Etsy SALE 30% OFF

 30% OFF EVERYTHING IN MY ETSY SHOP!

This is my first time trying a coupon at Etsy, so please feel free to gimme a holler if you have any trouble

CODE:  barefoot30

Sale ends Aug. 5

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Ready....Set....Go.....

I know it's been a sizzling summer, for what seems like an eternity already.... however, when my Hibiscus starts blooming.... to me, Official Summer has truly arrived!

READY.......

SET.............

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..................

This baby has been a faithful bloomer for a good ten years now.  They have the dinner plate sized flowers, 8 1/2 - 9" across.  Deep red monster blooms!  Can't wait to see my little grandson's reaction to these.  He's always wanting to smell the flowers...  we're still working on the INHALE not EXHALE when he does! LOL

He's always a wonderful reminder, in my busy life, to stop and smell the flowers! 

So that is my prayer for ya'll today .... stop and smell the flowers, enjoy the little things God has given us!

Have a great day my friends!

Fun in the Sun

We've been having a midwest heat wave that seems worse than I can recall from past summers.  It could be me getting older -- but -- nah!   ;o)   The older I get the more I'm so thankful for working air conditioning! 

I can remember when our kids were little, no air!  I wonder how we made it sometimes, even though I of course, grew up without this modern convenience. Maybe because we were young, maybe because you do what you have to do to get by.  Lots of sprinklers for the kids to run through and little wading pools to splash in... even tried one of those slip 'n slides one year - boy did my husband complain about the dead grass strip on that one!

There's no end in sight for this brutal heat wave until at least next Friday!  So if you're dealing with this ugly beast... keep cool anyway you can and I'll be saying some prayers for ya.

So... there's this park near us and my daughter tells me they put in a Free little water park! We took my (recently 2 year old) grandson there the other day and oh boy - what a blast! Even gramma got wet! There is simply nothing sweeter in this world than the sound of your kids or grandkids laughter!  It makes your heart lighter and you can't help but have a big 'ol goofy grin on your face!

My creations are down to a mild roar this summer and that's ok. Between some health issues I'm dealing with and just enjoying my family....  it's been refreshing and relaxing. Everyone needs to recharge those batteries!

So how are you keeping cool this year? 

Be safe and keep cool my friends!

Patriots in the family

We all have them ... ancestors that in some way... fought in, helped or served in some kind of war/conflict or another... whether on the battlefield, your neighborhood or keeping the home fires burning. Most of the causes of war seemed to be freedom in some form or another. Our history is supposed to teach us the future, but sadly, I wonder how much we really learn and retain from the past.

With the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War this last April, it got me to thinking of some of my ancestors.  I did extensive genealogy years ago and uncovered some amazing things.  Even though I've had ancestors that fought in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, the Civil War, etc.... it was one ancestor in particular.... a certain thing that happened in 1863, that has had me thinking just how one instance can happen and poof.... the line ends right then and there... and I'd never be here writing this.

You see, during July of 1863, our country was still in the midst of the horrendous "Civil" War.  One branch of my family was located in Kansas when William T. "Bloody" Bill Anderson and some 25 bushwackers of Quantrill's Raiders, came through here. One of the farms that Anderson ended up at was my ancestor's, Stephen Payne. (Stephen already had his two oldest sons enlisted in the Kansas Infantry and one in the Calvary).

His wife hid all the children under the floor and Stephen was shot and killed right on his property. He was 46.  At the time, my great great grandpa, Alfred, was just under a year old.  It was just one terrible event that was to change their lives forever and shake the community to its core.

It's amazing to read the story of that fateful day. Anderson and his guerrillas riding across the country side, killing, plundering, burning homes. And after the dead were laid to rest, how the community came together and one by one, rebuilt their neighbors homes, as they tried to rebuild their lives with such great losses.

There's so much more to the story, and I'm sure ya'll don't have time for everything... ;o) ....  however, I was just thinking of this period in time as I was making my blackberry jam this morning and felt the need to write it down.  Even though several lost their lives, they never found my great-great-grampa or any of the other children.... and because of that... I'm here! When you think how fragile life can be, it sure makes ya want to make every minute count. 

~ Thanks for joining me for a few moments back in time

and have a blessed day my friends ~

Happy 4th of July!!

Can you believe it's that time already!
I love this time of year! Independence Day!
And my grandson will be a whole 2 years old on the 6th! Woo-Hoo!
Time sure fly's when you're having fun!

I want to wish each and every one of you a wonderfully fun and safe holiday.
As a little gift for you, on my FREE page
are some cool little Patriotic pics for you to download!
(click above where it says FREE to my Prim Friends)

And there's still time to take advantage of my website sale!
40% off EVERYTHING!
How cool is that!
Click Here for MY WEBSITE