WOW!

A year and a half of news - how could I go so long without sharing my thoughts.  Says a lot about my state of mind.  Much loss, too much heart break, in my life in that year and a half.  How do people worm their way into your life and then just pull out - no goodbyes, no hugs, nothing - just gone.  

In August of last year my brother-in-law did just that!  He was my friend and he died without even a good bye. In October a dear friend of many years lay dead at her computer while we waited on her at the Tea House.  Just gone - no goodbyes, no "Love you", nothing.  November brought the deadly stroke that started the illnesses that took my Father in January.  Then another friend in June.  In July Mother had two major blockages repaired and I am convinced they were from a broken heart.  It is so hard when nothing brings joy to the broken hearted - the ones you love.

Some days my heart hurts with the missing of these family and friends and some days I laugh with joy at my memories.  That is the way I want to be remembered - with joy and laughter!

Then a miracle was born in June and my heart starting melting and came out of shock.  God knows our needs better than we do and he knows what we are going through every day.  My fourth granddaughter was born bringing much joy and happiness.  The birth of this child reminded me that life will go on - we have no control over God's plans for each and every one of us.  

Now on to the present and the future with joy in our hearts!

About my little farm - out of 34 yard birds, I have 10 left (9 hens and 1 rooster).  I am on the verge of transferring them to my daughter's farm as they have become very demanding and hard to handle.  The coyotes and hawks have killed off most of my feathered friends and the snakes (removed two in one day from the laying box) and opossums (we trapped 6 in one week) are getting more eggs than I am getting.  I think next Spring I will start over with a new batch and see how I manage.  With no food here, maybe the varmints will move on to greener pastures.  I have acquired a beautiful Land Shun that will be hard to part with. 

It has been a hot summer here in central Georgia.  One of the wettest springs that I can remember, but when the rain left it left for weeks.  Even my rosemary dried on its own. The hibiscus is droopy and woody and the blooms have fallen off without opening.  What the weather hasn't killed, the chickens have and they have enjoyed a wonderful crop of tomatoes while I had none!  

Thanks for visiting and remember to Keep Smiling!

Belle

Strange visitors

Deep into the reading of Inadmissible Evidence by Philip Friedman, a most unpleasant odor hit my nostrils and for a minute all thought and comprehension was focused on that horrible smell.   It took less than a minute for my brain to comprehend the source of this odor and I immediately threw the book and ran to shut the windows.  A beautiful but deadly (to the senses) skunk had sprayed its wares somewhere around my porch.  Hubby, with a huge smile on his face, slowly rose from his chair and found his flashlight as he headed for the door.  The puppies had not as yet been hit by the smell, as always, if Daddy was going out, that is where they were needed.   

The puppies came alive and I allowed them to join the outside activity, hoping against all odds that they would not locate said beauty and come in needing many baths which I knew would do no good.  After a quick turn around the yard and house hubby returned having not located anything.  We both settled back to our reading when something caught my eye at the door.  I quickly glanced about for the puppies and found them settled before the fire snoozing.  Again dumping my book I checked the porch and there drinking out of the puppies water bowl was a semi grown opossum.  He didn't seem to be in a hurry and drank his fill before turning to look up at me as Hubby opened the door.  He started to come in for a visit, but Hubby stomped his foot and the little rascal trotted off, straight under the hot tub. 

With flashlight and net, Hubby attempted to relocate our visitor to no avail.  He balled up tightly and was not about to leave his sanctuary.  Unreachable and not causing any harm we left him for the night determined to move him in the morning light.  Earlier in the day I had spent a good bit of time watching several deer play and graze in back of the house.  It was a day filled with wildlife! 

The next afternoon I cringed as the shots rang out behind the house, hoping that the hunter was a bad shot and had missed my friends.  Yesterday, there was a beautiful, if malodorous, dead skunk on the side of the road.  So is life -- here today and gone tomorrow. 

Enjoy life while it is available.  Whether wildlife or human, we are here for only a short time as was those that went before us and none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow here on earth.

Until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle