A Simple Harvest

A simple harvest for some simple farmers. We don't have much area for a garden so we make due with the area we do have, which is out front on the side of our home in a boxed  garden bed that Mr. Sheely had made last year. The farming hasn't been all that great to us due to some neighbors who either purposely or accidental poisoned our tomato plants. Either way needless to say weed killer does it jobs and kills innocent victims such as tomato plants.

We haven't been faithful as were last year picking off the cherry tomatoes ( oh how those are abundant, more than anyone could ever eat)  so a lot of them have fallen to waste. Today I gathered some of the larger tomato's so they could be spared of going to the birds and bugs which is NOT the reason we planted them. I know they mus be yummy to them too, but there are a few people in our home that can't wait to eat them.

 

I was surprised at just how many tomatoes were ready to come off, as well as the ones that were filled with bugs, or decaying from NOT being picked. I also picked off a few of my green peppers. Nothing in this world is better than biting into your OWN HARVEST.  How good those peppers were this morning.

 

Now,  this is my favorite pepper. I love the colors....

 

RED & GREEN....

 

1, 2, 3 Back To School For Me.

The 1st day of school began last week. Lindsey this year is an exciting Sophomore, full of many new experiences & adventures as she makes her way around the hall's of Hanover High. She sat down the 1st day and marked all the classes she was going to fail, I was somewhat in disbelief that she would already lower her standards....however that girl knows that failing in this house in just not an option so I know she will do awesome. She also found out that the Fall play is going to be The Wizard of Oz, I hope she tries out!

Anthony is becoming a fine young man going into the 6th grade. He told me that he really like's his teacher, not because of any OTHER reason than the single fact that he has a male teacher this year. I know he too will do well this coming year as he has begun to grown & mature this Summer.

Alexander is now a big 4th grader at Clearview Elementary. He hasn't expressed much happiness for the new school year, but neither has he said anything negative. His teacher this year is Miss Nicholas, who last year, was Anthony's teacher at the Middle School. 

As parents we or most of us can't wait for our children to go back to school for different reasons. Mine are simple and selfish reason such as:

~ Only having to worry about cooking ONE meal for them during the week.
~ No more silly arguments  between everyone on who gets the remote ( when we have 2 or more t.v.'s )
~ Being able to  keep my home downstairs clean & tidy for unexpected guest.
~ Spend quality time with my husband since we both have the same days off.
~ No more of the children being home unsupervised, due to working parents....well working

I know they will all do well with their each individual talents and their own uniqueness. We wish them the best this year and look forward to the many adventures it will bring our family.

Sorry, there are NO pictures, I left my camera in the van which at this current moment is down in Maryland. Of all the times NOT to have it.

WELCOME BACK KIDDOS!

Meet Cindy

Announcing Miss Cindy, the newest member of our family!

Anthony has been promise a gecko since Christmas time, in fact he even had a gift card for the local pet store for a gecko of his choosing. However, Anthony decided to do something ( which of course I do not recall now ) to his sister or her belongings which warranted him to work back his gift.

All Spring & Summer he has said " when I get my gecko at the end of school, I'm going to do...." or " when I get my gecko at the end of Summer I am going to do....."

Finally the time had come for him to take his special trip to the pet store, parent's on board and money in hand. But wait there was a CATCH.......

After much reading on gecko keeping I didn't think as his Mother he would be quiet ready yet to put all the time and energy he needed to so this animal could have a happy life. Some simple words were spoken to Anthony and with perfect explanation of all that you have to do for a gecko such as;

- Gut-fill the cricket before feeding time
- Shake the feeder worms and crickets in calcium powder
- Have a heater light
- Have a warming blanket underneath 1/2 the glass
- Have all the food, water and calcium bowls
- Make sure the floor isn't too warm
            ETC, ETC, ETC.......

Anthony made a wise choice in  NOT getting a gecko. We made the trip to the store, looking at all the creatures available, the ooh's and aha's with geckos, bearded dragons, ferrets, gerbils, & hamsters his final choice was this cute, furry creature he so adoringly calls " Cindy"!

Anthony and his furry pet, hidden inside.....

She's oh so pretty!!

 

Her new home....

  Making her debut...

Anthony with Cindy.... Welcome Home!

Anthony made a great choice with Cindy. She is a Djungarian Hamster and oh so pretty with the stripe down her back mixed with grays & whites. I know Anthony will take great care of her, love her, feed & water her, and most of all love playing with her. His love for animals is apparent with all of the other creatures that call our home their home, but this one is HIS VERY OWN!

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery a peaceful place.


A place for silence & respect.


A place for reverance and observance.


 A place where our FREEDOM wasn't free.






Our trip was amazing. We were able to grab the Metro down in Maryland as we came up from the tunnel there in the beautiful sunlight was the National Park of fallen Soldiers of Men & Women. 

We choose to ride the bus tour around the park, seeing how hot it was ( well into the 90's) we figured walking was just not an option since most of the park is uphill. We grabbed the tour bus and headed off to our destination. 

This sign below is how I think all Cemetery visitors should conduct themselves, to show the ones who have gone before us the UP MOST RESPECT!!

 Just a few facts:


There are over 360,000 thousand men and women buried here.


Over 15 funerals a day, over 6,900 funerals a year.


 
They estimate that Arlington will be filled in 15 years where there will be no more room for graves.


3 unknown men are buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.


Changing of the guard is every hour on the half hour during the Summer months and every hour on the hour during the winter months.


We visited the only three places you can really visit in Arlington which are:

Arlington House
The Tomb of the Unknown
And JFK & The Forever Burning Flame

                                                                                                                                                                 Arlington House is simply an amazing creation. Just looking at the sandstone they used to build it you knew this home was exquisite even during that era.  
This home was the home of Robert E. Lee and his family for several years before it was taken over during the civil war.
This home was built as a memorial for President George Washington by his step grandson George Washington Parke Curtis and his slaves back in 1802 and 1818. Almost 20 years to build.
There are two slave quarters behind this home as well. 
Originally the property of Arlington National Cemetery was a plantation known as Arlington Plantation and that is how the park got it's name.

Each room has a fireplace or two in some, made of marble and engraved with maple leafs and acorns.

I can't even begin to imagine what it was like in this amazing structure. The room are all hardwood floor, massive crown moldings, walls that reached at least 15 feet. It was simply beautiful as well as amazing!! Oh, they knew how to make homes back then.


John F. Kennedy, his wife Jackie and 2 infant children are buried in Arlington. Jakie had expressed a desire to have some kind of marker at her husband's tombstone as the tombs of the Unknown.

JFK was suppose to be buried at the family's plot in Massachusetts, but Jakie made her desires known stating " he belongs to the people!"


What a woman full of class!

Even while writing this my emotions are heavy. To give the American People the President who had been killed by an American, but had done so much for the good of the people. 

A place of solace, quietness, feeling content and remembering....We remember even if we weren't alive.



The Tomb of the Unknown

This is a place of complete reverence and respect! 

All guard's are volunteers, they guard this tomb 365 days a year in every kind of weather!

The guard's are the elite of the 3rd U.S. Infantry from Fort Meyer, Virgina. Guard's have a 2 week interview process and must meet certain requirements such as a perfect military record, a height requirement and in great physical condition.


From the fall to the spring time the guards change every hour on the hour, but due to the HOT weather they are changed more frequently during the summer to every half hour on the half. We were able to watch this process where THEY COMMAND COMPLETE SILENCE! 

This is the 1st guard when we got there. They walk 20 paces, stop for a minuet or two then turn around clicking their heels. They stroke the bayonet, click their heels again and walk 20 paces & start it all over.

The beginning of the changing of 
 the guard.

 Meeting in the middle and giving their salutes, following commands.

 Giving respect to the men who are buried in the unknown tomb.

 Being escorted off the post. One will stay and being the exact march of 20 paces as the other.


It's a lifetime experience to visit this National Memorial. 


I am thankful for our freedom, for the ones who choose to give their life for my rights.


I will never forget what it means or take it for granted!


Thank you is not enough!


 

A beginning of our fun

Oh what a week this has been!


We had a great visit with our friends Marie and Steve who came all the way from Utah to join our little family and life for a week here on the East Coast. We had a much planned vacation for them from going down to Washington D.C. to see Arlington National Cemetery, The Hope Diamond, as well as going to Gettysburg National Park & Crabbing. 


All things you can't experience living in Utah or let alone in a different part of the Country.


So.....with that being said I am going to blog just a few of the adventures separately.

Crabbing Adventure

Do you have crabs?


I do, Maryland Blue Crabs that is.


Caught in the Chesapeake Bay!

Our adventure began early in the morning, and when I say early I mean 3:15 in the Morning early. For those of you that don't know I am NOT a Morning person by any means, I would rather stay in my nice warm bed snuggled up under the covers.
But for this adventure we would spend about 1 1/2 hours on the road to get to the destination of these wonderful specimens. 

Guy and I hooked up with his little brother Al, who knew where there were some good crabbing going on. As we pulled up to Al's boat I took one look at it and thought to myself are you serious? That's the S.S. Minnow and it's going to sink, don't believe me here's a view for you.

Now this boat is older than I am. It also reminds me of boats that you see back in the old movies like Elvis when he's serenading a lady out on the high seas. I was very nervous getting into it, but I dare not show it & just follow the lead of my husband. If he isn't afraid, than why should I be.


For those of you have no idea how you crab there are a few things that are a MUST have or your hunt won't be very fruitful....so with that the things you need are:


CRAB TRAPS
ROPE & BUOYS
CHICKEN NECKS


You need chicken necks so the crabs have something to eat and I will say they surely do love their chicken necks. You tie the necks to the bottom of the trap ( the traps open on all sides ) so the crabs will just crawl in and nibble on the necks. Then after you let them sit awhile you go back and pull the traps up HOPING you have a crab inside.

          Guy showing how excited he really is.

           Getting the chicken necks ready.

                                                      Throwing the traps in.

It was a blast watching Guy throw the traps in and pulling them back in without any effort. He has been doing this since he was a little boy with his own Dad, which brings back memories for him.

This is one of my favorite pictures of the day. Early Morning, the sun coming up and being able to watch my husband doing something he loves.




Things started off really well. The salt water was delivering some very nice heavy crabs full of delicious meat. We ran and ran for about 2 hours before something happened, remember that S.S. Minnow that I was sure going to let us down?
Indeed it did for a good 45 min. The engine got flooded and little brother Al didn't have the necessary things such as starting fluid, or oil which in turn would of started it up right away. Guy and I were just shaking our head, luckily we were crabbing by piers so we made him get out and go for help. Al, brought back the man who owns the ramp we launched from....he simply came, showed, fixed,& then left. HA!

        Some much heated words afterward. Not really.


     ALL IN ALL WE HAD A GREAT TIME!!


Even the kids had fun playing around with the crabs once we got them home.

          As well as the big boy who caught most them.

                                                                                                                                                                            

We had a fun time! Thanks sweetness for sharing your life with me.

Fish anyone?

SPRING is in the air here in Central Pennsylvania, and after those  EXTREME snow storms that closed down our little town it's a relief to know that Spring is on it's way.

A few times already Guy and his buddies have gone out fishing.
I wasn't invited, or needless to say I was more likely working.

Our friend has a little pond that is stocked with an abundance fish.

Catfish
Bluegills
Small Mouth Bass
Sunfish
Yellow Perch
Trout
And the occasional Snapping Turtle

All of these beautiful species are for our enjoyment to bait, catch, enjoy, & then release them back to where they came from.

This past Sunday we gathered our rods and headed out to spend a few evening hours fishing. We don't ever eat these fish, just enjoy catching them, releasing them. However there are a few times when the fish enjoy their worm, chicken liver, or other fish so much that they eat the hook as well and that ultimately ends their lifespan.

We got to our friends pond and was relieved to see that no one else was there and we could enjoy the evening fish all to ourselves.

Guy and Lindsey were in charge of the baiting process ( normally I help but I wasn't in the mood to have worm dirt under my nails.) Sometimes Guy isn't too fond of being the only one to bait so I try to step in, since baiting for 5 people over and over takes time away from your fishing experience.

As we were all baited up Anthony was catching fish as fast as he could, some bluegills, sunfish, a small mouth bass that was about 20 inches or so only on a tiny piece of worm and a small hook. Guy tried to instruct Anthony to not yank on the rod and just to let him swim around a bit or else he will snap the line or get off the hook since he was so big.

Needless to say the bass won and Anthony lost his fish off the hook.



BUT IN THE END..........

                 This proud boy caught a nice catfish!!

I wish I could say we all caught something like this!

But that is not so!

Alexander & Lindsey did not catch ONE single fish!

Alexander was very upset, Lindsey she was o.k. being the bait girl.

I caught a few fish but nothing worth taking a picture of.

Guy on the other hand has the big fish of the day.

A Catfish that is!

See, the funny thing here is when you fish with Guy he is doing so many other things such as baiting people's lines, untangling lines, cutting lines, re-hooking lines, cutting up the bait, etc.....

So he will bait his up and then cast it out.

He will just lay the pole down on the ground WITH the bait on it.

He Expects to catch something, since he ALWAYS does!

He forgets that the catfish ( which is what he is wanting to catch ) are REALLY REALLY big in this pond.

He forgets that last year a catfish pulled his favorite rod in and swam away with it!!

He forgot that he spent about 20 min trying to get his pole with a treble hook ( which he did with the catfish on the end of it. )

He also forgot that not to much later in the week after this happened that it ALMOST happened again, but he had DIVED into the pond and grabbed his pole before the catfish took off.

He had his phone in his pocket on this one and of course ruined his cellphone....all over a ROD!!!

 

So, are we getting the hint??

Guy is so busy doing other things then tending to his line that those critters will just TAKE it.

So, what makes this day ANY different you ask?

NOTHING!

Sure enough he puts his rod down and just like before it starts to swim away, but this time he doesn't dive in he causally walks into his thighs and grabs his rod & of COURSE 

FISH ON THE OTHER END

 

Not just any fish but a Albino Catfish!

Now that is how the fishing is done in our house.

Lots of fun

Lots of laughs

Lots of boredom for some

Lots of smiles

Lots of crying for some

So the two big boys in our family were the fishermen THIS day

But it's our  family time!!

Curly Q'S

Hair cut for Anthony FINALLY!

This young man has been persistant to tell us he "does NOT want his hair cut" however, it has finally taken it's toll on Guy and myself,  it HAD to come off.

Anthony loves his cousin Junior's hair  who has the ability to grow it out while keeping the curls tamed, him on the other hand not so much. He has tried several times over the past few years to get his hair to become long but needless to say with his Mother's natural curls in his hair it just gets WIDE. Not LONG, WIDE!

He has begged with us not to cut it until the end of the school year which is in 4 long enduring months, where I am sure some kind of animal/creature will reside in his mop if we don't do it now.



So today was the day!


No more wishing we could get his hair cut.
No more thinking,we really need to get his hair cut.
No more ramped thoughts in my head of HOW am I going to tame this beast every morning.
No more of Mom tugging on his hair just to see how long it is getting.
No more hair.



GOODBYE!


So off we went to the salon. Anthony did an amazing job of not pouting or putting up much of a fight. For a child who has been after us NOT to cut his hair he didn't seem to really mind. He sat in the chair, all prim and proper ready for his black/brown curly locks to disappear.

The beginning of his fate with the trimmers.

Not quite sure how this is going to look Mom! 

Lots & Lots Of Hair

Not Quite Sure If He Likes It OR Not??

WOW I CAN SEE A BOY NOW! NOT A FUZZ HEAD! 

I am not quite sure how he is going to take having his hair gone now but if we let it go like we did before it won't take too long to grow back. He was a trooper and looks 100% different than the boy we have been looking at for these past several months. At least for now we can see enjoy his pretty blue/green eyes and face, somehow hair has a way of capturing your entire face and covering it.

What a difference 15 min in a chair, with a skilled profession, & scissors can do!!

Hunting 101

Who would of thought I would be hunting?


With the intent of hunting with Guy this fall a few things had to take place for me to be able to do so.



First buy me a gun.

Second take me out to shoot.
Third find a Hunter safety class.
Fourth buy some cute girly clothes for me. 
Fifth get my license.


Now that all the necessary things are in place it was now just a matter of waiting for the hunting season to come. With much anticipation it finally arrived the weekend after Thanksgiving!


Guy was overjoyed this year knowing that his wife would be right beside him in the cold elements, gun in hand, eyes focused on the landscape ahead, waiting for just one lovely deer to show itself.




If it was so easy!



Guy and I headed out with his friends to a public hunting ground in Maryland, where they have hunted for the past few years and each year it has been successful hunt.


We hiked into the thick area of the woods,green briers poking their poison into our hands, arms and legs as we push past them to get to our "perfect spot."
We decided to sit in a blind. With this being my 1st year out my dear husband wanted to make it as comfortable for me as possible, he even brought a small heater to help keep me warm.
We sat in our blind with our eyes and ears peeled out every which way just HOPING to see something move in the thicket, some sign of life out there. Hours upon hours of sitting and all that graced us that day were birds, squirrels, wild turkeys BUT no deer.


Not a one! I mean zilch,zero, nothing! Our "perfect spot" turned into a dud.



The 12 hours we spent out in the cold sitting was a great way to spend quality time together.


Guy on the other hand didn't think it was all that great. A very skilled & knowledgeable hunter he is wasn't having fun! I on the other hand thought well this is part of hunting, sometimes you have it and sometimes you don't. I knew this wasn't "it" and  I wasn't giving up, it just wasn't our time, even though we pleaded and begged.

It wasn't successful for Guy and myself however our hunting buddies were able to harvest 3 deer. Good for them!




With going back to work I wasn't given much time to hunt after that 1st day.


Our friend Daryl has some land at his home that he said we could hunt, knowing I hadn't gotten anything.


Two days before we went up his nephew had shot 2 deer up there so we knew the deer were moving.


Guy and I head up to the tripod in the early morning cold before the world is waking up just hoping to see something go by us. We snuggled in hoping for just SOMETHING to come across our path. 




Squirrels came across our path 


Foxes came across our path


NO DEER!


So this is two times out and nothing. Frustration is starting to set in just a little bit, but not to much because I am spending some amazing quality time with my spouse who is sharing his love of hunting with me.


Once again out we go to the same spot, up the tripod we go. Evening cold is so much better than morning cold. We sat and talked in a whisper hoping and praying something would come out this way. 


YES!


Finally something did come our way! 


A buck.


Guy says to me "baby, baby there's a deer, oh my gosh there he is." He notices that it's a buck, I can't just shoot him! Guy has to look and see if he is legal to shoot, ( Pa won't let you take anything ) as Guy looks I get my gun ready.


It's LEGAL


As I raise my gun on him I look through my scope and there's NOTHING there.


I mean nothing.


All I see is brush.


I pull my scope away from my eye and take a look with my naked eye to see if the deer is still there. 


YES, he is still there! I look through my scope again and still see nothing. I am starting to get upset thinking this is my one chance and why can't I see him. In the mean time my sweetie and I have the following conversation;


"Sweetie he's right there"


"I can't see him"


"What do you mean you can't see him, he's RIGHT there"


"I CAN'T SEE HIM"


"Oh my gosh he is RIGHT in FRONT of you"


"I know but I can't see him through my scope"


"Ugh give me your gun"




Sure enough as Guy looks through my scope he can't find it either! 


It was that time of night where the sun was going down. The scope wasn't grabbing the light like it should of so needless to say we lost that deer. He was 30 yards away from us. That close!! How do you miss something that close??


As we head home disappointed in this, I tell Guy we will go back tomorrow and pray that this deer follows the same path and this time we will be prepared ( using one of his guns with a better scope.) It rained the next day so we headed out one last time and NOPE nothing.


NO DEER!


As the season closed it was a sad thing to watch my husband feel so bad that we couldn't get anything.


Thank goodness for late rifle!


We went back to our place in Maryland, hoping to find something at the cornfield feeding. But NOTHING again! O.k. maybe I'm not suppose to hunt!! 


Back to the cornfield we go again in the morning. As Guy and I are in our spot we hear voices a mile away. Great! They walked through the field as if nothing was there and no big deal, they RUINED our hunt. With being that disgusted we left. I told Guy I am don't think I'm suppose to hunt or it would of happened by now and I am done. Let's just say that didn't go over to well.




As we left Guy drove over to another piece of property that he has never been to. We got out to scout. Was I very surprised at what I saw. Deer tracks all over the place. It had snowed a few days prior and this area was untouched by humans so all you did see were tracks upon tracks.


We walked about a mile and a half in by the power lines, saw several deer crossings and tracks. I told Guy this is where I want to hunt tonight. He kept going over the hill, I wasn't in the mood to keep going so I just waited there for him.


As Guy walks back to me I tell him that I want to hunt this spot, and I want to be all by myself and he can sit somewhere else. He looked at me with his piercing blue eyes to say sure but you wont shoot anything. I looked at him and said " don't worry hunny I will shoot anything I see."




We came back for the afternoon/evening hunt.


I walked ahead of Guy and Daryl. ( They were scouting more )


I walked to my spot.


Cleared out a shooting lane ( removing some branches and leaves.)


Sat down.


Eyes peeled out to the opening.


Heard something behind me about 20 yards or so.


Stand up to take a closer look and direct my hearing there.


Catch out of the corner of my other eye 3 does, who spotted me as I spotted them. They ran back into the brush. 


Knew I had ruined my hunt.


Sat down and shook my head.



Begged & pleaded that please let something else come out and focus on the field not what is behind me.


I stood up.


Oh my gosh DEER, there's a deer.


Pulled up my gun, looked through the scope couldn't find it.


Aligned my gun with the pole and then straight down.


FOUND IT!


Put my gun on it. 


Took the safety off.


Pulled the trigger.


Shot the deer. He went down. His rear end came up then his front end went down.


Breathe! I got it!


The deer gets up and runs back to the woods.


What do I do? Do I go after it? Wait for Guy??


Wait for Guy, I know he heard me shoot.


Step out, look down the path and here comes Guy. I step all the way out and walk down to meet him. As I walk I see him cheering, raising his arms and a big smile. I spot where the deer had gone down ( thank you snow!) I point to Guy where he went down. As Guy get to me he says with so much excitement "baby you got it!" 


Now it's time to track it.


Guy saw it all unfold as he watched through the scope up the hill. 


He had also seen those 3 does that I didn't shoot at. He wondered why I didn't shoot at them, how could I of not seen them etc....he was heading back to get the cart ( our friend shot one before me) but he felt like he needed to turn around and as he did he saw his wife take this wonderful animal.


Guy tracked it down about 30 yards into the brush, where the deer had come out. Guy told me it was a 3 point buck! 


A BUCK?


What I got a buck? I thought it was a doe.


I just shot, not where I wanted to but close.

My 3point buck

With much hard work this was the pay off!

Over all I think this taught me patience!

All things are in God's time!

There is a time and place for everything!

Guy was so pleased to have his best friend, his wife, snow, a wonderful hunt all underneath the beauty of the stars.

What more could one ask for? 

I for one had such an amazing experience and loved that I was able to be part of something that my dear husband has such a love and passion for.

Thank you sweetheart for teaching me new things!