Day 136

A few (about 60) members of the choir from North Ridge Church in Plymouth, Michigan came down and did a little volunteer work and then had what we called when I was little a "singin" today. It was such a blessing to hear them sing. We had a pot luck lunch after the service and I made this banana pudding to take. I forgot to get the whipped cream for the top but I hope anyone who ate it enjoyed it anyway!

Award's Day!!

I was given an award today and also one weeks ago that I want to pass along to some of my blogger buddies and to those who entertain and inspire me!

This is the first one which was given to me by Vicki M. at My 2009 Project 365. For any of you that don't follow her blog, I highly recommend it. The things she can do with just her camera (she doesn't do any type of editing) never cease to amaze me!

The Renee Award was created by two women, Bella and Ces, to honor their friend Renee.

My eight nominees are:
365 Days
Picture This
Oz Girl's Photo Spot
Digital Detours Photography
heARTshare
keli takes pictures: project 365
Picture a Day Project
2009 Photo Project

This award was given to me by Vicki at Another Day...Another Rambling . The rules for this award are as follows:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

My nominees are:

mcdougall photography: the blog
My 2009 Project 365
A Snapshot of Her Life
Tina's 365 Project
Christina Photo
Andy C-Project 365-2009
Bloomingdale 365
A 365 Project: Photography in Image
A Photo A Day
Dot's Photoaday Spot
Nikon Sniper
Project 365
One photo a day for a year (2009)
RALLENHILL Project 365
Mari's Recipe Blog

Day 135

Pickin blueberries...

We got up at the butt crack of dawn to go and pick blueberries at a nearby farm today. I had so much fun!! I've never been picking like that before and it was a new experience for me. They don't use any pesticides so you can just eat and pick and eat some more until your bucket (or belly) is full. Needless to say, I did the pickin and Mike did the eatin!! We did wind up with two gallons of berries for only $14 which I thought was a GREAT deal!!

Day 134

Day 133

Pigs in a blanket

The nephew is here tonight so we had fun food for supper.

Day 132

This picture didn't turn out too great. I tried to take another one but the lizard wasn't having any of that. He ran away and hid under the front porch.

Day 131

Day 130

Mike and I went to visit my family this weekend. When we were leaving today, I made him stop so I could get a picture of the road my parents live on. Their land is surrounded by the Bienville National Forest. This is where I grew up and have always loved this road in the spring and summer. Even though it's been years since I've lived there, every time I get to our road I really start to feel like I'm back home.

I'm also posting another pic from yesterday of my nieces. I can't even describe how much I love these girls!! Right now, the red headed one is going through a stage where she absolutely will NOT smile to take a picture. She either makes a goofy face or frowns! I think it's because she has recently lost her two front teeth!! Or maybe she's just starting to act like her daddy, my brother (in the background)! LOL

Day 129

After church on Sunday, my soon to be brother-in-law decided we should all go for a ride. I snapped this picture while they were getting everything gathered for our little trail ride. That's my daddy and his wagon/mule team. His gear was all hand made by an Amish gentleman in Tennessee.

Day 128

Eco friendly lawn mower

My parents have been having so much rain over the last few weeks, it's been impossible for them to use the mowers or tractor to cut the grass. This is their solution for keeping it from getting knee deep. The horses have been let out of the pastures and now they just wander all over!

Day 127

black eyed susan

Day 126

We finally got some rain today. I can't even remember the last time it did rain. Honestly, I wouldn't mind a few DAYS of rain just to get rid of some of this dust and dryness that is killing everybody's sinuses!!

Day 125

Who'd a thunk it!! Sugar free candy that's got energy boosting stuff that's kosher and still tastes good! It's been two months without smoking now and I'm still eating candy and gum like crazy. The past few days have been harder than before cause all I can seem to think about is how bad I want a cigarette!!

Day 124

I spy...

...some "maters"!!!

It seems like I've been gone from blogger for forever! Actually, I'm somewhat disappointed in myself for skipping as many days as I have. I've had a lot of things going on and just got stressed to the max and felt like I needed a vacation from something. And this was the only feasible thing for me to take a break from. LOL

Day 118

Thought I'd try a collage today. The bottom left is from a bouquet, and the rest are from our yard. The top right is so tiny! I never even noticed them before today.

Day 117

Squash, squash, and more squash!! Our plant is LoAdEd with blooms and even has two little squash already on it! I can't wait until all the vegetables start coming in. There's just something about homegrown vegetable that is so much better than store bought.

Day 116

Is it...

...a pancake?, a crazy pita? Nope. Just some nastiness growing out in the yard!

Day 115

We went out lookin for gators again today. Some actually got close enough to get a picture of them, so I was pretty excited! This was the smaller one and was probably about 4 feet long. The one that stayed farther out looked like it was huge. All we could see was the head and comparing it to this one I would say the larger one was at least a 6 footer!!

Happy Mother's Day to all you mother bloggers!

Day 114

Mommy juice

I'm not a fan of Merlot. My mother-in-law just raved about this so I thought I'd at least try it. I think I'll stick with my wine in a box!!

Day 113

Gardenia

They smell absolutely lovely. When we were still in the FEMA "mansion", we had what I called a little courtyard area. Our trailer was in the corner of the yard and we were surrounded in the front by the azaleas and gardenia bush. I loved sitting out there in the mornings with a good book and cup of coffee breathing their scent!

Day 112

More yard flowers!! I'm sure y'all are getting pretty sick of pictures of them everyday. To be honest, I kinda am too! I need ideas!!!

A little side note.. today is the national day of prayer.

Day 111

Nothing unique about this, I know practically everyone has done something like this. I'm bored and this is the best it gets for today.

Day 110

Just some more of my flowers that are starting to come back out. I really need to take the time to clean out all the flower pots and just spruce everything up out back. Some plants need to go in larger pots and some are just plain dead. I keep saying I'm gonna do it but by the time I wake up it's already 80 somethin outside and I don't do hot. It's just not my thing.

Day 109

"I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall." -Eleanor Roosevelt

The roses are starting to bloom. I've never understood why people are so crazy about them. I mean sure they're pretty, but they don't really smell. I think that there's plenty of flowers that smell as good as they look and I would prefer those over a rose any day.

Day 108

"Is it raining at your house like it's raining at mine

Do you miss me like I miss you, is it cloudy all the time

Do you tremble when the phone rings and you think I'm on the line

Is it raining at your house like it's raining at mine

Does it thunder and lightnin' even when the sun shines

Is it raining at your house like it's raining at mine"

I thought the way this flower looked on the sidewalk was just so sad. It's best days are behind it. By tomorrow, it will probably be forgotten. For those of you who don't "follow" country music, these lyrics are from a Vern Gosdin song (the one playing now). He was one of the greatest voices of country music. And this song and picture convey how I'm feeling right now.

Day 107

Cookies are a girl's best friend.

Day 106

These little yellow flowers are growing on the white plant that never died from my Day 63 post. This plant is absolutely huge now, covering most of the pot and the part that the flowers are on is hanging over the side. I really like how the yellow of the flowers look against the trees and sky behind them.

Day 105

Kimbo was very patiently waiting on her treat.