: The Last Good Tomato When the fellow ran his truck into our yard a dug ruts in it, he promised he’d …
: The Courting Candle Remember the other day, we had lunch with Judy and Norm. Judy is my “convoluted …
: SMH I was reading early yesterday while I was still stretched out in the camper when I heard a …
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: Fog in the Holler Hello, October!!! I’m loving these warm days and cool nights. I also love to sleep …
: An Audience of Two I follow BMack Writes. She sends out these short videos with the conviction she …
: Jug For A Day We are “of a certain age.” Y’all know what I’m talking about. We’re ALL doing it. …
: Bread and Grains Me. Fixit went to the bowling alley to congregate with his buddies last evening so …
: Remember 9? I never had a birthday party with friends till I was 13 years old. Man…I thought I was …
: Planning for Spring There is a corner of the yard out by the creek that captures and holds water …
: Busy Bees We were thrilled when the sun came out yesterday! It’s still going to be coolish, but…it …
: Oh, What a Beautiful Morning… You know those nights when you just can’t seem to fall asleep…no …
: Heading Home It’s been such a lovely, relaxing trip. It’s always so much fun to visit with Gail. Get …
: Camp of the Flies I was awakened yesterday by a loud thud that shook the camper. I removed my ear …
: LONG Day Note: I know many of you recognize where I am but please don’t reveal it here while I’m …
: Changes I never dreamed I’d become attached to a spider. “Charlotte” was beautiful! Yellow and black …
: Zzzzzz… We had an appointment in town yesterday then met my “convoluted cousin” and her husband for …
: Running on Empty Y’all…we had such an adventure last night. We hooked the camper up to the new truck …
: How Times Have Changed We had another day of challenges, so we stopped for ice cream on the way …
: The Poky Little Turtle I love living in the country! You never know what you’ll see from day to …
: Good Night, Little Moon We’ve had a hard year, but things are turning around! I haven’t shared a lot …
: All Good Things… Wow…what a great weekend! We went over to see our cousins and sat on their …
: Sunday Evening Prayer Circle Please pray for: My family as they travel home from a wonderful family …
: What a Perfect Day! Celebrating my uncle’s 90th birthday was so much fun. There must have been a …
: A Quick Story I may have told you this one before but humor me if I have. When my uncle received his …
: Mr. Virgo’s Birthday and Raisin Filled Cookies Mr. Virgo’s birthday was yesterday. We talked about …
: The Roaring Twenties I’ve been having a wonderful time looking through these old photos. There was …
: A Cool Dude I’m up to my elbows looking for photos to take to my uncle’s house this weekend. The …
: Starter Success Well sort of. On the one hand, we did find out the starter in the truck was …
: I Have an Assignment We’re leaving in a few days for my Uncle Bud’s 90th Birthday Party. We can’t …
: The Little Petunia That Could What a week! The travel was riddled with fits and starts. I got cellulitis in my foot. My brother …
: When Things Don't Quite Go as Planned After taking two days to get here and thirty hours without sleep, I discovered that it was just the …
: How Does Your Garden Grow? We’ve been so busy this week getting things together before I leave for a month in Colorado. In the …
: When Your First Friend Dies Lisa married me and Mr. FixIt. Forgive me for cropping him out of the picture. His name and his …
: The Stealthy Nope Rope! I sat down at my desk last night to write this, and the Ring camera at the farm sent a motion …
: Finally, A GREAT Loaf of Bread! I am sure I read online that I could turn my smoker up to at least 350° to bake bread. I got the …
: My Experiment Failed I finally got it together to bake some bread yesterday afternoon. I bought that Magic Chef …
: Hot Days, Cool Nights, and the Joy of Mowing the Homestead We’re firmly planted in the rhythm of summer. Firecracker hot days…blessedly cool nights…and mowing …
: Baking Inside When It’s Baking Outside Almost all the contiguous states in America are under some sort of heat warning. We’ve been getting …
: Training for my Flight The world has gone bat-stick crazy! It reminds me of The Lord of the Flies when all the kids went …
: Life in the Slow Lane Just a photo dump for this evening. We’ve had quite a day. We're almost ready to open the pool …
: Are We Living in a Tropical Jungle? It sure feels like we’re living in the Amazon! West Virginia is currently experiencing hot and …
: The Past is Fading Before My Eyes Those of you who have been following me for some time are aware of my strong attachment to my …
: It’s ALIVE! I’ve been baking with sourdough since the COVID-19 lockdown. Everyone and their brother were …
: My Love Affair with “Griz” I grew up cooking in cast-iron skillets. Grandma had a few. Mom had several. I had a LOT that I …
: Whole Grain Buttermilk Biscuits My latest attempt in the kitchen? Baking Buttermilk Biscuits with Fresh-Milled Flour! I decided to …
: The Face in the Clouds When I was a little girl, I used to lie down on the ground and watch the many shapes that appeared …
: Lessons in Imperfection I’m a perfectionist to the point that I sometimes don’t attempt something if I think it’ll be a …
: Baking Day Mr. FixIt went to town yesterday for the annual reunion dinner for the place he worked most of his …
: So THIS is What Real Food Tastes Like! I padded into the kitchen at around 8:30 yesterday morning. I turned on the teakettle and emptied …
: The New Flour Mill Arrived! I’d love to say I did an unboxing video and demonstrated how to grind the grain into flour. I DID …
: New Species in the Pollinator Gardens Venus’s Looking Glass When I started carving out patches of our five acre homestead to devote to …
: What Happens When the Last Tree Falls? When my grandma died in 1999, something had to be done. She was widowed in 1971 and was left to …
: Separating the Wheat from the Chaff If you’ve been reading my posts here, you know I’m on a quest to improve our nutrition. Mr. FixIt …
: Repercussions of the Flood Lee Creek is beyond those trees. It’s usually not much more than a trickle. When we saw the muddy …
: The Saga of the Grain Mill I’m a sucker for trends. I’m a Gemini…I want to do all the things! I’ve done this with sewing …
: Saving Bambi Saving a little fawn from the floodwaters. We’re in monsoon season here in West Virginia. We’ve had …
: The Leavening Power of Faith Image Created with AI by CoPilot Bread, in its simplest form, consists of just three ingredients: …
: Grandma's Hands I did the math…my grandma was only forty-eight years old when I was born. I gave her the first …
: Failure? Or Lessons Learned? I’ve been baking with Fresh Milled Flour for the last month or so. I’ve tried different recipes and …
: Number, please. I’m so old, I remember a time when your house phone didn’t have a rotary dial. You just picked up …
: The Kousa Dogwood I love going for drives here in my home state of West Virginia. Ever since I moved back here in …
: Through the Chill and the Rain I believe this is a drone fly. It’s still a great pollinator. May seems to have been cooler and …
: A Wise Purchase Since I found out I nearly killed my coffee grinder getting two cups of flour on Wednesday, I …
: Ginny’s Sourdough Buttermilk Pancakes with Fresh Milled Flour Image created through AI via Copilot I’ve been baking with fresh milled flour (FMF) for the last …
: Keeping the Light On Sometimes this ol’ world seems pretty dark…darker than I’ve ever known it to be. It’s been dark …
: Working Outdoors There is so much to do at this time of the year. I needed to bake, but the garden needed me more. …
: The Peonies are Popping! The little lollipop buds of our pink peony (Sara Bernhardt?) have been continually getting bigger …
: He Loves Me…He Loves Me Not Do you remember your first crush? I do. His name was Brett…or, maybe it was Kevin. We rode the bus …
: Country Roads….. I think this procedure Mr. FixIt had on his back is really going to help. He’s already feeling …
: From Meat Locker to Microwave The ancient John Deere Well, we are at that time of year when we casually walked out of the freezer …
: Mr. FixIt’s Got an Owwwwy Poor Mr. FixIt. He was a rough and tumble guy all his life and he’s paying the price with back …
: Never Too Late to Change I’m pretty far into the book of my life. There were so many things I wished I could change…do …
: The Black Iris is Blooming! Just a quick update on the tractor. I got is all put back together and wouldn’t you know it…it did …
: Happy Mother’s Day…Congratulations Graduates…What is Wrong with this Tractor?!?!?! Y’all, I was so excited to get out to the pole building yesterday morning (after our yummy …
: Just Stretching to See What Hurts Can you find the Buckeye Tree? Oooooh, you know how great it feels to finally get outside in the …
: Should You Toot Your Own Horn? The view under the tractor with the owner deck removed. Have you ever done something that made you …
: Wannabe Farm Girl All planted…five varieties of tomatoes, all heirloom except one. I grew up in a medium-sized town …
: Walking in the Rain I’ve been working on a project this week, in between baking and cleaning the kitchen…ad infinitum. …
: Ahhhh…the Whippoorwill is Back! An eastern whippoorwill (Antrostomus vociferous) perches on a tree branch in the eastern deciduous …
: A Fist Full of Berries Monster strawberry from California. I had a really busy day yesterday and along the way, there was …
: Learning New Tricks Image by Ginny McKinney with Meta AI - It’s not me, but the resemblance is uncanny! Turns out, you …
: The Happy Little Baker I love to bake. It’s been one of my favorite activities all my life. That doesn’t mean I baked …
: Living a Rich Life I thought about my grandma a lot yesterday. She pops into my mind most days…usually when I’m …
: Another Week at the Beach is Over We made it to the pier at 9:00 yesterday morning and didn’t leave until 3:00 in the afternoon. From …
: A Chilly Day The temperature barely crept into the 60’s yesterday so we didn’t go out on the bridge to fish. …
: Playing Tourist We didn’t have it in us to go fishing again yesterday. It was cooler and the wind was still pretty …
: So Much Sea to See… We got up much earlier yesterday. I made breakfast sandwiches and we headed over to the old Bonner …
: So Much To Do… So little time! We had a slow morning and probably shouldn’t have. We had steak and eggs for …
: What a Glorious Day! The sun was out all day long. The wind had died down and even though today’s high was only 57°, it …
: A Great Start to the Day Thank you, Jesus for getting us here safely! I couldn’t believe it…we both slept twelve hours …
: Parking on the Freeway I forgot…April is the beginning of Orange Cone Season. Ugh. We lost at least an hour or two in stop …
: Finding Joy in the Little Things It felt great to get back out on the mower yesterday. It was our only window without rain so I …
: A Change of Heart Image created by Ginny McKinney using Meta AI I have some very special friends. You know the sort. …
: Another Bit of Time Travel Where my grandparent’s lived in Pekin, IL - Credit: Zillow I’ve been combining two of my hobbies in …
: Learn to Dance in the Rain ”Learn to Dance in the Rain” - AI by Ginny McKinney with Meta AI Darlings…what a weekend! It has …
: What Was I Thinking? The Inimitable Christine Lavin. (Credit: Christine Lavin) Back at the turn of the century, Hubby #2 …
: Good Bread Cures Everything! Back when Mr. Virgo and I lived in Denver, we had the kids over for Christmas and I made our …
: Time Travel You can see our apartment building through the trees to the right. We called the large house to the …
: Time to Get Movin’ You never know what will greet you at the back door! We leave for the beach the end of next week. I …
: HELLO APRIL!!!!! The redbud are blooming!!! Wowza! We not only survived winter, but we’re full on spring around …
: Walking With Mr. FixIt I was sure I would bake yesterday, but one thing or another got in the way. Namely, it was 78° …
: Finding Calm During Chaos ”After the Storm” - Photo by Ginny McKinney©️2015 I am walking a fine line between staying informed …
: Let Your Inner Beauty Shine Image by Meta AI Like most women “of a certain age,” I pull hands full of hair out of my brush …
: Egg-in-a-Basket Seeing my downstairs neighbor from the apartment building in England on Monday brought back so many …
: Old Friends and Old Stories I was so excited to see my friend and her husband yesterday. We had such a great time laughing and …
: A Quiet Sunday Mr. FixIt and I enjoyed each other’s company yesterday. I made a nice breakfast of grits and …
: Bread Baking Day Since my sourdough has been a little unpredictable lately, I decided to make a double batch of …
: Handmade With Love If you’ve been following Girl Camper, you’ve seen the buzz about the upcoming auction to benefit …
: Finito! These little white flowers are the first things to come up in the pollinator garden. The taxes are …
: It’s Stick Pickin’ Season Picking up sticks in the field. This keeps me from having to hop off and on the tractor every ten …
: Noshing With the Monday Stitchers I really look forward to our stitching group on Monday Mornings, although…if it were my choice, …
: Success!!!!! Y’all are going to get so tired of reading about my bread baking adventures, but I finally got good …
: We’re Back in Business! I bought ten pounds of King Arthur flour Friday to try to salvage my sourdough starter. I figured …
: I Missed the Wedding! Y’all…I had a long and busy day yesterday and by the time I got home, I was exhausted. The kitchen …
: A Roller Coaster Ride Wouldn’t it be nice if things would just stay on an even keel for a little bit? Last year was one …
: Springtime in West Virginia I heard spring peepers Tuesday night! Ok, it may be FAUX Spring….but what a delicious reprieve from …
: Today is Mr. Virgo's 12th Angelversary The time keeps marching forward… further away from the actual loss. That doesn't mean he's gone …
: The Ol’ Bait and Switch “I picked these red flags just for you!” It’s the oldest trick in the book…reel ‘em in till you …
: This Bread Is Makin’ Me Crazy! Look at this beautiful dough! Y’all…I couldn’t believe how my bread turned out yesterday. Instead …
: I’m Procrastibaking! Honey, if there’s anything I really hate to do, it’s paperwork like taxes and bills and balancing …
: Memories of my Mom’s Kitchen Image created with Meta AI I’ve talked to you before about my mom’s kitchen. It had never been …
: Meanwhile Back at the Ranch I have no idea what I did, but sometime in late morning yesterday, my back seized up and about sent …
: The Conflagration I lived in Colorado for forty years and witnessed so many terribly destructive forest fires there. …
: I’m In My Happy Place!!! Spending the night in “Grace the Camper.” OMGosh! Y’all, it was so beautiful yesterday. I took a …
: Girl Time “Big” turned 21 on Saturday. I know, right? How can the time pass so quickly? I try to catch her …
: Prayer Works I finally had some quiet time here at the house with Mr. FixIt at bowling. First, I tore my closet …
: The Lone Pine When I wake up in my “inside bed” and look out the window, I see the sun hitting the ridge line on …
: Coyotes at Three I had a hard time getting to sleep Thursday night. I tossed and turned and just could not settle my …
: Where Are Those Hard Drives??? I’ve torn this house apart looking for those hard drives. Well, not completely. I still have a …
: Baking Day at Marshmallow Ranch I’m finally getting a rhythm with this baking. I’ve found a recipe that I like and can replicate if …
: A Portent of Spring I awoke at about 3:30 yesterday morning to the sound of rain on the tin roof at Grandma’s house. …
: At Home in the Country When I was growing up in West Virginia, I could hardly wait to get out of there. I saw the place as …
: ‘Shine Screenshot I stumbled on this listing on FB Marketplace. For the bargain price of $300, you too can …
: The Farm The Farm The Farm! Finally…I got it together enough to come out to The Farm for a few days. The internet is so much …
: Stories and Updates First, I wanted to give you an update on Hubby #2. He had the kidney transplant on Monday and was …
: Looking Ahead While I’m all about mindfulness and staying in the moment, I do need something to look forward to. …
: The Zen of Bread Baking “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” I’ve heard this proverb since I was a child. My grandma used …
: Things Are Looking Up!!! Girls, you’ll never guess what we did yesterday! Little Gracie was finally ready to pick up from …
: Uh-Oh! Somehow, my iPad went into restore mode. I’ve been deleting things off it to make more room, then …
: Four Seasons in a Day We had a few moments of sunshine after hard rain all night. We have standing water in our yard, but …
: Sunday Evening Prayer Circle Pray for the widows, widowers, and children who have lost their precious family members. Theirs is …
: The Never Ending Phone Call Last fall when Mr. FixIt and I were on our anniversary trip to the Outer Banks, we used a …
: Help Yourself On September 6, 1916, Clarence Sanders revolutionized the grocery shopping experience. Up until …
: Dismantling Christmas and Getting Good News Ever since the Covid lockdown, I’ve left the Christmas tree up till Super Bowl Sunday. We were so …
: Ten Ways to Keep From Losing Your **** Wow…we’re all getting whiplash with the rapid fire changes going on in our country. I won’t go into …
: The Language of Rebellion In yesterday’s post, I lamented that I didn’t like the Super Bowl halftime show. I’m not a big fan …
: Fly Eagles Fly! OMGosh! Did y’all watch that Super Bowl game??? Mr. Virgo was a diehard Eagles fan so I have to …
: Sunday Evening Prayer Circle I’m sorry I’m late…that Super Bowl game distracted me! Watch over the hostages in Gaza as they …
: He Went To……Kroger! When either one of us go to town, we can just about bet one or the other of us will stop at Sam’s. …
: Missed a Day One of the first things I do every day is check in here to see how everyone is doing. I write my …
: The House on Storm King I posted a picture on here the other day of the first big snow after Mr. Virgo died. It made me …
: Monday Morning With the Girls I love our little knitting group. There’s just four of us…that’s all the room we have in the gal’s …
: Another Monday Morning No one told us when we were growing up that we’d get to a certain age and our family members and …
: The Rear View Mirror Photo watermarked with iWatermark for iOS. We spent a quiet day at home for Mr. FixIt’s birthday. …
: Fire and Rain First, let me tell you, I’m doing fine. I’m resting and trying to cut down my screen time to manage …
: The Continuing Saga of The Knocked Noggin I slept great Wednesday night. I got up feeling “not myself” which isn’t surprising with a bonk on …
: Knocked my Noggin I was still in bed yesterday morning when Mr. FixIt asked if I wanted to go to IHOP for breakfast …
: Make It a Good Day Monday was such a bummer finding Grandma’s house had been broken into. I sat with those feelings of …
: Feeling Violated I went to knitting group yesterday morning. Even though it was only 17° when I walked out the front …
: Fly Eagles Fly! Mr. Virgo was a HUGE Eagles fan. He was born and raised in South Philly so he and his dad bled …
: Give Us This Day I've been doing a lot of baking lately. It gives me great satisfaction to provide sustenance from …
: Move Along Now It’s starting to feel like Groundhog Day around here. Every single day is the same old …
: I Finally Found It! Sourdough English Muffins I began learning how to make sourdough bread during the Covid …
: You Are Precious! When we find ourselves navigating rough waters, it’s easy to start feeling helpless and it’s not a …
: I’m on a News Strike What a Chilly Week Ahead! Yeah, I know…I can’t keep my head in the sand forever, but there is …
: Lifting Others Up Wowza…it snowed another three inches or so yesterday. I’m thinking Mr. FixIt got a touch of …
: MORE Soup! Even though we still have a container of leftover broccoli cheese soup, I had stew meat in the …
: Let the Sun Shine OMGosh, y’all…the sunshine was amazing yesterday! It was 43° and it felt glorious after the deep …
: The Gratitude Project I miss my Gracie. I love that little camper. I miss going out there to write without the TV. I told …
: A Good Day to Stay Inside One of Mr. FixIt’s former coworkers at the tool plant died over the weekend. He’d been ill for …
: Shiver me Timbers - It’s COLD! Wowza…we’re hitting single digits pretty regularly here in WV as of late. I sleep with the window …
: Freedom! “Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you.” Jean-Paul Sartre We all have had challenges …
: Bowling With the Birthday Boy Our middle great-grandson turned five last week. He’s three-and-a-half feet of pure love. I raised …
: The Elephant in the Room I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about FB lately. Things are changing rapidly in the world. Big, …
: Still Snowing!!! Just a quick check in. I ran to town and got my cap cemented back on my front tooth so I’m back in …
: Baking Day It’s getting to the point there are several baking days a week around here. We were out of bread so …
: Upping My List-Making Game Have you ever texted a grocery list to your spouse? If yours is like mine, you can’t send multiple …
: English Muffins! Finally! I got the English muffins to rise enough to bake. They were tangy and crunchy when toasted …
: Do You Know the Muffin Man? I’ve been working with this English Muffin recipe and I almost dumped the dough yesterday for the …
: A Quarter of a Century Most people have their big day of introspection on New Year’s Day. Or maybe their birthday. For me? …
: The Storm of The Decade I was hoping we wouldn’t have to go to town till next week, but we both had a prescription to pick …
: Every Day is Saturday When you’re retired, the days just kind of run together, don’t they? I often have to think hard or …
: Kitchen Magic I am constantly amazed by sourdough. It is just water and flour and wild yeasts. Yeast is …
: A New Day…A New Month…A New Year! Well, after four years of not so much as a sniffle, I woke up yesterday morning with a scratchy …
: I’m Home, But…. All the way home, I wasn’t quite sure the truck was actually fixed. Something felt off but I …
: Ridin’ With Jesus I told you all I was going to drive the route that takes you through the tunnel that goes under the …
: Good Morning, World! They called me late Thursday and the truck was ready!!! I spent the rest of the day packing it up …
: Fishing on the Bridge I still had one more day on my fishing license. It was such a beautiful day. There are so many …
: A Waiting Game Well, I sent Mr. FixIt back to West Virginia with our son and daughter-in-law on Saturday. They …
: Making Progress AAA came yesterday and towed our truck to the garage. They were kind enough to let us ride along …
: Uh-Oh! We took a drive yesterday and the dreaded yellow wrench popped up on our engine display. When this …
: Look at the Sky! Watching the comet with my sweetheart…the Pelican Whisperer! lol No luck fishing but it was a …
: Sun, Surf, and Sand This does not suck! Hardly any wifi. No TV. No restaurants. Few tourists. Life is good, y’all! …
: Northern Lights! Just wanted to drop in and let you know we are well and happy as little clams. We saw the Northern …
: Good Morning, Friends! I’ve been a busy little bee this week! Doctors appointments seem to appear out of thin air as we …
: Today’s Thought: Do we think…if we turn ourselves to stone, we won’t disappear? Or that nothing will hurt us? I …
: Finding the Peace In Between I have a true confession to make. I didn’t realize how terribly burned out I was when I got back …
: When God Seems Quiet Do you sometimes feel this noisy world is drowning out the sound of God’s voice? Sometimes I find …
: Knit, Nosh, Nap OMGosh! Y’all…I just had the BEST three days camping with my bestie, Gail. She’s the camphost for …
: A Walkabout and Other Stuff Some days it doesn’t pay to get out of bed. That’s how yesterday felt. I woke up with a start. …
: A Day in the Kitchen Hey, y’all…I just thought I’d drop in and say hi! It was another really busy week with trips to …
: A Stroll in Paradise Oxeye Daisy The nighttime temps are finally giving us a break and it makes for great sleeping here …
: This Is More Like It Mr. FixIt had a couple of things to do in town yesterday and that gave me the whole day to myself. …
: Ugh…Re-Entry Blahs Show of hands…who can relate to needing a vacation after a vacation? Most of us, right? I took …
: A Good Heart A lot went on during our trip out west. Things I wasn’t at liberty to talk about at the time but …
: Almost Ready! I stripped the beds and washed the linens yesterday. I cooked up two pounds of breakfast sausage to …
: Little Visitors I overslept yesterday. Well, actually I didn’t even set an alarm for knitting group. I forgot. …
: I Love You More….. (Trigger Warning: This post discusses sexual abuse.) What a week. There was a time when any one …
: Making the Most of Time We had a lovely day, keeping cool and swimming in the pool. We grilled steaks and corn-on-the-cob …
: Loving the Water When my mom was a young girl, she saved her baby sister from drowning while she herself did not …
: A Challenging Day I woke up yesterday morning to the news that my dear friend Sharon passed peacefully at 3:30am. She …
: A Good Day at the Farm I went “live” at the farm yesterday hoping you could hear the birds. They were going crazy out …
: Highs and Lows Another early morning here at Marshmallow Ranch. Mr. FixIt and I headed to town in separate …
: The Art of Keeping Cool I rarely ever take a nap anymore. I used to when the kids were little. And during Covid. Escapism …
: Father’s Day was Mr. FixIt’s Day We knew yesterday was going to be a scorcher. Since we both worked hard on Saturday, and we had the …
: A Full Day of Fun! I woke up at 5:30! The sun coming in the window and shining on my legs makes me hot and wakes me …
: Finally…RAIN! Not my kitchen…but I‘d love to have one just like it! It’s been so dry here the last two or three …
: Seventy-One Birthdays Remember when seventy-one seemed ancient??? I remember my great-grandfather dancing a soft shoe …
: Out of the Mouths of Babes Courtney is a sweet friend I met in Nashville several years ago. We bonded over the fact her …
: Hitting the Ground Running Someone mentioned the other day that our “triplets” may actually be a set of twins and a spare from …
: An Ordinary Monday I love days like yesterday. I went to knitting group and helped the gals learn how to make teddy …
: Work Done and Pool Fun! I try not to do any work on Sunday, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. The grass isn’t quite long …
: A Bumper Crop of Babies! I was just telling Mr. FixIt the other day that I hadn’t seen any fawns this year. He said not to …
: Going in Different Directions We are divvying up the chores these days, trying to get more done before the Colorado trip. We pull …
: Still Chasing Frogs and Bees We made another big step in getting the pool ready. Mr. FixIt put the ladder in for me so I could …
: The Goodness of God We had a good day. An ordinary day. I went to knitting group. Mr. FixIt and I headed to town in the …
: Country Living - The Flip Side As beautiful as it is here on Marshmallow Ranch, it doesn’t come without its issues. Besides being …
: Country Living is the Best! Ever have one of those days that you do SO many things, you can’t keep track of them? That was what …
: Reconciliation and Grace Photo Credit: Internet Back in October, I told you about a friend of mine that’s been my …
: Another Day at the Pool Sausage Gravy Notice I did not say IN the pool. There still has to be a whole lot of cleaning done …
: Field Day at Marshmallow Ranch All these little black and white dots are frog eggs suspended in a gelatinous substance that feeds …
: Froggy Went a’Courtin’ Photo Credit: vuecustompools.com I’ve been hearing these frogs out by the pool all spring. Calling …
: Decoration Day Before Congress standardized the holiday as “Memorial Day” in 1971, we called it Decoration Day. It …
: The Equality of Marriage Meme Credit: Internet Last night one of my knitting friends sent me this meme and asked if we could …
: An Evening Walkabout Lightning bug, aka firefly, climbing the stalk to prepare for flight. Evenings are my favorite time …
: A Field of Daisies We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before we broke camp and headed home. We didn’t have as many stops …
: The Language of Trees A towering old tree. I slept over ten hours straight on Sunday night. Not a record, but greatly …
: Fireflies!!! You can see a few fireflies in the hedgerow along the edge of the field. This was taken by the …
: A Rainy Day in the Woods When I woke up early yesterday morning, I looked out the window and it was raining cats and dogs. …
: Making the Best of Disappointment I didn’t feel terrific when I went to bed Wednesday night. I woke up feeling worse, but thought I’d …
: After the Storm I thought for sure I’d hit the ground running yesterday and get so much done but that didn’t …
: Patience is a Virtue Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been impatient. I couldn’t wait for Christmas and I had to look …
: Getting Ready to Camp It feels like we just got home and I’m heading out again tomorrow. I’m taking the camper with me to …
: Finding Peace Where I Can Get It I celebrated Mother’s Day in quite the organic way. Sleeping in the camper and waking up to the …
: In Search of the Lights I met the Former Mrs. FixIt and my bonus daughter yesterday at the library for the stitching class. …
: A Lazy Day Supper…yummmmm! Honestly…we didn’t do mucha nuthin’ yesterday. We slept in, had our breakfast, and …
: Singin’ For My Supper Our Pretty Pink Peonies My grandma used to say, “You have to sing for your supper.” She didn’t mean …
: A Busy and Productive Day Mr. FixIt had a procedure done yesterday morning. When they were taking him back, I called after …
: Jumping In With Both Feet Our First Peony of the Year! Monday was our first day back from the beach trip and it was spent …
: The Perspective of Time I have a group of gals who get together periodically and camp. We have a group text where we catch …
: The L-o-o-o-o-o-ng Drive Home Our peonies will bloom soon! Mr. FixIt’s alarm rang exactly five minutes after we woke up. Ohhhh, …
: We’re Halfway Home Well, we got to the “be-here-by-7:30-or-sleep-in-the-parking-lot” campground at 4:00. Plenty of …
: Friday was MY Day! When we woke up yesterday, Mr. FixIt said, “Today is YOUR day. You get to choose whatever you want …
: One More Sleep Pardon my healing thumb…I hurt it when I was building the twin beds in the camper. The weather was …
: Playing Tourist for the Day The site where Mr. FixIt’s daughter spread her late husband’s ashes. After breakfast, we headed up …
: Four Nearly Windless Hours The wind keeps blowing like crazy but we had four beautiful hours with a gentle breeze so we fished …
: Gone Fishin’ We had a nice breakfast…French toast and ham. But that made us get a little bit of a late start to …
: Gone With The Wind! OMGosh! The wind has been wicked ever since we got here! It’s gusty, noisy, and brings the wind …
: NOW We Can Relax!!! Leaning on a lamp post at Corolla Lighthouse on Friday. The kids took off for home yesterday …
: Pancakes, Pizza, and Plenty of Sunshine! I know, I know…I’ve told you this before, but these beds are SOOOOOOO comfortable. The old queen …
: Ford 1, Turkey 0 This was the view at Oak Hollow Family Campground. When I checked out yesterday morning, the gal at …
: Road Trippin’!!! Oh, the work getting ready for this trip was SO much more than I envisioned this time last week! I …
: Twelve Long Hours Mr. FixIt’s bed is finished. We just need to put the plywood on top. The pretty facia will have to …
: Whistle While You Work This was the first wall I did. It’s kinda like putting together a puzzle. I added another support …
: A Day of Planning and Gathering I figured I’d better make Mr. FixIt a nice breakfast after springing the bedroom remodel for the …
: Mrs. FixIt Strikes Again Poor Mr. FixIt…he has a lot to handle with me for a wife. I always get a wild hair, and sometimes …
: Wowza, What a Storm! My little buddy came out after the rain. The toads sit under the solar and porch lights and catch …
: Three Days in a Row Do any of you remember Lazarus Department Store in Columbus? It was THE place to go shopping for …
: Treasures from the Past When I was looking through a box the other day, I came across this gem. The Glenwood Post did a …
: In My Happy Space! Happy isn’t just a place or a mood or a circumstance. Happy is a choice…a state of BE-ing. I was in …
: Saturday at The Farm!!! I had about an hour to knit before I headed to town for the embroidery class with Mrs. FixIt 1.0. I …
: Knit Two Purl Two Loving these socks! I’m just about finished with the first sock of the cute striped pair. It didn’t …
: We’re Building an Ark! This creek runs along the border of our property. Hokey Smokes, y’all! I have seen hard rain …
: Happy Humpday! Oh, the lengths a person will go to see. I’m determined to finish as many projects as I can from …
: Knitting, Mowing, and a Solar Eclipse Me and my Baby I actually had two stories to tell you yesterday morning, but the one I settled on …
: Be a Good Human I sat in the car in the parking lot, waiting for the hour of visitation. I called Daughter #1 to …
: UFOs and a Transistor Radio I’ve seen them. As a matter of fact, I have several of them. No, not the shiny cylindrical variety …
: Counted Cross Stitch It’s been forever since I’ve done a cross stitch. When I took our daughter and her mom with me to …
: Roller Coaster Weather Yesterday was one of those days that gave us four seasons in one day. Warm, springlike weather with …
: The Calm After the Storm Yesterday was a pretty decent day, considering all the bad weather we had the day before. According …
: Crazy Weather!!! My phone lit up like a Christmas tree all day. Severe weather warnings came in like fevered texts …
: April Showers Easter Flowers This is going to be a rainy week. This is the time of year where you don’t know …
: The Little Lost Beagle The view from the bedroom window. Flowering Quince and Forsythia. We settled on Popcorn Pancakes …
: So Long, My Friend I heard yesterday that we have lost a dear friend in the camping community. I met Lynn Butler soon …
: A Good Time Was Had Tuesday night was clear as a bell and the stars were so close it felt like you could reach out and …
: Spring Rains Yesterday was a sad day with the news of the bridge collapse in Baltimore. I shared a video of the …
: Monday is for Making Monday knitting group was great fun, as always…even though one of our regulars couldn’t be there. …
: Kiss Me Sunshine! We had a lovely day here on Marshmallow Ranch. The sun was bright and the sky was blue, but it was …
: Rise and Shine! My favorite breakfast…Grits and Eggs! I woke before the sun came up and sighed. My fun week with …
: What a Wonderful Retreat! Shark Slippers! I’ve had such a great time this week with Gail and Janine! Janine had to leave …
: No Responsibilities! I was way off when I described the color of this yarn yesterday. It has PINK in it…not blue. I …
: A Home Away From Home Every time I arrive at Gail’s I’m so relieved to give her a great big hug. We have to cherish our …
: What a Difference a Year Makes I went to town yesterday with the intent of getting my hair cut. But, after blowing my hair dry on …
: Progress and Perfection I got right to work on the taxes yesterday morning after having an epiphany during the night. This …
: A Time to Sow Mr. FixIt did a great job getting my flower bed ready. I did a little earthmoving to get the …
: Joy and Taxes! I finally ordered a new pair of glasses from Zenni. They’re BLUE! I think I like them!!! OMGosh! …
: Celebrating Mr. Virgo Yesterday marked eleven years he’s been gone. Mr. FixIt held me the night before and kissed the top …
: Don’t Ask I scour comments on FB as a study of human character. It deepens my understanding of …
: A Terrible Loss We were young and in love…the first love for each of us. We got married young and I moved to …
: Spring Ahead!!! Ohhhhh, how I’ve longed for spring! And I have to say, with the healthy changes I’ve made in the …
: The Matriarch My grandmother was fifty-six years old when I was born. My grandma was only forty-eight. Yet…they …
: Time and Treasures Even though my main purpose of doing the taxes has been unfulfilled, my trip to The Farm hasn’t …
: The Farm Life at The Farm moves at a different pace. There’s no TV. The batteries in the clocks on the wall …
: Springtime at The Farm! I went to knitting group yesterday morning. There were only three of us attending. One had business …
: Spring is Coming! If yesterday was any indication, spring is definitely around the corner! It was a beautiful 80° in …
: Another Project Finished We had the most delightful day yesterday. Mr. FixIt had to take it easy after his procedure on …
: When Your Heart Hurts My heart hurts every day. I hate election years. And, let’s face it…when ISN’T it an election year …
: Getting Things Done This is the little trophy I won. But more interesting is the salesman’s sample chair I’ve carted …
: Too Much Stimuli Ever since Covid started and we became sequestered in our homes, I’ve become far more sensitive to …
: A Quiet Sunday My devotional this week has been from Joyce Meyer… “Know Your Enemy.” I knew there had to be a …
: Watching the Snow It’s not too often I get up before Mr. FixIt but when I do, I make my cuppa and go sit in my Big …
: This is My Heart This guy right here…he’s been mine since the day I was born. I’m not sure my mom knew anything was …
: Four Thousand Days In just a little over two weeks it will be eleven years since Mr. Virgo died unexpectedly. Today …
: Water Water Everywhere A little trip to the coffee shop before my appointment…let’s make teddies! I had a follow-up …
: A Good Do Over Way too big! Time for a do over! We had a less than stellar meal at iHOP a couple of weeks ago. Mr. …
: Mondays are for Knitting Forgive the color…the light in my lamp is so yellow. Our knitting group met yesterday and as …
: You’ve Got a Friend I really DO give up. This is a lot harder than it looks. Don’t ever tell someone who knits on a …
: One More Try When I woke up yesterday morning, the sun was shining brightly and every twig on every tree was …
: All My Life is a Circle We really don’t get much of a winter in West Virginia anymore. Global warming, climate …
: The Need to Fix Things When I was camping last week, I woke up after a great night’s sleep and looked around. I love this …
: Let Your Marriage Breathe When you open a fine bottle of wine, you need to give it time to breathe in order to truly …
: Hold Onto Your Joy How many times have you felt joy, only to have a negative interaction with someone and feel …
: Humpty Dumpty Had a Great Fall…and a Great Cup of Tea! Knitting group was small this week…just three of us. We really did more talking than knitting. …
: Football!!! My latest basket! What a wonderful long weekend off! Sometimes you just need to unplug and …
: A Nerve Wracking Day I was thrilled that Mr. FixIt felt much better when he woke up yesterday. I fixed him his favorite …
: The Recipe Box When I was a young bride, I bought a green plastic box that held 3x5 cards. I diligently collected …
: I Want To Do ALL The Things! I’m getting close to finishing the market bag that I’ve been crocheting. I am on the last ball of …
: A Beautiful Day at the Farm I woke up at 6:00 and thought…oh, no…I’m going to have to get up! But I fell back to sleep and …
: Should We Love Them Anyway? Loving your enemies isn’t easy, is it? Jesus loved the men who crucified him because he understood …
: A Very Happy Birthday! It was a gorgeous day…55° and bright sunshine. We got up and around, fixed our morning beverages, …
: A Touch of Ukraine When you knit on a circular knitting machine, it’s a whole different ballgame than traditional …
: The Art of Customer Satisfaction Ya’ll, I’ve got a great story to tell you today. When the Ninja brand of smoothie blenders came on …
: Knitting and Driving I spent a little time in my favorite shop in town…Mulberry Lane. I love the Monday morning knitting …
: A Cozy Day at Home Mr. FixIt and I enjoyed a quiet day yesterday. I fixed my favorite breakfast…grits and eggs. We …
: Facing Food and Enjoying Life I was up super early yesterday because I needed to bake two pies, start a pot of chili, and get a …
: Christmas in January ”Smoke on the Water” by Sue Lilly I was up early when the sun hit the trees on the far ridge with a …
: An Unexpected Excursion After being gone all day Wednesday, I thoroughly expected a stay-at-home day yesterday. After …
: A Me Day The World’s Best Dish Cloth from Rada Cutlery! While it wasn’t a day of self-indulgence, I did have …
: Another Sunny Day The baby blanket I’m working on. The temperature got up to 46° yesterday and today will be in the …
: Three Little Babies All in a Row I was so happy to see all those smiling faces at Knitting Group yesterday. They are such sweet …
: Bluebird Skies and Rest Midday Moon The skies were clear during the night so it was bitter cold and didn’t warm up during …
: I’m a Happy Little Hermit We got a little more snow on Friday night and it was SO cold. It was another indoor day here at …
: Winter Wonderland I awoke yesterday morning to a beautiful winter landscape. We had the kind of snow that frosts …
: The Big Red Chair I swore I would NEVER eat in front of the TV again after Mr. Virgo died. Actually, I swore I’d …
: Who Killed Tim Kono? Oooooooh…it was so cold Tuesday night that the water bottle on my windowsill froze! And I didn’t …
: Snow Day in West Virginia We awoke to about three inches of fluffy powdery snow yesterday morning. Schools were closed and …
: Crocheting in the Snow I don’t know…maybe I should stop complaining about having to go to town so much. I mean, we are …
: A Chilly Country Morning Mr. FixIt loves light covers and a very warm room. I like more covers and a very cold room. I …
: Screen Time Look what showed up on my computer when I opened it yesterday! I worked all day on the FB page, …
: A Maker Making From as long as I can remember, I’ve been a maker. I can remember my mom taking brown paper grocery …
: In Loving Service to Our Fellow Classmates My Beloved Alma Mater Our high school class was huge. Somewhere between 700 and 800 kids. One would …
: Rain, Rain, Rain! I kept waking up during the night to the sound of rain on the tarp covering the air conditioner …
: The Queen of Football! I told you my WV family has a just-for-fun competition to guess who will win each college Bowl …
: Cuteness Overload Bubby was pretty excited to get his Toy Story book with sound effects! Our day was full from start …
: January 6th Knitting in front of the “fire”! A monumental day in my life and the lives of all of us. My …
: It’s My Re-Birthday! On January 6th every year I celebrate my re-birth day. This is the day I didn’t die. January 6, …
: The Tote is Done I finished the tote Wednesday night and got to use it for the first time yesterday. Mr. FixIt …
: Using it Up: Cooking I sat in the Big Red Chair for a few hours yesterday and worked on the basket/tote that I’m …
: Day One: 2024 New Year, New Project. Crocheting a scrappy yarn basket to use up some of my stash. Use it Up!!! …
: Use It Up! I worked for days getting everything just so. The house was festive and tidy. It smelled of roast …
: My Morning With God I’ll put icing on these today before we sit down with our chili and pulled pork sandwiches. Mr. …
: Football and Peanut Butter Cookies I made enough French toast on Wednesday to have leftovers yesterday. I love French toast. And if …
: Ugh, Another Trip to Town The full moon in a marbled sky. Honestly, I thought I was done with the going to town thing till …
: It’s Boxing Day! I had never heard of Boxing Day till I lived in England. Boxing Day is the tradition of rich …
: I Love My Life! I finally made a hat for me! Ten years ago when I faced my first Christmas without Mr. Virgo, I …
: A Job Well Done! I finished the last hat and scarf set yesterday and actually had a chance to sit down and relax …
: Getting Things Done I woke up yesterday to my alarm that tells me when to put in my eye drops…long after I usually get …
: Canning in December The last three days, I had a big pot of beef bones simmering in a big canner. I browned the bones …
: Stitching Up a Holiday Together Showing off the new Slipper Socks! Knitting group was a lot of fun yesterday. We had a full house …
: The New Santa Story Mr. FixIt went to the retiree luncheon yesterday and I stayed home to fiddle around in the kitchen. …
: Every Day Brings Sweetness Mr. FixIt was already gone when I got up yesterday morning. I yawned and stretched. What was that …
: Nailed It! Have you ever seen those posts online where they show something really cute that someone made and …
: A Day in the Studio It’s been a long time since I could sit in my studio and just create whatever I wanted. I ended up …
: We Have a New Roof! God has taken care of us in ways we could never imagine. We went into the year with three vehicles, …
: A Day on the Town Doing a little shopping…for little bananas? Have you ever eaten one of these? What’s the point? Mr. …
: Good Health Was The Goal No change in hair color, no makeup other than lipstick in the right photo. And, no filters. I’m so …
: Santa Came Early! The other day, one of my besties…Gail…posted that she got a circular knitting loom and it’s a game …
: It’s Time for my Annual PSA Every year I get up on my little soapbox and talk to you about why I say “Happy Holidays.” Now, …
: Popcorn Pancakes and the Perfectly Prepared Pan I’ve seasoned a couple dozen iron skillets in my day and I’ve never quite gotten it right… till …
: A Time of Tender Hearts Anniversary reactions. It’s a real thing and it’s predictable. It’s the annual echo of a past …
: Big on the Big Screen As promised, I stayed home and had a lay low day. I did a little cooking. I worked on the computer …
: It’s Okay to Say No The fog rolling in over the far field. God put it on my heart today to talk to you about something. …
: All That Glitters My brother, my heart! OMGosh! I had to be in town yesterday for two separate appointment four hours …
: Opportunities to Rise We stopped at an art gallery and I saw this amazing nativity. I’ll share more photos tomorrow. Mr. …
: The First Flakes of Snow We are in the midst of a little cold snap here in West Virginia. I’m still sleeping with the window …
: A Day is Never Wasted So warm and cozy!!! New boots/slippers. Whether your day is jam packed with chores or you …
: In the Kitchen…Again! I really love baking. It’s been awhile since I’ve baked a pie. Mainly because I haven’t been eating …
: Joie de Vivre Our first trip out to see the lights this season. There are a few traditions that we simply must …
: A Bountiful Turkey For a little ten pounder, this turkey sure gave us a lot of meals. The two of us didn’t eat very …
: Thanksgiving is a Verb Yesterday didn’t go quite as planned. Some of the calls I wanted to make were to places that are …
: Holiday Preparations Breakfast here at Marshmallow Ranch is determined by Mr. FixIt’s blood sugar. When it’s low, he …
: Intuition Overtime My Noom lesson yesterday started delving into intuition vs. instinct and how we can train our minds …
: Gratitude A hearty breakfast of grits, eggs, and turkey sausage is a great way to start the day on the right …
: A Self-Care Day I don’t take off and go to town by myself as much as I used to. So, when I had a coffee scheduled …
: Knit One, Purl Two My knitting throne! I made a good breakfast yesterday and plopped myself in the Big Red Chair and …
: Breathing a Sigh of Relief Remember the photo I showed you last week…well, the living room is ready to be decorated for the …
: A Late, Late Post I’m usually finished with my post by 10:30PM at the latest. Last night I didn’t even start till …
: The Continuing Saga of the Mouse Avenger Posies by my doorstep, shining in the afternoon sun! I needed a hearty-ish breakfast to start my …
: Chasing Rabbits Show of hands…how many of you have set out to do one particular job. You get going gangbusters and …
: It’s Always Good to Get Home I packed and cleaned up at The Farm before I could fritter away too much time. Mr. FixIt had an …
: A Time to Build Grandma nurtured all who passed through her doors. Whether it was with a cup of coffee and one of …
: Oh, What A Beautiful Day! OMGosh! On a day like yesterday, all you can do is praise God for his artistry! I’m at the farm to …
: A Respite at The Farm The sun was setting when we came out of the grocery store. Mr. FixIt had a followup visit with our …
: Self Indulgence or Self Care? Sometimes you just have to do it. It isn’t selfish to do something just for you. It’s healthy, and …
: Consider Yourself But Trust God I spent most of the day at the computer instead of knitting. As my friend Janine reminds me, I can …
: A Last Night Camping Last winter, I spent many nights sleeping in the camper. I love a cold room and a warm bed. I’ve …
: More Winter Prep I’d love to have a staff like Martha Stewart. Just take all my great ideas and assign the bulk of …
: How God Works I want to tell you all about another example of how God takes care of his children. You know our …
: A Day at the Keyboard With the first day of NaNoWriMo under my belt, I came out with 11,550 edited and proofed words. …
: Novem-BRRRRRRR! Just a small fraction of the elephant ears I pulled up yesterday. Yes, it’s getting pretty darned …
: The Kindness Strategy I opened my eyes to the sound of the bedroom door being gently closed…my husband’s attempt to keep …
: Good Men Honor Their Wives Hiking the dunes on the Outer Banks with Mr. FixIt. Mr. FixIt continues to improve. He has a good …
: A Speedy Saturday You know, for not doin’ much a nuthin’, the day sure got away from me. I basically piddled doing …
: Getting Some Much Needed Rest Chewed up walnut hull. Well, something got into the bucket of black walnuts I left in the driveway. …
: Thank you for the Prayers! They worked! Mr. FixIt felt MUCH better yesterday. He still didn’t eat a lot, but I got plenty of …
: Cleaning Out the Pantry and Freezer This monstrous sycamore is right across the dirt road from the near field. I feel like the …
: Testing Out my Theory Who wants some black walnuts? I decided yesterday that I had better pick up the walnuts from out in …
: Pumpkin Kitty is a Guard Cat! Well, I was going to lead this with the second photo, but didn’t want to gross y’all out too bad …
: The Language of Cats This cat always looks ticked off…bless her little Pumpkin head. It’s been almost four years since …
: Cold and Rainy Days Call for Comfort Food! A sesame seed brioche bun is the perfect canvas for this savory pulled pork topped with Duke’s …
: Old Wive’s Tales and Emails From Beyond The Wooly Bear Caterpillar or Wooly Worm I’m sure you have heard many sayings about the weather. …
: So Much Has Changed Since We Left Looking across one of the pollinator gardens to the near field. When we left for our trip, you saw …
: Oh, Lucy…I’m Home!!! We bugged out a day early and came home. We stayed at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, Virginia …
: Hello, Lakeside! Camping Along the Shore at Jordan Lake - Apex, NC We had the most beautiful drive through red wolf …
: So Long, Seashore! Sunrise at the Outer Banks As they say, all good things must come to an end and we have to leave …
: This Was a Total Day Off! We didn’t take a single picture yesterday so here’s one Mr. FixIt took the other night when we were …
: We Can Finally Relax! Not a BIG catch, but fun nonetheless. Mr. FixIt’s prescription finally arrived and we picked it up …
: What a Beautiful Day to Explore Our campground from the dunes. I discovered the sun comes right over the dunes and in my window in …
: We Have Arrived!!! OMGosh…what a great campground! We are nestled in amongst the sand dunes in a very narrow part of …
: Traveling Through the Old Dominion I love the majestic Live Oaks of the south. We stayed at Chippokes Plantation State Park in Surry …
: Mountain Miles are Longer Leaving the Greenbrier State Forest Campground I love to drive. Mountains, plains, twisty-turny or …
: It’s Deer Season in West Virginia Honey, I’m telling you…deer season is a religious holiday in my home state. Lawsy…the number of …
: What a Crazy Busy Day! The last day before every trip is loony toons! We run around with our hair on fire, passing each …
: I’m the Exterminator Mr. FixIt doesn’t like spiders and snakes. I wouldn’t say he’s necessarily afraid of them. I mean, …
: A Beautiful Autumn Day Not only was the weather perfect, but the company was as well. Our oldest great grandchild …
: Women’s Work Isn’t What it Used to Be This is what the dinette looked like before. The seats were terribly uncomfortable, the table was …
: We Did a Thing We love our new camper. It’s the perfect size to tow. It’s lightweight. It has every amenity you …
: Catching Up With a Dear Friend “Grandma’s Farm” - c.1997 - Colored Pencil on Paper A lot of things get put on the back burner when …
: It’s Time to Nest I have torn the family room apart. I’m deep cleaning it in preparation for the holiday season. I …
: God’s Paintbrush v My Own I’ve watched “influencers” reveal how they make everything look perfect. They clean a four foot …
: Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin! My sweetheart…enjoying the good life he deserves. HokeySmokes, y’all…there’s so much to tell. I’m …
: A Camping We Will Go! It rained off and on yesterday. Fortunately, it wasn’t raining when we packed up the truck and …
: The Gift We Give to Our Children We are a disposable society. Gone are the days when Grandma cut the buttons off of worn out shirts …
: Autumn Makes Me Miss Sparky The dog days of summer are past, the nights are downright chilly, and folks are getting out to soak …
: More Surprises! Playing with the light. “Wedding Pumpkin on Knitting” I got home from my camping trip in the late …
: A Little Surprise I gave Jan seeds from the white pumpkins we decorated with at our wedding in October 2018. She has …
: Another Lovely Day at the Campground Gail had to be in town yesterday, so I spent the morning deep cleaning the camper. I hadn’t really …
: In My Other Happy Place Any of you who have followed me for any length of time know my happy places. With Mr. FixIt and my …
: I Got a Jump on Camping! Gail’s early morning walk that I slept through! Mr. FixIt goes to the bowling alley every Sunday to …
: 9/11 Remembrance Day Photo Credit: 9/11Memorial.org Those of us who were glued to the TV for days will never forget …
: Getting Things Done When Mr. FixIt and I were drinking our morning beverages yesterday, he asked if I wanted to go to …
: I Love You, Mom I’m gaining countertop space…slowly but surely! I have a huge family now that I’ve married Mr. …
: Diving Deep in the Fridge There aren’t too many tasks that I truly loathe, but one of them is cleaning the refrigerator. I …
: In Over My Head I will be the first to admit, I’ve never been the best at keeping house. I mean…it’s not dirty. …
: I Was Hoping for a Home Day No such luck. My second “stay at home day” developed into yet another trip into town. Mr. FixIt had …
: The New Night Train Yesterday was a pretty easy at-home day. I had every intention of doing some cleaning, but …
: Home From The Farm Pumpkin Kitty has squeezed herself into the little ditch beside the sidewalk…waiting for Dad to …
: Seriously September Touch-Me-Not, aka Jewelweed. This grows at the edge of the porch every year. The bees and the …
: A Message from God I firmly believe God speaks to us every day in every way. He can manipulate earthly things. …
: Fall Flowers and Storms are Upon Us Passionflower Vine, foreground. Elephant Ears, background. The roadways are lined with Joe Pye …
: Formulating a Vision of a Sustainable Life We have a 30x40 metal building that sits out back of our house. We pay our taxes on it as well as …
: The Honey Festival We needed a break…from mowing, from working, from everything. It was the Lord’s day and we vowed to …
: The Early Bird and The Late Bloomer I woke up at 5:30 yesterday morning. The sky was just starting to turn pink and I made the mistake …
: Fall Flora and Fauna Today would have been my beautiful mom’s 98th birthday. I miss her today as much as ever. I never …
: What a Week We couldn’t tell which way to turn on Tuesday. It started out with this great breakfast…French …
: A Trip to Town and Planning for Fall I don’t usually divulge too much about Mr. FixIt because his story isn’t my story to tell. With …
: Sourwood Honey and Boggin’ for Jesus Yes…these things went together. We live in a pretty tiny town. Really tiny. I mean…we have a post …
: Our Piece of the Sky Mr. FixIt and I record CBS Sunday Morning every week. Then, when we have time, we like to sit down …
: Another God Appointment I had such a nice time during my visit at Gail’s. She has a small cottage she used to list on Air …
: The Three Amigas and the Banged Up Lincoln We’re lucky to get the three of us together once a year. And it’s usually sometime in August when …
: Boring Photos When our grandchildren have grandchildren of their own, they’ll have entirely different photo …
: Autumn Leaves Teach Us There are lessons to be learned in the simplest of things. Once you look for God in the mundane, …
: The Old Woman "We Were Young and Beautiful...Now We Are Just Beautiful!" An old woman came to my door today. I’ve …
: Cajun Food and a Tornado I got up early yesterday to meet my high school girlfriends for coffee. There were only seven of …
: I Know A Change is Gonna Come Looking down the creek, I think the big rains we’ve had the last few years is washing dirt and …
: A Beautiful Day! It was cool and a little drizzly…definitely a little hint of fall in the air. I fiddled around on …
: It’s Always an Adventure! I took this picture Monday night before another wave of rain hit. If you zoom in, just on the far …
: The Eye of the Storm This beautiful Ohio Blue Swallowtail stayed with me for well over half an hour. It would flitter …
: A Respite at The Farm I know how blessed I am to still have time at The Farm. It’s old. The pump on the well isn’t …
: SO Much Mowing! Two little mushrooms under the maple tree. When we got home a week ago, the grass was so long I had …
: A Little Touch of Autumn I’m so glad it’s the weekend and we got through this first week back. Remedial mowing was fun. At …
: Embracing the August Cool Down Ahhhhh, the low Tuesday night was 56° and I slept in the camper with the windows wide open. After …
: A Reprieve from Mowing and A Mother’s Broken Heart Mr. FixIt had to run to town yesterday so I asked if he would mind picking up some groceries if I …
: Angel Coins and Found Feathers Gifts from beyond. That’s what they call all those found coins laying where you never put them. Or …
: What a Lovely Day for a Drive! We finished packing the truck at around 11:00 yesterday morning. Just in time to have a farewell …
: Artificial Intelligence? We've all been reading about artificial intelligence and its impact on the world. The Screen Actors …
: Tum-Tum Time Yesterday was a day of chores. Our laundry was piled up so I was playing catchup so we don’t have a …
: Looking in the Mirror A day with Little is like spending time with myself at the age of 16. The similarities in our …
: Things are Looking Up! I was pretty concerned about my brother when we were here the first week of July. He was unkept, …
: Counting on God to Keep Us Safe Land’s sake…it sure was hot here yesterday! We drove up to the mountain town I lived in for …
: Heading to the Mountains Again I can’t be here this long and not go see my brother again. We’re heading back up to the mountains …
: My Baby and Me My youngest and her wife came for a visit yesterday. We were all really hungry and decided to go …
: Biscuits and Sunsets and TayTay I didn’t sleep well Thursday night and ended up grabbing a couple of hours sleep on the couch. I …
: What a FUN Day in the Kitchen!!! I got up yesterday and went to the grocery store to buy the things I needed to teach the girls how …
: Vacations are Exhausting! I made Sourdough French Toast for breakfast yesterday and had enough left over for the next couple …
: Glimmers When we were driving down from the mountains on Saturday, we had a chance to really see what the …
: Time Passes and So Many Changes The one constant in life is change, isn’t it? We can look forward to change as a learning tool and …
: Visiting Family We had a pretty busy day yesterday, even though we got a slow start. I cooked a nice breakfast and …
: Another Wonderful Day!!! Sue and I got all the prep work done fairly early yesterday and the kids came in the afternoon. The …
: A Day With The Fam Mr. FixIt went to the zoo yesterday with Daughter #1 and family while I went to visit with Daughter …
: Day Four - What Was I Thinking??? Well, first of all, the drive was a LOT shorter yesterday, even though we did have one bumper to …
: Day Three - Are We There Yet??? The third day always seems to be the hardest when I/we make this cross country trek and yesterday …
: Day Two - A Lesson in Patience While our total miles from Point A to Point B was actually shorter than Wednesday’s, wowza…was it …
: Day One Down - Safe and Sound! The view out our camper door last night! I woke up at 6AM and started tucking things away in the …
: Feeling the Time Crunch I had all these plans to clean, do laundry, pack, and all manner of other things yesterday. …
: We Did a Thing No, we didn’t buy another camper. The other day when we drove through town, we saw a sign in the …
: Playing Catch-Up Anytime you’re gone from home any length of time there’s always a stack of stuff to deal with when …
: Summer Solstice Come and Gone We were sitting around the campfire Wednesday night when one of the girls said, “Hey! It’s the …
: Camping Critters The little camp cat…I’m so tempted to take her home, but I’m afraid Pumpkin will hurt her. She …
: A Day at the Campground It’s nothing to write home about. We ate, knitted, and enjoyed each other’s company. A friend we …
: Into the Woods I Go What a beautiful day to drive up along the Ohio River. The sun was shining and it was 81°. The …
: My Man I went on a little walkabout today to check out the pollinator gardens. It seems the only flowers …
: A Lovely Day at Home Mr. FixIt got a call yesterday from our son inviting him on an outing for Father’s Day. They …
: What a Relief I want to thank you all for your prayers for Mr. FixIt. His procedure went well and his pain has …
: What We See Matters The Bible tells us that our eyes are like lamps that bring light into our bodies. The health of our …
: A Storybook Wedding and a Monumental Birthday Photo Credit: Maddi Randolph Photography - maddirandolphphotography.com There is an unspoken code. …
: One Down and One to Go The wedding rehearsal was fun. We got to meet the bridal party…seven groomsmen, seven bridesmaids. …
: The Hazards of Country Life I woke up yesterday morning with the sun peeking over the hill into the window in the camper. It …
: Finding Peace in the Rush I really picked the right time to start a “lifestyle change”…There’s so much freshness out there! …
: A Calculated Guess The quilt, tucked in its own little storage box We ran to town yesterday for Mr. FixIt’s medical …
: Spinning my Wheels Again Grilled Portobello Mushroom Sandwich This was one of those days where I had a clear goal in mind, …
: Chasing the Sun Our Field of Daisies Oh, what a difference a day makes. We had crystal blue skies yesterday and it …
: It’s Tick and Storm Season! It was a crazy day from start to finish yesterday. I slept in the camper Friday night. Mr. FixIt …
: My Fight With a Snake aka A Very Long Day I slept like a stone. Even though I’ve all but stopped wearing earplugs to bed, I wore them out at …
: An Abundance of Gratitude A look down inside an old Poplar Tree stump. My PopPop planted this tree when I was almost a …
: Ta Da! I’m Finally Finished! The pattern is called “Disappearing Pinwheel” and the quilting pattern is called “Baptist Fan.” …
: Almost Finished with the Quilt! I woke up yesterday morning, prepared to work on the quilt while I waited for the guy to come hook …
: When There’s Fog on the Hill There’s Water in the Mill My grandma had a million sayings. She had a saying for everything. Some were old timey Appalachian …
: Memorial Day When I think of Memorial Day, the two prominent images it brings to mind is a huge tree at the …
: Beautiful May! Good Morning, Ranchers! May leaves us all too soon, doesn’t it? I know it’s supposed to be the …
: Changing Horses in the Middle of the Stream! Well, one must always be prepared for any eventuality. When I arrived at the campground on …
: Up With The Morning Dew I awoke early yesterday. Mr. FixIt had an appointment in town at 10:20 and I was afraid I would …
: Appalachian Cooking on a Diet? Why…yes, as a matter of fact! When we were camping last week, we went into Yokum’s store to look …
: My Morning Walkabout The garden is filled with Field Hawkweed and the bees love it! Mr. FixIt headed out mid morning to …
: Update on Operation Health Transformation As I started sliding out of my sixties and preparing for my seventies, I realized I couldn’t keep …
: May Please Stay Forever! Grandma’s rhododendron in all her glory! Oh, my gosh, y’all…wouldn’t you love to bottle up some May …
: What a Whirlwind Trip! The view of Seneca Rocks from the tent camping sites. I was hoping there would be some time for …
: Mother’s Day Isn’t Always Easy Budding Peony I remember the empty feeling when the first Mother’s Day rolled around after my mom …
: Road Trip Prep Our view over dinner. Once you’ve got the first camping trip of the season under your belt, the …
: What Did You Say? Our new pollinator spaces are already producing native wildflowers! Land’s sake…Mr. FixIt and I …
: Back Home Again! Here’s a funny story. Well, I guess it depends on who you’re talking to whether it was funny or …
: Practicing Husbandry I’ve really enjoyed my stay out here at the farm. I told Mr. FixIt last night, I didn’t realize how …
: A Busy Day at The Farm This little guy greeted me at the barn door when I went to get the ladder! The day started out …
: A Week of Clean Eating It’s been a week since I started Noom. I’m here to report it’s been much easier than I anticipated. …
: Marriage Advice and the Wisdom of Age Goodnight, moon…shine on! What a perfect day for a bridal shower. Our oldest granddaughter…one of …
: What an Incredibly Beautiful Day! We waited till the dew was off the grass then I went out and finished mowing here at Marshmallow …
: And the Clouds Parted! Look at that sky!!! For the first time in what seems like forever, the sky cleared to intermittent …
: May the Fourth Be With You! I have no idea how they came up with the name for Noom, but they hit it out of the park with their …
: A Few Stories and My Noom Progress Image Credit: Island Free Press Our daughter-in-law sent us an article regarding all that debris …
: It’s a New Day! I have been nearly sedentary since I started the new project and I can really tell the difference …
: Hello, May!!! My, how time flies when you’re having fun! It seems like yesterday when I started my big project …
: Historic Williamsburg! Cracker Barrel for the Win…Biscuit Bennies! It was perfect driving weather yesterday. The sun was …
: A Wonderful God Story You may remember that we found “Grace”, our new-to-us camper, when we drove by the home of her …
: Holy, Toledo! Saying Goodbye to the Old Hybrid Camper I can’t tell you how tired we both were last night. I …
: Country Living Ain’t for Sissies I can’t imagine living on an actual working farm with animals and hay fields and huge gardens. …
: Another Cold Spell My new shoes in the “Ocean Waves” pattern. I got them for the beach! OMGosh! It’s been really …
: Whoop! Whoop! Whoop! Look! We have Redbud AND Dogwood! I finished the quilt top! It was supposed to have two borders, …
: There is Progress!!! “There was fog after yesterday’s rain.” OMGosh! Y’all…I got all the rows pieced together yesterday …
: A Big Ol’ WV Thunderstorm I went out yesterday to put the top down on the Big Birdhouse and caught sight of this little dew …
: Pink Hummingbirds, Quilts, and Otto I started my day yesterday by finishing the ad on Marketplace for the Big Birdhouse. The work I did …
: A Trip to The Farm My grandma was rolling in her grave yesterday…I mowed the grass while her beloved Johnny-Jump-Ups …
: It’s Tractor Time! The view from the end of the far field…my other happy place. It was quite a job, but Mr. FixIt and …
: The First of the Outdoor Days Yesterday was the perfect day for outdoor chores. Sunny and 68° with nothing but a gentle breeze. …
: Getting to the Point Look at these points, but please don’t think they all look that way because they don’t! Wasn’t …
: Easter Morning That’s me in the middle with the sausage curls. Mom used to either pin curl my hair or use a Toni …
: Another Tax Season Is In The Books! Mr. FixIt got a closeup of our Dwarf Rhododendron! Good job, babe! Whew! I wasn’t sure I was ever …
: Hokey Smokes! The bottom of our Dwarf Rhododendron doesn’t look so good. Yesterday was one of those days when all …
: Another Long Day A storm was brewing when we got home last evening. A cold front came in and ran smack dab into the …
: Getting Things Done If I would have started earlier, I think I could have gotten these taxes finished in one day. While …
: It’s Tax Time Again! “It’s tax time!” Hey, remember how I’m always tearing my hair out when it’s time to do the taxes? I …
: A Day of Spinning my Wheels It was a day of rest, for sure…but I also piddled around on the computer downloading elements for …
: Hold Tight, Toto!!! We’ve been getting high wind warnings for days saying Saturday was going to be bad. I don’t know …
: Storm’s a’Brewin’ Eastern Phoebe sitting on the satellite dish outside the bedroom window. Our laundry room is in the …
: Finding my Way in Etsy-World Here’s a sneak peek at one of the aprons I designed yesterday. I just LOVE the orangey roses on the …
: What Constitutes a Date? We don’t go out “on a date” very often. We never have, really. I guess between knowing each other …
: Conversations With God The deadnettle is blooming by the back door. Now that the weather is warming up, we’re getting some …
: A Charmed Life This was taken a ways back. I ran across it this week and it just makes me smile! I didn’t get much …
: Marshmallow Ranch is Back on Etsy!!! It all started when I decided to leave the rat race of medicine and try to make a living from my …
: A Busy Windy Day I started off my day slipping quietly out of the house early to meet a few of my classmates for our …
: The Final Countdown I spent yesterday doing a little housekeeping of a different sort. I combed thought my project …
: Mrs. FixIt to the Rescue! I had no electricity in the camper Wednesday night. I was toasty warm so we seem to be past the …
: Spring is Springing Today! This time ten years ago, I was trying to figure out how on earth I was going to survive Mr. Virgo’s …
: Heavens to Murgatroyd! The light pollution from Parkersburg to the west. I had to look up the origins of that phrase. …
: The Continuing Saga of Country Living Mother Earth is waking up. The grass is getting green. A few more warm days, a few more good rains, …
: Honey…I’m Home! It was cloudy and chilly the whole time. Did you miss me? Wow…what a whirlwind trip with its ups …
: Up and At ‘Em! Gail’s New Spinning Wheel…all Tucked in Safe and Sound Mr. FixIt woke me with a start yesterday …
: One More Sleep It’s been quite a while since I went on a girl’s trip. Covid changed a lot of things and the way we …
: Thoughts on Grief and Loss I ran across this picture yesterday. It was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park one sunny fall …
: Turning My Attention Forward You know there’s a reason the windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror, right? It’s because …
: Ten Years Gone He was quite a guy. ? “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all …
: Just Thinking The view near Mr. Virgo’s gravesite. I awoke at the first blush of dawn. The sky was gray and …
: A Sense of Accomplishment It’s truly wonderful to end a good solid day of work with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude. …
: Dealing With Disappointment The other day, Mr. FixIt and I were watching the episode of NCIS where the big boss’s wife was …
: Opening a Can of Worms We had a busy day yesterday doing this and that. We finally got to the place where we could post …
: Moon Over Marshmallow Ranch Some days feel magical and yesterday was one of them. We needed to go to town to get the duplicate …
: We May Need That Someday! I’ve heard it said that. You never need any of the crap you hang onto…until the week after you get …
: About Blowed Away! Hokey Smokes…the wind was crazy Friday night. It was howling when I was writing yesterday’s post …
: I Love the Night Sky I was working on the computer yesterday afternoon when I remembered I needed to find the title for …
: Seldom a Dull Moment at Our House Our Giant Sycamores in the Hedgerow I can’t say I never have them. Dull moments come to us all. …
: Kiss Me, Sunshine! Our forsythia are popping open right and left! Oh, my word…I don’t know what the official …
: A Big Shift is Coming The First Signs of Spring I went to town yesterday for my appointment and to run some errands. (I …
: Stormy Weather When I was growing up here in West Virginia, a tornado was something that happened in Texas or …
: When Grief Comes Calling After nearly ten years, the grief I feel over losing Mr. Virgo is vastly different than it was even …
: Mother Nature is Fickle Windy It was about 72° Thursday night when I went to bed. The peepers were peeping. The wind was …
: What a Gorgeous Day!!! I don’t know about you, but I have a really hard time sleeping the night before I have to get up …
: Little Bunny Foo Foo The first year or two that I lived here on what has now become known as Marshmallow Ranch (formerly …
: Scratch, Scratch, Scratch I sleep in the camper whenever it’s warm enough and we’ve been getting some lovely, unseasonably …
: Something to Remember We learned yesterday we have a couple of challenging medical issues in the family and I surprised …
: The Grounds Keeper Pumpkin Kitty is almost three-and-a-half years old already. She is our resident Grounds Keeper and …
: Twinkle, Twinkle Big Bright Stars Saturdays are often a catch up day around Marshmallow Ranch. Mr. FixIt headed to town first thing …
: My Bubby, My Hero, My Friend I know I’ve written about him here. I’ve told you stories…maybe you remember them. Maybe you don’t. …
: Christmas is Finally Over I hate giving up on the twinkle lights. But something had to give. The ornaments and tree were …
: Throwback Thursday - Spa Day! Photo Found on Facebook I was around sixteen years old when I received a hairdryer for Christmas. …
: Valentines Mr. FixIt finished cutting in around the doors, the top, and the bottom of the walls yesterday. We …
: A Beautiful Day I can live through the darkest of winters. Especially when God gifts us a day like yesterday. As a …
: The Eagles Flew the Coop Mr. Virgo was from South Philly and proud of it. He loved his mama, his cheese steaks, and his …
: Grief Isn’t Something to Fix When your car breaks down, you call a mechanic. When the drain is clogged, you call a plumber. When …
: A Warm Night in the Camper I know it may sound silly, but I love sleeping in the camper. I think that was imprinted deeply …
: Such A “Big” Weekend! My goodness…these old campers were so tiny! Mr. FixIt painted the ceiling in the hallway yesterday. …
: Ain’t it Good to be Back Home? The View out Grandma’s Window Before I say anything else, I want to thank you all for your …
: Getting Real With Grandma Good Morning from The Farm I had just gone to sleep Monday evening when the phone rang. It startled …
: Earthly Love Isn’t Perfect Love is grand, isn’t it? We meet someone and something stirs within us. Our curiosity is piqued. We …
: Finding Wisdom From my Child One of the greatest joys of motherhood is when your adult child texts and asks how you cooked a …
: It’s Time to Get Serious Here I need to lose weight. Oh, it’s not for the weddings in May and June. It’s not to fit into …
: Punxsutawney Phil is Full of It! Groundhog Day comes every year and I don’t really recall ever hearing “Spring is JUST around the …
: Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Yesterday was Mr. FixIt’s birthday! Until the middle of June, he is two years older than me…then …
: Do Dogs Go to Heaven? Bailey had the sweetest “sugar face”! When Billy Graham was asked, “Do dogs to go heaven?”, the …
: Watching God Supply Our Needs The other day when I was complaining about having to cook all the time, I asked God to change my …
: Stretching Your Food Dollars I cracked the egg in the skillet and it became the shape of WV! We are big breakfast eaters here at …
: All Work and No Play Makes Ginny a Grumpy Girl I got up early with Mr. FixIt to see him off for his day of fun with his son. My sweetie has a …
: Is It Just Me??? Me, after the week I’ve had with all these computer glitches! Is it just me or are you having …
: Evidence of Hard Work I was working at the desk in my “studio” yesterday, sipping a mug of tea when I leaned back in my …
: Eating From The Pantry My cousin in South Carolina is wicked smart. She can go shopping and come back with a car load of …
: Still Learning About This Life Thing Do you all get as tired of cooking as I do? My sweetheart has been picking up the slack while I’ve …
: The Matriarch is Gone I received the call yesterday and my Auntie Rosie has gone to God. She was in terrible pain after …
: Earth and Heaven Collide I’ve been writing a lot about organization this week. That’s because I’m doing the project…the BIG …
: Simplicity The other day I was browsing through my Facebook feed and saw a friend from high school had posted …
: Up Above the World So High Galistair Aurbus A330-300 Coach Cabin Business Class As I was writing this last night, I could hear …
: Another Trip to Town! It just doesn’t end! Yesterday I had to go in for a test that took about a half hour. Easy …
: Organization is NOT in My Skill Set I’m making lists and checking them a zillion times. I’m heading down rabbit holes when I really …
: What Doctor’s Appointment? I had just turned six and My Auntie Rosie brought Cathy from Chicago to meet us! We got up and out …
: A Time of Rest and Reflection I read the other day that the most depressing day of the year is January 16th. Their reasoning is, …
: The Veil is So Thin “Pumpkin Kitty snoozing on her mama.” One thing that has certainly changed since Mr. Virgo’s death …
: Calling All Butterflies! I stumbled across this meme the other day and knew I needed to use it in one of my blog posts. It’s …
: A Week Packed Into a Day See the sparse trees with the dusty pinkish gold leaves? Those are Beech Trees and this time of …
: Farm Sweet Farm! Oh…the soothing sound of rain on the tin roof! The smell of old wood and home. The feeling of love …
: SUCH Good News!!! Guess where I am??? OMGosh, y’all…I had my last appointment with the endocrine surgeon yesterday …
: Memories of Times Long Past I imagine I’ll be waxing poetic in the coming months as I close out my 60’s and turn 70 in June. …
: My Birdies Have Me Trained I awoke before Mr. FixIt and went into the kitchen to make my tea. As I walked into the family room …
: TWO Trips to Town! I needed to get my blood drawn yesterday for my followup Tuesday with the Endocrine Surgeon who did …
: Twenty-Three Years and Counting It was a cold yet beautiful day. The sky was azure blue with occasional white puffy clouds. …
: Stronger Together Three nights in a row I’ve slept in the travel trailer! If you aren’t a camper or an adventurer or …
: Santa Pays Attention! I mentioned a while back that I wanted to take up painting again. Mr. FixIt read that…either on my …
: I’m on The Right Way Several years ago, Daughter #2 went to visit her dad. He and his wife had made the life changing …
: A Wonderful Ending and a New Beginning Santa in the Fog of New Year’s Eve Taking three days off for the end of the year was a delightful …
: What I’m Looking For in a New Year There was a time when I looked forward to the New Year with great anticipation. I dared it to be …
: Eat the Cake! “Here’s the link to Homemade Chocolate Cake...Grandma Lois’ recipe.” The other night…I had a dream. …
: Settling in With a Little Baking After not feeling well on Christmas Day, I decided to just lay low and eat light yesterday. Toast …
: An Unexpected Christmas Gift I didn’t sleep well Christmas Eve. I was too hot, even after I moved to the guest room which is …
: Merry Christmas, Ranchers! As I fumbled around, trying to find just the right story to bring you today, I kept circling back …
: The Modern Madonna Let’s face it…we don’t live in a Hallmark movie. Relationships are complicated and oftentimes …
: There is No Time Limit for Grief MY Santa…my very special friend, Greg (Photo Credit: Leslie Coppedge Fore) This is the tenth …
: The First Day of Winter Ahhhh, the Winter Solstice has come and gone and so has the longest night of the year! Every day …
: Food Glorious Food Yesterday was a culinary delight and yet it was simple from start to finish. Every morning, I ask …
: Another Busy Day in Busy Town I honestly did NOT want to go to town yesterday but I had no choice. I had to go to the bank …
: On the Outside Looking In ‘Tis the season of happy holidays. Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years…all times for gathering …
: What a Beautiful Day! Little Christmas Stockings I woke up before the alarm went off. I’m so glad, because I hate an …
: The Cookie Fairy While I really wanted to just sit in my big red chair and knit all day yesterday…it didn’t happen. …
: T’was the Week Before Christmas… Ohhhhhh, the things I still have to do! I took stock today of my holiday preparations as I sat in …
: Stepping Out in Style I have the best friends. Remember how we were talking the other day about normalizing regifting and …
: It’s Beginning to Feel Like Christmas at Our House! Mr. FixIt and I split the holiday shopping duties. I take care of the girls. He takes care of the …
: Dancing Around the Big Black Hole We’ve talked a lot over the years about anxiety and depression. I had a period of time in my …
: The Power of Being Older Deer in the headlights. Photo Credit: scienceabc.com We didn’t do much yesterday. Watched some …
: The Man Makes Cookies Mr. FixIt’s Famous Peanut Butter Blossoms! I have no idea how he makes them…it’s magic! I don’t …
: A Change of Plans I responded to the invitation with a very solid “We’ll try to make it.” At this time of year, …
: A Sigh of Relief I don’t really consider myself a vain person. Not anymore. I used to be much more self-conscious …
: Step Two and I’m Through! Tamales!!! Ok, making homemade tamales is a CHORE! It’s a delicate balance of cooking and art. …
: Step One is Done The making of tamales is a laborious undertaking. After going through a week of cooking for …
: The Big Birdhouse is Back! FINALLY!!! After being in the shop more than we actually had her, the a-frame is back from the …
: Finally Finished With the Sweater I finally finished the latest sweater! Yay!!! This one took me forever because I was so busy doing …
: Gearing Up to Give I made another trip to the grocery store yesterday. Last week’s trip was to prepare for …
: Go With the Flow I used to think that “go with the flow” meant to be flexible…to have the ability to change on a …
: Finding Comfort at Home Knitting in front of my ”fireplace”…the one on Netflix! Comfort comes in many forms. There is …
: Life’s Cycles I’m sliding into seventy years on this earth. That’s a monumental milestone that is looming in my …
: Self Care Isn’t Selfish Actor Jonah Hill interviews his therapist, psychiatrist Phil Stutz in this touching and eye-opening …
: Recipe Roundup Who doesn’t love a little pie with their topping?! Many of you have been asking for the recipes I …
: Blessings Abound! What a day! Other than missing the loved ones who couldn’t be with us, the day was truly perfect. …
: Gearing Up for The Big Day First, I truly hope you had a good Thanksgiving Day if you celebrated yesterday. And for those of …
: Happy Thanksgiving!!! Another long day of preparations. I cleaned and roasted two sheet pans of butternut squash and …
: Is it Wednesday Already??? Maple Balsamic Glaze for the Winter Vegetable Salad I spent the majority of yesterday in the …
: When Bad Things Happen It turns out, it may not have been the smartest thing. I’ve been trying to figure out what I want …
: Let the Cooking Commence! No, we’re not having venison. But this beautiful boy was in the near field when I got home last …
: Cleaning and Cooking and Watching It was a busy day here at Marshmallow Ranch. I started out the day bone weary because …
: Winter is Creeping In Every once in a while, I have a night where I sleep like a baby. I woke up suddenly at 6:30 …
: Telling My Story I fiddled around at the farm yesterday morning. I packed up my things to head home. I went down and …
: Quiet Tears I awoke to a “beep” and a red flashing light at 4:00 yesterday morning. I was sleeping so soundly, …
: Home of My Heart I walked in the back door and it was as if a tuning fork was placed in my chest. It was raining and …
: Communication I’ve been monitoring my social media usage the last few weeks. With the lead up to the election, I …
: “A Quiet Life” I haven’t said anything about the recent loss of Leslie Jordan. I was saddened to hear of his …
: A Day of Rest I told Mr. FixIt yesterday that it felt like we’ve been running at breakneck speed since spring. …
: Exhaustion Has Set In This has to be one of the most stressful weeks we’ve ever had since we’ve been married…short of the …
: Still Plugging Along! We had a heavy frost on yesterday morning so it was a bit of a late start. Which is ok from the …
: Oh My Gosh! What a Day! The cedar trees are gone! We got a fairly early start yesterday. The very first thing on the agenda …
: Hard Work Never Hurt Anyone We had all the tools set up and ready for the “crew” when they got here. By “crew” I mean my …
: Let it Rain Peace Hopefully today is the day the fellas get started on the roof. I’m not the one in charge of that …
: The Unexpected I usually go with the flow fairly easily. After all…change is my middle name. However, on …
: JOMO v FOMO Truth be told…I suffer a little from FOMO….Fear of Missing Out. That’s what drives me to check my …
: Money Money Money MONEY Ugh! The thing I hate talking about the most is money. I was never good with money. Well, let me …
: Shining My Flashlight When Mr. FixIt and I were first dating and I lived out on the farm, I was complaining about the …
: The Age of Aquarius I was just a little too young to be a hippy, although I do have some personal friends who actually …
: We are “Between” I had the tatas smashed yesterday…October was National Breast Cancer Awareness Month so I always …
: A Slow Sunny Saturday Saturday is college football day at our house and the Mountaineers are the center of the universe. …
: After the Jab The last time I had a Covid Booster, I kinda felt puny for a couple of days. This time, not so …
: More Hustle Every day there seems to be something pressing that needs to be done. Yesterday we went to town for …
: When Three Days Feels Like a Week I’ve had three days that felt like a week of bad Mondays…but this camping trip was over the top …
: The Dastardly Deed About a year ago, we bought a beautiful set of Ninja pans from Kohl’s on a really super deal. I’ve …
: Not What I Wanted to Wake Up To I’ve been practicing the military method of falling asleep. And…so far, so good! I’ve been falling …
: It’s Your Story Everyone has a story. If you can still your ego and actively listen, you hear the most amazing …
: She Met Mr. FixIt Ok…another “It’s a Small World” story. Mr. FixIt has a buddy he used to bowl with years ago. On …
: Rough Nights and Great Days The first few years of my grief journey were filled with really rough nights and marginal days. …
: Here Comes Winter Oh, it’s so hard to have cold weather on the heels of such pretty days, but here it is. I did …
: The River as My Muse Three years ago, I went on a wonderful tour of several of the State Parks in West Virginia. I was …
: A Super Sunny Saturday Taking a break for a s’more! Friday night was the first night I’ve slept in the house in a month. …
: An Open Letter to Every College Freshman Hi there, sweetheart… I hope you’re getting settled into your new routine and you’re making lots of …
: The Great Spangled Fritillary and Happy Anniversary! Wow, was yesterday crazy busy! I’m trying to use up the food out in the camper…the lazy way. Rather …
: Paul Bunyan’s Got Nuthin’ on Me! We’re knocking out the chores here at Marshmallow Ranch. When I moved to Mr. FixIt’s place in …
: Getting the Work Done Well, we crammed a whole summer’s worth of camping into the last month and now it’s time to pay the …
: So Late to the Party! My bonus daughter called us last week and told us she started getting Netflix and can have up to …
: Ahhhh…Home Sweet Home, Again! We need a new mattress in the camper! That is the first thing most people will change out when they …
: Camping in the Cold Brrrrrrr….the high yesterday was only 52° and it was downright chilly. I put a roast in the slow …
: A Perfect Autumn Day We had the place to ourselves till late afternoon. Seriously…some days just leave you at a loss for …
: Travel Days are Long Days First, there’s the getting up and going issue…something neither of us are necessarily good at. Then …
: Shorter Days and Colder Nights Ice cream time by the river. Man, the days are getting shorter fast, aren’t they? I was out in the …
: Spelling Counts! I can’t tell you how many words I’ve written on this blog over the nearly ten years since I …
: A Sweet and Snuggly Sunday The latest issue of Girl Camper Magazine arrived last week! You can subcribe to this beautiful …
: The First Fire of the Season I’m one of those who want comfort first. I don’t play that game of “let’s see how long we can go …
: Home Sweet Home We were supposed to go home today, but we decided to leave yesterday afternoon after looking at the …
: Have I Got a Story for You! We lazed around the campsite yesterday morning. I fixed sausage and eggs and heated up some …
: Working Out the Kinks I don’t think there is a camper made that doesn’t have a tiny leak somewhere. The trick is to catch …
: Teach Us to Number Our Days There was a time when the memories of Mr. Virgo and me that pop up on FB would make me cry. They …
: What a Gorgeous Day The light was fading by the time we got home. I love to drive…especially on a day when the sky is …
: Looking Back Can Be a Good Thing To the right, through the trees, you see an appartment building with balconies. On the top floor, …
: Taking it Easy I slept like a stone, but still woke up with this headache. Occasional scratchy throat. I don’t …
: Tick Tock Tick Tock Set up for our picnic! We got a call yesterday that we may have been exposed to covid over the …
: It’s Always Over Way Too Soon Our View from the Camper Wednesday Evening That trip was WAY too short. We were lucky we got …
: Tales of the Great Outdoors or “Fire in the Netheryea” So, yesterday started out great. Mr. FixIt discovered his great grandparents are buried less than a …
: Camping People Are The Best! I’ve missed out on a ton of fun in my life. For years and years I tried to get my second husband to …
: Getting Organized I love the cheerful prints from Ree Drummond’s Prairie Woman collection. I tried to find her …
: Mr. and Mrs. FixIt Get to Work Yesterday was a FixIt kinda day around Marshmallow Ranch. After a yummy country breakfast, Mr. …
: Well…That Was Fun! Don’t forget to look up when you’re out in the woods! When a camper is the right fit…when the …
: Checking the Owner’s Manual We had our breakfast out by the edge of the woods. Your first few nights in any camper are an …
: In My Happy Place Well, one of my happy places! This time we’re camping. I can’t tell you how excited this makes me. …
: Honey…I’m Home! Now, Let’s Go Camping!!! Did you miss me??? I could hardly wait to get home yesterday! I always say “I need a break!” Then, …
: The Death of a Queen My mother was eight months old when Queen Elizabeth was born. When Mom died, I kinda watched the …
: A Full Day and Then Some My Happy Place Remember yesterday when I told you I never know what I’m going to end up doing any …
: Working Without a Schedule Green Chili. Forgive the mess in my kitchen. Things get out of hand quickly when I can. I rarely …
: The Perfect Porch I was listening to Tipper Pressley on one of her Celebrating Appalachia videos on YouTube yesterday …
: Strong Women Raising Strong Women In my defense, I was not standing in her driveway. Her driveway is in Colorado. My oldest daughter …
: Labor Day Weekend Photo Courtesy of Pixabay We didn’t do a heck of a lot yesterday. I worked on the quilt some. I now …
: The Highs and Lows of a Day I woke up super early yesterday and decided to whip up a batch of biscuits. I made my coffee and …
: September!!! How I’ve Missed You! Even though it isn’t officially autumn, you have to admit…September is getting there. It’s getting …
: The ‘ber Months Are Here! Hello, September! Just because I’ve got a new, fun project in the works, doesn’t mean the grass …
: A Whole New Thing! It’s been a while since I’ve made a quilt and I’m pretty excited to finally have a sewing nook set …
: Preparation and Planning and Prayer There was nothing I would have liked more than to get started on that quilt yesterday. However, Mr. …
: On to the Next Project! My Uncle Bud gave me the 1/2 gallon Ball jar and the other two I’ve picked up along the way. One of …
: Smack My Head…I Forgot the Beans! I added about half a teaspoon of baking powder to the self-rising flour this time and I love how …
: The Lord Always Provides I am the first to admit…I spent a goodly portion of my adult life as a spoiled princess. While I’ve …
: Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back…Cha Cha Cha! Good Morning from The Farm! I woke up yesterday morning in my grandma’s room, in my grandma’s bed, …
: Stranger Than Fiction There are some stories that are so “out there” you have to ask yourself how on earth they happened. …
: Mr. FixIt to the Rescue! Mr. FixIt was still reading the news in bed when I left to go knit yesterday morning. I stopped and …
: My End-of-Summer Walkabout The sycamore are changing…last to leaf out…first to die. I have never run a marathon, but I can …
: A Job Well Done What beautiful Georgia Peaches…and they taste SO good! My cousins over in the mountains near the …
: Putting Up Tomatoes A bushel and a half of tomatoes took me a little more than fourteen hours of work to process. I …
: In My Country Kitchen I got up pretty early yesterday. Well, early for ME. I ran to Riverbend Farm for see if I could get …
: Hard Work and a Foggy Bottom Here on Marshmallow Ranch, we have two creeks bordering our property. They join down at the end of …
: The August Night Symphony Deep in the dregs of January, I could kick myself for not spending more time outdoors in the …
: Knitting for the Boys During the two World Wars, the United State’s Government asked the folks at home to help out and do …
: Mr. FixIt Fixing Things I finally rallied after our very busy weekend and was up and cleaning at a respectable hour …
: The Past and The Future When my mom retired, she got into genealogy with a vengeance. She didn’t have a computer or …
: Then and Now A friend of mine shared a photo of a really epic Camaro he’s bidding on. It’s going to be his new …
: Runnin’ Like a Chicken The morning dew on the Elephant Ears. There was a goodly portion of the day yesterday that was …
: “A Time of Innocence” “Time it was, and what a time it was, it was…a time of innocence. A time of confidences. Long ago, …
: Would It Help? I’ve set aside the stitches for the sleeves and I’m working down the body of the sweater. I’ve all …
: Changing Seasons Mr. FixIt and I cleaned house this weekend because my stepson and his family were coming over. Mr. …
: The Naked Ladies Are Out!!! Not a great picture, but it was already dark. No, not THOSE kinds of naked ladies! I’m talking …
: What a Nice “Day Off” It seems funny to say…I need a day off. I mean, every day is a day off, isn’t it? Retirement is …
: Never Too Busy To Be Kind I knew yesterday would be busy. I had two doctor’s appointments…one with my regular health care …
: I’m Not Your Typical Girly Girl When I went to school, we took an aptitude test that would give some idea what career path you …
: In the Midst of Life Comes Grief Grief. Unless you are some sort of sociopath, you cannot escape this life without feeling a loss so …
: In the Middle of a Mess I Find Gratitude Sometimes things have to get torn completely apart before they can get fixed and made whole. I’ve …
: Bring More Joy We stayed in a hotel in Columbus Saturday night after getting Bear on the plane. I stayed at the …
: Back to Mr. FixIt My poor sweetie has played second fiddle for two weeks while Little was here. We did things …
: Day Fourteen: See Ya Next Time! Little on the floor, scrubbing that lovely piece of linoleum! It has been a fun two weeks, but …
: Day Thirteen Was The BEST Day! The scary metal Mothman scupture with the creepy eyes! According to Little, yesterday was the BEST …
: Day Twelve Was Just Plain Nice I told Mr. FixIt on Tuesday night…”I’m not doin’ nuthin’ tomorrow!” And I pretty much meant it. I …
: Day Eleven Was Heaven Little works in the kitchen, filling jars with green beans. Who hasn’t wanted to share their …
: Day Ten Was SO Peaceful It was a pleasant valley Sunday in our neck of the woods. We. Did. Nothing. That’s what God tells …
: Day Nine Was Divine! It was 80° by 9:00 yesterday morning. We needed to get out to the farm to mow before it got too hot …
: Day Eight was SO Great! Unfortunately, there was a puddle of water in the camper yesterday morning so off she’s gone to the …
: Day Seven in Almost Heaven I attempted to make homemade tortillas for breakfast yesterday. Back in the day, I used a packaged …
: Day Five Was SO Cool! We had a blast at our sleepover at the farm. We told stories and walked out to see what a really …
: Day Four Was HOT! There was an inch and a half of water in the rain gauge yesterday morning. Add this heat and you …
: Day Three Was Fun! I let Little sleep in yesterday morning. I remember when my daughters were that age. They need to …
: Day Two is Done The hat I started in Williamsburg. Little and I slept in the camper their first night here in West …
: The Great White We left the campground at 10:00 yesterday morning. I’m not going to share the name of the …
: Sweet Tea Ahhhhh….sweet tea! Nectar of the gods. Southern house wine. There is nothing more refreshing on a …
: Getting Stuff Done The buttonhole placket was so much easier to knit than I thought it would be. I paid $4.36 for gas …
: Centering with Mindfulness All done except for the plackets, buttons and buttonholes, and weaving the ends! When I’m riding …
: The Weekend in Review The smokehouse and the barn at The Farm. Forty-eight years ago, I became a mother. Forty-eight. I …
: Running on Purpose Country Roads I met Hubby #2 in the late ‘70s. I worked in the small x-ray department at a …
: Prayers in my Stitches Land’s sake…please forgive my sloppy summer clothes, but…I have one sleeve done! As I plug along on …
: It’s About Time for Some Good News! The View From my “Office” I had my followup appointment with my endocrine surgeon yesterday. Almost …
: The Calm After the Storm We had appointments with the eye doctor yesterday. Time for new glasses, I’m afraid. For years, I …
: An Island of Sanity in a Sea of Madness The view from the front door…which is actually the back door. I read an op ed yesterday that said …
: Those West Virginia Hills A lone little daisy in the field. We have four days of rain coming up so we spent the entire day …
: The Lord’s Day We often end up mowing on Sundays simply because of the way the storms roll through. Unfortunately, …
: Hope and Peace and Fireworks It’s America’s birthday weekend and lately I’ve been feeling like she doesn’t deserve a party. Then …
: July is Here!!! Just about every year of my adult life, I took at least a week…and often two or three…and brought …
: And the Year is Half Gone So, is 2022 really half over? Is the glass half full or half empty? Neither…it’s full to …
: Knitting and Bunnies and Birds We had to run to town yesterday to do errands. Usually that turns into an all day ordeal, but I …
: Thou Shalt Not Bully I was angry last week. Now I’m more angry. I shared a post on my personal Facebook page regarding …
: Bippity-Boppity-Blue! Big has always loved Cinderella…her very favorite Disney Princess. Now she’s all grown up and …
: The Girls With The Grandma Faces We were oh so young when we met. Some of us went all through school together. We played on the …
: Back Home and Back to Work We camped at Beaver Creek State Park near East Liverpool, Ohio this week. It’s one of our favorite …
: You KNOW I Can’t Stay Away! We are having a grand time camping in one of our favorite state parks in the whole wide world. But, …
: Somebody Bring Me a Bottle! Be still, my heart…this green! No…I’m not looking for a drink. I gave that up twenty-one plus years …
: ‘Maters and Berries and Emancipation At least once a week…too often more…we have to run to town and do errands. With the price of gas, …
: Taking a Stroll Down Memory Lane I didn’t sleep well again. Although the little AirB&B is incredibly comfortable and blissfully …
: Tux Has a Brand New Ball Border collies are a special breed. Gail’s border collie is named Tennessee Tuxedo…Tux for short. …
: A Bang Up Birthday! Pumpkin is all grown up…she’s a jungle cat! I’m so glad we got the mowing finished on Sunday …
: A Day on the Tractor We started out pretty early yesterday. When you have to mow in West Virginia, the afternoons can …
: A Mellow Day The color is washed out in this photo. I was sitting in the shade under the pergola. I sleep out in …
: Gramma Roseannadanna Is At It Again Remember when Gilda Radner played Rosanne Roseannadanna on Saturday Night Live back in the day? She …
: God and the Big Black Bear When we were mowing here at the house this week, I used just about all the gas in the can. There …
: Too Close to Home I went to knitting group yesterday. I haven’t been there since I got back from Colorado. I found …
: Bugs and Bunnies I love mowing days in June. Everything is so green it hurts your eyes and it’s not hot enough to …
: New Eyes I remember when I became a Christian and invited Jesus into my heart. It felt as though every cell …
: Finding Light in the Darkness I do not know what it feels like to be told you have what could be a terminal illness. I’ve held a …
: The Beauty of Flowers When I walked into the house last Saturday, there were a dozen roses waiting for me on the kitchen …
: A Day With Mr. FixIt I’ve had more trouble with allergies this spring than I have in a long time. I’ve read that climate …
: Life in the Country Luna Moth on the kitchen window. One thing about this trip…I’ve been so tired, I’m sleeping like a …
: Back in the Saddle Again! I’ll tell you what…recovery comes more slowly with age. Both Saturday night and Sunday night, I …
: The Difference a Day Makes When I got home on Saturday at 4-ish, wolfed down the pizza, emptied the truck, got upsetting news, …
: It’s That Time of the Trip This is the point in the trip when I say to myself…”What on earth was I thinking??? I’m too old for …
: The Calm After the Storm Just when I was totally overwhelmed with camping and traveling and putting a camper up and down in …
: Just Breathe! Ok…I’m going to vent a little. Sorry. We bought this camper in October. Brand new…never been used. …
: Vicarious Trauma and Senseless Loss Something happened Monday night that I didn’t tell you about because I wanted to ruminate on it a …
: Flexibility is Key Change is my middle name. I have absolutely no problem changing direction at any given moment and …
: Saying Goodbye to My Bubby It’s always hard to say goodbye when you are “of a certain age”. We’ve experienced losses now. We …
: A Murder of Crows and a Magpie After a day of snowy, cold weather, it was a treat to wake up to Colorado sunshine! I had a lovely …
: Taking a Little Me Time My view out the dormer window yesterday morning…SNOW! I spent a portion of the day yesterday …
: A Homecoming of Sorts Camping by the creek! I’m baaaaack! Once the graduation festivities were over, I could pack up the …
: She Done Good We went to Big’s Awards Ceremony yesterday afternoon. (Note to self: take a pillow next time! …
: Little’s Birthday Party Little isn’t very little anymore. Turning fifteen is pretty cool for this grandchild of mine. We …
: Rest and Relaxation The hat I made yesterday. The color isn’t accurate…I took this picture in the camper. It’s actually …
: Watching Them Grow We sat around the dinner table that I have come to know and love as the epicenter of the universe. …
: Day Four was a Doozy! I woke up at 5:30 yesterday morning and couldn’t get back to sleep. I couldn’t get the camper …
: Day Three Was Great! Yesterday was by far my easiest day yet. I woke up around 7:30 and was catching up with my …
: Day Two is in The Books! I didn’t sleep well the first night on the road. You know how it is when you get out of your …
: First Day Done! It was a really busy day. Mr. FixIt helped me get the truck loaded up. I got on the road about 9:45 …
: Another Grand Adventure Begins! May the Fourth be With You!!! I’ve lost count how many Grand Adventures this makes. The other day, …
: The Sweet Smell of Spring We are solidly in spring now. Tornado season is cranking up, and so my thoughts turn to the drive …
: Farm Living at its Best We live on five beautiful fairly flat acres in West Virginia. To say we are “hobby farmers” is a …
: We Interrupt This Program As I find myself aging, my body changes in so many ways. Some grand and glorious…some, not so much. …
: High Fives and Hot Water There is ALWAYS something that needs to be fixed…especially when you live on a farm! I know I said …
: Yet Another Trip to Town I loved those weeks during the winter when we went a whole week or more without driving to town …
: Vanity: Fish Lips and Flying Machines When Daughter #1 was a little girl, we picked up an old, vintage vanity table for her to use as a …
: Manners are Important It seems a goodly portion of society today has forgotten their manners. Or, maybe they didn’t have …
: Quit “Fixing” and Start Living Flowering Quince on the creekbank at the farm. I am all about personal growth. I needed it …
: A Shock to the Senses Our redbud is still blooming! We went from meat locker to microwave in less than twenty-four hours! …
: Goodbye Outer Banks It’s always a sad, sad day when we have to say goodbye to the beach. Even though our week started …
: A Beautiful OBX Day We walked down to the beach after breakfast yesterday and it was pretty windy and cool. Mr. FixIt …
: A Stroll Along the Marshy Sound We had a perfectly lovely day yesterday. We had no plans whatsoever. I saw an announcement on the …
: Time and Beauty The high today was only 56° but the sky was crystal blue…not a cloud to be seen until …
: My First Gale (I have no idea where this photo was taken. It was just for demonstration of high waves from a …
: Life and Dreams Our week at the timeshare is almost always perfect. We may have a day or two of chilly, wet …
: Happy Easter! We arrived on the island at around 3:00 yesterday afternoon. We made our obligatory stop at Harris …
: Chag Sameach and Happy Trails! As I write this, it is the first night of Passover. Oh…the memories this brings me. One of the most …
: Apologizing to Grandma Zoom in on the picture to see Grandma’s Johnny Jump Ups in the yard. When we went to the farm on …
: Peek-a-Boo Spring! The dance of spring can be wild. Multiple seasons appear in rapid succession within just a few …
: Certainty is a Prison Knowledge is fluid. Science and medicine and technology is not absolute. While there are some …
: Boosted 2.0 I had to stop the mower and get down on the ground to take a picture of this sweet violet. Grandma …
: Biscuits, Birthdays, and Bounty Remember when I learned how to bake biscuits like Miss Brenda Gantt? I mixed them up in a “nest” …
: When the Images are Too Disturbing Our miniature rhododendron is blooming. We had a lovely home day. A bowl of oats. Andy Griffith …
: The Four Seasons Red Deadnettle in the ever growing grass of spring No…not the hotel. And no…not the landscaping …
: Holding On to Joy My dear friend Marion sends me little texts when I need them. Be it a typo in my blog post, an …
: The Past as a Present Those of you who have been around a while know what happens at this time of year. I start delving …
: Working on Wellness Seventeen years ago, I had an innocuous looking freckle on my arm. It didn’t bother me. I’d had it …
: My Body and Me or Monday Motivations Big is graduating from high school next month. Then, in August, Mr. FixIt and I have our 50+1 Year …
: A Rough Night and a Good Day I haven’t had one of my “rough nights” in quite a while. When I was a new widow, every night was a …
: Farm Life is Fun! I woke up yesterday morning to a weird chewing sound. Anyone who has ever lived in an old farmhouse …
: Wake Up!!! I was awakened yesterday by the sounds of heavy equipment and the incessant beep-beep-beeping of a …
: Respite at The Farm I’ll never forget the day my son-in-law and I built my website. It was during a Christmas trip to …
: Thank God I’m a Country Girl I’ve been a farm girl for as long as I can remember…whether I lived in the country or not. The love …
: Let’s Talk About Anger and Redemption Jada Pinkett Smith rolls her eyes in response to Chris Rock’s joke about her alopecia. Initially, …
: West Virginia’s State Food I don’t remember pepperoni rolls when I was growing up. I think the first time I had them may have …
: Soup Beans and Corn Bread My recipe for soup beans is very simple. Soak 1 small bag of navy beans overnight. In the morning, …
: Photographic Memories of My Grief Little TOW-Wanda…my very first camper. I wish I’d never traded her in! I keep my photos stored in a …
: The Silence is Deafening Two years ago, the noise on my Facebook page was horrifying. So much anger and hatred. Politics, …
: We’re Off to See The Wizard We had some pretty fierce spring thunder boomers come through here yesterday. I was out in the Big …
: In Times Like These Paul Harvey once said, “In times like these, it’s helpful to remember that there have always been …
: Impromptu Road Trip Yesterday was the prettiest day so we decided to take a ride down to Charleston and run an errand. …
: A Soft Day at Home We had a soft day. Nothing pressing. Nothing urgent. Our day of rest and reflection and silent …
: Bye-Bye, Birdie! I met my classmates yesterday morning for coffee. We always have so much fun visiting. We had some …
: Big on the Big Screen I gave her her first bath, much to her parent’s dismay. I misunderstood. She wanted me to show her …
: Shame…the Center of the Onion I’ve been in therapy a few times over the years to help me deal with some of the more difficult …
: An Eventful Day! Our helpers couldn’t come yesterday so there was a change in plans. We got “Birdie” set up and …
: The Warmth of Old Memories and New Friends I’m a “yarn junkie” and I went to see my dealer yesterday. We do our negotiations right in front of …
: My Little Hideaway It was sunny and gorgeous yesterday and just about all the snow has melted. The creeks were roaring …
: A Short Attention Span I’m finding knitting a shawl to be a bit more tedious than I thought. Granted, if I were knitting a …
: The Gift of Grace God grants us grace, even though we are fallible creatures and don’t deserve it. It is His Gift to …
: The First Step There is a wise saying… “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” There is so much …
: Mindless Knitting and Memories I ran across a really simple shawl pattern yesterday morning. After looking through my stash of …
: I Have Met My Nemesis Lace! Argh….SO pretty…SO frustrating. First, it’s knitting on fingering weight which is very fine …
: Gifts, Grace, and Gratitude One of the main reasons people fall in love and get married is chemistry. This includes being …
: Like Peas and Carrots One of the hardest things about knitting a “pair” of anything is getting them to match exactly. …
: Springtime in West Virginia Ahhhhhh….what a gorgeous day! Yesterday dawned bright and crisp and by late afternoon, it was …
: A Matter of Perspective We awoke to sunny skies and cool temperatures yesterday. The birds were caterwauling in the …
: Life in Miniature Babies are the best, aren’t they? I’ve only knitted a few baby things in my life…mainly because I …
: A Meteorological Spring Day It was sixty-five degrees and sunny here in the Mid-Ohio Valley yesterday. What a glorious day! Mr. …
: Arriving for my “Appointment” Little baby sweater I started Monday night. I believe the Holy Spirit gives us appointments. Just …
: An Outing to Knit When I had my little needlework shop in Glenwood Springs, a group of gals gathered around the large …
: Knitting as Meditation I have become much more calm since I started knitting again last fall. I find the rhythmic …
: The Common Denominator I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom when Hubby #2 joined a medical …
: Learning Lace I’m really enjoying learning new patterns and stitches in knitting. I just finished the rainbow …
: “We’re All a Little Lost and It’s Alright” The irises are sending up their shoots, proving once again…the world keeps on turning. The last …
: Counting Stitches, Counting Days Oh, how I love this yarn. The softness comes from 70% Superwash Merino Wool and the sheen comes …
: When You Find You’re Out of Shape It’s Tuesday…2-22-22! Lands, sake! I am SO out of shape! When winter hit and the outdoor chores …
: A New Week Begins and There’s Work to be Done The tree is down, the sun is out, and I’ve finished the little shawl/scarf I knitted. I still need …
: Kindness Matters In August 1988, George Herbert Walker Bush became the Republican Nominee for President of the …
: Spring Rains and Snow Flurries We received nearly two inches of rain on Friday, then we woke up yesterday with snow flurries. It …
: The Mysterious Moonlight and Helvetia The ring around the moon. Night before last, I slept out in the camper. Mr. FixIt loves to camp, …
: The Bird Whisperer The birds in the ‘hood were going crazy yesterday. I heard birds I’ve never heard before. I saw the …
: The Twenty Year Plan Ever since I found out the latest surgery to find the errant parathyroid glands in my neck was …
: Going Out on a Limb My friend Gail challenged me to knit a sweater. While a sweater looks impressive when it’s …
: Another Project in the Books, Another Valentine’s Day My sweater is finished…and yes, the tree is still up! I think it’s coming down this week! I …
: Super Bowl Sunday I didn’t knit a stitch on Friday. I let myself process my test results, thanked God for the fact …
: Burnout and Perspective Columbus, Ohio at night from space. The news is shifting yet again regarding Covid. Cases are on a …
: The Days are Getting Longer Both sleeves completed…and they match! Mr. FixIt had some things to do in town yesterday afternoon …
: The Flying Tomato’s Last Ride Mr. Virgo and I started dating in 2005. He was working at a 5-Star hotel in Aspen at the time. In …
: Feeling My Age This Week Surgery takes the starch out of you. I slept well Sunday night and got up at a reasonable hour. I …
: Facing Life’s Disappointments Ever since I received the long awaited diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism, I’ve been on a …
: Another Long Day I slept soundly the night after surgery. Still loaded with anesthesia and pain medications, I …
: Early to Bed, Early to Rise We went to bed at least two hours early the night before my surgery. My alarm was set for 4:00. Mr. …
: Devotions and Distractions When I want clarity and direction, I turn to my Bible and read any number of devotions on whatever …
: Let’s Dance! Put on your red shoes and dance the blues! I love to dance and my favorite place to dance is at a …
: Pink Flamingos and Minions I wish I could have had a blowout birthday party for my sweetheart. You don’t turn 70 every day! …
: You Can See a Bird’s Song Mr. FixIt and I have lazy mornings in the winter. We don’t have to hurry outside to mow or get the …
: Moving On to The Next Thing I find winter passes much more quickly when I keep my hands busy. I finished the socks yesterday …
: Thoughts and Feelings on a Cold Blue Winter’s Day Wow…is it cold or what? We were in Columbus the last few days and felt the bitter blasts of flat …
: The Mindlessness of Television I grew up in Small Town, America in the ‘50s and ‘60s. It was very much the Leave it to Beaver …
: Moving Forward After Loss My son-in-law’s mom sent me an article yesterday. Published in the Times of London, the article…”My …
: The Politics of Death in a Digital Age I didn’t know Bub personally. I’d never spoken to him. I didn’t know his last name or where he …
: Happy Winter Birds! Being one who doesn’t care for winter, I have to look hard to find the beauty. When you find the …
: Another Angelversary Eighteen years ago I was having an argument with my mother. She had been sick for five days and …
: More Cast Iron, More Knitting, More Snow My son-in-law’s mom texted me yesterday. She found a really cool piece of cast iron in the shed …
: Three Weeks from Monday! The sock grows more…day by day. I woke up yesterday and turned off the “sleeping” notification on …
: The Arctic Blast is Coming The temps are taking a nosedive in the coming days and we commented yesterday how thrilled we are …
: Another Project Completed I finished the pretty “seascape” socks last night. I didn’t have a “day of knitting” like I have …
: Always Be Prepared While I was only a Brownie Scout for one year of my life, I forever held to the tenet learned at …
: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood As it turned out, we got quite a bit more snow that I thought we would, given the meager amount …
: Where’s the Storm? They've been talking all week about this MASSIVE storm that was supposed to hit us yesterday and …
: Learning Curves Another new skill for my knitting toolbox! Toe-up sock with an Afterthought Heel! Just about …
: Sending Out Prayers by the Bushel I woke up yesterday morning in my grandma’s bed. I looked out at the trees…their naked fingers …
: Handing Over the Reins I’m learning to say “There is a part of me that gets anxious and afraid” instead of “I have …
: An Escape to the Farm I can tell you, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I can’t think of anyone in this whole world I’d …
: Finishing Projects I am really, really good at starting projects. I’m a Gemini. I want to know how to do EVERYTHING. …
: Let’s Talk Common Sense If you look around…wherever you live…especially if you’re “of a certain age”, you’re going to …
: Step by Step by Step It was a beautiful day yesterday. The sky was clear and blue. The sun was shining. And it wasn’t …
: My iPad is Getting Smarter We’ve come a long way, baby! Every evening, I head to the back bedroom between 8:00 and 8:30 to …
: Remembering my Re-Birthday and Watching it Snow Yesterday was my “re-birthday”. It marked 22 years since one of the darkest days of my life. It …
: One Sock Done, One to Go! I finished the first sock yesterday. I had two skeins…one per sock. I nearly ran out of the first …
: Weaving a Thread into a Tapestry of Life I’m making great progress on knitting these socks. You can do that when you sit down and knit for …
: Making Progress on Knitting and Recovery Mr. FixIt does odd jobs for friends and family from time to time. Yesterday, one of his friends …
: Learning New Things and Remembering Old Things I seem to always borrow knitting needles from my dear friend, Gail. It happens when we are camping …
: One Down, 364 to Go! We were thrilled to have absolutely nothing to do yesterday. As a matter of fact, we went to bed …
: So Long, Betty! I think it’s rather fitting that, on the last day of what was probably one of our most challenging …
: An Incredible Day I had one of the most amazing experiences yesterday…and in the days leading up to it. We’ve talked …
: Big Lights in the Big City Oh, my…I have to say, it was wonderful sleeping in the camper Wednesday night! Rain…from torrential …
: Camping: Round Two I was totally prepared to sleep in the camper on Monday night. I was all settled in with my …
: Putting Things into Perspective When I think of all the things that are going on all over this planet, my problems seem pretty …
: We Hit it Out of the Park! We’ve had to divide up the family parties since covid. One faction believes in vaccines and the …
: A Self Care Christmas I did what I promised myself I would do yesterday. I got up and fixed breakfast. We opened our …
: Joy to the World! My day didn’t start out as I’d hoped for Christmas Eve. I didn’t sleep well and ended up moving to …
: The Ghosts of Christmas Present We have a White Christmas every morning…it’s called FROST! Remember back when I first lost Mr. …
: It’s Christmas So Why Ain’t I Jolly? Lawzy me…my leggings are lying to me. They’re saying, “Go ahead…eat that cookie. We got you, boo!” …
: The Winter Solstice The only real celebration I observe for the Winter Solstice is letting out a huge sigh of relief. …
: Tidings of Comfort and Joy I want to start out today with a HUGE praise! Remember how we’ve been praying for my dear friend …
: Snapping Out of It, Albeit Slowly Art: Mary Engelbreit If there’s one thing I knew about my friend Sparky, it’s that she didn’t …
: Heavy Sigh I had kinda forgotten what grief feels like in your body. It’s been over eight years now since I …
: Who Gets Your Digital Footprint After You’re Gone? I follow Heather Cox Richardson. Lately, she’s been sharing some texts that went back and forth …
: My Little Feathered Friend Mr. FixIt and I were sitting in the living room yesterday waiting for his friend to call. They were …
: Love is Like a Maypole Mr. FixIt had a routine medical procedure done early yesterday morning. I sat in the truck, …
: Never Miss a Chance to Say I Love You “Converting the sofa to a spare bed in the RPod 196!” I am crushed. I found out yesterday one of my …
: Beyond the Absurd - Birds Aren’t Real For those of us who are “of a certain age”, we recall hearing about something absurd called “The …
: Soft Memories, Hard Memories There are so many good memories wrapped up in this Holiday Season. Memories of Christmases past can …
: If It’s Christmas, It Must Be Time For Aebleskivers! The #32 pan has a lip on it which keeps the oil from spilling over into your flame when it bubbles …
: Our Tree is Dying a Slow Death Our Christmas tree is giving up the ghost…slowly but surely. Mr. FixIt came back in the living room …
: Life’s Perfect Imperfections There is nothing in life that is perfect save for the love of God. Flaws face us at every turn and …
: The Moon and The Stars I went outside last evening to do something and stopped in my tracks. The curve of the moon…nothing …
: Old Stuff and New Stuff Daughter #1 tagged me in a post over the weekend. It seems she was going through items that had …
: Ice, Ice, Baby! Pardon the mess…we are still a work in progress here! Well, we’re making progress here. My back …
: Ain’t it Good to Be Back Home Again! *che-wink* *che-wink* *che-wink* I opened my eyes and listened to the cheery *che-wink* of an …
: It’s Palindrome Day! 12/02/2021 The last time I came out to the farm, I expected to stay two nights but I had a dinner engagement …
: The Matriarch My Great Great Grandmother…Nellie May I talked to my grandma about just about everything. We had a …
: Be the Light, Change the World Photo Credit: @QuoteILoveU via Twitter There are countless ways to live in this world. I used to …
: Feeling the Wave and Letting it Go Blue Jay out the bedroom window I tried to call my brother on Thanksgiving and couldn’t reach him. …
: Taking a Stroll Down Memory Lane My Bialetti Moka Express, made in Italy We were going to put up the tree yesterday, but the sweet …
: Let the Games Begin! I just had to show you this AMAZING sourdough starter. I bought a one ounce jar of starter from …
: Holiday Preparations 2021 I need this in my life! I took a look at my new starter yesterday morning and it was ever so …
: Getting Started on the Starter I woke up yesterday and smiled at Mr. FixIt. “I’m makin’ waffles!” “Hey…that sounds great!” I …
: Update on All the Things I received an email over the weekend from the daughter of the soldier named on my POW/MIA bracelet! …
: Selling my Firstborn for an iPhone Where the magic happens…the camera on the iPhone 13 Pro Max So, we went to town yesterday and got …
: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread and Batter! A hundred lifetimes ago, I baked competitively and had a bit of a reputation around town as The Pie …
: The Farm Book is Here! Ok, it’s not MY book…yet. This is the memory book I’ve made for the family. I know…it’s supposed to …
: Sitting at the Cool Kids’ Table I won’t say my childhood sucked, because there were some really great parts of it. But, due to some …
: A Farm Fix!!! That’s me, standing where the house used to sit just after they moved it onto the new basement. I …
: Kitchen Mishaps I’ve been pretty lucky in the kitchen over the years. I have won a box full of ribbons for my pies …
: Emerging from the Silence I have a dear sister/friend who sends me songs through Messenger every once in a while. She and I …
: The Journey Never Really Ends, You Just Learn How to Ride I was writing my post Friday night as I always do. Then I schedule it to go live at 4:00am so you …
: The Coffee Divas and the DMV We had errands to run yesterday. Quite often, Mr. FixIt and I are in the minority when it comes to …
: Summer’s Reprise It seems I drive a lot…more than I care to, actually. But it just seems there’s always something …
: Grandma’s Kitchen (I’m not sure I would attempt to make this recipe as written. I think the measurements are off.) …
: Bugs and Buttermilk Biscuits This was before they got bad! Oh…the continuing saga of the lady beetles. It was a wonderfully warm …
: The Scourge of the Lady Beetle My mom died in January 2004. My Aunt Rosie met me during a layover in Charlotte and we flew the …
: Three Days - An Update on the POW/MIA Bracelet That’s all it took. Three days and I tracked down the daughter of Maj. Chambliss M. Chesnutt. One …
: A Letter to a Friend Dr. Sue and Me in Deadwood, SD Just a few weeks after Mr. Virgo died, I took off in my first little …
: Never Come Between a Girl and her Truck When I was a single mom in Denver back in the mid to late ‘70’s, I didn’t have a pot to pee in or a …
: Finding a Needle in a Haystack I made great strides in organizing the camping gear yesterday. Now, you might ask… “For crying out …
: Jack Frost Nipping at Your Nose Holy Camping Gear, Batman! Ol’ Jack Frost came and bit our gardens Tuesday night. We awoke …
: It’s Always Something, Isn’t It? Home again, home again…jiggety jig! What a crazy couple of days. We got to Columbus by 5:00PM on …
: The Queen of Soft Edges I saw a picture of my friend Jack, sitting in the driveway surrounded by Trick or Treaters. He was …
: It’s November! Between the rainstorms of the last week, I’ve finished mowing here on our little slice of heaven. …
: Trick or Treat! All Souls Day, All Saints Day, Samhain, souling, guising, Guy Fawkes Day, Dia de los Muertos…Day of …
: Tripping the Trigger I went to town yesterday morning to take the truck in for repairs. I was really early, so I stopped …
: Heart Melt and Car Repair Awwwww, you guys! You went and made me cry! Did you read the comments the last couple of days? God …
: WALK STRONG, GINNY! Way back in 2017, one of my readers started sending me comments to WALK STRONG. I loved that. …
: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea I’m torn. I’ve been reading the disturbing news about the Facebook Papers and how the company put …
: My Get Up and Go, Got Up and Went Even though I have a list as long as my arm of things I want to get done before the snow flies, I …
: Looking Forward, Looking Back Mr. FixIt and I went to town yesterday afternoon and had our Moderna booster shot. I didn’t realize …
: Where Did the Year Go? Our little bonus patch of volunteer petunias…teeny, tiny…hiding in the tub of African Lilies Mr. …
: Home, Sweet Home! We watched this little maple tree slowly turn crimson over the week we were camping at Alum Creek …
: How Country Living Has Changed Me I awoke to the tippy tap sound of gentle rain on the roof of the camper. It sounds the same as my …
: The Perfect Autumn Day I know I tell you every day that THIS was the perfect day. That’s because it is. We have a tendency …
: Not Doin’ Nuthin’ The first thing we do every morning is open the shade on the skylight and oooooh and aaaaaah! I …
: Fall Camping is the BEST! The daytime temps are warm enough to wear a lightweight shirt, even if it’s long sleeved. And maybe …
: When You Find a Great Place to Stay, Stay There! Big Bird! A lot like Birdie, but bigger, with twin beds so the dinette stays up, and more storage! …
: Goodbye, TOW-Wanda! Hello, Big Bird! I knew after driving in high winds for two and a half hours…we’d made the right decision! Y’all are …
: Time to Take a Break My view out the camper window yesterday morning! We camped at Hocking Hills State Park! The last …
: There’s a Project in the Works I am working on a family project. Around the time the farm went up for sale, I remembered a bunch …
: The Baby in the Box Back in the ‘90s, Middleton Dolls were all the rage in my hometown. The Middleton Doll Factory was …
: Insights and Accolades I love how the stop action in this shot froze the raindrops in the sunshine. It looks like glitter! …
: Paying My Respects I am so blessed to have so many wonderful, loving friends who would do anything for me. My besty …
: The Phone Groan Mr. FixIt was out doing something with the truck last weekend and dropped his phone. We all drop …
: I’m Getting the Hang of This I got up before my uncle yesterday and had the biscuits ready to go in the oven by the time he …
: Let There Be Heaven on Earth My phone was in the holder. I drive with the camera on and when I see something I want to remember, …
: It’s That Time of Year! Mr. FixIt and I went to town yesterday. We had a lot of errands to run. While we were in Sam’s, an …
: The Blessings of Autumn The Forsythia are Blooming…Again! I spoke to my cousin last week. She told me she and my aunt were …
: Hope is an Action Word How do you keep hope alive when the world seems to be crumbling around you? I know people…people I …
: Birds, Bees and The Little Meadow Vole We went to the farm yesterday to mow. We loaded up the push mower and the weed eater and left …
: Kindness Matters I woke up yesterday and had a hankerin’ for homemade buttermilk biscuits but the buttermilk I had …
: The Mister Picked a Purple Pepper Our trip to Colorado pretty much threw our gardening and canning out the window this year. You …
: The Call of the Wild Ever since I downloaded the birding app…Merlin, from the Cornell Lab…my ears perk up when I hear a …
: Time Flies When You’re Having Fun! I woke up yesterday morning to the sun peeking through the curtains in the camper. It was cold…a …
: Knitting Wounded Hearts I wish I could say I made these beauties, but they are Cindy’s creation! One of my biggest goals …
: God Rescued Me From the Waves Six years ago this week, I went to the beach with a girlfriend. I pulled the big camper and we …
: Mum’s the Word It’s mum season. Pumpkin spice everything is everywhere. I’m sorta kinda ready this time. I always …
: Home is Where You Park Birdie It rained all Tuesday night in Indiana. We awoke to a veritable pond surrounding our camper. I said …
: One More Day We woke up this morning and got the camper closed up before it sprinkled. The drive was easy, but …
: Finding Feathers and Pennies from Heaven I didn’t sleep very well the first two nights of this trip for some reason. Probably because we’re …
: Good Morning, Kansas!!! Ok, y’all…western Kansas is flat…and windy…and flat. And, did I say windy??? Wowza! We’re talking …
: Drifting Along With the Tumbling Tumbleweed We got up fairly early yesterday morning and I made a batch of fresh buttermilk biscuits. We heated …
: Hitting the Road…Again I showed Ben & Sue the Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell Labs yesterday. Sue and I sat at the table …
: RE-LAX-A-SHUN Yesterday was a “self-care” day. I slept like a log and woke up at 9:00. What a treat! Mr. FixIt …
: How to Celebrate 50 Years of Marriage? Breakfast for Supper! While I’ve been having a wonderful visit, and I really haven’t been running around like I usually …
: Playing Tourist One of the places I’ve wanted to show Mr. FixIt is Red Rocks Amphitheater. Built in 1936 by the CCC …
: Connecting With the Past We’re heading into the downhill stretch of our trip to Colorado and I’m starting to have those …
: What Happens When You Forget? You Forgive! This weekend was a whirlwind of love and emotions and a little angst and a lot of laughs and huge …
: Finding Peace in Change What an amazing weekend this has been! My sweet brother was the center of the universe yesterday at …
: Family Time! My very handsome brother turns 70 tomorrow!!! Ok…you all know me. I say I’m taking time off, then I …
: Mommying Never Ends Daughter #2 and I had the best day yesterday. We got together early for coffee and actually sat …
: Merry Christmas, Moon Pie! Mr. FixIt and Ben rode the light rail train to Downtown Denver yesterday. They walked around Union …
: Red Skies and Apple Pies The Centennial State isn’t called “Colorful Colorado” for nothing! The sunsets here are always …
: My Moon Pie and Me I was in mid sentence when Sue looked out the window and exclaimed… “There she is!!!” I jumped up, …
: Fixing Birdie’s Blinker When I was backing into our campsite at Lake McConaughy the other night, Mr. FixIt called out to me …
: The Grand Prairie and Birdie’s Grand Adventure If we were just meandering around the country with absolutely no agenda, there are some places we …
: This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land… The Sun Rose on Birdie at the Lake Storey Campground in Galesburg, IL We woke up yesterday morning …
: We Beat Ida, But….. The Cornfields of Illinois There was a cold front that swept down through the Great Plains …
: Outrunning the Rains of Ida We seem to have left West Virginia at a most opportune moment. As we drove across the flat …
: Birdie’s Grand Adventure… She’s Off! For the day before a Grand Adventure, we were pretty mellow. Mr. FixIt finished mowing the back …
: Putting Birdie Through Her Paces Panicle Hydrangea at The Farm We are going through our little a-frame camper with a fine toothed …
: Unexpected Joy… Unexpected Pain I Broke the Mower! We awoke to partly cloudy skies yesterday with a forecast of “slightly cooler” …
: The Found Garden I have made many FB friends since I started writing this blog. People I genuinely care for and …
: When is it a Disaster…When is it Just…Life? There are truly disasters that occur. Things that could not have been predicted that befall us and …
: It’s Getting Dark in Here We’re Getting Little Hints of Gold! Summer cruises right along and it begins to feel like it did …
: Summer Sunday Supper You could just about guarantee where my mom, brother, and I would be on any given Sunday when I was …
: There’s a Fungus Among Us I got back from my little impromptu camping trip in the early afternoon. It was already in the mid …
: Birdie and Blue Skies Remember I told you we’d had an inordinate amount of rain in the last week? Well, my friend Diane …
: Guardian Angels and Rainstorms We’ve had an incredible amount of rain in the last week after going through a prolonged dry spell. …
: Birdie’s Little Road Trip…Ginny’s Little Break Ok, show of hands. How many of you have had something scheduled the following morning. You brush …
: Grounding Myself Honestly, I live a charmed life. A wonderful husband and friend and partner in crime. A healthy and …
: The Hits Just Keep on Coming I was awakened by the gentle tapping of rain just before dawn yesterday morning. The temperature …
: Please Don’t Feed the Trolls When you own a website or blog, you open yourself up to a lot of good things. And, as they say… …
: Listen to Your Body I abused my body for many years…eating poorly, yo-yo dieting, abusing substances, over-exercising. …
: Rain…Blessed Rain It has been so terribly hot and dry here in West Virginia the last several weeks. While Mr. FixIt …
: It’s the Dog Days of Summer The Mystery Flower: Sun Star? Star of Bethlehem? Some kind of lily? I am hoping against hope that …
: My Husband Has Ruined Me Mr. FixIt has ruined me. Let me explain. I’m updating the GPS unit I bought in 2014 as I was …
: “Birdie” Needs New Shoes Camper for Illustration Only…This is an awning idea! Our new-to-us camper is an absolute delight! …
: I Can’t Just Scroll on By To my friends who refuse a vaccine and want me to scroll on by and shrug my shoulders: Let’s say I …
: A Matter of Self Care: An Open Letter to Simone Biles Dear Miss Simone, I haven’t really watched the Olympics much, but I’ve kept up with the major …
: Another Day…Another Doctor I told Mr. FixIt yesterday…we are at “that age” now. When you have WAY more doctor’s appointments …
: Bluebirds and Grief and Healing I saw a story on the news shortly after Mr. FixIt and I got married. It was about a man on a …
: Generations of Strong Women I have a second cousin who was fortunate enough to have a portrait taken when her baby was born …
: Church Among the Birds We haven’t been back to church since late February 2020. Mostly due to covid and our church’s “lack …
: The. Perfect. Day. Period. There are days that you wish you could bottle up and keep forever. Yesterday was one of those days. …
: Ahhhhhh….Relaxation! We got a good scare this morning just as we were ready to pull out of the driveway with the new …
: Yes…I Went to Town…AGAIN! You know how it is when you’re getting ready for a trip. There’s always something you have to do …
: Another Trip to Town? Why, Yes Indeed! I know I should never declare a day as “strictly stay at home” because nine times out of ten, it’s …
: Packing Light Bush Lily preparing to bloom; Elephant Ears behind I swore I wasn’t going to go to town yesterday. …
: Hot! Hot! Hot! Land’s sake…I don’t know how y’all out West are handling the intense heat and mega drought. It was …
: The Creature From the Black Lagoon Remember that film from 1954? It was filmed in 3D black and white…allegedly a horror film about …
: Family Friendly Farming…West Virginia Style Melissa gives us a tour of the greenhouses on her parents’ farm. One of the special treats Mr. …
: Easy as Pie! Look what followed us home! I’ve been vacillating for weeks regarding my big camper. Honestly…the …
: Whatever Happened to Manners? The other night, Mr. FixIt and I went to our local pizza establishment to get our twice-weekly ice …
: Another Mystery Explored In my self-imposed “retreat” out in TOW-Wanda, I’ve been reading a lot of devotionals. About fear …
: The Mysteries of Neurodiversity My “Secret Garden”…my favorite spot here at home. Neurodiversity. It’s probably not a term you are …
: When the Little People Come I had an appointment in town yesterday morning and snuck out without waking Mr. FixIt. I stopped …
: The Mistakes of Others I’ve always imparted this little tidbit to young people. “You can’t possibly live long enough to …
: The Cupboard My Pop-Pop sitting by the cupboard. It sat in the dining room till the late 60’s when my great …
: My Farm Fix I Spy, with My Little Eye…Something PINK! Do You See? We went to the farm to mow yesterday. The new …
: Waiting on the Half Runners Sharing Last Year’s Bounty We received wonderful news yesterday. Daughter #1 and the kids got home …
: Take Five Another Day Done I’m not ashamed to say, I didn’t do diddly squat yesterday! Well, i went to town …
: Hugging My Baby Forty-seven years ago, I gave birth to a little wisp of a child with hair like a golden halo and …
: Saying Goodbye…Again! Unless my daughter decides to spend the night and head out in the morning, the current plan is to …
: Little Melts My Heart Little Has Taken Archery Lessons Before We took our time leaving the park yesterday. We said our …
: Camping with the Kiddo Well, it wasn’t roughing it, by any means. But we sure had fun at Beaver Creek State Park. It’s one …
: Holding my Thoughts Captive Chilling after a five hour drive…listening to a podcast. From the time my uncle told me it was time …
: What’s This…A Day Off??? Standing at the Foot of the Temporary Back Steps I can’t remember the last time I actually took the …
: My Mini Me When Daughter #1 was growing up, she was the spitting image of me. From looks to mannerisms to …
: Horses and Heavens What a fun day! Little learned how to make French Toast and agrees with me…the very BEST bread to …
: When Every Week Has a Three-day Weekend Retirement, sweet retirement. I remember packing as much fun as possible into those few three-day …
: It’s Independence Day! The year is half gone already. Last year was 36 months long. This year seems like three so far. We …
: Another Busy Day in Paradise Little is sure keeping us busy! I’d forgotten what it was like to have a 14-year-old in the house. …
: Don’t Touch the Pretty Caterpillar Happy July! When I was a little kid, I was playing in the Guthrie’s back yard. Our ball went into a …
: When You Have to Say “See Ya!” Those five days went by WAY too fast. Oh, my…how I miss my girls. It was a really hard year anyway, …
: Nana Wore Them Out! Mr. FixIt and I took Little out to the field a couple days ago for the “Annual Blueberry Harvest”. …
: The Bakers Begin! Little is hilarious. She has such an excellent wit…quick and dry and unexpected. She’s always been …
: They’re HERE!!! This was taken a long time ago…they’re 14 and 17 now! OMGosh! Yesterday was crazy busy! When I went …
: The Praying Mantis I’ve seen these around the last few weeks. The first one was about a month ago and it wasn’t a half …
: With All Good Intentions Mr. Virgo’s Clock…I hung it, set the pendulum in motion, the time on the clock said 6:07. I turned …
: It Never Fails Little’s Room is just about ready! Mr. FixIt and I were talking about this yesterday. Whenever you …
: Wowza! The Sky is Falling!!! Man, did we have some crazy weather yesterday. I mean like, Wrath of God thunder and lightning and …
: Four Baby Birdies and the Bath The New Bathroom Floor We have a security light out at the end of the house…the side we painted and …
: The Buzzard and The Crow A Crow “Mobbing” a Turkey Buzzard…aka Vulture I grilled burgers last night for supper. We’ve been …
: Facebook Memories and Family I remember when the first “memory” with Mr. Virgo showed up on Facebook after he died. It slayed …
: Mowing and Playing Elderberry The mowing never stops. We are still mowing out at the farm as it hasn’t changed hands …
: A Great Day for Working Outdoors! Our son-in-law showing off a turn-of-the-century bathtub! Yesterday was clear and bright and sunny. …
: Preparing to Teach at Marshmallow Ranch In just over a week, Daughter #1 will be pulling into our driveway toting Big and Little. Big is …
: Positive Aging is a Mindset So, 68 years and 1 day. I don’t feel a bit different on the inside. I’m still younger on the …
: That’s How it Goes...On Some Birthdays, You Work! When you live in the country, you have to take what comes and deal with it in the moment. Sundays. …
: Another Trip Around the Sun Mr. FixIt has been asking me for a month what I want for my birthday. I told him my needs are few. …
: A Comforting Routine Not ours...just an idea of what I want to create. Mr. FixIt and I have reached a lovely place in …
: My Cup Runneth Over We’ve had some big time rain in the last several days. When we had that dry stretch, the thought …
: The Year That Time Stood Still Sometimes, when life gives you hard things, you put your head down and keep pushing forward in …
: When Life Smacks You Yesterday was just an ordinary day here on Marshmallow Ranch...aka the Ponderosa. We puttered …
: On a Saturday Night in West Virginia Roller Rink in Belpre, OH - photo by Harry Barnett I was born in the Fifties and grew up in the …
: The Sunday Drive I grew up with a family that took Sunday drives. Most often, it was out to see Grandma and PopPop …
: She’s BAAAA-AAAAAK!!! What a long, long day! We left home around 10-10:30 yesterday and didn’t pull back in till 8:00 …
: Mowing and Weed Identification We missed the dark pink blossom, but this one is a beauty! It didn’t rain yesterday so I finished …
: Play Ball! I gained a whole lot more family members when I married Mr. FixIt. One of my bonus granddaughters …
: An Abundance of Green I wish I could bottle the first week of June and keep it for January. This is the time of year when …
: There’s Always an Adventure with Mr. FixIt! A Little Lake We Found We were puttering around the house yesterday. Mr. FixIt was preparing to put …
: My Heart is Happy Late Afternoon at the Cemetery on the Hill Yesterday was a perfectly beautiful day. We slept in, …
: Move On, Mr. Swift...You Too, Mr. Raccoon The Square Cap on the Chimney Keeps the Swifts Out For the last couple of years, we’ve had chimney …
: I Have a Dream My Bubby turns 70 this fall. We’ll be traveling to Colorado to help him celebrate. My dear …
: Memorial Day Weekend I still get notifications from 911 in Garfield County where I used to live in Colorado. Not that I …
: 3,000 Days Grandma’s Peonies While Mr. FixIt busied himself fixing the door into our pole building, I headed …
: The Ants are Back! A couple of years ago, we were inundated with little black ants. They were everywhere, including …
: Pumpkin’s Magnificent Adventure Pumpkin For those of you who’ve followed a while, you’ll know I lived in my camper for a few years …
: Getting Things Done and Making Big Decisions Shredded Documents We’ve been checking things off the master list of things to do here at the …
: A Day of Peace After an entire week of angst and anxiety, I sat with my bible study on “Overcoming Anxiety” and …
: Pure Mountain Spring Water PopPop and three of his brothers in front of the house before it was moved onto the new basement. …
: On Mr. FixIt Time When you’re retired, things aren’t quite as scheduled as they are when you have limited time to get …
: Prayers Answered...Thank You! My Salvaged Shelf from Mr. FixIt I was so relieved when I got to talk to my brother last evening. …
: Prayers for my Bubby When it rains, it pours. You all have heard me talk about my Bubby. He has a developmental …
: Ask, and Ye Shall Receive The Last Morning at The Farm The last twenty-four hours I could say the farm was mine offered a …
: My Grandma Had a Dream She was only fifteen when she ran off with the hired hand on her daddy’s farm and got married in …
: It Was the Best of Times...It Was the Worst of Times Charles Dickens was speaking of the events leading up to the French Revolution, of course. And my …
: He’s Got the Little Things, Too I’ve gotten a lot better about handing things over to God as I age. I just get tired and lose …
: God Has Bigger Hands Lord, I’ve tried to keep up with everything the last few months. When I posted yesterday’s message, …
: The Ice Cream Dodge Lands...I’d say this has been a crazy couple of weeks, but it’s been like this since the end of …
: The Open House Kitchen My goal was to have the house clean and presentable for the Open House yesterday, and I …
: Froggy Went a Courtin’ When I was a very little girl, my PopPop would sit me on his knee and sing “Froggy Went a …
: Every Year...It’s the Same Thing! Ok, those of you have followed me oh, these many years know what happens every single year at tax …
: Making Memories Every Day Heaven Mr. FixIt and I both have full calendars this week. I’m over at the farm, continuing to …
: “Joy” is Home Back in 2017, when Mr. FixIt and I were a new item in the dating scene, he called me on a drizzly …
: Whispers from Beyond I got a little bit of a late start yesterday. I realized I didn’t really have anything at the farm …
: Time Marches On I’m kind of entering a countdown now with the farm. My ability to stay here whenever I want is …
: “Because I’m Happy....” or The Gift from Beyond I’m very careful about what I take from the farm. I know what is mine. I also know there are some …
: Old Phones Equal Old Memories In going through the items I had stashed at the farm, I came across two old cell phones. One was …
: Snips & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails...and Snakes...and Mice! I’ve never had the pleasure of raising a boy. I love all the boys in my life immensely. But, I …
: Family Comes in Many Forms I always wanted a big family. It seemed big in many ways because my daughters always had friends …
: A Face with No Name When I was rummaging around in the box with my late uncle’s flag, I found this photo at the bottom …
: Protecting the Turf I had a pretty productive day at the farm. The cabinets still had tons of food in them that had …
: Full Moons and Hoot Owls I never sleep well when the moon is full. It was going on 1:30 yesterday morning when I finally …
: Hiding in Plain Sight Mr. FixIt got an early start on the tractor yesterday. I could see him on the security camera, …
: The Best Gift EVER! We had a lot to do yesterday and in order to get it all done, we had to split up and share the …
: The Strawberry Shed I’m gearing up for a busy week both here on the Ponderosa and out at the farm. Both need mowing …
: When You Take Your Goats to Arby’s...You Must be in West Virginia! We got in last night exactly twelve hours after we pulled away from the condo. Although we were …
: So Long, OBX...See You Next Time!!! It was our last day and we wanted to do something fun so as soon as the temp warmed up a little, we …
: Today’s Good Mood Brought to You by...God’s Paintbrush! The worst day at the beach beats the best day at the office. It’s been a long time since I’ve …
: An Employee Shortage This trip to the beach has been different than any I’ve made so far. Usually this week is …
: Life is a Mystery A Halo Around the Sun...Life is a Mystery! I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster this week...and …
: Adjust Your Dreams...Again! When Mr. Virgo and I were beginning to think about retirement, I was adamant about one thing. I was …
: In a Matter of Moments Whenever we head out on a long road trip, I am always careful to ask God for travel mercies and you …
: When We Get Spoiled It isn’t normal to have temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s this early in the year in West Virginia, …
: The Things That Take My Breath Away Redbud Out on the Two Lane Unless you have driven down a country road in West Virginia in mid April …
: Getting Back In the Out We’ve talked a little bit here about the apprehension some people are having surrounding …
: Listening to the Night Sounds I love the sounds of spring. From rain on the roof to the happy chirping of frogs in the wet areas …
: In Search of the Silver Linings The Farm Yesterday we talked about letting the farm go and the inevitability of change in our …
: The One Thing You Can Count On Spring flowers on my walkabout on the Ponderosa. Besides God, there is only one thing for absolute …
: Our Family Grows We gained a son yesterday. Well, a son-in-law. My stepson-in-law, to be precise. K has been around …
: I Do My Best Thinking When I Drive Sitting on the deck with the propane heater to keep warm! Ok, so it was the riding mower...but that …
: Prayers and Miracles and Grace I’ve been posting the Sunday Evening Prayer Circle for a few years now. I love that we can come …
: The Jobs are Lining Up It’s springtime in full force here on the Ponderosa and the list of things that need doing is …
: A Season of Hope Easter always makes me think of hope. The darkness and fear of the Friday before gave way to …
: Coming in Like a Lion The first day of April gave us...snow! Not a lot. Not even a little. Just a smattering. Just enough …
: A Sweet Homecoming Happy April, everyone! I took my time over at the farm yesterday morning. I was awakened early by a …
: What is That Noise? I like quiet. I don’t like the television blaring or traffic humming or weird mechanical noises you …
: My Home Away From Home “Grandma’s Daffodils “ I pulled into the drive at the farm at 2:30, shut off the truck, and opened …
: In the Still of the Night It rained so hard, it just poured over the gutters! The Covid Era has changed many things for Mr. …
: Ramping Up for Work Oh, dear...what have we here??? Well, as you might have expected, I’ve been resting and healing the …
: Knocking Down the To Do List Forsythia! As soon as coffee was consumed, it was time to start working on the security system. Mr. …
: Neither Here nor There We are enjoying springtime in West Virginia. We are supposed to get some big storms in the next day …
: Basking in the Sun! Pardon the Pollen! Boy, howdy...yesterday was a PERFECT spring day in West Virginia! We hung around …
: When “Thoughts and Prayers” are Not Enough I don’t want to make this a political issue. I want to make it a human issue. I don’t want the …
: It’s Always Something... Bee Balm in the Sunshine If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Right? That’s what Nanna Rosannadana …
: Resting as an Olympic Sport I think I like this resting thing. I have my laptop updated, my hard drive cleaned and defragged, …
: The First Day of Spring...2021 This is the day I yearn for from the first frost. I’ve actually done better with winter the last …
: Thunderbolts and Lightning We had our first thunderstorm of the year yesterday afternoon. It rained off and on much of the …
: Guess Where I Am? Hint: The Peepers are Peeping!!! Pollen coating the parking lot in Savannah, Georgia Yes...we made it home last night by 9:00. Not …
: Day 365: Documenting a Lost Year That Saved Me I woke up in the stillness of our hotel room. My husband slept quietly by my side. I turned over …
: Day 363: Patience is NOT one of My Virtues! I like to think I am a virtuous woman, but when it comes to the virtue of patience, I came out on …
: Day 362: Another Day of Recovery I hate to admit how much this surgery has taken out of me. I feel so much better as far as the …
: Day 361: A Room With a View...and an Omission We both slept pretty well the night of surgery so we awoke yesterday morning refreshed. I felt much …
: Day 360: Look Who’s on the News! After I had my covid test on Tuesday, they told me to “go home and stay there...don’t be around …
: Day 359: Adulting 101 Dinner at Chez McKinney...table for two! I can stay in for days and days at a time and find plenty …
: Day 358: From Sea to Shining Sea...the Atlantic to the Gulf Mavis has taken me on many adventures. She and I met the day I left Colorado in my rear view mirror …
: Day 357: We Found Spring! Spring has been hiding in the south and we didn’t know it! We drove through South Carolina and …
: Day 356: The Ups & Downs of Travel The View from Fancy Gap, VA Looking Out Over NC This feels pretty normal. Well, if you call still …
: Day 355: Tackling the Lists I had one job. Well, that’s not really true. I had a zillion and one, but my only “outside of the …
: Day 354: It’s a Matter of Engineering Where the water meets the creek from the drain we baby! I told you all the other day about the …
: Day 353: The “Anniversa-reaction” There’s a day in October that hits me in the gut. I don’t know the date, but I know when it’s …
: Day 352: Insomnia and The Three P’s Ever have one of those nights where you just can’t seem to turn your mind off? I’ve had way too …
: Day 351: The Walkabout and a Missing Pie See, this is why I don’t bake the good stuff...I eat it. We polished off that whole apple pie in …
: Day 350: Rain, Peepers, and Apple Pie! I love sixty-four degrees! We keep the thermostat at 64 degrees year round. We have a gas stove in …
: Day 349: Heading into Mud Season After a week of stunning springlike weather, the waterworks were scheduled to get turned on during …
: Day 348: An Attitude of Gratitude I kept a “Gratitude Journal” for years before I ever started writing this blog. When I was going …
: Day 347: Fauci Ouchie 2.0 We did it! We got our second vaccines yesterday and the feeling of relief nearly brought tears to …
: Day 346: Sunshine is Good Medicine! We had an important appointment yesterday...one we’ve been putting off for too long. Time to make …
: Day 345: “Of a Certain Age” I’ve been playing with my hair...trying to dress up a plain old ponytail or bun with a fun hair …
: Day 344: Blessed are the The Storytellers We all have a story to tell. Some have a handful. Some can write forever and not tell them all. …
: Day 343: Mourning the 500,000 This is Atlanta as seen from space. It is the home of around 500,000 people. People like you and …
: Day 342: Waiting for Spring I know it’s probably a little early to be wistful about springtime in West Virginia, but it’s …
: Day 341: Chocolate Chip Cookies Fix Everything! I’ve been on the prowl for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe for the last three decades. …
: Day 340: Always Have a Plan B! Do you ever plan something and then, for no real reason you can put your finger on...you begin to …
: Day 339: The Grander Scheme of Things We are supposed to have our second Covid shot today, but the weatherman says Mother Nature may not …
: Day 338: Staying Safe & Cozy Yesterday was my completely cozy Hygge day here on the Ponderosa. I set out to enjoy the day with …
: Day 337: Ice, Ice Baby! I grew up in West Virginia, but I had barely turned twenty when I left the state and moved to …
: Day 336: Vulnerability One of the hallmarks of this blog has always been my willingness to be open and vulnerable with you …
: Day 335: When Time Crawls...or Is It Valentine’s Day Already??? February is the longest month....EV-ER!!!! I swear...we’re only in the middle of it and it’s been …
: Day 334: Throwing Out a Lifeline Sometimes we lose our moorings. We become untethered and bound about, endlessly bouncing from one …
: Day 333: I Shoulda Known Better Winter Creek One would think, after all I know about trauma and grief and PTSD, that I would know …
: Day 332: Another Home Day First thing yesterday, I got a call to confirm Pumpkin’s visit with the vet today. I was very happy …
: Day 331: Lost Time...Or Gratitude? You Choose! I’ve been feeling a sense of loss lately and couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Although it felt …
: Day 330: God is Listening...All the Time Yesterday was a busy day, and one that reminds me of the power of prayer. First, I had to run into …
: Day 329: Sifting Through the Sands of Time Super Bowl Sunday was decidedly different this year. We always have the whole family over and I …
: Day 328: The PushMe-PullYou Do you remember the movie “Doctor Doolittle”? There was a two-headed llama called a PushMe-PullYou. …
: Day 327: This is the Night the Lord Hath Made The last few days, we’ve been talking about feeling stretched thin, feeling frayed and frazzled, …
: Day 326: Feeling a Little Frayed, Are We? I chat every night with one of the dearest people in my life. Sue always has a supportive word, a …
: Day 325: We’ve Been Down This Road Before I’m happy to be back today. I was suffering one of the less pleasant side effects of this …
: Day 323: The Gift that Keeps on Giving What do you get a guy who has EV.ERY.THING? Mr. FixIt’s birthday was yesterday. We don’t go …
: Day 322: The Path to The Past is Long I can see that I am going to need to put a little structure into my time spent chasing rabbits down …
: Day 321: My Big Fat Family Tree One of my mama’s very favorite things to do was research our genealogy. Lands, she had boxes of …
: Day 320: Fighting the Fog Aging ain’t for sissies, is it. I’m sixty-seven now, and while that’s not elderly by any stretch of …
: Day 319: My Wish Came True I’m a much simpler, less demanding, uncomplicated woman than I used to be. I’m highly flexible, if …
: Day 318: Lead with Love and Make Amends I had to run to town yesterday for a followup breast ultrasound. I have a cyst growing where the …
: Day 317: Missing my Gal Pals BC...Before Covid...I used to get together with my girlfriends from high school at least once a …
: Day 316: A Monumental Project When I first began Marshmallow Ranch, it was just a little Facebook page promoting jewelry I made …
: Day 315: Turning the Corner on Covid Slowly...ever so slowly...the Covid surge from holiday travel and gatherings has begun to come …
: Day 314: Doctor, Doctor...I Can Walk! I’ve survived a lot in my sixty-seven years. Abuse, trauma, addiction, depression. And, every time …
: Day 313: Camping with a Crusty Curmudgeon I’ve been having a ball this week with the fun memes using Bernie Sanders in his warm parka and …
: Day 312: Covid Vaccine #1...Check! My good friend “Sparky” sent me a link early Tuesday morning and said to go there to sign up for …
: Day 311: Another Dawn...Another Day Amanda Gorman, first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate I had a very long day yesterday. Mr. FixIt …
: Day 310: Sunshine, Land, and Pollination After lingering snow flurries yesterday morning, the sun was shining through the kitchen window …
: Day 309: The Ripple Effect...Raising our Collective Mood In psychology, the Ripple Effect is “emotional contagion in groups”. In other words, the emotions …
: Day 308: Dream a Little Dream I’ve been very selective how I spend my social media time over the last few months. Yes, …
: Day 307: What Will This Day Bring? Our days run together punctuated with high drama and mundane tedium. Since before Christmas, I have …
: Day 306: Observing History or Doom-Scrolling? I’ve watched national disasters play out on TV ever since that fateful day in 1963 when our beloved …
: Day 305: Fear of Writing Wrongs In the eight years I’ve been writing this blog, there have been many, many times I’ve sat down to …
: Day 303: Out of Thin Air After Mr. Virgo died, I had several instances that could only be explained as supernatural. The …
: Day 304: In a Frenzy I’ve been transcribing my posts from Facebook over to my website for what seems like a decade now. …
: Day 302: The Birds of the Air It’s been a long time since we had a really deep down, heart-to-heart chat. It’s been a long time …
: Day 301: Putting on the Brakes I asked Mr. FixIt on Saturday night if he’d like to go out to the farm with me yesterday to check …
: Day 300: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread Zuppa Toscana Oy...it’s been a long time since our lives changed. It seems like three hundred YEARS …
: Day 299: Salve to a Sore Place Whenever my grandma hit a rough patch, she’d look for something to ease her soul and afterwards, …
: Day 298: My New “Tiny Home” I know today is “Feel Good Friday” and I know I usually scour the internet for a feel good story …
: Day 297: My Brain is Buzzing The sweetest couple moved in next door to me the year after Mr. Virgo died. They had a little boy …
: Day 296: Baking Buttermilk Biscuits...the Old Fashioned Way Along with grief comes a lot of triggers to bad, sad, traumatic and scary memories that can be …
: Day 295: When Surgery Sounds Exciting! I’ve had seven surgeries in my life. When I go see a new doctor and they take a surgical history, I …
: Day 293: Covid...the New “Widowmaker” When Mr. Virgo had his heart attack, we were standing in a camper deciding which one we wanted to …
: Day 292: Finding Hope Among the Stars I’m in the hope business. My glass is always full...even when it doesn’t look that way. It may only …
: Day 290: The Story of What Might Have Been When I sat down to write last night, I closed my eyes and let my breath go deep and slow. I often …
: Day 289: Let Your Light Shine Brighter My grandma had all kinds of sayings that were descriptive and puzzling and funny and weird. Some …
: Day 288: My Mirror Lies! The house here on the Ponderosa was built in the ‘70s. The closets have sliding mirrored doors, …
: Day 287: Christmas 2020...That’s a Wrap! Now that it’s Monday, Christmas 2020 is officially over. The tree will stay up for as long as we …
: Day 286: Wrapped Up & Warm As soon as Christmas was over, I told Mr. FixIt we need a little down time. There are things that …
: Day 285: A Surprising Day of Gratitude I was dreading Christmas. I haven’t seen my Colorado peeps in nearly 17 months. I haven’t held my …
: Day 284: Special Delivery...Just in Time for Christmas! I’ve been feeling kinda blue about Christmas this year. Covid has us sequestered and the kids all …
: Day 283: Winter Solstice...Here Comes the Sun! We just went through the longest, darkest night of the longest darkest year. I always look forward …
: Day 282: I’ll Be (at) Home for Christmas...You’re Always in my Dreams I have been in a whirlwind the last couple of weeks, as I’m sure you all have been as well. …
: Day 281: Keep Calm and Bake On Just before the bombings started in England in WWII, the Queen issued an edict that was produced on …
: Day 280: The Ghosts of Christmas Trees Past This photo was taken 50 years ago today! Most of the paper photos I have left are in boxes out at …
: Day 279: Be Careful What You Wish For I was browsing photos in a Facebook Group I belong to the other day. It was one of those “You Might …
: Day 278: Baking Down Memory Lane...Grandma’s Raisin Filled Cookies From as early as I can remember, I was in the kitchen making something. Out of necessity, I learned …
: Day 276: A Pig in a Poke There are a lot of country saying in WV and I think my grandma said every one of them at least …
: Day 275: Going on a Treasure Hunt Some of Mr. FixIt’s Heirlooms A friend of Mr. FixIt’s called him the other day, looking for a …
: Day 274: Nailed It...Kinda Have you ever seen those posts on Facebook where someone sees the cutest thing on Pinterest and …
: Day 273: In the Kitchen...Again! I couldn’t wait to get into the kitchen yesterday and start baking. I really thought I’d get more …
: Day 272: Just a Simple Country Kitchen There was a time in my life when I was fussy about my surroundings. I mean, I grew up in a tiny …
: Day 271: A Day in Chemical Valley I grew up five blocks from the Ohio River. The soundtrack of my life was the constant background …
: Day 270: Sneaky Tasting of the Treats! Ok...I know you’re supposed to let fruitcake age. Wrapping it in cheesecloth soaked with the liquor …
: Day 269: The Gift of an Heirloom Recipe The first day of holiday baking was a huge success. After a relaxing start to the day and enjoying …
: Day 268: Finally...The Tree is Up! It took much longer than I expected to get the house decorated this year. I really wanted to have …
: Day 267: Remembering the “Firsts” I know many who are approaching this as their first Christmas without their loved one. Those …
: Day 266: Another Sad Goodbye When Daughter #1 married in the summer of 1995, I had no idea what an integral part her new family …
: Day 265: Finding my Merry Mojo This past Sunday, I wrote a piece about trying to find my “Merry Mojo”. I just couldn’t quite put …
: Day 264: Buying in Bulk We’re being exceedingly careful when we venture out shopping. We try to time our trips to the store …
: Day 263: Wishes to Prayers, Coincidences to Blessings In the spring, I noticed my knuckles were swelling and painful. Arthritis? Could be. It’s also one …
: Day 261: Oh, Right...Now I Get It! Recipe from @joyfoodsunshine I finally baked those pumpkins pies today. They still don’t taste like …
: Day 260: Looking for my Merry Mojo I’m having trouble finding my footing with the change from uber busy spring-summer-fall …
: Day 258: Inside the Bubble Mr. FixIt and I were standing at the corner of the house...of all things, looking for a tiny silver …
: Day 257: Giving Thanks...2020 Style Let’s start out Thanksgiving on a sincere note of gratitude. My Covid test was negative and I am …
: Day 256: And Waiting Some More Grandma’s Christmas Bells Well...fiddle fiddle, as my mother used to say. I waited around …
: Day 255: Still Waiting...and Waiting... I finally gave in and called the little clinic where I had my Covid test done on Saturday. I know …
: Day 254: Waiting it Out As I hunker down here at the farm, an alert came over the phone. Rain is coming. Plink. Plink. …
: Day 253: Can You Say...Quarantine? I woke up yesterday with a stuffy head. I didn’t think I felt too bad till I attempted to get out …
: Day 252: Praying, Praying, Praying When I left the house Wednesday morning, I headed to the clinic to drop off a specimen then headed …
: Day 250: A Little R&R at The Farm I can’t remember the last time I got away for a couple of days at the farm for a little recharge …
: DAY 249: Biting My Tongue I don’t always practice what I preach. I called out someone on my page yesterday for saying …
: Day 248: Covid...Worse Than Glitter Are you crafty? Have you ever worked with glitter? If you have, then you know you cannot work with …
: Day 246: Keeping Our Distance When we bought our new recliners, the plan was to take the old ones over for the the grandkids to …
: Day 245: More Foodi Fun! OMGosh! The longer I have this new kitchen toy, the more I absolutely love it! I was skeptical when …
: Day 244: Surprises...Bad & Good One of my bonus granddaughters lost her beloved Lulu yesterday when she got hit by a car. Fur …
: Day 243: Saying “Goodbye” No, no...not me. I’m not going anywhere, don’t worry. Last night, Mr. FixIt and I watched the …
: Day 242: Farm Work is Never Done Yesterday was probably the last day till spring with the thermometer hitting 80 degrees. Rain was …
: Day 241: On the Air With....Ginny McKinney I was up bright and early yesterday...padding into the kitchen, wiping the sleep from my eyes. I …
: Day 240: Nothin’ But Blue Skies I’m in transition. It’s not quite winter, not quite fall...and it feels a little like summer. We …
: Day 239: Reflections 2016-2020 I debated with myself all day yesterday whether to even mention the election or not. I’ve been …
: Day 238: I Love You for Who You Are...and Who You Aren’t I met Nicole in one of the many hot springs pools lining the steppes at the river’s edge in …
: Day 237: Distraction Therapy Another day of very little political involvement equals another day of peace on the Ponderosa. I …
: Day 236: I’m Not Watching I was so proud of myself yesterday. I didn’t scroll endlessly through social media and news sites …
: Day 235: Election Day 2020 It’s finally here. I don’t know about you, but I am so oversaturated with all the political ads, …
: Day 234: Reflections of my Father on his Birthday I definitely resemble my father. I’m not sure I ever really knew my dad. I mean...I lived in the …
: Day 233: Once in a Blue Moon A blue moon is the second full moon in one month. Happy November! Election season is almost over …
: Day 232: Well, Butter My Buns and Call Me a Biscuit I decided yesterday was a great day for an iron skillet full of yummy homemade biscuits. I first …
: Day 231: Pay it Forward Yesterday we talked about having a spirit of giving as a way to make the world a better place to …
: Day 230: “Life Is All About What You Give” I usually have a good idea of what I want to talk about in my daily posts when I sit down to write …
: Day 229: A Girl Needs a Little “Me Time” I had the day off yesterday. Well...I was off by myself. A doctor’s appointment, a breast …
: Day 228: We Love Who We Love In fourth grade, she sat in the car and cried. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” “I can’t tell you.” “Why …
: Day 227: The Real Feel of Autumn When I woke up yesterday, I greeted my sweetheart and said, “How can it possibly be Sunday again …
: Day 226: Connecting Through Technology I was busy in the kitchen making a couple of loaves of sourdough bread and fixing pork chops for …
: Day 225: Slips and Dips in the Road West Virginia notoriously has really bad roads. Because of the large amount of rainfall and the …
: Day 224: The Sweetest Sounds After such a long day on Wednesday, I was happy to sleep in a little yesterday. Mr. FixIt, being …
: Day 223: Takin’ Care of Business Foggy Bottom on the Ponderosa Yesterday was a day of pure satisfaction. I was up at 6:00am to head …
: Day 222: “Doo, Doo, Doo...Lookin’ Out my Back Door” When we got back from the beach, we had thirty-three pounds of bagged and frozen fish filets in our …
: Day 221: Testing, Testing, 1-2-3 We live in a tiny, sparsely populated county in rural West Virginia where an awful lot of people …
: Day 220: Grounding Myself in the Spirit Flyfishing the Curratuck Sound at Sunset Mr. FixIt and I haven’t been to church in person since …
: Day 219: Coming Home to a Mystery! Eleven and a half hours. Wow...what a drive! At least this time we didn’t have to drive through …
: Day 218: Goodbye, Ocean...Homeward Bound! Sandy toes on the Outer Banks...Mr. FixIt fishing! This week was exactly what we needed. We had so …
: Day 217: Bringing Home the Sea Bass, Etc. Sunrise on the Fishing Boat The guys had a big day on their fishing trip. They came back sunburned …
: Day 216: Gone Fishin’ With The Boys Of all things, the check engine light came on in my truck on Tuesday evening. We had to go find an …
: Day 215: A Memorable Anniversary We caught this egret having lunch in the reeds along the boardwalk as we explored the shops on the …
: Day 214: Practicing Saying “No, Thank You” and “Yes, Please” It never fails. I can just about bank on the fact that one of the first days after my arrival in a …
: Day 213: Rain, Rain, Go Away! When you are on vacation at the beach, it’s supposed to be sunny and warm, right? Well...maybe not …
: Day 212: Just a Little 12-Hour Road Trip! It is only 566 miles from our home to our condo. Google Maps says it will take 8 hours and 37 …
: Day 211: Ten Ten Twenty Twenty Mr. FixIt and I had a list as long as your arm yesterday and everything had to be timed according …
: Day 210: My Word of the Day...Obstreperous! On our way out to the farm yesterday to mow, we stopped by Charlotte’s barn with a big bag of apple …
: Day 209: Multi-Tasking! Multi-Tasking! Hokey-smokes! It took three days to make seven and a half PINTS of apple …
: Day 208: God’s Present is His Presence It isn’t very often I get up before Mr. FixIt. He’s definitely an earlier riser than me, so …
: Day 207: Apples Galore! This is only about a third of what I worked up yesterday. I had five bags of apples and another …
: Day 206: A Disappointment...and a Surprise! We went to pick up that chair at the antique store yesterday. When I first set eyes on it, I …
: Day 205: A Space of My Own I think every woman should carve out a little space that is just hers. Guys get the “man cave” or …
: Day 204: 2020....Seriously, Would Someone Just Yell BINGO & Get This Year Over With!!! In times of great stress, gallows humor comes into play as a way to cope. When Hubby #2 was in …
: Day 203: Where Do I Find...Feel Good Friday? Lord, have Mercy...these are hard times if we look at all we are shown. I’ve lost friends this …
: Day 202: My Kitchen is my Happy Place! Someone on my Twitter feed yesterday asked “What makes you happy?” Without hesitation, I responded …
: Day 201: Adjusting to the New Normal I’ve had a lot of “new normals” in my life. Two divorces found me as a single parent each time, …
: Day 195: Away from the Kitchen...Again! I wish I could find this variety again! I had every intention of canning my pie pumpkins yesterday. …
: Day 193: Food Prep Made Easy When I got up yesterday, I gathered everything to get started on the pumpkin when I remembered...I …
: Day 192: An Apple a Day I knew this was going to be a busy week in the kitchen. I bought two bags of apples at the roadside …
: Day 191: Grandma’s Grape Arbor I still remember the sour sweat of a hot, late summer day when I was around ten years old. My …
: Day 190: Playing with Fire When I lived in Colorado, you knew fall was here when the roadside stands set up for fire-roasting …
: Day 189: “I’m Makin’ Waffles!” In April 2001, a brand new movie came out that kids everywhere loved. Shrek was a green skinned …
: Day 188: Decision Time I have vacillated back and forth whether to sell Big TOW-Wanda or not and finally decided to go for …
: Day 187: Be Better...Do Better My mom always told me my mouth would get me in trouble someday and she was so right. There have …
: Day 186: Apples & Honey for a Sweet New Year Back in the day when I was living a Jewish life, every holiday was celebrated in our home. There …
: Day 185: Come Healing...A Legend Gone My dearest sister/friend in the whole wide world sent me a link for a song by Leonard Cohen...Come …
: Day 184: Ohhhhh...Tomato Pie! When Mr. FixIt and I were visiting the Outer Banks for our anniversary, we stopped in a seafood …
: Day 183: Itty Bitty Critters I was hopeful when we spent the entire day in town on Monday, it meant I wouldn’t have to go back …
: Day 182: Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! I had my first Zoom meeting yesterday. Well, almost had it. One of the key members didn’t show so …
: Day 181: Hummingbirds & Hollyhocks I met my classmate’s sister in the McDonald’s parking lot yesterday and traded my wide mouth …
: Day 180: So, This is What a Weekend Off Feels Like? A cozy “faux fall” day at the Ponderosa. I’m “retired”. I asked Mr. FixIt how we ever did all these …
: Day 179: A Lazy Saturday at the Ponderosa I wish I would have kept track on my calendar how many nights I’ve slept in the camper this year. …
: Day 178: Battling West Virginia Vegetation The area where we removed the biggest trees. Colorado has snow. West Virginia has dense foliage. …
: Day 177: Breaking a Record in Canning It has been humid the last couple of days. Add all the pots of boiling water in the kitchen from …
: Day 176: Beans & Tomatoes & Pickles...YUMMM!!! Ok, yesterday was a marathon day in the kitchen here at the Ponderosa. I started out by packaging …
: Day 175: Learning in the Garden I walked by the garden the other day and I noticed a few nibbled off branches on one of my tomato …
: Day 174: Getting Things Done for Winter You can see the tree to the left that fell and crushed the old meter box. You can also see the old …
: Day 173: Jam and Jesus! I love Sundays in the country. While they are supposed to be a day of rest, they most often turn …
: Day 172: Cool Nights = Camping at the Ponderosa We are still socially distancing other than a weekly trip to get groceries or an occasional …
: Day 171: From Sunup to Sundown I caught my second wind this week after having a couple of lay low days. Thursday and Friday were …
: Day 169: Forever the ‘50s Mom I was born in the early ‘50s. We lived in an upstairs apartment of a house that no longer stands. …
: Day 168: The Art of the Letter I’ve been missing my Colorado peeps a lot this summer...especially now. This is when I would have …
: Day 167: The Longest Summer of my Life Remember back when we were kids? School let out in May and it seemed like for-EV-er before it was …
: Day 166: Making Hay While the Sun Shines Grandma’s Hydrangea full of Honeybees I thought for sure I was going to be a lady of leisure …
: Day 165: Oh, Happy Day...the Drain Works! I took yesterday off! I told the boss-man I was NOT working all day and he thought that was a fine …
: Day 164: Step One...Pick Tomatoes Earlier in the season, I wasn’t at all sure I would get many tomatoes. Blossom end rot was …
: Day 163: The Evening and the Morning This is the time of year when I look back and remember long, leisurely days of knitting in front of …
: Day 162: If at First You Don’t Succeed... Round three of the “snaking the drain” saga. I had some things to do first. Run to the nearby …
: Day 161: Calling in the Troops on the Ponderosa Today would have been my mama’s 95th birthday! Happy Heavenly Birthday, Wanda Belle! It was hotter …
: Day 160: Snaking a Drain and Praising Jesus Have you ever run a drain snake? I’m not talking about those little hand crank jobs that you get …
: Day 159: Farm Life - Making Sauerkraut Sometime in the spring, when I bought a few toys for the kitchen, I came across a fermentation kit …
: Day 158: Burning Down My Memories I was a new widow when I bought my first camper. A little 16’ job with everything I needed. I miss …
: Day 157: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way... God has a sense of humor. He knows when we’ve had it up to here. That’s when he sends you something …
: Day 156: My God Appointment of the Day I believe God places people in your path and gives you an opportunity to share. Your time. Your …
: Day 155: Celebrating Farm Life in the Kitchen Yesterday was tomato day. I took my soup pot out to the garden and picked every tomato that was …
: Day 154: The Sacred Harp Part of my new “quest for inner peace” has been exploring the history of my people here in …
: Day 153: Ahhhh...That’s More Like It! I can almost feel the stress melting off my shoulders by the moment. After the last few hectic …
: Day 152: Crisis Fatigue...Stepping Away With a Soft Heart When is too much WAY too much? Where do you draw the line and say enough is enough? How do you step …
: Day 151: My Shining Ray of Hope in a Phone Call I worked on my website for a few hours yesterday. The office is across the wall from the television …
: Day 150: Just an Old Granny Grump When my grandma got old and we’d ask her how she was doing, she’d say, “I’m just an old Granny …
: Day 149: A Cool Dip & Shooting Stars The last couple of days have been super, super busy. I put about thirty pounds of pork in the …
: Day 148: My Peace Filter...Hit the Snooze Button First, let me thank you for the prayers and concern you offered for my sweet brother. I was so …
: Day 147: A Fire Far Away, A Worry Close to Home I opened my little needlework shop in Glenwood Springs in June 2002. A few days before my opening, …
: Day 146: Another Bad Night, Another Good Day Nearly 5 inches of rain, Bread Pudding in my favorite iron skillet, foggy morning on the Ponderosa, …
: Day 145: Steadfast Through the Storms Let’s face it...2020 has been a year of storms. Every single day, we see something …
: Day 144: Into the Woods I Wish I Could Go I told Mr. FixIt yesterday that I want to go camping...right now. And I don’t want to come back …
: Day 143: Sparkles in the Grass The other night, I was heading out to the camper to write. We have been blessed with some lovely, …
: Day 142: Having Trouble Feeling Good? It’s “Feel Good Friday” and I don’t know about you, but...it could get pretty frustrating looking …
: Day 141: We Are All Different...Yet We Are One He’s been there since I took my first breath. My big brother. My “Bubby”. My first playmate. My …
: Day 139: Fall Down, Fallout, Fall Over I had to zoom over to the farm yesterday to meet the satellite guy. That was what I thought to be …
: Day 138: Churning Butter...and Other Crazy Notions I grew up churning butter in Grandma’s kitchen out at the farm. She wouldn’t let us use her good …
: Day 136: It’s All in the Tone I was an absolute a$$ this week to one of my dearest friends in the world. She and I live on pretty …
: Day 135: A Blessed Day of Rain Yesterday was a peaceful day. I made French Toast from my homemade sourdough bread for breakfast. …
: Day 134: Birds, Bugs, and Bread I woke up yesterday in one of my favorite places in the whole wide world...TOW-Wanda! Night before …
: Day 133: The Many Faces of Grief I received a phone call yesterday from my baby cousin. She was the one who lived far away and came …
: Day 132: The City Park Fountain When I was growing up, it was a very big deal to get to go to the City Park in my home town. It …
: Day 131: Searching for Grace We have held church in our living room every Sunday since the lockdown began. Which means we have …
: Day 130: Not What I Expected Even with everything that’s gone on this year since the initial lockdown, yesterday felt different. …
: Day 129: Rock of Ages I finished cleaning the kitchen yesterday and put away the canning paraphernalia for a few days, …
: Day 127: Planting Peace I saw a video yesterday that warmed my heart. A little girl smashes her fingers in a door. Her mama …
: Day 126: Farm Life...Happy Wife! Mr. FixIt had Physical Therapy yesterday so I decided it was the perfect day to put up some Bread & …
: Day 125: Don’t Forget to Thank a Teacher There’s a fine line between sticking your head in the sand and just stepping away a little bit. …
: Day 124: Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary...How Does Your Garden Grow? The is the first year since I moved back to West Virginia that I am staying home all summer. I …
: Day 123: Comfortable Seating...Coming Up If you’ve been following me any length of time, you know I went through a huge downsizing after Mr. …
: Day 122: More Critters, More Mowing, More Ice Cream!!! I’m still eating my way through the pandemic. Pandemic Pounds are justifiable...things are …
: Day 120: Snakes, Frogs, and Dragonflies Last summer, I told you a funny story. Well, sorta funny. I was working in that little camper I …
: Day 119: Once in 6,800 Years Last fall, when I was on the journey chasing the sun with the Girl Camper Raffle R-Pod, one of the …
: Day 118: The Books from Beyond I have a mystery. But it has a backstory you need to hear first. If you’ve been following me for …
: Day 117: Hallelujah...A Cool Night! I have really missed getting out and camping this summer. We did get some good camping in during …
: Day 116: It’s Marshmallow Season! MARSHMALLOWS! It won’t be long before these tasty treats will be showing up in farmer’s markets …
: Day 115: Seeing Things in a Different Light I went out to the farm again yesterday because our internet went out...again! Another call to …
: Day 114: On Taxes and Time Machines and Turtles I was chilling out on the couch last evening, watching the news when I realized...today is Friday. …
: Day 113: Hot Enough to Fry an Egg We are just a couple of weeks into summer and the heat is oppressive. When they say it’s not the …
: Day 112: The Birds and The Bees I had a little break yesterday when Mr. FixIt went to physical therapy without me. I worked on the …
: Day 111: Priorities It was nearly 90℉ by 10:30 yesterday morning. I knew I needed to get the mowing finished soon or it …
: Day 110: Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You... I was just a child when President Kennedy uttered those famous words. I am not a strong student of …
: Day 109: Lost in the Moonlight Oh, this is my absolute favorite time of the year...when you can go outside and sit at night. It’s …
: Day 108: Chronicles of a Country Wife After staying up late to bake two loaves of sourdough bread on Thursday night, I mixed up a batch …
: Day 107: The Mother-Daughter Dance...Take 2 1992 On this day last year, I arrived in Colorado to spend a month with my kids and grandkids and …
: Day 106: Tipping the Scale Oh....it’s July. I feel like we should be peeking around the corner very carefully...you know, just …
: Day 105: Correcting Course Ugh...yesterday was Monday.....ALL day. It was one of those days when nothing I touched worked …
: Day 104: A Day of Introspection & Praying for Karen I finished all the mowing on Saturday so I didn’t have anything on my schedule but online church …
: Day 103: Duty, a Dip, and Date Night After my morning coffee, Mr. FixIt was on the phone when I walked by, blew him a kiss, and went out …
: Day 102: Back From the Farm I was telling Mr. FixIt on the way home yesterday...when I get to stay a couple of days at the …
: Day 98: Where is The Kitchen Fairy? I don’t understand it. My kitchen looks like I’ve cooked a meal for the 101st Airborne when I’m …
: Day 97: Grass...Make it Stop! This is the time of year where you can almost see the grass grow. Long, sunny days of hot, humid …
: Day 96: Pizza on the Grill We had a little social gathering last night. Just six people. Socially distanced. But, it was for …
: Day 95: A Really Grand Day My daughter and her wife drove across Colorado yesterday to see her dad for Father’s Day. It always …
: Day 94: But...What About MY Rights? Masks. Jeez-o-Pete....there’s a subject that has become a tinderbox, hasn’t it? A lifelong friend …
: Day 93: My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose In 1794, Robert Burns was working diligently to preserve traditional Scottish tunes for the …
: Day 92: Kindness Matters My heart has taken such a beating in the last few weeks. Covid, killings, riots, politics, …
: Day 91: Finally...The Perfect Loaf of Bread! I think I’ve been playing around with this sourdough for a couple of months now. My first loaf was …
: How To Stop Fighting Your Negative Thoughts And Feelings You might think that with a blog named Little Blog of Positivity I'd be telling you ways to stop …
: Day 89: Way to Go! Pulling off a Great Birthday! My mom always said, “Mind over matter!” She was right, of course. I could have headed into my …
: Day 88: Another Trip Around the Sun It’s my birthday. I hardly remembered. Last year, I celebrated my “Birthday Month”. Last week, Mr. …
: Day 87: Harry’s Garden In the middle of yet another busy day of appointments and trips to the pharmacy for yet another …
: Day 86: The Storm is Raging One of the things I missed the most when I lived in Colorado was grand thunderstorms. Lighting …
: Day 85: It’s HOT in Here! Land’s sakes...it was so hot yesterday, you could have fried an egg on the sidewalk. We had a …
: Day 84: Time for Tofu Tuesday! We used up last week’s tofu over the weekend so it was time to make a new batch. I actually make a …
: Day 83: Getting it all Done Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest. During the growing season, and with all these medical …
: Day 82: Mr. FixIt and His Cat Pumpkin the kitty isn’t a kitten anymore, but she is still small...and feisty. She has never been a …
: Day 81: In the Midst of Darkness, There is Light “Look for the helpers.” - Mr. Rogers’ mother Our day was busy from beginning to end yesterday. We …
: Day 80: Reaching a Tipping Point The Far Field at Sunset With any birth comes pain. As the birth becomes imminent, the pain is more …
: Day 79: Taking a Look in the Mirror When I was growing up in the mid to late ‘50s, the Civil Rights Movement was gaining speed. One of …
: Day 78: A Day at the Farm The second clutch. I think one egg didn’t hatch. Once I finished mowing at the Ponderosa, I spent a …
: Day 77: Mow, Mow, Mow the Grass! I love Sundays. We had homemade toasted English Muffins with our breakfast yesterday and ate as we …
: Day 76: How to Stay Positive in Troubling Times I am seldom at a loss for words, but yesterday about did me in. From hateful politics to the death …
: Day 75: Back in the Kitchen I’ve been itchin’ for the kitchen all week and finally got to spend the day in my “food lab”. I …
: Day 74: A Blessed Day Off I thought for sure, after having to spend all that time in lockdown here at home, I would never …
: Day 73: Welcome to my World Ever since I told you about Lehman’s Hardware a few weeks ago, I’ve been itching to make the two …
: Day 72: Where Did My Leisure Time Go? When Mr. FixIt had his first stroke in February, It was cold and we spent the next few weeks curled …
: Day 71: Wow, What a Weekend! As you know, yesterday was Memorial Day. We are surrounded by so much death and dying this year …
: Day 70: Learning New Skills A few years ago, a clerk at the swimming pool supply store gave Mr. FixIt a handy dandy little …
: Day 69: Finding a Gentle Space In the harshness of the covid pandemic, the news and social media is constantly abuzz with the the …
: Day 68: Call Lowe’s...I’m Building an Ark! Hokey Smokes! It has rained 20 inches so far this year in our neck of the woods. We waited all day …
: Day 66: Every Day is Groundhog Day Did you see that movie...Groundhog Day? I don’t think I ever did, but I know the premise. Each day …
: Day 64: What a Wonderful World Yeah...that’s not something you’re liable to hear or feel these days, is it? There’s a lot to take …
: Day 63: (Are We Still Counting These???) It seems like every little event needs counting now. Days since the lockdown began. Days since Mr. …
: Day 62: When I Find Myself in Times of Trouble... Days of unexpected loss. We all get them. We never know when the next one will strike. Yesterday …
: Day 61: Busy Inside...Busy Outside This week flew by. All these projects keep me from dwelling on the time creep and we wrapped up the …
: Day 59: Cranking It Up a Notch This feels good...this level of busy. It’s not the kind of busy that you do to avoid dealing with …
: Day 58: Staying Afloat One of the biggest challenges the coronavirus has presented me is keeping my mouth shut when I read …
: Day 57: Still the Sweetest Thing So, after my virtual meltdown on my blog yesterday, Mr. FixIt and I had a really beautiful day. …
: Day 56: My Mate...My Mirror Several weeks ago, I asked a question on my personal Facebook page: “Shouldn’t married couples …
: Day 55: A Different Kind of Mother’s Day! As I sat at my keyboard last night, I looked for pictures of my mom and thought of all the Mother’s …
: Day 54: Up to My Elbows in Flour I know I’m not the only one baking up a storm. You can’t find yeast. Flour is in short supply. …
: Day 53: It’s Feel Good Friday...Time to Graduate! Yes, it’s Friday again. Whether you feel like it’s only been a couple of days since last Friday, or …
: Day 52: Making Friends with my Oven...Morning Glory Muffins The first time I ate a Morning Glory Muffin was in the late ‘80s at The Daily Bread Bakery & Cafe …
: Day 51: Saying Goodbye to Beni I’ve had to say goodbye to several fur babies and each one hurts more than you can imagine. The …
: Day 50: The Book That Started it All When I was growing up, we spent just about every weekend out at Grandma’s farm. We drove out on …
: Day 49: Why We’re Reaching Back to Foods that Comfort My yoghurt turned out ok after all! It wasn’t terribly flavorful, though. As I was puttering around …
: Day 48: Trial and Error in the Kitchen I was really productive in the kitchen yesterday. I made a double batch of spaghetti sauce and …
: Day 46: It’s Feel Good Friday & I’m Gettin’ Back to my Roots It’s May Day! Can you believe that??? In what seems like three lifetimes ago, I was a bit of a …
: Day 45: A Walkabout on the Farm I usually reserve writing my post for the evenings after supper and any TV that I might want to …
: Day 44: New Life on the Farm I woke up yesterday, scrounged around for a clean t-shirt and quickly came to the conclusion it was …
: Day 43: The Census and Voting are Civic Duties I’ve been looking for the good stories to use on “Feel Good Friday” because Lord knows there are …
: Day 42: Developing Faith in a Camper I went into x-ray training straight out of high school. Our first year was spent almost entirely in …
: Day 41: Creating Space to Stay and Play This is where my new “campground” will be on the Ponderosa. Since I can’t take off with my camper …
: Day 40: Coping During Corona Through Mental Health Services By now you all know I am no stranger to psychotherapy. And, I have zero interest in hiding the fact …
: Day 38: Prioritizing Homemade Apple Pie It isn’t always easy to do a do-over...those moments where life throws you a …
: Day 37: Easy Does It...Stay Home! Princess Pumpkin holds court on the deck while we gaze with pride at the garden! We have really …
: Day 36: We Will Be Changed A good coat of water repellant is a reminder of personal protective equipment and our heroes who …
: Day 35: I Miss Your Face Absence makes us appreciate presence. Like everyone else, we’re doing a lot of hanging out here at …
: Day 34: We Are in the Same Storm...NOT the Same Boat We are all caught in the same storm...but not in the same boat. Let me preface this by stating this …
: Day 33: The Transmogrification of the World The gorgeous woods of Beaver Creek State Park bring me back at least twice a year. You can ask …
: Day 32: The 24 Hour Vacation and Feel Good Friday Quintessential spring...a robin’s nest with two sky blue eggs. We were supposed to leave today for …
: Day 31: The Redbud and Dogwood are Blooming! The redbud are blooming!!! Mr. FixIt and I have been watching the weather reports very carefully …
: Day 30: Cognitive Dissonance and My World View It’s a fine line we walk these days. Since we’ve been on the topic of mental health, we might as …
: Day 29: It’s OK to Cry. It’s Also OK Not To It’s ok to cry...or not to. Just feel your feels. I’ve gone through a lot of therapy in my life. I …
: Day 28: And the Gaslighting Begins Gaslighting...watch for it. This is probably going to be the darkest post I’ve ever written to you. …
: Day 27: An Easter We’ll Never Forget This is an Easter we’ll not likely forget. I was ten years old when JFK was assassinated and I …
: Day 26: Here Chick, Chick, Chick My friend Aimee bought tiaras for her chicks...because that’s just the kind of farm princess she …
: Day 24: Getting My Mojo Back This isn’t my photo...I’ve only capture lightning once in a photo. I do love lightning storms! The …
: Day 23: A Moment of Peace “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or …
: Day 22: I Took a Little Break...Stay and Pray The view from my grandparents’ bedroom has always brought me such peace. I always feel safe here. I …
: Day 21: Three Weeks Down...How Many More? Here’s a sweet idea for a craft to do with the kids while we are sheltering at home. I can see …
: Day 20: A Lesson From Nature and a Song for Your Heart A tree finds a way to grow in the harshest of environments. Yesterday was so beautiful on The …
: Day 19: What Day is This? Our new pergola on the deck by the pool. We are a good team! I’m finally getting some relief from …
: Day 18: It’s Feel Good Friday...Adjust Your Dreams There are two things you can bank on in this life...God and change. Many years ago, in a life long …
: Day 17: My “Dressy Mask” “My new look...it ranks right up there with overgrown bangs and a barn coat!” Yesterday was filled …
: Day 16: Is it Allergies...or is it Covid? An old church a few miles from the farm is a reminder of days gone by. I can tell you what’s going …
: Day 15: Glitter Virus de Corona Imagine the coronavirus is glitter and you can see how easily it spreads to EVERYTHING! When Little …
: Day 14: When Times are Hard “This brush fire was alarming when it was only a couple of miles from the farm.” When times are …
: Day 13: Say His Name...Not in Vain Sometimes a verse suddenly takes on new meaning. I was reading my devotional yesterday morning. I …
: Day 12: When it Rains, it Rains and Rains and Rains! A raised bed garden is easier on your back and keeps the veggies away from rabbits, etc. We are …
: Day 10: Remember the Good Ol’ Days? A kitchen from long, long ago. Could you live like this again if you had to? Who will teach the …
: Day 9: Kindness Changes Everything Take a deep breath and be kind to each other. If there was ever a time to be kind, it is now. Under …
: Day 8: This Little Piggy Stayed Home Be like this little piggy and stay home! We had to go out again yesterday...this time to a doctor …
: Day 7: Creative Social Distancing The flowering quince and forsythia are blooming outside our bedroom window. Mother Nature once …
: Day 6: Seeking Comfort in an Uncomfortable Time Oatmeal is definitely a comfort food that’s good for you! Mr. FixIt and I have a kind of rhythm. …
: Day Five: Love in the Time of CoVid Blackberry pie...sunshine in a slice! Thankfully we didn’t need to venture to town yesterday. …
: Day Four: Holy Cats...It’s Feel Good Friday!!! You can’t hide from “Feel Good Friday!” One of the benefits of living in West Virginia is the rural …
: Day Three: Expect the Unexpected First, you remove the spare tire from under the bed of the truck. We picked up my truck from the …
: Keeping our Distance: Day 2 This is a time to look out for one another. Honestly, our life here at The Ponderosa BCV (before …
: How a National Emergency has Changed our Lives May we never take things for granted. Day One: Slept in. Read Bible Study, E-mails, FB, and checked …
: What Happens if Nothing Happens? This is what most of our stores looked like this weekend. It won’t always be this way. We’ve been …
: West Virginia: An Island in a Viral Land Notice West Virginia is the only one that’s empty. There’s reasons for that. I don’t know if you’ve …
: Stroke of Luck or Gift From Above? I don’t believe it’s a “stroke of luck”. I believe it is a gift from above. As I sat in bed the …
: Remembrance Day v.7.0 Look who came for a “visit” this week. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a picture of Mr. Virgo …
: Panic! At the Grocery Don’t panic...use caution and common sense. Yesterday was so great. It started out with an MRI that …
: Sweet Caroline Memories are like pictures in a shoebox. Sometimes you get to find out what happened to that girl. …
: There’s Poor...and Then There’s Poverty We’ve always thought of the POOR as being from other countries. More and more the POOR are living …
: It’s “Feel Good Friday”...Let’s Get Moving! When your body hurts and you don’t know why, keep asking till you get the answers. Three years ago, …
: Shake Your Can Wake it up and shake it up and change this world for the better! Last Sunday, our Pastor delivered …
: It’s Mud Season: An Ordinary Day Too much grey, rainy weather can make one feel blue. Or, it can bring you into a cozy place. This …
: Turning My Day Around Poor Kitty got an abscess that needed to get fixed yesterday. She got a new body suit to protect …
: The Sky is Falling, The Sky is Falling Do any of you remember being quarantined as a child? ***sigh*** Fear mongering is rampant in this …
: When You Know It’s Time Being alone in the world and staring death in the face takes great courage. She grew up poor as a …
: Comfort vs. Bravery We were called to be BRAVE! It’s so easy to slip into the “comfort zone”. Once you’re there, you …
: Grief Ghosting: 7 Things That Might Help You Feel Better Being “ghosted” during grief only adds to the pain and loneliness. Ghosting. It’s really more of a …
: Sighs of Relief I went back through my photos to find a picture of an OBX sunset. Dreaming of our next …
: Uncharted Territory I often awaken to his hand on my shoulder. I covet this moment. There is nothing like a health …
: In Sickness and In Health Chillin’ with Mr. FixIt, waiting to hear from the doctor. I take my vows very seriously. To love …
: No Luxury of Losing It My strength comes from Heaven...the heavenly hosts who are always and forever available to me. …
: Avoiding the Medical Treadmill There are times when meds are medically necessary. Having a history of problems with pain meds …
: The Running of the Bags I’ve shared this photo before...it shows I’ve always been a “creative organizer”. You’ve heard of …
: The Dragon Slayers and The Heroes We are all dragon slayers...striving to face each new day bravely! Every day there are dragons to …
: Self-Care & Sunshine So, I just took down my tree and February is nearly over. Don’t judge! lol I’ve noticed something …
: Finding a Firm Foundation Building on a firm foundation ensures you can weather any storm. I grew up believing there was a …
: Meet Me in the Middle Meet me in the middle...privately...not on social media. Let us find our sameness. I wrote …
: My 2:00 Musings “Raising our babies to be good humans is the goal of every parent.” They say to sleep with your …
: My Love/Hate/Love Relationship with Valentine’s Day Remember the Valentine’s Boxes we made in school? They were such a sign of innocent hope. I …
: The Party’s (Almost) Over Have fun little girl!!! I didn’t sleep well at all my last night in the little rpod. I lifted the …
: Please Share...the Last Chance for Raffle Tickets! Praying for lots of ticket sales to help the families of critically ill children. And, for the new …
: Raindrops & Resting On a rainy day, I head to the campground with the sweetest little camper in tow...the rpod 196. …
: The Last Trip with the RPod and The First Trip of 2020 Heading out for the last trip in the rpod today! What a fun little camper this has been. Don’t …
: Taking a Stand Against Bullying Take a stand against bullying of any kind. Burger King recently released an anti-bullying video and …
: A Snowy Ladies Night Camping Like a Girl in the Mall at Galentine’s Day Click on this link to the Trailer Raffle Story …
: Creating Angels and Finding Compassion Always seek human kindness...no matter what. It’s out there. The other day on Facebook, my dear …
: Love is All There Is “Sometimes Western Medicine doesn’t have all the answers. That’s when love is all there is.” Back …
: Boys Don’t Make Passes at Girls Who Wear Glasses “Giving in and getting new glasses.” I’ve worn glasses since 7th grade. My first pair were black …
: What Really WAS Super About the Super Bowl “The rising of a phoenix is always inspiring to me.” I made a dismissive comment yesterday about …
: A Lover of Books There’s nothing like a stack of books waiting to be read...even if you never get to them. They’re …
: My Mother’s Daughter I used to feel my mom lay her hand on my back...long after she passed. I went into town yesterday …
: The Making of a Family What Makes a Family a Family? Before I get into this subject, let me first get something …
: Dear Reporter...Please Don’t Ask Dear Reporter.... I try to check in on my social media platforms at least once a day. Sometimes it …
: Celebrity Loss is Still Loss Because Grief is Still Grief The victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash. Photo Credit: CBS News I’ve taken a couple of days to …
: When Addiction is a GOOD Thing “My new background on my lock screen. Please feel free to save it and use it on your own phones.” …
: Belated “Feel Good Friday” “Gigi and her bonus babies.” I totally forgot yesterday was Friday. The time is flying by so …
: Recruiting Allies “Recruiting allies in a disgruntled relationship is harmful to all involved.” When Hubby #2 and I …
: Camping in the Mall “I love the little picket fence the maintenance man at the mall fixed up for me. Now I want one for …
: Amazing Grace...How Sweet the Sound “God’s Grace comes in many ways.” The sweet refrain of this blessed hymn of my youth trickled into …
: The Bonus Family and Basketball Having fun with the bonus family and basketball. When I married Mr.FixIt, I immediately more than …
: Chasing Away the Monster of Grief “James Blunt sings to his father about saying goodbye.” James Blunt is a 45-year-old English …
: Immersion Therapy “The whimsical art of Robert LaDuke totally intrigues me.” I have been totally consumed by the …
: There’s a Fire in My Soul There’s a Fire in My Soul! There is a fine line between having a fire within...and running around …
: LISTEN...Do You Hear That? If you get too far away from the Signal, you can’t hear the Words. Yesterday we talked about …
: B.A.L.D. Sometimes you just have to be a little deaf...on purpose. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images) I …
: When God Tells You to Do Something...DO IT! “When a Resolution becomes a Revolution” Here I am. It’s Monday. It’s been two weeks since my …
: Rainy Day...A Windy Winter “A Rainy, Windy Winter Day” After living in my home state of West Virginia full time since 2016, …
: Finding My Sea Legs “I first learned to sail on a catamaran just like this. Liberation!” I know very little about …
: A Visit From a Little Red Bird “A Curious Little Cardinal” I’ve taken comfort from the bluebirds that visit me frequently. They …
: Seeking Comfort in an Uncomfortable World “Travel brings me comfort in an uncomfortable world.” Well, dear ones...this is it. The last day of …
: “When I’m Gone”...an Ode to a Decade “When I’m Gone”...an Ode to a Decade: I remember the way I felt when the calendar turned from 2013 …
: Beware of the Scam “When life gets challenging, have some coffee and breathe.” Mr. FixIt and I were watching a movie …
: The Family Christmas Extravaganza “Is there anything better than an apple pie fresh from the oven?” We entertained my bonus family …
: It Was a White Christmas...Somewhere! It wasn’t a White Christmas in West Virginia this year. And, honestly? That’s just fine with me. …
: Christmas & The Camper - Girl Camper Moments "Santa and Me" Here is a link to Girl Camper Moments...the branded series I write for the Girl …
: Happy Hanukkah! “I had a little Dreidel...” Christmas and Hanukkah overlap each other this year. It doesn’t always, …
: Christmas Comes Early “The last really warm coat I had was the full length blue fox fur coat that Mr. Virgo gave me our …
: Seventh Christmas “Left: 2013 - Right: 2019” This is the seventh Christmas since Mr. Virgo died. I look back over the …
: When God Closes Doors... “God sometimes sends us a wink to let us Know He’s the one in charge.” First...let me thank you all …
: Big Loss + Big Growth = Big Changes in 2020 “We should all seek to grow through our losses, and accept that change is all there is to do.” On …
: Crazy Weather in West Virginia “What started out as snow ended up as boatloads of rain.” We woke up yesterday to a coating of …
: The Gifts We Choose to Open “Which gifts will you choose to open today?” Pastor Heather delivered a message yesterday that I …
: The Perfect Christmas Kind of Day “Market Street in the ‘50s” It was rainy and fairly warm yesterday and I did something I haven’t …
: A Good Kind of Tired “Girls with Grandmother Faces” The best laid plans. I had every intention of taking yesterday off …
: Definition of a WV Holler Grandma’s farm is at the mouth of a holler. No one lives back up the holler anymore. It’s “Feel …
: Winding Down the Year “I’m looking for a little down time…maybe after the holidays.” The year is quickly fading and …
: It’s a KISS Christmas - Keep it Simple, Santa! “Simple and elegant…vintage Shiny Brite ornaments like these hang on our tree here at the …
: Love to the Rescue “One of my besties! Deneene and her sidekick, Griffen the Grey, came for a visit. She’s good for …
: In the Ditch “You never know what will trigger grief…I’m just grateful it doesn’t come nearly as often as it …
: Bucket Lists & Miracles & Making Memories “When being Santa is on your bucket list…” This is the time of year where Christmas is around every …
: A Good Book is a Good Friend “Books open the mind of the reader and sparks an interest in the world.” I am so busy writing now, …
: It’s Feel Good Friday “Here’s a photo of my happy big brother. He makes this a true Feel Good Friday!” Wednesday night, …
: The Last Hour “Pumpkin Kitty snoozing on her mama.” We spent the day at home yesterday, watching the hearings, …
: Grief + Time...Still = Grief “Grief plus time still equals grief. It’s just to varying degrees.” It is said, “A burdened shared …
: Recovery Day “Christmas Lights & Pie” When all the food is put away…when all the dishes are done…when all the …
: Operation Turkey Day Complete “Ohhhh….the food of the ‘70s. We thought it was SO elegant and sophisticated!” Look at these foods …
: Ok, Boomer... “Ok, Boomer…terms of derision from a fed up generation.” I’m a Boomer. Proud of it. And, like most …
: When Kindness Matters Most “Kindness Matters Most…especially when it involves children.” My dear friend Diane sent me a link …
: Black Kitty, Black Friday “Little Black Kitty - Big Black Friday” We have to go to town today. Ugh! I avoid Black Friday like …
: My First Pickup Truck “My first pickup truck was a 1968 Ford F-100” I was talking with someone the other day about a …
: Giving Thanks Surrounded by family, fifteen inches of snow, and enough food to last a month! I baked five pies …
: Tuesday Truth: When You CAN...Step Away “It’s OK to step away!” Do you have trouble stepping away from toxic relationships? Do you find you …
: Motivation Monday: Kindness Matters! “Just be kind because…kindness matters!” I miss Mr. Rogers. I want to go see the Tom Hanks movie …
: Refill Your Cup “You can’t fill someone else with an empty cup.” I met the Coffee Divas from my high school class …
: Let the Preparations Begin! “At the end of a dreary, grey day, the sun peeked through the clouds.” We went to town yesterday to …
: Drum Roll, Please...I’m a Girl Camper Guide! “The Three Girl Camper Amigas…Ginny, Gail, and Janine!” You’ve heard me refer to a “big project” …
: Sensory Overload “Here’s a soft kitty to take your mind off of things!” It’s a well known fact…I hate television. …
: Story Update: Little Gwen “We’ve been following Little Gwen since she was born with Arthrogryposis. Look…she’s standing!!!” …
: Healing and Scars and Joy “Although grief is never finished, healing can occur and you can use your scars to help others.” …
: Nothing’s What it Seems “The truth isn’t always what it seems.” The first time I saw a Computer Generated Image I thought, …
: Bathing on the Back Porch “Bathing on the back porch was all I knew at the farm till I was six.” (not my photo) This picture …
: Good Fences Make Good Neighbors: Setting and Keeping Boundaries “Setting boundaries is like building a good fence. It keeps life neat and tidy.” Growing up in a …
: Date Night at Rural King “What a beautiful night for a date at Rural King…my favorite farm store!” A couple of days ago, Mr. …
: A New Approach to Winter “Making choices to find more joy…that’s my approach to winter this year.” I started dreading winter …
: What’s on the Shelves? “Quilts always have stories, don’t they? Sometimes we know them…sometimes we don’t.” Yesterday I …
: Shelves of Memories “The antique jelly cupboard from the farm now houses my quilts.” When I showed you my beautiful …
: Tell Me About Yourself “It’s Monday…Let’s do something different!” It’s Monday! It’s a brand new week and I wanted to do …
: Walking Among The Headstones “Walking among the dead, speaking their names.” I’ve always been drawn to old cemeteries. The …
: Baby, It’s Cold Outside! “The cold, arctic air is hitting deep into the south in the coming week.” I think Mother Nature has …
: Dying For a Sandwich? “Popeye’s chicken sandwich…does it live up to the hype? Meh.” Who remembers the Cabbage Patch Kid …
: And So...It Begins “One week. Two vet visits. Still in love!” The tale of the little black kitten continues. If you’ve …
: Safety on the Road “Being safe in the woods means staying aware of your surroundings and listening to your gut.” There …
: Beetles...not Beatles “This year’s crop of Asian Lady Beetles is massive.” We went to the farm yesterday with one of our …
: Does Time Heal All Wounds? “Does time heal all my wounds? Not in my time…but in God’s time.” I’ve been struggling a little …
: Back to the Comforts of Home “My little office on the go in the R-Pod 196” One thing I really was challenged by with I was …
: Meet.....Pumpkin, the Kitten! “Kitty has an appropriate Halloween name…Pumpkin!” I hit the ground running yesterday. The first …
: Re-Entry Begins! “And, just like that…two became three.” It was a very long day yesterday. I ended up pulling the …
: The Red Carpet Treatment “Sitting on a red carpet of maple leaves, the 2020 R-Pod 196 is one of my favorite campers.” You …
: Premonitions and Pioneers ‘Visiting a Pioneer Farm is a step back in time.” Yesterday was a strange day from the get go. I …
: Welcome to my Living Room! “The camper is the kitchen, bath, and bedroom…the great outdoors is where I live!” I got to my new …
: Rounding Out October “Bluestone Lake is gorgeous this time of year.” Today is moving day so that means I get to tell you …
: Between the Trees “Sitting by the river is soothing to the soul.” Being a writer is a wonderful thing. I can get lost …
: Time Travel “Coffee and sunshine and a little nosh!” As I explored the latest West Virginia State Park on my …
: Overcoming Challenges “Kicking back in my Vasques at the campsite at the end of the day makes all the challenges melt …
: Less is More “My favorite boots.” Ok…you all know me. You know I have something to say about…you know, …
: Coffee with Wanda Belle “The many colors of Autumn” I was pouring my coffee yesterday and my mom popped in my head. She …
: A Perfectly Beautiful Day “Dining al fresco in the glory of autumn.” Now that I have left the last campground, I can tell you …
: Take a Little Time “The color crimson is startling in the woods of WV.” I tell people all the time…”Self care is NOT …
: Waiting for Home “The house I wanted for a B&B in Elkins…it always makes me wonder…what if?” I’m not kidding when I …
: Allegheny Autumn Splendor! “Oh….be still my heart! Autumn’s splendor in the highlands of West Virginia!” I slept so soundly …
: What a Difference a Day Makes! “One day sunny and warm, the next day blustery and cold. Still…a day camping is better than …
: Eat, Pray, Camp! “The r-pod 196 nestled in the trees at Cedar Creek State Park near Glenville, WV” I moved to the …
: Go With The Flow “Early morning fog on the lake. Almost Heaven…West Virginia” So, I know I told you I wouldn’t be …
: Slow Down “There’s something special about moseying out country roads instead of roaring through on an …
: What Would Grandma Say? “Autumn Glow Lights up the R-Pod” I camped the last two nights at a park hardly anyone knows about …
: Check Engine Light “How many times have you seen this come on…right in front of the dealership?!?!” I was heading …
: Autumn, Sweet Autumn! “It looks like we will finally get a little color after all!” I stayed an extra night at Beaver …
: All Good Things... “The curtain closes on another successful Fall What-a-Hoot!” What a FUN event we had this weekend …
: Cooking in the RPod! “Even with a compact, kitchen, cooking in the RPod is really easy.” Saturday is Soup Day at What a …
: Setting up the “Spare Room” “Converting the sofa to a spare bed in the RPod 196!” I’m Back!!! Mr. FixIt and I had a wonderful …
: The Best Pizza...EVER! “Pete’s Pizza…best pizza EVER! Located in Mineral Wells, WV on Old Rt. 14.” When Daughter #1 and …
: I Love Fall Camping! “The week in review…dressing up the dinner table, camping like a girl in the RPod 196.” The crisp …
: Love Letters from Beyond “Leaving love notes behind for your spouse to find later…what a gift!” My friends and I camped at …
: Driving the Northerly Route “This barn catches your eye traveling I-80 across Ohio.” I love to drive. That is probably one of …
: Mississippi Pot Roast “Yummmmm….Mississippi Pot Roast! It’s going to be fall soon and I’m going to cook this when I’m …
: WV Hotdogs! “WV Hot Dogs….one of the finest pastries ever to be found in the Mountain State!” We had a small …
: The Girl Camper Trailer Reveal! Today’s the day!!! Tune in at 3:00 on the goRVing Facebook page for a live reveal of how Janine has …
: Chasing the Sun! “2020 RPod 196…taking her for a test run for the next four months!” I’ve been trying to come up …
: We’ve Come a Long Way Baby! “Camping in the early days in Denver. This is just down the street from where Ben & Sue live!” …
: The Really REALLY Big Show! “Janine, her BFF Carol, and me in front of the R Pod at the Hershey RV Show.” Ok, so I thought …
: “It’s a Really Big Shew!” “I can’t believe the number of camping trailers here at this show!!!” Who remembers Ed Sullivan …
: Full Moon...Friday the 13th “Tonight is a full moon AND Friday the 13th! What could POSSIBLY go wrong?” If you have ever worked …
: Making Memories “Little Bit, taking a walk in her pretty party dress.” Someday, when our great granddaughter grows …
: The Amuse-Bouche “A little sneak peek of the all new R-Pod 196 from Forest River…Girl Camper style!” When Mr. Virgo …
: Forever 62... “Mr. Virgo…Forever 62…and still handsome as ever.” Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mr. Virgo. You would …
: There is Another “There is another who stands with us in the fire….always.” I cannot tell you how many times I have …
: Let Things Go “Letting things go for a little while gives your mind and heart a chance to breathe.” I have a list …
: Revelations Not the last book of the Bible kind. The "smack my forehead, why didn't I see that" kind. A friend …
: Gathering Camping Supplies “What a mess! Trying to organize and choose what I’m taking on my next Girl Camper Adventure!” When …
: Stitched with Love “My friend’s comfort quilt is on its way. She’s had her first dose of chemo.” My dear friend’s …
: Soft Hands “Hold people’s hearts softly…with open hands.” I’ve learned to have soft hands in my relationships. …
: The Other Side of Fear “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” Jack Canfield I hear from a lot of widows who …
: Random Acts of Kindness...Senseless Acts of Beauty “My grandma always said you can catch a lot more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.” About …
: The Tug of War “Angel on one hand, devil on the other…trying to have their way with me.” Mr. FixIt and I haven’t …
: Dining Alone “Dining alone can be an intimidating experience when you are widowed.” I saw her walk into the …
: Like Sands Through the Hourglass... “Sending some cheerful hugs, love and prayers to one of my dearest peeps!” One of my dearest peeps …
: “...and I Will Give You Rest.” “We can help broken people by touching base with a simple ? or ❤️…just to let them know you’re …
: GRIEF + TIME = grief “Grief is a process that varies from person to person…but there are some general similarities.” The …
: When Bad Things Happen...Lean In Closer “Thank you so much for all of your prayers. I am so grateful.” Since June, there has been one …
: Hamster Power “When your internet is powered by hamsters, you need to find alternatives.” Internet service is …
: A Thousand Dragonflies “The dragonflies are prolific this year!” I love dragonflies. They serve a good purpose by eating …
: Singing with Jesus “Mr. FixIt says our pear trees have never produced…he thought they were ornamental. This year, …
: Another Trip Down Memory Lane “A trip down memory lane takes me to the neighborhood grocery store.” Do you remember when women …
: Freda the Ford Got New Shoes! “New tires for the truck! Getting ready for the next Grand Adventure!” I’ve been putting off …
: I Miss My Camper! “It’s amazing how a queen size mattress fits in there.” I’m missing my camper. I still have Big …
: Always Choose Joy. Unless You Can’t... “Here’s to the compassionate people!” I’ve been on a JOY kick all year. Ok. I get it. I just got …
: Do You Remember When.....? “Clockwise from Top Right: Phone Booth, Fireweed, Joe Pye Weed, Naked Ladies (Belladona Lily) Mr. …
: Bowling Season Has Begun “Pink roses and strawberries…and bowling season. Somebody loves me!” Mr. FixIt is an avid bowler. …
: “Let The Sun Shine...” “The Ubiquitous Photo from Woodstock” Fifty years ago this weekend, a gazillion people descended on …
: Running on Empty “Something’s going on with my electric supply.” I thought I was tired Thursday night! Then …
: There’s Babies Everywhere! “There’s nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby!” I have to tell ya…I’m fried. There’s a reason God …
: The Metamorphosis of Grief “The Farm. Clockwise from top left: Drying the laundry on the front porch is a country thing, …
: The Farm is Failing “The farm is the home of my heart…but it’s aging rapidly.” Mr. FixIt and I have been back from …
: A Vivid Imagination “The moment I saw this, I knew it was the answer to my dream!” I was probably about ten years old …
: There’s an Adventure Coming... “Where will my next adventure take me???” I’ve been hinting at an adventure coming up for me this …
: A Farm Girl at Heart...sans Shoes ‘Sitting on the tailgate of my truck…drinking coffee and soaking up summer!” I hate wearing shoes. …
: Mother Earth..How Does Your Garden Grow? “Product of our burn pile, aka pumpkin patch.” Back when I was a wanna-be hippy mama in the late …
: The DMV & Me “Take my advice…bring chocolate next time you go to the DMV!” How many vacations have you ridden …
: Nana & Papaw & Baby Boo! “Nana needed some baby snuggles before we went home!” We made it back to West Virginia, safe and …
: Corn a’Plenty “The vast cornfields of Iowa” I don’t think I have ever seen as much corn as I have in the last two …
: Making Our Way Back Home “Truckin’ across Nebraska” Yesterday was a challenge. First, I was still so wound up from the …
: Full Up to Here! “Sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic up to Eisenhower Tunnel” When I first moved to Colorado, …
: Basking in the Glow of Family “The sun goes down on the evening before my baby’s wedding. My heart is full!” Last night was …
: No Worse for the Wear “While once sleek and shiny, these vehicles still hold a deep beauty.” We left Ridgway yesterday …
: Morning Visitors “Morning visitors on Loghill.” Yesterday was my ME day. I told Linda when we arrived that honestly …
: Red Mountain Pass to Ouray “Clockwise from top left: At one of the many overlooks on the Million Dollar Highway, the beautiful …
: The Ancient Ones “Clockwise from Top Left: Long view from Mesa Verde, Cliff Palace through the binoculars, Serious …
: Abundance “Heading into the Weminuche Wilderness” Joyful abundance! Mr. FixIt is such a great traveler. I …
: One of These Things is Not Like the Other...a BABY! “Clockwise, top left: Hollyhocks, Toes along the San Juan River, The view from Independence Pass, …
: There But For the Grace of God “Yesterday’s mudslide west of Glenwood Springs.” I had two epiphanies yesterday. The first was the …
: Road Trippin’ “Views from Loveland Pass” We got a slow start yesterday. We cleaned out the truck and packed, …
: A Glimpse of Heaven “A Glimpse of Heaven in the Colorado Night Sky” I knew this would happen. I blinked and a month …
: Pennies from Heaven “Finally had a chance to visit with my friend, Michelle.” I’ve been writing a daily essay here for …
: Conquering the Impossible “The Impossible Burger…the best alternative to meat I have ever tasted!” Back in the late ‘70s, …
: Finding Hope “God’s promise.” There have been so many times in my life when I felt I had no hope. I didn’t know …
: One Small Step “One small step…” It was a sultry summer night…Sunday, July 20, 1969. We had been watching the news …
: Hand it Over “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 …
: Avoiding the Heat “Shrimp…it’s what’s for dinner!” The temperature went up into the triple digits yesterday. Mr. …
: Coffee & Plowing the South Forty “Can you tell by looking whether it’s got caffeine in it? Yeah…me neither!!!!” I love coffee. …
: The Golden Arch The Golden Arch over downtown Golden, Colorado.” When Hubby #2 & I parted company, I bought a house …
: Mother Cabrini Shrine “The view from Mother Cabrini Shrine is stunning!” The other night when I picked Mr. FixIt up from …
: A Celebration “Celebrating a love…and a life.” When Mr. FixIt and I got married last October, it was really a …
: Revisiting Memories “Daughter #2…Marching to her own drum!” When Daughter #2 was thirteen years old, she and I took off …
: Saying Goodbye to TOW-Wanda! “TOW-Wanda…being towed away to her new life with a boy.” Night before last, I put the camper on …
: Blog Inspiration “Enjoying a midsummer’s eve in Colorado.” I was talking about my blog the other day with the owner …
: Swift Water “I enjoyed watching the kayakers at Eagle Water Park yesterday.” When my brother told me he was …
: A Quick Road Trip “I stopped at Grizzly Creek to catch a shot of the runoff from the snowmelt.” I decided to make a …
: Quality Time “Little snoozing in the morning sunshine.” Yesterday was so much fun. Little absolutely loved …
: Making “Little” Memories! “Little’s nest in TOW-Wanda!” Little is here! She has been at camp all week and we only saw each …
: Here Comes the Rain Again! “Looking east as the sun set over Arvada. I think I brought the rain with me from West Virginia. We …
: Hail, Hail...The Gang’s All Here! “The beauty of sunshine and lilies.” Daughter #2 and I got a chance to spend a few hours together …
: Independence Day!!! “Colorado’s sky is always amazing!” It seems like I’m in Denver just about every Independence Day. …
: Trailer Trouble...With a Capital T “Damage to the camper indicating it is no longer towable.” Whenever I travel with one of my …
: The Mother-Daughter Dance “I am a Happy Camper!” I danced with my mother. Not literally…but figuratively we went round and …
: America’s Bread Basket is Baking! “Clockwise from top left: My rig in the summer sun in Kansas, the long straight stretch that is …
: Travel: Lotsa Learnin’ Goin’ On Here! “I use a French press a lot when I camp. I have a manual grinder, too.” So, yesterday morning I …
: Road Trip: Can’t Keep a Good Gal Down! “A Shady Spot” If you would have asked me at 10:00 Wednesday night, I would have told you (as I …
: A Tidy Purchase “A tonneau cover turned out to be an extraordinary pargain!” I told you all yesterday about our …
: Road Trip: Falling Into Place “Tonneau Cover for a Pickup” My old truck had a fiberglass topper on it. It was really nice. I had …
: The Simple Things “My birthday present…a shade for the tractor!” Mr. FixIt and I were in Florida on my birthday. Like …
: Home Again, Home Again! “Clockwise from top: The BEST Carolina BBQ I have EVER eaten…Phifers!, I almost finished one sock …
: The Deep South “A canopy of live oak lines a stately boulevard in the equestrian city of Aiken, South Carolina.” I …
: Vacations: Past & Present “Vacation Photos: The Making of Memories” The idea of a vacation was totally foreign to me till I …
: Memories of a Disaster “A piece of the Space Shuttle Challenger.” On January 28, 1986, Hubby #2 and I were driving from …
: A Sweet Treat...Yarn! “Clockwise from Top Left: Hibiscus, Chasing the rain, Low Country Shrimp & Grits, Fishing Boats, …
: Working Vacation “I can’t think of many places that are prettier to write than at the beach!” If writing is my …
: Early Bird Special “Father’s Day in Florida…a little slice of Heaven!” It wasn’t that many years ago that I looked on …
: On the Mend “Another beautiful day at the beach.” Something no one wants to do when they’re on vacation is …
: Facebook Memories “The Storm King House” Oh, sometimes those memories that pop up on your timeline are killers, …
: Pretty Much Perfect “A perfect sunset on a perfect day.” Birthdays come and birthdays go. Some are decidedly …
: Happy Birthday! “Happy Birthday, to ME!” June is my birthday month. I love June. I love my birthday. So I just …
: Van Life “One of our Girl Campers brought her conversion van to camp in. We were sold!” My dear friend Gail …
: One Hour & Thirty-Five Dollars = A Haircut “Before and After…what a difference a haircut makes!” I haven’t really felt like my perky self for …
: Finding my Father “I don’t remember having a loving relationship with my dad…ever.” Father’s Day is coming soon. I …
: Field of Dreams “My Field of Dreams.” I know, I know…how many pictures of a field am I going to post here, right? …
: Weather Warnings “Clockwise from top left: Milkweed about to bloom, box turtle preparing to lay eggs, hail along the …
: Resting “Taking a breather after a long day.” Mr. FixIt and I have been like two ships passing in the night …
: From Beast to Beauty “The glorious Luna Moth!” It takes about ten days for the egg of the luna moth to hatch into a tiny …
: Keep Moving Forward...Always “I’ve finished the wedding quilt!” I have over 28,000 emails on my iPhone. This makes my daughter …
: Severe Weather “Severe weather, volunteer pumpkins, a more mowing…another day on the Ponderosa.” As with most of …
: Gracious Conversations “Let your conversations be gracious and attractive.” I have been trying to be more conscious of my …
: Praying for Others “Praying for others is the key to freedom.” As time passes, my daughter’s wedding is looming in the …
: Memorial Day 2019 “He was a soldier. He was a son.” They called him Sonny. He was their bright ray of sunshine. …
: Smoke “Life has a certain synchronicity. It swirls round and round like wisps of smoke.” Mail delivery is …
: Steaks on the Grill “Iris on the creekbank.” I’ve felt a day ahead all week. Yesterday, I thought it was Saturday. …
: Thunderbolt and Lightning(bugs) “Dew on the grass. Lightning bugs. Whippoorwills. It’s springtime in West Virginia.” I saw the very …
: Wascally Wabbits! “Mr. FixIt…working in the garden.” Mr. FixIt came to me the other morning with a dejected sigh. …
: Atonement “A box turtle and a fieldmouse. Their lives are as important as my own.” A couple of weeks ago, I …
: Girl Camper Quilt “The Girl Camper Quilt is almost finished!” I spent the day yesterday at Schoolhouse Quilts. I …
: A Lovely Summer Evening “Spring? It’s more like summer here in West Virginia!” Ok…it’s not officially summer for another …
: Another Quilt Top “Cute camper material for a raffle quilt” My dear friend Gail and I will be co-hosting a Girl …
: Quilting and Thunderstorms “Sewing a quilt for my daughter’s wedding gift. The finished top below. Now it will be machine …
: Farm Life is a Good Life “Clockwise from top left: Grandma’s peonies, a row of tiger swallowtails, the peonies out by the …
: Wednesday Evening Walkabout “Clockwise from Top Left: Abundant Blueberries, Honey Locust, Wild Grape Vine, Beautiful Peonies” I …
: A Quiet Place “Living in a quiet place fills me with peace and gratitude.” Mr. FixIt had to go help his friend …
: Rainy Days and Mondays “Watching the softball game in the rain and cold.” I opened my eyes and looked around the camper. …
: Camp Hair...Don’t Care! “Images from camp…The Three Amigas (Gail, Janine, & Ginny), fishing, TOW-Wanda III, and ramp …
: What a Hoot!!! “Coffee in the camper…my favorite thing about camping!” The Girl Campers have been meeting at …
: Dreams & Camping “Bathing al Fresco…imagine a long soak and watching the stars!” When I was on my three month …
: My View “Oh, how I have missed the big picture window over the bed!” The thing I have missed the most since …
: Camping With the Girls “The sun sets on another fun day camping with the Girl Campers.” There is something special about …
: Too Close to Home “How many more children have to die before something is done about this?” Another school shooting. …
: Listen... “Chasing down an annoying little beep” Do you hear that? That’s what I asked Mr. FixIt when I …
: I Saw You There “I saw you there…and did nothing.” I saw you there…sitting on the porch with your head in your …
: Rainy Days “Grandma’s rhododendron is starting to bloom out at the farm. I think it might have gotten a little …
: Unbeatable Laughter...Unbearable Tears “Chocolate cake pops aren’t the most delectable looking things till they get their pretty candy …
: National Widow’s Day - May 3rd “May 3rd is National Widow’s Day” Today is National Widow’s Day. I’m not quite sure how I feel …
: A Trip for Tomatoes “Shari Sims and her precious pooch greet customers at Sims Greenhouse in Palestine, WV” …
: Uncle! “When you’re tired and overwhelmed, it’s ok to say Uncle!” Every day since we got home from the …
: I Choose Joy! “I’m choosing joy by choosing to remember the special moments we spent at the seashore last week.” …
: The Weight of the World “Sometimes things seem too heavy. That’s when I need to stop and read my devotionals.” Don’t you …
: Home, Sweet Home “Home, Sweet Home…West Virginia!” I keep forgetting what a long drive that is coming back from the …
: Goodbye...For Now “Best Friends” Goodbyes are so hard…especially since losing Mr. Virgo. My world perspective has …
: Oh...Oh...OBX! “Is there anything better than spending time with loved ones?” This has been the BEST week! The …
: The Tourists “A day in the life of an OBX tourist.” It is so much fun to see a place through new eyes. Although …
: From Pancakes to Ghost Crabs “Ghost crabs…creepy little monsters in the night” We started our day out on the perfect note with a …
: Hatteras National Seashore “Sunset over Pemlico Sound” The only thing more fun than exploring a new area is showing it off to …
: Service, Sunshine, and Seafood “Low Country Shrimp and Grits” We enjoyed our Easter service at the United Methodist Church across …
: Easter Sunday “The sunset over the Curratuck Sound: I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older…or maybe it’s …
: Good Friday “My grandma’s pretty posies…I love to visit them.” I ran to the farm yesterday to pick up my …
: The Beloved Eastern Redbud “I couldn’t get a good photo driving today, so I found this one through Google. This is what the …
: A Good Tired “Spring flowers make my heart sing!” Now that the taxes are done, submitted, and accepted, our …
: Evidence of Healing “A memory from a time long ago and far away…” I know April is a hectic time of year what with my …
: Hummers! “The hummingbirds are back!” They’re baaaaaaack! I was stretched out in TOW-Wanda, relishing my …
: Darkness into Light “Looking back, I am humbled by my deliverance.” The stress of doing taxes this week made me sit …
: Always be Humble and Kind “I love when God sends me a not-so-gentle reminder to chill out!” As I’m writing this, I’m propped …
: Ommmmmmmmm....... “Trust me…I did NOT look this peaceful and serene this week working on my banking!” I looked for a …
: Memory Recall “Photos of childhood memories can bridge the miles between you and your children.” Sometimes it’s …
: Bad Night - Great Day “Resist the devil and he will flee.” I remember back in the first two to three years of my grief, I …
: A Mission of Mercy “On a road trip to pick up an old camper…the flowering trees were stunning!” Last week, my friend …
: A Room With a View “This was the biggest selling point on this camper.” I could hardly wait to get home yesterday …
: TOW-Wanda III: Day 1 - Cleanup “The first thing that had to go was the bunk bed over the main bed.” The first thing I did …
: What a CRAZY Week! “The perfect little camper!” When I started out this week, I never dreamed I’d be the owner of SIX …
: The Third Generation “Introducing TOW-Wanda III” I’ve spent a lot of time in my big camper so far this year. She has …
: Renovations “There’s something about vintage kitchens that speaks to my heart.” I came across this picture on …
: Cue the Eye Roll “The eye roll…reserved for those moments when a whop over the head with a frying pan might be …
: Sick & Tired “Can’t we all just get along?” Those of you who have been reading my blog for some time know that, …
: Vibrant Women “Vibrant Women…a women’s ministry.” Something phenomenal happened Friday night and it has taken me …
: Girl Campers “Aren’t these the cutest little campfire cupcakes?” There is something so special about camping …
: Getting Healthy “It’s time to get healthy with AdvoCare’s 24 Day Challenge!” I went to the doctor last week for …
: My Friends “The little whitetail deer of West Virginia are so delicate and fine boned compared to the larger …
: Cha-Ching! “There’s an old saying…Watch your pennies and your dollars will watch themselves. I hate when I get …
: The Ponderosa “The Ponderosa is the land I have dreamed of all my life.” I’ve still been recuperating from this …
: Widowed or Single? “Has the mental image of ‘widow’ changed all that much? One of my friends shared a post with me …
: Into the Woods “A satellite view of The Farm….lots and lots of trees and hills.” You have seen pictures of the …
: Sunday Memories “Grandma always carried a fresh hanky wherever she went.” I was looking through my picture albums …
: The Bodega “Coffee at The Bodega” I decided to treat myself yesterday and stopped in the brand new coffee …
: Mother of the Bride “I am hoping this is the one!” The last time I was a Mother of the Bride was in 1995. It’s been a …
: Tea & Tissues “Tea is my friend!” Sunday after church, my little great granddaughter couldn’t wait to come to me …
: From Wounded to Awakened “Awakened Women know from whence they came. Overcoming brokenness takes a great deal of hard work …
: A Visit From Aunt Flo “Ahhhh, the vagaries of youth…some I miss, most I don’t!” So, here’s a topic we’ve never delved …
: A Night Out “I love vintage embroidered linens.” When we finally got home from town after church yesterday, I …
: Kiss Me...I’m 23% Irish! “We’re all Irish on St. Paddy’s Day!” According to my DNA test results, I am 23% Irish-Scottish. I …
: Fancy Meeting Jew Here “You don’t see tzitzit around these parts very often.” The other evening, I was home by myself and …
: Heaven Sent “I know it isn’t officially spring, but….this is good enough for me!” Beware the Ides of March, …
: Frieda’s New Shoes “Frieda got a new pair of shoes!” West Virginia requires a yearly vehicle inspection. That’s a good …
: Springtime in WV “It’s getting to be springtime in West Virginia!” Ok, it isn’t officially Spring for another week, …
: Angelversary “Remembering Mr. Virgo” Last year, I removed the date of Mr. Virgo’s death from my calendar so I …
: Tap Tap Tap “Typing away…tap, tap, tap!” I am back to work on the book. I’m editing the first rough draft and …
: My First Job “McCrory’s Five & Dime in Downtown Parkersburg” I got my first job when I was 16. My family didn’t …
: Spring Ahead “Daylight Savings Time begins at 2:00am tomorrow!” I sat down yesterday to browse my calendar when …
: A New Perspective “It never occurred to me to apply the Serenity Prayer to grief, but it makes perfect sense.” I used …
: Feed Me! “A redbird just makes my day!” I fixed my coffee and sat down at Grandma’s window to read my …
: A Change of Scenery “Running out of propane sent me running for the farm.” I had a lovely, slow start to my morning …
: Still Winter After All These Years “Still winter in your neck of the woods?” We live in a house of the ‘70s. The dead giveaway for …
: March Forth “March forth on March 4th!” One of the benefits of being 65 is hindsight. I look back over my life …
: As Winter Fades “Winter is having a blast this weekend….but spring is around the corner!” I should write a book …
: Sneaky Snake “There are sneaky snakes in our midst!” I have a helpful little app on my iPhone called Moment. It …
: Round One Done! “I’m pretty wordy!’ I finished the rough draft! If you count my blog posts, I’ve written somewhere …
: Expect the Unexpected “Unexpected things can be really, really good…or really, really bad. Anxiety can stem from the …
: Writing and Praying “Prayers, Praises, and Persistence” I was a little worried when I went out to TOW-Wanda yesterday …
: Go With the Flow “When the words don’t come, you have to go with the flow.” I took Saturday and Sunday off from …
: Power Outage “A power outage is not uncommon in the country.” One of the disadvantages of living way, WAY out in …
: An Early Spring? “The forsythia have leaves already! Spring can’t be far away!” Sometimes Facebook memories are …
: “I Have a Voice” “I Have a Voice” woodcarving by Evelyn Jimenez I have met some of the nicest people through my …
: Broken “There’s broken. Then there’s forever broken.” I have a friend from my coffee group who recently …
: Dining In: Save Money, Save Time ‘Homemade Guacamole is the BEST!” I used to adore going out to dinner. LOVED it! Mr. Virgo ruined …
: New Kicks! “It pays to buy quality shoes!” For about the last six months or so, I’ve noticed a pain in the …
: When Grief Calls “When grief calls, I’ve learned to listen.” This past Sunday, our pastor spoke about “doing” the …
: Memories “Mother Earth News was my manual for a good life.” Daughter #1 texted me this photo yesterday of …
: Another Peaceful Day “Deer grazing outside my window in TOW-Wanda.” I have now spent eight out of the last ten days in …
: Verbosity “I’ve typed over 25,000 in seven days, not including my blog posts. Crazy!” My mother said I had …
: The Hazards of Writing “When I write a ton, I have a tendency to forget who I told what to. It’s an occupational hazard.” …
: On Loving...Unconditionally “I am a Christian AND I love everyone… unconditionally.” The other day, a West Virginia delegate …
: 13,318 Words!!! “Making progress, writing in TOW-Wanda.” I have a perfectly good laptop I can use for writing. As a …
: Peace be Still “I love the peaceful mornings at the Ponderosa.” It warmed up overnight and the snow became soaked …
: A Marshmallow Day “Cold, grey days are Marshmallow Days!” I got home safe and sound yesterday just in time to leave …
: Saved Again “Knowing who saves me over and over brings me peace beyond understanding.” I finished my laundry …
: The Farm and Me “The Farm is my ultimate happy place!” If the weather hadn’t turned colder yesterday, I would have …
: I’m Writing Again “Writing again…this time I mean it.” About a year ago, I set my book on the back burner at the …
: Time to Visit my Friend “TOW-Wanda in the fog at the Ponderosa.” I have a tendency to get antsy. I get bored pretty easily …
: I Need That Joy... “I Need That Joy…down in my heart!” I love, love, love the way God works in my life! It’s like an …
: Happy Mind, Happy Life “Making the little things count, because the little things add up to be the BIG thing!” Yesterday …
: The Not-So-Super Bowl “Super Bowl Party food!” Was it just me or was that not the most boring Super Bowl game ever? I …
: What Do You Call A Knit Cap? “Toboggan. A knit cap, or a sled? Turns out…it’s both!” The cold weather this week brought lots of …
: It’s Something in the Blood “The advent of home DNA tests can open a can of worms for the unsuspecting.” “Dirty little secrets, …
: The Giant of Rejection “The Giant of Rejection…something I have battled my entire life.” Last night was our third session …
: Are We Raising Strong Kids? “School closings for cold weather…are we raising weak kids by saying it’s too cold outside?” I …
: Deep Freeze “The deep freeze is coming!” We are about to get hit with record breaking arctic weather. Actually, …
: Moving Day for the Felines “Boy Cat…a beautiful, long haired farm cat…moved to my cousin’s barn yesterday.” I have been in a …
: Some Updates on the Kids! “Baby Gwendolyn sitting up with her braces on her legs. Making progress!” Remember sweet baby …
: Building up my Stash “Eighteen hand-knit cotton dishclothes are perfect for impromptu gifts.” Yesterday was a …
: Happy Feet “I love my new Happy Camper Slippers!” My new slippers arrived yesterday! Yes…I had to have them. …
: Thoughts on Conflict & Fear “Look for the gold in people. There’s enough dirt in the world.” The other day, we touched on …
: Precious Memories “My precious mother…gone fifteen years now. I miss her so much.” Fifteen years ago today, my …
: That Flash of Red “Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal in the forsythia bush.” Cardinals don’t migrate, so we have an abundance of …
: Action v. Reaction “The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.” Growing up in the chaos of alcoholic dysfunction made …
: The Arctic Blast “Full Moon on the New Fallen Snow, West Virginia” This is the time of year when we just get blasted …
: The Poet - From Darkness into Light “Think before you speak. Read before you think.” "maybe death isn’t darkness, after all, but so …
: German Comfort Food “Kielbasa, kraut, and mashed potatoes…German comfort food.” When we were having coffee yesterday …
: Finding the Right Tools “Having the right tool leads to success.” Good communication skills have not always been my …
: Building a Better Bath “Master Bath seems to be a bit of a misnomer when it comes to this tiny closet of a room.” For …
: Little Vintage Campers “Little vintage campers…how many people were IN this thing?” Yesterday, Mr. FixIt and I were having …
: The Difference Between “With” and “Without” “The Difference Between With and Without” I rarely write a post about a specific scripture. I …
: The Water Crisis “If a crisis occurred and you didn’t have modern conveniences…would you know what to do?” An alert …
: The Kitchen Window “The view out my kitchen window at the Ponderosa allows me to watch the birds at the feeder.” When …
: The Dark Corners “We are but a wisp of smoke when we are gone…shadowy memories that cling to us like curls of …
: It’s a Winter Tree, Ok? “My Winter Tree reflecting in the window as the snow falls outside.” I went to small group last …
: Johnny & Jaxx...A Story of Devotion “Rosie (L), Jaxx (C), and Johnny Boy (R) celebrate Johnny’s 4th Gotcha Day!” We talk a lot here …
: Into the Light “For He called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 I’ve kind of had a …
: Transformation “God often uses our deepest pain as the launching pad of our greatest calling.” Grief comes in a …
: January Bluebirds “Mountain Bluebirds are glorious in January!” I don’t know about where you are, but here in West …
: The Pivoting Point “January 6, 2000 looked much like this...cold, snow-covered, sunny. Little did I know how the day …
: Thwarting a Spiritual Attack “Man says…show me and I’ll trust you. God says…trust me and I’ll show you.” Psalm 126:6 So, I was …
: Snatched From the Jaws of Death “She was snatched from the jaws of addiction and saved by the Blood of Jesus.” She’s just …
: We Rise by Lifting Others Up “Blowing out someone else’s candle won’t make yours shine brighter. Remember that.” Have you ever …
: Hope AND Joy! “The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.” - Paul Coelho The other day I said my …
: Out With the Old...In With the New “It was a foggy, rainy day in West Virginia for the last day of 2018. My word for last year was …
: Saying Goodbye to 2018 “A mother-daughter duo singing worship songs to close out the year.” Photo Credit: The Warehouse …
: Gwendolyn’s Journey with Arthrogryposis “Baby Gwen was born with arthrogryposis…a rare congenital anomaly that causes some joints in the …
: Looking for the Light “Looking for the Light” In the next week or two, one after the other…folks will be taking down …
: Latkes for a Late Hanukkah “Latkes for a Late Hanukkah!” In early December, our friend Doug Kreinik makes latkes at an area …
: The Story of the Traveling Bowling Shirt “The Traveling Bowling Shirt once belonged to Bill T. And…I found him!!!” In 1986, Hubby #2 …
: My Hygge Christmas “Mr. FixIt is a good gift giver…exactly what I would have picked out for myself!” “Hygge is a …
: For Unto Us a Child is Given “A nearly full moon peeks in the window over my head.” The other night, as I lay sleepless, tossing …
: Christmas: A Season of Healing “My Santa and Mrs. Claus” Dear Santa, This is the sixth Christmas without my Mr. Virgo. I know you …
: A Starting Point “We found this channel on Dish Network that shows nothing but a wood burning fireplace with the …
: The “Griswald” Family Christmas “Making Cinnamon Rolls in the kitchen at The Ponderosa.” Not having things done ahead of time made …
: Hot Cocoa & Knitting & Winter Solstice “Hot cocoa and knitting…stop and enjoy the season.” Productivity is a matter of personal …
: Winter Wonderland “My favorite entry in the Gingerbread competition at The Blennerhassett Hotel…three little gnome …
: Say “I Love You” With a Little Yarn & a Lotta Love “Hand knitted dishcloth with the ASL sign for “I Love You” in the pattern.” Yesterday’s post had me …
: Forgiveness Equals Freedom “Forgiveness=Freedom” I’m not sure what I expected when I became a Christian in 2004. Lightning? …
: The Pleasure of Needlearts “A lovely display of vintage hotpads and dishcloths.” Photo Credit: Pinterest Staying out at the …
: The Farm: Sharing My Happy Place “I knitted this little beaded evening bag many years ago.” There is only one thing better than …
: The Geminid Meteor Shower “The night sky holds endless fascination for me.” ”We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion …
: Depression: Not Everyone is Merry and Bright “Not Everyone is Merry and Bright at the Holidays.” Do you remember back at Thanksgiving when I …
: Feel Your Feels “These are some of my favorite Christmas memories.” As I sit and write this post, Mr. FixIt is in …
: Kitchen Comforts “Mr. FixIt brought me roses.” When I’m struggling with grief, a day in the kitchen does wonders for …
: Two Angels “Miss Louisa looks on as Mr. Virgo hugs me at our wedding. She loved being the honorary mom.” I …
: My “Other Mother” “My beautiful “Other Mother”, Louisa.” Most of the time, when you talk about your “Other Mother”, …
: The Ghosts of Christmas Past “The Parkersburg High School Band - 1960’s” This is the time of year where my Hallmark heart kicks …
: Finding a Friend “I met one of my readers last night for dinner when she came through town! So nice to meet you, …
: Just Ask Alexa “The turkey finally thawed!!!” This is the Tale of The Turkey That Refused to Thaw. Remember I told …
: The Secret to a Good Relationship “As you grow closer to God, you can’t help but grow closer to each other.” A young man I barely …
: A Victorian Christmas “Lynn Nicholson opened her home for the Victorian Christmas Tour this weekend. Lynn has been a …
: Plantar-Palmar Psoriasis: A Conundrum “The difference CBD Ointment made after just two weeks of use is absolutely remarkable!” Refresher: …
: A Long Goodbye “My sweet cousin, Tom.” I was seven years old when I fell in love with Tommy Allen. The fact that …
: Grandma Lois’ Very Best Chocolate Cake “Homemade chocolate cake…Grandma Lois’ recipe.” My son-in-law’s Grandma is one of the sweetest and …
: Buckwheat Flapjacks & Bacon “Buckwheat Flapjacks & Bacon” Twice a year, Spring and Fall, I go camping with the girls at Beaver …
: Somewhere Over the Rainbow...Bluebirds Fly “Ron Rudolph and his grandson building bluebird houses in memory of his late wife.” I have told you …
: Your Chance to Win a Camper! “The Little Max by Liberty Outdoors” My good friend, Janine Pettit, has gone camping since she was …
: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas “My favorite ornament from childhood.” I heard a mother comforting her child once. The little one …
: A Voice From the Darkness “Depression keeps you isolated from those who might help you.” In between cooking and visiting with …
: A Tale of Thanksgiving “Thanksgiving Turkey” Multiple trips to the store. Two turkeys because the frozen one refused to …
: Collaborative Art and Community A Collaborative Effort…Original Art by Lauren O’Neill with Augmentation by Ginny McKinney” I came …
: Flexible is My Middle Name “Thanksgiving Sunset on North Mountain” The first change in holiday plans came when my cousin’s …
: Nothing Like the Last Minute “A fresh turkey takes the guesswork out of thawing.” We were going to leave yesterday to travel to …
: Is Empathy Gone for Good? “ER Doctor Weeps After Losing 19-year-old Fire Victim” We have a problem. Ok, we have LOTS of …
: Driving Down the Road “Country roads…take me home!” Remember this summer when I shared the pictures of how terrible the …
: Loving What Is “Snapchat filters make me see the beautiful woman inside. The mirror makes me see the beautiful …
: The Comforts of Home “Knitting, Football, and a Fire…it doesn’t get much better than that!” I rarely ever sit down and …
: Grief is a Crucible “Grief is a crucible…you come out entirely changed by the process.” I was interviewed yesterday for …
: The Bad News vs The Good News “This young man defeated the odds with determination and perseverance.” You and I both know the …
: The Art of Giving “Shopping for warm blankets with my small group.” I love this time of year. However, the first …
: Cold Weather Comfort Food “Creamed Tomato Gravy…one of my grandma’s specialties!” Grandma canned tomatoes like it was going …
: Pennies from Heaven “Found pennies…is it God reminding us to trust him?” How many of you seem to find an inordinate …
: Triggers: Learning to See “Triggers are sounds, smells, or sights that bring back traumatic memories.” According to …
: The Gem Roller Organ “The Gem Roller Organ” When we were guests at the Caswell-Smith House this week, Norm Smith shared …
: The Decision Process “The decision on wedding bands was a process. I wanted exactly the right ones!” Mr. FixIt proposed …
: Remaining Hopeful in a Hopeless World “When the news is on fire, how do you stay hopeful?” We awoke yesterday to the news of yet another …
: A Step Back in Time “Butterscotch Creme Brûlée, French macarons, spiced cider…lovely company, beautiful Victorian …
: Election Day and The BBC “The colors at the farm were amazing!” Election Day Unless you’ve been living under a rock …
: Living in a Small Town in the Hills “The colors are a bit past their prime, but still lovely.” I am from West Virginia originally. I …
: Home Again, Home Again... “Riding shotgun gives me beautiful views as well as time to knit.” What a day! I am most fortunate …
: A Day in Hatteras “Sweet little Argosy!” Our last full day on the OBX is in the books and what a beautiful day it …
: Adding to My Yarn Stash! “Yarn is one thing I am willing to accumulate. I love knitting socks as gifts and the Lord loves a …
: The Three C’s...Chickens, Coffee, & Clouds “What honeymoon is complete without chickens?!” Ok, just when I think the days couldn’t be more …
: This is How We Honeymoon “Got to the sound just in time to catch the kiteboarders framed by the sunset!” Yesterday was so …
: Photographic Memories “Fishing on the OBX” Mr. Virgo was quite the photographer. He left me with so many beautiful photos …
: #Grief & #Love “Mr. FixIt fishing on the Outer Banks.” This man. This love. There was a tipping point in my grief. …
: The Beginnings of a New Life “Shadows on the seashore!” Yesterday was a MUCH better driving day. It was sunny and the …
: Trick or Treat! “Trick or Treat…I’m writing!” Ok, I’m writing on my honeymoon. There is a reason other than I am …
: Stress + Tired = Attitude “The tongue can wreak havoc in any relationship.” What do you get when you mix two tired people …
: My West Virginia Sisters “My West Virginia sisters.” I didn’t have a sister growing up. I had girl cousins that meant the …
: Be a Way Maker “These boots are made to make a way.” My new husband and I laughed when the name of yesterday’s …
: Live a Good Life “Live a Good Life” When we were decorating the tent for the wedding, I went around the house, the …
: A Whirlwind Week “Our photographer know how to capture love and joy!” I can’t believe it’s been a week since the …
: A Beautiful Day “On our way home yesterday, I caught a glimpse of the wind turbines atop a ridge near Elkins. It …
: Saying Goodbye “My family at the farm…Aunt Viv is far right.” I don’t remember a time in my life without my Aunt …
: Here Comes the Bride “One of my favorite moments…locking eyes with a fellow widow whom I mentored…knowing we BOTH have …
: The Harder Side of Love “This is what true love looks like.” “Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes …
: Last Love “My sweet love…my last love.” I was talking to Mr. FixIt sometime over the last few weeks as we …
: Introducing....Mr. & Mrs. FixIt “Introducing Mr. and Mrs. FixIt!” Oh my, what a perfect day!!! I prayed it wouldn’t be too hot. It …
: Sparkles and Sunshine “My fancy earrings from Daughter #2…perfect for the wedding!” “Always be humble, gentle, and …
: The Side Effects of Obedience “Sunset over the Ponderosa.” “And love means living the way God commanded us to live. As you have …
: Thanking God “The wedding tent!” “Everything God made is waiting with excitement for God to show his children’s …
: Rustic Wedding “Hay bale seating with comfy quilts for a rustic wedding.” “Whatever you do, work at it with all …
: I Have a DREAM! “I have a God dream!” “But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You …
: A Perfect Autumn Day “Old tractor on a perfect autumn day in WV.” “O clap your hands, all you people; Shout to God with …
: The Glory of Love “Sunset over the Ponderosa.” “Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises, …
: Man Make Fire “Mr. FixIt stirring the fire.” “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me …
: Yeehaw...Bargains Galore! “We’re keepin’ it country and serving smoked pulled pork sandwiches at our wedding reception.” “It …
: Watching and Waiting “Mr. Toad is an opportunist.” “And now a personal but most urgent matter; I write in the gentle but …
: Instant Gratification “The only monarch butterfly I have seen in WV in the four years I’ve been back, and it was lying …
: I’m a Risk-taking Storyteller “I am willing to risk being wrong.” “He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the …
: The Devolution of Man “Foggy morning at the farm.” I’m a scientist at heart. I’ve worked in medicine since I was 17 years …
: Plan B “My Plan A. On to Plan B.” “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to …
: He Who Lives in Me... “A rustic cross is just what we need to turn our tent into a House of God.” “Little children, you …
: Praise and Pumpkins “Pumpkins seem pretty pricey this year!” “And my God will supply every need of yours according to …
: Not Today, Devil! “I think Mr. Virgo was smiling at me today!” “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, …
: A Tangled Web “Sin starts out easily enough and soon ensnares you in a tangled web.” “I want you to be free from …
: A Change of Status “The change from “widow” to “engaged” deserves a moment of reflection.” ““Ask and it will be given …
: The Feeling of Prayers “When someone prays for me, it’s like a thousand feathered angel wings wrapping around me.” “Devote …
: What a Day! “The last of the flowers at the farm.” “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish …
: A Change is Gonna Come... “A change is coming. Can you feel it?” “Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person …
: A Fork in the Road “Making decisions at the fork in the road.” “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks …
: The Velvet Blue of Dusk “"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient …
: Strawberry Jam and Biscuits “Berry Baskets bring back special memories of my grandparents’ farm.” “For every house is built by …
: Holding Things “Crocks waiting for a new home.” “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of …
: Country Living Fair - That’s a Wrap! “The Little Guy Mini Max by Liberty Outdoors.” “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and …
: Country Living Fair - Day 2 (Fun, Friends, and Fair Food!) “Fellow Rancher, Ruth Ann, came by to see me today at Country Living Fair! What a treat!” “Go, eat …
: Country Living Fair - Day 1 “Freckles has the cutest little camper as a prop in their booth.” “You prepare a table before …
: Country Living Fair “You don’t have to have an expensive camper and tow vehicle to go camping! Come see us at the …
: Road Trip #2 - Fall 2018 “I’m on a road trip…but nothing like this!!!” “Get ready; be prepared! ...” Ezekiel 38:7 NLT This …
: Out of the Mouths of Babes “Craving human touch after loss is one of the most painful aspects of grief.” “I’m so grateful to …
: Listening to the Still Small Voice “Sternwheelers left the festival early this weekend due to threat of flooding.” “Have I not …
: Knowing When to Quit “Rain, rain, go away…we still camped and had fun!” “Do you not know that in a race all the runners …
: Beaver Creek State Park “Civil War Reenactment” “They will stumble repeatedly; they will fall over each other. They will …
: Fun at Girl Camp “Dehydrated baby copperhead…you always learn something new at Girl Camp!” “Instruct the wise and …
: Camping with the Girls “A 1967 Avion is my home away from home this week!” “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good …
: Girl Camping! “Vintage Coleman Coffee Set” “I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be …
: Road Trip #1 - Fall 2018 “The leaves are beginning to change and you know what that means? Fall Girl Camping!!!” “That …
: How To Breathe “Breathing good air after breathing through a wet sponge is such an incredible feeling of health!” …
: Feeling Stronger Every Day “I love Psalms.” “Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I …
: 2,000 Days “2,000 Days” “(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a …
: What Do You Do With HIS Stuff? “Mr. Virgo dressed for the Ritz Carlton.” “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he …
: Here I Go Again... “All that’s left of forty year’s accumulation.” “a time to search and a time to give up, a time to …
: And the Thunder Rolls “Lightning over West Virginia” ““My heart pounds as I think of this. It trembles within me. Listen …
: Flora or Fauna? “Music Pink and Blue” by Georgia O’Keeffe ““Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work …
: Just When I thought It Was Allergies just when I thought it was allergies…it’s a cold. “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never …
: My Phone is Alive “My iPhone is learning!” “The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, …
: A Man of Honor “Senator John McCain 1936-2018” “Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren...” …
: The Boys in the ‘Hood “The farm cats chilling out on my picnic table.” “For everything there is a season, a time for …
: Winding Down “Picnic in the park…it’s date night!” “Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11 KJV Remember …
: Another Layer of the Onion “Sunset over the Ponderosa.” “The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love …
: Organizationally Challenged “Ironic…Oprah’s De-Clutter issue on top of one of my piles. Oy!” “But as for you, be strong and do …
: Into the Wilderness “The wilderness of Colorado offered me a place of solace to grieve.” “Then Jesus was led by the …
: I’m Hearing Voices! “Brer Rabbit better stay out of my tomatoes!” “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we …
: Round Two “Goldfinch on the thistle sock. Life on a farm is full of wonder!” “You will go out in joy and be …
: Summer Freshness “A summer-fresh supper…Silver Queen sweet corn, fried green tomatoes, and Amish potato salad.” …
: Firsts Don’t Always Come Once “Firsts don’t only come once.” “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 …
: Date Night...”Mamma Mia - Here We Go Again!” “Mamma Mia! I’ve always loved what Daughter #1 called ‘Singing and Dancing Movies’.” “So whether …
: Sunshine in a Bowl “Sunshine in a Bowl! We have an abundance of tomatoes this summer!” “This is what the Sovereign …
: Monday Morning Wrap Up “My beautiful Rose of Sharon and gigantic Hydrangea” “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on …
: Barking Up the Wrong Tree “Messages from others have more to do with THEM than it does with YOU.” “Let love and faithfulness …
: Smokin’! “Cool Smoke: The Art of Great Barbecue by Tuffy Stone” “She is like the merchant ships, bringing …
: The Dog Days of Summer “Gigantic Hydrangea in the backyard at the farm. One of my favorites!” ““As long as the earth …
: Hindsight 2.0 “Daughter #2 with her Great Grandmother that she doesn’t remember.” “A friend loves at all times, …
: Out of Order “Thank goodness today there are modern conveniences!” “Do you not know that your bodies are temples …
: Hindsight “Ahhh…the joy of youth!” “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of …
: Once Upon A Time... “Your wedding day is your ‘Best Day Ever’. But what about attending weddings when you’re grieving?” …
: Playing Dress Up “Playing dress up is fun. Mr. FixIt and me…at a wedding.” “Place me like a seal over your heart, …
: Not the Sharpest Tool “Buffalo taken with a LONG lens.” “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates …
: Afternoon Walkabout “Hooded Warbler” “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, …
: All Things Green “West Virginians cook their green beans for hours with bacon or salt pork and onion, salt, and …
: An Amazing Heart “A bicycle stands in the road in Tajikistan where two American cyclists were killed over the …
: When The Unthinkable Happens “What do you do when the unthinkable really happens to someone you know?” Everyone thinks their …
: Preserve Your Memories...They’re All That’s Left You “We were SO fashionable, back in the day!” “Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the …
: Feeling Peaceful “Finding peace after losing Mr. Virgo is deeper and sweeter than anything I could have imagined.” …
: Am I a Senior Citizen? “7 Tips for Seniors. Am I a SENIOR???” “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when …
: Summer’s Bounty “One day’s harvest of fresh tomatoes! I couldn’t grow this many in a whole season in Colorado!” …
: From Sunup to Sunset...I Travel “Sunrise in Colorado” “The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord …
: Vaya con Dios, Colorado! “Goodbyes are always bittersweet.” “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; …
: You Are The Light of The World “You are the light of the world.” ““You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot …
: Memories and More Memories “Love these cowgirl boots but they’re too small!) “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the …
: State Swim Meet “Big takes the plunge for her leg of the 400 medley relay.” “When you pass through the waters, I …
: The Empty Vessel “Lord, Fill my Vessel.” “The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, …
: Shopped Till I Dropped “I shopped till I dropped!” “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, …
: A Gal About Town - Part Two “Michelle uses livestock tanks as elevated garden containers.” “and he has filled him with the …
: A Gal About Town “Colorful Colorado” “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is …
: 50,000 Mile Tune-Up...or...How EMDR Saves My Brain “EMDR reprograms your brain.” “Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and …
: What Is This Wet Stuff? “What is this wet stuff???” “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so …
: Your Difference is Your Beauty “Your DIFFERENCE is your BEAUTY.” “But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or …
: Maker Day “My take on waves.” “He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or …
: Little & Me “Little & Me” “For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.” …
: The Pillar of Truth “The Legend if the Pillar of Truth” “Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence …
: Gathering the Bits of Me “We leave bits of ourselves, like pebbles, everywhere we go.” “Create in me a pure heart, O God, …
: Road Trip! “Officer’s Gulch” “On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will …
: A Line in the Sand “Mr. Virgo’s final resting place.” “For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered …
: Rocky Mountain High (Altitude) “The Reel Sisters” by Michelle Cummings “When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed …
: God’s Gifts “Little is quite the artist.” “May you see your children's children!...” Psalms 128:6 ESV …
: Hotter Than a Firecracker “El Jebel, Colorado burns in the night.” “Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had …
: Colorado! “Fireworks…I didn’t go see them this year. Too tired after a long day traveling.” “Beloved, never …
: Coming Back to Life “An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but don’t forget your mental and spiritual self-care.” …
: Good Self-Care “Taking good care of yourself is vitally important when you are experiencing the added stress of …
: Making Room For God “Sunset over The Ponderosa” “Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say …
: Clearing Things Up “Trying to keep up with the jungle of vegetation on the farm.” “For am I now seeking the approval …
: Reconciling with Reality “The garden. In my mind, it’s huge and full of marvelous potential. In reality, three bean plants …
: Risky Behaviors “A lone little daisy…all on her own.” “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and …
: It’s Popsicle Time! “There’s nothing more soothing than a Popsicle when you are recovering from surgery!” “For I will …
: Killing the Spider “In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father …
: The Difference in One Letter “Your focus will dictate how you fare in this life.” “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; …
: Let Freedom Ring! “Let Freedom Ring!” “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit …
: The Empty Nest “The empty nest can be painful, no matter which of you leaves first.” “For I want you to know how …
: Thank You, God! “Ice Cream and Miracles!” “When that day comes, you won’t ask me any more questions. I can …
: Flying My Kite “God is the tail of my kite…He anchors me.” “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the …
: The Infamous Blueberry Harvest “The blueberry bush on The Ponderosa.” “Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out …
: Knee Deep in June, My Favorite Summer Things... “My all time favorite summer thing…watermelon!” “The LORD is responsible for this, and it is …
: Sunday Wanderings “Zucchini and straightneck yellow squash for the garden.” “Whatever has happened before will happen …
: Drink Coffee...Pray Boldly “Pray BOLDLY at every opportunity…even at coffee with the girls.” “If you don’t know what you’re …
: World Wide Knit in Public Day It’s World Wide Knit in Public Day!” “It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made …
: Walking the Farm “Wildflowers along the back road of the farm.” “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let …
: This Man KNOWS How Old I Am “It’s not how many years in your life…but the life in your years!” “Every good and perfect gift is …
: Holding Back the Waters “Unprocessed grief festers. Let it go.” “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in …
: The Long Way ‘Round “This is how we party…lifting up the name of Jesus!” “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new …
: Busy, Busy, Busy I have to tell you, by the time I finally settled down to write last night, I was pooped. So, I’m …
: These Dreams “My dreams have returned!” Something changed a couple of weeks ago. I started dreaming again. Oh, …
: The Importance of Getting a Mammogram “It’s important to keep up with your routine health screenings.” When I was married to the doctor, …
: Big A** Steak Day! “That is one BIG steak!” My friend Deneene is having her estate sale this weekend. Then it won’t be …
: The Ponderosa “The Ponderosa in the afternoon.” This little slice of heaven right here is The Ponderosa…that …
: Here She Comes “Coming or going…it’s a matter of perspective.” A friend of ours from high school is laying his …
: Visiting TOW-Wanda “Visiting TOW-Wanda!” I don’t get to spend as much time camping as I used to and I don’t like it. …
: Grace “Live a life worthy of the calling you have been given.” Ephesians 4:1 My daughters hit the jackpot …
: A Typical Saturday in June It was a mostly cloudy, humid day in the Mid-Ohio Valley yesterday. Lots of fun activities to kick …
: Bambi! “Doe and fawn on the front lawn.” The quality of this picture is very poor. It was dusk. I was …
: Hello, June!!! “Hello, June!!!” Seriously, how does time go so fast? And, so…S-L-O-W! Let me explain. Today…I …
: The Power of Words “Shhhhhh…..” Events of the last couple of years, and certainly the last week, have demonstrated the …
: Tread Lightly “Bison in front of the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park” Oh, those Facebook memories. They …
: Walking Strong “Remember, you have supernatural weapons to fight off evil.” I woke up in the early hours of the …
: The Whippoorwill “The whippoorwill.” If you are a mother, I am sure you remember that age when your child tried to …
: On the Other Side of Midlife “Spending the weekend at home by the pool. Then visited more family at a local cemetery.” A friend …
: Memorial Day Weekend “Memorial Day is for Remembering.” It’s not just about barbecues and family get togethers. It’s not …
: Things That Make Me Go Ahhhhhhh “There’s nothing like a freshly mown lawn!” After getting through the initial stage of acute grief, …
: Home Again “Beaver Creek State Park, East Liverpool, Ohio” I’ve always promised my family and friends that I …
: Winding Down “Knitting projects” I always hate the end of a trip. The goodbyes. The packing up and cleaning and …
: Feeling Totally Relaxed “A big bullfrog serenaded me from a pond.” Three more of our Girl Campers left yesterday morning. …
: Campfire and Conversation “A pileated woodpecker has decimated this tall pine tree at the edge of the campground.” This trip …
: Just Like Summer Camp “I finished knitting socks for Daughter #1’s birthday! Shhhhh….don’t tell. It’s a surprise!” I only …
: S-s-s-s-snake! “Baby Water Snake” The first time I remember holding a snake was back-to-school night in seventh …
: Knitting at the Old Campground “Knitting at the campground.” What a wonderful day. Several of us got out a “work in progress” and …
: Campfire...Nature’s Therapist “A campfire is cheaper than therapy.” There is something incredibly special about girl camping…be …
: I’m Walkin’ on Sunshine “Sitting in the morning sun, coffee in hand, Country Living Magazine…birds and roosters …
: The Royal Wedding “St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle” I was a relatively new military bride, expecting my first …
: Sharing “Tilling in his garden.” The other day I told you Mr. FixIt put in a garden for “me”. I was so …
: Still Praying Together “My good friend, Lisa and me.” It was the fall of 1960 when I met Lisa. We were in second grade …
: Mother’s Day Weekend “My mother’s love is with me always.” I went to the farm yesterday. I wanted to spend some time in …
: Keep Walking “Keep walking, dear one.” I have several people in my life who are walking a challenging path right …
: Gardening “Beautiful hibiscus in the West Virginia sunshine.” In 1986, Hubby #2 joined a medical practice in …
: Like a Boss “Be prepared when you speak to a mechanic. Do your homework and walk in like a boss.” When you are …
: My Favorite Wildflower “Trillium - My Favorite Wildflower” It’s a toss-up...trillium or Jack-in-the-Pulpit. I love them …
: Overwhelming Tasks “My messy garage as I was downsizing.” My friend Deneene has been widowed three years now. Shortly …
: Sold to the Highest Bidder “Mat boards form a bridge to carry pipeline equipment across creeks and up steep slopes.” On …
: Dream a Little Dream of Me 2.0 “Is this a dream?” Mr. Virgo has been gone over five years now. In those five years, I have had two …
: My Life Mosaic “Mosaic of Starry Night by VanGogh” Every day since Mr. Virgo died, God has handed me a small tile …
: National Widows Day - May 3rd “National Widows Day - May 3rd” National Widows Day sprung from Widow Wednesday…a grassroots …
: Pain is Like Shifting Sand “Iris on the OBX” Those of us who have borne children understand the pain of childbirth. It is …
: God at Work “A power washer in use.” It never ceases to amaze me at how God works in my life. He has His hand …
: Eating my Way Through the South “A Big Southern Breakfast” Ok, I literally ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted it on this trip …
: Saying Goodbye to the OBX “Sunset over the Sound, OBX” After watching the twenty day forecast for the Outer Banks, Mr. FixIt …
: Waking Up “Knitting Socks with Four Double Point Needles: My second marriage fell apart in January 2000. In …
: Exploring “Wild Horse of Corolla Beach” Oh, my gosh…what a gorgeous day it was yesterday on the Outer Banks! …
: Rough Waters “Stormy Seas” I can hear the surf through the open window of the condo. It rained all day yesterday …
: Revisiting “Time spent in nature is never lost.” There is no way to avoid bumping into grief. It’s around the …
: Press “Pause” “Love: No Crowds! Hate: Down Coat on the Beach!” What do I love about being at the beach this time …
: “He’s a Texan!” “He’s a Texan!” Mr. FixIt is a great travel companion. I have absolutely no sense of direction so …
: Bittersweet “Dogwood” We had an amazing visit with my cousin and his wife this weekend. Instead of running …
: No Apologies “It’s ok to unplug.” What happens when you have to “dig in and go dark?” When you have the …
: Start the Conversation “Big strawberry...big topic.” My friend Kimberly C. Paul interviewed me as one the first guests on …
: ⚡️❤️ Lightning Heart “Magic Fred dancing at Mountain Fair” We called him “Magic Fred.” Fred “Lightning Heart” Haberlien …
: Faith or Fear? “Faith or Fear?” I love my readers. And I love how God uses them to teach me things. “Betty” (not …
: Back to Square One “Back to Square One” I need to exercise more! After sitting on my hiney all winter long writing and …
: New Things “It’s that time of year!” I love doing new things. Yesterday, it was mowing about four acres with a …
: Sacrosanct “It’s good to love again.” Fridays. Since we first started dating, Fridays have been declared …
: Country Life is Not for Sissies! “There was a little squirrel…” Yesterday was the most beautiful so far this year. The temperature …
: Missing My Mom “Do you miss your mom when you’re sick?” I felt perfectly fine all day yesterday. I ran errands and …
: Farming “Burning an Old Tree Stump” With the onslaught of spring comes the inevitable chores. Yard work, …
: A Moment of Panic... “A Moment of Panic…” This is one of those moments when my mind ran about a hundred yards ahead of …
: Hiraeth “Hiraeth…a longing for a home you can’t return to.” A Welsh word for the yearning…the grief for the …
: Doing the Happy Dance!!! “Organized Chaos” Wahoo! I not only got the taxes done, but I found the results to be quite …
: Coveting Spring “Daffodils by the Cistern” I set to work yesterday, determined to finish the taxes. I sorted …
: Why Do I DO This??? “It’s tax time!” I wish I could blame my reticence for bookkeeping on “grief brain” but truth be …
: Standing on the Edge “The Sweetest Love” Ever since I changed my Twitter handle to @GriefMaven, I’ve been meeting the …
: Thunder! “He Brings Me Bluebirds” Oh, there is nothing like a good ol’ thunderstorm and a hard rain on this …
: Springtime on the Farm “Grandma’s Daffodils” This is my ultimate favorite time to be on the farm. While there isn’t a …
: Gentle Guidance “Working on my iPad in front of the big window.” The Bible teaches us to teach others…to correct …
: He is Risen! “He is Risen!” May you Rejoice and have a Blessed Easter. What was once nothing more than a …
: That Time I Dated a Cowboy “Riding off into the sunset.” When hubby #2 and I split up, I held out for like…three years. Hoping …
: Rain on a Tin Roof “Boy Cat” Mr. FixIt and I both have a stack of things to do so we’re hunkered down in our …
: Peace “Peace on the Porch” I don’t think you can see in this picture, but there are some forsythia …
: Here Chick, Chick, Chick! “Here Chick, Chick, Chick!” It’s springtime at #ruralking and Mr. FixIt and I went for cat food and …
: The Kitchen Sink “You know you’ve turned a corner when you stop eating over the kitchen sink…most of the time.” I …
: Be Still My Heart “Is there anything sweeter than little girl socks?” Is there anything cuter than little girl socks …
: Becoming a Pickle “Spring Snow” I worked all day again, copying old posts, pasting them into the website blog. I …
: My Source of Peace “The Lord is my refuge, my source of Peace.” I worked again yesterday copying my posts from the …
: It’s SPRING!!! “The First Buds of Spring” I hold my breath all winter for this day! I really, really try to like …
: Spring is Coming “Giant Hogweed” Before too long, we’re going to be out and about…hiking, camping, fishing…and …
: Catching Up “Copying content to the website.” It’s not necessarily that I’m a procrastinator so much as it’s …
: Own Your Experiences “Own Your Experiences” I don’t know if it’s because every time I turn around, I read about someone …
: Pages from the Past “Scrapbook” Who kept a scrapbook growing up? My mom had oodles of them. She had page after page of …
: Feathers “Matching Feather Tattoos” Ever since Mr. Virgo died, I see birds in unexpected places…bluebirds in …
: Calming the Waters “Psalm 107:29 …the waves of the sea were hushed” I woke up yesterday after a fitful night. I didn’t …
: Peace Be Still “Peace Be Still - The Belonging Co” The pain of new grief is nearly indescribable. It takes …
: God Always Knows “Lewis Cemetery” As I’m sure you can tell, I’ve been dreading the fifth angelversary of Mr. Virgo’s …
: Letting Go of Fear “Let Go of Fear” When I was writing yesterday’s post, I was feeling so overwhelmed. I have the …
: Surprises “Old friends” I love the way my life has begun to set into a rhythm. Not predictable, exactly. But …
: Gratitude “My charm blessed by Pope John Paul” I want to thank all of you for your prayers yesterday. I felt …
: The Full Armor of God When I first began writing this blog…I mean, earnestly writing…I was reeling from the sudden loss …
: A Simple Ceremony Mr. FixIt and I went to a simple country funeral yesterday. My cousin’s wife lost her mom Friday …
: Endings and Beginnings Daffodils I watched my husband die. It was fast. It seemed relatively painless. Not pain free, but …
: The Upside of Disappointment Homemade Egg Noodles I was so excited Thursday! I was heading out for a weekend with the Girl …
: Change Your Focus “Imagine if we obsessed about the things we LOVE about ourselves.” I’d love to have all the hours …
: Morning Walkabout “Rhododendron and the gas light” What an absolute treat it was to wake up out at the farm yesterday …
: West Virginia Wanderings At the WVU Basketball Game After having breakfast with a granddaughter who is a student at WVU, we …
: Date Night “Budding Branches” Mr. FixIt and I live a pretty frugal life. We are careful in our spending so …
: My Love Has a Name “My Love Has a Name…Jesus” I am always pumped on Mondays. My “Monday Morning Motivation” begins …
: Grandmother Faces “Grandma and me at about the same age.” I met my gal pals for coffee yesterday…these magnificent …
: I’ll Pray for You “I’ll Pray for You” How many times do we say that? Something happens to someone and we …
: Blurred Lines We were driving out to the farm the other day and saw a for sale sign on a property just down the …
: “I Think We Woke Up The Children...” “Protests…Then and Now” Those of us who were coming of age in the ‘60s remember the protests of the …
: A Taste of Spring “Burger al Fresco” One of the upsides of Facebook memories is documented progress. One of my …
: An Open Letter to the Shooter “Writing in TOW-Wanda” While the world recoils in horror at the havoc you have wrought, I want you …
: Love is an Action Word I’m doing something different today. Usually I write my essay then I go read and find a bible verse …
: The Mountain “My Hope is in You Alone” - MercyMe I was writing last night and listening to a channel on Amazon …
: Airing Out Kicking Back by the Pool We have had a few really warm days here in West Virginia, even though it’s …
: Staying Present ”My burdens are light as a feather because God carries them for me.” I love Uma Girish. Uma is a …
: Another Horror Story (*Edited: I must admit, I took the number 18 and ran with is as it was the lead in a number of …
: My Funny Valentine “My Funny Valentine” You know this day will come. Well…you certainly hope it does. Mr. Virgo didn’t …
: Craving the Sun “Late Winter Sun” We are having a warming trend here in West Virginia. The monsoonal rains are …
: Word Power Word Power When I was a teenager, my mother always told me my mouth would get me in trouble. I’ve …
: Binge Watching TV Jim and Pam from The Office I need an intervention. I’ve gone without watching practically any …
: 2018 Winter Olympics I have always loved the Olympics. The games always capture the imagination of the world. They are …
: Colorado Memories “House in the Colorado Snow” I lived in Colorado for two-thirds of my adult life. I have always …
: When Things Get Scary “Stock Market” Disclaimer: I do not give financial advice. This essay only expresses my feelings. …
: I Am Enough “I Am Enough” A friend of mine posts these really great inspirational messages on her Facebook …
: Good Night, Mr. Crane “John Mahoney aka Martin Crane” In 1993, my youngest was a toddler. We watched a lot of TV in those …
: The Eagles Have Landed! Eagles win the Super Bowl! Everyone loves an underdog. In a Google poll, only a handful of states …
: Skeletons in the Closet Exploring genealogy can lead to some real surprises. Family secrets like the baby “born” to the …
: Digging in the Past My Ancestors I received an e-mail from my cousin’s son the other day through the ancestry.com …
: The Smallest of Worlds “Charley Chadock - My Great Grandfather” Sharon and I graduated from high school together. Although …
: The Gift That Keeps on Giving “The Winter Tree” I sat in the family room yesterday, working on my laptop. As I was installing my …
: Go Away, Mr. Snarky! Something is fundamentally wrong with this world today. Ok…there are so many things, it’s hard to …
: The McKinney Grief Scale “Elk in Colorado” by Ginny McKinney It’s that time of year again where Facebook is kindly sharing …
: Boundaries “Boundaries” by Ginny McKinney Something I knew nothing about growing up. There were no boundaries …
: The Is The Day The Lord Hath Made Praise Let us celebrate and be GLAD in it! It is so easy to celebrate and be glad in the day when …
: Playing with Art I have loved art since I could hold those fat crayons in my chubby toddler fingers. I loved school …
: Do You Hear That? When I first moved to West Virginia in October 2014, I was living in my camper out on the farm. …
: A Very Good Memory “Little Girl in Blue” I have excellent long term memory. Short term is getting shorter as I age, …
: It Seems Like Forever “Three Apples” Yesterday was International Pie Day. Ooooooh…that one blew right by me till we were …
: January Walkabout Although I am at the farm quite often, I only do a real walkabout once every month or two. I check …
: In the Beginning Marshmallow Ranch actually started in 2001. I was separated from Hubby #2 the year before. I had …
: When Your Body Speaks...Listen I had a huge day planned yesterday. I was really looking forward to gathering with two different …
: Savor the Sweet The first time I set foot in a trout stream, I was six years old. It was the summer before my life …
: Catching Up One of the best ways to catch up with paperwork is to have peaceful surroundings. Mr. FixIt had a …
: Tucking in with Tea I love a hot cup of tea on a cold winter day. And, baby…it is c-o-l-d! It is nice to just stay in …
: Time’s Up I was a doctor’s wife. I had a beautiful life, for all intents and purposes. While he wasn’t a …
: On Being Loved Mr. FixIt and I have developed this little routine the last few months. We have a nice dinner and …
: Toxicity “Toxicity” by Ginny McKinney “People tell you who they are, but we ignore it because we want them …
: Sweet, Sweet Memories I was fiddling around yesterday hooking up my new printer and computer when I received a text from …
: “The Umbrella Incident” or “How to Feed Your Man” “Winter Flooding in West Virginia” by Ginny McKinney It all started innocently enough. It was going …
: Here Comes the Rain “Belpre Bridge” by Ginny McKinney Yesterday morning was sunny and warm. By warm, I mean 47. As …
: The Bent Reed “The Bent Reed” by Ginny McKinney A lot of people are struggling right now. I don’t know what it is …
: A Welcome Sight The sun! Ok, it was out for less than fifteen minutes at the farm today…but, oh! What a divine …
: Intermission...a Brief Thaw I am so grateful for the little breaks we get in the winter. After what seems like weeks, the …
: Old Friends Our babies were just wee ones when we met. We were taking a sewing class together which really …
: Epiphany Epiphany Epiphany; noun: plural noun: epiphanies A) the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as …
: Greater is the One The nature of my writing has grown with the changes I have gone through on my grief journey. Early …
: Deep Freeze Winter Dawn by Ginny McKinney As most of the country settles in for a rough ride on the Snowball …
: On Being Brave I step out…WAY out of my comfort zone here sometimes. I believe in pushing boundaries in order to …
: Surviving the Climb Occasionally I get a comment on my blog from someone so fresh on this grief journey that they are …
: “Ramona and Her Pet Burro, Bob” or “How My Memory Has Changed Since Mr. Virgo Died” We went to the farm yesterday. On our way there, Mr. Fixit pointed out the two little burros …
: Out With the Old...In With the New!!! I love when the calendar turns to a new year. The slate is wiped clean and you can start fresh…a …
: True Love Has No End They weren’t much more than kids when they met. I remember the first time I met my cousin Tommy’s …
: Let Me Entertain You One of the all time BEST things about Mr. FixIt is this…he LOVES to have guests over as much as I …
: Doing the Right Thing I love doTerra products. I especially love their LifePak vitamins and use them, along with a …
: Hygge = Comfort Yesterday was a much better day. It still amazes me how quickly things shift for me since losing …
: Post-Holiday Blues or Just Getting Back to Normal? Is it the “blues”? Feeling a little depressed after the holidays? Things have you out of sorts? …
: Practicing Minimalism I’ve had opulent Christmases where opening presents was a long, drawn out affair. And, I’ve had …
: Merry Christmas Wishing you Peace and Love…today and always! Love, Ginny
: Santa IS Real He held three beautiful children on his lap that afternoon in the mall. Three shining faces, …
: UPDATE: Snowy Owl Rescued If you look at the photo on the left, you see a healthy young owl. You also see a bird from the …
: Here We Go a’Wassailing I remember going caroling as a young girl. A group of my friends and I would gather and roam the …
: Messages From Beyond I first met Sheba Wheeler at a holiday dinner at The Warwick Hotel in downtown Denver. Mr. Virgo …
: The Great Snowy Owl I love how Facebook can bring folks together that may never meet otherwise. That’s the case of …
: The Modem of the Mind I really love living out in the country. It’s peaceful. There’s lots of wildlife. It’s a slower …
: Deportment & Etiquette: Useful Skills or Out-of-Date Sexism? Mr. FixIt and I went Christmas shopping yesterday. As much as I hate to go to Walmart, especially …
: Things That Make Me Smile These dishes! Man, do these take me back. When I lived at home, I set the table every night with …
: The Happy Accident I love this time of year! There are so many fun things to do…parties, family gatherings, cookies to …
: Let’s Take a Ride on the Brain Train In the early ‘80s, Hubby #2 was just finishing medical school and was about to start his internship …
: Just One More Day With Wanda Yesterday’s post struck a sad place within my heart so I wanted to take today in a different …
: Change One of the hardest things to deal with since losing Mr. Virgo is…change. And of course, that is the …
: A New Old Tradition Mr. Fixit and I have a unique relationship. Even though we have only been together a year, we share …
: It’s That Time of Year I visit this topic every year. There’s always a big hullaballoo every year about what to say when …
: It’s Ok to Say...No! The first year of widowhood, absolutely everything was totally overwhelming. I cried my way through …
: Coming Home I lived in England in 1973 and 1974. My first husband was in the Air Force and stationed over …
: A Lost Art How many Christmas cards did you get last year? Not too many, huh? Yeah…me either. Maybe it’s …
: The Hedge Apple The night before Thanksgiving, I hit a deer in Mr. FixIt’s truck. Yesterday, we went to get the …
: He Loves Me...”Like That” It was December 4th, 2013. It had been 267 days since the love of my life died right in front of …
: Making Progress Mr. FixIt came home yesterday! happy dance Doggone it…we really miss each other when we are apart. …
: The Rheostat When Daughter #2 was born, I had the luxury of being a stay-at-home mom. Her sister, and only …
: MORE Christmas Memories I have been on such a nostalgia kick lately! Here’s one I know you all will remember and you …
: Johnny and Punkin Spice I have this friend. She’s one of those wonderful shining stars that God places on this earth to be …
: Throwback Thursday I don’t know about you, but I’m scared of all this threatening talk between the US and North Korea. …
: The Shift The earth shifted yesterday. Did you feel it? I did. Mr. FixIt is about halfway through his guy …
: The Stick Tree You’ve all seen that spindly little Christmas tree Charlie Brown had, right? Basically a stick with …
: The Ghosts of Christmas Past I think this is my all-time favorite Christmas ornament. It’s been in my family as long as I can …
: O Christmas Tree Last Christmas, Mr. FixIt and I had just been dating a few weeks and December found us traveling in …
: It’s Small Business Saturday I avoid Black Friday like the plague. There is nothing in this whole wide world I…or anyone I …
: And So...It Begins The other day I found myself with a little time on my hands and stopped at the Blennerhassett Hotel …
: With Gratitude It’s deer season in West Virginia and I bagged my first deer yesterday. Unfortunately, it was with …
: Little Lies Is there such a thing as a “little white lie”? I mean, isn’t a lie…a lie? Big or small, untruths …
: My Accidental Love Old Mama Kitty is gone. I haven’t seen her in six days. She’s always at the back door, right at …
: You Never Know You buy a desk…you need a chair, right? And not just any chair. I wanted an old banker’s chair. I …
: Almost Heaven...Homemade Apple Pies! One of the happiest places in the world for me is a kitchen. I used to bake competitively and had a …
: The Trophy Room One of the hardest jobs I ever had was one I didn’t seek out. Mr. Virgo had lost his job at a …
: It’s Just a Phase Mr. FixIt and I graduated from the same high school class. Our classmates started gathering once …
: Things That Make Me Smile I was rummaging around in the basement out at the farm the other day, looking for painting …
: The Long Goodbye I have a longtime friend…I’ll call her Betty. Betty is retired. She was a child and family …
: Letting Out Your Inner Child I saw something yesterday that totally melted my heart. Daughter #1 is at Disney World with her …
: When Things Get Messy This is the part I hate about home improvement projects…living through the mess till it gets …
: The Sentinels We survived the first day of painting…barely! It wasn’t a problem working together. That part was …
: The Closet Christian Sometimes it’s hard to walk the talk. And sometimes it’s even more difficult to talk the walk. I …
: Brushing Up Against The Past Today is Veteran’s Day. Every Veteran’s Day, I sent Mr. Virgo a note thanking him for his service. …
: What Have I Done??? OMGosh! I broke my absolute cardinal rule yesterday and…gasp…bought a piece of furniture! I know, I …
: Getting Cozy I’ve always loved to sit in front of a nice fire with a cup of tea, a comforter, and a stack of …
: He Will Cover You With His Feathers... Mr. Fixit is doing some cleaning up and updating at his house. We make a really good team working …
: When It’s All Bad News I watched the news last night and was reminded why I don’t watch the news. The sadness in my gut, …
: Sweetness It seems like yesterday when I traced the delicate shell of my first baby’s ear. She was so tiny at …
: I Spy With My Little Eye... Some very observant readers picked up on something in my picture yesterday. My inbox lit up like a …
: The Promise Three thousand seven hundred sixty-four. That’s how many days came between these two pictures. On …
: The Information Age Prehistoric Google Hubby #2 is a pretty smart guy. Even so, when he was in medical school, he had …
: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star I think the first time I remember really looking at the stars was when Sputnik was orbiting …
: Free Refills Sunday’s sermon was amazing, as usual, and I am always compelled to share my impressions. Pastor …
: The Fire is Over...The Battle Rages On IEI Plastics Fire, Parkersburg, WV Two hundred and four hours. That’s how long it took to put out …
: The Art of Aging I sat in the big leather chair yesterday and gazed around this circle of marvelous, beautiful women …
: Soup...Nature’s Tranquilizer It was twenty-seven degrees here at the farm yesterday morning when I sent Mr. FixIt off on a guys …
: How Far Have We Really Come? I have really been getting into nostalgia lately. The other day I shared my Pinterest page of …
: Farmhouse Obsession In 1982, Hubby #2 and I moved into an old brick bungalow that had been the farmhouse before the …
: Comfort Food Today’s the day…time for the first “comfort food” meal of fall. Mr. FixIt and I have been working …
: Fire Update Here’s an update on the fire in Parkersburg, WV. The site of the old Ames Plant is still burning. …
: Turning Back Time Mr. FixIt and I go to church every Sunday. It has become the center of our relationship and sets …
: The Chemical Valley The Ohio River is busy with boat traffic delivering supplies to various plants up and down river. …
: The Ice Cream Truck...for Adults I finally broke down and got Amazon Prime. Living out here in the boonies makes shopping difficult …
: Tea Time I’m a coffee drinker but I can’t have it after about noon or I’ll be counting the spots on the …
: I Am Not Alone Of all the comments I get on my blog posts, by far the most common is “It’s good to know I’m not …
: A Bird's Eye View Have you ever gone on Google Earth and looked at the places you know? I remember one winter day …
: Getting Bolder: Stories, Not Stuff Today’s post is a link to my most recent installment of “Getting Bolder” on the Sisters on the Fly …
: Me Too Trigger warning…this is sensitive and may not be easy for some of you to read but it is important …
: Let's Go, Mountaineers! Today is a day I’ve been looking forward to for months. I’m attending my first college football …
: An Act of Forgiveness Disclaimer: This may be a trigger subject with some. It is dreadfully sad but it touched my heart …
: Magic Hands October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I have always been prompt at getting my mammogram done …
: Free Spirit Much of my life was spent trying to conform…to not be too loud, too big, too much. To fit into the …
: Past the Breaking Point Filicide. It’s something we don’t want to talk about…something we don’t understand. How could a …
: A Little R&R We awoke to the sound of rain gently falling on the tin roof yesterday. What a welcome sound. …
: From Long Horns to Long Rifles It’s going to rain today…thank God. We haven’t had measurable precipitation in a month and its …
: Country Livin' It took two days to empty TOW-Wanda, clean her up, and winterize. It took an hour to empty both …
: Losing Your Sense of Direction There’s no quicker way to lose your inner compass than through the experience of grief. God built …
: My Love-Hate Relationship “It’s part of the camping experience!” This is the justifying battle cry of the die hard camper …
: The Hickory Tussock Caterpillar When my youngest was little, there were certain words she had trouble pronouncing. Me being a …
: The Last Hurrah Hanging up the camper for the season is always so sad but TOW-Wanda will stay at the farm with me …
: Camping I went to church camp when I was thirteen. I remember having a wonderful time but I don’t quite …
: Fall Camping I don’t think there’s anything that beats camping in the fall. I do more camping in September than …
: Grandma's Spoon Some time after Grandma died, I was visiting the farm. I was cooking and rummaged around in the …
: Two-Lane Blacktop Yesterday was errand day. Up at dawn, I ran through my list of very important things that needed to …
: I Need This Mug! I think I finally got a handle on my possum problem here at the farm. I have been fiddling around …
: Tethered to God A ship that slips its moorings is quickly swept to sea. At the mercy of the wind and the waves, it …
: When the Party's Over Girl time is important to me. Yesterday it was coffee with a few of my home girls…the ‘71 Divas Do …
: Back in the Saddle! You can’t keep a good gal down for long! I still felt a little rough yesterday morning but once I …
: When Things Don't Go As Planned The first two of our three day getaway was perfect. The weather was moderate. We hiked, fished, …
: Time Out! Last weekend was four days of fun (and hard work) hostessing the Sisters on the Fly. This weekend …
: Going Places, Doing Things One of the coolest things about any group of camping women…be it Girl Campers or Sisters on the Fly …
: My Lot in Life For those of you who’ve been following me for awhile, you remember what a struggle it was to …
: Ooooom-Pa-Pa! I arrived at the Country Living Fair in the early afternoon yesterday and met my Girl Camper …
: He Will Cover You With His Feathers It’s hard to believe exactly four-and-a-half years ago, I was preparing a funeral for a man I never …
: Mountain Music I’m still glowing over the events of the past weekend. When I was planning this gathering for the …
: The Jersey Girls We had such a mish-mash of gals at the SOTF event this weekend. I’ve heard so much about Jean …
: The Beckett Brothers I never met them. I didn’t know them. But, I knew who they were. Everyone knew who they were. When …
: Sisters on the Fly What is Sisters on the Fly? It’s the world’s largest outdoor adventure group for women. We have …
: Flatfootin' to the Fiddle Y’all remember I came to West Virginia in October of 2014 to live on the family farm and help my …
: The Good Ol' Days We were taking a break yesterday when Mr. FixIt started reading a story in Goldenseal Magazine. The …
: An Unlikey Pair I’ve been living on the farm a little over a year now. It went so fast, yet…as with many things…it …
: Words I have seldom been at a loss for words. My mom always said I had “the gift of gab”. I was always a …
: The Gift I went to the best high school on the planet. You might say the same thing about yours. I hope you …
: A Surprising Find Yesterday’s post about the old Lily Pond in City Park sparked a debate as to which pond was …
: A Walk in the Park Yesterday was a super busy day with appointments and errands and helping Mr. FixIt do some stuff. …
: Forgiveness We had a guest speaker at church yesterday and man…did he deliver! So here we go…it’s time for some …
: A Family...of Sorts For a class as huge as ours, my high school classmates are extraordinarily close. We have a bond …
: Playing Tourist We drove into Richmond yesterday and looked around the Depot District. We went around the block and …
: Ahhhh...Indiana! I’m beginning to really like this state. I have been to Bloomington in the south. I’ve been back …
: The Sky Really IS Falling...Sorta! The other evening, I was sitting out on the front porch and hear something fall in the woods on the …
: Back to Business as Usual? Not so Fast! Ok, move along…nothing to see here. Just a boxer in some goggles…looking uber cool, I might add! …
: The Sky is Falling! Well, no…it’s not. I read a tweet yesterday. Teachers announced to the children there was going to …
: Umbraphiles...The Shadow Lovers They’ll chase an eclipse…clear across the ocean if they have to. They are umbraphiles. The Shadow …
: The Eastern Screech Owl This is not my photo, but isn’t this a magnificent creature??? Mr. FixIt and I went for a short …
: The New Age of Aquarius Ok, this eclipse thing is like, a really huge deal, apparently. I’ve been hearing for weeks that …
: My Hometown There was a time in my life when I didn’t think much of my home town. I considered it terribly …
: Curiosity You know what they say about curiosity…it killed the cat! I don’t know what Kitty Boy was after, …
: A Change in the Air Even though it is only the middle of August, there is a definite change in the air. There are …
: When Darkness Calls I have some really great friends who look out for me. They each seem to have a role. My longest …
: West Virginia Date Night I remember a time when “date night” involved a little black dress and makeup. But let me tell you, …
: Hand in Glove I fit here. West Virginia is just the right size and shape to accommodate all that is…me! We were …
: Welcome Home! Is there anything more wonderful than the glow of the gas light in the yard to welcome you home? …
: Road Trip: Day Thirty-Something..."Home! Kinda." Yesterday was lovely. We went out for breakfast then headed to Camping World to check on the …
: Road Trip: Day Thirty-Two..."Crap!" One of the most important things I’ve learned about camping is this…check, check, and double-check …
: Road Trip: Day Thirty-One..."Camping in Comfort!" OMGosh! After camping two nights in parking lots, Grandpa’s Farm Campground is just what the doctor …
: Road Trip: Day Thirty..."Camping at Walmart" Mr. FixIt was in an automotive store picking up a part for my truck when I was preparing to leave …
: Road Trip: Day Twenty-Nine..."On the Road Again!" This is the hard part…saying goodbye. I don’t like goodbyes. I miss my kids and my grands when I’m …
: Road Trip: Day Twenty-Eight..."Dancing" I love listening to live music. We met Daughter #1 and the grands for dinner then attended the …
: Road Trip: Day Twenty-Seven..."When Your Mom Dies" My friend, Fred, lost his mom yesterday. We got the word while we were visiting Buffalo Bill’s …
: Road Trip: Day Twenty-Six..."On Sharing" There has been a major shift within me this trip. I wasn’t sure going into this vacation how I …
: Road Trip: Day Twenty-Five..."Life is Better at the Ranch" The trip out west is winding down. The kids are busy with camps and getting ready for school so …
: Road Trip, Day Twenty-Four..."In Jesus' Name" Whew….some Mondays we just have to go to church here at the Ranch. Especially when I’ve heard a …
: Road Trip: Day Twenty-Three..."Back Across the Divide" I don’t think the trip back to Denver was quite as difficult as going over. Yesterday was overcast, …
: Road Trip: Day Twenty-Two..."A Night on the Town" After a busy day sightseeing, we visited with my “surrogate parents” and my sweet brother. We …
: Road Trip: Day Twenty-One..."Exploring!" Seriously…have you seen anything more beautiful than this??? Maroon Bells…the most photographed …
: Road Trip: Day Twenty-one..."Old Home Week" There are moments in life that you would like to freeze and keep forever, aren’t there? Yesterday …
: Road Trip: Day Twenty..."Another Day in Paradise" Last week I reported to you that Mr. Virgo was in my dreams two nights running saying he was …
: Road Trip: Day Nineteen..."The Long Slog" “Eula Faye” is my F-150…a beauty for sure, but she lacks guts. As I figured, climbing these …
: Road Trip: Day Eighteen..."Fort Collins" Located sixty-five miles north of Denver, Fort Collins is a bustling college town with plenty to …
: Road Trip: Day Seventeen..."Family First" I’ve known Mr. FixIt for nearly fifty years. He’s gregarious and fun and funny. He’s everyone’s …
: Road Trip: Day Sixteen..."Tour Director" I get the biggest kick out of showing people places they’ve never seen…especially when it’s a place …
: Road Trip: Day Fifteen "Focus" Moose I am in my fifth year writing this blog. The original page was intended to showcase art …
: Road Trip: Day Fourteen..."My Person" I’ve been holding my breath for months now. I wanted to talk to you about it, but I couldn’t. It …
: Road Trip: Day Thirteen..."In Him" The phone dinged. I had a text. “Are you awake?” 7:30am on vacation. A Tuesday. “Yes!” “I have to …
: Road Trip: Day Twelve..."He Sent Me Birds" Sometimes it takes a couple days of cogitation before I recognize a sign. You’ve heard me say many …
: Road Trip: Day Eleven..."You Are Worthy" Ok, we’re going to church here in a little bit…fair warning. But first, I want to share something …
: Road Trip: Day Ten..."She Is My Crown" Dear God in Heaven…thank you for bringing this small human into my life! She and her sister are the …
: Road Trip: Day Nine..."Chill" While traveling in a camper, one must stay on top of housekeeping tasks or things soon spiral out …
: Road Trip: Day Eight..."What a Feeling!" There’s nothing like feeling really good after feeling really bad. I was so miserable Wednesday…too …
: Road Trip: Day Seven..."So, You Thought You Were Done, Eh?" I ran an errand yesterday morning. I didn’t have much of an appetite. I had my coffee. I snapped …
: Road Trip: Day Six..."I Made It!" OMGosh! I thought it was going to take forever to get here. With the long drive day on Monday, I …
: Road Trip: Day Five..."So Near, Yet So Far" When I hooked up my camper Sunday night at the Kan-Do Kampground in Montgomery City, Missouri, the …
: Road Trip: Day 4 This is the part of the trip where I’m always ready to be there yet I have a long way to go. It …
: Road Trip: Day Three I had to say goodbye for now to my Girl Camper friends yesterday morning. I hit the road about 8:30 …
: Fun Around a Campfire Traveling on a cross-country road trip, you must be flexible whenever possible. Yesterday’s …
: On the Road Again! Oh, I love a good surprise! Some of the local Girl Campers gathered to surprise our fearless …
: Beware the Wolf The other day when I wrote the post announcing my new love, one of my readers noticed the ring in …
: A Room With A View The last few nights have been insufferably hot and muggy in the farmhouse. There is a room air …
: The Fourth of July OMGosh! How does the summer fly so quickly and winter drags on forever? Yesterday was the …
: The Weekend Walkabout I’m a procrastinator. I have a list as long as my arm to prepare for this trip west. I could have …
: TOW-Wanda is Home! First of all…OMGosh! Your response to my post yesterday was more than I could have ever imagined. …
: When "I" Becomes "We" You could knock me over with a feather. I never, ever dreamed I would get another chance at a deep, …
: Rest & Relaxation We all need a little R&R from time to time, don’t we? My little two days away were peaceful, yet …
: That One Day in June There’s one day in June. It’s perfect. The temp hovers at 80 with a nice breeze. The puffy clouds …
: Weekend Walkabout It rained off and on all day Friday. The remnants of Tropical Depression Cindy finally blew through …
: On Being Patient This is a tough one for most people. I try. I think I practice humility, most of the time. And I …
: Further Inspection The more I pry into this camper, the more work there is to be done. Oy! Good thing I’m not in any …
: There is Hope If you are grieving, please know there is hope…for healing, for brighter days, for joy. Those of us …
: Summer Nights Oh, how I love summer! The days are long and bright and packed full of sunshine and flowers and fun …
: Beyond Coincidence I know I have been delving into matters of faith a lot the last few weeks. I know there is a …
: Weekend Walkabout We are truly knee-deep in June now here in West Virginia. We’ve been getting some rain finally. But …
: Lawzy, Lawzy...What Have I Done? Oh…I almost hate to show you what I’ve gotten myself into. Y’all are gonna sit there and roll your …
: And So...The Camper Addiction Begins! The obsession has begun. The camper was ready to be picked up yesterday afternoon. The gentleman I …
: She Followed Me Home! Those of you who have been here from the beginning know I really, really wanted a vintage camper …
: In Transition The life I led before becoming a widow fell away from me on March 12, 2013. I was a beautiful …
: Let Your Light Shine Yesterday was a perfectly wonderful birthday! I was heading to town and kept getting delayed. As I …
: ? Will You Still Need Me? ? I have waited a long time for this birthday so I could sing that Beatles tune! I have always loved …
: Motivation Monday: A Whole Lotta Happy Yesterday was a really great day! I went to church with a friend and heard an amazing sermon about …
: What Lies Beneath I was awake bright and early yesterday. I love staying at my cousin’s house up on North Mountain. …
: Something About the Light There’s something special about the evening light of June in West Virginia. It takes on the soft …
: Yes, Sir...I Live in the Country One of my biggest treats as a child was to go to Harrisville with my Pop-Pop. We would go to …
: The Walkabout I've been walking a lot the last three days and wanted to share some photographs I've taken along …
: Getting Filled Up Whew! Revival…can you stand some more? The young evangelist who led the Revival at Grandma’s church …
: Medicine for my Soul The air was thick with the promise of rain. The breeze was cool enough to wear a light sweater. I …
: In My Own Voice For those of you who are fairly new here, the whole thing started with this field. Twenty-two years …
: Learning MORE New Things! I did it! I changed the oil on my truck all by myself! Well, ok…I watched a YouTube video and my …
: Learning New Things My dryer hasn’t been drying my clothes lately. They toss and turn and tumble and take forever to …
: Taste Treats When I was a little girl, this farm produced strawberries for the local Farmer’s Market. The …
: The Deer and the Cat Well, I saw something I’ve never seen before. I sure wish I would have had my camera ready fast …
: The Best Laid Plans... What was it John Lennon said? “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” Or some …
: Another Day in Paradise I don’t know what else to say…yesterday was another perfect day. It was a little hot. Well, ok…it …
: Rose Colored Glasses or Keeping the Faith? It’s difficult to keep faith in humanity when the world looks like it does today. There are …
: Shooting Stars I didn’t go anywhere yesterday. I sat out on the front deck with my coffee for a couple of hours …
: Dinosaurs of the Deep I spent the entire day on the beach and almost all of it was under the cover of a canopy. Still, I …
: The Lighthouse After four days of stormy, grey skies, yesterday was stunning in Daytona Beach. I had a slow start …
: We're Not in Kansas What a crazy weather day in the south yesterday. After a relatively calm morning walk on the beach, …
: Paradise Found I love these guys. Sort of mini pterodactyls. They fly in and land on the piers and posts and give …
: Hallelujah Anyway! h Anne Lamott wrote a poignant book about blessing whatever comes into your life…good, bad, …
: The Smokin' Pig I arrived in Statesville, NC at 2:00 yesterday morning. I had stopped at the NC Welcome Center and …
: Road Trip...The Grand Adventure Continues! OMGosh! I miss the open road! Traveling along the highways and byways of this beautiful country is …
: Ick! A Tick! They say ticks are going to be really bad this year. A mild winter allowed more hosts to survive …
: Fire in the Sky With a big hill across the road, I don’t get to see spectacular sunsets very often. I was sitting …
: The Color Green Seriously, could it get any greener than this??? This is my all-time favorite time of the year. The …
: My Resting Place Last week there were two mornings where the temperature hovered just a tad above freezing. I was so …
: Oh, Firefly...Wherefore Art Thou? Fireflies are disappearing, apparently. As with many species, human encroachment and the loss of …
: The Well Worn Bible Last night was the eighth and final, night of the Revival at the little white church on the hill. I …
: The Fruit of the Vine I went to my home church last night. You all are going to think that’s all I do. It isn’t…but this …
: Caught in a Trap This has turned out to be a really intense and power-filled week for me. I have been attending an …
: Stepping Out in Faith This is a clip from Night 3 of the Revival I have been attending. I thought I would share it with …
: Weeding My Garden Well, I went to Revival again last night. I do not believe I have ever in my life felt the energy …
: Busy as a Bee Yesterday was a mowing marathon. I no sooner finished till the rains came. I barely finished before …
: Old Time Religion Some of my earliest memories surround the little white church on the hill a couple miles from the …
: Mistakes? Or, Lessons Learned? Farm life. For this mostly city girl, there’s been quite a lot of learning going on the last nine …
: At Last... I was sitting out on the front porch yesterday…drinking coffee, solving the crossword, checking in …
: Gone From My Sight They were Lucy and Ethel. Lucy, the clown, was the preschool teacher…much beloved by students, …
: Slow and Steady What happens when you hit the wall? When grief raises its ugly head and bites you in the butt? When …
: God's Armor Coming home late at night means you don’t get to survey the grounds till morning. And, since the …
: Home Sweet Home The trip home was far less eventful than the trip last weekend. Thank God, there were no accidents …
: Life is a Beautiful Thing Life is about choices. Every day we are faced with the choice to rise up and grab life by the tail …
: Life in the Margins This picture was taken the year before I was born. Four of my cousins gathered for their “stair …
: God Moments Yesterday dawned dark and grey again. Every day I’ve been here has been cloudy for the biggest …
: The Tempest Yesterday was one of those days that was so jam packed with fun activities and sights seen that I …
: Life is Sweet on the OBX Oh, my…I have discovered the subtle intricacies of North Carolina BBQ. A totally different …
: Hindsight is 20/20 I received a private message yesterday from a reader asking what tow vehicle I use and what model …
: The Outer Banks Think “Wright Brothers”. Think “Cape Hatteras” and “lighthouses” and “sand” and “surf”. It was 86° …
: Rock On! Oh. Em. Geeeee. What a day! I finished packing and hit the road with a full cup of coffee by 10:00. …
: Life on the Farm It’s been a heck of a time the last couple of weeks. A friend had a health scare, my houseguest …
: The Honey-Do List I am fortunate to be sort of a tomboy. Ok, in a girly, tiara-wearing princess kind of way. I’ve …
: Lord, Take Me Home in the Springtime I hated burying my mom on the coldest day of the year. It was late January and while the sky was …
: The Moon Bath Bathing al fresco by the light of the moon was a necessity in the mid ’90s. Having a total …
: Rain on a Camper Roof...aaaaah!!! I had company for supper yesterday which was lovely! A simple Easter meal of roasted chicken, fresh …
: Saying Goodbye to Sunshine My friend Jamie is doing some really hard stuff this weekend. Her dear friend Angie is dying. …
: Life and Death Ok…I said I wasn’t going to post till Monday. I tried not to. I really did. But I can’t NOT WRITE! …
: Happy Easter I could never understand why today would be called “Good Friday” and not “Terrible, No Good, Very …
: What a Trip High anxiety. Even with four years under my belt. Even with good grief counseling and EMDR …
: Days Gone By My friend V is an artist. We were going to paint yesterday but one thing led to another and we …
: Fun on the Farm I got my first company on the farm yesterday! I’m telling you…I was SO excited. I even bought a new …
: The Easter Parade This is what an Easter Parade looks like out in the country. Normally, I would be in town at church …
: Spring Tonic When I was a very young child, both of my grandmothers decided I was far too pale. There must be …
: The Art of Aging To quote Anne Lamott… “Age has given me what I’ve been looking for all my life - it gave me me.” In …
: Anniversaries and Stuff As is typical in the spring, yesterday was vastly different than the day before. Wednesday was a …
: Bird Watching One of the most pleasant things about this farm is the multitude of birds singing all the time. …
: Decisions, Decisions I have friends who are really competent women. They’ve taken care of business all on their own for …
: People are People When I was growing up, I found some photos in my grandma’s buffet. I didn’t understand what they …
: No Such Thing as a Hollywood Ending Grief isn’t pretty. It isn’t predictable. It doesn’t run on a timeline. You don’t get from point A …
: Spring has Sprung...a Leak! West Virginia gets SO much rain! It just pours for days at a time here and while I love the …
: Happy! Happy! Happy! Four days. Four full days. That’s what it took to get that old laptop of mine to do what I wanted …
: Feel the Rain As I sit here writing this, Norah Jones softly crooning in the background, coffee by my side, I can …
: Here We Go Again I will bet dollars to donuts that if you scroll back through this blog, every year at this time you …
: From Out of the Blue I had a list a mile long of things to do yesterday. It was my errand day…chiropractor, breakfast …
: The Promise of Spring I have lived every moment of the last five months with this image in my mind. Not that I didn’t try …
: Missing Pieces I used to love to do jigsaw puzzles. I had a table set up where I could spread out and enjoy …
: Hiking the Farm Processed with Snapseed. Yesterday was glorious! Seventy-some degrees, intermittent clouds, gently …
: Starting Over Last night I sat on the sofa for an hour, typing my post for today. It was long and quite …
: Compounded Grief Little texted me Wednesday night to let me know Pop passed away. She wanted me to know right away …
: Almost Heaven This picture was taken when we were “knee deep in June”, as Grandma called it. That perfect time of …
: A Good and Humble Man I was 25 when he came into my life. Rather…I came into his. This sweet, gentle man who loved me as …
: Dear Future Me... Hey…it’s your “Past Me” here. Just popping in to say hello and remind you of a few things. I know, …
: Sticks and Stones Expanding on yesterday’s eloquent sermon. I was raised with that tired old adage…“Sticks and stones …
: The Legacy It’s funny. When you are in a car accident, they tell you, “Go home and rest.” If any of you have …
: We All Rock! My friend Deneene is a hippie. I say that in the most positive way. She’s free. She wears harem …
: Death by Design - Podcast A few months ago, I was approached by Kimberly Paul for an interview on her new podcast show…Death …
: Reach Out I’ve had a smart phone since…well, since phones became smart. I love my phone…and my iPad, and my …
: Peace & Quiet I live a pretty peaceful and quiet life out here on the farm. The biggest excitement comes in the …
: The Evidence of Things Unseen I have a guy friend that has had his eye out for a good deal on a truck for me. Not that I can’t …
: How the Girls Help With My Grief I belong to a couple of camping groups that I’m active with. Sisters on the Fly came first. Lying …
: Four Years Gone Four years. What can happen in four years? A whole presidency. College. A baby becomes a …
: Road Trip! When life hands you lemons, call up the girls…the Girl Campers, that is! Last week I saw that my …
: A Prayer for Provision Ok, today’s post isn’t really preachy but there’s a whole lotta “faithy” in it so if that’s not …
: Patience I used to pray for patience till I read somewhere that God responds with scenario after scenario in …
: Perception When I was sixteen, my world changed like every other teenager with a new driver’s license. It …
: My Guardian Angel Have you ever done a search on Google to research something in the Bible? I never even read the …
: What If What if it would have been me that died instead of him? I think of these things in the wee hours of …
: Time Warp I was sitting in my favorite rocker by the front window last night, thinking about what to write …
: Here Comes the Sun Spring is showing up here on the farm. The dense underbrush is leafing out in a bright spring …
: Here They Come Again Waves. Grief comes in waves. I’ve been on top of the world the last few months. Feeling good. …
: In Like a Lion... Yesterday was some crazy weather here in West Virginia. You know they mean business when there's a …
: Wishy Washy Weather This is that time of year when Mother Nature can’t seem to make up her mind what season it is. …
: Snap! Crackle! Pop! When I was a tiny tot, my mother had one of those tables on wheels with the seat in the middle that …
: The Aftermath When Mr. Virgo and I lived in southern Colorado on that 4200 acre ranch, we went out with the …
: Carrying my Mat Forgive me, my friends…today we’re going to church. If that’s not your thing, that’s cool…just come …
: Frieda Gots an Owwie! If you look at her, she doesn’t look so bad but she is pretty sad. I am sore and tired. Getting …
: Writing my Life I’ve always been a storyteller. I was the kid who sat at the table and listened to all the family …
: When You're Gone I’ve been playing catch up ever since I got back from my trip to Florida. I finally got the laundry …
: Spring is in the Air Spring is just around the corner. Warm days are ahead. The sunshine is warming the earth and rain …
: A Good Night's Sleep I’ve slept in a number of hotels in the last month. I only had one less-than-perfect stay and that …
: Time to Say Goodbye Seven dogs have owned my heart. One at a time, these fur babies stole into my life, took up …
: Looking Back After a long day driving to Cincinnati, standing in a receiving line for nearly two hours, and …
: The Sands of Time I came to Cincinnati yesterday for my friend Anna’s funeral. Most of you read that Anna died …
: Collective Hearts I went to the mall last night after dinner and watched people. Couples holding hands. Young …
: Dear Mr. Virgo... In less than a month it will be four years that you’ve been gone. Our last Valentine’s Day together …
: BACK HOME AGAIN I’m home, safe and sound. I can’t say I’m particularly excited about it. As a matter of fact, I’ve …
: A Country Mile I had one of the best days ever yesterday. It was absolutely the perfect culmination of my …
: Intimacy Intimacy: a close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another …
: Another Prayer for Anna On the 24th of January, I wrote a post called “A Prayer for Anna”. My friend from high school lost …
: Historic Downtown Savannah I’m not even going to bother telling you about the place I stayed at St. Augustine Beach. It was a …
: St. Augustine This is probably my favorite town on this trip. St. Augustine is our nations oldest city. Home of …
: Flagler Beach I last stood on this beach in January 2001. It’s funny how sights, sounds, and smells can take you …
: Sigh I hate leaving. What a beautiful week it’s been. Beauty and fun at every turn. I was hoping for a …
: Another Day in Paradise The wind was pretty cool yesterday so I only stayed at the beach 30 minutes before I chucked that …
: Time is Short I was walking on the beach the other evening and stumbled upon these words in the sand. “Time is …
: Old Friends and Friday Fitness I remember Color Day like it was yesterday. Our senior class had a designated day a few weeks …
: The Perfect Day What an incredible day yesterday was! The temperature got up to 72. I walked nearly four miles on …
: Bounty I love Greek food. Spanakopita, dolmas, gyros, baklava…oooooh, I love it all! There’s a baked ziti …
: THE GRAND ADVENTURE 2017: "BROWN PELICAN ON THE PIER" Day 3: Splitting the drive into three days made the day of arrival an easy three hours or so. My …
: THE GRAND ADVENTURE: 2017 Day 1: The Farm to Columbia, SC Day 2: Columbia, SC to St. Augustine Both days were sunny and …
: GETTIN' OUT OF DODGE Ok, kids…it’s that time of year when mama’s got itchy feet. The grey clouds of January in the …
: HAPPILY EVER AFTER...INTERRUPTED I used to think how horrific it was…how incredibly sad it was that Mr. Virgo died just three weeks …
: THE DOOR There is nothing beautiful about becoming a widow. It’s scary and sad and extraordinarily painful. …
: BLUE SKIES...SMILIN' AT ME I woke up yesterday to blue skies!!! I knew right away this was a day to get outside. I simply …
: OUTSIDE IS FREE As I plug along and copy the content from my blog here on Facebook and move it to my new website, I …
: A PRAYER FOR ANNA I hadn’t seen Anna since high school. She had never been to a reunion and frankly, she was nervous. …
: MONDAY MORNING MOTIVATION I’ve been reading posts lately about feeling stuck. I remember in my own grief journey, especially …
: KIMBERLY PAUL TALKS ABOUT THE ELEPHANT I have way too much experience with ignoring the elephant in the room….specifically in my second …
: COMFORT COMES FROM UNLIKELY SOURCES I have never been a good sleeper. It only got worse after Mr. Virgo died. I stayed up till all …
: RISE UP! I try not to touch the third rail. Politics is a touchy subject in polite society and can create a …
: PRAYER REQUESTS I know of a few families who need lifted up in prayer tonight. There are health issues and family …
: NO WORRIES I used to worry about everything. I have a genetic proclivity for anxiety…a trait I have so …
: WHEN THE "NEW NORMAL"...ISN'T I don’t know about you, but the first time someone referred to me as a “widow”, it truly ticked me …
: SEE THE STARS I stumbled around for the longest time in the darkness of grief. I told people it was like trying …
: BREATHE LIFE I loved our message in church yesterday. Pastor Justin spoke about Jesus completing a huge healing …
: RAINY DAYS I am always amazed at the amount of water shed from the sky here in West Virginia. After living …
: GUILT As I was working on the website yesterday, I had to edit an old post in such a way that it appeared …
: AUTHENTICITY As I lay here in the middle of the night, I can hear the creek’s up. We’ve had a lot of rain the …
: UPCOMING APPEARANCE Tune in Wednesday as I am a guest on Dave Hawkins radio show! Looking forward to an interesting …
: NCAA BASKETBALL I have never been to a college ball game and I’ve always loved the Final Four. When I learned that …
: CONTENT! Ok, double entendres taken into consideration, I am content on this beautiful, sunny day…sitting at …
: OLD MAMA KITTY We’ve lost track how old she is. Twenty-three? Twenty-four, maybe? She’s old. And she’s sweet as …
: IN THE COMPANY OF WOMEN In the Company of Women Yesterday was my “girls day”. I met eleven other women from my high school …
: URGENT PRAYER REQUEST Prayer Warriors: Our fellow “Rancher” and friend, Gloria, is asking for especially strong prayers …
: WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN When Bad Things Happen Since the beginning of time, bad things have happened. There is evil in the …
: "UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN" “Until We Meet Again” I stumbled across this picture on Pinterest last night. A woman had her and …
: TONIGHT'S PEACEFUL MOMENT: RESOLUTIONS Tonight’s first “Peaceful Moment” of 2017 is about resolutions and how they might not work in one …
: IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU...UNLESS IT IS It’s Not About You…Unless It Is In keeping with the theme of the New Year and yesterday’s post …
: THE DANCING OF LIFE The Dancing of Life As we head into the New Year, resolutions in hand, I felt it was time to revive …
: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RANCHERS! For someone as big a tech-head as me, I am absolutely stunned sometimes by new developments in …
: MENDING In Japan, when a beautiful piece of pottery is broken, it is often mended with gold, thereby …
: REACH Every New Year’s Eve I come up with a new word to focus on for the coming year. I have been mulling …
: AULD LANG SYNE Well, here it is…the last day of 2016. I didn’t think this year would ever end. It’s been a real …
: MY MIRACLE I’ve suffered from Palmar Plantar Psoriasis for the last three years. Only 1-3% of psoriasis …
: FLY THE FRIENDLY SKIES When I was a very little girl, my mother flew to Chicago to do two things…visit her sister, and try …
: HEADING HOME Where is “home” for you? Even when I lived in Colorado for forty years, when people asked me where …
: I'M ON MY WAY There have been many times in my life when I felt lost. I spoke the words into the universe and it …
: HAPPY CHRISTMAS MORNING 2016 It was 8:00 Christmas morning. Long gone are the days when a little one tugs on my sleeve with a …
: CHRISTMAS GREETINGS: PEACE ON EARTH Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men. Enjoy your family today. I’ll …
: THE GIFT IS IN THE GIVING I live in West Virginia most of the year. My grandchildren live in Colorado, so I needed to create …
: SANTA'S GIFT This is my fourth Christmas without Mr. Virgo. I first told this story just nine months after he …
: GO RVING BLOG POST: Gina Corbin My good friend and fellow “Rancher”, Gina Corbin, is featured in Janine Pettit’s goRVing blog! I …
: GOOD ENERGY IS CONTAGEOUS I met a young couple at the hot springs a couple weeks ago. There are several pools and I hopped in …
: LITTLE: A GRANDCHILD'S HEART “Little” is nine-years-old but her soul is ancient. This is my deep, insightful thinker. My wise …
: TONIGHT'S PEACEFUL MOMENT Tonight’s Peaceful Moment This is Christmas! Tonight’s Peaceful Moment Link
: GIRL CAMPER PODCAST #63: GINNY MCKINNEY - LESSONS LEARNED My dear friend, Janine Pettit, interviewed me in September when we were camping at Beaver Creek …
: THE CHOIR CONCERT You haven’t lived till you attend your twelve-year-old granddaughter’s middle school choir concert. …
: THE REDBIRDS The cardinal is West Virginia’s state bird. I love watching the flash of red when a male cardinal …
: COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS One more week till Christmas. Where on earth did 2016 go??? My granddaughter had a swim meet …
: THE GRADUATE I was thirty-six when she graced my world with her presence. Her sister…her only sibling…was nearly …
: MEMORY LANE The first time I came to this restaurant was in 1986 when Hubby #2 was being interviewed to join …
: MERRY & BRIGHT I came to the mountains Sunday to spend time with my sweet brother and to visit friends. I’ve …
: ALL THE TRIMMINGS I was sitting in the diner yesterday morning enjoying a breakfast burrito between my blood draw and …
: SYNCHRONICITY Yesterday was one of those days when things happened that were beyond mere coincidence. There were …
: THE MARATHON 832 cookies!!! Yesterday was the great Cookie Baking Marathon with the family. I absolutely love …
: BAKING DAY Ok, disclaimer…I lifted the picture from the Internet when I Googled “Christmas Cookie Fails”. That …
: THE WEB I’m in Denver visiting family for Christmas. I ran errands yesterday and spent a good deal of time …
: TONIGHT'S PEACEFUL MOMENT Tonight's Peaceful Moment We've all seen Laurel Burch's art, whether you know her name or not. But …
: BFF's We weren’t much more than children when we met. Both new brides of young airmen stationed overseas, …
: TONIGHT'S PEACEFUL MOMENT Tonight's Peaceful Moment Aside from one bad word, which you'll understand why when you watch, this …
: TOUCHDOWN! I have arrived safely in Colorado. Let's face it...it takes forever to get anywhere from West …
: TONIGHT'S PEACEFUL MOMENT This performance reminds me of the talented kids who attended my younger daughter's alternative high …
: TONIGHT'S PEACEFUL MOMENT A poem about grief and the holidays. www.facebook.com/steve.wen…
: A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE JULIA-ANN DISTRICT There is a historic district in my hometown that has the most amazing homes built by lumber barons, …
: FORCED MEMORIES FROM THE ARCHIVES OF FACEBOOK If this is your first Christmas without your loved one, you must be prepared for something. …
: THE MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING AND I MUST GO While I don’t relish snow and cold, I’m leaving soon to go see my family in Colorado. A Colorado …
: NAMASTE FROM THE "PALACE OF GOLD' - MOUNDSVILLE, WV Mr. Virgo loved the ghost hunting shows. We would sit and watch them every week…week in, week out. …
: DOING NEW ACTIVITIES KEEPS YOUR MIND FRESH AND BOOSTS YOUR MOOD I’ve done more new things in the last three and a half years than I have in my entire life …
: WIDOWHOOD IS A SOLITARY AFFAIR I did something the other day that I absolutely SWORE I would never do again. I bought a …
: THE FEAR OF LOSS CONTINUES The other day, I drifted off on the sofa and began to dream. It wasn’t an action dream like a …
: THE "CRAZY CAT LADY KIT" HAS ARRIVED Oy! The “Crazy Cat Lady Kit” arrived while I was gone for Thanksgiving. I returned well after dark …
: AND SO, IT BEGINS...CHRISTMAS I’m the only person I know who can turn a four-hour drive into a twelve-hour adventure and spend …
: BABIES, BUDDY, & BRUSH-HOGGIN' Thanksgiving in rural West Virginia. Work still needs to be done on a farm…no matter what day it …
: Give Thanks “Give Thanks” I have more to be grateful for than I could possibly recount here, but I’ll list a …
: Reprise: The Ugly Side of Grief “Reprise: The Ugly Side of Grief” I wrote this two years ago. I think it bears repeating with the …
: Fill 'er Up “Get your tank filled.” Borrowing from part of Sunday’s sermon, I’m going to run with this. I took …
: The Nest “A bird’s nest from the farm.” One late fall day, I was walking down the long drive to get the mail …
: First Snow “Snowflake” This is a big turning point in the year…the first snowflakes. They excite us. The …
: Taking a Moment “Kicking back on the porch at the farm.” I’m not slowing down till spring! I looked at my calendar …
: Nesting 2.0 “My favorite piece of my childhood.” I gathered some of my belongings out of storage the other day …
: On Being Passionate “A word from the wise.” It’s been a little over a week since the election. I don’t know about …
: The List “Digital painting of the Ohio River at sunset.” I still suffer from “grief brain” to some extent. …
: Home "Farmer Fred" and his wife, the "Viking Princess" are Facebook friends of mine. Those folks who my …
: Remembering This was the "offending" picture I hung when I lived here two years ago. For some reason, my aunt …
: Country Kitchen When I left this place in 1973, I was like most teenagers. I knew everything. I knew how the world …
: The Gift Every day I open my eyes and look out the window to the right of my bed here at the farm. I smile …
: Nesting I've put off really making this house look more like my "home" since I wasn't entirely sure my aunt …
: The Eagle and The Owl I have a friend who is going through a rough patch. A love has ended and she is going through the …
: Give Me Light Ugh...I can't stand feeling like it's midnight when it's actually 5:27! I've had trouble with …
: Election Day Mr. Virgo and I had different political viewpoints. Thankfully, it never interfered in our …
: Old Barns The countryside of rural America is studded with old barns. Whether currently being utilized or …
: Looking Back I seldom look back at what I've let go of. Mostly because of fear that I'll regret the decisions …
: Blessed Relief After going at warp speed for weeks, I took it way down yesterday. I slept till 10:30. That's …
: Burning the Candle Grief speaks to us in tongues...a voice only God truly understands. The Holy Spirit is the …
: Alarming "Danger, Will Robinson!" I don't know if I'm going to be able to use this driveway alarm or not. It …
: Girl Camper Podcast - Episode #56 Yesterday I drove through the mountains and the colors were absolutely unbelievable! I swear...God …
: Facebook Live So, Thursday evening I am going LIVE here on Marshmallow Ranch. I'm giving a talk at 6:30 Eastern …
: Country Roads... Take me home. I thought you might like to see what I see when I drive out to the farm. OMGosh...how …
: Surprises After the Annual Invasion of the Asian Ladybug, I was hoping my surprises were over for awhile. …
: They're Baaaaack! Asian beetles....not to be confused with the common lady bug. Lady bugs are sweet. They eat aphids. …
: Changing Seasons I usually dread the change from summer to fall because it means winter isn't far behind. Those of …
: Let's Do the Time Warp Again "It's just a jump to the left..." Sometimes that jump is a big one. I'm not shy about stepping …
: Settle Down Wednesday's are long days for me. I have to get up long before dawn to take the trash out so the …
: First Frost I scraped frost off the windshield yesterday for the first time this season. I had to have the …
: Home It was dark when I drove up the long driveway to the farmhouse the other night. I couldn't pull …
: Pickin' and Grinnin' I took my time getting home yesterday and decided to stop at Tamarack near Beckley. This is an …
: Heading Home Wow...a few days in TOW-Wanda made me a happy camper! What a beautiful campground. In keeping with …
: Colors I awoke in the night with the drumming of a hard rain on the roof of my camper. I love …
: Full Circle I'm on my last camping trip of the year, I believe. While yesterday's high was 82, the next few …
: My Safe Place Awwww....the only bad thing about living out on the farm is not traveling and camping with …
: Drumroll, Please! Marshmallow Ranch hit a milestone yesterday...5,000 followers!!!! Oh. Em. Geeeee! I was out to …
: Relationship Someone torched a Republican campaign office in North Carolina over the weekend. They threw a …
: Just Passing Through I can't remember ever having a day quite like yesterday. I always pray during the opening worship …
: Doctor! Doctor! I Can See! Farm life has me up and doing things at the ungodly hour of "0 Dark Thirty". Things like feeding …
: Death vs. Divorce Mr. Virgo was hubby number three for me. My starter marriage was relatively brief...just three …
: Blue Skies I don't talk politics here. It's too personal and too important to trivialize it with merely an …
: Letting Go I've been having a little trouble with writer's block lately. It's not necessarily that the words …
: It's Always Something Just like Gramma Rosannadanna said..."It's always something. If it's not one thing, it's another." …
: A Note to my Younger Self Hello, sweetheart! Look at you...so young, so full of promise in your first grown up formal dress. …
: Tea in a Coffee Mug Sacrilege?
: Into the Woods My first real loss was when my maternal grandfather passed away. My Pop Pop was the absolute light …
: Crossing Over It's been a long time since I've had a really bad spell with my grief. By "long time" I mean it's …
: Spontaneity I'm not a huge planner. I fly by the seat of my pants most of the time so when my niece texted …
: The Mothman In mid-November of 1966, five men were digging a grave near Clendenin, West Virginia when they …
: On the Road Again... I swear...this has been a really busy autumn! My niece texted me last week and she has a three day …
: Work It! I was climbing these 9 times a few times a week before I left for Colorado in June. Then I got …
: When Darkness Comes I think you all will agree I'm a pretty upbeat person. Oh, I have my moments of sadness but they …
: Autumn The wind is carrying a chill these days. Leaves fly and spin on the breeze and soon they will …
: The Wedding I drove through the misty grey morning and prayed the sky would break in time for the wedding. The …
: Over the Dam How many times do we have to rehash yesterday's news before we can put it to bed? I remember after …
: Soul Talk Last winter I thought I was done here in West Virginia. I missed my children and my grandchildren. …
: Smooth Sailing About twelve or thirteen years ago, one of my friends lost her husband after a brief illness. Three …
: "May the Forest be With You!" Nature nurtures me. Living at the river was one of the most beautiful seasons of my life and came …
: The Jabez Appointment I've talked to you a little bit about the Prayer of Jabez and how those two little scriptures have …
: Beaver Creek State Park In keeping with my promise to my family and sister/friends, I never divulge my exact location till …
: Girl Campers One of my favorite things to do is camp with one of my girl camping groups. I didn't get to camp at …
: The Artist I once asked a framer when you can consider yourself an artist. She said, "When others recognize …
: The Comfort Zone I don't know what happened to the post I wrote for yesterday. I suppose it got lost somewhere in …
: Life is Simple We can make things so complicated sometimes. Yesterday I spent about five hours in a local …
: Opportunity What a beautiful weekend! First, the Country Living Fair was amazing. I got to spent a good block …
: Country Living Fair The first thing I noticed as I arrived at the Country Living Fair yesterday was the number of women …
: Flowers for my Table In the 21 years of my second marriage, I can count on one hand the number of times I got a bouquet …
: The End is Just a Beginning I pulled TOW-Wanda away from the river yesterday. I had her all hooked up and I stood across the …
: On the Road Again I am so excited for this weekend! I'm pulling the camper up to Columbus to get some warranty work …
: Road Trip!!! Sites Homestead - Est. 1839 Sites Homestead - Kitchen Fireplace Sites Homestead - Indian Corn Sites …
: Chipping Away When I was a little girl, my Uncle Bob would take a pick axe to a rocky outcropping up by the barn. …
: A New Perspective I have been preaching at you all for the last nearly four years to "go with the flow". Stop …
: The River My time here on the river is coming to a close. There are a number of factors involved but the …
: Happy Birthday, Mr. Virgo! You were the brightest star in my night sky. You carried my heart on a velvet pillow. You were my …
: ARRRRGH!!!!! The fleas are back!!! OMGosh! Seriously? I went downstairs to look for a container of some sort to …
: True North I have absolutely no sense of direction. I used to. Seriously, I could drive into a town, get my …
: Conflict One of the most difficult situations I face in this life is conflict. Whether the roots lie in my …
: The Bottom Line Ok, I'm preaching a little today, so if this isn't your thing, come back tomorrow. This one just …
: The Past I have many friends I have never met in person. I have met them through speaking and writing and …
: Sunset There is something special about sunsets. For me, they are a gift from God. A reward after a good …
: Exploring After doing my morning chores yesterday, I decided to go exploring back on the farm. We referred to …
: A Room With a View I'm getting into a routine here at the farm. I wake up, make my coffee, and take my reading to the …
: A Simple Life I was amazed how easy it was to navigate in and out of Washington, DC. It took me longer to get my …
: Strathmore Farm Strathmore Farm = My Great-Grandfather Lived Here The Covered Bridge at Strathmore Farm Inside the …
: The Wrap Up After every professional football game, there comes the final analysis. The best is highlighted, …
: The Conversation This conference is being run in a format unlike any I've ever attended. It is entirely …
: In His House I plugged the address of my hotel into the GPS, checked my messages one last time in Wi-Fi range, …
: The Barn As I came around the turn at Pickle Street (yes...it's a real place!), the big red barn caught my …
: Rest in Peace I come to the family cemetery several times a week. There is no cell service at the farm, so this …
: The Flea Conqueror Yes...yes, the fleas are gone! I am victorious!!! Ok, God and the Dodson Brothers are …
: Alone Mary Ann writes: "Happy for you. I know being on the water in my kayak is my happy place and I …
: Best of Both Worlds I am so incredibly blessed. Splitting my time between the farm and the river is perfect. The farm …
: Change Change is good. It keeps things fresh. But, we don't like it when others make the changes to our …
: Painting This house is old. Really old. And there hasn't been regular maintenance done in quite some time, …
: Flea Update I went downstairs and vacuumed the basement today and took the bag out behind to barn to dispose of …
: Ginny Lynne That is me on my first birthday. Grandma called me "Pet". I think she called all little ones "Pet", …
: After the Rain I want to tell you how God works in my life. I've mentioned in some of my posts that I was sexually …
: Buddies! One of the greatest things about spending so much time in West Virginia has be connecting and …
: Say Cheese! Just a quick note as I finish up lunch on Sunday afternoon and head to the country. Trying to let …
: Broken & Mended One second and forty-five years. It only took one second to drop the cream pitcher that broke this …
: "Hi...I don't know your name either!" A friend wore this button at our class reunion last night. We're at that age where we kinda know …
: An Army You guessed it...I used "The Enforcer" on my unwelcome house guests yesterday. It's one step shy of …
: You Scream, I Scream... We all scream for ice cream!!! Ok, it's 92 degrees as I write this on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30. …
: Treasures I'm sleeping in my grandparents' room. I think it's the same bed. Could be the same mattress the …
: Giving I never really looked at staying on the farm as giving of myself, but I feel the gratitude of my …
: Home of my Heart Just a quick note to let you know I arrived safely. I had to run to the next little small town to …
: Looking Up Remember lying on your back on the grass on a hot summer day and looking up through the tree …
: When the Lights Go Out Since losing Mr. Virgo, I've always said "Nothing scares me!" The truth of the matter is, "Nothing …
: The World is my Home As I was driving all those long hours cross country this week, many friends messaged me to send …
: Napping in the Rest Stop So, it's 90 degrees, you've been driving four HOURS, you've snacked on everything within reach in …
: Sunset Over...Somewhere! Who knows? It was a l-o-n-g day yesterday. I left Wichita at 8:30am and arrived in WV at 2:00am. …
: Sisters! One of the benefits of joining Sisters on the Fly is the number of Sisters you get. You can go just …
: The Cathedral of the Plains Driving across Kansas gives you lots of time to think. And sing at the top of your lungs to every …
: Silver Strands I'm going to my 45th high school reunion soon. While the event itself wasn't my motivation to lose …
: On the Road Again! Heading east today. Stopped for a bite to eat. Who doesn't love listening to the Allman Brothers …
: Rhubarb My grandma always cooked rhubarb and served it as a sauce...sort of like applesauce. There was …
: The Mad Rush Isn't it always the way? You dink around in the weeks leading up to a trip, sometimes actively …
: Have a Seat Remember these? Everyone had them on their porches and in front of their trailers. What treasures …
: Music in a Small Town I moved to Glenwood Springs in 1986. At that time, there were two stop lights and if it took five …
: Bridging the Gap I close my eyes and see her. Fresh faced, a light dusting of freckles from the summer sun splashing …
: Dusty Summer Days The thermometer at the bank read 102° as I pulled into Delta. The sharp glare of the late July sun …
: Remembering I drove to Ridgway yesterday to visit my good friends Linda and Jim. I met Linda on FB two years …
: Up the Crystal Hotter than blue blazes yesterday so Little and I escaped to the high country. Redstone, Colorado …
: Busy, Busy, Busy Pancakes for breakfast. Walmart for the fishing license and bait. We went fishing yesterday and …
: Camping with Little Little says the deepest things. We were driving up to the mountains yesterday. As she was …
: Rancher Spotlight Good morning, Ranchers. I want you to meet Jackie, a "Rancher" from Wichita. Jackie has been …
: Cowgirls I love Americana Roots music. I go to the Americana music series in Parkersburg every chance I get. …
: Scaredy Cat These are some pretty dark times in our world. I've never felt the world so disjointed before. …
: Motivation Monday I met a great gal this spring from my hometown. We have a mutual friend who connected her to …
: Magic Moments I spent the day with Big yesterday. There's something magical when you break through the barriers …
: The 19th Hole I'm sure I've told you this story, but it's been a while and we have lots of new Ranchers that may …
: Speak! I just received the schedule for the International Conference on Positive Aging! I'm speaking in …
: Drumroll, please... The book proposal has been submitted! I hit "send" around 3:00 yesterday afternoon. Forty-three …
: Sisters I am in need of some Sister time! I am not scheduled for a single Sister on the Fly camp out this …
: Water World So, what do you do when it's your daughter's birthday and she wants you to go to Water World with …
: Happy Birthday, Judy Ann Grabowski! She was a little towheaded tomboy but she loved a twirly dress and shiny party shoes with buckles. …
: Getting Closer OMGosh, you guys...I'm so excited! I'm so close to having my book proposal done I can almost taste …
: Mirror, Mirror... I read this the other day. A woman's idea of hell is an off white dressing room with a harsh …
: Fitness Friday It's Friday already??? Today, it's all about the fresh fruit. OMGosh...I can't get enough …
: TOW-Wanda Blues I miss my girl! I didn't think I would, but I do. I miss my own bed. My little house on wheels. I …
: After the Storm And, just like that, the storm is over. Done. I slept twelve hours straight Sunday night. And woke …
: Motivation Monday I've been thinking a lot about my friend Bill's wife. As a new widow, those of us who have walked …
: The Scent of Rain Petrichor: the smell of rain on the dry earth. There is something magical about that scent. I …
: From Sadness to Summer Fun Life flip flops on a dime sometimes. I was SO dreading my friend Bill's funeral yesterday. For one …
: Amazing Grace We all suffer losses in life. Usually, our first experience with death, aside from a goldfish or …
: Fitness Friday I have something really, really remarkable to share with you. Back in November, I shared a photo …
: Objects in the Mirror I quickly texted my nephew and arranged to meet him for dinner. This is my sweet boy that I grabbed …
: Breakfast Talk A lot can be learned over a stack of pancakes when you're enjoying them with a nine-year-old. For …
: Goodbye, My Friend A special man died yesterday. I won't identify him by name because he and his wife have been …
: In the Swim My older granddaughter has her eyes on a prize. She wants to be in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo on …
: Balance A dear friend sent me a message yesterday in reference to the Roller Coaster post. She has studied …
: Relax A day full of self-care is all it takes to make the difference between a roller coaster spinning …
: Roller Coaster This photo makes me ill when I think of the grief version. I've been riding this thing for over a …
: On Being Ready If not now...when? I asked a sweet friend that question last night. She wants to travel in her …
: The Power of Song My younger daughter has her mama's heart. Soft...tender...loving. She shared this video yesterday …
: Eat Colorfully Several of you have wondered what I'm doing to lose this weight. What's my secret? What am I doing …
: Motivation Monday I spent so much of my life questioning my worth...my purpose. I wondered what possible difference I …
: Happy Father's Day I'd like to take a moment and thank all the good dads out there. I have many dads in my life. While …
: Fitness Update Beginning to see some definition in my abs. Arms are much smaller and my legs are getting toned …
: The Primrose Path "The primrose path refers to.....a course of action that seems easy and appropriate but can …
: Fitness Friday It's not as easy to follow a fitness program when you're traveling. You have to plan ahead and make …
: Roller Coaster Yesterday was one of those Colorado days that inspire poetry. Not a cloud in the sky. A beautiful …
: Dillon Reservoir Dillon Reservoir....knee deep in June!!!! Seriously, can it get any better than this??? Nothing but …
: Summer of Love What I remember as the Summer of Love was also a summer of a great deal of violence in our world. …
: Travel Mercies First off, let me thank you all for the beautiful birthday greetings and the prayers for safe …
: Happy Birthday to ME! I love my birthdays! Mr. Virgo always made it a special day for me so I like to carry on that …
: Southern Women There is something special about the way Southern women raise their children. I had the pleasure of …
: Road Trip...Again!!! I am 1264 miles from CO...the GPS is set and I'm heading west!!!
: Chef Travis of Basq Mr. Virgo was a trained Chef but preferred the managerial side of restaurants. He owned his own …
: The Bridge A bridge connects two inaccessible points and provides a means for crossing safely over from Point …
: Morning on the River Everyone should have a place they can go to for solace. A place where they can find peace. While I …
: Coffee and Geraniums It's a pristine day in Tennessee!
: Road Trip!!!! I can't believe it's finally here...the first day of another adventure!!! Do you all realize you've …
: Memories You know how Facebook sends memories? The photo on the left was me three months after I'd lost Mr. …
: The Farmer I have a friend who has a farm. He and his wife live on land that has been in the family for …
: Two Sleeps When my oldest was little and I was trying to teach her the concept of time, I would give her the …
: Fear of Change I have a confession to make. I really hate change. Change scares me. Oh...what's that? You, too? …
: To the Estranged... It must be very difficult for you to want something when it's too late. When I read your words in …
: Surviving Who I Tried to Be My ex and his wife just bought a huge new house on three acres. I'm happy for them. Seriously. …
: Be Present I walked into Panera yesterday for a late lunch after walking the "Steps of Death" NINE times! I …
: Tipping the Scale Sometimes you just can't outrun grief. No matter how you try to shine the light on it, it isn't …
: The Elephant A long time ago, my second husband and I lived with an elephant. It was called "The Things Which …
: Field Candy These tents bring a smile to my face! Imagine looking up at them from the inside. Check them out …
: Motivation Monday! I missed Fitness Friday last week. I have worked out every day this week and with it a holiday …
: Lest We Forget He was just 25. A small-town country boy from West Virginia. Brilliant. Handsome. Full of …
: Home I've never had just one "home". I leave pieces of my heart wherever those I love reside. Even after …
: Reflections When the air is very still and there is no boat traffic, the surface of this river is like glass. …
: Summer Love It's the Memorial Day Weekend...traditionally the start of the summer season. Along with that comes …
: Stellar Day! I got up early yesterday, put on the coffee, and started writing. I had to prepare my paperwork for …
: Exercise! Another beautiful day to exercise!!! See the sternwheeler in the background? Oh, how I love this …
: Hope There was a time in this journey when I had no hope whatsoever. I forgot Who loved me...Who had my …
: Letting Go. Again...and Again. Seriously, how many times do you find yourself letting go of the same d*** thing...over and over …
: Motivation Monday - 27 Pounds Down My relationship with food has changed. I've been a yoyo dieter all my life. I've been lazy and …
: Chapters I had a couple chapters of my life close this week. First, my step-mother passed away on 5/13. No …
: Women My church is young. It's energetic and enthusiastic and encouraging. I've never been to a church …
: That Girl You remember her...that girl that loved to ride bikes, climb trees, catch lightning bugs. The one …
: Progress! OMGosh! I worked on this proposal all day yesterday. I had to write an outline with a few sentences …
: The Storyboard I'm a visual and tactile learner. If I can see it and touch it, I can do just about anything. I can …
: A Soft Heart This world can be harsh. Bad things happen to good people and it's sometimes difficult to maintain …
: All's Well That Ends Well I took such a chill yesterday morning when I was hooking up and it was cold and windy when I …
: Blow Out! I always wondered what a blowout would feel like. Now I know! Interestingly, I didn't feel a thing. …
: A Woman's Dance Our gathering of wild and wonderful women has drawn to a close and we will be traveling our …
: Raising our Standards One thing I know for certain...there are no accidents. No coincidences. There is just too much …
: Humbled I'm camping this weekend with about fifty wonderful, brave, funny, interesting, beautiful women. We …
: 1st Annual Maizie Day! Today would have been Maizie Morrison's birthday. Maizie was the mother of the originators of …
: Girl Camping When I was 17, my boyfriend's parents invited me to go on a family camping trip. We went to the …
: Music From the Heart For a very long time after losing Mr. Virgo...my world went dark and silent. I saw no colors. I …
: Road Trip! Annnnnnd....I'm off! Leaving a day early. Let the games begin, girls!!!!
: Male Bashing Mr. Virgo and I watched a lot of TV. A LOT. I hate TV. And since I have rarely watched it the last …
: Road Trip! TOW-Wanda needed a checkup. Her hot water heater went out again. ? Getting her all fixed up. A …
: Quincy Hill Steps x5!!! Yes....I rock!!!!! ?
: Grandma's Rhododendron I wouldn't necessarily say my mom's mom had much of a green thumb...at least not with house plants. …
: Mother's Day Mother's Day originated in West Virginia. Just another service we provide here in the Mountain …
: Passages A dear friend of mine recently experienced an unexpected change of employment. After 30 years of …
: Fitness Friday I've said this before but, fitness isn't just about the scale. Your interpersonal relationships are …
: Fitness Friday: Update Ok, kids...count those fingers. Four! I climbed those steps FOUR times today with a loop around to …
: The Puzzle When you lose your loved one, a giant gaping hole is instantly ripped in your heart. It is ragged …
: Evolution I don't think it's a surprise to anyone that I'm a princess. Or...at least, I WAS a princess. Mr. …
: Downsizing, Part 27 Ok, for those of you who are fairly new, you may not know that I initially had a 16' camper. The …
: Lessons I've been working with a trainer the last two months. We exercise together four or five times a …
: #CoffeeWithLove My Sister friend Michelle had a running bet with her dad. If she had snow in her North facing yard …
: Losing Control I was preparing to meet friends for dinner last night, when I heard a loud noise coming from the …
: Crone The word sounds bad. But it's meaning implies a wise woman. I've become a crone...a title I wear …
: TOW-Wanda! Oh, I'm so excited! I've been sleeping in TOW-Wanda since Sunday night and I can't tell you how …
: Finding our Better Selves I'm gearing up for my next birthday. I'm going to be 63 in June. Remember when 63 seemed REALLY …
: Condensation Condensation means "to be reduced to a simpler form". I was sitting in Church yesterday, listening …
: Ripples in the Force My heart was given a workout this week. I stretched my love muscles over thousands of miles to send …
: For Isabel For Isabel...born sleeping. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are …
: Fitness Friday I cannot believe a week has passed already! Time literally crawls from January to March. We hit …
: Gone Too Soon They're all gone to soon, aren't they? There are women here whose dear husband died of cancer or an …
: Love Languages I had a profound insight yesterday. I mean....deeply profound, as in "How could I possibly have …
: Looking for Mr. Virgo I've tried my hand at dating. Sometimes we get the opportunity to see someone, some time after a …
: A Step Back in Time The ubiquitous produce market. The south is dripping with them. My cousins and I took a "buggy" …
: Dawn on the River I will soon be moving back into my camper after a winter spent indoors. It has been wonderful to …
: A Grandmother's Hands Grandma's hands were a particular fixation of mine. I would hold her wise and wonderful hands in …
: Fitness Friday Fitness isn't all about the sweat. It isn't all about the food. It isn't all about meditation and …
: Taxes I don't know why I do this. Year after year. I have a plan. It just never works out. I have a …
: Memories I sat down this morning to do my taxes. When I opened my laptop, I saw the calendar reminder from …
: The Other Half of the Story So, I only told you the first half of the story of running into my old friend, Pastor Jim, at the …
: Big News!!! I have been approached by Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management Company …
: Tennessee Redbud This is a wonderful day. I've never seen this one before. ~ Maya Angelou I can't remember my last …
: A Different Kind of Grief I lost Mr. Virgo in a matter of hours. The shock that kind of death brings is stunning. You cannot …
: Fitness Friday Balance. There are many things we need to balance in life. Work and play. Family and jobs. Kids and …
: Cheerleader I'm your biggest fan. I'm the cheerleader that wants to rocket my team into first place. I think it …
: Burning the Candle It was a long day yesterday working on the website and today will be even longer. There was a …
: On Being Alone I love road trips. I love to drive because I do my best thinking behind the wheel of my truck. I …
: Direction It doesn't matter what you call it...fate, kismet, destiny, serendipity, divine intervention...it's …
: Ideas Uh-oh...I'm getting ideas. I'm seeing major results from my fitness regime and its giving me ideas. …
: Fitness Friday Getting fit isn't just physical. Getting fit is a whole life experience. You can work every muscle …
: Into the Light This is the time of year, even with the fluctuations in the weather...the psychotic battle between …
: Carry Me Onward My legs will be 63 in 10 weeks. They've carried me a long way, these gams of mine. A month ago I …
: Toot, Toot! I always feel like I'm tooting my own horn when I post places I can be seen in the media, …
: Retro This picture crossed my FB page not too long ago and it threw me back in time. My parents bought …
: The Challenge I had the most delightful day yesterday. A friend came over early and we attempted to exercise. She …
: Time Time is a slippery sucker. Just when you think you have a handle on everything...you think you have …
: Fitness Friday This was a really good week. I worked out hard enough to see results but not so hard as to burn out …
: Self Worth Repeat after me, "I am worthy of _________." Fill in the blank with whatever comes to your mind. If …
: Getting Bolder The Sisters on the Fly Blog just posted my latest story. This branded series is all about the …
: Purpose We never meet someone by accident. People are placed on our path for a reason...to exchange …
: Honey, I'm Home! Wow...what a week! Every single one of you should take a break from FB for a few days. I admit, I …
: Fitness Friday Just a very brief stop to encourage you to participate in Fitness Friday! I've been hiking and …
: Taking a Break I realized the other day how much I enjoy social media. "Enjoy" is a kind way of saying I cannot …
: Sunrise on the Ohio Along with the time change comes the bursting forth of life from a sleeping earth. Trees are …
: Gratitude I have the best friends. Each one holds a very special place in my heart. They make me laugh. They …
: The Aftermath I was up before dawn yesterday. The house was still. Always still. The stillness doesn't make me …
: Angelversary I so wanted to write a beautiful, totally upbeat story today about how wonderful my life is and how …
: Fitness Friday In evaluating where I am in my grief journey, I have come to a very important crossroads. I always …
: Camping Season is Almost Here! Sitting in the living room last night, I could hear the peepers calling from the ponds across the …
: Dinner al Fresco What a fabulous day yesterday was!!! And today is supposed to be even better. I was remarking to a …
: Strive to Thrive A friend of mine is struggling with the waves of grief again. It's been four years. Doesn't matter. …
: Make a Joyful Noise I went to watch a friend sing karaoke Friday night and man, was that fun! I love to sing and three …
: Make Love, Not War The angry, hateful rhetoric being slung around like a bunch of schoolyard bullies continues to …
: Outlove Your Neighbor No, that isn't a typo. I said "outlove", not outlive. To borrow an idea from my pastor's sermon …
: In the Times (For those who may have missed the New York Times article, I am printing it here. Some people have …
: The BEST Advice As a follow-up to yesterday's question, what was the very BEST advice or remark you received in the …
: The WORST Advice We've all heard it. Those remarks that absolutely cut you to the quick. Things you can't believe a …
: Be Brave I was always a little weird. Never picked for first string on any team. Never felt totally …
: Our Rights The late author, David Foster Wallace, said "In reality, there is no such thing as not voting: You …
: Do It Now I came across a darling story on FB yesterday. You may have seen it. Norma is almost 91. She lost …
: You Can't Make Old Friends I have the luxury, at least for the time being, of sitting down with my coffee every morning and …
: Saudade I follow an author on Twitter that had a list of descriptive words for feelings. I came across …
: The Pile Of Rocks ***I originally posted this story nearly two years ago. It never hurts to revisit topics and the …
: When Hate Become Bigger Than Love Gandhi urged us to be the change we want to see in the world. If we want goodness, we must be good …
: Missing Pieces I used to love to do jigsaw puzzles. I had a table set up where I could spread out and enjoy …
: The Funeral Home My aunt buried two husbands. She has never stepped foot in a funeral home since. It's been 25 …
: NYTimes I was walking down Grand Avenue in Glenwood Springs, CO the first week of January when the familiar …
: Downsizing: Two Years Later I mentioned in yesterday's post that I regretted some of my spending choices in the first year or …
: Cabin Fever Yeah, it starts setting in about now, doesn't it? I have a bookmark on my phone for a "Countdown to …
: A Burden Shared... Is it just me or has the world gotten meaner? I had dinner with a friend the other night and was …
: Sister Mavis No, really...I was a DJ for about a year or so. Man, that was a fun gig. I had a weekly show on …
: Broken Hearts There are broken hearts around us on Valentine's Day. Love lost breaks hearts. I know. I've had …
: Group Therapy There is comfort in a group who have suffered similar fates. They may not have suffered the same …
: When Two Become One...Again I've been trying to remember my last Valentine's Day with Mr. Virgo. By the calendar, I see it was …
: Cabin Fever Life was never, ever boring when Mr. Virgo was around. He had the most amazing stories and we …
: Valentine's Day It is right around the corner...that day where the world goes all soft and happily Hallmark on us …
: Is Your Church Dying? I like to go to different churches. I attended a church in the small town I lived in the last 14 …
: Monday Morning Such possibilities! Another week...a fresh start...our own little mini do-over we are gifted with …
: Star Struck I would have made a great groupie back in the day. Living near Aspen for nearly 30 years taught me …
: The Fields of Gettysburg Mr. Virgo was a Civil War buff. When he was a little boy growing up in South Philly, he was in the …
: Goodbyes A little over seven years ago, my dad died. He had Alzheimer's Disease and was in a nursing home. …
: Writing I've written for public consumption nearly every day for three years. Writing really has become as …
: A Brief History of Windows Microsoft: Here...let's learn a new language. It'll be fun! Me: Cool! I'm game! Let's learn a new …
: 15,578 E-Mails??? Oy! Ok, here's what happens when you only use hand held devices to access the Internet, write every …
: WWJD Last night was "Pub Church". There is an increasing interest in alternatives to the traditional …
: The Granny Girls We're 18. The only problem is, you can't see that 18 year old because she's stuck inside this 62 …
: Are you Rich or Are you Wealthy? I have lived a lot of lives. I grew up with just enough. A pound of hamburger fed four people. The …
: The Space Between Us In the moment after Mr. Virgo died, I had no grasp of what had just happened. I mean, one minute …
: The Leaky Bucket When I was on my three month odyssey in little TOW-Wanda, I had nothing but time and space before …
: 5 Ways to Beat the Winter Blahs Is It Spring Yet? Oh...it's WAY too early to be asking that question, isn't it? I am so grateful …
: Full Moon I love a full moon. It's full of mystery and promise. I am a creature of the light so when it's a …
: Mid-night Munchies & Musings I should never, ever attempt to "go to bed at a decent hour". It never really works out for me. It …
: Wanda Belle Today is my sweet mama's Angelversary. It's been 12 years...it hardly seems possible. It took a …
: "Time" to Say Goodbye No, not it IS time to say goodbye. There WAS time to say goodbye. Sometimes people write and say …
: The Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling! I wrote this post yesterday afternoon as I sat basking in the warmth of the sunlight streaming in …
: On Death and Dying Ok...warning. This is not a fun subject but sometimes we have to touch on the tough stuff. If you …
: Memories I was sitting around with some ladies after the Salon on Sunday in Cincinnati. We were chatting …
: Home, Sweet Home Home is where the heart is. Home is where I park it. And home isn't always where I live. The …
: In the News This is kinda cool. I picked up my mail today and the Hometown Journey Magazine was in it. That's …
: Reba Bee Bop Sometimes I really miss having a dog. I haven't had a big dog for 15 years but when Mr. Virgo came …
: Comfort One of the greatest gifts we can offer another human being is comfort. We all need comfort to …
: Saying Goodbye... At least for a little while. It's so hard to leave them! But they understand I have some important …
: An Afternoon with the Wyeths I spent yesterday afternoon browsing the Wyeth exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. I've always …
: "Joy" - the Movie We went out to the movies last night to see "Joy", the biopic loosely based on the life and career …
: Ommmmmmm........ Oh, I was the lucky girl yesterday. After an incredibly busy eleven day stretch of travel, …
: Growing Up Twelve years ago next month I got a new name. "Nana". My first grandchild is growing up WAY too …
: Fly Fishing My father was an avid fisherman. He mostly fished with lures and bait in the local rivers and …
: Sisters on the Fly The Denver Fly Fishing Show was SO much fun. It's always wonderful to get to know new Sisters and …
: Snow! Last winter in WV was dismal. Cold, windy, snow...snow...and MORE snow. Denver was downright balmy …
: On the Road Again Heading back to Denver today. I had a great week in the mountains. I visited my brother and …
: What a Feeling Last night was special. I was invited to speak to a grief support group at my home church in …
: Are You Lonesome Tonight? After the initial shock of losing Mr. Virgo began to fade...ever so slightly, I set out to fill the …
: Intentions vs Resolutions The other day I mentioned that I don't make New Year's Resolutions. I never keep them past a week …
: Happy Birthday, Marshmallow Ranch! Three years ago, I set out on an adventure. I had been working a high stress job that I loved, but …
: A New Year Every New Year carries me farther from my loss. I couldn't wait for the first one. The second one …
: Kintsukuroi For centuries, the Japanese have employed kintsukuroi when repairing broken pottery. It literally …
: Spirit The momentum is shifting here on The Ranch. I have a vision. A very clear vision of my books in …
: A Year of Abundance It's that time of year when we start reflecting on the kind of year we've had and what we want for …
: Culture Oh, I've been reminded of something I've been missing and didn't even realize it. While the traffic …
: Bright Spots In the days following a holiday as festive as Christmas and nights as long, dark, and cold as …
: On My Way There have been many times in my life when I felt lost. I spoke the words into the universe and it …
: Away in a Manger I know I've always said I won't be preachy here at The Ranch. And I'm not now. But...it's …
: A Poem to Mr. Virgo I wrote this poem the first Christmas after losing Mr. Virgo. It had been just a little over nine …
: Memories Mr. Virgo was from South Philly. We never got the chance to go there together so he could show me …
: Dear Santa, It's me...Ginny. Remember? I saw you two years ago. I was so broken. I sat with you and asked you …
: Mighty Oak Grief shatters us. It breaks us into a million pieces...shards of mirrors on the ground reflecting …
: Busy, Busy, Busy My older daughter has two children. They have school, swim practice, riding lessons, and homework. …
: A Gift from Beyond Mr. Virgo loved Christmas. He listened all year and actually made notes about things he saw that I …
: Winter Wonderland I am developing a love for photography. And, I've always been a techno-geek and love the cool new …
: Caution: Road Damage Ahead With Christmas just over a week away, those of us grieving a loss may find some significant …
: Love & Joy I am so blessed. I have the love of family and friends. I have a tiny home on wheels that's paid …
: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year I woke up yesterday morning to the sounds of my grandchildren. Is there anything better than that? …
: Flying I used to be filled with fear. Heights, crowds, closed in spaces...all of which made flying …
: Coffee Houses One of my favorite things to do when I travel is hunt down independent coffee houses. Havens of …
: Garden Manor B&B Edit: Garden Manor is no longer an active B&B. Richmond, Indiana is conveniently located at the …
: Sharing As I was leaving the B&B yesterday to head to the commencement, my host told me there was a grocery …
: Surprises Just when you think...perhaps...you've seen it all. I have to tell you...it's been a while since …
: A Different Kind of Christmas Warning: Kleenex Moment https://www.facebook.com/markschultz/videos/10153764558437603/ I've always …
: Today Not to sound too cliché, but honestly...today is all we've got. There are no promises. We are a …
: Holidays As we march through the season, I am remembering all the wonderful holidays I have been blessed to …
: The First One Thousand Days The other day I was messing around with my iPhone trying to figure out how long it had been since …
: Hallelujah Yesterday was one of those wonderful days that started out great and just kept getting better. When …
: Platitude n. a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound. Yesterday …
: Finding Topics Quite often, my topic of discussion for my blog posts come from some comment made here the day …
: The Boot Debacle How can choosing a snow boot turn into SUCH a huge ordeal? I'm leaving for Colorado next week and …
: Faith > Fear This is a pretty scary world we're living in right now. When Mr. Virgo was alive and there were bad …
: Peace I spent far more time than I care to admit trying to understand things that happened to me in my …
: Hello, December! And....here it is. December! That glittery, glamorous, gaudy fun-filled extravaganza that helps us …
: God Moments I've had more God moments since Mr. Virgo died than I've ever had in my life. Well, that I've ever …
: Holding Christmas in my Heart Even though I had many things I could have done yesterday, I chose to visit some of my favorite …
: Black Friday I traveled yesterday so I was in my truck much of the day...however, I wasn't shopping and I …
: And So, it Begins... The turkey has barely chilled in the fridge and the onslaught of Christmas is upon us. Well...ok, …
: Giving Thanks I know you are busy today. You probably have a list a mile long of things that need doing. Perhaps …
: No Greater Love I've known this man for forty years. We've drifted in and out of contact over the years but I …
: A Trail of Sparkles They are sitting in the booth across from me. A frail elderly man, a middle aged woman, and a young …
: The Lies We Tell The farther along we are on this grief journey, the easier it becomes to lie. After a while, people …
: Giving Back My brother was born with cerebral palsy. He received therapy services from the Easter Seals …
: Love...and Chocolate Last night, I met several of my cousins for dinner at a pretty good Italian place. They had the …
: More excitement! RV Family Travel Atlas produces an excellent podcast series about their adventures as a family of …
: Gratitude We're sliding into Thanksgiving week now. Some of you will be heading out this weekend to visit …
: Writing I've been talking about this book for what seems like for-EV-er! A friend sent me a meme the other …
: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men The angry rhetoric on my personal Facebook page lately has been disheartening. From people with …
: Self Worth I am an Emotional Archeologist. Every day offers an opportunity for a new awakening...an …
: Blinders Our sermon in church yesterday was about igniting our inner spark in a yearning for God. This …
: Worry These are difficult times. Horrific events are hitting us from every angle...both foreign and …
: Body Perfect The human body amazes me. What a miraculous work of art it is! What an amazing, fine tuned machine. …
: Retreat Sometimes I get so tired of grief. I want it to just go away. Leave me alone. I just want to BE. I …
: Bravery This rarely happens. I woke up this morning and didn't like my post. I've deleted it and I'm …
: Enough Dear Ones... This is a letter to you. You know who you are. You're the one who is struggling right …
: Into the Sunset I remember watching the old westerns on Saturday afternoon when the cowboy always got the girl. …
: Learning...Always Learning Someone shared this with me the other day. It is a poem by Veronica Shoffstall called "After …
: Seven Bucks and a Burger I'll say one thing for the Mid-Ohio Valley...you can sure have a good time on the cheap. Really …
: Rumblings The last week or two I've alluded to some rumblings going on. Like Old Faithful, these are the …
: On Aging I've been old twice. The first time was when my second marriage was failing and I couldn't stem its …
: Paint by Numbers If you're like me, you did at least one paint-by-number picture when you were growing up. I …
: Setting Goals, Part Two As we discussed yesterday, the ability to set goals can be severely compromised when you are …
: Setting Goals Yesterday we touched on ways to ward off the winter blahs. One of the suggestions was to set goals …
: Time I don't like it when the time changes. I saw a cartoon posted yesterday on Facebook. A woman is …
: Needles & Pins I can't believe I haven't talked much about the needlework shop! In early 2001, I was the "Downtown …
: Walking I get SAD. I don't FEEL sad, necessarily. But I sure feel Seasonal Affective Disorder when it rears …
: Mr. Virgo Ten years ago today, this handsome man walked into my little needlework shop to meet me and changed …
: Encouragement f We all need to be encouraged on this road of life. Some have a smooth course. Others fraught with …
: Change There is only one guarantee in life... that it will change. Sometimes on a dime. Sometimes you have …
: Breathe I seem to write a great deal about breathing. Breath is life. It is powerful, cleansing, vital. We …
: Joy When you are actively grieving, you are quite certain you will never, ever feel joy again. I had a …
: Autumn Wanderings It was a typical autumn day in West Virginia yesterday. I was driving home when I noticed this …
: Boots There is nothing like a good pair of cowboy boots that you've worn forever. I have a pair I've worn …
: Autumn God must delight in the change of seasons. Look at this...unbelievably beautiful! I'll bet he lines …
: Control You've seen that cartoon on FB where the '50s mom is telling her little girl that "normal" is just …
: Do Not Be Afraid It is no coincidence that this phrase is found 365 times in the Bible. God wants us to be strong in …
: Abandonment I have an excessive fear of abandonment. Oh, it's not as bad as it was before I met Mr. Virgo, but …
: Ain't It Good... To be back home again? Good gracious...it was 27 degrees yesterday when I went out to hook up …
: Amazing Autumn What a glorious drive yesterday. We stayed in a KOA north of Charlotte. You can sure tell we have …
: Perfection There is nothing more perfect than a cloudless sky, the gentle whoosh of the waves at low tide an …
: Goodbye Myrtle It's so hard to say goodbye after such an amazing trip! We squeezed every bit of fun out of the …
: Taking a Break I'm taking the next couple of days to put my phone down and engage with the ocean. It is amazing …
: Flip Flops Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day. My travel buddy and I hunted down the Fractured Prune...a …
: Winding Down All good things must come to an end, so they say. Today is the last day at the beach. I have to …
: Fear Less What do you do in the afternoon when you have promised your dermatologist you won't expose 80% of …
: The Great Lockout 3 Who remembers "The Great Lockouts, 1 & 2"? Back in February or March, I got locked out of my …
: Beautiful Really...what else is there to say? Less is more. Enjoy your day, dear ones! ❤️ “They have no …
: Be Still Shhhhh...listen. Do you hear that? It's quiet. The rain has stopped! The breeze is gently rustling …
: Taking Risks It's easy to stay in our comfort zone. And, as uncomfortable as grief is, sometimes it's easier to …
: Finding Happiness There was a time when I wondered if I would ever be happy again. I am...but it's a different kind …
: Seeing Red You are about to see a side of me that I seldom reveal. I avoid talking politics like I avoid …
: Weather Update We were thrilled to have a break in the weather today. We're expecting more rain in the next 24-36 …
: Hurricane Joaquín Here are the current "predictions" of the path of the hurricane that has been pounding the Bahamas. …
: Ocean We arrived in Myrtle Beach around noon yesterday. The rain was threatening to hit and any of you …
: Fog For miles there were signs flashing over the highway..."Dense Fog Ahead - Reduce Speed According To …
: Almost Heaven! Ahhhhhh....this is exactly what I've been waiting for. Camping in the dense woods of West Virginia. …
: Hearts I vacillate between "God, I love my life!" and "My heart hurts." Sunday was a heart hurt day. The …
: Bohemian I have a gal pal that I hang out with a lot. We enjoy traveling together because we like the same …
: Anger I chatted with a reader yesterday about anger. She said she was having some problems lashing out at …
: Less is More This is a concept I do not have in my skill set. Less is more. I try. I'm more like "It's not done …
: Attitude of Gratitude Yesterday had God written all over it. As we saw in yesterday's post, it was the one year …
: Free Spirit Today is a big day for me. Today marks one year living as a Wandering Road Queen! I closed on my …
: Friendship I have a muse in the form of a middle aged woman going through her own existential crisis. She …
: Hindsight You know the saying..."Hindsight is 20/20"? I had an interaction with a husband at the Country …
: Harvest Time This is the season of richness. An abundant harvest is the reward for many hours invested during …
: More from the Country Living Fair Antiques! Americana! Apples! Tiffany & Lori! Dashing Diner! Happy Camper! Country Living Magazine!
: Country Living Fair What a beautiful day! A perfect fall day spent wandering around the Ohio State Fairgrounds, …
: Outside I remember distinctly the day I realized I had forgotten how to play. I was a young mom, working to …
: Reflections I sit out on the deck and stare at this river...a lot. It's got good energy. It's my meditation. It …
: Seeking Approval I spent countless years and a number of relationships trying to find my dad's love and approval. …
: The Four Agreements Have you read this book by Don Miguel Ruiz? I first read The Four Agreements when I was separated …
: Control "Houston, we've had a problem here." When Jack Swigert radioed this message to Ground Control, he …
: Just What the Doctor Ordered I know what I need to do. I KNOW I need to get back on the horse. But, I also know that's where the …
: The Ugly Side of Grief I've always told you I would be brutally honest about this roller coaster ride from hell. While I …
: Never Forget Like most people, I know exactly where I was the day the world stopped turning. I was waiting for a …
: This IS my job! I wasn't in Colorado 15 minutes this summer till my oldest said, "When are you going to quit this …
: Peace I had an interesting thing happen. When I was in Deadwood, I got to see and visit with a …
: Algae Bloom It's still the dog days of summer, even though we are a quarter of the way through September …
: Laying Low Well, sort of. Dinner with friends and live music Friday night then a gabfest with a friend till …
: Changing Directions I love watching the tugboats pushing the barges up and down the river. I especially love watching …
: Magic After a 12 hour drive, I finally reached my perch overlooking the Ohio River. I would never have …
: Listen When I travel anymore, I don't usually make reservations. I prefer to listen and go where I'm told. …
: Patience My travel friend and I broke camp yesterday morning, had breakfast with the camp hosts, then headed …
: Just Checking In Checking in...great thunderstorm last night. Rained all morning but now it's clearing. Today we are …
: Down Time I arrived at the campground safe and sound at 6:00 last night. I've decided this week is my …
: I Love You to The Moon and Back I've had several readers respond with stories of having lost a child. When I read them, the bottom …
: Time The other day I described time as "slippery". Here it is, my last full day in Colorado. This has …
: Love and Loss The other night, I held Mr. Virgo in my hands. Well, part of him. I had the funeral director cut a …
: Stuff Happens Ok, I debated whether to even bring this up. But it's part of life after the loss of a spouse and …
: The Girls When I was in Glenwood Springs this week, I met "The Girls" for coffee. This particular group of …
: Dreams I used to dream. Vast, epic, technicolor, Academy Award worthy dreams. Then Mr. Virgo died and my …
: Care Package Ok, now y'all went and made me cry. The other day I offered a prayer up for Anthea. She lost her …
: Portability I've lived in a travel trailer for the last two and a half years now...about one and a half years …
: At Summer's End Well, here we are...the end of summer vacation. I have one more week in Colorado and I'm spending …
: Ebb and Flow One of our fellow "Ranchers" lost her husband two weeks ago and it caused me to pause and remember …
: Change Change is good. Without it, there is no movement. A stagnant life is a boring life. Sometimes we …
: Travel. ie...Home is Where I Park It I have several RV pages that I follow here on FB. Some are about decorating your trailer. Others …
: Novinophobia Novinophobia: The fear of running out of wine. I have no idea if that's a real thing or not, but …
: Adversity The little in pink is my youngest when she was about 5 or 6. The little on the left is her best …
: Labels I went to a frame shop many years ago to have one of my pieces framed. I'm always hesitant when I …
: Tiny House Jamboree I've been following the tiny house movement for years. This weekend, I joined 15,000 other …
: Update: The Semicolon Project Four of us went to a local tattoo parlor yesterday to fulfill our commitment to one another to get …
: Icing on the Cake I hit Denver yesterday with literally just enough time to unhook my trailer and wash my face before …
: Shopping I met friends for lunch yesterday. We sat on the patio overlooking the beautiful backdrop of the …
: Perfect Summer Day Yesterday was a perfect day! The girls and I took a ride through a beautiful high country meadow …
: Camp TOW-Wanda - Day 4 Another successful day of fun with these awesome girls! Today was the day when they found their …
: Closure A couple of nights ago, we were at dinner and Little was talking about her Papa. I told her the …
: Fail I've failed as a Nana. This morning over breakfast, I told my grand daughters that today my goal …
: Badlands Yesterday was a LONG day. It took longer to get going in the morning because we were hooked up to …
: Memories Making memories...it's what we do every day, whether we mean to or not. Sometimes we have choices …
: The Semicolon Project I was sitting with my older daughter and her friend the other night talking about mental illness …
: Wake it Up, Shake it Up! I love live music. I love listening to groups I have never heard and discovering something new …
: Remembering This is my friend, Tony. He lost his battle with MS a few months ago. We'll be remembering him with …
: A Different Kind of Goodbye When I was planning Mr. Virgo's funeral, I was dismayed at the priest's lack of cooperation in the …
: Learning There is seldom a situation that I can't learn something from. If I really stay aware of my …
: Sparkle Yesterday was a pretty near perfect day. We've been waiting and planning for this day for several …
: Milestones There are fewer milestones in life that fill you with more pride than that of your children's …
: Pickleball! It's all the rage! It's the fastest growing sport in America. Played with a paddle and what …
: Big News! Ok, remember when I was lamenting the demise of my favorite shoes? I have worn these Chaco sandals …
: Perspective When you travel through life and keep your focus on the past, your view will never, ever change. …
: Monkey Business My mom was not an animal lover. I finally talked her into letting me get a cat when I was in 8th or …
: Live Once upon a time…ok, MOST of the time, exercise is something I do as an absolute chore. The whole …
: Be Wild! I spent some time this weekend planning the last two excursions for the Colorado trip. First will …
: I Heart Summer I could live in a place with endless summer. Where things grow…green…all year round. And if I …
: A Room With a View I love the sky. No matter where I am, I'm always looking up. The skies in the west are wide open …
: Kindness I dread election year. We are already experiencing the slings and arrows of misfortune…do we have …
: The Front Row Gone are the days when I've relegated myself to the third row. I don't regret anything I've done in …
: Sweet ColoraDOUGH! Lisa sparkles. She is my mentor in the happy wanderer department. Young enough to be my daughter, …
: TOW-Wanda Grande I've had the big trailer for 9 months now. She's 29'5" from the hitch to the spare tire on the …
: Lemon Cake! Way, WAY back in the day, I used to bake competitively. There were three of us gals…Ryb, Judy, and …
: Life! My oldest daughter turned 41 yesterday. Seriously? How did she get older than me? Honestly, I feel …
: Storms There are a lot of storms in life. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who could honestly say …
: Swim Meet Weekend! My older grand daughter has a goal. She wants to be on the 2020 Olympics swim team. She's a driven …
: Seriously? This is the weirdest weather year just about everywhere. I wish I had my electric blanket on my …
: Oy! Mein Gott in Himmel! That's Yiddish/German for "OMG!" I went to Zaidy's yesterday…a Jewish deli. (Zaidy is Yiddish for …
: Do Something! Ok, second spoiler alert…I'm going to talk about the movie "I'll See You In My Dreams" again. …
: Stepping Away From Fear Spoiler alert: I'm going to talk about the movie "I'll See You In My Dreams" so if you haven't seen …
: Goodbye, old friends! Twenty years ago, a group of us were going to go whitewater rafting on the Colorado River on …
: 4th of July Lazy summer days. Floating in the pool keeping cool and chatting with an old friend. Fresh, clean …
: Adventurers! I absolutely surprised the heck out of myself this trip. I haven't slept in a tent in 35 years and …
: Getting Lost Lost Lake Campground is located high up Kebler Pass. Many years ago, Mr. Virgo and I stopped her …
: North Clear Creek Falls On the road between Creede and Lake City, CO is an innocuous little turnoff for Clear Creek Falls. …
: Namaste At the end of yoga practice, you put your hands together in a prayer pose, bow to the others in the …
: Serenity This was my view last night as I sat on the patio visiting with my friends. This is such a magical …
: Tent Camping Ok, it's probably been 35 years since I slept in a tent. It was quite the adventure. In all …
: Visiting Mr. Virgo's Turf Mr. Virgo managed the restaurant at the Ritz Carlton in Aspen when he died. He was a beloved …
: Exhausted It took me 12 hours but I finally got here! What a day! I need to give this a lot of thought. I'm …
: Git Yer Motor Runnin'…Head Out on the Highway! Oh, how I love a road trip! There's always so much to do to prepare though. It was SO hot and muggy …
: Getting Ready to Roll! After a quick trip to the mountains this past weekend for Strawberry Days, I am preparing to hit …
: Hidden Gems I went to my home church on Sunday when I was up in the mountains. I felt compelled to stay for …
: Remembering the Grand Adventure I took this photo a couple of years ago on the first leg of my Grand Adventure. I went on a long …
: Sweets! Look at these. Aren't they yummy looking? Now…look closer. They are stitched and beaded faux …
: Dance the Night Away I saw five million people I know at Strawberry Days last night. The locals always come out on …
: Strawberry Days The Roaring Fork Valley on the Western Slope of Colorado used to be a huge strawberry producer. …
: Summer Fun!!! Last night was the first s'mores of the season for me! Such sticky goodness is reserved for hot …
: Wanderlust I've got it again. There's a festival in the mountains this weekend. I think I might run up there …
: Glory Days I went to a movie with my kids and grandkids on my birthday. While ordering the tickets at the …
: Ok, ok…last one, promise! This was just too cute not to post it. The kids had me over last night for a birthday party. It was …
: New Shabby Chic I've finally chosen my fabric for curtains for my little house on wheels. I want a Shabby Chic look …
: Boom! There it is!!! The sun! It came back…outside AND inside! Just as I predicted, I was perfectly fine when I woke up …
: Going Inside The weather has been pretty dreary in Colorado. It has been grey and stormy just about every day …
: Fleeting Beauty They don't call it Colorful Colorado for nothing. Look at this sunset. I do love the Colorado …
: Parenting When your children have grown, parenting changes dramatically. Of course, long gone are the braces …
: Reunion I had an unexpected surprise this week. I received a text from a high school friend that was coming …
: Forever Young I'm celebrating my birthday week. Well…MONTH really, but I don't want to sound greedy. I'm about to …
: Blue Skies I got out on my bike yesterday. I rode the area bike path east till I ran into flooding. I turned …
: BE-ing Now that I'm here and got some rest, I'm ready to go out and ride my bike and kayak but I'd like to …
: Moonbow This is not my photo…I found it on the Internet. But, I have seen one. It occurs when there is a …
: Stormy Weather Wouldn't you know it? I drove through the worst rain of my life when I moved to West Virginia in …
: Moonrise Too bad this photo doesn't do last night's moonrise justice but I had to take it with my cell …
: Good Morning from Indiana! I didn't sleep well Sunday night. Most people left the campground right after the music was over, …
: Peace. Love. Rock & Roll! Ok…that was just about the most fun weekend I've ever had. I know, I say that a lot but this was …
: Staying Present Friday I was sitting listening to music here at the festival. I was also checking in on my post, …
: Tent City This is amazing. Every day more people come and squeeze into any available space in the campground. …
: And...it Begins! TOW-Wanda & Free-Da, the Ford...ready to hit the road! Camping at Nelsonville Music Festival Live …
: Live the Life Well, the sun has set on this chapter of my Grand Adventure. For those of you who are relatively …
: Morning Has Broken One more day! My friends and I hit the road tomorrow for the Nelsonville Music Festival. I'm really …
: Peace What a fun weekend. Busy, busy, busy! A trip to the farm for stuff, live music, coffee with the '71 …
: Memorial Day! It's not National BBQ day. Remember the meaning of the day. Teach children. Honor the fallen. Have …
: Capable I'm counting down the days to lift off. My list is long. I have one, maybe two trips left out to …
: From My Mother's Hands My mother was quite handy with a needle. She was a perfectionist. Her embroidery was tiny, …
: Truth! I've dabbled in dating. I'm a dating dabbler. Oh, just shoot me now and get it over with. This is …
: It's For a Good Cause Today is Red Nose Day. This is to raise awareness of children living in poverty right here in the …
: Fruit Loops I have never been described as conventional. You'll never hear anyone who knows me say "Oh, Ginny? …
: Wanderlust: a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about Travel is in my blood. I don't know if it's the Gemini in me that wants to see and learn and …
: Finding Your Passion There are things I like to do. There are things I love to do. Then there are my passions! I'm not …
: Cruisin' on a Friday Night Remember back in the day when you got in your car on a hot summer night and cruised? Last night I …
: Wildlife Refuge The last few months, I have passed a government facility going back and forth to town. I've always …
: A Fairy Tale Once upon a time there was a Princess. She was very sad and lonely so she did things to try to make …
: Unexpected Bliss I had lunch yesterday with a Facebook friend that I graduated high school with. After four hours …
: And The Thunder Rolls I love a good ol' West Virginia thunderstorm. And when you're on the river, the sound echoes up and …
: Crossing Over I conquered a lifelong fear yesterday. I was raised by a woman who saved her baby sister from …
: Blessings Aunt Lucy turned 100 years old yesterday. I took my Aunt Peeps (on the left) to the birthday party …
: Breathe… I'm beginning to feel the crunch of time a little bit. There's SO much to do before I head back to …
: Grace My word of the year…grace. I revisit it daily. I ponder. Am I living a life filled with grace? Am I …
: Writing I write every day. Sometimes I read what I write and it seems like someone else wrote it because I …
: Letting Go This has been my life song for the last couple of years. I have let go of so much since Mr. Virgo …
: Mountain Stage One of my favorite West Virginia treasures is Mountain Stage. Held at the West Virginia Cultural …
: The Journey I've been thinking about this journey I've been on over the last couple of years. It hasn't been a …
: Wonder Women Women are amazing beings. We are fire and ice, blood and wine, satin and steel. We can do anything. …
: Views of My Day: Rivers, Hills, & Candy Big tugboat pushing 15 barges upriver. This has been a busy and really FAST couple of weeks! The …
: Good Vibes I can always tell when my vibe is on the wrong frequency by who is coming into my life. I sincerely …
: Live Every Day I've been thinking about this YOLO mentality. You only live once. Absolutely NOT TRUE. Unless …
: Nashville Country Living Fair Co-Owners of Woodstock Antiques and Consignments Country décor...just my style! More décor... More …
: Cedars of Lebanon State Park TOW-Wanda Grande and Free-da! Ginny! Last night's campfire. Ernest Tubbs Recording Studio and …
: Sisters #1 and #2 Well, this was a really fun week and hard to believe we're heading out on the road already. We'll …
: My Travel Buddy's Trailer Wow, what a day! Slow start then headed to the Country Living Fair. I didn't find anything for …
: Road Trip My travel friend picked this place to camp the first night. She did good…it's beautiful! A little …
: One For The Road! Oh….I dearly love my coffee. I have so little storage space in this camper but by golly, I've got a …
: The Grand Adventure The summer after Mr. Virgo died, I began what I referred to as "The Grand Adventure". Not only was …
: No Words Today Sometimes, after a perfect day, one is left totally spent and without words. Yesterday was such a …
: To Date or Not to Date? Who can possibly fill these shoes? This is a topic I've tap danced around some. I've dallied a …
: Camping Season During the long, dark, freezing weeks of January and February, all I wanted to do was go back to …
: It's Tutu Time! I'm so excited! My taxes are done. Yesterday I went for a 10 mile bike ride on the Rails to Trails …
: ARGH!!!! Ok, ok, ok…I'm the QUEEN of procrastination! I sat down yesterday at 10:00 to work on my taxes. …
: Get Moving! I love this time of year. I come out of hibernation ready to move. I'm glad I worked out some over …
: Peace What a beautiful weekend! Live music Friday night. This is a tradition I intend to keep up. …
: A Walmart Wedding Things don't always happen the way you plan. Just ask my friend, Gwyneth (not her real name, but a …
: A Love Affair Ok, true confession time. I'm having a love affair with Frank…my FitBit. I don't know if there's …
: What is GOLD in your world? Yesterday was laundry day. Now that I have running water in my camper, I can hand wash delicates …
: Quiet Spring has come to West Virginia. The flowers are blooming and the thunder is booming. It's been a …
: It's The Little Things I have running water!!! Hallelujah! Honestly…I am one tough chick, but living without running water …
: Happy Anniversary, Mr. Virgo! I'm making progress on several fronts, not the least of which is the personal growth I have been …
: Women Can Do Things! My friend and I finished her bathroom! Women With Power Tools!!! This represents several weeks of …
: Floating on Air Children chasing ducks in the cool breeze. A hippie man with his Husky flashing a peace sign as I …
: The Gifts From God I was in the presence of greatness last night. This young man is Joe Robinson. He grew up in the …
: Never Settle I am so happy my second daughter was still living at home when Mr. Virgo and I got married. She got …
: Happy Birthday, Moon Pie! Twenty-five years! A quarter of a century! How could this time have passed so quickly? My baby…my …
: Recharge! Most days I have an agenda. I don't necessarily write lists like I did when I was working. Things …
: The Last Echo He called me "baby doll". I know he did. I remember it. So why can't I hear his voice saying it? …
: Learning to See I got back Saturday afternoon from my little jaunt to the Paul Thorn concert. It was cold out so I …
: The Written Word I went to a Pub Church last Sunday evening. It was described to me ahead of time as a "Bible Study" …
: Paul Thorn Ok, not only was this guy talented, he did NOT hurt the eyes. The place was packed. There were only …
: Holding On Sometimes, when I stretch my wings and step out of my comfort zone, I stir up that sleeping monster …
: Trivia for Throwback Thursday We all have some obscure factoid that others don't necessarily know about us. I'm not talking about …
: It Never Ends Grief waxes and wanes. You can put it in your pocket for a while but eventually you stick your hand …
: A Voice From the Past Have you ever had someone on your mind and out of the blue you run into them or they call you? Can …
: Wellness Just after I stopped nursing my second child, I had an emergency appendectomy. Nine months later …
: Abundance My brother/friend, Greg, sent me this photo of his dinner the other night when we were chatting …
: Good Fences The idiom "Good fences make good neighbors." generally means it's easier to get along with your …
: Out of the Stillness Grief shuts you down. After Mr. Virgo died, my world went silent. No TV. No Music. Even the sounds …
: West Virginia Almost Heaven. Mountain Mama. Even with the disappointment of not getting to live on the family …
: There's a Mouse in the House! No, not in TOW-Wanda, thank you, God! My friend Janet and I were sorting through boxes upstairs in …
: Fixing Myself How many of you have been in a relationship where "fixing" was the primary focus? OMGosh! That is a …
: SPRING!!! Ok, it's not OFFICIALLY spring yet, but the peepers came out this weekend and that's a sure sign …
: Living Large Living large has such a different look now than it did even just a couple of years ago. I've been a …
: Being Alive There's something about listening to live music that speaks to my soul. I love the ambiance of an …
: Be Still The fog rolled in heavy and lay across the river, dampening the sounds of the night. The trains …
: Choices Today could be a terrible day but I choose for it not to be. A couple of weeks ago I was …
: Walking Through Fire It is not possible to walk through fire, innocent and exposed, without coming away burned. Life …
: Mountain Stage The West Virginia Cultural Center rests on the campus opposite from the state Capital in …
: Unlearning Sometimes people tell us something about ourselves that just is not true, yet we believe the lie. I …
: Progress! Progress is being made. Another step closer to getting my friend's bathroom done. Yesterday we set …
: A New Life I have a new life. It's not the one I wanted. It's not the one I had planned. But, as God would …
: Is it Spring Yet? Wow, it is amazing how quickly the river has risen above flood stage. And it's powerful. I never …
: Yes…You Can! I am so proud of my friend. Last week I showed you the underlayment I put down in her bathroom for …
: Toe Tappin' Tuesday! I love it when God throws something down right in front of me. This time He said, "Here ya' go, …
: Antidepressants There was a time when I was clinically depressed and I took antidepressants for about ten years …
: And the Grief Goes On I went out with friends last night for dinner and live music. My life is so totally different now …
: Lightening the Load I have spent a good portion of the last couple of days responding to some lovely comments here on …
: Wowza! SO much to write about today! First off, I was thrilled that my article has been picked up and …
: Self Sufficient One of my friends has been in the throes of renovating a bathroom for the last three weeks. She has …
: Mobile Storage When I picked out my camper for use as my tiny home on wheels, I was towing with a Ford Expedition. …
: Wintervention One of my sweet friends sent me a text yesterday morning begging me to come in out of the cold. She …
: Princess I'll admit it. I'm a princess. I think my little foray to a local historic hotel for a weekend of …
: Sweet Memories Mr. Virgo was born and raised in Philadelphia and spent a large portion of his life in Florida. …
: I'm Tough, But... Ok, I'm tough. I think you all know that about me by now. But, when I went in the fridge yesterday …
: TOW-Wanda: Before & After Before...dark & uninviting After...bright & cheerful The backsplash is embossed plastic The dark …
: Lent Mr. Virgo was Catholic and always gave up chocolate for Lent. He loved his chocolate so this was a …
: Nesting Last fall, shortly after arriving in West Virginia, I was rummaging around in the top of the cellar …
: Patience Joyce Meyer wrote "Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're …
: Fifty Shades of White I have no interest in the movie with Mr. Grey. I also have no interest in what's been going on …
: Happy Valentine's Day! My great grandfather used to say, "It'll stop hurting when the pain goes away." I never quite got …
: Brrrrr! Would someone please tell me why I'm not in Florida right now??? This temperature was recorded at …
: Rosemary Chicken I got a text last night from Daughter #2 asking for Mr. Virgo's famous Rosemary Chicken recipe. She …
: Rest I mailed fifteen packages of photographs yesterday! I can't tell you what an awesome feeling that …
: Home I've been thinking of Maslow's hierarchy of needs lately. It's a theory in psychology that …
: Perseverance You have NO idea how hard it is for me to stick to a tedious job and see it through to the bitter …
: A Simple Life I don't remember ever thinking of my grandparents as anything but old. My mom and dad were pretty …
: Premonition For years, I have had a recurring nightmare. It's always the same. It's about a seven second movie …
: Regret Regret should be one of the deadly sins. Not because it keeps you from God, but because it keeps …
: Worry I have retired from my position as "Chief Worry Wart". I got it honestly. It was a family trait, …
: Kindness Matters You know those cool signs with the sayings painted on them that are so popular? I love those. I …
: Happy, Happy, Happy! I went to coffee with the Class of '71 girls yesterday. Oh my gosh…we are such a hoot when we get …
: Drifting Along January and February seem to last FOR-EV-ER. The rest of the year flies by, yet I swear January and …
: Learning to Believe I have written a post nearly every day for two years. I journal every day as well. I've written a …
: Name Tags I am blessed with a really great guy pal. We talk a ton on the phone and he's one of my best buds …
: The Healing Heart How many times can the heart be broken? Countless, countless times. How many times can it be …
: Memory Lane As most of you know, I've been busy the last couple of weeks scanning old family photos, documents, …
: How Many Days Till Spring? HOW MANY DAYS TILL SPRING? I know we aren't supposed to wish our lives away. We only have one so …
: The Heart's Desire I met a friend for brunch yesterday, which was delightful. We laughed and poked fun at ourselves …
: In Memory of Mom She was "Mom" to all my friends. She was "Mama" to me. She was my friend, my confidant, my …
: Plan B…or is it C? I have been looking for a place to put my camper. While my uncle has told me there's no real hurry, …
: The Fairy Cottage A couple of days ago I realized my stress level was getting out of hand. When we make proclamations …
: Messy Oh, my. I went to the farm yesterday. How in the world, after spending the better part of SIX …
: A Message From God I was sitting in church yesterday morning, coffee in hand, reading the bulletin. I came across an …
: A Dream of Hope I slept at least 30 out of 36 hours during my bout with the stomach virus from you-know-where. I …
: Sick Day Darn it. Thursday night I was suddenly struck with an immensely awful GI bug. By 3:00am I nearly …
: Preparations I'm getting itchy feet! Cabin fever! Wanderlust! I do SO love to travel. Since I have changed my …
: Just Say No I'm learning. I'm being given repeated opportunities to practice kindness and patience. It's as …
: The "Social" Media I have a group of girlfriends from my high school class that have connected in a big way here on …
: The Invisible Woman Ok…show of hands. How many of you have felt invisible? Is it just me, or are we becoming more and …
: Time of Reflection I love Sunday. I get to go to Church. I didn't always go. As a matter of fact, I was a good Jewish …
: Writing I don't know the exact date, but I began this page in January 2013. I've written very nearly every …
: Perspective I've battled the scale for the very last time. Yesterday was the first day in a gym in probably …
: The Little Engine That Could You've heard the old adage….Whether you think you can or you think you can't…you're right. I used …
: Minutiae I consider myself to be fairly technologically savvy. I'm a gear head…I love all the latest gadgets …
: Ashes to Ashes Today is my "Re-Birthday". Today is the day I celebrate not dying. Fifteen years ago today, I was …
: Morning Meditation I'm loving this little corner. Plants, light, a quaint view. What a lovely setting for a cup of …
: Fragility Aging ain't for sissies. Neither is grief. One can feel amazingly strong and rock solid in one …
: Choices If you were to walk into a fine restaurant, you would fully expect to get a menu with a multitude …
: Hibernation When my older daughter was about six or seven, we were sitting on the couch watching a PBS special. …
: A Different Time, A Different Place It's fitting that I will awaken on New Year's Day in a new place. I moved into my friend's …
: Resolutions I don't like resolutions. They represent change and, as a widow, I've had just about all of that I …
: Born to Sparkle! Do you ever look at your little girl pictures and wonder where your sparkle went? It takes a lot to …
: The Rabbit Hole Have you ever found yourself in a relationship where your interactions with the other person leave …
: Sunset on Christmas What a perfect day yesterday was. It was nearly 60 degrees with beautiful sunny skies and I was …
: Who Loves Ya, Baby? I used to put so much stock in trying to make sure people liked me. When I think of all the times I …
: Sipping with Santa I'm heading to town later to meet friends for Christmas Eve and go to church services with them …
: The Gift Christmas was big in our house. Mr. Virgo listened…to every little gasp at something beautiful that …
: Dear Santa, One year ago today, I was sitting in my house with a huge gaping hole in my chest where my heart …
: Small, Small World… This is a gingerbread house. It's on display at a local historic hotel. It is fashioned after a …
: "It's Christmas Time in Heaven" This is the last picture taken of Mr. Virgo. It was Christmas morning 2012. Eleven weeks later, he …
: "Deck the Halls With Mr. Virgo, FaLaLaLaLa" Oh, how Mr. Virgo loved Christmas! We always decorated the tree right after Thanksgiving. We …
: Poignant The holidays are rich with traditions and memories. When we have suffered a loss, the first major …
: Itchy Feet It's time to head back to the farm. I've been in Colorado the last 12 days. I had a wonderful trip …
: Doctor, Doctor…I Can Walk! I found the spark in my heart and gently blew the embers back to flame. Baking all day with my …
: Rebound Just as the lows strike you down, the rebound comes on it's heels and lifts you back up. But you …
: Can We Stop Now? I'd like to stop this roller coaster and get off now. It's making me want to throw up. I had a …
: Touch Humans need it in order to survive. In order to thrive, we need lots of it. But what happens when …
: The Ritual We pull into the cemetery. Three cars. We aren't together, but we are, you know? The red Honda …
: Spread Love 'Tis the season. Just about everyone has the warm fuzzies at this time of year. Carols being played …
: Memories of Christmas Past Mr. Virgo always worked the holidays. All of them. You never knew when, or where, your Thanksgiving …
: The Great Hangup Sitting in Starbucks yesterday morning, I had the opportunity to people-watch for awhile. I saw …
: Nine Decades I met Hubby #2 when I was working at a rehabilitation hospital in Denver in 1977. I was the x-ray …
: Chasing the Light Actually, the light was chasing me as I flew across the country yesterday morning. I was up at 4:00 …
: The Friendly Skies I love to fly! Love, love, love it! It sure isn't what it used to be though. As with everything …
: Strolling I am preparing to fly to Colorado for a couple of weeks. Father-in-law #2 turns 90 this weekend and …
: Expectations I love "A-Ha!" Moments. That brilliant stroke of insight that comes when you set aside your ego …
: Sailing A couple of years after my second husband and I split up, a friend's husband became ill and died …
: Changing Feet I only open my mouth to change feet. Ever feel that way? A dozen words. Spoken while tired. Spoken …
: Ahhhh…..Family! I love my family….every single one of them. We are each as different as is humanly possible. We're …
: Seriously… This world scares me. I miss Mr. Virgo's strong arms around me more than ever, knowing I would be …
: Over the River… I spent the day yesterday baking. I made a yellow cake with penuche frosting. Have any of you had …
: Let's do Lunch! Let's do lunch some day, you and I. Let's go to a bar at 10am and order a martini because we can. …
: Prayer Works! A couple of weeks ago I asked you to lift up one of our own Marshmallow Ranchers in prayer. Gloria …
: Keeping Young while Growing Old I spent yesterday morning helping my aunt make pies for last night's "Sing". She used prepared pie …
: Another installment of…It's a Small, Small World! One of the first women campers that I met in Colorado was Michelle. Fun, funny, intelligent, and …
: Floating One of the biggest challenges I have in dealing with…well, anything really…is stopping to breathe …
: The Ugly Side of Grief Remember when you and I first started this journey? I told you I would speak from my heart. I would …
: DMV I was washing dishes the other day and noticed I have one more week before my temporary plates …
: Culinary Nightmares! Ok, true confession? I ate a squirrel and I liked it! Actually, I've eaten lots of squirrels. When …
: Home for the Holidays We're heading into the holidays and that's touchy territory for those who have suffered the loss of …
: Sundays on the Farm I've been going to the little church down the road. You don't need to see a picture of it....you've …
: Victory! “Be careful with Home Security companies.” I am not one to tear down a company on my page as I …
: Kitties “Me with a little barn kitten.” We had our first flakes of snow yesterday. I have been here nearly …
: Just Beneath “The grief switch is just beneath the surface.” The switch is just beneath the surface. Say the …
: God Bless This Trailer Home Look what came in the mail! Oh, my gosh…is this the cutest thing or what? Thank you, thank you, …
: The Country Kitchen “I love this American Folk Art piece I bought years ago in Colorado.” As I stand in my grandma’s …
: A Conversation with My Dad “A conversation with my dad.” I had a perfect weekend. I say that a lot. “It was a perfect day!” …
: God Moments “God Moments” Something happens. A moment out of the ordinary. The moment when you know in your gut …
: Fly “You can’t use up creativity…” The more you practice something, the better you get…no matter if …
: A Special Request “We Rise by Lifting Others!” Twenty-two months ago, I started this blog and when the unthinkable …
: Hakuna Matata “Stop waiting!” Don’t worry…be happy. There have been times in my life when it was difficult to …
: Dream a Little Dream of Me “When loved ones come to you in a dream…” How many of you have dreamt of a lost loved one? Was it …
: Lovin' Life “Little Free Library at a Country Store” Ok, you know when you are living in the country. I stopped …
: That Still, Small Voice “Listen with your heart.” You’ve heard it. If not…you’ve felt it. That still, small voice that …
: Settling In “West Virginia…Home of My Heart!” I had such a fun weekend! I went to town Saturday night and …
: An Ordinary Life “Once in a while in an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.” I have had extraordinary moments …
: Beauty is in the eye... “We Were Young and Beautiful…Now We Are Just Beautiful!” A couple of nights ago, my aunt and I sat …
: Brush “The Brush Pile” This is my project this week. My uncle was here on Monday and he made quick work …
: The Well-Seasoned Skillet “A well-seasoned skillet is a joy to behold!” When I was growing up, my grandma filled her skillets …
: Country Roads “I love the way the trees change in West Virginia!” I hauled the brush from the cherry tree today. …
: My Great Grandpa “My Great Grandpa” This picture hangs in the bedroom to the right at the top of the steps…the …
: The Auction “My Green and White Quilt” I cannot pass up a good quilt. Well, ok….I COULD pass up a good quilt. …
: "The Sun'll Come Out, Tomorrow..." “October Sunshine in West Virginia” It did yesterday, it will today, and the next few days as well! …
: Rose Colored Glasses “Rose Colored Glasses” My mom always used to chastise me for looking at the world through rose …
: Old Mama Kitty “Old Mama Kitty” This little gal has been the resident mouser around here for about 23 years. She …
: Tough “May the angel of wildness disturb the places where your life is domesticated and safe.” John …
: Wild, Wonderful West Virginia!!! “Welcome to Wild, Wonderful West Virginia!” I crossed the Ohio River before dark singing “Almost …
: One State Away!!! “One State Away!!!” It’s hard to see on that sign, but it says OHIO. And what’s after Ohio???? Why, …
: Hey, That Turtle is Beating Me! “OLD RV!” Ok, I’ve been taking my sweet time crawling across America. I’d love to say I’ve …
: Forever Love “Forever Love” One of my sweetest friends in the world shared a YouTube video yesterday. It was …
: We're off to see the Wizard! “Tornado!” There’s not much that scares me, but a tornado in the dark is one of them. I know it’s …
: The Other Half “Map of Missouri” I stayed in Columbia, MO Saturday night at Cottonwood Landing RV Park. It was …
: Sisters in Kansas “Sisters on the Fly in Kansas” Sisters on the Fly My dear friend Carol (second from left) and me …
: Git yer motor runnin'.. “Travel. As much as you can. As far as you can. As long as you can. Life’s not meant to be lived in …
: Dancing in the Rain “Dancing in the Rain!” Well, ok…not literally. But I dance in my head. My brain is set to “Be …
: Kansas! “The Flatlands…Kansas” “Kansas” is the Sioux word for “flat”! Flat, flat, flat! Kansas excels at …
: And...I'm off!!!!!!! “On the road with TOW-Wanda Grande!” I can’t believe this day is here! I’m taking my time crossing …
: Perspective “My new truck! FREE-DA!” The night before I left on my Really Big Grand Adventure, I was so excited …
: Perfection! “Saying Goodbye to Little TOW-Wanda. This makes me a little sad!” I had a perfectly smooth day …
: The Hazards of Packing “I packed all my winter clothes!” If you remember correctly, my first contract on the house was to …
: Kickin' Back “Hanging with the family at the movies” Man, the theaters these days are amazing! A whole theater …
: Saying So Long for Now “My quirky princess…Daughter #2.” Had coffee with my beautiful, quirky, eclectic princess…my baby …
: Funny Faces! “Little and Me…Funny Faces!” There is such magic in youth. Who else can you make funny clown faces …
: Special Sisters “Sister Time!” Spending the day with some special sisters…Sisters on the Fly, that is!
: High Country Color “Color change in the Rockies” I drove over to Denver yesterday to give the trailer guys a break and …
: Change of Plans “What feels like the end is often the beginning.” The trailer still isn’t fixed so I’m going to …
: Patience “The Gift” Yesterday was a cold and rainy day. When I say cold, it was predicted to get down to 37 …
: Love and Gratitude “Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.” I’ve been feeling particularly sentimental …
: A Full Heart “Change” Last night I gathered a few people around me to share some love. My sweet brother. My …
: Jeez-o-Pete! “Belonging” The U-Pack trailer was finally dropped off at 5:00 yesterday afternoon. My fabulous …
: Bye-bye, 725! “Bye-Bye, 725!” I parked TOW-Wanda Grande in front of my fabulous neighbor’s house Wednesday night …
: From Little to HUGE! “From little to huge!” Awwww….lookie there at that wittle thing! TOW-Wanda Grande sure deserves …
: Being Mindful “Mind Full, or Mindful?” Although I have had moments of panic, for the most part I have been pretty …
: AND THE WINNER IS....... “And the winner is….” TOW-Wanda Grande, skillfully named by Vicki Owens from out in California! It …
: Breathe “Inside the camper.” You know it won’t go quite as you plan, right? It never does. I stopped in at …
: Condensation “Downsizing” Sixty-one years have been condensed down into what you see here…half of which are …
: My Bliss “My Bliss” My view out the kitchen window of TOW-Wanda…in between rain showers today. While I …
: Donuts! “I hate when I think I’m buying organic vegetables and when I get home I discover they’re just …
: Indoors “Inside the big trailer.” Here are three pictures of the interior of the new trailer. Honestly, …
: Tata, TOW-Wanda...Hello _____! The Big Trailer! A NAME THE NEW TRAILER CONTEST!!!! I have outgrown my baby. TOW-Wanda was perfect …
: When it Rains, it Pours!!! “When it rains, it pours!” Ok, kids….after sitting around for months, after having the ups and …
: Confessions of a Former Drama Queen “Drama doesn’t just walk into your life our of nowhere…you either create it, invite it, or …
: Labels “Labels” For a long time I was in search of a label. When I was in high school, I wanted to be …
: The Unbroken Circle “Mr. Virgo’s Grave” Two weeks after Mr. Virgo died, I bought TOW-Wanda…my little travel trailer. …
: Me! “Me!” A Christian, first. A Bohemian. A gypsy. A free spirit. A writer. A traveler. A liver. A …
: Navigation “I have a feeling my guardian angel looks like this often.” Given that I will be traveling …
: 9/11/01 “The Day The World Changed” The day the world was forever changed. There are moments in life when …
: Happy Birthday, Mr. Virgo! “Happy Birthday, Mr. Virgo!” He loved to celebrate my birthday but hated to celebrate his. He said …
: Cough. Sniffle. Wheeze. “Cough. Sniffle. Wheeze.” I had so much fun camping last weekend with the Sisters on the Fly. One …
: Scales Lie “Scales Lie” Well, they tell you the truth about gravitational pull, plus or minus a bit unless you …
: Holy Pressure Cooker, Batman! Condensing my kitchen into two dishpack boxes today. Three sets of dishes that were gifts from Mr. …
: Comparison I love this! Dr. Kristin Shepherd September 8, 2014 · Comparison is the thief of joy. Best, then, …
: Sisters on the Fly at Thresher Days Being with a group of like-minded gals for a weekend of trailers and food and fun activities like …
: Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real “Sunflowers on Storm King” Byron Katie does a self-investigative dialogue called “The Work”. The …
: New Stuff! “Tractor Pull at Thresher Days” Ok, I’m at my first tractor pull! Who knew how fun this could be??? …
: Missing Post I was awake till the wee hours writing this morning’s post. I kept drifting off then wake and read …
: WiFi “No WiFi” What did we do without it? How on earth did we raise our kids when they didn’t have a …
: Argh! “And I thought this was getting under control!!!” I’ve worked in here for two weeks since the last …
: Mr. Virgo's Bluebirds “Mr. Virgo sends me bluebirds. First, at his grave. Then…everywhere!” I was sitting at the cemetery …
: Oh, How Times Change “Commemorative Photo of 40” Ok, who had a boudoir photo taken? They were all the rage in the ’90s. …
: Happy Labor Day! “Hello, September!” I love it when you get the opportunity to correct something right away. I was …
: No Fear “Fear does not prevent death. It prevents life.” Ok, I have what appears to be a solid contract. …
: Chaos! “All great changes are preceded by chaos.” Deepak Chopra And….we’ve got another contract! I think …
: Scrambled Brain Syndrome “Scrambled Brain Syndrome” aka “Grief Brain” I swear, my brain is scrambled. I don’t hold onto info …
: Piece of Mind “A card I gave my mother when she asked for peace of mind.” When I was a little girl, I asked my …
: Consideration “My father and one of his drawings I found.” My dad and I had a tumultuous relationship. As long as …
: Lava Lamps “Grace” Those of you from my generation are quite familiar with lava lamps. I have no idea how they …
: Jealousy “My cousins on a pony.” One of the seven deadly sins…envy. These are my cousins. I found these …
: Just He & Me Dancing. The only time we dance…ever. He lasted half a song. lol “Our Only Dance” Sassy after shot. …
: Treasures! “My Christmas Stocking.” Awwwwww…..going through stuff and came across my brother’s and my …
: Attitude Adjustment “Attitude Adjustment” I had a rough week. Between negotiating items on the inspection that need …
: Feeling Stronger Every Day!!! “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger…” Yesterday I hit the ground running and stopped at 10pm. …
: Fall is Coming! “Fall is coming to Colorado!” Looking like FALL in Colorado! It rained most of the night and we …
: Happy Days “Happy Days” I feel like I’ve been put through a wringer washer backwards. My world, my life was so …
: Ahhhhh, Patience.... “Ahhhhh….Patience” A virtue in limited supply in my life. I’m a flexible person. I can change …
: Perfect “Being someone’s first love may be great, bot to be their last is beyond perfect.” People have …
: TOW-Wanda at Chapman Dam “TOW-Wanda at Chapman Dam” I’m heading into the home stretch and this will be the hardest …
: Hanging On! “Hanging On!” This is what my life feels like right now but I’m hanging on for the ride! The home …
: Mom “I miss my mommy.” I miss my mom. I wish she was here to give me a hug in her mommy way. I am …
: Memoirs “What if…” I finished writing my book while I was in WV. Ok, I finished the most recent rough draft …
: Emotions “Emotional roller coaster.” Even though it has been a year and a half since Mr. Virgo died, my …
: Sorry “I’m Sorry” Don’t you hate it when you hurt someone’s feelings? Someone you really care about? I …
: My Tribe “My Tribe…My Family” I have a group of high school friends that have sort of found our way into a …
: Sold! “Sold!” Yesssssssss! Sold the house! They will have an inspector come in and once that clears, I’m …
: Summer “I love summer!” I live for summer! That’s one of the reasons I’m moving back home. Colorado has 3 …
: Goodbye, Mrs. Doubtfire... Depression is an insidious, dreadful, invisible disease. It can not only rob you of joy, it robs …
: Remembering Mr. Virgo “Remembering Mr. Virgo” The other night, I was browsing through my photos and ran across this one. …
: ME Haul!!! “ME Haul!!!” I decided today was the perfect day to rent a U-Haul truck and bring everything from …
: Anchors “Anchors” While the house was being shown on Saturday, I drove into town for a Starbucks fix. …
: The Misplaced Farm Girl “The Misplaced Farm Girl” I grew up in town, but spent every moment I could at my grandparent’s …
: No Regrets “Making a big life change is scary. But, know what’s even scarier? Regret.” I went to a memorial …
: Attitude “Attitude” I used to tell my daughters they could adjust their attitudes automatically or I could …
: On Being Grateful “On Being Grateful.” I have an “Attitude of Gratitude”. I always see the glass as full to …
: Joy of TOW-Wanda #33 “View of Georgetown Lake, Colorado"Traffic on I-70? Jet lag? See a lake? Hey, stop awhile…kick …
: The Farm Here are some pictures from the home of my heart! “The Farm”
: Fried Green Tomatoes! “Fried Green Tomatoes and a BLT! Yummmmm” Fried green tomatoes and a BLT. Does the triple bypass …
: Back in Denver “You know all those things you want to do with you life? You should do them.” Hit the ground …
: A Simple Life “A Simple Life” I’m back! Here it is, August 4th already…can you believe it? Those three weeks …
: Mister Bee Potato Chips “Mr. Bee Potato Chips” You know those special foods you can only get at “home”? Well, ours are …
: Strathmore House “The Strathmore House…home of my Great Grandfather, Charles C. Richardson” Just before my second …
: Berdine's Five and Dime “Berdine’s Five & Dime” My grandparents used to bring me into this store when I was a little, …
: West Virginia Sunset “West Virginia Sunset” I had such a wonderful day today! I went to my cousin’s and worked all day …
: Cruise In at the Mall “Cruise In at the Mall” Gosh, I love small town living! I met up with my cousin and friends Friday …
: Weenie Roast! “Weenie Roast!” I went to my cousin’s house yesterday and pulled the last of the Marshmallow Ranch …
: West Virginian... “Find yourself, and be that.” It is amazing how quickly things can change. A few weeks ago, I was …
: More Photos from West Virginia Germany Valley, West Virginia Hibiscus Seneca Rocks, West Virginia
: Taking Down the Tent “Taking Down the Tent” I just realized what these three weeks off from all the deep thinking posts …
: Pendleton County “My Morning View of Pendleton County, WV” My view with coffee this morning. What an amazing place. …
: Rain “Rain on the Screen” I spent the night in town at my cousin’s house and I have internet access so I …
: Greetings from Wild, Wonderful West Virginia!!! “Writing with a View!” Just popping in to say hello and PROVE to you all that I am writing my book! …
: Home! “Home” I came in to town to go to the grocery for my aunt so I’m checking in. This is “home”….my …
: Today's the Day! “Today’s the Day!” I’m heading out into the wild blue yonder to see my kin in WV. I’m going to fill …
: Happiness! “It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, & to make your happiness a priority. …
: It's Just Stuff... “It’s Just Stuff…” Ok, I’ve had some time to think about it. For those of you who may have missed …
: Just Breathe “Just Breathe!” Ok, so…the showing went very well yesterday morning. The lady really liked it and …
: Update on the House “My lovely front porch.” The house is showing well. People love it. They love the location and the …
: Widows Helping Widows “It’s ok to not be ok. Just don’t give up.” A couple of months ago, I joined a Facebook page for …
: Painting with my Girl Painting with my older daughter…so happy today! “Daughter #1 and Me” And…the final product! “The …
: Growing (B)older “Growing (B)older” Aging isn’t for sissies. I have aches and pains in places I didn’t know I had a …
: Determination “Though she be but little…she is fierce.” William Shakespeare Big strength can show up in small …
: God Bless America!!! “God Bless America!” Have a Safe and Happy Independence Day!!!
: Repurposing “Repurposed coal hod as hanging planter.” I love taking something old a perhaps discarded or broken …
: It's the Fourth of July! “An Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Freezer” Three words….homemade ice cream!!!! Oh-Em-Geeeeeee!!!!!!!
: More Pics from The Grand Adventure Colorado Blue Spruce are majestic trees! “Colorado Blue Spruce” There are great stretches of dead …
: The Mixing Bowl ‘An employee of The Mixing Bowl poses in front of merchandise." I just visited this delightful …
: Building a Life...One Word at a Time “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” I have been on retreat for the last few …
: Aaaaahhh...summer in Colorado! “The Hot Springs at Pagosa Springs, Colorado” Mr. Virgo and I lived in Pagosa Springs for a year. …
: Contemplation “Conservatory” I took the whole day to myself yesterday. I still was feeling under the weather so I …
: Road Trip Into the Wild I saw lots of beautiful, wild places on this last road trip! Here are a couple of photos. “Wild Hot …
: Coming Unglued - Getting Unstuck “Coming Unglued - Getting Unstuck” I have so many dear friends. I’m blessed that way and I hope you …
: Writing “I want to write, but more than that, I want to bring out all kinds of things that lie buried deep …
: On The Road Again “On the road again!” I found out Wednesday that I have the next two weeks off. It has been really …
: Simplicity “Times have changed.” A year ago, I wrote a post lamenting that I was having difficulty forcing …
: Magic! “Magic!” Something magical is happening. Since I put the house on the market, I haven’t slept in …
: Remembering “When I was young…” I remember when this picture was taken. My senior portrait was taken in the …
: Memories of Old I ran across a catalogue with pictures of some of the old toys I had growing up. Who remembers …
: Laughter IS the best medicine! “Laughter really IS the best medicine!” I am blessed to have good friends who really enjoy making …
: Patience “Patience” I have very little of it. I like instant gratification. That’s why I knit with big …
: "Ewe's not fat...ewe's fluffy!" “Ewe’s not fat…ewe’s just fluffy!” I swear…ever since I made the decision to sell the house I’ve …
: Stormy Weather “Stormy Weather” I spent yesterday helping Daughter #1 with her house and the kids. At the end of …
: Little “My Little” Someone small came to visit overnight in TOW-Wanda! We snuggled in after supper and …
: Generosity “A gift from my sweet man.” Mr. Virgo was generous to a fault. I had to be careful what I said I …
: My House Letting go of this house is a bittersweet affair. It was my first home I owned all on my own so I …
: I Did It! “I Did It!!!” I spent so much energy wondering how on earth I was ever going to get this house in …
: It's my Birthday! “Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Self!” Mr. Virgo made a huge deal over my birthday because he knew …
: My Story “Collect things you love, that are authentic to you, and your house becomes your story.” My story …
: When a Home Becomes a House “Our Handprints in the Driveway” Handprints in wet cement. Something so few of us have the …
: Breathe “Breathe” The thought that my love was once in a lifetime paralyzed me. It made me so sad to think …
: A Day of Rest “I’ve loved to fish since I was knew high to a grasshopper!” I’ve been burning the candle at both …
: The Death Whisperer Maya Angelou meme We face loss…real, imaginary, potential…every day of our lives. Often the topic …
: Hugs “Hugs” The other night, one of my favorite young men drove two hours just to help me move some …
: Aim True!!! “Aim True!!!” I am closing in on the final week before listing my house for sale. This is the big …
: Bits and Pieces “Mr. Virgo’s Golf Clubs” Bits and pieces of a life. That is all I physically have left of Mr. …
: Good morning, Colorado! “Good Morning, Colorado!” Ok, waking up to this does not suck! Climbing back in bed with a fresh …
: Memories “Daughter #2 Playing Dress-up”" I am “off the grid” for a few days of R&R with some girlfriends. No …
: Being Alone “Being Alone” I am “off the grid” for a few days of R&R with some girlfriends. No water, no …
: Creativity “Creativity” I am “off the grid” for a few days of R&R with some girlfriends. No water, no …
: Getting Started “Getting Started” I am “off the grid” for a few days of R&R with some girlfriends. No water, no …
: Letting Go Some More “Letting Go…Some More” I going “off the grid” for a few days of R&R with TOW-Wanda so I am writing …
: Happiness “Happiness” I have to say, even with all that I’ve been through with losing Mr. Virgo, I’m still …
: Some-wherrrrrre...over the rain-bowwwww... “Some-wherrrrrre…over the rain-bowwwww…” Daughter #2 came up Saturday and has been helping me on …
: To Be or Not To Be... “To Be or Not To Be…” That is the question Shakespeare asked of us. It indicates a choice is to be …
: How To Have a Successful Yard Sale “How To Have a Successful Yard Sale” Decide the afternoon before to join your neighbor for a yard …
: Nostalgia “Nostalgia” A friend from high school posted today that we are coming up to our 43rd anniversary of …
: Live! “Live!” I have a magnet on my fridge that says “May you live all the days of your life!” A sound …
: Reflection “Reflection…20/20 Vision of the Mind” This time last year I had just begun my Grand Adventure…my …
: New Shoes “New Shoes!” I wrote recently that I have been having trouble with plantar fasciitis. It turns out …
: Progress! “Progress!” I received a text with some photos of the work done in my yard. What a nice couple to …
: In the Moment “In the Moment” This is my point of reference in the coming weeks. Trying to see myself down the …
: Girl Camping! “Girls don’t need a camper to go camping!” I’ve had people tell me they would love to join Sisters …
: Fortune Cookie Wisdom “Fortune Cookie Wisdom” OMGosh! This is too funny. I’m sure you have surmised by now that I am a …
: Happy Mother's Day! “Happy Mother’s Day!” My older daughter called this week to figure out our Mother’s Day plans. …
: Live Music “Live Music” Sitting in my favorite little neighborhood restaurant, listening to a little trio …
: Rerun of the Rocks “Rerun of The Pile of Rocks” This was my most popular post ever. It was read by nearly 64,000 …
: Letting Go “Letting Go” As I begin the big purge, I look at these things I’ve dragged around with me most of …
: Acceptance “Acceptance” Sometimes this new life I had thrust upon me sneaks up on me and bites me in the butt. …
: Cowboy Boots “It’s All About the Boots!” A long time ago, I bought a black and white cowgirl dress and matching …
: Conviction “Conviction” When we travel through life on autopilot, we do ourselves a disservice. We deny …
: Dressing Up TOW-Wanda I’ve been considering putting a wrap on TOW-Wanda. All these cute little vintage campers the Sisters …
: A Crooked Path “A Crooked Path” There are stretches of life that resemble the Gunbarrel Highway down the San Luis …
: Cozy Cottage “Cozy Cottage” In the five years between my divorce and meeting Mr. Virgo, I decorated my house …
: Age is Just a Number “Age is Just a Number” The other night I was talking to my aunt and she was tearful. She turns 80 …
: 'Til Next Time “Cowgirl Caravan” Ok, remember your very favorite slumber party when you were a girl. Now, picture …
: Get in Tune “Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.” Bob Marley Like my little six year old grand …
: A Fork in the Road “A Fork in the Road” We have all found ourselves here many, many times in our lives. We’ve made …
: West Virginia, here I come! “West Virginia, here I come!” I’m going home. I’m taking three weeks and heading for the hills. I’m …
: A Room to Myself “A Room to Myself” So, today I head out for my first Sisters on the Fly event of the season! I’m SO …
: Out of the Mouths of Babes “Out of the mouths of babes.” We all adore our grandchildren and each feel ours are the smartest, …
: Clutter “Ironic, isn’t it?” Yes, I am ashamed to say it, but that IS an actual photo from my actual “craft” …
: Farm Fresh Eggs “Farm Fresh Eggs” Once you have farm fresh eggs, you realize what terrible reproductions you’ve …
: Replacing the Dishwasher... “Out with the Old” When you are a widow, there isn’t a honey to do the honey-dos. Fortunately, I’m …
: Born to Sparkle “You were born to SPARKLE!” You were BORN to SPARKLE…even on TAX DAY!! Really, you were! I know I …
: Roots “My Family Roots” It is at this time of year that I begin longing to see my home place. The older I …
: Thirteen Months Later on a Saturday Night “When is he coming home?” It’s raining. I have a fever and a sore throat. I had things to do today …
: Joyfulness “Joyfulness” “Joyfulness keeps the heart and face young. A good laugh makes us better friends with …
: Some Days... “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.” Some days are easy, some not so much. And …
: Inner Peace “If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else.” Marvin Gaye So, …
: Quiet “Quiet” One thing I now have much more control over as a widow is noise. I am very selective about …
: Meanwhile, back on the farm... “Meanwhile, back on the farm…” This photo makes me smile. We lived in this log house on two acres a …
: Simplicity “We’re all just walking each other home.” Ram Dass Long stretches of silence brings us closer to …
: Orvis Hot Springs - Ridgway, CO “Orvis Hot Springs - Ridgeway, Colorado” What a delightful way to end my two week sabbatical. My …
: Balance “Balance” Life is a balancing act. When I was raising my children, I was doing all those extra …
: A Moment in Time “A Moment in Time” I woke up to six inches of wet snow yesterday morning. The only good thing about …
: Happiness “Happiness Depends Upon Ourselves” Aristotle Aristotle got it. Why is it, all these many years …
: Mr. Virgo's Photography “Mr. Virgo’s Photography” Today is my beautiful #2 daughter’s 24th birthday! Happy birthday, …
: Solitude “Solitude” Last night I went to a reception honoring a local woman for her recent induction in the …
: The Traveler “The Traveler” I arrived in Durango Friday afternoon and took my friend Sue’s yoga class. Man, I am …
: Procrastination “Procrastination” Hi. My name is Ginny and I’m a procrastinator. Ok, the first step is to admit you …
: Springtime in the Desert! “Waiting for Summer!” I didn’t realize how close Albuquerque is to Santa Fe. It wasn’t long at all …
: Seeking Inner Peace “Seeking Inner Peace” What a glorious day I had yesterday! I had a nice lazy start then headed over …
: Any Road... “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” Lewis Carroll When I left …
: On the Road Again!!! “Take me on a ROAD TRIP!” After a fun few days with the grandkids, this Nana is hitting the open …
: Touching Lives. Touching Hearts. “Touching Lives. Touching Hearts.” A friend of mine is a widow of seven years and works as a grief …
: Purging “Thinking about lightening the load.” Well, ok….THINKING about purging. It’s sort of the same …
: Sweet! Every once in a while you read something that speaks to your soul. This excerpt is just such a …
: Can't Wait!!! “Not all who wander are lost.” JRR Tolkein This was taken last summer up at Steamboat Lake above …
: Live Every Day of Your Life! “Live Every Day of Your Life!” There were SO many days in the year following Mr. Virgo’s death that …
: Go. Do. It's Travel Tuesday! “Go do those things!” I’m planning my next trip. I have at least two weeks, maybe three, with a …
: Happy St. Patrick's Day! “Happy St. Patrick’s Day!” Mr. Virgo was a good Irish Catholic from South Philly. He loved his …
: Seek and Ye Shall Find “Seek and Ye Shall Find” I was discussing this with a friend the other night. This verse can mean …
: Spring!!! “Spring!!!” Ok, March and April can be our snowiest months in Colorado. But I’ll tell you what, …
: Colorado Blue Blaster Day!!! “Colorado Blue Blaster Day!!!” Coffee with the girls this morning then drove with TOW-Wanda to …
: Springtime in the Rockies “Springtime in the Rockies” I headed to the lake Sunday afternoon. I needed to be alone with my …
: One Year Gone “My Handsome Mr. Virgo” I miss you. I sense you around every corner. I hear your laughter in the …
: The Widowmaker “The Widowmaker” As many of you know, Mr. Virgo died one year ago tomorrow. He certainly seemed …
: My Journey “My Journey” This has been a life changing year. The life I had planned, the one that included …
: The Pile of Rocks “The Pile of Rocks” My younger daughter wears her heart on her sleeve, just like I did when I was …
: Growing Up “Growing Up…that’s my mama, back row, far right.” I’m sure most of you will relate to this to some …
: Vision “Vision” Sometimes, I feel…if I could just concentrate enough, I could see him. As if there is a …
: Forgiveness “Proverbs of Solomon” I learned last night that one of my friends can curse like a sailor. I …
: Resurrection “What if they came back?” No, not in the Christian sense. There is a new show starting March …
: Travel Tuesday “Travel Tuesday” Hire me. I’m looking for the perfect job. Hire me, pay for my travel, and I’ll …
: Giving “Mr. Virgo’s Guitar” I’ve given most of Mr. Virgo’s clothes away. I still have some things that …
: "I Was So Much Older Then..." “The Farm” Bob Dylan was right…“I’m younger than that now.” There have been times in my life when I …
: Grief vs. Mourning “Be Still, My Soul” We have talked a great deal about grief over the last few months, but the …
: Travel Tuesday “Sisters on the Fly” If you are looking for something really, REALLY fun to do, you simply MUST …
: Nap Time! “Stressed out? There’s a nap for that!” Ah, to be a kindergartner. To be five and the only …
: Shoes “Cinderella’s Boots” We cannot know what another feels unless we have “walked a mile in their …
: Bridges “Bridges” My heart is tender. My feelings lie on the surface like pebbles on a beach, washed over …
: The Unaccompanied Woman...(or Living Single in a Double World) “I don’t want to be labeled as lonely just because I’m alone.” Delta Burke We live with labels. …
: Out and About “Dinner with Friends” One of my dear readers told me the other day that she couldn’t go out for …
: Courage “Courage” Someone responded to one of my posts the other day that I was the bravest person she …
: Authenticity “Authenticity” When I wear my fringed and beaded western jacket, my girls roll their eyes. My …
: Letting Go “Letting Go” This has been on my mind for a little while now. Every day is bringing me closer to …
: Money “Money” Is it just me or does this subject scare you to death, too? It seems like no matter how …
: New Frontiers “New Frontiers” I was sitting in a local restaurant having brunch on Sunday after church. This has …
: Cabin Fever “I’ve got a little gypsy in me!” Oh, I’ve got it bad. You know what I’m talking about. That itch to …
: Testosterone “Testosterone” I miss having some around. I have guy friends that I don’t get to hang with nearly …
: Scar Tissue “Scar Tissue” I graduated Wednesday. At the end of my session with my grief counsellor, we decided …
: The Inimitable Mr. Virgo “The Inimitable Mr. Virgo” One more month and it will be a year since he’s been gone. That is …
: Death, Divorce, and the Other "D" Word “Death, Divorce, and the Other ‘D’ Word” Dating. There…I said it. I had an interesting conversation …
: Heaven “Mr. Virgo’s Idea of Heaven” Mr. Virgo lived his life. He had stories that were so entertaining, I …
: Glorification “As part of my healing, I had to stop ‘glorifying’ my husband and list the things about him that …
: The Mouths of Babes “Some good things come out of the worst of times. Molly, age 6” My six…almost seven year old …
: How Things Used to Be “How Things Used to Be” The only absolute certainty in this physical existence is that things will …
: Spilling Blood “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. Ernest Hemingway” …
: Dance! “Live life with abandon and DANCE!” It’s hard to feel down when you’re dancing. Sometimes I just …
: Grief “Grief” Someone asked…what does grief feel like? Wow. If we knew ahead of time what it would feel …
: Nature. Cheaper Than Therapy. “Nature…cheaper than therapy!” Therapy has its place in our lives. When everything falls apart, …
: Seek Balance “Seek Balance” I did not learn to ski till I was 33. It was the first year my ex-husband was in his …
: Premonitions No one ever told me grief felt so much like fear. CS Lewis" I sat bolt upright in bed, my heart …
: Saint Elizabeth's Hospital for the Criminally Insane “St. Elizabeth’s Hospital for the Criminally Insane” Our topics of discussion this week have been …
: Be Yourself...Everyone Else is Taken “Be Yourself…Everyone Else is Taken” I’ve been sitting here for the last 15-20 minutes trying to …
: Losing Focus “Losing Focus” Sometimes it seems there are more things that need doing than there is time to do …
: What God Sees “Girls at Camp” There are so many things in life that we are uncomfortable talking about. Death is …
: Marshmallow Ranch “Marshmallow Harvest” The other day, someone asked where the name “Marshmallow Ranch” came from. …
: Faith “Faith. It doesn’t make things easy. It makes things possible.” I spoke with a dear friend tonight. …
: A Leap of Faith “Grand Canyon” In 2011, Mr. Virgo and I found ourselves living in Denver and hating it. We both had …
: Santa! “Santa and Me” I find that if I get out and mingle with people I do a lot better than if I hang out …
: Memory Lane “Me and My Fur” After church this morning, I drove to Aspen to wander the streets and treat myself …
: Smile “You are someone’s reason to smile!” What a difference a couple of days can make. I had a really …
: Frozen in Time “A Text from Mr. Virgo” Awwwww….look what I found on Mr. Virgo’s phone! I love when these little …
: Hugs “Sheldon Hugs Penny” We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We …
: Messages Oh....my....gosh! I have the COOLEST story to tell you! I know you all can tell the last few days …
: Grumpy Okay…we’re going to totally shift gears here. I know I come across a lot of the time as this little …
: Black Friday “Crowds on Black Friday” The only day you go out of your way to shove your way through a crowd in …
: Over the River I remember learning this song in grade school. I wonder if they still teach it. It always excited me …
: Thanksgivukkah “Thanksgivukkah” Thanksgivukkah, 11/28/2013. Yep, I was right…this is a once in a lifetime event! …
: Dream Sweet “Beautiful Bed” Very busy and productive evening in the studio. Time to call it a night. Sleep …
: Security “Security” One of the big name security companies came to our house a year ago offering to put in a …
: Sisters on the Fly Christmas Party “Sisters on the Fly” Une grande journée de plaisir avec mes sœurs à la volée! Translation: A great …
: Antique Fork Necklace “Antique Fork Necklace” Just off the bench. A birthday gift for a friend!
: Marshmallow Ranch Art Jewelry “Marshmallow Ranch Art Jewelry” These, plus several peace sign pins came off the bench this …
: PTSD - EMDR - Grief “Freedom” A while back we discussed my nemesis…panic attacks. I suffered my first panic attack in …
: Vintage Cowboy Boots “Vintage Bluebird Cowboy Boots” Ok, I need another pair of cowboy boots like I need a hole in my …
: Silverware for Jewelry “Silverware for Jewelry” Pounding silver today. I’m in the studio and rockin’ out to Joe Cocker. …
: Serviceberry and Aspen This was a rough week but I’ve turned the corner and I’m heading right back up! I returned from my …
: Aspen Gold - Vail, Colorado “Aspen Gold - Vail, Colorado Heading home from Denver after three weeks on the road. What a …
: Ohio River - Point Park, Parkersburg, West Virginia. “Ohio River - Point Park, Parkersburg, WV” What a beautiful day! A friend of mine took this the …
: Point Park, Parkersburg, WV “Point Park at Sunset” I love the Ohio River! When I was a little girl, I would lie in bed at night …
: Valley Hall School. Dutchman Run, Macfarlan, WV “Valley Hall School” It may be difficult to read, but this is the sign over the entry to the school …
: Sisters on the Fly on CBS!!! “Sisters on the Fly on CBS!!!” I know this is REALLY late notice, but we just got word the segment …
: Misty Mountain Morning “Misty Mountain Morning” Love, love, LOVE misty Fall mornings! I arrived in Denver last night after …
: Mountain Lion - New Castle, Colorado “Mountain Lion” This lion was trapped this week after killing an 80 pound goat a couple of miles …
: Western Colorado Sunset “Western Colorado Sunset” I love “God moments.” When I get out of my car on Sunday mornings, I say …
: Mr. Virgo's Cross - Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado “Mr. Virgo’s Cross” This is where I left Mr. Virgo’s lock of hair when I hiked into the wilderness …
: Colorado Sky “Colorado Sky” I took this photo this morning. I love how the misty clouds cling to the hillsides …
: TOW-Wanda in the Trees “TOW-Wanda in the Trees” Well, the time has come. I have to put TOW-Wanda to bed for the winter. …
: Rest in Peace, Mr. Virgo “Rest in Peace, Mr. Virgo” Another milestone is here. It was six months ago today that the life I …
: Key Lime Pie “Key Lime Pie” For my friend, Becky. A friend brought me key limes from Florida and we made this …
: Putanesca Sauce “Putanesca Sauce” This is a rustic, Northern Italian spaghetti sauce that is rich and spicy. …
: Mr. Virgo's Birthday “Western Sunset” The firsts are always difficult. Birthdays, Anniversaries, Holidays…the first ones …
: Sisters on the Fly #3537 “Ginny in Sisters Regalia” Oh, this is just too much fun! Sisters on the Fly makes girls out of …
: Stormy Colorado Sky “Stormy Colorado Sky” I love the Colorado sky. I took this the other night and couldn’t believe how …
: Sunset on Storm King “Sunset on Storm King” Oh my, what a perfect day! I worked at the office all day, ran into some …
: Black Eyed Susan “Black Eyed Susan” Those of you have known me from the Roaring Fork Valley, you may remember a time …
: Sisters on the Fly do Estes Park! “TOW-Wanda!” One of the first things I did when Mr. Virgo died was join the Sisters on the Fly. The …
: Life is an Echo “Life is an Echo” I have had a such a wonderful week reconnecting with family in Chicago. I hope …
: Bingo! Ooooooh, these Midwestern women sure love their Bingo! I went with my Aunt Rose and my new friend, …
: Snow! Snow on Pike’s Peak I know you probably cannot see this, but there was fresh SNOW on the top of …
: Crazy Horse Memorial While this was certainly a beautiful memorial, I wonder if it will ever be completed in even my …
: Dinosaur Park “Dinosaur Park” Dinosaur Park. The girls loved this!
: TOW-Wanda at Spokane Creek Campground “TOW-Wanda at Spokane Creek” TOW-Wanda! Spokane Creek Campground, Iron Mountain Road, Keystone, SD. …
: Wild Donkey “Wild Donkey” Wild Donkey. Wildlife Loop, Custer State Park, SD. We arrived back in Denver at about …
: Road Trip - South Dakota “Tatanka!” Wildlife Loop, Custer State Park, SD Tatanka! On our way home…what a fun trip!
: TUNNEL ON NEEDLES HIGHWAY - CUSTER STATE PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA On our way to see the Crazy Horse Monument. There were places on the Needles Highway that we had to …
: MOUNT RUSHMORE, SOUTH DAKOTA Way cool! So much fun being with family!
: BEAR COUNTRY USA - SOUTH DAKOTA Bear in Bear Country USA Park, South Dakota.
: APATOSAURUS - RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA Who knew?
: TRAILER ORNAMENT After a very long day at work, I headed for Denver. In order to cut an hour off my day, I drove …
: CLEMATIS ON THE FARM I have been running around like a chicken today. Trying to get everything done before the next …
: MESA VERDE, COLORADO This is one of Mr. Virgo’s pictures. I am sure you can see the difference in the quality of his …
: INDEPENDENCE PASS ABOVE ASPEN, COLORADO (yes, I stopped the car, Valerie!) Just got back from church. It was held at a private campground …
: SMOKEHOUSE ON THE FARM Oh, my gosh! I passed 600 likes!!! Thank you all SO much for joining me on this amazing journey. …
: UPPER FRYING PAN RIVER ABOVE BASALT, COLORADO Here fishy, fishy, fishy!
: HOME SWEET HOME Home. Home, sweet home. Home is where the heart is. There’s no place like home. West Virginia. …
: THE GRAND ADVENTURE CONTINUES Sitting in Cleveland Airport. Flight is WAY delayed but brother and I will munch on these yummy …
: GLAMPING WITH MARY JANE AND FLY FISHING - CONTEMPLATION I have discovered my nemesis. I have coped really well with everything over the last few months. …
: PIEDRA RIVER RANCH - WEMINUCHE WILDERNESS, NEAR PAGOSA SPRINGS, COLORADO I think this would be one of the most beautiful places to live. Mr. Virgo and I lived not too far …
: CANOE - CHAPMAN DAM STATE PARK, COLORADO Another photo from my tacked on, 4 extra day, camping trip last week. Isn’t this soothing? I sat …
: COLORADO WILDFLOWERS - WEMINUCHE WILDERNESS, ARCHULETA COUNTY, COLORADO I have been receiving wonderful feedback from so many people regarding my writing, my travels, my …
: RAINBOW TROUT - CHAPMAN DAM CAMPGROUND Today was busy…dentist, eyeglass place to install new lenses in my glasses, but then off to the …
: SUPER MOON - NEW CASTLE, COLORADO Mr. Virgo was the photographer in our family. When he bought his super duper new camera, I …
: BULL SNAKE - DOLORES, COLORADO This is the real prairie dog hunter! Sue and I were walking around her property and we came very …
: COLORADO WILDFLOWERS I called my second ex-husband (yes, Mr. Virgo was hubby #3. Third time’s the charm, right?) to wish …
: BEAR CREEK FALLS ABOVE THE BOX CANYON - OURAY, COLORADO As a widow, I have been finding myself still having trouble making a real meal. I mean a real, …
: RED MOUNTAIN PASS ON THE MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY Another shot from The Grand Adventure, Part 2. My friend, Sue, and I had just watched the Iron …
: COLORADO SKY These Colorado skies can turn on a dime and bring severe weather in a flash. I got home from dinner …
: GREAT HORNED OWL: ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK When Mr. Virgo and I traveled, we were always on the lookout for wildlife…which we seldom saw. This …
: SISTERS ON THE FLY AND MY TOW-WANDA SAVED ME And there she is….TOW-Wanda! Dressed in all her finery at the “Home on the Grange” event for …
: OLD HOMESTEAD, SYLVAN LAKE STATE PARK - EAGLE, COLORADO Tomorrow is my 60th birthday. I never dreamed when I celebrated my 59th that it would be my last …
: ELK This was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park not far from my campsite.
: LUPINE IN THE MORNING SUNLIGHT Lupine catching the first morning rays. Sylvan Lake State Park. Today was the memorial for Mr. …
: THE GRAND ADVENTURE CONTINUES Wow, the last couple of weeks flew by. I stayed off the grid for most of it. I didn’t have …
: DALLAS DIVIDE Tomorrow I head home from Part 1 of The Grand Adventure. I have had a fabulous time on this trip …
: TIME FLIES You know you are having a grand vacation when you have no idea what day it is! Well, either that or …
: TREASURE FALLS Day 8, 9, & 10: Grand Adventure - Part 1 Well, as you can tell, the internet doesn't work at the RV …
: COLLEGIATE PEAKS Here’s a view of the Collegiate Peaks without the trailer in the way. Isn’t this stunning? This was …
: DAYS 6 & 7 OF THE GRAND ADVENTURE Days 6 & 7 of the Grand Adventure, Part One: I got a good early start yesterday and drove to …
: DAY 4 & 5 OF THE GRAND ADVENTURE Internet is spotty so I am posting by phone. Yesterday was a fun day with Daughter #2…shopping, …
: THE GRAND ADVENTURE The snow is melting in the high country and I am off on an adventure…The Grand Adventure, to be …
: TOW-WANDA'S MAIDEN VOYAGE: 4/22/13 Here she is… “TOW-Wanda!” on her maiden voyage! I got home from church yesterday and was faced with …
: WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES When I last posted here, my world was still in one piece. It was a Friday. There was a blizzard. I …
: THE FIRST FIRST Today would have been our 6th Wedding Anniversary. I am saddened by my own loss and empathize the …
: JUST A LITTLE CROOKED OK, just a little bit crooked, but that’s me…a little cockeyed! grin emoticon:-D I have to order …
: WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT Girls, this is what it’s all about! Don’t put your dreams off till tomorrow because tomorrow may …
: A NEW TRAILER...A NEW LIFE So, I got home from Denver yesterday with the new trailer! Yay! Spent the afternoon putting things …
: THANK YOU, RANCHERS Welcome to all my new friends! For those who have been following along the past month, if I have not …
: MY NEW TRAILER Well, girls…after much deliberation and discussion with my family, I decided to go with a new …
: TRYING AGAIN So, the lady with the pretty, pink trailer has not responded to my e-mail since I asked her about …
: POSSIBILITY I’ve come to a big decision…since Mr. Virgo and I were standing in a travel trailer picking one out …
: SISTERS ON THE FLY Have any of you heard of “Sisters on the Fly”? I’ve been lusting after their vintage travel trailers …
: BACK IN THE STUDIO I finally got back in the studio for a while today. Of course, it is very good therapy. I have my …
: A DIFFICULT WEEK Well, this was a difficult week but I’m on the other side of it so I must “Keep Calm and Carry On” …
: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN... I come to you today with great sorrow. I lost my beloved husband two days ago of a sudden, massive …
: MARSHMALLOW RANCH A lot of people ask where I got the name “Marshmallow Ranch”. When my older daughter got engaged, …