"I love you." is spelt M-A-R-C-I-A.

You don't have to go to France or Italy or some exotic location to find a real love story. Sometimes it's in your own back yard. This love story is what life is all about.

In the Fall of 2008 Tom set out to plant around 1000 daffodils. Now, if your reaction was anything like mine, you probably thought to yourself, "1000?!?!? That's a lot of planting!" But for Tom, his flowers are his hobby and day after day he would spend his time tending to his flowers that make up his very own park.

On this particular day while he planted the 1000 bulbs, his thoughts were with his wife.

That following February Tom was diagnosed with cancer. Very ill, and not knowing how long he had left on this Earth he told his wife in case their time together was cut short, her name would bloom on their hillside come Spring.

And just as he had said, the flowers bloomed. Spelling out his loves' name, Marcia.

Tom is still at home enjoying his park and his time with Marcia. But, when the time comes for our Lord to call him home to rest, Marcia will forever know his love for her when Spring comes back around. And Tom will still be there. He will be there in the blooms, and in the passing breeze through the flowers. He will be by her side when she steps out to see them for the first time each Spring. She will forever know that when those flowers spell out her name, Tom is there with her saying, "I love you."

These flowers can be seen off of Radcliff Road in Henry County. A true landmark of love.

A Red Roof Barn

 "Love and warmth are created in the home, but character and strength are created in a barn."

In our little piece of the world, Mr. P and I have taken on a barn raising.

Now, traditionally a barn raising would be scheduled for a weekend and many of the town men would help in the event. After Sunday service all would gather at the building site and work until dark to complete as much as possible on the barn. If not all, most of the work would be completed so that the farmer could use the barn in a very short period of time...this is not one of those kind of barn raisings.

Ours started back in early November and is still being worked on. My husband is just one man. Though he may have the strength of 3, the shoulders of 4, the determination of a warrior and the heart of a saint, he is still one man. This is a project like no other that we have taken on. God has blessed us though! Mr. P's brother, a friend, and my brother have been huge in getting us to the stage that it is at now! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your help!

Sunday, Mr. P and I worked on putting the metal on the sides. YAY!!!!!!!! Finally we can see the end!!!! Once the first side was finished, we sat back, (literally we sat in the shade) and looked at our progress. Job well done!

3 sides, a roof, 2 doors, and driveway left to go...yes the end is in sight!

Soon our red roof barn will be complete (and pictures will come too).....and dedicated (posting coming on that very soon!)

God is so good!

Fun in the country

I joked on our drive, that who would have thought that we would be looking forward to a day further away from the city...fun in the country.

Mr. P and I spent the afternoon leaving our finger prints in places we've never been before. Just for the benefit of my readers, I'm going to tell you that we had lunch at Cattleman's in Shelbyville. My blog won't be about that place, but let me just tell you, they got some good food! Take a ride, and try it out.

The day and drive, and our Groupon deal, took us to Talon Winery. Based out of Lexington KY they recently opened a tasting room in Shelbyville. I know what your thinking....all of her blogs have something to do with wine! I will admit I do enjoy a good glass of wine....it's heart healthy!

So here is our Saturday steal-of-a-deal afternoon at Talon. Set off the beaten path, but rich in friendly folks, we sat back, relaxed, and sipped.

This place had an eclectic decor arrangement, to say the least. If you look closely, you'll see a wizard and budda on either side of the singer. A little strange in my opinion, but whatever. I guess it makes it interesting. And I found this piece of sculpture purched on a wine shelf...had to take a shot of it.

 I had to get a shot of the ceiling. Designed to look like a wine barrel.

This musician is a great guitarist, singer. The perfect touch to our winery date! "Eatin' cheese, drinking wines, and listenin to the blues...livin life," Mr. P.

"A sleepy little winery that wakes up as the night goes on," Mr. P.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

Tea Time

One of my most memorable experiences while I lived in England was tea time. Yes, they do have tea time there. It's a mid-afternoon leisure hour to enjoy hot tea, a biscuit or two with crumpets, and catch up on personal and political gossip. To me it seemed to be a reminder to ourselves that, aww, I do matter and there is more to life than work.

Never forgetting this lovely hour, I asked for a tea kettle for Christmas this year. A bright green kettle now sits on my stove every single day....never to be put away! She, yes the kettle is female, is a piece of artwork in my kitchen. This afternoon, just like many evenings, my kettle started to sing her high pitched whistle, letting me know it was time for brewing!

This kind of laid back afternoon doesn't come around too often. When I can look out my window, see God's beautiful countryside and falling snow, while sipping on my hot green tea, I know this is what a great life is made of! God is so good!

I do miss England dearly, but I can still enjoy tea time a half a world away!

Cheerio, my dear friends!

At Home Writing

"There are toys for all ages."

I have been tossing around the idea of a new laptop for quite some time now. A little necessity, a little luxury. Well, maybe a lot of luxury and I was justifing with the necessity. And the justification won! So I figured with this new fun toy I will first do with it what I originally idealed it for...blogging!!

See the usual computer that I use for everything is located within the office walls of Greater Louisville Massage Therapy. Though a relaxing atmosphere, it is still my work office. Where bills and employees get paid. Where I go to work and clients go to drift away. Don't get me wrong I love my office and I love what I am called to do, but not condusive for creative writing juices!

So with some saved Play Money and the love of my husband I can now blog at home, on the comfort of my couch and in the company of my darling husband and 3 boys. A place where a glass of red wine can be within arms reach....life is grand and the writing is flowing nicely!

Yes ladies and gentlemen, it is the little things in life. If it cost a little bit of money for a whole lot of fun, then I believe it to be money well spent!

Sunday living

The day, water, sun, moon, night - I do not have to purchase
    these things with money.                                                                                            - Plautis

Sitting at the kitchen table this morning enjoying a home cooked breakfast of sausage, eggs, pancakes and hot coffee, (truly, there is no breakfast that can be bought that is as good as a homemade one!) Shawn asked if I'd like to walk the farm that he hunts. Looking out the window I thought, today? It's cold, cloudy, drizzling, and to be quite honest looking miserable.....hmmmm maybe a walk would be nice! 

We loaded up Blu and ourselves in the truck and headed deeper into the country....yes, much deeper! I thought I heard banjos and wild dogs at one point...yes, we were out there!

Never afraid of a new adventure, we enjoyed the hike. The acres were ours to tread on. The air was crisp, clean. The hills, the colors, the living and growing plants were ours to lay claim on...for the short time we were there.

 Blu was having a great time adventuring around!

 I think it annoys God if you walk by the color purple in a field and don't notice.                                                                          - Alice Walker
                                                                   From "The Color Purple"

 Aliens do exist!

 Ok, maybe I was a little obsessed with these purple berries.....

 Whether rain or sunshine, the day is always great for a hike!

It's all about living

First thing's first. I need to get something out of my system.

HOLY CRAP! Already the new year?!?!?!? I thought I had just told you all what I was going to accomplish for last year and now we are already in the next one??? WHERE DOES THE TIME GO??????

Alright, now that that is out, lets move forward.

Last year was about me trying new adventures. This year it gets better! 2012 is about living life through adventure. Going and doing. Seeing and exploring. Not saying 'No', but rather 'Jump on in!'


All of this inspired by the song, I Hope You Dance. Yes, I know you've heard it before but click on it and listen. You'll feel inspired too!

Ringing in the New Year was the start of all that....singing, dancing, running, climbing, laughing, planning....

 At this point, Red was ready for us to call it a night!

It feels so good to be alive!