Lots of Carpents

Mr. T made it to his earthly home. So glad. Know that was a goal.  Hope all is well.
 Praying for peace.

Trying to keep my sanity during a remodeling project.  It's amazing how things can captivate when trying to restore a little order to the chaos.  Ex.  Cleaned out a junk drawer tonite and now I have a junk basket--wow!  Don't scoff at me.  You know you do that.  You know you are going to need all those nails that were obviously mating in that dark drawer.  Not to mention birthday candles, rulers, pens, thumb tacks, rubber bands, fuses, 10 different kinds of tiny screwdrivers that are never on vacation with you when your glasses lose a screw, carpenters pencils--who carpents at this house???

Needless to say I am exhausted and need to go to bed even though I've already had two naps since supper. Dreaming about what my new bathroom is going to look like is tiring.  And everyone knows the best dreaming takes place when the eyelids are SHUT!

Duke Boy doesn't do well with an unorderly house.  Probably why he doesn't carpent. No need for those eraser less pencils.  Spell check is very distracting.  Duke Boy is ready to put everything back in place. 

We do have a great new bathroom--not exactly new.  Our downstairs hall bath now has a door that swings out--we have lived in this house for 13 years.  Hello--why did we wait so long for this simple space creator?? No carpents . When I came home two nights this week my first view wasn't of the toilet with the lid up.  It was of a closed door.  Now when I take a moment there I don't have to worry that my teeth will get knocked out by the door knob if Duke Boy is in a hurry and I didn't lock the door.  Who locks the door in the bathroom when it's just the two of you.  When your child lives a mile away you don't have to worry that she is going to join you in the bathroom.  I actually miss those inseparable moments.  Ok, only when I'm really needing a good cry.  I no longer have to worry after a family gathering that I need to check that room for trapped relatives before saying good night. 

Ok shut eye. No carpents in the house. 

Saying good-bye to Mr. T

Prayers go up tonight for friends watching someone they love --we love--struggle with the end of life as we know it.  Plans are for him to be home one way or the other. Mr. Turkey Lurkey is a storyteller who was telling them last Friday during a visit in hospital room.  He kept us entertained and engaged even as he struggled to breathe using his oxygen.  His sermons during his hay days never ceased to captivate and surprise.  A memory of a fellow football player jumping over a bush and leaving the stadium stays in my mind --I heard it more than  10 years ago.  Mr. T.  did the Hedgies wedding on the hottest October day ever.  It was good to spend that day with them and also enjoy the day at his daughter's wedding where he was her Daddy down the aisle and after a quick change the pastor tying the knot.  You live in our hearts Mr. T and we know the Heavenly Father will enjoy the gift of your presence when you are ready to join him. 

A salute from Duke Boy to Mr. T.  Bow tie on the big day.

Oh Deer!!!!

House quiet. Birds singing. Coffee good. God watered for me last night. 

Well, the ones still with me.  Went out of town Friday. Came back Saturday night.  Walked around my back garden Sunday morning.  Whoa--where are my Hostas?  My beautiful pot of Caladiums--spp?? i before u except after deer?  Wait 2 beautiful pots of Caladiums . What? no Airplane plants or pots of wild violets tediously collected by Duke Boy before spraying our pea gravel in the spring. 

No deer here since the flood of 2003.  Prior to that nothing much for them to eat.  It's sun up now but I'm afraid to look out. What if all my beautiful hydrangeas are gone?  Time to get the Liquid Fence.

Double N was no help with this intruder.  He probably walked around with her rubbing all 4 of her legs.   Rock Man says it was a doe, he saw her outside his fence--IN Between our yards--didn't think to shoo her away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hostas don't like me away but I didn't plan for them to leave me so suddenly.
 Life lessons in the garden. 

Praying for Dear  Friends, not the 4 legged type, who are struggling with life and death.
You are on my heart. 

Last memories of my patio garden--Hostas WERE directly behind this pot.

Old to New Again

Said good-bye to two family members this week.  One was with us for 27 years which in couch years is 200,013.  He moved with us from Birmingham to Talladega to Auburn to storage to the Hooch.  His golden years were spent in two different rooms in this Hooch house.

 His infancy and that of Hedgie Girl, he lived in the den in our parsonage at East Lake UMC.  Duke Boy reminded me we all slept on him in front of the fireplace during the blizzard that caused a power outage. Sofa beds are never that great so I can't say I have many happy pull out couch memories. He was great couch for snuggling with Duke Boy and BW.

 We purchased Old Blue with monies from a gift we received after serving the Pell City UMC for 4 years. They loved us and we loved them.  My Sunday School class had so many pregnant women that everyone was afraid to drink out of the church water fountain. Our class was a the most fun I ever remember having in Sunday School.  It was hard to go the next appointment.

 East Lake was a good fit too.  That was were Blue lived in our den. He got to see Hedge Girl when she'd have to sit a time out in the chair located near him.

 Old Blue loved Talladega and enjoyed the company of many a Presbyterian Home friend, and our count em, 3 dogs. There was also a plethora of little girls from the neighborhood who graced our home daily and Blue loved them too.

Our move to Auburn put Blue in a huge room.  The biggest of his life.  His favorite memories are of the fireplace and visits with our great nephew, now teen Donny, who lived around the block.  His parents came to supper once a week before and after his birth and it was fun to see him grow.    Blue had the privilege of  seating my Dad during one of his last Christmas parties with the family in 1999. 

Blue was pretty lonely when he spent a few weeks in storage before the purchase of the Hooch house.
He was delighted to discover he could see the Hooch from his living room window perch. Of course, he got the shakes on at least two occasions when the Hooch threatened to invade his cozy, dry domain. 

His final years with us were probably some of his greatest supporting roles.  Duke Boy often joined him for a nap or a place to get back to sleep after sermonizing in his head all night. BW is wandering around searching for her sleeping buddy while I'm writing this.  She is confused as to his whereabouts.  She is 10 and he's been here all her life up until Tuesday night. 

That night two strong men showed up to carry him to the home of blind man who'd been sleeping on a pallet on the floor.  I wish I could take credit for the move.  I just called a lady who I knew who knew people.  It's a Velveteen Couch story that he went to live with someone who couldn't see how his eyes had been loved off over the years.  Hopefully they will love him as much as we did and they will have many years of story telling in his super golden years.

Old Blue
 

Nearly floating on the Hooch

Muddy, muddy Hooch today.  Rivaling the Mississippi.  Not as wide at my view though.  Currently rain isn't falling from the sky--I'm almost afraid to type that.  Squishy beneath the flip flops.

Double N is all lovely dovey and  innocent looking this morning as he runs between my legs for some companionship without getting feathers in his mouth.

scene of the Friday's crime

Such fun to be with Mumpsy and Jim Pop despite the torrential rain as we made the JOURNEY to Opelika/Auburn yesterday.  Jim Pop was on a mission to find a doll for the future Miss Sunny.  You can't spend the night in this home without being influenced by the doll mania of Hedgie Girl.  Jim Pop had some lessons on baby dolls while he was here.  Our selection was limited but finally Fisher Price came through with a soft snuggley brown haired baby doll just right for a little gift for a little sweetheart. She will never know that we nearly drowned to find such a treasure.


Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger in Auburn was a great place to hide from the deluge of rain. Hannah, our server, was cute, friendly,  and efficient.  The food was yummy.  I had a Birthday Cake shake, a 1/2, that didn't disappoint.  A friendly stranger helped me with my camera phone on the pix of Jim Pop and Mumpsy. 

Peace, Joy, go to church, call your Momma, have a great day.  Sitting on the Hooch, and at Shawmut UMC.  Will call the Pastoral Institute in Valley home tomorrow. 

Angry Birds on the Hooch

Double N got my newest baby bird. The poor unfortunate Soul was living in my cable connector box with his 2 industrious feathered parents.   I'd witnessed their parental vigilance earlier in the week while conversing on my cell in my car .  Several times they flew by my windshield and gave  angry bird looks as to my presence in THEIR yard or air space. Double N was told to scat several times when he'd parked himself underneath the car listening  for the chirps signaling the launch of the fledglings.

  When I arrived home last evening all that was left for these proud parents was another sidewalk gift for me.  I know this is what cats do but it doesn't mean I have to like it.  I didn't pet him,I fussed but I didn't turn the hose on him while I was cleaning the sidewalk.  I DID think about it. 

Surely, there's a better way to do these launchings.  This little Soul has announced his presence with loud chirping for days now.  Perhaps the sad parents delivered a safety lecture to his sibs if there are any. 

On a happier note--a friendship that has survived since 3rd grade with Ms. Sunny was celebrated yesterday with a post 4th visit.  She and Jim Pop arrived looking like the Clampetts with furniture for my booth at Bluffton Antiques in Lanett.  Mumpsy and Jim Pop shared great stories about little future Miss Sunny.  Duke Boy and I are going to give them some schooling on dolls today. They raised a boy so they are out of their element.

Hopefully lessons are learned in the bird world--loud chirps are emitting from my cable box. 

Peace for the day to all God's creatures.

Thanks for freedom, Dad.

Sad and mad. I had my best post ever. and...it is now in the Twilight Zone.  I even saved it. 
GRRRRRRR.

The Power and the Glory by Life a magazine about the US military.
On page 56 it has a story about my Dad, Henry Erwin, a Medal of Honor recipient.
You can find this at Lowe's provided my sister hasn't already been there and bought all the copies.

Happy Day

Birthday hats off to my little sister today.  She is 50!.  She looks and feels great and is ready to head for 100.  Still remember the day she was born.  My Dad burned the toast.  Not surprising since cooking wasn't his first skill.  I was ten and that was the first time that I ever saw him cook.  After that we hustled off to the hospital where I wasn't allow to see my new sister or my Mom.  A nurse yelled at us that I was too young to be on the ward when I did the blend into the crowd technique to gain access to my Mom's room.  Times have definitely changed. 

Hope you all have a great Monday.  I'm hoping for a healthier week.

Peace to all.

Happy Birthdays and the 4th

Had a trip south to LA to celebrate my Mom and my sister's birthday.  I won't give any ages except to say that 50 years ago tomorrow that little Bette was Big Betty's 37 year old Birthday present.

I blew kisses to all because I've got some kind of crud that I'm treating with an antibiotic. Today I'm feeling like I may live. Yesterday that was questionable???

 

 

 

 

 Little Bette with Momma Betty

 

                Fort Sumter flag from our Charleston trip in April .
                                                                       Time to celebrate the 4th.


Train whistle and crickets through the open window that Duke Boy wanted to shut so I wouldn't cool the whole back yard.  Gotta listen to that high pitched something in the yard that is louder than the train clacking by. 

Hope everyone is planning a way to stay cool and watermeloned on the 4th.  Watermelon and tomato cut up in the bowl together with salt are delicious.  You don't have to do any of that fancy "Chopped" dressing or cheese. Had it for breakfast last week.

Drinking in the grace for the day

Me and the birds are up.  They are calling to each other. "Blueberries, hurry right up.  She still can't see them. Too dark for her."  No Name is knocked out somewhere dreaming of baby birds and isn't standing guard in a frightful pose.  Picking has been good this week.  About a coffee cup full daily.
So good with yogurt and cereal. 

Weeded my front garden this week.
  God made as many varieties of weeds as flowers.  What's up with that?

 Falls under questions to ask like: why mosquitoes? large black nearly carnivorous grasshoppers? poisonous snakes? Big snakes? Biting dogs? Poison ivy? Large ugly vines with BIG thorns? LOUD thunder that frightens--nope--terrifies BW and my Mama and me when it's followed by the a flash that makes the house appear to explode? 

Ok--so those are the ones I'm willing to publish.  My private list is much longer.  I am however willing to totally forget mine if God will forget--and by the way has promised to--forget what's on His list about me--the con side. AKA sins.

Hoping His pro side is a long about me as mine is about Him:

 Grace, peace, blueberries right outside my window; gorgeous fluffy blue, pink and white hydrangeas ; tallest and most abundant Shasta daises ever; coneflowers in groups--not just stand alone ones--they rival hydrangeas in my heart;
grape tomatoes on the vine
Duke Boy's fern bed
    Hostas
       zinnias on the rise
                abundant rain--which make the thunder forgivable
                                     sleeping in the bed with my Mama and talking ourselves to sleep.
Hedgie Girl's company on my journey.
       Hedgie Boy's accomplishments with wood.
                                                  Duke Boy waiting up for my arrival.

                                           Next time maybe he'll have a dip cone ready!

          Yes, life is very good on the Hooch.  Time to pick the berries.
                                                          Peace and love for the day.


                                 

Blueberries, Hydrangeas, and trips down the Hooch

Gorgeous Saturday.  Blueberries fresh picked on my yogurt. Gardenia on the mantle sweetening my living room.  Double N companioning me around the yard while I talk to my hydrangeas. 

Next door, Rock Man gets ready to host a trip from the dam to our connected back yards.  The grill will fire up for their meal soon.  Safe journey to all --the Hooch is high and swift today.

Happy Birthday to little Emily.  She will party with her friends at the jumpy place today . She is 4 and the big sister to little Ryan. They both had rough starts at birth but who would know it now to see them.  Thanks God.

Tripping south later today to visit more family.  Safe travel to me and all others on the road today.

This family, minus the big guy in the middle who is deployed now, is who I'm looking forward to seeing today.

the cat came back

 BW under the ottoman ..our little barometer.  Now lighting and thunder. 

Amazin cat story--this time, not mine, Big Un came back.  She is 14 and lives in the Valley with Ms. BF.  She was Mr. H's cat and used to accompany him on walks around the circle.  She had little to do with Ms. BF in those days.  Their cat/human love began when Mr. H. died and both needed some TLC.  Big Un even became a lap cat for Ms. BF. Then about two weeks ago Big Un wanted to go out at night.  Odd but she let her out.  Well, there was a storm and then no Big Un.  The neighbors staged a hunt with no results.  Then "the cat came back the very next day"  well not exactly .. This was after having to endure stories from well meaning friends about how she'd probably gone off to die. Well, she's back with another life in her and Ms. BF is over the moon.

Father's Day with my MOS

Clark Kent is staying in our guest room while hiding from the US surveillance.  Don't tell anyone.  Wow.  Man of Steel alright.  Very dreamy and fine.  My Man of Steel suggested we go for Father's Day and we did.  3D.  First 3D I've seen in forever.  Not as cool as I'd expected but the movie was intriguing.  Don't remember the last time I sat for nearly 3 hours without a potty break--and I shared a large drink with My MOS.  We remembered our popcorn bucket.  Hurrah.  I draw the line on taking it into the restroom.  Gaggy to see all those under the stalls when searching for an open door to dash in. Just need one or two more movies to break even on that impulse buy.

 

My MOS

My original MOS

My Dad, Gene Erwin.  I remember Saturdays and riding to a haircut and bar-b-qued chicken with you in Fairfield.  Then of course a trip to Puckett's, Erwin's Appliance, and if I was good the 10 cent store.
 

Peace in the storms

Outside watching the storm come from Atlanta.  Lots of lightning and hopefully some cooler breezes.  BW and Double N lay at our feet for a minute and then BW wanted in the house so she could get under the ottoman and Double N cat walked over to her real family's house.  Maybe they let her in?

Peace and safety to all from the storms tonight.

Hot and thinning

Hot, hot, hot.  My flowers were eager to see me tonight but even more glad to see the water from my hose. Somehow the tiny zinnias that I transplanted are still living.  Thinning new seedlings is not a strong suit of mine. I'm always so glad to see all the little babies that it hurts my feelings to pull them up.  Last year I had some really crowded pots though...so I tried this year to obey the rules.  I did not thin as many as I was supposed to--oh well.  I'm tickled the seeds even came up.  Seeds are allergic to me like I'm allergic to sweeping. 

I won't bore you with my sweeping allergy.

Pray for my niece in Colorado.  She has a fire five miles from her house.  Very scary

Peace from the Hooch..

Does God have a score card?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush? What? If I could get my hands on the two in the bushes perhaps I'd get more than 3 blueberries to go with my cantaloupe this morning.  I know, whining, about the blueberries again. I know, get a net.  I have my reasons for not doing that.  Gardeners who plant willy nilly, meaning there are cherry trees growing up in the middle of blueberry bushes, have to suffer the consequences of their poor planning. There ARE shiny things hanging in the bushes, the birds use them to admire themselves while they snack.  Double N is lying on my chair cushions giving himself his morning bath while the birds snack on.

"Be good to me, God--and now!" Psalm 57:1 from The Message .
Bold admonition for Tuesday morning.  Great way to start the day though.  Think I'll try it.  Wonder if He's on the birds side or mine?

Peace for the day from the Hooch.

 

Grasshoppers love these for snackin! 

AuGGGGG!

 

 

 

Double N and weeding

The following post will appear in the West Point/Valley Times News this week.  Sorry if you've already read it.  It's so good just relax and enjoy it again.  Peace to all from the Hooch.

 Deadheading my daylilies could be a full-time job.  Actually they are Duke Boy’s daylilies but I keep them looking perky.  Another life lesson in the garden comes from letting go of what’s holding us back.  After the wonderful, refreshing, thank you God for the rain so I don’t have to water today, my daylilies are looking beat down.  I’ve discovered if I cut off those dead blooms that the stem with new buds will usually spring back up and look for the sun.  There’s not much more I can say about that except it helps sometimes to rid ourselves of what’s keeping us down. I’m not advocating running away from home or not paying your bills….What about not stressing over those uncontrollable circumstances?  I’m not sure what they are for you—I do know we all have stress.  Some of us handle it better than others.

 Gardening helps me alleviate stress—I weeded two flower beds on Saturday.  Double N, the cat with No Name, who now is a part-time resident of my garden, helped me weed.  I semi-encourage the presence of Double N because I do attribute the relative absence of snakes, seeable snakes, in my garden to the cats in our neighborhood. Double N did get an evening of shunning from me last Sunday when I discovered a baby bird; dead, chewed, that was left as a gift for me after a weekend absence.  I know it was gift because it was near my chair where Duke Boy and I share coffee on Sunday mornings.  Hopefully, I made it clear that I was unimpressed.  My Chatt-a-while garden edict is: you may eat of the snakes and squirrels but leave my birds alone.  Actually there is a clause that says: You may frightened the birds with your presence if you notice them in the blueberry bushes but you may NOT capture and eat them, or toy with them, or use them as presents. 

Back to the story about Double N and weeding the back hydrangea bed.  It’s a very viney area with about three different kinds of vines that will choke the life out of anything if you keep your head turned for more than a week this time of year.  I’m on my little Sunday school chair at the edge of the vine convention when I see movement—yep, it was Double N.  I barely had time to get my breath back when while I was throwing vines in the wheelbarrow I saw something rising up—upon closer inspection I discovered it was Double N’s tail.  He was on the other side of the wheelbarrow and all that was visible was his tail.  This is why gardening for me is an aerobic activity.  It never fails to get my heart rate up.  I also get many opportunities to laugh at myself. 

Double N is probably here to stay even though I don’t allow him to sit in my lap.  He wants to but after Donnie’s last sneezing attack when he made that mistake, I decided not to give in to that comfort—on both our parts.  How will you alleviate stress today?  It’s a new day.  Rejoice and be glad in it.

Call the Pastoral Institute if you need help alleviating stress. 

Karen Erwin-Brown is the director of the Valley office of the Pastoral Institute.  She offers individual, marriage, and family counseling by appointment.  Call 334-768-2341 for more information or to make an appointment. The office is located in the Shawmut United Methodist Church in Valley, AL.  It is a satellite of the Pastoral Institute in Columbus, GA.  1-800-649-6446.

Rain, rain, come some more

Garden dance occurring.  Just had a wondrous shower. God has done my job for me for most of the week.  Good thing since my flowers were signing a petition to have me fired.  Nothing like rain for the garden.  I'm about to go out and join in the happy dance.

BW still under the ottoman. She's not sure the thunder is over.  She isn't a fan. 

Peace to all this weekend.  Prayers to those in the path of the hurricane. 

I come to the garden with friends who dreamed

Happy June 5th!

I do have a little play in me.  Ms. M gave me some burlap.  Think it looks a little like Willie Nelson with a bow on him.



We had a lovely day at the Pastoral Institute.
  Celebrated Richard Robertson's genius at starting the Pastoral Institute. 
The prayer garden was named after him today. The birds were out in force to sing about it.


That's Mr. Bill Turner speaking. Another swell guy.  He was the wind beneath the wings of Richard's dream.
They are why I get to do the work that I love.

Peace from the Hooch. Thank the Lord for the rain and the night time full of groovy sleep.

 

Hooch bugging me

Buggy on the Hooch tonite. Hydrangeas begging to be inside with me.  Must have been hot today.  I was inside my office with a/c today.  Pray that it will continue to cool.  So much nicer to work when it's cool. 

Duke Boy gets home from UMC conference tonite.  I'll be glad to see him.  He's not just my chef, he's my ear, advisor, squeeze, coffee sharer, garden walk abouter, Double N fellow petter, and all around good guy. 
Love is good. 

Bluffton Antiques has a great assortment of flags for your 4th.  Got a great Betsy Ross.

 My Mom worked sewing flags at the Betsy Ross Flag Company after my dad came back from the war.

 I  only lasted an afternoon sewing letters on football jerseys when I was in college. 

No genes for sewing.  Give me a garden!

these are back and more plentiful

  .