May 26, 2010

DESPERATELY SEEKING EDWARD!

It's not as if we're lame or so rickety that we can't do a lot of this stuff on our own. It's just that there's so much of it. Here's a shot of the shop. I'm sure you don't remember, but last year the shop didn't look anything like this. It was actually in some kind of order until the frozen-bursting-pipe incident of 2010 took place and changed all that.

Everything had to be pushed out of the way of the water in a hurry and it still sits there today. Much of it is stuff for what I have come to call "The Garage Sale That Will Never Happen". Also, there's a boat-load of Sis' stuff that she has stored there from the main house in anticipation of her big post-retirement move to Texas. We have yet to go out there to see what can be salvaged. Then there are the porches. You remember those from last year don't you? This naturally occurring green-mossy stuff grows on all SIX porches every year and SOMEBODY has to get out there with a power washer and make it go away. We did it last year and it took M A N Y weekends! Now it's time to do it again and even I find myself looking at it with dread. It's not a difficult job, it's just MASSIVE!
And we must not forget good old lawn tractor woes. When we parked this beast at the end of last season we knew it would need doctoring before we could use it again. Since then we've played with the idea of buying a new one, had friends over to try to fix it, ordered parts to fix what friends couldn't, and there it sits, derelict, taking up space and causing angst every time we have to walk around it to get into our cars.

Which reminds me, it's time to power wash the garage floor too. This was a huge and difficult job last time since there's a small problem year round with rain water seeping onto the floor. I'm not done yet. There's a whole laundry list of other things that have to be done around here and frankly, I'm beginning to doubt if we can make them all happen. WE NEED AN EDWARD!

May 22, 2010

ODE TO THE SOUTH!

Here's a not-so-good photo of a plaque we saw in a shop in Sonoia. You can't really tell in this shot, but it reads as follows:

"The South.... The place where Tea is sweet, and accents are sweeter. Summer starts in April. Macaroni and cheese is a vegetable. Front porches are wide and words are long. Pecan pie is a staple. Y'all is only a proper noun. Chicken is fried and biscuits come with gravy. Everything is "Darlin". Someones heart is always being blessed". I have my own version of "The Plaque" and will share it with you lucky so-and-so's now!

"The South.... The place where party favors are stock piled Monday through Saturday because no liquor is sold on Sunday. People wear pajamas to Wal Mart (myself included). No matter where you're standing, if you spit, you'll hit a church. You literally can not see the forest through the trees. Mildew, Honey dew and hair doo's live in harmony. Tomatoes grow like weeds, and then they're fried. Everyone swings (on their front porch) and twang meets meringue.

May 21, 2010

WHAT'S UP?

I know it's been a shamefully long time since I've been up here sharing with you the life and times of SAG. It's not as though I've been completely remiss, although I will admit to some laziness. Here are some photos of things to come. Like my sweet sister Mitzie coming to visit from L.A. We toured the tiny town of Sonoia, Georgia. The filming place for the new series "Drop Dead Diva". They call it the Hollywood of the South. Great place to visit as you will see in an upcoming post. Promise.Plenty to see and do in Sonoia if you're into food and antiques and plain old Southern charm. But more about that later.
My Birthday came and went and guess what Sis bought me? My own bread maker. As if I'm not busy enough keeping critters at bay and working. Now she makes me make my own bread. Which by the way has become almost second nature. I'll tell you about it very soon, photos and all. And since Doggie treats are so expensive and since we've mastered the art of making dog food, what was next made sense. A dehydrator to make our own Turkey Jerky, Beef Jerky or as I tried last week, Pork Jerky. I think that's the preferred treat between Dusty and Roman. No preservatives or additives. Just plain old dried meat. Oh, and did I tell you I found a source for FRESH EGGS? No? Well, I will. A fabulous neighbor who has her own chickens and grinds her own WHEAT FLOUR TOO! You see, there's a lot to tell.
Plus, we've managed to find a few more Farmer's Market options for fresh produce and other wonderful things. These are just teaser photos to assure that you'll come back for the rest of the news from SAG. I'm missed you!

May 20, 2010

OMG, IT'S SPRING!

Here's a sweet shot of Ms. Roman. Sitting, pondering the miracles of spring as new blooms loom with plumbs and fresh weeds sprout their seeds bringing little flowers with each shower.

With particular interest in fast moving tree dwellers who'll have hell to pay when she catches up to them one day, she waits patiently watching for the slightest movement in yonder brush. Then there's me. Freakin out every time I turn around. Each day brings another gnarly, crawly, hair-raising creature from the black-lagoon. It's all I can do to hold the old digi-cam still enough to get these damn things on record because no one would ever believe the size and audacity of some of them. This wasp decided my door-jam was a good place to dwell.. OH HELL NO! I YELLED about the third time he LITERALLY DIVE BOMBED ME as I tried to leave the cottage.
Only God knows what this ugly thing is. I followed it along the ceiling in the living room and wondered how I would squash it, but before I could do anything, it slithered into a tiny hole in the sheet-rock! I know it comes out every night while I'm sleeping just to haunt my slumber! I swear, one minute there was nothing there, the next minute I screeched in terror when this guy showed up just outside the living room. Jeeezzzuus! Are you kidding me? This MONSTER has got to be 3 inches long! WHAT IS IT? WHAT THE F--- DOES IT LIVE ON? Even if I had the guts to kill it, what would I do with it? O M G !