Happy Birthday, David!

Today is David's 19th

time turning 

29!!

I LOVE YOU!!!

My Poor Garden

I couldn't decide whether to title this post ...

"My Poor Garden"

-- or --

 "I Don't Have a Dog. I have a GOAT!"

If you follow my blog, then you will remember that back at the beginning of the Summer, I planted a garden next to my pool. --- If you don't remember... check out this post.

Here is a photo collection of my garden and.... what's left of it!

It started with David tilling up the soil in order to have this wonderful border next to our pool that would be filled with beautiful plants!

Some plants were bought....

Stella D' Oro Daylily, Lavender, & Knock Out Rose Bush

They were planted, along with a few others.

Then..... the new puppy came along!

(Chester)

And a fence had to be put up to keep Chester out of the garden!

He was eating everything!!

My Stella D' Oro went from looking like this.....

.... to this!!!

My rose bush was the only thing that he DIDN'T EAT!!

Until....

He decided that the rose bush tasted pretty good, too!!

It's not so pretty, anymore!

Recently... my Stella D' Ora began to come back!! YAY!!

This is what I have had to do to protect it from the jaws of Chester!!

This is what my "poor garden" look like right now. Pretty sad.

You can still see a little bit of the Lavender still there, and what is left of my rose bush.

He even eats my mulch!!

So you can see why I am not sure if I have a DOG or a GOAT!!

Feeling Like a Child Again

Have you ever been "picked on" or "singled out"??? I can remember going through this as a child in elementary school. It's NOT fun!



Kids get picked on for many reasons ---
  - because their clothes are "different" than everyone else's
  - because of where they live
  - because they wear glasses or braces
  - because they are short
  - because they are shy
  - because of their religion
 And they even get picked on for being "too nice"!

Well, believe it or not.... I feel like I am going through this very same thing right now, as an adult! I am not sure of the reason, but I honestly do feel like I am being "singled out" but in a suttle way.

I wish I could give you more details, but I don't want to write too much. My words could come back to haunt me later on, and I don't need for that too happen.

I am not sure what I have done to make this "person" or "persons" not like me. I am honestly NOT used to someone NOT liking me! Not to toot my own horn... but, it doesn't happen very often!

Please.... if you don't mind.... say a prayer for me that I will know how to handle this and that I can make wise choices, regarding this issue. My decisions could affect my future!

I really want to go directly to this person (and it could possibly be more than one!) and say... "What have I done to you to make you feel this way about me and do this to me??"... but, I can't.

All I can do, for now, is just "grin and bear it", smile and play their stupid little game. Maybe someday, I will have the chance to ask them my question and let them know how much it hurts my heart and also makes me angry.

*** FYI ---- I am not talking about my husband, my family or any of my close friends.

Another Blog Award!

My good blogging friend ThisIsMe over at Southhamsdarling has presented me with this wonderful (I think! --- You'll understand in a moment!) blog award!!

She is SUCH a sweetie and I am enjoying her blog and her friendship so very much!

She lives in the United Kingdom. The photos that she sometimes shares of the area in which she lives are absolutely beautiful!!!!

While recently tracking my family's heritage, I discovered that my father's paternal side of the family is from the same area that ThisIsMe lives!! So.... I am very anxious to visit over there someday!

Be sure to check out her blog. You won't be disappointed!!

Ok... So, now I need to share what the instructions for receiving this award are...

I have to post a photo of myself at my computer while I am blogging!!! YIKES!! My first thought was that I will have to do that after I have had a shower, done my hair, gotten dressed, and have put my make-up on! --- I have to look presentable!

But... after giving it some thought.... I decided to just take a picture of myself right now, BEFORE my shower... BEFORE doing my hair...... BEFORE getting dressed.. (well, I am dressed. I just haven't gotten "dressed", if you know what I mean!).... and BEFORE I have put my make-up on!

So.... here you go ThisIsMe...

I was surprised that this picture turned out as well as it did! Hahaa!! --- Otherwise... I would have had to take that shower, done my hair, gotten "dressed", and put my make-up on!! **Smile**

Now... do I pass this blog award onto some other blogging friends????

Hmmmm..... any volunteers???

Update On My Living Room

If you follow my blog, you will remembrer that I have been in the process of redecorating my living room. You can view previous posts about it here and here.

I DID buy that beautiful fabric! I bought enough to make two 18x18 pillows. I went later and bought trim to for the pillows, as well. But... when I got home and measured, I realized that the girl at the store only cut enough for ONE pillow! I told her two, but I guess she didn't hear me. So... I will have to go back for more next week.

And... Yes, David DID paint the walls. Here are some photos of the "Before" & "After, so far:

"Before the new couch"

"After" the new couch, but "before" the new paint and the new slipcover on the blue chair.

Another "Before" photo of the blue chair and the old walls.

"After" with the new couch, new slipcover on chair and new paint.

Another look at the "After"

You will notice that I don't have anything on the walls yet. "Before", I had a grapevine wreath over the entertainment center. I liked the "look" of it, but I was never able to dust it and David hated it! So... it went bye-bye. I am in no way a decorator (haahaa!! Betcha' couldn't have guessed that!), but I think there needs to be something to go on this tall wall. I just don't know what! Maybe a big clock??? I don't have a clue! Any suggestions would be appreciated! **Smile**

I also need something on the wall above the chair. I'm just not sure what. Ashley suggested that I get a tall lamp to go behind it. I'm just not sure yet.

What do you think of the slipcover?? I am not totally sold on it, but I like it better than the navy blue. This eliminates that color from the room and this color seems to look better because it is "neutral".

I also still need something on this wall. Ashley is going to paint us a landscape!! I CAN NOT WAIT for it to be done!!! The problem is that she is SOOOO busy with school, I don't know when she will have the time. We have the canvas, ready to go!

Check out this wonderful pillow that I found at Ross for $7.00! The fabric is FLEECE, so it is SO soft!! I love the ruffles, too!

Here is a piece of my pillow fabric, ready to be assembled!

Here is what the pillows will look like all-together. Sorry about the blurry photo ! I really need to learn to wear my glasses when I take pictures, because MANY of them are starting to be blurry!

Here is the start of my pillow-sewing project! Wish me luck! I am not the best at it! I may end up regretting taking this project on! Of course, I have to go and get more trim since I ended up with not enough!

Narrowing the List

I have not been doing a very good job of following reading all of the blogs that I follow. I counted them last night and there were 101 on my list that I supposedly... "follow"!!! That is quite a lot!! And... WAY too many to be actually "reading".

The list had quite a lot of different kinds of blogs. Some were very "wordy". Some were "crafty", meaning that they were about making "crafts". Some were about "decorating". Some were about "photography". Some were about "blogging". Some were just for "fun".

So.... I decided to cut the list down and get rid of some of the blogs that no longer interest me and/or I never go to read any longer.

Many of the ones that I cut were "crafty" blogs and crafts don't really interest me any longer. Plus... if I want to know how to make something, I can just "Google" how to make it!

I also cut a few blogs that had to do with "blogging". I think I know how to blog now, and don't really need those any longer.

A couple were about photography and ONLY photography. I found myself skipping right over these.

I may lose a few followers because of my decisions, but that is ok. I am fine with that.

I bet many of you that are faithful followers of my blog are now a little worried that I may have cut YOU!! Don't worry. If you follow me faithfully, then that means that I follow you, as well! Many of you are so gracious as to even comment on my blog posts and I appreciate that so very much! I try to do the same for you.

Now, you would think that my list of blogs that I "follow" would be MUCH shorter..... NOPE! I still have 73 blogs on my list!!! Hahaaa!!

... at some (there are MANY others!) of my favorite blogs that I will continue to follow:

Southhamsdarling by Thisisme in the United Kingdom

South Georgia Living by Mallory & Blake in Alabama

My Life by Becca in Florida

KardKornerKrib by Susan in Texas

The Funny Side of the Street by Sandy in Nevada

Yes, They Are All Mine by Evy in Washington State

Boarding In Bedlam by Arby in Kansas

Mrs. C's Life by Heather in Wyoming

Greener Grass by Melissa

Mountain Breaths by Debbie

A La Carte by Linda in Georgia

Joy and Gladness by Brownie in Minnesota

Echoes of Laughter by Angie

5 Minutes Just For Me by Natasha in Australia

A Stroll Thru Life by Marty

Thinkin' of Home by Ceekay in Alabama

News from Italy by LindyLou in Italy

The Geyers from Chattanooga by Emily in Tennessee

A Good Day with My Mom

Last week, when I visited my mom, she barely talked to me! But, today... she was in a more talkative mood, which is always MUCH more enjoyable!

Sadly, our pastor's father passed away this morning in Mississippi. He (our pastor) and his family were supposed to leave this morning to head that way to see his father one last time before he passed. Unfortunately, they didn't make it in time. He passed too quickly. They knew that he wasn't doing well, but still... I am sure that it was news that they weren't ready to hear.

I had planned on sharing this news with my mom when I went to visit her this afternoon, but another church member had been by for a visit and had already shared this sad news with my mom. That's ok. I didn't mind. It, apparently, stirred up some thoughts in my mom's mind, tho. She, fortunately, does not mind talking about when "her" time comes and she goes to live with Jesus, in Heaven.

Today, she said to me... "I've been meaning to share something with you. I would like to have butterflies released at my funeral". She loves butterflies, birds and flowers... so, this did not come as a surprise to me. I am just not sure how I can make this happen! It's a beautiful thought, tho. We live close to Callaway Gardens and they have a butterfly center there. I may ask them about this and get their thoughts on the idea.

She also started to talk to me about going on a picnic with her Sunday school class... way back when! This was her "Young Adult" class. They were headed to a park in Columbus called "Flat Rock Park". This was right after she had met my Daddy and he was with them. I think she had invited him to the picnic. She said that they were all riding in the back of someones pick-up truck and she was the one standing behind the "cab" of the truck, giving the driver directions. (Sounds like my mom!) When they arrived at the park, it was closed, so they had to find another place to have their picnic. She said that she asked her Daddy (my Grandfather) if they could have the picnic and bonfire at their house and he agreed.

She said that they picked out a spot in the yard, that was at the edge of the woods and was mostly flat. Her Daddy asked the young men... many who were soldiers from Ft. Benning... to follow him to get a "arm load" of wood. She used another term for that, but I can't remember what she said! It was a southern term, and the soldiers didn't understand what he was telling them to do! He had to explain to them that it meant an "arm load".

She went on to say that the ground was more wet than they expected and she had to ask her mother (my Grandmother) for some old magazines for them to use to sit on. (I can just see my Grandmother scurrying around the house, searching for old magazines!! **Smile**)

Apparently, when my Grandmother learned that the class was coming to "her" house for the picnic, she went across the street and borrowed the neighbor's big coffee pot so that she could serve everyone coffee. The neighbor's owned a small restaurant at the end of their drive called "The Brown Buggy".

My mom went on to tell of how my Grandmother had begged for a new rug for their living room and my Grandfather had finally "given in" and bought her one. (I still remember that rug from when I was little!) The rug was brand new when the Sunday School class came for the picnic. I am unclear as to how the picnic went from being outside to inside, but apparently one of the soldiers spilled coffee on my Grandmother's new rug and she had a fit!! (I can just see her, in my mind!! LOL!)

My Daddy must have asked my mom out for a date while at the picnic, because the next night was their first date! She said that my Daddy came to pick her up and she asked him if they could first stop by the neighbor's house and return the coffee pot. They did and then ended up eating dinner at the restaurant... The Brown Buggy. (I wish I knew more about this restaurant. I may try and look it up!)

We continued to talk a little bit about the house that she grew up in... the same house that I remember visiting as a child. My Grandmother lived there until I was about 12 years old. My Grandfather died a year before I was born. Sadly, I never knew him. But, I learned that my Grandfather had sanded all of the wooden floors in that house, by hand! I also learned that the floors were pine, which is not a hardwood. I remember those floors well, and also that rug!

I know that I did not grow up living in that house, but I did spend a lot of my childhood there and have SO MANY wonderful memories of it! That house is about 6 miles down the road from where I live now. Another family lives there. I still get the "warm fuzzies" whenever I pass by it... which is just about ever day! .... But, I also feel a sadness because I miss it so much.

Anyway... I am so thankful to have had such a nice visit with my mom and hear stories that I had not yet heard. Right now, with my mom... there are good days and bad days. Today, was definitely a GOOD DAY!