Sunday Smiles

Smiling Johnny Jump-ups, signal the arrival of Spring:-)

Southland in the Springtime

Welcome Springtime!!! I have been anticipating your arrival for months.

With the opening of the new blooms. I have gotten the hankering to bring that freshness inside, so..... I'm bringing out the buckets and the brushes. I'm opening up the windows and the doors. I'm scouring every nook and cranny. Clearing away the clutter and chasing out the drab of winter.


I'm washing and hanging out the Spring linens.....

While Sadie supervises from the sunny window.

And when I'm finished~

I'm going outside until fall:-)

Care to join me?

Happy Spring !~Rhonda

Morning Wonder

It rained here on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. On Monday night a dense fog covered everything, but by yesterday morning, the clouds had rolled out and the sun shone brightly in crystal clear blue skies. Everything was covered in tiny water drops left over from the four days of moisture. Mother Nature was putting on her own water works show and just like any good blogger worth their salt.... I grabbed my camera, and set out to capture the sights to share them with you~

The Bradford Pear washed white as snow.

Rain drops clinging to the blueberry blossoms.

I love the way the sun reflects on the edge of this bloom.

My miniature pink lemon tree is oh, so grateful to be outside. It does not care for over-wintering in the basement. It has threatened to up-root its self and join its sibling in Central Florida at Aunt Kara and Uncle Jeli's.


The daffodils resemble underwater plant life.

Prickly, hairy strawberry leaves.



Wild rose water.

Freshly washed lettuce.

A gossamer Spider abode. Don't freak out on me CJ, it's only the web;-)

Even the weeds appear regal wearing their dew drop gowns.

The rain was such a blessing and we welcomed every drop, but I was glad to see the sun return today because .....

obviously, some of us have been cooped up inside for much too long!

Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind blow at your back.

May the sun shine warmly on your face.
May the rain fall softly on your fields.
Until we meet again...



May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Old Irish Blessing~Author Unknown

Happy St. Patrick's Day~Rhonda

Knitting Along

Welcome, come in out of the rain on this cool wet morning. I was just about to have a little late breakfast. I just took out a batch of mini Banana Nut loaves out of the oven. How about a fresh cup of coffee and some sweet ripe strawberries from Plant City, Florida? You know I used to live just a few miles from Plant City, they do grow the best berries in the world there! Oh, how I miss their annual Strawberry Festival. We can linger here as long as you like. I have lit the candle to dispel some of the grey and darkness of the weather. When you finish, we can head into the living room and sit down for a nice chat. You can have a seat in the big wooden rocker with the handmade rose pillow and I will just make myself comfy over on the sofa. What am I doing you ask?....

Oh, just knitting. A little something I learned to do this weekend. See I found this wonderful blog in Australia last week called Down-To-Earth. There, Rhonda Jean don't you just love that name?!, Has issued an invitation for all who would like, to join her in a Knit Along. Now, I have been determined to learn how to knit for years, I've even made comments like, "I am going to learn how or die trying!" Yet, every time I pick up the needles and open my instruction book, I get so frustrated that I just pack it back up in the knitting box and return it to the shelf. "Well this time, by Georgie," I said "I am going to do it." Well, that Rhonda Jean included some very helpful links to knitting demonstrations in her post. Now why did I not think to go looking for something like that? I don't know, but it has made all the difference!!! After I watched the video about 4 times, I had it down. Then I was off and running.....

Well maybe crawling, but I'm getting there:-) By next winter everyone I know will have a knitted hat, scarf and a pair of those cool fingerless gloves. What? You say you would like some of those too.... hmmmm, let me see what I can do about that.

Oh, you have to go... OK, would you like me to wrap up a banana nut loaf for you to take home? I'm glad you stopped by, I sure enjoyed your visit, come back anytime~Rhonda

Sunday Smiles

The Clothesline

The clothsline was a newsforcast

To neighbors passing by

There were no secrets you could keep

When clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link,

For neighbors always knew

If company had stopped on by

To spend a night or two.

For then you'd see the fancy sheets

And towels on the line;

You'd see the comp'ny tablecloths

With their intricate design.

The line announced a baby's birth

To folks who linved inside;

As brand new infant clothes were hung

So carefully with pride.

The ages of the children could

so readily be known;

By watching how the sizes changed,

You'd know how much they'd grown.

It also told when illness struck

As extra sheets were hung;

Then nighclothes and a bathrobe, too,

Haphazardly were strung.

It said, "Gone on vacation now!"

When the lines hung limp and bare.

It told, "We're back!" when full

With not an inch to spare.

New folks in town were scorned upon

If their wash was dingy grey;

As neighbors raised their brows

And looked disgustedly away.

But clotheslines now are of the past

For dryers make work less.

Today what goes on inside a home

Is anybody's guess.

I really miss that way of life...

It was a friendly sighn;

When neighbors knew each other best

By what hung on the line!

-Author Unknown

Mission Completion ~ Mostly

Ta-Da! We have had a very busy and very productive week here at the FarmHouse. We have tackled bunches of projects on the ever expanding ToDo list. Since we were blessed all week with almost summer like weather, we were outside working until dark.

The biggest and most time consuming project was fixing the Chick Condo. My little biddies that I got from Pam a few weeks ago were rapidly outgrowing their small brooder box and needed to be moved to larger accommodations.

You might remember when the Chick Condo, courtesy of the 30 foot white pine, looked like this~

Well here it is, fully restored and open for business!

I have put this project off as long as I possibly could because I despise any type of job that has to do with manipulating Chicken Wire . That stuff is of the devil, I tell you. Just when you think you have it under control, it rolls up on you and attacks you with its prickly, scratchy cut ends...UGH!! My arms look like I have been in a cat fight. So I am ever so grateful to have that finished.


The Biddies like their new home. There is lots more room to move around.

They even get to go outside during the warm part of the day.

These guys are checking out the temperature for me. "Make sure it is nice and cozy Mom. OK?"

There was also a considerable about of activity in the garden. The lettuce was planted....

Last year I started with some plants I got and the Feed and Seed,

then I planted my spinach and lettuce seed all around them. That arrangement worked out well for me so that is what I did again this year.

The next raised bed I planted one side with onions, red and yellow....

and the other side with Carrots. The Dragon carrot is a purple carrot and is supposed to be super sweet:-)

I had also intended to replant my peas because I had not seen hide nor hair of them since I planted them in early February. But just as I was about to re-rake the plot, low and behold.....

tiny little pea shoots were popping out of the ground. Upon closer inspection, it appears that the tops of the shoots were suspiciously snipped off. Possibly the work of hungry marauding chickens. This prompted me to fix the gap in the garden fence. Rest well my little peas, you should be safe now.

The green house is still a work in progress. At least the frame did get moved to it's new location, and I have my best construction guy on the case. Look at him, commuting to work on his bicycle....

just like his Dad:-)

After all of this, I am ready for the rainy weekend that is being predicted. I might get to sit down a few minutes and work on those knitting squares I am intending to make.~Rhonda