Lately...

We have declared war on the fire ants. What was that? You didn't know there were fire ants in Tennessee? Well, let me assure you there are because THEY ARE ALL IN MY GARDEN. It started out innocent enough. A little hill full of ants. "Let them be, Adam," I say. "They aren't hurting anything." Then the hill gets bigger and BIGGER and BIGGER and someone down at the market asks Adam if we have any fire ants and he says "Ummm, I don't think so. How can you tell if you do?" The guy says, "Well, it is a huge hill of ants." Then Adam says in a calm low voice, "Yep we got em." He comes home and we decide we'll just set a really big fire on top of the fire ants. Makes sense. Kill the fire ants with FIRE! Not REALLY. They then conlonized our GARDEN and the dear, Lovin' Husband went up to the co-op and talked to the really nice lady who thinks we are very weird people. She told him what to get and did one bottle work? Did two? We are on, like, bottle eleventy million and they are still finding new places to hide and it HURTS when they bite you in between your fingers. Betcha didn't know that! The red below is one of their recent attempt to recolonize. They carry their young. How responsible of them. Enough of that...

Hangin' with BoJangles.

Watchin' Maggie declare her utmost love, loyalty, devotion, and life to Adam. She really wishes she were me.

Now if that isn't precious I don't know what is...

Feeding weeds to the chickens. My goodness they start singing when they see us coming near them. It usually means a juicy treat of some sort. Worm here + weeds there = happy chickens.

See how they're waiting? They Know he's gonna come through for them.

Mmmmm. They cluck the whole time they're chowing down.

Watched Matoike the cat try to catch a dragonfly. I'll see if the video will upload.

Have been admiring the pretty flowers. This is my sage blooming...

Mowed the backyard (me! I did it!! - not even vicariously through Adam..., but completely by myself. He was proud...)

Nothing makes me happier than to sit down in the yard with Adam after a long day of work and watch the sun set through the trees and watch the shadows move across the freshly mown grass. Mondo likes it, too. See him?

Have a wonderful day!

Love,
Malinda

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!!!

Randomness

Peanut needs a home. The county I live in does not have a no kill shelter and I can't bear to send her to the "pound". If anyone needs a friendly, bouncy, spayed, house-trained-but-will-live-outside dog, I'll pay them $25 to give her a good home!! I have passed the time in my life that lots of dogs are fun... moving on... Yarrow. I love yarrow. Especially the stuff that is native to the yard and surrounding property. It has the prettiest foliage and the flowers are so dainty and perfect. I have taken no less than TONS of pictures of yarrow. Every spring it seems new to me. I dug up a big clump out of my yard and put it in with the herbs that I like to grow in my garden. I also go out of my way to mow around it when I see that it will flower soon. Adam is so sweet. He just smiles and shakes his head when I ask him not to mow the places I "missed" and says, "I'll try not to, baby." He knows that it makes me happy to see blooming all over. I have some out front that blooms pink and ohmygoodness it is pretty.

That is it for today, folks. I am going into Nashville this morning to wish my big sister a happiest birthday yet and then coming home to weed my garden. The massive rains have let the garden get ahead of me in that area I'm afraid. That is ok, though. Today is a COMPLETE day off. I haven't had one of those in a WHILE. I will be able to get lots done this afternoon while Adam is teaching and am looking forward to sweating and getting a good garden workout... Yay!!

Have such a good day and remember that people are people and everyone deserves a smile!!

Love,

Malinda

They Love it When We Mow

When the mower starts up, the chickens come running. They cluck and sing and get all manner of excited. The first thing I usually do is walk the mower down to them and cut the grass around their pen INTO their pen. It's an all out riot. They flap their wings and stretch their legs and necks and then get to gobbling all that yummy grass up. We've had that very mower for almost seven years. I could write pages on how wonderful it has been. Thanks Dad...

I have been busier than I prefer to be lately. I have to just get through this month and then my mind will be less muddled with "stuff". It isn't gonna be easy, but I will do every single thing I have to do away from home so that come June and July I can be my hermit self again.

I'm making some crazy decisions these days and really excited about some changes to come. I'll let ya know soon...

Have a good day, people!

Malinda

Did I Say Massive Garden Post?

What I meant to say was... when I get back from out of town on Sunday, I will tell you all about my garden. Until then, let us look at the pretty peony that my wonderful Granny gave to me... So, So pretty...

Remember these?

Here they are a coupla days ago... I was a little creative here. I wanted to be sure that everyone knew there actually were potatoes growing, so I circled them. Then I drew a heart on my baby. I love him...

Have a good couple of days everyone! I am going to visit my sister Betsy. She and her lil family are moving into their new house this weekend and I'm going to check it all out. And maybe help a little. *wink*

A "Play Date" With the Lovin' Husband

Just imagine me in the chair next to Adam. You never know who is going to call you and ask if you'll play, but I'm glad my friend Vicki thought of us when organizing this event. Check out the awesome door prizes!!

Here was our contribution to that little extravaganza.

I've always enjoyed doing stuff like this, but it has even become more fun in the past couple of years as my sweet husband has been gigging with me!

He's so fun...

Have a good day!!!! Tomorrow you will see the massive garden post. Also, kittens that REALLY want a new home..... :)

Navy Grace

I think I want a corn dog....

Goings On

This is what Middle Tennessee has looked like for many days now. (The picture is from last May, but you get the point.) I'd tell you how my garden was, but I have to admit it is so soggy I just went down yesterday sans camera for the first time in quite a while. We did have breaks in the rain here and there so Adam added more straw to the potatoes (a story in and of itself - I'll tell you sometime) and we battled the FIRE ANTS. (another story in and of itself) So what I know is this. Everything is growing and needs fertilizer and the weeds are growing and need killing! In order to plant my beans today, I'm going to have to poke them into the ground and then cover them up. Don't tell me I shouldn't do this, please. I'm gonna do it anyway!!



Today is a music day. Adam and I are playing at a conference for elderly awareness at the park in town and then he is teaching.



Adam has been telling me for months to put a video of us on here making some music, so maybe I'll do that soon...




Have a good day and if it is sunny where you are, enjoy it for those who haven't had any for FOREVER!!!

And She's Finished!!!!

My baby sister graduated from college this past Saturday. I tried to find her in the sea of hats, but she actually found me instead... How happy she looks!! (Awesome shoes, by the way, kid.) I had the great priviledge of being the "niece wrangler". Adam sat in the bleachers with his cousin-in-law, Rachel, and let me be free to wander around with Anndee and Navy. My nerves were very thankful for this. This is in between wanderings... Anndee

and sweet Navy...

Here is the girl in line to get her diploma.

And here she is after just getting it. *I cried.*

Then I went back to wrangling the girls. We went on several walks.

Took lots of pictures.

And waited at the door for Monna. Look at that happy smile!!! (and the cool shoes again...)

I love the look on her face! That is her Lovin' Husband - J.C. - and our sweet Mama.

I'm all teary again.

These are Monna's newest family members (J.C.'s parents Davida and John). Look between her and J.C. Anndee was a little ornery at this point, but that's ok. :)

Our wonderful Granny came down from Ohio to see all the festivities. We so miss our Gramps and are happy that Granny has been visiting often. It is nice just to be able to hug her whenever I want!! *Granny gives just the BEST hugs.*

If my dad had buttons on his shirt, they'd be popping off!! And a happy, proud, pretty Mama. Sorry Monna, but I only had this picture of you with Daddy and Ma. Your closed eyes are just beautiful!

And some seriously proud sisters!! Those girls there are two of the very best friends I'll ever have in my life. That is Betsy on the right. She has the distinction of being the best self-picture taker in the family... When I try to get 3 people in a picture, I usually just get one and a half! I've never noticed before, but we all have the same eyes... *happy*

Words can't express how much I love this girl and how proud of her I am.

Here's to the rest of your life, Monna Shelly! You can do anything through Christ who strengthens you!!!!!!

A Good Day

Sometimes the sunshine make a day "good". Sometimes the rain maks a day "good". Sometimes a dreary day makes a day "good". Just not always good for everyone!! I'm so thankful that even though it is dreary and raining here in Tennessee I know my garden is growing, the water table is high, my animals have water, and when I look out my front window I see the irises from my great grandmother and my grandma blooming away. Also today I get to see one my church families. My "home" church. The smiles and hugs and love that abound there make me smile, too. Enjoy your day today even if you think it isn't a "good" one...



Love,
Malinda

A Trip to See the Fiddle Maker

I had the pleasure of accompanying one of my students to Rockwood, Tn to purchase a violin from Mr. Charles Horner. He made the violin that I own in 1984 and I am here to tell ya that they just keep getting better and better. He is an easy going, wonderful man to meet and personable as the day is long. I think it is neat that he has "scrap" Gibson mandolin necks and headstocks just hanging around...

We got him talking and had a grand time discussing fiddles, different woods, fiddlers, and how different each fiddle sounds. He told us about Mountain Mahogany (that isn't really mahogany at all), blood wood, box wood (he is allergic to that so doesn't use it much), maple, spruce, you get the point, I'm sure!

I guess these didn't cut the mustard...

This one's varnish is drying. Isn't it pretty? It had a highly flamed, BEAUTIFUL one piece back. "If I had a million dollars.... " (Name that song...)

Here are some of the ones we had to pick from. The reddish/dark one on the far right sounded BEAUTIFUL and so lush and mellow.

Here is one in the process of coming to greatness...

I can't say enough good about this man. I am so glad to have met him and also glad that my students have the opportunity to experience going to his "shop" when they decide it is time for The Fiddle of their life...

Crazy Day

I love to visit this place. I'll tell you more about it later.

Adam and I are going to see my baby sister graduate college.

Smiles!!!

Malinda

Mondo the Ruthless Chicken Killer

I am BLUE today.

My St. Bernard

ate my twenty one of my thirty one chickens.