Christmas Catch-Up

Hello, my friends!

I hope this finds each of you well after all of your Christmas-ing!

Ours began on Friday after the Tennessee Bunch got into town late Thursday night.

There was really no special agenda on Friday...mostly just hangin' out and chillin'.

Oh yeah...and there was yet another bird rescue.

It seems like every other day a bird flies into one of our window panes.

It didn't look too promising for this little tufted titmouse...we thought he was a goner for a while.

 

 

After about fifteen minutes and some TLC from Adam, off he flew into the bushes!

It amazes me how they can look like death one minute and just like that,

they are able to fly away!

Later, we ordered pizza and played a little game of "Who gets to open a present?"

Aaron wanted his dad to open his gift early since he had gotten him a propane smoker.

He wanted to help him "break it in" by cooking a Boston butt for our official get-together Saturday.

So after we all enjoyed the pizza, we had a little drawing to see who would "win."

Needless to say, the game was rigged. 😁

You're sure to pick the right winner when those little pieces of paper in the basket

had Pawpaw's name on ALL of them!

Jim had assumed that Aaron would be smoking the meat at his place and bringing it over...

...he had no clue he was actually getting his own smoker and helping to cook it!

~

Saturday was windy and quite cold but Aaron, Adam and Jim all took turns watching the meat...

...for hours...and hours...and hours. (I can't believe I didn't get one photo of them) 

Speaking of photos, we did get these shots of the two oldest grands in a "then and now" photo shoot.

I had made this stocking for Dacey when he was born and he was so tiny that he fit inside.

 

 

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the fact the he turned 20 in November.

 

 

...and Dylan had his 18th birthday just a few weeks ago!

 

 

Unfortunately, there is no stocking picture of Dylan because I am a bad Mawmaw!

Yes, I made him a stocking...but it was just wee bit too small for him to fit in.

I'm not quite sure why I made Dacey's so big...

...I think it may be called "first grandchild syndrome". 😏

~

So finally after filling our tummies, the presents were unwrapped and just like that,

Christmas had come and gone...well...not really, but it kinda seemed that way.

 I forgot to mention the fact that Parker had started to feel a little scratchy throat coming on...

...and then a little later came the fever.

The plan all along had been for them to leave by noon on Sunday,

so the kids could be at their home for Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Well, it became necessary for them to make an extra trip to urgent care before they left.

What we thought was probably strep throat was actually diagnosed as Flu-A!

 

 

Not a fun way to spend Christmas vacation!

Olivia wasn't sick but she liked wearing the mask (probably a good idea)...looks pretty pitiful, huh?) 

The good news is that by Christmas Day, Parker had no fever and is now on the road to recovery...

...and so far, no one else seems to have come down with it, praise the Lord!

 ~

So Christmastime at the Ray house had pretty much come and gone.

Jim had to return to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so it was low-key from then on out.

After working 'til noon on Monday, I spent most of the next two days watching Christmas movies,

listening to beautiful carols and relaxing...along with these two lazy wieners.

 

 

And speaking of wieners, have I don't think I've shared these with you.

 

 

A few weeks before Christmas, I received a package in the mail from my long-time friend, Susie.

Some of you may remember my post from a couple of years back when she had gifted me

with a box of some of her cherished vintage treasures that she had been collecting for years.

Well, her kindness and generosity didn't stop there.

She told me she had seen this pattern for these pillows and right away thought of me.

She chose a brown suede-like fabric for the bodies and the red plaid for their sweaters was perfect!

And those glasses...how adorable are they?!

After piecing and stitching the doggies together (some of those pieces were teeny!),

Susie's sister helped her quilt them on her quilting machine.

 

 

Aren't they just the cutest??

I was beyond thrilled and totally blown away by this sweet gift she had given me!

Have you ever received a gift from someone, just out of the blue,

and wasn't even sure how to properly thank them?

Believe me, I'm still thinking...

~

Well, that was my Christmas and I am feeling blessed beyond measure.

God has been there for our family in so many ways, this year in particular.

So tomorrow I shall begin the process of taking down Christmas...it makes me a bit sad.

 I may leave the tree up until New Years Day...we'll see.

Until next time, dear friends....

In my mind...

No, in my mind I'm not going to Carolina, as James Taylor sang about...
y'all know I'm already there.

But here lately, my imagination seems to be in overdrive.

More and more I find myself daydreaming about our future move to Tennessee.

In my heart of hearts, I know this will happen only in the Lord's perfect timing.

But if His timing and our timing happen to coincide, we may be there next spring or summer.

In my mind...

...I see a little white (or gray) farmhouse with a red tin roof nestled in the corner of a meadow.
It looks something like this, only fresh, new and pristine.

The house plan is a one-story pyramidal, hip-roofed style that was popular in the 20's and 30's,
particularly in the rural areas of the deep south.
This is the actual house plan.

In my mind...

...I am trying to imagine what it will be like to see so much open sky for a welcome change.

Although I have mostly enjoyed living in the woods, there are a few draw backs...
...especially if you are a cloud watcher like me.
We will have to create much of our own shade so the front and back porches will be perfect.

In my mind...

...I am wondering I how I am ever going to live in something like this for several months...

(google image)

...or longer....you know how construction projects go. 😒

Now, I'm sure you must be thinking,
"You're going to live in a camper for possibly six months to a year?"

Believe me when I tell you I am asking myself that question almost daily.
We're talking about the girl (me) who needs her space.
You know, the same one who doesn't like loud TV and endless sports programs.
The one who really has to have her quiet solitude.
Lord Jesus, help me...I'll need lots of grace, grace and more grace.

In my mind...

...I see myself spending quite a bit of time down by the creek on the swing,

or exploring all of the wonders of Haywood Hollow,



or making friends with the horses down the way,

or spending time up the hill at Adam & Carrie's place on the back porch swing,
and taking in this view...

...and trying not to wear out my welcome before the farmhouse is even built.

In my mind...

...I am pondering with great anticipation what a joy it will be to watch these two grow up.

In my mind...

 ...the farmhouse is already decorated with antiques and vintage pieces,

some that I have had for many years, others recently acquired from thrift stores and yard sales.

I have had this photo saved on my computer for a while now and I can't even find a link to it.
Although I won't be having what seems to be clusters of grapes on the wallpaper,
(but you can bet that there will be wallpaper)
I just love the comfortable, homey feel of this room and the design of the fireplace.

In my mind... 

...I am also seeing some things like these...

...and I really want some of these...

...and definitely some of these...

...and maybe even one of these.

 

I've always wanted a rooster...a real one.

In my mind...

...I feel like I should have been born a country girl.

Funny thing is, back in 2013 when I began My Favorite Things,

I started a random post that I never finished and titled it Country Girl Wannabe.

Actually, I just wrote the title and never wrote the first word of the post.

I guess we can never get too old to hold on to a dream, can we?

I may have to just go back and write that post and retitle it one day.

How does Old Lady in the Country sound? 

:D

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Here we are, nearly half way through July already.

When it gets into the 90's like it is now, I'm ready for fall.

Bring on the pumpkin pie, I say!

Okay, I know this is out of my hands but I would be happy with fall temps all year 'round.

One thing I do love about summer is the position of the setting sun in relation to my backyard.

Every evening the filtered sunlight coming through the woods creates the most gorgeous contrasts.

I was out puttering with my camera and these leaves just seemed to speak to me.

Do you hear them too?
~
So okay, enough of this...on to why we're here...
Joyce's Hodgepodge


...where........say it with me now...
she asks the questions and we answer them on our blogs.
~

1. When was the last time you chatted with a neighbor? About what? (sharing that last bit is optional)

Just a couple of days ago, actually. The conversation came about after her little schnauzer, Amelia, has become determined the past few days to make our yard her yard. She was even coming up on our back deck, peering into the glass door...apparently her way of way saying "Can Oscar and Tasha come out to play?"  Of course my two went ballistic whenever they would see her. During the conversation I had with my back door neighbor I found that young little Miss Amelia has come into her "season" sooner than expected and she was looking for a boyfriend! The heck with Tasha, she wanted Oscar! Poor old Oscar has never been with a woman and he was beside himself. I guess we'll be going out the front door for the next couple of weeks. 😉

2. River, lake, ocean, or waterfall...which one are you most like and why?

Hmm...I'm having flashbacks of that old Barbara Walters interview when she asked Katharine Hepburn what kind of tree she would be. I have never likened myself to any kind of body of water. When I really think about it, I'd say that depending on what was going on at the time would dictate what my answer would be, including one that isn't on the list...a stagnant pond. If I'm being honest here, I have to admit to the times when I have felt like that stagnant pond...nothing really flowing in or flowing out...getting kind of "stinky" and self-absorbed. Getting "re-hydrated" by The Living Water is ,of course, the remedy for this...to make it possible to go with the flow of life, like a river that never stops...even if it dumps you off at the falls. It's always a good thing to never let go of that "Life Preserver". Whoa...that was going out a little deeper than I had intended...

3. July 13 is National Delaware Day. Ever been to Delaware? Delaware is called 'the first state' because it was the first to declare independence from the British. What's your state's nickname and does that moniker make sense to you? If you were in charge, what nickname would you give your home state?

I have never been to Delaware and the only significance July 13th has for me is that is the day when I gave birth to my baby boy, Adam, back in 1982. Adam will be 35 on Thursday. Gee...I feel old.

♥ Happy Birthday, Adam ♥ 

And while we're I'm on the subject, as I was looking through photos of him. I came across this one I posted on his facebook page a couple of years ago on his birthday...

I will never forget that morning when he was somewhere around two...I heard something in the kitchen one morning when I was still in bed and when I went downstairs, there he sat... all up in his high chair, a half a box of Rice Krispies poured into the tray and he was eating them dry by the handful. Resourceful little guy, huh? I would have loved to have been able to see just how he managed this! I was glad I had my camera loaded and close by. Okay, enough doting on my baby boy...back to the rest of the question...

So probably the most popular nickname for North Carolina is "The Tar Heel State". The reason why is just too long to explain but you can click here if you want to know. I have not really given this a lot of thought but if I was in charge, I might give NC the name "The Best of Both Worlds", you have the mountains to the west, the sea to the east. What's not to love?

4. What dish did you contribute to the last pot luck meal you attended? Do you have a go-to recipe for pot luck suppers?

Many of ours are potlucks are on Sundays after church at lunchtime. A crock pot of meatballs, a mashed potato casserole and a razzleberry pie were the last items I brought and they are easy and delicious. The meatballs are bought frozen, thrown into the pot and nothing could be easier than dumping out a bottle of chili sauce and a jar of grape jelly onto them.  The casserole is also among the easiest of dishes...prepared instant mashed potatoes (I like the Idahoan Baby Reds, adding some sour cream) layered with shredded cheddar and then topped with more cheddar and French's onion rings. The pie is usually a Marie Callender's and although I can bake a pretty mean berry pie myself, I will not be doing so on a Saturday night before church the next day. EASY is the name of the game! :)

5. What is your number one tip for a brand new parent?

Now that's a tough one, especially in this day and time...but first and foremost, I'd say lean on God and ask for His wisdom. You'll need plenty of His grace and mercy as well. If you have a good mom, get her input and take some (a lot) of her advice and suggestions. And don't be afraid to ask her to babysit. That is all.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

It is 10:00 PM on Tuesday and I'm ready to hit the sack. 

~

So, that's it for another Hodgepodge...

Good night and God bless!

Didn't Red Skelton used to say that??

Stuff and Things

Well, I'm back!
I've been home nearly a week and haven't posted nary a thing.

I was counting on the Hodgepodge to get my two cents in for the week but well...

you know...no hodgepodge...but that's okay.

So for the lack of coming up with something better,

I present to you some stuff and a few things.

~

When I last posted we were getting ready to visit the yungins in Tennessee.

And that we did.

What was predicted to be a rainy weekend turned out to be just gorgeous

with only a small shower or two on Friday.
~
This was also an occasion to celebrate Adam's and Jim's birthdays which are later this month.
For Adam's birthday, I had the idea to make a Waterlogue canvas print of their home.
I was able to sneak a photo off of his facebook page, "Waterlogue" it from my phone,
and then I had it made into a 16 x 24 canvas print.



I ordered it through Amazon and it was to be delivered to their home while we were there.
It actually came the day before we arrived and sure had them guessing where it came from!
Ordering something sight unseen online can be risky and I must admit I was a little nervous about it.



But they did and excellent job...Adam and Carrie were both thrilled with it!
~
They have some gorgeous purple cone flowers out front of their house
and you can almost always find butterflies or bees on them.

I had never seen a zebra swallowtail before and it was stunning!

Notice how it's wings are somewhat translucent...you can see the color of the flowers through them.
(Please excuse the quality of these photos. The sun was so bright leaving a stark contrast...
...my editing has left them a bit funky looking.)

Adam surprised Jim as well and gifted him (us) with a picnic table for his birthday.

He had it set up down by the creek (close to where we will be building) before we arrived.
Now that's the kind of gift I like...one that I can enjoy too!

On Saturday we packed up a picnic lunch and spent a good part of the day across the road...
...talking over and planning the next steps that we will be taking...."X" marks the spot.



Here's a better look at it.
It's exciting and a little nerve wracking all at the same time.



I'm not sure what they were pointing at but I'm sure they did!
The kids had fun wading in the creek and catching crawdads.



It almost feels like you're in a different climate down by the creek...
so cool and refreshing and soothing to the soul.

Parker has learned to handle the 4-wheeler well and enjoys taking Olivia for rides in the meadow.

And no birthday of Jim's or Adam's is complete without the celebratory black raspberry pie.
Since their birthdays are in July, they usually share theirs.

There seems to be a running joke (a good joke) about my pies.
At one point in time, Adam started saying "This is the best pie you've ever made, Mom"...
...even when I know good and well when it's not...
...not enough sugar, the crust is too hard, the pie is too juicy, bottom crust is soggy, etc.
But I do have to say that this one was pretty darn good!
This has also become the favorite dessert of Parker and Olivia.
I see many more black raspberry pies in my future, as if their weren't already! :)
~
So back on the home front, a nearly ripe German Johnson awaited me when we returned.

This is the first time I had grown this kind of tomato.

They usually grow to be quite large...and they make for the best "mater sammiches" :)

And in other news, my trusty Jeep Liberty has a new home after 13 years.

I drove her off the showroom floor in 2004 and she has served me well.

But 230+ thousand miles is a lot of miles and it was time for something a bit newer.

It was actually a tad emotional for me to see her with a FOR SALE sign in her window.

But before I even had time to squeeze the first tear out, someone bought her up...

...ONE DAY was all it took sitting at the corner of Aaron's front yard!

I will miss her, maybe a little....BUT...

I really like my new-to-me Honda :)
~
I may be back tomorrow but if not,
have a safe and fun Independence Day!

Sharing here at:

Mosaic Monday

A Full Heart (and a full belly)

The most beautiful tree that I've ever seen...

...a quiet room anticipating the squeals of delight made by the still-sleeping children...

...it was a time for the Rays to gather and celebrate the birth of Jesus.
So gather, we did at Adam's country place in hills of Tennessee,
although we were missing a couple of teenage boys.

It had been a long time since just the four of us sat down at the dinner table together...
...a rare photo op to be sure! :)



There were musical instruments, birthstone earrings, microscopes and knives...

...fuzzy socks, squirrel feeders, a little of this and a little of that...
and yes, even the whole seven season set of the Dukes of Hazzard!

Don't even ask.

But this is no joke...

Adam had this hammer engraved for his brother to commemorate the date of his sobriety.

(you may want to click to enlarge it to see better)

It took a few moments for the lumps in our throats to clear.

It felt like spring outside as the fog rose up out of the hollow.

~

We then all hopped in the pick-up for a Christmas morning field trip to the shed down below,
 to see what "Santa" had left for Parker and Olivia there.

I know you can't see what's on the box...
...but let me just say that when there are six hands working together in unison,
assembling the trampoline was a piece of cake!

 

I'm not sure who was having more fun...can you guess?

Spring weather also calls for spring chores!

Aaron was in his element as he "gifted" his brother with a nice, smooth driveway...
...all half a mile of it :)
~
And although we were eating all weekend long,
the Cinnamon Roll Casserole that we had for breakfast was the pièce de ré·sis·tance...

...and oh so easy too!

Here's the recipe:

2 cans cinnamon rolls
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
cinnamon
maple syrup

Take rolls from cans and cut into quarters and place in greased 9x13 inch pan.
Beat together eggs and milk then pour over rolls.
Sprinkle cinnamon and drizzle the maple syrup over all, to your own taste.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
When finished baking, drizzle melted icing over the all.
Oh. My. Goodness.

And of course, bacon makes everything better, right? :)
Now that it's all over, I am SOOO ready to cleans my body of all the junk food!
Can I get a witness?
~
Yes, it was a Merry Christmas, indeed.

Let earth receive her KING! 

Let every heart
Prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing!

Love,