ChickenNot Visitor

"There's a turkey out there with the chickens!"

Lately we've been noticing a greater number of turkeys in the area, but never before had one come calling on the chickens, so this was an event. Pardon the less than pristine images, as point-and-shoot involved the built-in zoom and holding the camera above my head and snapping, hoping I happened to have the hen turkey in the photo frame. Being all squirrellyexcited over the novelty of a visiting turkey, though, I had to share the pics.

I once again decided to upload larger images; lo and behold, blogger decided to include the image links again this time, so these should be clickable for larger images, which is a good thing, because these piggledy photos need all the help they can get.

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. ~Luke 12:7

Gardening

I don't much like it, and that probably explains why I prettymuch stink at it. I made a stab last year at being involved, doing my part. I even planted marigolds around the entire perimeter of the garden...which just caused some grumbling, because they made it difficult to till up the weeds. I think I earned a C- for the year.

Veggies are beginning to spring forth now. You'll surely hear about it, if my shadow falls upon the garden plot this year. My thusfar contribution has been this:

D?

And would that be for Done?

Maybe we should just go ahead and make it an F -- Finished.

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. ~Proverbs 6:16-19

O Honey

Farmer John has the tastiest bee squeezin's in the country. We first bought his 2-pound jar. The next few orders were for 4-pounders. We finally realized all the squeezin's slurping we were doing warranted a full-blown gallon of the deep amber delight, and he delivered yesterday.

This morning I said to Charles, "Doesn't that honey look wonderful? I'm thinking about just leaving it on the table, so we can enjoy looking at it."

"Ohhh no. That's not going to become another Stephenson's apple butter!"

"Why not? Wouldn't you pay $XX for a fine painting?"

"No. And we're going to eat it."

Well, actually, I was merely thinking of not poking it into the pantry right away. Man-oh, get a grip. I guess I've scarred him with aging apples.

Two Thanksgivings ago, Mrs. Piecrust brought me apple butter and pie filling from Stephenson's Apple Orchard. Most people who grew up where she and I did know the orchard and have a fondness for it. When Mrs. Piecrust and her husband traveled from their western home in '06, to visit family and friends, they brought me a painting from an artist in our little hometown and tasty delights from the renowned orchard in a nearby city. All have been gracing my kitchen...and driving my menfolk crazy. Not the painting -- no cuckoo noises over the chicken painting -- just the food I refuse to serve them and which taunts them daily from a lofty shelf.

Some have suggested we eat the contents, and I refill the jars with colored water. While my middle name is MarthaNot, I still cannot swallow the concept of colored water as an apt decorative replacement for fat slices of apples and rich, brown opaque apple butter. 'Xcuuuse me!

Mrs. Piecrust, you now know we haven't eaten your gift; to do so would seem a near-sacrilege. We won't eat it...at least until we can no longer buy and sell.

That honey, though? We've no nostalgic or true decorative affections for it. It's goin' down!

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. Mark 13:8

They're Grand

My grandniece, grandnephew, and granddaughter were here Saturday. Very grand.

Cleo, nearly a year younger and about a foot taller than Son4, spent a goodly bit of time on the pond. Here she is with her mama:


Later, she and Son4 piled all the ducks onto a pool floaty and gave them the ride of their livesNot, hauling them behind the yachtNot.


Jessica sucked all the air out of her surroundings when she saw Cleo grab and chuck a duck. "They're decoys, Jessica. It's okay. It's okay."

One-year-old Chase with his mama. Who could resist giving this little cherub a squeeze?

and with his daddy...

SugarPlum was up early with Nana that morning, wearing atop her jammies the apron Zoomer sent her and ready to help prepare foods. SugarPlum has a new fixation -- poking things up her nose. The night before, it was blue PlayDoh; today, her apron tie.


It was a great day with the grands. Well, excepting maybe for that new up the nose thing.

Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. ~Psalms 86:11-12

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The scene: Putting away laundered clothing. Yes, I finally did the laundry. Joycie, who knows just how behind I was on my laundry, claims to have helped me yesterday by doing two loads of her own laundry "in my honor." Joycie has issues; just go with it.

CarolineNot: (complaining again, of course) There isn't any room for my clothes. Dad and I have one chest of drawers for the two of us. That's just not enough space for two adults.

Son3: Then you better act like adults and share.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. I Timothy 6:6