Ginger chicken for the crockpot.

I try to categorize things but it's becoming futile!

When I took this picture earlier today, it was raining. Now the sun is shining!