Fall Gardening Has Begun

Can you guess what we are having for supper? I have a pot of mustard greens cooking. My house smells of greens and that gives my family the feeling of fall...even if it is 90+ degrees outside. No matter the weather, our mustard greens are faithful to grow so beautiful and tasty! So, tonight we will dine on greens, chicken and rice casserole and cornbread.

I have rutabagas (left row), mustard greens, collards, beets, spinach and turnips planted so far. The only vegetable ready to eat, however, is the mustard. I can't wait for the cool weather. It always "sweetens" all of the greens. The mustard greens have been so plentiful we have been able to share with many friends and family members. I will be putting some in the freezer as well.

I don't really know what happened to my row of broccoli. These two lonely little plants are the only ones to survive. Oh well, I will put in another row tonight. I will be planting a variety of lettuces, onions, carrots cabbage and another row of mustard soon. Collards will last all winter but the other greens will not so I must plant more mustard to be able to eat it all winter.

I just had to include this cute picture of our farm cat, Sparkle! Doesn't she look so sweet and cuddly? She really is too. I walked into the kitchen and found her in one of her favorite places but she has never chosen to nap in my seed box before. She usually just sleeps on the shelf.

By the way, would you folks up north kindly send some of your cool weather our way? I want to open my windows and let the fresh air in so badly!!!

I'm A Little Scared!

Not of these two sweetie pies. Yes, I am a little scared of this little sweetie pie!

Let me explain. You see, Brooke has a photo shoot this morning at a local private school and she needs me to babysit for her. I love to keep my grandbabies but I have never kept Reese for more than a couple of hours because she is a baby that will only take her Mommy's "nursie". She will not even take Mommy's pumped milk in a bottle. And we have tried all types of bottles! This girl knows what she wants!! Funny thing is her Mommy was just the same way!

So, I have this.....

And an assortment of food....

I'll let you know how it went! Yikes!

Well, everything went great today. Reese slept all morning. When Brooke came back Reese was STILL asleep. I was busy keeping up with two little guys, however. Whew, bedtime will be early for me tonight!

Dativus/Comarada BBQ

My two college boys are in a club at their school called Dativus. It has been a great experience for them! The girls' club is called Comrada. These clubs are service clubs. They volunteer many hours each year to the Care Center in town. They have helped out with building houses for those in need through Habitat for Humanity. They also work in the community helping the needy or elderly with yard work or other chores around their homes that they can not do.

Last Thursday night we hosted the 2nd annual BBQ for these guys and gals. Below is a picture of the first arrival of club members. They slowly came in groups of 3 or 4 until we had about 40 kids in our home. Of course we loved every minute of it!

After the chaplain of the club Blessed the food the line quickly formed. Everyone LOVED the food but then we all know how starving college kids are! We were told time and again how delicious everything was. I laughed and told them they were just happy to not be eating cafeteria food as the majority of them live on campus ;-)

The menu consisted of Monroe's smoked chicken, smoked pulled pork, baked macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, baked beans, corn casserole and cherry delight for dessert. Monroe and I watched as the guys kept going back for thirds and fourths! As for the girls, well... we ladies would never divulge information like that on each other. My lips are sealed! However, when all was said and done the only thing left was a few pieces of chicken and a little bit of beans. As you can see, we had to squeeze everyone in the house. It was in the high 90's outside!

After supper, the original plan was to roast marshmallows outside over an open fire. However, the mosquitoes were horrible not to mention the heat wave we are currently experiencing in Florida! (Hurry up Fall!) So, on to plan B. Pull out the board games! This great group of kids didn't appear to mind at all. They were such good sports. They seemed to enjoy just fellow shipping with each other.

If you look closely in the circle below you can see Brandon and Bryce. How sweet they were to even include the two younger brothers in a game of Apples to Apples!

Bryce even got to watch a game of chess. Pay attention Bryce, watch and learn! Later on in the evening a game of Spades was started. Four guys remained playing this game until 11:30 or so. As they gathered their belongings to leave, one of the four commented that next time he would have to teach Monroe and me to play. He went on to explain that when he was growing up his Mother didn't think there was anything worth watching on tv so they didn't have one. I told him she was my kind of woman!

I must say we were very impressed by this group of young people! The entire night we heard no bad language and no negative or bad comments. I felt very comfortable letting my younger boys mingle with the older guys. We received many, many "thank-yous" and hugs. What a pleasure it was to be able to have them in our home. I am already looking forward to the 3rd annual BBQ!! As a matter of fact, I think I overheard Monroe making plans with them for some kind of get together in a couple of months when it cools off and we can actually enjoy a bonfire. Sounds great to me!

A Fantastic Weekend!

We had the privilege of going to Georgia this past weekend to see my cousin, Alesia and her husband, Kenny. A dinner was held on their behalf as they will be leaving the comfort and safety of home to travel abroad on very important business-The Father's Business. They will be working in an unfriendly environment and in a country that is not nearly as blessed as the USA. Their beautiful children that will be going as well. Please join our family in prayer for their safety and protection as they follow their Father's leading.


I was doubly excited to see these folks as well!!! With my Mother and Father in heaven I often get that homesick feeling for my kinfolks. There is just something about being with relatives that makes me feel connected. Just to hear that familiar Georgia accent and to see my aunts and uncles that remind me so very much of my parents, whom I miss dearly! In the picture below are my Dad's sisters and brother. Left to right, Aunt Frances, Uncle Harvey, and Aunt Nellie. Just to see Uncle Harvey Saturday morning brought me to tears. I know that may sound silly but he walks and talks like my Dad and looks like my Granny. What a truly awesome day!

Brandon and Bryceton immediately rekindled the friendship with their cousin, Ethan. These three played all afternoon together and they hated to say goodbye.

I had not seen these guys in several years. Left to right is Jonathan, Lanna, Wilma and Donny, my cousins. It surely was great to visit with them and catch up on everyone's lives.

This is Aunt Frances with my cousin, Angela. Lunch was great as we talked and talked and ate and ate. There are many wonderful benefits in being from the South but among the best would be the food!! The food table must have been at least 20 feet long and absolutely full of delicious southern cooking. Southern Hospitality at its best. Aunt Frances and Aunt Nellie both made my favorite cake, Pecan Cake. Can I just say it was heavenly!! Of course I had to have a piece of each one. I mean I just wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, you know. By the way, they were both delicious!

On the way home we were finally able to find the memory marker for my mother-in-law. It is on I-75 near the Gainesville exit but we have never been able to locate it. It is usually dark when we go through that area southbound. This was not a "fun" stop but one we needed to make. It brought closure to our hearts. We miss her tremendously.

We made one more stop in Georgia and I just can not believe I forgot to get pictures! My dear friend, Kay, now lives in GA. We had the most wonderful visit with her! We had plenty of time to chat. We went on a golf cart ride down some old Georgia clay roads in the woods...yeah! We were gone for 2 hours but it seemed like maybe 30 or 45 minutes! We found 2 old, deserted homesteads with the barns. We stopped in front of one of the places and daydreamed about what it must have been like to live in that time period. Hey! I think I will count that as a field trip for my boys....Living History! Kay, my boys are still talking about driving your golf cart! Thanks for the great time. Next time I will definitely remember my camera!!

Let's see... what will we do this coming weekend? Whatever it may be it will be hard to top this past weekend!
Thank you Lord for the "extra" blessings you sent to me!

Too Cute!

How about this little face to brighten your day? This should bring a smile to anyone! I made Luke a peanut butter and marshmallow (fluff) sandwich and then I went about my chores in the kitchen. A few moments later I turned around and this is what I saw. I had a good laugh and ran to get the camera! I believe he really enjoyed that snack! It was the first time he had ever had a peanut butter and fluff sandwich and if his Mommy has any say-so in the matter it will be his last for a long time.

However, when he is at Nonna's house he can have a peanut butter and fluff sandwich anytime he likes ;-)

And that, dear friends, is what Nonna's (Grandmothers) are for, RIGHT???