I'll believe it......

.....when i see it!!!

As many of you know ...my parental units built a Lodge (house) up the hill from us...

Well......the Lodge has been done and ready since March the 1st......the units have been moving in box-by-box.....car load-by-car load .....

Yesterday the male unit called and said..."we're on our way with the last loads!"

Here's Papa....with the contents of the refrig and the pantry.....
Here's Mom with the last of the "stuff" in the closets......

Isn't it cute....they have matching cars......
(An Escape and an Explorer....they own stock in Ford Motor)


There they go......

I have only one question.....

Where's the cats?

Maybe tomorrow.........i'll keep you posted!!

Juices are flowing.....

........The creative juices that is...... Several weeks ago....when i realized that March Madness was nearing completion....i went into a panic and started frantically looking for my next project....This is what i came up with......
McCall's Quick Quilts'....Devonshire Cream.....

Main fabric is Moda.....Portobello Market by 3 sisters (2 layer cakes) with some assorted blue, green and cream fat quarters thrown in for fun.......

Today is just beautiful.....not a rain cloud in the sky.......sooooo, i think it would be a great day to start cutting........but, FIRST......!!

BATH DAY FOR THE DOGS.........LOOK OUT GUYS HERE I COME!!!

TGIF.....

Do these two look "guilty" or what....??

Once again this week can be summed up in one word......RAIN.....

So much rain that the county south of us had to cancel school due to flash flooding........the mountain have been on a "Flood" watch for three days....low bridges are closed.......the rivers, creeks and streams are all over their banks and rolling right along at a good clip......

Things surrounding me are so damp......had to turn on the AC last night because of the humidity.......FL was humid with a capital "H "...but, even 74* with a humidity level of 92% can be miserable.......

Well.....gott'a run to the mountain park......which is like a rian forest......

Lucky...male child and fur babies will probably sleep till noon.......after all the AC is on and the ceiling fans are running on low......prefect for sleeping!!!

#8.....

Yes...Campers!!!

I have been quilting.......things just seem to take longer ..... Don't know why....

This is the little lap quilt, I've been playing around with since we got home from the Shop Hop in Atlanta....it's made with a jelly roll and some pre-cut yardage i picked up at "A Scarlett Thread" in McDonough, GA

I think ..... what took me soooo long was....... i decided to use the "quilt as you go" method.....and i had to break it down into workable strips, quilt it and then put it all back together.......yikes!!

See those small black strips....? that's what is holding the whole thing together!!!

Orange dot fabric and black with paw prints i had in my stash and they just seemed to add to the madness.........

Soooooo......I've named this one......

MARCH MADNESS

in honor of that crazy shop hop.....!!

Wordless Wednesday.......

RAIN!!

The Gift.....

Yesterday was one of those dragging...blah... days.....

It was a holiday and i had to work......it was raining...for about the 100th day in a row......

I had to go home and cook dinner....blah....blah....blah.....

Then after dinner the male child yelled...."Look at that!"

We ran to the front porch and this is what we saw........A Rainbow!!!

Now....what so special about a rainbow??!! Well this one started in the valley to the east of us.....arched across the fields....then the road.....over our property and

......ended at our flag pole!!!

Oh My Goodness!!.......just when i was complaining about my "Blah Day"....the Lord sent me this little reminder of His covenant with us.......

What a Gift!!!!

Happy Memorial Day

Gott'a Work Today!!!

Enjoy your holiday......

Sunday......

Yummmmmmie.................Sunday Dinner!!

May the Blessing of the Lord be with you.....

Enjoy your day......

Something new......

....I have something new to ponder.....

But.....first some news.....after much searching thru "bird" books, the Internet and three Park Ranger brains (one of which is a "bird" guy)....we have come to the conclusion that Shamu is a........drum roll, please........A White Breasted Nuthatch.......taadaa!!

And the biggest news.......Last night we "think" we saw some downy little brown feathers in the box.......maybe we have baby Shamus or would it be Shamis?? We'll keep you posted....
Now.......for my new ponder.......what is this flower??

They seem to grow in pods or groups and as you can see they are light lavender....

The bushes are sort and full ....with these nasty thrones.......wowziers!!

My mom thinks they are small Locust trees.....what's your thoughts???

I need a "plant" guy Ranger.........

Going for a ride.......

......going for a ride....hey!....hey!.....hey!.....hey!........going for a rrrriiidddeeee!!!

Wait......................i'm stuck in the era of the BeeGee's....and....wasn't it "Staying A Live??"

Anyway........here's Mia riding ...... Shotgun!!

and....Max....my little rear gunner!!!....he's keeping us safe from sneak attaches .......

The kids ......gott'a love'um....

thanks male child for riding along.......

Thankful Thursday.........

Miss Kitty is thankful for these new computer controlled houses.......Look it's a "touch" screen....hummmmm...let's see..

Lights on.....lights off....

Garage doors open.....garage doors closed......

Hot water on.......hot water off.......she really loves that one!!

Dogs in........dogs out.........dogs out.......dogs out........

OOPs.....seems to be broken.....hee, hee!!

Are computers or maybe cats taking over your world??

The New Neighbor......

City Boy ventured down the driveway yesterday.....to meet the new neighbor.....She sits in the nesting box on what we call......Telephone Pole Lane....and watches the activity going on in the yard......she stares at us as we go by......late in the afternoon she takes a flight around the area....hunting for seed and bugs.....we have not been able to get close enough to check for eggs......but, i'd rather leave her alone....

We're not sure what type of bird she is.......dark blue on the top and whiteish-gray on the bottom half with a bright blue spot on her head .......

She reminds me of the killer whales at Sea World ....the way her head peeks out of the hole....
I'm calling her "Shamu"

Can anyone help me as to what type of bird she is.....??

Also, several months ago....on a blog i read....there was mention of a quilt project for the children of the Appalachians....if you have the info....please leave me a comment......Thanks

In flight....

Hummer 1585........this is tower......

Flaps down......feet down.......wings spread.......

You're cleared for approach and landing.....

Stand by to refuel......

Is it just me or do these little guys remain you of F16 fighter jets......??

It's Monday....Monday....Monday.....

.....OK......Monday is now my favorite day of the week!!

And since i have this Monday off.........now we're talking!!!

However .....just realized that all the weekend errands and chores still need to be done.......Ugh!!!

Guess that's how i'll spend Monday and Tuesday of this week......

At least i paid the middle of the month bills last night.....don't have to face "that" this bright ,sunny, but..... cool morning........

Now, i just have to start my day by standing in line at the post office to buy some of those pesky 2cent stamps......

It's a government plot .....i'm telling you a plot!!

Mondays.....not stamps.........

Hummmm.......

These little ditties are popping up all over the county......This is just three of "Barn Quilt Squares" that i pass in my travels.......

Some are painted by the high

school art classes with $$ from a grant.....Some people have designed and painted for themselves......


I want one!!......

Do i need a barn??!!......don't have a barn......could this be a problem??

Could i attach it to the side of the house??....would it then be a "House Quilt Square"????

The powers in Washington DC think they have problems......this is a major decision......maybe i need an advisory committee.......!!

Saturday........

Good Morning Girls....!!

As i drive across the county on my weekends to work........This is the scene that greets me in many of the fields and meadows that i pass.......

Don't they...excuse the pun......look content?

Laying there in the early morning dew covered grass....soaking up the early morning sunshine.....thinking about what they have to do today......

Let's see......hummmmmmm??....eat a little grass......eat a little hay.....soak up the sun.....lay in the grass.....move to the other side of the pasture......hummmmmm??.....eat a little more.....stare at the cars passing by......soak up some more sun......

Oh...for the life of a cow.......

Then i think of the milking machines and the calf every year....!!

I press on the gas a little harder and scoot on to the park to start the work weekend......thinking....

No thanks....girls ...you can have it!!

TGIF.....

Migraine is gone......woohoo!!!

Now i have two questions for you on this beautiful Friday morning........

1. Do you remember five weeks ago ...when it looked like this?

and

2. Are the powers that be reallly gonna kill off "BOTH" Izzy and George??!!...on Grey's Anatomy

Thankful Thursday.........

...i'm glad the meds are finally working and my migraine is easing away into the netherlands.....don't get them very often....but.....when i do......wowziers!!!

Thought this one was gone yesterday.....however, at 5:45 this AM back it came!!

Hopefully....it's gone now........until the next time....

Have a great Thursday........i'm going back to bed......yawn!!

ps.......male child picture........

Wordless Wednesday.......

.......Dawn.....

Maybe.....

we should re-name...

this valley...

"Living With the Clouds".....

They seem to be moving into the neighborhood.......

Took these pixs Monday afternoon.....as the latest cold front was moving in.....woke up today with temps in the low 40's..........wowsiers!!! What a shock.....

Have a great Tuesday...enjoy it!!

It's Monday.....

Yep!........those are buzzards flying over the ridge!!

When i first peeked out the windows this morning and saw them....i thought .."How appropriate!"

It's another Monday and once again it's raining.......sort'a a "buzzard"day.....you know pick it apart and haul it away.......

But.... as i drove across the county to work.....i had an attitude change.....

If it wasn't for Mondays ..... i would dislike Tuesdays...

So from this day forward ... i'm gonna make the most of Mondays and enjoy them to the fullest....!!

Now if i could just convince the powers that be in the state offices that Mondays should be a...."if you want'a or maybe not work day"......i'd have everything under control!!

Happy Mother's Day...

This is the mother half of the Parental Units......

Why is she enjoying her coffee and laughing...?

Look closely at the picture......she has locked the father half outside on the porch...!!

It's a wonder i don't need therapy....

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Weekend......??!!

Well......i had a very nice leisurly weekend planned......you know....sleep late......put the pork roast in the crockpot for tonights dinner.......maybe a little cleaning of the house....nothing too taxing or what i would call "work"!

Just enjoy myself...........NOT!!!

My darling little Mia.....woke me up this morning at 6:22 AM.....by standing on my chest..... licking my face...with that i've gotta go out look in her eyes......!!

Why?.....oh why??....didn't she go out with City Boy and Max??!!....they went out at 4:30 this AM.....had a snack and came back to bed........

Could it be 'cause we were snuggled under the covers all comfy and warm??

Maybe it was because it was raining and thundering ...... ??

What ever the reason.......i need to thank Mia....

If she had let me sleep....i would have missed drinking coffee on the front porch and watching the sunrise.......

Someone ....please!...tell her tomorrow is Mother's Day!!

TGIF.....

Looking over my shoulder.....taking a second peek at this past week.....i can sum it up in one word.........RAIN.......!!

For the last eleven days....at some point during each 24 hour time span.....we've had the wet stuff.......the ground is sooooo wet at this point that the dogs are sinking into the mud on they're daily trips outside.....

the house feels damp......the grass is very tall and very green.......the trees are budding out.....gardens are sprouting......the puddles are becoming swimming pools for the birds......the deer are looking a little soggy around the edges.....but.....the rabbits....ohhh, the rabbits....they are in full glory (mating) season!!

Have Florida guest coming for dinner tomorrow.......hope the bunnies can keep it under control.....other wise i'm gonna call it "Mountain wild life entertainment..."

What are your plans for the weekend??

It's Thursday.....

.....the day to list what you're thankful for.....

Sooooo....i asked Max....."What is the one thing you are most thankful for?"....

Well.....Max being the VERY vocal little guy that he is could not narrow it down to just one thing.......so here goes:

Chew toys

Male Child's nice soft sleepable bed

Dog treats...especially "Turkey Jerky"

Regular meals with table scraps.....yummmmm!

Being able to dig holes

Ice Cream

Oatmeal....yes...he likes oatmeal (Maple Brown sugar)

Sleeping in the sun on the front porch

Listening to his bark echo thru the valley in the late afternoon

His blankie.....Mia's and Miss Kitty's too!! He wants them all!!

He has more.....but....... yikes!..... i have to leave for work!!

....What is your "Max" thankful for??....

Mountain....whatever....

Once again the male child appeared.....downloaded some pictures on my laptop and started to disappear down the stairs........when i quickly asked what he was taking pictures of ...... he mumbled..."Oh you know.....Whatever".......so here's a few whatevers.....

How can they called this a weed......it's to pretty..... Weeds are so cool.......City Boy can mow them down and they just come back.....gotta love a plant with that much determination.....

This is what the sky has looked like for the last few days..... Rain, rain go away.....the forecast is for 4 more days of the wet stuff....yuck!



More mountains friends at the free buffet..... Look at the Indigo Buntings!! I think they have built a nest in the nesting box on the telephone pole.....

OOps....sorry...they're not Indigos....could be Purple Martins or Mountain Bluebirds.....hey! I've got the book..... but, they're all starting to look alike to me......

anyway.....they're cute and i enjoy watching them!!

Waiting his turn.......
Check out the buds on that Frasier fur tree!!!



No wonder my allergies are working overtime.....

Good Idea......?

....or was it??!!

Look at that sky.......that's lightening and thunder on the horizon....

and that little white speck...next to the Christmas tree in the center of the picture below.....is City Boy installing my parental units new mailbox.......which is a really nice thing to do......however, he's using a 4' long steel pry bar to remove rocks and a post hole digger....!!

Can you say........."Lightening Rod!!??"

Good Morning!!!

I have the day off....but....no rest for the weary ....lots of errands to do....so i'm off to town!!

Have a great Monday!!!

Treasure....?

Well......what an adventure the trip to the "junk" store turned out to be......

Can you say....."middle of no where?"

You drive along beautiful NC16 north and cross into Virginia, catching views of the New River as you travel and all of a sudden there's a stop sign!!......whoa!!!

Intersection of NC16 and 58......and across from the stop sign is this place......you're not sure what it is.......a general store.....a gas station.......a car dealership....it's those three and more.....the era is early 1930's....truly this would make a good backdrop for some period film.....!

I asked the old timer at the door about the name of the area....Mouth of Wilson......and he launched into a story about Wilson creek flowing into the New River just down the road and the mills in the area getting their power from the creeks and river.......then proceed to tell me that everything in the store was marked as to price ...but.... the dust was free!!

After searching the two story building for about two hours ...... this is what i found.....

It's a small bowl/dish/cup......glazed milk white......about 1.5" in height and about 3" wide.

It looks like it's some sort of stoneware....don't think it's hand thrown......but...who knows....

This is what's printed or written on the bottom....But....hey! it was $.50 and is perfect for holding my Kosher salt......

Mom found a wooden toilet paper holder fashioned in the shape of a cartoon cat for $2.00
Dad found "another" vinyl briefcase to hold "another" file for $1.00
City Boy found a US Navy flag for $5.00

Then we found Motley BBQ.....also in the middle of no where for lunch......

All-in-all ...... it was a good day......



PS......don't worry Girl Child...i didn't let PaPa buy anything for the boys......

Hi Ho....Hi Ho.....!!

Well.....it's off to the Junk.....ahhhh .... antique store.....called Polly's World in the Mouth of Wilson, VA...we go!!!!

The rangers have assured me that you can find just about anything you want and alot you don't want at this establishment......

Don't ya just love that name....."Mouth of Wilson".......was it named after the mouth of a river, a valley between the mountains or did Mrs. and/or Mr. Wilson talk soooooo much that they named the town after them???!!!

Something new to ponder......

Have a great day!!