Thankful Thursdays - nature's bounty

Summer has rewards.

It's not just that I don't like the cold and snow, but summer has so much more to offer. It isn't just the warm sunny days with the cooling breeze, which is
irresistible...but summer brings with it the best tasting produce.

Fresh produce is so much better!

Ever notice how much sweeter a fresh grown tomato tastes than a hot house one? I love to eat them fresh and raw like a piece of fruit. I also love to fry firm green tomatoes until their slightly browned and nice and crisp. I gave my grandson some and he said they taste like apples? I guess that description is as good as any.

Nature's bounty is often free.

Much of what nature gives us is free for the asking. I happen to like dandelion greens, and recently found out we can eat Rose of Sharon petals and Queen Annes Lace. I made a pretty tasty dip with the Rose of Sharon flowers.

With a little research we may find a whole lot of free food and herbal remedies within our grasp. I am now researching goldenrod. I've spotted it all along the road sides and know that it has quite a few health benefits. I'll share them with you, when I'm done.

Take care & God bless.

Wordless Wednesday - Veggies

Wordless Wednesday - Pretty Posies

My Baby Boy is in Puerto Rico!

About three months ago I saw a name flash across my caller i.d. ; one I had not seen for over 20 years. I hesitated to answer the phone because so many hurtful memories came crashing down on me. Some things we just never really get over, and this is one of them. It is something much too personal to disclose online.

Please talk to my brother, she pleaded...

My ex-sister in-law was on the other end and she really only knew half the story, and she had always been kind to the children and I, so I answered the phone with hands trembling. What could this be? She explained that she had tried for years to get in touch with me. They wanted to see their nephew, my baby boy. I explained that while working as a prison guard we were advised to keep our number unlisted and I had just recently stopped doing that because I lacked the extra funds. She begged me to talk to her brother. She wanted us to be on speaking terms. I broke down as I told her briefly what had happened then she no longer pushed the issue but asked how we were doing. She then asked me for my son's phone number.

My baby is a man.

My "baby" boy is 23, so he has a right to make up his own mind. He had wanted to meet the family he had not seen since the age of 2 months, so I gave her his telephone number and she hung up to call him.

He was ecstatic!

He was always curious about the rest of his family and felt shorted when my older children referred to their father and all he had was a photo of his. We did not even get child support, letters, or calls. He had heard that his father remarried and had daughters. What did they look like? What were their interests? Many thoughts ran through his mind and he would ask me sometimes about his aunts, cousins, and his uncle.

He talked to his sisters for hours, his father minutes..

He bonded with his sisters instantly and they established a rapport. He became their friends on My Space and they his. They emailed each other pictures and swapped stories. He talked to his father for a few minutes and after an awkward silence asked for one of his sisters back.

They are meeting now.

He and his long time girl friend flew out early this morning. He sent me a text to let me know he arrived safely and I advised him that we want pictures for our blog. I have been praying for his safe trip to and from and hope everything goes well. He's still my baby.

picture source

Friends and Tequila

source

Strangers are friends we have not met yet.

As a teenager I worked my summers as a car hop at the small neighborhood root beer stand. It was here that I met a girl that I took an instantly liking to because of her friendly and giving nature. I wondered how she talked so easily with some of the strangers we waited on. She told me that her father taught her "a stranger is a friend you have not met yet". She welcomed everyone as if they were a long lost friend. So to all of my "friends" I have not met yet, I wanted to send these words of encouragement adapted from ones I received from my friend Shelly:

Tequila and Salt

This should probably be taped
to your bathroom mirror
where you can read it every day.
You may not realize it,
but it's 100% true.

1. There are at least two people in this world
that you would die for.

2. At least 15 people in this world
love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you
is because they want to
be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone,
even if they don't like you.

5. Every night before someone goes to sleep
they think about YOU.

6. You mean the world to them.

7. You are special and unique.

8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

9. When you make the biggest mistake ever,
something good comes from it.

10. When you think the world
has turned its back on you
take another look.

11. Always remember the compliments you received.
Forget about the rude remarks.
(Compliments take more thought to give than insults do.)

So...........
If you are a loving friend,
send this to everyone,
including the one that sent it to you.
If you get it back, then they really do love you.

And always remember....
when life hands you Lemons,
ask for Tequila and Salt and call me over!

Good friends are like stars...
You don't always see them,
But you know they are always there.

"Whenever God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another, Even Though
Sometimes It's Hell in the Hallway"

I would rather have one rose and a kind word
from a friend while I'm here
than a whole truck load when I'm gone.

Life is not just happiness
And easy roads my friend
Life is full of stress
And trials around each bend

But friends I meet along the way
Have made the load much lighter
Because of friends like you
The darkest days are brighter.

So when I bow my head in prayer
I take an extra minute
To thank my heavenly father
For life and YOU within it!

Poem by Judy Sheldon-Walker

Wordless Wednesday - Roses