Looking Ahead aka Preparing for Spring Planting

This past Sunday I decided it was time to do that heavy yard cleaning I have been planning. The weather was perfect for working in the yard. In fact it was so perfect I did hard manual labor for 6 1/2 straight hours with only two water breaks. I filled all three of our 90 gallon barrels to the top!

Here are a few before and after pictures.

screeeeeeeeching halt!.........

 It seems that I have come to the end of my Google/Picasa limit on photo storage. 

I will not be purchasing a monthly plan just to post photos.

 Any blogging I may or may not do in the future will be words only.

Thanks Google for taking the pressure off  and possibly bringing my blogging to an end.

...Or maybe I will look into Word Press or one of the other blogging forums?

Thanksgiving 2012

One of  the many perks to to not hosting Thanksgiving in your home? 

Getting a jump start on decorating!

                                                   

Condolances

We have a tenant that recently lost her daughter in a tragic accident. I was searching the internet for something to say in my card to her.

 I can't imagine the pain she must be feeling, and I am at a loss for words

I can't imagine having to say goodbye to your firstborn...or third, or tenth!

The poem I found does not apply to her, because I never did meet her daughter. 

However,

THIS FITS ME TO A 

T !

After Glow

I’d like the memory of me
to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an after glow
of smiles when life is done,
I’d like to leave an echo
whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing
times and bright and
summer days.
I’d like the tears of those who
grieve, to dry before the sun,
Of happy memories that I leave
When life is done.

~Helen Lowrie Marshall

More Than Changing Seasons

I am the kind of person that likes to switch things up occasionally. 

I like things to have a new fresh look.

 I also like things to be easy. 

On me. 

So....

after much thought we decided it was time to pass our above ground pool on to a family that would use it more than 2 or 3 times each summer.

This was anything but easy. 

They worked their tails off to accomplish all they did in one day.

Here are pictures from the beginning...

Friday

.

Saturday

They worked really hard all day long. 

It took them 3 trips to move everything to their house.

They even took one of my potted trees that needed to be planted.

Sunday

I went out this morning to start MY work. 

Boy oh boy am I in for some hard work. 

There is several scoops of sand and rock to get rid of 

before I can plant anything in this area.

We also have to dig up 8 cement posts that anchored the deck, 

and three that anchored the fence.

I started with mowing the lawn, 

 and 

trimming a bush to the ground that was covering the hose and hose hanger.

On this side of the garage is a Morning Glory vine that is out of control.

I cut as much as I could fit into our green barrel.

The rest of the planter will be torn out as soon as the trash has been picked up.

This planter is in jeopardy as well. 

I think some serious trimming and thinning is needed here too.

As for this area....

Let me tell you, 

it's going to be beautiful.

But until then I will be chipping away at it slowly but surely. 

Our trash cans will only hold so much weight at a time.

This is not what I call easy. 

It just might take me all winter to finish. 

But I do love to work in the yard!

AND

 I might have to buy a

little

pool to cool off in during next summer's heat .

Halloween!

I have to say this is the best Halloween I have had in a long time.

 I don't like to drive anywhere, 

there are just too many kids darting around for my comfort. 

So, 

I stay home ...sometimes handing out candy, 

sometimes hiding in my nest, too lazy to pass out treats to the little darlings.

 However, 

as the darkness drew near, our new neighbors across the street turned up their scary sounds CD. 

Our other neighbor that has had her festive orange lights up all month, 

and the sound of excited kids

DREW ME IN!

I quickly grabbed some twine,

 flame-less candles, 

my bowl of candy, 

an old chain,  

my best witch laugh,

 and headed outside.

I tied the twine to the back of the chair.

Then I fed it through the fence, and tied the scissors to it for some weight.

 This gave me something to hold onto so I could make the chair rock 

....empty.

 Then I sat on the back side of the fence just waiting for my first victim. 

In the dark

I rattled the chain, banged it against the fence to draw attention to where I was, 

THEN 

swatted candy under the fence while either saying I'll get you my pretty, 

or making the scariest witch cackle ever.

The candy wrapper scraping on the driveway sounded just like scurrying mice.

I have to say I think I scared the parents more than the kids!

 BEST. NIGHT. EVER!

Finally Fall

The temperature was just perfect for 

a; 

watching the tractor,

smiling for the camera,

walking the farm, 

smelling the flowers, 

picking pumpkins, 

picking apples,

 family picture,

kind of day....at Riley's Farm

My Birthday Girls

Laci and Kelsea ...

These girls have something in common besides their blond hair, blue eyes and good looks.

They share the same birthday.

Laci was nice enough to invite us out for dinner at her house. 

They had a delicious taco bar, 

cake and cupcakes too!

Everyone is always busy with their own families 

 We just love when all three kids, and grand kids can get together.

Look at these handsome boys I get to call my own!

 Andrew, Quinn, Camden, Jace, and Braeden.

Then we have these beautiful girls! 

Allie, Kelsea, Bentley, and Mackenzi.

 I am one lucky Nana!