Gardening, just some ole dirt

One thing you should know about me is that I LOVE really LOVE a beautiful garden. Now mind you my garden is not always beautiful, parts of it are but not all. When my boys were growing up I purposely shyed away from plants that had thorns, I did not want them to get hurt by a thorny bush. But I have always been in love with Roses, not just any Roses, but those that are not only beautiful but also have a wonderful scent. You see I not only garden for the beauty but also for the scent. There is nothing better than walking through a garden and enjoying all of those wonderful sweet smelling flowers. Two years ago I planted some Peonies, we have lived in this area only 5 years, and I have been experimenting with what will and will not grow. I could not grow Peonies at our last house and I do not know why they just would not grow there.... sorry I digress... so last Friday I was out pondering my flower beds and seeing what had survived yet another winter, and low and behold my Peony was not only up and florishing, it was covered with buds, beautiful, wonderful buds, which will bloom into beautiful wonderful fragerant flowers. I am always so grateful and at times even surprised with my ability to grow anything, though I have had award winning gardens in the past I am always grateful that God allows me to enjoy the beauty of a garden. So just for today, take a walk around your yard, or patio, or balcony or what ever outdoor space that you may have, take it in, enjoy it, look for ways to improve it, but most importantly just thank God for his wonderful garden of life that we are all a part of in this journey we call life..... Blessings to all, and enjoy the day - Curtis

Kids, they make us young

Well today is our youngest sons 24th birthday..... and I am wandering back down memory lane a bit. Our kids are our most treasured gift from God, even though there are times when they are growing up that we do not think so, still they are our treasures. Our youngest son came into this world with black hair , mind you I am blonde and my wife has brown hair, but my wife's grandmother was so excited to have a great grandchild with black hair. Nathan came into the world screaming and kicking, ready to get on with his life.... oh how we loved him so cute and cuddly... At 18 months we almost lost him his large intestine had actually swallowed up his small intestine and he was dying, my wife called me at work and told me to meet her at the hospital that she was taking him in, as we arrived we both got there at the same time which was a miracle in itself, the pediatrician on call took our precious baby from my wife's arms and rushed him into surgery.... there is no other feeling of helplessness than turing your child over to a doctor to have them do surgery on them and have them tell you that he will do as much as he can but if we believed in miracles we should pray for one. That surgery took 3 1/2 hours..... the longest time spent thus far in my life waiting , waiting, and then seeing our baby boy come through those doors from the operating suite, it was pure joy...... thus began our babys journey and we were so grateful to God for sparing him. Nathan has been a joy to our family, all boy, snakes, snails, and even puppy dog tails.... He raised chickens, guinea pigs, real pigs, rabbits, cows, puppy's, kittens, he loved animals. We have had the awesome pleasure of watching him grow from a baby to a wonderful young man and we love him so. So today I dedicate this blog to my baby Nathan James Chipley, your mom and dad love you so much and are so proud of you....HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATHAN !!!!!

Springtime

So yesterday as my wife and I were driving into work, we car pool every day that we can, we were both marveling at God's handi work. Everything is in bloom, the Lupines, wild Lilacs, fruit trees, poppies, it is all so beautiful. We were talking and I got the bright idea to stop on the way home and cut some bounty to make some beautiful flower arrangements for our house. Now from the road the flowers look like they are all on a somewhat level setting, but oh NO, once you get out of the car and walk up to them they are all perched on at least a 30 degree angle, you need to be a billy goat to get to them.... No problem I say, I have my trusty pruners in my pocket, and up I go. I must tell you my wonderful wife is sitting in the car offering her words of encouragement, you know I want those up there pointing to a bush at least 75 feet up the mountain... I nod my head and go the bush closest to the road lol. After about 15 minutes of cutting and pruning I have a bounty full of lilacs, to make wonderful arrangements. We get home and I put them on the counter, and guess what? They are full of bugs..... they are crawling every where, my wife does not like bugs, she loves Lilacs but NOT bugs, so she commences to tell me get them out out of my kitchen.... I just shake them into the sink and turn on the garbage disposal, oh go on with yourself , there are millions of bugs a few down the drain is not going to hurt anything .... any hoo where was I oh yeah so after the bug incident, I did get some beautiful Lilac bouquets for my wife to place around our home.... and I tell you all of this to encouage all of your to enjoy this season, stop and smell the flowers, cut a few (if they are not in anyone's yard), the ones I picked were along a country road, because I live on a long country road. Make your wife happy, bring her some flowers and they do not have to cost you a penny, just enjoy, Live is Great! Blessings to all Curtis and Sherrie

Community Events

So this week end my wife, my mother in law and our best friend of over 25 years all went to a local event, supporting our Women's Refuge. It always amazes me the giving hearts of people. Four gracious families opened their homes to have strangers trapes through them to see what kind of decorating they have done. All of the homes were wonderfully done, all very different but each special in its own way. But the best part of this event? The hosts and hostesses.... they were all gracious, engaging, hospititable, and just plain good folks..... the goodness of people always amazes me, with so much that goes on that is not good, I choose yes CHOOSE to dwell on the people who do good things, make the right choices, love life, and who are able to not only open their hearts but their homes to total strangers...... yes life is good, and people are also good.... Blessings to you and yours Curtis

So it has been a while since I have posted anything. The seasons have changed we have had a wonderful winter here in Northern California, it has rained and rained and rained. It is ok with me, my wife and I like the rain, it fills up the many lakes that surround us here in God's country and makes everything soo green and pretty. We as in my wife and I have put off any kind of house project due to the enormous amounts of rain, but I am looking forward to getting some projects started this Spring. I am going to tackle painting all of my patio furniture one and only one color..... and this my friends is a HUGE task. I have collected quite a few pieces of patio furniture over the years... and it has been painted black, white, yellow, and lots of other colors to suit my mood for that particular year.... So now my wife wants all of the patio furniture painted white , and use blue cushions and umbrellas. I know it will look great when it is finished but it will be a full week end job!!!! as I have 3 settes, 8 chairs, 1 porch swing , and at least 7 or 8 side tables that will all need to be sanded , primed and then painted, all done of course before Memorial Day Week End, no problem I say.... I will post some before and after pictures if and when I get it done..... well sitting here typing is not getting anything done and I have some weeding to do.... so until next time, keep a smile in your heart and one on your face too, Blessings to all Curtis and Sherrie Chipley