Day Trip to Chattanooga

What a beautiful day. Mid 70's and not a cloud in the sky. Perfect time for a short day trip to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga.


First stop was in the butterfly house. There were butterflies everywhere and very beautiful. Before you left you had to make sure you had no hitchhikers trying to get out with you.


The otters were hiding until someone gave them some food then they were like little clowns. Chasing each other and doing flips in the water.


Next we saw a lot of fish including this very large shark. He had very big teeth.


These were the cutest little fellows. All dressed up in a tux and no where to go except in the cold water.


There were stingray in a tank you could touch, but I didn't.


When we came out this was one of the first things we saw, and riding up front with the driver was a dalmation. I remember seeing these when we were at the Chattanooga Choo Choo. I guess they tour the city. That would have been fun if we had a little more time.

And on our way back to the car we passed this man on the corner playing and singing.

After a fun day we headed home, stopped at Cracker Barrell had dinner and then got home in time to see the Alabama ball game. ROLL TIDE!!!

Have a blessed day.

Jo

The Adventures of Little Blue Rag by Motorboat

Well now, What do we have here? My little blue rag.



Where have you been? I've been looking for you all day.



You want to do what with my little blue rag? I don't think so!!! It will never go in the washing machine.



I will take a nap on it so you just need to go away. Until next time......



One of my favorite cartoons is Mutts. The cat Mooch is always getting into something. He has a little pink sock he will carry around and sing to it. Well Motorboat has a little blue rag. As you can see in the pictures he plays with it, sleeps with it and loves on it. When I tried to take it away from him to put it in the wash he laid down on it so I just let him keep it.

Have a blessed day.
Motorboat and Jo

Down a winding road

Ever wonder where the road will lead...



or who is waiting at the end...




Have a blessed day.

Jo

Small wonders of the world

Well with all the garden done until fall I feel like a bird out of the cage. Now I have some free time to enjoy blogland once again, do some crafting and take some photos with my new camera.
While visting with a neighbor last week we were sitting out next to the deck and their hummingbird feeder was covered up with hummers. Probably 8 or 10 at a time fighting over the food so when I got home I put my feeder back up and within about 10 minutes this is what I had coming to visit. Now there are 3 of them.


I think he eats more than he weights. He stays there all the time. I think I need another feeder for the rest of them. He doesn't what to share the food.



Sitting on the clothesline waiting his turn. They are so tiny but so beautiful.

Have a blessed day.
Jo

Tomatoes and Beans

Time sure does go by fast when we're having fun or so they say. After the adventure with the rattlesnake I was afraid to go to the garden for a while. When I did I had a mess. The tomatoes and green beans were out of control.




I've been busy trying to put stuff up in the freezer. Tomorrow I'm going after some okra and that will be the end of my freezing for a while. Hope to plant a fall garden so I can have some turnip greens and collards and that will be all till next spring.

I will be glad when we have a break in this hot weather. No rain for several weeks and everything is so dry. The weatherman said we have a 50% chance of rain for the weekend. I hope he is not wrong. I would settle for 100%.

I've been working on some projects and when I have them finished I will post some pictures. I am already thinking about Christmas. It will be here before we know it.

Have a blessed day.
Jo

What a Thursday!!

Thursday started out just like any other day, went to the garden and picked tomatoes then this afternoon we will be picking blueberries. I eat a lot of blueberries so I would like about a gallon or two. In the morning I need to pick the beans for I am sure they are ready.

But then things changed....

Remember back in June I wrote about a black snake that was in the front yard as Roger came home from work one day but that snake didn't scare me. Last night when we came home after dark and as I was going down the walk to the front porch I looked down just in time to see something in the shadows on the walk. First I thought it was just some grass, but I remembered that I had pulled the grass out the day before. All of a sudden I heard a RATTLE. I screamed and ran back toward the car where Roger was getting things out. It was a RATTLESNAKE about three foot long. The lights were not on so I went and got some help from the best neighbors in the world. They came to our rescue with a flashlight to see with and a hoe to kill it. They killed the snake and we discovered he was eating a mouse. I guess I disturbed his evening meal. Needless to say I will not be venturing out after dark any more for a while. This makes the 4th snake that has been killed in our yard and the neighbors since June. It will be a long, long summer. I don't even know if I can go to the garden again and the snake was not even in the garden, but who knows he probably has some friends there. I have beans that need picking but they will just have to wait. I don't think I have ever been so scared before and it will take me a while to get over this. After everything was over and we finally got in the house I just thanked God for protecting us. I was so close to that snake I could have been bitten.

Roger and Scott threw the snake and the mouse away before I could take a picture. Well I hope we don't find any more snakes.

Well I have to get all the tomatoes and blueberries put up because we will probably be going to the river early Saturday morning. I sure do need some rest away from everything for a while.

Have a blessed day.
Jo

Hello everybody

Well, I sure am glad to back in blogland. I have really missed everyone. It's almost like you lose contact with the outside world. My hard drive died in my laptop and it has been in the shop. Got it back today and will try to catch up on things. I have a lot of pictures to post of projects I've been working on. I just wanted to say HELLO!! Will do more later.
Hope everyone has a blessed day.
Jo

Happy Father's Day, Dad

This is a picture of my dad when he was in the army many years ago. He died in March, 2000 at the age of 78.
Happy Father's Day to all the Dads, Granddads, Sons and Husbands everywhere.
Have a blessed day.
Jo

Cooking with garden finds

Take all these fresh vegetables and make a wonderful dish. Don't know what it is called, I made this several years ago when I had an abundance of ingredients.

Cut the onion in slices, chop the tomato, zucchini and the basil.

Italian seasoning, fresh ground pepper, salt, olive oil and butter.


Put the olive oil and butter in a hot skillet. When the butter melts add the onions and zucchini and saute until tender, about 5 minutes.

Add the tomatoes and cook about 2 more minutes.

Add the basil, let cook another minute, stir well and you are done.

Eat and enjoy. If you have any leftovers the next day it is good served over pasta.

Thanks for dropping by and have a blessed day.

Jo

Flowers and Vegetables

We have blueberries. Go away birds!!

We have plums! Last year the frost killed the little ones but not this year. Now if I can just keep the birds away from the trees.

I found some flowers that wanted their picture made. This one was hiding behind the leaves.

This one is on the top step of the front porch.

These are blooming in several places in the yard. I got these from a friend several years ago.

And look what I found in the garden! Can't wait to try the tomatoes.

These are the first one, but I know they won't be the last. The vines are hanging full. Let's start eating!!!

Thanks for dropping by and have a blessed day.
Jo

Snakes, Snakes and more Snakes

Yesterday when Roger got home from work as he came down the steps in the front yard there was a big black snake laying in the way. This makes the third one in less than a week. Where are they all coming from? Well as you can he was back again this morning and I got several pictures of him. He's about 4 foot long. He's living under the crosstie steps in our front yard.


Click on the picture to make it larger.

This is Motorboat, MoMo for short.

He got his name because he purred so loud when he was little and he is also crosseyed so maybe he would see 2 snakes. I hear that a cat can charm a snake. Maybe I need to send him outside and see what he can do.

But...........
as you can see from his big mouth he is getting very sleepy.

Of course he loves to sleep so maybe not. He could be dreaming about the snake. We will never know.
Thanks for dropping by and until more snakes everyone have a blessed day.
Jo

Spending time at the river

Our little home away from home. The weather was nice except for a few rain showers.


Roger getting ready to do a little fishing. Maybe we'll have fish for supper tonight.


Needless to say we had no fish for supper. The clouds came rolling in and we had a good storm. Lots of thunder and lightning. So back to the camper until it passes by. Good time to take a little nap. We had a good time and did get plenty of much needed rest.

Thanks for dropping by and have a blessed day.
Jo

The cows are coming home

These are all yard sale finds.


I found another cow to add to the collection. This one has swinging legs with shoes on. He will sit on the edge somewhere. When I get the kitchen done it will have barnyard animals everywhere.


Look at that smile. Maybe she knew I was taking her picture or could it be the little chicken at her feet. Only she knows and I bet she won't tell.


I also got this small plate. I just like the flowers and thought I would hang it on the wall somewhere. I found a small cabinet that I still have to go pick up. Don't know where it will go, maybe in the craft room. Until next time and I can see another yard sale in the near future. Maybe another cow, who knows!!

Thanks for dropping by and have a blessed day.

Jo

Cherries on a plate

What a find and only $1.48! While thrift store shopping the other day I ran across this cherry plate made by Hallmark. When I saw it I knew I had to have it. You never know what you might find. Tomorrow will be another day to search for treasures. I have already been able to look at things that will be at a yard sale in the neighborhood. I've already picked out some stuff. Will let you see when I get back.

Thanks for dropping by and have a blessed day.

Jo

Here I Am

Time sure does go by fast when we're having fun. I didn't get lost, I've just been very busy. I've started a garden and I work in it nearly everyday. My tomato plants already have small tomatoes on them. Can't wait for a good one. I have rattlesnake beans, squash, okra, cucumbers, peppers, and then some herbs planted. Maybe it won't be long. When I'm not working in the garden, it's in the yard cutting grass, or in the house doing housework. When did I ever find time to work a full time job? Well I really don't know. Just can't wait for the summer vegetables to start coming in. LIFE IS WONDERFUL!!

Thanks for dropping by and have a blessed day.

Jo

Up, Up and Away

My grandson Morgan and I decided we would try to fly the kite one more time. We tried on Saturday but everytime we got out to start it would come a rain shower. Today was a cool day and just windy enough to get her off to a good start. We flew it for about 20 minutes before she fell or maybe I should say landed. She just came down in the driveway behind the car and away from all the power lines and trees. This was the first time I've flown a kite in many years, also Morgans' first time. I had forgot how much work it is to get one going. I guess I'm just getting old.

Got her up nearly 150' in the air. When she got past the hard wind down low she flew so smooth. I guess you could say she had wind beneath her wings.

Thanks for dropping by and have a blessed day,

Jo

Water, Water everywhere

These pictures were made on Thursday. This is looking across
Cider Ridge Golf Course after all the rain we've had. Can't play golf today.

They were going to play a little golf today. That didn't happen as you can see in the picture above. The water was standing everywhere, and besides they couldn't even get around the road. Had to turn around and go another route.

The water was up to the bottom of the bridge and across the road.

This sign should have read "Road Closed".

Hope the weather gets better soon. I think we have had enough rain for a while.

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day,

Jo