Bob's toy

Should I have some kind of contest for you to guess what in the heck this little contraption is?  Some of you have heard me talk about the handy dandy reloader.  This is it!  Bob's new toy.  Sometimes I think he loves it more than he does me but I'm trying hard not to be jealous.  

He spent many hours on the computer researching just the right one and how to use it before he bought it.  And then the day arrived.  I'm not sure there was ever a Christmas morning that was more exciting for him than when THE box arrived.

It makes bullets!  Yep, my husband, the rootin'-tootin' gun totin' cowboy!  It all started a couple of Christmases ago when I asked for a gun for Christmas.  Hey, everybody else was getting one after the 2008 elections so I thought I'd join in the fun.  Anyway, I got my gun and the rest is history.  I've actually gone out once with Bob to shoot and did surprisingly well if I do say so myself.   

So now, on any given Saturday morning (he gets there practically before the sun rises) you can find Bob down at the gun range, becoming more and more expert at shooting his little Remington 1911.  Oh, I forgot to mention that soon after that first day at the range he acquired his own handgun. 

He even collects the cases as they pop out of the gun so he can use them to make more bullets in the reloader. 

I sure don't get it!  But he probably doesn't get quilting either.  And that's how it works!  Huh!!

Things I've learned

About three or four years ago I decided to keep a notebook of "things I've learned" because I forget stuff.  And also, maybe it will be useful to make life a little easier for my kids and grandkids down the road.  Well, I can pretend that they'll read the notebook, can't I??  It's sort of like preaching from the grave!  Yeah, genius, right? : ) 

Anyhoo........I thought I'd just jot down  a few of the little gems I've learned over the years and you can see what you think and do with them what you will.  Just don't tell me what you want to do with them!

Here goes:

*When you wake up in the morning, get dressed first thing.  It'll help you get going for the  day and be more productive.  (This is probably only relevant for stay-at-home moms) 

*If you have children in the car, don't use the cell phone.  Before there were cell phones I found this to be the best bonding time with my kids.

*The safest place to be is with people who love God supremely.

*Happiness is a brand new Sudoku puzzle!

*Shop weekly for groceries.  Make a weekly menu and save money and stress.  My sister, Linda, carries this further and shops monthly.  What a woman!

*Be patient and let unhappiness, discontent, anger, and negativity pass. (Yeah, I've had 'em all!)  Those things don't last.  What lasts is your reaction to them.  (maybe I should change the title of this to "things I'm LEARNING.......poor Bob!)

*When my thoughts are teeming with the truth of God's words then it will truly be "well with my soul".

*Don't let someone else's behavior change who you are.  (Dr. Laura)

*Happiness is having access to some sort of blowing cool air when a hot flash hits! : )

*And last but not least, just this morning I learned six very important things to do when you're raising children.  (I'm keeping this handy for grandchildren........someday!)

     1. Read to them.  

     2. Pray with them and over them.  Thank God in front of them for their positives AND negatives.

     3.  Introduce them to institutions (e.g.: church, extended family, allegiance to government)

     4.  Talk with them (explain why!)

     5.  Demonstrate (e.g. parents love for each other and fear and respect for God)

     6.  Don't be afraid you're going to kill them.  In other words, discipline and punishment are important.

 

Take a walk with me.......

There is something so peaceful and uplifting about walking around my yard looking at and enjoying my gardens.  So I thought I'd invite you to share this little joy with me. 

According to my official rain gauge we've been blessed with a little over ten inches of rain since the beginning of March and it's been given in just the right amounts at just the right time so I don't think I've ever seen my garden look quite so happy and healthy. 

The tall plant with red is my penstemon that has just started to bloom. On either side of that is the beginning of the castor plants that came back from seed. The bush in the background with the purple flowers is an althea plant I dug up from my dad's yard a few years back.

The plant on the right below is one I splurged on at the nursery this year and is called Bouncing Bette.  The name alone was reason enough to add it to my collection.  To its left and a little lower down is the Gay Feather.  It's still got a lot of growing to go but it will give color later on when it's hot and most of the flowers have done their thing.  That's an ice plant with all the pink. 

I just love my hollyhocks.  They are so old fashioned and are just bursting with color this year.

And here's a wider picture of most of the whole back garden.  Of course a picture can't do it justice so you'll just have to come visit me so we can walk through the garden together.

A Peep at the Coops

I did!  I peeped at the coops!  There was this great little tour today in Dallas of 12 homes where people are raising chickens in their back yards...in Dallas!  In the city!  Now in my book, that's cool!  Especially since codes in Denton don't allow me to do that. 

My brother Kelly is jumping on the bandwagon at his home in the country so I'll watch and learn from him for now.  But I'm plotting a way to convince the "powers that be" here  to change the codes so I can have fresh eggs and more great ingredients for my compost pile.  And that leads to better soil for my gardens.  Gotta love it!

Ode to Mom

                  If roses grow in heaven, Lord, then pick a bunch for me.

                  Place them in my mother's arms and tell her they're from me.

                  Tell her that I love and miss her, and when she turns to smile,

                  Place a kiss upon her cheek and hold her for awhile.

                                     Mary Jacqueline Bibb Walton

                                                   1930-2005

                                                     my mom