Our Newest Family Member

We just added a new member to our family, and I can tell you it has been love at first sight for all of us!!!

"Pumpkin" (or Punkin if you are from Pennsylvania like me, or if you are Rush Limbaugh) arrived this afternoon after being cared for by our good friends, who found him in the church parking lot. He is so silky soft, like mink! He immediately began playing, purring and claiming his spot on our laps. I think he has tried out everyone's lap at least once! We are so delighted with him and look forward to many years of sharing our life with him!!!

Come on over and meet him - I dare you to not fall in love with him!

Spring is Near

I am very excited about spring coming. I have been planning, on paper, my new garden spot. Keith has a connection at work and is able to get me some FREE topsoil. I love free stuff! He also has a stone connection and will be able to get me some stepping stones at a reduced cost. I am going to make a huge herb and flower garden just off the patio. I have been collecting native seeds, many of them given to me from different friends.

Keith said he would cut down one of the cedar trees in our woods so I can turn it into a bird feeder stand. I get many fabulous birds here in the summer that I used to only get in the winter in LA, when their plumage was dull. I get gold finches, titmice, downey woodpeckers, white breasted nuthatches, rose breastes grosbeaks, chickadees, etc. Birding here is paradise!!!! I also get the great pileated woodpecker - quite the sight and sound!!! Blue birds surround our property (in flocks!) and seem to stay all year long. We have several empty bluebird houses waiting for their first tenants. Maybe this year they will get some occupants......

If you ever want to come bird watching, our screened in porch is a great place to start!!! Come on over!

Okay, I will try this blogging thing

I read several blogs on a regular basis, mainly just so I can keep updated on how people are doing without having to make a phone call. Phone calls are wonderful, but when you homeschool 4 kids and run a business, you have to limit the phone calls. I love reading about things my friends are doing and places they are going. At times, I feel a little bit like I am invading their privacy, in a sort of voyuristic sort of way. But I am pretty sure they realize other people are reading their ramblings, I mean updates.

My purpose in this blog is to update people on what the Brauds are doing, where we are going and stuff like that. I am going to try and refrain from expressing my political views and tangents likes that - I feel like they are op-eds and don't really allow for banter......

We have been in Georgia for over 18 months now, and I can honestly say it was a move that has been a huge blessings to all of our lives. Not just the gorgeous scenery, or the fantastic climate or the blessing of living in the Bible belt, but the whole ambiance has been nourishing to me in many ways. In many ways, I feel like an uncaged bird. I feel more at home here than in Louisiana and love that the vast majority of people assume you are honest, because they are honest. How refreshing. Ahh....

On with the show! I hope to not be dull or repetetive or caught up in the details. If you want details, give me a call instead. I am going to be pithy, and not blog you down with boring, meaningless ramblings.

Feel free to leave your comments!

No, this isn't our backyard

The waterfall is not in our backyard, but it may as well be. We can drive to it in 40 minutes! There are so many waterfalls around us in Georgia and Tennessee - we are truly blessed.

I don't know what I was thinking by creating this blog, because I really don't have time for stuff like this, but my family seems to think I should make the time to do it. We shall see - I hope I don't devote too much time to it, because that will mean I am neglecting more needful things.....

Welcome and Enjoy!