I've Gone Country A blog about a city girl learning a whole new world

We have a friend who is keeping his hives on the land.  About a month ago he was here….working them. I do not know much about bees.  He told me he would be glad to let me suit up and he would let me get right in the middle of it.   I’m not that brave yet.

I do find it most fascinating….

He uses this thing to smoke the bees….then he can get into the hive without getting swarmed.  It makes them a little loopy I guess…or maybe I should say passive.

Here he is using it….I wanted pictures…so Billy volunteered to get closer for me.   Years ago Billy had some hives…before I came along.  That is why he volunteered, he isn’t scared.

Here he was pulling the chamber out….there are several chambers to a box.

YIKES!  That is why I didn’t suit up….and that is why I didn’t want to get too close.  Look at all those bees.

I have to admit….the smoker looks like it did the trick.

He was checking the hive very closely, looking for parasites and anything unusual.

I am very curious…and maybe I will get the nerve to suit up one day.  But….one little bee decided he wanted to get in my face.  Oh, there were arms swinging and I began to dance a jig.

I will have to think about that really long and hard.

The bee keeper told me that they were more aggressive at that time because they were protecting the hive during the colder weather.  Now that it is warmer weather the bees will be busy going back and forth to the flowers and they won’t really bother you.  Lately I have seen them, and they truly are busy.

Yesterday I noticed about 4 honeybees getting a drink of water from a little rain puddle that hadn’t dried up yet.

Strange and amazing that a little creature like that can be so important  for the plant life.  It is estimated that one third of the human food supply depends on insect pollination, most of which is accomplished by bees, according to what I have read.

Everyone that has seen the hives have been asking about the honey.  Most everyone loves honey….that liquid gold.  I also found out that honey does not spoil.  It can crystallize….but it doesn’t ruin.  They have even gathered some from Egyptian tombs and it was still edible.

There is an older gentleman that lives in our area.  He saw the hives and told me a story.  He said there was an old bee tree down here (as he pointed), years ago and when we cut it, it had honey all the way to the first branch.  He said it was just full of honey.

I like to hear him tell stories from the past about the area we live in.  It gives me a mental picture.  You can see the sparkle in his eyes while he is talking.

I can’t wait until we get to try the honey out.  Although I may not of helped with working the hives, I did  help plant some of the flowers!

Maybe that will be worth a jar of HONEY!

I posted a while back that Holly and Chris were on a trip to Kenya.  They had a great trip and were able to experience some awesome things.  They were with the group Kenya Relief.  Kenya Relief started with a very heart warming story.  If you would like to know more about that go to Kenya Relief .org .

Thanks to Brittney’s beautiful heart…..this ministry was formed.

Brittney’s father….now loves on the people.

He has provided a place where others can come and help meet the physical and spiritual needs.

Holly and Chris took that opportunity.

The people walked for miles to come to the clinic.  They actually spent the night…so they would be there when the clinic re-opened the next morning.

There were many needs….

People of all ages came.

Can you imagine how you would feel if this was your child? That hurts just to look at it.

Thank the Lord for those with the skills to handle such…..

Now to recover….

Amazing how people make do with what they have on hand.

There are other needs as well….little by little they are being met.

Clean drinking water will help prevent a lot of health issues.

They are beautiful people….

living a hard life.

The animals are amazing.

And the landscape….stunning.

Through this ministry they are able to touch one another’s lives in a special way.

The hearts and lives of Holly and Chris will never be the same.

Thank you for your prayers as they traveled….please continue to pray for the people of Kenya.

Our granddaughter Riley turned 7 years old.  I cannot believe it….time really does go by fast.  Riley is our oldest grandchild.

I was blessed to be able to keep Riley for two and a half years, while her mother went back to work.  When her baby brother Andy arrived, their Mama Lindsay, was able to stay home with them for a few years.

Since she was the first grandchild, she was the one who gave us our names.  I am called ME…and Billy is called PooPa.

We sure have enjoyed the last seven years.  She has given us tons of laughs, and thousands of hugs and kisses.  We are blessed.

Riley wanted to have the party on our land this year.  Her Mom and Dad rented a blow up bouncy thingie…..

And there was a pinata…..

and lots of candy in that pinata!

These are Riley’s great grandparents…and her Poopa.  (And Trixie the dog)

She had a lot of fun with all her friends, but after they left….well….the big kids got a turn!

They took more breaks than the little kids did….

Now some of us were cleaning up…..but when we finished……we joined them!

This is Layla’s mom-Ashley, Riley’s mom-Lindsay and Riley’s grandmother Sandy….You go Granny! (That is the name Riley gave her)

Then it was time for “ME” to go…Woo Hoo…        Appreciate the push David and Garrett….

There was sidewalk chalk ….

And tether ball

the little kids looked like they were playing nicer than the big boys….

And swinging……

and climbing…..Gooooo Lindsay!

And then it was time to call it a day…By the looks on their faces….Andy and Layla weren’t ready to leave.  However, Riley…well… she smiled all day.

We had perfect weather and lots of fun.  We are so glad we could celebrate with Riley.

What a blessing to have all our grandchildren together.

I hope they will always be close and enjoy each others company.

Below, I compiled some pictures for a slideshow of Riley through the years.   Happy Birthday Riley….we love you so much…Poopa and ME.

A digital slideshow by Smilebox

I remember Easter as a child.  All the excitement of coloring eggs, being creative with the colors.  Even ending  up with a gray egg if you got too creative.  And it seems like there is a whole lot more candy to choose from now then there was then.

We always found a nice sized solid bunny in our basket on Easter morning.  It didn’t have foil on it, it was just a bunny with really long ears that stood up.  That of course was the first thing you had to bite off.  Peeps and Jelly beans were a regular as well.  I often wonder how in the world my Mom did all she did as a mother.  There were four of us kids.  That meant anything she had to do…she multiplied it times four.  She always had us dressed and ready for church each Sunday, Easter…… had to be a little harder.

Saturday nights were bath night, I remember sitting on the floor Indian style while she put my hair in pin curls.  Usually while watching The Lawrence Welk Show.  My sisters all had the pin curl treatment too.  That was one thing that my brother got out of, but he still had to have a bath.

Easter morning usually meant everyone woke up and got out of bed without having to be told.   Full of excitement, we would run to check out our baskets.  Then I am sure we begged for some candy before breakfast and all that stuff….times four.  Bless my poor mothers heart!

She had outfits ready for us, a lot of the time she had made our dresses.  My brother always had a suit and tie.  We had shoes that were set aside for Sunday shoes.  Somehow, someway she would manage to get us all dressed and to the church on time.

We enjoyed the fun that went along with the Easter bunny and getting all dressed up in our new clothes, and shiny shoes.  But we also learned what the real meaning of Easter was all about.  There was a time to sit still and listen about the story of Jesus.  We didn’t just hear about it at church, we were taught the truths at home as well….all year long.

I think the older I get, the more important it becomes to me.   I’m so thankful for that I grew up in a Christian home.  I am glad that we went to church and worshiped as a family, even though it had to be hard, carrying that out each and every Sunday.  But that is just it…I saw that the relationship my Mother had with Jesus wasn’t just an Easter thing.  The dressing up wasn’t for show, it was out of respect.  We were going to Worship the Lord.  He deserved our best.  In our outfits….and our behavior.

If I had not had the upbringing that I did, I often wonder how different my life would be now.

I am thankful for all the sacrifices she made for me.

I am especially thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made for me.

HAPPY EASTER!

Spring brings lots of different kinds of weather for us.  Yesterday was no exception.  We have had a warmer than normal Winter and Spring thus far.

The flowers and tree buds have burst open due to the nice temperatures.  Yesterday, I saw the first flower from the lily pads in the goldfish pond.

My older sister Charlotte came over the other day, we watched a huge bull frog enjoying the pond.  We laughed while we reminisced about younger years at my grandparents house.  We would row a boat and lean out amongst those lillies and catch big ole bull frogs.  We weren’t afraid to put our hands into the midst of the lillies.  Nor were afraid to grab the biggest frog around.  We gathered them and had races with them across the lawn.  Then my grandpa would  try to delicately describe cleaning  the frog by saying that he  would  “take their pants off”.  After we accumlated enough frog legs….my sweet grandma would fry them up for us.  I still remember seeing them jump in the frying pan as she cooked them.    They were delicious.

It seems like yesterday and then again it seems like a life time ago.  The years have ticked on and those days went by the wayside as we all got older.  As I think about it now it seems rather weird that we would eat frogs.  Actually, it is weird that I eat chicken nuggets that have been made into shapes.  Now that is not normal.

Living in the country has brought me back to seeing the cycle of life.  Even those chicken nuggets had to come from somewhere…before they were pressed and shaped.  I have found it interesting that most kids have no idea where the food comes from.  They think you just buy it….past that they don’t give it much thought.

The older generation that grew up living off the land knew a lot about a variety of  things.  For instance predicting the weather by using a Pig Spleen, or Wooly Bear Caterpillars or even a Persimmon Seed.

The Farmers Almanac has some very interesting things in it.  Yes, there is a lot of Folk lore, but there is a lot of truth to watching the earth and the signs that it gives through nature.

We were told two different days this week by the weathermen, that it just might hail.

In the country, one might say…they are calling for a hail storm.

About dinner time it happened.

Billy took a short video of it.

It was small hail, but it came down hard and fast.  The lawn and flower beds were white in just two or three minutes.

I scooped this off the back porch …… so interesting …….

It filled the flower pots up.  Thankfully it was small enough not to beat them down very much.

The day lilies were pushed over some.

And these cyclamen, I was afraid would not fair well. However, they came through it standing…and this morning they look alright.

The yard looked as if a light snow had fallen.

Today, the air is really cool and crisp.  It actually feels like Spring again.  Like Spring should feel around this time of the month.

I am going to have to get a farmers almanac and start learning how to tell what the weather will be.

Meanwhile I am listening to the weathermen.

There calling for beautiful Easter weather!  WOO HOO!

Snakes, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails—- is what the Land is made of.

We have been enjoying the great Spring weather.  The mornings are crisp, the noonday warm and the nights are pleasant and clear.

We are not the only ones enjoying the weather.

We were working around the land and this fellow appeared.  Blurry well….because I really wasn’t wanting to get to close.

They are pretty in a way….but…….

This thing was like 6 feet long when it stretched out.

Billy doesn’t mind holding them….he won’t kill one if it isn’t poisonous.  They do help with insects and all that.  So they won’t hurt you….I told Billy that was fine…one wouldn’t have to be poisonous to kill me……I would probably just die from fright!

He released it in into the rocks so it could go grow another 6 feet…….yikes!

I’m brave too…I held this little guy.  Even the snails are enjoying the goldfish pond…..

And speaking of puppy dog tails…..

Last week Lindsay and her family were gone for Spring Break.  We kept Bailey, thinking wow this will be great.  She can stay in our new fence and have all the space a puppy needs to burn up all that energy.  We have the field fence or what I call critter fence that has graduating  widths, the grids get wider as it goes to the top.  Bailey quickly discovered that if she found a good size rock to stand on then she would be at a level in the fence where the grid was wide enough to squeeze her body through.    In a matter of seconds after putting her in the fence….poof….she was out!

So she didn’t get as much freedom as we would have liked her to have had.  When we were home, she was able to be out with us.

Sometimes she would sit still long enough to get a hug……

Then she was ready to be put down so she could run around.

She found a book to read…….

She got to go on long walks with Billy and Ellie, every morning and evening.

She had her own little spot to sleep, complete with her cushion from home…….

Well….. she is a puppy…..I sure hope Lindsay can sew.

Bailey went home on Sunday…..

and yesterday….Max came to stay the week with us.  This is Holly’s dog.

After a walk and a swim in the lake…..still lots of tail wagging to do…..

but eventually….two milk bone treats gave way to two tired dogs,

Yep that’s what the land is made of.

Oh….and Max hasn’t escaped from the fence ……………………………..yet.

This is Toots the day after she was born.  I always take Mama a sweet feed treat after birth.  I suppose it is an equivalent of us getting a box of chocolates!  She  surely deserves  it.

I find it amazing how the Mama’s and the babies communicate.  If you listen carefully in the video you can hear Mom give a little moo almost like a hum sound.  She actually does it twice in this video.  I am not sure what Mom is telling her baby…hopefully, she was letting the baby know that it was alright for me to be around.

When a cow is about to give birth they tend to go off, away from the herd.  Once they give birth, they take the baby and have some time to themselves.  Eventually the Mama wants to join the herd again, she usually hides the baby and I guess tells it to stay….because it does.  The baby doesn’t disobey unless it is scared, then it will come out and start mooing for its mother.

Here are the two of them, by themselves the morning after birth.

I gave Punkin her sweet feed…Toots just watched,  she is too young to eat feed right now.  Since she is only a day old, she is still a little wobbly on her legs.

Those first few days, the calves are usually pretty laid back.  Most of the time I have been able to pet them.  I just love that part.

Punkin went back into the pasture for a while and I took advantage of some one on one time with Toots.  She rested her little head in my hands.  She liked me petting her.  I kinda liked it too.  I savor these moments, they are few and far between.

Day two was a little harder for me to spot them.  But across the field I saw Punkin grazing by herself.

I gave her some sweet feed… if you look closely you can see a black spot in those trees….that is Toots.

I walked up to her, and she stood up.  She isn’t too sure about me.  There was no way to pet her that day.  She was nestled in pretty good with vines and sticker bushes.  It doesn’t seem to bother them.  It is protection from predators.

When I started to leave she laid back down.

Morning of day three.  Punkin was with the herd and baby Toots was laying in the pasture in the open, but she was on the opposite end.  However, she was still in view of Mama.

She didn’t jump up when I approached her, so I was able to pet her for a second.  Then she stood up, I had to hold onto her to be able to pet her for just a minute.

It didn’t take her long and she wiggled loose.  She is very strong.  Billy said he thinks she weighed between 80-100 pounds when she was born.

Of course you know what she did….she called for her Mama.  She took off through the pasture towards her.

Punkin was looking up at her.  She recognized her baby’s cry.  She began walking toward Toots.  She Mooed at her and Toots started walking to the tree line.  I suppose that is where she told her to go….because

Punkin met Toots there… at the tree line…. and proceeded to take her deeper into it.

I’m pretty sure that was my last time to pet her.  Except maybe a little here and there on her head.

The next morning Toots was playing in the pasture while the herd was grazing.  Just like a typical kid, jumping around running here and there.  It is fun to see that just comes natural.  She came close a time or two and would stop and look at me…then like a puppy she would go play again.

She seems really happy and I am very glad that this time Punkin is able to enjoy her baby.  Last year was sad when she lost her first calf.

She is a good mother.

Yesterday was one week since Toots arrived.  They both seem very happy and healthy, and I am very thankful for that.

I just wished she would let me pet her all the time!

As I am driving down the country roads, I find myself getting ready to read quickly when I see a church building ahead.  I like reading all the different signs.  I even get a little disappointed if I pass one regularly and they haven’t put something new on it.

Once I read the signs I usually have plenty of time to think about them as I meander through the countryside.  I think about how they apply to my life.

One of my mothers favorite verses was ….Faith is the substance of things hoped for…the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11: 1.  Matter of fact the whole 11th chapter of Hebrews is the faith chapter.  It talks about many that walked in faith and the promises God gave them.  Often they never saw all of the promise in their lifetime.  Yet, they continued to walk in faith their entire lives.  Believing and trusting in God.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.      Romans 12:2

So many things have changed through the years, even since I was a child.  Some people may not have gone to church on a regular basis, but they believed that the Bible was God’s Word, that it was true and there was a respect for God.   However, these days that doesn’t seem to be the case.  The world has different views and opinions on Truth.  Scripture tells us not to follow the pattern of this world.  If we read the Scriptures and follow Christ, we will be renewed.  We become like new.  We become new people.  The old selfish human nature is changed.  Instant angel?…. no…not hardly. It is a constant work in progress.

I know that I can go to the Bible, read it and it guides me through the situations I face each and everyday.  It gives me direction and purpose.  Through reading and studying God’s Word, it changes me, it makes me a better person.  That in turn makes me a better wife, mother, sister, Aunt, Grandmother, neighbor, friend and citizen.

Personally, I believe God’s Word is True.  My Mom used to have a magnet on the refrigerator when we were growing up.  It said….God said it…I believe… and that settles it.

I think we all have things we struggle with.  For some people it is doubt.  Doubt…about the Bible, about Jesus about God.  One of the disciples was even called doubting Thomas because he doubted that Jesus arose from the dead.  And he was a disciple. But he was also just a human….trying to understand it all.

I think it is really neat the way God put all different personalities in the Bible.  Most of these people have the same problems that I have had or will have in my time on earth.

Like David, he was a man after God’s own heart…. he did some terrible things.  Yet, he also came to God and told Him he was truly sorry and he quit doing those things. God forgave him….and he was able to experience some major accomplishments in his life time.  David wanted God to be involved in his life.   I like that, because I have messed up terribly many times, and I still mess up.  However, when I tell God I’m sorry He forgives me too.  I know that God can still work in my life…if I choose to let Him.

This is one of my biggies….I am a “fraidy” cat.  Ever heard of that.  Not sure it is even a word…but I have battled fear all my life.  Interesting thing about fear is…..you can get over one thing that you are afraid of, then another thing will take its place.  God reminds me in scripture that He is in control.  That I shouldn’t fear anything.  I constantly have to rely on God about the things I fear.  I know that when I give into the fear, it paralyzes me.  I end up not getting much accomplished.

If I truly trust God to get me through the things I fear, I have an amazing amount of freedom.   Then I think, next time I’m not going to be so fearful.  But, I find myself doing it over and over.  It is a real weakness for me.  As I have gotten older though I have realized that fear affects most all of us on one level or another.  Fear is usually behind some reason we don’t accomplish something we originally set out to do.

I like it that God has the power.  I can look all around me, with all He created and see His power.  That helps me know that He can help me through whatever little or big thing that I am going through.  I just have to let go.  I have to stop trying to do it all by myself.  Do you remember a time when you really realized that you were limited?  Oh I can do a lot of things, I am not helpless, but there are some things I have absolutely no control over.    It is humbling.

I heard a celebrity one time tell about having surgery and how he had to take off all his clothes, his jewelry, his glasses, everything that wasn’t necessary.  He said it was just him and God.  He found that he had a false security…. in his belongings…. in the status of who he was.

If I do not stay in God’s Word regularly, I get weak Spiritually.   It is food for the soul.  It is necessary to read daily to renew my mind with Truth, so I can make wise choices and be strong when the hard times come…… and they do come.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

This used to be a regular thing you saw taking place. Revivals….not so much anymore.  They used to have huge tent revivals.  Revivals that would last a week or more when I was a kid.  I suppose some places like this one on the sign still have them, but they are rare.  When I read the scriptures though, I do feel revived.  I feel energized, and I like that.

If we like to believe it or not, there is a limited time that we are on this earth.  We plan for everything else we do all day long.  How much more important could it be to plan for where you will be for eternity.

I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  I am exercising the verse in Hebrews 1:1.  The Faith in what I have not seen.  I have not seen Jesus in person.  I have not seen God in person.  But I know that Jesus is the way to heaven, because the Bible tells me so.  No, that is not just a cute little song, I trust God’s Word.  I believe it is true.  I trust it with my life for now and for eternity.

And because of what Christ did….we can and should celebrate each and every day.

I heard on the radio that  fear is why most Christians do not tell others about Christ.  Fear that they do not know enough, and fear that they will be rejected by their friends, family, co workers, etc.

I wonder why it is so hard, it is hard for me too.

I should be telling everyone I meet.  It changes our lives while on this earth…it changes our destination for eternity.

I certainly am glad someone told me.