ABCs

Had to take the idea from Natalie's blog and do this post..I just love stuff like this!!!

A - My AIR conditioner is set on: 72 but I think it should be set higher cause its pretty chilly in here right now!!
B - My BEDROOM theme is: country themed with angels and grapevine stuff..right now my bedspread is americana to match the rest of the house for the summertime as well!
C - The CAR in the driveway is: a 2006 Ford 500 (LOVE IT!) and Damons truck is an older model GMC white pickup
D - My DESK looks like: well I dont really have a desk..but my computer desk is filled with random stuff..not too messy but could be better I guess!
E - The EXACT time I wake up daily is: if any of you know me..you know this can vary greatly given my hubbys night shift schedule!!  Anywhere between 9am-noon usually
F - The FIRST thing I wash in the shower is: my face so I can get all my makeup off!
G - My GARAGE is filled with: alot of tools, our deep freezer, vehicles, and a pantry area Damon made for my canned food!
H - My HOUSE is : great!!  Though we're still doing little things here and there and will be for a while..I love it and it feels so "us"!
I - If you peeked INSIDE my bedroom you'd see: Damon sleeping..haha!
J - My favorite JUICE is: OJ though I dont drink juice often.
K - The best part of my KITCHEN is: don't laugh..but I turned my dishwasher into a spice rack..its GREAT!  Besides..washing dishes for 2 people isn't that time consuming..who needs a dishwasher?!
L - The LAST person who visited my home was: my mom when she helped clean house for me the other day while I rested..awwwwww
M- The last piece of MAIL for me was: a magazine I believe..not sure which one I got in today.
N - My NEIGHBORS think I'm: generous..I'm always taking neighbors extra food we have from dinner..I always seem to make too much and hate to throw away food when I can share it!
O - If you OPENED my fridge you'd see: alot of sauces, condiments, "stuff".  I dont know how we accumulate so many different types of bbq sauce and mustards..but we have them all I think!
P - My last house PARTY was: gosh..probably LAST summer?  Not something we do often..but I do enjoy it when we get around to it.  :-)
Q - A QUICK meal I like to fix is: a pot of soup in the winter months, in the summer probably a homemade pizza
R - My favorite ROOM of the house is: the living room because its sooo big and open!
S - The SHAMPOO brand I use now is: Herbal Essences in the pink bottle..GREAT stuff!
T - My largest TELEVISION is: in the living room..but we'd love to get a flat screen sometime in the future..black friday anyone?
U - UNDER my bed you will find: dust bunnies (haha)..alot of board games, my old baseball card collection..Damons dress shoes.
V - The last time I VACUUMED was: well mom vacuumed tuesday for me..if that counts! 
W - Looking out my WINDOW now I see: darkness..its nighttime here :-)
X - I wish I had X-TRA: time..who doesnt need a little more time everyday?
Y - My YARD is: big and its great!!  So nice to not be confined to a small fenced in yard anymore!
Z - ZZZZ, my bedtime is:  ok guys dont laugh..between 3 and 4 AM..seriously!!  Thats the night shift schedule for you!!!

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under Heaven.

I was reminded of this bible verse the other day when I had to jot down something and even though we've had this notepad for a couple months..it was the first time I really saw the verse wrote at the bottom of it..which interestingly enough, is my husbands favorite verse from the bible.  We also have the whole verse (Ecc. 3:1) in a huge frame in our living room.  The reason I bring it up..if many of you have read my last post..you know that we had found out we were pregnant a couple weeks ago but that I was experiencing some problems last weekend and today was my dr appointment to find out what was really going on.  Well..we found out today that I had miscarried..probably last weekend when I was experiencing the bleeding and was in the ER.  My doctor was very positive though, and told me there wasn't anything I did that caused it..and that we can keep trying if we like (which we will).  We know sometimes things aren't 'meant to be' and that this was just the case for us this time around.  I'm not sad..at first I was a bit..but I know God is in control of our lives and He knows whats best for His children.  It wasn't our 'season' this time..but there are more seasons to come! 

I've appreciated all your support the past few days..it has made me even more glad I started this blog..because God knew I would need yall during this time in our lives..that we'd need the prayers and support not only from family..but from my fellow blogger friends!!  I love you all and ask that you continue to pray for us!!  :-)

Lack of Blogging...

To the few followers I do have on my blog..I want to fill you guys in on whats been going on with me the past week and a half.  It all started on the 15th of this month..when I took my first pregnancy test and it was positive!!!!!  I was so happy..and..so scared at the same time!  All my life I thought I never wanted to have any kids of my own..I guess not being around babies when I was growing up plus being an only child had alot to do with that.  But then this past Christmas..the "baby bug" officially bit me..unexpectidly I might add.  All I could think was how it felt like there was "something" missing..and I immediately knew what that something was.  But anywho..we told a few choice people close in our lives of our positive test in the days following..but sort of wanted to wait on going totally "public" with our exciting news until we were 100% certain. 

Then last thursday came.  I started experiencing some bleeding (dont worry..I wont go into details) and panicked, pretty much.  Damon was off for the weekend and as always..we headed out on friday.  Still concerned..while we were out I told him I felt that I should go to the hospital and be checked out..so thats what we did.  We were in the ER friday for a good 10+ hours until the wee hours of saturday morning.  They told us that I am indeed pregnant..just not very far along from what they could tell.  They also said that my bleeding could be normal and I'll be fine..or it could be the start of a miscarriage..so they told me to rest..and have my blook taken twice this week to see if my hormone levels continue to rise before my doctors appointment.  I have my doctors appointment this thursday to find out if I'll be ok or not. 

This definately wasn't what I had in mind when I first found out I was pregnant about breaking the news on my blog!   But this is where God has us at for the time being..and I know my bloggy friends are some of the best in the world...so I wanted to share with you all the "news" and ask for your sincere prayers right now.  We know that God knows what is best..and we're trusting in Him with all of this.   I hope you will pray with us for me, my hubby, and our unborn baby.  I will do my best to keep you guys posted in the coming days...until then..I'll be relaxing..and praying.

Thankful Thursdays--Church

So this thursday I'll fill everyone in on whats been going on in my world the past several days and why I'm feeling grateful tonight!!  Monday was the start of vacation bible school down at our church and I've been helping out in the kitchen everyday since it started.  The last day was today (thursday) and we ended it all with a big cookout for all the kids, their parents, the teachers, and anyone and everyone else who was involved.  We had a great week overall and it was so nice to see all the kids come out to hear and learn about Jesus!!  My only regret?  I forgot my camera today!!!!!  So sorry I have no pictures to post of our good time (I've had alot going on and my head hasnt all been here!). 

We have a wonderful mission group that comes each year from Georgia that helps in our vacation bible school.  This year we saw many familiar faces with the team as well as some new faces!  The kids really enjoys the enthusiasm this group brings and they have such a fun time as well.  The team from Georgia is such a blessing to our church and a wonderful group of adults, teens, and young people.  I look forward to seeing them all again next year! 

Its such a thing to be thankful for..seeing young people in church..enjoying themselves and learning about what God has done for us.  Something I hope that we see more of as time goes on.  Its so crutial and important to get young people into church today..because they are the churches future.  I hope and pray that our church is filled with children in the future. 

*side note*..I wont be posting this weekend..needing some time w/family and rest as well..hope everyone has a blessed weekend and I'll see you back either sunday or monday!

Mid-week Munchies--Pizza

I make a homemade pizza about once every two weeks for dinner around here and I've used this crust recipe for quite some time now.  I found the original recipe online (somewhere) and though it is a bit thick..its nice and soft and has a great taste!  I also can my own pizza sauce and like it much better than store bought sauce..its light and not thick like the kind from the store can be..almost tomato paste-y.  I use Mrs. Wages mixes in case you wonder..love the pizza sauce and the salsa!!!

Pizza Dough

1 package fast rising yeast
1 cup warm water
3 cups all-purpose flour (can use whole wheat if thats what you like)
1/4 cup olive oil

Mix the yeast and water in a bowl until the yeast is dissolved.  Mix in the olive oil and flour, gradually, until all is incorporated.  Knead dough while still in bowl and cover with dishcloth for a couple hours to let rise.  Press out into pizza pan..top witn your favorite toppings and bake in a 425 degree oven until cheese is melted..takes about 15 minutes or so!

Enjoy!

The Last Home Tour--Other Areas

Well..this is the final posting for the home tour over at Natalie's Extraordinary Love blog..I've had so much fun participating and don't know what I'm going to do for a tuesday post now!!  Anyways..since I didn't start participating until week 2 I believe it was..I missed out on the outdoor areas.  The one thing I am and have been VERY eager to show off is the homemade fountain my hubby made for me a couple weeks ago!!  I just LOVE it and its so pretty and looks just like it belongs..you know?  Here is a picture of it once we got everything pretty much the way we wanted..for now!

Also, like Natalie, an area in my house I didn't show off before was my small pantry area.  In our old house we rented, I pretty much had a whole, small room just for my pantry.  It was sooo cute..I had it decked out in gingerbread..painted the walls brown and had grapevine draped across the top of the walls for a "primitive" look.  Adorable!  In our new place..I have a small area where I put my pantry cabinet between the kitchen and dining rooms.  Since it sort of had its own little "space"..I decided to go ahead and keep my gingerbread theme and decorate as so!  Its a cute little "nook", imo! 

Hope you've enjoyed seeing the extra 'spaces' here at Country Roads!!  Ta-ta for now!

Miscellany Monday

Happy Miscellany Monday everyone!!

• Just got home from helping out at vacation bible school down at our church.  Its so much fun helping out in the kitchen w/my church family..making sandwiches for the kiddos!
• One of those days when you don't know if its going to rain one moment, or be sunny the other.  I'm hoping for some sunshine..have a load of clothes that needs to get dried outside!
• Our pear tree out back is so loaded with pears..one of the limbs is LITERALLY touching the ground!  I'm hoping to can some "pear honey"with some..anyone have a good recipe using pears?
• Me and Damon watched Shrek 3 last night on tv.  We just love animated movies and can watch them over and over again (we've seen all the Shrek movies countless times).  I just love a good laugh!
• Found out today a lady I go to church with "cleans" her trash..don't ask..I couldn't explain it if I tried!  ROFL!
• My mind is completely blank now..so I guess my miscellanies just ran out..have a great monday everyone!!!

Sunday Devotional

This quote was in my daily "Amish Perpetual Calendar", which I just adore!!

"What you are is Gods gift to you.......what you make of yourself is your gift to God."

Thankful Thursdays--"Old-Fashioned-ness"

I have to say, I'm going to say something I probably thought I'd never say oh, 15 years ago or so.  I am so thankful and glad that I was raised 'old fashioned'.  Growing up, my parents ALWAYS raised a garden and when I was very little we even had chickens, a goat, pigs, rabbits, etc.  My parents showed me how to grow produce instead of always relying on a grocery stores inventory.  You know how it is when your young..everything like that feels like a "total waste of time" and would rather be spent out with friends or whatever the case may be.  But now that I'm older, I can really appreciate the things I was taught.  Even my husband is old fashioned..so it even shaped my image of my ideal mate!!  LOL! 

The reason I bring all of this up today you may ask?  Wednesday was my first "canning" day of the season thus far and I canned 9 pints of pickled beets, my first attempt at doing beets.  I'm pretty proud of the way they have turned out and found they were very easy to do compared to some other things I've canned in the past years.  Granted, my dear sweet hubby was kind enough to boil and peel them for me beforehand..so that took alot of the hard part aside from my duties!!  :-)  Here are a few pictures of the process....

                                       (Apple cider vinegar/sugar/pickling spice mixture boiling)

(The beets!!)

(Simmering in the liquid)

(Finished product!)

Have a very thankful thursday today!!

Mid-week Munchies--Zucchini Brownies

Ok..so are yall having your bounty crops of zucchini yet?  Well if you do (or will in the near future)..this is an excellent recipe I'm sure your family will enjoy if you love chocolate..like I do!  Its super easy and very yummy!

                (Not the best picture..but the only one I thought to take of it..only after we had a few pieces!)

Zucchini Brownies

1/2 cup vegetable oil  (you could probably use applesauce if you want it to be a lighter version!)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tea. vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tea. baking soda
1 tea. salt
2 cups shredded zucchini
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Icing:
6 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 cup margarine
2 cups confectioner's sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tea. vanilla extract

Preheat your oven to 350 and grease and flour a 13x9 baking pan.

In a large bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla.  Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt and stir into the sugar mixture.  Fold in the zucchini and walnuts (if using).  Notice ladies..it will seem extremely dry..don't worry!!  Just keep mixing..trust me..it will turn into your regular looking brownie batter once you really mix this!  And another notice..no mistakes..there are no eggs in this recipe! 

Spread into prepared pan and bake for about 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cool and prepare icing.

Melt together the cocoa and margarine; set aside to cool.  Once cool, mix in the confectioner's sugar, milk, and vanilla and whip until smooth.  Spread over cooled brownies.  Cut into squares and enjoy!  Definately enough to feed a crowd!  Enjoy!

Giveaway at "Survival Guide for the Young, Fabulous, and Newleywed"

Thought I'd pass on a quick note to everyone!  Amber is hosting a GREAT giveaway over at her blog...the cutest trendy shower caddy you'll probably ever see!  And did I mention its black and pink?!  Head on over and put in your entry..thats what I'm going to do right now...............................

Happy Tuesday everyone!!

Home Tour--Laundry Room

Today we'll be touring the laundry area of everyone's home.  If you haven't participated in Natalie's home tour posts now is the time to join up!!  Its been alot of fun looking at pictures of everyone's homes the past several weeks and gaining some neat ideas on decorating!!  I don't know about everyone else..but I'm sure going to miss the home tour posts (what will we do on tuesdays?!?)!!

Ok..so let me explain a little about my laundry room first.  When we moved into our home..the gray tile looking paneling thats in our kitchen was continued into the laundry room (its located right off my kitchen).  Well..I'm not totally crazy about that paneling.  For the kitchen..its ok..for now I guess..so I left it alone when I went a-paintin' before we got our furniture and selves moved in.  The laundry room though..I just couldn't stand it in there.  The laundry room at our home is small..smaller than what I was used to with our rental house before..and there are no windows (unless you count the small window on the door..our back entrance door is located in here).  So..the gray paneling in a room with no windows..just made the room that much darker of an area.  And I don't know about yall..but I like a bright and cheery place where I do my laundry!  So..my solution?  I thought ok..since its such a small room and needs to be brightened up..I'm gonna go completely crazy and paint the room my favorite color.  ORANGE!  Yes folks you read right..I painted my laundry room orange.  It was hilarious when my dad was helping out with the painting we were doing and opened up the paint can.  He called out to me and was like "Mel..are..you......is THIS what you wanted?!".  He was rather puzzled by my color choice because well..its pretty bold..hehe!  And if your asking yourself if I like Rachael Ray since she also has a love of orange..the answer is a definte YES (I have her orange pots and pans currently)!  Anyways..enough rambling about my choice in color!  But before I show you my pictures..I do want to say I've been recently thinking of repainting the room since like I said before, it is so small and wouldn't take alot of paint or time to do.  My thinking?  Red perhaps..what do you guys think?  I love input!!  Onto some pictures!

                                                     (As you first walk in from the kitchen)

(The good ol' washer and dryer..nothing fancy here really)

(My laundry room "accessories"..old fashioned wash boards!)

Thats about it for my laundry room..I know its not much, but its my little corner of the house where I do spend ALOT of time!!  The one thing I can say about having my laundry room by the back door is that its very easy access when I go outside to hang clothes out to dry!!

Hope everyone has a great tuesday!

Miscellany Monday

Ok..so this is my first time participating in Carissa's miscellany mondays so bear with me!  I thought after the weekend I just had...no more perfect time than to try something new!

• My weekend was full of so many ups and downs it was pitiful.  Granted..I was grateful to finally have Damon home for a weekend after working 12 days straight (yes..thats his schedule).  The best part?  I now am the proud owner of a homemade..handcrafted by my dear hubby..water fountain!  (pictures to be posted at a later time)  The worst part?  Damon now knows the cause of his blurry vision in his one eye..he has a cataract and will have to have surgery in the future sometime.

• I love my new glasses and sunglasses!  Was able to finally find some frames that I like..and was suprised that I actually wasn't the one who picked them..it was the saleslady.  That has never happened in all the many years I've worn glasses (since the 6th grade).

• You ever wonder what bees are thinking?  I never did until saturday when one flew between my foot and flip flop as I was walking in our backyard and yeah..I got stung and the bee was squished.  Suicide or plain dumbness?  I dunno but now I'm left hobbling around on a swollen foot.

• I've come to a conclusion..you can't make too many trips to Walmart.  We went to walmart on friday..when we were out on saturday I was already needing to go back..again.

• This past weekend was one of those where it felt like everything I said..came out wrong.  Sometimes I feel so misunderstood.  Anyone else deal with that?

• I've found that you find out who's really your friend/reliable source when you ask them to make an "emergency" trip thats 1 hour away to help you pick up something that won't fit into your vehicle.  Not so much an emergency for them..but for you when you realize your vehicle at home that will accomodate the oversized item might possibly break down from thus mentioned 1 hour trip.  Praise God for good people who are willing to help in times of stress!!!

• Ever lock yourself out of your house?  I think since we've been married I've done it about 2 or 3 times.  Is that alot?  I don't ever remember my parents locking themselves out and they've been married over 30 years!! 

• My mind is a total blank now..guess after a crazy weekend its telling me to relax now that its monday..but wait..aren't weekends suppost to be relaxing??

Happy Monday everyone!!  Hope yall have a great week!

Five Friday Favorites

(This was suppost to have posted on friday..unfortunately I've just now seen that it in fact didnt!)

Thought I'd do something fun since it is Friday!!  Enjoy your weekends everyone!  :-)

• 
  
  Fireworks

• 
  
  Picnics

• 
  
  Traveling

• 
  
  Summer tans

• 
  
  Fresh Fruit

A summery recipe I found in my First for Women magazine a while back..hope you'll enjoy it!

Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait

In a food processor, puree 2 pkgs. (8 oz. each) cream cheese at room temp, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 cup half-and-half, 2 Tbsp. orange juice, 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract and 1/4 tsp. orange zest 1 minute or until smooth.  Set aside.  Prepare 1 box (3 oz) strawberry gelatin according to package directions, reducing cold water by 1/2 cup; stir in 1 cup pureed strawberries and 1/4 cup cream cheese mixture.  Divide gelatin mixture evenly among 6 dessert glasses.  Chill 1 hr.  Divide remaining cream cheese mixture among glasses.  Chill until gelatin mixture is set or until ready to serve.  Garnish with fresh strawberries and cookies, if desired.

What are your favorite things about summer?

Thankful Thursday

"And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God."  Ecc. 3:13

"Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him:for it is his portion.
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God."
Ecc. 5:18-19

I bring these bible passages to you today because I have been busy this week outside..working diligently to get my storage building #1 painted in the hot summer sun!  I am almost completed with it and I have to say..after working some long hours in the heat, nothing is more gratifying than standing back and taking in something you've accomplished.  It truely is a gift of God to have the ability to rejoice in our labors.  I am so very thankful that I am able to do such a task..because there are many who are not able but wish that they could.  Be thankful today that your able to do the things you can do!!

Before

(Smurf-ish..wouldn't you say?!)

After

(Ahh..much better, wouldn't you say?)

 

Things that make you go "grrr"..

I thought I would bring up the subject of "pet peeves" today since I feel at times anyways, that I have many!  A few that comes to mind are:

1. Drivers who dont use their turn signals
2. People who (knowingly) use sarcasm as a way to be just plain rude
3. Copycats
4. "Bossy" people
5. Nosey neighbors

I could list more but thought I'd stop at 5 and talk about one in particular that I dealt with today that really irked me!  Number 4 on the list..bossy people.  I was outside working today around the house in the sweltering heat, but taking frequent breaks as to not "overdo" it.  I'm no dummy..I know my limits!  I stopped when I'd had enough and went about the rest of my evening with hubby.  After dinner, we went for a brief walk with the dog and was stopped by one of my neighbors.  She proceeded to do something that totally annoyed me though I managed by the grace of God to keep myself from "breaking bad" on her (not that I ever would...but I was rather ticked off!) and I didn't say or do anything negative and managed to keep a smile despite the circumstance.  She pointed her finger at me..snarled her nose and said to me that I should "be beat to death for staying out in that heat today the way I did"!  Is it just me..or is that..uhh..a little MUCH?  First..she's not my mama..or even remotely close to it..you have no business telling me what to do.  I obey God first..hubby second.  I'm not 8 years old..I'm a grown woman who knows her limits.  I handled the heat just fine, thankyouverymuch!  And lastly..don't you DARE point that finger at me lady!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I can understand one being concerned for another for being out working on a hot day..but there are much nicer ways to show your concern..being "beat to death" isn't one of them in my book.  My other, thoughtful neighbor, was kind enough to bring me a couple bottles of cold water while I was working in between the breaks I was already taking for myself.  I'm not one to get mad easily..but that incident today just got to me.  Thank God I'm a christian woman is all I can say!!!! 

Every have an incident that just boils your blood?  How does God help you to handle those type situations?

Home Tour--Bathroom Edition

This week we'll be touring our bathrooms!  I've been kinda looking forward to this post in particular because I ordered a new shower curtain, rug, and valance just recently and have been wanting to show it off!  In case you haven't stopped by Natalie's blog at Extraordinary Love, I recommend you head over..she's got a great blog and I enjoy reading her posts often!! 

I'll start with the master bathroom at our place.  I'm so happy to have 2 bathrooms in our home..in the rental house we lived in for about 8 years previously, we only had one bathroom and it was SO TINY!  Granted, ours here isn't a huge luxury suite, but it sure does feel like it compared to the old one!!  The one thing I'd like to change in this room is the flooring!  Its nice wood floors granted, but they are the lightest of the light..and well since I'm a gal with long brown hair and my furbaby has mostly black hair..you can imagine it never looks clean in there no matter how many times I mop and sweep!  Any ideas for an affordable alternative?  The bath set I purchased for the summer months was, you guessed it, americana!  I sure hope yall aren't getting tired of my love of americana..I promise any other time of the year I go with different themes (you should see my house for Christmas..hey Natalie..christmas home tours in the future, perhaps?).  But anyhow..this is my new shower curtain....

The mirror above the sink and tiny window w/new valance...

Other corner of the bathroom...

My removeable "wall art"..I just love this!!  Its above our bathtub...

And the bath rug in front of the sink..

Now onto the 2nd bathroom of the house..I must say I'm rather proud of this room because several months back, we sort of did a small remodel in here!  Painted the walls, the cabinets, and I (yes..ME!!) laid down some peel and stick tile over the exisiting dingy, white, gross linoleum that was in there.  The paint went over white floral bathroom paneling (YUCK!) and though I don't feel pictures does this room justice at all..I still smile each time I walk into this bathroom because I know how it used to look!  I just wished I had took "before" pictures..of course I think I would have been too embarrassed for anyone to have seen..it was terrible!  Couple things we've thought about doing sometime in the future (when money allows) would be to replace the sink top and toliet with newer ones that would match better with the new theme..and possibly rip out the HUGE corner shower unit that literally takes up half the bathroom..which its a pretty small bathroom to start with.  It would open up the room alot and would be neat to put one of those decorative ladders in there or something practical like a small storage cabinet for linens.  Anyways enough of me rambling!  Onto the bathroom..which btw..this is Damon's bathroom..and its themed in bears which is fitting since my nickname for him is Bear!!

As you walk in this is how it looks...

Cute little "tree-like" towel holder and bear picture...

Another cute bear picture...

Close up of the cabinet I painted...

The sink area...

Dear Mr. Cucumber,

Dear Mr. Cucumber,

It seems we have a love-hate relationship.  And I don't know what to do about it anymore!  In the winter and early spring, I look forward to seeing you on sale in the grocery stores so you can be added to my meals.  Oh how crisp and tasty you are added in a salad, or even alone sprinkled with the tiniest bit of salt!  You make me long for the never-ending harvest we always seem to have each summer.

And then summer comes.  Of course, we plant you in the ground and make sure your well fed and watered.  We can't wait to see you bloom because we know it won't be long until you make your summer arrival.  And then you arrive!  Oh how happy we are to pick you and your "neighbors" in groups of 2 or 3..just enough for a side dish for our summertime meals..or to just snack on in the evenings for a nice healthy treat.  But then, you seem to multiply over night, by the hundreds!  Your "neighbors" are left and right, in groups of 5 or 6, and there are "babies" EVERYWHERE!!  We think the Duggars must like you alot..since your family keeps growing at such a steady pace! 

What begins as a loving relationship between you and I..very quickly this time of the year becomes more of nuisance.  I just don't know what to do with you and your ever abundant family!  I've pickled you and made you into a tasty addition to my hamburgers.  I even made you into something last year most people had never heard of before (and thought I was crazy until they tasted you), which was cinnamon pickles!  How clever..I'll use your abundance to my advantage.  Ahh..I even won a blue ribbon at the county fair because of you!!  Sweet revenge?  Maybe so, but it was tasty and fun at the least. 

But now, my dear cucumber, I feel I am all pickled out.  I don't know what to do with you this year.  We tried to limit your family and neighbors this year to 6 (plants)..but you've overrun us once again.  I am almost at defeat level, but I am holding onto a sliver of hope!!

Will you, my dear readers, help me out??  This country girl needs some cucumber recipes!!  I sure would appreciate it yall..because Mr. Cucumber and his neighborhood seem to be set out to overrun us once again this year!