For Today...

Outside my Window...a cold wind rustling through the orchard. Pecans are falling all over.

I am thinking...I cant believe its time to harvest pecans again. This time last year we had a 4 1/2 pound premi here. (Little Package)

From the learning rooms...helping Little Package's Mama with English homework.

I am thankful for...cool weather and Christian friends.

From the kitchen...fried chicken, black eye peas and hoe cake.

I am wearing...Liberty Overalls and a lavender long sleeve shirt.

I am reading...Pecan South Magazine....trying to get an idea on the price of pecans this year.

I am hoping...Little Package's Mama's car is not needing expensive repair work. Danny has to go see what is wrong with her car that wont crank today!

I am creating...a cleaned out area on the porch for fire wood. The temperature is expected to fall into the 30's this week.

I am hearing...gun shots. Danny is out squirrel hunting.You wouldn't believe the damage they do to a crop of pecans.

Around the house...Regular Monday housekeeping chores. Helping Danny get equipment ready for harvest. Blocking off the driveway so pecans don't get crushed. Shaking a few trees near the building so those pecans wont get crushed with all the activity out there.

One of my favorite things...a fire in the fireplace and seeing Fall related posts at all my blogger friends.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...another meeting at the hospital. Keeping the pecans picked up on and near the roads. Baking some sweets to put in the freezer. Enjoying the cold weather and the fireplace.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...nothing like the smell and taste of warm bread!


For more of the Simple Woman's Daybook....visit Peggy.

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK



For Today...

Outside my Window....the sun is shining, the air is cool and crisp. Pecan husks are opening and nuts are falling here and there.

I am thinking...what warm and Fall like supper can I cook today.

From the learning rooms...what we are learning around here is how to add another conveyor to the pecan cleaner. It will allow us to use the Super Sack bags instead of 100 pound croaker sacks. The change will cut down on back breaking labor during the pecan harvest!

I am thankful for...cool days, time with my husband and time with Little Package.

From the kitchen...that's a good question. Supper is still up in the air. Breakfast was warm Cinnamon rolls and 8 O'clock Coffee.

I am wearing...pink cropped jogging pants, a white t-shirt and a grey jacket

I am reading..."Get Out of that Pit" by Beth Moore. I love her books and Bible studies.

I am hoping...I'm not coming down with a cold...I feel achy. I want to get out in the cool air and frolic!

I am creating...a clean an organized work area with Danny. We are getting things ready at the building for the harvest.

I am hearing...the Grandfather clock ticking and Danny cranking the old Dodge pecan shaker.

Around the house...cleaning up from the weekend, washing clothes.

One of my favorite things...warm comfort foods, a good cup of coffee.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...a couple meetings at work, a trip to the Library, a trip to the court house to re-new some tags and get my early vote in.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...



This was a snapshot I took when I stopped at an apple orchard in North Carolina...Fall 2006.

For more daybook head over to Peggy's and join in.

A FALL MORNING WALK
















The temperature was 59 degrees this morning. Package and I felt frisky and decided to go for a walk.




The sun was just coming up.

And the Full Moon was going down. Can you see it in the upper right corner?



I love the Fall.

Monday, October 13
The Simple Woman's Daybook


For Today...

Outside my Window...an overcast sky. We have had a nice rain all weekend.

I am thinking...I really need a basic computer class!

From the learning rooms..."Teaching Kids about God" a book by several authors from Focus on the Family.

I am thankful for...having a steady income, for good health, Monday's with Danny, and being able to keep the Little Package while her mama is in school.

From the kitchen...Chili and oatmeal cookies.

I am wearing...grey running shorts and a pink "Alabama" football t-shirt..bare feet.

I am reading..."Eyes on the Prize"...Tales from Grace Chapel Inn by Sunni Jeffers...it's a series of fiction Christian books.

I am hoping...for Fall like weather this week.

I am creating...a notebook with easy menu ideas for when we are harvesting pecans. I'm trying to make the grocery list along with it. This is a busy time for us and planning ahead is the only way we can keep from eating out and eating junk during this busy time.

I am hearing...a train from 8 miles away, a rooster crowing, and the wind in the wind chimes.

Around the house...not much...napping with husband and Little Package, watching some movies...this is "OUR DAY" together.

One of my favorite things...watching Pop-pa and Little Package napping and hearing Little Package call me "ME-ME" (today is the first time she has ever said it!).

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...no plans at all...Little Package is here this week so we will do regular housekeeping chores and not much else for a change. I will get my kitchen ready that is in the building where we do our harvesting...that's about it.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...



Looking down our driveway, Fall 2006.






This is the first time I have participated in Peggy's Day Book. She has started a wonderful thing.

TWO BABIES...





Little Package was born just a few hours before my youngest son's birthday. Kevin is now 21 years old to Package's 1 year. This is Kevin holding his neice when she was just a few days old. (YES I'M BALLING AGAIN!!) Where has the time gone?! Kevin had the prettiest hair when he was little....golden ringlets. People would always tell me I had the cutest little girl! Kev would look at them and say "I aint no gul!".

The other pictures are of Package and her mom, Alyssa, at the birthday party. I love the side profiles of mama and daughter....the way Package looks at her mom when it's time to blow the candle out....so sweet!
And as a side note.....Package does not like shoes but she wore them all afternoon at her party like a big girl!

Little Package is ONE YEAR OLD!!!!





Where did the time go? I balled all day yesterday. How can it be?!!!

WHEN YOUR OVEN IS BROKEN.......PRESSURE COOK IT!!!







My 4 year old Frigidaire wall oven quit....with no warning at all! What happened to things lasting 20 years or so? We paid good money for our stuff too. ANY WHO.....I thought I would share with yall one of my favorite things in the world....my PRESSURE COOKER. I bought an aluminum one from Wal-Mart over 10 years ago. It became very porous so I bought a stainless steel pot this year. The difference in price....aluminum $25.....Stainless $60. My Mama told me about the great Pressure Cooker and the time it saves.

You can cook fresh peas from your freezer in 3-4 minutes, dried peas (Soaked) in less than 10 minutes vs. cooking them for hours on the stove. You can also cook meat in them too and its way better than in a crock pot. I cooked a 3 pound pork lion in 30 minutes. If you dont have a pressure cooker.....make the investment and get one. Cooking is quicker and it is much better for you.

So while my roast was cooking I peeled the taters and cooked them, cooked some peas from my freezer....mashed the taters and had it all ready in about 35 minutes.

A LITTLE FALL INSIDE



















I put a few Fall decorations out last week. I'm having to arrange things a little different since Little Package is here often. My china cabinet holds a good many items.(Kelli, Mama and I found candle holders like yours a few years ago) I placed my pumpkin tea set in a corner on the kitchen counter. When Little Package started crawling we moved our big coffee table out of the living room. Now that she is walking we placed some things behind the screen in the fireplace. I love AUTUMN!!

BOOK WORM AND A WEIRD WORM




I confess....I am a sucker for a magazine with an Autumn theme. This year I bought some magazines that I've never looked at before. Southern Living is one of my favorites (I have subscribed to it before) but looking at these others...well I really like them too. Maybe they are not new to you but they are to me!

The "Secret Garden" book I bought at the Goodwill store for 39 cents! I have heard Kelli talk about it (It's one of her favorite books) but I had never read it before. Now I know why she likes it so much!! That is the sweetest book and I didnt want it to end. Now I want to see the movie.

Danny found the worm on one of the pecan trees the other day. The thing was about 5 inches long when he first saw it. This is one weird worm! He had horns all over and big suckers on his belly. I bet money that thing is POISONOUS!! Have you got that chill running up and down your spine yet?

OK THATS ALL I HAVE TO SAY!!!! LOL

PAPA'S AND THINGS






Dove season came in last weekend here and it is one of my favorite hunts. I dont like the taste of dove but Danny and my boys have always liked them. This morning Danny's brother and his grandson came over for a shoot. As you can see, the morning started off with a little fog. Danny has not felt the best in the world so I'm glad he felt like hunting today.

As I watched my brother-in-law and his grandson from a distance I thought about the specialness of "PAPA'S" and the influence they have on their GRANDS. There is something really neat about those relationships.

THE FIRST TWO PICTURES ARE OF KENNY, MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, AND HIS GRANDSON KOBY.
THE LAST ONE IS DANNY AND LITTLE PACKAGE AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE LAST WEEK.

PATTY CAKE PACKAGE AND FAY










As you can see Tropical Storm Fay stopped by for a visit. We lost about 4 big trees and several of the small trees blew over too. We will have to wait and see if they can be saved or not (the small ones, that is). The big trees are a total loss. We pulled a couple back up in hopes of getting one last crop off of them before they are removed. We got 9 plus inches of rain. The wind was blowing so hard at times, we know the gauge was unable to get a really accurate reading. Even the bushes around the house took a beating. We have had worse...much worse so we are very thankful.

The Package has learned to PATTY CAKE, she can wave and say BYE-BYE, and she can say POP-PA now. This little girl is a hoot and a half!!

Well there you have my monthly post.....sad but true.

3 POSTS IN ONE DAY!!!





Its been a month & might be another month before I post again. Just some updates. The Summer months have brought a lot of work. Besides the normal work...up keep of the trees, I've been putting up vegetables & such. 8 bushels of peas (pink eyes,purple hulls, Mississippi Creams, Reds, Sudandees), a bushel of butter beans, 4 bushels of tomatoes, 4 bushels of corn, a bushel of squash & blue berries. Pickin, shellin, creamin....good night & there is still more to do as the growing season continues.

There is a new shelter being added on to store the pecan bins & tractors. We are trying to make some changes to make the pecan harvest easier & with less labor.

The Package has been recurrently sick. I think its from the RSV she had in February causing her to have a lot of respiratory infections. Danny has been sick too. In 18&1/2 years he has never had to take an antibiotic. Well the time has come.

So I guess like all of you....life is busy! I am enjoying a really good Bible study by Beth Moore called the PSALMS OF ASCENT. Some of her studies can be hard and complicated but this one is simple but deep in spiritual truths. I highly recommend it!

No more posts for me. I've got work to do. Just thought I would give a little update with some pictures.

REFLECTIONS OF OUR 4TH OF JULY







Danny's parents always rent a place on the lake. We eat & boat & eat & tube & eat....and eat! This year we had fried fish, taters, cold slaw, fried squash, grilled hot dogs, homemade strawberry & vanilla ice cream, pound cake & blue berry cobbler.

We always have a good time with the family. The down fall this year was that Danny has been sick. He didn't get to enjoy it like everyone else.

My step-grand, Stormi, holding The Package.
Granddaddy (Great-grand) pushing The Package around on a foot stool.

WHAT NOTS & PERTYS!!




I had to show yall the new "What Not" or "Perty" that I got to display under one of the end tables in the living room. The Package is 9 months old now & crawling around like crazy. I had to move my real "What Nots & Pertys" so she wouldn't destroy them but I found I like her better!

I didn't know you could love something so much!

GROWING SEASON

We planted a few simple things around the house this year & they are growing nicely. The pecans look scarce & already the war has begun against the Aphids & Casebearers. We put a gallon of lady bugs out last Friday night and we got a nice rain yesterday evening. Hopefully the combination of the two will knock the pesty insects out.