A Haven for Vee

Friday, June 2, 2017

Soggy Bottom

Hello from Soggy Haven. Remember all the giggling on The Great British Baking Show about soggy bottoms and how no one wants one? ッ Of course they are referring to pie crusts, but it translates well to my corner of the globe these days. I don't know what the extended forecast has in store for me, but the one up to now has been wet. Very. How's it going in your corner?




(I may have been baking too many Rhubarb Custard pies lately. I feel like making another, too. They are so good. No soggy bottom for this pie.) 


This post is a mish-mash of things as it feels as if I have a lot to share none of which is necessarily related. First, you may wonder how I'm doing. Meh...let's not fret over that. I'm breathing. Praying. Believing. It may be that that's the best I can say for a while. I do have many unfinished projects to occupy my mind and time so that's good.
 

Currently, I am cooling my jets at The Ponderosa for a mandatory 30-day time as I wait for the tenants to leave. Maine is an ultra-friendly tenant state. I feel "put upon" as a landlady. I will never be a landlady again. The things I have endured at these tenants' hands would make a long, long list. To think that I used to bake these folks cookies! Ha! I wish them well and also gone.

~sold~


Good news! Remember a few posts ago when I showed the kids' house for sale? It sold in less than a week for $5 grand more than was asked! Both my daughter and my son and family are scrambling to finish up projects and find new homes. My daughter's new home won't be ready until October. My son and daughter-in-law have been visiting lots and lots of homes in search for their new one. I have heard a lot of jokes about living in campers on in-laws' back lawns. My grandsons are a little stressed as a result. Children never really want to move do they?

Speaking of grands, I have a couple of pictures taken on our soggy bottom Memorial Day when we were stuck inside. 


↑This is either weather blues or a no for a picture request...


This is a yes? Yikes! Maybe I need to stop with the picture requests... Sam's t-shirt says "knock it out of the park" and I hear that he has been doing great. Hope to see a game or two once the weather improves.


Awww...thanks, Jake, that's more like it! (I actually had to work hard for this. I said, "Pretend that you love me." Nothing. I said, "Pretend that you love your mama.") And this was my and her reward. Sweetness...

~coppery light during a thunderstorm~

Two new posts have been added to Inspirations in my sidebar. They are the two at the top of the list. You will be blessed to read them. I certainly was. (I feel as if I must offer you something richer, fuller, deeper than what you are finding in my posts of late.)


Explanation of the coppery light photos: I had fallen asleep in my recliner and woke to the strangest light filling the room. It glowed and amazed me for ten minutes or so. A thunderstorm was going on simultaneously. I don't know what exact weather conditions caused the light. I don't recall ever seeing anything like it before, but I'd like to see it again so that I can get better pictures. 

A blessed weekend to you! Thank you for stopping by...




50 comments:

  1. Congratulations to your kids on the house selling so quickly. Now it's stress time. I always find moving stressful no matter what my age. Your grands are adorable. But being boys they probably would not like to hear that.

    I have seen that copper light before but I don't know what causes it. Probably the way the sun shines through the raindrops. It's strange but beautiful.

    Hope you have a good weekend.

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  2. Congratulations on the kids house selling, wow, that was fast. And as for tenants, if were to rent from you, you would never have complaints, just saying. Our landlady is doing all she can to keep us here...She doesn't want us to move...hard decisions will have to be made when I finish school. smiles

    I have my own thoughts about the copper light and will keep it at that. Hope your day is a lovely one, Vee.

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  3. Good to see you back Vee...you may not even realize what a marvelous sense of humor you have. The photos of light.....marvelous...

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  4. So good to hear from you this morning, Vee. Oh, that rain has got to have worn out it's welcome by now. We've had our fair share here, but we have gotten breaks between storms.
    Wonderful news on the house selling so quickly and for such a good profit. I can only imagine the stress it has caused at the moment, however.
    Adorable shots of your grandsons.
    I can see I need to pay closer attention to the light that comes with rainstorms.
    The situation with your tenants is just plain awful. How very frustrating this must be for you. Hugs being sent your way.

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  5. Yea for the kids' house selling, but yes, it's stressful for little ones having to think of moving. Loved seeing the boys' cute pics, and the coppery, magical light. Now about that rhubarb pie....how I'd love to share a slice with you, Vee. I think I've told you that I've never tasted one, and sitting and chatting with you, would be a treat!

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  6. Glad you posted. Sometimes when we get a ton of not so good heaped on us at once, you just have to get up everyday and breathe. I started a handwritten journal a few years ago when my step dad died. I just had to. You see I lost my dad when I was young...I do remember him and often asked God when I was young, why?. Then my mom remarried a very nice man who I loved and respected. However, he had a family of three kids. He had a tragic story of his wife leaving him and those kids were a mess. This all happened when I was 11. They were of similar ages -the youngest my age. It was not the Brady Bunch. There mother taught them to hate my mom and me. That never changed. They lived rough lives. My stip dad prayed all the time for them. The very thing out of his mouth to mom and me when he got the Stage IV diagnosis was he had hoped he would live long enough to see them saved. I was in charge of everything when he died which made it all even worse. I guess they thought the home and money that my step dad and mom worked together to build would be divided then instead of when she passes. I have spent several years putting things in order and dealing with their wrath. I am good...my mom not so much. It hasn't been easy, but I get up everyday and ask for God's guidance and continue to pray for them because he so wanted them to get their act together. When life gives us a mess, we have to remember God is still in there and that can help us with the long days until we feel better.
    Hang in there. I don't know your story, but I know you are a woman of faith, so you will see better days.

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    1. WONDERFUL testimony of God's faithfulness in your difficult times. Thanks for sharing this with us!

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    2. Yes, thank you, Sandy. We never know the full extent of everyone's story, do we? What a blessing that you still pray for those step-siblings every day because you knew how faithful their dad was to pray for them and how much he desired to see them right with the Lord.

      Yes, God is still in there. He will always be there. He has a plan, and the plan is for our ultimate good and for His glory!

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  7. Hi Vee- finally kinda back trying to read a few posts as time allows.

    Glad of all the home sales and pending good moves, etc.

    The coppery light is gorgeous.

    Stay the course - things will be better.

    I am so sorry about all your rain - it's usually we who get the crappy weather - and as long as my life here in Ohio - my entire life- I have never EVER experienced such a perfect streak of weather. So as you are soggy and upset, remember I am enjoying this remarkably perfect weather in your stead - such a rarity to have it. Sorry. Forgive me for loving it.

    Hugs and prayers. ♥

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  8. PS

    Losing your love and your father within one year grants you every bit of feeling blue - then add to it changes and moves and problems with tennants, and theft and non stop snow followed by non-stop rain...............it is enough to make anyone feel as you do.

    Pack your bags and head to visit me in Ohio. Weather's great and we'll go up to the Erie Islands and enjoy some paradise and laughter. ♥

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  9. Cute photos of the boys. I can understand them not wanting to move from their beloved home. That was a fast sale and getting more than the asking price...marvelous!

    I've seen that coppery light during rain only a very few times. Glad you got to capture it! I hope your soggy bottoms eases up soon.

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  10. We had a lot of rain early on and it became pretty depressing especially for my mom. Most of my rose bushes and my peonies got moldy and my garden doesn't look like much this year. I have to take close up photos so the sick flowers beside the good ones don't show. I pray you receive sunny skies soon. It really does help to clear the mind and make one feel better. I'll continue to pray for you sweet Vee! Hugs!

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  11. Congrats to your kids on the quick sale! It must be frustrating dealing with bad tenants.

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  12. Sometimes the best we can do is live, and breathe and pray ourselves through a period of time. I am praying for you. We haven't had too much rain, but it has been unceasingly windy which is one of my least favorite weather attributes. Maybe June will bring a reprieve. As for soggy bottoms, I kind of like pie crust bottoms that have soaked up a bit of filling. Maybe I'm just not too picky ;) Have a better day dear friend.

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  13. That coppery light probably has a different meaning for every one of us. It is beautiful and surely a sign that the Lord is taking care of all things that concern you (including that tenant situation).

    Your grandsons are fine of God men in the making. They are blessed to be influenced by you, even if in their boyishness they don't understand that or admit it.

    Thank you for sharing some of my blog posts in your Inspiration page. May those words encourage those who need it and help them to comprehend God's love for them even more.

    Thank you for sharing your highs and lows with us. It makes the rest of us remember that we are okay when we have such variances of feelings. It's life.

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    1. Correction in second paragraph: Your grandsons are "fine men of God in the making."

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  14. Oh good, I see a post from you. Thank you. We are quite familiar with soggy bottoms here but this year we had a dry, sunny, warm Memorial Day for a change. I wasn't here so maybe I should leave over Memorial Day weekend so the folk here can have better weather. Now that I'm back in town I'm waiting for a bit of a dry spell so I can mow the lawn. That pie looks incredible by the way! Glad the grands were coerced into complying with a photo shoot. Such nice looking young men. Yippee for a house sale above the asking price. That is the cutest house. Ugh...I'd be the worst landlady on the planet. I hope you are rid of them soon. Have a lovely weekend. I'm home alone as Dear is in Chicago at a medical conference. I wonder what mischief I can get into??

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  15. Vee,
    I've been away from blogging so I have missed a lot....I think (actually I know) that we are in the same corner of the globe. Finally some sun here, but I hear we may be in for some more wet weather....just the weather alone can make you blue but you've been hit with so much. Hoping and praying for a constant stream of sun to lift your spirits. In the meantime, eat as much pie as you want. I have never had that kind of pie before but it sounds delicious! BTW your grandsons are very cute! Have a good day Vee! Hugs!

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  16. I read the two posts you shared about and I'm using the hymn that Linda refers to on her post for my Sunday hymn this week. I included a hat tip to her and you...

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  17. It was good to read your post today, Vee. What a huge blessing that thr house sold so quickly...and for than expected! I have really been having a hankering for some rhubarb lately. That pie of yours sound marvelous! Your grand boys are so handsome and I think I see you in Jakob. Was that gorgeous copper light accompanied by a rainbow? I have found that to be so when I have seen it. It certainly caused a beautiful glow.

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  18. Oh, dear, I lost my comment while doing some tab browsing to read those inspirational posts. I was so happy to read this post from you, Vee. Happy for your tenants leaving and happy for your kids house selling! My daughter Emily's house in Maryland just sold and I'm so glad for them not to have this to worry about! Many blessings to count! And I love the look of your custard rhubarb pie! Yummmmm....

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  19. Hello Vee. Glad to hear from you. That's a yummy looking rhubard and custard tart! It's pleasing to hear that the house sold quickly for a good price. Let us hope the boys get more enthusiastic about moving once a new house becomes a reality. We've had our share of problems with bad tenants. Thankfully that's behind us now and I hope and pray that it will be for you very soon. The coppery light looks strange, but amazing.

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  20. Hi, sweetie! It's me. Don't fall out of your chair. Hahaha... I was cleaning up some bookmarks and saw yours. So here I am. On a rabbit trail. And you know how I adore rabbits...

    I have thought of you this past month and kept you in my prayers. I remember all too well that I was up there in Maine just a short year ago, and we had such a lovely visit. And I had to tell you to quickly spend some quality time with John. Blame it on the angels. I just open my mouth and say what is supposed to be said. And I know all too well how much of a rollercoaster the first year can be. The second one has a lot of surprises too. I'm into my third and not liking it much either. I'm not meant to be alone, but that's what I am. Like it or lump it. Constant adjustments. Major and minor decisions without anybody to chat it all over with. Simple things like hugs and smiles. But we carry on, right? Onward... and blessings.

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  21. Wow, now that was impressive, selling so quickly. Hope they manage to find what they are looking for. You are blessed with some handsome Grandsons. Hope your tenants leave without causing you anymore concern, take care of yourself.

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  22. Good to see a post from you, Vee. Our weather for May was just dreadful--a total of 8.5 inches of rain fell. This is a huge record for us. Great for the garden and not great for this solar powered gal. Hopefully your sun will be out soon and brightening your world soon. Your grands are really growing up--so cute. How great that their home sold so quickly. I do hope the parents will soon find a home. Do take care, my friend. ♥

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  23. Happy to see your post, we are getting way to much rain also.
    Guess it is late spring rains, with dry summer coming.
    We are getting more active in church,so now we have been given
    a new ---what they call a ministry. Will blog about it soon.

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  24. Thunderstorms to breed some amazing light in the skies, or lack of. Your last two pics are really interesting. Glad your kids' houses sold; my son is trying to do the same.

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  25. We had lots of rain but the last couple of days have been sunny and bright - just perfect.
    Glad the house sold quick. Hope ours sells that fast when we sell ours.
    Some kids like to move - mine did. It's in our blood. : )

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  26. Vee, I think your boys look pretty cute. I have a time getting pictures of g.daughter Emma...when she used to pop up in everyone of them. LOL. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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  27. Know you are so tired of "soggy bottoms." Your pie looks delicious! What a quick house sale, so happy for them. Houses do NOT sell here period!! We're just thankful we have great tentants in our old house. Happy weekend!

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  28. Vee... I'm so sorry about the loss of your dad. I wish I had the words to comfort you. All I can say is that you're in my prayers.

    All the hugs and much love, my friend,
    rue

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  29. Yep, lots of sogginess here too, but the forecast for the coming week is improving, much more sunshine showing now. Hope yours is the same. That pie looks delicious, wish I could stop by for a piece. So happy to see the house sold quickly, they must be very happy. Those boys sure are growing up fast!

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    1. I just checked and, if I can get to next Thursday, there'll be a five-day stretch of sunny weather. ☀️

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  30. Hi Vee, Your grandsons are so handsome. North GA has had a lot of rain also. Our dehumidifier in the basement runs constantly. Bad hair days for sure!!! lol
    Thankful that your children's home sold so quickly. All the best to them. Glad you are getting rid of the tenants. Blessings, Mildred

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  31. The boys are adorable! Sounds like things are happening ... sold house, tenant removal, and all! The coppery light is amazing - I must watch for this during a rain storm? Your pie looks so pretty! Sunny days are coming.

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  32. Sometimes life is just hard. You've got the right formula for keeping on - breathing, praying, believing. Continuing to lift you before the throne.

    Congrats to your son and dil! That is quick work on that sale! Now to find something! And for Laurel! Prayers for all that!

    Sorry you've had such challenges with the Ponderosa renters. I'll be thankful with you when that is all settled!

    That light is beautiful! Wow! I've experienced golden light before but coppery? Amazing!

    Remember, that you are loved, and whose child you are! Off to read the inspiration!

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  33. That coppery light is gorgeous, the boys so handsome, the pie looks splendid. What a blessing that the kids' house sold so quickly ... and for more than the asking price!

    I find myself, these days, appreciating the beauty of creation (things like the coppery light, and the pics in your header) more than ever before. Yesterday in the car I seemed to be seeing things in a new light -- the beautiful arch of a bridge over a river, all framed by leafy trees; birds singing in a leafy, blossomy glade near where I sat outdoors; the varying greens of new leaves and evergreen growth; and much more -- and I do believe much of it is that God is reminding me of His power and goodness and that all is in His control. I need those reminders more than ever right now, as I'm already dealing with some estate matters only a week out from my dad's passing. God is SO good that He even reminds us of His goodness when we could be in danger of losing sight of it.

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  34. Ah... the copper lighting is so beautiful and I can imagine it was even better seeing it in person. Those boys are sweet even if they are not all smiling for the camera! I'll be there too very soon and so I better click while I can.

    I do hope the tenants leave very soon. It reminds me of a Dr Suess book.. Marvin K Mooney please leave now!

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    1. Oh, my daughters LOVED that book. "Marvin K. Mooney, will you please go NOW?". It was often one they wanted to check out of the library in their much younger years.

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  35. Thanks for all the updates. Glad you don't have soggy bottoms!

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  36. Your grands are so handsome...and that is a gorgeous pie...
    glad the house sold...

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  37. It's been fairly soggy here as well, Vee! Thankfully, Memorial Day weekend was nice when we had our grandsons for the weekend. Glad you have comments open now as I had wanted to extend my condolences on your father's passing. It's been a year of many changes for you!

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  38. We had a very wet April and May but we finally dried out a little. I had a snake go in front of me on Saturday. The first time that has happened in the backyard. Which goes to tell you how high the weeds are near the fence! Weed wacker here I come. Our New England kids finally closed on the land this week they had bought for the house they ended up not building. That means the entire process lasted a year. On the other hand, C & M's house sold at the first showing for cash, they found a nice place to rent the next week, and moved this weekend. All in a month. After seeing what his sister went through, C decided to rent for awhile after their move. Good idea.

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  39. That pie looks amazing. Love the photos of your grands Vee. We have had some rain, but I love how green everything is, then I don't have to water the plants too. Thank you for your lovely comment on my post. Can you believe how long we know each other? I am so glad that I met you Vee. Have a great weekend.

    Karen

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  40. Our province is very tenant-friendly, too, but we're thankful to have had good tenants in our suite that we've not had problems with. I hope all goes well at the Ponderosa. Your rhubarb pie looks wonderful - wish we could sit and enjoy a piece over a cup of tea/coffee together. You continue in my prayers. I hope the soggy weather smartens up and the sun shines for you soon.
    Hugs

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  41. Sweet friend, you are doing so well with your up-hill walk. I know it isn't easy, but you are walking on and walking in faith, and that's all that you can do. I continue to pray for you!

    I feel your pain with the grand photos. Some of mine will cooperate, some won't. But it doesn't stop me from trying. :)

    Wow, that house sold quickly!! Change just keeps on coming. I'll bet they're all scurrying!

    Hugs . . . and prayers . . .

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  42. My lap top "died" so I was forced into a blog break. It was also a really busy time at the end of May, but it was a good busy! Glad your children's house sold well and fast!
    Best wishes as they move to their new homes. We also have a tenant in Denver and like him very much. Only one out of the four we've had wasn't the best. They left the apartment filthy. It took us two months to clean it up, repaint and buy new blinds and carpeting. ugh. My grandboys don't like posing for photos either--lol--I have lots of candid shots. The girls are only slightly better and will at least give me a smile.
    It has warmed up here very quickly. I'm not a fan of the hot weather but love the longer daylight of summer.
    Keeping you in my prayers, Vee.

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  43. OH my, charming indeed! The sweet little cottage won my heart and now has me wishing I lived there :)

    You are never far from my thoughts and prayers, dearest Vee. Hugs to you!

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  44. So very sad about your tenants.

    Truly happy about the homes selling and the excitement of new homes and new chapters in their lives.

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