Wednesday

The alarm went off at 7 AM as we wanted to be ready when Joe and Helen came at 9:30 for our first trip this summer. After a lite breakfast and our quiet times we got ready to leave. The skies were a bit cloudy as we were hoping for some rain showers. The outside temp's were very comfortable with a 68 degree reading when we left for Boone. We took the Blue Ridge Parkway all the way except for an area on the Parkway that had a detour for about 10 miles. The drive was about an hour and a half with deer standing in an on the shoulder of the Parkway in several places both going and coming. Motorcycles where out in force both going and coming. We encountered some delays due to construction as we approached Valle Crucis enroute to the Mast General Store.

At the Mast; the girls found some candy they liked, Joe and Helen found a cutter for shredding cabbage, Nancy found a couple purses for Ava and Annsley and some books, pie crust guards(tin foil always worked before) and I found a comfortable rocking chair on the back porch where I sat and enjoyed the lots of people coming and going. I spoke with a guy wearing a Tampa Bay Buccaneer shirt who was from Sarasota, Florida. Needless to say there wasn't one thing I found on my "I must have list". We took the back way out to avoid the traffic backup and wound up downtown in old Boone near ASU. We saw lots of old hippies, guitar pickers playing for money and some interesting "arts and croissants" type folks on the street.

We were looking for a restaurant called Bandana's that Nancy and I had eaten at with her family a couple years ago. The specialty was pork barbecue and that's what we all had. Very good and reasonable. Its a nice clean modern eatery. After eating we stopped at a place called Tuesday Morning as both Helen and Nancy were interested in what type merchandise they sold. To me it reminded me of a yard sale inside with some surplus junk.

We headed out of town back towards West Jefferson where we decided to pick up more jelly jars as the wild black berries should be in later this week or the first part of next week. I also want to make a batch of wild blackberry wine before we head to Florida later this month. After our stop at WalMart we headed over to Glendale Springs and once again picked up the Parkway. Its about 30 miles from there to our turn off. The weather was cloudy but no rain. We got back to the cabin around 4 PM. It was a fun day and we saw lots of beautiful mountain cabins, houses and chalet's on the Parkway. The scenery is just breathtaking as we looked down off the mountain. The day was filled with laughter and lots of interesting sights. Initially we were going to Blowing Rock to eat at the Story Street Grille as they had a wonderful meat loaf on their lunch menu, but after checking their lunch menu online before leaving we discovered they no longer serve it so we saved ourselves another hour out of the way.

We managed to get a hike in to the the top before eating any dinner which turned out to be a salad. After eating we both hand watered the flowers, veggie's and the grass until nearly 8:30. LATER

Tuesday

It was 52 this morning, brrr but bright blue skies. Wow can you believe this weather in July? We could use a little rain as I'm back to hand watering the gardens a couple times a day. This morning after our quiet times Nancy and I did a couple loads of laundry I worked in the garden then we took off for our mid morning hike and was it ever nice. The temps had finally reached the mid 60's and there was a slight breeze.

We got back about lunch time and after a lite lunch of left overs I decided it was time to mulch the upper garden with oak leaves. So I loaded up 2 large trash cans and headed out on the golf cart to the back woods to gather leaves. After 3 trips and 6 cans of dried oak leaves I took the lawn mower and broke the leaves up by mowing over them. It acts like a shredder and I reduced 6 large cans down to about 2 cans. The earth worms love oak leaves and once they are ground up it makes it easier for the worms to reduce them to compost. Not only do the worms keep the soil loose but they add the very best fertilizer as plant food. I added these mulched leaves around my tomato, pepper, sugar peas and kale plants.

After the mulching process was complete I headed to the back woods yard to once again dig up areas that have no grass. When I cleared the land a couple years ago I failed to completely remove the top layer of galax, roots and debris that lays just below the surface so grass has a difficult time to take root. By digging up these areas and planting grass seed I'm gradually getting the lawn to take hold. It's sure tough work digging these areas with a hand tool.I worked at this project until it was near dinner time.

We decided to invite neighbor Gerald for dinner as his wife went to upstate New York to visit her sisters for a week. Nancy fried up some smoked ham and made some mac and cheese along with fresh green beans and a salad with garlic bread. YUMM!!

After dinner and the dishes were done we took off for a walk over to visit with Ray. He was there with his 2 grandsons, Carson and Carter. Both boys are just as cute as can be but they are country boys to the bone. After our visit we headed up the hill and across the back of our property and came down the back trail into our yard. Wow is it easier coming down than going up that back trail. I stayed out and watered the gardens and the grass in the back yard until 9 PM.

Tomorrow we are taking a trip down to Boone to the Mast General Store and then to Blowing Rock for lunch at the Storey Street Station with Joe and Helen. We need a fun day and new scenery for a change. LATER.

Monday

We awakened to a light drizzle this AM but just barely enough rain to settle the dust. After our quiet times we got ready to head over to Virginia to pick raspberries. Ms. Helen came about 9:30 and we headed out. The drive over is very pretty and the place we picked at is just beautiful. The landscape is gorgeous and their gardens are just laid out perfectly. We picked 7 quarts and it seems this may be the end of the black berries for this season. The red berries are still in but they just don't have the taste the black ones do. After leaving the berry farm we headed to Galax and WalMart.

We ate lunch at Subway which is located inside WalMart. After lunch we picked up jelly making stuff, a few groceries and some lime. We stopped for gas before heading back to the cabin. It was close to 2 PM before we got home but we decided to go ahead and make the jelly, actually we made 2 batches which turned out to be 20 jars. We have become so good at this messy job that we were finished in about 2 hours including the cleanup.

I pulled a couple green onions and picked a little fresh basil as Nancy started to get dinner ready. Salmon cakes with baked potato, creamed fresh off the cob corn and salad. YUMMM!!! What good eatin'. Neighbor Ray Todd came by for a visit just as we were finishing so he sat a spell. After he left I washed the dishes and Nancy dried then we got ready for our hike of the day. We took a jar of jelly for Ann and Sandy and headed up the mountain. There was a great breeze which actually chilled Nancy so we didn't sit too long especially after heating up on the walk up. We cut the hike short as she was chilled and the sun was starting to go down behind the mountains although it stayed light out until after 9 PM. I hand watered the veggie gardens.

Well not much else to report, LATER

Sunday

It was warmer than normal this AM,nearly 70 degrees. It looked as if it might rain at times but so far none. The birds were happy and their songs were loud and clear on such a quiet morning. We slept in until nearly 8 and then started to get ready to leave at 9:30 for worship at Cornerstone.

Had a great service and saw lots of new faces as well and missed seeing many who weren't there for whatever. We have been made to feel a part of their family even though we are only here about 5 months of the year. After worship we stopped by the produce stand and loaded up on fresh fruits and veggie's. We came home and heated up the boiled dinner from Thursday and it tasted as good as the night we fixed it. We both just took it easy; I watched a little tennis and Nancy was on the Internet. Around 3ish Ann and Sandy Kline came by on their golf cart and brought of several ears of corn just picked from their garden as well as a couple peppers, cukes and 2 home grown tomato's. Ahh there is nothing like the taste of home grown 'maters. We fixed 5 ears of corn, a plate of sliced cukes with onions and 'maters for dinner. WOW was that ever good eatin' and good for us. The Klines live about an hour away down off the mountain. Thanks Guys!!!

Well we got a good hike in just before dinner and I did a little hand watering of the gardens and yard until nearly 9 PM. Tomorrow we are going to pick raspberries again and make 2 more batches of jam. LATER

Saturdy

We did something last we hadn't done in quite awhile and that was watch a movie, The Bourne Identity. Good flick!!! That's probably the main reason I didn't blog last night of course it was after 11 PM before the show was over and I had to shower, yet. The started out with the usual; sleeping in, quiet times, and eating breakfast going on 10 AM with eggs, grits and bacon. I have to start cutting down as Nancy reminded me last night I could play Santa Claus this Christmas. Her cooking is made for eating and man can I do that, no more second helping's.

After breakfast and checking all the gardens and hanging a load of laundry we took off on a long hike to the top. On the way we met 2 other unknown hikers(which is very uncommon)both females who are staying at the Cahoon's. They were wanting to know if they were lost so we sent them up the Rich Hill Road, past snake rock and then past Fred and Brenda's place. We never saw them again as they must have found their way. We were going past their destination but in the opposite direction. We ran into John and Shirley Cottle on the back road and walked with them to their house. We stayed for nearly an hour catching up on them and us, grand kids they have 2 girls as well and just life and health issues. They travel to California and Norfolk, Va quite a bit as their children and grand girls live there. It sure was great to seem and like Nancy and I we are in love with our kids and grand girls.

We got back around 1 PM and had a lite lunch of tomato sandwiches before I headed out to do some yard work. Originally I was going to mow but its still a little dry and the rain was nice but just not enough. I postponed the mowing to next week as we aren't entertaining this weekend. I did weed eat around everything so the yard looked trimmed and neat. I headed down below the garden where I took a 10 pound sledge hammer and knocked out a bunch of stumps; raked limbs, rocks and other debris down into the gully to be burned on a wet day. My shirt was soaked in no time and swinging that sledge gave me a new appreciation for those old timers laying train tracks by hand.

Well we had taken out some rib-eyes for dinner so I fired up the grill and Nancy put a fresh salad together using fresh grown kale and herbs from my garden as well as some rice and peas. What a feast as we sat out on the deck in the shade and watched the hummers vying for their chance at the feeder.After dinner Nancy made some fresh chocolate chip cookies to take over to Ms. Helen's. We st on her front porch that overlooks bullhead mountain and the surrounding pastures. It was a beautiful evening with a nice breeze and it was all I good do to stay awake. We talked and shared for nearly an hour before headed back to the cabin. It was after 8 PM before got home. Nancy flipped(channel surfing) until after 9 when she decided there was nothing on some we put the movie on. Talk at ya LATER.

Friday

Well woke this morning and there was fog and cool temp's all around. After our quiet times we had a lite breakfast of fruit and a homemade biscuit with black raspberry jam. I headed out to check on the gardens when I heard our neighbor's stirrin' so I headed on down to catch them before they left for Raleigh. We wanted to sing Happy Birthday to Jodi and give her a card before they left as next week she's flying up to New York for a weeks visit with a sister.

After telling them good-bye we took a long hike to the top of the mountain and the day was once again perfect for hiking. Cool temp's with little or no sunshine. We got back around 11:30 so I started to weed eat the yard(edge) so tomorrow all I have to do is ride the mower. Man its so nice ride up and down these hills. After lunch I did a little gardening and just piddled around burning the trash. I didn't want to start any projects as we had to be at church round 4:30 to help set up for a memorial service and a dinner.

Wow was the service special as we had met the 91 year old veteran several times in the past couple years but the home cooked dishes was out of sight gooood. There were over a hundred folks in the service and about 2/3 of them stayed for the meal. It's such a pleasure to serve with these folks at Cornerstone and we have truly grown to love them and in their service to the community. Its just great fun to build relationships in the name of JESUS.

Well we just got home so its time to unwind and kick back. LATER

Thursday

This morning was just a bit different as the skies were overcast and stayed that way most of the day. We did see a little sun in the early afternoon but not for long as the temp's didn't get much warmer than the low 70's. WOW what a gorgeous day and it did feel like a fall afternoon at times. Right around supper time a light gentle rain began to fall and has increased to steady rain at times to what is referred as a soaking rain. It's still raining as I write this post as well as the temp's have dropped dramatically.

After our quiet times, a light breakfast and a load of laundry hung outside on the line we headed out for a long hike. The morning was super for hiking and Nancy and I made it all the way to the top of the mountain from our cabin without taking any rest stops. Wow that was a first for Nancy. After our hike we came back and had a lunch of leftover chicken pot pie. Yeow that was as good as when we first ate it last night for supper.

Nancy took several flower pictures and a scarecrow picture for Ava. This scarecrow is very special as we learned last week a small wren had built her nest with 5 eggs inside the shirt just below the head. Well today I checked it and there were 5 little hairless chicks(baby birds) inside the nest. We feel like new parents.

We decided it was time to make jelly from the raspberries we picked yesterday in Galax. We are a team when it comes to this fun but messy adventure. First I rinse all the berry's and put them in a blender to make it easy to extract the juice. I next pour the blended berry's into a strainer that separates the seeds from the blended pulp and juice. While I'm doing this messy procedure Nancy is boiling water to soak the lids, rings and jars. She also is measuring out the sugar and getting ready to mix the extracted juice with Sur-Gel and sugar into a pot and bring it to a boil. Next we must fill the jars with this boiling mixture then tighten a lid with a ring to the jar then place it in another pot of boiling water for 10 minutes. We did 2 batches which made 19 normal size jars and 3 smaller ones. The second batch was mostly a red raspberry mixture but added a little of the black juice to make a full batch. We had the 3 small jars to not seal so Nancy make homemade biscuits with our dinner and we topped them with this just made jelly. Ummmm is all I can say.

Speaking of dinner Nancy made one of our favorite "comfort food" meals. She took some smoked ham and boiled it with new potato's, carrots and fresh green beans and of course the biscuits with the just made jelly made for not only a beautiful dinner but a very tasty one as well. We were going to share this dinner with our next door neighbors as tomorrow is Jodie's birthday; but they must have been out celebrating. What a perfect meal for a cool rainy evening. Oh well another time. LATER