My Daddy

I had the best Dad in the world.  He could do Anything!  Thats me on the right and on the far left you can see half of my older brother.  Baby sis is standing with Dad.  We all adored Daddy.  (Daddy treated Momma like a queen...) 

                                                                               
We were living in Houston when this picture was taken...but in just a few months we would be moving to the country to our new house.   Dad said the city was no place to raise a family.  I never worried about us.  Dad (and of course Momma) took care of us.  They saw to it that we all learned to work and get along in the process.  If ever three kids loved their Dad...it was us.  Someday.....I want to write about his wonderful life.  We were blessed to have him with us for a long time...but not long enough.  He died at a very young 81.  He never acted old....because he never was!  He loved life...he loved his family.  Do I miss him........................everyday.

Here is a good shot of my brother.  Yea I was sitting next to Dad on the other side and Momma cut me out this time!

Blessings to all Daddy's............from the pasture.

Flag Day!

Hurray for the Red, White, and Blue! 

This morning in a small Texas community, the Flag committee,  aka as very proud Americans, were out displaying...proudly the American Flag.  Gave me the biggest goose bumps to see all along the highway flag after flag waving so proud and free in the wind. I love this country.  I can understand those who would give their lives to defend her.  I would....hope you would too!

Its a squash bloom.  I get up early (most of the time) and go outside and check the garden.  Real farm-girl you know!  Anyway I took my camera on this morning and caught a bee doing the other thing that bees do...pollinating!  Did you know that wasp also pollinate...they do!  God is so awesome...He thought of all the details.  I'm grateful....because I love squash!

 The berries in Sweet Aunt and Uncle's garden are still producing.  They invited me to pick berries again. (ya for me!)  They are bigger and sweeter than when I picked the last time!  When I left their garden I had some very purple lips...ummm they are sooo good!

 Loyal Companion sends you greetings!  He doesn't like squash or berries...so we get along real good!

Sweetheart and I will be in church on Sunday.  Hope you have a place of worship as well!

Blessings to you ... from the pasture!

Random-ness

Yes, I made up that word, (random-ness) but  I think it will fit this post!  I dearly love these hydrangea plants.  They are my favorite, right up there with antique roses!  If I could only have two flowering plants, they would be antique roses and hydrangeas.  If I could only have one.....hmmm...not sure.

Every now and then something strange happens at the farm.  I went to gather eggs and wa-la look at the size of this egg.  I think it could pass for a goose egg!  All of the girl chicks were walking normal...so I guess it didn't hurt too bad!

 Total random shot!  This is Buttercup, aka cow with white patch on head.  She was just enjoying dinner...or maybe she would call it supper...what would you call a meal that last all day?  She wanted me to tell you...moo-low.  (Cow for hello)  I spoke some of my french to her...I said Je t'aime...she just stared at me....with grass hanging out of her mouth...

 This rose is called "Belinda's Dream".  I have it planted beside my front porch.  When I was very young, my neighbor and friend was named Belinda.  We played together often.  While in the third grade, we decided to perform for our music class.  We plotted and planned for days. We decided to lip sync "These Boots Are Made For Walking."  We wore polka dotted dresses (our great Moma's made these for us) and of course boots!  She had white go-go boots.  I didn't have any so...I  wore a pair of my brothers cowboy boots.  Not exactly go-go style...but you do what you have to do! Fountain ink pens served as our micro-phones. I can remember this like it was yesterday...I know everybody enjoyed our performance ... I remember them smiling through the entire song! This rose serves as my memory jogger!  When it blooms...I think of Belinda and sweet (and funny) memories return! 

 Here is Big Daddy bull.  I wish I knew what he was thinking.  Hmm..maybe not. I'm pretty sure he only has one thing on his mind...at all times!

 Here are my newest little babies.  I soaked some okra seeds a few days back...planted them...God sent a wonderful rain...and  ta-da!  Okra.  My Dad taught me so much about gardening.  I wish I could remember every thing...

Like I said....total random-ness.  I hope you have one of those wonderful memory maker weeks. 

Please pray for our president....he needs it.

From the pasture where random things happen daily...blessings to you!

Staying Busy...

 

 

While out walking (with the camera) I came across these.  They are called Purple Cone Flowers aka. Echinacea!   And yes I really love these

 

 

I found some okra seeds that I had saved last year.  They originated from okra that my Dad had raised several years ago.  I just forgot about them, so I've been soaking them in a little water for several days and maybe tomorrow I will plant them.  I know its late but actually okra love the heat...so here's hoping that they grow and produce!  I love the idea behind seed savers.  Saving seeds to pass on down to the next generation! 

 

It's crazy, I know but I often will save the flower heads from flowers that I pick or receive.  These were my Mother's Day roses and they are drying to be the most awesome color.  Its kind of a tea dyed color and I really love it!  I'll put them in that box where I put the other dried wild flowers and then in the late summer I'll get them out ( and probably throw them out)  and hopefully find something to do with them besides just look at them.  Maybe some potpourri!  So I guess this story will be continued...

 I'm learning French!!!  OK I know that these words are not spelled correctly in French but if I spell them correctly I can't pronounce them.  OOO la la my French has a Texas spin to it!  Sweetheart can speak Texas French too!

 I came across an embroidery picture that my little sis did for out Grandmother so many years ago.  (She was just a little tyke when she made the picture for a gift)  I have the picture now and it was in great need of a cleaning so..... I took it off the mounting board that she had put it on and....look what I found underneath!   It was like finding a Picasso!  (Well it was exciting none the least)  I imagine this is no less than 35 years old .  She was repurposing before it was cool....

 

 

The Fig Tree is making Figs!  In a few weeks I'll be making Fig preserves! 

 

 

Sometimes when I'm out in the garden....I miss some of the produce...I missed this bad boy!   It looks like a watermelon...it does if you blur your eyes!  I don't know what to do with it other than show you and then compost it.  Seems a waste but what do you do when they get this big? 

 

I hope you are having a good week.  We have had plenty of rain and everything is growing great.  Pasture is beautiful, cows are fat and sassy,  the girl chicks are doing what they are suppose to do...lots of eggs!  And the dogs bark just to hear how they sound!  

From the busy farm... and pasture...blessings!



Harvest Time

Well the girl chicks have been busy lately.  However today...not so busy!  This afternoon I went to feed and retrieve the bounty only to discover...not so much bounty.  Only 5!  Guess I'll have to have a little talk with the girls...there is a piece of leftover fried chicken I'll bring to back up my little talk...

 

 

Squash plants are producing!  While Sweetheart doesn't eat the golden vegetable, I do!  It is one of my favorites!  There are a few little cherry tomatoes to go along with the golden stuff..ummm!!!  All I need to do is make a skillet of cornbread!

 

The girls harvested this garlic and hung it on Mamma's clothesline.  We look like real pioneers out here!  I guess pioneers ate garlic, not really sure!  These will make some winter dishes really good!

This is what I like to look at in the morning.  The girls don't always come for a morning drink here, but when they do ... I have to say Thank-you Lord.  Its a peaceful blessing to see their calmness.  They are not worried about...anything!   My goal...to not worry. 

 

I hope you have the opportunity to worship in church this weekend.  Sweetheart and I plan too.
May your weekend be great..
Blessings from all the farm critters,  and me!

Memorial Day Picnic

The weather man said it was going to be a beautiful day...so Sweetheart and I thought a picnic might be fun!  We called the family...(and the work began...)  Sweetheart went right out and put together a table.  He's so good that way!  The cows looked on...

 

.. 

 

Everyone was here ( well not in this picture) and so was the wind!  And what picnic would be complete without bugs?  We had bugs and not just any bug...we had the Love Bugs come to our picnic!  The wind helped a little with them.  My eight year old Grand ask me why they are called  Love Bugs.   Uhhh...uhhh...well uhhh... its because they love everyone.  Yes they  just love everyone.  Says my Grand..."well I don't love them."

 

Our kiddos thought ice cream would be nice.  It was!  I told them where to find our tried and true recipe that we have used for years.  (My Momma gave me this recipe early in our marriage.)  They tweaked it a tad and it was still good! 

 

Yesterday I took my Sweet Aunt and Uncle some eggs.  They sent me home with these delicious Black Berries.  I think I got the better end of that deal!  Sweet Uncle has Berries growing in his garden.  He can grow anything!  I think it is because he is so good to his plants.  He loves them and they love him back!

 Sweet Aunt and Uncle live across the road from us.  It really is a beautiful place to visit.  We sat out on their porch and  talked about the ole squash bug and how to get rid of it.  Seems soapy water will do the trick!  When I got up to leave Sweet Uncle went and picked me this very fragrant Gardenia blossom.  I put it up in my kitchen and the whole room smells wonderful.  I've been told that my Grandmaw had a Gardenia bush that always looked beautiful.  Gardenia's often get that black yucky stuff on their leaves.  They say my Grandmaw would throw her dirty dishwater on the bush after cleaning her kitchen.  Guess that soap was all it needed to keep it nice!  Someday I think I'll get me a Gardenia bush and every few days I'll throw some old soapy dishwater on it...

Thank you for visiting!
From the pasture....love bugs and blessings to you!



Thank you

 

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loves,

And mercy more than life.

America, America, May God thy gold re-fine

Till all success be nobleness

And every gain divine.

                                                                                    

                                                                               Third stanza of AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

                                                                                                    By Katherine Lee Bates

I am so grateful for men and women who love America enough to lay down their lives for her.  To the families of our fallen heroes,  Thank you.  I am one of many Americans who are grateful for their sacrifice.

My Dad loved this country.  He served during WW II.  He will always be my hero.

Sweetheart and I worshipped  in church this morning.  O how I love the freedom that we have.  Never, never take it for granted.

May God bless America, today and forever.
Blessings to you from the pasture...