My World January 2013

My! My! I have been very derelict in keeping up my blog! So much is happening in my world lately and time has been short!

Turned out my male rabbits for the winter, much time and effort in keeping them separated, fed, watered, and cared for.  I know that sounds lazy, but these little fellows still get fed, but they also have the freedom to roam, hide, and find nice warm spots to get out of the cold.  The females are quite happy in their little hutch and spend their days running each other around and their nights huddled together.

It has worked well for all and each morning I am met by my little fuzzy friends when I go out to feed.  They follow me from chore to chore and then get their treats. Coming home from church on Sunday I had quite a surprise when four little ones scampered out of the barn behind mother.  Yep, we messed up on one of those little rascals and she has 4 kits that are about 6 weeks old and healthy as can be.  I was so excited to see these little  ones.  They have become accustomed to my movements and as long as I don't move too fast they are content to maintain their space.

Hubby put the chickens up for the winter.  The barn provides much protection from the elements and my big fat hens have taken to hiding their eggs.  It became a search and rescue mission when gathering eggs.  Son-in-law found three nest with 84 eggs in them.  The hens had gotten into the storage area and laid in the middle of rolls of barbed wire.  Watching them come and go I knew there was a nest in there somewhere, but I had been unable to find it.  After sun down, son-in-law took a high powered light and went on a search.  So glad we found the stash.

We floated the eggs and immediately lost 2 dozen and another dozen didn't look right when I cracked them for freezing.  Eggs, when placed in a glass bowl of ice cold water will float if bad or rotten and sink if good. So 2 dozen immediately popped to the top and some just hovered close to the bottom. Eggs keep very well frozen. I crack them into a muffin pan, remove when set and place in a zip lock bag. 

Cold weather in our forecast has initiated my urge to sew.  Maybe, maybe not.  I have taxes to do, so probably not.  At least the urge is still there.  I am sorely disappointed in myself with my sewing projects.  I have much to do , but no motivation to proceed.  Sewing is my comfort chore and I suppose I have been much too content to need the comfort.

My daughter and her family is staying with us while they develop their farm and build a house.  She makes the most wonderful soap.  Opal's Hope Soaps are cold processed natural soaps that are so nourishing to the skin without the harmful sulfates.  She also has a shampoo bar - no conditioner needed.  These soaps are loaded with all the good stuff and none of the bad.  The Christmas season kept her busy around here getting gift baskets ready and delivered/shipped. 

Planting time is upon us and we are already behind.  According to the Market Bulletin produced by the Georgia Department of Agriculture asparagus, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, mustard, Onion, potatoes, radishes, spinach and turnips should already be in the ground.  Beets, collards, broccoli, and kale should be planted in two weeks.  Hubby has the ground turned, but not near ready to plant.  I have to get myself into gear and get out there or we won't have the fresh veggies we all love.

Hubby surprised me with a Nook for Christmas.  While I love the convenience of carrying so many books with me, I sure miss the feel of the paper in my hand.  I will get use to it and one day I will caress the Nook - which I have named "Reba" - as I do my wonderful books.  (I haven't thrown out any books yet!)  I have downloaded some of the older books I wanted to read but have been unable to find in my Thrift store rummaging.

Well, work is calling and there is much to do.  Thanks for sharing the time with me and come back again to visit.

Happy Reading!
Belle

The warm Spring like temperatures in Middle Georgia have inhibited my creativity as far as inside projects are concerned.  Usually my writing and sewing are done on those cold wet days of winter we haven't experienced this year.  I keep telling myself the cold is coming but the days are flying by and except for a night or two my toes are still warm! 
So the sewing is still packed away in containers and Zeb (I do believe he is swimming around in the pool right now) and Lizzy (sunning on the back deck) are patiently waiting on the sidelines waiting for my next adventure.  I thought to go back to the original stories and edit them into something resembling grammatically correct writing, but I decided to leave them be and let these be a teaching tool for young writers.  I am sure they will get a lot practice correcting my punctuation and sentence structure. 

I am getting a little antsy though, so regardless of the temperatures and sunshine, I may have to stay in and do some sewing. 

I read Christopher Paolini's last book, Inheritance, over the last week.  I know this is suppose to be the end of the series, but as with a good many books I have read, I hope there will be a sequel.  Fantasy is fantasy and I can make up any ending I want to the story!

Over the past year I have continued to connect with those I not only graduated with, but also those shared the start of my educational journey.  I have found it takes only a spark to bring forth the memories of those days so long ago.  I know it is good for the heart and maybe it will keep my brain alert a little longer!

My writing time is up!  Just an update - my parents are hanging in there and still getting around, albeit slowly.  Mom gave us all a laugh at dinner on Sunday when she lost a cap on her front tooth and was afraid she had swallowed it.  All our little ones were aghast when she smiled and had no tooth!  The cap was found on her plate and she is in the process of restoring her beautiful smile.  Dad really got a chuckle out of this one! 

Time seems to fly at the times we wish it would stand still.

Happy reading!
Belle

Another Stroll Down Memory Lane

Well, Thanksgiving is well behind us now and preparation is ongoing for the celebration of Christ's birth.  Some days it just makes me tired and some days I approach it all with a joyful and peaceful heart.  I believe rest is the key.  The temperatures are just now getting uncomfortable and the days are definitely shorter.  Many days I just want to sleep - remaining under the warm covers and not venturing out.  But that doesn't have anything to do with the season but with the changes my old body no longer adjust too so quickly or well.

I had such a surprise on Friday when a friend showed up.  This isn't an ordinary, run of the mill friend.  This was the one person I felt attached to, completely trusted and thoroughly enjoyed her company during my school years.  She was in my wedding in September of 1969 and after that day I never saw her again until Friday.  I can't imagine a more memorable day.  I have always believed that you could tell a true friend in the reuniting.  They were no dead spots - we were laughing as she exited her vehicle and we chattered like we had never been apart.  Easy, comfortable, trying desperately to catch up on all the years and yet knowing we both have been down paths we won't share yet.  I say yet because there is so much surface stuff to gather and share.  It pleased me greatly that my friend found her soul mate early on and has had a happy life. I can't wait to get together again and learn more about her children and family.



I learned that I wasn't the only person that was lost in a world of confusion and insecurity when school let out for the last time.  I didn't realize that I would lose touch so quickly with those so dear to me and that we would all move on in such a hurried manner.  In my older years, I have found that I have plenty of time to locate and reunite with those that I have missed so much. 

Hubby and I have really enjoyed our shopping trips this season.  Never one to enjoy crowds, we have managed to have a little fun this year with our shopping experience.  Both of us are "people watchers" and we have certainly enjoyed the shows put on for us by the other shoppers.  I made my first trip to the Bass Pro Shop in Macon recently.  Of course hubby made his first visit at their grand opening, but I bypassed that trips and the many he has made since then.  Of course, wouldn't you know, all it took was a "I want" from my grandson to get me to trek right down there and get the item.  A beautiful store, it is great for just browsing, but they also had some great bargains over the weekend. 

Then on to the Bass Road Mall and a wonderful visit to Jo Ann's.  I could spend a whole day in this treasure.  A quick visit to Dick's Sporting Goods - prices on the high side - and then to Sticky Fingers for a tasty smoked turkey club sandwich.  Barnes and Nobles was our Waterloo and we spent a couple of hours browsing the books and games.  Found some deals on several books to add to our Stuart Woods' collection.  I am missing only three now so it is close to complete.  I am thinking I need to make a return trip this weekend as I didn't get close to Dillard's or the other shops.  I am so glad the regular football season is past and hubby is not glued to the television on Saturday afternoons.  I have a partner in my shopping experience and a driver to get me where I want to go without me having to fool with the traffic.

Looking forward to all the get togethers with friends and family and already some are overlapping and I know I won't make it to all of them, but you can bet I will hit as many as possible.  Dinner has to be made, so until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

My Writings

As many of you know I have been writing children's stories for over a year now. No, they are not published!  I keep editing and rewriting and then editing some more.  The once upon a time stand alone stories are now a chapter book.  My sister, my daughter, my daughter-in-law, and my friends have read and re-read the stories and always come back with something that needs fixing.  I am so glad!  I hate to look like a dummy to those to who I submit my stories and I sure don't want any more rejection letters.  I have found three or four agents that handle stories focusing on the "down home on the farm" stories that promote good moral decisions.

I may be pumping myself up, but the rejections I have received so far on the stand alone stories advise me it is not their type of story or genre.  I have yet to be told I can't write or my story line is horrible, so picking myself up, I go back to the blank sheet and write some more.  The most difficult thing I have found is to keep the verbiage on the grade level for which I am writing.  It is easier to accomplish if I stay on the story than when I take a break and then come back.  The story line doesn't change, I just have to re-acclimate my mind to writing at the proper level.

My problem is there are still a bunch of stories floating around in my mind following the same line as the eight or ten I have already written and I don't know how to cut off what is finished.  Do I need to start a new book or let it go with what I have?  It seems kind of ridiculous to start a new book when I don't have the other one published, but I have been told to keep on writing.  Edit the old and start something new.  So, there you have it - I am following the professional advice of these successful people and I just keep on keeping on!

Regardless of the outcome of this writing project of mine, it has been most rewarding and lot's of fun.  There are some excerpts of my Belles Farm stories on my website (click on the link at the top of my blog) and some stories that I really need to go back and expound upon and edit.  Some days I just start writing without thought to where I am going, so there are a few stories that need some polish. 

A busy day ahead so I must run, but thanks for dropping by.  Until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

One of my precious chickens has found an escape and will not stay in the pen. I have watched her and searched to find the loose spot to no avail. She has me whooped! I think the beautiful rooster from next door has taunted her into misbehaving and he is probably my problem. See - it is always temptation that is to blame never the guilty party. But I am not sure God gave chickens a choice - they just act on instinct. Come to think of it, a lot of humans are that way too; they have returned to their baser nature and their animalistic tendencies show themselves causing all thought or reason go out the window. Anyway the blasted chicken is out and I can't get her in. All prayers are appreciated.

My tomatoes are still going strong and the pepper plants are loaded. I hope that the rain over the earlier part of the week helped everyone else's garden as well.

I have spent the day cleaning out my book collection and trying to decide which ones to get rid of. Yes, I am selling some books. Some of you know that I never give up a book. I still have my geography book from the 4th grade that Mom and Dad had to buy because a couple of pages got torn. Well, I have it at any rate. It has been hard for me today; I can find more reasons to hang on to those books than to get rid of them. The only problem is, I can't get in my dining room with all the books on the floor, buffet, table, and anything that will hold a book. I have multiple copies of some of them, so those are easy.

I have to make a choice and that is never easy for me when it comes to books. I want them all. I do the same things with greeting cards. I have stacks of those stored away and there are days I pull them out and just let the memories flow.

Well, the waiting is killing me! The manuscripts are submitted and I am waiting. Here's to hoping it want take as long as it has in the last few months. Again, all prayers are needed. Thanks for the visit and appreciate you letting me vent. Til next time - Love to all!

Belle