Vacation

Sunrise on North Myrtle Beach

The good thing about a vacation is getting away from the daily routine of life. The bad thing about vacation is when it ends, it's back to the daily routine of life. We had a great time in South Carolina on the beach with family and a few new friends. Me and Jonathan Livingston.....best buds.

My favorite place: Brookgreen Gardens. They were breathtaking. Unfortunately, it was cloudy all week and the pictures don't do justice to the beauty of the beach or gardens.

The gardens were located on  9000 acres of old rice plantations. There were dozens of garden rooms, each with beautiful statues, poetry, fountains, old oaks covered with moss, flowers, wildlife, walking paths through the old rice fields and much, much more. It was one of those places that made my heart hurt with its beauty.

I only took about 250 pictures this week....don't worry, I won't post them all! I will give a peek at Wilmington, NC, and Charleston, SC on another day. Tomorrow it is back to the daily routine, but refreshed with the memories of the past week.

Fall Color?

The weather has not been kind to my flowers this year.

What the long, hot and dry summer did not damage, the super wet autumn has. This Confederate Rose Hibiscus is one of the few blooms in the yard now.

Luckily, flowers aren't the only plants to provide color. The coleus must love this type of weather for it has performed beautifully.

Another favorite that has gotten a second wind and now blooming.

With the cooler weather, hopefully we will begin to see color in the trees here soon and best of all, maybe we won't have to mow the grass but once a week!

Water, Water, Everywhere

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

This is a picture I took yesterday when I came home from work. It was through the front window,

so not so clear, but it is my front yard.

Here is another from the driveway. The past two weeks have been very wet and the past few days the skies  dropped over a foot of water in our area. The lake just couldn't empty fast enough. Good news though! The rain finally stopped Wednesday, and the sun was shining today! This is a picture taken today of the same tree the egret was standing in front of above.

Much better, don't you think? We are thankful the rain finally stopped. I couldn't help but think of our friends in the Atlanta area who were not so fortunate a few weeks ago.

The weather is cool and crisp today, really beginning to feel like fall. We are looking at temps in the 40's tonight! I have a pot of chili on for supper and I am looking forward to a beautiful SUNNY! weekend.

For Ashley

This is for Ashley!  Tag, you're it!
Aunt C

First Look of Fall

Even though the days are still quite warm, fall seems to be in the air. The days are shorter and I am ready for  fall decorations and color. So I have begun to place some of these around the house, even if nature has not begun to change much outside.

Basket for the Back Door

Pretty Fall Votive

Just a few Nandina leaves for the table.

Fall Berries and Leaves for the Mantle

Dried Sunflower Arrangement for the Hearth

Watch for pumpkins and mums!

Aunt C

I"ve got Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

The weather has been gray and wet today. In fact, rain is predicted for the next week or so here in the south. I was looking through some pictures and came across these shots of the sunflowers taken at the Sunflower Festival this year. Their happy faces bring sunshine no matter what the weather is outside.

Mr. Bumble Bee is busy gathering pollen! I never tire of looking at this amazing flower.

We stopped next to a field where alphalfa was being cut and baled. What a wonderful aroma. The smell of freshly cut hay has a clean wholesome smell that nothing else compares to. Summer 2009 was a good one, but I am ready for fall with cooler days and bright fall colors.

Ramblings

Another Thanksgiving Day has come and gone. Lots of the 3 f's (food, family & fun). Every year is special, this one because I spent it with my family in Mississippi and my sweet Aunt Willie Mae. The only downside; Shannon, Scott, Ashley & Jon were not here. They just don't know what they missed! Here is just a few things:

Aunt Willie Mae's famous dressing (YUM) and her pecan pie.
The twins in their element, so cute and loving and BUSY.
Sitting around the table remembering Thanksgivings past and those loved
ones who are celebrating in heaven. I know that sounds morbid, but it isn't.
Best of all, beating the socks off David B. in Farkel!
Lots of laughs and oh yes, the pumpkin pie and cheese cake and for Ashley,
the best mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole and deviled eggs and......

Gotta go now, there is Uncle David's pancakes waiting! (Sorry Ash) This week has set Weight Watchers back a month at least.

Hope your T Day was as special and that every day for the next year will be for giving thanks.

Aunt C

Milestones

This has been another week of milestones. We have a new president and he is unlike any that has ever led our country before and that leaves us facing an uncertain future. I intend to pray for him and our country daily.

A milestone of a different kind, a man admired by millions of people celebrated his 90th birthday this week. Rev. Billy Graham has stood the test of time, fame, fortune and the public eye, remaining a godly man of integrity and honesty. He did not disappoint.

Today the Fox clan will celebrate the 9oth birthday of another man, not famous, not wealthy or known by the public (unless you count his popularity on the golf course), but also a godly man of integrity and honesty.....my father-in-law, Woody Fox. He is in amazingly good health and of sound mind. He has been a good husband, father, grandfather, provider and faithful Sunday school teacher. He also did not disappoint.

Both of these men have lived through World wars, the great depression, mechanical and technology changes, space travel and the list goes on....... They not only survived, they lived wonderful lives. In 1918 they could never have imagined life in 2008.

Even though we can't imagine what our future will be like, nothing in it is a surprise to God. He is the same today as in 1918. We who trust in Him, will not only survive but live an abundant life. God promised it and He NEVER disappoints!

For the Infinite has sowed His name in the heavens in burning stars, but on the earth he has sowed His name in flowers. John Paul Richter

Ralph Waldo Emerson said " a weed is a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered." These beautiful wildflowers are blooming everywhere. This picture was taken on our trip to Arkansas but I have these same flowers blooming all along the street where I live, and of course, they are some of my favorite flowers. Their "virtue" lies in the fact that they bloom at summers end when all other flowers have faded and died out. Their color is bright and happy and they stand out against the dried grasses and shrubs. But the best "virtue" is no one has to plant, water, weed or do anything but let them grow. And grow they do. They are planted by our Creator and His presence is definitely seen in their beauty. They survive the spraying and mowing by the road crews, I'm not sure how, but every year around this time, these same flowers show up and show off.

I think this is true of people. Most of the time, the people who get the most attention are the ones who require the most "tending." But the people who are the strongest, most dependable, and show up when they are most needed and appreciated, are the people who require the least maintenance. They quietly go about without much ado, with character and integrity, never realizing they are a bright spot in someone's day.

I am thankful our Creator has given me flowers, both cultivated and wild, and friends and family who fit the same description! They are all beautiful. I pray I will never take them for granted, but continually "discover" and appreciate their beauty. It keeps life interesting!

Hope you take time to enjoy the "weeds" this fall.

Aunt C

Petit Jean

Guess Who ????

Vacation: a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation that is restful.

We spent the week at a cabin in our favorite Arkansas State Park. Petit Jean is the oldest state park in Arkansas. The Lodge and several cabins were built by the CCC (Civilian Conservaton Corp) and showcase log and stone construction. The hiking trails there are the best. I once again made it to Cedar Creek Falls and back. Every year I think this will be the last time I will climb this mountain.......if I make it back up!! It is a 2 mile hike, moderate to difficult. The difficult part is the going down the mountain and then back up. Talk about an aerobic workout! The hiking trails range from 1/4 a mile to the 12 mile Boy Scouts of America Trail. David hiked the BSA trail in parts, 8 miles one day and 4 on another. (I sat on the deck and read a book)

The weather was perfect. The mornings were a very cool 50 degrees and warmed up to the lower 70's. Great for hiking. No matter how many times we visit and hike the same trails, it is a new experience each time. We always see something new and the beauty of those mountains never gets old.



With all the drama going on in the world with the financial crisis, Presidential election, and just the angst that goes along with every day living, being able to take a vacation is a blessing for sure. Even though we spent a lot of time walking and hiking, it still fit the definition of travel or recreation that is restful. Wish you could have been there!


Aunt C

Seasons

"The amen of Nature is always a flower"

Oliver W. Holmes

Where does time go? The calendar says October is less than a week away and you know what that means, Christmas is just around the corner and then, another year has passed. The passing of time is marked by more than days on a calendar though. Each morning as I head out the door for work, I am greeted by cool, crisp, 50 something autumn air instead of a muggy, 80 something degrees. The leaves on the dogwood tree have begun to turn red along with the yellow of the sweet gum. (and the dreaded sweet gum balls)

Nature tells time in such a beautiful way that touches all the senses. The wonderful array of color all year, the smell of fresh cut grass, the feel of walking through it barefoot, and the perfume of the flowers in Spring, the sound of the birds in song, wind rustling in the trees and the taste of fresh veggies in Summer, the smell of fallen pine straw and the feel of the cool mornings in Fall and the taste of snow ice cream, gumbo (well it's made with things from nature)and the smell of smoke from fire to warm a home in the Winter. These are just a few of the things in Nature that cause our senses to take notice.

We plan to take a few days to enjoy this beautiful world God has provided for us. We are heading to the mountains and plan to spend most of our time outdoors, beginning with a cup of coffee on the porch. I hope you will take some time in the next few weeks to enjoy nature with all your senses.

I'll be seeing, tasting, smelling, feeling and hearing till next time,

Aunt C

Week of Surprises

This has been an eventful week in many ways, starting with last weekend. Hurricane Ike made his way to North Louisiana and left many broken trees and power lines behind. This was probably the most scary storm I have experienced since I moved here 40 years ago. We not only lost a large tree in the front but also power for 24 hours and consider ourselves fortunate. No damage to our home or persons which is the most important thing.
The second surprise came Saturday night in the middle of the storm when my daughter and son in law came to take me to dinner for my birthday. I argued that no one in their right mind would be out on a night like that, and when we arrived at our destination, I found several of those "out of their right mind" people had gathered to wish me a surprise Happy Birthday party! Family came all the way from Mississippi to join with family & friends here to make the surprise really special and I was truly overwhelmed, in shock was more like it. Shannon and David did a wonderful job of planning and keeping the party a secret. My only regret is that I missed a whole day of visiting with my family in order to keep the surprise.
The next surprise came on my birthday Tuesday. So many of my sweet friends came by the office with cards and well wishes. The precious 3 year old daycare class came in to sing Happy Birthday to me and we had a balloon and cheesecake at Staff meeting. (I understand that calories don't count on birthdays, at least that is what they said) I was secretly hoping that the big 60 would just sorta sneak by. No such luck.
I will have to admit, all the attention did make it a little less painful. I don't feel old and am always surprised when I see myself in a picture and wonder "who is that old lady?"
I once read that one of the hardest decisions in life is when to start middle age. I think when to leave is harder. I am going to stay in the middle a little longer. I am not ready for old age just yet.
After the past 2 years, I am grateful for every day the Lord gives me and the blessing of growing old. He has also blessed me with a great family and many friends that I love dearly. I agree with the Apostle Paul, living or dying, I am blessed (my paraphrase).

An Older Aunt C

Extremes

Once again, we are glued to the weather channel watching yet another storm hit the Gulf Coast. This has been a very active Hurricane season here in the south. We are experiencing rain and some wind here in North Louisiana from the outer bands of Ike even as I write. I learned this week, that what we think of as "extreme weather" is necessary in nature. Hurricanes help distribute heat over the earth and even though I do not like the damage they bring, I am thankful nature is doing what God intended. Otherwise, I might end up living in a desert or on a polar ice cap (maybe a little "extreme" but you get my drift).

That got me to thinking about other "extremes" in life. Most of us would choose a life with no financial problems, no health concerns, no broken relationships, basically no difficulties of any kind. I have a milestone birthday coming up, and as I reflect over my life, the things that stand out the most are the "extremes" whether good or bad. Death of a parent, marriage, moving away from family, birth of a child, retirement, cancer, all these things and many others, made a permanent impact on my life. I am truly thankful for those refreshing times when things go smoothly and all is right with the world. But working through the "extremes" has been what has shaped my character, humbled my spirit, increased my faith and made me strong.

The best thing about dealing with the "extremes" is I haven't had to deal with them alone. My husband has been faithfully at my side for almost 40 years now. But more importantly, my God has walked with me even longer and He is always faithful. If I have learned nothing else in my life, I have learned that nothing is a surprise to God and whatever "extreme" comes my way, He will see me through.
F. W. Boreham wrote: "We make our decisions, and then our decisions turn around and make us." Whatever your "extreme" today, good or bad, I pray you will decide to let it make you stronger, more humble, and in the end, grateful for the learning experience.

Family

It has been some time since my last post. I have many reasons, none of any consequence, but I am now a little rusty in the writing category. This year has busy, if uneventful. On July 4 we spent the weekend with my family in Mississippi once again. My cousin Beth and her husband from were visiting also. For the first time ever I think, all my sisters, neices, nephews and their children along with my family and parents were together at the same time at the same place.

We spent the holiday in the most traditional way. We visited, ate fresh sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob and banana pudding, shopped a little, played games and played with the kids. We even had some rain showers to cool off the hot southern summer day. Perfect!

Once again, I am reminded of the importance of family. No matter how long since our last gathering, we know we will always be welcome at home. We come together, warts and all, agreeing and disagreeing, laughing as well as crying, with all our likes and dislikes, and know that we will always love and be loved in this place. That is a treasure beyond worth.

Aprons

I recently received one of those nostalgic emails about times past. This one was a particularly good one remembering the aprons once worn by housewives. It brought back memories of my own Mother, with her apron tied around her waist, cooking, cleaning, washing and all the other chores associated with being a farm wife. The apron was handier than a pocket on a shirt and Mother had several, all of which had to be starched and ironed on a weekly basis. (by guess who)
This email got me to pondering on other things from my childhood that are no longer used or even seen in homes and kitchens today. It brought to mind the dinette cloth, (not to be confused with a regular table cloth) which was used to cover the dinette table in the kitchen. It was usually square with a border of flowers or fruit and in any color and pattern you could imagine. I have always loved those simple cotton cloths. They remind me of grown ups having a cup of coffee (from the percolator on the stove) with a neighbor who stopped by on his way to town. Of pies and cakes baked for supper, looking so tasty, cooling on the dinette table and playing games or paper dolls cut from an old Sears catalogue with my sisters. Maybe that is why every time I go antique shopping, I am on the lookout for these old cloths. I have a collection, starched and ironed, in my closet and still use them anytime I have company.
Another item that is no longer needed or see is the matchbox holder. We always had one hanging above the kitchen cook stove filled with a big box of matches. They were metal and painted, here again, with flowers and fruit and I always thought they were so pretty. I can't remember when our match box holder, the apron or the dinette cloths fell by the wayside. I didn't even notice until I started to see these items in antique shops, (selling for a prohibitive amount) and wondered, just where did my inheritance go?
It also got me to thinking about what my daughter and her generation will look back on from their childhood and wonder "what happened to? " Could it be the avocado green and harvest gold appliances or the mushroom (shudder) canisters? What about Hollie Hobbie and Weeble farms? Only time will tell.

Frosty Morn

The winter weather continues on the swamp. This morning we had a low of around 20 or 21 degrees and a heavy frost covered the yard. Patches of thin ice floated at the edge of the swamp. The sun came out and is shining brightly making lots of sparkly diamonds on the lawn and melting the frost quickly. After another trip to the Wild Bird Store this weekend, we ended up with another hook pole and more finch feeders. They have started to arrive in herds, hoards, flocks however finches arrive. The feeders have been covered in the little birds with more nearby waiting a turn. This is not a good picture, but gives an idea of what it is like. They have just about emptied the thistle sock in 2 days but so much fun to watch. The cardinals are active along with the sparrows and squirrels.

This past week, Dear Husband and I passed another milestone in our life together. We celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary. Well, not much celebrating goes on after 38 years, but you get the drift. I had a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a trip to my favorite James Avery shop for a new bracelet and that is a lot of celebrating for me these days! It has been a wonderful 38 years and I don't know where the time has gone. I feel if anyone has been married that long, surely they must be old, but don't feel either one of us fit that category just yet. They say the trick to growing up is not to grow old, and while I am working on that, Dear Husband has that down pat. He will never entirely grow up so as a result will never entirely grow old. makes life interesting. I am thankful for each year, for even thought they weren't all easy, they were all good and I would not choose anyone else to spend them with. I am looking forward to many more.

All is quiet on the swamp today. Duck season is finally over and once again sleeping in on a Saturday morning is possible without the irritating boom-boom-boom of a gun interrupting. The day is cloudy with a chance of some rain later. A walk around the yard shows signs of spring already, even with the recent cold weather. Buds on the rose bushes, hydrangeas and tulip poplar not to mention King Alfreds shooting up everywhere. The birds are keeping the feeders busy. We have goldfinches at the thistle feeder, but only a few. Nothing like last year when the feeders were covered with them. My friend at the Wild Bird Center says it is the same with his feeders. I am sure there is a reason, but I will let someone else figure that out. I am content to "let every bird sing his own note" as the old saying goes.
The Wild Bird Center is one of my favorite places to visit. The shop has all kinds of things for the yard and every kind of bird feeder you could almost imagine, from the whimsical to the very practical. We purchased a hook pole with a squirrel baffle several years ago, and for the first time ever, NO SQUIRRELS! It really works and we have been die hard customers ever since. They have a beautiful cockatiel that someone brought to them in a Target bag after finding it in the parking lot. Even though I am more interested in domestic birds than exotic, it is a beautiful bird and has lots of personality. I think it must be a female since it is quite taken with the male owner and seems to ignore his wife. Just another interesting feature of the shop.
Such are the highlights of my day and week. "It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day to day basis." M. Bonnano I have found that to be true. I have also found that the small pleasures like watching the birds at the feeder, talking with friends, visiting a favorite place are the things, when put together, that add up to happily ever after.
Enjoy the small things today.
Aunt C

Rain Day

Today is a typical January day in Louisiana. The past few years have been unusually dry and this type of day rare. The rain started last night and has fallen steadily since. The weather gauge this morning at 7:00a.m shows 2-1/2 inches so far with up to 4 more expected. The swamp finally has some standing water and it looks more like the old Cypress Knee Swamp than it has in a long time. This is good news come spring. The ducks will have a place to paddle and plan new families & I can enjoy watching the egrets fishing in the shallow water. It is good sleeping weather for daughter Shannon who worked the night shift at the local hospital ER and was ready for a good rest.
Even though it is only January, I am ready for spring and looking forward to seeing the yard and swamp come to life. The birds are feeding regularly at the feeders and I heard the hawks calling in the yard yesterday. Maybe they were just getting ready for the wet weather coming. There is a possibility of some freezing rain later tonight and tomorrow, though I don't think it will be too bad here. Just in case, I have covered the outside plants once again.
This has been a weekend of rest and recovery for me after having a treatment last Thrusday. I am feeling good and would love to be able to get outside and do some gardening and yard work. Being cooped up in the house is not my idea of having fun for very long. But this time of year the weather is not usually very cooperative. I will try to take advantage of the opportunity to rest up, plan ahead and enjoy the rain while it falls. (however I think it plans to fall most of the week, so by the weekend, I probably will be a little more grumpy) Just trying to remember, spring is just around the corner and I am glad I don't live in Colorado!

New Year

The beginning of a new year has always been a time of reflection on the last 12 months and a time for taking stock and making a resolution to do things differently in the year to come. Of course, in my case, most of those resolutions never quite come to pass, but I make them with optimism and resolve each January just the same.
The year 2006 was a good one for me and my family. Our daughter and son-in-law moved back to Louisiana after living in Florida for too many years and that blessed our hearts beyond measure. Our niece and nephew are the proud parents of healthy and happy twins and that reminds us there is hope for the future. I have gone back to work part time at a job I love, working with people I like, and once again feel I am in some way making a difference. The swamp has filled our spare time with joy in watching the wildlife and birds, the beauty of the flowers, the trees and all nature has to offer. Our parents are enjoying good health for their age and our siblings are all doing well. My own health has suffered a setback with having surgery but I am doing well and expect to recover and enjoy 2007. All in all, I couldn't ask for more than God has blessed me with already.
Some resolutions for the New Year:
To treasure each day for that day alone, not carrying the woes of the previous day or borrowing from the next.
To treasure each person I know for who they are, not what I expect or want them to be.
To not take for granted the time and place I have been given on this earth.
To be more spontaneous (hard for a ducks in a row person)
Once again, I am determined to work on this, but I know things have a way of crowding out even the best of intentions. It is always interesting to look back and see how well I have carried out the resolutions of the year before, but wait, I can't remember the resolutions of 2006! Hmmmm, maybe that is why my New Year's resolutions historically never come to fruition.
Hope your 2006 was good and 2007 even better.
Aunt C

Fall

Fall is an appropriate name for this time of the year. The last couple of days have been very breezy here and the leaves have been falling in record numbers. I usually keep the mower handy to mulch every few days to keep from getting too deep in leaves, but this year, due to some surgery, I have been unable to mow even once. I had forgotten just how many leaves a tree can produce! Despite the extra work, this is one of my favorite times of the year. ( Yes, I realize I say that with each change of season) The colors have been so beautiful this year. The red of the black gum, the yellow of the muscadine vine, the orange & yellow of the maple and sweet gum, I could go on & on. The mums have added color at ground level and hopefully I can get some pansies in the ground for color this winter. The temperature has been in the 30's this week and a heavy frost and below freezing temps are due in a couple of days, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

One of my favorite plants in the yard is another pass-along plant from a dear friend called oak leaf hydrangea. It's one of those plants that looks good year round. The leaves are very large, green and oak shaped, hence the name. The flowers are creamy white and very showy in the late spring and summer and are even pretty when they start to dry out and die, changing to a bronzy pink color. The leaf color in the fall is also very pretty as you can see at right.....but when all the leaves have fallen, the plant has rusty brown stems that have peeling bark that is very pretty in itself. As much as I love spring and summer when everything greens up, I love the look of bare trees silhouetted against the sky. If I were an artist, I would paint the trees without leaves I think.
Nature provides beauty in every season and it is the same with life. The wonder and excitement of youth, the intensity of young adulthood, the satisfaction of middle age and the wisdom and contentment of the golden years. The downside to all of this is most of the time we are too busy to notice the beauty around us.... in nature or in life. It's time to slow down and smell the roses or in my case, rake the leaves!

Home Again

After leaving Petit Jean mountain, we crossed over to the NE corner of the State (where I grew up) to visit my dear Aunt Willie Mae. We enjoyed the drive, choosing to travel the back roads that we had never been down before. As we got closer to home, I began to get excited and had a strange longing to see places that once were so familiar to me. (have you ever noticed the area where we lived growing up is always referred to as home even though we haven't lived there in years?)
To my surprise, many things had changed since the last time we visited. New business and industry has moved in and roads were being widened and added, changing the landscape forever. But the most damaging of all, a tornado had ripped (literally) through the small town where I had attended grade school, wiping out homes, trees and buildings. Many of the landmarks in that town that were so familiar to me had vanished. The house where my first bus driver (Monk Rippy) lived....gone, the houses where his sons lived next door .... gone, the house my cousin first lived in....gone, lots wiped clean like the houses had never been there. Pieces of metal and other debris still appear in the hedge rows and fences.
The little town where my Aunt lives has gone through many changes since I was a child also. Like most small towns in the South, downtown has lost much of it's vitality and about all that is left is a gas station, a small grocery and a few other little businesses and the churches. It is still a good place to live for those who have never left. It always makes me a little sad each time I visit to see less and less of what I remembered as a child. The houses and yards seem smaller and the old friends and relatives fewer. I guess the old saying "you can't go home again" is true in that nothing ever stays the same including me.
However, I think we really never leave home at all. Even though I don't live in the same little community or even in the same State, all the memories and experiences, friends and family that made up my childhood are a part of who I am and they all made a contribution to the person I am today.
It was a good place to live and grow up and for all those friends and extended family, and all those memories and experiences, I am grateful.

Mountain Top

The weather has once again warmed up considerably. What I had hoped to be a cool, fall week has turned out to be more like summer. The Arkansas mountains were still beautiful and the mornings were in the 60's, so coffee on the back porch was still something to look forward to. The drought conditions, though not as severe as here in North Louisiana, were evident in the lack of water in Cedar Creek and as you can see in the picture, the Cedar Creek Falls were more like Cedar Creek trickles. The hike down to the canyon floor to get to the falls is about an 8 on a scale of 1-10 in difficulty. Every year we go, I can't help but wonder if this is the last time I will make it back up the side of the mountain! It is always worth the effort and hopefully, we can make it a few more years. We were about 3 weeks too early for the fall color but sunset at the lodge every evening is breathtaking any time of the year. The sun seems to hang in the sky between the two mountains forever and then starts to slide down behind the horizon. Another one of my favorite things! More favorite things: flowers and berries along with rustic cabins, quiet evenings and misty mornings. I was disappointed to see a television in our cabin on this trip. Of course, we didn't have to turn it on, but just having it there left something to be desired with the whole idea of getting away from it all. The time passed too quickly and we weren't ready to leave the mountain and come back to the real world of hurry up and schedules to keep. But the mountains have been there for ages and there will be more vacations to take and trails to hike. Something to look forward to.

Surprises

Surprises come in all shapes and sizes. Some are good and some are bad and some fall in between. A good surprise comes around this time every year when the temperature begins to drop a bit. Spots of dark pink or red spring up all over the yard in the most unexpected places. I don't know the scientific name for these unusual looking flowers, but surprise lily seems to fit perfectly. They surprise me by coming up when all else seems to be fading out, and I never seem to be expecting them, they just start showing up. They also surprise me in where they appear. I never remember planting them in that particular spot, they just pop up at will. They are strange looking plants, just stems sticking out of the ground with a bloom on top, but so pretty to look at.

This flower is yet another one that brings to mind memories of happy times past. I am not the only one in the family to notice when the lilies begin to bloom. When Shannon was just a little one, she would appear at the back door with a fist full of surprise lilies for mommy. She usually managed to pick every one in the yard but I could never be upset. One look at that sweet face and her little hand clutching the stems and holding them out to me is enough to melt any mother's heart. I still have that picture in my mind any time I see the lilies bloom.
The cool weather has been such a welcome relief from the heat of the summer. Dear Husband and I are taking a few days off and heading for a cabin in the Ozarks. I hope the cool weather continues as I am looking forward to coffee on the cabin porch on a cool autumn morning on top of the mountain. Does anything sound better that that? Hope all your surprises this week are good ones!

Twins

"Where did you come from baby dear? Out of the everywhere into the here" (George McDonald)

This weekend I finally got the opportunity to visit the Magnolia State and see the precious twins born just a month ago. My niece was so sweet and generous in bringing them over on Saturday and spending the whole day so we could hold, feed, change and love on them to our hearts content. Shannon is holding Benjamin who spent much of the time sleeping. He is just the sweetest baby boy and the whole time I held him, I thought, he is my favorite! Then I would take a turn at holding and rocking Hannah and would think, she is my favorite! I can have two favorites can't I? They are unique each in their own special way. I am looking forward to watching them grow and develop their own little personalities. Heather is such a good Mommy and I know they will have all the love and nurturing they need. They will surely not lack in extended family attention!

The swamp is seeing changes these days. We finally had rain last weekend and things are looking a little less brown and dusty. I am beginning to see a few yellow, red and orange leaves on the trees and the squirrels are busier than ever. Crisp mornings and cooler days have me in the mood to pull up tired periwinkles and plant purple, yellow and orange mums in their place. The mornings also find me searching the closet for long pants and no sandals since 52 degrees is a little chilly on bare legs and toes.
The fall wreath is on the door and I am waiting for the annual pumpkin patch to appear. I love picking out just a few to put at the back door for added fall color. I like the odd shaped and the ones that are the color of pumpkin pie with cinnamon best. I'm sure the hot weather will return again before the cool weather sets in for good, but I am enjoying the taste of autumn while it lasts.

Labor Day

Labor: expenditure of physical or mental effort especially when difficult or compulsory. (definition according to Mr. Webster)
Today is the last holiday of summer, the day we have set aside to take a break from working. (as if we need an excuse) I have the day off from work, but have many chores planned that involve both physical and mental effort. This has always been a good weekend to do fall cleaning, getting the yard and flower beds ready for fall annuals and clearing out the faded and bloomed out spring plantings. I begin to bring out the fall decorations and most important of all ..........I put away the white shoes and purse of summer! I know this is an old fashioned tradition and yet, no matter how many of today's designers say it's ok to wear white year around.... I just can't do it. Wearing white shoes and carrying white purses only between Easter and Labor Day is ingrained into my very being. It doesn't bother me to see others wearing white off season, just can't do it myself.
Dear Husband has to work today and daughter and son-in-law are working on their house remodel, so I have no excuse for not getting my chore list accomplished, and I have already worked the crossword puzzle (so much for the mental effort.) I still have to clean house, iron, pay bills, cut grass, and cook for the hungry bunch (the compulsory physical effort.)
If I hurry, I might just have a few minutes to actually sit and rest on this bench!

The Devil is in the Details

I have often heard that expression, but experienced it first hand this past week. It was one of those weeks that every little thing that could go wrong.....did. The simplest tasks became difficult and it seemed like no matter how hard I worked, nothing was being accomplished. On top of all that, the promised cooler temps (mid 90's) only lasted a day at the most and the rain that fell was almost to little to measure. The St. Augustine is about to give up altogether and even the potted plants are suffering in spite of frequent watering and feeding. But it could be worse. The air conditioner still works and surely there is cooler weather somewhere in the future. We are also fortunate that God did not create us to molt like the cardinal in the picture. They are ratty and tattered looking right now, and appear to have a plague of some sort. But we all know that this winter, when they appear at the feeder, they will be bright and beautiful birds once again. So as hot, dry and droopy as everything around here is (including me this week) there is hope that on a different day we will once again feel lively and looked refreshed. No matter how many details the devil manages to get into, like the molting cardinal, this too shall pass.

Good Things

It is often said that good things come in pairs and that has proven true in our family. Our niece, who has been with child for some 8 months 2 weeks and counting, delivered a pair of twins Friday. One girl, Hannah (8lbs +) and one boy, Benjamin (6lbs +) and a very happy mother to have this part of motherhood over with. As I understand it, Mother and children are doing well even though it was a difficult delivery. Since they are in Mississippi and I am in Louisiana, I haven't seen for myself as yet, but hope to before too long. I wish them a long, happy, successful life.
Another 100+ degree day is in store for us today, one of too many to count this August. I managed to cut grass this morning while the Dr. Pepper thermometer on the back porch was still in the double digits. I had planned to mow each afternoon this week, but when at 7pm it still registered at 100, I decided it could wait. The not so clear picture is the fall clematis now blooming. I am surprised since it has been so hot and dry, but evidently that doesn't bother this plant. It perfumes the whole back yard in the evening and such a welcome sight among the faded plants of spring. Things are looking up though. We have the promise of cooler temps (all the way down to mid 90's!) and a slight chance of a shower on the swamp this week. It is all in the way we look at things. Life is full of blessings, like the two new additions to the family to fill our hearts with joy and fall clematis blooming to please our sight and fill our senses with fragrance.

August

The daylight hours are beginning to shorten, school has started and even though the temperature is still hovering around 100, I can tell fall is on the way. I have to admit, I am looking forward to cooler mornings, colorful leaves, and mowing grass less frequently but I do NOT like less sunlight. I know why God placed me in the south and not in Alaska. I could not survive 6 months of darkness! We are still in drought conditions and under a burn ban on the swamp. It is a struggle just to keep things alive until rain falls again. The dry weather and excessive heat are just too much for many of the annuals I planted with such hope and promise last spring. Oh well, as the Teacher says, "to everything there is a season," and this is the season of pitiful petunias, sad begonias and droopy hydrangeas.
The only thing that is thriving without too much effort is the portulaca I planted in the "expanded" round bed resulting from the Mother's day gift. I counted on it to spread fast and bloom extensively and it did not disappoint. The only problem with portulaca-- it only blooms in the morning. Just can't have it all.
With so much going on in the world, high gas prices, terrorist red alert, war in the middle east, drought at home and the list goes on, it's always a comfort to know some things stay the same such as the seasons. Even though I don't like shorter daylight days, I do like fall and winter and spring and summer and look forward to each season as it comes. As for all the bad news of today, once again as the Teacher says, "there is nothing new under the sun." Nothing is a surprise to God and that my friends is the greatest comfort of all!

Lazy, Crazy, Hazy Days

The days of summer stretch on. We finally had rain this week, an all night, all day, soaking rain, totaling three and a half inches. I don't think I have ever slept so well or been so happy to be wet. The grass and flowers were dancing in joy and the birds were able to bathe without fighting over the bird bath. Everything is suddenly green again, a miracle to me after looking dead, or nearly so, in the 100+ heat of July. Of course, this means the yard needs mowing and little weeds are popping up here and there in the beds, but even that doesn't dampen my spirits.
On the other hand, with the lovely rain, the humidity returned with a vengeance. The air is absolutely liquid and even though the temperature is in the high 80's or low 90's, it only takes minutes outdoors to become soaked to the skin without any physical exertion at all. Another joy of living in the south.
So much for the flora on the swamp. The fauna are as active as ever. The cardinals are molting and really ratty looking now. There seem to be more doves feeding than usual and of course the raccoons are still nightly visitors. The hawks are still hunting around the house. I can always tell when one is coming over, the birds at the feeder do the vanishing act. Of course, the white cat has the same effect on them. All else is quiet, just the usual passing of time, enjoying the last few weeks of summer in the south and looking forward to the change of seasons and cooler temperatures.

Dog Days

The dog days of summer have arrived on Cypress Knee Swamp. The temperature and humidity rise as the day progresses and even the nights are warm and muggy. Thunder boomers can be heard in the afternoons, but they are hit or miss and so far we have been in the miss category. The water bill is another"dog days" indicator. If we had a dog, he would probably spend most of his time lying around in the coolest spot he could find.
The dog days don't seem to bother the squirrels. They are busier and more plentiful than ever. The raccoons are also active and brave little critters. We looked out the window and they were making their way toward the house looking for something to eat. David hadn't put corn in the feeder that evening and I guess they were letting us know it was supper time!
It would be nice to be able to slow down and take it easy while the weather is so hot, but alas, the grass still grows, the flowers have to be fed and watered, supper has to be cooked, clothes washed and life goes on. Sometimes a dogs life doesn't seem so bad.

Fourth of July

Althea, Crepe Myrtle, Magnolia, Kudzu, Gardenia, Sweet Tea, soft spoken words where terms of endearment like Honey, Sugah and Sweetie Pie are used to address one another (you don't actually have to know the person to call them these names either) and, most importantly, family.
All these words remind me of the Old South and the State of Mississippi where I spent the 4th of July weekend. We were fortunate to have an extended weekend so we took the opportunity to visit my family in Mississippi.
One of our nieces is expecting....TWINS.....a boy and a girl and I especially wanted to see her before the babies come later this summer. David always looks forward to a golf game with a nephew and the youngest niece and husband are always so fun to be around. We ate, visited on the patio, ate, shopped, ate, told funny stories and jokes, ate some more and ended the last night watching a video that had us all laughing. I ooohd and ahhhhed over the twins nursery and my heart was so thankful at all the wonderful gifts the babies have received. They are already blessed!

We crossed the Mississippi River at Vicksburg and stopped at the Visitor Center to stretch our legs. The flags flying and the history of the battle that occured there in July over a hundred years ago were fitting reminders that we truly have something to celebrate on this Independence Day. I am thankful for every man and woman that served our country to make our freedom possible.
Even though I have lived in Louisiana for over 30 years, I am still always a little sad when it is time to leave my family and come home. It was a good visit and a good holiday.

Flags

Another of the brightest summer flowers blooming now is the daylily. It is so cheerful and colorful, how could anyone help but love it? Like old fashioned flowers often do, it reminds me of my childhood. My first memories were of living in an unpainted house down a country lane(John Grisham is not the only Arkansan to live in one of these). It had a porch across the front and at one end a pink rose bush that smelled heavenly like a rose bush should. A hogwire fence separated the yard from the cotton patch and planted along that fence were Rose of Sharon trees, some of which provided the occasional switch needed to straighten out little girls. In the back yard was a big walnut tree and in the corner was a patch of flags or daylilies. Every summer when they bloomed they looked like little orange flags waving in the breeze. They were simple blooms and could be seen in just about every country yard and garden. They are still blooming and waving their bright faces in northeastern Arkansas, in fence rows, side ditches, along railroad tracks and anywhere else they are allowed to remain. Now they are blooming in my Louisiana country yard as well.

Sunflower Trail

"Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men or animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident; others are plain, honest and upright, like the broad-faced sunflower and the hollyhock". (Henry W. Beecher)

This afternoon, Dear Husband and I took a drive in the country along the Sunflower Trail. The villages of Dixie, Belcher and Gilliam are host to the most beautiful fields of sunflowers each year. The Planters along the river provide the bright, golden yellow faced flowers along the road and in the right of ways. There are acres of these beautiful summer flowers with a spot for cutting your own bouquet to take home. There is a festival that provides arts, crafts and of course, good country food. It is something I look forward to each year, and this year did not disappoint.This plain, honest flower" is one of the most beautiful and one of my favorites.

Feathered Friend

Our pair of little yellow birds are back, working on another family. This time they definitely set up housekeeping in the gourd under the porch. Why they changed address I haven't a clue. Maybe because it is a cooler spot, out of the sun since it is much hotter now than when they started the first family.
Here is a picture, although not a great one, but if you enlarge (click) you can get a better view.
The baby hawks are hunting like old timers now. We have seen and heard them out in the front acre, looking for a tasty morsel to nibble on. We finally had some rain, about an inch and a half, and everything has been refreshed from birds to people. Unfortunately, along with the rain came the heat and humidity. Gotta love the liquid air of the south in summertime!
Summertime also brings garden veggies. We have had fresh pinto beans, tomatoes, squash, and sweet corn on the cob this week thanks to the generosity of those who have gardens and share. This takes me back to my childhood on the farm. Mother always had a large garden and something was always ready to pick, shell, wash or peel. And if that wasn't enough to keep us busy, the job I hated the most, the washing of the fruit jars in a galvanized wash tub!
It's funny that something that was such a chore then is such a treat now. Maybe that is why we consider them the "good ole days". It takes getting older to appreciate them.

A Hot Time in the Old Town

Even though it is only the middle of June, here on Cypress Knee Swamp, it is summertime. The projected high is 98 degrees and if that isn't summer, I don't know what is. I am glad the grass is already cut this week, I would hate to be out doing that today. Reminds me of the old song "Summertime and the livin' is easy". When the temperature heats up, I tend to slow down and take it easy!
The yard is still looking really good, flowers blooming and grass green, but if these temps continue without rain, things will start to fade out pretty quickly.
The swamp is still alive with nature sounds. Early this morning, while drinking coffee by the gazebo, I heard seemingly hundreds of bird calls. I can't identify the different sounds, but I could tell there were lots of baby or young birds calling. I guess most have hatched by now. Yesterday, as I was watering the yard, a baby blue jay came up to the magnolia to take a bath in the sprinkler. He was just too cute, he still had fluffy down feathers in some places. The yellow warblers have set up housekeeping again, this time in the gourd under the porch. We're watching for more little babys.
Other than that, things are mostly quiet on the swamp. We still have the raccoons coming at night to feed on corn and the turtles have been laying eggs everywhere. Most are dug up and eaten before they get a chance to hatch, however, there seems to be no shortage of turtles, so there's bound to be some surviving. Mother Nature at work is always fascinating.
Live easy!
Aunt C

Brave New World!

The yellow warblers come every year to nest in the little blue cottage under our porch. This year they raised three babies and Shannon was home to catch this little one on the brink of its first flight. This is number two on the perch and he bravely flew all the way to the windmill on his first try. (number 3 is peaking out behind and was not nearly as brave or eager to leave as the other two).
I was outside yesterday afternoon and heard the hawks calling to their babies, so I ran to grab my binoculars and sure enough, the two baby hawks were practicing take offs and landings in and out of the nest. They are the only birds I have noticed that fly back to their nest several times before leaving for good. They are so graceful and beautiful in the air. They are also very large babies! They look like giants beside the little warbler babies.
We spent the afternoon enlarging that round flower bed to match the size of the the windmill. Dear husband and I realize once again, we are not as young as we used to be! It was hot out, but a breeze blew making it bearable and even enjoyable. I will post a picture once it is finished, (if it doesn't kill us in the process)
Tomorrow is Memorial Day and I am always reminded of the great sacrifice so many gave for the freedom I have to plant a garden, watch the birds hatch or a million other things I am allowed to do without fear. We are planning to cook burgers, enjoy family and wave the flag with pride!

Garden Tour

This has been another beautiful weekend! The weather is cool at night but getting summertime hot during the day. We are really short on rain this month and the sprinkler is on to give the flowers a needed drink this evening. A friend and I spent Saturday on a garden tour in the small but lovely city of Minden. This is the first year their garden club has sponsored a tour and it was a huge success. We started out early since there were five different gardens to see. I included a picture of one of my favorites. One was a cottage garden with lots of whimsy and yard art. The other favorite was a manicured yard with a woodland side garden.

Of course once we finished the tour, we had to make a stop by the garden center for a take home souvenir. (that means a plant in case you are not a gardener)
I always find a new or unusual plant on these tours and this one was no exception. At the cottage garden, we saw a sweep of blue flowers in the front and when I found out it was Lespedeza I was surprised. I think my Dad used to plant that as a cover crop! It was really pretty in bloom. Another new plant to me was Ardisia Crenata. It has dark green foliage and a cluster of beautiful dark red berries that hang from under the leaves. It was used in a woodland garden and the red berries stood out like lights among the green background. Of course, that is what we chose to purchase as our souvenir.
My friend did a little research and found out this is a tropical, shade loving plant that has almost become invasive in Florida......just my luck! I am going to plant it anyway. If it takes over, I guess I will just have to move.

Mother's Day has been especially special this year. Friday, when I came home from work, my son-in-law and daughter had cut the grass and the yard looked so nice, but as I turned the curve into the driveway, this bed caught my eye! I have wanted a windmill for some time and they, along with dear husband got it for me and set it up in the flower bed for me to see when I came home. I was so surprised and delighted!
The only drawback is now I will have to make the flower bed larger to compensate for the size of the windmill, but that is a drawback not to me, but alas to poor husband who will have to dig it out for me! He may be sorry he ever thought of this. (He also gave me a neat cultivator tool that will come in handy when I add more plants to the bed)

As wonderful as this gift is and as much as I love it, it is not the best gift. Having my daughter and son-in-law living back in Louisiana is the best gift I could have ever received. I am blessed to have a wonderful mother myself, a wonderful mother-in-law and an wonderful daugter, husband and son-in-law. What more could I want?

Childhood

"When I see wild roses on a fence line or smell lilacs in bloom, I'm a kid again. When I hear the coo of a mourning dove or hear the whistle of a steam engine, I still feel young. The sharing of a rainbow in spring, admiring a lovely sunset, or watching birds in the yard takes me back to my childhood." (Amy Edeker from "The Sixty")
For me, it is the smell of honeysuckle and the whippoorwill song. Unfortunately, we have no whippoorwills around here and it has been years since I've heard one. Their sound always reminds me of spring planting time, sitting on the front porch with the whippoorwill calling and waiting for the sound of the tractor coming from the field. That meant Daddy was coming in for supper. Spring evenings on the farm were always filled with sounds of nature and the flash of fireflies and watching the rabbits in the yard doing what we called the "rabbit dance," hopping around snacking on clover.

The smell of honeysuckle always brings a feeling of happiness. In our little community, we have a great place to walk. The walking path is five eights of a mile and passes a prayer garden, an open field filled with wildflowers, crosses a small creek (really just a drainage ditch but creek sounds better) and has a fence row filled with redbud, crepe myrtle and you guessed it, honeysuckle. It is blooming now and everytime I pass by and smell the sweet blooms, my thoughts go to my childhood and memories of playing outdoors with my sisters. It was a time of sunshine, fresh air, swinging on the tire swing, playing house with jar lid dishes and honeysuckle flower arrangements.
Most gardners view honeysuckle as an invasive pest, and I admit, I don't like it in my flower beds, but hopefully, I will always have a vine on the fence somewhere. Childhood memories are welcome from time to time.