Digital Photograph - A Tennessee Creek

A Tennessee Creek

Tennessee is such a pretty state.
All sorts of things to see and do.
I have spent most of August helping
people move stuff - two of my boys
and my sister. I have also been
getting rid of a lot of my extra
"stuff". The little break to my
sisters was just what I needed. I
miss the road. Although it feels
so good to be nesting.

Digital Photograph - Birds on a Wire

Birds on a Wire

Stopping at a light in a small town in

Tennessee at the end of the day. I

looked up and low and behold saw

this flock of Starlings coming in to

roost at the four corners of this

intersection. What a sight!

I immediately pulled in to the corner

gas station and began to take pictures.

It was amazing. Of course everyone at

the light wondered what I was doing.

They began to honk their horns. The

birds would take off and fly back.

It was like a mini ballet. 

Truly amazing. I then realized that

this was a sign that fall was about to

begin. Summer was ending. Beginnings

are nice...

Digital Photograph - Curing Tobacco

Curing Tobacco

Thought I would share one of the sights you see all around the South. Curing tobacco in the barn. The barns are tall and narrow.

The tobacco leaves are wrapped on sticks

so that the leaf hangs down. There are

several leaves on a stick. The sticks

are then places in slots along the

inside of the barn or on a contraption

that looks like scaffolding. 

This farmer is fire curing his crop. 

The barn is wrapped in plastic to keep

the heat in and cure the tobacco. There

is a fire box or stove in the barn. It

can take from three days to several

weeks to cure the crop. You can see the

smoke and steam coming out of the top

of the barn. This method of curing

gives you low sugar and high nicotine.

This tobacco is used mainly for pipe

smoking, chewing tobacco and snuff.

These barns and the ritual of curing

your own are slowly falling away. I

find it all rather sad.

Quote #22 - Moving...

Four Letter Words - Move

Along the Road...

A trio of birdhouse surrounded by ornamental grasses.



Absolutely love this mailbox stand. The old cobbler's piece holding the mail box and then the three blue transformer pieces.



Spotted this lovely along a winding road. I love that they painted the mail box with their house and barn, then stenciled the post with flowers.

Thought I would share some of the things I have been seeing along the road. Unfortunately, I have not been traveling very much this month/July. I have been unpacking, going through things, hanging pictures, making shelving, etc. I do try to get out some every couple of days, just because I need to clear my head. Soon I can think about some trips.

I do try to see my boys every week or so and a trip down to the river calms my soul. I hope you enjoy these pictures. I love the birdhouse one. The way they painted each house a different color. Very clever. The mailboxes are sweet. Now that I have a house I am hanging bird feeders, repainting my birdhouses and should probably think about personalizing my mailbox. Hmmm it might have to wait awhile.

Some long overdue freebies for you...

Two beautiful sisters. Friends for life.

Wow I love the little dress. I think this is a baby boy because he has such a dark dress. I love the curlies in this chair.

What darling twins! The blanket is great.

I just want to squeeze them they look so cute.

Her lace dress is exquisite and the chair is wonderful.

I have not blogged in a few weeks. I have been way busy with house, family, and friends. I have gotten through almost half of my boxes, hung some pictures, 3 out of 4 storage units emptied, dealt with various crisis, life keeps moving on.

I really have needed a break. A break from anything. So, blogging was the one thing I knew everyone would understand if I took a break from. I have really missed everyone. I have missed your comments and checking in on your blogs. Hope all are well, having a great summer, traveling and vacationing in cool places, re nourishing yourselves. 

Here are some freebies for you. I just love these children. The love and care their mother's have given them is everywhere. From their beautiful clothes, to the way they have styled their hair, to the look in their eyes. Hope you can use them in your art or just enjoy them.

Digital Photograph - the gray barn

the gray barn

I ran across this beauty on the way to

have dinner up in the mountains with

my boys. I like to take the back roads.

They are so much more interesting.

I saw this sitting down in the back

of a little meadow. I headed right

for it. It was a big ole girl.

I love the yellow cross in the window.

I wonder what they are going to do with

it. Maybe it is something different and

just this view of it makes it a cross?

Hmmmm the "wonderings" never cease.

The other thing that I have noticed

about some of the barns up here is the

way they have the wood going in certain

ways. This barn is a good example of this.

Lot's more barn pictures to share in the

future. Hope you are all having a great

summer.

Digital Photograph - The River



The River

The river calms my mind and heart. When

the outside world gets rather crazy

or my everyday world a little over

whelming. I find myself heading

for the river.

The past few weeks it has been full of

rain and mud. It is almost a chestnut

brown in places. It is running fast

and dangerous. It is impossible to see

the rocks and boulders that lie beneath

it.

There are days my thoughts and feelings

run like the river. Fast and quick.

Flowing as if they will never stop.

Yet,as I watch the water everything

that was bothering me flows away,

my focus comes back and a part of

me begins to sing.



Digital Photograph - Queen Anne's Lace

Queen Anne's Lace

Bursting. Yes, this flower is bursting

with flowers. Just a few hours before

it burst forth with blooms.  Each head

is bursting with flowers.  Just the sight

of it makes me swoon.

It has been a rough week here in the

United States. Two set of sisters killed

by one of their husbands or boyfriends.

One sister pregnant, several of the

sisters mothers. Two cousins first

thought drowned now thought to be

abducted. Questions about one

of the father's and his associates.

Then, a fun night out at the movies

turns into a nightmare. 12 dead,

58 wounded, a nation in shock and

mourning.

Which brings me back to flowers. Flowers

for funerals, flowers for hospital

rooms, flowers to say "I love you", 

"I am thinking of you", "I hurt

for you", "I am sorry","Thank You", 

"Congratulations". Flowers to cheer

us up, to give us hope, to remind us

that there will be beauty again.

Quote # 21 - Pray

Four Letter Words - Pray

Quote #20 - Prayer

Digital Photograph - Chicory

A Chicory Blossom

A field of Chicory

What is that old saying "you can not see the forest for the trees". I sort of felt that way when I discovered this field of Chicory. It was a sight to behold. I have always been fascinated by this plant. You seeing it growing along the road, don't think much about it? Long ago when I was married to my first husband we bought this wonderful little farm. Outside our fence, along the road grew these wonderful blue plants. I decided one day to transplant some into my flower garden. One of our neighbor farmers stopped and asked me what I was doing with those weeds and he had some if I wanted them. We both laughed and on he went. I decided to read up on them and see what the big joke was. The joke was on him.

You see the Native Americans used the flower as a dye, the root they dug and ground up and boiled and drank. It tastes a lot like coffee and has quite a bit of caffine in it. They use it now to flavor coffee and gum. The plant itself they used as a poltice for bee stings or to use as a salad. They fed their horses the plant to keep them free of worms. That little blue weed is actually something else. Quite remarkable. 

Chicory - Botanical Print

A DYI for You...

My Tomato Plant

This is one of three tomato plants I put together last weekend. I was bound and determined to have a few this year. I decided with all I have going on that I should just limit myself to some pots. My big pots are still in storage so that meant I had to go buy something. After I looked around I realized I was not going to find anything for under thirty dollars and most of the pots I liked were around sixty dollars. Ninety to a hundred and eighty dollars did not make sense. I would just go to the farmers market and buy what I wanted. As I browsed through the local Lowes I stumbled across these large ice buckets. They were galvenized inside, had these handles so I could move them, white was good, and they were on sale for ten dollars. I also found them at Walmarts in red or turqoise for $7.50.

I bought three of the white, a couple of container tomato plants, and a few annuals for color. All in all they cost me less than twenty dollars each. I love them!

Polishing, Polishing, Polishing...

Some different style serving forks. I love the one in the middle with the face. The large art nouveau style fork is also a favorite.

Every Southern home has a large collection of ice tea spoons. These are just a few of mine. I like to keep them on my oak buffet so that they are within easy reach. I picked up this tall spooner somewhere in Alabama several years ago.

These are some of my cocktail forks. Let me tell you living at the beach I think we used these almost every day. I am not sure how much use they will get here in the mountains.

This is a sterling carving set I picked up at a garage sale for a few dollars. It was almost black it was so tarnished.I new it was a nice set it just needed a little polish and love.

I have a real thing for silver. I am not quite sure why but, I like the pretty patterns and the weight of it in my hand. I have been picking up pieces of it since I was in college. I use to buy a few pieces - 5 or 6 -forks or spoons wrapped together or maybe a few knives here or there. Usually spending less than three dollars for them. Miss matched sets became sets. They all fit together nicely being around the same age. Now the pieces I find cost a bit more, but there are still deals out there. That carving set was under $5.00. It is sterling silver, the former owners just didn't want to have to bother with polishing it. I like to polish, it is relaxing. It is an instant gratification thing. So, go out and look for a few pieces to brighten up your every day life. Everytime I use my ice tea spoons I feel like a queen.

p.s. someone asked me what kind of polish I use. I like the creme polishes. I usually use Wright's but if I can not find that Walmart has one in a small white plastic jar with a blue label and a blue top called Weimans Creme Silver Polish for under $5.00 [here it is $3.57]that works like a dream.

New Shelves!

Guest Bathroom Shelves

Thought I would share my Guest Bathroom

shelves with you. My house is a mid century

brick ranch that is a well loved 52 years

old. All three bathrooms have the original

tile in them. I have two bathrooms that

mirror each other but, with different color

tile. The guest bathroom has turquoise tile

in a honeycomb shape. I have white fixtures[tub,sink, etc.]. I had the painters paint

the walls and trim white.

After several months of looking through

every magazine on the market, pinterest,

endless online searches for shelves I finally made up my mind. I had my son install these gems. Simple and sturdy.

I used my collection of aqua glass to highlight the tile. I have white towels with aqua trim. So pretty and one more thing to cross off my list!

Digital Photograph - Gateway

Gateway

Gates and really any portals have always

fascinated me. I have been taking lots of

pictures of them lately. I really like this

one. I am wondering what that view is on top

of this hill. I am thinking you can see for

miles.

When this gate is opened I bet your body just relaxes and the day becomes peaceful.

I am hoping you are all enjoying the sun and

having a wonderful day.

I have decided to have a huge giveaway for

my 1500+ blog posts and to celebrate my birthday in July. Pictures and information will be posted on July 1st. Stay tuned.

Digital Photograph - A Beautiful Weed

A beautiful weed

This beauty was found along the roadside.

I am not sure if it is a thistle or a wild

artichoke. I just know it is beautiful.

Four Letter Words - Good