I've Just Been Busy.

Sometimes work has to comes first.



In this economy,

It's gotta. If ya want to keep it and all.

Anyway....

Hopefully I will have more time for all of ya'll real soon.

I miss you.

love,

Jenni

Another One Bites the Dust........

Yep.....Another one down.

CLICK and

CLICK.

This time it was my favorite of the bunch.
So long Domino.

This Time Last Year.

A year ago today, we had snow.

The "S" word is expected again tonight.

Last night's view from the deck.

A Ray of Sunshine.

I smelled it first.



From across the Kudzu Jungle, the light breeze carried the sweet parfume my way.



I needed a break from the hacking and loping away I had to find what plant the fragrance was coming from.

" It is the second week in January," I thought.

"What in the world could be blooming?"



I wandered about looking for color.

There it was like a ray of sunshine.






The bees found the Leatherleaf Mohonia blooming, too.





Later that night, I opened Southern Living to find this... CLICK.


But.....
Since it is sub-artic-ish for way down South today. I guess they are frozen.

American Sweetheart and Pie

American Sweetheart is a pattern of Depression Glass made by MacBeth-Evans from 1930 to 1936.



I have a few pieces. They go well with pie.



And the fork that I found buried in the yard.





( One day I might find the old, school house light to use in the kitchen where the wires are hanging down.)

Planting Bulbs and Clearing Kudzu.

Saturday was a pretty day that I spent outdoors working in the yard.

A big box store had bulbs 75% off so I stocked up and bought several packages.

Daffodils, Tulips, Crocus, Iris, and Hyacinth. ( I know it is kinda late and all, but they were $1 a package. )

Total I dug. Hang on...let me get out the calculator.....

102 holes.

No wonder my hands hurt.

Well, I also used the loppers to clear out some of the privet that holds up the kudzu.

See

That, there, is the never before seen, from this direction, fence. The fence that Puppy patrols.

Yes, I know the picture does not look like much. But it really was. If you were only here to see in person.

I am really thinking about borrowing one of these.

After all who cares what the neighbors think. My shoulders still hurt.

Growing Red Ferns.

The first time I read, Where the Red Fern Grows, I was in Summer Reading Club at Coleman Library. Every summer as soon as the last school bell rang, it was time for reading club.


Oh sometimes, I would take other lessons like baton, art, music, and even...tennis. Those other lessons would vary from summer to summer. However reading club was every summer.



Last week, I won this copy of Where the Red Fern Grows, from The Country Doctor's Wife. I look forward to reading this touching tale again. I also remember seeing the movie.

Do you remember the movie? It ranks up there with Old Yeller, and The Yearling.


Thank You, Rechelle and Kleenex thanks you , too.


I will forward the book on to my nephews when I finish.

_______________________________________________


As far as growing red ferns.....

The only thing that grows freely around here is.....



and.....



Wonder what the Indians would have to say about that? hummmmm..........


oh .....and....

My grandfather once had dogs that looked like those coon hounds on the cover.

Luck-n-Money

Heaven knows we need them both.

Re:Cap New Years Day 2009

Here at ThirteenEleven, we need all the luck and folding money we can get. Thus, I drug my bright eyed self out of bed after getting home at.....cough....3:30 and washed the collard greens. (Remember the husband is a drummer in a band that had a gig New Years Eve.)



We had greens last year. Meaning....we should have had plenty of folding money if you are one to believe all the folklore. Maybe it was the poor economy in 2008, or maybe we did not eat enough greens, but folding money was short in 2008. Or maybe...it really, actually had absolutely nothing to do with the greens. Just in case.... I made myself get up to cook the greens. The consequences of not having the greens would keep me up at night.


Actually....with the state of the economy....why wasn't everyone eating greens? Where were the public service announcements blipping below the Rose Bowl parade reminding citizens, "Help the Economy....Eat your Greens." Instead of bailouts for the big three....send them turnip greens. When the banks come knocking at the federal door, cup in hand, fill it with collards. Worth a try? Maybe?


I digress...


We also had peas. Black Eye peas. For luck and/or pocket change. Some insist on dried peas. Me, I normally have plenty of formerly farm fresh peas in the freezer. I use those.





And for all the Pot-likker both of these dishes produce, I made cornbread. Cornbread for sopping up all the delicious juice. We also had pork roast, baked sweet potatoes, and corn.

I then took a nap during a football game.

____________________________________________

Do you have any New Years Day traditions? Things you feel like you just gotta do, or the whole year might be unlucky. Any special foods you eat?

Or maybe things NOT to do on the new year. Things like....Not washing clothes on New Years Day or you will have bad luck. ( I did not wash, and would NOT allow Chris to wash.)


Best of Luck to you in 2009.