TAGGED AGAIN - WHERE I AM FROM

I been tagged by Shanda of Front Porches Ice Tea And Old Aprons, actually she tagged me for a different meme but since I had already done that one, and was already in the process of doing this one, which I also saw recently at Shanda's . I decided to do this one instead. Shanda stated that while doing this meme she never knew that it would keep her up nights or be so heart felt and I agree.

This meme is called, Where I am from and this is only a fraction of where I'm from.

I am from the wood frame houses in the valley with plum trees, caterpillars, and dirt driveways.
I am from rice pudding, chocolate pies, and homemade ice cream, I am from baked apples, fried chicken, and peach cobbler
I am from curly hair, full cheeks, and fair skin, I am from James ,Carrie and Clara.
I am from seen and not heard, telling the truth, and peach tree switches.
I am from bee stung feet, stomped toes, and roller skates, I am from mud cakes, Simon says, and hide n seek. I am from rock battles, dog bites and skinned knees. I’m from running home before the street lights came on, I’m from Gwendolyn, Bill, Ron, and Johnita
I am from church pews, white gloves and communion
I am from fresh laundered clothes, wooden pins and Argo starch, I am from the pressing shop on the corner that my Grandpa owned, I am from the cat’s eyes staring from under the stairs.
I am from frightened of the fish that lay in water in the number 10 tub that were caught that day.
I am from home grown vegetables, hot stews and cornbread, I am from collard greens, turnip greens, and meal dumplings, I am from fried pies and green tomatoes.
I am from blue skies, and sunny days, shade trees and watermelon, I am from fireflies in glass jars, and June bugs on strings. I am from, warm nights, and electric fans, dirt yards and China berry Trees, I am from wood plank porches painted gray
I am from do it to me once shame on you, do it to me twice shame on me,

I am from brown eyes, kind smiles, and fiery tongues, I am from John, Margaret, and John Henry
I am from a young marriage, motherhood, and sleepless nights, I am from left alone rocking babies, and a cheating man. I am from phone calls and love letters from the other women. I am from a broken marriage and four little children depending on me, I am from tears.
I am from a lost mother, a lost child, and lost hope. I am from a loving God that has brought me through it all. I am from a new marriage, and a new life full of love, I am from, The Love of God.

I've Been Tagged For Another Meme

I've been tagged by Rhonda over at Scooterblu's Whimsey. Rhonda is such a lovely person, and I just love visiting her blog. She's a very talented lady. She just about does it all . I found out just yesterday that she is even great at Catering. You should stop by, if you haven't already, she's also popular.

In this Meme I'm to list six unimportant things about me. Now while writing this meme I began to remember some things that were sort of unpleasant at that time, but very funny to me now, so let's have fun with it.

1. I'm 5'7'' tall, I've been this height since six grade and was the tallest in my class, tall and lanky, I always felt like a Giraffe towering over the others. I use to always wear low heel shoes and walk around with my head down, to appear shorter but, instead made myself look like a tall Hunchback. My sister was always yelling at me to hold my head up. I was a mess! Thank God I'm well over that!

2. Also in the six grade I had a surprise attack of warts to show up on one of my knees. About fifteen of them. There was a lot of stuff in the news during that time about Wounded Knee and the boys started to call me that as a nickname. To this day I don't think I know what Wounded Knee was all about, I just know it triggered another traumatic time in my life. I tried using Compound W to remove the warts but, it really didn't do any good, I just woke up one morning somewhere down the road and they had left just as mysteriously as they had come.

3. I wear a size 9 shoe, and that same nine shoe was also in the picture in the six grade. You can imagine how that looked because as I told you before I wore flats. So now I'm 5'7', head down, hunchback, skinny as a rail, with canoes on my feet. I got teased about that too. Wow! I never knew the six grade had caused me so much mental anguish. LOL!

4. Okay I thought of one more, I had my first fist fight in the 6th grade. Of Course! With all the teasing I was getting, it was bound to happen. I remember it was this boy, his name was James Nash, I don't remember what started it but, I know I pulverized him. He thought I was his mama, as tall as I was over him. Uh huh, alright now, six grade, is a done deal.

5. I've always went out of my way not to have a switch when I walk, I see women doing it, but never knew if it was real or fake. I just knew that I didn't want it.

6. I was nineteen years old before I started carrying a purse. Carrying a purse always made me feel as though I was dressed up and I didn't like being dressed up, I was a straight out Tomboy. That's why I was able to take care of James Nash.

Well those things are unimportant now, I think they are. I hope you had a few laughs all of that is so silly to me now. Alright here are the rules:

1) Link back to the person that tagged you.
2) Post the rules on your blog.
3) Share 6 unimportant things about yourself.
4) Tag other bloggers to participate, at the end of your entry.

I'm not going to follow the rules this time, mainly because I just tag 5 last week. But if you find this fun, then play. I had a Blast!

I MUST CONFESS

Although the devil is crafty, we can't always say the devil made me do it. Can we? I wish I could, but I don't think this will qualify.

I've been having an issue with a collections company that will not for any reason stop calling me. Somehow they have latched on to me with a vengeance. They said that a person with my name took out a loan in 2002. I've never had a loan other than my car, and mortgage loan. The car loan is paid, and I'm still living in the house.

The company they referenced, I've never heard of. When I told them they had the wrong person, they asked if the last four digits of my SS# was xxxx, and it was not. They say that they have a birthday but when I asked what it was, he would not tell me. Furthermore in 2002 my last name wasn't what it is now, because I had not remarried. Now on three separate occasions I have tried to get this resolve but, I am not going to give them my SS#, my birthday, or any other information to do so.

I decided first that I would just not answer the calls anymore, I'm not who they're looking for anyway. Well they just call and call and call. So the other day I answered and asked for the supervisor, his attitude was worse than the people I'd previously spoken with. AND I TOTALLY LOST IT!.

And I do believe what I said had the guy on the other end, looking exactly like the one above, (and he was the provoker). Then I hung up and I became the person in the picture below. So I called back and threw in a one, two, punch.

When it was over, I thought, who was that? Was that me? No, it had to be the devil but, I don't think it was. I've confessed and repented to the Lord, but for some reason it continues to resurface in my mind. So I decided I would confess before and others as well, with hopes that it will become embedded in my spirit, and a lesson to us all when we're about to blow our cool. The scriptures below will help us all in our moments of anger.

Ephesians 4:26-27

In your anger do not sin, Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Ephesians 4:31

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as Christ God forgave you.

Proverbs 15:18

A hot tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.

Proverbs 19:11

A mans wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

The issue has not yet been resolved but, while trying to get it resolved I will remember a scripture that was given to me today in my readings, and I do believe it was straight from the Lord for my benefit.

It was Proverbs 25:15 and it says, Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

My Husband's First Garden

I've posted a lot of pictures of my gardens, so this area right next to our storage shed, that was full of our neighbor's leaves, our left over bricks from the mailbox, Canna Lilies and a pesky ground cover, has been chosen for my husband's first garden. My husband, banned from any other beds in the yard, has been known to cut down a few flowers unknowingly. Well he has finally arrived with a small place to call his own. You see he's been working to clear away all this debris. This area has great soil and earth worms galore.

This is how the area cleaned up, he has planted three tomato plants, hot peppers, squash, bell peppers, cucumbers, and later, two okra plants. The two okra plants never made the pictures because some animal came along and ate them. (Bad animals! Stay away from my husband's garden!) Now there's a good thing, underneath the storage house right where you see the lattice there's a nest of those big black and yellow bees, so they will be working the flowers on his plants.

Here he is ladies, looking all debonair with his hand stuck down in a bag of Composted Cow Manure. Smile for the camera baby! I love you. Oh yeah, our neighbors fixer upper car, just waiting for some year to be fixed up, thank God he covered it.

Look! things are actually growing in there. I really thought that I would wound up the care person for this garden but, I'm not. He's been very attentive, just as he is with me, except for that one time I won't mention. :O)

This is how it is right now, last evening he strung three lines across because the cucumbers were reaching out and wrapping themselves around the pepper plants. Next year since we know how large or small certain plants will grow, and how much area we're left with, we plan to only plant one cucumber plant and maybe add a few greens. Now, brace yourselves for what's coming up next.

WOW!

UNBELIEVABLE!

HOT TAMALE!

CUCUMBERS!

MERCY! BELL PEPPERS! THREE OF THEM! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH SAVINGS THIS WILL BE! Pardon me for a moment but, I'm actually excited! They also look so pretty I don't want to pick them. LOL! I hope you all enjoyed the tour of my husband's garden, in his small corner of the yard, made just for him. Who knows maybe next year he'll till a spread.

SUNDAY PRAISE ~ HAPPY FATHER'S DAY LORD!

Featured Song - Holy Thou Art God! - Richard Smallwood
Listen and enjoy!

New Meme

I planted this Horsetail in one of my beds and before I knew it there were hundreds, I pull them up and they come back, I'm convinced there will always be a straggler or two. This Meme will tell a little about me, but I will add a tid-bit. I'm kinda like this Horsetail I can get along beautifully in a crowd, I love people. I love to host gatherings, of family friends. Even if you know someone who you think may want to come with you bring em on, the more the merrier. Now on normal day to day basis you will see me alone, and I like it that way.



I've been tagged by Melanie, of Monday through Sunday, thanks Melanie for wanting to know more about me, I just wish I was more interesting than I am.
The categories are : Five things I do for myself, five things I do for my friend, child, or partner, five things I have done for a stranger, five things I do for fun and last five to tag.


Five things I do for myself
1. I keep the hair from my chin
2. Pray
3. Paint my toenails
4. Mind my own business ( you stay out of troubles that way)
5. I perm my own hair


Five kind things I do for my friends child or partner
1. I’m always there when they need me
2. I rub my husbands back without him asking
3. I bring my husband breakfast in bed every Saturday & Sunday morning
4. I give advice strictly from the bible
5. Give my husband manicures and pedicures


Five kind things I have done for a stranger
1. Given great directions
2. Offered my cell phone to a stranded motorist to call for help
3. I bought a homeless man a sandwich, he got mad, tore it up and said he didn’t eat meat
4. I helped a little girl find her momma in Wal-Mart (took her to the service desk so they could page her)
5. Helped a man at the check out that didn’t have enough money


Five things I do for fun
1. Amusement Parks
2. Karaoke
3. Swimming
4. Gardening
5. Blog


Five tags

Just Ruthie
The Barber Bunch
British Colonial Love Affair
Sunflower Meadows
Country Girl At Home

Just a few more pics from from what I love, My Garden.

Balloon Flowers

I don't know what this one is called but it's tall blades of grass, then it blooms beautiful orange flowers.

This is what they look like in full bloom.

DAZED AND CONFUSED!

This shouldn't have happened. I have no valid explanation only speculations.

Speculation: Last week a personal problem had me so distraught that I had no appetite, I don't think I had eaten or drank anything outside of the water that it took for me to swallow my blood pressure medicine for four days leading up to my last weight in, and being empty possibly didn't render my true weight. Sunday I was coming back around and decided that I needed to eat. I ate a full dinner, which was bake ham, cabbage, fried okra, mac and cheese, and a small piece of cornbread, and that was one day. I don't think I ate much of anything Monday, I had a sandwich and a few chips. Tuesday about the same. Wednesday, Kandace made Chicken Fingers, fries, and fried okra, I ate that, and was pretty much on my diet for the rest of the week. I didn't use the back breaking exercise tape, I just walked.

This is a total heart breaker for me because I am now convinced (that if this is what I want) I can't stray away from my diet or exercise at all, or it will be a total catastrophe. If I want to lose any weight I'm doomed to a life of nothing good to eat, nearly invisible portions, or nearly kill myself exercising.

I have loss quite a few inches and don't notice a change in my clothes. I just went an tried on an outfit that I notice last week I could wear again, and it's not pulling tighter or anything. But I want the weight to come off. Maybe I should have my mouth wired shut or lock myself in a room and have three meals of air brought to me each day.

Bottom line is, I just think I should be stronger than I am concerning this. I fought with my doctor, not to go on blood pressure medication, because I wanted to see if losing the weight would take care of the problem, now my doctor has force me to take the medication because I believe she no longer has faith in me. I believe that if I really want something as bad as I want this, I should be able to do it, I've done it before. It's not even that much weight to lose. I won't even voice how I feel about myself right now, for fear of offending someone who maybe going through this same thing.

I know what I've said will concern you, I'm concerned, but it's how I feel right now. I'm not happy at all.

Gardening Today!

I'll be gardening today, it's well over due. I have a bed out back that I planted and didn't mulched, now it has weeds galore, so I'll be pulling weeds before I can mulch. I will be visiting with you guys a little before I get started. I've had a very busy week, now maybe I can get back into the swing of things. I do want to share the few Hydrangea plants that I have that are now in bloom. I've had a really hard time with them , because it's so hot, that is except for the big one.

This is the really big one, don't ask what it's called because I don't know. I just know that it's beautiful when it flowers and it's beautiful when the flowers turn brown as well. The flowers have turned kinda pink since this photo.

This is the blue one. There a really tall bush to the right of it, I'm using it to keep this and the next one you're going to see shaded. I've had a really hard time with these two.

This is the one that I've really had a hard time with, she's a little sad and has pink flowers, a few look white but, she gets most sun and she's trying to hang in there. Well this concludes the Hydrangea tour. Short, I know, and you probably didn't get your moneys worth but, what if you'd been on the J. Peterman's Reality Bus Tour :O) Snickers anyone?

Is It Time For A Change?

These little guys are my soul inspiration for my Country Den. I was browsing in Marshall's maybe 11 years ago and there they were. I thought to myself how cute and I swooped them up and went straight to the check out. They cost 25.00 each plus tax. They are Teddy Thompkins Bears by Enesco so cute I thought they would be a lovely collection to have.

I began my quest of finding things that I already had like this chair it means so much to me personally, I recovered it to match this room. I also went to local thrift stores to find things that could have been used long time ago. I did, nothing that I would have liked to have but authenticity cost like the dickens.

The clock you see on the wall I found for 4.00 the clock did not work and my husband had to replace the clock part of it. That lovely frame above the tv, I think it was about five dollars I think it once belonged to a dresser. It was painted green, I stripped it and stained it mahogany. Other things I found just trying to set the mood.

These pic were taken around Christmas time that's why the garland is under the mantle. Some may say it's clutter but, it's a host of things that make the country look.

The plaid chair in the corner is my biggest Thrift Sore find ever, I paid only 40.00 for the chair and ottoman. The guy there had the greatest bargains but he's out of business now possibly because of his low prices. The navy leather chair I found at a local furniture store. The lamp at a yard sale.

The plaid chair has been moved from this corner now, and this area has become where I spend most of my time visiting with you.

This is how it looks now. It's not a good picture but my camera is not so good these days.

This cow I love. The little hoop he's holding is for a small flower pot. I had one in once but, he was knocked over and it broke and I've never tried to replace it.

Now I'm ready for a change, I don't know what I'm going to do with all these things that I love, maybe transfer them to the bedroom that I use for my grand kids when they come over. I'm going to check on my bears to see it they're worth anything to anyone but me. My husband wants a leather couch and club chairs. I would like to do something different with the fireplace. A fluted surround, and slate or something. Then in keeping with the colors that I like, I thought about the French Country look, but it's a small room and I think I want to keep it simple this time. What do you think?

Can't We All Just Get Along!

This morning while reading I came across this scripture and I wanted to share. It tells why people don't get along and I must say "true that". In James 4:1-3 it says, What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but you don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

This started me to thinking about a lot of things. It is true that we quarrel over things that we want, and mostly over things we want from others. We either get mad because they don't agree with us, we want them to take out the garbage when we want it taken out, they're not driving as fast as we want them to drive therefore we can't get where we want to go when we want to get there. The list can go on and on and on. We do malicious things to get what we want but, are still not satisfied. There's a song that says Gods greatest gifts are unanswered prayers, that's true because most things we ask for are not good for us, or we have an unsavory motive behind them.

Thinking of motives, I remember when I didn't have a car, I mostly took care of my errands and what have yous by bus. There were times when I did ask friends or relatives for a ride somewhere. Sometimes they didn't mind, sometimes they did but, most of the time they said they didn't mind, when they did. I can remember feeling so hurt inside, because it would be something that I really needed and when they would pick me up they would sometimes have a mad look on their face and give me the silent treatment throughout the whole ride. People don't do this, if you don't feel like doing something or don't have the time, just tell the person, I promise you they'll understand that better than the cold shoulder.

Okay back to motives, I would pray and pray to the Lord, for transportation for my family but, always at the end I would always say " If you get me a car Lord, I'm gonna pass by all of them, they better not ask me to take them anywhere, and the Lord never answered that prayer. It wasn't until I asked with a reason that was pleasing to him. I said dear Lord, I need transportation for my family, I'm having a hard time out here. I promise you that I will never treat anyone, the way that some have treated me. This won't be my car Lord, it's yours as is everything, and I will use it to your pleasure. I meant this from the bottom of my heart, and I was blessed.

I'm glad that this was brought back to my memory, it's has blessed my soul today, and re-enlightened me on how to pray. Ask always with motives pleasing to God.

One more thing since the subject started out as ~Can't We All Just Get Along~, here's a how to get along scripture. It's Philippians 2:3-4 and it says, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.

Now my Pastor always says, "Be Mindful Of Others". Can I get a Amen!, a Hallelujah!, and a Thank you Jesus!


Now last week I went a little overboard on my eating, and gained two pounds. Last week I weighed in a 170.0 and this week I weighed in at 166.2. Hooray! Hooray! Now this was not done without punishment, and although you don't know what I've been through, just thank God for giving me the strenght.