Tales From The Pasture...

Here's an update from this part of the world...

Molly left the pasture a couple weeks ago.  She returned to her original owner and I hear is doing fabulously!  Yay, Molly!

In her place a new girl has entered the pasture. Her name is Prissy Buns.  And once again we are faced with the challenge of having a horse that is for an intermediate rider in the pasture of a beginner rider.

And we're riding...

Prissy is a sweet girl who I have bonded with.  She just really doesn't want anyone on her back.  She wants ear scratches, rubs, brushes, and apples.  My favorite thing is that she gives you hugs for them.  Yes, my heart is slightly melted with this huge Quarter Horse.

Unfortunately, my daughter is scared of her.

You have to see everything as an opportunity to learn.  I'm using Prissy as an example of how to build a relationship of trust and love.  With more focus on becoming friends than saddling up that eight year old girl may learn a key concept to life.

You just never know.

Over the weekend we went to look at a paint horse named Joe.  This gelding melted her hearts and broke them at the same time.  He was obviously malnourished (we could see ribs and hip bones) and his feet were in horrible shape.  It unnerved me a bit.  OK more than a bit.

Joe needs a home badly and he needs food badly.  He has no pasture to graze and is only getting 2 cups of feed a day (or so we were told.)  I really want to find a rescue group to get this sweet boy out of his misery.

My husband and I wanted him badly but with our schedules there is no way we could give him the attention he needs.  Turning him out in the pasture would lead to foundering and that cannot happen on our watch.

If you are in our area (North Carolina) and interested in or knows someone who may be interested in this guy please email me at abrownieworldblog@gmail.com and we'll get the ball rolling.

Not the best picture but there they all are!

This weekend we spent a lot of time on the tractor prepping our land for this week's big event - grading our property!  The kids love it when the tractor is out and the hubby does too.

We roasted hotdogs and marshmallows by the fire on Sunday afternoon.

One of the best parts of the weekend?  An impromptu lunch with  my bestie and her family on Saturday!  We happened to both be in town and could meet up to eat pizza!

Did I take a picture - ugh no, stupid me.

So that's this week notes from the pasture.  Next week there will be more fun stuff to report and I cannot wait!

Let's have a great week!

H54F: The Week of Brrr

Greetings beauties!

Happy Friday to you!  We are having a pot luck lunch at work and I'm so excited to be totally, disgustingly unhealthy.  Seriously, it is a carb and sugar overload menu!

Here are my five...

1.  Carolina Blue Sky

This is in no way a reference to the Tar Heels.  I am NOT a Tar Heel fan.  This is actually a true reference to my home and our beautiful skies this week!  It has been super cold but super gorgeous with sunshine and clear crisp skies.  I love it!

2.  Southern Charm

It is back!  I set my DVR to record it since I knew there was no way I would be able to watch it on Monday.  Tuesday evening while the kids were gone out with their step-grand I took full advantage of turning it on while I devoured dinner.  I'm so sick that Landon is back (did you see my Twitter?) and T. Rav is soooo gross.  Really?  You had to let Craig be in it again?  Can't we just have a Cam & Shep show?

3.  I actually opened a book!

I haven't had a desire to read at all.  Then I took a nice long shower and realized it was read or fall asleep to Peppa Pig.  So guys my nose is in an old Sophie Kinsella book - I have already read the entire Shoapholic Series and a few other books she has written so I'm good to go.

I was going to put up the video but it is so stupid with their hokey pokey white boy dancing that I was like - nope cannot do that.  

4.  FL GA Line

If you a "liker" of my old Facebook Page (A Brownie World Blog) then you totally know I'm all about their song Confession.  This is a duo that I have hated for years and now in my old age I am like, "Well turn it up."

5.   Blessings in your face.

This week has been a constant reminder of amazing grace.  I've had several situations where I really see things I take for granted as completely immense blessings of grace on my life.  I can never be thankful enough and in a way that bugs me but then again it is awesome.  Every day is another day to say thank you and to see a simple miracle occur - one that we normally take for granted every single second.

Tales From The Pasture
A little something new on the blog - chronicling the new phase in our daughter's ascent into maturing, growing, and finding her way.  Maybe our own too...

Are You Gonna Eat That?
Meet the new way I make a menu...for the month!

It Is OK, okay?
Totally fun little link up where I somewhat confess to some things...I'll leave you hanging!

North Carolina in April
I have to show off my state - I cannot stop with these posts!

The $#it Holes I've Stayed In....
Hello vacation season - oh my goodness some memories from the horrible places I have paid to stay!

Find these on my Pinterest Boards!  Click the icon over on the right side of this page!

I love this dress...love, love, love it.

Ain't that the truth!

I want this for my room.

We planted bulbs this past weekend and now I'm plotting my flower take over 2016!

For my daughter...

Happy weekend friends!  We were hoping to do a little fishing but I'm thinking the projected cold temps will keep that at bay.  Praying for warmer weather!!!

xoxoxox

The $#it Holes I've Stayed In....

Vacation season has started.  I've enjoyed all the pictures and posts on blogs, IG, FB, etc.  I really adore looking at vacay pics!

But it had me thinking about the trips of my childhood, college years, and earlier in my marriage.

Folks, I stayed in some major sh*t holes.  And today I want to share some of them with you!

Woo hoo.

So grab a cup of Mountain Dew or Aristocrat or PBR and let's get this rodeo started.

Ship Ahoy - North Myrtle Beach, SC 199?
So my first and maybe ONLY beach trip with my paternal side of my family happened in the 90's totally prior to 1995.  The ride down was in a Dodge Neon and I was sandwiched between two kids younger than myself.  Our accomodations were at the fabulous Ship Ahoy.

Cinder block walls, a pukey pink color with some navy accents.  Oh heck yes.



The most recent photo of the place - bahahahaha - they shut her down a few years back.

Geez it was a dive.

The Teddy Bear
Cherokee, North Carolina 1995

I hate to admit this but I stayed there as a 13 year old child.  My mom and dad were home because my brother was to enter the world at any time.  Once again I was off with my paternal side of the family - hey they made for memorable vacations!  I always smile thinking of them.

The destination for this trip was Pigeon Forge not Cherokee but we stayed the night at this beautiful mountain side lush er place.



This place was horrible.  I know it is still open so maybe it is way better in 2016.  But whatever - the toilet was full of bugs, the mattresses had rat holes in them, and there was a bat in the room.  We were getting the nature feel inside this hell hole.

They did have a pool and it was neon green.  I figure it was radioactive or they used antifreeze to keep it flowing.

Surfside (Motor) Lodge
Carolina Beach, NC  2003 & 2010

Yes, you read that right.  One trip wasn't enough I had to go to a total dump twice.  The first time I was in college and we had all these intentions to go to Myrtle Beach - and we did - but we were bored and decided to just drive back up to NC and check in at this shadiest of shade places in Carolina Beach.



Yeah.  That is hot.  And super flammable.

The first trip there was that room - I'm pretty sure.  However, it had a 20 inch tv that was black and white picture only.  The shower hadn't been touched since 1970???  Oh it was bad but we got over it.

In 2010 it was a pure hell hole.  There were half naked children running around, people were leaving saucers of food out for ferrell cats - in the building - and the ferrell children were eating the food off the saucers.  The room was under a stairwell.  It stunk, I cried.

Eww.

The Rainbow Court Motel
Myrtle Beach, SC  2006

Well this one, yeah this one.

My bestie and I decided to take off for a weekend and we booked the cheapest room we could find.  We stayed drunk....just so we could sleep in that thing.

Between the biker guy (who probably had no actual home) who kept his bike on the walkway in front of our room, and the questionable owner (english not necessary to conduct business!) it was a true gem of poop.



Ugh look at the sign - Welcome Bac(teria) K.....we should have known!

I hope you laughed today while reading.

If you like any of these places then I'm sorry.

xoxox

North Carolina in April!

My home state is so freaking gorgeous in March and April.  The pastels of the season will take your breath away (and also cause you to hack and sneeze like no other!)

It seemed like overnight the trees were in bloom with white and pale pink flowers.  Dogwoods are really blasting their beauty right now.  Unfortunately, these blooms do not last very long before they are just a lively green until the end of summer.

Just like the flowers and buds on the trees everything is back to popping in NC.  Here are some events going on this month to entice and appease you!



April is Beer Month in North Carolina.  NC has a huge community of small brewers across the state and it is growing in regional and national levels.  To celebrate the NC beer family and its amazing growth there will be events all across the state at various microbreweries, restaurants, and clubs from the high country to the coastline.  For more information check out the official website of NC Beer Month.


Biltmore is in bloom!  I have seen Biltmore during the peak flower season and my goodness it is awe inspiring (especially if you love tulips like I do!)  The gardens at Biltmore are just amazing and well worth a day to meander through.  Don't forget to tour the house and see the decor for spring!



Phlock to the beach - to Oak Island
April 16th
It is time to run to the beach and run at the beach all in Jimmy Buffett style.  This year's Phlock To The Beach is offering a 5k, 10k, and half marathon run as well as food, music (Jimmy Buffett style), and more.  If you need an event to kick off beach season this is it.



69th Annual NC Azalea Festival
April 6th-10th
Wilmington, NC
This event is just part of NC culture, guys.  And this year Snoop Dog is on hand for it, no joke.  He'lll be performing on Friday, April 8th.  The Avette Bros. will be performing the night before, reason enough for me to go!  This is a true Southern multi day celebration of spring - there will be a coronation, good food, and great music.  Go to Wilmington this weekend!


RiverRun International Film Festival
April 7-17th
Winston-Salem
I bet you didn't know one of the largest film festivals in the US is in my city?  Yep, sure is.  The quickly growing River Run Film Festival kicks off this week.  There will be films of all genres from all over this great big earth ready to be viewed by theater junkies all around.



65th Annual Stoneybrook Steeplechase
April 9th
Raeford
If horse racing and steeplechases are your entry to spring then head to the tiny town of Raeford this weekend!  With over 1,000 spectators this event will host a variety of fun activities along with the race and chase.  A market of wonderful central Carolina fare, a kid's zone, and a hat contest!  What is a horse race without the flamboyant head attire?  Click here for information the Carolina Horse Park and this event.

4th Annual ConvergeNC Southern Music Festival
April 15th
Chapel Hill
If you need a reason to go to Chapel Hill and cannot seem to find a good one then this may be it.  This event is totally free and over on the notorious Franklin Street.  There will be food trucks, great music, and drinks.



Phuzz Phest
April 15 & 16th
Winston-Salem
And if you aren't too happy with the Chapel Hill music scene you can scoot down to Winston-Salem to the Phuzz Phest (not a free event).  This music weekend is multi genre and has some 50 highly acclaimed bands (though I have never heard of one of them.)  This event started in 2011 and grows in popularity each year.



Rock The Roanoak
April 16th
Weldon
Weldon is a place I have been and I have fished there.  I just learned that it is the Rockfish Capitol of the World.  Wow.  In honor of that you can enter the Rockfish Tournament open to adults and children.  Weldon is rich in history with the Wilmington-Weldon Railroad, Confederate cemeteries, and the richness of historical homes and places that only Eastern North Carolina can offer.  Click here to register.

Other things to check out in NC -

Via...

Our wineries -  The wineries are in season and ready to promote their grapes with great music and other fun yearly events offered in the spring.  If you are in NC check out your local wineries for a great, relaxing Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

Our baseball - Minor League ball is starting up!  Check out any of our teams across the state for a fun Thirsty Thursday or weekend game.

Our race ways - The home of auto racing is North Carolina.  Many of our small tracks, dirt tracks, and drag strips are firing up for the 2016 season.  Charlotte and the Lake Norman area will start having auto shows (as will other parts of the state) this month!

It is OK, okay?

It is OK to....link up with Airing My Dirty Laundry

....cuss the weather man because it is obviously HIS issue that spring just walked out the damn door and let winter come back to play.

....be totally HAPPY UNC lost last night and be from North Carolina.  Always following the ABC's of life - Anybody But Carolina.

....to be so excited over a show returning (Southern Charm) that you pass out before you have a chance to turn it on.

....to not be motivated to work out and then realize if you don't you cannot eat any free pizza.

....to be two months late on mailing a book to a blogger buddy because she gets that I am so totally scattered haha

....take secret pictures of co workers and tag them on it on IG

....to let the laundry pile up (and up and up)

....to allow your child to eat five popcicles since he has an aversion to eating anything else on the planet.

Are you gonna eat that?

Once upon a time (last month) I did weekly menu posts.  I aspired to be an organized food connossiouer of sorts.

Then I fell off the wagon of following my regimented meal ideas.

Then I fell out of love with cooking.

Sigh...

Then last week happened.

I was thinking about our new budget plans and how I needed to get my butt in gear and create meal plans again for the week.  

This isn't a listing of what we're going to eat each week but more of game to creating each week's menu.  I'm literally going to sit down on Saturday morning and pick out three to four of these for the week ahead.  In May I will share this list again with my personal critique of the dish.

You'll see "Go Out" or Cupboard/Leftover Night in my list.  The "go out" options are limited to just two and is for the kids and I (Chicfila no doubt!)  The "cupboard/leftover nights" are for the nights when we have plenty left from other dishes and I do not have to cook (woo hoo!)

Here's the food for this month:

TexMex Sloppy Joes from Our Pretty Little Girls

Cobb Salad

Baked Pesto Chicken

Leftovers/Cupboard Night

Mexican Casserole

Chicken Salad

Go out!

Cheesey Pesto Chicken from Simply A Rough Draft

Bruschetta Chicken

Salmon

Pizzadillas

Leftovers/Cupboard Night

Baked Smothered Chicken

Tacos

Go out

Burger night

What are you eating on?!?!?!

Tales from the pasture...

You met Molly a few weeks ago and if you didn't well...click here.

Molly has vacated the pasture.  She wasn't quite the fit for an eight year old girl and she also didn't care much for a twenty year old boy either.  Unfortunately, she has some problems that make her a bit dangerous for riders.  She'll be going back to her original home to hang out with the cows.

My daughter isn't too upset.  And why would she be?

She's traveling across North Carolina on the hunt for the perfect horse.

More to come...