The Good I've Found (TGIF) : harvesting simplicity

aren't they beautiful?!

Not having 5 acres to care for is so nice. We were never terrific at it, and began to despise the constant maintenance needed. Weekends meant yard work or Even More yard work the next weekend if you slacked.

However, I missed my apple tree and blueberry bushes. The excitement of watching the blossoms turn to fruit entranced me every year. The hope that one day I would actually get to harvest some of it Before the deer ate it made for fun pursuit. (never happened by the way!)

When we planted our small flower bed garden for Valentine's Day, I smiled as the kiddos selected fruit trees and blueberry bushes. And, this week, I triumphantly harvested ripe blueberries!

Five. No, I did not take a photo of only the best. That is all. Five. But they are big and juicy and, from watching Shell's face as she ate them...very Sour! :)

So, we traded 5 acres for 5 blueberries. huh.

Here's TGIF: simplicity. May you be blessed by the little things. And may they be your joy as you remain steadfast in the big things.

Wordless Wednesday: The one where our front planter is now filled with all kinds of fun plants! From a lime tree, to a blueberry bush, tomato plant and five different flower varieties ~ it is going to be so much fun to watch the kiddos tend it!

The Good I've Found (TGIF): Him

my man

It's his birthday today. And I love him.

there is no greater TGIF this week. He is so much of what is good in my life.

oh, and he's home today from a week-long business trip ~ and yes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. But, for me, with him, it is true even when he leaves for work. I cannot wait until I get to see him again. Too mushy? Too Bad!! It's my post about my man ;)

 Happy Birthday, Love :)

Monday Memories: Jack Daniels, summer 2008

I haven't done a Monday Memory in a while...and was missing my childhood friend, Rebecca (hi, bec! I miss you so much my WEF!!) so, thought I'd take a moment to share a very important moment in our lives...our first shot of Jack Daniels. bwahahahaha!

Alright, not exactly an important moment. But a funny one. We had toured the Jack Daniels distillery that day with our husbands, but since it is located in a dry county in TN (irony) had not been able to taste it...and since neither of us ever had...(or maybe we had, just hadn't had a shot of it---which by the way---I do NOT understand. Shots, that is. Seriously not a fun way to ingest alcohol)

As evidenced by our faces, she had already done it--me, not quite yet--notice, I'm still smiling ;)

Happy Monday, Everyone!!

Writer's Block

My calendar ran out

For the first time in at least 10 years, I have no calendar hanging on the wall. (well, technically, I do...it just says 2011)

Having consistently stayed on top of the whole 'family-calendar-on-the-wall' thing has been a great blessing to my forgetful/distracted mind (quite honestly i can't believe this is the first year I forgot to order a new one!) not to mention to the family as a whole. It gives me a fighting chance at staying on top of upcoming events and it helps us all to look forward to special trips or guest arrivals.

As I glance across the room at DECEMBER 2011 staring at me from above well filled-in boxes, I figure I have a couple of choices:

1.   Stop blogging about it and open another page with calendars.com and place order.

2.   Claim ignorance about any upcoming appointments, classes and/or tasks...stay on vacation forever
      and spiral into complete and utter chaos.

*sigh*

number 2!!!! definitely going for number nope. I don't really have a choice. going to...ummm...go do something...be back in a sec...

Happy Twenty Twelve!!!

Cheers!!!

 A toast for you, my friends:

~May this year bring you all kinds of surprises, the good ones, of course, but also the hard ones that we all need to kick us in the pants and push us to become better, stronger and wiser. (please don't blame me when they happen, it is just a toast...)

~May you know love. True Love. His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Peace. And may His Love spur you on to love those around you. (are you getting the warm fuzzies, yet?!...no we're not going to join hands and sing kumbaya, relax)

~and finally, May you visit Disneyland often. Hey, it is a toast from me and I do want you to share the smiles ;)

I love you all (no not writing this during margarita binge, really do love you!) and pray that I get to see each and every one of you this year. unless you are a random lurker to my blog, in which case, welcome, but if we don't get together this year, I understand...you're probably busy...