Saturday on Sunday Morning

Well the start of the day looked like a wash out but the skies cleared off and the temps were pleasant at the start of the morning at 62, Wow it was closer to 3o degrees warmer than this morning. Anyhow the wind was blowing 15-20 mph with leaves falling like rain. After our quiet time and a lite breakfast( I broke 4 days of oatmeal with a piece of leftover apple pie with milk on it) we started the day. Actually it was about 10:30 when we headed to the top of the mountain for our daily hike. Missing a day hiking seems to make the hills grow steeper but we made it without taking a rest stop but we had to force ourselves. I like it better when it just comes naturally without telling ourselves we are getting to fat to make the climb. You know the old saying "the truth hurts."

After our hike we had a great lunch of fresh salad. Some how salad tastes so much better when my garden has quit producing all the great home grown veggies and you have to buy them from a store and GOD only knows who has picked or handled them plus the cost of a tomato is a buck each. Oh well!!! Nancy wasn't feeling he greatest after our hike so she chilled on the bed reading. I flipped on a little college football but the warm temp's and bright sunshine was calling my raking muscles. I raked the front yard of the pine needles and cones and mulched the front flower beds. I used the rake to flip the cones over the fence(instead of bending down) and into the woods with a little wrist action thus making a game of it; sorta like kicking footballs for field goals. By the end of the raking period I was flipping them 20 feet in the air an over the fence. Man am I creative and I know how to make work fun; the only thing that was missing was the roar of the crowds.

We headed out to the Daltons around 5 for supper and Sequence. I must say Kay made one of the best lasagnas I've eaten in awhile. Her special salad dressing for the fresh salad was good as well. I believe she made from a secret recipe from a lady who was close to a century in age.Supper was fabulous and Nancy's cheesecake with blueberries and whip cream sent us over the top. So much for any weight loss yesterday after all that and garlic bread as well. Why can't we just eat oatmeal three times a day, YUCK!!!

Well I must comment on our Sequence play; started out with a complete shutout in game one, the girls never got a sequence and we were playing with Caleb filling for Andy. Andy we hope is feeling better. Now that I think about it we were winning or tied most of the evening playing with Caleb until someone started picking on him causing him to tire out, Nancy. Anyhow after Caleb (who is 8 years old) retired to playing cars and trucks with cousin Dylan, things went down hill fast. Eric, Mechelle's brother played a Harvey Hand in Caleb's place. Once again the gals harangued him constantly until finally they had an insurmountable lead and we just called it;"no mas, no mas" much like a prize fighter we once knew.

It's off to worship at Cornerstone. LATER

Friday

Well the day started with overcast skies and 55 degrees. It looked as if it was raining leaves. The yards I raked a couple days ago are now covered once again. That should give me a little activity next week as I'm starved for work. The rain today kept us from our hike. After our quiet times we got ready to head out to Galax to do a little shopping at WalMart and got back around 1 PM. We had a lite lunch of soup and crackers as we knew we were eating a barbecue supper around 5:30. We have been doing good with our eating habits the past couple of morning and staying away from; pancakes, eggs, bacon, potatoes and grits. Its been oatmeal with a banana, yuck but good for us and I hope to drop a couple pounds before heading back next month.

We headed out to the local high school for supper and meet up with our friends Clara and Clarence. There were several of our church friends there as well and even a couple I introduced pickle ball to. Kay our good friend was helping to serve the benefit supper and she came out to say hi. We are eating with her and her family the Dalton Gang tomorrow night and playing Sequence with them as well. Nancy and I are so blessed to know so may super nice folks in this small mountain town of North Carolina.

Well not much else is going on except for the weather. Its a constant rain but the temp has stayed around 60 most of the day. We have the gas heater on to help keep the dampness out. LATER

Thursday

Well it was 50 degrees this AM. with overcast skies but eventually cleared off by mid morning. We had a lite breakfast of oatmeal and banana after our quiet times. I got a load of laundry out before we took off on our morning hike. We visited with several of our neighbors on top before heading back to the cabin and a light lunch of leftover salad. We had to be in Sparta at 3 PM for Nancy's hair appointment so there wasn't much we could do before heading out at 2:30. I sat around and read then visited with neighbor Gerald who is up from Raleigh for the week end to do a little hunting.

After Nancy's finished with her hair appointment we headed to Lowes's to pick up some whipped cream for her chocolate pie which we were taking to the Crouse's for supper. Everything was delicious as usual with steak burgers on the grill, cole slaw, sweet potato casserole, chips and all the trimmings. We got in several games of chickenfoot dominos and the guys were victorious for a change. That will probably be our last time to play John, Sandy, Clara and Clarence this year and its good for the gals to remember who won last; the guys.

Well not much else going on as we head to Galax tomorrow for some shopping and then back to Sparta for a barbecue dinner to support a charity then back to the Luffmans Saturday night for lasagna and sequence with the Dalton gang. LATER

Wednesday

The morning started out with a temperature of 45 degrees, no wind and bright sunshine streaming through the trees. After our quiet times we had a lite breakfast of oatmeal with a banana. I guess its back oatmeal and cereal for awhile as we both have put on a couple pounds with all these great eats; pancakes, bacon, eggs, real Amish butter and fried 'taters for breakfast. Man do they ever taste good, though.

I spent the first early morning hour waterproofing the side deck which is exposed to the elements year round. I used a bean sprayer and soaked the deck. Afterwards I got the weed whacker gassed up and then edged around the trees, driveway and yards. By then I was also warmed as the morning was starting to heat up and by the afternoon we had nearly reached 75. Wow,what a beautiful day. I stopped long enough to eat a bowl of leftover bean soup. Nancy was getting ready to head to Sparta as she had an appointment at 1:45. I got out the riding mower for probably the last mowing for this year. The grass had grown plenty in the past couple days with all the rain from last week and the warm temperatures the past couple days. It really looks good with all the leaves gone, mowed, and edged; hopefully it will continue to look good for the house guests which are coming next week.

Nancy got home around 3 so we headed up the mountain for a good long hike. We visited with Fred and Brenda, Norman, Joe and Jetta as we completed the circle before heading back down to the cabin. It was nearly 5 PM. I pulled 4 nice beets from the garden to go along with a salmon fillet I grilled and a fresh garden salad. Notice there was no rice, bread or potatoes eaten today. Tomorrow that will change as we have been invited out for a cookout with our friends the Crouse's. I'm sure we will eat bread, potatoes plus dessert. Oh well I did good for one day.

Well not much else going on for now, LATER.

Tuesday

Gosh it was just beautiful today after a chilly start. We slept in until after 8:30 so we missed the frost and chilly 27 degree temp at 5:30 according to our neighbor. When we first went outside it was after 9 AM so it was 42 by then. After our quiet times and a breakfast of fried spuds with a couple over easy eggs on top and a chopped up jalapeno I was ready to battle with leaves once again.

I raked for a couple hours packing several extra large trash cans with leaves. I then took my push mower and mowed over the leaves which helped to break them down so decay would occur more quickly. I then removed all of my bean poles and stored them in a dry place for next springs planting. Nancy, meanwhile hung a load of laundry before setting out on a morning hike to the top of the mountain by herself. I was busy with garden and yard work and I knew I was getting plenty of physical activity so I passed today on the hike.

I sprayed the deck with bleach to remove any mildew as tomorrow I want to waterproof it for winter. The next 2 days are supposed be dry with no rain so that sounds like a good day for that job. We headed over to Mt. mom's for supper along with brother Joe. That was some good eatin' as she fixed a beef roast, mashed potatoes, mustard greens, pinto beans and cornbread and to top that off with a coconut custard pie. Excellent!! I'm really getting a tummy on me and now you know why.

We headed home just at dusk and the deer were already on the prowl. Well we just got a call from Bobby's land lord at the warehouse and he and his wife will be in the Raleigh area the first of next week and want to visit the Sparta area on Monday and Tuesday. So we will be having house guests the first of next week. I sure hope the weather holds for their visit. Enclosed are a few pictures Nancy took on her hike and while playing in the leaves. LATER.

Monday

Yikes it was bloody cold this morning with temps down in the 20's, ice on the windshield of the truck, ice on the roof top of the cabin and the rain barrel was frozen over. I was seriously contemplating this morning a move back to warmer climates i.e. Florida. Anyhow after checking Ray's Weather.com I learned the forecast is for a warming up to nearly 70 on Wednesday. Now I can handle that. Seems the locals are very surprised and upset about the cold weather for this time of the year as well. So we will suck it up for now, but ice one more time and I'm heading south for the winter. Even the birds have figured this out.

After our quiet times and breakfast of buckwheat cakes I ventured out to check on the damage from the hard freeze. Seems all the deck flowering plants were wilted as well as the garden plants; basil, peppers and green bean plants. The kale, beets, parsley and oregano plants survived. Luckily I put the volunteer tomato seedling I transplanted from the compost pile into the basement last night. The sunshine was bright with clear blue skies and the temp's finally hit 55 by late afternoon. Actually turned out to be a super day with just a chill in the shaded areas.

Around noon we took off and picked up Helen(Mt.mom) and Joe for an adventure trip to the west side of the county. We eventually entered Virginia looking at some mountain property we were familiar with from a couple years ago when sister Dee and daughters came down thinking they may move down here after retiring from the Army. The property is still undeveloped and pristine. We checked out some property near the New River and drove by where our pastor has built a new house near Bald Knob. It seemed to us the property in the northwestern part of the county is much steeper and we wondered how the farmers managed to make it there years ago. It was sad to see the beautiful leaf colors are just about gone and most everything has turned a dull brown as well as many trees are bare from all the rain and wind this past week.

We had a fun time taking new and different winding roads; many roads went from hard surface to gravel to dirt and back to hard surface. A couple were dead ends at some hardscrabble farms or trailers. We wondered how people were able to drive around these steep roads when it snowed or when the roads iced. There were drop offs with no guardrails or shoulders that were straight down into ravines and creek bottoms. Yeow, I can't imagine how you would recover a vehicle up these steeps embankments. Maybe that's why we see so many old abandon vehicles in fields.

We got back to the cabin around 3 PM so we had a small bowl of bean soup before heading out on an extended hike. It really started warming up by then and was just a pleasure to walk in all the fallen leaves. It was cool enough to keep the flies and mosquitoes from annoying you as you walked. I know the wild animals must love this time of the year, especially the deer that attract pesky deer flies. They are such suck blood suckers that really bite. Speaking of deer while we were eating supper 2 large does(females) came out into the outback yard and ate what appeared to be acorns for 1/2 an hour. They could see movement in the cabin as we moved to the windows to watch and they would stand still and stare at us for minutes at a time. Eventually they meandered off into the woods toward the top of the back trail just as darkness fell. Their colors are really starting to change to a darker color causing them to blend in with all the fallen leaves.

Well I got to see the Angels beat the Yankees in extra innings. That was a great comeback. Well will close for now. Enclosed are a couple freeze damage plant pics and an ice picture from my rain barrel. Did you notice where I carved Nancy's name on the iced windshield on an earlier post? LATER

Sunday on a Cold Monday Morning

Well Sunday started out at 32 degrees and the wind blowing 10-15 mph which makes it feel like 23, Yeow!!! We thawed out and headed over to Sparta for worship at Cornerstone. The service was strictly Praise and Worship music with a couple skits by the youth. After service we headed out to pick up a few groceries and veggies for our evening get together at the Dalton's with our small group.

The afternoon was spent watching the Buc's and Panthers which ended up as usual with a loss for the Buc's. Wow did you see that Patriot game with all the snow in October,Yikes!!! After eating we introduced Don and Stacy to Sequence. Well the result of that game was a total win for the guys 3-0; however we later loss in a heated match when Gerald and Kay arrived. The girls have the bragging right so far this year. The evening was lots of fun with super eating as chef Andy did beer-in-the-rear chickens on the grill. Everyone else brought casseroles,salads, dessert and rolls. I will need a wheel barrow to get around if I don't get out and do some physical activity. There is something about cold weather that makes you want to eat and stay inside where its cozy.

This morning we lazied around in bed until 8:30 in those warm flannel sheets, Ahhh! The outside temp's were 28 with a heavy frost and freeze, yet there is sunshine breaking through the tree tops. It looks like an outside day once it gets above freezing. I just read in the St.Pete Times where the Tampa Area set a cold record at 58 degrees this A.M. held since 1927. What's happening to all the global warming theorists?

Well better go as Nancy has buckwheat cakes cooking on the griddle. LATER