Home Sweet Home

Good Morning!

It is another hot day here on the old homeplace and we are busy little bees. My Sweetheart is out cutting our 4 acre yard it seems...LOL. I am washing and hanging out laundry knowing the hot sun will do it's job before the afternoon thunderstorms start up also baking bread and enjoying my homemaking in general.

You see my small still green cantaloupes above ( Look close I promise they are there) This was taken a couple of weeks ago.

Something ( probably a raccoon) ate one of my cantaloupe last night. They were so late coming in that I was trying to leave them on the vine till the last moment that they had to be picked soooo I guess that moment arrived. So I have 5 nice plump cantaloupe sitting in my window ripening. The other handful I will have to chance for they are still too small. I only planted a few. Our gardens are almost over for now. It has become to hot for most things. I am getting okra for it THRIVES in the heat and some eggplant. I have been picking my cayenne peppers and drying them for grinding since I have plenty of pickled hot sauce from last year. Of course, I will start a few bedding plants soon to use in our fall garden.

My sweet brother came to visit and brought me 2 gallons of plump sweet blueberries and a yet to be eaten watermelon from his own garden. I promptly showed him my appreciation by making a blueberry cobbler along with fried catfish and potato salad and iced tea. We passed a good time. Since my mother passed it seems each time the family gathers they becomes dearer.

My daughter just dropped by with her sweet babies, time moves so fast they are grown before you know it so I am slowing down the pace and savoring the blessings.

I have just completed my morning devotions and am still a little reflective on them. I was reading in John 15 the passage where Christ states that we glorify God when we bear much fruit. I never really thought much in the physical sense about this verse.

I know the fruit of the Spirit is love,joy,peace,long suffering,kindness,goodness,faithfulness,gentleness, and self control.
These fruits are produced with in us and manifest themselves on the outside in our lives.

The physical side however is my actions, my words. Am I glorifying God with my everyday interaction with others. I need to examine this daily.

I read a really thought provoking devotion on a fellow blogger over at Morning Ramble (link on the side if you would like to read it). About doing good and it seem to just follow along with my devotions. Well time to go again. I pray all are well and happy. Deborah

LOOK WHAT I GOT!!!

Peggy at the Simple Woman recently held a swap and the theme was Summer.

This was my first ever and I am soooo happy. It was such a positive experience that I can't wait to do it again. I am sure since I was fortunate to have been paired with such a great partner had a lot to do with it. You have to remember we don't know each other . So you take a little info from this and a little info from that and try to put a picture/idea of that person's personality and pray you have made some good choices.

It was challenging and so much fun. To stay with the guidelines for the swap makes it even more challenging.I chose an item to put in and pulled one out and so on.... Finally, I settled on a package that I felt I had give it my best and it was sooo much fun! I hope DEBY over at Apples of Gold likes hers as much as I LOVE mine.

The theme was summer as I said and we had to have something that said "SUMMER".

What says summer more than a picnic...Look at this great towel with the ants running away with the hamburger appliqued on it...LOL.

She sent me the cutest napkins with watermelon slices depicted on them and since I guess she couldn't send me a watermelon by post she sent me...."watermelon candy"

I absolutely love vintage linens and aprons. Deby knew blue is my favorite color. Would you look at this gorgeous apron! The picture doesn't do it justice. The white material is a lawn type material (a dressy apron) with appliqued morning glory(?) on the front. But what really bowled me over is how well it matches my kitchen wall. This photo is not showing how close the apron color is to the smaller print on the wall I pinned it against the wall so you could see.

In the left hand corner you will see a vintage crosstitched, crocheted lace edged scarf/doily. This view cuts it off maybe you can see it better in next photo. Last but not least herbal transfer in the envelope. I not only have an herb garden but I also enjoy various needlework. These will certainly be put to use soon. To sum it up ....

THANK YOU DEBY I am well pleased with your choices.

TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM NOW

I recently lost an uncle and as I sat listening to others describing him, I thought one word would have summed it up. BELOVED! I had to wonder did he know he touched so many lives in a positive way? Did he know so many held him in such loving regard? Did i let him know?

Yes, that is what he was to me a much beloved man. He demonstrated every day whether at home with his family, at work , at church or at leisure time. He was the same always. I can truthfully say this is not a case of after one passes that he is cast in the role of sainthood. Any one who knew him would say that was a man who walked the talk. He extended a helping hand to all and never seemed to expect anything in return. He was a faithful husband of 61 years, loving Father of 3 and many grandchildren and nieces and nephew that loved and respected him.

We'll miss you, Uncle Em. Earth's loss is heaven's gain.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

I pray you are all enjoying a safe and happy 4th of July with family and loved ones. Something that I hope we as Americans never take lightly. I thank all the men and women and their families down through the ages that have made this day and what it represents possible.

God bless America and our people for "We are one nation under GOD indivisible...."

THE LAST OF THE HOME CHALLENGE

Whew! I know it is now a new month. But last week of June was a very busy week for me.
I did not neglect my challenge I just did not get to get photos or the posting done. We are knee deep in putting by our garden harvest. I am not complaining, just stating a fact.
The Lord blessed us well for the small garden we planted this year. I have 2 small blueberry bushes and a single peach tree that bore well enough this year to enjoy several homemade cobblers. I only wish I could have shared it with you all.
My peach tree has had problems since the hurricane so we cleaned it up, pruned it very hard and fertilized it well and gave it a last chance. We had decided if it didn't bear fruit this year we were going to cut it down. Hmmm.... I remember this analogy from a Bible lesson. We are still harvesting eggplant, tomatoes, peppers and the Okra is starting soon. Almost a staple here in the south. I am hoping that my cantaloupe and watermelon bear well, but it is getting very hot! We will see....
It is times like yesterday that make me happy that we made the choice years ago to raise our children in the country and live a simpler life Even though it meant a long commute for my husband.
A couple of our grandchildren came over yesterday to visit and decided to take a dip in the above ground pool we set up in our backyard. I heard one of them tell the other with childish delight. I am SO glad we live in the country. I was so blessed to be sitting with my daughter and my newest granbaby on the near by porch and over heard this. It gave me such a feeling of contentment.
Both of my children chose to return to the country. Tried the town living on for size and said it wasn't for them. It was a nice place to visit but didn't want to live there type of thing. It gives you a satisfied feeling to know you have chosen well.
In keeping with the home challenge..to make our home more inviting and comfy. We maintain that pool religiously., which is no easy task with this humidity. We spruced up the gazebo and keep a ready supply of towels, sunblock, and liquids on hand. We enjoy gathering on the back porch/yard a to visit to laugh, to eat, to play and even to worship some times. When the mosquitoes permit we watch the lightning bugs or the stars.
Simple to some yes, but it is the stuff memories are made of, I have them from my own childhood. I will post some photos later. Deborah