Miscellany Updates

Not a very interesting title, but my brain is going 90 to nothing and that's the best I could do.  What's one to do!

Since I have so much to do today before my CountryBoy comes home tonight (YAY!!!!!) let's get right to the update shall we?

Animal update:

Hunter is recovering nicely from his declawing surgery last Wednesday.  I know, I hated to do it to him but I figured it would be less stressful on everyone in the 5th wheel if he weren't tearing it up.  He got his last dose of pain medicine this morning but still has four more days of antibiotics twice a day.  He takes his pills rather well for a cat.  I have found that giving them to him while he's lounging on the bed on his back (don't worry, I put him down when he's ready to get down rather than letting him jump) is the easiest way.  I open his mouth and because of his position, the pill goes to the back of his throat and he swallows it right away.  Whew!

Here's Hunter before his surgery lounging in LizzieBelle's crate.  I was thankful that he went in there on his own before the surgery because he had no problem going in there afterwards to rest rather than jumping on the bed.  He was able to come and go in there since I never closed the door but he seemed to be content.  I think he was just trying to get LizzieBelle's goat by sleeping in there!

He is walking around  fairly well now and is dying to go outside.  Unfortunately, his days of being outdoors are over.  If I hadn't used up most of my brain cells with this move I would have started to train him in the litterbox before his surgery but I just didn't think about it.  So, he had to learn how to use it afterwards and finally gave it go last night.  In fact, he was the first to use it even when our older cat knew how to use the box from days ago.  He's such a good, smart boy!  I have to pick up some more special litter that has to be used for ten days.

Trailer update:

The trailer is here!  I drove yesterday from Central Florida to South Georgia to pick up the cargo trailer that I had ordered online.  Do you know how scary it is purchasing something online and adding options and yet you've never physically seen the item that you're purchasing and have to trust that it's not a scam?!  Yea, I was a little nervous but I had to trust the Lord that all would work out well.

And, it did.  There was a little setback when we tried to hook up the trailer because of the spare tire that is located on the back of my Jeep.  Once we were able to get the tire off (another problem because of a special lug nut for avoiding theft) there was no problem getting it hooked up.  But, while I was hooking it up, I noticed a defect at the bottom of the shaft that raises and lowers the trailer.  It was all smashed in on one side.  They graciously changed it out and then I was on my way.

The Jeep handled the trailer really well.  It was extremely windy yesterday yet the trailer hardly swayed at all.    The traffic on the interstate was horrendous from the moment I got on it until the moment I got off.  Nothing like getting practice pulling a trailer in thick traffic right off the bat!

Overall, I am pleased with the trailer, the options were put in correctly and it was a good purchase.  It wasn't all peaches & cream along the way but, in the end, it all worked out!

Now, I will buy some shelves to put on one side of the trailer for vertical storage.  

Fence update:

Half of the line posts were installed yesterday.  The guys will be back tomorrow and Monday to finish it up.

Packing update:

I don't even want to go there.  Still so much that needs to be packed.

Husband update:

CountryBoy flies in tonight, YAY!!!  Even though I have so much to do before going to pick him up, tonight just won't get here fast enough!

Christmas Gift update:

All store-bought gifts have been purchased.  I still have a bit more to do on the handmade gifts.  And yes, I  know there are only THREE more days until Christmas!

Another abstract flower shot from one of my bouquets.

I hope y'all have a great weekend!  Mine, will be busy...

Till next time,

Many Thanks

I want to say thanks for the kind words y'all said after my opinionated post on the Connecticut shooting.  I hesitated in writing it and I even considered turning off the comments because, let's face it, even though we all have a right to have and share our own opinions we all know a few people who get bent out of shape over opinions.  But that's a whole different issue and one I'd rather not get into *smile*!

It blessed my heart and encouraged me that there are other people that have the same values as I and see the need to get back to the basics of God and family.

I also want to thank those of who you said a prayer for me last Sunday evening.  The cantata went well.  The choir did an outstanding job and made my job of directing pretty easy.

I have to say that I have a whole new respect for those that lead music, whether it be a choir, orchestra or band.  Talk about multi-tasking!  They read the music, follow the words, watch for time changes, listen for missed notes or parts to be worked on later, all while waving their arms or batons around in the air!  Yep, a whole new respect for their talent.

After I cut the choir off on the last note, I breathed a sigh of relief, gave a huge smile and nod of approval to the choir then made those that were seated stand while I stepped aside.

The congregation was on their feet and clapping.  I think they enjoyed it!

All the hard work from the choir, sound tech, lighting tech/Pastor and stage manager paid off.

I received two beautiful bouquets of flowers.  One from my family...

 and one from the church...

Aren't they beautiful?  I think I was as red as some of the flowers!

It was a lovely evening.  I led the congregation in singing a couple of Christmas carols; the children made their handbell choir debut, sang a song with hand motions and recited a poem leaving the choir with a hard act to follow then the Pastor said a few words (OK, a lot of words, but that's what Pastor's do, hahaha!)!

Then, of course, their was food afterwards with a visit from Santa!

Now this week, I can concentrate on everything that needs to be done last minute when moving, fun, fun!

So, thanks again!  Y'all are the best!

Till next time,

Simply Saturday & A Photography Challenge

In my efforts to simplify our lifestyle over the past several months, my guest room has become the 'catch-all' room for those items that I have decided I don't need anymore or I'm not sure what to do with.  It looks more like a hazardous waste zone at the moment rather than a guest room!

YIKES!

We have company coming next weekend so I will be focusing on getting that room in order, pronto!  I don't know about y'all, but, on projects that require some decision making, I usually need a motivating factor to get it done.  Having company is my motivating factor and I am thankful for it!  We can't wait to see and visit with my brother and sister-in-law!

What needs to be done?  I need to continue sorting through recipes and deciding whether to keep or toss it.  My decision factor?  If it contains items that I don't normally keep stocked in my pantry or is difficult to obtain in my neck of the woods then it's tossed.  Simple as that.  It just takes time to go over the recipes.

What else needs to be done this week to get the guest room back in shape?  Finding a place to store the items that are not currently in use but that I am not getting rid of such as a hand-carved end table we brought back from Honduras, a telescope, a one-of-a-kind, handmade, octagon kitchen table (that is my sewing table at the moment) and four chairs, stack of magazines I haven't read yet and paperwork that I don't know if I need to keep or can toss.  Decisions, decisions...  Get the idea?  I will be ecstatic to get that room done though!

Now for some randomness...

I read on a photography blog somewhere that you should never delete any of your photos.  I questioned that theory because there are some shots that would take quite an imagination to ever be useful in my opinion.  I do delete the ones that are blurry or are extremely over or under exposed.  But, since I was trying to figure out the best way to categorize and organize all my photos I had not deleted any others.  Turns out she's right!  As I was going through my 6,000+ photos while working on my Christmas project, I came across some photos that did not hit me the first time as being anything that I liked, yet later, I thought they had some potential.

Here are some of those photos...

A bit of Spring colors for ya' during this Fall season!

I'm a believer now... I'm not going to delete any photos that aren't blurry or extremely exposed.  How 'bout you?

I think time helps too.  When I originally shot these photos and began to view and edit them, I was looking for a particular look, lighting, composition, artistic impression, etc.  Looking at them again at a later time, with nothing in particular in mind for these shots, I saw them in a whole new light so to speak.  I realized that there was some artistry in the image and that it had potential that I missed earlier because of my preconceived ideas.

I encourage you to go back through some of your older photos and see if you find an image(s) that strikes you differently now... simply tossing aside preconceived photographic ideas!  I hope to see some of them posted on your blogs!

Enough procrastinating... I must begin tackling that guest room now!

I hope y'all have a fantastic weekend!

Till next time,

Salt Springs III

This is the final post on Salt Springs, I promise!

Adjacent to the Springs is an old house that was built in 1900 by Daniel Morgan, a prominent Marion County resident and county commissioner who also owned a timber & turpentine business.  The house was built on the south side of Lake Kerr.  This grand lakeside home contained ten rooms, with the kitchen and dining room separate from the main house, and was constructed of heart pine and trimmed in cypress.  For more history on Salt Springs click HERE.  The house was later purchased by Columbus Townsend as a summer home for his family.  He proceeded to have it moved from the bank of Lake Kerr across the landscape to its present location, adjacent to the Springs.  Apparently, moving the house was quite a feat and took almost a year to complete.

Unfortunately, this once grand house now sits vacant.  It was rather difficult to get any decent photos as the property is fenced off and overgrown.  But this is what I managed to get...

Pardon the blurry streak, I was shooting through a chain link fence, but this is the front of the house that faces the Springs.  How 'bout the wrap-around porch on both floors!

This is a side and back view of the house and the detached kitchen and dining room.

Again, Country Boy and I would love to be able to purchase a house like this and restore it to its original beauty.  It breaks my heart to see these wonderful, old houses with so much history abandoned.  If walls could talk!

Now for some pretty flower pics!

This one looks like its been dipped in shimmery diamonds!

*It has been said that Salt Springs is the legendary "Fountain of Youth"... scientists have discovered that aging can be slowed by certain minerals and trace elements that are available only in unrefined ground-water.  The abundance and variety of helpful minerals in the waters at Salt Springs cannot be found anywhere else in the United States.

*excerpt taken from the Salt Springs Official Website

I hope you enjoyed learning about and seeing Salt Springs through my camera lens.  It is a beautiful place to camp or just spend the day.  Go check it out if you're ever in the Ocala, Florida neighborhood!

Till next time,