Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Someone Get Onto Me, Please.

I am very bad. I currently have 11 quilts I have started but have not finished.
I love making the tops of quilts, but have a hard time enjoying the binding and quilting part.
I am aiming to get these done before next year, however.

Here are a few:
The pictures are not great, but oh well.

This is a simple star pattern. I have a lot of tops made by this pattern.





This is just a simple one I made from scraps.




This is my favorite. It is an "Around the World" baby quilt. Once this one is done I'll put it in my hope chest.




I know, I need to get busy. I have a sampler quilt that I have been working on since 2005!! Of course, that one is all done by hand, but still, it's about time I get it done.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Kart Racing or Bumper Cars?

For all of you who don't know, my wonderful brother Joshua started racing karts this year. It is something he has really been wanting to do, and the Lord blessed him with that opportunity this year. He races a clone engine down at the track in Barnesville. Yesterday there was an Enduro clone race planned and he was really looking forward to it. An Enduro lasts for one hour and he has to make two pit stops during that time. My Daddy, Grandad, and one of Josh's good friends made up his pit crew. After the Enduro, they still had qualifying, heat races, and the main event race to do.

OK. Josh has done extremely well this year and has won many races. So after yesterday this is what I was planning on posting about...

Well folks, he has done it again, looks like he has another trophy to his name....

He did very well yesterday and had no injuries, and his sister(me), restrained herself from hurting the guy who spun him out. But above all, he did great, and all the guys at the track are in great awe at this fabulous racer.

Then I envisioned posting pictures of his race, then one of me and him after the race...

But, I decided it would be rude to take photos of the ambulance that came to get him.

This is how it happened--

First came the Enduro race, after he had made the first pit stop, there was a few who spun out on the "s" turns, well he didn't see this on account that his pit crew were jumping up and down trying to warn him of the wreck. Well, he was so busy looking at them and wondering why they were behaving in such a way that ...SMACK! He ran right into one of the guys who had stopped. Me and Mama, his photographer and videographer, were shocked. It looked like his neck snapped. But no, we just were too worried,he kept on going and finished the Enduro race. He was sore, but he was still planning on doing the other races. He loves racing too much to give up yet.
He didn't win that one, he came in 14th out of 20, but I said that I didn't care, after that hard hit and not giving up, I believe he won the endurance part hands down.

Then came the heat race. He was leading really well the first two laps, but then he spun out. This cost him a little bit of time and so he did not win that one. But that's OK, we still have the main race to go.

Oh yeah, the main race went beautiful. Josh was in the lead for a few laps, but then his opponent overtook him on the back stretch. Josh was fixing to get back his lead when his opponent spun and stopped dead on the first turn. Josh had no time to think, so he tried to turn to avoid him, only to smack him side to side. This was a HARD hit. I hollared. His opponent was fine and started racing again. But Josh, no. He raised his hand pitifully and was slouched in his seat. We all went running to him and so did the EMS. They had to call an ambulance. There was the sweetest little boy there, he was crying and very worried. He kept on saying "I can't believe this is happening, this kid never wrecks." The men got him out of his kart and had him sit down. The seat of his kart had a crack in it where his hip had went "bang" against it. He was turning colors and they loaded him up on the stretcher. So off we went to Spaulding Regional Hospital. Keep in mind that we are more than two hours from home.

While he was in route to the hospital, we had to load up his kart and all his racing stuff,including tool boxes, tires, and a canopy. Before we knew it, it was completely loaded by the wonderful folks at the track. They were very worried and extremely helpful. This enabled us to get to the hospital sooner.

So off we go. We wait...and wait...and wait. They finally get him into x-ray and see nothing broken. Praise the Lord!! He is just very bruised and will be very sore.

On a lighter note, we saw many interesting things in the waiting room at the hospital. This included a man whose wheelchair was falling apart, an unruly kid who was terrified of doctors, and a drunk who was wearing fuzzy camo slippers.

Anyway, we took the long drive home and really hit the sack when we got there.

Please be in prayer for Josh, that he won't be too sore and that he will be able to race in two weeks. I have complete confidence that after this next race, I'll have a win to post about!!

Here are a few photos of the day. Of course, before his crash.
He is the red and black #75.





Tuesday, October 21, 2008

That There's Some Good Songwritin'

To the tune of "The Bonnie Blue Flag"


The Homespun Dress
(ascribed to Carrie Bell Sinclair)

Oh, yes, I am a Southern girl,
And glory in the name,
And boast it with far greater pride
Than glittering wealth or fame.
We envy not the Northern girl,
Her robes or beauty rare,
Though diamonds grace her snowy neck,
And pearls bedeck her hair.

cho: Hurrah! Hurrah!
For the sunny South so dear;
Three cheers for the homespun dress
The Southern ladies wear.

The homespun dress is plain, I know,
My hat's palmetto, too;
But then it shows what Southern girls
For Southern rights will do.
We have sent the bravest of our land
To battle with the foe,
And we will lend a helping hand
We love the South, you know.

Now, Northern goods are out of date;
And since old Abe's blockade,
We Southern girls can be content
With goods that's Southern made.
We sent our sweethearts to the war
But dear girls, never mind,
Your soldier-love will ne'er forget
The girl he left behind.

The soldier is the lad for me ---
A brave heart I adore;
And when the sunny South is free,
And fighting is no more,
I'll choose me then a lover brave
From out the gallant band,
The soldier lad I love the best
Shall have my heart and hand.

The Southern land's a glorious land,
And has a glorious cause;
Then cheer three cheers for Southern rights
And for the Southern boys.
We scorn to wear a bit or silk,
A bit of Northern lace;
But make our homespun dresses up,
And wear them with such grace.

And now, young man, a word to you;
If you would win the fair,
Go to the field where honor calls,
And win your lady there.
Remember that our brightest smiles
Are for the true and brave,
And that our tears are all for those
Who fill a soldier's grave.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Our Trip to the Highlands








The Georgia State Fiddler's Convention was this weekend, and I have been wanting to go, well, since last year when we went. Last year we went on Sunday and were able to see the Isaacs. This time, however, we got to see all the competitions. They had Mandolin, Banjo, Flatpick Guitar, Fingerstyle Guitar, Bluegrass Band, Junior Fiddler, and Senior Fiddler. Then the winner from each fiddle class had a fiddle off.
A 14 year old girl was crowned "Fiddle Queen".

I was in complete bliss being in the mountains. I was snapping photos left and right. I wanted to take them back to the "plains" with me. Let me tell ya though, it was a good bit colder up thar. I guess ya hafta pay for the beauty that ya see. I wish we could have spent more time there. Actually, why don't we just move! Ain't nothin like the North Georgia mountains!

Note: There is a photo that involves moonshine. I want everyone to know that I do not plan on moonshining in the future and I have not moonshined in the past. Well, at least not so's anyone could notice.











Thursday, October 16, 2008

Why I Love Goats






They make me laugh...

They know how to relax...

They see nothing wrong with being curious...

They enjoy spending time with those they love...

And, in my opinion, they are just plain beautiful!

Small Success

I am very happy to report that yesterday I made it through a dog's dental cleaning and a surgical growth removal. I did not hit the floor, in fact, I didn't even have to sit down. I was so happy. I watched it enthusiastically and counted it a victory that I didn't get swoony.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Sit Down Before You Fall Down

Now, I will start off by saying that the Lord recently blessed me with a job at a vet clinic in Athens. I am thoroughly enjoying it and I reckon I knew I would. Well, I am the kind of person that can handle gross or bloody situations. I have been the recipient of a wounded toe (see earlier posting "Who stole my big toe"), I have delivered baby goats, I have doctored many "boo-boos" of my siblings and critters, and I am fine with all that. Now, I thought I would be fine in the Vet clinic too. I thought "Surgeries.... No Problem." I knew I would be assisting in these and I thought I would be just fine. After all, it's not like I'm scared of blood.

No, it has nothing to do with blood. Dental cleanings on a dog are not bloody, but I still almost hit the floor. Spays and Neuters are a little bloody, but not in excess. I still had to take a seat on the surgery room floor. What is wrong with me??

So Dr. Liebl is performing a Dental on a little Beagle mix, I am holding the dog's tongue out of his way. I'm fine. I'm OK.....But now everything is getting a little blurry. I am hot. No, I am sweating. Some water would be nice. Or, to be honest, why don't you just pour a bucket onto my head. I start swaying. Dr. Liebl looks at my face and says

"You Ok?"

"No" -I am not the kind of person that likes to admit to not being "OK", but I knew if I wasn't honest, then he would soon have to be picking me up off the floor.

"Are ya feelin' faint?"

"Yessir"

"Henry!!! Come help me hold this dog. Jessica, you sit down."

I did as he said, quite thankfully, and stayed there til he was done.

How embarrassing!!
I was so upset. Why couldn't I just handle it? I am not a squeemish girl in any way.

In my life I have been bitten by a chpmunk, sqiurrel, and even an otter. I have caught snakes, I love to run after Anole lizards, and I find hunting for crawdads a fun endeavor. Like I mentioned, I have delivered goats, and I give our critters their vaccinaations. I just have no good reason to be acting so foolishly in the vet clinic. But I can't help it. It is not really something that you can control.

On the other hand, we had a cat come in the other day with an infected wound. Dr. Hendrix had to cut open the wound and flush it with iodine. He had to squeeze it and make all the blood and infection come out. Then he injected it with antibiotic. I was right there watching it all, very fascinated, and I was fine. I really was. And that was bloody.

So I just don't know what to make of it all. Maybe it is the smell of Ketamine or the lights that makes me go. But then only sometimes it does. I asked Dr. Liebl if I would ever get over this nonsense, and he said I would. He asked me if I was anemic, I said no, but I told him I do get faint at other times. For instance, I almost hit the ground when I was in the barn one time, for no apparent reason. One time in the store I got pretty close,too. Maybe I just have "low sugar blood content" in the words of Barney Fife.

I really don't know, but be aware of this, I will always do my best to sit down(whether on the surgery room floor or wherever) before I fall down.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

"Rain, Rain," the People Prayed

That's right folks. It ain't too common for us to get much rain here in October, but the Lord has blessed us! We needed rain like a dog in the woods needs Frontline. If people had been praying for rain then it would have come sooner. But noooo, people do not even think about asking the Lord to pour out His sweet blessing. There are a few who do ask,(praise Him for that!), but many do not even believe He is responsible for this. How saddening. But I am so thankful He decided to pour it on us yesterday, it was wonderful to see it comin' down on everything. And how beautiful!!


I SAW GOD WASH THE WORLD

I saw God wash the world last night
With His sweet showers on high;
And then when morning came
I saw him hang it out to dry.

He washed each slender blade of grass
And every trembling tree;
He flung his showers against the hills
And swept the rolling sea.

The white rose is a deeper white;
The red, a richer red
Since God washed every fragrant face
And put them all to bed.

There's not a bird, there's not a bee
That wings along the way,
But is a cleaner bird and bee
Than it was yesterday.

I saw God wash the world last night;
Ah, would He had washed me
As clean of all my dust and dirt
As that old white birch tree!

--William Stidger