July 31, 2010

Nanny & Molly

July 30, 2010

It's quiet at home.  Joe is out of town on a job and Ranger and Maverick are in Paducah.  It's been a rough afternoon.  I don't usually mind being home alone, but today it's just lonely.  I talked to Barron today.  He fell and needs stitches and chipped/cracked some teeth but he doesn't have insurance, so he's trying to tough it out. 

If I knew it would be the last time

That I'd see you fall asleep,

I would tuck you in more tightly

and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time

that I see you walk out the door,

I would give you a hug and kiss

and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time

I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,

I would video tape each action and word,

so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,

I could spare an extra minute

to stop and say "I love you,"

instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time

I would be there to share your day,

Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,

so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow

to make up for an oversight,

and we always get a second chance

to make everything just right.

There will always be another day

to say "I love you,"

And certainly there's another chance

to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,

and today is all I get,

I'd like to say how much I love you

and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,

young or old alike,

And today may be the last chance

you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,

why not do it today?

For if tomorrow never comes,

you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time

for a smile, a hug, or a kiss

and you were too busy to grant someone,

what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,

and whisper in their ear,

Tell them how much you love them

and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"

"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."

And if tomorrow never comes,

you'll have no regrets about today.

July 29, 2010

It won't be long now til Ranger and Maverick are back in school.  I can't believe Ranger will be in 5th grade and Maverick in 3rd.  I remember when Barron was that age.  Seems just like yesterday.

Ranger's first day of Head Start

Barron's graduation

July 27, 2010

Early birthday for Ranger

Nanny and Maverick at GattiLand

Ranger and Sleepy Papa

Cheeky Cousins

Nose to Nose

Awww

Being Silly

I got home this morning after a great visit at Mom and Dad's.  We had an early birthday for Ranger and had lots of cake!

July 18, 2010

Dehydrating cinnamon sprinkled June apples

Making Mustard Relish

Pepper madness

Mountains of onion

Almost ready to go into the canner

Aaah  all done!

July 14, 2010

This hot weather is making me yearn for the cool, crisp days of Autumn.  Autumn is my favorite time of year.  The colors of yellow and orange, the crunching of the leaves underfoot, and the smells.... ah, pumpkin, cinnamon.... scarecrows, gourds.

I spent the day outdoors today.  I mowed the yard and took a hoe to both gardens.  Even though they were put out late, everything is looking promising.  I have 5 pepper plants, 1 cantaloupe, about 13 tomato plants and one cherry tomato.  4 of them are roma tomatoes.  We have two rows of purple hull peas, 4 rows of corn, a row of cucumbers, and half a row of okra, and a couple of rows of green beans... mmm dill, basil, oregano, mint, and... that's all I can remember!

Later today, Joe ground up about 15 pounds of deer meat and I got it mixed up to make jerky tomorrow.  He left about a pound and a half and I sliced into fairly thin and make that into jerky tonight.  It only took about 4 hours to cook.  Needless to say that's what we had for dinner!

I had so much fun this afternoon watching the tiny yellow and black finches at the feeder.  I counted 6 at one time.  We have 2 hummers that visit a few times a day.  My neighbor brought over about 15 ears of sweet corn.  As much as I wanted to grill some tonight, I decided to put them in the freezer til the boys get back.  They LOVE corn on the cob!

July 13, 2010

Flutterby (butterfly)

Garlic

Maverick's Cosmo

July 7, 2010

Summer Fun

I sure do miss the boys when they're gone 

Busy, busy summer

Joe has been working very hard the last few weeks outside.  He cut down and trimmed down the overgrown ugly holly bushes in the front of the house.  You can actually see the house now!

He's been burning this stump for a week!

July 6, 2010

Homemade Dill Pickles and Dill Squash Pickles

I had to resort to actually BUYING cukes to make these with!

I ended up with 6 or 7 pints total.  I have a feeling

my garden will come in with a vengeance

when I get back to school.

Fourth of July!!

We are so fortunate to have freedom and opportunity that so few in this world do. 

Summer is here!

Ready for the 4th!

Blushing Beauty

Bird bath