On My Soap Box

Two of my daughters had a disagreement with feelings getting hurt and some things done wrong. One backed away from the other and wouldn't talk to her or answer voicemails. It wasn't too long though and things were forgiven and forgotten. Though they learned  and grew from the problem, its in the past where it belongs. Each one of us have a past. Each one of us have wronged or hurt someone. Each one of us have been forgiven and the problem forgotten. It made us stronger and hopefully we never make that mistake again. What bothers me is how some people seem to flame the embers of others mistakes. They don't want them to die down. They don't want to see that person move on and be a stronger better person. They seem to forget their  own past and all their mistakes. They seem to forget the forgiving and forgetting others did for them. I use to be guilty of that. Use to feel like I almost hated this person at times. Thought she was a spoiled brat that was trying her best to create problems for me at every turn. We both did wrong and we both hurt each other. But that is in the past. She has grown from her mistakes. I have grown from mine and though we aren't best buddies we are letting the past be the past. We are taking each day as it comes without worrying what the other is going to say or do. It sure feels good to not have hate in my heart. It sure feels good to let the past be the past and enjoy each day God gives me to the fullest. If you find yourself giving someone a hard time about their past mistakes. Or just ignoring them because of their past mistakes take a good look in the mirror. Remember you have a past and remember how good it felt it was forgiven and forgotten. Can't you do the same?

A Little of This and That

It was so nice to get chilly this morning while feeding. Love, love, love these cool nights and mornings. That just means winter is right around the corner! I can't wait to sit by a nice warm fire with a nice hot cup of tea listening to the cold winter winds blowing outside.

Today was a busy but productive one. There are 6 racks of cinnamon sage in the dehydrator, 5 pints of pear preserves and 8 pints of pear butter cooling on the kitchen counter. Broccoli, collards, cucumbers, and turnip greens are all coming up in the fall garden nicely. I picked tomatoes, peppers, okra, and a watermelon out of one of the summer gardens. Gave Kuma and Rusty a much needed bath, vacuumed the rugs, swept and mopped the floors, raked the chicken pens, cleaned the rabbit cages and raked all the poop and carried to the mulch pile. Yes, it was a nice busy but hot day. I am hoping the hot days will be over after this week. Am hoping Hurricane Earl blows in the fall weather.

Had nice phone chats with Maggie and Megan today. Maggie is absolutely loving her new job. The girls are loving school, well except for some reason "K" doesn't like home ec. Who doesn't like home ec????? They were going to the library after school till Maggie picked them up but seems they got into a little trouble and now go to the Boys and Girls club. Maggie can relax and not worry about them while she finishes up at work.
Megan is loving her new apartment, still loving working at the doctors office and still walking the track and losing weight. I got to talk to G and Q. G had a slumber party for her birthday. She had 5 girls sleep over or should I say stay over as I doubt there was much sleeping going on. Q is playing football again this year. He is running back on offense and quarterback on defense or at least I think that's the positions he told me. He made 3 first downs  when he had the ball. He made 7 tackles, blocked a field goal and something else this bad grandma forgot. I went to every game last year but this year am only getting to go to one. Q asked me to come to his game on Sept. 11th. Its his birthday but he has a home game that night. I am going to be there with my cowbell, signs, and my screaming voice. I can't wait to see him play. He is very excited this year and told me his name and number were announced over the speaker after more plays the first game than it was the whole time last year. I think he has finally found his niche in football.
Didn't talk to Melody today but she had college classes as well as work. She had a awesome weekend though (read her facebook page). They went to a family reunion and then spent the afternoon watching old movies as a family. Sounds pretty relaxing to me.

Today is my oldest brother Marshall's 69th birthday. He lives in beautiful Sapphire Valley, NC. I don't see him very often or even talk often on the phone but know he is always there for me. I am the baby of the family so he and my other brother Don always looked out for me. They may have been mean to me sometimes and teased me all the time growing up but no one else could ever mess with me or they had my brothers to deal with. Marshall is loving retirement. He hardly ever goes off his mountain. He doesn't like or have answering machine, computer, microwave, toaster, or most small appliances. He loves to fly fish and tie his on flies. He loves having his grandkids spend the summer with him. They help in his garden and go fishing with him. His wife died years ago but he enjoys cooking for grands and the rest of the family. He was blonde headed, blue eyed and tall growing up. The rest of us were short, brown or black headed with brown eyes. He took after my grandpa while the rest of us took after daddy and mother. The picture is of mother, Marshall and Don. Taken before I was even a twinkle in daddy's eye. LOL  Happy Birthday Big Brother! Hope I catch you by the phone later.

Cool Weather and a Drunk Goat

The doors and windows have been opened for the past couple of days. The cooler weather is suppose to continue through the weekend. I am enjoying every second and so are the animals. The chickens are running around scratching and taking dust baths instead of sleeping the day away. The turkeys are strutting proudly with their feathers all  spread out instead of sticking their head under their wings. The ducks have came back out of the woods and enjoying sunbathing. The pigs are rooting around instead of spending the day sleeping in their mud holes. The goats are back to seeing what all they can find to get into before Tinker catches them and herds them to their room for punishment. Tinker is enjoying her squeaky toy almost all day long much to our and I am sure the neighbors dislike. Tramp and Daniel have come out of the hole Tramp dug for them to nap in and are actually stretched out in the sun napping their days away. Kuma and Rusty are enjoying having the doors open as its easy for them to push the screen door and go outside on their own. They just need lessons from Whiskers and Troubles how to use their paw to open it so they can come back in on their own. I have enjoyed raking all the chicken pens, restrawing the nesting boxes and just tidying the animals homes. Feels good to work outside and not be dripping wet with sweat after 5 minutes. Love listening to the birds singing and the animals talking to each other. For some strange reason we are covered up with black birds. If you ever saw the movie "The Birds" with all the trees filled with birds just sitting there. Well the trees here are loaded with black birds. You go outside and hear their loud chirping and look up to see them sitting on all the limbs just looking at you. Kinda creepy in a way but also nice seeing so many. Had a nice laugh over Buttons the milk goat today. William mixes up cracked corn, hog feed, sweet feed, bread and water in a barrel each evening. He feeds the pigs with it the next morning and evening. By sitting overnight the corn ferments a little but the pigs love it. So does Buttons. She somehow found a way to get to the barrel and help herself to some before Tinker found her and sounded the alarm. The fermenting corn made Buttons a bit shall we say tipsy. She tried her best to get back to the hog feed and when William fed the pigs she followed him around waiting on him to set the bucket down so she could have another swig, I mean taste of the mash. It made her feel so happy she was running and playing tag with Precious. Playing king of the mountain on a stump with Tinker, and being loving and sweet with me. She usually tries to steal rabbit and chicken feed from me while I am feeding. She gave all of us including the other animals a good chuckle before she decided to take a early bedtime. I went out a couple times tonight to check on everyone and she was snoring away. Poor Precious and Tinker are having a rough night of it. Besides the snoring Buttons is passing some pretty strong gas!

Frugal and Free Projects

I got the glider and chair sanded and first coat of paint on. I need one more coat and this project will be finished. The glider and chair were free. The paint was in the box of paints given to me. The 2 throw pillows were in a box of items at the curb in front of a house in one of our lawn customers neighborhood. So this project cost me zero! I found some brick stepping stones on craigslist for free. We had to go to Ft. Bragg and carry them from the backyard to the pickup. There were 80 of them and 40 bricks but it was worth the backaches. We took the wooden floor with outdoor carpet up and put the stones down. Now its a much nicer outdoor kitchen and eating area. We already had the patio set and canopy. We also had a nice hanging light that we put above the table. I did spend $5 at a yardsale for 3 sets of string patio lights. The original price was $12.99 a set and none of the boxes had even been opened so I got a great bargain. For the frugal cost of $5 I now have a very relaxing and enjoyable ourdoor dining area. 2 projects down and a bunch more to go!

New House On The Homestead

Last week I found a mailbox still attached to the post in the dumpster when we took our trash. Of course it had to come home with me. I knew exactly what I was going to do with it. Painted it with paints given to me when a lady cleaned out her garage. Cut a hole in the door of the mailbox and bent the metal up to make a roof over the doorway so the birds wouldn't get wet. I had a wooden swing bird feeder that I hung close by so they wouldn't have far to go for food. Hopefully the birds will spread the word and next spring Bird Haven Cottage will be rented!

It Rained!

Hearing the raindrops on the roof with thunder booms in the background was music to my ears. The animals, gardens, and yard were showing the toll of the many days of heat and humidity. Today everything looks so fresh and alive and the air just smells wonderful! Rain is called for again today and I will enjoy every drop.

Tinker, our livestock guard dog (puppy) is doing a good job with the goats. Doing her job so well we need to figure out a way to get her not to do such a good job. She is with Buttons and Precious every minute. If they go off to nibble grass or leaves she is right there watching over them. If the neighbor's dogs come up to the fence Tinker herds the goats and makes them go back to their stall. The dogs don't bark at the goats or even seem to notice them but Tinker is doing her job. The goats want to go take a nap in the sunshine, Tinker is standing over them keeping guard. A duck or goose makes the mistake of walking anywhere near them on its way to somewhere and Tinker chases the poor bird to where Tinker has decided the ducks and geese should stay and then she goes and makes Buttons and Precious get up from their nap and go back to their stall. We put a leash on Buttons each morning and lead her out of the pen and to the milk stanchion. Tinker has a fit. She rounds up Precious and makes her stand at the gate with her to watch Buttons being milked and being brought back to the pen. As soon as we take the leash off Buttons Tinker herds Buttons and Precious into their stall. If someone comes to visit Tinker herds the goats into the.... stall. The poor goats think they are being punished and sent to their rooms! I can only imagine what Tinker will be like when she is out of the puppy stage.

I have canned pickled peppers, made jams and jellies, canned the last of the green beans, cut off  and froze creamed corn. I have been dehydrating herbs, peppers, and even some fruits. Now all I need is the cold winter winds and snow so I can enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Megan is doing wonderfully. She and the children have moved into a really nice apartment close to her job and their school. They also have several friends there in the complex so are happy. She has lost 35lbs and still working on more. She walks the track every day at lunchtime and while Q has football practice. G will be having a big slumber party this weekend for her birthday bash.

Melody still has a overflowing plate. She is still working fulltime, going to school, teaching a class and is now taking a class to help abused women and men that go to the emergency room. With all that she still does a great job being there for hubby, 5 kids, and 2 foster babies. I would be in a padded room somewhere.

Maggie is very happy. She left the stress of her job and is now enjoying going to work each day in a new office with a fantastic boss. Her girls are happy they didn't have to change schools and her hubby is happy to have the smile back on his wife's face and the stress gone from her days.

William's grandson W is spending the week with us. He has been a big help with our lawncare service and with the animals here on the homestead. The neighborhood kids have enjoyed coming over to play. The tire swing hasn't had very much rest the past few days.

I had a stomach virus over the weekend that wiped me out. Felt very much like a stomach flu but only lasted 48 hours. Strange thing is William didn't get it but Kuma and Rusty did. Kuma got sick on Monday and lets just say I spent Tuesday cleaning the floor and rugs in the livingroom because she couldn't make it to the door. Rusty thank goodness was small enough to pick up and run outside with so no accidents there. Kuma felt so bad she couldn't make it outside. She hung her head and looked so sad. We didn't scold her but she wasn't happy with herself. Thank goodness their bug only lasted 24 hours but they slept the next 24. We are all back to "normal" whatever that is and William hasn't gotten sick yet.

Have a couple of book reviews to do. I actually found time to do some reading in the evenings. I love to read but haven't been having time to really enjoy taking my time over each page. The past couple of weeks I have been taking my shower and heading to bed extra early so I can relax with a good book and a cup of herbal tea. Some peaceful me time before taking the dogs out and calling it a night.

Its been a crazy few days around Hidden Haven but its been a blessed crazy time and I look forward to each day.

Computer Is Back In Business

Just got back online tonight. Seems William. a glass of ice water and a laptop just don't do well together. His laptop is still in the shop but my computer is back up and running after getting a new hardrive. William is not quite out of the doghouse yet. LOL Off to catch up on everyone in the blog neighborhood and will be back to posting in the morning. Missed you guys!!!

MIA

This is Melody, Peggy's daughter it would appear that my step father William is in the dog house right now for having spilled water on the lap top. As soon as William earns his way out of the dog house by having the computer serviced the blog will be taking a break.

Curb Shopping

With so many things going on around here I haven't had a change to hit any yardsales. I have though found some neat things on the side of the curb that I was able to grab before the trashman arrived. We were on our way home from a lawncare customer when I saw this big long shelf. It measured 12 feet long! I didn't need one that long but I had been wanting a shelf in a certain spot for a couple of months. Thought about making one when I got the chance but all I had to do was cut this one down to 10 feet and it worked perfectly. Didn't cost me a penny and I have a small shelf from the cut that I can use somewhere else. We were doing another customers yard while she was cleaning out her garage. She put this by the curb and I ask if I could have it. I saw it being used on another blog and wanted to make my own. GrannyJ maybe you can help me out with who's blog it was on. I remember seeing it on one of your friends blogs but can't find it again. Anyway this cost zero dollars as I already had the glasses and corkscrew. I have a few other things I have found that I am painting and using around the homestead. I will save those for later.

The heat and humidity is still with us. We are doing our best to keep the animals as cool as possible and plenty of fresh cold water to drink. I keep reminding myself that fall is right around the corner and hopefully will bring cooler weather.

William worked on redoing a lady's flowerbeds today and brought home 8 Russian sage bushes and some other flowers she didn't want. We hope to set them out tonight after it cools down a little. I have the spots all ready for them so its shouldn't take long.

Some of you wonderful bloggers have been posting some yummy recipes. I have been trying them all and I must say they are wonderful. Never mind I have to work outside a extra hour or two so I can sweat off the pounds. Thank you for giving me some new things to try. The gardens are almost dried up. I am still getting tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, beans, and carrots. I am trying to get things pulled up so we can till and plant our fall gardens. I sure hope fall brings more rain than we got this summer.

Tramp is doing pretty good. He has some days were he just lays in front of Lady's doghouse and looks so sad but those days are getting further apart. He and Daniel the rooster are best buds and hang out together. Its still sad going out to feed and not having Lady meet me at her gate barking for her treat but I too am less sad each day and enjoying spending time with the animals. They have a way that just brings peace and joy when you are with them.

Grands are all excited about school starting soon. With so much going on in their lives they didn't make it down for a visit this summer. We are shooting for Christmas break having  all of them for a few days. William's grandson is coming Sunday for a week. I haven't seen him in awhile but he always enjoyed helping with the animals and going fishing with his PopPop. I taught him how to ride a bike years ago so maybe he and I can take a few bike rides while he is here.

Each day brings something different to keep me busy but each day also brings many blessings. I hope your days are filled with blessings too!

Happy Birthday Raigun!

Our Elvis faces for Grandma

My first fish!

Love you Grandma

Why can't I wear this to school?

I can teach you karate even if I am smaller

what's wrong with this outfit?

Raigun and Big Sis Kristine

just chilling at the beach

Today my youngest granddaughter is celebrating her birthday. It's hard to believe that she will be going into 4th grade in a couple weeks. I called to wish her a happy birthday this morning and she was getting ready for her Toy Story 3D birthday party. Raigun told me she has a boyfriend now and that she is wearing a dress to her party for him. Raigun has always been my tomboy. She has her own fashion and doesn't mind what you think of it as long as she likes it and its comfortable. A couple of years ago everything had to be Tennessee orange even with her red hair. She loves karate,4 wheeling, swimming, skateboarding, video games, and making good grades in school. She has a tender heart and always has hugs and kisses to make a frown turn into a smile. Raigun and I have a lot of summer visits in our memory books. She has always been the first one up to help with chores. She baited her own hook for fishing, washed her own clothes in the washtubs, did dishes, made soaps, and helped cook. The animals all love her as well as  everyone that meets her. She has a awesome sense of humor and will keep you laughing. Raigun sorry I didn't make it to Tennessee for your birthday but I know it was a blast!

New BFF's

And that smile back on Tramp's face is worth a million! I think he is going to okay without Lady.

Never Say You Are Bored Around Here

Life Goes On

Thank you so much for your love, concern and comments about Lady and Tramp. Tramp had a rough day yesterday and a bad night last night but he is finally calming down. He was abused and set out when my daughter in law found him in the middle of a highway years ago. He was so scared of people but for some reason came to me and let me pet him so of course he came home with me. Lady took over watching out for and caring for him. He was never away from her side in all the years they were together. I sat with him for awhile yesterday evening after spending most of the day with him. When I took him out of the pen for a bath Daniel a Buff rooster of ours went into the pen. Daniel had spent a couple of days sitting right outside the pen before Lady died. Daniel has taken it upon himself to be Tramp's new best friend. He walks around the dog pen with Tramp and sits beside him when Tramp is napping. Tramp doesn't seem to mind having a rooster for a friend so I am letting Daniel stay. When I put Tramp in with Polly she wanted to play and jump around but Tramp didn't. Polly is alot younger and still enjoys running and playing where Tramp is older and enjoys walks and naps. I think Tramp is still sad but will be alright staying in his pen. I did go look after getting a comment from a friend to see if he was sleeping in Lady's doghouse but he wasn't. He does lay in front of it to take his naps. I don't think getting another dog for him would work. He is old and set in his ways and Daniel the rooster seems to have the right speed and friendship at the moment.

The heat and humidity is back after a couple days of cooler weather. I am so looking forward to winter. The gardens are just about harvested out but now its time to plant the fall gardens. I have canned this year more than I have any other year so winter meals will be plentiful and good. I have been doing some decorating with curbside finds.GrannyJ and some of her blog friends have given me lots of ideas. Will post photos tomorrow. I also have been cooking new recipes thanks to Mildred and Barbara . Will post about them tomorrow also. Some days may be sad. Some days may be stressful. But overall the days here at Hidden Haven are very blessed and I am happy to have each and every day.

Goodbye Dear Lady

 Lady died this afternoon. (You can click on her name to read her story). She was getting old and arthritis was really giving her a hard time. The past few days the heat seem to take everything out of her. Lady just seemed to know it was her time. She struggled to get up this afternoon for her petting from William. Later she got up and came to me for her dog biscuit and treat. She went straight to lay down in front of her doghouse and just look up at me like she was so tired. I told William then she wouldn't make it through the night. She wasn't in pain. Just seemed like she was ready to go. A hour later she passed away. Our hearts are breaking over losing a loyal, loving,sweet member of our family but I am also worried about Tramp. He has never been away from Lady's side since the day we rescued him. He howled and howled when we removed Lady from the pen. I have him in with Polly right now but he just lays at the fence and looks over to his and Lady's pen. I know he is hurting and am afraid he will grieve himself to death. I don't know what to do for him.  It's a very sad day here at Hidden Haven but we are very blessed to have had Lady in our lives for so many years. Lady you may be gone but you will never be forgotten.