I'm Ready For My Close-up...

Johnny Jump Ups

Butterfly On Mock Orange Bush

A New Old Car And A Bag Of Greens

Oldest dear son's car is dying a slow and painful death. We first bought him this unique fixer-upper opportunity years ago when he was learning how to drive. Dear husband worked for weeks replacing parts, deeming it fit to carry our precious cargo. It ran well for a while. Then various things started going out and breaking down and all the other things that happen to poor old cars that people buy to try and save money on those creatures known as teenage boys. So you deal with each problem as it comes along and pray for an automobile more than you pray for your children. Finally that one thing happens that makes you realize that this little car just isn't going to be around much longer. For us, it was a leaky head gasket. This is bad. Very bad. Major work and major money.

Dear husband had been looking for months for a SUV that dear son could drive AND that would pull the boat. It had to be able to pull the boat. I cannot stress this enough. Boat! Important! Must pull boat! He knew exactly what he wanted. He found two. One was sold before he could go look at it and the other one is sitting in our driveway now. It is a 96 Chevy Tahoe. Very sharp and very low mileage for an older model. We will keep the other one and fix it up when we get our income tax money. We have another son who will be driving in a couple of year. Yikes!

After we bought the Tahoe, we went to eat at the Cracker Barrel, but it was so crowded we decided to go somewhere else. We ended up at Shoney's. We ate off the homestyle buffet and it was delicious. I had fried catfish, soup beans, and some kind of wonderful cooked greens. I am ashamed to say that I tried the cornbread and it had sugar in it! Ugh! I was so disappointed.

Anyway, back to the greens. When the waitress came to check on us, I asked her what kind of greens they were serving. She went back to the kitchen and found out that they were turnip greens. She said the cook would sell me a bag if I wanted them. I told her I did. Then she came back out and said the cook said to make sure because they were 10 dollars a bag. I told her I still wanted them and asked her to ask the cook what I needed to season them. She came back and said that everything was in the bag. All I had to do was cook them in water. Well, I can do that.

So, I came home with a new old car, a 10 dollar bag of frozen turnip greens, and a slightly embarrassed husband who sat through the whole bag of greens buying adventure. I went with him to buy a car, so I figure we're even. ;-)

Welcome To The World

Crayons In Sunshine

A Taste Of The Past

Homesick For The Cove

This pix was taken by my husband.

Where Did You Go?

It's hard to believe that my baby is now a teenager. He turned 13 today. Happy Birthday! I love you.


Wearing Mr. Potato Head's glasses.


Busted!


Busted again!

Hi Mom. Just having a little snack.

You mean these clothes were clean?

Harry...

...Houdini!

What?

You entertained us with Old King Cole...

and Recycle Man!

You mean you wanted me to put the books in the box?

My work here is done.

Golden Heralds Of Springtime

These are for Pam, who told me she misses the daffodils.

Neighbors

Birds At Feeders

Mockingbird eating apples.


Downy Woodpecker eating suet.


Mourning Dove sitting in the seeds.


Blue Jay at the seed feeder.

The Red Sea

When the Children of Israel crossed the sea,
It comforts my heart to know
That there must have been timorous ones
Who faltered and feared to go;

Feared the ribbon of road which stretched
Ahead like a narrow track,
With the waves piled high on either side,
And nothing to hold them back.­

Nothing to hold them back but a Hand
They could neither see nor feel;
Their God seemed distant and far away,
And only the peril real.

Yet the fearful ones were as safe as the brave,
For the mercy of God is wide.
Craven, and fearless,He led them all
Dry shod to the other side.

And I think of the needless terror and pain
We bring, to our own Red Sea.
Strengthen Thy timorous ones, dear Lord,
And help us to trust in Thee!
Martha Snell Nicholson.

BB King

I took this pix at a concert in 2003.

The Land At Eden's Gate

There's a garden God is tending, where the fields are green and deep
With a harvest never-ending there, by waters cool and sweet
There a man can lay his burdens down, there a man can live in grace, oh,
I hope I see before I die, The Land at Eden's Gate.

Oh, the morning sky has broken, like the dawn at Eden's birth
And it lights the pine and meadowlark, and shines on God's great work
Oh, I'm leaving now and won't be back, won't you come with me this day, oh,
I hope I see before I die, The Land at Eden's Gate.
Oh, The Land at Eden's Gate.

May the children of your children, see the wild, rare primrose grow
Hear the gentle rain a-falling down, among these ancient groves
Oh, may angels watch it evermore, and protect its perfect state, oh
I pray they see before they die, The Land at Eden's Gate
I pray they see before they die, The Land at Eden's Gate.

To hear this beautiful song click here , then scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Homeschoolers, for An Instructional Guide For Music And Diaries From The Oregon Trail click here .

Another Bug I Like

I've Never Met A Bug I Didn't Like

Dew On Strawberry Plants

Cades Cove

Leaf