And the thunder rolls ...

It's Random 5 Friday at Nancy's place.


1. What a day it's been. I started cutting grass before 9 AM. It was hard to breathe even at that time of morning. The humidity was high. It was hazy and, in spots, looked smoky.

2. I took a few breaks because I didn't want to dehydrate myself. Finally finished the grass at about 4:30. The wind blew grass and dirt all over me. That's not good when you're sweaty 'cause it sticks to the skin. I hosed myself off before I came inside and headed straight for the shower. By the time I got out of the shower, thunder was booming, wind blowing, Samson was a nervous wreck and the rain was pouring. Just in time. :-)

 

3.  I got an automated call from the power company. Tuesday the power will be out from 8 AM until 2 PM for maintenance. I've never received a call like that before but I'm appreciative they were considerate. I'll plan accordingly.

 

4.  Since I returned to Plum Hollow in 2004. I've wanted to get chickens and goats. Thus far, I have neither. My close friend of mine has chickens now. Silkies. Very pretty little fowl. I don't want Silkies but it's made me look more closely at getting chickens. Just a few ...

 

 

5. I'm participating in The Pink Scarf Project hosted by Vicki at 2 Bags Full. I haven't decided if I'm going to use some pink yarn I already have or use this great project as an excuse to purchase something new and beautiful and pink ... hmmm. Please take time to read my post below or click the link above to read about The Pink Scarf Project. I sincerely hope you will participate in making or purchasing a pink scarf for this worthy project.

 

Have a great weekend!



Pink Scarf Project

Whether you've been affected or not by breast cancer, I ask you to consider contributing a pink scarf, whether handmade or purchased to The Pink Scarf Project. Vicki at 2 Bags Full is hosting this endeavor and putting unimaginable effort and creativity into making this a beautiful and meaningful way to say "you're not alone". I know firsthand how one simple act of kindness can bring a lifetime of gratitude and appreciation and warm memories for years to come.

I've meant to do this for The Pink Scarf Project for quite a while but never took time to really look into it. Today, I did that and I want to pass on the information to you and ask that you take time to hand someone a smile and a gift that will last a lifetime. Recently, my cousin (9 girl cousins grew up in Plum Hollow, same as sisters) was diagnosed with breast cancer as her daddy (my momma's brother, a daddy to me too) lay in a hospital dying. It was difficult for us all. She caught it early, due to a series of events only God could orchestrate, and had a lumpectomy. Of course, we never know what tomorrow will bring but I am so grateful to God that she is well today.

If you don't want to take time to read through the post, here's the gist: purchase, crochet, weave, knit, whatever art you prefer to make a neck scarf for a breast cancer patient/survivor. The color is pink. Other colors are acceptable with it, but it should be predominantly a shade of pink. That, after all, is the color that symbolizes breast cancer. I've included below the mailing address for the scarves. I ask, at some point before you mail your scarf, that you read the entire post and view the beautiful photos that Vicki has painstakingly staged for this spectacular event.

A special address for these donations has been created:

"Pink Scarf Project"

311 West Main Street

Grayson, Ky 41143 

(Please note that this address is for scarf donations only.)

 

Thank you for joining in ...

 

 

 

 

 

Like a heat wave ...

No rain and 90-plus degrees until the weekend ... think I'm complaining? Nope ... I'm just enjoying it all ...

Sunday Stillness

 

I'm linking with Janice at He Cares for You for Sunday Stillness. Stop by and visit her blog. It's quite nice. Whether you know the Lord or not, we all need a little peace and love in life and He can provide that if we allow. We are created by God Almighty. I think of Him as I think of oxygen: I cannot actually see him, as I cannot see oxygen but I need him as desperately as I need oxygen.

 

Job 12:7-9 - But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you.  Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?

Random 5 Friday

It's Random 5 Friday at Nancy's Journal!

1. The Norfolk Southern coal train is passing by my house right now. This means that it will make its return trip at approximately 2 AM. I thought I'd never sleep through the train when I first moved back here. When I was growing up, it had stopped running. It started up again around 1979 but not on such a strict schedule as it does now. The coal mine a few miles from my home will be producing for decades to come, if allowed.

2. The low-hanging clouds proved the weather conditions yesterday. Steamy, hot and sweaty day.

3. I ran into an old friend while grocery shopping yesterday. We hadn't seen each other in about 18 years. We both stopped shopping, made our purchases and headed across the street for a Mexican lunch. The restaurant just happened to be a favorite of us both. We had such an enjoyable three hours. Now I have to finish shopping this evening. ha

4. Samson, my dog, was sick through the night. We had to get up several times for him to go out to eat some grass. He has acid reflux. I got online around 3 AM to search for remedies. I didn't see any "natural" remedies but I see that some people give their dogs Prilosec and similar prescription meds. Has anyone any experience with a dog having acid reflux? Any suggestions are appreciated.

5. I've not watched the news in about a week and have no idea what is going on in the world. That's a terrible thing to say even though it's true. Sometimes, I have to take a break from it all.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Hop on over to Nancy's Journal and join in on Random 5 Friday.

Hodgepodge

When a summer morning has low-hanging clouds like this, it's a sure sign that day will be a scorcher. I went outside near midnight and it was way too hot and humid for me.

 

These wildflowers grow along the highway rather heavily. They're a solid mass for miles. I remember the first season they began to grow along our roadsides. My granny and I were sitting on her front porch and she pointed them out, asking if I'd seen them before. That was spring 1982. I had not. She and I decided a bird had dropped us something new to enjoy while solving the problems of the world, while sitting in the swing of her front porch. It's a poor-quality photo. This bunch of flowers is probably 90-100 feet from where I was when I snapped the photo.

 

The rain stopped for a bit. The flowers were looking a little water-logged but have perked up in a few hours of sunshine. These are purple verbena. The striped and solid blooms are both from the same plant.

 



This little fellow was out with his family last evening eating some of that sweet clover.

 

Another storm came upon us last night. Severe winds. Heavy rains. It's been feast or famine here for the past year. Last summer was drought; this summer floods. I'm happy with whatever the day brings. Happy to live through it and see what the next day brings. I hope this day brings you joy. 

 

 



Monday, Monday ...

 

My African Violet is blooming. I love this flower. I don't love how tiny cat hairs and dust attaches to its leaves. I have an old small toothbrush that I sometimes give them a light brush. It's obvious I've not done that in a while. ha 

 



Bee balm. Reminds me of a raggedy rooster comb. I love the color. The yellow flower behind is one I don't know the name of. It's pretty and bright. I'll get a better photo and maybe someone can let me know. It's the only flower I've been so stumped on. One told me it was evening primrose but I know that is not correct. Its blooms open during the day.

I've been bombarded with hummingbirds this year. Seems like they particularly love the pink verbena. I have another that is purple and white but they're not quite so eager for it. Look at its little toes in this photo. They're so tiny. She hung out with me for a while.

I can't express the relief I felt when I looked at Weather Bug radar and saw no precipitation in the skies for this day. The sun is shining right now and is predicted to shine all day. Hallelujah! I'll be outside cleaning up what I can by picking up tree branches and debris that the rains and winds have scattered about. Then. Then I have massage therapy (not as chic as it sounds ... the kind I get is painful) and chiropractic adjustment. This weekly session keeps me moving. I've not been for a few weeks because I've had a UTI and I'm really feeling rough.

Wishing you a great Monday!

Why?

Why would someone take a kitten less than 6 weeks old, weighing 1.7 pounds with an injury to its little mouth and toss it out? It's infuriating to me when people mistreat animals. If you don't want baby animals ... spay or neuter your adult animals! I found this tiny, hungry baby under my aunt's porch on Wednesday morning. It appeared it had been trying to shelter itself from the pouring rain and in fear. It was terribly frightened and confused. I had to literally sit on the porch ramp and entice the kitty to come out. I got milk and crumbled bread into it. Poor little thing. Its hunger was stronger than its fear. It lapped up the milk and consumed the bread that was really soaked but didn't seem to know what to do with the bread that needed to be chewed. After consuming a little, I picked it up. I was afraid if it ate too much at once, it might get sick. It hissed at me but it wasn't feral, just scared. I saw the injury on its right upper lip, put it in the carrier and went to my house. I changed my clothes and took it to the vet. I have no desire for another animal; I have more than enough. I didn't have the extra funds to vet this one but I can't let it go without care. The whole time I'm driving to the vet (about 17 miles) I'm thinking: "Lord, help me find this baby a home. I cannot keep it." I wouldn't mind having outside cats but the traffic on the road about 70 feet from my house is heavy and fast. All outside animals have eventually been killed by a vehicle.

I got antibiotics and wormer for the otherwise healthy kitty. I was dreading having to care for it (it's too young to determine gender yet) because I knew I'd get attached and it would be more difficult to find it a home. I sat the carrier on the ground and opened the Blazer door. A woman looking in her car trunk caught my eye. I'd seen her inside with a little boy and two small dogs. My response to the thought running through my mind was: 'you're crazy if you think she'll want a kitten with those little dogs.' I ignored my thought and went over to her and said, "You wouldn't happen to want a sweet little kitten, would you?" She said, "My son wants a kitten." I've since laughed at what the look on my face must've been. Shock and awe, to say the least. ha She came to where I'd sat the carrier down; asked me a few questions about the health of the kitten and the medicine involved. There was a little hesitancy but it dissolved when I told her I didn't want money for the medicine or the vet visit. I could tell she was budgeted on her money but still took care of her animals. I'd not have offered her the kitten but it was obvious she loved animals as much as I. So, happily I drove home, thanking God for giving me the courage to ask her and for giving a little boy a much-desired kitten. It probably would have been just as easy for the original owner to do the same instead of tossing it out on the side of the road.

Random 5 Friday

 

The Healing Fields - Spring Hill Cemetery, Huntington, West Virginia - September 11, 2012

 



It's Random 5 Friday with Nancy at A Rural Journal. Join in and share your Random 5!

1.  It's rained every day for over a week here in West Virginia. The ground is so saturated, I'm fearful of a tree splitting my house down the middle. Just 30 feet or so from my bed is over an acre of hillside with 60-foot-plus tall trees of all varieties. Makes me nervous. Some nights I've slept in the spare bed because I get it on my mind that a tree will land on me. ha

2. I didn't get to see fireworks yesterday but our little town is having festivities tomorrow evening with free food, live music and fireworks. If the rain allows, I'll be there to see people I've not seen in years.

3. I had an enjoyable lunch today. Honeywheat bread, garden-fresh tomato and cucumber slices and a little mayonnaise with a side of cheese-its and bottled water. I love tomato and cucumber sandwiches.

4. Have you tried the water enhancers? There are a variety of brands. I love all those flavors. Sometimes, after several bottles of plain water, I need something with a little flavor. Just a drop of two of the enhancer makes a great addition. They're a little expensive. MiO is $3.47 at Walmart for a 24-serving bottle. I went to Big Lots a few days ago. They had orange, blueberry lemonade and berry pomegranate flavors for $1.20 each. I bought three of each flavor for myself and three of each flavor for my cousin in central Virginia. She loves it as well as I. Since I'm mailing her a package anyway, I thought I'd share my stash with her.

5.  The sun is showing its beautiful rays as I type this. That's a sign that I'm going to go out and finish transplanting some flowers and probably cut some grass. The humidity is 65%. That's down some from earlier today. Humid days make me useless.

I wish you a great weekend! Hop on over to Nancy's A Rural Journal and join in on Random 5 Friday!

Independence Day

I've always felt blessed

by God

that I have the privilege

of living in the

United States of America.

God Bless the USA!

 

 

This is Plum Hollow

Plum Hollow. I grew up here. Moved away from here. Moved back here. I like it here. I don't plan on spending the rest of my life here. I hold memories of every emotion with just the mention of Plum Hollow.

In the cow pasture overlooking Plum Hollow. My grandparents, Burl (1905-1963) and Lucy (1906-1986), owned many acres here. The original farmhouse, where my mother grew up, was razed in 1990. The home in the foreground is my uncle's; the background is my aunt's; to the right, beyond the photo is another aunt's house and to the left just past the gigantic hemlocks, is my humble abode.

 

 

I was near the tree in this photo when I took the overlook of Plum Hollow.

 

One of my favorite memories: Granny's cellar. This is where I'd sneak in and grab a pint of canned blackberries when I knew the supply was getting low. I loved Granny's cellar. I helped her clean it every summer in preparation for the new canning season. Green beans, kraut, corn, tomatoes, tomato juice, berries, potatoes, and on and on. I remember when my cousins and I, as children, were able to crawl up on the rock wall of the cellar porch and sit by ourselves. We felt so "big". My Granny. She loved me as much as I love her.