CATCHING UP!

Wonderful rain here in East Tennessee!  After the last 2 years of drought conditions, we've finally had plenty of rain this year...it's been great for our garden, flowers, hay production and of course, look what else it leaves behind!!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

I've been wanting to post some pics, (not been able to catch any of that white fawn, but still trying) so, I've "captured" Jerry, our little male kitten from several posts back. 

He was soooo small then, but he's really turning into a BIG cat!!  He hasn't made his appointment for the "male procedure", but that's next! 

Well, time's counting down for our big trip!  We're sooo excited!  We'll be camping every night and we LOVE to camp, so that's going to be fun, in itself!  We're both wide eyed and adventurous, so to go, see and do things, we've never done is going to be a memorable time...not to mention, we're down home, stay home, deep South Johnny Rebs and we don't know what to expect past the Kentucky line!!  I'm just hoping that folks can understand what we say and visa-versa! 

We had our farrier out yesterday and I've got to brag on our little yearling filly mule, ChaCha!  This was her second trimming and she was perfect both times!!  Jeremy, (farrier) couldn't believe her manners.  She's laid back and gentle and very smart.  Of course, her mom, Minnie (Haflinger) is the same way.  Nothing bothers her and she's there to please you!  When we return from our trip, my round pen's going to be in use...I hope to have ChaCha ground driving by spring!   I can't help but think about her 1/2 brother (Tango) that we lost last year (3 days old) due to a vet's misdiagnosis...he matched her EXACTLY and would've been just as sweet, I'm sure. 

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to leave a word or two, to let me know you were here!! 

SOGGY SUNDAY AT AWESOME ASS ACRES!

Some little Halloween kitties

One of 3 raccoon canisters

Our bell post out front

Looking toward Chilhowee Mtn

Our old church bell dated 1921

Third day of rain and more's comin'! Larry's garden's showing some green...YEAA!...the barn lot's deep in muck, but at least, I've been inside painting!! I've posted some pics that were taken today...the bell that's shown, is one that I bought at an estate sale about 20 years ago. It has a sweet history to it...thought I'd share!

My mother-in-law and I use to have a weekly tradition of shopping every yard sale within 25 miles of Alpharetta, GA (our hometown, at the time). One Friday morning, we found an estate sale that had bunches of great stuff, priced right! As we wandered through the old house, Mrs. Anderson mentioned that she knew the older gentleman hosting the sale. He had married a childhood friend of hers, but had recently became widowed. He was busy with selling, so we kept shopping in the house and the barn out back. We found this old bell, along with a large cast iron wash pot. When he came to assist us with any info., he mentioned that both items had belonged to his late wife's family. His father-in-law had been a country preacher at a small, local church and that the building had burnt years ago...Mrs. Anderson stopped him at that point and said, "That bell almost got us a whippin' many a time...I know all about it". She went on to explain that after the church house burnt, her friend's daddy had put it up in his yard. When she and her friend walked home from school, they would always want to ring that big bell. Each time, the tolling would call the daddy in from the fields, thinking there was trouble of some sort and each time, he'd threatened to thrash both girls...never did, though! After that little visit in history, there's nothing that would have kept me from buying that bell...$50.00 put it in my truck and it's been in our yard ever since! To top it off, the yoke is dated 1921 and the bell was cast at the Chattanooga Foundry, long closed down! It measures 24" and still rings loud and clear!! We still use it when we need to call someone up from the "back 40"!! No wonder 2 little girls were so tempted to pull that rope!! Take care and stay dry, wherever you are...AND come back soon!!