Saturday Morning

Well Friday turned out to be picture perfect with temps that were awesome as it never got much over the 70 degree mark despite the blue skies and bright sunshine. It started off at 56 degrees with a breeze that was evident most all day until late evening when it finally settled down; just in time for our pickle ball play on the outside court at the Roaring Gap Club.

We actually slept in to start the day until nearly 7:30. I had my cup of hot green tea which was steaming in the brisk air, did my quiet time after making my daily post then had a smoothie for breakfast before heading out to check on the gardens. I had to put long pants on as it was that chilly outside. The gardens looked great with no deer damage however some critter keeps digging in my compost pile where I bury my kitchen scraps such as egg shells, spud peelings, coffee grounds, etc. These scraps feed my fishin' worms which later give me some of the best compost ever called casings.

I gassed up the weed whacker and headed down to the bottom of the driveway to mow around the street sign and the drive leading up to the cabin. Our road is maintained by Gerald with his tractor who keeps it scrapped and makes sure we have enough gravel to keep the mud ruts at a minimum. I usually trim the low hanging branches by standing in the golf cart with a pair of clippers and this time with the whacker trimming off the new tender limbs that protrude into the roadway and scrap the side of your vehicle. That kept me busy for an hour or so as I just did the driveway from the bottom of the hill.

Nancy had laundry flapping in the breeze on the clothesline. She is always saying how all is well when she sees clothes on the line and of course we still do that even in Florida. I grew up on the farm where we had no indoor plumbing, no hot water heater and no clothes dryer. It was all done usually on Monday morning where I heated cold water pumped by hand at the well for the washing machine in a big black kettle outside with a fire under it and then carried the hot water to the washing machine. Our clothes were always hung out on a clothesline and then later had to be ironed by hand. There is nothing like the smell of fresh laundry dried outside.

We decided since it was so beautiful outside that we would get our hike in for the day so we took off to the top of the mountain. We only had to stop once in our back woods to catch our breath enroute to the top. That's encouraging as we slowly get our mountain legs and breathe. We saw one cabin on top with a car out front but saw no one moving about. Its such a lonely place up there with no one around all of the beautiful majestic homes and cabins with awesome views. About half of them are for sale or soon to be according to one year round resident who has their place up for sale as well. The view is beautiful of Pilot Mountain and then further to downtown Winston-Salem. The small community of Glade Creek is also visible with all of the farm land with its huge dairy. Occasionally you can get its smell when the wind shifts towards the mountain.

We did see our old friend and jack of all trades Dean Todd who was finishing the gutters on the Browning's resident. Dean is possibly the nicest feller you ever met and he is always there for those who need work done.  He did some work for me when we put down our wood flooring years ago and he is Ray Todd's brother who built our cabin. We had a salad for lunch then I headed out to transplant some Cosmo seedlings when I noticed a 3 ft or so black snake where I do my transplant work under the back porch area. He was trying his best to get to a birds nest that had been built under the porch on the satellite wire that runs into the house. Nancy got some pictures and then finally he gave up especially after I moved a bench which got him with a foot or so of his goal. He pay me no mind as he went about his business of securing some lunch as well.

We picked up Helen and headed over to her brother Joe's place. He likes to bake and is quite good at it as well as he makes the best pound cake from scratch you will ever eat. We framed around outside looking at the 3 or 4 acres he mows weekly and his flower and vegetable gardens. Joe is a fantastic gardener as week as a person. He loves to entertain and sets a fine table as well with cloth napkins and china. The cake and ice cream hit the spot for an afternoon pick me up. We dug up some seedlings that looked like Larkspur that he was trying to eradicate from his Lily beds then we headed back to Helen's.

I drilled some deep holes in a stump that wasn't dead enough to be removed by hand and then poured some stump killer into the holes which should help with getting rid of it. I then put her window air condition in for her before heading back to the cabin. We decided since I had a 6:30 pickle ball match we would eat around 5 o'clock. Nancy microwaved a couple spuds and with left over chops from the other night to go along with a can of sweet peas and we called it supper. Wow did that ever hit the spot with the fresh herbs and cayenne pepper on the spuds.

I picked up neighbor Gerald and we headed out for some great exercise on the pickle ball court. We initially had just the 3 of us which made for some good play but when our 4th player showed we had even more good play and some very nice rallies. After about 2 hours and with darkness approaching we decided to call it a night as this was the first for these guys in over a year.  

We made a date to do it again on Monday or Tuesday depending on the weather forecast in the late evening. We even have lights on the court so time isn't a factor except for Ted and Craig who still work whereas Gerald and I are retired,

Friday Morning

Well this week has just flown by and Thursday was no exception as we started the day around a 6:30 wake up. Nancy managed to stay horizontal for another 30 minutes but once I'm awake I have a thousand things running through my mind that I want to get accomplished. After a cup of hot green tea with cinnamon, a few quiet moments to reflect, give thanks and pray for those who are in some kind of need and then the posting of this ramble I headed out for a quick check of the yards and gardens. We decided on a mountain breakfast of buckwheat cakes with a banana in the batter and some fresh eggs, yeow what fine eatin especially with real butter and honey on top.

After breakfast I once more headed out to work down below with my plants in the lower garden as I wanted to side dress the sweet taters and cabbage with a little organic chicken manure; boy does it ever smell at first but after a couple days its not noticeable. I noticed new growth on both so that's a good sign as I have them in the garden which gets the least amount of direct sunlight. I turned over another strip of the ground with a shovel and broke the clods of soil so it will be ready for some lettuce seedlings in a week or so. I then headed out to various areas of the garden and flower beds to transplant some 20 plus Zinnias plants.

I staked my tomato plants and noticed real growth there as well. I even have one turning red from the transplants from Florida. I loosened up the soil around them as well as this clay ground gets as hard as concrete when it dries out. I've been using a little spaghnum moss in an around the transplants which helps with keeping the soil from hardening. I'm picking cayenne peppers now and took a couple with me when we went out for supper later in the evening after dropping a twin bed off at the local thrift store in Sparta. We picked up a full size bed from a neighbor and exchanged the twin bed and donated it. We met up with Helen, Joe and their youngest sister Martha at the Pines Restaurant around 4:30. I think we all had catfish which was excellent eatin' and I sliced my cayenne peppers in the pintos that came with the meal. That got a laugh from all and reminded them of an old friend who did the same many tears ago.

It rained while we were in town and really dropped the temps from the low 80's to the low 60's in no time. Nancy even wore a sweat shirt when we got back to the cabin and on our hike to the top. We saw no one except Zeke the Browning's friendly pooch on our trek across the mountain. The smells are just fantastic with the wild roses and black berry bushes in full bloom. It was such a pleasant evening I stayed outside wondering around in the yards and gardens until nearly dark. Nancy found the Ray's game on the tube and they were getting blown away by some prior teammates who were traded to the Royals in Kansas City. It was so bad I couldn't watch it any longer so I headed for the shower and then curled up with a good book, LATER

Thursday Morning

Well Wednesday was probably the hottest day we have had so far this summer as the afternoon was quite warm in the sun; but in the shade it was tolerable as there was a slight breeze. I will be glad when Nancy finishes her Radon test for the cabin as we have to keep all of the windows and doors shut for 72 hours; that makes for stuffy air. I was barely able to sleep the night before due to the lack of fresh air despite the fans on non-stop so last might I cheated and cracked a window above our heads which made for a good nights sleep. The test kit is in the basement and the cabin is really air tight so I don't understand why we can't have some fresh air at night.

After a 6:30 wake up I started the day with my usual hot green tea, a few quiet moments then a smoothie with a peach and banana, yikes is that ever tasty especially with a little cinnamon on top. I headed out to walk the property and check on the gardens. I had a few slugs during all that rain so I spread a little slug poison for them and that along with a couple hot dry days seems to have helped with their destructive appetites. The radishes can be seen from the porch and there are a few new beets showing some color. I planted the beets I brought from Florida and they too are showing some new leaf growth. I have a tomato turning on one of the seedlings I brought as well. The new seeds are breaking ground in pots so I'm hoping I can get them in the ground in a week or so. The cabbage, sweet taters and herbs all seem to be doing fine at this point as well are the Zinnias. Most of the transplants are doing well now that we have had a few warm dry days.

I finished up the new picnic table and sawed up the old one for the campfire. I made it a foot longer and just a few inches wider so we should be able to seat 6-8 comfortably. I got the first coat of paint on it as well and Nancy is thrilled with it size and shape. I must say it turned out alright for a shade tree carpenter. We got our hike in while the first coat of paint dried on the underside boards. It was rather warm on top and we saw Joe and Jetta as they drove in from off the mountain. It was hot down off the mountains and into the 90's in some areas. We came back and I fixed a guacamole dip for lunch. This is the recipe for the best tasting dip ever; 2 ripe avocado's, 2 cloves of garlic(squeezed) 1/2 of a sweet onion(minced), 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1/4 of lime or lemon(squeezed juice), couple tablespoons of fresh chopped cilantro and a sprig of dill(chopped) mix thoroughly and add salt and pepper to taste..my Amy isn't a fan of guacamole but she loves my recipe and so do we on salty chips, it's out of sight....enjoy!!!

After lunch I did the finishing paint on the top side boards and carried the table on top and put it under the back porch, by then it was after 4 PM so it was time to take a break from the heat. I worked in the basement which was cool and refreshing at nice temp in the 60's, yeow was that ever reinvigorating. Grilled some pork ribs and Nancy made fried taters and onions along with a salad for supper. Delicious ribs especially when slathered with Sonny's Real Pit Barbecue sauce. We brought a couple large 1/2 gallon jugs with us to give out to our grilling pals here in the mountains. After the cleanup we took off on our first over the mountain golf cart adventure. We headed on top and then down the backside to visit Ray and Audean for an hour or so. We had a good visit and decided on next Saturday for a get together and play that game they all love; Sequence. We have more hoot'en and holler'en than the law allows but it a great time to get together and snack and renew old friendships.

Well we are getting ready to get rid of the twin bed in one of the bedrooms and install a full size bed so its off to donate the bed at Allegheny Cares in Sparta and hopefully find a bed frame for the full size bed this afternoon. We will then meet up with Helen and Joe for an early supper in town. I lined up a pickle ball match for Friday evening around 6:30 at Roaring Gap Country Club so if anyone wants to play give me a holler. We could always use more players, LATER

Wednesday Morning

Tuesday was a busy day that started around a 6:30 wake up for me. Nancy managed to linger awhile in bed but my internal alarm had me wide awake before the roll out. I don't miss the roosters at 5'ish but still find it difficult to sleep in as I'm so use to being on the pickle ball court at 7:30, Oh Well!! After my usual cup of tea while posting this ramble I spent a few quiet moments then did my smoothie of a fresh peach and banana for breakfast before heading out to check on the gardens. During the middle of the night early Tuesday morning, it came up a horrendous storm which awakened me to the sounds associated with a twister while dumping heavy rainfall. I thought everything would be destroyed when I went out to check on the gardens and yards and while it was drenched everything looked normal, thankfully.

We headed over to help our "mountain mom", Helen with some chores. She lives just a couple miles from us and we often take the golf cart but today we drove the truck. First we had to release a bunny rabbit she caught in a trap overnight while trying to capture a ground hog that has become too familiar with her cabin. The bunny just hopped off to meet up with his pals as several were waiting in the yard. She counted 9 at one time in her yard. I then knocked out a tree stump that was evident in the yard making it difficult to mow around. She has one more stump that needs removed but I will have to drill holes in it and pour some stump rot solution to help speed up the rotting.

We headed over and found a couple wild azaleas, the locals call it wild honeysuckle but its a bush that has orange blooms and grows like a spindly tree. We purchased one from a nursery years ago but the deer ate it off; I now have 2 as we dug them from her berry patch. We then headed over to the road and entrance way of her driveway to help with trimming her shrubs and the bushes along her driveway. The bushes and shrubs were just out of her reach and we cut and trimmed several wagon loads for her brush pile. We then cleared out an area for her to sow wild flower seeds. We got a lot done in just a couple hours and I could tell by my rumbling belly it was time for some lunch.

After a lite lunch of something quick and easy; sardines with onion and mustard on a cracker which just happened to be one of our favorites. I also finished up the last of the cookies made without sugar or flour. I really like them as raisins, applesauce, oatmeal and almond milk make up the ingredients and next time I can talk her into making them(she doesn't like them) I want some walnuts added to the mix. After lunch I headed down to the basement area to work on a new picnic table. We've had the same table for nearly 15 years and after many repairs each year it has finally rotted to where it's not safe anymore; so I copied the design and spent the better part of the afternoon making a new table from lots of scrap lumber. I want to paint it thoroughly before putting the top on and bringing it up to the deck. Well that kept me busy right up to supper time. I grille several chicken legs and Nancy sautéed up some yellow squash with onions to go along with a baked potato loaded with herbs and sour cream, yeow was that ever some good eatin'.

Nancy started the Radon Gas test for the cabin which requires the windows and doors be closed for 72 hours so the first day of being closed up makes it rather stuffy to say the least. We have the ceiling fans on which make it comfortable but I miss the fragrance, and the birds singing and the feel of the ambiance, oh well!!! I found the Ray's vs the Red Sox on one of the ESPN channels and got to watch them beat the Sox who are number one in our division, finally our bats came to life and the pitching wasn't bad either. We lost the game the night before in extra innings when we came back from being down 6 runs; that was a tough one to lose.

We went a whole day on Tuesday without any rain during the daylight hours and the gardens are starting to dry up somewhat. I need to replant my 1/2 runner beans and a few other seeds as well. I'm hoping to set up a pickle ball match on Thursday evening with some local fellows as it stays light

until nearly 9 PM, LATER.. Here is a photo of the front of our mountain mom's cabin.

Tuesday Morning

Monday was a wash out in the early morning hours before daybreak but eventually cleared off and during the day it stayed relatively rain free until late afternoon and then during the night it rained so hard I thought a tornado came across the cabin. I started the day with my cup of hot green tea while making this post and afterwards had a few quiet moments before a smoothie for breakfast. I then headed out to check on the gardens and to walk the yards. The fresh air with the perfumed smell of wild roses and flowering plants is hard to describe; if you have ever been to Hawaii it reminds me of the same fragrance in the air.

I headed out with the weed whacker to once again edge around all of the property and then we both raked up more dead grass and scattered it in areas that are a little thin in the outback yard. The grass there is twice what it was last year but there are still areas that are in need of seeding so the extra mowed grass with all of the seed heads should help to remedy those areas. I then headed down to the lower garden and while the ground is wet and easily penetrated with a shovel I wanted to build back the bank that surrounds the garden. Once that ground of clay dries out it almost impossible to loosen unless your using a pick or matick. It becomes almost as hard as concrete. Anyhow that took me a couple hours as I built the bank back and also made a water run off for the garden.

Nancy decided she wanted to test the cabin for radon gas as a neighbor told her there was the possibility of it occurring here in the mountains. Seems a neighbor on top of the mountain experienced it in his basement so now she is concerned we may have it. I guess Allegheny County has the second highest source of the gas in the Carolina's. She called the Extension Office in Sparta and they have the kits for free so after a lunch of tuna salad we headed to Sparta. Well we headed to the post office to mail some cards and stopped by the Extension and there was a sign on the door, they would be gone until 4:30. So we had 2 hours to kill.

We headed to the library to pick up some books which took about an hour then Nancy visited all of the shops on Main street while I sat in the truck and read a very good book titled THE LONESOME TRAVELER. It's a different read about a teenager who hooks up his donkey to a homemade cart and with his dog heads 700 miles to visit his mother who is in a sanatorium. Well we got back to the house around 5 PM and saw where it had down poured again. The sun was shining and I noticed that I now have radishes breaking the ground as well as a few beets. I think the bean seeds rotted due to all the rain.

I fired up the grille for some cubed deer steak and then Nancy sauteed some onions and peppers and I picked some fresh cilantro, thyme and basil and we had fajitas along with pintos over Jasmine rice, awesome eatin' and so healthy as well. After the clean up we headed out in the yard then decided to get our hike in to the top of the mountain. It was just gorgeous out with bright sunshine a cool temps after the rain.

We finally got to see Norman our old WW11 veteran who just turned 85. He is really a character who is from W.Va. and always has some great saying. He really seemed frail but was outside walking around his place. He said his lungs are giving out on him as well as his knees and he doesn't sleep much at nights. It was good to see him but sad to see him going down hill with his health. After a nice visit we headed on back to the cabin cutting short our walk across the top. The Ray's were playing the Red Sox on ESPN so we tuned in only to find them down 6 runs in the first inning. But as the game wore on the Ray's came back to tie the game and send it into extra inning. I headed for the sack as it was going on 11 and past by eye lids staying open, especially after that nice hot shower, LATER

 

Monday Morning

Sunday turned out to be another great day weather wise until late in the evening when once more the duck weather returned and I mean in a big way with down pours throughout most of the night. We started the day with a 6:30 wake up to bright sunshine and temps in the low 60's. I headed out to check on the gardens and seedlings after cup of hot tea, this postings an a few minutes to reflect and give thanks before we got ready to head to Cornerstone Christian Fellowship for worship. Wow we were greeted with handshakes, hugs and "glad your back" all morning. There were 30 folks or so missing as they were on their way to New Jersey on a mission trip; but we were pleasantly surprised to see so many new faces there as well. The speaker was a Gideon from Grayson County, Virginia(Galax)and he had a super presentation with testimonies and videos. There were a few tears shed including us during the service. Afterwards we headed to Lowe's for a couple items then to Hawks for some vegetable and flowering plants as well as some fresh peaches.

We got back to the cabin around 1 PM so we had a chicken salad roll up then I headed out to the garden. The ground was drying nicely and I wanted to get the new seedlings in before this next front that was heading our way. I trenched two rows for the 9 sweet potato vines and then dug up 12 holes for the cabbage plants as well as hilled up 4 spots for the cucumber plants. I then weeded and loosen up around the dozen or so potato plants and fertilized them again. Nancy was busy planting some new flowering plants she bought as well. If all of my Zinnias and seeds I sowed make we should have more than enough color for the beds.

I decided to give my self a rest while riding the mower and so I mowed the yards again at what we call the normal height. The grass was so high and thick we had to cut it with a much higher setting when we got here. Nancy raked up much of the cut grass as it began to pile up. Well it started to sprinkle just as we finished so we called it a day and headed in to fix some supper. She had a pot of pintos cooking most of the afternoon and they were perfect and tasted great. I fried up the 4 trout fillets outside on the grille to a beautiful golden brown and along with a salad we feasted, yeow was that ever some good eatin'.

After the cleanup we chilled watching the tube and she on Face Book until I could barely keep my eyes open so I hit the shower. It was a little after 10 when I decided to hit the sack to the sound of the rain on the tin roof, LATER  

Sunday Morning

Well Saturday turned out to be a typical N.C. morning and one more reason why we came to know and love being here; cool in the 50's and sunny to start the day and by late afternoon it was in the low 70's and still sunny. We slept in until 6:30 before rolling out to start the day. It is so quiet here with just an occasional crow cawing off in the distance and the birds just love it here as well as they give us a constant concert all day long. We hear a dog bark from the neighbors once in awhile but they are far off enough it isn't bothersome to me.

After my posting, cup of tea and my quiet moments to give thanks, reflect and lift others up in thoughts and prayers we did our own breakfasts to start out. Nancy was outside on the porch doing her quiet time wrapped up in a sweat shirt and jacket so I made my smoothie then headed out to walk the property and check on the newly set out seedlings. So far despite the 3 inches of rain on this clay soil they are looking rather well. The seeds I sowed will probably rot in the ground but the rest isn't too bad. With a couple more days like today they will flourish.

Andy and Caleb came by about mid morning with 4 beautiful freshly caught Brook trout and one was still flopping. They had been out on a father/son outing and I reaped the benefit of their endeavors. That Caleb would rather fish than eat and he gets it honest from his dad as he is quite the fisherman and hunter. Many thanks to the two of them and I will savor eat bite on Monday night when I fry them up. I may share a photo or two; nothing better than fresh trout from a mountain stream. I got around to liming the yards while they were still wet from the over night rain after they left and that kept me busy until lunch time.

We had a garden salad for lunch using some kale, tomato, peppers and basil from my garden in Florida. Nancy worked outside weeding flower beds and I sowed more seeds into pots. We then decided to take our second hike to the top of the mountain and once again it looked lonely and desolate on top. We did meet up at the end of our walk across the top with Joe and Jetta. We visited for a short while before heading back down. We continued with some small chores and I transplanted some herbs into bigger pots; especially dill and cilantro. I think I will leave them in pots as I can control them a little better especially with all the rain in the forecast and then I can always set them in the ground. This is the first year my cilantro never re-seeded itself in the herb bed.

We got ready around 5 o'clock and headed out to the Woodie River House on the Little River for a catfish cookout. Folks bring covered dishes and they fry the fish in huge cookers. There were lots different folks there from Cornerstone, First Baptist, the mayor, judges, business folks and just some old time folks and of course their family and friends. We are in the last category but know many over the years in attendance. The ambiance is just awesome and the eatin' superb. We gathered around for a couple hours before heading out and stopped for a visit at our mountain mom's beautiful place as well. She has an over abundance of rabbit's as we counted at least a 1/2 dozen in one place while driving in. We had a good visit and left just before it got dark.

Well it seems the Ray's won another game over the Orioles big time. I watched a little of it before the cookout on a channel that caters to the teams in the D.C. area. They are just a couple games back of the league leaders. Today is church day at Cornerstone and we will get to renew our friendships there after being away for 7 months. We saw Pastor B at the cook out last evening and he is taking about 30 folks to New Jersey for a week of work regarding Hurricane Sandy's destruction and the on going rebuilding. That should be a grand time of work and fellowship with such dedicated folks, LATER