Crow Never Crowed

and so we're roosterless again. Well, technically we have three, but they are still growing and not crowing. :) I can't remember if I've shown you the "chicken barn", but this is what it looks like right now. Except Adam put an actual door on the rooster pen there on the side. We have to finish the roof, but as I am laid up with a screwed up back right now it will continue to look like this for a while. This is a happy and tired us from one evening last week.

I hope you have been remembering to smile. It is very important for the world to see that grin of yours!!!

love

Malinda

Smithville

We had fun. To say the least. Our friend, David - there on the left, went along and had so much fun with us!! I ended up with a blister on my thumb from playing. We met some really cool new musician friends and are looking forward to seeing them at Uncle Dave Macon Days on Saturday. I knew maybe 10 of the songs that we played along with all day. I played a fiddle song on the fiddle that I only know on the guitar and played in the key of F when everyone thought I'd quit playing along because I was a "fiddle player". Adam and David really got to have some good jammin' fun and enjoyed all of the new songs, as well. The weather was so nice... hot, but mild for July 3rd in Tennessee!!

g'night (or morning, depending on when you read this)

:)

M

Umbrellas, Cats, and Jack

Meet Jackson Riley. Otherwise known as Jack. He is the son of our two good friends, David and Brandi. Their cute little family came over for dinner this past Friday and I was worried that Jack would get bored. But I think he had an ok time :) He was really excited about the four legged critters... The umbrella twirling was a big ordeal... I think they'd both still be there twirling if it had been up to them...

He got to see the "tats" and the chickens and a really, REALLY big dog (guess who?).

I do believe that a good time was had by all - even the two year old!!

Happy Birthday to the Big Sis!!!!

I think the phrase "Been there - done that." is a good summation of our sisterhood. We can tell each other anything and the other one just listens. For us, that is enough. We may not see each other very often, but between lunches, texting, and family get togethers we are involved in each other's lives and her kids love on me when I am lucky enough to get to see them. Happy birthday sweet, sister dear. I do love you so and am so thankful for every hour-that-seems-like-a-minute we get to spend together!!! Have a great day, sis. Much love!!!

Potential

When I think about people a lot of times, I think about their potential. You meet them and see only who they are at that moment. Then you start to get to know a person. They share things about themselves and you share back and before you know it a person has blossomed before your very eyes.

Once you commit to fertilizing a friendship things often get sticky. Sometimes the people you thought would prune your branches only ever want you to prune theirs. Sometimes their are thorns (like the Thorn Tree from You Know Where). But a person always has the ability to blossom if you foster that within them.

Sometimes it is easy to write people off because they are mean or rude or just so angry and upset inside that they can't be happy. I forget that it is easier to pray for someone than to just leave them to the elements. And when you start praying beautiful things start happening. Seeds are planted and new seeds sown. Cycles are broken and different cyles are started and sometimes all it takes is YOU.

I'll be gone for a few days and unable to blog, but I'll be back!

Pray for someone over the next few days. Pray that they will find the sun and blossom.

Love and more love,

Malinda

A Sister Who Really Isn't a Sister at all, but a Very Best Friend (Part 1 of 3)

She and I grew up together. We were very close and, I am thankful to say, still are. We live too far apart and she is often busy being SUPERMOM, wife, doggy selling extraordinaire, and a very hard worker. I get bogged down in work and can't get away often enough to see her, but we always pick right up where we left off. This day was a supermom day. As you see sweet Anna is turning 3 and Abby threw the girl a bash. I was lucky enough to be part of the after party and hang out with my sister's family for quite a while that day. There is our wonderful Mama (with the camera) and our equally wonderful granny there below.

We slept together growing up. She told me stories about unicorns so I would go to sleep. I was there for her when she needed me most (I hope, anyway...) and now we talk almost every day. What I love most about Abby is that she is just Abby. And I know she loves me back!

www.abbykey.blogspot.com

Friends and Neighbors

The good buddy, David, came over to jam and visit tonight. Many an evening have we all spent together playing music and talking about life. Just existing together and makin' it... Neighbor Stan was out next door and Adam heard him strummin' on his patio while walking Mondo. I conned him into playing me a tune. He writes when the notion takes him.

These two. Friends doesn't even begin to cover it. They love each other. I can't count the days we've all spent together. Tonight is a good night.