'Twas Four Days 'Til Christmas...

At The Farm,
I was dreaming,
Then heard the alarm!

Git up, sleepy head!
You have four days to go
Family to be fed
Start where, I don't know!

I sprang from my bed,
And fell to the floor,
Had tripped on the clothes
Left by my door!

Ran to kitchen,
With less than delight,
I cried as I saw an amazing site,
The sink brimmed with dishes from last night!

My floor was all dirty,
From farm boot steps,
There were mounds of sand,
Dropped and just left.

The clothing all piled
From ceiling to floor
My hopes for completion
Flew out the door!

Just then I heard
A knock at the door
My sister, Beverly
Wait, there's more!

Armed with a broom
Vacuum and mop.
Let's get this place cleaned.
Chop! Chop!

Sand disappeared,
The dishes did too,
The clothes were all folded
Then she was through!

Wait just a minute,
My presents are wrapped
How does she does that
Without even a nap?

Now we sit
With our feet propped up,
Holding hot cocoa
Steaming from the cup.

Gotta go now, Gail
Got things to do
The Pinto roaring loudly
And the cows mooed.

I heard Bev exclaim
As she drove outta site,
That's the last time I'm cleaning
We're going to fight.

A smile lit her eyes
As away she did drive
You know I'm just kidding
You've just have to try.

Written by Gail In A Holiday Funk

Picking Spanish Needles...

while I bless them. I'm sure all of you know them. Those tall plants with the pretty flowers that the butterflies and bees just love. Also known as Black Jack, Farmer's Friend, and Hairy Beggarsticks. The scientific name Bidens pilosa does not make it any more fun to pick off your pants, shirt, socks, coat and sometimes your underwear.

Well, since I was griping, you know me, I had to do research! I actually found a site where people want seeds of this plant. I wish I had their phone number. I would give them all they can pick!

It is also used as a cooked green. Stop, listen to me, DO NOT PLANT SPANISH NEEDLES!!! They grow where ever they get a toe hold. They survive along fences very well. Walking down the fence row, I looked like a porcupine with mange! I felt like a pin cushion, a needle magnet, and a drug addict all at the same time.

You must not call this plant a wildflower and nurture it. It is a weed, rip it out by the roots! Burn it! Do not let one seed go to the ground!

We finished one section of fence, pierced as we were. Den pushed up some fallen trees(the reason for the fence damage) cut a couple off the fence. We are still cleaning up from the tornado in early spring (F4). Straightened, stretched and hammered, one side is finished.

...and you thought I was gonna gripe about snow!!

Whacky Wednesday

Just liked this picture Marcy took when she and my nephew, Toni, were visiting a thrift/flea market/second hand thingy store.

I think, which part of my crazy life do I talk about today?

Can't talk about work, except that it is busy.

Can't talk about the ice, already did that. Will have to wait for new ice.

Can't talk about the cows, don't want to.

Horses are long haired.

Dogs are staying in a warm spot, except when I am trying to sleep, then they are barking at coyotes or deer or the wind.

I am feeling nauseous but I sure do not want to talk about that...and I'm not pregnant.

I am sitting here with my computer in the same room with my husband watching tv. Now how dumb is that? He is watching some shooting competition and I hear Standby, shooting, then standby again. I place his shooting muffs over my ears to cut the noise but STANDBY is still coming through! I have to move this computer!!!!

Wasn't gonna talk about that either!

So I guess it is time to thank all of you for helping me keep, regain, find my sanity. Thank you for listening and thank you for answering.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

More Home Pictures

Are you saying geeze, Louise enough already! We are tired of looking at your old farm house. Can't you decorate with something more up to date? Do you ever buy anything new? Why would anyone hang that? How weird is she?

I can answer most of those. I am just so proud of my early Christmas present from Beverly! I want to show it off. I decorate with what I like and when it has a story, it makes it even nicer. I enjoy a bargain. Why pay a hundred for a lamp, if you could find one, when you can buy one that someone doesn't want anymore? I do buy things new...occasionally, like my washer and dryer. And, yes, I am weird, strange, different, unique and all those other good words.

This in the entry hall. My halters and ropes are decoration and close to grab as I go out the door. The table I made out of an old sewing machine bottom I found in the barn and the top to a gas stove that was falling apart. The mirror is old and second hand, of course. Where the halters are hanging are the coat hooks Dad put up. This is white pine board but the finish has aged through the years. This wood was also grown, cut, and finished by Mom and Dad. The bag is my hunt rocks and things bag and the bird was just one I loved at a junk store.


The other side of the hall is a five dollar mirror (yard sale), Dad's road sign fastened with a chain. The sign helped Dad a lot after he got Alzheimer's. It helped him know he was not lost. He never did forget his name.

Now here is my weird corner, I have some more weird than others. This painting is by a wonderful artist, Alix Baptiste. I met him in Savannah, Georgia when I was visiting my friend Belinda. We were at Savannah Marketplace. Alix had many styles of paintings. I like the primitive art of this one and all the bright colors. I did buy this new. The feather mask is attached to wreath with a magnetic necklace. Told you, weird!

We have made a small circle back to the sitting area. I do not like this gas stove, imitating heat when there is a real fireplace behind it, bricked up. Oh, well, things are changing slowly. I do love the fireplace. Each rock was hand picked by Mom and Dad. The center stone which the light comes through is an old grinding rock. In this fireplace rock work you can find fossils, petrified wood, odd shapes and wonders. My poor pitiful tv table is Granny Pruett's. On the mantle, left to right: Mom's kerosene lamp, a flower candle, a pineapple candle, Spike the dog, Mom and Dad's eight day clock, with civil war buckle and horse knife in front. Toward the end are Uncle Otis's hand whittled rocking chair, a small statue, a chocolate candle and another one of my paintings.

My home is humble, my memories are great. Thanks for letting me share them with you.

Showing Off!

Our master bedroom. I know it's not every one's idea but we love it. The walls are one inch tongue and groove black walnut, cut and cured from this farm.

The center magnolia was sent to me by my bestest friend in Georgia. It was painted by the president of some flower club in Savannah, Georgia. It is very old and had been donated to the VFW. Belinda sent it to me. I matted and framed it and it is now my centerpiece.
The two round matching pictures are from Aunt Evah (gone) and painted by McCoy(???). I do not think it is the real McCoy
The last side pictures are very old prints my sister, Marcy, gave me from a yard sale. The lamps I found at a yard sale. The side tables I purchased at a surplus furniture store.Now for the headboard! Made from a long piece of cardboard covered in quilt batting and finished off with cloth. Not one bit of sewing! Glue and staples. May not be for all people but I am very happy with it.
Another corner...being short on closets, this is my solution...JC Penney. Dollar store lamp, thrift store cat and a vase of collected rocks.
More bedroom...are you sick of me yet??? Yard sale tree, chests, and lamp. Statue from a vacation, hiding bird from a thrift store, Picture(very old) from Bev, candles and holders from Marcy.

Andrew and I have finished the tree. This year we are using his mom's white tree 'cause she took our green one. I love live ones but these sure are easy to clean up. Under the tree, not quite how I want it yet, is a handmade quilt by Mom and Grandma.The pattern is called Monkey's Wrench. It is completely hand made with old feed sacks and a red material. I always use it for Christmas.
This is my favorite table. I bought it at a second hand store. Just came in from Pennsylvania. Six legs with wood inlaid top. Had it for years and still love it. Yard sale lamp, dollar store clock, Mom's doily, horse from ebay, and flowers from Den's mom, vase from my sister Bev and footstool and plates from Marcy.


My sitting area in our bedroom, where I read, paint, write, or watch tv or just sit staring mindlessly into space. My spot...everyone needs one. I can invite people in or lock the door.The love seat is second hand, the coffee table a Mother's Day gift from Hubby years ago. The carpet is a scrap.


My TRUE corner as you can tell by the piles! Chairs were a trade, blanket was a gift, pillows made by me, footstool goes with another chair, giraffe with one ear broken with flower inserted(my favorite drink table), book bench rescued from outside,and yard sale lamp.My window view...notice all the ice! I get cold just looking out.

The reason I played hooky...I do not think old PT would move IF I could get doors open. Doesn't look like much trouble for y'all up north but this is ICE!
I'm gonna slide out and feed and water but must dress warmly and hold onto to things to keep from busting my b.... uh, to keep from falling down.