Books Books Books

My mother loves books.  That's putting it mildly.  Those of you who have been to her house know that books are everywhere.  There's not a room in the house without books.  Well maybe the laundry room doesn't have books, but there are magazines stored in there.  I would guess she probably hasn't read more than a part of each book. 

I've encouraged Mother to donate most to a church library.  If she started reading now and didn't stop, there's no way she could read all of those books unless she lives to be 100.  Bless her heart, she just can't seem to part with them.  The reason is quite simple, I believe.  It is because of her childhood.  She would go to bed at night and read.  Her dad did not like it that she read after she went to bed and would demand that she cut off the light and stop reading.   Maybe she stayed up too late reading.  I don't know, but I do believe that's the reason she has so many books.  After she married, no one could tell her not to read and not to have books. 

My book collection is probably less than a tenth of what Mother has accumulated over the years.  I  have nowhere to put them other than in boxes or storage tubs.  I decided they were doing no one any good if they were being stored.  So, over the past month I have gathered them in one place, gone through each one and have them boxed to take to my sister-in-law who is involved in the literary guild.  The books will be put to good use and I'm delighted.  My boys would never read my books so there's no point in keeping them.   I kept a few - some that were special or gifts but there's one collection  I'm keeping.  Those are my Guideposts books.  Each year for Christmas, Daddy and Mother have given  each of their children a Guidepost book for Christmas.  They are priceless.  It's my parents' way (mostly Mother's) of making sure we something to help us get through life and to re-read even after she's gone.  The Guidepost is my favorite gift every Christmas.   It's my daily devotional and if I get too busy to read it first thing each morning, something is missing in my day.

I love my parents and am very thankful that they are still with us.  Look to the left of Daddy and you will see a tack of books! 

Mother will never part with her books.  And that's okay.  I think she she likes knowing they are there should she "ever get around to reading them".  That's her reason for keeping them.  She hopes she will find the time to read them.  I hope she does!

Just Being A Nana

I survived two weeks without seeing my grandson.  I missed him so much.  He came bouncing into the house Friday afternoon and said "Hey, Nana.  I came.  I came to see you."  Of course my heart melted and then he jumped into my arms and gave me a hug and kiss.  That's all this Nana asks for!  There's nothing like being loved by a grandchild. 

Greg's fiance has a three year old daughter.  She and Andrew have fun together but also fuss like a brother and sister.  They are having to learn to share everything - including Nana and Pa. 

Colored tongues were funny and they were happy to show them to anyone who would look.

Sitting on the patio eating potato chips.  Andrew appears to be trying to get Serenity's attention.

They had fun playing in their pool  (I did too!)

Finally - both of them looked at me.

Cortney and Serenity got to ride Smokey!  Both were thrilled and Pa looks happy too.  He and I seldom ride the horses. 

If you notice there's a red cup in almost all the photos.  It was so hot and I drank lots of ice water.  It went everywhere I did.

The green plastic fence was used to protect my tomato plants.  I'm aware this is not a tomato.  Last year I planted watermelon seeds and only got one watermelon because the rabbits, squirrels or something started eating on them.  I probably had 20 watermelons that they got and the seeds were left after they did their damage.  The vines this year came from those seeds.  Some of the vines have grown around, up, under and over the plastic fence.  This little one was hanging yesterday.  This morning, it was on the ground.  Sure enough, something had been eating on it.  It made me mad!

Last, but certainly not least, I finally got some of Jon and Brenda's wedding pictures put into a frame. When I started, I had plans to give it to them, but changed my mind because I wanted it in my house.  Maybe I'll do another one for them.

 A lot of my time has been spent watering flowers, trees and roses.  I've watered part of my garden, but it's about 10 miles from here and I have to take water in gallon jugs, etc because there is no water source there.  We've had no rain in over a month now.  This sweltering heat is killing the grass and the dry weather is not good for my garden.  I'm hoping we get rain soon.  I also hope we get some cooler days.  It's been as hot as 113 degrees here.   I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...actually I'm dreaming of temps in the 80s at this point.

That's all for now.  Happy July!

Introducing Cortney

This is Cortney and my son, Greg.  I love how happy they are in this picture.  She has a three year old daughter whose name is Serenity.  She and Greg have recently become a couple in love.  They plan to be married, but there is no set date yet.  Before too long, I'll have two daughters-in-law and that makes me happy!   I love it when my boys are happy.   I wish nothing but the best for Greg and Cortney and pray their lives together will be blessed.

Warning....Rambling Again

We've had Andrew all this week and will until 6pm Monday.  I had planned to do several fun things with him this week, but due to having a sinus infection/cold we haven't done all I had planned.  I've been bummed out about that.  

We did get a remote controlled helicopter that he begged for.  For $30 we didn't expect much, but the little thing has been loads of fun for him.  Wednesday morning Andrew flew it and it landed in the gutter on the upstairs part of the house.  Pa had to get the extension ladder to rescue the copter.

Andrew and I planted some flowers in two pots.  He picks the new ones off and brings them to me.  Is that just like a little boy or what?

We're going to Mississippi later today.  Tomorrow is my sweet daddy's 83rd birthday.   Sunday is Father's Day so we're going to go to church with him, have lunch the come back home.  I love and appreciate my daddy with each passing day.  

I've written previously about the two inside dogs and how they sometimes decide to pee in my dining room and that they had ruined my laminate floor.  Well, I couldn't take it anymore and try as I may, I could not get the floor clean and the smell of urine kept returning.  Tuesday morning I got up and ripped the floor out.  Hubby said he wants to take it out of the foyer also.  We'll be replacing it with ceramic tile.  Tile is just easier to clean.  The dogs just need to go...easier said than done.

Rambling on...no matter how old our children are, we never stop worrying about them.  I hurt when they hurt.  My heart breaks when theirs does.  I only want the best for them...and they know that.  When they were small, a hug and kiss would heal the hurts.  That doesn't work anymore.  I just hope knowing their mother loves them and hurts with them helps ease their hurts.  I feel so helpless now.  Wish I could make things perfect for both of them and Jon's wife.  I wish Andrew didn't have parents that aren't together.  I wish, I wish...but all I can do is pray.  Only God can help.  

Have a great weekend and if you're blessed to be with your dad, give him a hug and tell him you love him and appreciate all he's done for you.  I'm going to do the same.

Daddy loves getting his garden area ready to plant.  He farmed for years, but now leases the farmland for someone else to farm.

This is a picture of Daddy in church.  God is his refuge and strength and has been since I've been old enough to remember.  He was a minister and still preaches occasionally.  He's been faithful attending church.  He has to be really sick to stay home.  Love my daddy.  Happy  Birthday and Happy Father's Day, Daddy.  You're the best.

Happy Nana

Andrew loves playing in the dirt and his hands, face and clothes are proof after he's finished.

He also loves playing with his friend, Serenity.

He loves being silly and I caught him at a weird angle with my i-phone.

He also loves playing with Joe.

What little boy doesn't love his dog?  Murphy is so patient and loving as Andrew pets, aggravates and plays with her.

The rain boots he outgrew are priceless treasures of mine~now filled with flowers.

This was my weekend.  It was full of enjoying my three year old grandson.  I love him so much and when he's here every weekend, my life revolves around him.  I'm a happy Nana.

My Happy Place

If you know me, you know that I love working in my yard.  I call it yard therapy because when I'm out there working, my problems are far from my mind.  I forget about everything while I'm digging in the dirt, planting flowers, pulling weeds, mowing grass or just walking around the yard admiring my flowers.  Most every day I walk around the yard to see what has grown, bloomed or needs pinching off to encourage more blooms. 

This is one view from my patio.  It does not capture the entire back yard.  Everything you see here (with the exception of the grass) beginning with the rocks and to the large trees in the background, I planted.  Rocks were gathered from the back of our land, the horse pasture and from my neighbor's land.  Days were spent digging up rocks, putting them on the front of the riding mower or in the wheel barrow and struggling to get them unloaded and put into place.  I painted an outline on the grass so I could follow the shape of the rock bed I wanted.

Above is an area next to my patio.  I planted these flowers this past weekend.  Again, more rocks.  I love my little frogs purchased from Old Time Pottery.  Hubby likes frogs for yard art and I'll have to admit, I like them too.

My neighbor had watering cans full of flowers on her patio and I loved them.  I had to fix one for my deck.

I love roses.  My mother-in-law purchased this rosebush before she passed away and while living with us in her last years.  It smells divine.  She loved roses and grew the most beautiful ones I've ever seen. 

Potted petunias on the deck have spilled over the sides and I love their vibrant colors.

Hanging baskets of flowers just add happy to the patio area.  Here's my pink.

And red...The white thing you see to the left is a metal butterfly hung on the brick.

Last, but certainly not least, I'd kept a pair of Andrew's rain boots that he'd outgrown, punched holes in the bottom for draining, filled them with potting soil and then planted flowers in them.  I got the idea from a blog I follow.  The blogger did hers in April and hung them on her front door.  I wanted mine on the patio where I see them every day.  She had painted hers, but I didn't because Andrew loves camo.  One boot appears larger than the other, but it's not; it's just the angle at which the photo was taken.

You'll notice there's only one picture of the yard.  I got carried away with the flowers near the house.  Ha Ha.   I'm sure I'll post pics of the yard another day.

I'm not sure I'll be working in my yard today.  The garden needs to be hoed.  Joy joy.

Here's hoping your day is filled with things you love.

Steven Gregory Brown's Birthday

Twenty six years ago today, God blessed Hubby and me with our second son.  This picture was taken two years ago and remains one of my favorites of Greg and me. 

Tech School graduation day.  Oh so proud and he had every right to be.  His dad, brother and I know the road he traveled to get to this point.

Greg with his son, Andrew, who should have been named Greg, Jr. 

Here he is with the most important guys in his life - Andrew, Jon (Greg's brother) and Dale (Dad).

Happy Birthday, Dear Dear, Greg.  You're still my baby.  I remember the day you were born as though it was yesterday.  It was Friday, May 30, 1986.  Dr. Davis had instructed me to be at Baptist Hospital in Nashville by 6am because they were going to induce labor.  Why?  Because Dr. Davis would be on vacation on the date you were due, so he decided you needed to come early!  That obviously didn't sit well with you because as soon as you made your entrance into this world you peed right in Dr. Davis' face.  You let him know exactly what you thought about his vacation!  We all had a good laugh when that happened.

I won't try to summarize the past 26 years other than to say I love you and I'm so glad you're my son.  May God bless you, wrap his arms around you, keep you safe and remind you daily that He loves you unconditionally.  I do too.  I'm proud of you and I'm thankful God gave you to us.