Country Photo of the Day

Photo of the day

I think I need to clarify one point: KFC stands for Kids for Christ.

We are not plumping up Henny Penny and Lucy for Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Love,
TCB

Been Fishin'

This photo is an apt description of my home right now. Things pop up in unexpected places - always where they do not quite belong.

My grocery shopping basket is left on the breakfast nook floor. And my son's fishing rod is propped against the chair. He's not gone fishin'; he has BEEN FISHIN'.

Sometimes it's too much trouble to put every little item away. SpongeBob called my son's name when he walked in the door from fishing at the river. My cell phone gave its well-known ring to announce the next call. Where I dropped the basket a few days ago still sits today. We don't worry about these things too much. One advantage of living a little bit out in the country - No one "drops by" for a visit without calling first. They don't want to drive all that way and find you're not home. So you always have time to sweep up those floating items and ferry them back to their proper homes.

One day, I will take the time to put away the basket and a litter of other small things scattered in different rooms. And when I'm finished - after only 2 minutes of expended energy - I'll wonder why I didn't do this earlier.

Do you have nagging little things around your home like this? Take 2 minutes today and put a few things away. Doesn't that feel better? If you do that every day, imagine how much easier it will be on "cleaning day." (Do you have one of those? I put those away 10 years ago. Funny how that's the exact age of my precious-wecious son).

Have a happy day!
TCB

RIP Molly Dearest

We had to do what we didn't want to do with our dear, old friend, Molly the golden retriever. She was almost 17. I can't talk about her passing, so I really can't write about it either.

Rest in peace, Molly. We will never forget you.

Love,
TCB and the whole family

Growing up Southern (And Dancing on Sunday Morning)

I was born in the South. I grew up in the South. And I still live in the South. Wouldn't have it any other way.

When I was little (I refuse to tell you how many years ago that was), we always started Sundays by going to the little Baptist Church out in the country on Greenpond Road. Almost everyone did. (I wish it was still that way today).

Of course, everyone knew if you were Southern Baptist, you were not supposed to drink, swear, smoke, or dance. Check, oops, check, oops. As I marched up the steps to my Sunday School class, I noticed lots of the "older" men standing around and smoking a cigarette before church started. They were smoking, so did it mean it was OK to dance?

I sure hope so, because every Sunday morning while my Daddy played "oldies" on the stereo in the den, I tap danced and balleted my way around the den in my Winnie-the-Pooh black patent leather Mary Janes and my slip. Yes, we all used to wear a slip. It may be quite a challenge to find one in a store now.

I never put on my dress until the last minute because Mama thought I might spill something all over it at the breakfast table. But the slip was mighty fine for twirling, and I danced in front of an audience of my pretend friends and celebrities like Donny Osmond.

So, fast forward >> years (Did you think I was actually going to tell you HOW MANY?). Occasionally, I have a SkinnyGirl cocktail, sometimes my tongue says things it shouldn't, I never had the desire to smoke, and I still dance. But only in private to make my son and husband laugh. Watch Elaine Benes on a Seinfeld rerun. You'll get the picture.

Don't forget to celebrate Memorial Day.

Love,
TCB

Housewife Poetry

I couldn't help myself today. I had to write down some of the rhymes that fly out of my mouth during the course of the day when I'm giving orders or just talking to my son. I call it Housewife Poetry. I'm sure you've uttered a few astonishingly rhyming verses yourself.

"Supper is hot and ready;
We just need a Daddy."

"Not using your brain
Is a bad thang."

I'm surrounded everywhere
by dirty underwear.
(It was laundry day).

And yesterday's utterance:

"Son, don't run with your gun."

He didn't. And here's what happened. (x3)

Have a happy day.
TCB

Strangers in the Night (in my Backyard!)

I'm not afraid of the dark, but during this time of the year I like to keep my outdoor walks in the backyard (which backs up to the woods and a river) to a minimum without a flashlight. I'm a little afraid of stepping on a snake during the prime time May season. Turns out, there's another party going on in my backyard while I'm sleeping, and it has nothing to do with snakes.

Ralph the Raccoon enjoys sniffing around the chicken pen to see if perhaps there is an opening. A chicken would be good tonight, or at least some vegetable scraps from inside. (Pay no attention to the date stamp on the Stealth Cam. It appears Mr. Country Belle does not know how to operate this part of the device.)

Ralph has been a nuisance for a week, so Mr. Country Belle installed a wildlife camera to see what the heck was going on.

Oh, I see Ralphie is the one tearing up the wire on our pen door.

"Knock. Knock. Let me in. I brought a friend. I promise we won't eat you or your delicious food."

Can you see him? That's the chicken feed bin he's sniffing around in the bottom right corner. For a week, the lid has been removed and the bin overturned each morning. I got him this time. There's no way he's getting the lid off that baby tonight.

"I'm Perfect Posture Polly. I'm Perfect Posture Polly." (There's always one in every crowd.)

"Who? What? Let's scram. Someone's taking pictures."

And then along comes Mr. Opportunistic Opossum himself. He's obviously used to Ralphie removing the lid of the chicken food bin each night before he comes sauntering along. Not tonight, buddy.

Good night. And stay out of my yard.
TCB

Ch...ch...ch...Chia!

I have a new love.

I visited Earth Fare over the weekend and came home with a new package to try. Every time I visit a different healthy supermarket, I try something new.

I love Chia Snacks.

They are tasty cubes of goodness. I can justify eating lots of them because:

(a) When I eat them, I don't crave sweets like usual;

(b) They are full of calcium - 45% of the recommended daily value;

(c) They are chock full of chia seeds, which have a higher value of Omega-3's than even notorious salmon; and

(d) Did I mention they are fabulous?

And yes, they are the infamous "ch, ch, ch, chia seeds" from the TV commercials. The seeds come from a plant in the mint family and are full of easily digestible protein and lots of fiber.

I especially like them because they fill me up as well as satisfy my sweet tooth. The only problem is that I only bought one bag, and the store is not too close to my rural home. I guess that means I'm taking another trip this week. You guessed it; my bag is empty.

You can also buy them from Navitas Naturals stores. We don't have those stores in the South; they seem to be predominantly in the northeastern part of the U.S.

I give this holistic snack a thumbs up. Try it soon!

Love,

TCB

P.S. No one paid me to write this post. I just love 'em.