Fit Bit Obsession...

I know I have a fit bit obsession. I got away from it for a little while because some of the friends slowed down walking and it just did not seem so important for a little while. Well I have some new friends and they have been doing daily challenges with me. I love it! I have been walking my but off trying to stay in the competition. I was also down a pound today. My husband and I have been taking a mile walk at night. I love walking with him in the dark. Tonight was a good night the moon is getting close to being full. I love winning!!

Tonights steps!

We got some rain yesterday and 1inch. I was so happy I just stood at the door and watched it rained. Thank you God for the rain!! 

Well I am going to bed I am so tired. Thanks for stoping by.

Hardwares....

I love old stuff. I miss things from when I was little. I loved going in hardwares stores. Especially the little local owned ones. We still have an hardware store in Seagrove that has old things in it. Old men still sit around and talk.

I remember when we lived in Pineville NC when I was in the 2nd grade so I was 8 years old. I went with my mom to the small town hardware that was similar to this one. Back then Pineville was a tiny little town. Well anyway we went in there to pick up my daddy some 10 penny nails to build rabbit boxes with. We went in an my mom and the worker in the store asked my mom if he could help her. She told him she needed some 10 penny nails to build me a rabbit hutch to keep and rabbit in. Me being the kid I was argued with her because I knew daddy was going to build rabbit boxes to catch rabbits in to eat. I loved eating fried rabbit with gravy and biscuits. Yummy!!  She and I argued a few seconds with her giving me the evil eye. When we got in the car I was in trouble. She got on to me for arguing with her. Well I came right back at her telling her she was lying to the man why daddy needed the nails for. That is when she explained to me that there was a game warden in the hardware store also and that daddy needed a hunting license to trap rabbits. Oh well I did not know. We went home and made some rabbit boxes and we caught a lot of rabbits that winter. I loved doing things with my dad!

I could make a whole blog on stories about my dad and I. I really should write the memories down or blog them so I never forget. A lot of the stories are great memories while others were so sad but I never want to forget any of them because it was my life! I miss you daddy. Wish you were still here making memories with me and my boys. 

Geese and Skunks....

I have a little sad news one of the baby geese is missing. We went over to the pond today and there were only 3 babies and the mom and dad. It made me so sad. We looked around the pond but we did not see any signs of the baby or evidence that something killed it. This was taken the day before.

Also today we went over to take the donkeys some apples and we noticed that 2 cows were standing and staring. I said wonder what they see? The farmer said he thought they were grass starring. Well in a few minutes I saw something black moving around in the grass. At first I thought it was the cat that hangs around the house but no it was a skunk!! The farmer has been seeing a few skunks around and one of my goals this summer was to get a picture of it and I did. 

We tried to get him to raise his head up and look but he was busy looking for something to eat. I was so excited. I wish I could have gotten some better shots. I took probably 20 to 30 shots but he would not be still and look. He also was probably about 50 to 60 yards from us. I was not about to get any closer to him. I did not want to get sprayed. We also have some ground hogs that live around here and I also want to get a picture of it. Wish me luck!

Yesterday my lily opened up. 

I think it is called a lolly pop lily. 

Tomorrow it should have 2 more blooms. I will take another picture when they open.

Wonderful Weekend...

I had a wonderful weekend! I took my portraits of my mother in law. I think I did a pretty good job and the farmer helped me out. Also the Farmer took to an old church in Troy called Shiloh Methodist Church I got some wonderful photos of the church and the grounds.

My mother in law. 

Shiloh Church

Old outhouse on the grounds

The herb garden and other side of church

lighting in the church

Cross in the church

Old water pump

can you not just see food everywhere and people.

On Saturday we went to a goat sale. It was so much fun. I would love to have some more goats one day.

Baby goats

Big Buck goat

I did not take this picture but I saw the goat doing this to another boy. This is a friends son.

 We had our Mommy Nite Out and The Preppy Possum came to church and we did a painting. It was a blue mason jar with hydrangea in them. I really want to do this again. I did not do a great job on mine but I was proud of myself. 

We also took a ride  over to the pond on Sunday evening and I got a picture of a doe. I also took some more pictures of the baby geese they are growing. 

I thought this was so cute

Baby geese

Look the green beans are coming up and now they need some rain. I was in the house cleaning the kitchen up and I heard the bottom fall out. Thank you God for the rain. I Pray that the rain keeps coming all summer.

Green beans

Well I guess I better stop here. Thanks for stopping by.

Photography

I am enjoying my class and I feel like it has taught me a few new things. Todays assignment is to take a portrait. Since my family members are not cooperative I asked my mother in law would she be my subject and she has agreed. I am a little nervous on taking her picture because she is so critical of herself. It is not the perfect weather day for it either a little cloudy and cool. I hope that I do a good job.  I will share in a few days how it turned out.

I like taking pictures of birds and wildlife and wish I was able to get more. Yesterday there was a baby chickadee that raised in a pottery birdhouse that has just flew out of the nest.

Here is mom feeding the baby a few days ago

Mom feeding

baby on the ground yesterday

Baby flew up in the tree

baby singing or calling for mom

I got a new picture of the baby geese they are really growing

I love how they were swimming on each side of her.

The indgo bunting and the summer tanager are back I love taking pictures of them and they are so photogenic.

I also captured a new bird yesterday at the pond I think it is an Eastern Kingbird

I think it is a pretty bird

My assignment for my class last week was to capture movement. They gave example to take picture of water in the sink flowing on a ladle. I think it turned out cool.

I am still trying to decide what picture I want to use for the photography contest. I have posted one of a tufted titmouse I took at the end of winter. I can not remember if I have shared this. 

how cute

Well thanks for stopping by I that you enjoyed my photos

Weight entry.....

Well here it is May 12 and I have not lost anything since Christmas. I know why because I have not been  committed  to eat healthy. It is getting close to time to wear shorts and sleeveless shirts and i am still over 200 pounds. I have started reading this book called "Made to Crave Satisfying your Deepest Desires with God and Not Food" by Lysa Terkeurst. I like that she reminds us that we need to find your "Want to". Why do you want to lose the weight? I really just want to be healthier for myself. It is not about looking good it is more about feeling better. I really feel like if I lost 60 more pounds that I would feel better. My knees, my feet, and acid reflux. The author also made me think about how God made us to crave. She also asked this question "Is it possible we love and rely on food more than love and rely on God?" Think about it. I do plan most of my days on what will I eat today. What am I going to fix for supper. I can not wait to get a drink and a candy bar or my favorite lets go get something for supper then I don't have to worry about cooking.

I am so good at giving excuses or just saying who cares when I know in my heart that I care and God cares. Also I would love to find a easy way out or that it would just happen because I walked 3 miles twice a week and I log my food on my fitness pal. But nothing changes. I love this "We want the results but have no desire to put in the work required." That is me... I am not totally giving up unhealthy foods for healthy ones to lose the weight. I may stay in my calorie range but have not eat any veggies. Or just eating way over my calories one day and doing better the next day but then that never happens.

I need to pray! I need to turn to God when I am feeling sad, mad, or just not caring if I eat or not. I need to pray for guidance and courage and strength to do this. I have really been working on my relationship with God, praying more, reading the bible and my daily devotions. I have been taking pictures more, staying outside more and really working on my spiritual self but I have been neglecting my getting healthy and trying to take care of myself. I have been trying to work on my mind and my anger. Trying to get through issues that I did not want to admit that were bothering me. I have been searching and reading stuff trying to find the answer to my weakness to give in to food. I am hoping that by turning to God that I will find the answers to all of my questions.

Those of you that read my blog please pray for me.
Thank you for stopping by.

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful mothers day!! Manicotti for lunch and homemade strawberry ice-cream. After lunch the farmer said lets take a ride and get out of the house I said ok. So we get cleaned up and take off. I asked the farmer where we were going but he would just say we are riding. We ended up in front of Kay's Jewelers in Southern Pines. The farmer bought me a beautiful ring for Mother's Day a big surprise!!

It was memorial day where my mom is buried and I put flowers on hers, my grandparents, my aunt and my uncle & cousins graves. 

Uncle Boyds, Aunt Ann and Chris

My aunt Mildred, My grandpa and granny, My moms

My Moms

My Granny and grandpa

my aunt Mildred

Sometimes it is hard for me to believe that this much of my family has passed away. 

I also had my mother in law to take a picture of me and my family for mother's day.

My family!

The farmer and his mom

Me and the farmer!

It was a great day now back to the diet!! I have got to stop talking about it and do it! Please Pray for me.

Thanks for stopping by.

Mother's Day

Today has been a beautiful day. Mother's Day is coming up Sunday. I love being a mom but I miss my mom like crazy! It is not fair that I don't get to share this with her and any other moment in my life. It is also memorial day at the cemetery that she is buried at. They are calling for rain so I hope that I can get the flowers on the graves and get pictures before the rain comes in. I am sharing the post from USA Today. I hope that you enjoy.

This is in Jenna Rose, Special for USA TODAY1:17 p.m. EDT May 8, 2015

May 10th, 2015

Today sucks, I know. It's going to be hard. But so is every day since you lost your mother.

There is absolutely no love in this world like the love of a mother. There is a void that cannot and will not ever be filled, no matter what anybody tells you. You don't miss her today any more than you will tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after that. Today, Mother's day, is just another painful reminder that she is no longer physically here. As you watch friends celebrate with their moms, please remember that yours is tucked away deep down in your heart where she will forever stay.

As the wind blows through your hair, know that it is her gentle and loving touch. As the warmth of the sun shines on your face please remember the warmth in your mother's heart through all of the days she had on this earth. She didn't want to ever leave you and she still hasn't left you. Your mother was greater than this world. I know sometimes life just doesn't seem fair and it never will but please, please don't cry today, for your mother would want nothing more than to see you smile.

I feel the pain within your heart as another day passes by without her. She doesn't want you to be sad. She wants you to honor her life in the best way possible, and that way is to live it. Live it for you. Live it for her. I know it is sometimes easier said than done and sometimes words just don't help and I know this because I lost my beautiful 48-year-old mother almost two years ago when I was 24.

I have come to find that the best way to heal is to remember. Remember her. Remember the sorrow, remember the love, remember everything. Talk to her, she's always listening. And simply cherish the time you did have with her and the memories you have made.

I want you to know that on this day, you are not alone. You are never alone. All of our mother's are watching over us from heaven this Mother's Day… and every day, for the rest of our lives.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the motherless children out there. Today is your day too. Celebrate her, start a new tradition, live life to the fullest, and most importantly remember that even through the darkest of days, life still goes on.

-Jenna Rose Lowthert

Jenna Rose is a 25-year-old self-published author and blogger. She is an inspiration expert and shares her insights on grief and daily life. Jenna lost her 48-year-old mother in 2013 to lung cancer. Jenna's book, "Life Goes On.. ?" can be purchased on Amazon.

Stuff around the farm....

Had a great day for picture taking. We went over to the pond and there was a wild turkey.

The mama goose and her four babies and daddy were in the pond.

The farmer turned over the garden today. He turned the crimson clover in. The dirt is so rich and red. I am so ready to get it planted and have some fresh vegetables. We planted 8 rutgers tomatoes in our raised beds here close to the house. I thought I had taken pictures of the raised bed but I did not, maybe next time.  I have a roma tomato coming up in my herb bed. I also have 2 strawberry plants they are blooming and have tiny green strawberries on them. 

Farmer turning the clover in

Rich red dirt

one of my strawberry plants

I am not doing to well with my diet. I just can not find my will power. Oh well maybe it will soon arrive. 

Thanks for stoping by.