My desktop picture from last June

What it more or less looks like today.

Not exact; but as close as I could get while not getting tangled in fallen branches.
Be a few years before it looks like that again.

The boys found some pictures that had almost no water damage.

This is how the house looked back when hubby was growing up in it.

Years of being empty after his mother passed, being rented remotely to people who had no investment in it left it much the worse for wear, but last Wednesday was meant to close the chapter on the old "plantation house", I guess.

I want to thank you all again for your prayers, they are the best!
And to those of you who may have donated money during these hard times for all, thank you, also.

Be safe and God bless. <3

Doesn't seem like a week

We contacted the local FEMA office today. Red Cross had been basically ignoring is. We hadn't heard from anyone.

Within maybe an hour of talking to FEMA we were contacted by 3 Red Cross people, and had a VISA card with $500 to help with expenses.

Don't know if we'll ever hear from them again; but it is something, anyway.

I stayed awake all night praying during the storm last night, and God protected us again.  So give Him the glory for that. :-)

Doesn't seem like a week, but sadly, it has been. 

The boys (our sons) have been working really hard to salvage what can be. 

Last night's thunderstorms didn't help, but who knows God's plans?

I prayed and listened to Gospel music and He kept us safe.

Thank you for your continued prayers. God bless.

Thunderstorms have started

Please keep us in your prayers. God kept us safe before, and I am certain He will do so again; but I have to admit I'm a little bit scared.

You all be safe and God bless.

I really can't believe it's been almost a week

Windy day. Need to stay out from under trees with roofing tin in them.

Let's see if blogger will post a couple of Saturday's videos.

Nope. It says they're too big. Oh well.

I should get something done. See you all later. Thanks for your prayers. Thank you all who have donated to the go fund me. It is greatly appreciated.

Please keep us in your prayers. More thunderstorms tonight with a slight chance they may be severe.

You all stay safe and God bless.❤️

Anyone need any pecan firewood?

You have to pick it up and dry it yourself.

The Lecompte Volunteer Fire department came out this morning. They brought one of their rescue vehicles in through the pasture gate and went to work with a handful of people.

A few hours later, our driveway is useable and we have firewood, but no fireplace to burn it.

I have prayed to God to please bless each person who came out and worked to clear our driveway for us.

So, anyone need some pecan firewood?

You all be safe and God bless. Thank you for your prayers. Prayers Do work. 🙂

Making myself take a break.

Doesn't feel like I should be sitting though.
I go from one thing to the next. Sometimes I'm starting something but then I see something that moves me on to another thing and another and then I remember 'wait, I'm supposed to be doing whatever it was".

Do you readers ever do that? I walked around the yard today and took a bunch of videos; but I may have to wait until I can get on my computer.

This find made middle son happy. He's slowly been collecting old computer games. Don't know if he was able to salvage any of them from his room yet. I thought we had donated all the games before we left North Carolina; but they found this bin, untouched, in youngest son's closet.

Any gamers out there that remember SSI-- Strategic Simulations Incorporated?

At one time I owned every gold box game. This is the only one we have left.

I grabbed every one as soon as they came out. Fun times and a nice memory when we found them.

You all be safe. Thank you for your prayers. God bless.

Hard to believe

First, I want to thank you all for your prayers and comments. I'm sorry I haven't replied l but I know you understand.

Right now we are still a bit shell-shocked and just going day to day.
Today's projects will be finding someone to clear the main entrance to the property.
I'm on my phone so no pictures here because blogger won't let me search my phone. If you have faceless book you can friend Linda Grem.

I'm sorry I'm behind with everything. I feel like I should be better organized somehow, but I'm still overwhelmed.

Praying to God daily. Hourly. Praising Him for keeping us safe.

I know I had more to add, but it is escaping me right now, so I will close and say thank you for your prayers.

Be safe and God bless.

Mom, we are okay.

Will try to call, but not sure when exactly.
What is important is WE ARE ALL SAFE.

God bless you all.

Fortunately nature is not home bound.

Catalpa trees are blooming. Sorry for poor photos, but the blooms are way up at the tops of the trees, making them hard to photograph.

I'm just sad we never get catalpa worms. I blame all the spraying they do to farm the back field.

Still, right now it is a pretty day. Breezy. Supposedly rain in the afternoon. I know it was really foggy when I got up this morning. We'll see if it rains.

You all be safe and God bless.

Son spotted this while out clearing some weeds.

Can you make out the bird beak almost in the center?
A momma bird with some babies. He didn't want to get too close because she was watching him really close, he said.
The nest is on a section of our front gate that hasn't been used since we got completely moved in.
Can't really tell from the coloring what species; but it was nice to see anyway.
I imagine the thorns on the vine there offer some protection as well.

Hubby was out the other day in the pasture and said he saw both hawks in the pine tree nest, but that they flew off when he approached.
Probably to draw him away from any eggs? Or babies. :)

I really could use a flea market right now.

Bossier City Farmers Market is going to open for drive through only customers. No idea how this will work; but hubby and I think we need to find out.
Upper 70s to low 80s the rest of the week, with more rain expected Wednesday - Friday.

You all be safe and God bless!

The yard still looks the same

Figs are a little bigger.

Pecan flowers are numerous. I hope this bodes well for the coming pecan season.

Cucumbers and nasturtiums are coming along.

And it's a banner year for blackberry/dewberries, it would seem.

Apparently they will start reopening the economy. About time. I need my flea markets and farmers markets!
Be safe and God bless.

Thursday's support local

business. ;-)  Quebedeaux's Boudin and Cracklins.

They were really good.
I will be trying the cracklins tomorrow, though the one I had when we picked everything up was really good, so hopefully the rest will be, too. :-)

Rumors of putting the country back as it was. I only hope and pray it will happen.
Be safe and God bless.

Interesting sun through my kitchen window.

The window and curtain make a cross of the morning sun.
I feel blessed. :-)

Hope you are all doing well. Be safe and God bless.

Happy Easter!

He is risen. Thank you, Lord.

Be safe and God bless you all. 💗

Around the house on Good Friday

New season figs.

This year's pecan crop?

Cucumbers and nasturtiums.

Wild blackberries. Called dewberries by some here.

Wild gladiolus.

Had a pretty good set of thunderstorms last night. Oddly, the aluminum (watering trough) planter didn't seem to have gotten much rain at all. Even to the extent I found fire ants in one spot. Same spot as last year. Annoying. Flooded it good for now. Will probably continue to do so every day, though we have 2-4 inches of rain with possible tornadoes and hail forecast for this weekend.

I've read that you can use dawn dish soap. Or hot water. May lose a few cucumber plants whichever way I go.
The cucumber plants in the picture are in an area that isn't infested yet, near as I can tell.
Guess we didn't get the ant poison down around the outside of the container soon enough. Been watching for them and hadn't seen them until today.

You all be safe and stay sane!  Be sure to thank God for all you have and for keeping you safe. God bless. 💗

5-lined skink

We have a family of skinks living on the porch, we have discovered. This is the biggest of the group, probably the dad as you can see his head is somewhat reddish brown. That differentiates male from female.
And yes, there's a hole in that corner post. Will need to be repaired at some point.
When we chase the lizards away.

Rain expected later. That is all I know for today. You all be safe and God bless.

Guess what we had for dinner?

And for dessert.

We love these oranges. 4012 Navels, if you want to know. ;-)
Nice, big, juicy, and sweet.  :-)
We eat a lot of these when we can find them.

Rain tonight. Not sure about tomorrow yet.
I hope we can get through this disease and quarantine quickly. Getting tired of it.
You all be safe and God bless! 

Porch guardian

One BIG 5-lined skink. It is big enough that youngest boy has mistaken it for a snake more than once. :)

Comes on the porch to sun pretty much every afternoon.

Now if it would just bring the family and eat a few wasps, I'd be ecstatic!

Mostly cloudy today. Still. The bugs are making the 'before a rain' noises. Not too hot out yet. 70 degrees.

Hope you are all doing well. Be safe and God bless.

Happy Friday

Just as well there's nowhere to go, I guess.

A few more seeds have sprouted here.

Cucumbers are doing well.

Red noodle beans have finally begun to sprout.

Hope you are all doing well. Stay safe and God bless.

A video from yesterday

Not sure you will hear the specific bird. It was funny. I recorded it for a sound that I was listening to. When I played it back, I was surprised at all the other sounds that I had not heard. Or was used to hearing.

However, hubby heard the repeating sound that now seemed to be buried in the background, and helped me identify it. An Inca Dove.

Our little part of Louisiana is the extreme Eastern edge of its habitat. Nice!

I hope you are all doing well. God bless

Outside today.

Hope you are all well and staying safe.
God bless!