My Blue Spruce Tree

Please! Can anyone tell me what's wrong with my tree, I am devastated!  Okay, this is what I believe happened. My husband was spraying some of our plants and shubs for insects near the house. Upon his completion, his eyes fell upon this lone tree in the distance. With gun still in hand, wanted to make one last kill (pun intended). Now I know our guys so want to be as helpful as they can but, can sometimes go a little overboard. I've been growing this tree for five years. It started out as a little thing, slow growing but healthy. I noticed a week ago that it was only blue at the tips and light green everywhere else.  This is the picture I took this morning! I really want to cry but I don't want to give up hope. Now even though the tree is terribly discolored, the needles are just as strong and feel the same as the blue tips on the ends. The tree is not shedding when I pull my hand up the branches forcefully. IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT CAN GIVE ME HOPE?

Its Been Such A Long Time

Its hard to believe it has been almost 4 years since my last post. So much has happened like...

a face lift on the house

If you look a couple of post down you'll see the before

And two new grand babies... a girl and a boy! And look he's all puckered up for Granny's Country Kisses Lol!

I looked around here and was glad to see that most of you are still here and most of all glad to know you're doing fine. Deb

Keeping Up With The Jone's

Have you ever had an idea and a neighbor beat you to it? Below is my neighbor's house, this is not a very good picture of what I'm going to showcasing but I promise that wasn't done on purpose. You see we've had a lot of wind here in Alabama lately.
See that flag pole, well my neighbors use it to showcase flags of all season's and occasions. Cute couple, I don't know where she finds all of her flags but I bet she has a million of them.

See we both put our flags out for independence day last year, (here's mine), and I was going to keep mine up and change out the flags and she beat me to the punch. So quite naturally I couldn't do it too, I would feel like a big old copy cat. So I had to come up with something equally as cute. Do you see the wall there on my front stoop?

It now has a clock and people passing by can get the time. It's my own Big Ben! Cute substitute for a changing flag and when I'm sitting out on the front I always know what time it is. That's Mini Poo, my dog, I had no idea she missed the camera cue.

Or when ever someone comes to the door or if I see something going on in the neighborhood and I look out the front door I know what time it happened. Isn't that cool? I know, I know, I'm such a dork! LOL!!! But I love my porch clock! Deb

Thrift Store and Yard Sale Finds

Hello everybody! I know it's been a long time! I just want to share with you the latest thrift and yard sale finds that I have. This is my little living room full of what ever I find that has that out- of-doors feel and other things that I like. That desk, I found at a yard sale for 20.00 and the chair that's with it, at a thrift store. I've had them a long time, but still love them.

My plan was to re-finish the desk, but I like it fine the way it is.

This is one of my new finds. Found at a thrift store near my home, and guess what? It was only 24.99!

This is how the backside is made. When I got it I thought of having it recovered, but it matched the colors that I already have perfectly.

See it has taupe, cream and pink also.

I put it in front of this window between the living and dining rooms. I haven't found the perfect table to use in front of it but this will do for now. It's a little table I found at Fred's, I put a TV tray on top.

Then about 2 months after finding the Settee, I found this chair at a yard sale. Got it for 20.00! Isn't it lovely?! I found that pillow at Ross for 6.99.

Just look at the woodwork, only a little dusting cleaned it up!

This is how the chair fits in with my decor.

And how the Settee fits also! They sit at an angle across from the other. I just go in there and sit in the Settee and look at the chair, then I sit in the chair and look at the Settee. LOL!!! I LOVE IT!!!!! Deb

!!What's New @ Deb's!!

Meet the new additions to our family!


This is Big Boy! What started out as a joke has added two dear members of the family! A guy that my husband works with has a chicken farm (is that what they're call?) down in Montgomery AL. My husband told me that the co-worker was joking with a few guys at work saying that they were CITY BOYS and didn't know the difference between a rooster and a hen. LOL!!! Of course my husband had to take it further like he knows it all, and the man told him that he would bring him one. Well two weeks later and to everyones surprise, the guy shows up to work, WITH A ROOSTER!, FOR MY HUSBAND!! AND MY HUSBAND BROUGHT HIM HOME!!!

Isn't he beautiful! My husband brought him home thinking I would freak out but, to his surprise, I loved him and wanted to keep him!! LOL!!!! We first had to tie a little cord with a loop around his leg to attach a leash, so he could be free to roam the yard (we have no enclosed fence). At night for a few days we would use the dogs kennel.

Mini Poo thought she was a sheep dog and that she was his keeper. LOL!!! She would bark if he tried to go anywhere and he would come after her as if he was telling her to get out of the way and shut up! That was too funny!

Now since man can't live by bread alone, we now have Maggie

And Big Boy takes good care of her! LOL!!! If you go into the pen she'll get behind him and he actually guards her. And yes we, have eggs, they both guard them ! LOL!!! Though my husband gets them anyway and eats them. I'm not brave enough to do either one yet! But I do go in and keep the pen cleaned out so I don't have to smell anything. LOL!!! Oh! don't let me leave out that there's a whole lot of crowing going on but, I think the neighbors really like having the built in alarm clock! LOL!!! I asked them if they were bothered by it before we decided to keep him, and they said, "no". And all is well in the neighborhood. It's a Rooster lover's dream!

Sorry I haven't been around much but I work a little job, and though it's only part time, it and my regular house work keeps me pretty busy. I miss you guys and from time to time I do check on you, just to know that everyone is ok. Just a little of what I'm up to.....Deb

A New Project In The Plan

Remember this? This was my Patio floor project last summer. I was tired of the plain green carpet and painted on these faux rugs. Now I'm sick of it all! My little tropical room is just not doing it for me anymore.

This is a 2006 magazine that I have, I've always admired the look of this outdoor space.

Simple enough to pull off. I don't have this big beautiful door, but I have a chaise lounge like this and two little plants holders that will be ok.

I don't have this fantastic fireplace, but I have enough furniture and a fire pit to make this little seating area. I need an umbrella the wind destoryed my old one. Wood was not a good choice.

I don't have this wonderful courtyard but, I have a section in the backyard with beautiful flower beds that I can put yellow and red flowers in and set up a nice seating area.

I have a bench that can serve as this one, and I'm sure I can find a few lovely pictures to cozy things up.

I have a table a round table with chairs, all I need is to pick up some fabric in reds, and a nice rug and a few other accessories. I love the rug in this photo and have already price one at Lowes but hopefully I can do a little better on the price somewhere else.

Then while in Lowes I fell in love with this set, but the loveseat and coffee table alone, is 240.00. So I will be content with my old (I think) LOL!!!.

Here's the old, I've already put it out into the backyard to get started on painting it black, but we are getting a lot of rain. But I think this will be a good week.

These are a few others that I have and they will have to do as well

This is the floor underneath that green carpet in the first picture, I just plan to pressure wash and seal then add the outdoor rug. This is sort of a big project because last year I spent more time on the computer than in the yard, so I have lots of yard work, plus cushions to recover. Hopefully I can find new cushions that wont cost too much.

All in all I plan to be extra busy for the next two or three weeks. See you then! Hope all my hard work pays off! Deb

Happy Easter!

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

Tablescape Thursday ~ A Garden Theme

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday, and BLESS ALL WHO ENTER! I hope you will all enjoy Easter Sunday having dinner with family, sitting around the most beautiful tables. Tablescape Thursday is hosted by our lovely Susan at Between Naps On The Porch. Please stop by for a visit as she will have a host of participants with wonderful ideas for a perfect tablescape.

My inspiration this week, is this lovely birdhouse. I purchased it at Big Lots long ago for 24.99. I fell in love with it's ceramic roof.

This started out to be a table for two, but because I only have two of the larger dinner plates shown here, (and as some of you may know I enjoy a fullness to everything); I added a different setting below to accomodate myself. The salad plate you see here is from a set of four, that I purchased at Stein Mart many years ago. In this setting I placed my napkin underneath my salad plate.

In my second setting, I used the salad plates that match the two dinner plates above. I coupled them with these dinner plates that I have four of. I have six of the salad plates to match the larger ones in the first setting, so I kinda spreaded them around. I also used two as candle holders for the pretty green candles. The napkin rings are from a candle ring that I took apart.

The bowl that matches the salad plates, I used as a base for my centerpiece. I only have one. Here's also a close up of the candle and plate.

Center view

End

Overall, I think it turned out well as a mix and match! So when ever you don't have enough of one thing. Couple. Thank you all for taking the time to visit my tablescape as I will be visiting with you as well. Deb

~ Foodie Friday~ featuring ~Barbecued Pork Chops with Sauteed Apples~

Welcome to Foodie Friday hosted by our lovely Gollum @ Designs By Gollum. Please visit, as she has a host of others participants with tasty recipes for all of us to try!

My contribution for today is:

Barbecued Pork Chops with Sauteed Apples

Here I've gathered are all of my ingredients

I started with my sauce. This sauce is soooooooo good!

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

Then I seasoned my pork, and it's ready for the grill.

1teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
I used crushed red peppers, I didn't have any ground

Smokeless inside grill, always put water in the bottom to keep it smokless. When ever I cook on it, the food is always so tender. Maybe it's because the water in the bottom keeps it moist.

Almost ready for sauce and it smells delightful!

Here I have brushed on that wonderful sauce, I cheated and added a 1/8 teaspoon of dried mustard to my sauce, which made it perfect!

Here's the finish! I also had steamed cabbage, sauteed apples, purple hull peas and cornbread patties. I know a little juice from the apples is on the plate but, that's for the cornbread. YUMMY! Thanks for stopping by my first Foodie Friday, hosted by Designs By Gollum. Don't forget to stop over for a taste of the many other participant's selections. My recipe is listed below.

Barbecued Pork Chops with Sauteed Apples

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

Remaining Ingredients:

6 (6oz) bone-in center cut pork chops

(about 1/2 inch thick)

1teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

Cooking spray

Sauteed Apples

Parsley sprigs (optional)

1. Prepare grill or broiler.

2. To prepare the sauce, combine brown sugar and next 3 ingredients in a small bowl (makes about 1/2 cup). Place 1/4 cup of the brown sugar sauce in another small bowl, and set aside.

3. Trim fat from pork chops. Combine thyme, garlic salt, and ground red pepper, spinkle pork chops with thyme mixture. Place pork chops on a grill rack or broiler pan coated with cooking spray, and cook six minutes on each side, basting with 1/4 cup brown sugar sauce. Serve pork chops with Sauteed Apples and reserved 1/4 cup sauce. Garnish with parsley sprigs, if desired. Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 pork chop, 2/3 cup of Sauteed Apples, and about 1-1/2 brown sugar sauce).

Sauteed Apples:

3 tablespoons butter or stick margarine

6 cups sliced peeled Granny Smith apples

(about 2 pounds)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Melt butter in a larg skillet over medium-high heat. Add apples, saute' 6 minutes or until apples are just tender. Stir in brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Cook for 1 minute or until sugar melts. Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 2/3 cup).