Thursday

Well we were awake around 6:30 but laid there until nearly 7 before we decided to get up and start the day. It was cool compared to last week when it was in the 70's at 6 AM. After our quiet times and a cup of hot green tea with my bowl of oatmeal with fruit I headed out to check on the gardens. So far except for one night the deer have left my gardens alone but of course that one night destroyed any chance that I might have a crop of 1/2 runner green beans; undeniably the best tasting green beans ever to cross your palate. Anyhow I started putting together the trash I was dropping off on my way to town as well propane tanks and regular gas cans to be filled in Galax, Va. I also loaded up a cooler with ice packs for our cold items we would purchase at Wal-Mart. We headed out around 10 AM.

We made a stop at Eddie and Kimberly's farm to see their 2 newest horse additions. A beautiful sorrel quarter horse and a palomino; both are gelding. We visited with them for about an hour before heading on out to Galax. It was a beautiful morning with temps in the low 70's and a nice breeze which kept it pleasant until we reached Galax We stopped and filled up the truck as well as a can of gas for the mower at 3.52 a gallon, Yikes when is this spiraling out of control energy cost going to stabilize, anyhow it was cheaper by 15 cents a gallon than in N.C.

We stopped at a little Mexican restaurant(El Torito) for lunch and had a great meal once again with unlimited salsa and chips for starters. After eating we headed to Wal-Mart where I exchanged an outdated propane tank for a new updated and filled with gas tank for 17 bucks, that was a steal in its self as a new empty tank is at least 25 bucks empty, and normally 12-15 bucks to fill it,that's a 40 buck value at most places.

After stocking up on groceries as we have 2 nieces and a nephew coming sometime around the first of the week for a couple days we headed for the cool mountains. It was in the 90's in Galax and not a breath of air so we were happy to reach the parkway and the shaded roadway home. The temps dropped 5-6 degrees by the time we got back at the cabin but it still was 85 or so and too hot to do anything but sit in the shade or in the basement. We spoke with daughter Amy and grand babies Ava and Sam then later son Bobby called. Not long afterwards we got an invite out to supper tomorrow but had to turn it down as we already have plans to eat out with "mountain mom" Helen and her brother Joe at Motleys Barbecue House north of Sparta in celebration of my birthday on Saturday.

Just an update on Paw Paw(dad) as I spoke with him today. He is staying with his youngest daughter Dee in Woodstock for awhile. He will go back to D.C. via the shuttle bus on the 9th for a checkup. He sounded good and was so glad to be with loved ones.

We grilled a couple Italian sausages for supper along with a can of asparagus and sliced tomatoes, cucumbers and onions. Yummy what good eatin' that was and no heat in the kitchen. Ray Todd stopped for about an hour and we chatted on the front porch. The hot temps left when the sun dropped down below the woods surrounding the cabin and it became quite pleasant outside. After Ray left we took off on our daily hike around 8 PM and we got back just as twilight was occurring; and the lightning bugs were out in force. I handed watered some potted plants and my cucumber plant just as it got dark. Well it wasn't much of a work day but we kept busy and had a fun time. LATER... Enclosed are a few bird pictures that started to build their nest in a replica of a small barn on the front porch. I took that nest away and they moved to a scare crow by the upper garden. They were really intent on getting that nest constructed as the two birds were in constant motion inside the red shirt depositing their materials all morning and they were still at when arrived back after 3 PM.