A fall Sunday...

I've been really neglecting my blog as of late...to be perfectly honest, I haven't felt as though there was anything interesting enough to write about. Nothing but FMS and the effects that it wreaks upon my body, and blah, blah, blah, blah blah!

I haven't been getting out that much lately, because I haven't felt like it or wanted to do so, but, this morning, I talked my dear hubby into playing hookey from church and we rode out to eat breakfast and took a ride along the parkway. Simply beautiful fall colors and breathtaking views. Of course, I didn't leave the house without my camera. Below, you can take a gander at some of the numerous pics I shot.

On the way to breakfast

Getting on the parkway

Sign at one of the look-outs

I was trying to capture the valley below...didn't realize until later how I captured the unusual swirls in the clouds

Look-out shot

Another sign

Look-out shot

This was right before we got to the Peaks of Otter...we live at the foot of the Peaks

When we reached Sharp Top Mountain...we took this dirt road back down the mountain. It's a narrow and winding one lane road, with very sharp curves. I snapped this pic as we had just traveled this part of the road, and were rounding one of those sharp turns





Another look at the narrow, rocky lane

An old barn we passed in the woods

An old truck frame on the side of the lane


An old abandoned farmhouse with gingerbread trim






We stopped by the grave of DH's father. He's buried in an old country community cemetary. This old church sits across the road from it and is about 200 yrs. old.

One of the old markers at the cemetary. Not the oldest, but the oldest one that you could still read clearly

A view from the back of the cemetary






Another view fron the back. You should really click on these photos to enlarge them for a better view




We're on our way back home

This is the road we live on





We're going to turn into our driveway which is right across the road from that white house up there on the right

This time of the year, you can hardly see our driveway for all the fallen pine needles








And...we're home again. Til next time, blessings!

An excuse for slacking...

I am really getting slack with this blogging thing. I should be ashamed but, I'm not. If you remember back some time ago when I mentioned 'changing up meds'...well, I've pretty much had the summer from hell! Since the end of June, I have been on a new drug for FMS, called Savella. At the same time, I began weaning off the antidepressant, that I had been on for years. Woohoooooo, people...what a ride it has been!
I can truly say with great confidence that I pray I never have to experience anything like this EVER again! The physical sickness that came with the withdrawals from this medicine, were almost intolerable. There were literally days when I prayed to die. The headaches and dizziness were bad enough, but when the nausea kicked in, too...well...let's just say, there was never a great day. There were hardly any good days, either.
Most of my summer is foggy to me because I slept through a huge portion of it. I slept, not only because I was sick and 'drained', but also to keep from actually experiencing the withdrawals I was having. I think I may can sympathize with an addict, going through rehab.
Today, as I write this I can comfortably say, that particular drug is out of my system. Praise the Lord! Hopefully, brighter days are ahead for me. Til next time, blessings!

Animal behavior...

This was taken this morning...It's Toby laying in front of our door. I guess he does have the 'sense to come in out of the rain'!
Toby asleep in the sunshine...don't know what that hind leg is all about!

This lil' one has practically taken up residence in our backyard.

Doesn't stay in one spot very long...

...eating acorns

This group(usually at least 4 of them) can be spotted twice a day, feeding under the oak tree.

Took this a couple of weeks ago. At our place, it's rare to see 2 hummingbirds sharing the same feeder, at the same time. Normally, they fight one another for a drink.

But, these two lingered for the longest time...long enough for me to grab my camera and take several photos.

It's quite interesting to watch the habitual mannerisms of an animal. Not sure if I'm up for doing a post on human mannerisms just yet! Til next time, blessings!

I do know what day it is...

*NOTE*
I apologize for the confusing dates for the previous post. I had started the entry on the 9th, and saved it to draft, before discovering that I couldn't figure out how to change the entry date when I published it on the 13th. Another example of a 'no-say' situation, because if I had my way...editing would be much simpler!!

So long summer...

It's the thirteenth day of September and Labor Day has passed. I've put away my summer 'whites' until next year. What a bummer! I don't know what to wear, now that it's still very warm, and I can't wear my favorite white capris. And shoes...gosh, I practically LIVE in sandals! And the day is very near that cooler temperatures will settle in and threaten physical harm to my naked toes and feet. I'm never happy to see summer come to an end. It's like a disturbance to everything about my physical (and mental) being.
Fall is my signal that old man winter is on his way, as well. I think it's rude that he continues to visit, without invitation. It just reminds me of yet another situation in which I have no 'say-so' in. And as the days continue to roll past(and I age with each one of them), I discover there are more and more of these no say situations. I guess, next, I'll have to start Christmas shopping, huh??...
Bah...humbug! Til next time (I vent)...blessings!

procrastinating...

Usually...I'm 'johnny on the spot'! (or maybe in my case, 'joannie'?)But, lately I've become a...(I don't want to use this word, but feel I must)...procrastinator! Ok, there it is. I said it! I don't even like the way the word sounds, and I especially don't like that I've become one! Be it 'age' or 'fibro' or whatever excuse I can come up with, I find myself more and more, putting off until tomorrow, what I COULD DO TODAY! I can give examples, too...
Cleaning- "it doesn't smell"!
Dusting- "well, you can't write your name in it yet"!
Laundry- "you don't have ANY clean underwear"?
Cooking- "wonder if they'd mind another sandwich tonight"?
Buying Groceries- "let's see...we have bread, milk and butter. What can I make out of this for
dinner"??
Watering my flowers- "I'll water after dinner". Then after dinner..."It's sooo hot and sticky out, I
believe I'll wait til morning"!
Crafting projects- "ya know the last time I cleaned, I put that away somewhere. Now, I have no
idea where it is"!
Sending cards- "But my card doesn't say 'belated'"!(birthday)..."I'm sure they're feeling much
better by now"!(get well)
Canning veggies-(from the garden) "How many cans did you say we had left from last year? I
doubt we'll eat that many over the winter"!!
Ok, maybe I'm not this bad yet...but I can see a significant change. One that has me asking somedays..."what have I become"? Certainly, I have some work to do on my behavior. Is today the 31st???............I must call my mom to wish her a Happy Birthday! Or dang it, I may just go all out and sing it to her. But, I AM GOING RIGHT NOW to do it, before it suddenly becomes a 'belated' one! Til next time, blessings...

"Guess who's coming to dinner"?...

I'm excited! We have a guest coming for dinner tonight. Joanna has recently returned back home to Virginia, after spending two years in Budapest, Hungary, as a ESL teacher.(that's English Speaking Language for those of you who don't know) I saw her briefly last summer while she was home on summer vacation. I have not seen her since that time, so I'm excited to see her and hear all about her last 12 months in Hungary, her new job (Liberty University), and her future studies and plans. Oh, and did I mention she's family?? She is...she's a cousin of mine. But, even if she wasn't 'family', I'd still love her anyway. She's a remarkable young lady...one that I'm proud of, and proud to know!
Til next time, blessings!

more pics from Tenn...

The Smokey Mountains are beautiful...
Mom and me...(ok, nobody reminded me to take off my readers!)

Everything american made in this store...thought the name and colors of their sign was cool.

Dad can ALWAYS find someone to talk to while you shop!

You can still buy flour and cornmeal here...ground on location.

I spotted mom through the dancing bears shrubbery...

Wonderworks...a place for the odd and extraordinary. We didn't go but ate at the Tony Romas right beside the place, so I had to take a picture. Sometimes I feel as though my own house is turned upside down!!!

Score!! Zach shopping for 'manly' things...

Are the weeks growing wings??

It's hard for me to believe that today is Thursday. I wonder if somehow the weeks have wings...the week days appear to roll around faster and faster. Only a few weeks left of summer but it seems like just last week, it was springtime and we were eagerly buying flowers, hanging baskets, and planting our garden. Gosh, where does the time go?? Oh, how I wish I could bottle up some of that time and save it! DH just ask me yesterday if I was planning on having a corn shock this year for fall decoration...meaning , he wondered if I would use the fading cornstalks from our garden. I'm like, "huh"?? Is it actually time to be thinking about fall? I'm afraid it is but I don't want to give up summer just yet. I admit I suffer from the extreme temperatures, but there is just something exuberating about spending time outdoors. So many things that summer provides for me that old man winter can't!...like, homegrown food, flowers, hummingbirds, that wonderful smell after a rain shower, suntanning on the beach, swimming in the ocean and feeling the fresh green grass beneath your toes, are just to name a few. To think that all this shall soon come to an end, until next year...well, I don't want to think about it. Not TODAY, anyway. Maybe, tomorrow. Til next time, blessings!

hectic week...

Me with two of my favorite guys. This was taken outside of a place we always eat at, "Bullfish Grill"...yummy place to fill your stomach.
View of the pool from our balcony...this is where Zach 'lived' while we were there.

Mom and Dad...they're just too cute!!

Dad on our balcony reading his morning devotionals.

'Sleepyhead' still snoozing...

I am back home after almost a week in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. It was a good trip and we all had a lot of fun and many more laughs. When travelling with my dad, it's like packing a bucket of fun and taking it with you! There is never a dull moment in his presence. He works hard at making every day a 'barrel of laughs'.

Since arriving home on Friday, I've been nonstop with activity. We literally passed Zach off from one vehicle to another, so that he could take a camping trip with his buddies...kinda like a last 'blowout' before returning back to school. After getting him on his way, there was the unpacking from our trip and washing up all the dirty laundry. The yard needed mowing. The garden needed attention. My flowers were suffering from several days of neglect. Not to mention, of course, the house needed cleaning. Thank God, I'm feeling much much better!!

And this being the last week of freedom before school starts back, Zach and I have many things to do...we need to buy school supplies(yes, I've waited til the last minute!), he needs a new bookbag(deserves one after carrying this last one for 2 years!), groceries (with the planning of school lunches) need to be bought, I promised him an afternoon movie at the cinema over a month ago(then I got sick), we both have dentist appts. on Friday. I'm also thankful that we did the shoes and clothes shopping while in Pigeon Forge at the many, many outlets they have. But, still, it's going to be a busy week, I see. So, I'm going to leave you now with a few pics of our trip and then I'm going to get started on my 'to-do' list. Til next time, blessings!

Blessings...

This afternoon, we leave on vacation. It's a much needed get-away...one that I don't plan on letting go to waste. So, I leave you with wishes for a great week and many special blessings for your days, until I return on Friday.

Good days...

I like structure and prefer having a schedule, to not having one. I guess you could say that I'm pretty much predictable in my comings and goings. Recently, though, everything seems somewhat off course since my doctors 'switched up' my medications. With that in mind, I've decided to discontinue the wealthy Wednesday posts for now.
I understand that a lot of folks get a rush from the "thrill of the unknown". As for me...not so much. The unknown intimidates me, especially when it involves my brain and medications. But, the past four days have been really good...no nausea, no headache and no dizziness. I'm so thankful for this since I leave this weekend for Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Prior to that, I was not looking forward to this vacation and had given much thought to cancelling the trip. Today, I find myself getting excited, and counting the days until Saturday.(it's 2 more!!) "Bring it on", I say. "Bring it on"!
Til next time, blessings! And thank you sweet Lord, for all of mine!

The many shades of blue...

This past week was a rough one. The antidepressant was discontinued, altogether and my brain and body went into a tailspin...whew! My doctor consulted with another and the determination is that this weaning process was being 'rushed', therefore, we are taking a step(or two) back. We are now looking at 12 weeks to complete this instead of six...I'm half way there!
I'm praying the worst of the physical sickness associated with the withdrawals, like nausea and dizziness, is over, but the depression has intensified so, that I'm actually turning a different color, and it's not a shade I'd prefer to be. I've never been a big fan of blue, but at the present time..."I'm blue all over"! Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I continue the path of the unknown. I truly believe it will be worth the suffering, in the end. Til next time, blessings!

Thankful travel...

I'm leaving in the morning to go down to NC. I'll spend the day and night with mom and dad, then on Friday morning, I have an appt. with my doctor for a 'check-in'. I like to call it this because I am actually checking in with her to give her an update on how I'm feeling and to see where we go from here. It's hard to say, really...as I can see some improvement in one area and things have worsened in another. But, amidst all this 'change'(whether it be for the better or for the worse), a little 'birdie' told me that I may get to visit with Nicole and Bryson while I'm down. And if I do get to see that sweet, little, innocent face of his...well, that...alone, should make any soul feel better! And folks...it's wealthy Wednesday, so I'll leave you with my list of thankfuls for the week. Til next time, blessings!

1. GOD'S GRACE & MERCY - He continues to uplift my spirits and helps to guide me through each day of the 'unknown'.
2. REHABILITATION CENTERS - These physical therapy centers and their employees, are a "Godsend" to patients and their families, who NEED this type of treatment to get back on their feet.
3. CHOCOLATE - Yes, indeedy, I thank God everyday for this sweet and indulgent treat!
4. AIR CONDITIONERS - window units, central units, fans or trees...doesn't matter, really, as long as some form of air is circulating and blowing my way!
5. DEODORANT - C'mon, think about it. Could you imagine a world without it??

Green beans...again??

Mom and dad were here on Thursday. They came up to visit my mother-in-law, but did not get to see her because she was not feeling well. They only stayed one night , due to prior commitments. But, I'll see them again next week when I go back down for a doctor's appointment. And...on August 9th(Please Lord, let me feel better by then!), Mom, Dad, Zach, and myself are going back to Pigeon Forge, Tenn. for the week. I'm definitely looking forward to the trip and 'getting away' with something besides Calgon!

We've been canning beans again this morning. Yuck, Yuck and then another yuck! Green beans used to be my favorite veggie. Not these days, though. I've been feeling so poorly lately that I haven't felt like dealing with alot of garden stuff. I do good to get my flowers watered every other evening. But, so far, we have 'put up' about 60 qts. of green beans. I've been freezing more things this year than I ever have before and I do have cucumbers on brine, as I write this post, to make 14 day Icicle pickles. Yum. Just don't mention a green bean to me anytime soon, because you might not get a kind response.

Til next time, blessings!

Wealthy Wednesday resumes...

Today the 'wealthy' Wednesday posts resume after a sudden halt in publication, due to unforeseen circumstances, beyond my control. (Now that was a mouthful) I would like to give a brief update on some...
Nanny (my MIL), is doing quite well now, following her hip surgery. She remains in a rehab facility nearby, gaining strength and going through physical therapy on a daily basis. Her spirits are much brighter, than in the beginning of this ordeal. She has accepted the fact that she is in the best surroundings available, equipped to provide her with the healing she needs, in order to prepare her for coming home. If she continues to progress, we're told she may get to go home by the middle of August.
I continue to 'battle the war', if you will, between my brain and a certain antidepressant medication. I never was crazy about rollar coaster rides and this is no exception! Since this 'weaning' process began, 15 days ago, (yep, I'm counting the days here), I've experienced 2 pretty good days, 5 or 6 not so bad days, and the others...well, I'd rather not remember. Let's just say, I didn't experience this much nausea when I was pregnant!! And when you can actually HEAR your eyes move...it's one more sick feeling! Nonetheless, I must go through this in order to get the full effect of this new medication thats just for fibromyalgia patients. Anyhoo, I'm hanging...maybe by a very thin thread, but I'm hanging! And I'm still excited, that maybe one day in the short future, I may be free of much pain and have a body that has more functional parts. I'd appreciate any prayers on my behalf...
Now, on with 5 additional things I'm thankful for...

1. DOCTORS - Most spend so much time away from their loved ones, in order to care for ours.
2. BARGAIN BARN - (Montvale, Va.) I found some awesome fabrics here to make curtains and pillows for the Yellowstone.
3. A.C. MOORE - though I'm not usually too crazy about this store, I was thrilled to find that they still carry sewing thread. (Shame on Walmart for not!)
4. ZACH'S KITCHEN SKILLS - Finally, the teen can work the microwave, and fend for himself at lunchtime. Who knew??
5. FRIENDS & FAMILY - I know I've listed these 2 before, but I'm so thankful for them, I had to list them again.

Til next time, blessings to all!

Nature takes it's course...

Rain gauge as of this morning...
The critter climbs to the top of the doghouse to digest his 'fill'...

Caught in the action of destruction!

And, again...

You ever noticed how things seem to go haywire when it's really dry or when there's a drought period? That is exactly what's been happening around our place of late. We've always had problems with squirrels eating the birdseed, etc., but look what I caught one mentioned critter doing a couple of days ago. It was actually chewing the wood off of Toby's house. And the deer...well, now they've been spotted chewing on my beloved clematis vines. I'm just not going to have all that, I tell ya!!

I am now armed w/ a huge spray bottle of 'Deer Away', but does anyone know where I might find me some 'Squirrel-B-Gone'?!? (Sorry Toby, my flowers come before the house that you don't even stay in, in the summer time!)

Thank the good Lord above, we did get some much needed rain yesterday. In fact, we got well above an inch, but I wonder if that was enough to stop some of the madness. Only time, and my camera will tell...

Til next time, blessings!