RAMPS, LAMBS & GARDEN TIME!!

Our little mountain "full-time getaway"!

Well, it's that time of year!! The annual Ramp Tramp in Reliance, Tn was held on Sat., 4/25/09. We've gone for the past 3 years and enjoyed the bluegrass bands, the crafts and of course, the meal...eggs and ramps, streak 'o lean, white beans, corn bread, sweet tea and pie! Grilled hot dogs with ramps served on top were also available. For those unfamiliar with ramps, they are a wonderful plant that grows wild in the mountains...a combination of onion and garlic! So flavorful with most any helpin' of country eatin'!! Jordan, our youngest son, has joined a long-lived tradition with several older mule riding friends from the area...they make a trek up into the mountains in Tellico, TN, spend several nights and dig ramps during the mornings and evenings. Of course, riding the mules is part of the fun, but he loves hearing the history, finding the best patches of ramps and being part of the group!

MeMe & Ray-- 3 weeks old
Ray and MeMe, our 2 newest lambs, are growing like little pigs! They are still on the bottle, 3-4 times a day and now, during the day, we're putting them in the pasture with Blossom, our pygmy nanny and the older lamb, Doe. Larry's busy with the garden, finishing up with adding fertilizer and mulch. Our fertilizer, of course, is naturally generated from our mules, horses and chickens, here at AWESOME ASS ACRES and due to the recent high winds, the mulch piles have been generously "donated" and delivered by several tree crews here in the area. We use it for soooo many things here. We put it around flowers, trees, in the garden, even in our barn hall. I have so many flowering plants that are getting ready to show their colors. One of my favorites is my "red hot poker lily". I'd never heard of these, 'till moving here and they're really spectacular...I'll post pictures when they turn flaming red!

My wisteria in the front yard

I have my wisteria out front, with an antique metal bed frame as the trellis...I'm hoping it blooms this year! We still absolutely love living here...there's so much to do, see and enjoy!

Sunrise at AWESOME ASS ACRES

This farm is an abundance of sights, sounds, smells...that inspire us every day! God surely shows his handiwork here in the mountains! It's perfect for my painting, with so much to take in!!

Jett, one of our rescues from the Humane Society...(picked her up a couple of years ago on Thurs.-was to meet the Grim Reaper on Monday!)

Painting the guineas, horses, mules, raccoons...they're all ideas that come from AWESOME ASS ACRES! It's also fun meeting the good folks that collect my work through Ebay!! Take care and come back soon!!