Creature

Guess the creature.   And no, not Chris the creature.  The creature creature.

A Niece's Day

Today was an all day work but off at 3:30.  Promised my niece a trip to the movies to watch "Bears".  I think Bella did want to see it but perhaps not as much as me.  (She's the only one to say yes to seeing it with me.)

Stopped by Gander Mountain to look at Kavu bags and pick some things up before the movie.   Afterwards we went to Wasabi.  Fun night!

"Let me take a Selfie"

For Real

My great niece Bella and her new baby donkey

Love those ears!

Colton Grows Up

Colton is soooo tall!  When did he grow up?  Seems like yesterday I was in the delivery room watching him come into the world.   Now I'm watching him take the world on....

Colton's Graduation

May 16, 2014.  Our nephew Colton graduated Sweetwater High School.

New Website

Our Hull Performance Horses website is revamped!   New web address is www.hullperformancehorses.org

Would love feedback!

Jay Z and Solange

Sorry Whoopi.  I don't believe trading violence for violence is the way to solve societal issues such as family violence.   Oh.  Just remembered why I try to stay away from pop culture.  

Thank You song

Church ended today with a solo from the choir leader.  I hadn't heard it in forever.   It's always been a favorite of mine.


By:  Ray Boltz 
Song title: "Thank You (for Giving to the Lord)"
Lyrics:

I dreamed I went to heaven
And you were there with me
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea
We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name
You turned and saw this young man
And he was smiling as he came

And he said, Friend
You may not know me now
And then he said, But wait
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight
And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start
And one day when you said that prayer
I asked Jesus in my heart

CHORUS:
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave

Then another man stood before you
And said remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry
You didn't have much money
But you gave it anyway
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that's why I am here today

CHORUS

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity
Little things that you had done
Sacrifices made
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven now proclaimed

And I know up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord
He said, My child look around you
Great is your reward

CHORUS (repeat)

I am so glad you gave

   

Tanner

My nephew Tanner and I in 1979 and 2014.

Window to the Soul

I didn't post the final copy of "Looking Up" from several days ago.  Just now realized.  Here is the updated:



"Eyes are the window to the soul".  Or "mirror of the soul".  The sayings are old.  And so true.  The eyes are the window to or mirror of your soul.  So much about a person can be told from their gaze. 

It's always been interesting to me that when people hit rock bottom or in times of extreme happiness or frustration they look up.  Look up for guidance. Whether they profess belief in God or not, looking up to God, to the Heavens, is an intrinsic reaction from within.  A need to look up to the Almighty in desperation or in joy I believe He placed in us.

The times I've noticed someone looking down seem to be associated with shame which is different from guilt.  Guilt tends to be an internal, personal feeling when one has violated what they feel is the difference between right and wrong.  Right and wrong is based on the individual.  We all have our on opinions on what constitutes those two things.  Someone who is guilty of something can often still look someone in the eyes.  And lie.

Shame on the other hand comes from somewhere other than ourselves.  It's external.  People who are shamed look down.  I think of Adam and Eve in the garden.  After sin pervaded their lives they felt something new-shame.  I can imagine them cowering in shame covering themselves from God.  Shame at betraying the Father. 

Not everyone experiences guilt in the same ways.  Some do very bad things and never feel guilty.  However, I believe all experience shame at some point or many points during their lives.  Shame which comes from the knowledge, whether deep in the recesses of their mind or coming from the belief in God that we have sinned.  We all look down from the feeling.  Only a few then look up.  Up for hope and in the end, knowledge of forgiveness from the One who can get rid of the shame of life through the blood.  Who will....if we look

One Year Ago Today

My sister reminded me that one year ago today we were in NYC with friends.  Wow where does time go?

Lunchtime Walk at Kefauver Park

Thank You

Scenes from May 6, 2014 election

My family

Sister in law Bridget and nephew Colton

Great niece Chelsea

Niece Amber and future nephew Bryce

Me and three of the nieces

Me and three of the nephews

Chris and friend Rusty

Waiting

Friend Kelley

Friends

Chris

Kelley, Amber and Rusty

Votes arriving from precincts

Kathy reading some precinct results. 

My cousin "Worm"

Southern Slang

Here are some words/slang we use in Monroe County, TN and surrounding areas in East Tennessee.  Most is new to go along with the post from a while back: Air Words

Words and phrases are hard for me to define.  I just use them.  In my mind I think people know what I mean.  Some I've listed but just can't explain or define.

These words and phrases are natural to me.  So I always assume that everyone knows what they mean or use them as well.   Some may be universal.  But I figure most are not.

If you have any to share please do in the comments section.  Or if you know how to define one I don't or have a different definition than I please share as well.

• From here = local resident all their life
• I've lived here all my life = never lived in any other place other than Monroe County.
• Great day in the morning!! is an expression of exasperation
• Right off hand = expression said to someone that means I don't know
• Poor folks.  Isn't referring to financial but it's an expression of empathy
• Diddly squat = I don't care or I don't know
• Country as worm dirt = person who isn't from town, grew up in the country
• Thanks for having us over = expression of thanks after visiting someone's home
• Air dirty laundry = over sharing private information
• Pallet laid out for ya = bed.  generally said by a grandparent when grandchildren are spending the night.
• Smaller it down = decrease
• Bigger it up = increase
• Hurts something awful = intense pain, physically or emotionally
• Few and far between = something that is desirable but hard to find
• Hung up on = craving something
• Speak of the devil = expression said when talking with people and the person you are talking about walks up.
• What do ya for? What do ya? = What can I do for you?
• Fiddle fart around = haven't accomplished anything.  Lazy. Procrastinate.
• put off something = procrastinate
• Up the road a piece = direction
• "I know who they are but I don't know em"
• I know of them
• I've heard of them
• "I might recognize em if I see em"
• "I have heard that name.  If I see em I'll know em"
• "I know em but I can't place em"
• Hung up on em = addicted
• Haven't seen you forever = haven't seen you in a long time
• Thank ye kindly = thank you very much
• A'fore = before
• Stuck in my craw = irritating situation
• Take a gander = look at something
• Panties in a wad = aggravated
• Getting on my nerves = aggravated
• Fussy fied = aggravated
• Ain't big as a piss ant = small size
• Ain't big as a fart = small size
• Take a listen to this = said to someone before you tell them something
• Mamaw and Papaw = grandmother and grandfather
• Lives in the sticks = lives in the country not the town
• Thanks for your trouble = thank you for your assistance
• Give or take a few = approximate
• Who are your kin = relatives
• Who are your people = relatives
• Whoop'n = spanking
• Sunday week = a week from Sunday
• Wait till I find you out = find or hear the truth
• Where I'm from Dinner is Lunch;  Dinner is supper
• Fetch me something = bring me something
• Go get me = bring me something
• Pick me up some = bring me something
• Pert near = almost
• Carry about your business = carry on; go do what you're supposed to do
• Wishy washy = go either way; unsure
• Not bent on something = unsure
• Not keeping up with nothing = not paying attention
• Coal oil = kerosene
• Katie bar the door = trouble
• Chimley = chimney
• Tickled my funny bone = made me laugh
• Do you need a lift = driven somewhere
• Do you need a ride = driven somewhere
• In cahoots = partners
• Partners in crime = doing things together
• Two peas in a pod = two people just alike; same as
• Quite a while back = measure of time
• "Don't roll around in the mud with a pig.  You'll both get dirty and the pig will like it."
• Sorta = kind of
• Sure is = positive 
• Sure thing = Okay;  Someone says-- "Go buy a gallon a milk on your way home."  And your reply is "sure thing".
• Switch/hickory = tree branch used to spank
• Pokie = jail
• Up the road a piece = distance
• Hit the hay = go to bed
• Sight for sore eyes = haven't seen someone you like in a long time
• Going to spring city = going to bed (Spring City is a real town. We thought we were really going to get to go somewhere.)
• Varmit
• Bless your pea picking heart = said when you feel sorry for someone
• Feel sorry for someone = sympathy or empathy
• Pert near = almost
• Scat there = said to someone after they sneeze
• Scat there kitty cat. Get your tail outta the gravy. = Said to someone after they sneeze.
• Now mind you = listen to
• Hear me out = listen to what I have to say
• Got along just fine = did okay
• Chilly = cold outside
• Mess = measuring unit
• Varmit = someone mean
• You little heathren = kid that arr mean
• Stick in the mud = you're no fun
• Shed of = rid of; throw away
• Raise cane = complain
• Stir up a stink = cause trouble
• Ugly = behave badly
• Nairy = none
• Sweep under someone's feet it's believed they'll never marry.
• Roast'n'ears = corn on the cob
• Sore as the dickens = muscles are sore after a workout
• Mud slinging = happens in politics a lot. Talk bad about someone.  Criticize in public or newspaper.
• Telling somebody's business = gossiping about someone
• Bickering = arguing
• Talk bad about someone = criticize someone with gossip
• Talk about someone = criticize someone with gossip
• Put someone down = criticize someone with gossip
• Plenty of time=- "Don't hurry. We have plenty of time to get there."
• "Idle hands are the devils handiwork."
• Get in everybody's business = be nosey = Be too inquisitive
• "Don't be nosey." = Ask question you shouldn't.   Be too inquisitive
• Prowl around = Be too inquisitive
• Getting into something = Trouble
• Ain't that the truth
• Wouldn't do for me =
• Ya'll doing okay = How are you
• Snooping = Be too inquisitive
• Bothersome = aggravate
• Get on somebody's nerves = aggravate
• Busy body = gossiper; someone who causes trouble
• Fit to be tied = angry  
• Dreckly = after while
• Okie Dokie = Okay
• "You don't know how much time you got" = don't know when we'll die
• Courting = dating
• "Give you a good talking too" = verbally reprimand
• Fuss at = verbally reprimand 
• Scold = verbally reprimand 

Blessed to live in a Country where EVERYONE can vote....

My nephew Tanner with Down Syndrome voted today in McMinn County.   My 92 year old aunt Charlsie voted by mail in Monroe County.   

It's important to them and I hope it's important to you....

Pray Vote Pray

Pray Vote Pray

Pray for our nation

Vote. Do your civic duty

Pray for our leaders

It's election day!  I have an old election button my sister gave me.  It has some great advice to heed before you cast your ballot:   "Pray, Vote, Pray".

I'm running unopposed but would greatly appreciate a confidence vote.

Frank White's Funeral

Frank White's receiving friends and funeral were tonight at Hopewell Springs Baptist Church.  He was 83.  Graveside and burial is Wednesday at Hopewell Cemetery.  Why Wednesday and not tomorrow? Tomorrow is election day.  Frank was a dedicated Republican who served as Monroe County Sheriff and also County Court Clerk during his career.   Family say he wouldn't want to be buried on election day.  Instead they encourage others to go vote in remembrance of Frank.

I think of my good friend Darlene.   A woman of great faith.  Darlene's mom Nancy died several years back at home.  I remember going to visit Darlene and going to the bedroom to see Nancy. I felt so badly for Darlene.  I had lost my own mother many years before.  Now, after this week, we've also both lost our fathers.

I guess we could be considered orphans now. Even though we are adults.  But orphans all the same.  I don't know how being orphaned as a child feels.  I only have an adults perspective.   Either way, at any age, it stinks.....

God's Not Dead

My great niece and I went to the movies tonight.  Bella and I both got teary eyed and both agree "God's not Dead" is an excellent movie and that God's not Dead.

Mountains

Last Night

Yesterday evening after a full day of planting flowers and turning horses in and out and a few other barn chores my 12 year old great niece text to see if I wanted to go eat.   She had just got home from her soccer game in Chattanooga and was hungry.   I text back and said sure.  Where?   Bella said The Beach.

Bella text a few minutes later and asked if her sister could go.  I said sure the shafter could go. She usually doesn't go anywhere if Bella is along. They bicker too much.  But I guess for a burger at The Beach she could tolerate her little sister for a while.

When we got to The Beach we saw what we were afraid we'd see.  A super duper looong line.  So I asked if we could go somewhere else.   We ended up at the Dinner Bell in Sweetwater where I asked the question "if you could only have one food for the rest of your life what would it be?"

Chelsea asked if they could have condiments.   I told her it didn't really work that way but yes. So she picked chicken.   I picked potatoes.   Bella picked broccoli and cheese soup with bread.  I told Bella couldn't have bread.  That's it's own food.  And she and Chelsea started the bickering.

I told Bella she could have bread if I could have butter and milk for my potatoes.   And salt.  I don't believe Chelsea liked our little agreement.

During all the driving to and from Chelsea and I would play music sort of like we did the night before.  But now with a 12 year old in the car I wasn't sure what to play so Chelsea would say yes or no when I started a song.

When we got back to their house to drop Chelsea off (Bella was spending the night with me so therefore she wouldn't) we chatted a minute in the car.   Bella told Chelsea "move Chelsea!  I want my Marna time".  Awwww.....I'm not cool but hey, I'll enjoy thinking I am because in a few years they're going to figure out what I already know. I'm pretty boring.

In church parking lot...

At church this morning.   Cool.  Great day for lake afterwards.   Wish Chris wasn't out of town.  Course.....I could always take the boat out myself........

Toooo many clothes....

Chelsea said she had too many clothes and needed to give a bunch away.  I told her that she should keep the clothes and just not buy anymore.

Chelsea said, "that's a dumb idea".

Chest is full of socks, shorts, 50 t-shirts, PJs, scarves, and, well, that's about all.

What a day....and what a looong blog post.......

A day full of emotion.

Fresh:  This was a Friday filled with a range of emotions.   Chris was out of town so the morning began with feeding the horses and barn chores. A couple horses in and out of paddocks to play always bring a smile to my face.  Love to watch them buck and kick and graze.  Although I must say I like to see the bad ones get bit by the electric fence when they deserve it.

Frustration:  Our heating and air unit went out again for probably the fifth time since building the house in 2009.  (I'm wondering if the storm had anything to do with this outage.)  So I spent a while with the repair man.

Sorrow:  With the farm chores finished and repairs made I readied myself to go to Blount Memorial Hospital.   A close friend's dad was dying.  He passed couple hours after I left. Watching the family and friends was heartbreaking.   But they were finding some comfort in the fact he was on the way to Heaven to meet God and his Savoir.

Pride: Frank was eighty-three and one of the absolutely finest men I've ever known.  He served as Monroe County Sheriff many years and county court clerk.  Our families grew up together in Corntassel and are kin.  I've always liked claiming that.  Just as about everyone wanted to have a claim to Frank.  He will be missed by at least a thousand people.  No joke. I'm blessed to have his daughter Darlene as a friend.  She's so much like her Daddy.  I wrote a post about just how great she is at:  She's my...

Rest:  A nap.  I needed a nap.  So I had one...

Amusement:  Chelsea,  my great niece, who is twenty, text to see what was doing and if Bella was wanting to spend the night.  I told her so she jumped on that and said she wanted too.  Those two are so funny!  They will not spend the night with me on the same night.  The twenty year old and the twelve year old bicker too much.

Eagerness:  Chelsea wanted to know if I was hungry to which I replied: always.  She had gotten off from work from the Boys and Girls Club a little early.

Confusion:  Chelsea came straight to my house and helped me feed horses.  Then the debate about where to eat started.  Chelsea mentioned Michael s in Athens and then Western Sizzling to which I replied wasn't finished repairs from a fire a few months back.  She then said new Mexican restaurant in Sweetwater.   So off we went.  When we got close I said we forgot about the Dinner Bell!  Chelsea said lets go there.   When we pulled in the parking lot of Dinner Bell I said....the Chinese restaurant has crab legs on Friday night.  So off we went again!

Entertained:  On the way to and from we listened to each other's music.  We both love music.  Although we disagree on much-mostly her rap.  She is twenty after all.  We listened to Eminem (love his new song!), the Cranberries, Lil John,  Chris Brown, Walkenmut (sp?), the Selfie song Chelsea hates,  the Cyrus girl for just a minute,  Beyoncé and Jayz, Buckcherry, Twin Forks, Aloe Blacc, John Legend, P.O.D., Martin Gaixx, and on and on and on....

Hurried:  On our way home Chelsea reminded me we hadn't dropped off the two movies Bella and I had gotten at Redbox the night before and we had ten minutes until charged for another days rental.  Soooo...around we turned.  I found out on the way Bella isn't allowed to watch PG13 movies.  She's twelve.   Ooops.  Glad we only watched fifteen minutes of that movie!!

Joy:  We stopped and visited her parents-my nephew and his wife who is one of my best friends.

Contentment:  I threw the horses some extra hay when we got to my house while did her Spanish homework due online by midnight.   Now she's snoring as I write this terribly long blog post while taking time outs to write my Thank You ad for the papers for the day after elections Tuesday as  "Say Yes to the Dress" plays in the background and I'm craving popcorn.  I'm going to go pop some now....

Here Comes the Bride...

"Say Yes to the Dress".  Show after show I could watch for hours.  Even repeats.   I've no idea why I love it so.  I've already taken that walk down the aisle with my dad in my special chosen dress to my chosen groom.

What's the thing about the consultants helping brides to be find the one of a kind dress dreamed of since the girl was three years old which would make her feel like the most beautiful and cherished person ever in the history of the world....oh... It's called.... PRESSURE!  Don't think I could handle it.  I'd be screaming "RANDY" every time I left the fitting room.

Breakfast and Tcaps

Bella and breakfast....

Bella is in 7th grade and I suppose 7th graders have breakfast before leaving for school.  I wrote in a previous post about Bella and breakfast and toast.

Tonight while we were at Bert's Bella mentioned breakfast.   Bella said "Marna, kids need breakfast this week.  For Tcaps."  Soooo.... I went to Walmart and bought muffins.