Blackberry Ridge

Hello, Friends...

2009-02-17T12:53:00.003-06:00

This will be my last post on the "Blackberry Ridge" blog. I hope you will all make the switch with me. I will be sharing pics of the "Ice Storm" in my first post...I hope to see you there.

My new Blog
Just click on the link below

HOLLY RIDGE CREATIONS

Yep, I'm switchin' gears...actually, I'm tryin' to get myself in gear!!! I have opened a new etsy shop "Holly Ridge Creations" for my folkart, original dolls and whatever else I create. The "Prims and Pretties" etsy shop will now have vintage items and supplies. I have to admit that right now both shops are rather bare...hence the need to get myself in gear!

Alrighty, goodbye Blackberry Ridge...I'm off to new adventures...

Introducing my "Gourd Babies"!!

2008-11-10T16:27:00.004-06:00

Yes, they are finally finished---almost. I just couldn't wait to show them to you!! Meet, the girls...I wish the pic was clearer. I have had lots of fun and some hair pullin' (mine and theirs) getting these dolls completed. But, I think it was all worth it. I just wish you could see them in person.

Here are the actual "babies" of the bunch. I know they look a little stern...I think they are angry because I have fed them.

I know Mama isn't supposed to have favorites, but...here she is. I can't help it, this little gal just stole my heart.

If you remember the pics I shared of the gourd babies in the beginning stages, you know that I start by basecoating the gourd and then freehand the features of the face. When the faces are finished, I begin to see personalities emerge. But, they don't really come "alive" until they are finished and I am always more surprised that anyone to see "who" they have become.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my babies, please leave a comment...I love to hear what you think.

Now, I have to give them names. That's where their stories really begin.

I really should be workin' on my dolls!!

2008-11-04T14:42:00.017-06:00

But, I thought I'd come visit awhile instead. Hmmm, visitin', could that be why I can't seem to get those dolls finished!!! Oh well, here I am and I want to share some pics of the camp.

*One of the teaching stations. It doesn't show up in the pic very good, but the kids did leave some graffiti..."We Luv BYC"...since we all luv BYC, noone was punished! :-)
** Wooden bridge leading to the boy's ridge.

***A view of part of the girl's ridge. The boy's and girl's ridges look much alike.

Some of you already know that we live at and take care of our church camp. Mike, my hubby does the mowin', maintenance, etc. I'm in charge of what goes on in the kitchen and what happens in the kitchen stays in the kitchen!!! (Had a pic of the kitchen/cafetorium...guess the gremlins got it!!)

*****The road that leads to our house and a view of the ridge.

Our camp is located in southeast Missouri on what is known as "Crowley's Ridge". There is alot of history to the ridge. It was actually created by the "Great New Madrid Earthquake of 1811" and just pops up in the middle of flatland!! Let me know if your interested and I'll share some of that history at another time.
Well, I guess you can tell by now...I don't have adding pics to my posts mastered...none of them ended up where I wanted them. And, somethin' must have eaten some of them 'cause they sure ain't here now!!! I really should try to get this post a little more organized but I am afraid to touch anything...gonna leave well enough alone!! Hope you enjoyed the pics.
I do plan to get those gourd dolls finished and will be posting pics this week so I hope you will check back.

"Can anyone tell me how I got this big, ole gap here,

Could this be where the other pics are hidin'?"

I am so proud of these two!!

2008-10-13T15:59:00.007-05:00

I would like you to meet Bobby and Candace Garner. They are a young couple who have chosen to dedicate their lives to God in the mission fields of Africa.

Bobby's proud father sent the link to their blog to me today. I started reading and just couldn't stop. I wanted to pass it along for all of you to enjoy.

"Just click on their pic to see the blog."

We have known Bobby since he was knee high to a grasshopper and he introduced us to Candace when they were still in high school. Of course, as far as I'm concerned, they are still a couple of youngin's!!

I'm sure you will enjoy reading about their lives in Africa and seeing all the neat pictures as much as I do. Don't miss the post titled "Free Money".

Bobby and Candace are always in our prayers and we think about them way over there across the big water all the time. Their blog is going to be such a great way for us to have them here with us.

Be sure and let me know if you would like to know more about Bobby, Candace and their mission work.

"What I Did Wednesday"

2008-10-08T21:44:00.009-05:00

Nope...I didn't start a new series of gourd dolls based on "The Village of the Damned"! LOL

I did decide to start making my gourd dolls again. I haven't made any for over 10 years and I am looking forward to getting these done.

I admit they do look pretty scary at this stage!!

I have added the irises and pupils and they are already developing personalities. Ooooo, I think I see my 1st grade teacher. This is going to be interesting!!

Okay, here is what I got accomplished today. Forty-three doll heads and an aching back! I still have quite a bit to do but I'll be sure and post pics when they're ready to be introduced. I can't wait!!

The OFG Holiday Celebration has officially begun!!

2008-10-01T15:36:00.003-05:00

And it is a dandy...there is so much talent at the Old Farmhouse Gathering and all the gals have outdone themselves this time. There are around a hundred entries and I did my very first slideshow just so you could see a sampling. (Okay, so I did a slideshow and a half, don't ask me how or why! LOL)

This santa is one of my four entries in the celebration. It is a cypress knee santa and is an original, one-of-a-kind piece. You can click on the link below to get to the etsy listing. While there be sure to go to the Etsy homepage and type OFGHC in the search bar to see all the other great works of art!!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15602963

blackberry-ridge

2008-10-01T15:34:00.001-05:00

Fall is here...but, the morning glories are gone.

2008-09-30T11:59:00.004-05:00

So is the corn, it was harvested a couple of weeks ago!!We passed by this corn field on our way to church and I enjoyed the morning glories all summer. Now, my Daddy just doesn't understand this...afterall, they are not flowers they are "weeds"!!! At least, that is what I always heard
when I was growin' up. Yep, he made us chop them down and I always thought they made the crops look so much prettier.

Speakin' of pretty...the OFG Holiday Celebration begins tomorrow. I will be posting pics of the entrys soon. I'm even gonna try my hand at one of those spiffey slideshow thingies...ya'll sure don't want to miss that!!

It's been great talkin' to ya'll...I so glad to be back!!!

Woo Hoo...I received an award!!!

2008-09-05T21:21:00.005-05:00

And I am just tickled silly!
Thank you so much to Tonya from
Primitive Paintins'
I would now love to pass this award on to some of my favorite blogs. Please visit each one, I know you will be glad you did.

Babycakes...All She Wrote

The Old Farmhouse Gathering

Oakleaf Hollow

The Pickled Pepper Patch

Life in the Craft Lane with Mandie

Willowtree Treasures

Primgal's Primitive Palette

I'm sorry it took an award to get me back on here but, hey...it that's what it takes! LOL I admit I have just been sittin' around doing nothin'!! Just waiting on this foot to heal. I go back to the orthopaedic dr. on Monday and I am praying that he will let me begin to put some weight on the foot so I can manage to get back into the painting room.

The OFG Etsy Team has been having their Halloween Spookfest Celebration and I am still pouting because I couldn't get something painted and be able to participate in it. I sure don't want to miss the next celebration!! I don't want you to miss the Spookfest just because I couldn't be in it so here's a link...now you be sure and click, okay!

OFG HALLOWEEN SPOOKFEST

I'm gonna hush now so you will have plenty of time to check out all the blogs I have nominated for the award and don't forget to check out the Spookfest.

I caaan't get no-oh, saaa-tis-fak-shu-un...I caaan't get no-oh, saaa-tis-fak-shu-un...

2008-08-02T17:05:00.005-05:00

and I scratch, and I scratch, and I scratch...I can't get no-oh...

Yep, the dr is making me wear a boot and it is drivin' me crazy!! Went to see the orthopaedic dr this past Monday and he decided to have me wear a boot (classic black, very stylish~NOT) for 3 weeks. So, on the 18th I will be going back for more xrays to see how the bone is healing. At that time, he will decide if I will need a cast, if I will need "screws" or if I can continue wearing the boot. My vote is for the boot. I already told the OFG gals that I just can't figure out what good they think "screws" in my foot would do...the ones in my head are always so loose I think they're gonna fall out and I use my head a lot less than I do my foot!!! That's all the news on my foot. Now, the broken rib just has to take care of itselt and it is such a joy!! :-)

When my FIL passed away, DH decided to hang onto his walker "just in case". My DH knows me well, LOL. Anyway, this is one of those cadillac versions of a walker with a seat and handlebars. DH figured out that I could prop my knee up on the seat to keep weight off the injured foot and just push myself around with the other. Sounds easy enough, huh? Well, nobody warned me about the speed you can pick up on a smooth surface. The first place I use the walker is to get into the dr's office. Unfortunately, it is not built on flat land and the only way inside is downhill across the parking lot. (It never entered our minds to pull up to the door and use the ramp!!) So, here I go...swing legs out of truck taking care not to bang foot, oops, too late. Now, I am in the passenger seat of the pickup facing outward...this bloomin' truck has somehow grown a couple of feet taller. DH says, "Ok, now, Judy...just slide off the seat and balance on your good foot." I say (to myself) "You trying hoisting your rear out of the middle of this seat with a broken rib!" Somehow I made it to the walker, got my knee propped up and turned to go into the office....BIG mistake!!! This walker can move...I know I made record time down to the office. DH hasn't noticed right away...he's getting the xrays from the hospital out of the back seat. I can only imagine what I look like, an old lady on a walker, careening to her death. I finally get to the bottom and manage to stop before I run into the van that is blocking the ramp. I am going to have to get this walker and myself up over a curb to the sidewalk. I decide I am going to hold my ground right where I am. But, DH finally catches us and asks me why I am just standing there. By this time, my face is turning blue and I'm sure I am going to have to see the dr that takes care of facial bones 'cause my jaws are clenched so tight it is going to take some sort of "procedure" to get them loose. But, I made it onto the curb. Now, this whole time I was just imagining who would block a handicap ramp and I have to admit I did not have kind thoughts about that person. So, naturally, the second I made it onto the curb I looked over to the van...only to see the angelic face of a very elderly lady being helped into the van by her even more feeble husband. Yep, made me feel real good!!!

Well, thanks for listening. I feel so much better getting all that out. If I hadn't already taken so much of your time, I would tell you how my first trip to our "tile" floored bathroom went. I'll just let you use your imagination instead. This did remind me of one of my "Moccasin Holler Memoirs". I may just share that the next time we visit!!

Have a great weekend.

How do I begin, where do I start????

2008-07-26T21:21:00.002-05:00

We had our last session of camp for the summer last week. For most everyone there, it ended on Friday afternoon. Now...is that when it ended for me!!! NOOOO!!! For me it ended around 6:30 AM on Thursday with a loud thud!! Yep, that thud was me. Unfortunately, we live in the New Madrid earthquake fault and I'm sure it was taken by some as a 4.0 tremor!

Now, some of you remember the "Great Ladder Escapade of 2007" but, don't any of you jump to any conclusions. I did not fall off (or with) a ladder...I fell off the porch step!! Okay, before you fall off your chair laughing, let me explain...like any Head Cook and Bottle Washer worth her salt...I was in the process of carrying a really, really big basket filled with the washed and folded humonguous (Yep, that's a word or, at least it's close to a word!) load of kitchen towels and dishrags. And, I am proud to say that the second I felt myself goin' down I thought not of myself, but of that sparkling, Downy fresh load of towels. With no regard to my own safety and with the lightening quick response and agility of a mother eagle swooping down to rescue one of her young fallen from the nest....oh, wait a minute...I just lost my train of thought. Hmm, hmm, hmm, oh yeah, while going down I managed to turn so that instead cushioning my fall with all those gloriously soft towels...I twisted my right foot around just enough to break the 5th metatarsal (that's a foot bone, why don't they just say foot bone?) and landed in the perfect position to break a rib and receive multiple contusions to the chest wall (that's the muscles between your ribs, why don't they just say that?)

So, here I sit with my foot in a splint thinking of all of you. Knowing that you are all riddled with worry over what could of happened to me. I could go on, but, I won't. I'm figuring ya'll weren't really very riddled...it just made me feel better to think so. If you are interested in hearing any more tidbits of interest from the past "fun-packed" week...yep, took me a week to go to the dr...just let me know. I will end this sad post with the news that I am to see the orthopaedic dr on Monday....can't wait to see what joy that brings!!

Just wanted to catch up a little before I hit the sack.

2008-07-14T22:56:00.002-05:00

Yep, I gotta big, ole sack of taters that I like to "mash" the hard way before going to bed. Keeps me in great shape!! LOL Did you believe that? Unfortunately, it is gonna take more than a sack of taters to get me in shape. Hmmm, now that I think about it...taters is one of the things that got me in the shape I'm in!!!

Don't know how I got on that line of thought, who knows...I gave up a long time ago tryin' to figure out how I got started ramblin'. My kids never even tried. They did learn to not roll their eyes, at least, not while I was lookin'!

Now, I guess I'll get to the catchin' up...we have started our final week of camp for this year. And, it is going to be great...because my grandkids are all here!! This isn't a big session...we are only cookin' for 60 or so. Tomorrow is another biscuit day so I will take a couple of Aleve to loosen up the old elbow!! LOL

The campers has a scavenger hunt tonight. I think we may have to rethink having those...apparently, the kids got extra points if they "found" our 4 year old grandson!! The only problem was, more than one team found him and it became more a tug of war using Tanner instead of a rope. And, bless his heart, the little fellow didn't have the foggiest idea what was going on but, he was happy because the big kids were "playing" with him. LOL

Wish you could all come for a visit...we are sure havin' a good time. Take care...I'll bee back soon.

I can't believe it is practically midnight and I am waiting for camp's kitchen laundry to dry!!!

2008-07-09T23:57:00.002-05:00

But, here I am. Thought I would stop by for a quick visit. For those of you who were wandering, 140 biscuits were enough...had 3 left!! Barely skimmed by with 12 dozen eggs and was really glad I made that 3rd gallon of gravy!!!

Got thru today and now my goal is to make it thru tomorrow. Oh wait, I guess I should say I made it thru yesterday and can't wait to make it thru today because it is now official midnight!! Think I'll go kick the old dryer up another notch.

Thursday is the most grueling day of the week. I have around 150 pieces of chicken to fry, 45 lbs. of taters to mash and the rest of the trimmins' to tend to. If I don't stuff thoses hollow legged boys tomorrow I'm gonna give up and just set out the peanut butter and bread and it's gonna be first come first serve on Friday..LOL.

Halleujah...the dryer is goin' off. Gonna get them towels and such folded and see if I can drag myself to bed.

Talk you tomorrow!!!

Another week...another camp session!!

2008-07-07T21:20:00.002-05:00

Hey there...I almost didn't stop in tonight. But, I just couldn't stay away, I love and appreciate the comments that everyone has left. Thank you all, so much. (Kris, did I click your's quick enough.)

Several of you already know that Mike, my hubby, and I are caretakers at our church camp. We live here year round and love it. Actually, Mike does most of the "caretaking". I am only busy during camping season, which is "now"!!! We have 90 here this week and they eat like little pigs!! Since I'm chief cook and bottlewasher, it is my job to see that they all get enough to eat...yeah, right. Can anyone fix enough to fill up 30+ teenage boys? I'm serious...it is plum skeery! Tomorrow's breakfast is bacon, eggs, gravy, biscuits, jelly, dry cereal, hot oatmeal, orange juice, apple juice & milk. I finally figured out how many dozen eggs I wanted cooked and then I had to decide how many biscuits I need to make. I decided on 140...do you think that's enough?

Wish you were close enough to come join us (maybe even help the old cook). If you want to come to our little neck of the woods, just give me a call and I throw on a few more pieces of fried chicken....yep, Thursday is fried chicken day!!!

Weeellll...I am just about to fall off my chair and 5:30 is going to roll around pretty quick. So, I'll say goodnight. I hope all of you have a wonderful week. I will try to stop back in tomorrow and let you know how the biscuit count came out.

I am tickled to death that you are enjoying my blog and really do hope that you will come back often!!

I think I'm startin' to get the hang of the bloggin' thing!

2008-07-03T16:41:00.003-05:00

I have been told it is addictive! That sounds pretty ominous, but I'm gonna really try to keep myself under control. I have also had requests for "pictures". Ok, so what kind of pics do you want to see. I will post a pic of myself with the following disclaimer "Look at your own risk. Said subject of photo, her family and/or pets cannot be held responsible for any and all ill effects caused by or attributed to by the perusing of said photo!"

I hope everyone is having a great "4th"!! This is one of the holidays that always takes me back to my childhood. Alright, so all holidays take me back to my childhood. What can I say, I had a great childhood and will probably be telling you more that you want to hear about growing up in the 5o's (yes, that's the 1950's) in the south.

Consider this the 1st installment of my "Moccasin Holler Memoirs".

The 4th of July

Moccasin Holler Style

I am the oldest of three siblings, I have a younger sister and our brother is the "baby" of the family. We were lucky enough to have cousins our ages. They were the "city" cousins, but we never held that against them. They lived about 4o miles from us and we spent alot of time together. The 4th was really special. The big, ole washtub got drug off the back porch and filled with ice and sodas...something we didn't get very often. And, on the 4th we got to drink as many as we wanted. Unf0rtunately, they usually ran out before we drank our fill. :-(

Our celebration actually started on the 3rd. Daddy would dig a pit in the back yard and Mama would bring out one of the grills from the oven to make sure the pit was the right size. It was my job to make sure the yard got mowed, all 2+ acres of it!! (That's another story!) Mama would get some pork steaks, ham steaks and/or pork chops out of the freezer. These were from one of the hogs that we had butchered the fall before. She would make her famous potato salad, Daddy would gather in a big basket of roastin' ears from the corn field and fix up another tub of ice water for the watermelons my uncle would be bringing. Oh yeah, Mama would pick out the chickens she wanted to "grill" and that was my cue to disappear.

By late afternoon, the city kinfolk had arrived and the games began. We had relay races around the house, played Annie Over, Jacks and snuck boloney or bacon out of the refrigerator, tied pieces to a long piece of twine and fished for crawdads in the big ditch across the road. This went on pretty much all night. Finally, when we were too tired to go on so we headed to the tent. Now this wasn't just your ordinary tent...it was special!! We gathered up pieces of rope and strung it between trees then went inside to the quilt stack and drug out enough quilts to make the sides of the tent with flaps hanging in the front and back and to cover the ground inside the tent. We lit up the old kerosene lantern and went to sleep listening to Mama and Aunt Edith talk about their lives.

We woke up bright and early, but Mama was already fixin' breakfast outside. While she had the bacon and sausage cookin', we would go to the henhouse and gather up the eggs. I think I liked breakfast better than the 4th of July dinner (that's lunch to you city folk).

Those days were filled with wondrous things...sodas, hand-churned ice cream, roasted marshmallows, swimmin' in Little River and so much love that you couldn't stir it with a stick.

I'll hush on that note. Hope I haven't bored you to tears!!

Alrighty then...what do I do now???

2008-06-30T15:38:00.000-05:00

I guess I should begin by saying welcome. I am so glad you stopped by and I hope you enjoy my ramblins'. I'm sure you have already figured out that I am new to this. (Actually, at my age, it is pretty nice to be "new" at something!)

There is usually not much goin' on up here on the ridge but that won't stop me from talkin'. My husband and I are caretakers at our church camp and are in the middle of our busy season. He works throughout the year keeping things working and the camp lookin' purty. I pretty much take it easy in preparation for summer and camp sessions. That's when I get busy...I'm the chief cook and bottlewasher!! A job I could not do without the wonderful volunteers that help. Our next session begins on the afternoon of July 6th and ends the 11th. I'll be lettin' you know how many biscuits I'll be cookin' as soon as I find out!!!

Some of you may be familiar with my website "Paintin By Jed". I have neglected it sorely the past few months and even contemplated closing it. But, I have decided to keep the website and change the name. It will be called "Blackberry Ridge" and I hope to have all the changes made by the end of September. I am looking for some pretty, prim graphics with blackberries. If any of you know where I might find some, please let me know.

I am a member of a great Etsy team called "Old Farmhouse Gathering" or OFG. You just won't believe all the talent we have in our group. You are gonna' have to click on the button and take a look for yourself. You are in for a treat right now because we are in the middle of a Summer Challenge and the gals really out did themselves.

Guess I'll hush for now. I think I really gonna enjoy this bloggin' thing!!