Wednesday

It was another chilly morning with temps into the high 40's but oh did it ever feel good to be out and about in the fresh clean mountain air that's never been breathed before. We were awake around 6 AM to the stillness except for the dew dripping from the bump out onto the metal roof, do I ever love that sound. We were are snuggled with quilts and comforters and of course the small gas heater had the cabin all cozy. I do miss the cardio workout that comes with pickle ball but these hills keep the muscles in tone and of course all that we have been doing to get the cabin ready for the winter that's coming.

I started with frying up a pack of bacon outside on the porch on the grill side burner, boy is that nice as it keeps the smell out of the cabin but that smell outside is just delicious. Nancy fried up a couple cackleberries(eggs) each and with some grits, toast, coffee for her and a V-8 with vinegar for me. Yikes was that ever good eatin'. Neighbor Gerald came up with his friends and big strong cousins and reclaimed the nice bed we had borrowed this summer for our guests from the basement; Gerald and I stood by as these big guys handled the bed with ease and we are grateful for the use of the bed. Our basement gets a little musty in the winter so its best to not have a bed down there on a permanent basis; so we borrowed from our great neighbors, many thanks Gerald and Jodi.

After the bed was gone I cleaned out the dead limbs from the wine berry bushes, dug up some unwanted lilies, planted some tulip bulbs our mountain mom gave us, transplanted some cone flowers that were growing the rock driveway all before we headed out to the top of the mountain for our hike of the day. Once again the walk was invigorating and we notice some more color in the leaves. We finally got up with Norman on top and he looked swell, especially after having such a bad bout with blood poisoning this past summer. We chatted and I agreed to turn over his garden before we head back on Sunday.

We sat on the front porch with the heater off and the doors open as the temps steadily rose during the morning to a warm 75, and had our lunch, yikes was that ever nice. We had a fresh salad and I even salvaged 2 small ripe tomato's from the garden and were they ever tasty. After lunch I cleaned the deck and waterproofed it using the bean sprayer. We got ready afterwards and headed over to visit Eddie and Kimberly. They took us to what will be their new home eventually and their barn. This is not an ordinary barn, its huge with an indoor riding ring, individual stalls for their horses, heated with a bathroom as well. They purchased 20 acres including the barn about 20 miles from our place in Pipers Gap, Virginia. They will have a magnificent view and a level building site for their new modular home. We framed around for a couple hours enjoying their vision, adding our input to their plans and dreams for their new place. It is an unbelievable setup with great pasteurs and a place they can ride their horses all winter long out of the cold. Speaking of horses their new colt, Jesse who was orphaned at just a couple days is a beauty. I have never seen a more muscled animal for his age and just a great disposition; of course he was bucket fed since birth and is use to people loving on him.

We came back to their gorgeous 25 acre farm which is for sale and their real log house but because of his inability to muster the stairs and steep banks that require mowing they are selling out. Believe me they are steep as I helped him weed eat that bank one morning which took 2 of us about 3 hours and I was on my knees several times to keep from falling down into the pond. I can understand their desire for more level ground, a single story house and of course this new barn for their 11 horses. Oh well!!! I loaded up with Nancy's help about 12 bags and 10 cans of Tommy dropping(that's their stallions poop) for my veggie gardens. Tommy was like a big dog who we had to move him away from the process the whole time we were filling bags. He is a beautiful animal but a big baby.

We got home and while Nancy put stuffed pork chops in the oven with sweet potato's and canned greens I burned a large pile of rubbish. It was nearly 7:30 before we ate supper. We got word her dad is not improving and has gone down hill even more so if not before we are heading back on Sunday morning to hot sunny Florida. Today here was the day you look forward to in the mountains, absolutely beautiful weather with bright blue skies, no humidity and a gentle breeze in the 70's.

Just an update on our Amway.com/JNTriplett our generous team leaders are making and incredible offer about the Ribbon gifts. The Ribbon gifts are a catalog of items that the recipient choose from within a price range the buyer decides, they can be as low as 40 dollars up to whatever. This month if you buy 2 Ribbon gifts a third one is given FREE,a very generous offer and NO shipping costs. These gifts would be great for the holidays as well as special occasions like; weddings, maternity and for professionals who give gifts to their employees over the holidays and special occasions. What's great is you never give a gift someone doesn't want as they make their own choice plus you don't have to shop or gift wrap and its shipped right to their door with no shipping costs. We have purchased a couple of the Ribbons and the merchandise is quality plus we have been given a couple and we were thoroughly satisfied. Also you can give Omaha Steaks Ribbon gifts as well, check it out and remember that while this offer is through the Amway Company only OUR team is making this special offer that lasts through to the end of October. Go online at our store and peruse the Ribbon Gifts and all the other stuff as well. If this strikes your fancy send me an email and I will make you a preferred customer to my store and offer you even more $$$ savings. Ask me about becoming an IBO(independent business operator) and make even greater savings. The products are top notch and you can make a few bucks at the same time, we have been fortunate to make back in one month our initial investment and you can do it all from your computer and there is absolutely no buying or storing of any products, check it out, I only wish I had done it sooner, LATER