Year 2010

A beautiful year, filled with meeting new friends, reuniting with old friends, fun visits with family, and yes, I must include the loss of so many friends.  The year started cold and drab as each new year does and progressed to the joyous spring with the warm breezes teasing the blossoms on the trees and shrubs.  Each season brought change not only to the landscapes but to my heart.  Never one to shun a heated discussion, I have found I loath the negativity, anger, and hate found in so many.  I wonder what life has served them to cause such feelings to linger and fester.  There is so much in life to bring joy and peace if we only search for it and brush the harsher feeling aside.

Spring brought the loss of hubby's father.  Sick for over a year with strange rash on his arms but no diagnosis of the cause, he succumbed to lung cancer in a matter of days after finally being diagnosed.  

Spring also bought with it the reuniting of friends in preparation of a class reunion.  It was a happy time for me to see the many friends and acquaintances of my youth.  One weekend was not enough time, but we made the best of the time provided and many have continued to keep in touch.  So many have died through the years and they were memorialized through the artistry of a fellow classmate. 

Fun in the sun was the theme of our Summer and it was a time of relaxing and visiting with family and friends and enjoying the pool through the hot summer days.  Wonderful food on the grill and homemade ice cream seem to top the charts on the weekends. The grandchildren are growing by leaps and bounds and changing from one visit to the next.  It is a wonder to listen to their conversation and know their minds are growing as quickly as their bodies. 

My garden flourished in the early days of summer, but succumbed to the heat and lack of rain quickly.  Mulching more this winter for a better chance of survival during the hot dry days for the upcoming year.   The asparagus is beautiful and since this is my first try I was very pleased with the results.  None to gather this season, but come spring I should have a bumper crop.  Now is the time to get my onions in, so I have to get busy with those. 

Fall brought on a most memorable reunion with my best friend from school.  One short visit of a couple of hours was not enough, but we are staying in touch and plan to revisit soon.  It is such a comfort to reunite with someone that meant so much to me for so many years.  It is strange to think that we were ever separated to begin with, but that is another story.  Leave it to say that we are reunited and looking forward to catching up.

Mid afternoon the yard chickens come in for a bit of scratch feed.  Week before last I rounded the corner of the barn and there was a beautiful tom turkey.  Light gray and cream with a rose colored waddle, he gobbled at me and headed for the scratch I had put out for the hens.  I watched for a minute and decided there was not enough to go around - he was eating like crazy.  I spread another batch and he proceeded to follow me in my rounds to gather eggs and water the barn hens.  I called hubby to the barn and it was decided he was a tame bird and hubby proceeded to visit the neighbors to locate the owner.  No one claimed the bird and he seems to have made a home here.  Free to come and go as he pleases, he prefers to stay close to the pen and visit with the pen birds.  He makes a nice addition to the landscape and gobbles as I talk, doesn't appear to be aggressive, but not taking chances around the babies.  Those talons look fierce and that beak could do some damage if provoked.  He is a beautiful bird and fun to watch.

Thanksgiving and Christmas is always filled with lots of good food, long visits and a time of fun.  I so enjoyed the visits with family and friends. 

As I read back over this years happenings I know I have been greatly blessed.  I look forward to the coming year with anticipation.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for me next.  Until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Acknowlege vs Acceptance

There is a gift sitting on your table.  You know it is there, therefore you acknowledge its existence.  You walk by it everyday, you dust around the edges, but you don't open the package.  One day you are ready.  You sit down and remove the ribbon and paper.  Now you have accepted your gift.

This is much like the gift from God of his Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Many acknowledge the gift of the Savior, but few accept this gift from God.  There are still many that are not aware of the gift.  The Savior is there, waiting for our acceptance.  The joys, blessings and comforts from this gift is life changing.  Don't wait too long to open your gift.

Cooking On My Mind

The cooler mornings stirs my craving to start a pot of soup and something to take care of my sweet tooth.  Some delicious Broccoli and Cheese or flavorful Potato Soup would really be yummy.  I have promised Dad for two weeks a pot of vegetable soup and that would work wonders also.  The smell of onions, celery and garlic in a rich chicken broth gets the saliva flowing and comforts the mind and body.  

I discussed with my nephew this week - he is a great Paula Dean fan -  possibilities for our Thanksgiving Dinner.  He is a wonderful cook and always surprises us with his delicious creations.  I thought I might need to give him a heads up so he could start planning which dishes he would like to bring.  I know, we still have two and half months to go, but I told you these cool mornings get me going.  I can already taste the cranberry salad with the cream cheese and pecans just flowing over my taste buds and bringing a smile to my face.

I think I will bake more bread this year also.  It isn't good for the waistline, but it is a sure stress reliever and makes me happy.  There is nothing better than a good sweetbread fresh from the bread machine.  Yes, I cheat!  That machine can bring forth the same delectable aromas and the wonderful taste as my mixing and kneading ever thought about and in much less time. 

I haven't checked the pecan trees this year, but I am hoping that we have a decent crop.  Some toasted pecans drizzled with butter would be real good about now, but the time is not too far away.  The squirrels not only raped my corn feeders this year but also took every pear off three trees and got most of the plums to boot.  Anything with a seed was fair game this year for those little varmints and I intend on getting some back in the form of squirrel dumplings in the not too distant future.  They are nice and plump after a summer filled with eating. 

Well, I think it is time to start the potato soup so I will leave you with your thoughts for now.  Until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Labor Day Weekend

The end of so much and the beginning of much more.  This is the last holiday of the summer season.  Will you be dove hunting on Saturday or trying to get in a final swim for this season, a quick weekend trip or a start on your fall camping early? 

Kids are coming off the mountain for the weekend and spend some time with Nanna.  I am looking forward to seeing them again before their holy days start and trek off to their feast site.  It has really hit home how little time one has when little ones are in school and have a strict schedule to which they must adhere.  I guess it has been a few years and I had forgotten how little time there is between getting off work and time for bed. 

My grandchildren have a play room at our house.  I try to enter this room about every two weeks - it can be a danger zone.  The kids are not destructive, just very creative and the girls favorite game is dress up.  We are big on passing down clothing and it seems the playroom is the central depository for the clothes in transition.  Three weeks ago I trekked upstairs to straighten the playroon to find that something was blocking the door.  Not knowing what was holding the door, I cracked it a little and ran my hand along the edge to see what was wedged behind it, only to find clothes, clothes and more clothes!  Clothes covered every inch of the floor and the beds, but their "stage" (an old trunk I found at an estate sale) was clean as a whistle.  There were a few building blocks and baby dolls under the bed, but these girls had every stitch of hand-me-down clothing scattered all over the room. 

The fashion show that they can grace us with is astounding and brings me much joy.  Already at their young ages you can see their style and taste in each outfit they put together.  They can entertain themselves (and us) for hours and they have so much fun!

Hubby has plans to fill the smoker up with good eats and we plan to enjoy family and friends for the weekend.  I hope all of you have a safe and happy holiday!  I am already planning for Thanksgiving and another big get together!

Until next time  . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Happy Mother's Day

Today is the day of Thanksgiving for the Mother's of this world.  For me it is a day of Thanksgiving for my children and grandchildren.  The times of getting up in the middle of the night, getting through the terrible twos, the sometimes terrific threes, the sickness, the injuries, the stubbornness, all the trials and tribulations of childhood are forgotten by the smiles on the faces of just one accomplishment.  The minutes, hours, and days of happiness and joy brought about by a child are irreplaceable.

I am proud of the people that my children have become in spite of my inexperience.  My children have provided me with the greatest gift I could ever receive and that is my grandchildren.  To my son-in-law and daughter-in-law, thank you for being the parents that you are and instilling in my grandchildren the joy of living and the love of God.

I thank you!

To the rest of you Mother's and Grandmother's out there I hope you have a peaceful, joy filled day.  Some of you have children and grandchildren serving our country on foreign lands and will not be seeing them this year on this special day.  My prayer for you and them is for a safe and happy day.   May they return to you unharmed with a smile on their face and joy in their hearts. 





Happy Reading!
Belle