Fabulous Farm in Kentucky

Ah......life at the farm! We had a fantastic weekend at our cousin's farm in Kentucky. How peaceful to look out at the horses running in paddocks outlined with white fences.

Lots of beautiful horses!


Each morning we got up and headed out to feed all the horses....wearing our pj's, of course!

Sometimes the farm hands climbed over the fences to chase the dog, fill the horses' water bucket, or just find the horses.


These horses are staying in to keep out of the noonday heat!

There's nothing like shoveling mulch for hours in your monkey boots!

Or watching turtles, catching toads, and letting worms crawl up your arms!

There was time for fishing.....

"I caught one THIS big!!"

Time for riding horses.......

And even driving the baby gator!

Or just time to take a walk down the road to put a penny on the train track!

Lots of time to see the new foal.....

Or just do cartwheels.......

Or pick wildflowers (er, weeds!)


Time to watch the birds fly all over the sky in the cool breezes.


And time to get a push when the battery ran out!

There's nothing like a horse farm for nature, mucking out the stalls, feeding the horses, and making memories!

Thanks for coming along on our little trip. I'm joining Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.

Have a wonderful week! Blessings to you! Linda

Out of the Mouths of Babes

One of my precious grandie girls - 5 year old "E" - spent a few days with us recently. Just one of many conversations:

E - "I miss Gigi" (her great-grandmother -my MIL- who recently passed away).

Me - "Me, too. She was a very special lady."

E- "Does she miss us in Heaven?

Me - (trying to be theologically correct) "Well, she is with God in Heaven. There are no tears or sadness in Heaven, so she is just very happy."

E - "But does she miss us?"

Me - Well, I just know that she is very, very happy and remembers us with happy thoughts, because no one is sad in Heaven.

E - "Nana, I'll miss you one day when you die. "

Me - "Oh, "E", I know, but one day we will all be together in Heaven because we love God."

E - (with tears bubbling in her eyes) "Nana, when you go to Heaven I"ll miss you and I won't be able to come to your house!

Me - (speechless) "Oh, "E".

E - (Still teary) "Nana, will you miss me when you are in Heaven."

Me - (Set aside theology for now) "Yes, E, I'll miss you." Gulp!

E - "Nana, I can do a front flip in the water!"

Oh, my, talk about an abrupt turn in the conversation! Love it, love my grandies. Truthfully, I can't imagine NOT missing them! Enjoy your blessings.....Linda

How do you say "Good Bye"?

I have been blessed to have not only a wonderful mother, but a dear mother-in-law. I am so thankful that my mother is still alive, but my sweet mother-in-law left us Tuesday morning, very peacefully, at the age ot 92.


She was a part of the "Greatest Generation" having watched her husband go off to WWII for four years in the Pacific.
I wish you could have known her.....

She was a wonderful gardener - her green thumb was reknown!

She gave me these hydrangeas which will probably be deep blue by next week.
These hostas came from her yard and they have multiplied so much that I can't even count them.

She gave me these shasta daisies from our pastor - we think they were holy, and that's why they are so beautiful! They'll be in full bloom in another two weeks.

She was a beautiful artist...these are just a few of her many paintings.

She was a talented seamstress and quilter...just one of many quilts that she made

She was a sports nut.....especially for Kentucky basketball!
She was an avid bridge player and an amazing crossword puzzle worker!


I wish you could have known her.


In some ways we were very different, but in some ways we were two "peas in a pod". In fact, her daughter said that her mom and I were more alike than she and her mom.


She taught me so many things.....like cake decorating. (We started a business - I baked the multi-layer wedding cakes and she decorated them. I told the story of one of our wedding cakes sliding into the spare tire in the trunk as we were en route to a wedding at a very nice country club. No problem, we traveled with extra icing!)


...and quilting...I pieced together a quilt and she quilted it, and now her grandchildren and great-grandchildren enjoy it on picnics.


...and doll making....We made exquisite cloth dolls (from an old antique pattern that she had) with bonnets and southern clothing and actually sold them in a major department store in our city, as well as some small shops.


....and gardening....She taught me gardening by example. She gave me cuttings and I watched her prepare a "dollar" hole for a "nickel" plant. We joked that she could put a plant in concrete and it would grow.


She gave me grace and love.......
She walked with me through a very difficult time in our lives and never let go of my hand.

I wish you could have known her.

This painting of hers is probably our favorite. It sums up her life. She loved the Lord, she loved her family, and she loved her neighbor - as herself.



This quilt will lay across her casket tomorrow at noon. It was made by her grandmother for Aline's wedding day. Ironically, tomorrow would have been her 72nd wedding anniversary. How wonderful to know she is in Heaven and she has already seen her beloved husband.
I wish you could have known her. You would have liked her. Everybody did.
May you be so blessed to have people like Aline in your lives. May you be reminded to love them well. Blessings.......Linda

Ahhhhhhh, the Beach in October

Have you ever been to the beach in October? With your favorite people? On your birthday? If not, you are missing out. It is the most glorious time of the year.....no crowds.....no oppressive heat......no sudden thunderstorms......Ah...........

I love the sunrises.......

And check out the moon.....just to the right of the tall palm tree on the left.......

Having some "sister-in-law" time.....

And some "brother-in-law" time......

And some "boy cousin" time.......

And some "girl cousin" time....

Taking walks.....

Searching for.....something????

Flying kites........


Catching the waves!

And more waves.......

Making tall shadows,.....

Sparkling water.......climbing on Papa.......

Sitting in holes in the sand.......

Standing in holes in the sand......

Twin teamwork .......making Cinderella's drippy castle.......And one more glorious sunrise.....Wow!

You know, kingdoms rise and fall, politicians come and go, wars begin and (hopefully) end, decorating trends ebb and flow, shoe styles are "in" and "out", but God's beautiful world never goes out of style and it works like clockwork. Maybe that's part of the fascination and awe of the beach and sunrises........the tides have continued....in....out...in....out....etc. forever..... the sun rises every day - absolutely grabbing you - keeping you transfixed before it - compelling you to watch its grandeur. Maybe He set up the daily sun rise so that we would daily remember the Son Risen! May God bless! Linda