Well it was one of those days that started around 4 Am when Nancy woke up in pain from another UTI. Wow was she ever hurting. It seems last week she was treated for a UTI and the antibiotic she was on lasted for a week and the last one she took was Tuesday night. Well apparently that was not the right medicine and it only masked the problem until early this morning. We were at the doctors office at 8 AM and the doctor sent her to the hospital for another culture and then gave her a shot. She has to go back to the hospital the next 2 days for another shot each day. At least she has some relief as of now and hopefully will finally find out what is causing all these bladder infections and receive the proper medication to cure her.
The morning found us driving to Sparta in a heavy fog with cool temp's down in the 40's. We never saw the sunshine at all today. After getting back from the doctors office Nancy laid down for a nap and felt much better. We were unsure if we could handle family coming on Saturday but as of now it seems she is progressively getting better each hour. We made a big pot of vegetable beef barley soup for lunch tomorrow and decided to eat a bowl for supper tonight. Wow did that ever hit the spot with this cool damp weather.
Nancy stayed inside and baked a couple banana nut breads for breakfast on Saturday and got a big salad ready for dinner tomorrow night as well. I ventured out as the fog lifted and the mist cleared up so I finished turning over my gardens with a shovel and then I raked the outback yard for the third time. Leaves were everywhere. There aren't many trees left with any leaves on so this will probably be the last time I have to rake this year.
Well I will close for now. We were glad to hear that brother-in-law Keith is doing well after his chest surgery this morning. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.LATER
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday
Well the morning started out with 45 degree temp's with a heavy dew; but the sun was shining through the tree tops and there was lots of birds singing, I thought they all went south. Oh well!! After a lite breakfast of oatmeal and a banana I got a load of laundry on the line and checked on all my new seedlings I'm taken to Florida next week. Looks like I will have a few 'mater plants and a few others ready to put in the ground once I get back south to warmer temp's.
We headed out to Galax, Va around 10:30 to do little shopping. This will probably be our last time to visit this city until next May. We love Galax. After stopping to get my ears lowered we headed to the famous WalMart for groceries and lunch at Subway inside WalMart. We then filled up with gas which is about 15 cents a gallon cheaper than Sparta, N.C. We then stopped and picked up buckwheat pancake mix and finally another tank of propane to heat the cabin. It could get a little nippy this week end.
We got back around 1:30 and the day was beautiful with temps nearly 62 degrees. We headed off to the top of the mountain for a hike. We ran into our dear friends John and Shirley and visited with them. Afterwards we stopped by Norman's and picked up a dozen of brown free range chicken eggs before Nancy got cold. We decided to head on back down the mountain. There were high clouds which kind of caused the warm sunshine to suddenly turn cold especially with the breeze. I headed on down to the lower garden and began to turn the earth over with a shovel. I shoveled about 2/3 of the garden in a couple hours and lack just a little to being complete. Man did that ever feel good. I quit about 5 PM and got ready to grill some frozen burgers. Nancy made a super salad and put some tater tots in the oven. While the burgers were cooking I managed to get a short message on the phone to my ole' friend Walt. Seems we both have been to busy for another get together.
Well we are getting ready for a visit from my Dad, younger sister Dee an husband this week end. Actually they will be here just one night and leave after church on Sunday to have lunch with their daughter, Kelly at Radford College in Virginia. I will be good to see them as its been a couple years since we last saw Uncle Mike and nearly a year since we've seen Dad and his friend Adeline.
Well will close for now, LATER
We headed out to Galax, Va around 10:30 to do little shopping. This will probably be our last time to visit this city until next May. We love Galax. After stopping to get my ears lowered we headed to the famous WalMart for groceries and lunch at Subway inside WalMart. We then filled up with gas which is about 15 cents a gallon cheaper than Sparta, N.C. We then stopped and picked up buckwheat pancake mix and finally another tank of propane to heat the cabin. It could get a little nippy this week end.
We got back around 1:30 and the day was beautiful with temps nearly 62 degrees. We headed off to the top of the mountain for a hike. We ran into our dear friends John and Shirley and visited with them. Afterwards we stopped by Norman's and picked up a dozen of brown free range chicken eggs before Nancy got cold. We decided to head on back down the mountain. There were high clouds which kind of caused the warm sunshine to suddenly turn cold especially with the breeze. I headed on down to the lower garden and began to turn the earth over with a shovel. I shoveled about 2/3 of the garden in a couple hours and lack just a little to being complete. Man did that ever feel good. I quit about 5 PM and got ready to grill some frozen burgers. Nancy made a super salad and put some tater tots in the oven. While the burgers were cooking I managed to get a short message on the phone to my ole' friend Walt. Seems we both have been to busy for another get together.
Well we are getting ready for a visit from my Dad, younger sister Dee an husband this week end. Actually they will be here just one night and leave after church on Sunday to have lunch with their daughter, Kelly at Radford College in Virginia. I will be good to see them as its been a couple years since we last saw Uncle Mike and nearly a year since we've seen Dad and his friend Adeline.
Well will close for now, LATER
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wednesday
Well the morning started out with bright blue skies and temps in the 50's. There was lots of dampness in the air and a heavy dew. We had 1 and a 1/4 inches of rain in the last 24 hours. Our house guests/new friends left about 9 AM on their way back to Tampa, Florida. This was their first trip to Alleghany County and were they ever impressed with the town of Sparta and all of the friendliness extended to them by the local real estate folks, merchants and restaurant folks i.e. Brown's Eatery. They are seriously looking for a couple acres to purchase and eventually retire to this area as they love this pace of life. Yipee!!! Great folks but Becky needs to sharpen up her game playing skills, HAHA!!!
Nancy and I got in a good hike to the top and visited with Fred and Brenda for awhile. They showed us their new camper top and wow is it ever nice and just loaded with tons of amenities. What a way to travel and see the country. After our hike we settled down for a lunch of salad. I transplanted some tomato seedlings. I then took off to the top on the golf cart to trim a few limbs from a hickory tree that was extending into the road on top. I brought these limbs home and sawed them into small sizes for use in my smoker. I'll bring a box of hickory chips back to Florida for family and friends. Nancy took off to the mailbox on the golf cart while I turned over the upper garden.
I took off for Roaring Gap to play pickle ball with friend John about 4:30. We played about 7 games and each of us had a good workout with wet shirts. The weather was just perfect. Nancy had spaghetti waiting when I got home a little after 6. It turned out to be a day that will be hard to forget and will be close to a 10 day. Just a fun all around day. Later.
Nancy and I got in a good hike to the top and visited with Fred and Brenda for awhile. They showed us their new camper top and wow is it ever nice and just loaded with tons of amenities. What a way to travel and see the country. After our hike we settled down for a lunch of salad. I transplanted some tomato seedlings. I then took off to the top on the golf cart to trim a few limbs from a hickory tree that was extending into the road on top. I brought these limbs home and sawed them into small sizes for use in my smoker. I'll bring a box of hickory chips back to Florida for family and friends. Nancy took off to the mailbox on the golf cart while I turned over the upper garden.
I took off for Roaring Gap to play pickle ball with friend John about 4:30. We played about 7 games and each of us had a good workout with wet shirts. The weather was just perfect. Nancy had spaghetti waiting when I got home a little after 6. It turned out to be a day that will be hard to forget and will be close to a 10 day. Just a fun all around day. Later.
Tuesday Evening on Wednesday
The afternoon brought lots of rain and cool temperatures so after leaving Sparta and making a stop to look over some land that was for sale we headed on back to the cabin. Even though it was raining and cool the area was beautiful with a few colors left on the ridges and of course the fog covering the mountain tops. We came back and chilled before eating the leftover soup, salad and chicken breasts for supper. Well after cleaning up the dishes which Jerry and Becky insisted on doing, we got ready for some "chickenfoot domino's."
A steady rain continued through out the evening and night and finally stopped this morning with sunshine streaming through the tree tops. Wouldn't you know it just as Jerry and Becky have to leave for Florida the skies cleared off. We sat around the table enjoying the last of the delicious coffee cake Becky made an reflected on the past couple of days. We had such a great time sharing our "cabin in the woods" and look forward to a lasting friendship with these CHRIST loving folks. Their dream is to have a place someday as well in this area. We checked out some undeveloped land and a couple cabins already built. Isn't the computer great for house hunting??
The gals beat out the guys in domino's by a 11 point differential and we then challenged them(gals) once again to the best of a 5 game match in Sequence. Well, we smoked them 4 straight games and we could see the disbelief in their faces so we offered them the same chance to redeem their play as they did us the night before when we were losing. So we decided the winner of the next game had bragging rights for the night much like the night before when we were losing all night and the winner of the last game won the whole thing, kind of like double or nothing. They won the last game in a very close game and were winners. It seems we will have to play the rubber match in Florida this winter.
Well the time just flew by, we ate entirely too much with too many desserts but oh did it taste good. We shared about our pasts, presents, dreams, grand children and of course lots of pics. We had such a wonderful time and are anxious to meet with them again. Jerry and Becky are our son's landlord and friends in Tampa where Element Church is housed. It amazes me how GOD can bring people to gather for the purpose of bringing lost souls to HIM and to think it all started when Element needed a place to gather for worship. Jerry and Becky made that possible by opening their warehouse to Element where others had refused.
Enclosed are a couple pics of Jerry, Becky and of course us. LATER
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday on Tuesday Afternoon
Well the day started out with partly cloudy skies and a cold temperature of 40 degrees. After our quiet time and a breakfast of oatmeal and a banana I ventured out to do some raking of leaves. Yelp, once again I started in the "outback" yard as this was my second raking in this area in less than a week. Nancy eventually came out to help the last hour or so before our house guests arrived. It was a little after noon when we heard the gravel on the driveway and by then it had warmed up to nearly 55 degrees. Nancy had a made a beef barley vegetable soup on Sunday and did that ever taste good on this cool day for lunch. She also had bought ham and turkey lunch meat, along with the soup it made for a sumptuous lunch. It was so good and filling we didn't eat supper until nearly 7 PM.
We let our lunch settle before heading out on a long hike to the top. Our guests,Jerry and Becky fell in love with this area right away. We hiked all the way to the top and the sunshine made for great picture taking.They were enthralled with the leaves that were left on the trees and the view from the top of the mountain. Once again downtown Winston-Salem was visible from the top. They so enjoyed the crunching of the leaves as we walked along the woodland trails.We got back around 4 PM and I built a huge bonfire. We sat around and enjoyed its warmth until nearly dark when Nancy decided maybe it was time to start supper. She put some potatoes in the oven and I put some marinated chicken breasts on the grill. Along with a great salad we sat down to eat around 7 PM. The left over cheesecake came later during the Sequence match.
After supper Jerry and Becky insisted on washing the dishes before we got ready to play Sequence.Well I must say the first 7 games belonged to the gals at 5-2 however they were gracious enough to stop with that match and agreed to play a single game to decide a winner of one game takes all. They went along with that idea and the guys won that game; so we were at one match all. We then offered to play them in a rubber match game of a single game but they insisted the best of 5 games and we won 3-1. So even though they won 13 games to our 12 games we guys won the match. GUYS WIN!!!!
It was after 11 PM before we suspended play as they headed off to bed and we had to take our showers. I finished up on the MNF game and the Redskins looked about as bad as the Buc's in their loss to the Eagles.
This morning found us getting up around 7:30. We had some really great coffee cake for breakfast Becky made and brought with them. YUMMM! We headed out around 10 AM and stopped at Mountain Dreams Realty and met with the owner Paula Pressnell. She has at one time or another listed most of the real estate on our mountain and is quite knowledgeable of the area and the different type of lifestyle "mountain living" presents to those who are seeking to adjust here even if only seasonable. We did a grand tour of downtown Sparta visiting several shoppes, stores and eventually winding up at Brown's Restaurant for lunch. The food was excellent and very filling. Thanks Jerry and Becky for lunch.
It was starting to rain as we headed out of town. We showed them the only Catholic Church in town as well as our Cornerstone Church building before heading back o Glade Valley. We learned just this morning that Mt.Mom's brother Joe had listed about half of his property with a real estate agent. We stopped and drove to the top of his property as they(Jerry and Becky) are dreaming some day to live here in the mountains. The rain is steady on the tin roof causing Jerry to get sleepy and we can hear him snoring from upstairs. I can barely keep my eyes open as I write this post at 4:15 in the afternoon. LATER
We let our lunch settle before heading out on a long hike to the top. Our guests,Jerry and Becky fell in love with this area right away. We hiked all the way to the top and the sunshine made for great picture taking.They were enthralled with the leaves that were left on the trees and the view from the top of the mountain. Once again downtown Winston-Salem was visible from the top. They so enjoyed the crunching of the leaves as we walked along the woodland trails.We got back around 4 PM and I built a huge bonfire. We sat around and enjoyed its warmth until nearly dark when Nancy decided maybe it was time to start supper. She put some potatoes in the oven and I put some marinated chicken breasts on the grill. Along with a great salad we sat down to eat around 7 PM. The left over cheesecake came later during the Sequence match.
After supper Jerry and Becky insisted on washing the dishes before we got ready to play Sequence.Well I must say the first 7 games belonged to the gals at 5-2 however they were gracious enough to stop with that match and agreed to play a single game to decide a winner of one game takes all. They went along with that idea and the guys won that game; so we were at one match all. We then offered to play them in a rubber match game of a single game but they insisted the best of 5 games and we won 3-1. So even though they won 13 games to our 12 games we guys won the match. GUYS WIN!!!!
It was after 11 PM before we suspended play as they headed off to bed and we had to take our showers. I finished up on the MNF game and the Redskins looked about as bad as the Buc's in their loss to the Eagles.
This morning found us getting up around 7:30. We had some really great coffee cake for breakfast Becky made and brought with them. YUMMM! We headed out around 10 AM and stopped at Mountain Dreams Realty and met with the owner Paula Pressnell. She has at one time or another listed most of the real estate on our mountain and is quite knowledgeable of the area and the different type of lifestyle "mountain living" presents to those who are seeking to adjust here even if only seasonable. We did a grand tour of downtown Sparta visiting several shoppes, stores and eventually winding up at Brown's Restaurant for lunch. The food was excellent and very filling. Thanks Jerry and Becky for lunch.
It was starting to rain as we headed out of town. We showed them the only Catholic Church in town as well as our Cornerstone Church building before heading back o Glade Valley. We learned just this morning that Mt.Mom's brother Joe had listed about half of his property with a real estate agent. We stopped and drove to the top of his property as they(Jerry and Becky) are dreaming some day to live here in the mountains. The rain is steady on the tin roof causing Jerry to get sleepy and we can hear him snoring from upstairs. I can barely keep my eyes open as I write this post at 4:15 in the afternoon. LATER
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Sunday Evening on Sunday
Did I mention this morning it was cold at 36 degrees and just a slight breeze.The skies were a deep blue with lots of sunshine. We headed off to Cornerstone for worship and Pastor Brian spoke about the Beattitudes. Afterwards we stopped by Lowe's grocery and picked up goodies for this next couple days as we are having house guests until Wednesday. Jerry and Becky are visiting family in Raleigh and want to see the mountains and of course where we spend the summers. We mentioned if ever they were in this area to come by for a visit. He is our sons landlord for the warehouse where Element Church is located in Tampa. This will be only the second time we have met them, but hopefully a new friendship will be developed.
After a lite lunch of soup and salad I tried to set up a pickle ball match but it just wasn't the right time for many, oh well there will be other times. I just settled in on the couch and vegetated with football games. The Bucs, Panthers and Falcons all lost and it looked as if the Saints; the only other team in our division was going to lose as well. So much for anything to cheer about as far as the NFL went today.
Bob called and it seemed he had a productive weekend as Jill and Annsley were out of town visiting family in Pittsburg, Pa. His weekend football wasn't good either as Clemson beat his Hurricanes. Well at least Florida showed up with Tebow playing a rough and tough game against Miss. State. We did get in a good hike to the top and the color has just about gone except for a few ridges. One ridge not only loss its colors but all of its leaves as well due to all the wind we've had the past couple of days. There are lots of just plain bare trees and the look of winter is everywhere. I don't think it got above 60 today. It was pretty outside but rather cool especially in the shaded areas.
Well Nancy is in her glory with guests arriving tomorrow. She made a large pot of vegetable beef barley soup for lunches; put a salad together minus the 'maters, made a cherry topping from frozen cherries we picked earlier this year for the left over cheesecake from yesterday. There goes my diet. Well will talk at ya' LATER
After a lite lunch of soup and salad I tried to set up a pickle ball match but it just wasn't the right time for many, oh well there will be other times. I just settled in on the couch and vegetated with football games. The Bucs, Panthers and Falcons all lost and it looked as if the Saints; the only other team in our division was going to lose as well. So much for anything to cheer about as far as the NFL went today.
Bob called and it seemed he had a productive weekend as Jill and Annsley were out of town visiting family in Pittsburg, Pa. His weekend football wasn't good either as Clemson beat his Hurricanes. Well at least Florida showed up with Tebow playing a rough and tough game against Miss. State. We did get in a good hike to the top and the color has just about gone except for a few ridges. One ridge not only loss its colors but all of its leaves as well due to all the wind we've had the past couple of days. There are lots of just plain bare trees and the look of winter is everywhere. I don't think it got above 60 today. It was pretty outside but rather cool especially in the shaded areas.
Well Nancy is in her glory with guests arriving tomorrow. She made a large pot of vegetable beef barley soup for lunches; put a salad together minus the 'maters, made a cherry topping from frozen cherries we picked earlier this year for the left over cheesecake from yesterday. There goes my diet. Well will talk at ya' LATER
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
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
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