Crabapples

I have a large crabapple tree just outside my back door. When we first moved in, we thought it was a persimmon tree, but later realized those little things were crabapples. The tree is beautiful in the spring when it blooms... it is usually loaded with pink flowers and it's one of my favorite spring time sights. I've never really understood why anyone would want a crabapple tree, as the fruit is not really edible. However, I looked up crabapples online today, and saw where people actually use them with regular apples to make cider and jams. My dogs love them, and think it's a treat to be able to "sneak" them inside the house when they come back inside. I used to take the crabapples from them, but after I realized they don't actually eat them, I started letting them have the apples. They toss them around and play with them in the floor, until I decide I have too many crabapples in the floor. They don't mind when I throw them away, as they know there are more just outside the door. Yesterday my son and daughter in law brought sweet little visitors with them when they came over. These two little boys are their nephews and I found out that little boys also like crabapples. The only toys I have around my house are dog toys, so the boys had to find something else to entertain themselves with. Crabapples!

I posted the wrong picture, but this is Andrew underneath the crabapple tree, checking out my frog. I have one picture with him and the frog, where he has a crabapple in his hand. Andrew is the only one short enough to stand underneath the tree, as it grows very low to the ground. Too bad he wasn't strong enough to pull up all the "volunteer" crabapple trees that have popped up. That's a very hard job for me... crawling underneath the tree to pull baby trees.

Matthew has his shirt full of crabapples here. He stood on the steps and threw the crabapples as far as he could throw. He has quite an arm for a little guy! Can you see the crabapples in his folded up shirt?

Here's a picture of the whole tree, so now you can see how little Andrew is, to be able to stand underneath it.

Look at all the crabapples! I am amazed at how many are on the tree this year.... a bumper crop! Too bad we can't eat them. :o) I hope the tree lives for many many years, as I want my future grandchildren to collect and throw crabapples on a Sunday afternoon, too. Yesterday was a good day. :o) Thank you Ashley and Will!

My birthday gift

Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me! I have a birthday this week and look what I finally got! Actually, this picture is not mine, but mine will look like this as soon as my husband's friend finishes my new wood top.

I've always wanted a Singer sewing base made into a table. I learned how to sew on a treadle singer sewing machine that once belonged to my Grandma Addie. Through the years, my mom gave the sewing machine away... before we realized we would ever miss it. I have always "wished" it back.

Last week my daughter and I visited an antique shop in our little town, that we had never visited before. (we've been here almost six years) We were looking for an end table for her apartment. Not only did we find her table, but very near to her table was a perfect Singer sewing machine base with a glass top. The price was good and I bought it and brought it home. I called my husband to tell him not to worry about my birthday present. :o) (he liked that!)

I found this picture on the internet of how I want my table to look. This morning he carried my sewing table off to his friend's house in Burlington to get my new top made. He said I will have it back before my birthday, which is later this week. Yay!

I'll post a picture of mine when I get it back. Happy Birthday, me!

Baby H

Ashley, my beautiful daughter in law, invited me to go along with her and my son to view the ultrasound today. Baby H is official.... I saw it and heard its heartbeat. Daughter in law (mommy to be) is in the white and black blouse, standing next to her mother in blue.

Me and my son (who was just a baby himself a few weeks ago, it seems) watching the ultrasound.

Will and other granny watching the ultrasound.... so serious!

You can't see much, but our baby is on this screen! Seven weeks and one day! :o)

Two happy grannies to be! I'm going to be a GRANDMA!!!!

Good news!

I received the news I've been longing to hear last week. I'm going to be a grandma! Yay! Happy, happy me! My son and his wife found out they are going to be mommy and daddy sometime in February. Wow, isn't shopping going to be so much more fun now? Please pray for a healthy baby and a good pregnancy for our little mommy. Yay! Happy, happy me!

Happy August!

I know, today is the first day of July. But I wanted to share with you my August block in the series I'm working on. I'll change the design in my frame out on July 31. Now I have to start on September's design. I need to stay ahead.

Progress report: We finished taking down all the wallpaper in the bathroom. Now we have to prepare the walls and pick out a paint color. I am happy to say that I no longer have ANY wallpaper in my house. It took us almost five years to get it all down, but it's done!

Do any of you Facebook? I recently joined and have almost become addicted. I'm working on that. There is a little voice in my head that tells me to just delete the whole thing, but I haven't been able to do so. I spend way too much time on the computer. I think about all the things I could get done if I could just make myself do them! Anybody else with that problem?

Hope your July will be splendid. Happy 4th to you all! I'll be working .... but that's okay. Double time pay! :o)

Slice of Heaven

On Monday my husband drove me down to where we hope to retire one day. This is New Bern, NC.... one of the prettiest towns ever! We dream of being able to retire here one day, but if we never do, I hope God will have this very same view in front of my mansion in heaven! :o)

Accomplishment

I really am trying to get away from the computer, but wanted to show you something. I started and completed this stitchery this week. This embroidery is a year long series of designs by Kathy Schmitz. There is a different block for each month, this being the block for July. I plan to start on the August block right away, so I can change out my piece next month. Okay, back to the kitchen to unload the dishwasher! (I'm also taking down wallpaper this week!)

I will be MIA for awhile!

Okay guys, I'm going into hiding for awhile. I am getting absolutely nothing done these days. Between Facebook and Blogger, I am wasting too much time on the computer. I have so many things I want to do, so I am trying to limit my time here. However, I will be lurking and still reading my friends... so don't forget me. I'll try to pop in from time to time. :o)

Around the yard

Can you identify this flower? Or, is it a weed? We usually cut it down, but this year it looked so large, we decided to see what it might be. It is pretty. The picture below, I think is definitely a weed, that has been allowed to bloom. I love the pretty flowers in the morning, but look at the next picture to see what happens as the sun comes up.

It hides its flowers! Does anyone know what this is?

I talked April and Troy into trying my cherries yesterday. You can tell by her face that they are still a little tart. I did manage to find one that was pretty sweet. Does anyone know how to remove the pit without destroying the cherry? I thought it might be fun to try to make a cobbler if I can find enough sweet ones.

First vegetables!

Okay, it's a stretch to say I have enough for a pan full of squash. Truthfully, I could have let them grow another day or two. But I couldn't resist picking these this morning. This will be just enough for two people. I'll be cooking for my daughter and myself tonight, so we will get to enjoy the first squash from the garden.

I always cook my squash the same way: use bacon grease in bottom of cast iron pan, slice squash and onion into pan, cover with a little water, cover with a lid and cook until soft (mushy and torn apart). Add water as needed but let the liquid cook out, browning some of the squash on the bottom of the pan. Of course, there is plenty of salt and pepper too.

When I was living in the mountains, one lady cooked hers the same way, but added cornmeal into her dish. The cornmeal cooked up all brown and crunchy with the squash. I tried it once, but mine didn't cook up like hers.

How do you cook your squash?

Cherry Tree

Did I ever tell you that I have a cherry tree? If you click on the picture, you can see that it is loaded with cherries this year. They are turning red, but they are usually eaten by the birds before they get ripe enough for us to eat. Anytime we've ever tried them, they are very sour! We can see this tree from our back porch and enjoy seeing the red cherries while we are sitting outside.

Future projects

How cute are these projects? I love yo-yo's and I love dachshunds... so what better project for me? I can't wait to start on this cute little thing.... can't decide what colors, though.

And this adorable Laundry bag!!! After putting so much time into embroidery, you can bet it will not hang on my clothesline for the birds to find. :o) Now, if I can just put my mind to it and get started on some of these things. The weather is so pretty outside and it's hard to sit down long enough to start (or finish!) a project.