A New Beginning: January 17. 2022 Loving the snow!

January 17, 2022

It's a cold night with a beautiful ice mixed snow on the ground in Hazard, Kentucky tonight! We love the snow!  I have 5 dogs now! Three are 90-103 pounds.  As I am typing this one of the big girls has her head lying on my right shoulder.  That would be my Molly girl.  Molly was my sister Tammy's dog.  If you have read my previous post you will know my sister passed away several years ago.  One and half years ago Molly came to live with me and  my pack of 4 at that time. I have had Molly's sister Charli Marie since she was 5 or 6 weeks old.  These two gals are not twins, but certainly would pass for them.  They were never raised together, but their mannerisms are so similar its scary.  I have no doubt that they realize a connection between them.  They will share a bowl of food, but growl at each other the entire time! They just give up and eat in peace. Any one that knows me knows that I could talk about my dogs all day.  They bring me such joy and aggravations just like most human children do as toddlers!  That is just it, I have 5 toddlers that will never grow out of that phase.  At least not until  they are very old and tired!  I still have my Tara, the black and white Shih-tzu in my earlier blogs and photos.  Tara is now 14 years old, in relatively good health.  Squiggy a black and white pit/hound mix is new to the pack.  He has been here several years now.  He is my love!  He is neurotic as Hell! The little Collie mix Candi is still here and happy and healthy.  She was in the earlier blog entries years. My son is now 18!  I can't believe how time has jumped so quickly.  He is about 6 feet tall.  Possibly 1/2 inch more.. He was just elated to be taller than I am.   I may start blogging and posting more food pictures this year.  I am still baking and cooking often.  I have grown as a home chef so much over the last 10 years and still love it...It is my passion.. 

All keep warm and safe over the next week, word is more snow is coming and cold temps.   

MCM

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I HAVE EVEN LOOKED AT THIS BLOG!

1/17/2022  YES such a long time since I have written in this mostly hidden blog.  For some crazy reason tonight I am sitting on my couch thinking of the my "just for fun" blog I created so many years ago. I have read through the old posts and started thinking WOW.  So much has changed since I started this small venture.  The pictures above were supposed to be taken by my sister Tamela Combs Asher.  Unfortunately, sadly, horribly she passed away the middle of November in 2016.  I also have a cousin who is a photographer, Vanna Hurley Napier who stepped in and photographed our Christmas pictures for us that year.  To think so many years have gone by since these were  taken is surreal to me. My son is now 18, planning to leave for college in August of this year. I have lost and added a few more dogs in our lives since then as well!  I have been a CVICU nurse for the last 3 years (I have been a nurse for 22 years).  Covid -19 has taken over the world, our daily lives.  My health has declined abit, but doesn't hitting 50 cause much of that?  August 2021 I contracted Covid.  I had worked with this horrible virus since the beginning of the beginning.  My son returns to school after near a year and half of home schooling and POOF we all have Covid.  I spent almost 4 weeks off work.  I was on oxygen, nebulizer treatments, vitamins and lots of other meds.  I have never been so ill in my 50 years.  I was one of the blessed, lucky, whatever one would like to call it.  I survived!!!!! So many younger and healthier people  than myself were dying.  At this point I just thank God that I survived to continue taking care of my kid (well young man with  no common sense)! He needs me so much, my animals need me and Stephen needs me, although I am not sure he would admit it!!!!!!

Here's hoping everyone is enjoying or hating as most of you do this snowy weather we are having this week.  I am a snow lover!   Cheers and God Bless

Easter Sunday 2012

 My largest tomatoes yet.. on my miniature porch plant!

 Pookie the Maltapoo...I know he is looking forward to going home this evening!

Wow..What a start to the Summer of 2012! I was looking over some of my previous photographs of my small, but full of life and beauty garden.  It amazes me how everything grows! What were small tomato plants are now nearly 3 feet tall and taking over my small space.  This year we decided to do something different. We tilled up an area the length of my backyard fence.  We planted corn, mustard greens and cantaloupe from seeds.  I have watched as these seeds have turned into beautiful plants. It is amazing at what becomes of one little seed! My corn is now about a foot or so tall! 

Other happenings at  The McClain Family Zoo have included dog sitting for my mother while she and my son, Cole traveled to Hilton Head Island for the long weekend.   My son has never been this far away from me or for so long without me.  Apparently, I am the only one having issues with this, he has had a blast from what I hear!

 Stephen and I went to Buckhorn Lake on Sunday with my cousin Valerie and her husband Paul.  It was a very hot and enjoyable day! We basically had a cookout on the boat and lounged on floats in the lake.. Thinking back, I do believe this was the earliest I have ever been swimming in the lake.  I like the water temperature to be at least 85 degrees.. however, it was warmer than I anticipated!

Now, the excitement of my extra long weekend has come to an end and it is back to work tomorrow. If only I could stay and make money.. what a great thought! d!

Memorial Day Weekend 2012

Wow..What a start to the Summer of 2012! I was looking over some of my previous photographs of my small, but full of life and beauty garden.  It amazes me how everything grows! What were small tomato plants are now nearly 3 feet tall and taking over my small space.  This year we decided to do something different. We tilled up an area the length of my backyard fence.  We planted corn, mustard greens and cantaloupe from seeds.  I have watched as these seeds have turned into beautiful plants. It is amazing at what becomes of one little seed! My corn is now about a foot or so tall! 

Other happenings at  The McClain Family Zoo have included dog sitting for my mother while she and my son, Cole traveled to Hilton Head Island for the long weekend.   My son has never been this far away from me or for so long without me.  Apparently, I am the only one having issues with this, he has had a blast from what I hear!

 Stephen and I went to Buckhorn Lake on Sunday with my cousin Valerie and her husband Paul.  It was a very hot and enjoyable day! We basically had a cookout on the boat and lounged on floats in the lake.. Thinking back, I do believe this was the earliest I have ever been swimming in the lake.  I like the water temperature to be at least 85 degrees.. however, it was warmer than I anticipated!

Now, the excitement of my extra long weekend has come to an end and it is back to work tomorrow. If only I could stay and make money.. what a great thought! d!

The beginning of my 2012 gardening adventure!

 My porch tomato plant.. It is growing beautifully.  It already has several small tomatoes on it!

 These are my bell pepper plants.  They did suffer a little chill last week and the bugs are horrible.  I have already had to dust them.. I hate doing that.

 Beautiful Basil.. I love basil.. did I mention!

 These little guys will be awesome in a week or so.. It is so amazing how a seed grows into something so pretty and yummy!

 Yeah... finally time to plant my tomatoes.. I am so excited.. I even bought 12 more plants today!  I plan on canning many jars this year.. I am going to dice them and add some jalapenos!  Perfect for my famous salsa!

 Well, here it is my 8 by 8 bountiful garden.  Stephen built this for me two years ago.. Did I mention I have the greatest boyfriend a girl could ask for?!  He is incredible.. If I could only give back to him what he gives to us, life would be perfect.  Well, our lives are perfect.. but you know what I mean!

In the far corner I have a mound of garlic. I have never grown garlic.. A lady I work with brought me this huge bundle of garlic.. so I just stuck it in the ground!

 At this point in time, my greatest achievement around the garden.. My strawberries. The couple I have tasted have been so sweet and juicy.. Unfortunately.. due to our warm winter, the pests are in full motion.. I have been researching and talking with some elders regarding old time ways to keep the bugs away.. I have heard some dandy ideas, including laying a dead fish around the plants, putting ripe to rotten bananas in the dirt!  I suppose having "hillbilly" ties has advantages... Our people know how to garden, grow and can just about anything!

Since these photos were taken, we have tilled more ground and planted mustard greens, cantaloupe, and many more tomatoes... I also have potatoes and green onions peaking up through the ground!  Well till a few weeks of growing.... This is the last of the garden themes til then..Can't wait to post red ripe tomatoes...

Frosty morning in the mountains!

I knew Mother Nature wasn't finished with her wintry coverings yet!  I have had to cover my herbs and bring some into the house for the last two nights.  Stephen had a huge piece of plastic that we covered the garden with. I will be glad when these cold mornings go bye-bye! My herbs were growing beautifully, strawberries blooming, now again, this crazy weather.  I so enjoy having my small garden and herbs. Tonight is supposed to be even colder.  My son Cole has been digging holes in my yard.  I told him we would plant some potatoes if he would dig the area up.  Needless to say, the holes are not as they should be! What does one expect from an eight year old!.

The First Steps of My Herb Garden 2012!

 The weather has been so warm, I decided to get a head start on my herb garden.  The mint I planted last year in a planter is growing beautifully.  The others I purchased at different stores in my area. I am waiting til mid-April, even May to put them in the garden. I am afraid Mother Nature will decide a huge frost in in order before then.  I usually keep several containers on my porch as well. I love sitting on my back porch getting the wonderful aromas of the herbs.  Mint and Basil are my favorites!

 I have never grown boxwood basil before.  However, once I saw these cute plants I had to buy a couple. They are a beautiful herb!

 Basil, lot and lots of Basil! My small garden was so full of basil last year I could have marketed it! Hey there's a thought.. Unfortunately, I don't know of many people in my area that cook with fresh herbs! Such a sad concept, they are missing out!  I am a believer that fresh herbs help your immune system stay healthy! 

 This is my first year for orange mint! It smells captivating! I can't wait to use it in some freshly brewed tea!  I use the mint to make a raspberry mint tea! It is delish! I will have to use some orange zest and make a simple syrup to go in the tea! 

I love Mexican dishes, so cilantro is a must!

 This will also be the first time I have a porch tomato plant!  I love any dish with tomatoes in it. Funny thing, I don't like eating just a simple tomato! I know, makes absolutely no sense at all.   I am planning on canning tomatoes this year.  I am going to plant probably around 10 plants.. That should be plenty for just the three of us!  I will keep posting updates on my little garden as the season rolls on!  
As an added note.. The Kentucky Wildcats play the Louisville Cards tonight... So GO BIG BLUE!