Trip to the Beach

FLORIDA...FINALLY!

Trying to get away for any length of time for us is a chore, especially in the spring because of foaling time for mares. However, my husband had to work a horse show in Panama City Beach, rats, and I finally got my breather in the surf and sand. Thank the Lord for a high pressure that brought sunny skies all week! I didn't take alot of pictures, too busy being a beach bum, but got a few from the beach and our balcony of the condo. My brother, Jim, and his wife, Teri, were on vacation there the same week, so we were able to spend some good time with them with lunch out at our favorite oyster bar, and a fun evening at the horse show. Of course my husband was working all week, and didn't get the r & r that I did, but he did spend about a half an hour on the beach with me. That is about his max anyway! A mare foaled while we were gone and did great, a healthy filly.

White Stepback Redo

How do you like it white? This old stepback cupboard was in disrepair, had a botched up finish, and needed alot of TLC. After my husband did a wonderful job of repairing it, I painted it red, even though the inside was white. I regretted painting it red, it never seemed to be right with the cupboard. So, I took liberty to give it the white coat I felt it was longing for. I did some distressing and a little aging and here is how it turned out.

Goodbye to red.

While I was working in my antique shed, I took a picture of this old sewing machine cover. I have used it for years for magazines because two rows will sit side-by-side just perfectly, and I could put all my current issues and catalogs in it. However, I have two of them, and decided to part with one. This one is really nice as it has the carved design on the front. I am selling it on my sales blog Country Charisma Antiques.

I also took a couple pictures of this New England cupboard I got a Brimfield several years ago. It is really a cute primitive cupboard with a scooped back splash, and nice wide shelves. There are still traces of old blue paint which show with the old black paint still on it. I have not done any changes, it is as it was. It is a nice size for a linen chest or even to set up a flat sceen TV since it is about 36 inches tall and has alot of storage below. It has one-board sides, shelves, and top. I am also featuring it on my sales blog.

HE IS RISEN!

Geese preparing to nest on our pond.
Field of mustard on the farm.

Grandson Nick, fishing at the falls.

Rutledge Falls, near Tullahoma, TN

Two of our mares and their foals.

Blessings to all of you! Celebrate our risen King! Happy Easter!

Wisteria Arbor

Three years ago, I planted this wisteria vine, but did not have any trellis for it to climb on. It twisted and wound it's way around every plant and bush in the garden until I could stand no more. So, last Spring I loaded up the materials at the lawn and garden store to build an arbor, and at last, give it a home. Most of the early buds were knocked off in the construction and the training of the vines, so there was no bloom. But this year, we have color! Not huge, but noticable color. As the vine matures, I will train it to cover the entire arbor, but for now, I am so delighted. It does my heart good to welcome springtime with blooms, especially as we celebrate the Ressurrection of our Lord! New Life! All things new! (Even the bumble bee in the first picture).

I drew out the design and intended for the arbor to be my project, but when my husband came home from work and found me chomping away with the post hole diggers, he came to the rescue. I was thankful, as it turned out to be a bigger project than I anticipated. Great guy.
Even the lilacs are showing their glory.

The fish pond had some little patches of color cropping up around it.

Easter Centerpiece

Egg candle centerpiece
I put together this Easter centerpiece shown here on my old butcherblock. I have since moved it to my sunroom and placed it in the center of our vintage white iron dining table to welcome guests for Spring. I saw this in a magazine a couple of years ago, then added my own ideas. I actually made one last year in a different container, and the grandsons loved it. Start with a bowl, turneen or favorite pot. I put some bubblewrap in the bottom of my transferware casserole, then made a bed of some live moss from the woods. Using brown egg shells washed out after cooking the eggs, I put tea lights in many of the shells, and turned others over for "color". I lit the candles for my birthday in March, but will light again!

Another Sunday Trailride

Sunday was a beautiful day here in Tennesse. I had not had much time or good weather on a weekend to get out and trailride. My firiend Lauren, and I, decided to go back to TWRA land that runs along the Duck River in Columbia, Tn. We visited this place last fall but did not know where to go and there is no trail map, so just made our way around. This time we met these nice folks who ride there all the time. We were able to ride with them and they showed us the main trails and some off-the-main trails. We rode a good 6 hours and made some really nice aquaintances with our riding friends. We rode into the Duck River several times to let the horses drink and take a break. One of the river stops had the stone foundation for an old bridge and the remains of an old dam from a mill house which can be slightly seen from some of the pictures. Near the end of our journey we passed this wonderful old plantation home. The home was a historical site and now owned by TWRA as part of land they purchased thirty years ago to build a flood control lake. The dam was never built, so all of this land is where we now ride trails. It was a nice break to get out away from it all for the day. Now, I am going to sell "Fire", the roan horse I am riding, because I have 4 other trail horses at home. He is well trained and a wonderful trail mount for an experienced rider. I have his mother as my regular trail horse and will keep her since she is my favorite.

Lauren on Gumby, her 3 yr old she raised from her stallion and mare.

Tommy and his wife, new trail riding friends.

Paula and her daughter, also new trail friends.

Lauren in the Duck River with old bridge stone behind her.

Me on Fire in the Duck.

Lauren and Gumby looking upstream toward the old dam.

Fire and Gumby, ready to go again after a break.

Spring is Sprung and A Giveaway

Thank goodness Spring is arriving here in TN. It has been a long cold winter. Everyone is in good spirits just getting to see some sunshine. I have let my desk pile up this week just to get outside and do some early gardening and landscape cleanup. It does the soul good to work in the soil, clean out flower beds, and see nature come back to life. I planted some peas, spinach and strawberry plants and started seeds in flats in the greenhouse. Our first foal was born 2 weeks ago and the second one came last weekend. I could stay outside ALL DAY if it were feasible.

Now for the TRIPLE GIVEAWAY. Isabel from Maison Douce http://isabellang.blogspot.com/ is celebrating her 100th post with three wonderful giveaway choices. If you are not a follower of her blog, you will be delighted when you go there. (I don't know how to do a link to her blog yet, but will figure it out and post it tonight). She is such an interesting lady, extremely talented, and a gifted writer. Even though I haven't met her in person, I can tell she is a wonderful girl to know. Go visit her blog,which is on my side bar, and tell her Carrell sent you! Have a blessed day! Carrell

First Spring Daffodils

First White Tulip Magnolia


First flowers from my greenhouse .




First Foal, TN Walking Horse colt newborn.