No Boys Allowed!!

Ashley



Rhett



Loving the Woods



Rhett

I knew this day would come, to where I would have to separate the boys from the girls.  All it took was for one girl to start laying her eggs.  The boys were after all the girls.  I had to decide what I was going to do with the boys and I came up with turning them out to be free ranging chickens.  I was worried about dogs and coyotes getting them, but Chuck assured me that they can fly high enough to get on top of the mansion and in the trees.  We used a cement bird bath ( the base was broken) to put water in for the boys.  We had an extra little feeder for food for them and Chuck nailed a long board across two of the trees behind the mansion for them to roost on.  When we first set them free, they acted like that wanted back in the fenced yard.  Well, that was because the girls were out there.  Once I put the girls in the house for the night, the boys had no desire to be in that fence again.  They love being free to run where they want.  They really don't go far.  They go into the woods right there around the mansion.   I know their life span will probably be a lot shorter than if they were locked up in the hen house, but it's better than us taking them to the Amish Bakery where they eat their chickens.  So far, every morning when I go out to feed George kitty, I have heard " cock-a-doodle doo" and I know they have made it through another night of being free. 

The Egg!

I don't have to wonder any more, on who is laying the little egg every day.  It's Savannah!  She is so sweet.  She is the only hen that lets me pet her and pick her up.  I was down checking on the girls yesterday morning and I saw her get into one of the nesting boxes.  I had brought the camera down to the barn with me, so I went to get it.  When I went into the mansion, I thought maybe she would get out of the box, but she didn't.  It didn't take but a couple of minutes and she was laying the egg.  Even though she is a white chicken, her ears are a buff color, so I guess I'm going to end up with all brown eggs this time around.  It doesn't really matter.  Once ya crack the egg, you don't know what color it was.  I just wonder when the rest of the girls are going to start laying their brown eggs. 

Another Great Find!

When we were at one of our favorite " junking stores", last week, I happen to look up on one of the walls where there were a bunch of pictures and there it was!  A signed print of one of the covered bridges that we went to that day with Elaine and Fred.  The Horton Mill Bridge. The first one we found. It was the highest one over water.   The price was right, plus it was another 25% off.  Once, I figured out where we could hang it, we bought it.  I'm so glad we did.  It fits perfect in the living room over the book case.  Not only is it a pretty picture, but it reminds us of that fun day with Fred and Elaine. 

More Birthday!

It's not so bad having a birthday when you have so many people in your life who care about you. I remember when I was little, I couldn't wait for my birthday to come and I would be a year older. Well, until it came to the middle of the summer and I had to move up an age group at swim meets, every two years. Here I would be at the top of the age group and be used to winning, then BAM....I had to swim against all these older girls and would have to work my butt off to get back to the top again.  It was a great way to grow up though.  

Back to celebrating my now birthday.  The BNOE invited us over to dinner the day after my birthday.  That was one of the best presents ever because y'all know how much I don't like to cook.  Give me a cook over a maid any day!  Not only did Charlotte make us dinner, she had made me a present too!  A felted nest of baby blue birds! It is the cutest thing ever!  She started felting things about a year ago and has made some really great things.  I'm so lucky to have a piece of her art.  It has a home on the shelf in the sun room with all my other birds.   

Birthday Continues

Quilting book from Debbie



Beautiful Glass Heart from Christina and George

My birthday just keeps continuing.  Yesterday, I got a funny birthday card and note from Gene.  Today, I had two packages in the mail.  Chuck walked down to the mail box this afternoon and there was a big package, hanging on one of the trees...ha.  (only when you live in the country, the mail man hangs your packages in trees)  One of the packages was from Christina and George.  It was a pretty blue, glass heart.  Marina used to have a Christmas tree in her dining room and it had nothing on it but lights and hearts.  She collected them from every where.  This little blue heart, reminds me of Marina and how much Christina loves me.  The other package was from Debbie, my BFF!  No, it doesn't stand for "best friend forever" even though she is.  In the box was the birthday mug that we have been passing back and forth for a couple of years now.  Also, this wonderful quilt book!  It has 111 quilt square  patterns and it's called " The Farmer's Wife".  A couple of the ladies in my quilt guild have made this quilt so I have seen it in person.  It's beautiful!  I'm so lucky to now have the patterns to make one.  Now I just need the fabric and time.  I will keep collecting my 1930's fat quarters and maybe when I have enough, I will have the time too. 

Huston, We Have an Egg!

It finally happened!!!!!  We got our first egg today!  I knew it was going to be any minute now so I have been walking down to the chickens a couple of times a day, just to check.  Sure enough, this afternoon when I went in the mansion and looked in the nesting boxes, there it was.  A cute, little almond colored egg.  I'm guessing that it came from one of the brown girls.  Not only did it have some color to it, but the brown hens seem to have matured more than the white hens.  Then, there are the BIG black and white boys!  So far, the boys are behaving themselves.  I'm sure their behavior will change once all the girls are laying.  I haven't decided what I will do with them if we have to get rid of them.  I'll worry about that when the time comes.  Meantime, I'm starting to count my eggs before they are laid. 

"It's My Birthday!"

Banner Shell made me



Birthday cupcakes that Melanie and I split



Opening package from Ryan,Nic and the girls.



Best Present EVER!





Bed Jacket



Sun dress



Skirt

I couldn't believe that it was time for my Birthday again.  Where do the years go?  It seems just last year that I had changed my birthday to August because of the sad two years of the deaths of my brother and my best friend, Marina.  I miss them both and think of them on my birthday but I'm back to celebrating my real birthday again.  Last year, Christina came up to be with me while Chuck was in Florida.  This year, Lady Melanie came up from Birmingham to spend the weekend with us.  She made my day special.  I am so happy to have such good friends and to receive lots of Birthday wishes, presents and cards.  When Shell and Genavive came up, Shell gave me her present.  It was a blue, chicken egg plate.  I love it!!I should be filling it with eggs soon.  I know, I keep saying that but the new girls just have to start laying any minute now.  In the mail last week, came a really cute flower purse from Kathy in Maine.  Also a package from Ryan, Nicole and the girls.  I waited until my birthday to open it.  What fun that one was...a new hummingbird feeder and four little garden animals from each of the girls.  A few days ago, I had a "mystery gift" come in the mail.  It was a little ceramic sewing machine box.  It was sent from the company that makes them, with no name of who it was from.  I thought for sure it was from one of my sewing friends, but when I asked them, it wasn't any of them.  In a card and letter from Kathy in Florida ( who I went to school with) said that I would be receiving a gift from this company, soon.  The mystery solved.  Melanie gave me a whole box of treasures and some of them were my favorite.  A pretty sundress, a beautiful skirt and the most elegant, old fashion bed jacket.   The best present ever was a set of pearls that I had seen in Sam's last month when we were there.  I couldn't get them off my mind for a month.  When I saw them this time, I asked the lady if I could try them on.  That did it!  I just HAD to have them!  Since Chuck and I are both "old" now and get social security, I bought the pearls.  I have been celebrating this birthday for a couple of months now.  Christina and George had bought me a beautiful candle while I was in Florida and my friend Debbie had given me a lovely tea pot and had it special delivered by my friend here in Alabama who had been in St. Pete in May.  I am so lucky to have all these wonderful people in my life and that I have gotten to live another year in my dreams. 

Do you see what I see?

Since we haven't heard the coyotes in a long time, thank goodness!!! we have been seeing more and more bunnies around Brambly Pines.  We have two that come into the front yard from the woods, every evening.  A couple mornings ago, I look out and see Annabelle and Marmalade sitting side by side looking at something that had to be interesting, at least to cats, in the back yard.  It was a little rabbit...a cat's dream to chase. 

To the Dump!

We have talked about going to the dump for over two years now.  You know how that goes.  You end up just "talking" about it.  Well, the BNOE called me one day last week and asked if she got her FIL's cattle trailer, if we wanted to take Chuck's truck and go to the dump with her.  The answer was " YES"!!  Thursday morning, her and Chuck went over and picked up the trailer and brought it to her house.  They cleaned out her garage, the garden shed and behind the shed.  Next, they brought the trailer over to our barn and we cleaned this really junky area behind the barn that I've been wanting to clean up forever!!  You know, one of those areas where you just keep piling junk on top of more junk!  Chuck was able to put a few of the broken pallets from the sod in the back of the truck.  It will take a few more trips to the dump to finish cleaning up around the barn, but this did help.   I didn't go with Chuck and Charlotte.  I knew it was going to be at least a two hour trip since the dump is about 40 minutes away.  Well, two hours passed into three hours and even later.  I was starting to get worried.  Come to find out, Charlotte's GPS had them go down this dirt country road in the middle of a corn field and it said for them to turn "left".....in the middle of the corn field!!  They got a kick out of that one.  So, Chuck dug out the tried and true paper map and found their way to the dump.  It ended up being a whole day deal, but it sure is nice to have that junk gone and now Chuck knows where the dump is. 

Back to Back Company



Erin and Grace wanted to see the chickens



Gracie picking grape tomatoes





visiting Billy's goats





Time to head for home



Shell and Genavive went home on Tuesday and on Wednesday evening, Maryann, Erin and Grace (Elaine and Fred's DIL and grand daughters) came to spend the night at Brambly Pines from driving home from their vacation in Illinois.  This was their first visit with us.  Since it was just for the night, we didn't have much time to show them around.  Of course there were the chickens and the garden they wanted to see.  After dinner, we walked over to see Billy White's goats.  Kids always get a kick out of that.  Morning came fast and they were leaving.  At least they know where Auntie Barb and Uncle Chuck live now.  They promised to come back and bring Adam, one day. 

Good Bye Tears

All too fast, it was time for the girls to get back into the little green car and head for home.  They had a very long day ahead of them.  It's almost as long for us, wanting them to be home safe and sound.  The little car was packed tight with all the goodies from the garden and their treasures from our shopping. 

Grant Alabama

Pretty view with the mountains



Bell Tower





Hey! there is a gym in there!



On our way home from the caverns, we went through a pretty little town and decided to stop to look at the view of the mountains and valley.  Across the street was an old school made of stones and another impressive log building.  We had never seen a log building made with the logs going vertical.

As we were getting out of the explorer and started to walk on the sidewalk by the school, a giant branch fell from a tree and hit the wires going to the school building.  Scared the " you know what" out of us.  It wasn't raining or even windy.  The limb just decided it had enough being part of the tree, I guess.  Of course we all had to look in the windows of the big log building to see what was in there and it turned out to be a gym with a stage in the back of it.  The stone bell tower by the school used to be a water tower back in the day.  It was a fun stop before heading for home. 

Mining for Gems

Running water trough



Sifting away the dirt

 

Having fun finding pretty gems



The different gems you can find



My Amethyst necklace Shell made me



After we toured the caverns, we went back to the gift shop and bought our souvenirs for our memories.  You can buy a bag of dirt and there are gems among the dirt. There is a long wooden trough across from the gift shop.  You pour the dirt into sifter boxes and put the box down in the trough of running water.  The dirt washes away and you have big and small gems. Chuck had bought us a bag of dirt and we shared the fun but when we each had these great gems in our sifter boxes, we wanted more. It was just too much fun!! Chuck went back in and bought us another two bags.  We each ended up with some pretty big gems.  There was a sample box of what the gems were and they also gave you a post card with pictures of the gems on it.  I was hoping to find a ruby but didn't.  Shell found a big amethyst.  When we got home, we wheeled and dealed on our finds and I traded Shell a couple that I had that she wanted for the big amethyst she had.  After we each spread out our finds and picked out what stone we wanted for a necklace, Shell figured out how to wrap wire around the stones and made them to hang on a chain.  What great souvenirs the three of us ended up with for such a fun day spent in Northern Alabama.    

Cathedral Caverns Again

The opening of the cave



Notice how little the people look next to all the rock formations





265 feet under the ground



Genavive holding a heavy stalagmite



When we went to the Cathedral Caverns with Fred and Elaine in April, I knew this was a place that I wanted to bring the kids to see the next time they came up. So, we packed up some snacks and drinks and headed out for the day.  We should have packed some jackets...ha. It's a constant 54 degrees in the cave, year round and we all wore shorts and short sleeves.   Our tour guild was  a really nice lady named Belinda.  She asked who our guild was the last time we were there and when I said, "Larry the Cable Guy's Brother, she knew exactly who I was talking about.  The girls enjoyed seeing something that they had never seen before. Genavive knew about stalagmites and stalactites, from school.  Other than being "cold" which I didn't notice how cold it was in there the last time we were there.  We must have worn jackets since it was in April.  It was a really fun morning.  Papa bought three bags of dirt...lol.! the fun wasn't over with yet.