Greetings all, here's hoping you all are in fine health on this spring evening.  Today I am thinking of the sweet things in this life.  Have you ever done that?  Just pondered and considered the rich blessings we all enjoy?  I would like to share some of my most sweetest enjoyments with you, would that be all right?  Well, even if it isn't, just humor me o.k.?  :)

The first thing that comes to mind is my Shalom's baby chuckle, she gets tickled over nothing but we get tickled just listening to her, doesn't a baby bring out the goofy in adults?  Warm, fitted socks on a bitter cold day, brand new nail polish that was only a dollar, watching my new litter of pups grow after holding my breath for a week hoping they would all make it, a picture of my granddaddy whom I've haven't seen since he passed in '93, a kiss from my handsome husband, watching my Celia and Bethany's tummies grow with the new life within them, and feeling the tiny kicks letting us know we are going to be blessed with their presence very soon. The oneness with my friends, hearing my mom say, "Hi honey!". The warm sun beating down on my tired body, an occasional evening all alone at home, a good Carole King song, you gotta love Carole King!  How strong and beautiful my boys are. I love it when my teeth are brushed, and I love the 4-H fair!  I love a good hard days work outside and when you finally come in your body is humming with tiredness, a really good healthy satisfied tiredness.  Thy Word, and a Friday evening after a long week. 

I can't remember if I've mentioned to you all that Tom and I breed Golden Retrievers.  Have I?  Well, we've been breeding for about 20 some odd years now.  When Tom and I met he had a golden named Beauregard.  Beau's line came from Hawaii.  We studded him out a few times then decided to get into breeding females too.  We bought litter mates one year and the rest is history.  We have a brand new (almost 3 weeks old) litter of pups.  They are a good lookin litter, nice wide heads already and thick legs.  If anyone is interested in a pup let me know through our e-mail. I will try to post some pictures in the next several weeks of the babies, right now they aren't too active.

Yesterday Tom, Jamin, Josiah,and I brought the walls of our $2.00 garage up to the front of the house from out in the field where they've been sitting for a couple months. We are getting ready to nail them in place.  You want to talk about heavy, hard work!  Lifting intact wall sections is no small job. Tom tweaked his back in the morning so he walked around very gingerly all day.  Josiah asked his dad how he tweaked his back Tom replied with a chuckle, "I bent over to get a Q-tip."  Josiah said,"Oh yeah dad, those Q-tips are shaped  just like bar bells, that would do it!"  Jamin chimed in with, "Well, did you lift just one or two?"  I love it!  We've always found if you can have fun while doing hard work together it makes the work very tolerable.  And around here no one is exempt from the butt of a joke if a joke can be found.  All in good taste, of course.. :)

Well, friends.....I need to close.  Many, many blessings from our home to yours in this new, fresh start of a season.  Through the coming weeks, to quote Carole King, "When this old world starts getting you down......" just take a deep breath, sit down for a few minutes in your favorite spot, pour yourself a cup of Earl Grey (or fresh mint tea from your garden) and think of all the sweet blessings you enjoy.  I've heard of actually writing them down on paper and pinning them on your fridge for a daily reminder does wonders for your attitude and your soul.

Oops, one thing I forgot to add to my sweetest list:  I find sharing myself with you all from week to week a very sweet thing indeed!  Thank you all.

Until next time....

Blessings on finding your rich homespun heritage!

janele ;)