We Are Okay, Blackberry Homestead With Downed Trees

April 6, 2025 The tornado that touched down in Muscle Shoals was about 6 miles from us. We huddled in our closet part of the night when the tornado warning sirens went off and the electronic warning said a tornado had touched down. Nox really didn’t like hanging out in the closet. I believe she […]

A Visit from My Sister and Her Husband

March 30, 2025 On Thursday (March 27), I had a doctor’s appointment for my physical. My new doctor is going to recommend some doctors in the area. I have a toenail that is trying to become an ingrown toenail. I also need a neurologist in the area who is familiar with my condition. After my […]

Nox Is Curious about the Gardens

March 19, 2025 On Sunday (March 16), as we walked around the back pasture checking for damage, we saw Nox over by the raised garden beds. Bruce saw her first. Nox was standing on her hind feet trying to see into the tall raised garden beds. We laughed about it and continued our walk back […]

Two Days Of Sunset Pictures

March 19, 2025 I’ll share the sunset pictures I took on Monday (March 17). I didn’t do much yesterday, as I had a migraine and a flare up of my nerve pain. Bruce, Nox and I did walk around the yard in the morning and check on my gardens. The magnolia is leafing out, so […]

Other News from Yesterday

March 16, 2025 Yesterday morning, I noticed the radishes had sprouted. The loose leaf lettuce had also sprouted. We shopped in the morning. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet had advertised quart canning jars for a great price. We saw a couple with two shopping carts loaded with boxes of canning jars leaving the store as we approached […]

Apple, Peach and Pecan Trees Arrived

March 14, 2023 Oh, today is Pi day. What kind of pie should I make? I enjoyed seeing the flowers while walking around Blackberry Homestead yesterday morning. Yesterday, to make it easier to fill up holes in the yard with rocks, Bruce hooked up the cart to the mower. Nox wanted to ride the mower […]

Making Soil for My Five Gallon Buckets

March 12, 2025 By yesterday, Nox had gotten very smelly since her last bath, so it was time for her to get squeaky clean again. In the morning, I washed her in the shower. After getting toweled dry, Nox sat outside in the sunshine with me. After lunch, we sat outside on the front porch […]

Gardening, Assembling Shelves, Cutting Off Branches and Unpacking Boxes of Books

March 9, 2025 Yesterday, I planted bunching onions seeds and fennel seeds. I also moved several medium sized branches that came down in the high winds to the dead hedge. I mulched the strawberries and onion plants. While I was getting leaves and pine straw to mulch the strawberries, I noticed this violet blooming. I […]

Planting Beets

March 7, 2025 This morning, Nox went with me as I headed out to plant beets in the garden beds. I planted these beets: Detroit Golden, Detroit Dark Red and Chioggia. Chioggia is a “candy striped beet.” It has red and white alternating rings with a bright red skin. I noticed the field pansies are […]

Unloading Cliff the Big Red Truck

March 1, 2025 On Friday (February 28), we decided to go out for breakfast and then stop at Walmart to pick up my prescriptions. We had breakfast at the Box Car Cafe in Sheffield, Alabama. It was eleven miles from the house and a short distance from Walmart. They got good reviews. I had a […]