April Showers Bring May Flowers

      Hey Ya'll! How's it going? I'm doing well. Can you believe it's almost May? Wow! Time sure does fly! Everything is about a month early here, as I'm sure it is where you live. Our season is quite different this year than it was the past two years. I am getting so much done in the garden. Last year it was a month later before I got the summer garden in. We are having temps in the seventies and mostly eighties. The humidity hasn't been as bad as it will get. Except today is more humid. I think storms may be coming in this weekend. Yesterday was the six year anniversary of those wicked tornadoes that came through Alabama, destroying everything and everyone in it's path! So April is a month for tornadic activity. Really, any month in Alabama is tornado weather. We have such variable weather!

      We got ducklings and goslings the first of April! They are so cute! They are still quite wild. The chicks have grown so much and come right to me! They are not wild like the goslings and ducklings. I've never raised goslings and ducklings. We just purchased them when they were grown. I'm thinking about getting the little swimming pool ready for them. The goslings are definitely big enough for it. Maybe tomorrow will be a good time to do that.

      We celebrated Easter with a family feast! We had ham, chicken and dressing, potato salad, and all kinds of side dishes and desserts! Not much leftovers this time! Then Randy hid eggs for the girls to find. They had a blast! The girls and Gavyn are getting so big! They are so cute, too! I think I have some pictures to share below. Well, just wanted to say hello to ya'll! Have a nice day! Blessings from Bama!
    

Blue Springs State Park, in Alabama.

Way down South where the moss grows on the trees. I think it is lovely!

Yasmine and Lulu growing up!

The ducklings and goslings were so small!

I love this setting I've discovered on my camera!

Cabbage, onions, garlic, and broccoli.

I love this iris!

Baby grapes!

Climbing for some greens!

Chilling out at Blue Springs campground.

Do you know what these are? They are crawdad holes!

Although we were still hours from the beach, this part of Alabama is sandy.

July Flies!

     Just thought I'd take a minute and write a quick post before it's August! We've had a very unusual July! The weather has been almost unbearably hot and humid and we've battled sickness! Randy is just getting over pneumonia! He's been sick with a cough for the good part of the summer, but after he jumped in the river to save a man, his symptoms took a turn for the worse! Randy finally went to the doctor after a week of getting sicker and found out he had the walking pneumonia! I'm glad it was that and not a heart attack or stroke! His symptom's at the time could have indicated one or both! The pneumonia, or mycoplasma, the term used in the medical field, is bad enough! He is so much better after taking a week off and consuming his meds! I just hope getting out in the heat and working won't make it worse! Please pray for his complete recovery!

      We have had the girls a lot during the month of July! They had such fun! We colored, cut, and made all kinds of crafty things! And of course, they got in the pool every chance they could. I miss them, as it's been a week since I saw them last! July was such a whirlwind!

      The garden has grown up so that I can't get to the tomato plants because of the weeds! I plan on getting on my boots today and seeing what I can find. The grapes are hanging on the vines, and the apples have pulled the branches down. I just have to keep a watch on them to see when they are ripe. It's my first year for all these apples and grapes, so it's a learning curve for us. 

      I'm looking forward to this coming week since the temps are supposed to be in the lower nineties! They've been in the upper nineties but felt like 100's +! That's when living in the South is such a challenge! But somehow we make it through! Makes Fall such a refreshing time of year! 

      I hope your Summer has been a good one! Hopefully where you live, the weather isn't as harsh as ours! Thanks for reading and commenting! Have a great day! Blessings from Bama!

My girls sure do love their Uncle Randy!

Little Riley is growing up!

Who knew a golf cart could be so much fun?!

Loving the pool!

Four are 'fimming'!

Mostly rotten, but I will cut off the bad spots and make sauce.

These are such large eggplants!

Our first grapes!

       

Hello, Summer!

      I can hardly believe it's summer! Wow! What warm temps we're having! It's been in the nineties for about a month! When summer hits the South, it really hits! From nice cooler weather and rain, to BAM! Heatwave! At least we've been having nice breezes! And the humidity hasn't been as bad on some days. We have been to the beach; celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, and celebrated Father's Day. Not to mention Yasmine and Mother's birthdays! Now, we have 4th of July and my sister's birthday to celebrate.

      My garden is doing good, what survived that is. For some reason my two squash plants just killed over! I'm still trying to grow some in the grow bags. Almost everything is doing good in the grow bags. The tomatoes and pepper plants are flourishing, as are the cucumbers. The sweet potatoes and strawberries are as well. I've really enjoyed summer so far! I have harvested almost two gallons of blackberries! That was not fun, as I always get chiggers! Still have them! I'm sure there are more blackberries that need picking; I'm just not sure if it's worth getting more chiggers! The eggplant plants are producing eggplants! I haven't harvested one yet, as I want them to get just a bit larger.

      I've been suffering with a terrible chest cold this week. I hate being sick, especially during summer when there's so much to do! I hope this stuff leaves my body soon! But even with that, I am so blessed! I just have to stop and look at God's creation to realize it. Everything around me is so beautiful! The hanging baskets, daylilies, green grass and trees! There's beauty in them thar' hills! Thanks, ya'll for reading my blog! Have a healthy and safe 4th! Blessings from Bama! Update!: I just came in from doing chores and my chest feels so much better! I'm beginning to heal, Praise the Lord!

Love this view!

Randy in his new recliner for Father's Day/Twenty-fifth anniversary!

Randy and Gavyn in the old chair.

I made this for a friend.

These beauties rode with us all the way to the beach! What were we thinking?

Our favorite spot at the beach!

Randy and Riley with Winterlynn in background.

Me and Gavyn had a good time on the Sea Dragon!

The three younger pirates.

The little bit older pirate.

What fun at the amusement park!

A deer right outside the camper! They were so tame!

I love this picture! They are all asleep on the way home from the beach! I guess the trip wore them out!

Loving all my pretty plants!

These beauties are going into hanging baskets.

One of the eggplant plants. 

The grow bag garden. Sorry it's sideways! Taken from my phone.

Welcoming Spring, 2016!

      I know it's not officially Spring, but our weather says so! If you could take an afternoon stroll with me here on the homestead, you would see it. Plum trees in full bloom, tulip tree blooming out, and all other trees budding! I only have a couple of daffodils blooming, but everything else speaks Spring! The temps are in the upper 70's-lower 80's. The wind is blowing strong gusts, and there's pollen everywhere! I just love this time of year! Is it Spring where you live? I hope so! If not, you seriously need to visit Alabama, if only by a virtual tour!

      I am still on my weight-loss journey. After following Brad and Jess Gouthro for two months, I have changed to following Tracy Anderson. I am so thankful for the Gouthro's and how they jump started me in the right direction! I would advise almost everyone to try their methods at one time or another! My body needed a change and I noticed that my arms weren't really toning like I thought they should. I scrolled through YouTube and happened on Tracy Anderson. I actually saw her before, but I wasn't in to that sort of workout then, so I kept scrolling. There is a time for everything, and now is the time for my change, so I clicked on her videos. I even tried a couple of them. I am hooked! I love her workouts! I just started last week and I don't even follow them everyday like you're supposed to; and I am noticing a difference in my upper body! I think even in my arms! Who would've thought that just by using three pound weights, you could get into shape? Her exercises remind me of the old fashioned kind like Jane Fonda always did. Do you remember them? I don't follow Tracy's eating plan, as I've heard it is very minimal. I am still eating the way I learned from the Gouthro's, just a little less meat. Kind of Paleo. I have been walking a lot more and am noticing changes in my legs and glutes. I am pleased; but still have a long way to go. Then I will be in maintenance mode. I really am so much happier now than I was this time last year! Amazing what a relationship with the Lord can do! He leads me on the path I need to follow, if I give Him half a chance! Give Jesus a place in your life today, if you haven't already done so. I promise you won't be disappointed!

      I have some photos to share with you below. Thanks for stopping by and enjoying Spring, here on the homestead! Blessings from Bama!

The girls and Randy opening their treasure box. He had a map and everything! It was so neat how excited they were to find a treasure box buried on our homestead, full of golden, chocolate coins!

The photo was taken from a distance. Looks like Lulu was trying to take over the steering wheel. Winterlynne and Yasmine had been running and jumped onto the back.

My delicious oatmeal pancakes! Dried berries on top.

Beautiful Winterlynne growing up so fast!

Cute little Riley is too!

Scrambled eggs and sausage with kale.

Sorry, the sun was in their eyes!

My Dad was driving this day.

Blueberry pancakes with nuts on top.

The tulips on the little tree are opening.

My one and only large daffodil.

These are actually miniature daffodils. They look bigger in the picture.

Randy cut down the dying tree and planted a pecan tree. I love pecans!

I nearly stepped on this dead bat!

A wreath I'm working on. I think I need smaller flowers.

If you could only smell the fragrance coming from this tiny tea olive flower! It is unbelievable!