New Girl on the Hill... Meet Pandora

Before Nala even left us, the shelter was calling about another little brindle girl in need of a place to stay..."Pandora is her name...Will you take her?" I only foster one dog at a time, as I have 3 of my own. That is my limit. On Thursday I stopped by to get a peek at her...There she was, in an outdoor enclosure with another dog, rightfully named, "Crazy Millie" LOL! Pandora was sooo layed back & having been in with Crazy Millie for 3 weeks hadn't seemed to rub off on her, so...Yes, you know it...She came home with me.

She is just the friendliest little girl. She loves people & other dogs. Here she is with foster bro Phil.

Pandora gives Phil a big old Smooooooch!

Babysitting is a hard job...Phil needs a nap. Nite-Nite everyone!

Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone...

If you've wondered where I've been...I have been fostering a little female pit bull pup for the last month and a half. She was taken in an emergency cruelty situation on the 1st of July. With the Holiday Weekend upon us, I told them to bring her to me, as there was no way to get her into a shelter or rescue for several days. She arrived around 2 in the morning...Of course when I saw her, I immediately fell in love with this little Imp...Nala is her name.

Nala had some problems, caused by her owner's neglect. Sadly, her owner cared a lot more about drugs than Nala. She was left alone for many months, locked in a small trailer bathroom with no air, or even an open window, in the sweltering heat of the summer. She was fed whenever the owner remembered to stop by...usually once a week, never more than that...sometimes less. She had to lie in her own waste & her water source was from a bathtub faucet that thankfully leaked very badly.

We had Miss Nala spayed, given all her shots, de-wormed, heart worm tested & treated for a mild case of demodex, that the vet said was probably brought on by the stress from the heat, her poor care, poor hygene & nutrition. During all this, she has just been the sweetest little girl. Everything was so new to her...like she was seeing toys, playing, running...all for the very first time. She was Free! Free from her bathroom prison. Here she is playing "Turtle Tug" with Petie & Phil. Hillarious to watch!

Miss Nala learned puppy manners quickly. Here is a perfect "Sit & Shake" from Miss Nala! Foster Brother Phil looks on -

I am Happy to report that Nala has gone to her forever home with a delightful little girl named Trish! While we miss her terribly here, that is part of the heart ache of foster care...to love them & then let them go, we know that she will have a Great Life with her new girl in Delaware. AND...we will get to see her again next summer when Trish comes back to visit her Grandmom for the summer. Thanks Trish, for opening your heart to Nala! My very best wishes to you both.

"Roll that Beautiful Bean Footage"....

My hubs works for one of THE Best Companies in the country! Bush Brothers Company just celebrated it's 100 year Aniversary & it's no wonder this company has been successful for so long. They treat their People & their Community like Family...not to mention they have the Best Bean Products & of Course...Jay, Duke & Cousin Drew in their corner!

In June the Annual Honda Hoot converges on Knoxville. Bush Bros. hosted a ride & tour complete with a big catered lunch, tours of the Chesnut Hill Plant, Goody Bags & a Meet & Greet with Jay, Duke & Cousin Drew. Hubs was not able to ride, but we were invited to come anyways & we were glad we did. Bush Bros. knows how to put on an event, let me tell ya!

Duke is still keeping the "Secret Recipe" under wraps...

Bikes of all shapes, sizes & colors! They had a Huge Turnout...

The Boss' Bike.... Jay rode his bike all the way from Wisconsin for the Hoot Event. Not Duke though...he was flown in! LOL!

My August Mercantile Offerings on TDIPT

This month I am offering up a Sweet Autumn Scarecrow Set

And a Perfectly Prim "Miss Punkin" Dolly...

Be sure to check out all the Wonderful Offerings on the TDIPT Mercantile from our Many Talented Artists!

Guess Who Just Turned Two...Happy Birthday Wyatt!

Wyatt celebrated in 2 year old style (and New Oscar the Grouch shoes...LOL) at one of the area parks.

Helping Dad carry in the Birthday Cake...

Yummy!

A Big Birthday Hug from Mom

Wyatt liked the Red Wagon from Grammie & Pop-Pop

Reece & Wyatt played on the slides together.

Wyatt's Mommy & Daddy have a Lawn Care business & Wyatt is crazy about lawn mowers & tractors... So... They got him his own Cub Cadet. Toddler sized of course! LOL!

Giving Reece a ride.

Whoa! Jamie sends the Best Junk! I'm a Lucky Gal...

Here's what I saw when I opened the large, heavy box...A Lovely Stitchery Bone..."No house is complete without the pitter patter of puppy feet"... Words to live by at my house! LOL!

Then...There were two Kewl Star Fixins Pans & Old Wooden bowl...in the colors of my walls! (And I collect Stars too) I couldn't believe the Beautiful Spool Lamp (w/ Rusty Star detailing) LOVE It! The Vintage Berry Basket & Strawberry Coasters. Vintage Tater Mashers...Not One, but TWO! Stacking Boxes that held Jingle Pumpkins & Winter Scrapbooking Finds! Two Tin Star Trays. A Round Tin w/ More Jingle Pumpkins...

Oh I'm not done yet! There were many Fabrics...Reds, Navy, Green & Flag Print too! A Gorgeous Patriotic Folk Art Dish & a Christmas Tree. I know I have left out something... I can't say "Thanks" enough! Jamie, you are such a Sweet Heart. I LOVE Everything!

My Dear Hub... We got Good News!

On April 9th, the day before my Dear Hubs 47th Birthday, we got some very disturbing news. After months of tests and hearing, "Oh, I'm sure it's nothing, but lets check" and "Oh, I am sure it's just an infection, but just to be sure, let's do a biopsy" ...We got the word. "Yes, it's Cancer"..."Yes, it's very aggressive"..."No, we can't wait until Fall to do your surgery".... We were, to say the least, very shocked & scared.

Hubs went in for surgery on May 12th and had his prostate removed along with 2 lymph nodes. Since he had had an appendectomy at the age of 18, he was not a candidate for the laser surgery, so he had to do the regular surgery.

He has been a model patient & is healing nicely. Thanks so very much to everyone who has written the wonderful emails & sent their good wishes, thoughts & prayers. They were & are ALL Apreciated!

So....Drum Roll Please....

We got his Pathology Report back this week & though the prosate was totally involved & very close to the margins, the surgery was successful! The lymph nodes were clear & he will not have to have chemo or radiation. We are so very Happy & Thankful!

Our 29th Anniversary is coming up on June 7th. We are looking forward to a least another 29 more to come! :)