15 Aug

Palms

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: , .

I take lots of pictures and sometimes I forget to show them.   I took these when we were at the beach in June.

It is always interesting to me to see differences in the plants when you travel to another area.

I think this plant is striking, but the bloom in the middle really sets it off.

Here is another one and it has a different bloom…both unique and beautiful.

It is my understanding that one is a female plant and one is a male.

I just love this ….

These surroundings make you want to just relax and enjoy the scenery.

Green seems to be everywhere…then…pop…out comes some of the most beautiful colors.

I always have to pick up shells each and every time I go to the beach.  Often Billy and I start off  just taking a walk on the beach in the evenings…but I can’t resist picking up at least a few.

I sorted through some that I had accumulated throughout the trip and I was amazed that mingled in the sand….were these …..teeeeee…..tinnnnnny…shells.   I mean…I had never seen this before.  Actually they were so small I knew I couldn’t get a picture.

Next time you are at the beach…look and see if you can see those ity, bity, shells…..I mean…you will have to look really, really close or you will think it is all just sand.

Anyway, I am still scratching my head as I think about shells growing from that small.   I just never thought about ” BABY” shells.

One day while I was combing the sand and the edge of the water for shells….I found these.

I have only found a few sand dollars in my whole life.  But this day my sister in law and I found these.

They are little baby sand dollars.  I think that is so neat.

I was digging for shells…..but Billy was able to catch a quick shot of a dolphin.  They were hanging around at the same spot we were.

A man that lives and works in that area said that if you bring a nerf  football and throw it out to the dolphins, they will bring it back toward shore.  He said that they will not let the ball go past them.  I can’t wait to give that a try the next time we go.

I suppose another type of plant life that you can see at the beach would be this sea weed or whatever you call it.

Someone got very creative with it.

Oh….it must have been a “Southern girl” who wrote this!

Yep…you gotta just love the scenery!….AND SWEET TEA!!!!!

13 Aug

The Fence Fix

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: , .

Many entries ago I talked about the fence that we had finished for the goats.  It was also a place for Ellie to be able to run and stretch her legs without running away.

The goats have really enjoyed all the space they have.  Ellie…well she has adapted to being “contained” in the fence.  She doesn’t hate it.  In the morning she enters the gate all excited.  She runs in and takes off through the woods.  It isn’t long however that she is back.  She has a certain spot she nestles into and lays down and sleeps.  If she isn’t sleeping and you happen to walk near her she will roll her eyes your way and look really pitiful.

 

Every time I start to feel sorry for her…I think back on all the times I have had to get in the car and look for her.  Or the many times we have gotten a phone call telling us they found our dog.

I think about how many acres she has inside that fence to run and play….then….I don’t fall for the pitiful look.  Especially since that has gone on for the past 9 1/2 years.

Mabel was supposed to be a dog that protects the goats.

She has not stayed a whole day in the fence since we got her around 4 months ago.

I always said that Ellie was kin to Houdini…well…we have another dog now that is also part of Houdini’s family.

The other day I saw her squeeze through the critter fence.  I had just about had enough of that escaping stuff….

I scolded her and marched her back to the gate…..

I continued to get ready for work…peeking out the window without her seeing me….I was trying to catch her so I would I know exactly where she was getting out.

I turned away for only a minute and…yep….out she went again.

Mabel…I said as I bolted out the door…..No ..No…NO

So…..I used my “I mean it voice” .  Pointed my finger…and she ran back to the gate.  All the while looking at me with those big beautiful eyes of hers.  I let her in….walked to the garage and found something I could solve that problem with.

 

“ZIP TIES” !!!!!  Billy had a really good selection of all sizes….So I went to work.  She sat and watched me.

That stump you see in the picture….is part of the problem.  She can stand on it allowing her to be at just the right height to get through the squares that are a little bit wider.

My Zip tie design is NOT Pretty.  But it seemed to work.  I didn’t have time to continue to play her little game.  I had to finish getting ready and get to work.  Besides this is just until she gains a little more weight…and can’t fit through the fence any more!

 

I went back in the house and once again peered through the window to make sure she was still in the fence.  She tried a couple of time to poke her head around a tie.  She sat down and looked at it with a tilted head.   She walked over to where Ellie likes to look pitiful and told her all about the injustice done to her.  She does this thing where she sounds like she is talking.  That is exactly what she was doing to Ellie.  I had to giggle as I saw her fill Ellie’s ear with her sob story.  Ellie looked up at her like….I don’t want to hear it.

Mabel  saw that she might as well settle down and get used to it….

On my way out the door….I snapped the above picture….she wasn’t amused.

I will have to say ….it sure was nice to come home at the end of the day and see her STILL IN THE FENCE.

No mess to pick up.  Like garden gloves all over the front lawn….paper torn everywhere, potted plants knocked over…or pulled up by the roots.

OHHHHHH…..I just wanted to shout for joy.

We have gone about 4 days now….

Until today.   Billy and I got home about the same time…he approaches me with Mabel.  The look on his face told me he didn’t let her out.

There’s a mess in the yard…and he throws away a ball that is ripped into pieces…..

You didn’t let her out?  I ask.  NOPE, he said.

I went to the side yard and sure enough….she had found a helium balloon somewhere….and it was in a trillion pieces.

TOMORROW…..I watch and wait for Houdini Jr. to do her famous escape trick again.  There must be another spot…..

I HAVE A LOT MORE ZIP TIES!!!!!!

 

10 Aug

Just Enjoying…

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized.

Billy had to work late the other night so I decided after checking on the animals and watering all the plants to just sit a spell.  I picked a white wooden rocking chair on the porch by the goldfish pond.  It was just starting to get dark,  I kept thinking…I guess I should go on in the house.  But I just couldn’t.  The  weather was perfect, the bull frogs were croaking, goldfish were swimming, mosquitoes were biting….well..really only one or two, and the view of the green grassy fields backed up against the mountains was too captivating to leave.  I rocked until Billy returned home.  It was so pleasant….and I was glad I chose that over plopping down in front of the television.

After not feeling well for a couple of weeks I suppose I just keep savoring all the little things.  It is a real blessing to be healthy.

Everywhere I turn I notice things that changed over the last month.  The weeping willow has finally recovered from the haircut Billy gave it.  I love to see the  limbs gracefully blowing in the breeze.

I keep telling Billy how much I LOVE the willows LONG hair.  Hint… hint…so he doesn’t cut it anymore.

The Crepe Myrtle Trees are bursting with blooms.

The branches are just loaded…they are absolutely gorgeous.  This one is by the house…but we have several different sizes and colors sprinkled on the land.   Each one is beautiful in its own way.

Even while I was stuck in the house I was able to enjoy the hummingbirds through the window.

They have been very active.  I can’t even count how many times I have replenished their food supply, I even had to buy more red food coloring.

It is really hard to get a good picture of one of those guys.  They are small and QUICK.

One time I saw a  picture of a hummingbirds nest in a magazine.  They put it next to a quarter, that is how small it was.

They are fun to watch, they often fight with one another.    Very seldom do I see more than one drinking at a time….

However, I was able to catch two feeding here.  I suppose they are sharing because they are husband and wife…just kidding

I also saw two deer crossing in front of the house. We have them on the land but it is rare that they came this close to us.  I’m not sure how, but I think they know when it is hunting season and when it isn’t.  Lately you can see them in the nearby fields grazing, usually four or so at a time.  Several days recently I counted a dozen grazing at one time.  They are beautiful in the field at dusk with the sun setting.

and yesterday I saw some wild turkeys at the cabin.

Billy and I stopped to speak to the neighbors across from the pasture.                       I couldn’t help but notice this sitting on his fence …

it was so picturesque.

And his ducks running to his pond….

Day or night it is fun to watch the animals and enjoy the scenery.

When I started this blog it was a way for me to share the things I feel I am learning from God while living in my new surroundings.  I couldn’t help but think while I was sick that…the world goes on without us.  But the world can’t go on without Him.  He not only gave us all we have and enjoy in this world, He is also the sustainer of all life.

I enjoy creation…but I really stand in amazement of the Creator.  I pray I always keep my eye on HIM as I marvel at His creativity.

9 Aug

Peanut Butter Apple

Posted by ivegonecountry in Recipes. Tagged: , .

I love this idea.  I did not come up with it on my own.  I believe I was in 7th grade when a girl named Susie brought one of these in her lunch.  I was totally amazed.

It is easy to do….and great to pack up for on the go.

Pick the apple variety you like best.

 

Get a good sharp knife…..

 

Cut around the core …I usually make a square…sometimes if it is stubborn I turn it over and cut from the bottom side as well.

 

Push on the core and…….Wah…Lah!!!

 

Fill the center of the apple with ….Peanut Butter.

 

Now isn’t that neat.

You can pack it up easily…to take in the car for later…a picnic…or kids lunches.

 

I find that I eat apples a little more this way.  I like getting that little bit of peanut butter with  a bite of apple.

Anyway, that is something I thought you might like to try if you haven’t already.

Oh….and thank you Susie’s Mom!!!!

 

8 Aug

Just thinking….

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: .

So I probably think a little differently than the average person.  I recognize that….and I am alright with it.   But sometimes….I just wonder about things.

For instance…my little sister and I have a thing we do.  We disagree with which direction the toilet tissue should be placed in the holder.  So when I am at her house….I change it to my way.

…when she is at my house…she changes it to her way.

I’m sure you can see that I am clearly right.

We have a lot of fun as we disappear into every bathroom, especially before we leave each others home, and quickly change every roll in the house to OUR way.  We have done this for years.  For some unknown reason I still get a kick out of it….and I still get surprised when I go into a guest bathroom… sometimes days after she has left and find my toilet paper all WRONG….I have to laugh.

I read in Dear Abby or Heloise this week an article confronting this very issue.  So can there be a right or wrong?  If so who decides?

Last week we were at the beach with family and I made this picture

Have you ever really looked at your toes?  I mean like really looked closely at each one independent of the others.  From the front they can look one way…but if you carefully look at one at a time…they often have a unique shape.  A shape you do not notice just looking down at them.

I told you….I think out of the box…..

Now for a really long time I have wondered who says so….about certain things…..

Like a package of ketchup.  Who decided that amount should be and would be the amount of ketchup served for all these years?  The same with the salt and pepper packages.  I personally never thought the salt packages were big enough…which meant you had to open more ketchup packages that are already to small to make the fries flavorful enough.  Of course if you have McDonald’s fries…you don’t need salt or ketchup….they are perfect when they are HOT!

Then I had a discussion just the other day with my son about rubber bands.  You used to get a rubber band around a newspaper…matter of fact we had so many rubber bands he literally started a rubber band ball when he was younger…which got a pretty good size.  Now I have to buy a package of rubber bands to keep some around the  house.  Who decided to do away with the bands around the newspaper?

I am getting more of these hard  square ties that I don’t really have another use for.    What happened to all those twist ties….I hardly get those anymore….you used to get a lot when you bought a box of trash bags….then it went to draw strings and flaps.  I will have to say that was a good idea…but I miss the extra ties I kept in the drawer.

What about a candy bar….

The regular sized candy bar is usually a good size.   Sometimes I pick out a different kind and it looks like it was shrunk in one of those shrinky dink machines.

I do get amazed at how many sizes and shapes they make now to appeal to every need.  A candy bar used to be a candy bar size…and penny candy was just that….a penny and was penny candy size.  Now for some reason we pay a lot more for the smaller cuter candy….especially if it wrapped in the holiday colors.  And really….does anyone ever eat only one of those?   I think I like seeing one regular candy bar wrapper in front of me, than five or six of the smaller ones….that really makes me feel like a pig.

Last but certainly not least….as I am forever having a list of things like this run through my head at any given time….who decided that we all wanted canned cokes?

Yes, you can still buy coke in a glass bottle….but you will not get it out of a vending machine in front of a gas station.   When you can find them in the grocery store, you will pay a pretty penny for them, especially the small ones…for some reason they always tasted better.

Alright maybe one more…..speaking of gas stations…..who decided to start being gas stations and stop being service stations?

One day I was pumping gas.  The station provided someone to wash your windshield for customer appreciation that day.  My granddaughter Layla was with me and she kept asking me….who is that man?   What is he doing?

Once again the wheels were turning in my head about….who made that decision to stop checking the oil and washing the windshields and providing free water and air for the customer to use?  Wow…and remember the free things they gave away with a tank of gas?  Oddly enough you got service…a smile and a gift and hardly paid anything for a gallon of gas.  Now we have to take out a small loan to fill up the tank and put it in ourselves.   If you need air for a tire….you better hope you have a pocket full of quarters to feed the machine.

I know things change…and money is usually the bottom line of why things change….but sometimes I just wonder who got the final say.

Well… that is all for now…I was just thinking.

2 Aug

Beach Time

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized.

We try to get together as a family at the beach at least one time a year if possible.  The bigger the family gets the more difficult it is to schedule a time that will work with everyone.  This trip….Garrett and Layla couldn’t be with us.  Garrett couldn’t take time off work and he has to have access to the internet to do his job.  The internet isn’t as reliable here as it is at home, he found that out the hard way about a month ago.   Sure miss them both.   Maybe next time we can ALL be together.

We have had several really bad storms.  Thunder is rumbling and it is raining as I type.  I am trying to get this post completed quickly in case we are disconnected again.  We just had service restored after a storm came through on Monday.

When it isn’t raining it is really nice.    A lot of swimming has been going on.

 

Riley is being more adventurous….she is swimming more without her frog life vest thing a ma jig…..

This is her frog thing…..

Andy has one that has a shark face on it…..

He is enjoying going all over the pool with his on.  Last year he didn’t trust that it would really keep him afloat.

 

After everyone was water logged….Hide and seek was played.  Andy was counting…..

 

Poopa thought he was really hiding good…..but Andy found him pretty quickly.  Andy is almost five…Poopa is going to have to do better than that next time.

We also went Putt Putt golfing

I loved it when we did that on vacation as a child.  I always thought it was so neat to see all the decorations and the pretend animals.   Hmmmm…..I suppose not much has changed through the years!

 

I got tickled at this sign…..BEHAVE!      Love it.

I didn’t realize that the kids were really old enough to play…..

We all had a good time.

I didn’t look at the score card….but I am pretty sure…..I WON…

29 Jul

Finally!!!!!!

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: , , .

So here is a little catch up on one  thing that took place here at the farm in early July.

The gestation period for a donkey is about 12 months.  Zippy arrived in our pasture at the end of May last year.  It was then that she married Moses….HA HA.

Anyway, we had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of a baby donkey.

He is finally here!!!!      He was born the morning of July 4th.

I think he looks just like his mother….Zippy.

His father was already named Moses when we got him….then we acquired Zippy.  We named her that because it was short for Zipporah, the wife of Moses in the Bible.

I had thought all along that it would really neat to name the baby… if it was a boy…the same name that Moses gave his first born.

But….he just doesn’t look like a Gershom!  

Billy and I didn’t even name him until the other night.  We have settled on the name Jack.  It just seems to fit him.

Zippy is VERY protective.  I have only been able to touch him twice…and that was when I could sneak and do it while she wasn’t looking.  She doesn’t even let Moses get too close.

I love his sweet little face and eyes in this picture.  This reminds me of the picture on the pin the tail on the donkey game.

He is just 5 days old here.  I am always amazed at how strong the new babies look.  He is probably about 2 1/2  feet tall.

The other day I just watched him with his mother.  I kept seeing him nip at his mother like a little puppy does when they are playing.  I have never been around a baby donkey so I didn’t know what to expect.  It doesn’t seem to matter if it is a goat, calf or donkey…they all like to leap and play….like children.

And Mama animals are just Mama’s.  They love their babies….

The other night he was very curious. He and Layla were about the same size….he seemed to like that.

Welcome to the Farm Jack….you really are adorable!

28 Jul

Mabel….what a little mess

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized.

I saw a picture of Mabel when she was a day or so old…..she was laying with her mother and siblings….. sprawled out just like this.

This is how she sleeps most of the time.

She is really growing,  you can see here that she is getting a lot of freckles on her tummy.

We keep putting her in the fence with Ellie and the goats, that she is supposed to be protecting.  About 20 minutes later….here comes Mabel.  She is still small enough to get through the fence.  I will be really, really glad when she can no longer do that.

A couple of weeks ago it rained the whole week.  We ended up with about 5 inches of rainfall.  It was needed, but I guess it made Mabel bored.  She couldn’t or wouldn’t get out in the rain and burn up energy running and playing.  She gravitated to the garage……

where she found my mop….part of a green poncho…and a rag she helped herself to.

This is my mop…..or what is left of it.

One of my potted plants…..I never found the plant.  But I have found a lot of treasures spread out in the front yard.  Oddly enough….none of them are the chew toys that she IS allowed to have.

I think this little butterfly may have excited her….it was on a stick, in that potted plant, the wings would move with the wind.   Needless to say she destroyed that too.

Hmmmm, Mabel again…….

When we are ready to settle down for the evening we let her come inside with us until bed time.   We have learned to NEVER…EVER…EVER….leave her alone in the house.  I mentioned before that she loves to get our shoes.  She knows right where the closet is….and out she will come with a shoe…or two, but she never hurt them.

Until recently.  The door now stays closed to the bedroom when Mabel comes in. I really liked that shoe……apparently she did too.

She has her good moments…..

Ellie is teaching her how to go get the paper in the mornings. Knowing she still gets a treat….even if Mabel does all the work!

She uses her cuteness to make up for all the destruction she does.

I have to admit…..they are sweet together.  For the most part Ellie has adapted really well to having her around.

Sometimes Ellie waits until Mabel gets to the top of the driveway with the paper…….

then she takes it from her…..and tries to get all the praise.

Mabel has gotten pretty good at retrieving the paper, so good in fact that if the paper boy is late and we don’t pick it up quickly……

then Mabel will go ahead and get it without us……

and read it herself.

Oh, you gotta laugh….or you would CRY.   Which I think I did when I saw all this mess!

Yep, I’m ready for her to stay in the fence a little bit.

26 Jul

Julio

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized.

Monday night we checked on the girls.  We decided to put Cupid in a contained area.  She looked as if she was just beginning labor.

Tuesday morning Billy woke me up with…are you going to check on your cow?

Of course I hopped out of bed……we loaded up a few things just in case we might have to deliver a baby calf.  You just never know….so we have learned to be prepared….or at least we are learning to be somewhat prepared.

When we pulled up in our little golf cart…..we were pleasantly surprised.

We saw Mama…..and then we saw a little baby right beside her!!!!!

Mama and baby were just fine.  We are always so happy when they can have the babies without any trouble.

We have a baby boy.  His name is Julio.  He has a white tummy, a little bit of white on his back feet and and a tip on his tail.  I love it when they have unique markings.

Isn’t that sweet.

Mom is pretty protective, but I did win  her over with a little sweet feed.  I was able to pet Julio for a few minutes….but not very long.

When enough was enough..she felt threatened…..she called her baby….

even though he was not steady on his feet…he got up and came to his Mama.

I wish you could hear the difference in her calls.  One day I will have to tape it.   Most of the time it is a low hummmmm when she is talking to him.  But if she is serious about making him come…..it is a big MOOOO.

Kinda like our parents did I guess.  You knew when to kick it in gear…..by the tone.

Everyone is content….including me and Billy.

25 Jul

Thank You for your Prayers

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized.

I suppose those of you who do not know me personally have been wondering why I haven’t been blogging.

I got sick with pneumonia.  I have never had that before and was surprised to find that I had it when I went to the doctor.

I feel as if I have lost the whole month of JULY!  But the month isn’t completely over yet and I am feeling much…much better.

While I was sick, I couldn’t help but think about other people who are sick.  Some with cancer, ALS, and other ailments that are very serious.

There were also about 6 mission trips that I knew were going on during my down time.  I found that while I was “assuming position” each day from bed to couch…couch to bed, that I could at least pray for all that was still taking place.

I just kept thinking…what do people do that don’t have access to medical care.  I couldn’t wrap my mind around how it must feel to be sick or watch a loved one be sick and not be able to get them medical attention.  I felt bad….but I had medicine, a comfortable bed, air conditioning for when I was hot and blankets for when I was cold.

I suppose that is when I really started praying for any and everyone who needed God to comfort and heal them….all across the world.

Billy and I had scheduled to go to Mexico on a mission trip.  I was not able to go, but he was.  They had a large group that went and they were able to accomplish a lot.  It was a great trip.  I am also blessed to have a doctor who goes on Medical mission trips several times a year, giving of his time and skills.

I loved hearing Billy’s stories and seeing the pictures when he returned home.  I know that sometimes in the past, I have felt as if there wasn’t much one could really do to help situations around the world.  I have come to realize that some of the smallest things can make life a little easier, more comfortable and give hope.  Praying for one another is the best thing we can do.   Being willing to go and help where the needs are, here and abroad is next.

I appreciate all the prayers, cards and kind words sent my way.  A few weeks ago my son called to check on me and asked if I felt like talking to my granddaughter Layla.  He said she had been concerned and wanted to speak to me.  I told him I could listen, but I couldn’t really talk.  He explained that to her as she took the phone.  She proceeded to tell me all about some toys in her room and about a cartoon character of two….then she asked me if I was still sick.  I sounded like a bull frog….as I answered yes.  She said…O.K.  Me Me I will have to put you down for a minute….she laid the phone down on her bedroom floor.  I could hear her as she began to pray.  She asked God to make me all better.   She picked up the phone and said….are you better?  Then she said…. oh wait….Me Me I have to put you down again.  She began singing a song that she learned from Vacation Bible School.  It told about how remarkable God was and how nothing was too difficult for Him.

My heart was blessed as I heard her sweet 4 year old voice pray and sing for me.  I could honestly say that I DID feel better.

I was reminded how important it is to lift one another up in prayer.  Prayers from  4 year olds all the way to 80+year olds…. each one precious.

I suppose through time I and others have found that they have prayed for something or someone and it didn’t seem to make a difference.  Maybe the sick person still died or a certain situation in our life didn’t change like we prayed it would.  It is easy to get discouraged.  I am reminded in scripture that whenever someone was healed….they still eventually died.  Now it may have been after they grew old and died from something else but they still died.  It is a part of life.  Sometimes situations do not change…at least from our view.  But we never know what is taking place in hearts.

Prayer is not like rubbing a genie bottle where we get our every wish.

We still are to bring concerns before God, He can comfort in a way we are not capable of doing.  I think prayer is just as beneficial for the one praying as it is for the one we are praying for.  It builds our relationship with God, as we talk to Him about the things on our hearts.  We realize our limits as human beings and recognize the strength and love He offers.  Sometimes if we do not get the answer we want…we act as children do against a parent…we get mad and pout.  We rebel against God.  It has to break God’s heart…..yet He waits to have us come back to Him.

Prayer is just talking to God.  It doesn’t have to be fancy.  I think the more we do it…the more we enjoy bringing things to Him.  You will not always get the answer you want…but  you will see God move in many ways.  Sometimes we can see that the answer turns out to be better than we could have ever imagined.  It is both exciting and inspiring.

I was preparing this post yesterday afternoon.  I saved the draft for later so that I could review it.   Within 2 hours Billy and I had two people ask us to pray for friends and loved ones that were on their hearts.  This morning another prayer concern and need for my sister’s neighbor was called into me.  I think it is interesting to see the confirmation that really and truly…..prayer is important.  And if someone ask you to pray….take it seriously and remember to do it.  It only takes a minute.  I hope that as I continue to get better and get back into my normal routine….which I really missed…I will remember others.  I hope you will too.

My mother used to tell me….. when God puts someone on your heart and mind, pray for them.   You may not know why….but God does.

The scripture below helps me when I struggle with things that come up in life.

Sometimes I do not  know how to pray about a situation.  Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.  I find that very comforting.

Romans 8:26

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

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