There's A Battle Going On......

At least that's the way I see it. Old Man Winter and Miss Spring are fighting for their position, and neither one want's to give in!





I'm thinking that the season's of the year are not that much different than us humans. Just like us they each have their own personalities.

Old Man Winter, who can be a very grumpy old man, and then other times can be just as mellow as he can be. When he's in a bad mood he like's to blow a lot of cold wind around making us very uncomfortable, trying his best to make us as grumpy as he is. With all the gray skies, bitter cold, rain, sleet, freezing rain, he's doing a pretty good job of it. Then again he does enjoy at times seeing us play in the snow, making snowmen, snow angels and a good old warm cup of hot chocolate.

Then there's Miss Spring who likes to be very, very prissy, flying around like a Fairy, painting everything in sight with bright and vivid colors. Who at times can be very temperamental and likes to pitch a bit of a tantrum by creating havoc with her storms. Overall, loves to make us smile again with her sunshine and the bursting forth of blooms everywhere.

Summer, who is a matronly woman with a little tom-boyish left in her, loves to have fun rolling in the green grass, climbing trees, enjoying life. She can at times have a violent temper and feels she has earned her right to display it with bolts of lightning and throwing thunder around. Being her matronly self though she enjoys seeing the gardens bring forth their bounty, and families enjoying time together as the warmth of summer takes them on much needed together times.

Ahhhh....Fall, a gentle man who enjoys sharing his warm colors, smells of fallen leaves and crisp winds. He likes to blanket us with warmth during the day and let's us bask in the chill of the evening. Giving us those wonderful pumpkins for cooking and carving jack-o-lanterns and bringing us together during a time of Thanksgiving. I'm guessing he's preparing us for his brother that will be coming and could be very grumpy!

Then there is their Mother...Mother Nature, who tries with all her might to keep all of her children in line, without too much fussing and fighting, after all she answers to no one other than The Father, The Creator.

Right now I'm thinking that Mother Nature is trying very hard to calm her son Old Man Winter who's been grumpier than usual this year and has played and played until he's now, down right ornery and really needs to take a nap! In the mean time Miss Prissy Spring has awaken from her nap and is jumping up and down saying "It's my turn, it's my turn, make him go to sleep so I can have a turn" I can just imagine what Mother Nature is saying to herself as she throws out her hands and look's up "Father give me patience"!!

Back to Normal???

During Christmas while out shopping one day, Hubby and I saw this really cool water filter for our kitchen, but since we were buying for others at the time and the price was rather high for our budget, we decided to write the name brand down and do some research on the computer for the same filter perhaps through the manufacturer without the retail markup. We buy a lot of distilled water for drinking, making tea and cooking, not that we don't trust our water company but....we wanted pure water without the chemicals. BINGO, found the water filter and the company linked you to where you could buy, on line as well as the retailers. Well, I decided to order on line with free shipping and a much better price, so I let my fingers do the ordering. At last the second week after Christmas my package arrived!!!! Now I just love seeing my mail lady pull up to my front door, as well as the UPS man, and the FedEx man, because that means we have a prize!! Even though I know what's in the box, I still get the thrill of a child seeing that box.



As I took our prize from the mail lady...rattle, rattle is the sound I hear, hmmmm this can't be good...I tear in the box that is labeled, damaged when received, etc., etc., oh my what is this???? A bunch of hoses, a stainless steel water bottle and a self filtering bottle for when you are on the go....huh, what...where is the invoice??? Crumpled up in the bottom is the invoice, for a dear woman from Hawaii!!!! I look at the box again, no, my name and address is on the box, but what in the world!!! Her invoice and my invoice were one digit off, and after all it was mailed on New Year's Eve.....party anyone???

I contact Customer Service and once again I begin the wait for my package. Low and behold in just a few days I see the mail lady pulling in my driveway again....yeah, my filter is here!!!! Sure enough it was indeed my filter, in one piece surprisingly if you had seen the box!!

I'm thinking I'll surprise Hubby when he gets home by having it all installed and filtering water away, after all how hard can this be!!! Unscrew this, screw this back and bingo....filtered water!!!! Well I did all the unscrewing and screwing just as the instructions said, turned on the water and waaaaa-laaaaaa, I had an explosion of water coming from the kitchen sink!!! Oops lets try this again, re-read the instructions (what's this about an O ring) unscrew, screw, turn the water back on....NOT!!!! Oh well, perhaps it's a man's world after all, so I'll leave this for my man!! I'm doing plenty of "woman's work" by cleaning up all this water!!

Hubby arrives home and our conversation goes like this:

Me: Our water filter came.

Hubby: Good, oh I see you already have it hooked up.

Me: Well, not quite, it kept squirting water everywhere.

Hubby: Did you put the O ring in? (there's that O ring thing again)

Me: I didn't see an O ring, do we have to have one?

Hubby: Yes.

Me: Do we have one?

Hubby: No, I'll have to go to the hardware store, but there should be one there already.

Me: Maybe, I just didn't screw it tight enough.

Hubby: Let me eat my lunch...then I'll take a look.

Hubby: (While looking up in the faucet)There's an O ring already there. (Screw the blasted thing back)!

Ok, now we're ready.....turn the water on and...oh no, water coming from everywhere this time!!!!

Pull out the instructions AGAIN!!!! It reads if leaking occurs (you call this leaking) tighten screws and valves which may become loose during shipping. Ok unscrew whole contraption tighten screw, valves and everything in between put it all back together, hook back up to the faucet and finally......nice filtered pure water!!!



I sure hope the lady in Hawaii had an easier time with her converter kit, from switching from above counter filter to under the sink. The company did send me a self addressed, postage paid box to send her order back.

Yep, I guess things are getting back to normal here in the Hollow after all the festivities. Oh and by the way, I did get the Christmas Wreath off the front door today and the icicle lights down for another year!!

A New Year and Decade!!!!

2009 has gone, and along came 2010 and with it a new decade!!! How exciting, but with the new year and new decade we had to finish up the last with lots of fun!!



Christmas brought each one of the boy's and their significant other and family in, along with our sweet, sweet grand daughter and the thrill and wonder only seen through the eye's of a child!! Lot's of wrapping, decorating, and of course cooking going on around here in the last month!! Then alas, the big day Santa came and brought lots of gifts for young and old, but most important the gift of a baby born in a manager to save and free us all, just for the asking!! Oh boy we had a grand ole time, and I will keep these memories as all of us mother's do deep within my
heart.



One thing I did take note of is the unnecessary things that went on around here!! I'm sure most of you reading this will relate!! I have decided to write a list and tuck it in my Christmas decorations so next year when I start pulling it all out I will remember and remember well!!

1) Do not put up so many decoration's!!! You only have to take them all down when you're exhausted!! After all Jesus was born in a lowly stable, and I'm guessing there were not decorations all over the yard, much less 2 or 3 trees in the house and every corner decorated with Santa's!

2) Do not cook an 8 pound ham when you only need a 4 pound!! You'll only end up eating ham until you feel like oinking!!! After all every one will be so tired by the time they get to your house another piece of pork will gag them!! Not to mention the huge pot of Shrimp and grit's...let's go with just a little ham and biscuits!! Somehow I don't remember a feast in the manger scene.

3) And now the gifts...give one thing that's really meaningful, not all the frills and such, a gift from the heart. Jesus didn't get his first gift until he was, what 2 or 3 years old when the wise men arrived.

Yes we had a wonderful Christmas, and now the new year has arrived along with hopes and wishes and notes from the previous year to learn by.

I pray that God will lead me, as well as each and every one of you reading this in the way he would have us to go in this upcoming year and decade and that we will open our hearts to the way he would have us to go!!

Happy New Year and God Bless each and every one of you, for he has already blessed me beyond belief and still has a lot in store!!!!

DECEMBER...WHAT???? ALREADY????

Where in the world did September, October and November go? December slipped in like a bolt of lightning, boom...and there it is.

Don't get me wrong I love December and all that it brings, but what I don't like is the panicky feeling of rushing around trying to get everything done! Things are picking up here in the Hollow, Decorating, Christmas programs, Caroling, Parties, Drop-in's, Dinners etc.,but what I haven't got going on yet is the shopping!!! Of course I have a few things for the grand, but there is still plenty to be done and the "mood" just hasn't hit me yet!! Perhaps the fact that money is tight is part of the reason, but I'm trying to stay focused on "it's the thought that counts" and not how much or big the gift is, but most of all I'm concentrating on the "Reason" for this beautiful season!!!



While decorating, I always make a special place for our nativity scene, after all it should be the focus of the whole theme of "Christmas" so of course I placed it under the tree, the first present of the holiday our gift from God, our Savior, and as of right now, it's the only and most important present placed beneath that tree!!



This past weekend one of our biggest parties of the season, our precious grand daughters 3rd birthday. We had her party here at the Hollow, and that little girl was so excited over it being "her" day, she couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry!!! She was indeed the Princess of the day. I can only imagine her upcoming excitement brought with the arrival of Christmas morning!!!



So while I get down to the business of shopping, I'm gonna keep in mind that I have a legacy to leave for my children and grandchildren, that while we enjoy our parties and all of the other festivities of this wonderful time of year, while we bake our cookies, watch our favorite Christmas movies, eat all the goodies that are coming our way, making our own traditions to be handed down, the real "Reason" we are celebrating and the most "important" gift that we have already received, free and right before our eye's just for the asking!!

Thanksgiving......

When I was a young girl brought with it lot's of tradition!! We gathered at Grandma's each year and had a wonderful dinner, Turkey, dressing and all the trimmings...then afterward Grandma would provide scarf's to shield our heads from the November chill in the air and off we would head to the wood's!!! Now that I'm a whole lot older and wiser I realize it was for the adults to walk off all that Turkey and gravy but for us youngun's it was the anticipation of picking out the "perfect" Christmas tree!!

We would walk and walk around those woods surrounding that dairy farm looking for the perfect shape, height and width, that would fit into the living room of that farm house!! Along the way, the sound of the Fall leaves crunching beneath our feet, the smell of the woods, the crisp chill of the air and all sorts of treasures to be found nestled beneath those leaves, acorn's, pine cones, and anything else that came to sight were ours to be had!!! Then there is was, the "perfect" tree!!!! Kinda sounds like the Griswolds huh?? Of course Grandma always had a ribbon with her to tie around it so Grandpa could find it in a couple of weeks and cut it down for us to adorn with our ornaments and tinsel!! Now if Grandpa really cut that very tree down, that we'll never know, but what I do know is it was always the "one" we girls picked out!!!

A lot has changed since those day's of youth. I had to face my first Thanksgiving away from my family, I even sent myself a Teleflora bouquet that first year to brighten my spirits...To me..From me!!! I started my own traditions, the day after Thanksgiving, down came the pumpkins and up went the red and green and we would take the boy's to a tree farm to pick out that perfect tree for our living room!! As time evolves so does our children and for a couple of them they are now facing their first Thanksgiving away from home. I know how sad they are and it hurt's this Momma's heart not to have all of her babies with her, but the blessings and love are always there along with her prayers!! I know within my heart this is the beginning of their own traditions and lots of memories to come!!



This year hubby and I changed our pre-week tradition a bit since we are empty nesters, we flew the coup for a few days and headed to the shore!!! Now usually we both are working with a day or two off for Thanksgiving but this year since I'm unemployed he decided to take the week off, so off we headed!! We really had a very nice mini vacation with each other, a time to reflect, gives thanks for all of our many blessings, and caught a wonderful inspiring Christmas Show that really got me
in the spirit!!



As we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, we will still be surrounded by family, a Son and Daughter-in-Law who is more like a Daughter to us,a precious, precious Grand Daughter that still lives close by, not to mention the rest of the Hare Hollow crew where we will gather and give thanks for all of our many blessing's and to enjoy a juicy fat ole turkey!! For our children that are facing their first Thanksgiving away, you know, you are here in our hearts, minds and prayers!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Over the river and through the woods......

Not to grandmothers house I went, but to my parent's house, although they are grandma and grandpa to my children, just Momma and Daddy to me. What a beautiful drive it is!!

This past week I decided I needed, wanted and longed for a visit with my parent's. No they don't still live in the house where I was raised, but their home is my refuge, back to my childhood and the memories that I will carry with me until I'm called home to paradise, a place of beauty and no setting sun.

I find a peace within, driving with nothing but silence and my thoughts, no radio or blaring music, just my thoughts and prayers and the scenes I'm able to glance at while driving.

There's something about crossing the Yadkin River that brings a warm feeling deep within and the countryside of N.C. that makes me "feel" like I'm coming home, you know that feeling of ahhhh this is where my roots are.



The mountain where my parent's live is absolutely beautiful, the peacefulness, the down home feeling you get while shopping at a local general store, the farmers market, the fields of pumpkins, cabbages and Christmas trees are just picture postcard perfect.



While there, my Mom and I took a drive to the Poor Farmers Market and really had a blast driving there, talking and of course I was busy taking pictures...Momma was real patient as I had her slowing down, turning into small pig paths to get the perfect shot, or just stopping so I could get a history lesson of a special woman who contributed a lot to her community.



Alas, home was calling and my visit came to an end for now...hopefully I'll get back across that river before snowy weather sets in, I'm not brave enough to attempt that mountain in the snow and ice but for now I'm happy I had the time with my parent's, thankful for the fact that they raised a God Fearing woman who loves her family and home with all her heart and doing the best I can to bring that warm feeling of "Home" to my husband, children and grandchild.



I've most definitely grown up now and getting home was such a good feeling...warm, cozy and loving...there's no place like home, and as we've all heard "Home is Where the Heart Is", but sometimes it's nice to take a trip now memory lane.

What a day.....

Such a beautiful sight I had as I went out this past Friday morning to feed the cats and start my day with the daily chores. It brought to mind the changes in my life the past year, a lost career, a connection with Mother Earth that lie deep within my soul and somehow slipped away with all the "duties" and "deadlines" of the corporate world, a deep love of my connection with our Heavenly Father, our Creator and maker of all things that surround our life.



As I was taking a walk around Hare Hollow admiring the beauty of the colors that Autumn brings us and thinking that this weekend marked the one year anniversary of the job that ended and the beginning of a new life for me, I thought about my blessings and of course the never ending thought of what next?

As the endeavor continues of my search for a new job the "thanks, but no thanks" letters continue to come in, and can be quite discouraging for a woman who still has a lot of drive and passion within to contribute for years to come. But then I stop and give thanks for all the blessings that have come my way, not to mention all things come to those who wait.



This wait is not in vain and I know within my soul, I am here in this very position and time for a specific reason!!!!! I believe the lessons I have learned in the past year was brought to me for a purpose, to appreciate the earth and what it has to offer, the beauty of nature and the remembrance of those before us that has struggled so hard to preserve it all.



So as I continue on this journey, I'm enjoying each and every day and the surprises and lessons that I learn, and hopefully pass on a few of these to my children and grand's so that they can continue, and preserve this precious gift of earth and life for generations to come.



Yes, I'm still unemployed in the public sector at this moment...but I have a big job ahead of me....teaching all I know about the beauty around us, ways to preserve it for future generations, and most importantly the grace that awaits us all. I may be a mature mule, but I'm not just grazing in the pasture!!