From The Home Office

Why Can’t I Grow Onions from Seed?!

Why Can’t I Grow Onions from Seed?!

Seeking advice! As long as I've been gardening, I have not been able to grow onions from seed. Each seed brings forth a long, thin leaf. It then bends over and dies...…

EXCITEMENT OR DREAD? Our First Beehive!

EXCITEMENT OR DREAD? Our First Beehive!

All winter long, Brian did not understand why I wasn't reading the books and watching videos. I kept giving him the "I'm too busy with work" excuse...…

Our First Corn Field!

Our First Corn Field!

Did you know that a corn stalk typically only produces one or two ears? No kidding!…

Teensy Tiny Baby Praying Mantises!

Teensy Tiny Baby Praying Mantises!

They won't eat our plants but they will eat insects that will eat our plants. Aren't they adorable?!?!…

FUTURE FRIES!! YUM!!!

FUTURE FRIES!! YUM!!!

If you have gardening deficits like I do, you grow something that is almost impossible to kill. Something so hardy that it borders on invasive. Something like...…

Do-over on the Lettuce!!

Do-over on the Lettuce!!

No other leaves came out but the stems kept growing! What was I doing wrong?!?!…

My New Greenhouse! WHOOP!!!

My New Greenhouse! WHOOP!!!

Everything will be edible, of course. I'm especially excited about the beautiful Atomic Grape Tomatoes.  Check out those colors!! I even found a toothache plant which looks like something out of Little Shop of Horrors. How cool is that?…

ANOTHER Snow Storm!

ANOTHER Snow Storm!

It actually felt more like Christmas last weekend than it felt like on Christmas. It snowed for 12 hours straight! We had snowball fights and sledding and it was a truly magical weekend!…

Liar, Liar, Pants on…ICE!

Liar, Liar, Pants on…ICE!

She laughed, and said, "We only get an inch of snow here per year. The systems wind around the mountains and hit Chattanooga."  Yeah, RIGHT!!!…

Grammie Sue Was a HIT at Church!

Grammie Sue Was a HIT at Church!

After being asked to participate in the church's annual Variety Show, on a whim (I had NO idea why I did it!), and with no experience whatsoever, I ordered a ventriloquist puppet...…

Scary Stuff! Why I Had to Visit the E.R. on Monday

Scary Stuff! Why I Had to Visit the E.R. on Monday

If you'll excuse my horrific handwriting (I was freaking out when I drew this) and my non-artist skills, here is a picture I drew for doctors since nobody seemed to understand what I was describing... I'm NOT referring to the eyeball picture that headlines this story! ;)…

We Need Prayers for 4-Year-Old Jack, Please!

We Need Prayers for 4-Year-Old Jack, Please!

A fever, horrible cough throughout, and very bad back spasms that had him up crying last night. He said his tummy hurt but then he pointed to his lower back...…

Let the Hustle and Bustle and Eating BEGIN!

Let the Hustle and Bustle and Eating BEGIN!

Brian is making Rum Balls and Bourbon Balls. The neighbors are going to be so happy! Brian's balls will burn the hair off your chest!! ;)…

Will This Black Gook EVER Come Out of My Hair?!

Will This Black Gook EVER Come Out of My Hair?!

While the skeleton costumes looked fantastic, they were VERY uncomfortable. One size fits all = One size is very uncomfortable for all. Brian's pants wouldn't bend when he sat down. My pants were too tight around the knees (I do NOT have large knees) but ginormously huge around the waste so they kept trying to fall down. But, it was all for a good cause (the entire city was invited) so, instead of whining about mis-fitting polyester, we...…

GIANT Green Fireball in the Sky!!

GIANT Green Fireball in the Sky!!

A couple of weeks ago, I told Brian, "I've seen so many little white shooting stars in my life but I'd REALLY like to see one of those big fireball meteors before I die!" And, then, it happened!!…

Watching Doggies on Spy Cams

Watching Doggies on Spy Cams

Tank was lying on his back on MY side of the bed, with his head on my pillow and his legs in the air, bent at the knees! The only thing missing was a pair of glasses on his snout and a novel in his paws...…

The Furry New Tornadoes INSIDE Our House!

The Furry New Tornadoes INSIDE Our House!

Tank and Moon were previously owned by a couple in their 30s who surrendered them because they were moving. The guy at the Humane Society was noticeably upset, and said....…

The Noxious Tale of Flatulent Jax – by Brian Whiddon

The Noxious Tale of Flatulent Jax – by Brian Whiddon

On their second night out in the camper with the kids and the dog, the carbon monoxide detector under the bed went off in the middle of the night! They grabbed the babies and ran out of the trailer. But, there was no CO leak...…

I Was Assaulted by a Hummingbird!

I Was Assaulted by a Hummingbird!

They were flying under the porch ceiling, in front of us, behind us, over our heads, etc. I said, "It's only a matter of time before one of them flies into one of us. Keep your glasses on so you don't lose an eye!"…

Seriously Now… WHAT Were the Chances?!?!

Seriously Now… WHAT Were the Chances?!?!

We forgot our key so the nice lady behind the counter got our mail for us. But, she accidentally grabbed the mail from the wrong box. I started flipping through our mail. It wasn't ours. Guess whose it was?…

Oh My Gourd!!!

Oh My Gourd!!!

We have pie pumpkins, bumpy pumpkins, miniature pumpkins...AND MUCH MORE!…

A VERY Intelligent Wasp Sends Me to Urgent Care

A VERY Intelligent Wasp Sends Me to Urgent Care

As I continued to scrape my fingernails deeply and repeatedly across my entire foot, I responded, "Sure! A shot. A serrated knife. Whatever you can grab is fine. But please do it really fast because I AM GOING INSANE!" She gave me a funny look, and...…

The Monday From HELL

The Monday From HELL

Three disturbing phone calls in a period of 10 minutes...…