We got MUMS this week!!!  This is a 14" pot full of 3 colors of chrysanthemums.  It stands 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide.  Gorgeous!!!

 

It came from Gracie's Nursery on the Blairsville Highway.  I know you've seen all the mums when you drive by.  Well, stop in and get some for your Fall decorating.  Do it soon, so you can enjoy them longer.  If you wait til the flowers are all the way open, you will have missed out on about a month of beauty.  

 

I'm sure you can buy them at Walmart or Home Depot, but don't you love to support the small businesses here?  Prices are about the same.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Yes, you can thank Patty Tegtman for the fabulous fall decorations.  

 

She and Bill made these adorable Folk Art Scarecrows and pumpkins, including the ones at the signposts.  She asked for a hay bale, which Jim had delivered.  Then we spray painted this great face on it.  (I bet you didn't know you have graffiti artists as neighbors.)    ;D

 

She's the mastermind behind the whole thing.  I just provided the transportation and cheerleading.  

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

 

 

I told you about Nancy's puzzle.  It has 1500 pieces, and now it's finished.  She did it in less than a week.  WOW!!!!!  

 

She's smarter than I am though; she put it together on their dining room table which is pub table height.  She could stand up or sit in a chair to add the pieces.  No bending over the coffee table.  

 

I'm excited to trade her and tackle this one this winter.  So pretty.

 

 

HOW ARE YOU KEEPING OCCUPIED?  

 

Mark made this sign for me a few years ago, commemorating my advanced degree in blogging.  Well, I guess I've finally earned it.  The current status of blogs on this website is 496, and I have written 463 of them.  That's a lot of rambling over the last three years. 

 

Wait!!!  Is 'bloggery' a real word?  Or do you think he made it up?  If he did, that makes it even better!!!  ;D

 

Thanks for reading.  Love, Gerry

 

This man!!!!!  Really?  Did I tell you that he's 72 years old?  Yep, and nothing phases him.  Now you know why we call our home:  Crazybrook Farm.

 

This time he's tying down the antenna to the corner of the house, to prevent wind damage.  See those guy wires?  They attach to the front corners of the house.  He had to lie on the roof on his stomach, and lean out over the edge to attach it to the hooks he had screwed onto the fascia.  

 

Where is Tim when you need him?

 

HAPPY HOME OWNERSHIP!!!

 

This is what Jon did the week of his birthday.  It took all week.  You can see it's almost done.  

 

He had to use a 28 foot ladder to do the top part, and it was a bear!!!  The last time he stained this part of the house was at least 5 years ago.  So this time he double coated it, and hopefully it will last a little longer.  Doesn't it look beautiful?  

 

He did declare that the next time this job needs doing, he's going to hire Tim to do the top part.  Maybe he should call him soon, and book the job.  Tim is one busy guy.  

 

HAPPY HOME MAINTENANCE!!!!!

 

We are members of Farm Bureau, and every month we get a newsletter/magazine.  It always has good stories, tips, and general information about North Carolina.  So I read it every month.  This month I read a short article on roadway safety that I'd like to pass along.  

 

Agricultural vehicles are on the roads now, delivering food and necessities, or just getting from one field to another.  And they are very slow-moving.  They can only travel at 20-25 mph, but need to use the same highways we use traveling 55 mph.  When you see them, SLOW DOWN, for their safety, and yours.

 

I thought it was an excellent reminder that we're not in the big city, and we ALL need to slow down.  That's why most of us are here anyway, isn't it?

 

HAPPY TRAVELS!!!

 

I love this picture.  

 

This is my friend, Sheri.  She has a friend, Sandy who has a sheep farm outside Charlotte.  They have a Great Pyrenees, and cows too.  Sounds like a fun friend to go visit in the spring, or anytime when the lambs are born.  

 

Sandy's Sheep, Sheri's baby.  I think you should raise sheep, Sheri.  You look like a natural lamb momma.

 

HAPPY TIMES!!!

 

Nancy gave me this puzzle last week.  It was in 1000 pieces.  I started putting it together on Saturday, and was finished by Thursday.  I love puzzles:  Crosswords, Sudoku, jigsaws, all kinds.  This one was so fun, and beautiful.  All the butterflies are numbered, and named scientifically.

 

I sent Nancy a picture when I started, and a couple progress pictures.  She is doing a 1500 piece puzzle of birds.  The center one is a peacock with about 50 "eyes."  This winter we are going to swap puzzles.  She'll get the butterflies and I'll get the birds.  Hey, as Momma would say, "It keeps us out of the pool hall."  

 

I did make one BIG mistake, though.  I started putting it together on the living room table, which stands 16 inches off the floor.  By the time I realized my error, it was too late to move it to a higher table.  So every piece was added by bending over.  AAK!!!  I surely won't make THAT mistake again.  

 

Next time I will monopolize the dining room table for however long it takes.  

 

HAPPY DAYS!!!

 

 

 

Happy hour on the porch with Henry and Tere is fun.  We sit at opposite ends of the porch and solve the problems of the world.  It takes HOURS!!!!  The hummingbirds are right there in front of us.  They buzz in and out at warp speed.  

 

I love this picture.  I set my phone camera to the Live option, and took a few pix as they flew in and out.  Then I could watch them again in motion and pick out the best shot.  

 

Thanks, friends for entertaining us this weekend.

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!