A post on a Saturday...

Yes, I am here, and it is a Saturday... Shocking!  I guess I am so happy to be back to normal, I am eager to talk about normal, happy things.
Some of my normal happy tasks for the day...

1. Cooking a nice breakfast
2. Making zucchini bread out of a monster zuch I had in the garden
3. Picking the garden
4. Canning the tomatoes
5. Making some clothes for Old Fashioned Day tomorrow.
6. Making some food for Old Fashioned Day tomorrow.

So carry on, enjoy your happy, normal times... they are terrific!

08:27 - Saturday, July 12, 2008 - comments {5} - post comment

So happy...

(This picture was taken on the 4th... he was very sick here, but he felt he might be getting better at this point)
Oh my... how wonderful is it to be home? SO wonderful!  A good nights sleep in our own bed, a bed full of children to wake us up, a clean house thanks to my Mom and Aunts generosity, pretty smelling candles, hugs and kisses all around... pure bliss.
I have been so anxious to be back here to the place I love.  I love being a wife, a mother and a woman.  I love caring for my family, cleaning our home, teaching our children and cooking warm and healthy meals.  When you don't have something for a while you tend to realize just how important those things are and how much you miss them... that is how I have felt during these past few LONG days in the hospital... I have always had a healthy and active husband and to see him so weak he can't walk, it broke my heart.  To have children all around me all the time and then be alone in the hospital with Shannon missing their laughter and rowdiness, it saddened us both terribly... I could go on and on... I am THANKFUL to be home, I am THANKFUL to have my husband healing and on his way back to health, I am THANKFUL that I am surrounded by my children again... I am THANKFUL that God has seen fit to answer our prayers. 
Have a beautiful day everyone, and be THANKFUL for the little things, because life can change in the blink of an eye.

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:35 - Friday, July 11, 2008 - comments {7} - post comment

Get It Done Thursday and our winner

Good Morning Friends... We are praising God this morning for the wee bit of rain we got last night and we would love to have a bit more fall from heaven before it is over and done with... Our garden is thirsty!  It is a beautiful Thursday morning and I have so much to do!
It seems as of late, I have been falling behind on my homemaking duties, I don't know if it is the heat draining me or lack of sleep or just being lazy but my jobs around here need some extra attention from me.  So today I am committing myself to ~Get It Done~ around here!!  I am going to put on a big pot of spaghetti later on this morning for supper, and make up some bread and wash the last bit of lettuce from the garden... that is my beloveds favorite meal!  I hope to have the house in good order also, another beautiful thing about Thursdays, we don't have anywhere to go tonight! Yee haw!  Home sweet home for us! 

Last week I hosted a giveaway for my readers, I had 46 entries and I went to random.org and number 39 was picked... Congratulations Peach!
I hope you all have a beautiful day and enjoy this Thursday, because...
 This is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:22 - Thursday, June 12, 2008 - comments {8} - post comment

Friday, Friday, Friday

Good Morning!  The picture above was supper last night... Shannon's request.  Whole wheat pancakes and fresh fruit from the garden... mmm.
Good stuff. 
I tell you, it has been HOT here in GA... above 90* every day here lately and it doesn't look to be changing for at least a week... yikes.  It is just the first of JUNE! I wasn't expecting this for at least a few more weeks. 
Things are springing up all over the garden, squash, zucchini, cukes, peppers, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, it is all just looking wonderful!!
The strawberries are almost gone... we are still finding a few here and there.  The blackberries are coming in well and I hope to get enough picked to make a coffee cake and put some in the freezer... I would love to have enough for jam, but I don't know just how many will bear. 
Don't forget to leave me a comment on yesterday's post for the Starbucks gift card!   I have to run, time to water the garden before it gets too hot!
Have a GREAT Friday and weekend!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:48 - Friday, June 6, 2008 - comments {7} - post comment

Happenings around our Homestead

Hello friends.
I don't know about you, but after hearing of the news of Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter being run over... it makes me want to go and round up all my little ones and sit with them around me and squeeze them a little tighter, love them a little longer, and thank God for them a little more.  My heart is breaking for this family... please pray for them.

Today is of course my favorite day, THURSDAY! I LOVE em, as you know.  And today looks to be in line with my love.  I have some garden work to do and some other good homemakey things to do and I look forward to the day.   Yesterday was especially wonderful as well.  My Alan (my Mom's husband) came over and built a deck on the back of the house for us... oh talk about glorious!!!
I can see many an evening sitting on the back deck, with some coffee and a blanket and watching the sun go down... it is going to be wonderful!
Of course I captured pictures of the process, so for your enjoyment, here is the building of the deck!
I missed him tearing off the steps...
Framing it up...
The skeleton and a wee head peeping out... do you see?
Laying the floor...
Who needs fancy toys??? Wood blocks that are leftover are GREAT!!!
TADA!!!!!  The deck is ready except for the railings...
I am not the only one who is in love... Cameo is too!
Thank you Papaw Alan, we LOVE it, and we love you too!!!!
12x12 finished size and perfect for some sun chairs I do believe!
Have a great day my friends, I am off to enjoy my family!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:16 - Thursday, May 22, 2008 - comments {7} - post comment

Homestead Happenings

Good Morning Friends!
What a sweet time it is when you wake before the dawn and get a little alone time with the Lord, so refreshing and such a beautiful way to get your cup to overflowing with His goodness!
Life here at Heritage Acres Farm is abundant, it is all around us.  The crops are coming along, we have small shoots of corn, tomatoes that are about ready to stake, strawberries with runners ready to branch out, peppers that are sure to be plentiful... potato tires that are growing taller and taller, and much more. 
I made this trellis Saturday afternoon when I planted my luffa seedlings.  The picture is a bit bright but, they are sweet.  I just took long twigs and weaved them in and out and tied them with twine to make a grid.  I left several inches on the bottoms so they could be 'planted'.  They might not be big enough, but we can do something about that when the time comes. 
I found a great surprise yesterday as I was walking the property.  A LARGE patch of blackberries, COVERED with little berries! Oh rapture! I was thrilled... It was just like a kiss from heaven.  I know the Lord knows how much I wanted a blackberry patch!
I will be a rock layer today... Last night the family went over to my Dad's and picked up some beautiful creek rock for my future brick or earth oven.  I hope to lay the foundation for it today.  If I can find just the right spot... I am utterly excited for this!
Shannon's truck is LOADED down, so I have to decide where they should go and get busy!
I will be sure to post pictures as I start building.
Have a great day around your homestead!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

06:30 - Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

I love Thursday's

Thursday's are one of my FAVORITE days... I am not sure why.  I believe I was born on a Thursday, I know I was re-born on a Thursday (Thank you Jesus), so there are two pretty terrific Thursday happenings for me...  But other than that, I usually don't go anywhere on Thursdays, I usually make a pretty nice supper, something a little more labor intensive since I am at home all day. I just like Thursday's. 
Today's Thursday, looks to be a nice one as well.  I had my quiet time already... YEAH! The little ones are stirring, and it looks like it will either be terribly dreary or rainy.  Rainy days are GOOD for quilting and embroidery, something I need to be working on... OH and I have a top to make for Cameo, she is so excited about the top, I have to finish it by Sunday.
Here is a little sneak peek at something we have in the works.  We have a rather smallish house and our storage space is EXTREMELY limited.  So my husband and I have been talking about adding something to help with our storage problems, especially since we are planting a garden about 3 times larger than we have EVER planted!  We are working on putting in a Root Cellar We have the hole dug, Thank you Daddy (remember all that equipment in my back yard?), it will be a 12x12.  I am VERY excited about this project, I have been reading up on it and it is supposed to be one of the cheapest forms of extra storage and perfect to keeping excess fruits and veggies and  to keep our canned goods from our harvest.  Plus, should we have any bad storms, it will be an ideal place to seek shelter, a lot safer than our closet.
Because the hole has been there for a couple of weeks now, the children have a NEW favorite place to play.  War commences with a couple of children in the trenches and a couple behind the piles of clay.  They have had lots of fun there.
Well, my friends... I must tarry, I have a quilt to finish, children to love and educate, food to prepare, and a garden to tend...if the rain holds off... and then I need to get started on a wedding gift.  I hope you enjoy your day and appreciate the simple things today...
Love to each and every one!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:38 - Thursday, May 15, 2008 - comments {12} - post comment

Sprucing Up

Good Springtime Morning my dear friends!  Wow, it proves to be a GLORIOUS day around here.  I want to be outside today, but as much as I want to be out there, the inside around here is needing some attention!   Around this time of year I try to spruce my home up.  I tell my beloved that we are coming into 'birthday season'.  We have 4 birthday's back to back almost.  Cameo being the end of May, Carlie Jean the beginning of July, Abe the beginning of August and Shannon the end of August.  Plus, throw in Memorial Day, July 4th, Shannon and my anniversary, My Mom and Dad's birthdays... so our summer is busy and I like the home to look its best.  Cookouts are a plan for this summer I hope!
I took this shot yesterday of the front of the house.  The ferns and herb pots on the front as well as the beautifully done flowerbeds help the look of our home SO much.
I planted some of these flowers in my birdbath flowerbed... Take a look at the link they are soooo pretty! Livingston Daisies I didn't take a picture of them in the flowerbed yet, because they are not perky just yet... when they are I will be snapping some pics!
Here are some of my friends, Rosemary, Fennel and Basil... I think I need to cook something!
Here is some cilantro and oregano... so it could be Italian night or Fiesta night, we could cook some fish... oh wait, I don't like fish   But I could cook some if I did. 
Well, friends, I must get busy... I have some children that need educating and a porch that needs painting and a house that needs cleaning.  So I must tarry.  Have a  beautiful one!  (((HUGS)))
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:32 - Thursday, April 17, 2008 - comments {8} - post comment

Bathroom Redo

Hey there! I am so excited for what the day holds around here.  I have a  lot to do (as usual!), and I am happy to get it started. 
I promised some pictures for our bathroom redo and here they are...
You might remember the before, this was a day when the kids were being great helps cleaning the bathroom together...
That was the before, it was beautiful, very red and I loved the big flag made out of an old window... it now takes residence in my room!
And here is the after.... which I think is GORGEOUS!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
There are still several things that need to be done to finish, but those are just minor and some of them I have to wait to have some help with... like putting down trim.
In other news, we finally have had enough of a dry spell to get our lettuce and cabbage set out.  We were pretty rushed yesterday with finishing the bathroom and getting supper and getting everything ready for AWANA so Shannon and Carlie Jean set out the cabbage.
I will hopefully get out there and finish the lettuce this afternoon.
The morning is swiftly passing and I need to get a few things done before the children wake.  I hope you have a wonderful day!

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:31 - Thursday, March 13, 2008 - comments {15} - post comment

Hello Friends

Hello my Friends.... I hope you are all well.  I am running a little late this morning because I stayed up a bit too late painting last night.  I promise to post some finished pictures later in the week.   The picture above is Cameo and Biscuit one of the horses in the pasture behind my sister's home.
The painting project began when I went to my Sister's house yesterday afternoon to see their new little goat Jenny.  She is a cutie.  My Sister is so precious to me... she is so loving and giving and thoughtful.  And as always, she is thinking of me.  She and her husband Chris and their 2 wonderful boys are moving in about a month to a beautiful home, they have land and cattle and horses in the pasture behind them.  My children LOVE going over and they get impatient wanting to know when our pasture will be ready...
Christy had some bathroom decor that she decided shes not going to use in their new home and asked if I wanted it.  I hesitated at first, because it really hasn't been that long since I redid the kids bathroom... but after I looked at all of it again, I couldn't say no... it is TOO cute!
So last night I spent a lot of time priming over that red paint and then I let it dry and I painted a very unusual sort of green.  The bathroom will have some sweet little frogs and lily pads. I look forward to getting it done now.
I hope you all have a wonderful day.  I have lots to get done, Wednesday's are always busy with AWANA in the evenings. 
I have my swap partner in the tote bag swap and it is dear Rhonda Jean!  I am so excited.  I am going to go and ship her bag this morning.
Take care my friends... and God bless each one of you.

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:28 - Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - comments {3} - post comment