Annie.... Git Yer Gun!

Don't know if I posted about this before or not but I have a groundhog problem here....

Now I love watching the critters but when it comes to them backing me in a corner, I'll come out shooting (literally). They live (or supposed to live) in the woods behind the houses all along this road, and we all have long back yards. But because my house sat empty for a year before I bought it, they probably figured it was their playground.

Hole #1

Hole #2

They have been known to even ruin a foundation.

They have been digging under my deck,

coming up ON my deck in broad daylight.....

I had been hearing noises under my house from time to time

and didn't know what it was until I saw one run under.

Hole#3

and now have burrowed under my garage.....

the small section that has a wooden floor .....

not a good situation.

Hole #4

They have also ruined (eaten and broken down) several of my coneflowers plants.

So I nailed one last week and 2 on Monday . Then because of the circumstances, which I will not go into, my son came over and sited the gun in for me and we did some target practising.

~~~~~~~~

Another scenario........ Izzy would not come out to the main living room area all the next day, just layed in where she does in my bedroom at night. I was beginning to wonder if she was sick. I tried to coax her with food but all she would only come as far as the kitchen to get a doggy biscuit, and carried that back into my room before she would eat it.

Finally yesterday morning, July 4th, she ventured out.and was almost acting herself.... until the evening when the fireworks started. It seems I have a gun-shy dog. Or any loud abrupt noise for that matter. She's never been around either noise before so I had no idea. I really pampered her lately for putting up with all that noise.

Learn something new everyday.

Back to the subject at hand...

Traps would never work as there are so many "hogs". I do know of another "solution" but hate to use it. I will block off the holes best I can to the house and garage. Hopefully there's no more hogs under there. I really hope I don't get any flack from this post as I already have it from the highest authority that I am in charge of what is mine to take care of (Gen 1:28) NASB

You all take care and thanks for stopping by.

Going to miss Mayberry's sheriff, Andy. How about you?

Some Yard-sale Purchases

I posted earlier about the neat folding chairs I found to go in my rv, and here are the rest of the purchases from that day. Most very useful ...... some not so much.

First, this beautiful knit cotton patch-work sweater, for this coming fall or cool summer nights. I just love the colors in it!

As I am doing what I can to give my new home a "cottage" feel to it, I found this ceiling light shade to relace one of the ones in the main room. ( shoo, I don't know what to call the room as it contains my dining area, a sitting area, and my paint studio. A great room?? a gathering room?? a living room is so boring of a 'name' for it.... ) But hopefully the shade will add some character and charm. It needs cleaned up .....badly .... the shade. My room is clean...

I also found this shelf for under my window in the bathroom. It is brand new! I hope I can figure out how to put it up. I know ..... if all else fails, read the instructions!

and here is wher I get a little frivilous. Yes, JoJo, I did go a little overboard and break my rule for myself :) Well, most of these are useable, some are just cute!

I had always wanted to collect teapots, and I did have an empty cupboard that needed something in it....

At this one yardsale a woman had brought her whole teapot collection. WOW, I was in teapot heaven!! Three of these were originally mine, but the rest I bought that day. Sixteen teapots! The price was right and I got a discount for buying so many.

and the last purchase was a popouri burner, just because it had pansies on it and it reminds me of my grandma...... :)

I am still looking for an old dresser and a tiny nightstand for in my bedroom.

What do you look for at yardsales?

Bye for now, I am going outside and create something....

Have a wonderful day!

Meet-Up with an RV Blogger

This ..... is Tex-Cyn. And she surely has that big Texas smile, don't you think?

She is up in PA visiting her mom. We had planned to meet up in TX last fall until my trip got put on hold from my having to have knee surgery and then the move back to PA. She is only 30+ miles from my new home. How convenient is that?? I drove over to meet her and also met her mom who works at the camp ground where Cyn is staying.

We toured the campgrounds, of which I didn't take any pictures except of the grounds, ponds, waterfowl, and original buildings. These geese and ducks just flocked in to greet us, probably thinking we had lunch, which shamefully we didn't :-/ I mean good grief, for the performance they put on they surely deserved it....

The big white goose seems to be the King or Queen of the flock

A beautiful gazebo pond-side gives a peaceful place to sit and watch the birds, and on that far island...

is where the birds seem to congregate if no one is around to feed them.

The grounds here are beautifully kept

and there are the old buildings of the original homestead

We left the campgrounds headed toward Cook's Forest, stopped for lunch, and discussed everything from soup (do you cook much on your travels?) to nuts(and bolts.... how to maintain a generator) and other RV topics. I must say Cyn is a real inspiring and knowledgable RV person ( I knew that....) and just talking with her has pushed me to being more agressive in my RV, and other, tasks (Thanks, Cyn, more than you know)

We stopped, or as Cyn said, turned around to stop, at this landmark, Helen Furnace.

There she was, investigating the inside (shudder....) but I thought if she didn't get snake-bit I probably wouldn't either....

... so I got a little braver and went in also. The inside looking up was amazing. I had never explored on of these before, although they are all over PA (gee, was too busy with the home honey business for exploring!) I loved the coolness inside and the moss growing on the rocks.

This is the back side, and I wondered....

.... what these giant steps were, going up the hillside in back.

I didn't figure it out till back home going through my photos. Here on the sign board was a photo of a ramp going across from the higher back ground to the "deck" on top of the furnace. So apparently these "steps" were the stone to hold the supports for the walkway.

I will have to do some more research on the process they used to make the iron

We left there and went on to Clarion River. Cyn has some nice photos of that on her blog.Mine didn't turn out so well.
Then on to Cook's Forest where we went down by the water and I did get some good photo shots with nice reflections in them.

Some one is enjoying the cool water on their feet :)

As we headed back we talked about possibly getting together again before she heads back to Texas. I think she enjoyed the day, as did I.

Until next time, you all keep the shiney side up and enjoy yourselves.

The Honeymoon is Over

You know how when you get that job you've been wanting, or made a change in your life that you've been looking forward to for so long; you feel on top of the mountain , you've accomplished your goal! Then the newness wears off and it becomes the regular everyday again. Well I think I have slid down that hill and reached level ground for now.

I have pretty much settled in; and whats left to do isn't all that exciting or pressing.

The kids and grands are used to me being here now and everyone is getting back to their lives, as they should ..... and so should I. I am realizing more as each day passes, I am longing to follow my dreams that were basically put on hold as I became tied up in making the move from Kentucky to Pennsylvania. I am beginning to dream again of far away places, days being away from the crowd, and just enjoying peaceful aloneness. I find myself searching the RV ads almost daily for a possible trade.

I needed to go into WM today for some waterhose repair.... (yes I did .... I ran over it with the mower :-/ ) and some groceries. I happened to see an Itasca RV there and stopped to talk with them. I could see it was an older model, perhaps '90's, but longer too. Of course one of my first questions was "How many MPG do you get? and "What is the length of your Rv?" Well they get 10 mpg and it was a 24'. I was telling her about the "bathroom " in mine and how you have to stand in one spot in the shower. She got this pitying look in her eye. Guess I won't mention that again. Anyway they were just back from overseas, picked their RV up in PA, and were on their way home to Alaska.

I am just writing all this here to record my process of going from point A to point B. Talk to you all later. Have agood week. It's going to be a hot one :)

Happy Birthday to me! and the Milage Question Again

Just look at what my daughter sent me from TX. She somehow knew I needed a waterpot for my plants... and tucked inside was some Chamomile and Tazo green tea, dried pineapple chips, and 2 kinds of specialty buiscuts. There was also a worm cookie, and a pkg of gummy worms. I told her every garden needs worms ;) The tea and buiscuts I am sure are for relaxing after the garden work is done.

My SIL also sent me a teeshirt on which she did some fancy work. I love the butterfly print material she used on the armbands and chest back ground. It also has a cute little butterfly appliqued on the left shoulder made from same material.

Another daughter wanted to know what I would like to have so I think she is ordering me a tree face for on my oak tree.

All in all I had a great day!

Over the weekend our neighborhood had thair annual yard sales. I came away with a bunch of very neat usable items, and some not r-e-a-l usable but pretty and on my always-wanted list, but I will post them later. Right now the only find I am posting is this pair of deck/camping folding chairs. Could not pass these up! Love the color, although they could use a fresh coat of paint. Very comfortable and portable!

Ah, yes..... camping... which brings me to another subject I have been rolling around in my head. After much contemplatione I have decided, and am, looking for a different RV. The bathroom in the present one is so small and not realisticly usable for me; I have a time filling the water tanks (takes hrs, seemingly b/c of airlock; has too small of gas tank; also the rig is so heavy and the gas milage leaves much to be desired. So I have been looking on-line at dealers, checking out their 24-26' 2005 or newer. Doesn't mean I would not take an older one but it must have reasonable MPG. (I was told I would get about 10 mpg avg, and am hard put to get 8mpg, and thats crawling along at 55 mph or less) I need to get one by Aug as I would like to get to Montana mid-month.

I asked on here before what do you all get MPG, and everyone except one was quiet as a mouse, so I still have no idea what is considered "good". Also if I cannot find an RV I am looking for , I may decide to go with a camper trailer after all. What is your all preferrance, or pros or cons on that?? Thanks if you decide to leave any imput. I will appreciate it.

This or That....Decisions (Long post to catch up)

There is a new meaning for me of the Bible verse that talks about "you cannot serve 2 masters, for you will love the one and despise the other" (paraphrased, of course). the two of which I speak are gardening and painting. I have been having so much time tied up in setting up my little gardens and trying to catch up with flower beds..... it has been a little exasperating. My real love is painting. However I am a person who has not (very often) allowed myself to fulfill my pleasure until my work is done. Talk about in-grained habits...... but this one habit I am going to work on breaking....

I almost wish I hadn't started the raised -bed gardens this year, with all the existing perennial beds to get into shape, but now that they are set up I am kinda glad I did. I will not have the major work involved each and every year.

So come take a walk with me.....

This is out the back, and the beds that surround the driveway. I daren't pull anything unless I know it is a weed until I can recognize the perrenials that have been planted here, so yeh, its going to look a little messy this year. There is quite a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, and some have seeded into other areas. Lots of work to do here.....

Sometimes I think I'd rather sit on my swing and watch the garden grow, or the bees coming and going....

Someone else likes watching for the garden to grow!

But, Ha! You wascally wabbits! Not going to get my garden....

Grandson Tim put the fence up for me! as well as helped me get the third bed built, filled with all the soil mix, and pathways mulched.

Sweet! Daughter Tina and sister Rose helped finish planting and spreading mulch.I got the soaker hoses in place. They just need connected with regular hose and we're all set! But it rained good and steady last night.

If you look REAL close you might see my asparagus poking their heads up. That bed has rhubarb at the end and the rest is purple and super-male asparagus.

Yuck! See that L-O-N-G snail on the board???

We don't want them in here! Beer is only good for one purpose.... it attracks snails and kills 'em dead! See? don't want that to happen to me so I stay away from it.

That middle bed has 6 tomato plants, 4 pepper plants, onions, marigolds, carrots beets, and swisschard.

The last one has a few peas I started indoors, Roma beans (love them!!) lettuces, and a space to plant some pole beans, which I will, I hope.... I still need to screw the boards together. Right now they are held together with re-bar.

Peas with bamboo support, and more marigolds

Leaving the garden, here is another birdhouse I put up, however nothing has nested in it yet but it looks nice .

And out around the back of the barn, I mowed down the weeds in preparation for a possible chicken fence. Yes, still looking for some guinea hens, and maybe a couple egg hens.

This is the front side of the chicken coop.... Oh yes, flowers here too :)

And on around to the back side of the garage/workshop. The hostas are full out, the primroses have finished their bloom and the foxglovesand now presenting themselves.

Back around to the bridge going to the house, there is a creamy-yellow foxglove that has taken center stage, so much so that the little clematis beyond it is struggling to be seen. But it has buds and will be seen a little later on.

And back to the deck where my hens and chicks are being good little girls and not poo-ing on my deck.

Now ....... back to my delema.... You can see I am a quadruple-minded woman and unstable in all my ways. So I need to ask the Lord each night, to go ahead of me for tomorrow, and make my path straight. I have been doing that of late, and I even got to paint some yesterday!!! You can check it out on my painter blog if you like.

Have a wonderful blessed day and thanks for stopping by!