Fun on Marshmallow Ranch

Country Roads…..

Sat, 17 May 2025 01:30:00 -0600

I think this procedure Mr. FixIt had on his back is really going to help. He’s already feeling relief, even though the site where they did the ablation is sore…it’s not the same awful pain! Yay!!! As a matter of fact, he felt so good last night that he asked me out for dinner in town at our favorite Chinese restaurant. On the way home, we drove the long way home out some old country roads. I’m telling you…I am really glad there weren’t any cars coming in the opposite direction because there was no place to pass.

We drove past Riverbend Farm and Gardens’ high tunnels this evening. We didn’t walk up to the grow houses because I think I make them nervous and they come down to see what’s going on. I hate to bother them because I know they are so busy this time of year. The tomatoes are already thigh high and I think I could see good progress on their green beans. I hope to get set up so I can start buying from them on a more regular basis.

When we got back on the two-lane, we turned out another country road that meandered through the woods and between spacious farmland. We drove out past a friend’s house and went on till we got to the dead end. You couldn’t hear a thing but nature out there! Mr. FixIt and his family used to ride their bikes out these country roads so he knew his way around. He’d say, “Turn here.” And off we’d go down another rabbit hole.

It was a beautiful evening for a drive. We had a strong thunderstorm in the afternoon so the air was clean and fresh. The woods and fields were rich with the scent of pine and honeysuckle. And, the sky was painted blue and gold and peeked through the scattered clouds. We’ve been working so hard the last week, it was nice to just take a day off. Other than homemade sourdough pancakes for breakfast, I didn’t have to cook at all. And the only gardening I did was tie up the tomato plants before the rain hit.

Now, that’s a treat!

🩵🌺🩵

“But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

***Gratitude Journal***  
Today, I am grateful for the time I have here with  Mr. FixIt and all my family. I’m grateful for a truck that’s reliable enough to carry us through the woods and along the hedgerows of our country lanes.

Happy Mother’s Day…Congratulations Graduates…What is Wrong with this Tractor?!?!?!

Sun, 11 May 2025 01:30:00 -0600

Y’all, I was so excited to get out to the pole building yesterday morning (after our yummy breakfast of eggs and grits) to finish up the repairs on the tractor. I put the new wheels on the mower deck the we put it all back together so I could go on the test run. Imagine my disappointment…after all that work over three days…and the tractor is doing the very same thing. You can get it to back up, but it has no power moving forward. It looks like we either have a transmission issue or there’s something blocking the gas or brake pedal.

We had to give up around 1:00 because we needed to get to the graduation party. It was a simple affair at a local restaurant with some of the family. We really enjoyed seeing everyone and celebrating the new graduate.

We’ll view more YouTube videos to see if there’s something else we can do. If you start getting into transmission problems on these things, it’s often less expensive in the long run to buy another tractor. We have to do SOMETHING soon or we’ll have to get someone out with a brush hog. We’ll decided today.

We stopped on the way home from the party and bought a new storm door. Ours faces directly west and they don’t last more than a few years because of the extreme heat. We also bought potting soil and containers for the rhubarb and the extra tomato plants. By the time we got home, it was 8:30 and we were done for the day. I’ll be back tomorrow!

I know Mother’s Day is sometimes littered with land mines. It isn’t always joyful…filled with sorrow or anger or longing. If you struggle through these holidays…I hear you. So I will say to all of you….no matter what…have a blessed day, get out for some fresh air, drink your water, and take a nap.

God is good!

🩵

“Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭51‬ ‭NLT‬‬

***Gratitude Journal***   
Today, I am grateful for the women in my life who mothered me, whether they were related to me or not. And I am grateful for the memories of my sweet mama.

A Chilly Day

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 01:30:00 -0600

The temperature barely crept into the 60’s yesterday so we didn’t go out on the bridge to fish. Every day this week has been clear and sunny. It’s supposed to warm up in the high 60’s today so we’ll try again.

A Dichotomy: A Coast Guard Helicopter flies over the Wright Brother’s Memorial

We drove all the way up to Duck yesterday just to go to Tullio’s Bakery! They are the best donuts on the island if you ask me. We bought two sweets and two savories. We nibbled on those and explored some of the shops along the boardwalk on the sound side. There is a cement statue of a black lab that Mr. FixIt has to have his picture taken with every year. There was a sign about the statue that said it’s 24 years old now and he was showing it a little.

A Nutria scurrying around the reeds in the sound.

We went to the Wright Brothers Memorial and walked around. A ranger gave a talk about the airplane and how they got it to work. Then she got into the exhibit ring and actually moved the parts to make the wings change as it would when they were flying it. That was fascinating! The place was packed, too. Busses of school children on field trips taking notes and interacting with all the educational displays warmed my heart. I only remember one field trip when I was in school and that was to the local dairy to see how the milk was gathered and processed every day. It DID bring back memories of being a parent chaperone on Daughter #2’s field trips. I couldn’t take part in my first daughter’s trips because I was working full time plus to put her dad through medical school and residency. I was a cheerleader mom for here later in high school.

This is the original hand carves propeller from the first successful flight at Kitty Hawk, NC. A model of the plane stands behind it.

After the Wright Memorial, I stopped in to see my friend Jeanne at Knitting Addiction. Of course, I had to buy a couple of things. There was a beautiful bamboo and merino heart with a hat pattern I had to have! And some scrubby yarn to make exfoliating cloths for the kids for their Christmas boxes. I also needed some double pointed needles for the socks I’m working on.

We made a quick stop at Walmart then headed down to our favorite antique shop. We love the owner and check in on her every trip. Captain Frank’s is next door and Mr. FixIt HAD to stop for a couple of hotdogs. I was still stuffed from that one “Cinnabomb” I had for breakfast. We found the seafood shop I went to in October and hit a thrift store then headed back to the camper for a break before sunset.

Today is supposed to be sunny again and warmer so we’ll try our hand at fishing one more time. It is Good Friday so we will watch services online. And tomorrow, we pack it in and head to High Point for a quick overnight then on home Sunday. At the beginning of the week, the time stretches out in front of us and it feels like forever. But “forever” ends quicker as we age.

We are really enjoying each other’s company. Being at the beach always feels so cozy and romantic since we came here for our honeymoon. I made reservations for October in the very same campsite. It kinda feels like ours now. There ought to be a plaque or something!

✝️

“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

***Gratitude Journal***   
Today I am grateful for my Lord and Savior who saved my soul so that I might live with Him for eternity. There is nothing like that feeling and the gratitude it brings.

Playing Tourist

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 01:30:00 -0600

We didn’t have it in us to go fishing again yesterday. It was cooler and the wind was still pretty forceful so we decided to play tourist and see what we could get into. We decided to go up to Nag’s Head and have breakfast at Stack ‘em High Pancakes, but it turns out they’re closed on Wednesday. So we ate next door at Bob’s. It was good, but the best part was Helen, our waitperson. What an absolute sweetheart she was. Even though it was the first time we’d ever met, we got big hugs and “I love you…be careful going home!” Just a little beach diner with fun folks.

When we came out of the restaurant, we could see a lot of smoke down south of us. It turned out to be a controlled burn in Jockey’s Ridge State Park between Hwy. 12 and the sound. We thought it was a little crazy to have that kind of burn in such windy weather, but it was completely out by the time we crossed back over the bridge to Nag’s Head later in the afternoon.

After breakfast, we had reservations for the Aquarium. It was wonderful! We haven’t been there in a few years. One of my favorite parts was walking around the grounds and looking at the pretty flowers. Folks are so nice here in North Carolina! They go out of their way to make you feel welcome.

When we left there, we headed south on Norfolk Island to Wanchese to see the big boats at the marina. Some of them are so big and beautiful. Like a small cottage floating on the water with every amenity you could need. There is a restaurant at the marina that serves fresh seafood. I went there last fall when I was waiting for the truck to be fixed and I didn’t realize Mr. FixIt had been there many times BG (before Ginny!) We each had a flounder sandwich with fries and were officially filled for the day.

We decided we needed to walk off some of the food we ate yesterday so we went back up the island to Manteo and walked around their quaint downtown area shops. We visited an antique shop, a darling General Store where I purchased a gift to take to Little, and an awesome Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar bar. The oils were from Greece and the Balsamic Vinegars were from Italy. OMGosh! There were so many wonderful flavors. The garlic was great, of course. Who doesn’t love garlic! I especially loved plain EVO. And there was a Pear Cinnamon White Balsamic that was to die for! There was also a Raspberry Balsamic that tasted exactly like my grandma’s raspberry jelly…it had such a bright flavor. I would have loved to buy four or five bottles to take home, but at $18.95 for an 8 ounce bottle, it was too rich for my blood!

By this time, all that slow walking was hurting Mr. FixIt’s back and hips so we decided to head back to the camper and stretch out for a bit. I have a pair of socks I’ve started that I wanted to work on. The sun has been shining every day we’ve been here…and it’s supposed to continue all the way through the weekend. Too bad the fishing hasn’t been very good, and the temp has been a bit chilly. But, really…there is no such thing as a crappy day at the beach!

We only have two more sleeps and we head back up the road. We think we’ll hit the North half of the island today. I want to see Jeanne at Knitting Addiction and we HAVE to buy a donut at Tullio’s Bakery in Duck. I know, everyone raves about Duck Donuts, but really the only thing that makes them stand out is they’re fried fresh when you order them. Because if that, they only serve cake donuts. To me, if it wasn’t for the flavored icing/toppings, they all taste the same. But Tullio’s??? Wowza! Yeasty, yummy, lots of varieties, always fresh…so, so, so good!

We want to fish again tomorrow before we leave Saturday morning. Maybe we’ll get lucky and catch something before we have to go!

🩵🐟🩵

“O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small. See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭104‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

***Gratitude Journal***   
Today I am grateful for firefighters with the knowledge to burn just what is needed and save the rest. I am grateful for the opportunity to be at the beach with my sweetheart and watch the sunset every day.

So Much Sea to See…

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 01:30:00 -0600

We got up much earlier yesterday. I made breakfast sandwiches and we headed over to the old Bonner Bridge to do some fishing. Remember…I said FISHING, not CATCHING! I had one really good bite but I could not set the hook so were were out of luck again. But that’s ok. Sitting out there in the sunshine, watching the inlet where the sound meets the ocean, and being with Mr. FixIt was all I needed. By noon, the wind picked up and I had my heavy Notre Dame sweatshirt on under my ski shell but it was getting kinda miserable. We packed up and decided to explore the southern end of the island.

We went all the way down to Hatteras Village. We stopped at a Day Use Area on the sound side and cooked our hotdogs in the solar oven. We watched the kite surfers. We stopped at Lee Robinson’s General Store for an ice cream. Then we went all the way up to Nag’s Head to fill up the truck. We wandered around Harris Teeter again. We love to just look at the stuff. I found some Decaf Tetley Tea in the clearance bin. I used to drink Tetley Tea when I lived in England.

It was 5:30 by the time we got back to the camper. I fixed hamburger steaks, asparagus, and Jasmine rice for supper. Then it was time to go over to the marina to watch the sunset. It didn’t disappoint, but the temperature dropped and the wind picked up, so we soon headed back for the night.

Today is Wednesday and our week here is half over. Today and tomorrow is supposed to be chilly with some rain so we likely will not go fishing. There are some other things we want to do while we are down here so we may explore some more. Or, we may just hang out at the campground and cook, eat, knit, and nap! That wouldn’t hurt my feelings one bit!

🩵

“The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

***Gratitude Journal***   
Today I am grateful that…even in the midst of great uncertainty in the world…I can commune with God on the beaches of His ocean. I can find peace and joy in the smallest of moments and know that He is with me…always. He will never leave me nor forsake me. This gives me great strength and the courage to face the turbulent times ahead.

Parking on the Freeway

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 01:30:00 -0600

I forgot…April is the beginning of Orange Cone Season. Ugh. We lost at least an hour or two in stop and go traffic. (OK…maybe is was twenty minutes. I don’t remember. 🙄) My brain was zoned out. We stopped at the brand new rest area on the West Virginia Turnpike. Hokey smokes…they spent a gazillionty-teen dollars on the new Tamarack Travel Plaza. Located adjacent to the Tamarack Marketplace which broke ground on August 8, 1994.

Forward-thinking Governor Gaston Caperton had a vision. He wanted something more than the usual bathroom and vending machine rest area. He envisioned a place that would house artisans from around the state. An open area in the center of the building houses designated areas for artists and artisans to seek their wares. Surrounding the shopping are walls and halls for gallery exhibits. (The quilts and art are to die for!)

As the population of Appalachia ages out, fewer folks were stepping up and learning the skills of our forefathers and mothers. The Tamarack Marketplace offers educational opportunities. The works are juried to “insure [sic] quality and authenticity of WV-made items.” The food service is provided by The Greenbrier Hotel. It’s definitely a must-see place to visit should you be driving the I-77 corridor through our fine state.

Anyway, back to the new Tamarack Travel Plaza. The official Grand Opening was December 30th with the Governor and other officials present to usher in the $60M state-of-the-art facility. The building houses the only Popeye’s Chicken in Southern WV. Starbuck’s and Wendy’s are also housed in the building. There is a convenience store area on one end and at the other end, a small Tamarack Marketplace shop offers just a few of the beautiful items from the larger venue nearby. It has the usual fare of travel plazas…fuel and restrooms. FANCY restrooms. While the minimalist design didn’t appeal to me, the sinks were over the top. I’ve never seen anything like them. The faucet is a modern “wash bar” design. On the left end is the hand soap dispenser, in the middle the the water faucet, and to the right is the blower-style hand dryer. All motion-sensor, and resting over an angled sink with a slit for a drain at the back. I wanted to stay in there a play till my hands got pruny, but Mr. FixIt was waiting for me so I finished up and went out to meet him. (Pictures: Before and After, credit to sources on the internet.)

We drove through a lot of rain on the way and Fancy Gap didn’t disappoint with its pea soup fog. We only saw the evidence on one accident…a semi on its side in the median near Wytheville. It didn’t look like anyone was injured. I was so happy to pull into the campground last night. Oak Hollow Family Campground is beautiful and right off the interstate without sounding like a war zone. It was a fun drive. The further south we went, the more beautiful it became. The flowering trees are majestic. Our dogwood trees got bit by the hard freezes of the last couple of weeks, but they escaped that fate farther south. They look all the world like dotted Swiss fabric lying here and there against a black and new spring green backdrop. The azaleas are in bloom as are the magnolias and camellias. Stunning!

We arrived in plenty of time to have a light meal and stretch out on our comfy memory foam mattresses for a well deserved rest. Too late for a nap, but restful just as well. Today we’ll enjoy a nice breakfast and head to the Outer Banks. Tonight we’ll go to sleep to the sound of the ocean waves!

We don’t have to be in quite the hurry today as we were yesterday. If you aren’t checked in at the campground by 7:00pm at Oak Hollow, they lock the gates and you flat out do not get in. That kinda puts a fire under you. But it’s a totally different deal at the beach. That means we don’t have to be on the road quite so early. Which is fine by me!

🚙💨

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

***Gratitude Journal***  Today I am grateful for safe travels…and that I didn’t scare Mr. FixIt more than once. Maybe twice. 😘

Finito!

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 01:30:00 -0600

These little white flowers are the first things to come up in the pollinator garden.

The taxes are done for another year!!! I’ve fussed around with them for…what? Three weeks, at least. Everything was going along fine till I got to the Senior Citizen Tax Credit. We’ve never had it before and I have been trying to figure out what they based our gross income on. After poring over it for a week and a half, I noticed a button at the top of the screen that said “Live Tax Assistant.” For the low price of $50 I could talk live with an agent and they would walk me through the process, step by step.

I clicked on the button, plunked down my $50, and clicked to have an agent call me. It wasn’t three minutes till they called and Denise introduced herself explaining she had 23 years experience doing taxes. I automatically felt a sense of relief. I explained my issue and we started working on it. But we had to go backward into the return to check some things. I asked her if she wouldn’t mind walking me through from the beginning. She was cheerful and encouraging and told me not to worry…that’s what they do and to take my time, ask all the questions I needed, and said “Now, let’s get started.” She had me enter a code that let her look at my screen and we got to work.

I was on the phone with Denise for an hour and by the time we were done, I knew more about TurboTax than I ever did before and I’ve been using it for years. She followed me all the way through “review” and made sure everything worked well. She was great and I’m telling you, that was the best $50 I’ve ever spent! That’s a load off my mind and frees me up to get some other things done.

Our high was in the 80’s again yesterday and it was so nice out. I walked around the property in the afternoon to check the pollinator gardens again. It’s still too early for most of the plants to grow, but our grass is really greening up. There are a few very tiny flowers popping up, but not many.

Mr. FixIt had an appointment in town so I had the house to myself to finish the taxes and start on the spring cleaning. I love it when it’s warm enough to throw the windows open and get some ventilation in the house. I was thinking about going out to the farm for a few days. I still may. When my sweetie was in town, he stopped at the Habitat ReStore. There was a woman behind the counter who told him she knew me, she reads my blog, and even knew I’d forgotten to pay at the restaurant on Tuesday. She says she’s known me for a long time. But do you think Mr. FixIt could remember her name to tell me??? Noooooo! So…if you’re out there reading this and you’re the woman who was dressed very nice and your hair looked like you’d just stepped out of the salon, reach out here and let me know who you are! The suspense is killing me! lol

💚

“Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭35‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT

Gratitude Journal 
Today I am grateful for the warm sun on my face, the fresh breeze of spring, and the tiny flowers peeking up from their long winter’s nap.

‬‬

Meanwhile Back at the Ranch

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 02:30:00 -0600

I have no idea what I did, but sometime in late morning yesterday, my back seized up and about sent me to my knees. I took some muscle relaxers and leaned on a heating pad the rest of the day. This getting old thing is for the birds! I’ll probably spend the day flat on my back with a pillow under my knees and give it time to let loose.

We didn’t have anywhere to go yesterday and we can stay home today, too. I’m telling you…I’ve become a bit of a hermit. I just don’t like crowds anymore. I don’t want to get sick. I don’t want to spend money. And Mr. FixIt and I have a hoot together. I usually go to my writing place at around 9:00 or 9:30 of an evening. I was texting with a friend when Mr. FixIt and I had a little conversation.

Mr. FixIt: You going to go write?

Me: What?

Mr. Fixit: What?

Me: Where on earth am I going to go at this time of night?

Mr. FixIt: Huh?

Me:

Mr. FixIt:

Me: Wait a minute…you asked me if I was going to go write! I thought you said “You going to go, right?”

We both burst out laughing. Then he said the sweetest thing.

“Boy, being married is a lot of fun, isn’t it?”

It sure is, babe….it sure is.

💜

“For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

***Gratitude Journal***   
Today I am grateful for the joy my husband and I can make together. It eases our burden and makes life feel lighter. I do not take this for granted. I remember clearly the pain I felt when I lost Mr. Virgo. I think that’s what makes this relationship so special.

(Image created using Meta AI)

Fly Eagles Fly!

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 02:30:00 -0600

OMGosh! Did y’all watch that Super Bowl game??? Mr. Virgo was a diehard Eagles fan so I have to root for them. I’m nearly hoarse from screaming with every sack and touch down. Now, don’t get me wrong…I really like the Chiefs and I think Mahomes is a talented quarterback. But, if they’re up against the birds…I gotta go with Philly.

I’m always eager to see the Super Bowl commercials and I have to say…I loved all the messages of peace and love and kindness. I always love the commercials from He Gets Us. They had an uplifting message that spoke of Jesus’ attributes. This year’s message was about greatness. Jesus’ idea of what being great really means. You can find it HERE.

I think the funniest commercial was for Doritos where the aliens are trying to “beam up” his bag of chips. I thought the puppy-monkey-baby was ridiculous. And, while I like some rap, I don’t care for Kendrick Lamar or explicit lyrics. Not that you could make out anything he said. I even went on the internet to get the lyrics for his playlist and, besides being riddled with profanity…I just didn’t get it. It was like reading Greek. I guess I’m too old for this. Edit: I actually read an article that explains it. I kept telling Mr. FixIt that it felt like a protest song but I wasn’t getting it. Turns an out, that’s exactly what it was. It was about racism. Now I I get it.

I’m going to knitting group this morning and other than Mr. FixIt having a medical appointment on Wednesday, we don’t have anything scheduled. That is fine with me. When we don’t leave the house, I don’t add miles to my truck and I don’t spend money. Win-Win!

Hope you had a nice weekend. We’re supposed to get another snowstorm tomorrow into Wednesday so it’s nice to be cozy in the house.

💜

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

***Gratitude Journal***   
Today I am grateful for the technology that allows me to see my Colorado family via FaceTime. I really miss them and I love catching up on Sundays.

#SuperBowl, #Eagles, #hegetsus

Fly Eagles Fly!

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 02:30:00 -0600

Mr. Virgo was a HUGE Eagles fan. He was born and raised in South Philly so he and his dad bled Green every Sunday. Philadelphia did well this season and they beat the Washington Commanders yesterday for another trip to the Super Bowl. Mr. FixIt was bowling so I was sitting here yelling at the TV all by myself. The, I had to watch the Chiefs v Bills to see who the Eagles will go up against the Chiefs on February 9th. It’s going to be a fun game! That being said, I spent all my writing energy yelling at football players so I’m sending a replay to you this morning. It’s a piece I wrote in January 2017 about turning the corner in my grief journey and was opening my heart again to the possibility of love.

Fifty-two years ago I married my first husband. I was so young…just 19. But, we were sure we knew what we were doing. I don’t regret that marriage. I learned so much and I got Daughter #1. Priceless!

Hope you had a good weekend. I’ll be back in the morning!

Sun, Surf, and Sand

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 01:30:00 -0600

This does not suck! Hardly any wifi. No TV. No restaurants. Few tourists. Life is good, y’all!

#obx #fishing #saltlife #vacation #sunshine #NorthCarolina #bluefish #SheepsHead #sheepshead

Knit, Nosh, Nap

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0600

OMGosh! Y’all…I just had the BEST three days camping with my bestie, Gail. She’s the camphost for September and October and I always come up to spend a few days with her. We sit around and knit. We take naps in the afternoon. And we nosh on all kinds of yummy foods. It’s totally decadent. I honestly slept 12-14 hours Wednesday and Thursday nights! I’ve been burning the candle at both ends and, as Gail says…I must have needed the rest.

My contributions were breakfasts and my newfound crave…Nature’s Snickers bars. I took huge, moist and chewy fresh dates, stuffed a great big pecan half in the middle, and dipped them in melting chocolate. Oh SO yummy! Gail made wonderful beef barley soup. I made homemade fettuccine and topped it with Gail’s meat sauce. Then last night we had homemade orange chicken with veggies over brown rice. We ended our campout with a fire and s’mores. Women NEED their girlfriends…even more when we’re older. It was just a delightful visit. I’ll miss her but at the same time, I can’t wait to get home to see Mr. Fixit!

We went for a long walk yesterday and I got a lot of pictures I’ll share with you today. The leaves have turned a lot here in Northern Ohio. Gail is a good three hours north of us. The only icky thing at the campground was the darned stinkbugs. They were out in force, but I discovered the Thermocell Mosquito Repellent did a decent job of keeping the stinkbugs at bay. At the end of the evening, I noticed I was getting eaten up by mosquitoes then I checked and the fuel cell had run out on that handy gizmo. I’ll know better next time to check it periodically.

I brought along a sweet little wooden Welcome Fall sign for each of us to paint and that was fun. I’ve known Gail for nine years now. We met in the fall of 2015 at Girl Camper’s first official gathering and became fast friends. We have SO many things in common but our glaring difference is politics. We very rarely speak of such things. We respect each other very much and I only mention this because I have seen so many people lose family and friends over politics and we won’t have it. We pray for each other regularly. We love each other deeply. And we both serve a loving God and do our best to emulate Jesus. What more could you ask in a dear friend, right?

I hope you have a beautiful Sunday. The weather is fabulous but it’s getting darker so fast!

A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

#fall #camping #knitting #besties #smores

A Full Day of Fun!

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 01:30:00 -0600

I woke up at 5:30! The sun coming in the window and shining on my legs makes me hot and wakes me up. Then, of course, there are the Red-Shouldered Hawks making a ruckus bright and early. I had to get up at 7:00 anyway…what’s another ninety minutes, eh? I put away everything in the camper and got it ready to tow into town, then went in to make sure Mr. FixIt was up. Mr. FixIt Jr. was coming over to help his dad cut down trees while I took the camper into town.

When I scheduled the appointment at one of the local RV dealers, I asked for the bearings to be repacked. I was assured they could do that. When I got there, the guy came right out and got to work. He said I didn’t have to unhook the camper and I could just sit in the truck. I was looking at my phone and caught a glimpse of the fellow crouched down by the wheel on the camper. I looked closer and all he was doing was putting axle grease in the fitting. When he came around to tell me he was finished, I questioned that because repacking the bearings is much more involved than that. He said I had a different kind of fitting and you don’t have to repack the bearings till you get your brakes checked.

He led me to the office to pay and when I saw the bill, I nearly swallowed my teeth! $107! To put 2-3 pumps of axle grease in the nipple? I don’t think so! I reminded the woman that I had asked for the bearings to be repacked and she had told me they would be. I told her if I would have known all he was going to do was pump grease into the hub, I could have done that myself. I was kind, yet firm. She listened and compromised and cut the bill in half. No need to burn bridges on either end. They were accommodating to get me in on short notice and I appreciated that.

As I was leaving, I asked if she could direct me to the place when I could fill up the propane tank. It turns out, they fill them at the service center so I got that job done at the same time. The next stop was the tire shop. Again, I didn’t have an appointment, but they weren’t that busy and were able to fit me in. Having only one axle simplifies things because there are only two tires to change. They also checked the spare…and cleaned out the big wasp nest that was under the tire cover.

Next up, the dump station. I found one closer than the one I usually use and that made things easier. But when I was getting out of the truck to get started, I reached for my camper keys and they weren’t where I normally keep them. I looked everywhere…no luck. I thought back and the only place I could have left them was at the camper dealership. Fortunately, I ordered some spare keys early this spring for just this reason. We got the camper with only one key, so if we lost that, we’d be out of luck. I stashed on in the truck, one on the camper key ring, and one on Mr. FixIt’s key ring. I got in the storage bay for my tools and cleaned the tanks…easy-peasy. When I was finished with the tanks, I circled back to the camper place and there were my keys!

I hurried home, unhooked the camper, and got it set up. Mr. FixIt & Son were cutting down trees when I got there. They called me over to video them cutting the big one down. It fell exactly where it was supposed to go. It was so big, it took them another couple of hours to cut it up and haul it over to the already huge brush pile. I went inside to finish with the cleaning and laundry so I could work on the meal for our family gathering. Everyone came over between 5:00 and 6:00. No one brought a bathing suit, but we still had a big time.

Mr. FixIt added extra chairs on the deck and we sat out there for supper. The smoked pork was wonderful! I only added wood chips twice so the smoky flavor was very subtle. I think the next time I’ll add a third load of chips to give it just a bit more smoke. Our daughter-in-law brought macaroni salad, baked beans, sliced cucumbers fresh from her dad’s garden, and a watermelon. Our granddaughter brought her homemade brownies. Mrs. FixIt 1.0 brought her yummy homemade coleslaw. We furnished the pork, chips, and four kinds of homemade ice cream. That Ninja Creami is a pretty cool gadget! I made chocolate, berry cheesecake, banana cheesecake, and pineapple sorbet. The banana cheesecake was my favorite but everyone had a little scoop of each to try them out. Served with a small brownie and topped with sugar free whipped cream in a can and it was really a nice meal. We sat out on the deck and talked for a couple of hours till it started getting a little chilly.

Mr. FixIt had a wonderful visit with the family for Father’s Day…a day early. Now he can just rest today. So, we have leftovers, a clean house, and warm memories. It doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

🩵

““Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Work Done and Pool Fun!

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 01:30:00 -0600

I try not to do any work on Sunday, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. The grass isn’t quite long enough to mow, but OMGosh! The shrubbery around the fenced area of the pool was getting totally out of hand. Mr. FixIt bought a battery powered hedge trimmer on an extension pole so we can reach up and shear this tangled mess, so I went out and worked on it for a couple of hours. We trim it back, then we need to back the truck up to the fence, toss the brush in the back and haul it over to the burn pile. Then, we have to keep going. It’s like a literal jungle here at this time of the year and if you don’t stay on top of it, you’re in big trouble pretty quick.

It wasn’t terribly hot yesterday, so the chore wasn’t overwhelming. Mr. FixIt did some mowing around the trash cans and on the bank along the road while I trimmed. When we were done, we decided to jump in the pool and enjoy the spoils of hard work. The water temp was only 78° so it was a bit brisk and bracing when we first got in. But we enjoyed ourselves and did a little water aerobics to burn off some more calories.

I weighed myself yesterday morning and I am at a new low! If I stay on this trajectory, I could have the last ten pounds off in a few weeks. As you can see on the graph, I had a steady, continual weight loss till late fall, then I just bounced around all winter, but generally maintaining the thirty-five pounds. I was fine with that, really. As long as I didn’t pack pounds back on in the winter months, I am happy. But now I’d like to get back in the swing of things and get the rest of this off since I’ve come this far.

I caught sight of a burrowing mayfly on the back door yesterday afternoon. I’m sure many of you are being subjected to the mass hatchlings of mayflies at this time of year. The good thing is, the females only live a few hours and the males a couple of days. The swarms are short lived but mighty. They are harmless, but can be dangerous if you drive through a large swarm. They can smear up your windshield to the point you have reduced visibility…especially if you’re driving into the sun.

I keep trying to get a good picture of the fireflies at night but it isn’t easy with the iPhone. They start out just as dusk is fading. At first, they are rising from the field and you see them from one to three feet above the grass. As the evening wears on, they eat higher and higher till they are little around in the trees. That’s when I love to see them. The woods seem to sparkle with their little lighted hineys.

We don’t have a lot on our schedule this week. I’m hoping I can get these curtains finished. I have knitting group this morning. One of our gals won’t be there because she has Covid. We were all together on two occasions the week before but as far as I know, no one else has come down with it. It’s still out there so it’s not a bad idea to minimize hugging and kissing and wash your hands frequently. I practice these and wear a mask while the kids are still in school. Little germ bombs are super spreaders.

I hope you had a good weekend. I’m counting down the days now till our trip and it will be here before we know it!

🐝

“and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ESV

A Bumper Crop of Babies!

Sat, 08 Jun 2024 01:30:00 -0600

I was just telling Mr. FixIt the other day that I hadn’t seen any fawns this year. He said not to worry…they’d be showing up soon. After supper last night, he suggested we are a walk down around the pollinators and see what’s happening. We were just stepping out of the gate and saw THREE babies right by the camper. I quietly walked around the end of the camper when I was standing just a few yards from the closest one. That little thing started bleating and ran straight for me!

One thing you don’t want to do is interfere with wildlife babies. Deer will often leave their babies on their own for long stretches while they go foraging. Many people have “rescued” babies who weren’t really abandoned, thus breaking the laws of nature. I immediately started talking to her and made myself really big to let her know she shouldn’t come any closer. Her two siblings were less inclined to come close and soon she figured out it was better to go off with them in the woods. I’ll keep an eye out for them. We live on a very busy two-lane blacktop and unfortunately, deer get killed on this road frequently. We walked on down around the pollinator gardens till we noticed one of the babies had taken shelter amongst the tall grasses so we skirted around and came back up the other way.

As we walked through the front year, we checked out the pear trees. One of them got bit by Jack Frost and hardly has any fruit set on, but the other one is fully loaded. We should have a big crop this year, but I’m not quite sure when they will be ripe. We’ll be gone till August 6th so we may miss them. Hopefully one of the kids can come get them and use them if they ripen while we are gone.

I cleaned the pool again yesterday and it is getting sparkling clear. After I was done vacuuming and brushing the bottom, I did thirty minutes of stretching and water aerobics to get a little activity in my day. We stayed in during the heat of the afternoon…Mr. FixIt watching his shows and I was reading some of the cookbooks I bought Thursday at the junk shop. I also balanced my bank account, searched for the best price on tires for the camper and a chlorine dispenser for the pool. Mr. FixIt designed a set of stairs on his CAD program for a friend and I helped him navigate the printer. It’s kind of tricky.

As I was cleaning the pool, I got to thinking about supper and decided I’d really like to make macaroni and hamburger. I’ve heard it called goulash, slumgullion, beefy mac…but whatever you call it, it’s really good. I’ll bet I haven’t made that since I was in my twenties! I searched my pantry over for canned tomatoes. I was SUREI had picked up a case at Sam’s not too long ago, but they were nowhere to be found so I used a jar of pizza sauce. It tasted fine. When I was putting the pasta canister away, I happened to glance up at the top shelf of the pantry and there were my tomatoes! Ah, well…no harm, no foul, right?

I brought one of the cookbooks out to the camper with me last night to read in the peaceful cool of the evening. The Church Supper Cookbook from Families and Churches Across the Country. I’m betting there are some greats recipes in there!

I hope you are staying cool and hydrated and that you have a wonderful summer weekend planned!

🐝

“He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.”
Psalm 18:33 ESV

Country Living is the Best!

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 01:30:00 -0600

Ever have one of those days that you do SO many things, you can’t keep track of them? That was what yesterday was like. I’d set timers and alarms and notes and if I didn’t add what they were for, I was toast. I got up early and finished making the chicken and noodles for Mr. FixIt to take to the biannual company alumni dinner. He had to leave for the event at around 10:30. I worked on the pool.

I dug the pressure washer out of the building and cleaned the algae off the pool ladder. Try as I might, I could NOT figure out how to put it together so I left it on the pool deck for Mr. FixIt to do later. I thought the paint party I was attending was at noon. Turns out it was 1:00 so I had an extra hour to work. I suctioned the bottom of the pool till it was time to go.

One of my knitting friends hosted the paint party I attended and another of our knitting gals came. We had a whole table full of people…probably twelve of us. It was fun to see everyone’s interpretation of the subject… “Three Daisies.” It was also nice to meet new people. They were a very friendly group!

When I got home, I immediately jumped on the tractor and started mowing. It takes me about four hours to mow. I was hoping the extension of the pollinator gardens would cut down on the mowing time, but it actually takes a little extra to mow all around them to keep them looking the way I want them…with paths meandering through. It also takes longer at this time of year because I will not mow over a bee if I can help it. So, there’s a lot of starts and stops along the way. But, I don’t mind…I’m just so grateful to see the bees and they are loving the new gardens!

Mr. FixIt got home shortly after I started mowing. He told me my chicken noodles were a big hit! (He’s such a sweetie!) He took the sand out of the pool filter and dumped it on the driveway and put the new sand in. When I was finished with the mowing, I vacuumed the pool one more time then we put the chlorine in. It immediately started cleaning and the pool water changed colors right in front of our eyes. I’m showing you a picture and you have to believe me that this looks a hundred times better than in did when we started…and no frogs!!! They have decided the trees around the creek are a better place for them than the pool. (I did take the hose and sprayed under the metal rim of the pool but I didn’t scare up any froggies so I think we’re good!)

I will tell you what…by the time we were finished, it was dark and I was D.O.N.E. I didn’t even have the spoons to take a shower. I just went out to the camper and vegged. I think today will be more of the same!!! It’s the Lord’s Day and we will rest.

🐝

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17 NIV

After the Storm

Thu, 16 May 2024 01:30:00 -0600

I thought for sure I’d hit the ground running yesterday and get so much done but that didn’t materialize. Bestie Gail didn’t get to the campground till noonish because she was babysitting her sweet three-year-old granddaughter. I gave myself a slow start then I could hear the neighbor camper gathering things to move from the site I had reserved for the rest of my stay. As soon as he left, I had Grace all ready to hop into the new site next door.

I got everything settled and organized for the rest of my stay, pulled my chair out of the truck, and sat under the awning drinking my RYZE and reading one of my summer books. It was delightfully cool and quiet. I was wondering where Gail was and when I went in the camper for a refill. I glanced out the window and she was there! She thought I was napping and didn’t want to disturb me.

I took my hot beverage over along with the new Tunisian Crochet Hook to try to figure out how to do it. It wasn’t long till I remembered crochet really isn’t my jam. About the time I gave up on it, the rain started and we came over to my camper because we have the comfy recliners. Gail and I looked over the vintage tablecloths and came up with what we want to do for the curtains. We decided I needed to use white cloth for a liner to give them a more finished look. She suggested buying a white king-size flat sheet instead of yardage. You get a lot more fabric for the money that way. I was going to take the wooden valance boxes off because I hate the brown, but I’ve come up with a better idea and I think it’s going to be darling!

When I bought the tablecloths, I also picked up some embroidered valances for $1 each. I vacillated over full curtains or just the valance on the windows in the slide out. They are behind the double recliner and I really love the light coming in. We don’t bound around in our nothing anyway so privacy isn’t really an issue. We either draw the big curtain across the bedroom area or change in the bathroom. So I decided to just put the valance up and keep it light and airy. As you can see, I used old towels to create antimacassars for the back of the chairs. I’m going to change that and use some of the tablecloth fabric to make that area cheery, as well.

The fabrics will be mix and match with a jumble of color but a theme for cohesiveness. I’m really excited about it. I want it to look homey and comfortable without being too she-she for Mr. FixIt. I don’t mind the wallpaper in here at all. It’s kind of a basket weave…like linen. There is entirely WAY too much brown for my taste, but I’m not clear yet on whether I want to paint the cabinets. That may come down the road…not sure. I think if I change a little at a time, it might be easier on Mr. FixIt than a huge abrupt change. Most people get their campers to their liking in time to buy a new one. I’m honestly hoping this will be the LAST one! (Didn’t I say that about the A-Frame? lol)

Gail made taco salad for supper last night. The rain came in again so we went over to my camper to sit in the comfy chairs and knit. We had tea and solved all the world’s problems and by 8:30, our eyes were drooping and we were done for the day. The frogs were calling and I could hear the cows from the dairy farm down the road. They were up near the fence by the playground…bellowing. I listened for the owls, but I have a feeling the storm kept them quiet.

My solar lantern hanging from the awning struts to keep me from banging my head on them when I walk by in the dark!

Today we head over to our friend Jan’s farm for a visit. I love her to pieces and I love her place…it’s so peaceful and she has this really great old barn. Jan is a spitfire…she may be small in stature, but she is larger than life. A widow, a mother, a banjo picker, an activist, a naturalist, and a retired pastor with more energy in her little pinky than I will ever have! Can’t wait to give her a squeeze!

🩵

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
Hebrews 11:3 NIV

#Rain, #Camping, #Vintage

Getting Ready to Camp

Tue, 14 May 2024 01:30:00 -0600

It feels like we just got home and I’m heading out again tomorrow. I’m taking the camper with me to have a girl’s weekend with my bestie, Gail. We love camping together. It’s supposed to rain a lot over the next few days, but that handy dandy dual recliner will make knitting much more comfortable…and dry.

After knitting group yesterday, I stopped by Happy Jim’s Trading Post. Yes…it’s a real place in our tiny little town. OMGosh! You can ALWAYS find something you can’t live without at Happy Jim’s. I was on the prowl for curtains or something to make curtains from. I really want something that’s bright and cheery. The first thing I came across was several vintage tablecloths. OMGosh! I LOVE these things and have owned several over the years. These were a mix of red, blue, green, and yellow. Primary colors with cheerful fruit and floral motifs. I bought all of them!

Gail will bring her sewing machine to the campground and I can make the curtains while we’re there. I have a clear idea how I want to make them. When I had the opportunity to tow the Girl Camper Raffle Trailer around in 2019, I loved the curtains that Janine made. They allowed the windows to be totally covered, half covered or fully open by using a series of hooks.

These tablecloths are authentic mid-century vintage and have obviously been used. There are small stains and discolorations on them. I purchased a product that you soak age-stained textiles in to brighten them. I’ve used this before and it really works! The package said to set the container with the solution and textiles out in the sunshine to keep it warm. But what do you do if there isn’t any sunshine? You just have to do what you can and hope for the best. I’ll show you the after pictures tomorrow and we’ll see if they’re brighter.

Remember I told you the other day I have to sing for my supper. Well, Mr. FixIt was gone most of the day so I deep cleaned the kitchen and got most of the extras in the family room put away. Do any of you use a Shark Steamer on your floors? They are especially good on kitchen floors as they cut the grease and you don’t have to use any chemicals. I don’t want to leave him with a lot of extra work to do while I’m gone. I’m really looking forward to camping with Gail. And the day after I get back, we leave for the Eastern Panhandle for four nights camping in the mountains. I’m hoping it’s warm and dry!

🩵

“Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)”
Revelation 19:8 NIV

#Linens, #Camping, #Curtains

Friday was MY Day!

Sat, 04 May 2024 01:30:00 -0600

When we woke up yesterday, Mr. FixIt said, “Today is YOUR day. You get to choose whatever you want to do!” Oh, wow! We originally thought we’d go fishing, but after getting skunked on Thursday we decided we were kinda over that. We fished just about every day we were down here on this trip so we were fine with doing something else.

I told Mr. FixIt there were three things I’d like to do…visit the Elizabethan Gardens over in Manteo, go to Knitting Addiction in Kitty Hawk, and take in the Bodie Lighthouse. We stopped at the Golden Arches and got breakfast sandwiches and coffee then headed straight to the gardens.

We visit just about every time we are down here. We took the kids there in October and they nearly jogged through it. It obviously wasn’t their cup of tea. This time, Mr. FixIt and I moseyed through at OUR pace, stopping to see and touch the flowers and plants, read the informational markers, rummage around in the plant shop and the gift shop. We sat on benches in shady corners, marveling at the statuary hidden amongst the countless varieties of shrubbery and trees. We found a path that took us out to the old gates that have fallen away with the erosion of the beaches. There was a bench there and we sat for a long time, holding hands and watching the sun glint on the water. We both commented how pleasant the gardens are when you take the time and “smell the roses.”

From there, we headed up to Kitty Hawk. There is a HUGE Hot Rod and Custom Car Show in Nag’s Head and it took us a long time to get through there. The police were stopping traffic in order to let pedestrians cross the busy four-lane Highway 12 with its 50mph speed limit. Most people see that as merely a suggestion and I have no idea how people don’t get killed on that road every day.

It was fun to see Jeanne at the yarn store. Even though I have a gazillion skeins of yarn at home, and my mantra this year is “use it up,” I HAVE to support local yarn shops whenever I can. I am actually running low on sock yarn so I bought a few skeins of fun colors, different textures, and varied fiber content. Plus a couple of Jeanne’s own patterns. Mr. FixIt waited patiently in the car for me as I browsed and chatted with my knitting friend I’ve been visiting for the last seven years.

When I was finished, we stopped at Food Lion to get some for ham for sandwiches and had a quick “picnic lunch” in the truck before our next stop. We thought about walking up to the top of the Bodie Island Lighthouse, but when we got there, I remembered that it is the one I couldn’t get up more than a third of the way. The walls close in towards the top and there is no movement to the air. I felt like I was suffocating and I left Mr. FixIt to finish with our son-in-law’s dad, Ben. I went back down and sat with Sue. She couldn’t make the climb because of bad knees. I demurred again and Mr. FixIt was happy to wander around the grounds. We took the boardwalk out into the marshy ponds and sat there enjoying the gentle breeze that kept the mosquitoes at bay.

When we got back to the camper, we started putting everything away…inside and out. We packed up the truck and I hooked up to the camper and took it over to dump the tanks. Mr. FixIt laughed when I got back and said some guy came by and saw him sitting in his lawn chair reading…with no camper.

“Where’s your camper, man?”

“My wife took it over to dump the tanks.”

“Wait….what??? Your WIFE took the camper to dump? Man, she’s a keeper!”

I know…I’m ruining it for the other gals at the campground. lol

So, our time at the beach comes to a close. Today we head toward home and we’ll stay overnight at the campground we visited on the way down here. We’ll be SURE to get there before 7:30 this time!!! I hope you’ve enjoyed coming along with us and vacationing vicariously. We’ve had a wonderful time and I truly loved sharing it with you all!

☀️

”You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.“
Psalms 8:5-8 NIV

One More Sleep

Fri, 03 May 2024 01:00:00 -0600

Pardon my healing thumb…I hurt it when I was building the twin beds in the camper. The weather was perfect yesterday and since the fish weren’t biting, I got a lot of good knitting time in.

It’s amazing how fast a vacation goes. You get there on the first day and think, “What am I going to do to fill up all this time?” Then you blink, and it’s time to head home. You can only hope you’ve taken advantage of where you are and done things that create memories and taken lots of photos so you can remember everything. I find that’s becoming more and more important as we age because vacations tend to blur together and some memories get lost altogether.

We had our favorite breakfast…grits and eggs…then quickly headed to the pier to fish. We didn’t take the truck out on the beach at all this trip. And we certainly didn’t lug all our fishing equipment over the dunes by hand. We’ve actually enjoyed being on the pier. You get a nice breeze and lots of sun. You have a great view of both the ocean and the sound. There are lots of boats and other fishermen to visit with. It wasn’t a “catching day”…just a “fishing day.” We got there at about 10:00am and quit at around 4:00pm. We still had the original bait we started out with on the hook when we pulled it out of the water. A fella not too far from us pulled in a 24” black drum that he caught using sand fleas. Just goes to show you…fishing is a crap shoot.

The sea mist kept rolling in all afternoon and made the bridge disappear!

We were pretty slathered up with sunscreen so even with all that time out there, we didn’t have a sunburn. But we were pretty wiped out by the time we called it a day. We came back to the camper and took showers. I fixed hamburger steaks and steamed broccoli with carrots for a nice healthy supper. By the time we were finished, it was time to go over to the sound for the sunset. We haven’t missed a single one since we got here and this one didn’t disappoint.

Fortunately, the winds have all but disappeared so even 72° was quite warm. Unfortunately, the wind helps to keep the mosquitoes off of you so they were thick as thieves in the still air. I didn’t last very long at the sound before I had to bid a hasty retreat and get in the truck. For some reason, mosquitoes eat me alive and they hardly touch Mr. FixIt. I told him I’m just so much sweeter than he is…they love me!

We’re going to fish for awhile this morning, then come back to the camper and start packing things up. We have to pack up the bed of the truck with all the camping gear before we can hook up the camper and go dump the tanks. Then we’ll come back to our campsite and back the camper in without unhooking it. We’ll sleep in it that way so we can get an early start tomorrow morning. We have to be at our next campground by 7:30 or they lock the gates and you don’t get in. (Unless you happen to find a nice lady to let you in behind her like we did heading down. Shhhhhh….don’t tell!)

I hope you’ve been having a good week. It’s been really hot back home so I’m sure the lawn is going to need mowing.

☀️

”God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”“
Genesis 1:28 NIV

Four Nearly Windless Hours

Wed, 01 May 2024 01:30:00 -0600

The wind keeps blowing like crazy but we had four beautiful hours with a gentle breeze so we fished on the pier again. It’s been too windy to go out on the beach to fish. You end up getting sandblasted ankles!

I hooked two HUGE skates today and they broke my line…twice. I decided to quit before I lost any more fishing gear. We didn’t see anyone bring a single fish in. There was a fellow near us who caught a skate. He had heavier line and a net to haul it in. But he threw it back. Mr. FixIt says you can use a round cutter and punch out little circular shapes and cook them like scallops. But, scallops are not my favorite thing and like I said…I was done throwing away hook, line, and sinker.

This is the skate the fellow next to me caught. This was smaller than the two I hooked.

The BEST part of the day were the dolphins! There was a pod of dolphins circling around the pier hunting bluefish. It was crazy! They came right up in front of my and i was so in awe, I didn’t think to pick up my phone to capture it! I did get a video of them swimming around a bit farther off. This went on for a good half hour or so. And we didn’t have to pay someone to go on a sightseeing cruise. The dolphins came to us!

Campground cooking continues to be one of my favorite things. We had Popcorn Pancakes, turkey sausage and eggs for breakfast. I made ham sandwiches for the pier. And we had hotdogs and chips for supper. Camp food, fresh air, sunshine, sand, and sea. The perfect recipe for a beautiful day.

It’s supposed to rain today so we may make it a touring day. We want to go down the island and see the sights. And honestly, I’m happy as a clam knitting and rocking in my camp chair with my feet in the sand. We’ve been in bed asleep by 9:00 every night! We’ll be well rested when we get home!

Three more sleeps and we head back toward home.

☀️💨🌊🎣

”“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.“
Matthew 13:47 NIV

Gone Fishin’

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 01:30:00 -0600

We had a nice breakfast…French toast and ham. But that made us get a little bit of a late start to the pier to fish. However, we did end up with three beautiful hours with very little wind. And the fish were biting! As soon as I took this picture of my knitting, that rod you see started sliding to the right. I jumped up and grabbed it and started reeling it in. Whatever I had…it was BIG and headed straight for the bridge piling. I felt it break loose and when I reeled in my rig, the hook was broken off!

They’re putting a new roof on the restrooms and the bath house…right behind our camper. Thankfully, they’re almost finished!

We put on a new hook and the next cast, Mr. FixIt got a strike and the same thing happened to him. He put a new hook on his rig and we hoped for the best. My next cast had barely hit the water when BAM…another big one. This one I played and played for a long time and when I finally got it up near the surface, I could see it was a big skate…about two and a half feet across! I’ve never pulled one of those in and man they put up a fight. I got it to the surface and it was thrashing. A man was filming it for OBX TV and got a good shot of it, but then the line broke! I was really bummed.

The campground…nothing to block the wind!

By this time, the wind started to pick up and we didn’t get more than a nibble here and there. We finally called it quits and went back to the camper. We’re going to try going out earlier today so we have more time before the wind hits around 1:00 in the afternoon. As I am writing this, the wind is whipping around the camper at 20mph. It isn’t pleasant out there when it’s like this. We did go for a walk out to the beach after supper and found some shells and what I believe is a bottle nose dolphin vertebra.

I made a great supper…easy for camping. I always bring my big electric skillet with us. I can make soups and sauces, fry anything, and it’s great for casseroles. You can even pan fry biscuits in it. We bought a pound of Jennie-O Taco Seasoned Ground Turkey the other night. I fried that, added a can of drained corn and let it cook. Then I moved everything to one end of the rectangular skillet and laid a tortilla on the hot surface. I added some grated cheese and a generous spoonful of the taco meat. I sprinkled some more cheese and topped with another tortilla. After pressing it down, I let the bottom get a little crispy then carefully flipped the whole thing over. Once the other side was brown, I transferred it to a dinner plate and topped it with salsa. I handed that one off to Mr. FixIt then I fixed mine. They were SO good and we had enough of the taco meat left over to have a taco salad or nachos later. All for less that $5!

Sheep Sorrel

All this sun and sand and wind has us wiped out by the end of the evening and we hit the bed happily at 9:00. We’ll be up and at ‘em much earlier this morning. Stay tuned for fish photos!

🎣

”“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.“
John 21:3 NIV

Gone With The Wind!

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 01:30:00 -0600

OMGosh! The wind has been wicked ever since we got here! It’s gusty, noisy, and brings the wind chill down to parka weather! We went fishing on the pier yesterday. We couldn’t stand more than a couple of hours. We didn’t get a bite anyway, so we called it a day, went back to the camper and took a two hour nap! We are catching up on our rest, which we certainly needed.

We went to the grocery store last night to get a rotisserie chicken. Those things are so versatile. We can have sandwiches or a stir fry or just eat it plain with a salad and a baked potato. And, it doesn’t take up much room. On our way back to the campground, we popped over to the sound side to catch the sunset. There weren’t any clouds so it wasn’t spectacular, but any sunset over the water is beautiful.

We had a troop of Boy Scouts across the road from us on Saturday night. They were so cute and had a ball. They weren’t taught campground etiquette because they were running though the campsites of others. We did explain to a couple of them that when they run through someone’s campsite, it’s like running through their living room. After that, there were much less interruptions and I’m sure they shared their newfound knowledge with their friends.

Beach campgrounds are a lot different than the state parks we are used to staying in. There are no trees so when the wind picks up like this, the only things to break it is the dunes. If the wind is coming in over the ocean, that’s fine. But if it’s coming in from the sound side, we’re sitting ducks. It wasn’t like this when we were here in October, so it must be the season for it. We’re supposed to get temps up in the high 70s this week, but it’s a moot point when the wind shakes the camper and gives you a chill when you’re outside.

I’m not really complaining. Any day at the beach is a good day. I am just surprised by these gusty winds. It feels like Kansas! We’ll try fishing again today. Perhaps if we get an earlier start we will miss the winds. They seem to pick up in the mid-afternoon. We can always go to a museum or take a ride to see the sights if we aren’t fishing. OR…we can take luxurious naps. I did get the second sock of the blue and orange pair started. And if you sit outside, you can sit where the camper blocks the wind. That’s not so bad!

💨

”But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.“
Genesis 8:1 NIV

Pancakes, Pizza, and Plenty of Sunshine!

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 01:30:00 -0600

I know, I know…I’ve told you this before, but these beds are SOOOOOOO comfortable. The old queen bed had very little support and it sagged in the middle. So Mr. FixIt and I rolled toward the center and had to fight to get up the incline and out of bed in the mornings. It was never restful and gave us both a backache. The twin beds are solid as a rock and the memory foam mattresses are just the right firmness to offer support and comfort. I am so happy we did this.

We slept so well on Thursday night and woke up refreshed yesterday morning about 8:30. We drove over to Stack ‘em High Pancakes and had breakfast. The owners were there and I had a lovely visit with Kristine. I met her the first time Mr. FixIt brought me to the beach and we really clicked. It’s been fun touching base with her every year to see what she’s been up to with the business and the kids and all their sports. She is full of energy, just like I was as a young mom.

Two-hundred twenty steps to the top of the Corolla Lighthouse.

After breakfast, we headed up to Duck to meet up with the kids at the condo. We hung around for a while. I worked on the cross-stitch sampler and when I got the border all the way around, I was off by one thread! I think it’s in a spot that won’t be too conspicuous so we’ll see if anyone will notice it.

What a view!

It was still windy yesterday so fishing or hanging out on the beach was not a viable option. We decided to drive up to the Corolla Lighthouse. We all walked up to the top and stood out on the observation deck. That was quite an undertaking for Mr. FixIt and me and we were both happy we could still accomplish the feat. We wandered around the grounds and the museum. We visited the gift shop and took all the pictures we wanted then headed back to the condo for pizza.

Kissing Shadows

We made it back to the camper around 7:30, but we couldn’t find an accessible spot to take a picture of the sunset. We’ll have better luck at our campsite further down the island. We move down there today. Then we can really set up the campsite the way we want it and be able to access our cooking utensils. We have salmon with broccoli, carrots, and asparagus to cook tonight!

🌊🌊🌊

”This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord Almighty is his name:“
Jeremiah 31:35 NIV

Ford 1, Turkey 0

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 01:30:00 -0600

This was the view at Oak Hollow Family Campground. When I checked out yesterday morning, the gal at the front desk was NOT happy that we snuck in after hours on another camper’s heels, nor that we took the site we thought was ours only to find we were supposed to be nine doors down. I mea culpaed my way out the door because we’re supposed to stay there again on our way home. This time we’ll be SURE to get there early!

Yesterday was a perfect travel day. We both slept well and Mr. FixIt LOVES the new beds so I’ll call that a big win for the remodel! We split the trip in two days of 300 miles driving. We had no issues save for a bobble here and there. I forgot to update the GPS and there was a new interchange that it didn’t recognize. We got turned around a little here and there from that, but it recalculated and we were soon on the right path.

Somewhere on US 64, a hen turkey flew right in front of us and there was no way to safely avoid hitting her. I hated it so bad and when I looked back there was a sea of feathers. We talked about it and Mr. FixIt said if the bird would have been three or four inches higher, it would have hit the grille of our truck and break it. If it would have been a foot higher, it would have hit the windshield and bounced up to the front of the camper. That would have been a costly repair.

We finally got to the island around 3:30 in the afternoon. We were on the Croatan Highway heading to the campground when the light suddenly changed and the guy in front of me slammed on his brakes. I slammed on mine. And the guy in the one ton behind us not only slammed on HIS brakes…he slid into the middle turn lane at an angle and stopped about six inches off our bumper! Thank God we are all safe.

Our campground is quiet considering it’s Bike Week down here. Of course, the fact that the temperature was in the low 50’s here today surely dampened the spirit of all but the hardiest of bikers. We met up with our son and daughter-in-law and the former Mrs. FixIt and her sister for dinner. They all came back to the camper to see the remodel and loved it.

We went to the store for a few things then came back and settled in for the night. We’ll get together with the kids today and do something. It’s supposed to be sunny, but not very warm so fishing may not be on the agenda. But it’s sure to be fun!

☀️

”Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”“
Luke 6:38 NIV

Whistle While You Work

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 01:30:00 -0600

This was the first wall I did. It’s kinda like putting together a puzzle. I added another support there in that space to the right.

Land’s sake, y’all…there’s a learning curve here but I’ve got the hang of it now. I had to make a run to Lowe’s today because the cashier didn’t hand me a bag of stuff that I needed. They had it waiting for me at the Pro Desk so while I was there, I added some screws and T-braces to make the beds really sturdy. So, I didn’t get started till till after noon.

Mr. FixIt brought the chop saw out and set it up on the saw horses for me. He watched me cut the first board and made sure I could operate the saw. And wouldn’t you know, the second board I cut an inch short. A good reminder to “measure twice, cut once!” But the wood wasn’t wasted. I can use it someplace else in the project.

I had a little surprise when I took the nightstand off this side. Those are the wires for the solar power. I didn’t want to make the bed any higher so I just cut out a little place in the board and put the wires down through it.

I finished the two outside walls of the beds. They are securely mounted to the walls and the floor. Now I can start filling in the blanks and finish the frames. But first…I have to go BACK to Lowe’s! I think when Mr. FixIt and I sat down to design this and count up the wood I would need, I forgot to multiply x2. I only need about seven more furring strips and maybe a couple of 2x2’s. Then I can put this thing to bed…so to speak. (See what I did there! lol)

Mr. FixIt will mow tomorrow while I finish up the camper. Then we can load up Tuesday. We take off early Wednesday for the beach and I’m SO excited!!! I may not have all the trim and details done before we leave, but the beds will be usable and oh so comfy! I have it all designed in my head and it’s going to be light and fresh.

This is the other side. It was a little trickier because of the water tank. I had a heck of a time getting in there and screwing down those pieces.

I love doing jobs like this. I always have. I remember when I was in grade school…maybe 5th or 6th grade…I asked my mom if I could have a lavender bedroom. I’ve always loved lavender…it’s so soft and soothing. She said she’d ask my dad. The next day, she took me to the hardware store to pick my color. Then I had to wait on my dad to paint it. I waited, and waited, and waited some more. Finally, I got tired of waiting. I didn’t have the faintest idea how to paint a room, so I opened the can and painted HELLO on my bedroom wall.

My dad was NOT happy. I didn’t know what I did meant he’d have to paint a couple of coats to cover. But oh….that room was so pretty, and I was HOOKED on doing all the things. It started a lifelong obsession with projects. I work a project to death….pushing, pushing, pushing. I used to say I do my best work when I’m on a deadline, but I’m not sure that’s as true now as it used to be.

This is the only photo I could find of Mom’s house. I’m sure I have some more somewhere…this is the only one I could get to fast.

When Mom died, I redid her kitchen. I’m the worst at taking before photos, but the kitchen turned out darling. I learned a LOT from that project. I have used those skills over and over. This isn’t nearly as difficult a job as that was. Not by a long shot. Of course, it took me nine months to do Mom’s house. I totally ripped out the bedroom of our camper with only five days to finish! I’m determined!!!

You never know what I’m going to get into do you?!

🩵🌷🩵

”I can do all this through him who gives me strength.“
Philippians 4:13 NIV

A Day of Planning and Gathering

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 01:30:00 -0600

I figured I’d better make Mr. FixIt a nice breakfast after springing the bedroom remodel for the camper on him unexpectedly and at the last minute. I was up super early…for me. It wasn’t quite 5:00 and even though I tried to go back to sleep, it was no go. I had too many things whirling through my mind. I got up and searched Pinterest for remodel ideas till I heard my sweetie up and rummaging around. He didn’t have any special requests for breakfast, so I made us spinach and mushroom omelets. Ohhhhh, they were so good and he was a happy camper!

We have a lot to do before the trip so I headed out to the camper to do a few things before I invited him out to see what I’ve done. He actually loved the design and he helped me tweak a few things. He told me in general what we needed to buy and I wrote everything down along with the measurements. We gathered up our lists and drawings and started to leave for Lowe’s when he got a phone call from our grandson.

The trip to Portsmouth to buy a Jeep on Friday was a bust, but he found another one just west of Columbus. He wanted to know if his Grandpa would take him over there. We don’t get to see this young man often enough so of course he said yes…it’s what Grandpas do! I told Mr. FixIt to take my truck and I’d take his to town and buy the stuff. That turned into a five hour ordeal. I had to stop at Walmart first and get gas and a prescription. I wandered around there for a little bit buying some last minute things then headed over to Lowe’s.

The store was slammed and they were short staffed. I finally found a nice young man who helped me till it was time to check out and go home. Then another nice young man took his place. They helped me select the right wood. They sorted and picked out the best and straightest boards in each size. I chose one kind of plywood then I thought I’d better check in with Mr. FixIt to see if he thought we should go a little thicker. We decided to go with the beefier plywood.

That’s the way it went the whole time. I wanted white board and bead paneling for the base. Then I thought I’d better get the grey wood. The guys loaded in on my cart, but by the time I got up front, I changed my mind because if I’m going to go to all this trouble, I’d better get what’s going to make me smile every time I see it. I went back and got the white board and bead. Then I had to find the right screws, a multi-tool blade, a couple of piano hinges, and some Phillips head drill bits. We stripped a couple yesterday and I wanted to be sure I had just what I needed. I even found the piston hinges I wanted. The good thing is, I can return anything I don’t use.

By 5:00 this afternoon, this fatigue I’ve been dealing with this week started coming on. I asked Hubby #2 the other night if my symptoms from the Shingrix shot were normal and he said yes…it’s just all part of it. I will say, yesterday’s symptoms were far less than the day before so it’s getting better. I did stay better hydrated and actually felt like eating something, so I’m sure that helped.

Today I can get back out there and start the build. I received a notification last night that we had a frost warning from 2:00 to 8:00 this morning. Ugh…we just can’t break out of this cycle. It won’t last long, but it won’t be very warm either. Building is the fun part!

Oh, and just a note. I remember a few years ago I put something out here on my blog about putting your little scraps of thread and yarn out in the spring for birds to pick up…then you find colorful nests. However, that turned out to be wrong according to Julie Zickefoose, (https://www.juliezickefoose.blogspot.com )my favorite bird expert and friend that I’ve never met. Julie doesn’t live all that far from me but her life is busier than mine and that’s saying something! One of these days we’ll meet in person. Anyway, some of you suggested I put dryer lint out in the yard for the birds to use as nesting material and, you know me…I research the heck out of everything. Turns out, lint is NOT for the birds! Here’s a great article: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/providing-nest-material-for-birds-dos-donts/

So, until tomorrow, I’ll be in the camper getting this thing done! Enjoy your Sunday, my friends!

🩵

”The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.“
Proverbs 21:5 NIV

Knitting, Mowing, and a Solar Eclipse

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 07:00:05 -0600

Me and my Baby

I actually had two stories to tell you yesterday morning, but the one I settled on took precedence. So, I’ll tell you about the smoke first. I woke up with a start yesterday morning…the strong smell of smoke making me jump out of bed. I sleep with the window open and the smoke was so strong it burned my strong and eyes. I looked out the window and everything was white…like a thick, pea-soup fog.

From Mr. FixIt, Jr.

The first thing I did was put my hand on the door and the door knob. It was cool, and the smoke alarms were silent. Good…I don’t think it’s in the house. I threw on some clothes, shut the window and went out in the hall. No smoke smell there so whatever was burning was definitely not our house, so I didn’t wake Mr. FixIt. It was only 30° so I threw on a coat, grabbed my phone, and slipped on my shoes.

I couldn’t get the focus right, but it’s still pretty cool!

The smell was super strong outside but I couldn’t tell where it was coming from. We have some neighbors who burn wood, but I’ve never smelled it that strong. And, the smoke was white. Black, acrid smoke comes from a burning house. White smoke comes from burning wood. Some of these little hollers around here are steep and narrow. If a power line arced on some dead trees, they could be in trouble in a hurry.

the light was actually very cool at the peak!

While I wasn’t convinced it was something to be terribly concerned about, I did feel I should at least call dispatch and ask if there were any fires reported out our way. The dispatcher said he hadn’t heard of anything, asked my address and a few other questions, then said he would send someone to check it out.

I always love how it looks when I’m done. The near field.

Now, I was expecting a guy in a pickup truck to come by and look around…maybe drive up the road a piece, check the next road or two down. What I didn’t expect was to hear the fire siren go off over in town! Oh, no…they were going to make people get out and come over here on a Sunday morning. I began to wish I would have waited. But, better to be safe than sorry, right?

The far field. See that tan patch way out there on the left? That is one of the pollinator gardens. It didn’t really do much of anything last year…just grass. So I mowed it down short and I’ll see if I can plant some things there.

So, I stood there waiting. We live way out in the country and we have a volunteer fire and EMS squad.We are blessed, because there are a lot of communities in West Virginia that have no access to emergency services. We’re a poor state. About ten minutes passed when I could hear the big fire truck coming down the hill. He tried to go out our road and thought better of it. It is very narrow and there’s no place out there to turn a rig that big around.

LOVE this spring green! The maple tree us just barely budding.

They backed out to the two-lane. The squad truck came and a couple of pickups. The chief sent them down to check out the other roads then came over and talked to me. By this time, a breeze started blowing and the smoke was being moved on down the road away from us. I could breathe better. We both decided it was a series of events that caused this. It has been damp the last few days. The weather was warmer on Saturday, then dropped way down to 31° overnight. We were in a temperature inversion where the cold air was pushing down on warmer air at the service. That created fog that lay low to the ground, as did the smoke from the neighbor’s wood stoves. I apologized to the chief and he said I did the right thing. He too was worried the woods were on fire somewhere and was glad he came to check.

The new birdhouses. I bought them at Aldi’s “Aisle of Shame” on Sunday afternoon.

But even that couldn’t top the solar eclipse of yesterday! It was a fun morning with the knitting group, then I came home, cooked a late breakfast of grits and eggs, then jumped on the tractor. I wanted to get the whole place mowed before more rain kicks in this week. I was toodling along when Mr. FixIt flagged me down to come watch the eclipse. He had the lounge chairs set up on the deck and our eclipse glasses ready. I went in and got a cold drink then settled in beside him to watch.

We had 96% coverage here in West Virginia. I really would have loved to see the total eclipse. We weren’t very far from visibility, but we just had so much to do. And 96% is nothing to sneeze at. It was awesome to watch! But, shortly after the peak, I got back on the tractor. The phrase “burning daylight” took on a whole new meaning! Just as I sat down to right this, a thunderstorm rolled through. Good timing!

I’m heading to town today for lunch with some of my girlfriends then I’m going out to The Farm till Friday. I need to get some things done on the computer and that high speed internet is calling my name! I also want to get that tractor running for the summer of mowing ahead. I’ll take some handwork with me, too. These will be the busiest months of the year coming up.

I’m ready!

🌷

”Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.“
Genesis 1:11 NIV

Counted Cross Stitch

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 01:30:00 -0600

It’s been forever since I’ve done a cross stitch. When I took our daughter and her mom with me to tour Kreinik Manufacturing Company in our hometown, I bought a cross stitch kit. It has the pattern and the silk threads, but it doesn’t have the 32ct linen to go with it. Also, it’s been forever since I got rid of my cross stitching supplies so I don’t have a frame. I really like the Q-Snaps and the kind that you roll. We don’t have a needlework supply store anywhere near here and I’m not finding exactly what I want online. And now, Kreinik has been sold to a company in California so the business will move there soon. I’m so happy for my friend, Doug Kreinik. This was his family’s business…started by his parents…after 51 years of business. We wish Doug and Myla the very best in their retirement!

Are any of you current or past cross stitchers? Do you have supplies for sale that you no longer use and you wouldn’t mind parting with? I’m looking for a 12” by 12” piece of 32ct linen in a greyish greenish brownish color. And a cross stitch frame of some sort…not an embroidery hoop. That damages the fibers in the linen and you can never get the marks out. Let me know if you have anything.

I’m also looking for a good online needlework shop. I had such a lovely little shop in the early 2000’s. It was in the oldest wood frame building in Glenwood Springs a couple streets off the main drag and catty corner from the Amtrak Station. I often got customers who called ahead for an order, would jump off the train and run over to pick up the bag I prepared form them and run back to the train. When you are traveling cross-country on a train, you’d better have something to keep your busy.

My shop was around at the very beginning of internet commerce and I did have an online presence. But it was a little TOO early. If I’d been able to stick it out another year, I might have been able to really do something with it. It wasn’t meant to be. God whispered that it was time to walk away. Then…just a few months later, my mom died rather suddenly and I was off to West Virginia to take care of her estate. If I’d still had my shop, it would have been really difficult to be there for my brother and do the work I needed to do.

I spent the day downloading pictures and graphics from my computer to my external hard drive. One of our readers had the right idea yesterday. She said the problem could be the cloud and she was exactly right. My laptop is set up to upload all the new files that come onboard and send them to the cloud. Then, anytime I need to use one, or even open the folder, the file has to be downloaded. Our internet is SO slow it takes hours to do what should take minutes. I didn’t get out to the farm yet. I will before too long.

It rained off and on yesterday. The Ohio River should have crested by the time you read this. Hopefully without further loss of life. I am praying you all are safe…from the weather, and from the extremely rare earthquake that struck in the northeast. These are the times that try men’s souls and it’s just one thing after another. The Bible talks about this. I am not afraid as this is not my home. We know who wins in the end.

🙏🏼

”Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.“
1 Peter 4:10 NIV

April Showers

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 01:30:00 -0600

Easter Flowers

This is going to be a rainy week. This is the time of year where you don’t know quite how to dress. It can be in the low 30’s in the morning and the mid 70’s by the afternoon. Then, as soon as the sun dips below the horizon, the chill takes over and you’d better have a jacket. I was up early to get ready for knitting group. There were only three of us yesterday. The other two gals were crocheting scrubbies…one teaching the other. I get it. When you’re learning new things, it’s easiest to talk it out to really get the hang of a new skill.

I have a hard time chewing bubblegum and walking. I was trying to crochet another pair of shark slippers so I was counting my stitches in my head and listening to them counting stitches and reading the pattern out loud. After three attempts, I decided to do some knitting instead. I have a better muscle memory for that. I did the Turkish cast-on to start a pair of socks and after a few rows, I couldn’t figure out why that sock looked so huge! Turns out, I was supposed to divide the stitches between the two needles and I didn’t. So, I had to rip that project out, too.

Pulled Pork

The only thing I had left in my bag of tricks was a hat I’ve been knitting for Big. I picked it up and started working on the decreases where I’d left off early last fall. I knitted four rows and knew right away I’d made a mistake three rows prior. Out came those stitches and I did manage to get the mistake fixed and re-kitted those rows and I was done. I needed to get to the post office before they went to lunch so I could ship the shark slippers for my friend in South Dakota.

I got home and policed the area around my Big Red Chair. Things were getting a little out of hand and I needed to tidy up. Once that was done, I put the pork roast in the Dutch oven and and put it in to bake for about 2.5-3 hours. While it baked, I went out to do a little mowing…my first time on the tractor this year. I hate the first cutting. You have to stop so often to pick up limbs and sticks so they won’t get caught in the belt of the mower deck. So, it’s drive. Stop, Turn off the engine. Pick up sticks and limbs. Toss them over the hill. Get back on the tractor. Start it up. Repeat. Over and over and over. Once I got the perimeter mowed, it went a lot easier and I didn’t have to stop nearly so often.

We both quit at 5:30 and went in for supper. There is nothing like a hot, pulled pork sandwich with French fries. We have enough left over to have at least four or five meals. We also like cold pork sandwiches and we like fried pork roast with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. It will be nice to not have to cook much the rest of the week.

Have you all noticed an uptick in the usual allergies this year? Mine have been going crazy even with extra antihistamines and steroid nasal spray. Global warming is changing the growing season and the allergens. I hope it backs off and doesn’t stay this bad all season.

I hope you all had a nice Easter! I had more sugar yesterday than I’ve had in months and I had a heck of a time sleeping Sunday night. My Bonus Daughter wanted us to take food home from Easter supper and I knew if I took sweets, I wouldn’t be able to stay out of them. The Former Mrs. FixIt gave me a little bucket filled with chocolate eggs and so far, I haven’t been tempted by them.

🌷

”Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.“
Zechariah 10:1 NIV

A Good Time Was Had

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 01:30:00 -0600

Tuesday night was clear as a bell and the stars were so close it felt like you could reach out and brush them around with your hand. When we got home from town, the moon was just short of rising of the far ridge across the two-lane blacktop. By the time I went out to write my post, the moon had come up and it was so bright out, I didn’t need the headlamp I always carry with me.

I wrote my post and as I crawled under the covers, the moon was shining through the camper window and I just had to get up and capture the moment. It didn’t disappoint! One shot and it was perfect. I love when I get good pictures to share with you all. I can paint pictures with my words, but it’s also magical to have the photographic evidence to back it up.

I didn’t sleep very well Tuesday night. Even though the outdoor temp was in the 40’s, I was way too hot. Too many blankets, heavy jammies, and I needed to open the window I had closed earlier. When I finally drifted off, I slept blissfully deep and was rearing to go when I got up yesterday morning.

I drove to town to pick up my bonus WV Daughter. We met her mom at Kreinik Manufacturing to check out their sale and take a tour of the factory floor. We were all really excited to see the place and I was happy to see the parking lot full. I picked up a a beautiful cross stitch kit for 32 count linen using silk thread. I still need to get the linen and I need a couple little items that are helpful for working with cross stitch. OMGosh! It’s been so many years since I’ve done that. I got so burned out on needlework when I had my shop. This is getting me excited to pick up my needle and thread. I also bought a couple of cones of pure silk yarn to make a little summer tee.

Here’s a cool video showing some of the spinning machines that make the specialty threads that Kreinik produces. Some of these machines are over 100 years old and were used by Goodyear to spin the fibers that go in tires. These threads are used all over the world by needle artists, costumers, and fly fishermen.

When we finished at Kreinik’s, we drove over to Mary B’s…one of our favorite little restaurants in town. We had a late breakfast and wonderful conversation till I finally had to take my leave and head off for errands. I wanted to get the oil changed and the tires rotated, but when I got there…I would have been the fifth person in line and that was a no go for me. I’ll try again on Friday. I paid the taxes and stopped to pick up the new dishwasher and headed home.

Mr. FixIt and I unloaded the new appliance and stored it for when we are ready to install it. We found a space to put it under cover without it being IN the living room! Score! Mr. FixIt had been out all afternoon cutting up trees and we were both whupped. I cooked some spaghetti and heated up the sauce with Italian sausage and called it good. I couldn’t get it together to even pick up my crochet hook to work on the shark slippers.

I’m so happy we don’t have to go anywhere today…unless something unforeseen should arise. I’m looking forward to a home day!

🌷

”My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.“
Isaiah 32:18 NIV

All My Life is a Circle

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 02:30:00 -0600

We really don’t get much of a winter in West Virginia anymore. Global warming, climate change…whatever you want to call it…times, they are a’changin’. The forecasters are predicting snow here in the mountain state. I doubt it will amount to much, but Mr. FixIt plugged the snowblower battery into the charger…just in case. I sit here in my Big Red Chair, Echo by my side, watching the temperature fall and the little snowflake icon promising me it’s real.

It was lovely to stay home all day. It was Mr. FixIt’s turn to make breakfast. His specialty is oatmeal with the perfect touch of vanilla, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. He topped mine with blueberries. SO yummy! It might just as well be Groundhog Day…the movie…as every day here is much the same. Especially during the winter months. It reminds me of a song one of my besties sent me yesterday by Harry Chapin…Circle. You can listen to it HERE.

I worked a little on that blanket and I finally give up. It’s a very complicated pattern. Each square needs to be perfect or it won’t fit together. I’m trying a different approach but I’m not holding out much hope. I could have made ten things in the time I’ve been messing with this one.

When I got frustrated with it, I decided to get back to the book I’m reading…The Pioneers by David McCullough. It’s about the Ohio Territory and the formation of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It starts out with the first settlement formed being Marietta, OH just up the river from where I was born. I’m only 75 pages into it, and I really have to concentrate, but I’m enjoying it. My son-in-law’s day…our dear friend Ben…is reading it, too. He has a lot of family from around these parts so one of these days when they make it out to is it, we’ll explore all these haunts.

Mr. FixIt was deep into a war movie when I decided to read. Since it was sunny and not to terribly cold, I took my book and a hot beverage and went out to the camper. I turned on the electric heater, snuggled under my blanking in the recliner, and read till it was time to fix supper.

I picked up a rotisserie chicken at Sam’s on Thursday. Some of the supermarket varieties are so scrawny it doesn’t really pay to buy them. But the ones at Sam’s are plump and juicy and you get a lot of meat for $4.98! AND…you don’t have to cook! I had a bag of baby gold potatoes and a bag of broccoli florets handy. I quartered the little potatoes, sprayed them with a light coating of avocado oil and seasoned them with something I got at TJMax some time ago…a roasted vegetable seasoning with salt, pepper, garlic, rosemary, and paprika. I put the seasonings in a bag and tossed the oily potatoes in it and dumped them in the air fryer. 390° for 21 minutes.

While the potatoes were cooking, I put two leg quarters of the chicken in the microwave to reheat and steamed the broccoli. Everything came out at the exact same time and it looked like I’d worked over a hot stove all afternoon. You always know when what you’ve made for supper is a hit with the hubs….there were lots of yummy sounds coming from his side of the room. I will admit…it was great!

Even though I’m not a big TV fan, I’m a big Mr. FixIt fan so if spending quality time with him in the cold months means we watch the idiot box more often…so be it. We don’t know what the future brings…either of us could be gone tomorrow. I’ll tolerate some mindless TV if I can be with my sweetie.

I think I’ll do a FB Live this morning…Saturday Coffee with Marshmallow Ranch. Let’s shoot for around 10:00 Eastern Time, shall we??? Hope to see you here in a bit!

🩵

”In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.“
Psalms 127:2 NIV

Football!!!

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 02:30:00 -0600

My latest basket!

What a wonderful long weekend off! Sometimes you just need to unplug and recharge. Did I accomplish a ton? Nope, but I accomplished what was important. I chatted with my brother over his new Echo device. He things that is the coolest thing ever. Unfortunately, there is a setting on his end that when he calls me, it’s on my phone and not the Echo, so we need to adjust something. It may actually have to wait till the next time I’m there because my phone may have to be there.

We went to our littlest great grand’s 2nd Birthday Party. What a sweetie pie! They live in a lovely house with very high ceilings and hardwood floors. Add a handful of screaming children driving little electric cards all the way around the kitchen island and it was chaos. THEN they served these little ankle biters cake and ice cream! It was crazy and happy and cuteness overload!!!

We didn’t get to see these littles since last summer. So we brought their Christmas AND birthday gifts with us. I put the hat I made on the birthday boy and it was as though he’d never worn a toboggan before. He held his head very still and only moved his eyes. I felt sorry for him and took it off. He seemed terribly relieved. lol

Mr. FixIt went to the bowling alley to visit with his friends midday since the Super Bowl was on last night. I sat on the laptop with my headphones on watching Big swim her heart out! She did really well and I could see Daughter #1 and Son-in-Law Extraordinaire on screen several times as they helped out. My SIL has a degree in photography so he was taking pictures of the swimmers. Those kids worked so hard for four straight days. I know they are exhausted and I think they have to go back to classes tomorrow. College athletics are rough and college athletes are tough. It builds good character.

I finished another crocheted basket and even have enough yarn left to make another small one. I also have another teddy bear knitted and ready to put together. I have knitting group today and I’ll work on another blanket, but this one is different. And complicated. Big time learning curve, but I’m up for the challenge.

The rest of my weekend was spent relaxing. I slept in the camper for two nights. Not really “camping”, but still so much fun. I slept with the window opened and listened to an Eastern Screech Owl trilling down by the creek. It was really soft and low and was so soothing. There was a slight breeze. It rained off and on and I laid there on that memory foam mattress under the electric blanket and listened as it tapped gently on the roof. It was so soothing and I feel like I’ve been a week’s vacation.

We don’t have anything to do till Thursday so we’re really looking forward to a good week…relaxing and enjoying our time together.

Go Chiefs!!!

🩵

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.“
Matthew 11:28 NIV

#SuperBowl, #KansasCityChiefs, #Football

Knitting and Driving

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 02:30:00 -0600

I spent a little time in my favorite shop in town…Mulberry Lane.

I love the Monday morning knitting group. Back in the day, when I had my little needlework shop in Colorado, we had one day a week when the ladies came for the day. They were lined up when I opened the door, and I walked out with them at 5:00. We ordered lunch in and no subject was off the table. I opened that little shop a year after Hubby #2 and I split up. I had big hopes for that little place. It was a safe haven for me…a therapy. of sorts. An opportunity to rebuild my seriously damaged self-esteem. I lost my shirt…twice actually…but I learned many valuable life lessons.

This little shop is filled to the brim with eye candy!

After Mr. Virgo died and I left Colorado, I didn’t touch a knitting needle for years. I didn’t have the mental spoons to concentrate on anything detailed. Eventually, I picked up my needles again and I found knitting to be soothing. Grief has cycles and once I got to where I could focus, knitting became my therapy. I was thrilled to get back into a knitting group and share time with like-minded women.

Mr. FixIt’s eye appointment takes hours, so I browsed…for hours!

We had a lovely time, sitting around the tables, sharing our exploits of the past week. One has started making little knitted babies and I spent some time with her, showing her the ins and outs of construction. It reminded me of the days I taught knitting in my shop. “If you build it, they will come.” It isn’t just about baseball. You teach someone to work with needles, they’ll keep coming back to your shop to feed their hobby. Kinda like a pusher…I get ‘em hooked, so to speak.

I stopped to pick Mr. FixIt up and we went to town for his eye appointment. Then we went out to dinner at Olive Garden with a gift card we got for his birthday. Soup and Salad…the best! And we were actually home before dark…can you believe it?! We spent a quiet evening watching old episodes of Bull. And, just so you know…and I stay accountable…I had a nice piece of pie with my tea. It was divine…no guilt attached!

shhhhh….don’t tell anybody, but…I bought a hat!

🥧

”And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.“
2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV

A Me Day

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 02:30:00 -0600

The World’s Best Dish Cloth from Rada Cutlery!

While it wasn’t a day of self-indulgence, I did have the day off to myself with a trip to town. I met some girlfriends from my high school for lunch which was just delightful. After lunch I picked up the former Mrs. FixIt to run an errand with her since her car is in the shop. When we were done, I stopped at a darling little shop in our town. I would have loved to just spend an hour or two browsing, but I had too many things to do. I did have a goal in mind there. One of our granddaughters gave me a really cool dishcloth she bought there and I wanted some more. They are great! They are textured enough to clean your dishes and wring out so well, they dry quickly and never smell. I selected four so I always have a clean one handy.

My next stop was Hobby Lobby for some yarn then Sam’s. I love going there. I have several things that I buy over and over and I know where they are located in the store so I can get in and out of there quickly. A stop at Rural King for birdseed and it was time to meet my sweetheart at the diner for an early supper. I made one last stop at the big box store to pick up a few things then headed home.

It rained all day yesterday and was a balmy 53°. By the time I headed home, it was nearly dark and was very foggy. It was hard to see very far in front of me. It wasn’t long and I had a string of cars behind me. I hate doing that, but there are so many deer out this road after dark, I didn’t dare go faster. Mr. FixIt beat me home by twenty minutes and met me in the driveway with the dolly. I got everything put away and I was done for the night.

The yarn I bought at Hobby Lobby will help me finish the baby blanket and make some more babies. I can do that today. Mr. FixIt will be going to town this afternoon to meet one of his buddies and go to the funeral home for the mother of one of his bowling buddies. I am expecting to stay home today and play in my studio. I just love these little babies and they are so much fun to make!

🩵

”Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.“
Hebrews 13:16 ESV

Getting Things Done

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 02:30:00 -0600

I woke up yesterday to my alarm that tells me when to put in my eye drops…long after I usually get up. I’ve been sleeping so soundly the last few months. I’ve never slept like this in my life and I attribute it to a combination of healthy eating, weight loss, and the mushroom coffee I’ve been drinking for the last nine months. I feel so good and when you sleep soundly, everything is in harmony.

You know, I told you I wasn’t going to town again this year? Yeah, well that lasted till yesterday! Mr. FixIt had a prescription ready and I forgot to put blueberries on his list when he went to town on Wednesday. So I offered to buy him breakfast and then we could get the last things on the list and that would be it till after Christmas. (Crossing my fingers here!)

We had a fun day together. A very late breakfast at Mary B’s set the stage. Their pancakes are pretty good. Not at good as Long Table’s Popcorn Pancakes, but still….pretty tasty! I treated myself to a little bacon with my pancakes and eggs. Hey, it’s Christmas, right? You can’t deny yourself the occasional indulgence.

When we got home and I put things away, I headed to the studio to get some more gifts made. All the stockings for the West Virginia family are finished and filled. Hat and scarf sets are almost finished. The guys have hats and we’ll add to that at the after-Christmas sales. I want to make some quilted table runners so I’ll get to that today. Then I can sit down and just knit for fun!

I always send my Colorado kids money, but I got gifts for the grands this year. I think they’ll love them! Kids get harder to buy for as they get older and money is always the perfect color and size! Next year, the Colorado peeps get handmade items like the WV family got this year. If you add the Colorado and West Virginia families together, we come up to 33 people! That’s a lot to make for every year. We’ve asked our kids to gift us experiences instead of stuff. We’d much rather have a dinner out with them than a tchotchke for the house or camper. We have everything we need. We need more time together. So that’s our wish…

Time with family.

🎄

”Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.“
Psalm 127:3 ESV

Stitching Up a Holiday Together

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 02:30:00 -0600

Showing off the new Slipper Socks!

Knitting group was a lot of fun yesterday. We had a full house and lots of goodies to nibble on. One of the sweet ladies remembered I’m watching what I eat so she made this great dessert that tasted like a Creamsicle. It was made with sugar free orange Jello, sugar free instant vanilla pudding, mandarin oranges, and sugar free Cool Whip. It was SO good…a guilt free indulgence!

We had lovely conversations and shared what we are currently working on. Then we exchanged little gifts. I got a crocheted scarf, a crocheted basket, five ornaments, a package of lavender bath salts, a pair of wool slipper socks, a pint of home canned bread and butter pickles, and a Russell Stover Chocolate Marshmallow Caramel Christmas Ornament. I never dreamed I would get so many sweet things from these beautiful ladies. I’ve really come to love them in the short time I’ve been gathering with them on Monday mornings.

When we finally went our separate ways, I drove into town to pick up some things in town. I’ve been working away making things and needed to replenish my stores. Right now I’m crocheting scrubbies for stocking stuffers in WVU’s colors. I also finished another Christmas Stocking. I’m having a ton of fun and not feeling a bit of stress over the holidays.

We’ve been getting snow squalls off and on since yesterday. And we are now up to eight people who caught Covid at our class dinner on the 8th. We are praying no one gets seriously ill and no one else comes down with it. It looks like I don’t need to go anywhere for the rest of the week so I am quite content here at home with my baking and my projects!

Are you all getting last minute preparations completed? If you are in bereavement, I hope you’re enjoying what you can while practicing good self care. Just breathe, my lovelies…we’ll get through this. And if we make some memories…that’s a bonus!

🎄

”Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.“
Proverbs 13:20 ESV

A Day on the Town

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 02:30:00 -0600

Doing a little shopping…for little bananas? Have you ever eaten one of these? What’s the point?

Mr. FixIt and I are together all the time. We love to be together and enjoy the same things for the most part. And, every once in awhile, I need a day that I can take just for me. I do that at The Farm whenever I can, but I seldom get a day to myself in town. Our trips to town usually entail one or both of us having an appointment or shopping. I had an appointment yesterday for my eyes and Mr. FixIt had the roofers at the house, so I went alone after knitting group.

I got up too late to have breakfast before knitting so I stopped at my favorite diner…Mary B’s. Pancakes, eggs, and sausage. Knowing how and when and what to eat is easier when you’re writing everything down and keeping track, but it gets tougher when I get in the driver’s seat. I’m getting down to the end of the Noom course and I made an executive decision to renew for another six months. Winter is my nemesis when it comes to eating and I want to be sure I can get through without regaining the weight I’ve lost.

I didn’t wander around town as much as I thought I would. I did go to Michael’s to check out their sales and picked up a few things. Throw in a quick stop at the store and to pick up Chinese food for supper and I was home well before dark. The roofers are winding up their job and it looks great! This roof ought to last us the rest of our lives. Isn’t that a sobering thought? I remember the first time we put a roof on a house back in 1990. We had our whole lives ahead of us. And now…two husbands later, we’re putting (hopefully) the last one.

I knew we were going to get old someday. I just thought it would take longer to get here. Not that I’m OLD, mind you. Age is just a number and I hear 70 is the new 50. It breaks my heart to see my contemporaries getting sick and dying. All the more reason to not wait to visit people. Call your friends when they come to mind. Add it to your calendar to check in. We don’t know when we’ll run out of chances.

I’ll get to stay home the rest of the week and I’m knee deep in holiday gift making. I may even start on some of the baking and candy making. Have you all started making things or am I really late to the party? I’ve been looking at toffee and pralines recipes. Doesn’t that sound yummy? What’s your favorite treat to make for the holidays?

🎄

”A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.“
Proverbs 17:17 ESV

Santa Came Early!

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 02:30:00 -0600

The other day, one of my besties…Gail…posted that she got a circular knitting loom and it’s a game changer. Not wanting to be left out, I started researching them. At the same time, one of the gals at knitting group told us she had one and went home to get it. She gave us a demonstration and I was sold. I ordered one online and it arrived Friday Afternoon. We had the Class Christmas Dinner Friday night so I had to wait till yesterday to play with it.

Right out of the box, I’ll tell you it was great fun. I can knit a lot faster and it doesn’t hurt my wrists. I made two hats. Then I experimented with different yarns. It definitely doesn’t like the fancy yarns, but it did a really nice job with worsted weight. I can actually make handmade things with this that I can sell in my Etsy shop so keep an eye out for that.

The knitting loom certainly doesn’t take the place of hand knitting. I pulled out the Christmas stocking I started last year and wondered if maybe I could make them on the loom. I found a pattern and tried it. OMGosh! Y’all…it was HUGE! I’ll have to tell Mr. FixIt it’s MY stocking and he gets to fill it! lol I wish I would have knitted more on the stockings this year. I may have to wait till next year to gift them.

We woke up to rain yesterday morning and that took care of the roofing job till next week. The guys came out to seal around the exhaust pipes and clean the gutters so the rain wouldn’t wash debris down the storm drains. Mr. FixIt is one of the most gregarious people I’ve ever met. People seem to be drawn to him and he can talk to anyone. The owner of the construction company came out with the workers and visited with us for a good hour. He and his dad did some work on this house back in the early ‘80s and they know a lot of the same people.

Actually, after living here for seven years, I’m finally running into people I know in our little town and I love it! Mr. FixIt isn’t the only gregarious person in the family, I guess. I hope you are enjoying the weekend and taking some time for yourselves. Remember, you can’t fill anyone else’s cup if yours is empty!

🎄

”“He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.“
Job 6:14 ESV

Self Indulgence or Self Care?

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 02:30:00 -0600

Sometimes you just have to do it. It isn’t selfish to do something just for you. It’s healthy, and something I wish I would have learned a lot earlier in my life. I joined the craft group at one of the local churches yesterday morning. And by morning I mean 9:00AM. Ok, it was 10:00AM to my body, but still… I don’t usually get moving around much before that and I’ll never schedule an early morning appointment in town if I can help it. I spent all my life either getting up at the crack of dawn for work or for kids. I don’t do it if I don’t have to.

There were only three of us there, plus a woman who is part of the lay ministry there. She’s thinking of getting back into crocheting. I originally met one of the gals in the Post Office this summer just before we left on the big Colorado trip. We got to talking about crafts and I asked if there was a group that meets. She said yes and invited me to join them. I told her I had to wait till the summer travel season was over but then I definitely would come!

One was working on a crochet project. And the other was using a round loom to make slippers. I worked on the afterthought heel on that pair of socks I started at the beach in April! I did NOT get much knitting done this year. Between the king sized quilt, the wedding, camping, mowing…well, you get it. I’ve been busy. So yesterday was a much needed break to chat with other women.

It’s fun getting to fellowship with other women, especially those who live in our community. I’ve lived here for six years and I’m only just beginning to recognize people at the grocery store. I love hearing their stories and watching their projects. It’s also a great way to learn about the little town we live in. There are so few opportunities to do this. I’m still going to check into doing something at the senior center.

It’s not that I’m lacking in things to do. When I got home from knitting, I tackled the pile of documents that I set aside to be dealt with this week. We have to go to town today for Mr. FixIt’s follow-up appointment for covid. I have a list of things that I need to do… get the oil changed and tires rotated, get the truck inspected and the new tags, and get the transmission flushed. These are all things that get put off till mowing season is over. And thank goodness it is!

Are you having trouble with the time change? I was sitting in the family room yesterday along about 5:00. I looked at my husband and asked, “Is it time for bed yet???” He just laughed, but he agreed it felt a LOT later than it was. That’s also because I woke up at 4:30 yesterday morning and couldn’t get back to sleep. I hate that. I go through periods where I sleep like the dead, then there are others where I toll and turn all night. Maybe it’s the moon!

I think I’ll hit the family room hard when we get back from town and get that camping gear downstairs. (No, it didn’t go anywhere…I was taking care of a sick hubby.) If I get a good portion of that done, I might be able to go to the farm for a couple of days and work on the fast internet.

When it was time for supper, I asked my sweetheart what he wanted. He’s never really sure, but since he’s had Covid, his appetite comes and goes. He wasn’t on top of his game yesterday, so I told him I had some chicken and I could make Chicken Parmesan if thought that sounded good. He perked right up and said YES. It was SO easy. I pounded a huge chicken breast with a tenderizing tool. I dipped it flour then beaten egg, then Italian style Panko break crumbs, back into the egg, and finished with panko. I sautéed it in an iron skillet till the breading was getting crispy. I topped it with just enough Italian Sausage Spaghetti Sauce to cover it. You don’t want to cook tomato sauce in an iron skillet. The acid works on the cast iron and gives an awful metallic taste. I covered it lightly with a sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil and popped it into a preheated 350° oven for about 25-30 minutes. I cooked some spaghetti al dente, topped it with half the chicken on each plate and sprinkled parmesan over it. OMGosh! It was as good or better than any restaurant. Mr. FixIt did everything but lick the plate clean so I think it passed his approval. It’s definitely good for company!

So, that was my Monday. A good start to a good week!

🍁

“Give us this day our daily bread,”
Matthew 6:11 ESV

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Ho Ho Ho! Cute little Santa to brighten your tree!

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Oh, Lucy…I’m Home!!!

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 01:30:00 -0600

We bugged out a day early and came home. We stayed at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, Virginia the last night and it is truly a gorgeous place to stay. We were in a little campground called Creekside and while we couldn’t get a site right on the creek, it was still beautiful. The sites are well spaced and we had electric and water. We had a second night reserved, but it was cold and rainy. It got down into the 30’s overnight and with the rain, we couldn’t get out and hike or fish in the lake or sit outside. So yesterday morning, I smiled sweetly at Mr. FixIt and said, “You know, we’re less than five hours from home and you can sleep in your own bed tonight?” It didn’t take him long to decide that was a fine idea.

I wish the sun would have been out because the colors were absolutely breathtaking! But even with cloudy, drizzly skies they were spectacular. Poor Mr. FixIt…I’d say, “OMGosh! Quick! Get a picture of that!!!” He’d pick his phone up, open the camera, focus, and we’d be past it by then! Bless his heart…he did his best and we did get some good shots but nothing that comes close to what we were seeing in person. It was truly magical and was the “picture perfect” ending to the very best trip we’ve ever taken together!

We didn’t get home till after 5:00 last night and I was beat. So, here’s a couple of the best shots from yesterday. I’m going to soak in a hot tub and sleep till noon!

Thanks for traveling with me vicariously. See you tomorrow!

🍁

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV

So Long, Seashore!

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 01:30:00 -0600

Sunrise at the Outer Banks

As they say, all good things must come to an end and we have to leave this beautiful place today. I finally got a sunrise photo yesterday morning. We aren’t necessarily early risers so we kept missing them. We couldn’t have had a prettier October week at the beach if we would have custom ordered it. Although we did have a couple of rainy days, it wasn’t really bad. There were a lot of people camping here in tents and I’m so grateful we have Grace to keep us warm and dry.

I did go out in the afternoon to take the big cell phone antenna down. I saw on The Weather Channel that we could possibly get thunderstorms and that thing could have acted like a lightning rod. It isn’t difficult at all to put it up and take it down and it really made a difference in our reception. Even though I was conscious of my time online this week, I do rely on internet to get my posts out everyday. Writing this blog may seem to some like something that could easily be put aside for vacation time, but I’ve written an essay almost daily since its inception and I just don’t feel right if I haven’t had time to write to you all. It is my mission, my ministry, and my therapy.

The old Oregon Inlet Coast Guard Station

As I write this, Mr. FixIt is sitting beside me, watching a Tom Selleck movie with his headphones on. The wind and rain is buffeting the camper around as the storm whips through the campground. The neighbors are sitting in their truck instead of their tent to avoid the weather. I would ask them in, but they have two dogs and we just don’t have the extra room. The breeze coming in through the two windows we do have open feels wonderful.

The old Oregon Inlet Coast Guard Station

Now that we are leaving, I can tell you we stayed at Oregon Inlet Campground. On the photo, you can see the blue dot where our campsite is located, and across the long bridge, you can see a short expanse of the old Bonner Bridge that they kept and use as a fishing pier. We went there yesterday and parked in the lot, then walked out through the dunes to the beach. And, just like always, I found several feathers to add to my collection at home. The sky was getting threatening and we cut our walk short. It was a good thing because the rain started coming in sheets about fifty yards from the parking lot. We got back to the camper, dried off, and I heated up the leftovers from our anniversary dinner at Henry’s. Scallops, flounder, hushpuppies, and baked potatoes. I made baked apples for dessert.

A Storm Brewing

We are heading to a campground along a lake today. I’ll send pics and location tomorrow.

Storm Over the Atlantic

🌊

“If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.”
Ecclesiastes 11:3 ESV

We Can Finally Relax!

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 01:30:00 -0600

Not a BIG catch, but fun nonetheless.

Mr. FixIt’s prescription finally arrived and we picked it up on the THIRD trip to Walmart! The upside of that is we got to have breakfast at our favorite pancake place…Stack ‘Em High! It is SO good and it was a splurge on my food plan, but I worked around it by sacrificing the bacon and having grits instead of hash-browns.

I’m in MY Happy Place….sitting next to Mr. FixIt!

We came back to the camper packed a picnic lunch and went to the old bridge at the Oregon Inlet to fish. They built a new bridge a couple of years ago and left a good section of the old one as a pier to fish from. Poor Mr. FixIt was so patient but he wasn’t having any success. The man next to us was using live bait and was pulling in stripers that were 25” to 26” long. They were beauties. But, like I told my sweetheart, there’s never a bad day fishing at the beach!

The guy next to us caught two good sized stripers and threw them back.

The sun was getting lower in the sky and we were thrown into the shadow of the new bridge. Even though the temp was in the 60’s, that wind off the sound got pretty chilly without the sun’s rays to warm you. We were about ready to leave when Mr. FixIt decided to “cast just one more time!” And sure enough…he caught a couple fish. They were pretty small and of course he threw them back. But it was enough to put a smile on his face!

Mr. FixIt in his Happy Place!

We were going to watch the sunset but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and, while it was pretty…it just wasn’t picturesque. We decided to come “home” and cook some supper. I made a pork roast hash and we had it with a little Duke’s Moonshine Barbecue Sauce which was SO good. I really blew the calorie budget yesterday but we have to treat ourselves once in a while or we feel deprived. I was at a new low yesterday morning…I’ve now lost just shy of 29 pounds! I love NOOM! I’ve learned so much about myself and my relationship with food.

I knitted while Mr. FixIt was fishing. I’m almost finished with a pair of socks that I started in April. I just don’t have time to sit and knit in the summer. Especially this year. I keep envisioning long days on the beach sitting with my knitting while my sweetheart feeds the fishies, but so far it’s been mostly running around trying to get this prescription fixed. Maybe now we can REALLY relax! I think we’re going to get together with the kids today. That’s always fun!

🌊

“Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.”
Psalm 8:5-8 ESV

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Three Witchy Kitties have formed a band!

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A Beautiful Autumn Day

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 01:30:00 -0600

Not only was the weather perfect, but the company was as well. Our oldest great grandchild celebrated her “6th Birthday” yesterday complete with her own bouncy house and an appearance by Elsa, the Princess from Frozen. After a couple little hiccups getting there, we arrived just in time to see Elsa and some fine little Princesses singing and dancing. Oh, it had to be a storybook birthday for our little one and one she’ll never forget!

Once the candles were lit and blown out, the pizza was eaten, and the gifts were opened, we begged our leave and ran some errands. We needed to go to Lowe’s to find something to rig up the antenna for our new cell phone booster. We were designing things in our heads faster than we could make the other understand and I was hangry. A nice salad later and I was back on an even keel.

We went home and I started to back the mower out of the building when I looked down and there was an old spare tire mount for a camper we sold last year. I took one look at it and knew our antenna dilemma was likely over. I took it out and showed it to Mr. FixIt and we both agreed this could be the answer for mounting the antenna to the camper. It needs a small adaptation so he’ll take it to the welder today to have it fixed.

Papaw’s Best Buddy

We are in a crunch now. It’s finally dry enough and we have the time to mow. I got a good deal done yesterday afternoon and will finish today. I need to take things out of the camper that we don’t need and stock it with what we do. Fortunately Beans mowed at the farm over the weekend so we don’t have to try to fit that in. We head out Wednesday morning, so what doesn’t get done, either won’t or we’ll get what we need when we’re on the road. I’m not stressing about it.

One thing I am going to take with me is my super find of the week. We arrived early for our eye appointments last week and walked to the end of the building where the Goodwill is. We like to pick around and see if there’s anything we can’t live without. (What was it I was saying just last week about needing to get RID of stuff??? lol) Anyway, we found a metal basket that you roast corn in over a fire. That’s going with us. But the coup de gras was a Yeti can cooler. They normally cost $25 and I got mine for $.99!!! Whoop, Whoop!!!

“Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.”
Ecclesiastes 10:19 ESV

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When I became a widow, I discovered fuzzy blankets really helped to comfort me. Now, I design them with my favorite photos and scriptures to comfort others who are bereaved.

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Home From The Farm

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 01:30:00 -0600

Pumpkin Kitty has squeezed herself into the little ditch beside the sidewalk…waiting for Dad to come by.

I worked all day Friday and all day yesterday on my shop. I’ve been a little behind in getting the fall stuff our and now its time to start on the Christmas stuff. I have a deeper empathy for those who not only run their own small businesses but also have the time crunch of being ready for the holidays.

When I had Needles & Pins my little needlework shop in Glenwood Springs, I didn’t really have distinct seasons. Most of my supplies were for counted cross stitchers and some of those beautiful Santas and Snowmen and Angels take a LONG time to work. There were small projects that could be finished in a reasonable timeframe, but I sold all seasons, all the time.

This shop is different. You have to start planning for the holidays months in advance and if you get behind, you could miss the opportunity to make some good sales. If I could get this up and running steady, I could make it a steady side hustle that would really help us out in our “fixed income years.” There are certain things you can’t say in posts or the algorithms will kick you down the ladder of engagement. Words like s.h.a.r.e and c.o.m.m.e.n.t are no-nos, so asking you to do those things is counter productive. But if you’re feeling generous and would like to expose more of your friends to what I’m doing here…I would be ever so grateful.

So, back to yesterday. As I was coming home, I passed my cousin’s place down the road and they were gathered for a cookout. I went down the road to the turnaround in front of their house and circled back. In order to get over to the bunkhouse where the fire pit is located, you need to down a steep and narrow driveway then drive through the creek at the bottom and back up the other side. I just flip my truck into 4WD and she handles it like a champ.

I couldn’t sit around for very long because Mr. FixIt was expecting me and there’s no cell service at the bunkhouse so I couldn’t call him. It was fun to catch up a little. My cousin and his wife are both retired now so ostensibly we could see each other more often. It just hasn’t turned out that way this summer. You know how it is after you retire…you’re busier than you ever were when you were working!

I have everything ready to put the pork roast in early this morning. I’ve got the dry rub mixed up. I have the crudités just about ready to go in the container I’ll take with us to the picnic. I need to mix up a batch of homemade Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. I have several kinds of crackers. I had to laugh when I stopped a the deli at the Piggly Wiggly. I wanted to get some hard salami and have it sliced thin enough to make little roses to decorate my tray.

Deli Clerk: “How thick do you want this?”

Me: “Oh, well thin enough to form into roses for my charcuterie board, but not so thick as they would break.”

Deli Clerk:

Me:

Deli Clerk:

Me: “Thin. But not too thin, or too thick.”

Deli Clerk: “Ok. How ‘bout I cut a slice and you tell me which direction to go…deal?”

Sure ‘nuff, that’s a deal. Sometimes I forget where I am and that I’m a logophile in the smallest county in the state. We don’t even have a stop light. There are a lot of well educated West Virginians who are worldly and erudite. But the majority, I would have to say, are linguistically challenged. So I try not to come off as pedant, but I do love words. I like to challenge people a little to expand their vocabulary, but I never mean it in a showy way. I just don’t always “read the room” accurately. That’s actually an autistic trait.

Off for a fun day of family fun, food, and….cornhole!

“But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.”
1 Timothy 5:8 NLT

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No ad today…it’s the Lord’s Day. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!

A Trip to Town and Planning for Fall

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 01:30:00 -0600

I don’t usually divulge too much about Mr. FixIt because his story isn’t my story to tell. With that being said, we had some really good news yesterday that I wanted to share. Not long after we started dating, Mr. FixIt had a physical and his doctor found something concerning in his blood. At first they thought he had leukemia but thank God it wasn’t that. They really weren’t sure what it was but he had some elevated counts and we were concerned. We’ve been going back to the oncologist every six moths for follow up tests and yesterday his levels were normal! Praise God! We don’t have to go back for a year this time and we’re both so relieved.

After the appointment, we went to lunch then up to Sam’s. They didn’t have everything we needed so we headed to Belpre to the Kroger Store. I really love shopping there…it’s much more like a big city grocer so the variety of items is much more diverse. We headed home soon after and we were hoping we didn’t have to go anywhere today. But, alas…the farm needs mowing. And tomorrow I need to take the camper to my favorite rest area that has a dump station and dump the tanks. We’ll be camping again before too long!

As we were watching the news last night, I happened to look down at my lap. I know I’ve been losing weight because my clothes are fitting better. But I had to laugh when I saw my jeggings actually sagging when I was sitting down! This is something to stand up and shout about. I had gained so much weight since Covid. I was pushing 200# and that was just too much. I was short of breath. I had trouble doing the things I love to do. I couldn’t even get up off the floor. I was over it!

I started Noom and I continue working that program. I am never hungry. I actually have to stay disciplined to eat enough calories. I feel fabulous. And I know my husband notices. The nice thing is, he would love no matter what I looked like, but I needed to be in better shape so I can help him around here and do the things I want to do. As of yesterday morning, I’ve lost 24.2 pounds since February. I really, really, REALLY don’t want to gain this weight back. I’m finding I can eat pretty much anything I want as long as I plan for it in my calorie allotment. And, with all the lessons on the psychology of eating and the psych tricks to change my distorted thinking surrounding food, I’m very hopeful this will be the last time I have to lose fifty pounds!

Halloween is around the corner and I had some fun designing tee shirts for the holiday. You need to plan ahead and get these things done in plenty of time for people to buy in time. This is the most fun I’ve had creating in quite some time! The leaves are changing, the nights are cool, and the kids are back in school. Big leaves for her second year in college today! I can’t believe it!

“then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil.”
Deuteronomy 11:14 NLT

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I know it feels early for anything Halloween related, but when you design holiday themed items, you need to list them well in advance. So, I played with Trunk or Treat!

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Cajun Food and a Tornado

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 01:30:00 -0600

I got up early yesterday to meet my high school girlfriends for coffee. There were only seven of us. It’s still a busy time so I’m sure more will come in the fall. The first three of us to arrive were widowed…ten years, five years, and one year. Another was supposed to come, but something came up and she had to cancel. I can’t speak for her, but at two months, there were a LOT of things I cancelled because I just wasn’t up for it. In fact, when I was at two months, I was trying my hardest to get lost in the wilderness and backroads of Colorado.

I stopped to pick up one of the gals who can’t drive these days because her vision is so bad. She offered to pay me for gas and I said that wasn’t necessary. Then she offered to pay for my coffee. I told her, this was a blessing for me…surely she wouldn’t rob me of my blessing! We smiled at each other. She lost her husband five years ago and still can’t talk about him much or she cries. I so understand where she is. I was just tickled that they ventured out!

I had a wonderful conversation about faith and the condition of the church today with a sweet friend who is very involved with the Methodist Church. Another is still healing from a bad fall she took a couple of years ago. I went all through school with a couple of the gals. We were Vienna kids.

When I was finished, I called Mr. FixIt to see what he was up to. He reminded me he’d be coming to town a little later for his hair cut. So I ran a couple of errands then called the former Mrs. FixIt to see if she’d like some company. I went over and spent a couple of hours chatting and sharing pictures of our summer escapades. It was really nice to catch up. Finally, Mr. FixIt called to say he was finished and when he found out where I was, he came over, too.

It was getting closer to our supper time and we decided to go to a new-ish restaurant not too far away. Southern Craft Restaurant and Bar has been the talk of the town the last couple of years. It’s pretty small…maybe ten tables or so…and it’s always crowded. Especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Owned and operated by the DeAngelo family, Southern Craft has brought a taste of New Orleans to da ‘Burg. Authentic, real live Cajun food, y’all!!!

Oh, my word!

Mr. FixIt ordered the Shrimp and Grits and I had a bowl of Gumbo with Chicken and Andouille Sausage. We literally sipped each luscious spoonful and swooned! We tasted each other’s dishes and vowed this was our new favorite restaurant. The seasoning was spot on perfection. So full bodied and it brought just enough heat to complement the dishes without destroying the depth of flavor.

Louis DeAngelo, his wife and their three sons handle all the food prep and the waitstaff is friendly, prompt, and helpful. If you EVER find yourselves anywhere near Parkersburg, WV you simply must stay over and enjoy a meal at Southern Craft. Tell them Marshmallow Ranch sent you!!!

We ended the night with tornado warnings. There was one sighted over in Ohio and another in South Parkersburg. We had an incredible lightning show but it didn’t turn into anything much here. I hope you all remain safe from the increasing storms!

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.””
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

#Storms, #CajunFood, #Tornado

The Eye of the Storm

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 01:30:00 -0600

This beautiful Ohio Blue Swallowtail stayed with me for well over half an hour. It would flitter away and eventually make its way back and sit on the porch floor at my feet. It’s magical moments like this that keep life interesting and reminds me of just how much beauty there is in the world.

Well, what was supposed to be a three to four day respite at The Farm turned into a quick overnight. A strong but brief thunderstorm blew through just before dawn. The last crack of thunder was a flash/bang that about scared the bejeebers out of me. It settled down and I fell back to sleep. Surprisingly, I didn’t wake up till about 10:00. Mr. FixIt always seems to know when I wake up so he texted me a little after. We chatted a bit then I got up and made my cuppa and went out on the front porch to listen to the birds.

I noticed the clouds were darkening and I could hear thunder in the distance. Just about that time, the wind picked up, I got a notification of a tornado warning, and my phone rang. It was Mr. FixIt. He wanted to be sure I knew what was going on. He said Parkersburg was getting it bad. That’s the thunder I could hear in the distance. Now, I’m not necessarily a Nervous Nellie when it comes to thunderstorms, but that old wooden house is nestled in a holler lined with huge trees. And the ground is mostly shale. A good strong wind could do so much damage and I wasn’t about to be a sitting duck just waiting for it.

Grandma’s Rose of Sharon

I told my sweetheart I was packing to come home and I was out of there in twenty minutes. It didn’t start raining till I got home but boy howdy, it was “Katie Bar The Door” in a hurry. We just got the truck unloaded and the skies opened up. It lasted several hours. I haven’t had a chance to look at the rain gauge yet, but I’ve heard Parkersburg got something like four inches of rain in an hour! Hokey Smokes! There is a used car lot down in the low ground of Garfield Avenue. Folks said “them cars was floating down the street.” Funny what you read on Facebook, ain’t it? Folks make up all kinds of tales. There was some truth in a few of them. Like this guy running his jet ski down the middle of Spring Street. Whoo Doggy. That was some rain!

Of course, we missed out on all that. We just watched the rain pour down and start a brand new leak in the dining room by the chimney. Life’s an adventure! Along about 4:30 or so, the clouds lifted and the sun came out and Mr. FixIt said he was going to town to get a new mower blade and did I want to go with him. Awww, shoot…what intelligent woman would want to miss out on something that fun? So I said, sure…let me go tinkle and comb my hair. Because what self respecting sorta-Southern Belle doesn’t brush her hair and be sure to tinkle before they go out…right?

Freeze frame caught the raindrops in midair!

We went to town and looked at Tractor Supply and Walmart to no avail. It’s the end of mowing season, you see. The mower blades were a little picked over. I mean…there were a couple little bitty ones for a Barbie mower or something. And there were great big ones that could probably double as helicopter blades, I don’t know. But none matched ours. We held them up and compared and either they were too short or too long or too wide or they didn’t have the right holes in them for attaching them to that round thingy in the middle. So, as a last resort…we went to Rural King.

Rural King is my jam. We have DATE NIGHTS at Rural King. They have everything from sawdust to the things that make it. There’s always a couple little birds that have gotten inside and they pig out on the free birdseed as fast as we pig out on the free popcorn. Mr. FixIt found a wire bird feeder in the shape of a rooster that held bird seed AND suet cakes! Boy Howdy…it was something to see.

Isn’t it cute? You can get it here: [www.ruralking.com/rooster-s...](https://www.ruralking.com/rooster-suet-n-seed-feeder-21815)

Now, did I tell you that the low ground of Parkersburg got hit with nearly four inches of rain approximately 90 minutes before we went there? We went into a flood ravaged area…for a mower blade. Truth be told, we bought that lawn mower from this guy that buys up mowers from yard sales and such then he fixes them up and sells them. He shoots for making a $40 profit from every sale, which is pretty decent. He does a bang up job, too. He tunes ‘em up some and paints ‘em pretty. But, when he painted this one, he got paint on the label of the mower blade and we had no idea what it said other than the first three letters.”Ste….” The gal at Tractor Supply asked us what brand the mower was and we looked at each other. “Um, it’s black and burgundy, I think.”

Anyway, we found the mower section at Rural King and there it was! Stens! That’s the brand. Mr. FixIt was picking up blade after blade, looking for one that matched. I was on the internet, looking up Stens Mower Blades. I’m showing him pictures, totally perplexed and wondering if this was something we were going to have to pull out the big guns for and go to…GASP…the lawn mower store! When, finally…my beloved turns over the mower blade and says, “Well, it has this number imprinted on the back.”

More rain on the way…waves and waves of storms over the next week. Ahhhh….cooler temps!

Neither one of us thought to turn it over and see if there was a part number! I plugged the number into the search bar on Amazon and…BOOM! $15.26 and it’ll be delivered Thursday. But, hey…we had a good time. We bought a bag of popcorn and the pigeons in the parking lot threatened to kill us over it. Like a scene with Tippi Hedren. We stopped at City Park and walked a lap to blow off some stink and headed on home.

Fun times!

“A cheerful heart is good medicine….”
Proverbs 17:22 NIV

Looking in the Mirror

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0600

A day with Little is like spending time with myself at the age of 16. The similarities in our neurodiversity…or as they call it…neuro-spicy-ness is remarkable. We had so much fun junkin’ and found some treasures. I’ll take pictures tomorrow because I’m too tired to mess with it right now. But suffice it to say…we had a great time. Little is healing from a year of long covid and it was really difficult. We went out for brunch and then walked around the Brass Armadillo for nearly four hours which was a huge feat.

After I dropped Little off at home, I came on up to Ben & Sue’s. They had worked hard on the landscaping and quit when it got too hot. Around 7:30 or 8:00, a severe thunderstorm came through with lightning right overhead…FLASH/BANG! Several times. It was wild!

Little wants to come over today to learn how to knit. We bought some knitting needles and yarn at a thrift store so we’re all set. I also want to see Daughter #2 this weekend one more time. I can’t believe we leave in five more sleeps! It will make me sad, even though I am quite homesick.

I hope you have some fun summer plans this weekend and that you stay safe from the extreme heat! Stay hydrated!

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Colossians 3:20 ESV

What a FUN Day in the Kitchen!!!

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0600

I got up yesterday and went to the grocery store to buy the things I needed to teach the girls how to prepare several traditional Jewish dishes. I was so enamored with the King Soopers near Ben and Sue’s house that I wandered around for an hour and half just having a completely marvelous time! I’ve been doing a lot of the cooking and cleaning up to help Sue since she’s still recovering from knee surgery. She still gets in there and does a lot, but I swore I would NOT allow her to wait on us while we’re here.

Daughter #1 and Little came over around 1:30 and Little’s friend and her mom came at 2:00. We promptly got to work. The first thing to do was mix up the matzo ball batter and get it chilling in the fridge. Then I taught the girls how to pare and core the apples, chop them, toast the walnuts and chop them to make Charoset. We added cinnamon, honey, brown sugar, and Kosher red wine then popped it in the fridge to chill.

Next up was the Matzo Ball Soup. We poured a large box of low sodium chicken broth into a stock pot with a tight fitting lid. Little filled the broth container with water and we poured that in as well. While it was heating up, we sautéed a mirepoix…chopped onions, celery, and carrots till the onions were translucent. We added that to the pot and adjusted the heat to a simmer. We did add about half of the soup mix packet that comes with the boxed matzo ball soup mix.

We removed the matzo ball batter from the fridge and started forming small balls around the size of a big marble. You need to do this with wet hands. This allows the surface of the matzo ball to be smoothed out to seal any cracks, thus preventing them from falling apart while cooking. You keep the lid on the pot while it’s simmering, then remove the lid quickly when you add a matzo ball then put the lid on fast. This traps the steam in the pot and makes your matzo balls fluffy.

Once that was done, it was time to start the Hamantashen. These are triangular shaped cookies filled with a variety of different fillings. We chose raspberry jam, apricot jam, and chocolate. Traditionally they are filled with poppyseed paste, but I couldn’t find any. I think it’s usually only sold for Purim in the spring. We mixed up the dough and it needed more flour than the recipe called for. We finally got it at just the right consistency. We rolled it out between two sheets of parchment paper then cut it in circles with a biscuit cutter. We placed the circles on a cookie sheet (I forgot to line it with parchment paper so they stuck a tiny bit). Then we dropped a scant teaspoon of one of the fillings, folded up three edges and pinched the three resulting corners together.

We also needed to bake the cookies about five minutes longer than the recipe called for. Once the last sheet of cookies was in the oven, we started making the potato kugel. Daughter #1 has discovered a brilliant hack to make this a much easier process. Traditionally, potatoes are peeled and then grated into ice water to keep them from turning a dull grey. Once they’re all grated, you have to squeeze all the water out. If you have any arthritis in your hands, this is a killer. So my brilliant daughter just buys a big bag of shredded hash browns. So smart this girl.

My daughter added about a half a cup of vegetable oil to a 13”x9” pan and popped it in the oven to get hot. We added about half of a chopped onion, half a cup or so of matzo meal, and salt and pepper to the hash browns and tossed that together. Then, we whipped up six eggs and poured it over the hash browns and combined them well. Once the pan was hot, we poured the potato/egg mixture in and baked it in a 400° oven till crispy and browned around the edges. Yummmmy!

The last dish we prepared was Matzo Brei…a sort of Jewish French Toast. We took six sheets of matzo and crumbled it into a bowl then put hot water over it to let the matzos soak it up. In a separate bowl, I beat four eggs with a heaping tablespoon of brown sugar, added a few shakes of cinnamon, and a generous tablespoon of my home brewed vanilla. We scooped up handfuls of the now soggy matzo and squeezed as much water out as we could and put it in the egg mixture. Once all the matzo was in the bowl, we mixed up the “batter” and dropped it by spoonfuls into a medium hot skillet with melted butter in it. We fried them till they were golden brown on each side then removed them from the pan and worked on the next skillet full.

We were just finishing when Mr. FixIt and Ben walked in the front door. They took the camper to the cattle ranch out on the eastern plains. I was tickled when I learned they were able to park it under cover to protect it from severe weather. I fed the guys with all that yummy Jewish food and called it a night! My back hurt and my feet were cramping from standing on them all day. But it really was a fun afternoon of cooking foods I haven’t made in ages. I left the photography to Little so I’ll just post the ones I have. We didn’t get every dish but you’ll get the idea. I’ll try to leave a link to the recipes we used. Some were just in our heads because we’ve made them for so long.

“So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.”
Colossians 2:16 NLT

Vacations are Exhausting!

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0600

I made Sourdough French Toast for breakfast yesterday and had enough left over for the next couple of mornings at least. It’s great when you can cook ahead, especially in the summer when cooking can heat the house up. Those summer kitchens they had in the old days would really come in handy. The guys grilled last night. We had chicken tenders and corn-on-the-cob and bless their little hearts…they grilled that corn till it was mostly black and dehydrated. I thanked them for cooking, but told them they could never touch my corn again! lol

Today is Daughter #1’s 49th birthday! We are grilling again tonight, but my son-in-law will be in charge of the grill. He’s really good at it. His 49th birthday is Thursday and their 28th wedding anniversary is Saturday. So, we’ll just celebrate the whole shebang tomorrow night. I’m baking her favorite lemon cake with lemon curd filling, and lemon frosting garnished with red raspberries. We’ll also bake Grandma Lois’ Chocolate Cake for my son-in-law. Then everyone will be happy!

Mr. FixIt and I went out and ran errands yesterday and went to Noodles & Company for lunch. I had this wonderful dish….Zucchini and Roasted Garlic Cream. The zucchini has been spiral cut like noodles and lightly steamed. I had the small size. It was delicious and only 340 calories. That’s not bad for a meal out.

We went out to check the camper and it was fine. We are so grateful we haven’t had hail while it’s out in the wide open. The guys are going to take the camper out to eastern Colorado tomorrow and I think they are looking for a place to store it either inside or under the cover of protective trees. I don’t want our trip to be over, but I’ll be so grateful when we get this thing safely home. I don’t think we’ll bring it cross country during tornado and hail season again. It’s just too risky. A camper is a big investment and even though we have adequate insurance, there’s no need to create undue risk.

Curly Dock and Bind Weed…two invasive and noxious plants that are everywhere in Colorado. Once these weeds get established, it’s nearly impossible to eradicate them.

So, that’s all we are doing at this point. We’re having a blast!

“But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.”
1 Timothy 5:8 NLT

A Day With The Fam

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 01:30:00 -0600

Mr. FixIt went to the zoo yesterday with Daughter #1 and family while I went to visit with Daughter #2. She and I went to Sam’s No. 3…a really cool diner in Glendale. We enjoyed our visit and toodled around the bougie King Soopers for a bit.

When I got back to the in-laws’ house, the others were still at the zoo and Sue and I had a lovely visit. We went out to Dickey’s BBQ for supper then we went over to the camper to check it out and make sure everything was ok. I’m glad we did because I had left the pump switch on.

The rest of the evening was spent visiting, watching the Rockies game, writing, and knitting.

Today will be a big day of BBQ, family and friends, the pool, and fireworks. It’s so hard to believe it’s the 4th of July!

I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday!!!

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“A party gives laughter, wine gives happiness, and money gives everything!”
Ecclesiastes 10:19 NLT

Playing Catch-Up

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 01:30:00 -0600

Anytime you’re gone from home any length of time there’s always a stack of stuff to deal with when you get back. The mail, the laundry, the shopping. Yesterday it was dealing with the truck and getting it ready for the cross-country trip. We drove separately to the local garage yesterday morning and I brought Mr. FixIt home. He started working on outdoor projects that have been put on hold due to the rain. I worked on the second big trip we’re taking this year. We are going to the beach the week of our wedding anniversary and taking the camper. This is the first time we’ve done that, so I wanted to add three days of extra camping on each end of the trip and explore some places we usually just speed by. When we get back from that trip I think that will be the end of the 2023 camping season.

I am really excited by some of the campgrounds we’re going to visit…especially Hungry Mother State Park in Virginia. We’ve driven past the turn off to it so many times but never took the time to explore. The other place I’m interested in is Chippokes State Park (pronounced CHIP oaks). It’s across the James River from Jamestown. It looks beautiful!

It wasn’t very long till the garage called and said the truck was ready. Since it was finished so early, I dropped Mr. FixIt off to pay and then he took it straight to Walmart to get the oil changed and rotate the tires. And hopefully that will be enough to keep “Frankie” in shape to tow “Grace” up the mountains we’ll be traveling over. I think we’ll spend the next couple of days getting the camper stocked, change the bedding, do some laundry, and pick up around the house. I need to clean out the fridge.

Oh, I forgot to tell you what was waiting for me when I got home from camping with the girls. A dozen beautiful orange roses! What a man God has blessed me with. I am so grateful. He’s such a sport! We go out to the camper every evening and play cards. We still hold hands wherever we go and we’re starting to elicit smiles from younger people. He’s my best friend, my fellow explorer, my confidante, my giver of roses and hugs. I never dreamed I’d get to do this again and it makes my heart hurt for those who have lost their person. His kindness reminds me of where I’ve been. He makes me more compassionate and empathetic. I want to be a better person…the kind of person who deserves such treatment. As we get older, we are witnessing the grief of others more frequently. I think that makes us try harder than maybe we would have if we hadn’t suffered the losses we have.

It’s the weekend…what y’all doin’ this weekend?

“Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!””
Ruth 1:17 NLT

#Friends, #Family, #Fun

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Shopping from Marshmallow Ranch Designs removes wrinkles and cellulite! (Disclaimer: This claim has not been supported by the FDA or anything.)

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One Down and One to Go

Sat, 10 Jun 2023 01:30:00 -0600

The wedding rehearsal was fun. We got to meet the bridal party…seven groomsmen, seven bridesmaids. The venue is stunning. The kids were going to get married last year, but they waited a whole year just so they could get this venue. Just wait till you see the photos!

Dinner was at one of our favorite Italian restaurants and it was really easy to stick to my Noom program. They thoughtfully served the chicken separate from the pasta and Alfredo sauce. They had young green beans sautéed in EVO and garlic. Oven roasted potato wedges with garlic and herbs. I took some of the marinara sauce from on top of the penne to season my chicken slices. They offered a huge salad and I selected balsamic vinaigrette as my dressing. I passed on the garlic bread, the ooey-gooey cheesy dips they had as apps, and the dessert. I topped it off with a non-alcohol beer and I was one happy camper.

The bride and I decided she’d open the quilt at the restaurant before the food was served. She just loved it and it made me heart sing!

We got home late and thank goodness we don’t have to be at the venue till 2:15 this afternoon. We are going to fix a small cooler to take in the car so we can take breaks and have some cool fresh food and drinks. The reception goes till 11:00 but I doubt we last that long. The kids leave bright and early for their honeymoon so they won’t be up partying till the wee hours.

So, that was my day. What’s up with you?

“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.””
John 2:1-3 NIV

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No ads today and tomorrow…it’s WEDDING WEEKEND.

But…you can go check out the shop!

The Hazards of Country Life

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 01:30:00 -0600

I woke up yesterday morning with the sun peeking over the hill into the window in the camper. It had been a chilly night…an electric blanket and four extra layers kept me toasty warm, even with the windows open. I love being warm in a cold room. I sleep so much better. There is a two-lane blacktop that runs by our house and it gets really busy with folks going to work and all. The traffic started picking up then I heard the dull thud of a car hitting a deer.

The driver stopped and, I assume, checked for damages. The truck must have been Drive able because it wasn’t a minute and he was off again. I told Mr. FixIt we’ll need to call the state road to pick up that deer because in the heat of summer, it’s not going to be any time before the whole area with be blanketed in a malodorous stench. I went up to the road and had a peek and without actually crossing the road and going up to the animal, I could tell it was bigger than the little doe with the fawn I saw this week. I hope there isn’t a baby tucked away somewhere waiting for its mama to return. These are the hazards of living in the country…especially when traffic is concerned. I’ll keep an eye out just in case.

I finished our reservations for the Colorado trip. It’s going to be so much fun! We have family coming in to visit while we’re there so we can celebrate my 70th birthday. It’s hard to get people’s schedules to match up so I hope it works out. As soon as I reserved the last campsite, I headed out to mow here at Marshmallow Ranch. I am so happy to report the bees were all over the pollinator gardens! I love it so much, I’m going to make them bigger next year…and in a configuration that’s easier to mow around.

Our air was much clearer today from the Canadian wildfire smoke. Our big thing now is pollen. I’ve taken antihistamines for years and this year it’s still kicking my behind. Mr. FixIt never has had problems, but this year is bad for him, too. I’ve got him on an antihistamine and I think it’s helping a little. This is one of the more uncomfortable side effects of global warming.

Well, we have finally arrived at “Wedding Weekend!” Tonight is the rehearsal with dinner after. And tomorrow is the big day. The wedding is in the evening so all the photos have to be taken during the day. That will make for a very long day, but the weather forecast is clear with a high of only 83°. It will cool off considerably as the sun sets. I am going to practice mindfulness and stay in the present this weekend so I won’t be “live” till Sunday morning. Once the wedding is over, we can turn our attention to preparations for the Colorado trip.

It’s going to be a great summer, y’all!

“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 2:18 NIV

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Beautiful May!

Sun, 28 May 2023 01:30:00 -0600

Good Morning, Ranchers!

May leaves us all too soon, doesn’t it? I know it’s supposed to be the kickoff to a wonderful summer, but in and of itself…May is just about perfect. When I woke up yesterday, I put the kettle on and took my mushroom coffee out to inspect the pollinator gardens. I’m sad to say, there weren’t nearly as many bees as there were last year. I don’t know if whoever had bees have stopped or what. I’ll keep watching for them. And when I mow, if I see one I wait till it moves on so I don’t run over it.

I sat on the steps of the camper and finished my morning drink and headed inside to see what Mr. FixIt was up to. He was just getting up so I got my morning hug and headed out to mow. It wasn’t a terribly hot day, but the allergens were kicking my butt yesterday. Honestly, I am terrible allergic to hay and when I mowed around the pollinator gardens, my nose was running like a sugar tree. I used to get that way when I worked with horses. And what is in the pollinator garden? Well…hay! That’s all hay is…field grasses and wild flowers. Really good hay usually has alfalfa and clover, too. But that’s why I’m so allergic…I’m growing hay! lol

I have the mowing down to a science. I can get the whole place finished in three to three and a half hours. I have the fields mapped out in my head and I figure out the passes around the field to include as few three point turns as possible. That really cuts out a lot of time. I was finished by 2:00 so I had the rest of the afternoon to chill before we went to the former Mrs. FixIt’s house for an impromptu dinner party. The kids were there and one set of grandkids and their significant others. And Aunt FixIt was there, too. We had a fire and ate lots of good food…pulled pork, corn on the cob, broccoli salad, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, deviled eggs and I don’t know what all. Grandpa had the kids and grands up playing Corn Hole and as we left, someone was going for marshmallows to make s’mores. It was a really fun day!

The next time we see the whole crew will more than likely be at the rehearsal dinner! Two weeks!!! Ok, I REALLY have to work on the quilt today. We’ll wait till next week to mow at the farm. I have to be out there for a couple of days anyway for the phone guy. I can mow while I’m there.

Here are some photos from the last week…I hope you enjoy!

Photos: Top Row - Mr. FixIt hiking in front of me, Golden Ragwort (toxic to dogs, cats and horses!), Our little shady spot by the river. Middle Row - Coleus, my reading material, Coleus. Bottom Row: Daisies in the pollinator garden, Canada Geese (8 Adults and 47 babies swam across the river right in front of us!), Red Sorrel

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
Matthew 24:35 NIV

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No ads on Sunday…rejoice and be glad in it!

My Morning Walkabout

Mon, 22 May 2023 01:30:00 -0600

The garden is filled with Field Hawkweed and the bees love it!

Mr. FixIt headed out mid morning to help the soon-to-be newlyweds with the new roof on their house and left me to my own devices at home. I lazed around and fixed a nice breakfast, then headed out with my hot cup of RYZE to check out the pollinator gardens. I could see the new yellow flowers from clear across the field and was really excited to get some lovely close up shots.

The dainty little Blue-Eyed Grass is so sweet. Old-timers called them “Bluettes.”

I use my iPhone 13 Pro Max for all my photography. I’ve never claimed to be a true photographer, but the iPhone takes the guesswork out of capturing good shots 99% of the time. One of the really great benefits of this phone’s camera is a plant identifier link built in. When you are viewing the photo, swipe up and hit the link “Look up: Plant” to find out what you’re looking at! Would you believe I just discovered this little bit of sorcery in the last week??? Amazing! What else can this phone do that I haven’t discovered yet?

The Philadelphia Fleabane looks like tiny little daisies.

When I was going through the photos for this post, I wasn’t happy with one of them. It was out of focus So I went back out to reshoot and I was just so taken by the beauty of this little oasis in the far field. Why didn’t I do this years ago??? I took off my shoes for a little grounding and eventually, I just sat down alongside the garden…watching and waiting for the bees to get close enough to capture in a photo.

The Lyreleaf Sage blooms all around the stem every four or five inches.

It didn’t take long. I still didn’t get as clear a photo as I would have liked, but these will do for now. I sat there for a long time, thanking God for making such beauty and allowing us to be stewards of this portion of the earth. It finally got a little to hot to sit out there so I came in to edit and finish writing my daily missive to you. My “Letters from Home,” so to speak.

Creeping Charlie is a ground ivy in the mint family and is used as a salad green in many countries.

While I really should be in the house, working on the finishing touches of the wedding quilt, I can’t help but sit out here in Grace…our little camper. The door and windows are wide open and the fan is moving the air around. I can watch and hear the birds, flitting from the hedgerow to the trees and singing the songs of their people.

Clockwise from Top Left: Yellow Woodsorrel, Daisies, Dandelion, Mouse-ear Chickweed, a tiny little Maple Tree, and WhiteClover

I pulled the other half of my dinner salad from last night out of the fridge and happily munched on the tasty and colorful veggies and the savory chicken on top. I made a balsamic vinaigrette from a lovely balsamic glaze and EVO to round out the flavors.

Meadow Buttercups are one of my all time favorites. Their little faces turn up the the sky and follow the sun all day.

Sunday is made to be savored…to honor and praise our Maker…and to rest our bodies, minds, and spirits in His most excellent care for the day. This makes for a perfect day in my book!

My ground level view of one of the Pollinator Gardens. I’m a happy girl!

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
Proverbs 3:7-8 NIV

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One of my all time favorite photos was taken out at the farm. Grandma’s Heritage Peonies are show stoppers every year and if you get the light just right, they look like they’re straight out of a Renaissance painting!

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And the Clouds Parted!

Fri, 05 May 2023 01:30:00 -0600

Look at that sky!!!

For the first time in what seems like forever, the sky cleared to intermittent clouds and sun. No rain and the temperature got up into the 60’s! The grass dried up enough by 1:00 to start mowing. Of course by that time I could have practically baled hay. It was very slow going. I had to raise the mower deck and mow really slow so I would reduce the risk of breaking the belt. When I was making one round, I noticed a beautiful patch of bright and shiny buttercups. They looked so healthy turning their little faces up to the sun that I just couldn’t mow them down.

Beautiful Buttercups!!!

I stopped the mower and asked God what he wanted me to do. I immediately got a picture in my mind of a dream I had a couple of weeks ago. Two free form shapes with a wide path between them for interest. I could see a garden bench and a birdbath and I thought…I’ll build a meditation garden where I can come and sit and watch the butterflies and the pretty flowers grow. I’ve started out small and I’ll see where it takes me.

You can see the two pollinator areas…the one on the left is on a slight incline. The one to the right is flat so you don’t see it as well.

As I wandered around the field after I finished mowing, I heard the creek running so I walked over to listen as the water tumbled over the rocks creating a small waterfall. In the rainy season, this little creek can really roar but I’ve never seen it overflow its banks. This is the creek out front between the house and the road. There’s another creek out back along the fields that has actually flooded a couple of times, but it doesn’t come anywhere near the house. I don’t think it would ever rise into the pollinator garden, either.

The creek out front. The area I call “the hedgerow” follows this creek.

Since we got such a late start, I didn’t get all the grass cut, so I’ll have to go out today and finish. Mr. FixIt got his part finished. We need to take his truck to the dump because it’s still filled with old shingles from the roof job last fall. I can’t help him tomorrow because it’s our granddaughter’s bridal shower. We’ll probably wait till Monday to do that because we have to get out to the farm and mow there soon. It’s a never ending list of things that need doing around here. But I always feel so accomplished and content when I go to bed after a hard day’s work.

I had to pop in the camper and realized I had the worst hair out there mowing in the breeze…but I felt beautiful with my sun-kissed cheeks!

Happy Cinco de Mayo! I remember going to Cancun for the very first time on May 6th, 1989 and everyone looked…well, like they’d partied hearty the night before. Wow, that was a fun trip with friends and great memories were made.

“See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.”
Song of Songs 2:11-12 NIV

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*** Let’s Go Outdoors ***

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Historic Williamsburg!

Sat, 22 Apr 2023 01:30:00 -0600

Cracker Barrel for the Win…Biscuit Bennies!

It was perfect driving weather yesterday. The sun was shining with wispy white clouds. It was in the mid to high 80’s and perfect. We only had a couple of patches of bad traffic and we were so glad there were no accidents. We left home around 9:00AM and got into our hotel by 7:45PM. That’s with several stops along the way to stretch our legs and get a snack. We made sure we checked into our motel first, then headed to Cracker Barrel for supper. Mr. FixIt had fish and chips and collard greens. I love Eggs Benedict and had their version…a split biscuit with bacon, eggs, and Hollandaise sauce…a side of grits and fried apples with sweet tea. OMGosh! We are in the south, y’all…it was SO good but I swear I can feel my arteries crackling!

We were so tired last night…we just came in and crashed. I searched the web to find a good deal on a room. We have to stay over that first day driving down and I’d rather save my money for a nice dinner at the beach, so I looked for a bargain that Mr. FixIt would be proud of. The last few years, we’ve stayed at an old Howard Johnson near Busch Gardens. But the rooms are so rundown and get worse every year even though the prices get higher. This year we stayed at a motel that reminded me of my first night I ever stayed in a hotel of any kind. It was in Gatlinburg, Tennessee before it became trendy and upscale. I’ll tell you the name another time. As you know…I don’t divulge where were are staying while we are actually there for safety’s sake. But, it was clean, the staff was nice, and it only cost $65! I received the Mr. FixIt seal of approval.

A veritable traffic light! Who wants to shop for Fiesta Ware made right here in WV? We HAD to visit Tamarack Marketplace and Cultural Center near Beckley, WV….where you can see and buy some works of the finest artists from the Mountain State!

We’ll get up this morning and go to Capital Pancakes for breakfast then head on down to the Outer Banks. Mr. FixIt drove the last three hours yesterday so I could start knitting a pair of socks so my vacation is off to a great start! I love making memories with my sweetheart.

“You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.”
Song of Songs 4:7 NIV

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I love elephants…I rode one once! And the colors on this design are so vibrant and beautiful.

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What Constitutes a Date?

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 01:30:00 -0600

We don’t go out “on a date” very often. We never have, really. I guess between knowing each other forever, being on a fixed income, and living so far out in the country, the idea of getting dressed up and driving to town for a fancy dinner out is just something that has never appealed to us.

I used to live that life. It was fun and exciting to go to fine restaurants and rub elbows with “the haves”. To stroll the streets of Aspen or Snowmass, wander through the hoity-toity shops, then cozy up in front of a fire with fancy food and forks I had no idea how to use. Well, let’s just say…this country girl learned how to feign social prowess to a degree. But talk about imposter syndrome. I was really a fish out of water.

There were a lot of reasons I came home to West Virginia but the biggest one was to find myself. To go back to my roots. I remember talking with my long-time sister-friend. I can’t remember the conversation per se, but I think I was sounding a little too pretentious to someone who has known me since we were fifteen. She knew better and called me on it. She reminded me not to get too big for my britches because she knew from whence we came. She was my Boone’s-Farm-Ride-or-Die home girl.

When I came back, I was broken into a million pieces. I needed the comfort of these hills and red clay to patch the pieces together again…piece by piece…stitch by stitch till I began to believe I could survive. I was four years a widow when I had my first date with Mr. FixIt. We went for a drive through the hills and backroads. I sat back in the passenger seat of his truck with the window down, letting the wind blow through my hair. I felt a glimmer of something. Something familiar, yet different enough. Something warm. Something comfortable.

We dated for awhile and it became apparent this was something special and we committed to see where it might take us. Our dates consisted of grabbing a salad and heading down to the river to watch the boat traffic on the water. Or going to Rural King to look at the baby chicks and ducklings and buy birdseed. Or going for a long drive in the country. They were inexpensive dates. They were comfortable dates. They were made more special by the bond between us.

Every day is a date because we choose it to be. We choose to be here for one another. We choose to love each other. These are the lessons gleaned from the fires of my grief. That simple is better. Less is more. That stuff doesn’t matter and food is food just like a car is just a car. Be it a tender cut of Wagyu Beef or burgers on the pool deck. A brand new Mercedes convertible or 2002 Lincoln. The fact I get to do this with someone kind…with someone faithful and true…with someone who loves Jesus is the wealthiest existence I could imagine.

Yesterday’s big Dinner Date?

Cracker Barrel!

They make swoon worthy grits. Biscuits that melt in your mouth. And sweet tea that tastes like the nectar of the gods. Their waitstaff is friendly and attentive. All in a clean and comfortable dining room adorned with antiques like I grew up with on Grandma’s farm.

Someday, I want to look back and remember these comfy dates and less of the evenings I primped in front of a mirror and built up the non-existent courage I felt to be “on”…to be something I really wasn’t. Not deep down inside. This is much healthier and much more fulfilling.

I won’t take that for granted. Not even for a minute.

“…Love makes up for practically anything…”
1 Peter 4:7-11 MSG

Marshmallow Ranch is Back on Etsy!!!

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 01:30:00 -0600

It all started when I decided to leave the rat race of medicine and try to make a living from my own creativity. I dropped down to part time at the neurology office and started making art jewelry from antique silverware and maps. As a matter of fact some of you have been with me since the very beginning and can remember my little Etsy shop. When I lost Mr. Virgo, I tried to keep the shop going, but once I sold the Colorado house and hit the road in my camper I kinda lost my mojo.

Time passed and adventures came and I finally ended up on The Farm…the home of my heart. And I ran into Mr. FixIt…the holder of my heart. And now…its been ten years since Mr. Virgo’s passing and it’s time to turn a corner and do something wonderful and fresh and fun to take me through the NEXT ten years! The joy of my heart!

Marshmallow Ranch is back on Etsy once again!!!!!

It looks decidedly different than it did in the “old days”. My art is different. My skills are different. Shopping experiences are different. And most importantly…I AM DIFFERENT! What I am presenting to you today is a whole new vision that incorporates my art, my graphic design skills, my quirky sense of humor, and my desire to connect with people in ways I haven’t even thought of yet.

I’ve been working diligently on this project and I’m very happy with the way it turned out. I am offering ways for you to own my art…in the form of my photography, my compositions and graphic design elements, and my words…on clothing, accessories, shoes, tea towels, candles. From kitchen items all the way up to suitcases. I’ve combed over this time and again…and I’m sure there still are things that need to be tweaked a little here and there.

There is a button pinned on my Facebook page as well as one on the blog that will lead you right to the shop. It’s not quite as easy to head back to the blog, but the quickest way is to use the back arrow key on your browser page. If you find things that need fixing, please don’t hesitate to let me know and I’ll fix it as soon as possible.

I hope you like the new shop. The category of listings is in the sidebar to the left. I will be adding things going forward…more home goods, clothing, and accessories as well as vintage items. And perhaps I’ll get back in the studio and make pretty things again with my hands one of these days. I hope you’ll keep me in mind for your shopping and gift-giving occasions!

And, as in all things…to God be the Glory!

Enjoy!!!

“…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

About Blowed Away!

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 02:30:00 -0600

Hokey Smokes…the wind was crazy Friday night. It was howling when I was writing yesterday’s post and continued long into the night. Our power stayed on, but it did brown out several times. It is not at all unusual to lose power out here in the boonies when a storm blows in, but we were lucky this time.

I kept hearing things banging and crashing out there and I fully expected to see detritus everywhere yesterday morning, but we couldn’t find a thing out of place. There were trees and power lines down all around the region and thousands were without power. Then, when morning came, the sun broke through the clouds revealing an azure sky. It was glorious.

I fixed a good breakfast and we were settled in for a day like any other this time of year. But my eye was repeatedly drawn to the cool, crisp sunshine and I couldn’t stand it anymore. I had to get out! I asked Mr. FixIt if he’d like to go for a drive. We went to Parkersburg and walked in the park. Then a quick trip to Sam’s. Not for anything specific…just to walk around and look. Then we stopped for sandwiches at Popeye’s and watched the sunset while we ate.

Spring is such a hopeful time of year. The world is waking up and so are we. I was thinking about spring out at the farm. When I came off the road to care for the farm in 2016, I settled in to live the farm life I’d always dreamt of. The spring of 2017 had me combing the hills and hollers documenting every little wildflower that popped its head up from a long winter’s slumber.

Each shoot represented hope and joy. I went out every morning to document their progress, marveling at how quickly they grew once the warm sunshine coaxed them from the rich woodland soil of West Virginia. This glorious display is accompanied by a symphony of birdsong. When you are blessed enough to have this unsure a sky so blue it hurts your eyes? Priceless!

I noticed a few small ground cover plants waking up here and there at Marshmallow Ranch. I must get out to the farm soon to catch the wildflowers because it’s truly magical! In the meantime, let’s share our favorite flower shots of the weekend. Mine is a simple pic of a bunch of daffodils at the park in our class flower bed…shot against that incredibly blue sky. What do you have to share?

“The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.”
Song of Solomon 2:12 ESV

Throwback Thursday - Spa Day!

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 02:30:00 -0600

Photo Found on Facebook

I was around sixteen years old when I received a hairdryer for Christmas. It was in a plastic avocado green case with the bonnet and hose…the whole shebang. It even had a little knob with a pipe cleaner attached to it that I pulled out, dipped in perfume, and put back in. When the air blew through the tube into the bonnet, it picked up the scent from the perfume and just like that…my hair smelled like some Avon stuff I found in the bathroom closet. It was trés chic, to be sure.

My foster sister and I took turns using the dryer on our long locks. We only had one set of curlers, so we took turns with that, as well. We washed our hair with Prell or Herbal Essence shampoo…something that smelled vaguely of sage and pine cones. We used some sort of hair rinse. It was a green liquid and you added some to warm water in a measuring cup and poured it over your head. I always had a lot of static in my hair in the winter, so I started using fabric softener instead of the green stuff. Créme Rinse was something older ladies used. We didn’t have money for the fancy stuff.

When we rolled our hair up on those monstrous rollers, we used Dippity Doo to help make the curls stay in longer. Some girls used orange juice cans. We couldn’t afford juice so there was none of that. I remember later on in high school, we ironed our hair so it would be long and stick straight. Never mind that we were frying it in the process. Oy!

My foster sister and I painted each other’s fingernails while the hair dryer blew Evening in Paris over our sage and pine scented hair. It was always a pale neutral color, or more likely clear since that’s what we had handy to stop the runs in our pantyhose. There was a small vent in the base of the dryer case that would help blow the polish dry.

We did all this without our noses pressed to a phone screen. We figured out how to take care of our beauty needs without the benefit of Google searches. We weren’t texting our friends or taking selfies. The extent of our self-absorption was limited by how long we could stay in the bathroom before someone started pounding on the door and yelling, “What on earth are you doing in there??? It’s been twenty minutes! Hurry up…the commercial is almost over!!!”

Our evening entertainment was limited to the little handheld transistor radio where we caught the evening radio show on WPAR… “The Station With the Happy Difference!” We finished up our homework then went in to grab some milk and cookies and kiss the folks goodnight. I am so glad we didn’t grow up with the internet. It was a simpler time. And, our tomfoolery wasn’t recorded for all posterity!

I wax poetic because I met some of my high school friends for lunch yesterday and we were chatting about times past. There was a lot of what-happened-to-so-and-so going on. As we were getting ready to leave, one of the gals came back over to the table and quietly asked if turning 70 bothered us. This one said yes, another said a little, everyone allowed it is indeed a monumental birthday.

When it came to my turn to chime in, I said it didn’t bother me at all. As a matter of fact, I embrace the change. There are so many of us who haven’t been blessed with as many years as we have. Mr. Virgo, for one. And my dear friend, Sparky. I am obligated to live…really LIVE every day of my life! I don’t have time for this “I’m too old” nonsense. Oh, I was having a few moments of uncertainty a few months ago. But I’ll take aging over the alternative…any day of the week!

Besides, the temperature was a balmy 75° yesterday. How could anyone feel bad on a warm, sunny spring day with friends?! I finished my errands with the sunroof open, wind blowing in my hair. We had warmed up pizza for supper and I “yard camped” last night!

It was a wonderful and much needed break!

“My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!”
1 John 4:11-12 MSG

Punxsutawney Phil is Full of It!

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 02:30:00 -0600

Groundhog Day comes every year and I don’t really recall ever hearing “Spring is JUST around the corner!!!” It’s always “Six More Weeks of Winter!!!” Right…so what else is new? It’s the first week of February. Of course there’s more winter! But I can pretty much guarantee you Spring will come a lot sooner in WV than it will for my Colorado family. Or for many of you, as well.

I woke up yesterday morning and snuggled in with Mr. FixIt for the morning news review on our phones. He looks up the weather and reports to me. I look up the most recent news flash and report to him. We check our schedules to see where we need to be or what chores must be accomplished. Then I pull up my “To Do List” and add things we think of…usually something we need at the store or a prescription to pick up. The most important “news” that starts our day is “How did you sleep?” Sleep reports are big news anymore! Finally, we check the blood sugar and decide what’s for breakfast.

I padded down the hall to the kitchen and put the kettle on for tea. If we don’t have anywhere to go, I’ll start breakfast. Mr. FixIt lets the cat out and starts the fire in the family room. We looked outside yesterday morning and the sun was shining. We knew that ol’ groundhog was full of it. We surely don’t have SIX more weeks of winter! It’s time to start scheduling some camping trips for the season that’ll be here before we know it.

Since it was such a sunshiny day, and since we had some errands that really needed doing in town, we bundled up and headed out in the 30° weather and hit the road. We got our usual breakfast sandwich at the Golden Arches, then made our stops throughout town…methodically planning each to keep us from zig-zagging and retracing our steps.

Our first stop was Harbor Freight. I’ve told y’all before…if this man wants to have his way with me, he takes me to a hardware store! I am NOT your typical frou-frou fancy chick. Not anymore, anyway. I threw my tiara out the window a long time ago. I set my sights on a piece of hardware I needed to replace. A lot of my important tools were stolen out of a storage unit in Colorado when I was selling my house ten years ago. Many of which, it turns out, Mr. FixIt has in that “hardware store” we call a building out back. This tool he did not have. It looked like Harbor Freight didn’t either, till the clerk checked in back and they just happened to receive a new shipment that hadn’t been put on the shelves yet. Mama was a happy camper…because…it was on sale for 25% off. Excellent!

After a quick stop at Sam’s, where spring was evident at every turn, we went to my other favorite store…Rural King. Our best dates end up at Rural King!!! Free popcorn and all things farm related. We needed more birdseed because these freeloaders are eating us out of house and home. We deferred replacing the broken feeder till next year. We have three big feeders, two suet baskets, a window feeder, and a finch sock out there…that will get them by. The big 40# bags of birdseed were sold out. We bought one 20# bag and stopped at Ollie’s Discount Store to see if they had some. They had little 5# bags for more than we paid for the 20# so that was a no go.

Our last stop took us to Walmart for the rest of the items on the list. They had 20# bags of birdseed there so we topped off what we needed. It turns out, buying birdseed has become a $4 Billion industry in this country. Feeding birds is big business. We feed them because we love them. We love watching them flit around the feeders and the ground below. It’s tranquil and therapeutic. It strikes a chord deep within each of us…food is love and feeding those we love soothes our souls.

Feeding our feathered friends has been a tradition in this country for over a hundred years. We all can remember the little back yard bird feeders at our grandma’s or auntie’s house. They might have purchased a small bag of seed and doled it out over the winter in order to catch a glimpse of a colorful bird like a cardinal or a bluejay or what have you. But when the pandemic hit, participation in the hobby of feeding birds exploded because we were stuck at home and needed a diversion.

We’ll keep feeding our birds as long as we can afford the seed. And maybe we don’t need to buy that extra feeder after all. We stop feeding in the spring. We do start in the fall, but it really doesn’t pick up to the “spendy” category till late winter or early spring. We don’t feed in summer because there’s plenty of natural forage and even if there’s food in the feeder, you rarely get a bird come in for that kind of seed when there’s a plethora of worms and grubs and bugs to nosh on.

We were back home by 4:00-ish. We missed the school bus traffic and the state highway people were finished with the major tree-trimming project they’re doing on our little two-lane blacktop. I have nothing scheduled till the 13th, so I can dig in and get some work done on this project. The learning curve seems to get steeper and steeper, but I am bound and determined to do this! I may go out to The Farm for a few days. No TV…no cooking and cleaning the kitchen. Just peace and quiet and faster internet, if you can believe that.

It was good to have a day out in the sunshine, getting some exercise, and hanging with my best fella. Some of you may have gotten a glimpse of Mr. FixIt Tuesday night when I inadvertently posted his birthday picture to this page instead of my personal page. It was only up for a few minutes till I discovered my error. If you did get to see him…you’re one of the few who have gazed upon his handsome visage! Lucky you!!!

“Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.”
Psalm 104:12 ESV

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 02:30:00 -0600

Yesterday was Mr. FixIt’s birthday! Until the middle of June, he is two years older than me…then I’ll be 70 and he 71. I remember my mom telling me she never believed she would live past 35. I don’t know why, other than she had a hard life. I’ve never been one of those people who can envision herself in her declining years. I guess that’s one of the hazards of living “in the moment.”

Mr. FixIt, Jr. and his family came over last night with a cake to share to celebrate. There were seven of us and we made short shrift of that tasty dessert. I had fixed his favorite meal earlier…seared jumbo sea scallops, steak, and pasta primavera and I’m telling you, it was as good as any meal you would get at a restaurant…and a lot cheaper, to boot. I didn’t go out and spend money for his birthday because we have some major outlays coming up this year. I told him I would buy him something when we go to the beach in April and he was thrilled with that.

Mrs. FixIt, Jr. and I sat and talked in the living room while everyone else went downstairs to play pool. We were talking about the rough patch we went through when our kids grew up and were heading out on their own. I did not handle my first heading off to college very well. I wasn’t ready. It was a little easier when the second left for school, but her dad and I parted company when she was 10 years old, so our world already looked different by that time.

I love when the kids come over. It adds joy and sparkle to our daily life. If I could have afforded it, I might have stayed in Colorado. Then, maybe it would be the Colorado kids coming over to visit and help with little odd jobs I might need. I’ve never known what it’s like to have them just drop in or come over for meals regularly. I hear about them visiting the other in-laws and I’m tickled to death for them that they get those visits. It’s too bad we don’t have a house in both states. The ideal would be to lasso a rope around the stated and draw them closer together. I do envy folks that have close family nearby that visit.

I’ve found FaceTime to be a passing substitute for in person visits and you can do that anytime, it’s free, and you get to see each other’s faces. I want to try to get something that my brother can use to have video visits. If I could see the Colorado peeps more often, maybe that year in between visits won’t see so far away.

What about you all? Do you have family nearby that you get to visit? Our daughter-in-law was telling me last night that she has a friend whose kids live right here in town yet they never see each other. I’d think that would be heartbreaking. For those of you whose family lives far away, what do you do to help make the time apart go faster? What have you found to be the best way to see your kids?

“Point your kids in the right direction— when they’re old they won’t be lost.”
Proverbs 22:6 MSG

All Work and No Play Makes Ginny a Grumpy Girl

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 02:30:00 -0600

I got up early with Mr. FixIt to see him off for his day of fun with his son. My sweetie has a birthday coming up next week, so his son treated him to a trip to see his beloved Mountaineers play Auburn. He didn’t have much hope for the WVU to win, but anytime he gets to see them in person is a rare treat. The joy of spending time with his boy? Well, it was just extra special. One of the grands and her boyfriend and our daughter-in-law went along, to so that just added to the fun.

As soon as he was out the door, I fixed a little breakfast and settled in the Big Red Chair with my lap desk and multiple electronic devices. I worked through the morning…doing research and the like. Then I headed over to a friends house. He’s redoing his kitchen and wanted “a cook’s perspective” on some of the ideas his contractor left him with.

I’d never been in the stately brick home across the street from the courthouse, but I’ve admired it from afar for years. I became friends with Richard after Sparky died. I was really excited to get the invitation for a tour and learn the history of the house. The original owner was a young doctor. He lived in the home and had his medical office next door. He had some interactions with a local family and met their young daughter. He was immediately smitten with her, but she was not of age yet, so the good doctor had to wait a few years before he married the love of his life.

They added four children to their brood and lived a lifetime in the home. When the elders passed away, Richard bought the beautiful house. He is a collector of some wonderful antiques. He also has accumulated many of the original family’s keepsakes and he has these things housed in various rooms of the house. He hosts tours from time to time so others can share in the history.

After we discussed the design points in the kitchen, I gave Richard my recommendations then we set out to take the tour. Like my longtime family friends who own the mansion in the historic district of Parkersburg, Richard’s home is filled with antiques to the point it resembles a living history museum. The only difference is, he loves primitives. That’s my favorite too, so I was in hog heaven. I was so taken with the tasteful decor, I nearly forgot to take photos till we were up in the attic. That’s where he has his toys from childhood. He had a Christmas tree set up and had the smaller toys tucked in the branches as ornaments. It was such a delight!

I picked Richard’s brain about my project and he added some good ideas that I can incorporate. More things to add to my list!

Big had another swim meet today…the last one before the Conference Championship. She is three time zones away and I watch her on closed circuit TV. However…remember me telling you I’ve been having trouble with my electronics? Well, I could NOT get it to work, no matter what I did. So, I’ll have to rely on the word of her mama and Sue…her other grandma.

All in all, it was a fun and productive day that was sunny and warm….ish!

“….Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.”
Colossians 3:22-25 MSG

#Work, #Fun, #Antiques

Calling All Butterflies!

Sat, 14 Jan 2023 02:30:00 -0600

I stumbled across this meme the other day and knew I needed to use it in one of my blog posts. It’s true…if you chase after butterflies, they’ll fly away. But if you build a beautiful Butterfly Garden, the butterflies come to you. Attract what you want…don’t chase it.

This was a big a-hah moment for me. For years, I’ve been chasing success. What is success in the blogosphere? Well, some would say the number of followers you have. That’s part of it. Some would say a good indication of success is financial. That’s true, too. Doing something you love while helping people is a HUGE part of it. For me…my primary goal is to spread the light God so generously gave me with others. To help them navigate the rough bumps in the road of life. To let people know they are not alone.

But that finance thing…that’s important, too. We’re at that point in life where we are depending on a pretty fixed income and who knows how long even that will be around given the current political climate. So, diversifying and planning for any scenario has become important to me. I’ve set goals for 2023. I sat down the first week of the year and wrote out my list of things I wanted to try to monetize my blog.

I don’t want to have advertisers if I don’t have to. I would rather use my own wits and skills to generate income. That was the goal when I started Marshmallow Ranch ten years ago…to supplement our income with things I could sell. In those ten years, many possible avenues for a little “side hustle” have been introduced and I’ve decided to try one of them.

Quite often, I share a helpful or unique product I think you might like. I put a link in the post so you can go see it. Most often it’s something offered through Amazon. Whether we are fans or not of the big boxes with the smiles, they are hear to stay. And for Mr. FixIt and me, they are a lifesaver. We live way out in the country and with the price of gas and the wear and tear on the car and tires, we’ve chosen to utilize Amazon Prime and shop online as opposed to shopping the big box stores in town twenty-five miles away.

I’ll let you in on part of my new project. I’ve enrolled in the Amazon Affiliate Program. This means if you buy one of the items that I share a link for, I will get anywhere from 2-20% of the price of the item. That’s not a ton, but here’s where it really helps. If you purchase one of my recommended items, then go on shopping and buying what you were going to buy anyway…I get the same percentage of that purchase, too. The beauty of this is…it does not raise the price of the items and there is nothing out of your pocket. It’s a win-win situation and if I work at it, there can be some good income for me.

There’s more to reveal in March when I have all my ducks in a row, but for this…there is a tiny bit of a time crunch. I need to have some some qualified sales in the next 180 days in order to be accepted in the program. And that’s where I could use your help. If you see something you like and wish to buy, you can click the link on my post and buy the item yourself. Or, you could copy and paste the link and share it with someone you know who might be in the market for such things.

I’ve prayed a lot about this and for some reason I’ve had a huge burst of joy and energy over the project I’m building. When I feel that, I know I’m heading in the right direction and this could be a factor in my success. I won’t spam you about items. Whatever I recommend will be treated the same way as I always have in the past. Thank you so much for always continuing to love and support me on this incredible journey I’ve been on.

Like I said, March 12th will mark TEN years since Mr. Virgo died. This is the first time I’ve headed into that anniversary with anything but sadness. This time, I’m heading in with a sense of sober recognition and hopeful anticipation for building something great these last however many chapters there are of a well lived life. I’m turning 70 in June. The best is yet to be!

“I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”
Jeremiah 29:11 MSG

The Man Makes Cookies

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 02:30:00 -0600

Mr. FixIt’s Famous Peanut Butter Blossoms! I have no idea how he makes them…it’s magic!

I don’t particularly care for the big box store. I also don’t particularly care for the shopping online opportunity that offers me cheaper prices and convenience. I don’t care for their business practices. I don’t care for inferior products made in Chinese sweatshops. But…I’m now officially a senior citizen living in the boonies on a fixed income. Gone are the days of just buying whatever my little heart desires.

Call it maturity. Call it enlightenment. Call it lack of choices. Whatever it is…it is what it is and I won’t make myself feel bad for doing what I have to do to keep every penny I can and make it work for me. That being said, I made the trip to town to a vastly overpacked big box store to get some things.

I was fully prepared to buy some cheap holiday fabric and make a few drawstring gift bags, but once I priced the fabric and figured in my time, I was less inclined to think that was the cheaper route. I went back into the “Sparkle Department” and found some large drawstring bags that were really cute and just a little over $2 each. That worked for me and I bought what I needed.

Mr. FixIt asked me on my way out the door to bring home some creamy peanut butter. This is a fun feud we have every year. I make my peanut butter cookies with super chunky peanut butter. It adds interest by way of texture. I like chunky. He likes smooth. I have a monstrous jar of chunky peanut butter in the pantry, but it just will not do for Mr. FixIt’s Famous Peanut Butter Blossoms.

I ragged him about this incessantly the last few years. I wouldn’t eat his cookies. Because…I like chunky! It became a matter of principle. I made my own with the chunky and that is just the way it was. No problem. Then….

I tasted his cookies.

Darn it.

They were freaking AWESOME!

Power struggles. We all do them in relationships…to one extent or another. I’ll never forget the first time I tasted his cookies and had to do the whole mea culpa thing. And you know what he said? Nothing. He just smiled and gave me a big ol’ hug. He’s the best guy in the world for me. He gives me all the rope in the world I need to hang myself, then wraps me up in his big bear hugs and loves me anyway.

So, when he asked for the jar of creamy peanut butter yesterday, I turned to him with my brightest smile. And, with a twinkle in my eye, I said…”You’re such a harda$$!” And we laughed and laughed.

He’ll be baking cookies today!

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.”
Proverbs 18:22 ESV

The Big Birdhouse is Back!

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 02:30:00 -0600

FINALLY!!! After being in the shop more than we actually had her, the a-frame is back from the camper doctor. And she looks absolutely perfect…almost like a brand spankin’ new camper. I say “almost” because when we opened her up for her final inspection, the very first thing I saw was a huge scratch across the front of the refrigerator door that wasn’t there the last time we saw her in September. Oy! It’s ok though…they are ordering a new refrigerator door that will be delivered to us and we just have to pop it on. No problem!

We stopped at Menard’s and bought some new tarps. The one on Joy, the ‘67 Franklin is ripped so we needed a new one for her. We also needed one for a couple things we have stored outdoors. And I wanted a great big one that absolutely wraps up the a-frame so there isn’t the least bit of chance it will leak. Then, in the spring, we’ll put her up for sale.

Mr. FixIt and I were talking about the details of all she’s been through and he was worried it might deter someone from buying her. But, here’s how I look at it. Every new camper…no matter how expensive or well made…is going to have bugs to work out that first year. That’s what the warranty is there for. This particular camper had a few more bugs than usual, but we’ve stayed right on top of it, addressed each issue, and rectified it with repairs that made her better than new. So, I feel confident someone is still going to get a beautiful, useful camper that will give them years of pleasure. Really, the only reason we wouldn’t keep her is our age and Mr. FixIt’s balance. It’s meant for a younger, stronger person who wants to get out in the woods and have some fun. And besides, we have Grace, the 2021 Jayco.

It was almost dark when we got home. We quickly parked the camper and covered her up for the winter. We tied the tarp down with sturdy ropes instead of bungee cords. Bungees seem to deteriorate so fast out in the sun and rain. We had supper on the way home from the RV dealership. After we watched the news, I made some peanut butter cookies with the recipe I shared in a video for National Cookie Day. They were delish! Here’s the recipe:

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg

Mix ingredients together. Chill ti stiffen dough. Roll into balls, place on parchment lined cookie sheet, and flatten with fork or press a chocolate kiss on top. Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes till done. Let cool some before removing to wire cooling rack. Makes about a dozen medium sized cookies. Enjoy!

I received a book in the mail that I ordered from eBay and I was so excited to get it. It’s about knitting Fair Isle and I really want to master that this winter. Imagine my dismay when I opened the package and it was a book on crocheting granny squares! lol Don’t get me wrong…I love granny squares, but this was NOT what I was looking for. I immediately wrote to the seller with a photo of the book I received and he apologized profusely for selecting the wrong one from the shelf. He’s sending me the correct one today and told me to either keep or donate the book that was sent in error. That was so kind of him…the only thing I dislike more than getting the wrong item, it’s having to package it all back up to return it. It’s a king-sized hassle. Instead, I’m going to gift it to Daughter #1 who crochets! Win/Win!!

So…today is “Tamale Tuesday”!!! Yay!!!!!

“Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.”
Micah 7:8 ESV

Is it Wednesday Already???

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 02:30:00 -0600

Maple Balsamic Glaze for the Winter Vegetable Salad

I spent the majority of yesterday in the kitchen. I needed to get a good deal of prep work out of the way before the rush starts to prepare the actual meal on Friday. There were three main components of the meal that I wanted to knock out. First, as always…there’s breakfast. Then the obligatory cleanup. THEN I could get started.

Mr. FixIt headed to pick up the kids and go to the dump to empty the load of old shingles we gathered when the roof was replaced. I headed into the kitchen. The first thing I did was make a Maple Balsamic Glaze for the Winter Vegetable Salad. When I say the first…I mean the first and the second. I burned the first batch. I thought I was letting it thicken when in actuality I was letting it boil till it made a savory rock candy. Bad.

Maple Balsamic Glaze

I hated like the dickens to throw that pricy real maple syrup and balsamic vinaigrette down the drain. And, I used the last of my balsamic so I had to run to the store. Once I returned, I started over and it worked much better because I didn’t let myself get distracted and I kept the fire very low. It was really easy to make. Two cups balsamic vinegar and about 3/4th cup of real maple syrup. Whisk together in a saucepan, bring to a boil then turn the temp down to a slow simmer with small bubbles. Let it cook till it reduces by half. Remove from heat and cool then put into a jar with a tight lid. Store in the refrigerator. It was SO delicious! It can be used drizzled over a salad or basted on oven roasted veggies.

The second thing I made was the Citrus Dry Rub for the turkey. This was a little more labor intensive. You can find the recipe on Kaleb’s website, Wyse Guide HERE. I measured the spices out in a nonstick skillet….I used mixed peppercorns, coriander seed, fennel seed, and fresh bay leaf. The directions said to grind this mixture in a coffee grinder. I looked for one in our little burg and they didn’t have one. I picked the next best thing and bought a mini food processor. After toasting the spices over a low to medium heat till they became aromatic, I put them in the little processor and hit go.

About half the spices ground up easily, but the white peppercorns were still hard as a rock and that wasn’t going to work. I stood there going over and over in my head, trying to figure out what I could use to grind them up when it finally hit me….the pepper grinder! I took the tricolor peppercorns out and set them aside. I put in the part of the rub mixture that was still intact and put it in the pepper grinder and got to work. It took quite a bit of time to turn and turn and turn the grinder, but it worked exactly like it was supposed to! When that was finished, I put all the aromatics in a dish.

I added the Kosher salt, grated orange and lemon zest, and the ground up herbs along with the brown sugar and the baking powder and rubbed it all together between my fingers till it was completely combined. I put it all in a pint jar, put a lid on it, and stored it in the fridge till I rub down the turkey on Thursday. Next, I made toasted and seasoned pecans to top the Winter Vegetable Salad and set them aside. I sautéed the Italian Sausage for one of the pans of dressing and stored it in the refrigerator in a covered container.

I cut up a fresh pineapple for the Baked Sweet Potatoes. I reduce a lot of sugar by using pineapple instead of brown sugar. I add some pecans, butter, a handful of dried cranberries, and a little cinnamon and nutmeg and bake them in a baking dish. A lot better for you, too! That being said, I fried about 1.5 cups of bacon pieces to use on top of the Brussels sprouts that I’ll roast. I drained them on paper toweling and stored them in a ziplock sandwich bag in the fridge.

The Purple Heart Wandering Jew the former Mrs. FixIt gave me this fal is blooming!

In between all of these things, we got the Christmas decorations out of storage and put them in the living room. My back was better yesterday, but not completely. By the time I got all this stuff done I was fried and ready to just sit for a little while.

I will bake some bread today to tear up and dry out in the oven for the stuffing. Thursday night I can make the Butterhorn dough and bake them last thing before I cut the turkey. I’ll get everything ready to bake the pies on Friday morning. It’s a really good thing we have two ovens. I could actually use three. I think that’s it. (I really need to sit down and write out the menu so I don’t miss anything!)

I’m tired just thinking about the next three days…but ohhhhh, I do so enjoy it!

“Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.”
Proverbs 15:17 ESV

Shorter Days and Colder Nights

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 01:30:00 -0600

Ice cream time by the river.

Man, the days are getting shorter fast, aren’t they? I was out in the camper at 7:00 last night to put some things away for our upcoming trip and it was nearly dark already. This time of year seems to just sneak up on you, doesn’t it? I looked at the weather for next week, thinking we might squeeze in a few more camping days, but it’s going to be colder next week than this one. And this one is going to be cold enough. I wish we could have found this camper a month earlier. We would have had a big time in September!

When I mentioned the possibility of camping again next week, Mr. FixIt laughed and said, “Ya know, we have to get some work done around here pretty soon!” He’s right, of course. I just hate to give in and see the end of camping season. Oh, there will still be plenty of days I can get out here and enjoy this camper, but they’re soon going to be fewer and farther between, that’s for sure.

One of the days we were camping at Leith Run on the Ohio River, I noticed the people beside us had this great step stool. Some campsites aren’t very level and you have to raise one side by pulling one wheel up and a lifter of some sort. If it’s on the door side, then your bottom step can be raised way up off the ground. Not only is that more difficult to get in and out of your camper, it can be really dangerous. We are of the age where we have to be concerned with the possibility of falls. The legs on the step are adjustable for height to account for an undeveloped surface. As soon as I got home from the last trip, I ordered one of those and it came yesterday.

I don’t like to buy a bunch of useless gadgets for the camper, but this one seems like it will be important to have. Not only is space at a premium, but you don’t want your weight to be over the limit. The legs fold up on this stool so it will fit in the storage bin under the bed. It also will give Mr. FixIt enough extra height to use the leaf blower to clean off the top of the slide out before we put it in. Whatever you have in the camper has to serve more than one purpose.

We cleaned out the wheel well on the curb side of the camper yesterday and I filled any cracks or spaces with clear silicone caulk. I’m hoping that will take care of any leaks like we had when we drove in the rain last trip. We’ll have to see. I don’t think we’ll be driving in the rain this time.

We just have a few things to put in the camper in the morning then we can head to our next campground. I have to camp at this place twice a year…once in the spring and again in the fall. It’s kinda my home base in the camping world. We’ll see friends and have a blast! If I remember correctly, the campground has decent cell service so I’ll still be able to post.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV

Spelling Counts!

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 01:30:00 -0600

I can’t tell you how many words I’ve written on this blog over the nearly ten years since I started. Millions, I would hazard to guess. I’ve made my fair share of grammatical as well as spelling errors and thankfully, I have wonderful friends who send me private messages to let me know of an error. That’s because they know errors make me crazy.

I have been known to stop reading a book if I find too many spelling errors. It’s almost like it should be impossible to make mistakes with all the editing software out there. I do know it’s those spell corrector programs that often throw you under the bus. Poor spelling just bugs me…especially if it’s something that really should have been seen by more than one pair of eyes.

For instance…how many times have you seen an ad in the paper for a “dinning room table”? Seriously? It’s dining! And don’t get me started on there, their, they’re. I was walking through the Halloween display at a big box store yesterday and saw this “Pumpkin Spece Love” sign. I mean..am I missing something? Is there something called “spece” that I am unaware of? I know, I know…people who live in glass houses…

All that aside, the key point here is…I was out. Shopping. By myself. I cannot remember the last time I took myself on a shopping excursion. But, my first stop was at the DMV to get the tags on the new camper we just bought. It was a good thing I was called up to the handicapped window and was sitting down when he gave me the total. Sticker shock! It always is. So, after such an experience, I needed a little retail therapy.

Well, not really. It was more browsing than buying, but I did pick up a few things. I’ll show you pictures later in the week while we are camping so you can see how cute they are. The other day, Mr. FixIt stopped at Aldi on his way home and went down the “Aisle of Shame.” It’s a great source of pride for me to know I’ve turned him on to that particular erotic zone. He called me on FaceTime to show me a handheld shower head exactly like what I’ve been looking for and it was ON SALE. I hooked it up in the camper yesterday afternoon. I had to jerry rig it a little bit. I kept the hose from the old one and just changed out the shower head and it works great.

Today, we need to get up in the wheel wells of the camper and caulk any place that looks like water could leak through. Then we need to restock it with warmer clothes and some comfort foods. Two of the nights we’ll be camping is supposed to get down in the 30’s! That’s going to be pretty darned chilly! This electric blanket will keep us comfy cozy, but we’re going to need to wear jackets and lap blankets when we sit around the propane fireplace. We may actually toast marshmallows this time…and have hot cocoa!

I got a good shot of the hilltop across the road just before dusk yesterday. It was a gorgeous day, but as soon as that sun went behind the far hill, it cooled off fast. There’s no doubt it is fall. And before we know it, the snow will fly. So let’s get out there and have adventures before it’s too late, shall we???

“He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.”
Psalm 104:19 ESV

The First Fire of the Season

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 01:30:00 -0600

I’m one of those who want comfort first. I don’t play that game of “let’s see how long we can go before we turn on the furnace.” Why? Because, I know what I want. That being said, Mr. FixIt and I have two entirely different thermostats. If it is June and it’s 70 degrees in the house…Mr. FixIt thinks it’s too hot. Gotta turn on the AC! However, if it’s October and it’s 70 degrees in the house, it’s too cold. Gotta turn on the furnace!

My sweetie ran to town yesterday to get a haircut and while he was gone, I cleaned the house and sat down to knit. It was chilly and raining so I decided to get the gas fireplace ready for its winter workout. I’ve watched Mr. FixIt set it up every fall, but I’ve never done it myself. I put fresh batteries in the remote and in the stove itself. It has an electronic ignition and thermostat. I fiddled with it for a minute then I realized the gas was turned off at the wall. Once I turned it on, I got it started right away. It was soon way too hot in the living room so I turned it off, but Mr. FixIt was really impressed when he saw the pilot light lit.

I made a big pot of chili yesterday and a pan of biscuits. My bonus grandson and his family came out for a visit and an early supper. Big Boy is three and Little Boy is eight months old and they are cute as buttons. I was afraid they wouldn’t know us because it’s been quite a while since we’ve seen them, but those little guys just snuggled right in to us and it warmed our hearts. Their mama wants to learn how to make biscuits next time she’s out. She’s going to need to know how with a house full of men to feed!

I defrosted a peach cobbler I made in late summer, but the kids were gone and there it sat on the counter. We each had a small piece with our tea and called it a day. I didn’t have little boys. I don’t know the first thing about interacting with them or what they like other than food and trucks. So food and trucks it is! They do wear me out, though. So much noise in our quiet little life.

God knew what he was doing when he gave me girls. I can play tea party and dress up with the best of them. But I also taught them how to do things that were not typically associated with young ladies at the time. I thought it was important for them to have a broad knowledge base and I think it has benefited them immensely.

Our eldest “Great Grand-Little” turned five years old this past week so we are going to a birthday party today at…Skate City! You know how long it’s been since I went to a Skate City??? A good long time, let me tell ya! And no….we are NOT skating!!! I’ll let you know how it goes.

““Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—”
Deuteronomy 4:9 ESV

It’s Always Over Way Too Soon

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 01:30:00 -0600

Our View from the Camper Wednesday Evening

That trip was WAY too short. We were lucky we got reservations at all at Leith Run Campground. They sell out fast when the reservation window opens six months in advance of your stay. I love Site #11 because it’s right on the river and you are off in a corner. A few months ago, I looked on reservations.gov to see if there was on anything available there, and found three nights in our favored site so I grabbed it right away and so happy we got to go at all.

We had a big breakfast and sat out by the river for a while till it was time to pack up and head home. We stopped in Williamstown to dump our tanks at the rest area. It’s going to take some getting used to having such small tanks. It doesn’t take much to fill them up.

When we got home, the grass was SO long, so as soon as we unhooked, I was on the mower. The weather was perfect…partly sunny with a cool breeze. When I finished, I cooked hotdogs out in the camper and we set up our chairs in front just like we do at the campground. We might as well pretend camp since we have all this land to spread out on!

Mr. FixIt had to run to town for gas because I used the last of it in the mower. When he came back, he had the mail and waved me down. Do you remember when I bought that cute little camper that fell apart on the way to Colorado in 2019? Well, during my stay in Denver that trip, I lost my driver’s license. I went to the DMV and was able to get a temporary copy to get me home. Well, yesterday I received two things. A torn envelope in a clear plastic bag. And an envelope from the Postal Service in Charleston.

As best I can piece the story together, someone found my Driver’s License in Colorado and mailed it to me on September 17th, 2022…just a few days ago. Somehow, the letter got ripped open and my license was found loose in the mail in Charleston so the Postal folk put it in an envelope and sent it to me as well as the ripped envelope with an apology that it was in that condition without the contents.

So, where was my license for the last three years? It didn’t look any worse for the wear. It looked exactly like it did the day I took it out of my wallet to show my ID to enter the high school where my daughter works. It probably got stuck in a lost and found somewhere and someone had the wherewithal to send it on to me. I’ve long since gotten a duplicate, but I thought it was pretty interesting that it finally made its way to me! If it could talk to me, what would it say???

We’re heading to the dealership today to pick up the Big Birdhouse. I’m sure there will be more stories ahead!

““What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?”
Luke 15:4 ESV

Camping People Are The Best!

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 01:30:00 -0600

I’ve missed out on a ton of fun in my life. For years and years I tried to get my second husband to get a camper or an RV and it just wasn’t his thing. He was a city boy and a doctor…not a camper. For a very brief period, we had a VW Vanagon popup but it had a lot of mechanical problems. We were poor as church mice so we sold it to have a down payment on a house.

It was so cloudy yesterday morning, you couldn’t see across the river!

I never realized how great camping people were till I lost Mr. Virgo and bought Little TOW-Wanda. When I went on my first Grand Adventure as a widow, I met some of the nicest people on my way through the wilderness and backroads of Colorado. Some I’ve even stayed in touch with. Some have followed me on my adventures ever since.

I like to cook outdoors when we camp to keep the smells and grease out of the camper.

As I’ve told you, I met my true match when Mr. FixIt and I found each other again. My daughter tells me I can talk to a tree. She’s right, of course. And my sweetheart is exactly the same. He attracts and collects people and we always have the most interesting conversations with people from all over the country.

When we were sitting out by the river yesterday, the folks in the campsite next to us came over for a visit. Of course, in the first five minutes, we found out we knew a ton of the same folks. She had worked with the Former Mr. FixIt. His sons bowled on Mr. FixIt’s league. We had been chatting for about an hour when I told them the story of losing Mr. Virgo and how it caused me to create this blog.

The gal went on to tell me she’s never really gotten into reading blogs…she reads what’s on FB. That’s ok…not everyone is into long winded storytelling. I get that. But when I mentioned Marshmallow Ranch, she whipped around and looked at me with a huge surprised smile on her face.

“Ohhhhh!!!!! GINNY!!!!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. She said, “I see you on Facebook all the time! I read what you post on FB!” Mr. FixIt just shook his head and smiled. He might know everybody in town, but I’ve got peeps all over the world! And that’s pretty cool!

We fiddled around the campsite all day. I cooked a big camp breakfast in the outdoor kitchen, then set the pot roast to cooking in the crockpot for the day. It was my bonus daughter’s birthday so we talked with her a few times. I sat under the awning so I could stay out of the sun and protect my face. I started knitting a baby sweater on Monday so I worked on it all day.

We packed up hot roast beef and sandwich fixings and went to a fishing hole we found. We took our chairs. I knitted. Then we ate supper along the lagoon as the sun started to set on a gorgeous September day. This is my all time favorite time of the year to camp. Crisp nights, sunny days. I’m packing all these memories up to tide me over the winter when we are stuck inside for months.

Foggy river morning.

And….did I tell you? We LOVE this new camper! They called to say the Big Birdhouse is ready to pick up so we are going there Friday. A week of camping!

“There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows.”
Ezekiel 47:9 NLT

Getting Organized

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 01:30:00 -0600

I love the cheerful prints from Ree Drummond’s Prairie Woman collection. I tried to find her melamine plates that I love and they only had one at our Walmart. Maybe I’ll have better luck online. I did find the sheets and pillowcases, though!

Imagine a hotel room that’s less than 150 square feet. You don’t really have a closet…but there’s space under the bed and under the benches in the dinette. There are several small cabinets and cubbyholes where you can stash things. But you have to be smart and plan things out down to the last square inch. Now…put a couple of wheels on it, add hot and cold running water with a shower and toilet and the three water tanks that are required for proper use…hook it to your bumper…and you can go just about anywhere with everything you need.

A closeup of the quilt I made…finally being put to use!

I went shopped yesterday afternoon. I took my measurements with me and carefully looked around till I found exactly what I wanted for storage. I found some clear Rubbermaid containers with air tight seals. The two large ones hold utensils and lighters and spices. The two medium ones hold silverware and hot cocoa packets. The two small ones hold sweetener and tea bags. There are four cloth baskets…two for each of us. One holds shoes. The other holds clothes. We each have a plastic bin the size of a shoe box with clips on each end that hold the lid tight. That’s for medication and toiletries.

The salt & papper shakers that started the ball rolling on the decor for the new camper.

The cabinet to the right of the microwave holds food items: chips, cookies, extra bottles of water. The cabinet under the sink has a trash can, aluminum foil, trash bags, dish soap, paper towels, the packet of manuals that go with the camper, and a cab fresh that absorbs moisture. The storage under the benches is quite roomy. One side holds extra blankets and the pots and pans. The other side has a slow cooker, and electric skillet, Mr. FixIt’s DVD player, and a battery powered lantern.

I bought this darling tablecloth at Happy Jim’s Trading Post for $5!

There is a small closet on my side of the bed for my lap desk, iPad, and a couple of soft fleecy blankets that I like to sleep with. We each have a plug-in surge protected device that acts like a power strip but without the cord. It has two USB charging ports on it as well. There is a long cabinet above the bed that will hold the cloth baskets and a couple of sweatshirts.

We have a wonderful, fat toad that hangs out around our door waiting for an errant moth!

I bought a pot roast and will put it in the crock pot tomorrow and that will give us several meals. We’ll roast hotdogs for lunch and have bacon and eggs for breakfasts. We’ll sit by the river. I’ll knit. Mr. FixIt will throw in a line and maybe catch a little something. We won’t eat anything out of the Ohio River, but it’s still fun to go fishing.

Who’s up for a little adventure! Let’s go!!!

“For the word of God will never fail.””
Luke 1:37 NLT

In My Happy Place

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 01:30:00 -0600

Well, one of my happy places! This time we’re camping. I can’t tell you how excited this makes me. Even Mr. FixIt was excited. We are both so disappointed that we haven’t been able to camp very much this summer so getting this little camper has lifted our spirits greatly. My first night sleeping out in the field was delightful. I laid there listening to a beautiful Barred Owl in the sycamores along the hedgerow and my heart nearly burst with joy!

The camper is wonderful. It’s the exact same length of the a-frame, but having a large bathroom at the end of the camper…and adding a slide out…creates so much more floor space. The only thing that’s kinda strange about this camper is the dinette is raised about a foot off the floor so you have to step up into it. I would much rather have a chair and a half recliner in there than the dinette. And, who knows…we might get a wild hair some day and make a modification. For now, we are happy as two little bugs in a rug!

We drove up to the service department where the Big Birdhouse is getting some TLC. We wanted to get our camping gear out, so we stopped on our way to Walmart for gas and groceries. Afterward, we went to our favorite restaurant for ribs! Oh, yummmmmm! They were the BEST and we were really hungry from running around all day.

We got back to the camper before dark and put some things away then made the executive decision to do nothing but enjoy our surroundings tomorrow. The air has a distinct nip of fall and the sides of the roads are carpeted with fallen leaves. I’m so glad I threw some warm clothes in at the last minute. We were both nodding off at 9:00 last night. Good sleeping weather!

“Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!”
Proverbs 14:23 NLT

Honey…I’m Home! Now, Let’s Go Camping!!!

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 01:30:00 -0600

Did you miss me??? I could hardly wait to get home yesterday! I always say “I need a break!” Then, when I get one, I miss my sweetheart like crazy. I did enjoy myself. I met up at an AirB&B with a couple of old friends from way back. We talked and laughed and ate great food and worked on our projects. I’m knitting a turtleneck sweater and made great progress on it.

I got home around noon and quickly threw the papers together that I needed to take to the Credit Union. Once we finished there, we took the check over to our new friend and picked up the new camper. Ohhhhhhh, I cannot tell you how incredibly happy I am to have the “perfect” camper! I made Mr. FixIt laugh when I said, “This is the last one…promise!!!”

She’s kind of a cross between Little TOW-Wanda and the Raffle Camper (the rPod 196) that I got to pull around in October 2019. She has a walk around queen sized bed. She has a slide out with a dinette in it. She’s got a cute little kitchen with a 2-burner stove and sink, a fridge, and a microwave. She’s got plenty of counter space. Not a lot of cabinet space, but there’s a ton of storage under the bed and under the bench seats of the dinette. The best thing of all? She has a bathroom…with a sink…and, a little TUB and shower!

Mama’s a REALLY happy camper now!

The a-frame is darling…really it is. And, if I was younger, I’d stick with it. The smaller a-frame was actually easier to get the top up and down. And I really LOVED the big windows and tons of light. But what really sealed the deal for me was twofold…a bathroom, and just being able to climb in and take a nap when I’m tired of driving. It’s the right size, only a year old, been camped in three times, and has everything we want. Win, win, win!

I “camped” in the field last night, and today we are heading to a nearby State Park to camp for two nights. We’ll put her through her paces.

Now…to come up with a name for her. Because…she HAS to have a name, right?! I think I’ll have to camp with her a little bit to see what fits. Stay tuned for lots of fun!!!

“Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.”
Proverbs 15:22 NLT

Labor Day Weekend

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 01:30:00 -0600

Photo Courtesy of Pixabay

We didn’t do a heck of a lot yesterday. I worked on the quilt some. I now have three rows of eight blocks pieced. Once I get all sixty-four completed, I can lay them out and make sure I arrange them in a pleasing way. Then I can piece them all together, make the borders, then it can go to the machine quilter to be completed at her leisure. And I can get back to knitting!

Mr. FixIt loves Louisa the Lincoln! So much so that he searched the internet high and low to find a replacement piece for the top part of the grill…the part that connects to the hood. It was surprisingly affordable and it sure makes the car look shiny and new. He took off the old piece yesterday and put the new on and took me out to look at his handiwork. Great job, babe!

I took a break in the early afternoon and drove to town to buy some groceries. Some of the kids are coming today for a cookout and I wanted to make sure I had enough food. The guys are going to measure so we can order the supplies to put on a new roof. Hopefully we can get that done before winter. We’re just going to have hamburgers and smoked sausages and assorted cream salads like macaroni, potato, and cole slaw.

I also bought a big pork butt roast and put it in the slow cooker. I am going to use half of it to make pork green chili and the other half can be frozen in servings big enough for two to pull out later on for sandwiches or whatever. I bought a huge container of strawberries and I’ll bake sugar biscuits for strawberry shortcake for dessert. You make sugar biscuits the same as regular, but you add a little sugar and vanilla to the dough and top the biscuits with decorator sugar crystals. Perfect for little individual shortcakes.

I think we are getting close to the end of pool season. We really didn’t get a chance to use it much this summer. It seemed to take forever to get the chemicals just right and we were always cleaning it. It’s more trouble than it’s worth, honestly…but the kids love it and it is nice to get in after a hot day mowing. So I suppose we’ll keep it up another year.

Once I got the pork roast in the slow cooker, I read some of the paperwork on the sewing machine and serger while we watched a back episode of America’s Got Talent. Mr. FixIt was thrilled that college football is back although I fail to be enthralled. I do like to go to the games, but only on that cusp between “OMG I’m dying of the heat!” and “I can’t feel my toes!” Too far either way and I’m not interested.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

“and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,”
1 Thessalonians 3:12 ESV

A Whole New Thing!

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 01:30:00 -0600

It’s been a while since I’ve made a quilt and I’m pretty excited to finally have a sewing nook set up at the house. There’s a spare room I’ve had my eye on, but there’s been a leak in the ceiling and the drywall needs fixed. That isn’t our highest priority right now so I needed to find an alternative. I didn’t want to set up someplace where I would need to put things away at the end of the day or when company comes. Also, I didn’t want to make a lot of noise and interrupt my sweetheart when he’s watching a show he enjoys.

At first, I thought I would set up in front of the sliding glass door in the game room downstairs. But once I got to looking at it closely, it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. There weren’t any outlets nearby and I’ll need several. Also, I’d have to come up with something other than the folding plastic tables we have. Anyone who has used a sewing machine or a serger knows how they would bounce around like crazy on something other than a really sturdy table top.

I went out in the building looking for a suitable table and couldn’t find one. I was about to go to the local thrift shop when I walked past an old L-shaped desk Mr. FixIt used to use a gazillion years ago. It had one of those old computers on it with the floppy disks and a monitor that weighs a ton. The light bulb when off. I’ve been walking past that desk for five years now and it never occurred to me to reappropriate it to my needs.

I went up and asked my sweetheart if he would mind if I clear off that old desk and use it as my sewing/writing/craft nook and he was all too happy to let me have it. I needed an extra power strip and the only one we have is in the camper at the dealership. I ran to our little town and after three stops, I not only found a power strip, but also a desk lamp to give me more light on the cutting table I set up. That plastic folding table is perfect for spreading out fabric for cutting.

It took me a while to get everything cleared off the desk and get it clean enough to put light colored fabrics on without worrying. I cleaned out two desk drawers…one for notions and the other for fabrics I’ll be using later on in the project. I set up my $50 sewing/embroidery machine on the left “L” and the ironing board and iron on the right side. That way, I only have to swivel back and forth between the two and it made sewing a breeze.

While I was in town earlier, I went back to the quilt shop and asked Carolyn to help me find a pattern and figure out how many blocks I would need for a king sized quilt. She did the math and I will need eight rows down and eight rows across for a total of sixty-four blocks. We found a pattern I really liked. It’s called Disappearing Double Pinwheel Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Company. You can see the tutorial for it here.

I’m using a stack of pre-cut fabric called a Layer Cake. A package gives you forty-two 10” squares in a variety of fabrics. Different designers create Layer Cakes in their own fabric designs and color ways. I selected Purple Passion by Paula Barnes and a solid light linen color by Moda. The light solid sets off the pattern so you can really see it well.

I started with the first step of sewing a light solid and a color square with right sides together. You sew around all four sides, then take your rotary cutter and cut an “x” from point to point creating four triangles. However, when you open the one triangles, you get a square with containing two triangles…on light and one dark. It’s kinda magic.

Once you have your four squares, you arrange them in a pinwheel and sew them together. And, here’s where the crazy part comes in. I trimmed that pinwheel down into a 12” square, then divided it in three 4” sections and slice it up…in both directions. You fiddle around with the squares turning them this way and that till you get them aligned correctly then sew them all back together. And I have to make SIXTY-FOUR of these bad boys…plus the borders! Now you know why I’m starting this the end of August for a June wedding! You can see my finished square. My points aren’t “State Fair Perfect” but I’m not being judged…it’s a gift.

I am so happy with the way my little sewing nook looks and functions. And I can’t wait to see how this quilt turns out!

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
Proverbs 19:21 ESV

Knitting for the Boys

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 01:30:00 -0600

During the two World Wars, the United State’s Government asked the folks at home to help out and do what they could from home. Women went to work in the factories in the jobs abandoned by the soldiers who headed off to fight. There were collection drives for anything that could be of use for the war effort. People even collected urine during the Revolutionary War because there was a shortage of gunpowder and someone thought they could make it with urine, soil, ash, and sticks. It didn’t work from what I gather.

One of the most productive things the good folks back home could do was knit sock, sweaters, hats, and gloves for soldiers. Prolific knitters had patterns had patterns in their heads, handed down orally from generations before them and they just knitted them over and over. But not everyone had someone to learn from so printed pattern books were a necessity.

The first printed knitting pattern was found in a medical book from 1655. Pattern books became far more popular during the Victorian Era, but mostly focused on needle arts like embroidery, cross stitch, lace, weaving, and others. These skills influenced knitting and the first knitting book was published in 1837.

I went to knitting group yesterday. I forgot my wallet in the truck, so there was no shopping for yarn at 75% off…which was REALLY hard to take. But God was looking out for my bank account so I was happy to just sit in the white rocker in the corner of the room and chat with the other knitters there. One is a gal named Susan who graduated from my high school three years before me. She pulled something out of her bag and said, “Have I ever shown you this?” It was a pattern book by Bear Brand and Bucilla Yarns. Most yarn companies publish pattern books for use with their yarns. This one was a delight! I had never seen one so I took pictures of the front and most of the patterns. I might try them one of these days! You can read an interesting article about the history of knitting HERE.

I love things like this. When I had my needlework shop, I ran across a stack of Needlearts Magazine and just loved looking through them. Some were in poor shape and I used cutouts of the ads in some of my art jewelry when Marshmallow Ranch first started. Some of you may have purchased some of those pieces.

We only have one more gathering in the shop…next Tuesday then Pat and Mack close down for good. I wish I would have found the shop years ago when I first came to West Virginia. It would have been nice to spend more time with these fun, intelligent and talented women.

Mr. FixIt worked on the steps some more but ended up needing more cement and boards so another trip to town was warranted. I sat and knitted all afternoon and watched Tipper’s “Celebrating Appalachia” videos on YouTube. When he got home, I needed to help him hold some boards in place. It finally started raining and that was the end of the job for the day. I toyed with the idea of going to the farm for a couple of days, but my sweetheart needs me here to help with this project. There will be other days to go to the farm when we don’t have so many pressing chores. It will be winter before we know it!

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.””
Genesis 8:22 ESV

What a Nice “Day Off”

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 01:30:00 -0600

It seems funny to say…I need a day off. I mean, every day is a day off, isn’t it? Retirement is wonderful in that we don’t have to get up every day and drive to work and stay there for.ev.er. Then drive back home and cook supper and clean up then crash for an hour before bedtime…only to get up the next morning and do it all over again. To be honest, I think I’ve worked a lot harder since I’ve retired. I’ve certainly kept busy and accomplished a lot. The only difference is…it’s mostly fun when you GET to do it as opposed to HAVE to do it.

I warmed up corn cakes and fixed some eggs for breakfast. Once I cleaned up the kitchen, i could sit down and work on my next project. I bought some of the most wonderful yarn at the knit shop this week. Mochi from Berroco is 37% baby alpaca, 35% nylon, 24% fine merino wool, and 2% “other fibers”…whatever that is. The yarn is cabled instead of twisted and it’s light as a feather. Yet, with all those wonderful natural fibers and all that air space, I think it’s going to be really warm without all the weight.

This yarn is so soft and light, it’s like knitting with gossamer.

In the late afternoon, I went in to fix supper. I was going to bake some smoked kielbasa in sauerkraut. I turned on the oven, then mixed up the ingredients in a small baking dish. However, when I went to put the casserole dish in, the oven wasn’t hot. Uh-oh. I immediately knew there was something amiss and it most certainly had something to do with the control panel I replaced earlier this week. I ran through all the steps in my mind, wondering if I forgot to plug something in. I couldn’t think of anything.

When I put the new panel in, it didn’t look exactly like the one I took out, but I just figured they had updated it. Mr. FixIt is the one who looked up the part for me so I was sure it was right. I just put it in without giving it much thought and I must admit…I didn’t turn on the stove to see if it worked. I went online and downloaded the user’s manual and I couldn’t find any troubleshooting steps that helped.

I finally went on the Frigidaire website itself, put in the model number of the stove, and looked up the replacement parts. Once I got a close look, I could see where the problem was. The two control panels looked exactly alike except for one small detail. In the bottom right corner of the new panel, there was a selection called “Quick Bake”. In the same space on the old panel, it was a “Lock” icon. Neither one of us caught that and we had two sets of eyes on it. I’ve ordered the new part and started a return process for the part that doesn’t fit. I knew that job was too easy!

I decided to make another sweater with the same pattern as the one I made for Big. It was quick and easy…and it has classic lines. I don’t have a traditional cardigan so maybe this one’s for me…maybe not. I’ll decide when I’m finished. We are supposed to go to my cousin’s place in the country this evening for a bonfire and a barbecue, but it’s supposed to rain hard today. We’ll just have to wait and see. Rainy days are nice for knitting!

“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.”
Proverbs 31:10-13 ESV

Day Thirteen Was The BEST Day!

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 01:30:00 -0600

The scary metal Mothman scupture with the creepy eyes!

According to Little, yesterday was the BEST day yet! We had a couple of lay low days and a couple of really busy canning days so they were more than ready to get out for an adventure! I went in and did the wakey-wakey thing and got dressed and pretty soon we were out and about…looking for something to get into!

Little posing in front of a mural at the museum.

The first thing we did was stop at Starbucks for a refreshment and a morning nosh. Then we hit the new Goodwill Store. We found some pretty cool things and Little got some awesome back to school clothes. I found a Mr. Juiceman juicer for $10 that I’m looking forward to trying. I also got a cool teaching kit for the littles for when they head into preschool and kindergarten.

A poster at the Mothman Museum.

Once we wrapped up at Goodwill, we hit the road. I had a big surprise in store. Little is at that age where theatrical and creepy ghost stories are ALL that and a bag of chips. So, we headed to The Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant. I don’t know if you saw it or not, but Richard Gere of all people starred in a movie called The Mothman Prophecies in 2002. I remember hearing about the Mothman when I was growing up. From November 16, 1966 to December 16, 1966, several sightings were reported of a man-sized bird-like creature near Point Pleasant, WV. The first newspaper story was published on November 17th about two young couples who were out joyriding near the old TNT factory when this thing swooped down and landed on their car and they took off. It kept getting ahead of them and stood along the road, eyes glowing red only to dash ahead and do it over and over.

Our picnic supper of the best Chinese food!

It was all over the news…people were out looking for the mythical creature that became a colorful piece of West Virginia folklore. The good folks at the Mothman Museum in Pt. Pleasant…billed as the ONLY Mothman Museum in the WHOLE WORLD…are doing a brisk business. You too can drop a small bundle and walk behind the camouflaged doors to cast your eyes on such incredible things as the actual watch that Richard Gere wore in the movie or numerous framed copies of the newspaper articles relaying the reported sightings and the uproar they caused. Which segues to the events of December 16th, 1966. The Silver Bridge collapsed into the Ohio River during rush hour killing forty-six people. Twenty-one people survived the plunge into the icy waters. Local scuttlebutt had it that the Mothman was never seen after the bridge collapsed so logically, the two must be tied together, right? This is how myth becomes legend and conspiracy theories are born. For filler, there were pictures and stories about UFO sightings all around the country during the same time period.

Yummy edamame.

This was right up Little’s alley, being a theater kid and all. We had our picture taken with everything except the silver metal sculpture located around the corner from the museum. I can’t say as I blame the kid…it’s pretty menacing with its sharp teeth and claws and bulging red eyes glowing like two coals in the night. Yeah, we steered clear of that guy. But, we had to buy the obligatory souvenir t-shirt and a pair of cool socks for Big and a sticker for her mom’s water bottle.

Little spotted this heron when we were listening to the little band at the shelter in the park.

We were getting ready to leave when we noticed a huge antique mall just a few doors down from the museum so we dodged in there for a bit. Little found some candy and I found a cookbook and a couple of gifts for Christmas or birthdays…not sure yet. I’m looking forward to reading the cookbook about Julia Child written by Dorie Greenspan…both chefs extraordinaire in their own rights.

The Ravenswood Cemetery where many of my ancestors rest in peace.

When we finally finished, Little said they would LOVE to have Orange Chicken for supper. I asked Siri where the nearest Chinese Restaurant was and she told me about one just around the block. I’ll tell you what…that was some of the best Chinese food I think I have EVER eaten. And they gave us SO much of it. I got House LoMein with chicken, beef, and shrimp. We both got an appetizer of edamame. If you haven’t had that…you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s steamed soybeans, served in their hulls. You salt them, then nibble the beans between your teeth just enough to pop the edge of the pod open and you can squeeze out the bean. SO yummy and good for you!

The old Wilding Graded School built in 1897.

When we got to Ravenswood where my dad was born, raised, and died, there was an old timey band playing in the park on the banks of the Ohio River. We had to stop and listen while we sat in one of the big metal swings overlooking the water. I scattered my father’s cremains on the riverbank not a football field length away from where we sat, so I regaled Little with stories and showed them pictures of my dad.

The poor old house looks so bad. I think someone is trying to fix it up, but it’s pretty sad looking.

Before long, we drove on…stopping first at the cemetery where my Grandmother Roush and other family members are buried, then on out the country road to see what’s left of my Aunt Marge’s farm. It was nearly dark by the time we got home. We were going to go swimming together, but I chickened out when I felt how cold the water was. I ended up sitting on the deck and having a most delightful conversation with this darling grandchild of ours.

I fed calves in this barn and my dad raised pheasants here.

We will rid up Little’s laundry today and pack. We need to pack up all the extra things so we can run to the post office and ship them back to Colorado for them. Then I promised we would go back to the Mt. Zion Church to clean it before they leave tomorrow. So, one more sleep, and my Little Bear will be jetting west to spend some time with Big before she heads off to college.

The round barn on what was the Butcher’s Farm.

And…the beat goes on.

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV

Day Eight was SO Great!

Sat, 23 Jul 2022 01:30:00 -0600

Unfortunately, there was a puddle of water in the camper yesterday morning so off she’s gone to the camper hospital!

As you know, we’ve been having some problems with our new camper…the Big Birdhouse. It’s got some leaks and there was a problem with the part that raises and lowers the top plus a few other things. New campers can have bugs that need fixing and it just seems this one has more than her fair share. I’ve been communicating with the dealership, but they weren’t hearing back from the manufacturer so I took matters into my own hands on Thursday. I sent an email to both the dealership and the manufacturer to make sure we were “all on the same page”. Miraculously, within half an hour, I had three emails from the parties involved and things started moving. I was polite, yet firm, and my “shot across the bow” got the attention it needed. Yesterday morning, Little and I emptied out the camper and took it up to the dealership and they will work on it first thing Monday as they have promised to give it priority. We shall see what the next steps will be, but for the time being…we are camperless. *sigh*

Little and I are cut from the same bolt of cloth. We both love camping, cooking/baking, crafting, and antiquing/thrifting. We dropped off the camper and headed to a really great antique store in Lancaster. It is housed in an old factory and it is jam packed with so much cool stuff. I found a glass gallon milk jug…the kind with the plastic handle. I’ve wanted one for iced tea. The container I’ve been using is kind of awkward and Mr. FixIt has trouble manipulating it without spilling. Little found a specific type of suitcase they’ve been looking for since 2016! It was a really fun excursion and we both found a treasure.

On our way home, we stopped at my favorite restaurant in Logan, Ohio. Millstone BBQ has the BEST baby back ribs. Little and I shared a full slab and each had a side. Topped off with sweet tea and lemonade and we were happy little campers when we got done. We stopped to see the smallest church in Ohio which is adjacent to a rest area near Coolville. We went to the Kroger store in Belpre. I’ve been looking for masa preparada…a mix for making homemade flour tortillas…but they didn’t have any. We ran into Little’s second cousin twice removed which was an unexpected treat!

Our last stop was at Wendy’s for a Strawberry Frosty…oh.so.good! We got home, tired and happy. When I asked Little if they had a good day, the answer was, “Oh, gosh yes, Nana! I always have the BEST time here with you!!!” Lord, this child melts my heart.

By the way…I wore the kid out!

“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.”
Proverbs 17:6 ESV

Day Three Was Fun!

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 01:30:00 -0600

I let Little sleep in yesterday morning. I remember when my daughters were that age. They need to sleep because they’re growing and they’re busy cramming their brains full of new knowledge. I cleaned house and knitted till I finally woke them up to get the day going. We drove to town to visit our favorite antique shop. Little bought three neckties, a teddy bear and a necklace. Then we went to Michael’s to get some crafty things. They love art so we bought a new sketchbook and colored pencils and a few other things. I bought some green, red, and white acrylic yarn to knit some Christmas stockings for the kids.

Photo shared with me by a friend on Facebook.

We’ve had so much rain the last several days. We all went on a walkabout last night to watch the sunset and see if we could find the twin fawns. They didn’t disappoint…they were out grazing by the campers and we got some pictures of them. Someone posted a photo of a young black bear on the hill just above our house. I’ve been seeing bear scat in our field this year so I keep a weather eye out for him when we are out there…especially at night. You could walk right up on one and not even know it.

I was making breakfast yesterday when Mr. FixIt called me in to the living room. He said there was a huge turtle out in the yard. It turned out to be TWO turtles doing what turtles do to make MORE turtles. We saw bunnies and a big fat groundhog, as well. The whole menagerie was on display. I made a big pot of soup beans with smoked ham hocks yesterday and showed Little how to bake cornbread in an iron skillet.

We ended the day with Little sprawled out on the living room floor…drawing and coloring. I worked on the hat I’m knitting and we watched an old episode of Big Bang Theory. It was a really good day!

“Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.”
Proverbs 12:10 ESV

July is Here!!!

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 01:30:00 -0600

Just about every year of my adult life, I took at least a week…and often two or three…and brought my girls to West Virginia to see their Mountaineer family. Most often, we came in July. You could pretty much bet the monsoons of June were past and it wasn’t so dreadfully hot and humid like August. Since my girls are almost sixteen years apart, there were just a few years I had both of them with me.

I have great memories of those trips. When my older daughter was little, she stood on a stool and brushed her great grandma’s long hair. I have a picture of her holding a bamboo fishing rod with a safety pin for a fish hook, wearing a Holly Hobby hat and a one piece play suit. When my younger daughter was little, we took “moon baths” out behind grandma’s house. We waited till dark then stripped off and lathered up, then poured cold buckets of rainwater over ourselves to rinse off. It was the only way to cool off enough to sleep.

Now it’s ME that lives in West Virginia and Little is coming in July in two weeks to see us! We’ll be baking and swimming, crafting and sewing, and I’ll indulge in a new experience…cosplay! If you don’t know what that is, it’s where you dress up like your favorite characters, makeup and all, and film yourself or take photos. Little is really into it and I’m into Little so we’re going to give it a go! It should be fun!

We had some pretty hard storms come through yesterday. When I saw the sky darkening and heard the rumble of thunder in the distance, I shot out of the house to close up the camper. I left the windows open the evening before and I didn’t want everything to get wet. I prepared to lower the top of the camper and….the actuator (the mechanical part that lifts and lowers the top) didn’t work. I tried checking the circuit breakers and the fuses, but that storm was rolling in fast at that point. The sky started crackling with lightning and thunder so I closed it all back up and ran for the house.

So, now I have yet another thing wrong with the camper. I spoke with the service guy and he sent another email to the factory with photos and the additional info about the actuator. We have camping reservations when we go to Virginia to pick Little up so they are going to ship a new actuator to us and Mr. FixIt can replace it. That way we can still use the camper that weekend, then I can get it up to the dealership. They will have to ship it to the factory, I imagine. Still waiting to hear. We don’t have camping scheduled again till September so hopefully they will get the camper in and out and back to us in a timely fashion.

After supper, Mr. FixIt went out to see if the storm knocked any limbs down. Pretty soon he came and tapped on the window in the family room and motioned for me to come outside. I followed him out into the shadow of the nearest pear tree and looked in the direction he was pointing. There, on the ground beside the camper, lay the twins…the tiny spotties…the fawns that joined our little tribe this spring. Later in the evening, Mommy joined them. There’s a big, fat groundhog in the front yard this summer. I don’t like them hanging around, even though I don’t have a garden this year. But they dig up the yard and embankment with tunnels that can pose a safety hazard and damage structures.

I continue to watch this sweater that I’m knitting for Big grow longer and more beautiful. I’ll have quite a lot of finishing work to do on it, but I’m thinking she’ll really enjoy it when I’m done. We’ll be having a lot of rain this weekend so I’ll get a chance to work on my knitting and getting a little housecleaning done in preparation for Little’s arrival.

“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.”
Proverbs 17:6 ESV

The Girls With The Grandma Faces

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 01:30:00 -0600

We were oh so young when we met. Some of us went all through school together. We played on the playground together in grade school. Yesterday, we reminisced about our memories of when President Kennedy was assassinated…what were we doing, where were we when we found out, whose class were we in? We’ve gone through so much in our lives. We fought together for our rights and freedoms. We come from the same general background but with different upbringings. We love and respect each other…immensely. So, not a single one of us brought up anything remotely controversial yesterday. I don’t think a single one of us have our heads in the sand, but after the week we’ve collectively had, we just needed each other’s company. An unspoken bond held together with time and love and coffee.

We were oh so young when we left high school to head out into the world to continue our educations and create loves and families and careers. I didn’t really get to know most of these wonderful women until the last eight years or so. That’s when I asked a couple of my friends…

“How often to do you all get together for coffee?”

Crickets.

They hadn’t done that. Maybe lunch from time to time. But we had families to raise and houses to run and jobs to keep. I don’t think we really had time for friendships back then. And now? Now we have grandma faces. Life is a little bit slower. We appreciate the time a little bit more. We’ve gotten to a place in our lives where our friendships have moved a little closer to center stage. I keep a Facebook page where I can send out invitations for coffee gatherings. We try to meet once a month, although sometimes that isn’t possible. There was a big hiatus during covid and we were so excited to have a socially distanced coffee in the park one gorgeous summer day.

One of our big topics of conversation yesterday was our upcoming 50+1 Class Reunion. We are hoping it will be well attended. Six years ago, we had a coffee gathering at a Victorian mansion that belongs to a dear family friend/relative and some of the girls wanted to do that again. But, that’s a lot of work, and lot to ask of the homeowners. We talked about it yesterday and decided to have a gathering in the park for our coffee at this reunion.

We were oh so young. And now?

Our youth is on the inside now…tucked away…buffered by the winds of time and change.

Oh…so much change.

We may have grandma faces now, but we are still those young girls in the polyester pant suits and platform shoes and bell bottom jeans…on the inside.

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Ephesians 4:29 ESV

Back Home and Back to Work

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 01:30:00 -0600

We camped at Beaver Creek State Park near East Liverpool, Ohio this week. It’s one of our favorite campgrounds, largely because my dear friend Gail is sometimes the camp host there. She isn’t hosting again till fall, but she was supposed to come camp with us at least one night. Unfortunately, she was a little under the weather this week so we had to take a rain check on the visit. We still had an amazing time, as always.

We visited Columbiana and shopped at the local antique dealers and ate at Das Dutch Haus restaurant and it was SO good. We took apple dumplings home for dessert and they were heavenly! We had ice cream TWICE at Bruster’s Ice Cream Shop in Calcutta. They have Black Raspberry ice cream at this time of the year and it’s one of my all time favorites. Mostly, we just hung out at the campground, chatted with what few campers were there, and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the woods in June.

Midweek camping is the way to go. Even at the peak of June, people don’t usually start showing up till Thursday night. We took long walks and got lots of good photos with nothing but nature in them. We did gain some fellow campers on Thursday night and it was so fun to hear the kids playing, riding their bikes, and running around catching lightning bugs. Tuesday and Wednesday was really hot and we had to run the AC, but Thursday night got down to 56° and I actually woke up cold at 3:30am. I had to get up to turn off the fans, and then…of course…I couldn’t get back to sleep till just around dawn. Poor Mr. FixIt…there isn’t another room to escape to in a camper, so I kept him awake, too.

There was something I saw at the campground that really upset me. I was sitting with Mr. FixIt, the sun was setting, and I had been knitting. I set my needles aside to get up for a drink when I noticed something on a tree at the edge of our campsite. I walked closer and…believe it or not…someone had BRANDED the tree! Like…with a livestock brand! I know there is someone out there who thinks it’s uber cool that there’s a tree at every campsite they’ve ever camped at with their “brand” on it. But that is just wrong. What ever happened to “leave no trace”? Campsites and parks should be left better than you found them! Don’t leave “art” like decorated rocks or walking sticks behind for the “joy of others to discover”. Don’t stack rocks in streams…it disturbs native habitat for all kinds of critters. Don’t move picnic tables or fire rings.

Go to the woods…enjoy it to the fullest…then leave it pristine for the next guest! Nature is for everyone.

*stepping off my soapbox now.

And now, it’s time to get back on that mower and get some work done around here! So glad to be back home and with you fine people. I hope you’re enjoying summer so far!

“You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.”
Psalm 74:17 ESV

Bugs and Bunnies

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 01:30:00 -0600

I love mowing days in June. Everything is so green it hurts your eyes and it’s not hot enough to fry an egg on the driveway. Although 84° certainly was hot enough for me, thank you. I still mow with my big golf umbrella. People have worried I might tip over and impale myself, but our land is nearly flat as a pancake and in the three or so places it isn’t, I set the umbrella aside so…not to worry. The world looks a whole lot better from the seat of a tractor.

Mr. FixIt told me yesterday evening that he found a dead rabbit in the front yard. He said it wasn’t torn up nor did it have any visible wounds. There was scat out there but he ran over it with the mower before I had a chance to look at it. He said it was big like the bear scat I showed him. I can’t imagine a bear catching a rabbit, but I suppose stranger things have happened. We didn’t hear anything out there. It could have been poisoned, too.

We didn’t get more than a handful of blueberries last year…now look!

There are fledgling Eastern Phoebes just about ready to leave the nest over the cellar stairs. I do hope they leave soon. The nesting material is getting loose and I’m afraid they’ll fall out. Mama and daddy are still feeding them so they’ll be on their way soon, I’m sure. I did get to see the bird nesting in the empty mailbox next to ours yesterday. I’m pretty sure by the nesting materials and the quick glimpse I got of her, it’s a Carolina Wren…what my grandma called a Jenny Wren.

We had the weirdest thing happen Sunday afternoon. I was looking for my hiking boots to take to the grandkids’ farm. I headed to the front closet and something on the carpet caught my eye. It looked like a stick. But it was sticking up out of the carpet. I reached down to pick it up and the end snapped off. It was hollow and crumbled into dust between my fingers. I’d never seen anything like it before but I know enough about nature to know it was created by an insect of some sort.

I took a snapshot of it and used Google Lens and lo and behold…termites! It was a mud tube made by a subterranean termite. I didn’t waste any time. I have Dodson Pest Control on my speed dial ever since the Great Flea Fiasco of 2016! I called my friend Chris there and told him what we had. “Yep…termites!” He sent someone out yesterday afternoon and $1700+ later, we have treatment scheduled for the first part of August. We have to peel back the carpet to expose the concrete slab underneath. The inspector surmised there is a crack underneath that’s allowing them in. Mr. FixIt took him out front and sure enough, there is a crack that goes right where the mud tube was.

We drove into town last night to get an ice cream. On the way back, I asked Mr. FixIt if he wanted to go out to Riverbend Farm to see how Melissa’s tomatoes are doing in the greenhouses. Oh, my! She says they are full size and that means thirty days to picking season. She has a couple of good rows of half-runner beans. I told her I wanted a bushel and she laughed. “You and everyone else!” Maybe I’ll get lucky and get some of hers! I love going places now and running into people I know in this little town. I’ve been here for five years this fall.

It’s supposed to be rainy the next few days so I’m looking forward to getting some work done in the house. I still have to put all that camping gear away. I called yesterday to put a bug in their ear at the dealership and remind them I’ll be picking the camper up next Tuesday…ready or not. Hopefully it’ll be finished! We’ve made reservations to camp at Historic Williamsburg in July. We’ll be picking Little up for a couple weeks of fun at Nana’s house! I can’t wait!!!

Starting and ending my days out on the deck is heavenly. I’m making a concerted effort to sit outside as much as possible this summer because it will be all too soon when we’re stuck inside again!

“Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have…”
Hebrews 13:5 NLT

A Day With Mr. FixIt

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 01:30:00 -0600

I’ve had more trouble with allergies this spring than I have in a long time. I’ve read that climate change is causing more allergens and those of us sensitive are even more so as things worsen. I already take so many antihistamines I rattle when I walk, but Monday night…after two days of mowing…I took an extra one at bedtime and paid for it with the jitters all night. Most people can take a Benadryl and it puts them to sleep. Not me. I can take one maybe for two nights in a row. After that, it works just the opposite and my skin crawls and I’m jumpy till dawn.

I finally gave up trying to settle in around 2:30 and went to the guest bedroom so I wouldn’t keep my sweetheart awake all night with my tossing and fidgeting. When he woke up yesterday morning, he peeked his head in to see if I was awake then asked me if I wanted to go to Marietta with him. Now, honestly, I would have loved the day to myself without the noise of the television and time to clean up the stuff from camping. But, as those of us who have lost a husband understand…these are days we cannot get back. So, I happily said an enthusiastic yes. He beamed! It’s the little things, folks.

We headed to town in what would turn into a marathon of stops here and there. We picked up the new brake line he ordered, stopped at a gorgeous nursery, checked my mail at the post office box, grabbed a soda at McDonald’s, stopped at the pool supply store for chemicals, looked at campers, went to Joe’s to water our tomatoes, stopped to see one of the kids and check out the truck that was run into yesterday (they’re sore but fortunately ok) then a last stop at Walmart on our way home.

As we drove the two lane blacktop that twists and turns through the countryside, my mind yet again turned to the number of terrible car accidents on this one particular stretch of road. In my mind’s eye, I could see a head on collision so I became hyper alert and watched every approaching car. Last night at around 7:00, a notification came across my phone that there had been a terrible two car accident in that particular place and I automatically prayed for the victims and praised God for getting us through there safely yet again.

This little Killdeer was protecting this triangle space with LOUD warnings to stay away!

We warmed up leftovers for supper and enjoyed a little rest break in the hottest part of the day. When I got up, Mr. FixIt was out working on his brakes. That man has the patience of Job…seriously. Here he is, with some diminished sensation and use of his hands from his strokes, and he tried time and time again to get the fittings to connect on that brake line. I came out and sat with him, offering him what encouragement I could while I knitted. He finally got it finished and asked if I’d like to work on the tractor next.

While I was gone in Colorado, he was mowing at the farm alone and caught the mower deck lever on the guy wire to the telephone pole that holds the transformer. It broke one end of the cover off and he ordered a replacement. I sat down where I could reach under the fender and removed the bent piece. And, of course, the replacement piece is just a smidgen different that the old one. Just enough that the plastic cover would not snap into place. I do NOT have the patience of Job and I walked away several times, only to come back and try again. We finally gave up and he’ll use the grinder on the metal piece tomorrow to get it to fit better.

A mama bird built a nest in the empty mailbox next to ours. Scares you to death!

Sometimes you just have to know when to throw in the towel and leave it for another day. We got a lot done as it was. The brakes seem to be fixed. The tomatoes are watered. We have the chemicals to put in the pool. We understand the problem with the tractor. And…we’re still married!

I’ll call that a win!

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

A Homecoming of Sorts

Thu, 19 May 2022 01:30:00 -0600

Camping by the creek!

I’m baaaaack! Once the graduation festivities were over, I could pack up the camper and get up to the mountains to visit my brother and camp for a bit. As soon as I arrived, I got a weather bulletin for the mountains of Colorado stating there is a winter storm warning for Friday and Saturday. They are predicting 4-10” of snow with up to a foot to a foot and a half in the higher elevations! Well, as much as I personally detest snow…I’m praying they get tons because it is SO dry here! And, that puts a kink in my plans. I immediately asked the campground to extend my stay at least one day and possibly two, which they did. Then I called Daughter #2 to tell her I may not be back in time to see her on Sunday. Then I called Mr. FixIt and said I’d probably have to extend my stay till after Memorial Day in order to spend more time with my daughter and to have a better chance of finding campsites on the way home.

The drive up was gorgeous. It was in the mid-seventies and sunny with big puffy white clouds. The traffic wasn’t bad at all and moved right along. This town is so vastly different than it was when we moved here in 1986. There are so many more people living here now and the number of tourists is off the charts. It’s bittersweet…it was just a sleepy little mountain town back then. Now it’s like a bee hive. I supposed the feeling is exacerbated by the fact we live on five acres out in the country and the little “town” we live near has a population of 888 people.

There are some good things around still. My favorite doughnut shop and coffee house is still there, as is my favorite clothing and shoe stores. I’m hoping to run into the Thursday morning coffee group that have been meeting every week for three decades. I’m going to visit a friend on Friday morning that I haven’t seen in years. I’d love to get a massage at one of the many spas in town and then soak in the local hot springs. I’m going to be so pampered by the time I head home!

There is a bear that frequently visits this campground so I went to Walmart and bought some bear spray. It’s now sitting just inside the door of the camper. The biggest thing is to not keep a lot of smelly food in your camper or vehicle. And always, always, always lock the car doors and keep the windows rolled up. A bear has no problem opening a car door or pulling a window out if it can get a hold of it.

This is a very small campground and the sites are relatively close together. Someone started playing loud music at 8:45 last night and I am so glad I brought my noise canceling headphones! I just put them on, turned on my rain and thunderstorm sounds and I was good to go. I could even sleep like that if I have to but there is a noise ordinance here from 10pm to 8am. Hopefully they enforce it. That is my one pet peeve about campgrounds…loud music. That’s not what I come to the mountains for. I won’t harsh their fun, but it’s a shame when they disturb the fun of others.

I’ll spend some time with my brother today at his day program. He said he’d be coloring and I asked if I can colors with him. He said yes, and that he might be reading, too. So, I’ll bring a good book…or my knitting…and we can sit in companionable silence.

“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:30-31 ESV

#Rest, #Relaxation, #Camping, #Colorado

Little’s Birthday Party

Wed, 11 May 2022 01:30:00 -0600

Little isn’t very little anymore. Turning fifteen is pretty cool for this grandchild of mine. We had a big day of cooking and laundry and cleaning. Little is into cosplay so there were lots of wonderful gifts that aligned with those interests…a long red wig, a crazy outfit, some really fun glasses and earrings shaped like sparkly radishes. Little is so much like me…marching to our own drums, creative, artistic, soulful, intelligent, funny.

Big texted me and asked if I wanted to go to IKEA with her and of course, I jumped at the chance. She and I don’t get a lot of time together and it was so nice to have a good conversation with her…just the two of us. I can’t believe how fast the time has gone and she’s off to college in the fall. It just doesn’t seem possible.

I received a call from a dear friend yesterday morning. I’ll get to visit with her when I’m up in the mountains camping next week. I love how certain friends pick up right where we left off and the conversation is easy.

Still knitting the teal socks with the patterned knit. Not a lot of knitting time when there’s so much going on. I’m so happy to be here visiting my babies! Mr. FixIt mowed at the farm today and built the new fire pit. It was a busy day for everyone!

“May you see your children’s children…”
Psalm 128:6 ESV

Another Grand Adventure Begins!

Wed, 04 May 2022 01:30:00 -0600

May the Fourth be With You!!!

I’ve lost count how many Grand Adventures this makes. The other day, Mr. FixIt was talking to one of his friends about my upcoming trip. He told the fellow I was about to embark on another adventure and will be pulling the camper to Colorado by myself. The guy was shocked. He said, “I don’t think I’d let MY wife do that!” Mr. FixIt laughed. “You don’t LET your wife do things. You support them doing the things they want to do that makes them happy!” Have I mentioned how much I love this man??? We haven’t spent more than a few days apart in the last three years. I’m going to miss him like crazy!!!

I have the portable kitchen packed. I have my clothes packed. I have the knitting projects I want to work on and the magazines I want to read. I made a wonderful supper of baked steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, and my home canned half-runners. (I’m going to need to can another bushel this fall.) I have a stock of Mr. Bee Potato Chips for the family. I searched like crazy and finally found the “add-a-pearl necklace” that Hubby #1 gave me when I turned eighteen. Now it goes to Big as her graduation gift.

I have the truck in tiptop shape. I need to make a few stops on my way out of town today, then it’s just me, Mavis (my GPS), my Rand McNally Atlas and the open road.

Even with the bad stuff happening around the world…life is good, y’all! And if you don’t like what’s happening…VOTE! And pray…a lot!!!

“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Psalm 23:3 ESV

The Sweet Smell of Spring

Tue, 03 May 2022 01:30:00 -0600

We are solidly in spring now. Tornado season is cranking up, and so my thoughts turn to the drive across tornado alley in the coming days. My living room is in utter chaos as I begin ardently sorting and deciding what I honestly need to take rather than doing what I usually do…throw everything but the kitchen sink in the truck and never use a tenth of it. The struggle is real.

The RV dealership called me this morning to let me know they have a tracking number for the part they ordered for my fridge. They expect it to arrive today…tomorrow morning at the latest. I told them that was good, because one way or another, I’m taking the camper tomorrow. I can’t wait any longer…I need to hit the road.

We went to town last evening for the youngest granddaughter’s senior night for softball. It was a BBQ, and afterwards, the kids played the parents in kickball which was loads of fun. I knitted as we sat and chatted with the former Mrs. FixIt. When we got home and I walked into that messy living room…my anxiety started to rise. Am I going to be ready to go tomorrow? What was that I was supposed to remember? Oy! Instead of freaking out, I sat down with my knitting and worked a couple of rows. Then I started writing my post for today, and soon I was feeling all zen again.

It is so easy to borrow time from the future and spend it before you even get it…all in your mind, of course. Every time a scenario presented itself in my Nervous Nelly brain, I tossed that ball over to Jesus and reminded myself, I cannot tell the future. It could turn out 1000% different than I could ever dream anyway. Every time I bring myself back to where I am in the current moment, my blood pressure goes down and I can breathe again.

One of the most beautiful harbingers of spring is the sweet smelling lily of the valley. We had these sweet little flowers growing by the steps to our front porch when I was a child. I distinctly remember picking them and inhaling their heady fragrance deep to my core and thinking there was nothing finer in this world than a spring day. I went to my friend’s on Sunday to pick something up and he had me pinch off a sprig to smell on my way home. What a trip down memory lane.

I have a video consult with my endocrine surgeon this morning at 9:00 then I can go full tilt packing for the trip. In the meantime, I’m just going to chill and enjoy the process.

“And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”
Mark 6:31 ESV

Goodbye Outer Banks

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 01:30:00 -0600

It’s always a sad, sad day when we have to say goodbye to the beach. Even though our week started out pretty rocky with a strong gale, lots of rain, and unseasonably cool weather…we ended on a high note yesterday! We spent the day out on the beach with plenty of sunscreen and still got sunburned. Mr. FixIt fished his little heart out, loving the new rod and reel I got him for his birthday.

He didn’t catch a thing. Not even a nibble. Yet a fellow just a few yards from him was pulling fish in left and right. His last catch of the day was a very respectable Black Drum that any angler would have been proud to hook on a line. It turned out he was using blood worms for bait and Mr. FixIt was using his standby…squid. Maybe next year he’ll try something different.

I took my knitting and enjoyed the sun and surf. I watched a pod of dolphins rising along the shore. Osprey, pelicans and laughing gulls kept the skies above the beach busy. There was a ton of people-watching to do. Mr. FixIt always wears a WV hat and folks invariably stop to chat about their connection to the Mountain State. The wind picked up as the afternoon wore on and I eventually caved and put on my jacket and draped my sweater over my knees. We finally…reluctantly…pulled ourselves away around 4:30 and headed back to the condo for a brief rest.

We caught the last sunset of our stay. As we walked back to the truck, I noticed patches of Stemless Evening Primrose scattered in the coarse, sandy soil…their delicate yellow blossoms opened for such a brief time. We came back to the condo and cleaned and packed so we could get an early start this morning. We’re thinking we might get to stop at our favorite pancake house on the way out of town.

I want to thank you for coming along with us on this fun week at the beach. I’ll be doing the first half of the driving then Mr. FixIt will take over and I can knit the rest of the way home. We’ll be back to the regular programming tomorrow and the mowing, gardening, and cleaning cycle begins anew.

Prayers for travel mercies. See you tomorrow from Wild, Wonderful West Virginia!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

A Stroll Along the Marshy Sound

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 01:30:00 -0600

We had a perfectly lovely day yesterday. We had no plans whatsoever. I saw an announcement on the FB page for the condo complex here saying we could get a tour of one of the updated units. We decided before we did anything else, we would take a look. It seems the original management company may have led the investors to believe they were collecting money for maintenance and upgrades to the condos. It turns out that was misleading. The company was fired, a new company hired, a special assessment levied, and now the desperately needed updates are being completed as quickly as possible…which is to say, at a snail’s pace.

There is still a supply chain issue with furniture, appliances, cabinets…even paint due to the continued fallout from a number of factors, including covid and the untimely blockage of the Panama Canal, the war in Ukraine, resulting inflation…among other things. We walked in to view the updated unit and put on our masks as we were being escorted by an employee of the complex. As soon as he saw our masks, he launched into a political rant about the virus including some widely reported and debunked conspiracy theories.

I bit my tongue as he continued to harangue us with his beliefs about the legitimacy of the virus till I could hold back no longer and asked this maintenance man where exactly he had gone to medical school. I don’t like to throw anyone under the bus, but I felt his behavior was inappropriate at best and unnecessarily aggressive. I’m not a “snowflake”, nor am I what is derogatorily referred to as a “Karen”. But I don’t appreciate being berated by someone whose job it is to show us a condo and answer any questions we may have. I’m considering my options in this regard. That aside, the new updates are lovely and “beachy” and ever so appreciated. The work on our building is scheduled to begin in 2024.

When we were finished, we headed down the island…all the way to the ferry station on Hatteras Island. We stopped at the Blue Pelican Gallery and lo and behold…there was my friend, Jenn Johnson…owner of this fine establishment! She hasn’t been in the shop the last couple of times I’ve visited. We greeted each other like old home week and had a lovely chat as I filled my sale bag with the most beautiful yarns. Jenn has had some health struggles since I last saw her, and I was thrilled to have a few moments with just her and I…talking about God moments and how He works in our lives.

I would have loved to sit and knit and visit longer, but we needed to head back up the island. We ended up in Kill Devil Hills at Henry’s Restaurant for our one night indulgence of seafood. I had Coconut Shrimp…one of my all time favorites. Mr. FixIt had Shrimp and Scallops. We ate indoors with a respectable distance between us and the staff and other diners. This was only the second time we’ve eaten inside a restaurant since covid began and we remarked how totally weird it felt. Honestly, I believe dining out has lost its appeal to me. I know that would make Mr. Virgo sad because fine dining was his forte. I’ve gotten pretty used to the more frugal lifestyle unwillingly imposed by the constraints of the pandemic. I’d much rather cook a good meal at home with fresh ingredients. That way, I know what’s in it and how it’s been stored and prepared. And it costs SO much less.

It WAS Coconut Shrimp but I forgot to get a picture before I scarfed it down!

We both wanted a walk and some fresh air after dinner, so we headed back to Duck and walked the boardwalk along the marshy edges of Currituck Sound. We took several pictures along the way, but soon the evening chill began to creep in and we were ready to head back to the truck to get in out of the wind. Right then, we received a text from my dear friend Sue that there was some sort of issue at the White House surrounding a plane or something so we headed back to the condo to catch the news. Thankfully, it was a plane of errant skydivers accidentally off course. It didn’t look like we were going to have a spectacular sunset anyway.

Today and tomorrow look like our best bets to get some beach time and Mr. FixIt is chomping at the bit to get out there and do some surf fishing! I’ll take my knitting (and a blanket!) along with me and watch.

Two more sleeps and it’s time to go home already. It’s not fair how long it takes for a vacation to get here and how quickly it is over.

“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,”
Ecclesiastes 2:24 ESV

Time and Beauty

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 01:30:00 -0600

The high today was only 56° but the sky was crystal blue…not a cloud to be seen until mid-afternoon. It was still breezy which made it feel a lot colder. Our first thoughts were beach time and fishing, but stepping out on the deck convinced us otherwise. Later in the morning, we decided we might go over to the Elizabethan Gardens and walk around, but again…that same windy condition is there, too. So, Mr. FixIt dropped me off at Knitting Addiction and I browsed a little and bought a little and knitted a little till he came back to pick me up.

We thought we’d make an attempt to walk on the beach but once we had lunch, it was nap time. At supper time, we thought we’d go to Henry’s for seafood, but on the way there, we decided neither one of us wanted anything that heavy. We turned around and went up the island to Corolla and bought picnic stuff at Harris-Teeter and ate semi al fresco by the lighthouse.

When we got there, the small parking area was totally empty, but the closer we got to sunset, the more people arrived. Pretty soon, there was close to a hundred people up there with their cameras poised to catch the end of the day. The sunset was pretty, but it wasn’t stellar. I think the first year I came here was the prettiest sunset I’ve ever seen…full of clouds and colors and sunbeams in every direction. There were very few clouds last night so it wasn’t spectacular.

Still and all, it was a beautiful day and it wasn’t spitting snow all day like it was at home! This is one of those winters that just won’t let go! And before we know it, we’ll be complaining that it’s too darned hot. We humans are seldom completely satisfied. That’s why I try to practice mindfulness and really experience what is happening in the moment because that’s really all we have. Once time passes, our only tie to it is our memories and the people we shared the experience with. And tomorrow? Who knows whether…or IF…tomorrow will come? No, all we have is the gift of the moment that God gives us. If we can make the best of as many of those as possible, then we’ve strung together a strand of pearls that constitute a beautiful life.

Today. What will today bring?

“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Impromptu Road Trip

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 01:30:00 -0600

Yesterday was the prettiest day so we decided to take a ride down to Charleston and run an errand. We also wanted to hit Cabella’s I’ve had Mr. FixIt thinking about what he really wants for his milestone birthday just passed and he finally came up with something. A really good surf fishing rod and reel.

I gave up the reins and let my sweetheart drive so I could knit…after a Dramamine, of course. It was sunny without a cloud in the sky. A perfect 70-ish degrees. I was amazed at the difference in the flowering trees just ninety miles south of us. Everything was in full bloom! I felt like we just kind of stumbled into spring and it was divine!

After a long browse in Cabella’s and a short stop at the hardware store, we stopped for an early dinner at LongHorn Steakhouse. I told Mr. FixIt I was really in the mood for a GOOD burger. A hand shaped patty of quality ground meat, not what these fast food places put out as an excuse for real food. This place didn’t disappoint. All the fixin’s were fresh and so tasty. The fries could have been a little hotter and crisper, but that could be because we opted for curbside service and they wilted a little. All in all, it was exactly what I was after, albeit much more expensive than I would have liked.

It was one of those days that will stick in my mind for a while. We’ve been inside so much this winter and getting out like this when it’s not too hot, not too cold, just right was invigorating. I’ve been feeling better since my surgery. I am not sure that’s because anything in particular has changed other than my attitude. I will tell you, it is a blessed relief not to be seeing a doctor every single week!

Our next big chore is to get new roofs put on our house and our rental house. It makes me feel guilty that we can do such mundane things when so many in the world are struggling just to survive. This is a hard, hard world right now. But there is love in it. And miracles. And hope. And, while we may not feel joy in every present moment, the Bible tells us Joy cometh in the morning. I put my faith in that. It helps me get through the sorrow.

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“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”
1 John 3:2-3 ESV

The Warmth of Old Memories and New Friends

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 01:30:00 -0600

I’m a “yarn junkie” and I went to see my dealer yesterday. We do our negotiations right in front of God and everybody. I shamelessly paw through her sale bin with the fervor of someone jonesing for a fix, knowing full well how many “hits” I already have in my stash at home. *sigh* I can’t help it…I’ve hit the mother lode. A yarn shop! Granted, it’s 20 miles there and 20 miles back, so the cost of fuel is cutting into my savings but….c’mon, man…it’s a YARN SHOP!

My score yesterday was six skeins of 100% Superwash Wool for mittens. I have vowed to knit something for everyone for Christmas this year. These skeins were originally $14 each and I got all six for twelve bucks! I might be able to get a pair of mittens out of each skein. That’s a pretty good deal if you ask me!

I stopped at my favorite coffee shop on my way to town and sat in the morning sun, knitting a little on each of the projects I have going. I try not to eavesdrop on people when I’m out, but it was difficult not to overhear the conversation between two men enjoying a cup of coffee together. I got the impression they were retired and may have worked together. I found myself smiling from time to time at the nature of their casual banter. One asked if the other had seen so-and-so recently. The other said he had not. He went on to say he had spoken to the fella some time ago and relayed something he had said to the guy. They hadn’t spoken since and this man was concerned that perhaps he had hurt the other fellow’s feelings in some way. They went on to discuss the possibility for quite some time. And I thought it was only us gals who worried about stuff like that!

This particular coffee shop gives you a cute little sticker placed over the sippy hole in the lid. They are usually seasonal or some cute little saying. I have several stuck to the dashboard of my truck. They make me smile. Yesterday’s was a shamrock and I thought of Mr. Virgo. He was buried on this day, nine years ago. Being a McKinney…he was all things Irish! I felt like he was dropping by to say hello over coffee. One of our happy places was on the front porch sipping coffee on his days off. Yes…it was a sign that I have oodles and oodles of reasons to be grateful and full of joy!

I was greeted by a warm hello when I joined the girls sitting around the table in the front room of the yarn shop. We are in that early stage of making friends where we learn about each other and where we’ve been on this life’s journey. I like these women and I am so thrilled to have met them. As I left the shop, they told me how glad they were I found them and that left me feeling all warm and fuzzy.

I walked across the street and into the Lebanese restaurant for a half order of tabouli and baba ghanoush with warm pita bread to go. I sat in my truck in the warm sunshine watching an engineer maneuver a train back and forth, picking up more and more cars before he headed out on a run. We caught each other’s eye, smiled brightly and waved. Just like when I was a kid, shopping with my mom on this very same street on a warm spring day some sixty years ago.

I headed home. Mr. FixIt called just as I crossed the interstate overpass. He asked where I was. When I told him, he said, “I see you!” We passed each other, waving like we hadn’t seen each other in a month of Sundays. He went on to town to run some errands and I headed home. I started a third project….a pair of mittens from the black wool I bought earlier. It knits up so nicely and it goes quickly because it’s really chunky yarn.

So, I’ve officially joined the ranks of “knitters who work on multiple projects”. I’m also reading a book so I’ve been busy! I was going to head to the farm today, but my bonus daughter and son-in-law are coming over today to help us do some things around the house. We have some trees that need to come down and bushes that need trimmed back. I need to pull “Birdie” around to the side of the building so I can pop the top and clean out what I am sure are a million ladybugs and stink bugs. Her new owners are coming Saturday to pick her up and I want her to look pretty!

It was a joyful day, full of warm memories and new friends….and yarn.

One can NEVER have too much yarn, right?

“You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills;”
Psalm 104:10 ESV

My Little Hideaway

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 01:30:00 -0600

It was sunny and gorgeous yesterday and just about all the snow has melted. The creeks were roaring and the ground was spongy beneath my feet as I walked out to the camper for a little recharge. I do so love having a space to call my own. I love taking a good book and crawling under the electric blanket for a read and a little nap. It’s so restorative.

Just as I drifted off, the whole camper shuddered and I thought a huge gust of wind had come up…like a microburst. It turns out, it was the large slab of snow on the slanted roof that gave way from the warmth of the rising sun. Honestly, I about jumped out of my skin when I heard that roar and felt the rumble.

When I got out to the “Big Birdhouse”, it was still pretty cold. I plugged in my little ceramic heater and the fan gurgled and groaned and I realized it was on its last leg. I went back in the house and brought out the “fireplace”. I bought this heater when I was living in Big TOW-Wanda up on the banks of the Ohio River in 2015.

One thing I didn’t realize with this bigger heater…it doesn’t have a thermostat. I was all snuggled up and once I got warm, I fell asleep. After an hour or so, the temperature outside was 62° and I woke up in what felt like a dry sauna! It had to have been 90° or more because that heater just kept running.

We went to a birthday party for one of the West Virginia grands last night. We got to play with our “great grand-doggy”, Ivy. She is a Bern-Doodle and is the sweetest girl. It feels weird to gather with people again. We felt fairly comfortable because everyone had been vaccinated and boosted. But, I’m not sure I will ever look at socializing the same.

Today is the knitter’s gathering. I’ve already come to look forward to Tuesdays! It reminds me of when my youngest was little and I was a stay-at-home mom. When she turned two, her pediatrician said it was time to start socializing her so I took her two days a week to the daycare program through the hospital. That gave me a few hours to clean uninterrupted and gather with some girlfriends to stitch. Women need community. It is just as important now as it was when I was a young mother.

Our weather will be warm and sunny till Friday. I do believe Spring has sprung!!!

“for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.”
Song of Solomon 2:11-12 ESV

A Meteorological Spring Day

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 02:30:00 -0600

It was sixty-five degrees and sunny here in the Mid-Ohio Valley yesterday. What a glorious day! Mr. FixIt piddled around on a project outdoors while I piddled around indoors. I knitted on the baby sweater and got one sleeve half finished. And finally, around 3:30 or so, we headed into town. Our son-in-law’s birthday was yesterday so we needed to stop and give him his gift. Then we went to the City Park and walked. It was the first time since last fall that I’ve gone out and walked for exercise. I was pleasantly surprised that my bones didn’t hurt all that bad. I’m hoping this new regimen I’m on will help me get out and exercise more so I can lose some weight and feel better.

There are flower beds all around the park and the first one we came to had crocus and snowdrops blooming! The park was filled with people walking and enjoying the warm, springy weather. Everyone was happy and we greeted each other like long lost friends. Red and grey squirrels scampered around in the leaves looking for errant acorns. There was one lone black squirrel…his inky color easy to spot from further away.

We came around the far side of the park and saw the high school baseball team out on the field preparing it for an evening game. Dust was flying as one young man pulled along a bar with chains, dragging it across the earth to smooth it. The sun was setting beyond the baseball diamond and the sky was dapple with fish scale clouds. It was just lovely.

We left the park and took the long way out through the outskirts of town. We followed a creek through rolling hills and horse farms. We were heading to my bonus son’s house. Our daughter-in-law also had a birthday yesterday. We had a small family gathering and we remarked how absolutely foreign it felt. We are all vaccinated and boosted so we felt comfortable enough being together. But I don’t think I’ll ever look at socializing the same again.

We drove through light rain showers on our way home and today isn’t supposed to get higher than the mid-forties. This is the time of year where each day presents a different season. It’s hard to know what to wear and indeed…you can be bundled like it’s winter in the morning and by the time 4:00 rolls around, you need a t-shirt. So, a cool day means there’s an open invitation to knit the day away sans guilt.

It was a beautiful day…the closest to normal as I’ve experienced in a very long time. It feels like breathing for the first time. Today, I am remembering my good friend Monica. We went to school together. Monica died in her sleep ten years ago today. Her husband still pines for her and mourns her loss like it was yesterday. Please keeps Steve and family in your thoughts and prayers today. And, of course…the courageous people of Ukraine.

“Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.””
Hosea 6:3 ESV

Arriving for my “Appointment”

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 02:30:00 -0600

Little baby sweater I started Monday night.

I believe the Holy Spirit gives us appointments. Just like going to the doctor for a check up, we are given appointments to interact with people. To listen to their stories. To commiserate with them on the trials they face and cheer for them their accomplishments. He gives us opportunities to lift others, to share our own stories, and to meet people in the middle…on neutral ground.

When I headed to bed on Monday evening, I wasn’t 100% sure I would get up and make yet another trip into town. But this trip would be different. Instead of going shopping or running other errands, this was a trip to the local yarn shop to meet new people. To have an opportunity to work on projects together and to maybe become part of a group of likeminded individuals with a common interest…knitting.

I woke up early yesterday and thought, “Hmmmm, if I get up now, I can go to the coffee shop for a leisurely cuppa before I go to knit.” It didn’t take much to convince me and before I knew it, I was up and out the door, bag in hand with my current project as well as a stack of my “show and tells”. I brought my new book along and read over coffee. That always makes me feel mellow and ever so cosmopolitan. The yarn shop opens at 11:00. I walked in the door at three minutes after and there were already three women seated around the table.

Introductions were made and I settled in with my knitting. The conversation quickly returned to the topic being discussed when I entered. I smiled and thanked God for sending His Holy Spirit to direct me where I needed to go. Why? Because the topic of discussion was…grief. Two of the women were talking about Grief Share, a faith-based grief support group that meets in churches everywhere. I was a guest speaker at a Grief Share meeting one winter in Colorado.

We all experience grief at one time or another during our lifetimes, but every woman sitting at that table was bereaved. After a bit, I shared what I do…that I am a grief writer and mentor. One of the women had heard of my blog, which isn’t terribly surprising since we were sitting in my hometown and there are a large number of readers here simply because they know me. So, maybe we have a mutual friend.

More women joined us till we had a total of seven, I believe. Just the right size group to get to know each other a bit. We each showed off what we were working on. Some went off in search of a new pattern or a new yarn. There is a bargain bin up front and I bought some warm brown yarn to make some winter hats for the guys in my life. I worked on the little yellow baby sweater that I’ll hopefully deliver to our newest great grandson soon.

Before we knew it, the time had come to be on our way. I ran some errands, picked up salads for supper, and headed home by late afternoon. As I drove back home through the countryside, I thanked God for His infinite wisdom, knowing exactly where I can contribute my skills and sending me there. His timing is impeccable.

The weather was sunny and warm…a portent of what’s to come. Springtime in West Virginia. Yesterday was the beginning of “meteorological spring” while “astronomical spring” doesn’t begin until March 20th. If that’s the case…yesterday didn’t disappoint with a high of 67° according to the thermometer on my truck! Bring it on…I’m more than ready!!!

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:4 ESV

An Outing to Knit

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 02:30:00 -0600

When I had my little needlework shop in Glenwood Springs, a group of gals gathered around the large table in the back and stitched together. We solved the world’s problems as well as a few of our own. We caught up on each other’s lives, encouraged each other in our creative pursuits, and shared a camaraderie I treasure to this day. It’s one of the reasons I love getting my classmates together for coffee.

I love that kind of interaction. It feeds my social side as well as stimulates my intellect. Any time you can gather with people you have opportunities for connection, enlightenment, and personal growth. In that vein, I am going to the yarn shop today to share some time and knit amongst other enthusiasts. I have a bag filled with goodies I’ve knitted in the last three months that I’m taking for “Show and Tell”.

I finished the hat last night that goes with the fingerless gloves. It’s so stretchy and soft. I did decide to go back and try inserting a band of lace from the pattern I used on the second shawl I knitted. I think I just needed to have a break from the project overnight and look at it with fresh eyes this morning. As soon as I picked it up, I knew exactly what to do to make it work and I really liked the way it turned out.

A friend contacted me last week and heard that we are selling the “Little Birdhouse”…the smaller A-Frame camper we bought in August last year. She wants to buy it so they have something easy to pull with the vehicle they already own and this is perfect for that. I’m so excited that someone I know will be buying this sweet little camper!

This is the month that is not quite spring…not quite winter. It’s a little dicey to think about going camping in March in this area because you never know what the weather is going to be like. It could be warm and beautiful or torrential rains or a freaky spring snowstorm. That’s why I kind of limit my camping to our field during the months from November to at least April.

My dear friend Gail is having a gathering of gals at her house late this month. She has an AirB&B house right next door to her and she can house the lot of us in separate bedrooms to reduce the risks of spreading Covid. Just because precautions are loosening up, doesn’t mean the virus is gone. It can still be spread. But I do feel a bit braver about gathering with others…especially if they are fully vaccinated and I can wear a mask when I want.

And, here is it. March.

Where does the time go???

“What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.”
1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV

The Common Denominator

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 02:30:00 -0600

I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom when Hubby #2 joined a medical practice in 1986. We lived in the mountains of Colorado. We had a big five bedroom log house on a couple of acres. I fancied myself as some sort of latent hippy mama…a true granola, tree hugging believer in peace and love and Mother Earth News. Those were halcyon days. I was only 33 years old when we moved to Glenwood Springs.

I learned to ski. I baked our bread and made our yogurt. We burned wood…cutting and splitting great truckloads of logs. I made friends. Lifelong, lasting friends I’m still close to. I discovered the great joys of female friendship and the lovely tradition of meeting at a coffee shop once a week. There is one piece of advice I give my girls. Never forsake your female friendships. There will come a day…without a doubt…that you will need each other to get through the trials and tribulations of life. Even if it’s just to gather over a cup of coffee to solve the world’s problems and vent about the little difficulties of life.

When I first contemplated moving back to my home state after Mr. Virgo died, I asked my friends from high school, “How often do you gather for coffee?” I was told they had never done that. It just wasn’t something they did. These women worked and worked hard. Their weekends were spent caring for their homes and families. The economy isn’t as fluid in West Virginia and folks don’t spend frivolously. This is why we didn’t get a Starbucks here till just in the last few years. Few West Virginians will spend upwards of $5 for a cup of coffee.

While I totally understood the thinking behind it, I also knew these gals didn’t know what they were missing. I considered how much nicer their lives might have been had they had a group of gals to gather over coffee on a regular basis. I knew how much my women friends added to my life. So I set out to facilitate change in our little burg. I started sending out invitations to a handful of gals to meet for coffee.

We started out meeting in the lounge area of a popular historic hotel. We eventually needed to find better digs when the hotel remodeled and out little free spot was eliminated. I found a coffee shop on the south side of town that has a large meeting room…a sunroom, of sorts. We try to gather once a month, although there was a long stretch during covid when we did not see each other unless we met outside in the park.

My heart bursts when I see women who maybe hadn’t had a trusted female confidant in their lives join in lively conversations. I love when they move and shift around the table to catch up with each other on a more personal level. And at the end of our time together, the first one who needs to leave shouts, “Time for a picture!” Most often, we enlist the assistance of another customer at the coffee shop to take a group picture. Yesterday, we had a more intimate group and I captured a selfie that fit us all in the frame.

I love these gals. I love listening to their joy in the simple act of gathering. Yesterday was the first time we’ve met since our dear friend Sparky died. I felt her absence keenly. As I was hugging each in turn as we prepared to leave, I whispered to one, “We didn’t even mention our girl.” She said, “I know…it’s ok.”

I know Sparky wouldn’t want us crying in our coffee. She was too matter of fact and down to earth than that. She would want us to DO something. Support a charity. Join a committee. Serve on a board. Bring people together to make this world a better place. So, I give great consideration to the subjects of Sparky’s affection…mainly the down and out, be they two or four legged…and I contribute accordingly with her in my heart. And, I continue to gather these wonderful women together to love and support each other and to network ideas. This is my way of facilitating change in the world. We are each different in so many ways, yet our backgrounds hold us in the arms of our youth. We have found our common denominator.

Love.

“God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.”
Psalm 46:5 ESV

Learning Lace

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 02:30:00 -0600

I’m really enjoying learning new patterns and stitches in knitting. I just finished the rainbow scarf/shawl last night. One thing I’ve discovered…you really do need to block your work when you make something like this. To block a hand knitted garment, you need to wet it, then lay it out on a thick blanket or comforter that you don’t mind a little color bleeding on, gently stretch the piece to the shape you want, pin the edges, then let it dry completely. If you ever have to launder the piece in the future, you need to repeat the steps for blocking. I will block both of the scarves I just finished this week and show you what they look like after.

I have quite a bit of both yarns left, so I think I’ll make some hats with matching fingerless gloves for the grands. They should love that! I really love the lacy section of this piece. Now I’m thinking I need to make something that’s all lace…like a sweater or vest or a bigger shawl.

I ordered a couple of books this week. One is the 50th Anniversary of the Foxfire Book of Simple Living. The first Foxfire book was published in 1972. I would have sworn my family had the first volume when my PopPop was still living, but he died in 1971. At any rate, I remember that book in the bookcase out at the farm and I read it on Sunday afternoons during the traditional nap time. I’ve wanted to be a farmer all my life. I sure took the long way around Robin Hood’s barn to get here.

I think I’ll take a few days off from knitting. Or, at least set a specific time to knit. Like, during the evening news. It’s rainy right now. I need to start a little spring cleaning. I need to move around and stretch my legs and breathe. Like the green shoots peeking up between the carpet of leaves around the house, I’m feeling life coming back into these bones.

I know you may be anxious to get out there and rake up the leaves from your flower gardens, but let them lay for awhile. There are bees and bugs in there…sleeping. And, when the dandelions start to bloom, leave them alone. Those sleepy little bees are going to be SO hungry. Let them have the first sips of spring from those cheerful yellow blossoms.

I had the opportunity to talk with an old friend of mine. Joanie owned a lovely home goods store in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. After my divorce from Hubby #2, I found it impossible to get a job in medicine. I knew everyone in town and the gals who owned the little downtown shops were my friends. I started working one day a week for each of five stores. I was known as the “Downtown Shop Girl”. I loved working in Joanie’s store. Her late husband was an attorney in town and when I found myself as an extra in a Charles Bronson movie being filmed in town, I was paired with Bob on the platform at the train station.

Joanie is big time into genealogy and we had a lovely conversation about our tips and tricks. The second book I ordered was The Pioneers by David McCollough who also wrote 1776 and John Adams. The book follows the original settlers of the Mid-Ohio Valley and I can hardly wait to see if I find familial connections in its pages. Joanie is a member of the DAR. I know I have family from both my parents’ ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War. So, maybe I’ll also become a member. We’ll see.

And, here it is…Friday. Another week done…another week closer to true spring. Before we know it, we’ll be mowing again!

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”
Colossians 3:23 ESV

Going Out on a Limb

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 02:30:00 -0600

My friend Gail challenged me to knit a sweater. While a sweater looks impressive when it’s finished, it’s really not technically difficult to do. If you know how to cast on, knit, purl, increase, decrease, and bind off…you can make a sweater. I was pretty proud of myself when I finished…mostly because I’m not good at finishing projects. I’ve been the Queen of UFOs (unfinished objects) in the past. As a matter of fact, it was everything I could do to stay on task the last couple of days knitting that sweater. I was bored and ready to do something else. A new yarn. A new pattern. Learning a new technique. But I stuck to it and finished! Go ME!

When I discovered the yarn shop in town last week, I bought two new yarns. One for making socks, and the other…I had no idea. I just liked it. It’s 100% merino wool. A light fingering weight. Perfect for making something light and airy…like a summer shawl. I sent Gail a picture of the yarn and told her the weight and how much of it I had. She sent me three patterns that would work well. The one I LOVED was the most difficult…errrrr, I mean…challenging.

Gail has made this particular pattern many times. She agreed it was more challenging, but she seemed to think I could pull it off. Well, let me tell you…there IS a learning curve to this one. The most difficult is…it has a pattern. I mean, there are fourteen rows and you repeat that set of fourteen rows over and over till the shawl is as big as you want it to be. I found I had to write down where I was in the pattern or I would be lost. I’ve had to rip several rows at a time out and correct an error. It’s going to be one of those pieces that means a lot to me when I’m done because I poured so much into it. And, the more I look at it, the more I realize this may not be the perfect yarn. I think I’d rather have more of a speckled look. So…When Mr. FixIt called me in to see something funny on TV…I ripped out all the work I did today. That’s not a bad thing. I know know how to knit this shawl and I know I’d rather have a different yarn. I just wasn’t feeling it. I’m cool with that.

I have my appointment with the surgeon today, and afterwards, I think I’ll go to town and look for a different yarn for this shawl. There is a knitting group that gathers on Tuesdays and I’d love to meet some knitters and make some more friends. It will be good for me.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 ESV

The Flying Tomato’s Last Ride

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 02:30:00 -0600

Mr. Virgo and I started dating in 2005. He was working at a 5-Star hotel in Aspen at the time. In late January of 2006, he called me up and asked if I had a black cocktail dress. I assured him I did. There was a party that night at the hotel and he could get me in. Well, how often do you get to hobnob with the Aspen elite, right? I drove up in a whiteout blizzard and changed for the party.

There were all manor of beautiful people there…Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton, Heidi Klum and Seal. And off in a corner stood a young man with flaming red hair…holding court surrounded by other young men who wanted to be this guy. The room was so crowded it was impossible to “mingle”. The VIP section was roped off on the other side of the room. You could see all the rich people, but you had to be special to see the rich AND famous up close.

The evening passed in a blur and before I knew it, all the glitz and glamor was over and Mr. Virgo and I wandered around the dark and quiet hotel with the rich and colorful history. It is reportedly haunted. Mr. Virgo had several personal experiences there that were unexplained. We sat in the empty lobby and talked for a while.

I was enjoying the ambiance of “Colorado Ski Resort” opulence when Mr. Virgo chuckled.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Did you notice that red headed kid standing in the corner with the crowd around him? That was Shaun White, the snowboarder,” he said.

“Really? Impressive head of hair!”

“What was more impressive was this. I went up to him and he said, ‘Dude! You want an autograph?’ I laughed and said, ‘No, dude…I want your beer. You’re underage!’”

I’ve watched that young man with the flaming red hair grow up and defy gravity and bring home the Gold in both the Olympics and the Winter X Games. And now, an older, wiser and dare I say, slightly more cautious Shaun White is bowing out after these Olympic Games. I feel a small sense of connection to him. After all, my Mr. Virgo put on his “dad hat” and dressed down the young dude in as tasteful a way as possible.

I hope he does well as the curtain goes down on this stage of his career.

?❄️❤️❄️?

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”

Proverbs 11:14 ESV

Finishing Projects

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 02:30:00 -0600

I am really, really good at starting projects. I’m a Gemini. I want to know how to do EVERYTHING. And, when I start to learn everything about something, I have to buy ALL the things. The tools, the supplies, the materials, the books…the works. Because, my sweet well-meaning Gemini brain LIES to me every time! It tells me something like this…

Me: Ooooooooooh! Look at that _____________ (insert project here)

Gemini Brain: Oh, yeah!!! You can TOTALLY do that!

Me: You know it! Oh, I just love the way it makes me feel to start a new project! But, you know…we have a little problem, you and me.

GB: Problem? What problem?

Me: We like to start things, but we don’t like finishing them! And we buy WAY too much stuff.

GB: Well, you know…any job worth doing is worth doing well and you need the tools to do it, right?

Me: Yeah…but we go WAY over board. We don’t need the BEST of everything…in every size, shape, and color! We don’t need instruction books and a video series. We don’t NEED a new sewing machine and 24 balls of sock yarn in every color way imaginable.

GB: I don’t know what you’re talking about. WE don’t buy stuff…YOU buy stuff!

Me: Yeah? Well, you MAKE me!

No matter how much I promise myself, I swear the next project I won’t go “all in”. Actually, I have to say…the yarn and needles for this project were a gift. The instructions and tutorial were online. So, I have zero out of pocket expenses for these beauties. And…I finished them…in one week!!! Of course, I did nothing else. Nothing much anyway. Thank you, Gail…I love this gift so much and will think of you every time I knit with these beautiful needles!

I ran into a little trouble with these particular socks. I discovered I probably should have made the top part a little shorter so I wouldn’t run the risk of running out of yarn at the toe. As it is, the feet are quite short, and they’ll fit Little perfectly. Gail shared another tutorial with me yesterday that shows how to knit socks from the toe up on the same circular needle. It took me three tries to get it started right, but once I got it in my head how to do it, it went pretty smoothly. And I really love this toe! I didn’t have great luck closing the toe on the other socks with the Kitchener Stitch. This is smooth and flawless as long as you do it right.

I bought the yarn for this sock on one of my beach trips. I had some beautiful sock yarns in a basket behind the loveseat in the family room and something got in and ruined it. There were several places where the wool was eaten away and I surmise it was moths. I had to throw some of it away because literally, the yarn was in short pieces. Not even long enough to tie together and hide the ends. It was a lesson learned to never do that again.

Yes, this Gemini brain is going to learn a new skill…but I’m not going out and buying anything else for it. Except maybe some cute stitch markers. Oh, and someone went and told me about a yarn shop here in town! I might stop in there…you know…to say hello. It couldn’t hurt…right?

“Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.””
1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT

Ain’t it Good to Be Back Home Again!

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 02:30:00 -0600

*che-wink* *che-wink* *che-wink*

I opened my eyes and listened to the cheery *che-wink* of an Eastern Towhee rummaging around in the leaves and lower branches of the flowering quince on the creek bank outside the open window. Yes…it was cold. But I had a pile of blankets on me and slept like a stone in the chilly air coming down the holler. I stretched and opened my eyes, rolling over and squinting without my glasses, trying to catch a glimpse of the beautiful bird with the black jacket and russet vest. I saw a flash of the showy “V” of black and white on his tail feathers as he fluttered off to another resting place.

As I laid there, gazing up at the ceiling, I took stock of what was hurting today. This parathyroid thing makes pain of some level a nearly every day ordeal. It’s just something I deal with and pray they can fix when they find and remove the offending glands. What I was most interested in yesterday was how my back felt. I was disappointed that it was more sore than the day before. Time to give in and see someone about it.

I made an appointment with the chiropractor for the afternoon and started gathering up my things to leave the farm once again. My sweet husband called to check in. He was on his way to pick up a deer someone gave his daughter. She had a full day of work ahead of her cutting up and packaging the meat for the freezer. He also drove all over town trying to find a new Christmas Angel tree topper. The lights finally went out in ours and it couldn’t be fixed, but…after a good twenty years of service, it was time to get a new one.

Mr. FixIt went to every store in town and finally found one. He tried to find an outlet in the store to plug it in but there wasn’t one to be had. So, he brought her home and hoped for the best. He plugged her in last night and we neither one liked her. This wasn’t a “well, maybe she’ll grow on us” thing. This was oh, heck no. She had colored lights, where we wanted white. Not only was she multi-colored, the lights changed colors every two seconds. You couldn’t even see the angel…just the lights. And she had fiber optics which for some odd reason just gives me the creeps. It’s like a hairy spider or caterpillar to me.

Since this was the only one to be found in town, we resorted to the internet and found one from Penney’s. She’s exactly what we both were looking for. She won’t be here until well after the tree is decorated so the old gal can keep her place of honor til the new angel shows up. Mr. FixIt moved the furniture out of the way while I was at the farm so we can set up the tree in front of the living room windows.

The chiropractor did x-rays and gave me a gentle adjustment. A lot of icing over the weekend and I’ll see him again Monday. He smiled as I left and said, “We can fix this.” That is always reassuring. I told him we need to because I’m a busy woman and I have stuff to do!

I’m really looking forward to setting the tree up today. I have so many wonderful ornaments that bring back warm memories. Some belonged to my parents, a couple to my grandparents. There are several I collected over the years at my friend Judy’s epic Christmas ornament exchange parties. Some I made myself. Some were gifts. And there are the special hand painted Ne Qwa ornaments I’ve been collecting for the last fifteen years. I am always so happy to see the decorations every year. It’s like running into old friends on the street and telling a story of how we met.

Hopefully I’ll have beautiful pictures to show you tomorrow. I took today’s snap of the barn out at the farm yesterday as I was heading to my truck. I love the way the naked fingers of the tree are reaching up for that azure sky. I love the weathered wood of the barn and old smoke house. I love the carpet of leaves the color of a well worn saddle. Everything about that farm is enchanting to me. This was just another example. I’ll be back again!

❄️

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.”
Psalm 8:3-5 ESV

Update on All the Things

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 02:30:00 -0600

I received an email over the weekend from the daughter of the soldier named on my POW/MIA bracelet! She was thrilled to hear of another of her father’s bracelets out there and thanked me profusely for taking the time to find her. She shared her mailing address and I’ll get the bracelet sent off to her this week. The internet is still good for sharing love and light around the world. Like all tools, it’s what you use it for that makes the difference.

I fiddled with my new phone yesterday. I’ve been puzzled by something for the last several years. Somewhere along the line on one of my phone upgrades, I went from around 500 contacts in my phone to nearly 3,000! Nearly every name had multiple entries of the same name with all the same contact information. Also, my calendar might have one person’s birthday listed three or four times on their special day.

I just couldn’t figure it out. I talked with the people at the Apple Store. Nothing…making the term “Genius Bar” seem somewhat dubious. I’ve asked in various forums. I Googled it. The answers I got varied from “Here…buy this app. It’ll fix it” to long detailed instructions to “get to this setting and click on _______” but the place they wanted me to click didn’t exist. Every once in a while, I’d sit down and delete or link the contacts, but they inevitably came back. I just couldn’t make heads nor tails of the whole thing and figured it was something I had to live with.

Yesterday, I sat down with the phone and explored the settings. I know it had to be something simple like a switch was selected, but where it was eluded me. I closed my eyes and let my mind wander the “streets” of my phone. What would make something be repeated so much? Then I remembered seeing a drop down menu that listed my five email accounts that I use: one for personal, one to use when I need an email to sign up for something and don’t want to get inundated with spam, one for the Cloud, one for my Apple ID, and one for my business.

I pondered those five accounts and remembered seeing “Yahoo” on one of the multiples, but not on a different one. I wondered if it could possibly have something to do with the fact I am using so many email addresses. When I went in the drop down menu, there was a place to click on each one. And sure enough, each one consisted of multiple tabs I could select…one of which was “Contacts”. Another was “Calendar”. I went through and unselected everything but email on all of them except for my personal email and the Cloud.

Sure enough, I immediately went WAY down on the number of contacts. I spent about an hour linking what few were left as duplicates, as well as deleting names of people I couldn’t even remember. I ended up with 499 contacts! Voila!

My new sourdough starter should arrive today. I woke up in the middle of the night last week and decided to order a fresh, new batch of starter with a covered crock specifically to use with it. I’ll throw out the old flour and get fresh, new flour and get a nice new batch of sourdough started. It’s about time to get that going again. I’m also going to look up my Aunt Marge’s White Fruitcake recipe and make some fruitcakes soon. And some of Grandma’s Raisin Filled Cookies.

Our little town delivers Thanksgiving meals to anyone who wants them. You don’t have to qualify…they just want to share a good meal with everyone. I love our town. We don’t have a stop light in the whole county and we look out for one another. My friend Diane shared the number, so I called and ordered two meals. That means I don’t have to cook a big meal this year. Instead, I’ll start my holiday baking and put up the Christmas decorations this week. We decided our phones are our gifts to each other. That takes a lot of pressure off of holiday preparations and I think we can just sit back and enjoy the whole season this year! That’s the plan, anyway.

You know what they say about plans, right? lol

Come…take a walk with me!

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9 ESV

The Farm Book is Here!

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 02:30:00 -0600

Ok, it’s not MY book…yet. This is the memory book I’ve made for the family. I know…it’s supposed to be a surprise for Christmas, but my gosh…to see it in print and hold it in my hand???? I am now SO super motivated to finish my own book and get it published! I’m such a stickler for perfection. (I have a couple of dear friends who send me private messages to tell me when I have a typo in my blog!) I read this thing cover to cover…several times and still, there are two little typos. But, I don’t care. They probably won’t even be noticed by anyone but me anyway.

Our day was filled with tum-tumming around the house…cleaning a little, picking up a little. Moving things around and organizing. It’s going to be time to put the tree up…maybe this weekend!!! I love the lights and Lord knows…we need all the light we can get at this time of the year! I think we’re probably pretty settled into cool weather so the ladybugs aren’t going to be as big a deal from here on out.

Along in the late afternoon, Mr. FixIt asked if I’d like to run to town and get pizza for dinner. This is something we seldom do anymore, and I’m not one to turn down a date night! The sunset was aMAZing last night. We stopped at a church parking lot to get a picture without power lines in it. It got even prettier after we started driving again, so those will have to stay mental pictures since there was no place else to pull off.

The pizza was divine! We sat in the car in the parking lot and savored every crispy, savory bite. Pete’s Pizza in Mineral Wells is the BEST pizza I’ve had here in West Virginia. And, inside every pizza box is a handwritten inspirational message. “You are LOVED!” “You’re doing a great job!” “Kindness Matters!” They always make me smile. We met the family who owns the pizza parlor at church a couple of years ago and they are such good people. I love when people pour their hearts into their work and it makes such a visible difference.

After pizza, we ran a couple of errands and gassed up the truck. I think we may be able to stay home for a couple of days…unless my new phone comes in! In which case we’ll make another trip into town. I take so many pictures for this blog, and phone cameras have improved so much over the years. My phone has slowed way down and the battery is beginning to lose its umph. I know, I could just get a new battery, but Verizon is offering such a great deal for trading in your old phone, it’s crazy NOT to get a new one.

Today is more of the same…house stuff…laundry, cleaning up. I reconstituted my sourdough starter and tried to get a new one going and it molded as well. I suppose I need to throw out my flour and get different starter and sterilize all my equipment. Oh, and I tried to season the cornbread pan my Uncle Bud gave me and succeeded in filling the house with smoke. I think I had the oven up too high. I’ll try again today.

It’s “Feel Good Friday!” Tell me what you’re doing today to feel good about yourself!

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”
Colossians 3:23 ESV

Trick or Treat!

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 01:30:00 -0600

All Souls Day, All Saints Day, Samhain, souling, guising, Guy Fawkes Day, Dia de los Muertos…Day of the Dead…pretty much all the same celebrations are celebrated in many places around the world. The tradition of Trick or Treating got it’s start via the original celebrations where someone dressed as a spirit danced around a bonfire and people threw gifts and coins to appease the spirit and get it to go back to where it belongs. Some cultures believe the day is when souls are allowed to come back to the world and visit their family members again.

Whatever the source, Halloween has always been a fun and lighthearted holiday for me. I didn’t come from a family that thought it was somehow glorifying demons or worshipping the devil, thank goodness. We were not allowed to do tricks on people if they didn’t give full sized candy bars, either. I never went with kids that egged houses or TP’d the trees and shrubbery, either.

I remember the fun crafts we made in school for Halloween. Pumpkins with Jack-o-Lantern faces, black cats with bright green eyes, witches with pointy hats riding on brooms. We drew and colored, cut and pasted, and hung our decorations around the classroom. Then, on Halloween, we were allowed to put on our costumes, parade around the hallways, then return to our rooms for a party. It was great fun! We filled up on popcorn balls and candy corn, Hershey Kisses and lemonade then when school was over…we anxiously waiting till it got dark enough to go from door to door.

Mr. FixIt and I were talking about it on our way home from dinner last night. We come from a generation where it was still safe enough to send your kids out in groups to go door to door and extort…or I mean, beg for candy. We knew what streets gave out the good stuff. I was probably one of the only kids that loved getting a new toothbrush. Mr. FixIt said they stayed away from the dentist’s house. Our only ordered were…we had to bring everything home and show it to Mom before we could eat it and we couldn’t go more than three streets away. We also couldn’t pass Grand Central Avenue. That was a busy street.

My earliest real memory of Halloween itself was the year I had chicken pox. I must have been around nine years old. Mom propped me up on pillows on the sofa so I could see the kids’ costumes and…you know…really SEE all the fun I was missing. Bless her heart…she meant well. The thing I think about now is…I was sick with a highly contagious disease, my mom was taking care of me, I was less that six feet from the door, and my mother was handing out virus-laced candy to all the kids in the neighborhood. Talk about a super-spreader event!

I continued to go Trick or Treating with my friends till we were well into high school. We always dressed up at work through the years. And there were the countless Halloween parties along the way. Taking my own kids wasn’t easy when I had to work. Hubby #2 usually took the kids out while I stayed home and handed out candy. I remember one particularly cold Halloween in Denver when Daughter #1 went as Wonder Woman. Her costume was cheap plastic because that’s all we could afford. Her costume completely froze, then BROKE, then shredded in little pieces and fell off. She was devastated. That’s the last year we went with cheap store bought costumes.

We live so far out in the country now, we never get Trick or Treaters. I really like all the Trunk or Treat events they have now. I think it’s fun and certainly safer for the kids. Here’s something I will never do. I will never as a kid, “Don’t you think you're a little good old to go Trick or Treating?” Because…they’ve chosen childhood over partying somewhere. Kids aren’t allowed to be kids long enough. There’s plenty of time ahead for adulting. So, I give out a great big handful to everybody!

We drove through one of the little towns between home and Parkersburg last night and they were having their community wide Trunk or Treat. It was crazy busy…there were cars parked EVERYWHERE. We drove very slowly through and got home without incident.

It’s going to get pretty cold this week and we’ll be getting our first frost of the season. When we got home, I told Mr. FixIt I was going to “camp” in the camper and he was welcome to join me if he wanted. He declined, but I went on out. It will be no time and it will be really, really cold and I won’t be as inclined to sleep out there. It’s very cozy with the little ceramic heater and the new blankets I brought out from the house. After living on a bluff overlooking the Ohio River through a particularly hard winter, there’s no weather that scares me away from camping!

So, October is over and a new month begins tomorrow. This is where we start to slip into the holiday season and the rest of the year will be a blur. I encourage you to slow things down. Take some time to enjoy and savor every morsel, every moment. It’s all over way, way too soon.

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“Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.”
3 John 1:11 ESV

The Perfect Autumn Day

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 01:30:00 -0600

I know I tell you every day that THIS was the perfect day. That’s because it is. We have a tendency to rush through life. We forget to “stop and smell the roses”. We seek to get more when we don’t appreciate what we already have. It takes stopping…..just, s-t-o-p-p-i-n-g…to catch your breath, count your blessings, and SEE how glorious life is.

I have been away from television news for a week now and I’m telling you, I can feel the decompression happening in my brain…in my body…in the muscles in my neck. My time on my cell phone is drastically decreased. My thoughts are less frenetic. I’m sure my blood pressure is lower. I’m sleeping better. Everything feels better. This is a lesson to me. “We are what we eat.” Not just food, but whatever we put in our bodies comes out in other ways. When I am careful about what I consume, I am happier. And when I am happier, believe me…everyone in my orbit is happier.

We discovered a small problem with the new camper yesterday. Setting up the camper is a feat of large scale origami. And, if it isn’t perfectly level in every direction, the seam at the top may not meet correctly. We could see a little daylight in the corner. Seeing how there is rain in the forecast today, we felt it was imperative to reset the camper and make it perfectly level or we could get water inside. Water is death for a camper.

We had to run to Walmart to get a small level since I seem to have left the one I usually use at home. We stopped and grabbed coffee and a breakfast sandwich on the way. When we got back. I moved things out of the way so we could close the camper, then we carefully leveled it and set it back up. This time it went up much easier but there was still a very small bit of light showing in the corner. I believe that is a problem with the seal so we’ll stop on the way home Friday and have the guys look at it at the dealership.

I finally made it over to the bath house and took a long, hot shower after I got the camper set back up. I always wear my hair up, but yesterday I used the blow dryer on it and I was shocked at how long it’s grown. I haven’t had my hair this long since I was expecting Daughter #1. I love my hair long and I really love my grey hair. It has dark streaks in it…like lowlights. I’ll never color my hair again. And, I may just keep letting it grow.

Once we had everything set back up and organized, we sat out on the patio area of the campsite. I knitted and chatted with Mr. FixIt. Eventually, he asked if I’d like a sandwich and we had a late lunch. Then…it was time for a hike. We went out around the bass pond. We saw a small snake, a brown wooly worm, hickory nuts, walnuts, and buckeyes as well as lots of pretty colored leaves. We hiked on out by the lake and looped back around to the campground.

After our siesta time, Mr. FixIt asked if I’d like to go get ice cream. They sell it in the park office, but at this time of year, there’s only one employee in the office. There has to be two to serve Ice cream, so…I asked Mavis, my trusty GPS, to take me to the nearest ice cream store. We were SO excited to fine a Bruster’s Ice Cream Shop near the Polaris Mall about three miles away. Oh, my gosh! They have the BEST ice cream! The first time we had it was near Beaver Creek State Park a couple of years ago. I was thrilled to find it again. Butter Pecan…*swoon*!

As we were driving home, the full Hunter’s Moon was rising…big, fat, and orange in the deepening indigo sky to the east. And I without my camera! When we got back to the camper, I retrieved my cell phone and we went for a little walk to try to capture an image. As we came around a turn, there it was…straight down the road toward our campsite, rising directly between the rows or trees on either side. It couldn’t have been more perfect, unless I would have had a 35mm camera with a long lens, of course.

My bonus daughter called as we were getting back to the camper and we had a long chat, then Mr. FixIt set up his movie and I set to writing. We have one more night camping and we are supposed to get rain today and tonight. I don’t mind rain in a camper. It’s cozy and the sound is so soothing on the metal roof. Soon, we will be packed up and heading home…back to reality.

We need to get both campers winterized and cleaned out. We need to get the brakes finished on Mr. FixIt’s truck so we can clear out a section of the building to park the camper in. His truck is parked in front of the garage door we need access to. We need to pick up the cat from the Kitty Hilton and then we have to mow. I’m hoping it’s the last time of the season so we can focus on other jobs around the place.

In the meantime, we’re going to enjoy the time we have left here. We have vowed to return to this park again to camp because it’s truly been wonderful.

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“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:11-13 ESV

Not Doin’ Nuthin’

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 01:30:00 -0600

The first thing we do every morning is open the shade on the skylight and oooooh and aaaaaah!

I told Mr. FixIt yesterday morning that I was not doin’ nuthin’ all day ‘cept what I wanted to do. And that’s exactly how it panned out. I ate cookies for breakfast sitting in my big blue chair. It was nippy so I brought out the little ceramic heater and aimed it at my feet while I knitted all morning. My friend Lynn showed up around 1:00 and sat and talked with us for a couple of hours, which was really nice. When she left, we fixed a late lunch and sat at the table watching the sunshine dapple the ground through the trees. We sat and watched the squirrels running around burying the plethora of nuts available in these woods. There is one black squirrel that hangs out nearby and he’s stunning. I also listened for, and identified, several birds in the campground with my Merlin app from Cornell University…including a Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Nashville Warbler, and a Cooper’s Hawk.

Once the sun started going behind the trees, we went in the camper and stretched out for a little reading/rest time. We like having that little break in the afternoon to just do nothing. Doing nothing in a day full of doing nothing was just what the doctor ordered! Our late lunches are normally our dinner and we eat fruit or a little cereal before bed. We are getting those “old folks” diets. We don’t eat a heck of a lot anymore.

I only had my iPhone to take a picture of the moon and it never does it justice.

As the sun began to set, Mr. FixIt and I hopped in the truck and drove over to the boat ramp so we could get a good view of the lake and the sunset. But what surprised us was the full moon coming up over the pine trees on the far shore of the lake. We were so mesmerized, we almost didn’t turn around to see the splendor going on behind us! The sky was clear, the lake was calm, and the moonrise/sunset was just icing on the cake for a perfect day. Once we got back to the campground, the day was done and we retired to our little nest. Mr. FixIt picked out a movie while I sat down to write to you.

The sunset was spectacular last night!

I snapped some photos during the day to share with you all. It truly was a beautiful autumn day here in Ohio!

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“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 ESV

Fall Camping is the BEST!

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 01:30:00 -0600

The daytime temps are warm enough to wear a lightweight shirt, even if it’s long sleeved. And maybe leggings if you feel a little chilled. Night’s are cool enough to flip on the little space heater and cover up with an extra blanket. And throw on a fuzzy fleece jacket when you’re sitting around outside.

I can think of a lot of things I wish I had with us. Like, my propane campfire. That would have been perfect! A stepladder would certainly come in handy. And try as I might, I cannot find my little level that I use when I’m camping. But, we were really pressed for time to prepare for this trip. We had to run a ton of errands and empty out TOW-Wanda…all in one day. I grabbed some blankets and put them in a tote. Nothing matches, but they’re warm and functional and at this point, that’s all that matters to me.

When we decided to stay a few more nights, I looked online and saw that the site we were on was only available for two more nights. We drove around the campground and chose one we liked and reserved it. Then, all night long, I kept waking up and thinking about it. It was totally shaded with trees…which would be awesome in the summer, but at this time of year all I could think of was “There’s no place to sit in the sun and knit!” So, over breakfast, I asked if Mr. FixIt would mind if we took another look around and choose a better site.

We took the map and had the reservation system up on my phone and chose a beautiful site. Still surrounded by trees, but enough open space to feel the sun on my face. We both felt a lot better about it so we went to the camp office and switched the reservation. We stowed anything breakable, closed up the camper, and towed it…literally ten sites away from where we were. I laughed and told Mr. FixIt… “This is MY kind of travel day!”

We set up in the new spot. I have to say, this camper is not quite as easy to set up alone. I think I’ll be able to do it when I bring my stepladder from home. I always like to be able to set everything up on my own if I have to. That’s how I learned, and…God forbid…if the unthinkable occurs, I still need to know how to do things on my own.

That’s the biggest lesson I learned from losing Mr. Virgo. Don’t take ANYTHING for granted because life changes…and it changes quick. Sometimes it bothers Mr. FixIt when I ask him to let me do it. I know he knows how. And I know he likes to do it. I also know, he’d be the first one to want me to carry on doing this fun stuff if he should pass before me. We have a routine when we camp together and I’ve given up some of the tasks…things that I know I won’t forget how to do. But, with a new camper, there are new skills I need to master. It won’t take long and we’ll have it down to a science.

We have a routine at home that hasn’t transferred well to camping. Mr. FixIt is a TV watcher and I am not. I prefer to do my writing at night while he is watching his detective shows. Our new camper doesn’t have a TV and I really didn’t want to get one. I have an iPad I can download movies to, but we don’t have WiFi here. As a matter of fact, most campground WiFi is dicey at best. That wouldn’t work anyway because I write on my iPad every night. So, we splurged and bought a portable DVD player. Then, we found a Half Price Book Store and scored some movies he liked. Now, as soon as the DVD player charges up, he’ll be a happy camper in the evenings. We play cards, but he needed something to do while I write and he’s not a big reader. Oh, and I bought him headphones to listen to his movies quietly while I write.

I’ve tried NOT writing. I can’t do it. Sometimes when I’m really tired, I just post a rerun story…but I have to write. It’s like oxygen to me. Thank goodness I have an incredibly patient and loving husband who understands my proclivities!

We have one of my Girl Camper friends coming to visit today! Other than that, knitting, reading Miss Brenda Gantt’s new cookbook, and eating is the only thing on my agenda!

Have I told you fall camping is THE BEST!!!

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“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
Isaiah 40:8 ESV

When You Find a Great Place to Stay, Stay There!

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Big Bird! A lot like Birdie, but bigger, with twin beds so the dinette stays up, and more storage!

We are camping at a beautiful state park we’ve never been to before. Our initial plan was to stay here a couple of nights, then head toward Gettysburg and tour the historic sites…something I’ve always wanted to do. We sat in the sun yesterday afternoon and had lunch surrounded by falling leaves. The weather is cool with lots of puffy white clouds in the clear blue sky. We are steps from a huge lake. And, we’re tired.

Camping on a lazy Sunday afternoon!

We’ve been running around like crazy this year with SO much driving. And, here we are with this really great new camper in a really great new (to us) state park so…we decided to just stay here for a few more days. We drove around the park with the site availability map open on my cell phone and picked a beautiful site tucked in the woods. It sits far enough away from the road that the noise is minimal and it’s just a short walk to the lake. It’s a win/win, I think.

The campsite we had the last two nights. The sites are spread out and surrounded by trees.

Our truck is packed to the gills with a lot of the camping gear that came out of TOW-Wanda and Birdie. We are trying to figure out just exactly what we really NEED for the new camper and where and how to store it most efficiently. We don’t want to just throw things in this camper all willy-nilly then wonder where we put it. Staying put will give us time to do just that. And to rest and enjoy CAMPING…not just sleeping in the camper one night then moving to the next place like we did to and from Colorado.

A camp breakfast…a steaming plate of ham and eggs!

I love the fact that I’ve spent more nights sleeping in a camper this summer than I ever have…other than the time I traveled full time. Camping is “the great escape”. My dear friend Ben would beg to differ with me. He grew up farming in northeastern Colorado and spent far more nights than he would ever want to remember sleeping outside to beat the heat in a house without air conditioning or fans. Or sleeping in the hay loft. Or just outside on the ground. Camping isn’t fun to him.

The view out the big window over the kitchen!

I know it’s not fun to a lot of people. But for me? It’s like living in the children’s books featuring The Boxcar Children. It’s like my childhood fantasy of riding my bike to Canada. It’s the soothing place that helped heal my broken heart after losing Mr. Virgo. And, it’s the place my sweet Mr. FixIt and I can go to escape the workaday world of life on five acres. We only have to mow another time or two. And before long, the snow will fly and Big Bird will be tucked away for the winter in our building…hopefully! We still need to clear out a space for her.

The view out the skylight right over our heads!

But, for now…we are celebrating our “Anniversary Month”, enjoying our new treasure, and getting the rest we need. That is a gift worth it’s weight in gold!

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 ESV

Finding Feathers and Pennies from Heaven

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 01:30:00 -0600

I didn’t sleep very well the first two nights of this trip for some reason. Probably because we’re leaving the family. And it’s been really hot so we have to sleep with the AC on and I don’t like that. At any rate, I was awake before dawn both Sunday and Monday mornings. When we got ourselves up and around and were putting things away, I saw something peeking out from behind the power box. On closer inspection, I found a perfectly beautiful primary wing feather from what I believe is a wild turkey. Someone carefully wedged it behind the power box to be found by another camper coming in for a stay and I was delighted. I plucked it from its hiding place and carefully tucked it under Mavis, the GPS, for safe keeping till I get it home and add it to my collection of found travel treasures. I also found a penny…so it was a big “message” day. Someone saying hello!

We had every intention of camping at Graham Cave State Park in Danville, Missouri last night but we got there so early in the afternoon. Today’s drive was going to be very long, so we decided to keep on trucking and stopped for the night in Mulberry Grove at Cedarbrook RV Park & Campground. It is an older place that definitely needs updating, and there were mostly seasonal rigs there. But, it was clean, off the highway, and very quiet on a Monday night deep in September. The moon was full, the sky was clear, and even though there was a storm predicted, we battened down the hatches, took a very welcome hot shower, and called it a day.

We head to eastern Indiana today. Because we traveled longer yesterday, our travel day will be shorter. We are expecting cooler weather today which will be a welcome respite from the oppressive heat we experienced yesterday. We stopped at a rest area in the middle of Missouri around 2:00 yesterday afternoon and it was 92 degrees. It was overcast all morning so you didn’t really feel the heat. As soon as we stepped out of the truck, the sun broke through and it was like standing in front of a fiery furnace. There was a gal with a flat tire on her cargo trailer and a guy was changing it for her. This is exactly why I have AAA Plus…so I can get help should we ever need it, no matter the circumstances.

One more sleep and we’ll be back on the Ponderosa…aka Marshmallow Ranch. Two nights at home and I take off to camp with my girlfriends for two nights! Honestly…we’ve been gone nearly a month and we’re having a blast! I think we could do this thing full time!

“The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”
Psalm 121:8 ESV

Good Morning, Kansas!!!

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Ok, y’all…western Kansas is flat…and windy…and flat. And, did I say windy??? Wowza! We’re talking wind-tunnel windy! We’re not in Kansas, Toto windy! When we set up the camper, I had to make sure Mr. FixIt had a tight hold on his side then we threw a rope over the top to anchor it down. I took it down yesterday morning between gusts and all went well.

Traveling east on I-70 was a little different yesterday with all that wind. It buffeted me around a little and it took more concentration to drive. It was a long driving day…about six hours or so. So by the time we got to our campsite, I was a little over stimulated. And when I get over stimulated, I get snippy. It’s nothing personal, but the person who will catch the brunt of that snippiness will be the person in front of my face. And we all know who that will be…my beloved Mr. FixIt.

I recognize it. I hate it. But, it’s also hard to stop. So, when we arrived at the campground last night, as he started to get out of the camper to direct me back into the site, I placed my hand gently on his arm and said softly… “Please just stay here in the truck with me, will you?” Without saying a word, he shut the door. I backed into the campsite with the slightest self-correction of my angle, and placed it perfectly. Then I asked him to please go back and tell me when I was back far enough to still be able to put the rear stabilizing jacks down. He did. And…just like that…it was done. No snippy. No frustration. No feeling bad afterwards. I think we may just have stumbled on the solution to the “I’m sorry for what I said when I was backing up the camper” problem!

Carol #2, me (camp hair…don’t care! , and Carol #1

When I realized the other night that I had vastly overestimated our ability to drive all the way to Salina, Kansas the first day…I got out the iPad, opened the app “RV Parky” and reconfigured our itinerary. I realized this would put us in the Topeka area the second night. And, my dear friend Carol #1 lives in Topeka! I texted her as soon as I knew where we were camping and she and a friend, Carol #2, came over. Carol #1 has been following Marshmallow Ranch since before Mr. Virgo died. It was so good to see her. We ordered Chinese food and sat around until the mosquitos started to eat us alive. I hated to say goodbye, but we promised to connect again in the future!

Lake Shawnee Campground - Topeka, KS

I stumbled on a real treasure of a campground here. Lake Shawnee Campground is actually a city park operated by the City of Topeka. There’s a large lake and a lovely campground right on the shore with lots of big trees for shade. And, it’s only $24 for a site with electric and water! It was super easy to get to from the interstate. It was incredibly clean and quiet and our site was right across from the bathhouse.

Eastern Kansas is so much prettier than western. About the time you get to Salina, you start to see some changes in the topography. The grasses are greener and there are some rolling hills. Then you enter the Flint Hills and there are trees! As we travel east, there will be more trees and hills in Missouri. We will camp in “The Show Me State” tonight at a place I’ve never been and I’m really looking forward to sharing it with you. In the meantime, we’ll enjoy our coffee alongside the lake shore this morning before we head out on the open road.

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:6 ESV

Finding Peace in Change

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 01:30:00 -0600

What an amazing weekend this has been! My sweet brother was the center of the universe yesterday at his party. He sat at the head of the table and “held court”. We had a great meal that Daughter #1 fixed. Hubby #2 and his wife were there as well as his younger sister and her husband. They will forever be family and it was just such a beautiful thing to watch.

There was a time when I would never have believed we could all sit in the same room and be civil. Well, certain ones anyway. Divorce is never an easy thing. But time heals and distance helps the heart grow when division sets you on different courses. Besides, the attention was on my brother…not on any of us.

Still, the beauty of the day was not lost on me. On so many levels.

We stopped on the way to the party and got him some new clothes so he was looking pretty dapper by the time the guests arrived. My brother is so much more frail than he was two years ago…hence the change to more assistance. The men jumped in and helped him up and down the stairs. The women doted on him and brought him food and drinks. Hubby #2’s wife and my Mr. FixIt both took turns playing UNO with him.

He beamed as we sang Happy Birthday to him. He said hello on a video to the WV family who couldn’t be there.

And, as everyone got up to say their goodbyes, my Bubby looked around at this amazing family of ours and said…

“I love every one of you.”

I’d say this has been a 100% bonafide bang up 70th birthday party for the best brother on the planet! Today we head back to Denver so I won’t see my brother again till May of 2022. Like I said yesterday…it’s been an incredibly emotion packed weekend, but it’s been so wonderful to be with my beloveds.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

Mommying Never Ends

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Daughter #2 and I had the best day yesterday. We got together early for coffee and actually sat inside a nearly empty Starbucks. It was so wonderful to visit with her…one-on-one. We went back to her house and worked side by side again for a few hours and got her front lawn nearly finished. She just has a small pile of sticks to bag up and trim the edge along the sidewalk.

She told me the sprinkler guy had come out to fix her system and set up the timer. It was supposed to come on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:00pm. However, it came on at noon on Tuesday and again at noon yesterday. The control box is down in the crawl space so I got my flashlight from the truck, pulled the wooden covering from the access, and got down the two steps to peek inside.

My former father-in-law was an extremely frugal guy. He did things in that house that still make me scratch my head. A couple years before he died, he told his only son he should take some of the money he’d been saving all these years and update the house. When they went in to start the demo, they found he had installed an in-ground sprinkler system, but had the control panel mounted on the wall in the spare bedroom. Odd place for it, to be sure…but I’m sure much easier for him to access. When they did the remodel, they moved the box to the crawl space…right on the edge of the opening so you don’t actually have to go IN there.

When I checked the settings, it was scheduled to come on every day at noon. I sat and puzzled on that for awhile, then asked my daughter if they had a power outage sometime since the sprinkler dude was out…and they had. That had to be the answer. The system reset itself when they lost power. I reset everything then, on Monday when we visit, I’ll show her how it works and how to reset it. There should be a battery backup in case of a power failure, so I’ll research that, as well.

It didn’t take long for us to finish the mowing. We sat in the shade on the porch with a bottle of water and congratulated each other for a job well done. I came back to Ben and Sue’s in the afternoon and took a well deserved nap. I think we all did. It’s been really hot the last few days, but the evenings and nights are blessedly cool. Mr. FixIt and I went out and brought supper home so no one had to cook…salads and chicken. After the news, I went around and took some pictures.

I love this little oasis in the middle of one of the larger Denver suburbs. Two acres with a garden and flowers, trees, and an abundance of squirrels and birds. The bathtub came from the most recent remodel in their house. I really want this tub…not only because it’s a great size, but because it belonged to Ben and Sue and it’s from the oldest part of the house. It’s small enough to fit in the bed of the truck so we CAN take it home…however, of all things, I forgot to bring the weight distribution bars for the hitch. The former owners had them installed, but you really don’t need them with a camper the size of Birdie. With the added weight of that iron tub, we would absolutely HAVE to have the weight distribution hitch to keep the rear end from sagging. So…no cool tub for me, doggone it! I’m sure I’ll find one in West Virginia or the surrounding area.

We found out yesterday, my brother is being moved to his new apartment on Friday. At first, I thought…how inconvenient! We are all heading there on Friday to help him celebrate his 70th birthday this weekend. Then I realized, this is such a God thing. He’s moving on the very weekend we are all going to be there to help him get settled in his new digs! What an amazing Father we have. This move has been in the works for the last year and a half…all times when we were unable to be there due to covid. Then, all of a sudden, everything came together for the move to occur when we’re there! There are NO coincidences!!!

Little gets to come “camp” with me tonight! Fourteen and still wants to camp with Nana…I’m pretty jazzed. I can hardly wait to spend time with her again. It’s laundry day and get things ready for the trip to the mountains tomorrow. I can’t believe it’s been nearly two weeks since we started Birdie’s Grand Adventure!

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12 ESV

Merry Christmas, Moon Pie!

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Mr. FixIt and Ben rode the light rail train to Downtown Denver yesterday. They walked around Union Station then took the shuttle bus down to the end of the 16th Street Mall and moseyed back to the station. They stopped for lunch and, of course, they found a ton of people to talk to. I’ll have to say…Ben and Mr. FixIt are a lot alike. They’re both hard workers, they love to tinker and fix things, they both garden, they both are devoted family men, they both have the same great sense of humor, and they can talk to anybody about anything. I wish Colorado was closer to West Virginia so we could spend more time with our wonderful family.

I know it’s only September, but I gave Daughter #2 and her wife their Christmas present early this year. And, it’s going to have to count for NEXT year’s, too. They work hard and do the best they can to stay up with things around the house. But a series of events occurred in the last year that got them behind in their lawn work.

First, their mower broke. It’s not easy to find a lawn mower repair shop anymore and the one they found was closed. They are not mechanically inclined. So they used their weed eater…which was her grandpa’s old one from twenty years ago. It didn’t work well…then it didn’t work at all. At the same time, their sprinkler stopped working. There was covid and lockdowns and finding a new job and all their energy went to survival.

They got the sprinkler fixed, but the weeds had a huge head start and the west is suffering a mega drought. I have never seen so many yards look this bad in Colorado. I paid close attention on the way home from her house and every block has dead and weed infested yards. In their defense…it never was a really nice lawn to begin with. I wondered why she was coming to me for visits instead of me going there. Then she confessed…she was embarrassed by the state of her yard. Bless her heart. I told her I could care less…I’m the last to be “judgy”.

I decided to go to Home Depot yesterday morning early and buy them a lawn mower and trimmer for their early Christmas presents. Her dad agreed to go halves. I was checking out when she called to say she was going to grab coffee and head over.

“You just hang out there, kiddo. I’m in the neighborhood and I’ve got something for you!”

I pulled up and unloaded the truck and I thought she was going to cry. She hugged me and thanked me profusely. And we spent the next few hours working alongside each other…mowing and weeding. We got the first half done yesterday before it got too hot and decided to get back to it this morning and finish. I’ll tell you what…that thing is really powerful for a battery mower.

You know…a well manicured yard is something we were manipulated into having when our fathers came home from the war and bought their first house in the suburbs. The sign of affluence was a cookie cutter house and a lawn fit for the Queen’s croquet party. It’s an enormous waste…time, money, and natural resources. We’re going to have to rethink the front yard because they aren’t making more water and the climate is changing drastically. Wars of the future won’t be fought over oil…they’ll be fought over food and water. It’s not such a big deal where we live in West Virginia. The idea of watering your lawn is foreign. But here in the West…something’s got to change.

Daughter #2 and I didn’t get to do these kinds of homey gardening things together when she was growing up. Her dad and I split up when she was just ten years old. Then it was shifting back and forth between houses. I just don’t remember working in the yard with her at all. But yesterday was fun. We chatted comfortably. When we were finished, we took our hot and dirty selves out for lunch at Wendy’s and sat in the shade to eat.

She has today off then heads back to work on Thursday. I have to say…this is one of the best visits we’ve ever had and I am so, so happy to spend such quality time with her. I’ll get to spend some time with Daughter #2 and her family over the coming weekend when we go see my brother for his 70th Birthday.

This mama’s heart is happy!

“You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.”
Psalm 104:14-15 ESV

The. Perfect. Day. Period.

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 01:30:00 -0600

There are days that you wish you could bottle up and keep forever. Yesterday was one of those days. First, we slept great in the new camper. I will say…we ended up sleeping in separate beds because either I would have climbed over Mr. FixIt at least twice during the night to go to the bathroom, or he would have been crammed into the short angle of the A-Frame. Something we honestly didn’t quite think through before we bought this cute camper. However, I was afraid that my sweetheart might not feel comfortable, and wanting him to have the best experience possible, I threw the twin mattress from the big camper onto the lowered dinette in the A-Frame. When given the sleeping choices, he elected to sleep on the twin…but I fixed it with our heads at opposite ends of the beds so we should see each other and talk. Consequently, we both slept very well.

The night time temperature got down to 53 and that makes for some great sleeping weather. We both had enough blankets to stay warm and ended up sleeping in till about 9:00 when the camp kids started running around. We had a light breakfast, then helped Gail and Mike (the park Naturalist) run the Saturday morning activities. First, there was Skulls and Bones…a game where the kids have to identify which skulls, bones, and pelts belong to which animal. There were lots of questions and the kids loved it. Then, at 11:00, we helped the kids make walking sticks. There must have been at least a dozen kids and their parents in attendance and they all had a blast.

After the activities, we had sandwiches for lunch and sat with Gail all afternoon and talked. Gail spun wool and I knitted and Mr. FixIt visited. Late in the afternoon, Gail’s husband came back and the guys continued working on the electrical in the A-Frame. They finally replaced the GFI outlet, got all the wires connected in the right way, and now everything works great! Yay! But that time, we were hungry. We grilled hotdogs over the open fire again and mine met their demise when they fell off the stick and into the ashes. Not to worry…Gail forfeited her hotdogs and selected something from her own fridge to eat.

Mr. FixIt made a quick trip to town earlier in the afternoon for ice and found an ice cream stand, so…after supper, we went on an ice cream run. Oh, my….Bruster’s Real Ice Cream! The long wait in line was well worth it! Mr. FixIt chose Graham Central Station, I had Blackberry, and we brought Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel back for Gail. SO good!

We met some cool people in the campground. Barb and Erin from Grand Rapids had a panel truck they had converted into a cozy, tiny home. It had a small kitchen, a bathroom, a dinette with an elevator bed that down onto it at night. The truck is big enough to haul their kayaks inside and it was pretty cool. They both have mechanical experience and have done the work with a little help from their dads.

At sunset, we took a walk to check out some of the other campers and saw a sign on a cool little camper… “Enroute with Chuck and Cherie”. Intrigued, we stopped to visit. Cherie had camped growing up, but camping was pretty new to Chuck. They started out in tents, then realized they’d really like to have a trailer. So, the search began. In the midst of Covid, they began to search in earnest because campers were in short supply. They saw this little beauty and though it just might be the best of both worlds. You really only sleep in the camper, so why have more than you need? They live outside at the campground so this sporty model works great. You can follow their adventures here on Facebook and YouTube.

At dark, the Saturday evening movie came on…Cinderella…which I am listening to as I write this. It makes me smile as both of my girls watched it and it brings back memories. I’m listening to katydids and crickets and kids giggling, and the familiar Disney music in the background and sighed. What an absolutely perfect day. But, before I head to bed, I’m going back out to sit around the campfire and see if we can call in the owls!

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22 ESV

Yes…I Went to Town…AGAIN!

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 01:30:00 -0600

You know how it is when you’re getting ready for a trip. There’s always something you have to do before you can leave. And, this time it was kind of important. Remember my three hour trip to the DMV this week? Well, I went out yesterday morning to put the new license on the little camper. I pulled out the plate and…the sticker said 2020. I looked in the envelope and there was no sticker for 2023. So, guess who had to go BACK to the DMV?

*insert eye roll and heavy sigh here*

I got the new sticker. They were kind enough to not make me sit through the whole “take a number and wait” thing. It only took a half hour or so. I had a few other errands to run and headed home to do laundry and start packing up a few things. I put the new memory foam topper on the bed and dressed it with fresh sheets. I pulled a quilt from the house to fold at the foot of the bed. The fridge is still ice cold. My friend Gail’s husband is handy with electrical issues and campers so he’s going to see if we can figure out why the fridge only works when we have it plugged into an extension cord. I bought a new GFI outlet yesterday so we’ll try that first.

Even the very best cared for camper needs a little tuneup after a while. We are so grateful the previous owners loved this little trailer and took such good care of her. We’ll do our best to show her all the love. Still thinking about a name. I don’t know if you have ever seen how one of these things fold up, but it’s seriously like origami so I’m looking for some kind of name that reflects that.

We’re off for a road trip and some time away from mowing and home responsibilities. The kitty is cared for. And I get my man alone in the woods! Life is good!

“also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.”
Ecclesiastes 3:13 ESV

Another Trip to Town? Why, Yes Indeed!

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 01:30:00 -0600

I know I should never declare a day as “strictly stay at home” because nine times out of ten, it’s not going to work out that way. Such was the case yesterday. We were working on the camper. We bought an electric jack that will raise and lower it to hitch it to the truck. It had a crank hitch on it, and even with grease, it was slow going. And, when it’s really hot outside, the last thing you want to do is stand out in the sun cranking that thing.

Mr. FixIt was putting the jack on when he realized they didn’t give him bolts with it. He could have used the old ones, but they were getting rusty and he felt it was better to buy new. He also needed an inline fuse. In the meantime, I put the new tire cover on the spare tire and realized there was a three inch gap in one of the seams.

Since we needed three things from the RV dealer, and the pharmacy texted that my prescriptions were ready, off we went! It was a much quicker trip this time. We did have to add a stop at Lowe’s for some star washers, but it was only two hours out of the day instead of seven like Tuesday.

Just before we left home, I turned on the fridge in the camper to start getting it cold. When we got home, I went inside to check and it wasn’t cooling at all. I fiddled around with the fuses and the circuit breakers and couldn’t find anything there. I went and got a small lamp from the big camper and blogged it into the outlet the fridge was plugged into. No juice. I traced back into the camper and figured out the breaker was tripped on the GFI outlet. Mr. FixIt stood outside and watched the lamp while I reset the GFI and the light came on. Ok, so we know the outlet itself works. I had him unplug the lamp, plug the fridge back in and turn it on and it tripped the GFI again. So…was it the GFI or the fridge that’s the problem?

I asked Mr. FixIt to plug the fridge into an extension cord we have plugged into the building. At that point, I left it alone for awhile to see if it would start to chill. While I waited, I vacuumed the pool again. I stirred up the algae the other day and we’re having trouble getting the water to clear again. This happens sometimes when it’s really hot outside. It felt good to get in the water and cool off a little bit. Once I was done, I fixed us some fresh sliced peaches with a little cinnamon sugar on top and enjoyed a cool summer treat. We haven’t been eating enough fresh fruit lately and that really hit the spot.

When I came back out to the camper to write, I checked the fridge and it’s cold! Wahoo! That means the fridge itself works, but it is either something wrong with the switch or it’s somehow wired into the GFI and not a separate circuit, or there is something wrong with the GFI. Changing out a faulty GFI is a quick and easy fix and it doesn’t cost a lot. We’ll try plugging the extension cord into another GFI outlet this morning to see if the fridge trips it. But, honestly, it’s just as easy to use an extension cord and plug it in. There are 120v outlets on the power posts at campgrounds. We can always use propane to keep the fridge cold as we travel. Or, we could go really OLD SCHOOL and use a cooler with ice!

The potty tent arrived yesterday, along with the memory foam topper for the mattress. I’m going to have Mr. FixIt stay in the camper with me tonight so we can make sure the bed is comfortable or if we need to make any other adjustments, we can do that before we head to the campground Friday. We haven’t gone camping together for two years now and we can hardly wait!!!!!

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing,”
Philippians 2:14 ESV

Easy as Pie!

Sat, 24 Jul 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Look what followed us home!

I’ve been vacillating for weeks regarding my big camper. Honestly…the only time I camp in it is at home. My truck isn’t powerful enough to pull it up hills, let alone mountains. Mr. FixIt and I love to camp together. But he doesn’t quite see the point in sleeping in the camper at home like I do. So…if I want to get him to camp with me, it’s going to have to be in a camper more suitable A) to the size of my truck, and B) to suit us at our age.

I still want the basics: a bed out of the rain, a sink and running water, a microwave, a cooktop, air conditioning and a furnace for chilly nights. I like the idea of solid walls. I don’t want the canvas tent feel of a regular popup but, I DO love the low profile and lightweight, easy towing they provide. I’ve been around campers for several years now and I’ve been to the biggest RV show there is. I’ve learned from the best of the best, Janine Pettit and Gail Bable…my Girl Campers Extraordinaire and partners in all things camping.

A couple of years ago, Gail and I met Janine at the Country Living Fair in Columbus, OH to help her man the booth for Girl Camper. We had three camping trailers there and the one that I just loved was Gail’s A-Liner. It was so tiny yet when you popped it up, it looked like a little Swiss A-frame. Her neighbor painted sunflowers on it. It was cute as a bug.

Once I started looking for smaller campers this spring, I realized Covid caused a huge boost in camper sales. They are hard to find new…especially the smaller ones. People selling their campers have discovered they can jack up their prices and desperate people will be willing to pay top dollar for a safe vacation. Camping is enjoying a resurgence of immense popularity.

I can’t tell you how many sellers I’ve contacted, inquiring if they still have the camper. One was exactly like my first camper and I was really interested in it, however…within an hour of posting the camper for sale, he already had three people lined up to come see it and four more people as back up. This happened over and over.

Then, earlier this week, I saw an A-farm camper…much like Gail’s only bigger. Roomier. Newer.

Oooooooooh.

I texted and asked if it was still available…two days after it posted. Yes, it was. I looked and thought and then decided against it. The idea of having to pop the top was bugging me. I wrote back and said thanks for your time but I think we’ll pass. Another day went by. I couldn’t get that A-frame out of my head. So, I prayed.

“Lord, if you want me to have this, make it easy and effortless.”

I texted yesterday and said, “On second thought, I’d like to come see the camper. Is it still available?” I was absolutely certain it wasn’t or that she had six people lined up to come see it. After all, it was Friday now.

“Yes, it’s still available.” No one was coming to see it. She told me at least two dozen said they were interested and she would wait and wait and wait and no one showed up to actually look at it. She was a little frustrated by that…as I can imagine. I made arrangements with her, came home from having lunch with some friends from high school, and asked Mr. FixIt if her remembered that cute little A-frame camper and did he want to go look at it with me?

He did…and we hopped in the truck to drive over two hours to check it out. The moment I saw it, I knew…she was ours! She was just waiting for us. And, Susan…the owner was just as sweet as can be. It turned out, we have so much in common. She is also a widow. She and her late husband used to camp in tents, but they were aging and she was over all that packing and hauling, setting up and breaking down. She wanted a bed. Period. In came the A-frame. But, when her husband died, she didn’t have the proper vehicle to tow and she had never towed the camper before. Now, she is thinking if she can find a camper van that she can just drive places and sleep in, that’s what she’d rather have.

I encouraged her to check out Girl Campers and explore the idea of a camper van and, who knows? We might end up sharing a campfire one of these days!

We completed our transaction and they showed us how everything worked. I am able to set it up and take it down all by myself, which is necessary if I go off camping with my girlfriends. The camper was purchased from my good friend, Lynn Butler…owner of Setzer’s World of Camping. It had recently been in the shop to have a skylight replaced. The other two skylights and the Fantastic Fan had been recaulked. It had a new air conditioner put in it in 2018 and had only been camped in once since then as her husband became ill a couple of years ago.

In other words…the perfect camper was dropped in our lap. The perfect size, the perfect weight, the perfect amenities, and at the perfect price. She doesn’t have a bathroom, but there are these cute little popup tents you can buy that work as a bathroom outside at the end of your camper. You put a little portapotty in there and it works great for overnight trips to the loo.

I towed her home and…I am not kidding…I had to remind myself it was actually back there. It pulls so smooth and easy. It didn’t change my gas mileage at all. We just kept feeling like someone should pinch us because it was truly effortless.

Thank you, God…for always being the provider and bringing the things we need in our lives. This will be the perfect addition to our family’s adventures. We can get back to camping. We can sell the big camper and get the money back that we paid for the new one…plus enough to pay for camping for a good while. We were positively giddy all the way home. We already have our first camping trip scheduled for next weekend!!!

Now…for the most important part.

Her name.

What shall we name her???

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
James 1:17 ESV

#Gifts, #Camper, #Blessings

My Farm Fix

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 01:30:00 -0600

I Spy, with My Little Eye…Something PINK! Do You See?

We went to the farm to mow yesterday. The new owners, who I affectionately call Frank and Beans, have been gracious enough to let me visit and/or stay out at the farm whenever I can…which has saved me so much heartache over its sale. I told them, if they would provide me a riding mower, I would be happy to mow in exchange for their generosity. So, yesterday was mowing day.

They brought a wonderful “vintage” John Deere. Those things are heavy duty and run forever. Even so, I hadn’t used it yet, and just in case of something unforeseen, we towed our riding mower over. It turns out we needn’t have bothered because that ol’ Deere turned over on about the third crank. I couldn’t get it adjusted to cut quite as close as I like, but it is more than adequate and worked just fine. I have dubbed the old fella…John Boy. Mr. FixIt ran the push mower while I mowed with the tractor. It was 86 degrees and, as Little says, “you could see the oxygen”. Humid and sticky.

I heated up pepperoni rolls from JR’s for lunch. They’re West Virginia’s Official State Food and I think JR’s are really good. The best I’ve ever had came from the old grocery store not too far from the farm. Unfortunately, they closed a couple of years ago and that was the end of the BEST pepperoni rolls EVER. They made them there, so maybe I can get the recipe one of these days.

As we sat on the porch, I looked down and there…right at my feet…was one of those WICKED tussock caterpillars like the one that stung me a few weeks ago. Let me tell you, I dispatched that sucker toot suite, picked up his limp little body with a stick, and tossed it in the weeds where no one could get to it. They’ll still sting even after they’re dead.

I’m hoping their season is short and they’ll soon wrap themselves up in a cocoon and turn into moths. In doing some more research, I’ve found that nasty, itchy rash with the welts on my neck actually has a name…tussockosis. Clever. I try to be very careful when I mow and not brush up against shrubs and bushes where these nasty buggers can hide.

I always have to sit and enjoy how pretty the yard looks at the farm after we’ve mowed. No matter how hot it is, I’ll sit with a cold drink, take a pretty picture, and let all that farm love wash over me. But, after a while, it was time to pack it up and head back home to Marshmallow Ranch (aka the Ponderosa). I made a big pot of spaghetti for supper. Mr. FixIt left to go help a friend move some things. And I curled up in TOW-Wanda to write this.

Any day at the farm is a good day!

“You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.”
Psalm 74:17 ESV

Waiting on the Half Runners

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Sharing Last Year’s Bounty

We received wonderful news yesterday. Daughter #1 and the kids got home safe and sound from their 33 day, 5700 mile adventure! I told Mr. FixIt…he had no idea what a weight that lifted off my shoulders when I saw their beautiful smiles, sitting in their driveway! She said the car fairly exploded with stuff as they opened it all up and started unloading. God is good and He kept my babies safe!

One thing happened when they were here that absolutely melted my heart. My oldest child is NOT sentimental. Like, AT ALL. But when she was here, I served my home canned half runner beans one night for supper. Those were the only kind of green beans my grandma would grow, so when she tasted them…it was a memory from her childhood. Just like it is for me. When she was here, I asked her if she’d like a jar of my apple butter and she happily set it aside to pack when they came to pick Little up. As she was walking through the kitchen the other evening, she asked if she could have a jar of my green beans. I said, “Sure…take two!” She texted me last night to ask me how I prepared them because she wanted my son-in-law to enjoy them. There is NOTHING like having your daughter ask you how you make something.

I was soaking in the pool last night as the sun was setting. It was a hot one yesterday and the water was pleasantly refreshing. I thought of Little. She loves swimming and was in our pool every chance she could get. I sent her a picture and told her we’d do it again next year!

Mr. FixIt came out while I was floating around and cut a zucchini and a crookneck squash from the garden and went straight inside and cooked it. I was full so I didn’t have any…I just let him enjoy it. Now…when the tomatoes start ripening…watch out!

I contacted a gal from Witten’s Farm last night, asking when their half runners will be ready. They are so much work to grow, and she said they lost two whole fields of them last year…one to rain, and the other due to lack of labor to pick them. The current price is $65 a bushel, however…I got 27 quarts out of the bushel I bought last year. That comes out to about $2.40 a quart. To me, they’re like green gold so that price doesn’t bother me a bit. Covid messed with a lot of things last year, and we will still see the trickle down from that for years to come, I’m afraid. I had a lovely chat with her, and told her I’d love to do a feature article on their farm, so watch for that later in the summer.

We went to town yesterday, ran a couple of errands, walked at the mall, bought some ice cream and sat in the park to eat it. It was a perfectly beautiful mid-summer day! As I wrote this last evening sitting in TOW-Wanda, Mr. FixIt texted me and said, “Look outside…there’s a deer right in front of the building!” We honestly live in a slice of heaven!

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
Colossians 3:14 ESV

Little Melts My Heart

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Little Has Taken Archery Lessons Before

We took our time leaving the park yesterday. We said our long goodbyes to all the girlfriends who were camping with us. They all complimented Little saying how sweet, fun, and polite this little powerhouse of mine is. Makes a Nana proud of her 14-year-old Little Bear. We drove down to the Pioneer Village which was open from Noon to 3:00. I was excited to show Bear how they grind flour by water power. We picked up some things in the General Store. Little collects ladies fans and found a yellow one to match a new dress. We got a couple boxes of Cracker Jacks as a novel snack for later. I bought some grits, yellow and blue cornmeal, and two bags of buckwheat flour. We’ll have some tasty treats today.

Little and I laughed at the “Toasted Marshmallows”!

When we got home, Little helped us empty the truck and jumped in the shower without too much prompting. You remember how 14-years-olds are, right? I remember having to tell them to shower…with soap…AND water. Dry off. Hang up the towels. TOWELS…plural… because you know they’re going to use at least three…or more! One to stand on. One to wrap around their hair. And at least one to dry off with…maybe more. lol

Little Was Fascinated With the Blacksmith

As we drove home, Little sighed and said… “This has been so much fun, Nana. Can I come back again next summer?” Be still my heart. If she still wants to spend time with me at 15, I’ll take it! I’ll take any time with her. Being a Nana is the best of all worlds. You are a cross between a Fairy Godmother and a Super Hero to your grandkids. And, after their visit, you send them home to their mommy and daddy. But…oh…during that precious time with them, you can pour so much into their little hearts and minds that they will never, ever forget. I wish Big wasn’t “too big” to spend time with me. Maybe someday, when she realizes how finite life is, she may. In the meantime, I will savor every moment as the precious gift it is.

When You’ve Been Careful With Calories All Week…Ice Cream for Supper on a Summer Saturday in July!

We “camped” in TOW-Wanda again last night.

One more sleep…and she’ll be gone.

“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged...”
Proverbs 17:6 ESV

Camping with the Kiddo

Sat, 10 Jul 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Well, it wasn’t roughing it, by any means. But we sure had fun at Beaver Creek State Park. It’s one of my favorite places to camp…mainly because one of my besties is the Camp Host. We gathered a few of our girlfriends and had a low key get-together. Little and I went to a couple antique shops. We found a cute vintage dress and purse and an Ohio State letter jacket. Also, I’ve been looking all over for a cast iron griddle to add to Little’s biscuit baking gear. We found one at Rogers Sale for $5.00 just before they closed.

We came back to the campground and had lunch, visited with the girls for a while, then went back to the cabin for a nap. Last night we had S’Mores and watermelon after supper and sat around the campfire. Gail used her bird app and a Bluetooth speaker to call the owls. They are off the nest now so it’s ok to call them in. We had just about given up hearing any when I looked up to see one swoop down and land in the tree over our heads. Someone shined a flashlight up and we caught a good look at this beautiful creature. He looked right down at us and it was so cool.

After a bit, the owl flew to another tree then another. And finally, it started answering the calls from the speaker. I was thrilled Little got to hear…and SEE an owl!

When I asked Little what the favorite part of our stay together has been, the answer was “Antiquing…definitely!” Hey…that topped the owl sighting and swimming in the pool!

This is MY grandchild, for sure!

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord...”
Psalm 127:3 ESV

My Mini Me

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 01:30:00 -0600

When Daughter #1 was growing up, she was the spitting image of me. From looks to mannerisms to basic interests, we were two peas in a pod. This went on till she grew up, married, and moved as far away from me as possible. Not that moving so far away was the whole point. It just so happened that an amazing job opportunity opened up and they moved to Long Island, leaving me at home with a foundering marriage and a precocious five year old. I was bereft. She learned there was a whole great big world beyond the borders of “Mom”. Which is good. She’s worldly, diverse, self-confident and can talk about anything with anyone.

When I first met Big, I knew she was much like her daddy…and the new version of my daughter. As well, she should be. She is an observer, takes everything in, and if she is feeling like she doesn’t get enough of your attention, she will be sure to let you know. She’s smart, strong, and independent.

When I first met Little, I knew she was my mini-me. So much like her mama when she was little. Fun, funny, creative, smart, tender hearted, and so loving and demonstrative. This time with her is nothing short of magic. We love a lot of the same things. And those things we may not be well enough versed in to form an opinion, the other is more than willing to teach.

We left yesterday around noon and headed to town for our antiquing excursion. I had the goal of finding a nice cast iron griddle for her to bake buttermilk biscuits on. We found everything but that. I bought her a good sized biscuit bowl, a sifter, and a biscuit cutter. I’ll keep looking for a griddle. I told her I would bring all these things to Colorado with me when we go in September. That way I don’t have to worry about anything getting broken.

Little was fabulous looking through the antiques stores. She found all kinds of things that piqued her interest. I found some old welding goggles and had her try them on. Oh, my gosh! They were SO cute! She’ll use them in some of her cosplay. She found a small doll to add to her collection. She was curious about what things were and how they were used. I’m telling you…I was in hog heaven!

We decided to head out into the country to another antique dealer where I know they usually carry a good deal of cast iron. We stopped at Fort Boreman Park and looked out over the Ohio River taking the obligatory photos with the magnificent view behind us. Little learned about humidity yesterday. As we were driving through the country, she noticed everything in the distance was blue. I explained how we can see the air here because of the high humidity. She told Mr. FixIt over supper that we can see the oxygen here. Indeed, we can!

We didn’t find the griddle we were looking for so we drove to the farm to pick up a few more things that I wanted to bring home. When we got there, we ate supper and jumped in the pool to cool off. Divine!

Today we prepare for our camping trip. We leave in the morning!

The time…I want to slow down the time.

“yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
James 4:14 ESV

Horses and Heavens

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 01:30:00 -0600

What a fun day! Little learned how to make French Toast and agrees with me…the very BEST bread to use is day old homemade sourdough! It was a taste sensation. Then, without any prompting, she went and walked her two miles. I worked on a project on the computer all afternoon while Little chilled out in her room. When it was time for supper, we thought we would go into town and get Pete’s Pizza…a special treat. Unfortunately, they were closed. So, we went to Popeye’s Chicken instead, went to our granddaughter’s to see the horses and feed them peppermints, and took a ride out to the farm. I wanted to see if my cousin was having a bonfire, but I’m sure they did that Sunday night.

The last stop of the evening was Calhoun County Park…a designated “dark sky” area. We got there just after sunset and sat in our chairs, marveling at the display slowly revealing itself over our heads. It was amazing! Little saw the Milky Way for the first time. Denver skies aren’t great for star watching. We saw satellites and identified constellations through an app on my phone.

We got home around midnight and stood in the field in awe. The trees along the creek on the far side of our fields literally GLITTER with lightning bugs…ie fireflies. Little has dubbed it the Magic Fairy Forest and she isn’t wrong…it’s jaw dropping. I’m going to have to organize a group campout here to share this beauty with others!

The icing on the cake came when Little asked, “Can we sleep in the camper again tonight, Nana?” Be still my heart…I want to bottle this up and keep it forever, this sweet, sweet thing!

“He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.”
Psalm 147:4 ESV

When Every Week Has a Three-day Weekend

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Retirement, sweet retirement. I remember packing as much fun as possible into those few three-day weekends we had when we were working. This while also trying to catch up with the laundry and cleaning the house. I honestly don’t know how we did it all. The truth is, we often didn’t. Or, more accurately…we didn’t do it well.

I was never one to have my house spotless when the kids were growing up. I quickly learned what was “good enough”. Now that we have all this “free time”, we keep a much neater house. Little is a typical teenager and in the nine days she’s been here, her room is pretty trashed. I’ve truly forgotten what it’s like to have a 14-year-old girl at home. I asked her at supper last night to pick it up this morning. We’ll see if she’s any better at it than her mother was at that age. lol

Little and I had a lot of fun yesterday. We baked two loaves of sourdough, made sourdough pancakes, fed the next sourdough starter, and took the dehydrated sourdough starter out of the dehydrator and bottled it up. Some day, Little might want some of my starter, and as long as it’s stored in a cool, dark place…it’ll last for years.

As I’m writing this, I just did the dishes and we are preparing to go out to see the fireworks this evening. I do hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend. Little and I are going to go antiquing Tuesday, pack for camping Wednesday, camp on Thursday and Friday, come home on Saturday, do laundry and get her ready for her mom and Big to come pick her up Monday.

Just like that…their vacation will be over and we will miss each other again.

In the meantime…there is FUN to be had at Nana’s house!!!

“You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.”
Psalm 74:17 ESV

It’s Independence Day!

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 01:30:00 -0600

The year is half gone already. Last year was 36 months long. This year seems like three so far. We enjoyed a much slower pace yesterday. While Mr. FixIt mowed the fenced yard, Little and I made up some sourdough bread and put the loaves in crocks in the garage fridge overnight to rise and ripen. If you give them a cold, slow rise you can get a bit more tartness. My sourdough is never really “sour”. It’s just such a lovely texture…especially when toasted or made into French Toast. Yummmmm!

Little told me yesterday she’s never had French Toast! I have failed as a mother if my own daughter doesn’t make French Toast for her children. Well, actually no….they just don’t eat a big breakfast at their house. We have to eat a good breakfast because Mr. FixIt takes medication that makes it necessary, and we go out and work hard most days. We need a little something to stick to our ribs.

Our big news for the night was camping! Ok…yard camping. But when you have five acres in the country, it’s your own private campground, right? Little hasn’t camped with me for a couple of years, and that was in her Mimi’s driveway. We are leaving Thursday to camp with some girlfriends of mine. We’ll be staying in a cabin, but it’s still camping. I love that Little still likes to do fun things with her Nana. I told her I wanted to do these things with her while she still thought I was cool. She said, “Nana, now I’ll fight you on that one. You’ll ALWAYS be cool!”

*heart melt*

They grow so fast.

I made up her bed in the camper and she brought all her things out that she needed for the night, climbed in bed with a Stephen King novel…IT! Oy…kids love spooky, scary stuff at that age. I thought Nancy Drew was scary when I was her age! lol Then again, I think I was still playing with Barbies! It’s truly a different era. I went through a time when I loved scary books. I remember reading Salem’s Lot one summer when Daughter #1 was about 6 or 7. Hubby #2 was off for a fishing weekend with a buddy of his, so it was just us girls and the dog. Along about midnight, when I was at a particularly scary part, three things happened in rapid succession.

The clock struck twelve and there was a blood curdling scream from the psychiatric hospital down the street from us.

Daughter #1 was sleep walking, coming down the hall with a glassy stare saying, “Mommy. Mommy. Mommy.”

And…suddenly there was a tap on my bedroom window and someone whispered…”Ginny! Ginny!!”

Holy cats!

I didn’t know where to turn. First was to take my little girl back to bed and tuck her back in. Then I came back into the bedroom and stood there quietly.

Tap, tap, tap. “Ginny! Open the door! I forgot my key!”

It was my husband! They got rained out at the lake and came home instead. I don’t think I ever really read much Stephen King after that!

Anyway…it’s the 4th of July. Independence Day. We’ll celebrate with watermelon and corn-on-the-cob and hotdogs. Then we’ll go into town to watch the fireworks with Little.

Let freedom ring!

????????????????

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””
John 8:32 ESV

Another Busy Day in Paradise

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Little is sure keeping us busy! I’d forgotten what it was like to have a 14-year-old in the house. They like to sleep…a lot! They like to stay up late and read and then sleep the day away. But that isn’t happening at Nana’s house. We have other things to do so she’s up and at ‘em much earlier than she would like.

We made sourdough pancakes yesterday morning and Little thought they were great. We ran to town and got gas for the mowers. While we were there, we stopped in the store that comes the closest to being a combination housewares and hardware store. Little likes cosplay. If you don’t know what that is, it’s what we used to call playing “dress up”…kinda. The costumes are based on anime, historic, mythical, cartoon, or movie characters to name a few. There are also original characters. While we were in this store out in the middle of nowhere, Little found two headbands she could use in her costumes.

Since she’s been in West Virginia, she keeps going on and on about how lush and green it is…and she keeps feeling like a fairy is going to pop out of the woods and ask her on a quest. Little has a very vivid imagination and she is very creative. She does character makeup really well. I could see her doing movie and theatrical makeup for a living…or at least a decent way to make some extra money in college. When she showed me the headbands and told me her ideas for a fairy costume, I remembered some things I had around the house that I used when a friend and I dressed up and went to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I searched around and found her a corset and a couple of petticoats and a top hat. She was in hog heaven. She dressed up and we did a photo shoot out in this little cove that she loves. We had a blast!

Mr. FixIt installed my vintage medicine cabinet in the little bathroom off our bedroom. We purchased a three globe fixture to mount above it, but I wasn’t satisfied with the way it looked. I wanted something more like a fixture from the farm. He looked all over the internet and finally did a search for vintage lights on E-Bay and BAM…there it was! The perfect light for over the sink. It won’t be here till the 15th. We are so close to being finished with that room then we can start on the big bathroom.

I mowed all five acres yesterday. We grilled out on the deck and had burgers and corn-on-the-cob. For dessert, we had a little of the homemade ice cream I made last weekend. We’ve been dishing it out sparingly.

Ahhhhh….summer!

“May you see your children’s children…”

Psalm 128:6 ESV

Nana Wore Them Out!

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Mr. FixIt and I took Little out to the field a couple days ago for the “Annual Blueberry Harvest”. It was a bumper crop this year for our one little blueberry bush. We didn’t get any last year. I think the year before we had maybe half a teacup. Each year the bush gets bigger and bigger and will soon outgrow the cage Mr. FixIt built over it to keep the birds out. There were still several on the bush that haven’t ripened so we are enjoying fresh blueberries…a few at a time to make them last.

Big and her mama got up at 5:30 yesterday to get to town to swim with the local team by 6:30. They came home and I soon had them rounded up to head out to the farm. This was their “goodbye” trip. The kids have only been there once that they remember. The farm has been a part of my daughter’s life since she was five months old and we returned from England where she was born. She’d never seen it empty…or nearly so. We went through every room and the basement. She told me she’d never been down there before. Grandma was afraid she might get hurt on something.

Big is allergic to clover, is no fan of dirt and bugs, and the thick vegetation makes my Colorado girls a bit claustrophobic. So, this isn’t the highlight of her trip. Little, on the other hand, loves the woods and how green it is. She says it looks like a fairy could pop out of the woods at any second and call us on a quest! The girls and I stood on the front porch and my daughter took our picture. That’s as close as we could get to a photo with them in front of the snowball bush. Mainly because the snowball bush is half dead and I haven’t trimmed it in some time. But also because, if you stood real still and listened, the yard was buzzing with honey bees on the white clover. I mentioned Big is allergic to clover, right? Poor kiddo…West Virginia is just not her favorite place.

When we were finished at the farm, we went to the cemetery where my family is buried. We didn’t stay long as it upsets Little. She has such a soft heart. The next stop on our little trip was at Berdine’s Five & Dime. They remembered being there before because there are lots of toys that you can’t find very often these days. We spent a good bit of time in there sorting through bins and letting Karen, the shopkeeper, tell us all about the toys and how the puzzles work.

With their bag in hand, off we went to get some picnic food at the Shop-n-Save. We had a blast in there. I had my hands full and turned to Big and said, “Honey, go over there and get us a buggy, will ya?” Apparently, when I turned back around, she mouthed to her mother, “What the heck is she talking about?” My daughter said, “That’s West Virginian for shopping cart.” She thought that was a hoot. But what really did her in was the tub of ham salad her mom showed her. Big’s eyes about popped out of her head. First, because she didn’t even know they made such a thing. Second, it was this bright pink pasty stuff that didn’t look at all appealing to her….because, third…she’s a vegetarian. That was enough to push her over the edge and she was really ready to leave all this quaint country stuff behind and get to a real city.

We made our selections and headed to the nearby state park. We stopped at an empty picnic table and had our lunch. All was going well till the hairy yellow caterpillar had the nerve to invade our space. I made the mistake of saying the caterpillar can “sting you”. We flicked it away, but it ended up on me. It doesn’t sting, but the little hairs can be really irritating to your skin and I can definitely feel where it was on my neck. Needless to say, that was the end of the picnic.

One of the things that flatlanders have a little trouble with here are the twisty turny roads. When we finally made it home, everybody laid down and took a nap. I wore them out. Plus, yesterday was Day 17 on this magnificent adventure of theirs. They have a lot more to do before they get to go home. Little and I ended the day with a swim in the pool and watched the sunset. It was a beautiful day and I loved every minute of it. One more day and two of them leave then Little stays on for another couple of weeks. This is a special time for us all.

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”
Romans 12:9 ESV

The Bakers Begin!

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Little is hilarious. She has such an excellent wit…quick and dry and unexpected. She’s always been years ahead of her time in that regard. She teaches me so much about life and being who you are. Yesterday was the big family gathering to introduce Mr. FixIt’s clan to mine. I told the kids we’d just make pizzas and homemade ice cream. Simple enough.

Little (who goes by Bear, her lifelong nickname and her name of choice) was really excited to learn how to make pizza crust from scratch. We started fairly early because we wanted to par-bake the crusts. That way we could top them and finish them off on the grill outdoors when the rest of the family were here.

As we worked side by side, Little said… “We should start our own baking show. I can see it now!” She spread her arms wide as if she were reading a marquee.

“Bear and Nana’s Baking Show! Our byline can be “It’s Good Enough!”

She always catches me by surprise and we laughed ourselves silly. We made two batches of dough which yields six pizzas. We used a variety of toppings from plain cheese to vegetarian to pepperoni and all the veggies. There were only two slices left at the end of the evening, so it must have met with their approval!

I was a little worried about the homemade ice cream getting done in time. It took quite a while to freeze because it was so hot outside. I used a new recipe. My ice cream freezer makes a gallon and the recipe was low yield…like, a quart. I multiplied the recipe by four to make a gallon. This was a cooked custard base like my grandma used to make. It used whole milk, cream, sugar, egg yolks, and the seeds from four whole vanilla beans. It was like French Vanilla…very rich and creamy. Decadent and something you seriously only serve for special occasions!

Big went swimming yesterday morning, and this morning she is meeting with a local swim team to practice with them. I have no idea what we’ll get into today. We need to get out to the farm to mow, but we may just do that tomorrow. My daughter and Big are leaving Wednesday for the next leg of their trip. Visits never last long enough!

Today’s feature in the kitchen with Bear and Nana? Fried green tomatoes, corn on the cob, halfrunner beans, and a big salad!

“It’s Good Enough!”

“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?”
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 ESV

It Never Fails

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Little’s Room is just about ready!

Mr. FixIt and I were talking about this yesterday. Whenever you have a project going…you have to make umpteen trips to the hardware store. This fitting was the wrong size. This lag bolt was too short. “I tried to tell the sales guy that this shutoff valve wouldn’t fit, but I let him talk me into it!” It never fails. It’s not all that big of a deal when you live in town and the hardware store is a mile or two away, like when I fixed up my mom’s house to sell. But, when you live twenty “West Virginia Miles” away…it’s a whole different ballgame.

I purchased these pillow shams years ago…hand stitched on antique German linen bedsheets.

We ended up having to run to town again yesterday because something didn’t fit or it was too long or whatever. I had an errand I wanted to do anyway, so I tagged along for the ride. Remember how I’ve told you in the past that a trip to town is an all day ordeal? Yeah…breakfast on the way in…dinner on the way back. The upside? I didn’t have to cook! We found what we were looking for. Also, I purchased a reproduction cross-stitch sampler off Facebook Marketplace a few weeks ago and finally got around to taking it in for framing. I was hoping it would be ready by the end of the week, but it doesn’t look like it. My fault for taking so long to get it in there.

My Aunt Peeps gave the antique rabbit doorstop to my mom.

When we got home, I helped Mr. FIxIt set the sink in the bathroom and hold it while he attached it to the wall with lag bolts. Then I worked on Little’s room. It’s almost finished. If I’d thought of it ahead of time, I would have given it a fresh coat of paint, but I doubt she’ll notice. I just wanted it to be comfy and peaceful for her. I’ll finish it, clean up our room today for Daughter #1 and Big, then clean out the fridge. Thursday is grocery day. Then they arrive on Friday!

Dining al Fresco at the river

Thank goodness we don’t have any rain forecast for a while. By yesterday morning, we had 3” of rain in the gauge…in around 15 hours’ time! Mr. FixIt got up a couple of times in the night to check the storm drain and it was perfect. We will both be so glad when the kids get here and we can stop working on projects for a while and just enjoy them…and summer!

Almost finished!

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,”

Matthew 25:35 ESV

Facebook Memories and Family

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 01:30:00 -0600

I remember when the first “memory” with Mr. Virgo showed up on Facebook after he died. It slayed me. I couldn’t breathe and the only thing I could think of was, “Now and forever, Facebook will torture me with these. Maybe I won’t be thinking about him dying for like…five minutes…then, BAM! Right in the face!”

It turns out, they were really painful for quite a while, then slowly, slowly, slowly…I could look at them and they’d make me smile like most of the warm memories the FB algorithms deem appropriate to share with me. I don’t get as many Mr. Virgo memories these days. Not sure why. Just the nature of the beast. Sometimes I don’t even look at them. Maybe that’s why. Anyway, the one that showed up last night really brought back a fun, fun memory!

I lived in Colorado for forty years…the last twenty-eight of which were spent in the Roaring Fork Valley for the most part. Glenwood Springs or the surrounding area was home from 1986 to 2014 when I sold my house and took off for West Virginia in my big camper, TOW-Wanda Grande. I came back to see the kids every summer since then, except for last year because of the pandemic. I dragged the camper back every other summer and took the grandkids camping.

One summer, we camped in the Glenwood Canyon which was totally awesome. We spent time in the Hot Springs Pool and went to the park to hear live music. But the most fun thing we did was visit Glenwood Adventure Park. Located high above the canyon itself, you could actually see some of the rides from our campsite. If the wind was right, you could hear the screams of the tourists as they dared to swing out over the canyon’s edge and peek 1300 feet down into the canyon below. The cars on the interstate looked like toys.

The new roller coaster opened a couple of years before and I couldn’t wait to get the kids up there and have some fun. It’s a fast, FAST ride that is over in around a minute flat. But, Jeez-o-Pete…it was terrifying. I am not ashamed to say I totally wet my pants at about where that arrow is pointing. You are at a high point on the ride when you suddenly drop into a spiral that gets smaller and smaller and faster and faster till it literally feels like time stands still and you think you are surely in another dimension.

We laughed and laughed and laughed on that trip. We left from there and went up to Steamboat Springs and went on a horseback trip and rented a pontoon boat and spent the afternoon fishing and doing crafts out on the lake and visited their hot springs. That was the year before Big decided camping was horrible and she never wanted to do it again….EVER. The next time I wanted to take them, it was just me and Little.

Maybe she’ll go again with me some day. I sent her a picture of us on that trip with the message. “You had fun….don’t lie!” Her answer? “Yeah.” lol Little will go with me anywhere, I have no doubt. But, someday…someday I want to sit in the woods around the campfire with just me and Big. It can happen!

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6 ESV

Mowing and Playing

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Elderberry

The mowing never stops. We are still mowing out at the farm as it hasn’t changed hands yet…but mainly, because I love it. I love how it looks when it’s mowed. We stopped on the way out and got some lunch and a drink to take with us. We sat on that front porch after the mowing was finished and just admired how lovely it all is. I love how there’s always a new flower to replace something that’s spent.

Clematis

The clematis vines were spectacular. The elderberry bush is laden with clusters of small, white flowers that will turn into little purple berries. You can make an elderberry wine, but the most common use is an elixir that some swear improves immunity during cold and flu season. There are sprays of tiny pink multiflora roses climbing up the banks of the creek and on the hillside above the driveway. And under the dining room window are Grandma’s Evening Primrose. She called them “9 o’clocks” because that’s what time they bloom. You can sit and watch them open.

Pink Multiflora Rose

Even without seeing the nearly four inches of water in the rain gauge, you would know we’d had big storms out there. The grasses and weeds along the creek banks are swept to the left in the direction of the rushing water, and clearly rose at least three feet. It’s no wonder it looks like a tropical rainforest out there. The vegetation is so thick and lush and green. I know I tell you this every two to three weeks…but this is my absolutely favorite time of the year.

Smooth Hydrangea aka “Snowball Bush”

After we finished mowing, we came home to unload and drop off the trailer before turning around and going back to a cookout at my cousin Rick & Charlotte’s bunkhouse. Their driveway goes down a steep embankment and then you drive through the creek to the other side…not something you can do with a trailer and mower on the back. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it, but we could have dropped the trailer off in their barnyard and picked it up afterwards. But, hey…it was a beautiful day for a drive. It felt so incredibly normal to sit around a fire and have a meal with people. I will NEVER take that for granted again!

Nearly 4” of Rain in a Week!

It was so incredibly relaxing to just stop, let someone else do the cooking, and sit with a bunch of people around a fire. I knew about half of them. Well…I’m RELATED to about half of them. And I was related by marriage to another one I’d never met before. It was fun to meet new people and to tell great stories. We told them all we could hardly wait to do it again sometime. Such nice people.

Evening Primrose

On the way home, we stopped at the gas station. I rolled the window down and there was this awful smell. Mr. FixIt got back in and I asked him what on earth was so stinky. We went around the corner and found it. The catalpa trees are blooming. They smell sickeningly sweet and somewhat rank…like something died, maybe. Let’s just say, I’m really glad we don’t have them in OUR yard!

New Mown Grass

It’s time to mow again here at home. Mr. FixIt will put another coat of paint on the new bathroom door and then we’ll go to town to buy a new door and frame for our bedroom, run some errands, and get back home before it rains. The heat comes back today. We were really blessed with three straight days and nights of unseasonably cool weather.

Pink Multiflora Rose

Did I tell you this is my FAVORITE time of the year???

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Psalm 119:105 ESV

Preparing to Teach at Marshmallow Ranch

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 01:30:00 -0600

In just over a week, Daughter #1 will be pulling into our driveway toting Big and Little. Big is really big now...seventeen and preparing to visit colleges with her mom the following week. And Little isn’t so little anymore. She was only five years old when Mr. Virgo died. She’s fourteen now. It doesn’t seem possible...especially since I haven’t seen any of them since August 2019 when Daughter #2 got married.

Although Big came with her mom to visit me here in WV when I was fixing up my mom’s house, she doesn’t remember it because she was only nine months old. They did come several years ago to visit the farm and my Aunt Peeps, but I was working in Colorado at the time and couldn’t get away. So, this is their first visit with Nana in the country. While I doubt my “time travel” plans will be terribly impressive to a seventeen year old, I’m firmly convinced Little is going to enjoy what I have planned for her. She is staying with us for two weeks while her mom and Big go on their college tour.

Little has always been SO much like me. She is bright, funny, incredibly creative, loves looking through old boxes of junk, loves to cook and sew, draw and paint. I’ve been thinking of all kinds of fun things to do with her. I want to teach her to bake sourdough bread and buttermilk biscuits and grits. I want to teach her to knit dishcloths. We’ll garden. She’ll learn about the mower and the weed eater. We’ll plant geraniums. We’ll “camp” out in TOW-Wanda. I want to take her to a nearby park that has been named a Certified Dark Sky area so we can lay back and look at the stars. I want to spend time with her at the farm and teach her about the night sounds and the different birds and grandma’s flowers. I want to share the family stories that I have been entrusted with. We’ll explore the countryside and maybe visit some cemeteries and find the names on her family tree chart I made for her. I purposefully left the birth and death dates off so she can learn where to find that information.

All in two weeks. Think we can do it? I’m 99% sure we can, and she’s going to love it. I remember taking Daughter #2 on a three week road trip for her 13th birthday, and a trip to Cozumel for her 16th. The difference between those two trips was remarkable. So I hope I’m getting in under the cutoff date when Nana’s not so cool anymore. Thank God Big has come back around and we have great conversations again.

Little is an old soul, and I’m truly looking forward to exploring with her.

“Hear this, you elders; give ear, all inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers? Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.”
Joel 1:2-3 ESV

A Comforting Routine

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 01:30:00 -0600

Not ours...just an idea of what I want to create.

Mr. FixIt and I have reached a lovely place in our relationship where we know what needs to be done around the place and, without really coordinating our efforts, we just start the next job at hand. I enjoy doing all the typically “male” jobs like riding the tractors to mow, trimming tree branches with the pole saw, or running the drain snake. I can tackle and accomplish just about anything I set my mind to, although...I do have to admit...it is getting just a little more challenging to do some things.

For instance, I was mowing yesterday afternoon...trying to get as much done as I could before the next rain storm blew in. Down at the end of the far field, there are several old sycamore trees that have a tendency to lose some branches when we have hard winds. I have to stop the mower frequently to get off and move limbs before I can move on. Up and down, up and down. Finally, at the end of the afternoon and my umpteenth up and down, I discovered my right leg would simply not lift me up anymore. It had had enough, I reckon. Not to be discouraged, I just went around to the other side of the tractor and lifted myself up and over with my left leg. You just have to make do with what you got sometimes, don’t you?

I didn’t get the fields mowed before it started raining hard enough to send me back to park the tractor in the building. I put my tools away and went to find Mr. FixIt. He had been around the side of the house trimming the last of that monster forsythia bush and loaded the trimmings up in the back of his truck. He was just backing up to the burn pile when I came out of the building. We congratulated each other for a good afternoon’s work and went inside to wash up for supper.

I love summer meals when you can just make sandwiches and call it good. No heating up the kitchen or doing a ton of dishes afterwards. Finishing off with some cold watermelon really hit the spot. It has been so hot and sticky the last couple of days. We enjoyed stretching out in the cool air conditioning and watched a couple old reruns of Frazier before we finished our last push for the day. Mr. FixIt went out to empty the branches from his pickup. I cleaned up the kitchen and opened some boxes that were delivered yesterday.

I splurged and bought a couple of things I’ve been wanting. First, the food dehydrator I used last year has just about had it. The plastic trays have become so brittle, more and more pieces fall off every time I use it. So, after doing some research, and getting recommendations from friends, I ordered a COSORI Food Dehydrator. The trays are metal so I won’t have the breakage problem over time. And, the heat and fan are in the back so the air flows across the food and not up through it. That keeps you from having to rotate the trays as often. My friend Gail uses hers every day in the summer and swears by it.

The other thing I got is actually a gift for the family. I’ve been wanting an outdoor movie projector and screen so we can have movie and pool nights here at the house this summer. Last year, we didn’t let the kids come out to swim. We didn’t know if Covid could spread in a pool and Mr. FixIt needed it to do his daily physical therapy exercises. And, of course, there wasn’t a vaccine then. This year will be different. Just about all of the family have been vaccinated and those that haven’t been are good about social distancing. Here’s a link that shows 20 ideas for outdoor movie nights!

I also ordered a few poster sized family tree charts so I could fill them out for the kids before they get here. That was my last chore of the day...filling out three of them. I have a couple more to do. The rains are moving out for a bit so we’ll be back to doing outdoor chores soon. The mowing never stops. I’m going to take a break this morning and join some gals from my high school class for coffee. We haven’t gathered since January 2020 so we are all really excited to see each other!

I hope you all are getting a chance to get outside and stretch your legs. We are knee deep in June, as my grandma used to say, and it truly is my favorite time of the year!

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”
Philippians 2:14-15 ESV

Play Ball!

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 01:30:00 -0600

I gained a whole lot more family members when I married Mr. FixIt. One of my bonus granddaughters plays softball for our Alma Mater and the league tournament began this week. They lost their first game to our arch rivals. They won their second game and, since our rivals lost their second, we played them again last night. Our girls came out like the fighters they are and it was touch and go there for a while. But, ultimately the rivals won and ended our granddaughter’s season. She’ll be a senior next year and that will be the last WV grandchild to graduate high school.

How quickly those growing up years seem to fly...when it’s not you doing the parenting. You never feel like it flew by till it’s over. While you’re in the midst of it all, it seems to last three lifetimes. You think you can’t wait till all those travel games and practices are over...until they are. Then you mourn the loss.

It seems to be that way with most things in life, doesn’t it? When you’re young and just starting out, it feels like forever till you’re your parents’ age. Then, all of a sudden, you have great grandchildren and you wonder how in the heck it happened in the blink of an eye. I really enjoy being the grandparent watching my grands growing up and achieving big things. Daughter #1 will be here with the girls at the end of the month. She’s taking Big to look at colleges. Wasn’t she just in kindergarten last year?

I love watching my daughter parent her girls. I love when the lightbulb goes on in her mind and she “gets it”. She used to complain that we let her little sister get away with MUCH more than she could. Now she realizes no two kids are the same and what worked with one, doesn’t necessarily work with the other. I love when she turns to me for advice, or a recipe, or to confirm the date of her great-grandma’s birthday. (Which she got right, by the way.)

I look back over my life and wonder which part was the best. Was it when I was young and ignorant of the ways of the world...newly married and living in England? Was it when my first child was born there and my mom flew all that way to come see her? Was it the lean years with Hubby #2 as we worked hard to put him through medical school...or was it the fat years when he practiced medicine and Daughter #2 came along? Was it becoming a grandmother for the first time? Was it when I married Mr. Virgo on the deck of my favorite restaurant overlooking Mt. Sopris in the distance, surrounded by family and friends? Was it when I went into the wilderness of Colorado as a new widow and came out a different and stronger woman? Was it living on the farm...the home of my heart?

I think, in looking back, EVERY time is the best time. I know for a fact that NOW is the best time. I’m married to my best friend. I live in the country on five acres. I have an amazing family. I have a camper, my health, and the means to live a comfortable life. Getting to watch a softball game in person or watching a swim meet online, or hearing our great granddaughter say, “I love you, Gigi!” Yep...this is the best time of all!

“May you live to see your children’s children....”
Psalms 128:6 NIV

The Ants are Back!

Thu, 27 May 2021 01:30:00 -0600

A couple of years ago, we were inundated with little black ants. They were everywhere, including places they were certainly NOT welcome...namely, my kitchen! Ugh! One morning I walked in to start my coffee. I left a box of cereal on the counter the night before and there was a black line of ants marching to and fro...in a direct line from the box to the corner of the window. It reminded me of that song we sang as kids... “The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah!”

I think they were so bad that year because our hummingbird feeder hung from a hook outside the kitchen window and it leaked. That just invited them in. I mixed up a solution of sugar and borax in a bottle of water. I saved a few caps from soft drink bottles, put a cotton ball in each one, and poured the borax/sugar solution over them till it was soaked. I kept several on the sill between the window and the screen. For a few days, they were just covered with ants, but they took the borax back to the nest and that got rid of them.

Last summer, we hung the hummingbird feeder in a different place and I as soon as I saw the first couple of ants, the cotton balls and borax came back out. They were gone before they got a foothold. I’m hoping the same will be true this year. Mr. FixIt forgot about the hummingbird feeder and put it up in the old spot where it hung for a couple of days before we remembered it shouldn’t go there. So, here’s hoping they will be gone soon.

Mr. FixIt is really knocking these chores off our very long list. Yesterday, he replaced boards in a door frame in the building where carpenter ants got to it. I continued sorting through papers and started another pile for shredding. Oh, and cleaned out the fridge. Who doesn’t just love THAT job? I fed my sourdough starter again because Little will be here in a month and I promised to teach her how to bake bread. I’ve been a little lax at feeding it so I may need to start fresh. I’ll know in a day or two.

The weather forecast said rain the last couple of days, but the most we had wasn’t even enough to wet the sidewalks. We are getting so dry, the grass is crispy when you walk on it. When the wind blows, yellow leaves float on the breeze as though it were autumn. The only upside when it’s this dry is less mowing. My sweetheart went out with the weed eater the other evening and was working on the bank by the road. The weed eater jammed and shut off. That’s when he heard a buzzing sound. He looked down and right in the area where the next swipe would have gone was a yellowjacket’s nest! They were going in and out of a hole in the ground. They aren’t very aggressive at this time of year, but come July, this could have been a very different story. God was watching out for my man, that’s for sure.

Mr. FixIt waters the garden every evening, but we’re going to have to start watering twice a day as hot as it’s been. I need to feed the tomato plants. The pool is clearing up more and it’s about warm enough to get in and vacuum the bottom. The exciting news is, the utility people are coming out this week to mark their lines so we can finally lay the electric out to my little campground! Between Mr. FixIt’s strokes and covid, that job got pushed back and I’m really excited to get it done. Then we can have campouts with my friends and it won’t cost a thing!

Well, the week is half gone. My goodness...how the time flies! The peonies started to bloom today. I’m looking forward to the weekend with a little break in the heat...and hopefully some moisture.

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.”
Proverbs 6:6-8 ESV

Pure Mountain Spring Water

Sun, 23 May 2021 01:30:00 -0600

PopPop and three of his brothers in front of the house before it was moved onto the new basement.

Ok, I’m still doing some remembering. Even though the farm was sold at auction on Tuesday, that doesn’t end my relationship with it. I am incredibly blessed that the new buyers will welcome me there. And there are still so many stories to be told. This is the oldest photo I can find of Grandma’s house. The men picture here are four of five brothers...my PopPop is the third from the left.

This is when the house sat on stacks of stones. Vines grew on the front porch to help keep the living space cool in the summer. If you zoom in, you can see the oil well derrick that stood in the back yard. For many, many years, the house was left natural and weathered to a beautiful, rich grey. The bad part about that is, the wood is more susceptible to rot and insect invasion. Sometime in the late ‘70s, early ‘80s, I came home for a visit and my uncle had painted the house red with white trim. I was devastated because it didn’t look like “home” anymore. Now, I can’t imagine loving it more. The red has mellowed to a deep, rusty color in some areas...depending on sun exposure.

The Old Oxbow Spring

The house didn’t have running water till it was moved onto the new basement. That must have been around 1958 or so. This picture was probably taken in the early to mid-fifties, judging by the car parked in the yard. Grandma had to depend on the well to wash clothes and to bathe in the old galvanized tub. At the time, the well water was sweet and drinkable. However, once they took that derrick out of there and capped the wells in the area, the aquifer was fractured and the water was brackish. That was devastating when it was the only source of water.

An Old Milk Can (not my photo)

For a while, I remember hauling water from the old Oxbow Spring. I rode in the pickup with PopPop and hauled two or three milk cans of water home a couple of times a week. There was an aluminum ladle with a long handle that had a bend in the end of it that hung on a nail by the can in the kitchen. When it was really hot out, they kept the water cans in a root cellar to stay cool. I belong to a Facebook group that shares memories of the area and someone posted a picture of the spring. People still go and collect water there, although...someone mentioned there’s an old cemetery on the hill up above the spring. That might make me think twice about drinking the water now, but back then, we were happy to have it. I do believe Grandma always boiled our drinking water...no matter the source.

An Aluminum Dipper Like Ours (not my photo)

Our temps here in West Virginia have gone from meat locker to microwave in the span of a few days. It won’t be long and we can hop in the pool of an evening and cool off. We went over to see one of the granddaughters and her fiancé this morning. They just graduated from WVU and are fixing up an old house that was converted from a barn on 90 acres. They board horses and raise their own hay. I was telling Mr. FixIt...I would have given anything to have had something like that when I was their age. We are so proud of them...they’ve really been working hard, and it shows.

We went for a little drive afterward and checked out the high tunnels where they grow the best tomatoes just a few miles from the Ponderosa. They’re already waist high! I asked Mr. FixIt not to plant so many tomato plants this year...just enough for the table. I’ll buy from the folks at the high tunnels when I want to can tomatoes. We have ten plants instead of twenty-three! We also have zucchini, yellow squash, and lettuce planted. I’ve been so busy over at the farm, I haven’t dabbled in my flowers yet, but I will soon. I still want to bring some back from the farm. We will probably go over and mow today before it gets too hot. Even though the auction is over, it hasn’t closed and I don’t want to leave it looking like a hay field for the new owners.

I hope you enjoy your day. It’s been lovely!

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. What is the first thing you will do? Won't you sit down and figure out how much it will cost and if you have enough money to pay for it? Otherwise, you will start building the tower, but not be able to finish. Then everyone who sees what is happening will laugh at you. They will say, “You started building, but could not finish the job.””
Luke 14:28-30 CEV

On Mr. FixIt Time

Sat, 22 May 2021 01:30:00 -0600

When you’re retired, things aren’t quite as scheduled as they are when you have limited time to get projects completed. This can be a good thing if you normally stress out about things that you envision need to be finished in a certain period of time. However, once you hit retirement, things may not be done in a timely fashion. I have discovered there are two time configurations in our house...my time, and “Mr. FixIt Time”. Now, do not get me wrong, when this man gets a job done, it is as good or better than any professional you’d have to pay the big bucks to. But...it may take a little longer than you particularly care for.

We bought this pergola three years ago at the end of the season. We got it half price. I was sure we would be packed up and moved and living on our property near town by then, so I asked him to just put it in the building and we’d put it up at the new house. The new house got pushed back then one day I looked out and the pergola was being erected on the deck. And, I liked it! We went out and bought commercial grade market lights at the end of the season...half off. I wanted to put them up right away, but Mr. FixIt wanted to run electric out to the deck and have a nice GFI outlet to plug them in so we wouldn’t have to run an extension cord. Smart man!

Then he had his strokes last spring. Between that and the pandemic, that was the end of the home projects for pretty much an entire year. Now, I’m happy to report, other than the usual aches and pains of arthritis, my sweet man is back in action and he’s been blazing through these jobs...one after another. Our son-in-law came and helped him dig a trench to run the electric line through a conduit out from the building to the deck. Once they were finished, my step-daughter and I hung the market lights and I just love the way they turned out. If I’d have had more energy, I would have cleaned the table and dressed it better, but I did good to take the pizza box off and put the chairs in. It was a long day.

I didn’t get nearly as much done indoors as I wanted but I made progress on two rooms. I’ve been going through papers that need to either be burned or shredded. I sent the kids home with some things I thought they might like. The doctor called and my brother was discharged and heading back to the mountains. He was feeling a lot better and very anxious to get home.

It was a busy and productive day and I am incredibly grateful to have this wonderful partner to share my life with and to work beside. Even if he doesn’t work on MY time schedule!

“But do everything properly and in order.”
1 Corinthians 14:40 CEV

When You Take Your Goats to Arby’s...You Must be in West Virginia!

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 01:30:00 -0600

We got in last night exactly twelve hours after we pulled away from the condo. Although we were tired and felt like we’d gone ten rounds with an alligator, the trip itself was so smooth. I knitted for the first four hours or so, then switched off and drove the rest of the way. I so enjoy our time together and our conversations. Interspersed with stretches of companionable silence, we solve the world’s problems and share stories and laughter. This was truly a treasured trip I will always remember.

Just after crossing the border into West Virginia, I suggested we pull into Lewisburg and get a bite to eat. As we got in line at the drive through, I noticed something moving in the trailer in front of me. It was a little dark, but then he turned around the corner and I could see what was inside.

Goats!

Two beautiful white nanny goats and a black billy goat were happily munching on hay as their owners went through the drive through for sandwiches. I smiled and turned to my sweet husband.

“We’re home!”

“Happy are you who sow beside all waters, who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.”
Isaiah 32:20 ESV

Adjust Your Dreams...Again!

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 01:30:00 -0600

When Mr. Virgo and I were beginning to think about retirement, I was adamant about one thing. I was NOT going to spend my retirement sitting in front of the television all day, every day...day in and day out. It wasn’t going to happen. That’s when I struck upon the idea of getting a camper. He was an avid golfer and I figured he would be thrilled to toodle along with me, towing our little house on wheels from course to course. Surprisingly, he agreed and we started looking for the perfect camper.

Fast forward a few months and he had died, along with so many dreams of the future we had planned. Television was no longer a part of my life, but the price I paid for quiet evenings was dreadfully steep. I disconnected the satellite and didn’t look back. For five years, I traveled and wrote and learned to live alone for the first time in my life. Eventually the pain of my grief eased, but I never, ever missed television one iota.

When I came off the road and started living at the farm, the TV was hooked up to satellite and I felt it was important, living that far out on my own, to have some access to news and weather. So, I kept it...but didn’t watch it. Then...along came Mr. FixIt.

We had strict rules at the farm. We did not watch TV. We played cards, cooked dinner together, and went for long walks. We created projects to do and went for drives in the country and literally just sat on the porch and watched it rain. It was peaceful and he was so happy to be with me, he never pushed the “no TV” rule.

Ahhhh....as with all things, the honeymoon was short lived. When we moved into the big house at the Ponderosa, there was a new set of rules. It started out slowly. The news. Maybe a sitcom or two. Then, before I knew what was happening, the TV was on WAY more than my liking. But, I learned something in losing Mr. Virgo. It wasn’t all about me. It was never meant to be all about me. I was just trying to make it so because it was something I loathed and I wanted him to loathe it as well.

I’ve posted a meme here many times and included my Ten Rules in the care and feeding of a relationship. One of them was... “Don’t try to change him. You cannot change him. Do not, do not, do not try to change him.” I’ve given up on the TV thing. If Mr. FixIt wants to watch the TV till the cows come home...fine. I cannot change him. However, I CAN change me and how I respond to it. That’s when I started devoting the hours before bed to my writing and reading my devotionals and catching up with family and friends.

So, here we are at the beach. After the news, I picked up my iPad and came down to the bedroom to write. And, lo and behold, about ten minutes later, he popped his head in the door and asked if I wanted to head down to the sound to watch the sunset. You bet I do, sweetheart! I’m closing this for the night and going out with my love and watch the sun close on another lovely day away...just he and me...and no TV!

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:16 ESV

Day 356: The Ups & Downs of Travel

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 02:30:00 -0600

The View from Fancy Gap, VA Looking Out Over NC

This feels pretty normal. Well, if you call still wearing an N95 mask and carrying your own cleaning supplies with you to go over the hotel room when you arrive...normal. The drive was the same as always. We popped a frozen container of my homemade beef and noodles in the HotLogic Mini and plugged in into the converter, then plugged the converter in one of the 12v outlets in the truck. Four hours later, when we stopped for gas, we pulled it out and had a nice hot home cooked meal. SO good and so much better for you than fast food.

I love coming over Fancy Gap. I remember the first time I ever drove this mountain. A friend and I were heading to Myrtle Beach pulling TOW-Wanda and it was raining cats and dogs. The fog was so thick you could hardly see the end of the hood of my truck. I followed the tail lights of the semi in front of my in order to get over the mountain. THAT was a trip!

The weather was cool and the sunshine was bright. The traffic wasn’t bad at all, even driving through Charlotte at rush hour. That’s what happens when you travel on Saturday. We got a good rate on a room at a Comfort Inn. It isn’t crowded at all. Surprisingly, people are wearing masks. As a matter of fact, other than those in their cars, EVERYONE wore masks. Maybe they’re not falling for this “open everything up everywhere” nonsense. I hope not, because...we’ve seen this movie before and it doesn’t end well.

I love staying in a hotel. And honestly, it’s not a big deal to strip the bed and put your own mattress cover on it. We used the sheets that were on the bed, but left the thin, sheet like coverlet pulled down. We also used a new antibacterial fabric spray that Tide came out with, so I think we’re good. The only downside is, Mr. FixIt and his TV. Normally in the evenings at our house, I watch the news with him, and maybe an episode or two of The Big Bang, then I’m off to the bedroom to write. But when you’re in a hotel room, there’s no escaping that noise. We worked out a compromise. He watched Indiana Jones...a movie he’s seen a dozen times so he didn’t have to have the sound up too far. And, I had my headphones on with my “writing background”....a thunderstorm. It’s all about give and take in a relationship.

Day one....done!

“God will command his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will carry you in their arms, and you won't hurt your feet on the stones. You will overpower the strongest lions and the most deadly snakes.”
Psalms 91:11-13 CEV

Day 314: Doctor, Doctor...I Can Walk!

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 02:30:00 -0600

I’ve survived a lot in my sixty-seven years. Abuse, trauma, addiction, depression. And, every time I’ve gone through a rough patch, I come out feeling such a tremendous sense of relief and gratitude that the pain finally stopped. I have to say...I felt that yesterday. When you are in the trenches for a long time, it’s really easy to convince yourself you’re doing ok. It’s not so bad. I can do this. Then, when the weight is lifted, you realize just how awful it was down there. It’s the same as when you’ve been very sick with a bad flu. When you feel better is when you realize just how sick you really were.

It seems something as ubiquitous as the “Bernie Memes” swept the internet, our country came out of the water at the deep end and gasped a lung full of fresh air. You could almost feel a collective sigh as people everywhere belly laughed for maybe the first time in a long, long time. It felt good. No...it felt GREAT! It felt liberating....like coming out of a dark winter into the warm sunshine of spring.

It’s been a rough stretch for an awful lot of people in this country and Bernie sitting in a chair EVERYWHERE was just what the doctor ordered. I felt the weight of the world lift off my shoulders as I saw thread after thread on the internet...each meme funnier that the last. It felt...normal. Like, normal life. The Covid numbers are still awful, but they just might be slowing down ever so slightly. The vaccines are slowly trickling out, but help is on the way to coordinate the effort. And each day has incrementally more light in it that the day before as we slowly inch our way toward spring.

The sun was shining yesterday here at the Ponderosa. I sat in my big red recliner and worked all day on my website and I’m making great progress. I am up to the first week of September 2016. Once I finish copying November 14, 2016...everything will be on my website. What an accomplishment that will be. To be able to scroll down and see eight years of work at my fingertips. It makes me giddy to think such a huge undertaking is nearly complete. Between that and the stress released by lots of belly laughs...I’m feeling like a new woman today! We aren’t totally out of the woods yet, but my strength has been renewed and I can face another day...with a whole boatload more hope!

“I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.”
Romans 15:13 CEV

Day 313: Camping with a Crusty Curmudgeon

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 02:30:00 -0600

I’ve been having a ball this week with the fun memes using Bernie Sanders in his warm parka and mittens at the inauguration. When I first saw him walking in, looking around for his seat, I laughed out loud because he looked all the world like another Bernie I knew and loved. My second father-in-law (whom we affectionately referred to as Pop) was, from all appearances, a bit of a schlub. Lacking social graces, definitely rough around the edges...not one ounce of self awareness, Pop had a huge heart of gold and would do absolutely anything for you if you were a hard worker. He loved big and talked loud and stumbled through life with not a lot of fluff. But, oh....we all loved him fiercely and miss him so much.

When I first saw Bernie Sanders at the inauguration, I thought “Oh, my God...it’s just like Pop decided to stop at Joe’s thing before he went to Kings to pick up some milk and eggs and maybe a dented can of something off the sale rack.” What a joy it is to see each creative interpretation of the modern Jewish zaidie, frumpy but warm, practical and uncaring of your critical eye. He embodies the gestalt of Yiddisha Papas. And...these viral memes may have just fixed the internet this week.

I hear Bernie gets a kick out of all the attention these memes are getting. I don’t know if our Pop would have recognized himself in them, but we do...with lots of love. It’s so sad when you lose a beloved family member. And, it’s so wonderful when you get to the point that you can smile and laugh at the memories without so much pain in your heart.

Thank you, Bernie...for being your practical self, for not giving a rip what people thought of your outfit, and for bringing smiles to a lot of people when they think of their own “Pop”...gone, but never forgotten.

To Our Very Own Bernie....What a Pop You Were!

“Happiness makes you smile; sorrow can crush you.”
Proverbs 15:13 CEV

Day 298: My New “Tiny Home”

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 02:30:00 -0600

I know today is “Feel Good Friday” and I know I usually scour the internet for a feel good story for today. There’s just an awful lot of ugly out there this week. I understand. It’s hard to look at. And I’ve had one hell of a week with all the deaths and destruction. So, I decided today I’d share someone special with you. This is my daughter in love. I’ll call her “TJ”. She is one of the special gifts that came along with Mr. FixIt and is one of the extra people I get to love on now.

A couple of years ago, I saw the CUTEST little dollhouse kit on Amazon and I absolutely HAD to have it. I bought it and kept the box on the coffee table for a while. I’d pick it up and look at all those little pieces and think...””I’ll just put this thing away and when I get some time, I’ll put it together.” The kit has been resting on the top shelf of the guest room closet for those two years. I even got it down once, then something else took precedence and back up it went.

My step-daughter, TJ, is very crafty. She worked for months making beautiful gifts for everyone for Christmas, as well as several darling decorations. When we sat outside on the covered front porch, exchanging our gifts, she wondered what she might make now that Christmas was over. I immediately thought of my little trailer kit and jumped up to get it. I knew it would take a good bit of time and effort to make it, so I told her if she would make mine for me...and if she liked doing it...I’d buy her one of her own.

Ever since Christmas, I’ve received excited phone calls, texts, and photos updating me on the progress and she absolutely loved doing it. They came over last night to bring the finished project and it’s the cutest thing I ever saw!!! I set it up on one of the shelves in our new bookcases in the office. She’s so cute...maybe she’ll inspire me to get back to work on my little ‘67 Franklin again!

You can buy this darling kit HERE.

“Of course, every house is built by someone, and God is really the one who built everything.”
Hebrews 3:4 CEV

Day 296: Baking Buttermilk Biscuits...the Old Fashioned Way

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 02:30:00 -0600

Along with grief comes a lot of triggers to bad, sad, traumatic and scary memories that can be really hard to deal with. I had PTSD after Mr. Virgo died and I really wanted to just turn off my brain and never remember anything again...ever. Thank goodness, that’s not how it works. I had “grief brain” for a couple of years, but as the bad memories faded to the background, I was really pleased the good memories could billow up in their place.

I was scrolling through the suggested videos on Facebook the other night. I watch a lot of cooking videos. And, those cute little “talking” dachshunds...Moonpie Starbox and her little sister, Buttercup. I get the biggest kick out of “Cooking with Brenda Gantt.” She is so country...she could be my kin. She has great cooking videos. Nothing fancy, she just shows you how it’s done. Well, how SHE does it. I love her!

I came across this video about making biscuits in a dough bowl and something way, way deep back in the recesses of my mind flickered. I had to think about it and cogitate a bit till I placed where I’d seen this before. My grandma’s sister-in-law was a small, wiry woman that lived in a little house a few miles from the farm. Aunt Ann was great! She always had a feedsack apron on over her house dress. She might have anything from a little chick to a baby squirrel or fresh farm eggs in her pockets any given time. She had those thick lenses in her glasses that magnified the ornery sparkle in her eye and a laugh like rainwater...smooth and clear and easy.

We used to go over to visit Aunt Ann when I’d stay with Grandma some during the summer. She always had ducks and geese and chickens and more fresh eggs than she knew what to do with. There were kittens and puppies and who knows what all running around her yard. We would sit on the porch and talk for a spell and eventually it was time to go home. I remember always feeling sad that it was time to leave. I’m so glad Daughter #1 has memories of her Great Aunt Ann, too.

I will not swear on a stack of Bibles that it was Aunt Ann that made her biscuits like this, but that’s who I immediately thought of when I saw this video. I also remember my Aunt Peeps telling me about Grandma Teters’ (her first husband’s grandmother) making her biscuits in a dough bowl. They had a house along the “turnpike” where teamsters stopped overnight to rest. It was the predecessor to the B&B. When I went to visit my Aunt Peeps one summer and she sent me home with Grandma Teters’ crocks.

That big blue crock on the left was Grandma Teters’ dough bowl that she made biscuits in like Brenda Gantt in her video. The next blue crock is one I purchased along the way. The third blue crock was used for whatever was needed...serving at the table, carrying scraps to the pigs and chickens, or maybe mixing up a bowl of cucumbers and onions with a little vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and pepper...a sort of “refrigerator pickle” commonly served in the summer. Maybe with a little cut up tomatoes in it. Refreshing!

The little yellow crock with the light blue and pink stripes around the top was Grandpa Teter’s “sody crock.” He suffered from a “sour stomach”, so whenever he walked past his bowl of baking soda, he’d scoop up a finger full and eat it, washing it down with some spring water. That was the early equivalent of Alka Seltzer or Tums. The two small crocks have cracks in them so I don’t use them. I keep them inside another bowl so they don’t get bumped and broken.

When I downsized, there were a few things that I absolutely refused to part with, and these crocks were among my most treasured possessions. And now, I have this vague memory and the knowledge of just exactly how Grandma Teters made her biscuits in that big, blue crock.

You can watch Brenda Gantt making Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits the old fashioned way HERE.

“Everything that happens has happened before; nothing is new, nothing under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 1:9 CEV

Day 276: A Pig in a Poke

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 02:30:00 -0600

There are a lot of country saying in WV and I think my grandma said every one of them at least once. And there are words commonly used when I was growing up that today might cause one to scratch your head. I remember when I was very young, my uncle asked me if I needed a poke. I just stood there and stared at him because I wasn’t at all sure what he was asking me. Did he want to hurt me? Was he teasing me? What was he going to poke me with...a stick? Ouch! Thank goodness my mom overheard and told me that was a word for a paper sack.

Then, it depends on how the word is used. For instance, if you got “a pig in a poke.” The term originated in the 1500’s Old English, which influences a lot of Appalachian colloquialisms. It means buying something you haven’t seen before. In olden times, farmers sold piglets in a sack and you didn’t see it before you bought it. You might get it home and find you bought the runt of the litter.

Which brings me to the story of the present I bought for my friend, Diane, for Christmas. She isn’t really hard to buy for, but I always like to find unique gifts for her. When a Facebook friend of mine posted last week that she had some of her original artwork for sale, I just fell in love with one. It was a painting of a hummingbird and had the look of mixed media, which I love. I thought it would be perfect for my friend who is an animal and bird lover who lives in the country.

I bought the painting and paid my artist friend through PayPal and waited. Mr. FixIt came in with the mail yesterday and there was a small padded envelope in his hand. I opened it up and there was the painting of the sweetest little hummingbird. Delicate, mid flight, hovering near a flower with other artistic elements in the background. It was exactly what I wanted!

Except...

It was SOOOOOO tiny!

I do not recall seeing any mention of the dimensions of the painting. I was imagining it at about 6”x6”...a typical small painting size I’ve seen frequently. I could do nothing but laugh. I had bought a “pig in a poke.” Not a BAD pig, mind you. I mean, the painting is exquisite! But still...kinda the “runt of the litter.” I was a little concerned Diane wouldn’t like it because she has three cats and I could see if I put this little painting on an easel for a table top, the cats would have a field day! I decided to confess my misgivings to her and lo and behold...she LOVED it. It turns out, another friend gave her a butterfly painting the same size and it will go with it nicely.

This is a good lesson, though. It will serve as a reminder to look INSIDE the poke before I buy it!

“Jesus answered, “Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn't worth a thing to God's kingdom!””
Luke 9:62 CEV

Day 275: Going on a Treasure Hunt

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 02:30:00 -0600

Some of Mr. FixIt’s Heirlooms

A friend of Mr. FixIt’s called him the other day, looking for a collectible and hoping he might have one. They worked together at an internationally known tool making plant. Every so often, the plant would create belt buckles or commemorative medallions and people would buy them along with the velvet lined cases to display them in. I tease my sweetheart and tell him he has in his possession everything he has ever owned, and a lot of what used to belong to someone else. This often comes in handy when we need something specific. And, on occasion, it leads us on an interesting treasure hunt.

After supper last night, Mr. FixIt came in with one of his treasure boxes and sat down to sort through. He knows I love those kinds of things so he set aside anything he thought I might be interested in and showed them to me. There were some amazing tintype photos of his ancestors. What incredible treasures these kinds of things are! I could see the family resemblance, even in the grandchildren. There was a small box among the photos and old Cross pen and pencil sets and in it was something interesting.

It looked all the world to be a gold Victorian hair pin, but it had a fine chain with a small clasp on the end to hook onto something. I puzzled over what this could possibly be when I realized...There is a world of information on the internet...just waiting to be found. I Googled “ladies hairpin with fine chain” and...voila...up popped the exact pin I was holding in my hand! The internet can be a marvelous tool.

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, there were spectacles called pince-nez (pronounced pas’nay), which is French for “pinch nose.” They didn’t have earpieces and were held on by gently pinching the bridge of the nose to hold them on. However, they often slipped off. These delicate chains served two purposes...they were fashionable and they kept the expensive prescription lenses from falling on hard surfaces and breaking.

Teddy Roosevelt popularized the pince-nez and fashionable ladies and gentlemen followed suit. I shared this information with Mr. FixIt and he said he might have a pair in one of his boxes. He carried another in and sure enough...there they were! I have no idea if they belonged together. I went back and looked at the tintypes that were tucked away with these treasures, but I couldn’t find a woman wearing them.

Mr. FixIt’s Great Great Grandmother

I marvel at things like this. My ancestors were simple country folk. Their spectacles were gold wire with rimless glass lenses. They were lucky to have one pair that had to last till they literally couldn’t see before they bought new. I have found a couple of old tintypes of ancestors, but I have no idea who they were. I felt like I had a little glimpse into my husband’s ancestry...like peeking through a time machine to days of old...to espy those whose progeny would eventually create the man I know and love.

I’m a little bit of a treasure hunter myself. Our true treasures are not that which we gather here on earth. Those who owned these trinkets couldn’t take them where they were going. Heavenly treasures are the only ones you can keep. But trinkets and mementos are great fun to share and learn about your history.

“Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will always be where your treasure is.”
Matthew 6:19-21 CEV

Day 274: Nailed It...Kinda

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 02:30:00 -0600

Have you ever seen those posts on Facebook where someone sees the cutest thing on Pinterest and tries to make it...only to fail miserably? However, in true optimist fashion...and with much self-depredation...posts a side-by-side comparison of the two? Yeah...well. I had one of those experiences yesterday.

First...the turkey is STILL too frozen to remove the giblets so it has to wait till today. Since the oven was unoccupied, I simply HAD to bake...right? I was so excited to use my new-to-me cookie press from the thrift shop. It came from Pampered Chef and had a dozen or more different extruded patterns...all for the amazingly low price of $5! I had the perfect score...or, so I thought.

I found a video on YouTube with a recipe for the PERFECT Vanilla Spritz Cookies. It had a couple “secret ingredients”. Vanilla Bean Paste which I JUST happened to buy at TJ Maxx when I bought the Indian Ginger I used for the Appalachian Gingerbread. Powdered sugar...which I just happened to find a bag of stuffed in the back of the cupboard I cleaned out this week over the microwave. And, cornstarch. Apparently, these magic ingredients create the perfect light and crisp Spritz Cookies for your holiday baking needs.

Right.

It took for-e-ver to mix the dough. I should have used the big KitchenAid mixer, but opted for the handheld instead. When I finally got all those dry ingredients incorporated in the butter, it was a pretty stiff dough. Come to find out afterward, I really could have added some more flour because it was raining and high humidity outside and I was working with the kitchen window open.

Once I finally got the dough mixed and chose my design, I set to filling the tube on the cookie press. Back in the day when I tried this before, the press I had was only about an inch to an inch and a half across and made tiny little cookies. You could easily get three or four dozen out of a batch of dough. The Pampered Chef press is easily two and half inches across and one tube full of dough nearly filled a cookie sheet. The raw cookies were pretty big and I knew they would spread so I placed them pretty far apart. I only got eight on each cookie sheet.

The first thing that happened was...the cookie would not stick to the parchment paper, even though I had tacked it down at all four corners with a bit of raw dough. I took the paper off and buttered the pan. Nope...still wouldn’t stick. The dough just lifted off with the press every time I picked it up. So, I tried putting the pan in the freezer for a few minutes. This time, about 3/4 of the cookies stuck. The rest I had to scrape off and try again till I was finally successful.

The first batch was perfect...very slightly brown at the edges...but they were pretty flat and didn’t hold their pressed shape much at all. Disappointing. The second batch were placed in the freezer for a few minutes before I baked them. They came out too brown and no better shaped...but still edible. By the third batch, I was just about ready to throw the whole mess out the window...batter AND press. I had dough left and it would NOT stick, so I gave up, rolled the dough in balls the size of a small walnut and baked them anyway.

Moral of the story is...sometimes those really great gadgets you find in a thrift shop are there for a reason. At least I was only out $5 and not what it would have cost new. I’ll just clean it up and take it back to the thrift shop the next time I have a bag of donations. maybe someone else will have better luck with it than I did.

At the end of the day, I have to admit, the cookies were really tasty...light with a crispy bite and a melt in your mouth texture. Still, a full two and a half hours to bake two dozen cookies was not very time efficient. We ate some with a little ice cream last night after the news. So, all was not lost and a lesson was learned. I need a tad more “instant gratification” than that when I’m trying to make a ton of cookies for holiday gift trays. I’ll stick to bigger batches of drop cookies for that.

“for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”
Proverbs 24:16 NIV

Day 218: Goodbye, Ocean...Homeward Bound!

Sat, 17 Oct 2020 01:30:00 -0600

Sandy toes on the Outer Banks...Mr. FixIt fishing!

This week was exactly what we needed. We had so much fun with the kids and we managed to get a little alone time in, as well. We did something yesterday that I’ve only done a couple of times before. We drove out on the beach. The sand here is decidedly different than Daytona Beach where it’s not quite as solid as concrete and practically impossible to get stuck. Outer Banks Sand is soft. You have to let the air out in your tires down to about 15 pounds to flatten and widen your footprint for better traction. You have to be very careful not to punch the accelerator and spin while maintaining enough speed to keep moving. I was determined to do it myself, but the closer I got to our destination, all I could think about was having to get an expensive tow off the beach. So, I gave it over to Mr. FixIt and observed his technique and asked him questions as we went along. I’ll try next time.

We drove down to the point at Oregon Inlet near the bridge and parked our trucks side-by-side. I settled into my chair with my 50-SPF sunscreen, knitting in hand, cold drink by my side, feet up on my handy footstool. The girls sunbathed and played bocce ball while the guys fished. We roasted hotdogs on the beach for lunch, with a little grit for texture. The sun was intense...definitely the hottest day we had this week. But, we had a slight breeze and dipping in the water occasionally helped a lot. I found a few nice shells.

The Ocean Pursuit - a scallop harvesting vessel run aground

One of the coolest things I’ve seen on a beach in a while was an abandoned scallop harvesting vessel that ran aground on March 1st near Oregon Inlet. This is a remote section of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore that is accessible only by four wheel drive. When the accident first happened, the Coast Guard air lifted the crew to safety and then oversaw the removal of fuel and other hazardous materials from the vessel. Since then, the surf has pushed the “Ocean Pursuit” onto the shore where she has become embedded in the sand. Rust is quickly taking over and signs ask people to stay off the boat as it is a safety hazard. Salvage has been delayed by the covid pandemic and estimates of $60,000 makes this one big job that may take some time to accomplish. You can read about the Ocean Pursuit HERE.

By 3:00, the clouds started to roll in and we decided to head back to the condo. Within a few miles, the skies opened, the temperature plummeted twenty degrees, and it rained buckets. When we got back to the condo, we warmed up leftovers and started packing. Today, we head back home to chilly weather. It was supposed to freeze this morning at our house...a far cry from the wonderful weather we have enjoyed on the Outer Banks. No more sitting outside having my morning coffee for a while. Hopefully we’ll get a little late summer-like weather before the cold blasts of winter set in. The beach is definitely my favorite place to go in October.

A storm brewing off the Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Every time I’ve traveled, and I’ve shared many of my travels with you here, you know I have such a hard time transitioning back to the normal routine at home. I don’t know if that will be as big a problem this time because 2020 has been such a screwy year. I mean...what’s normal anymore? Who knows?

Checkout is at 10:00. This party’s over...so what’s the next big adventure?

❤️

“We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go.”
Proverbs 16:9 CEV

Day 217: Bringing Home the Sea Bass, Etc.

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 01:30:00 -0600

Sunrise on the Fishing Boat

The guys had a big day on their fishing trip. They came back sunburned and exhausted, loaded down with bags of fresh, filleted fish, individually vacuum packed. They divided the catch and each get to take home thirty-three pounds. There were sea bass, red snapper, trigger fish, and hammer jack. That’s going to be some good eating in the coming months.

Quite a Haul of Fish: Sea Bass, Red Snapper, Trigger Fish, & Hammer Jack

I sat out on the deck having my coffee yesterday morning. What a treat to have some quiet time with my thoughts before the activities of the day. While the fellas were off fishing, my daughter-in-law and I went out to the beach and sat for hours visiting. I worked on a little knitted Christmas ornament. I finally had to turn around because I was getting too sun and windburned. The day really was perfect...not a cloud in the sky and just the right temperature.

Some sort of Amphibious Craft Practicing Maneuvers

At one point, I looked up and there was an amphibious vehicle driving down the beach and straight out into the ocean. Where we are staying is near a government facility of some sort. There were military helicopters flying back and forth and I saw fighter jets a couple of times. When we were on the beach on Wednesday, there was an unmarked white van with several kinds of sonar and satellite antennae on top and there were cameras mounted on the rear part of the roof. They drove slowly up and down the beach and honestly, it looked as though they were filming us. It was a little eerie, actually.

A Perfect Day

I finally went back inside and started supper. We had spaghetti sauce with those Italian meatballs I made ahead and put in the freezer. Oh, my gosh...they were SO good. Dinner was ready by the time the guys got back and the fish tales began. They showed off photos and told how hard the fight was for this one and that. The friend they took with them didn’t have much experience fishing so they teased him about it some...you know, the way guys do. But he ended up getting the biggest fish of the day so it was paybacks, for sure.

All in all, it was a wonderful day and everyone enjoyed themselves tremendously. Mr. FixIt figured out a way he could sit and reel in his fish without losing his balance which made me very happy. Today is our last full day and tomorrow we have to head home. A vacation week never seems to last long enough, does it?

❤️

“The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a net is thrown into a lake and catches all kinds of fish. When the net is full, it is dragged to the shore, and the fishermen sit down to separate the fish. They keep the good ones, but throw the bad ones away.”
Matthew 13:47-48 CEV

Day 216: Gone Fishin’ With The Boys

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 01:30:00 -0600

Of all things, the check engine light came on in my truck on Tuesday evening. We had to go find an auto parts store yesterday that could run a computer diagnostic test on it. There were three codes...all regarding misfiring in the cylinders. My guess is we need new spark plugs, a tune up, or we had a batch of bad gas. The light went off after she checked...which is what it’s supposed to do. And, it hasn’t come back on. We’ll keep an eye on it and hopefully, we won’t have anymore problems and I can get it checked out at home.

I will have to say, there are a boatload more people here than we imagined there would be. So many people are working remotely now and if you can work from home, you can work from the beach just as easily. Gone are the days of long stretches of empty sand and sparsely attended restaurants, I’m afraid. On the plus side, the merchants are reaping an extended profit season and that’s really good for them.

I visited my favorite knitting shop...The Knitting Addiction In Kitty Hawk. I was happy to see the owner doing well. I was so tempted to buy a nice project to work on, but I still have so much yarn left from my last trips to the beach, I made myself stick to something small. I found it in the cutest kits for Christmas ornaments. That kills two birds with one stone. We always buy a special ornament when we are on vacation. This way, we’ll still get our ornament, and it will be even more special because I’ll be making it.

The kids went off to do their own thing yesterday so Mr. FixIt and I had all day to ourselves. We had so much fun! We packed up a picnic basket and the cooler, put it in the wagon, and headed to the beach...fishing gear in hand. Fortunately, the condo complex has built an enormous new ramp that goes up and over the dunes so carting gear out and back isn’t quite the chore it used to be. That being said, our foldable wagon does not have wide wheels for the sand. Once we got out on the beach, it was quite the chore dragging it to a socially distanced spot where we felt comfortable.

We spent all afternoon on the beach. There was a steady breeze coming in off the ocean and I was just a little too cool. I ended up turning my chair to face the sun instead of the waves, wrapped a towel around my shoulders and read all afternoon. Now, THAT was exactly where I wanted to be...with my sweetheart, on the beach. I have been thrilled to see him perk up this week. He’s so much more like the old Mr. FixIt we all know and love. He has missed the beach so much. It’s in his blood and just being here has done wonders for him.

He and his son are meeting a friend today and going deep sea fishing on a charter. There will only be the three guys and two crewmen. We’ve been so worried about his balance since the stroke, and I was concerned about him being on the boat. But...it’s his son. It’s his life. It’s really overall safe and they’ll keep socially distanced. He’ll sit the majority of the time anyway. And...he needs this.

Will I worry? Maybe I worried a little last night when he decided to go, but then I just handed him over to God. I know He’ll take good care of him. I’ll have a chat with my stepson...I know he’ll take extra special care of his dad, too. I cannot watch him 24/7/365. It’s part of the give and take of marriage. It’s part of me letting go and stop trying to control any possible outcome. It comes from prior loss...I know that. He still needs to have a normal life and he’s really doing much better. So, off he goes fishing with the boys and the girls are having a beach day.

God, please let him catch a big fish!

❤️

“Parents, don't be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4 CEV

Day 213: Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 01:30:00 -0600

When you are on vacation at the beach, it’s supposed to be sunny and warm, right? Well...maybe not so much in October. I’m always a little apprehensive about coming to the beach at this time of the year because of the threat of hurricanes. This year it seems we are getting the tail end of some rain from the latest storms to devastate the south. I think they are clearing out now, hopefully.

After a relaxing morning, we decided to drive back up the coast to some Farmer’s Markets we passed on the way down. One was just ok. One was SO crowded, we didn’t even stop. And the last one was just right. I took lots of pictures of pumpkins. I love pumpkins...they are such happy fruit. There were all kinds of jams, jellies, pickles, sauces, relishes, fruits and vegetables canned...at exorbitant prices, I might add. There were still tons of fresh fruits and vegetables available, including strawberries! There had to have been a dozen different varieties of apples for sale and they were gorgeous. Baked goods, fudge, and kettle corn rounded out the selections in the main building. You could buy meat and seafood in the back. And, there was a machine that squeezed oranges and bottled the juice for you while you waited. That smelled divine!

Mr. FixIt wandered around while I was looking at the jarred goods. When he came back, he told me there was a guy making fried green tomatoes in the central area. He had samples and they were really good. We bought a tray and two fresh BLT’s he had just made on fresh baked bread. By the time we were ready to go back out to the car, the rain was pouring and we had parked clear across the lot. By the time we got to the truck we were soaked, but that little picnic tasted SO good!

When we walked back into the condo, the AC was running and we were still damp. It took me two hours to warm up. We had such a good time though, so it was all worth it. It was a quiet day filled with football and just hanging out. The kids weren’t here yet when I was writing this. They were due in later in the evening. There are actually a lot more people here than I thought there would be. The last couple of times we were here in the fall, there were hardly any people. I think most of the places offered their timeshare guests the opportunity to still have their week if they came in October. That’s our best guess, anyway. I’m glad we have all of our food here and we don’t have to go anywhere. I have the meals I am responsible for prepared and in the freezer so I’m just pretty much taking it easy this week. It feels really weird to not be doing something or canning something!

❤️

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Psalms 4:8 NIV

Day 212: Just a Little 12-Hour Road Trip!

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 01:30:00 -0600

It is only 566 miles from our home to our condo. Google Maps says it will take 8 hours and 37 minutes to make that trip. I would say that is possibly true...in Kansas. But we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto. Google simply does not understand West Virginia miles. Nor does it take into consideration the tail end of a hurricane passing through or a long and tortuous orange cone season. The last time we were down here was a year and a half ago and they are STILL working on the very same stretches of road. I told Mr. FixIt, I recognized the same piles of dirt!

Other than the rain and the road construction it was pretty smooth sailing. Except for the driver’s side windshield wiper. The tip broke off the blade and it slipped further and further out of the channel with every swipe so I had to find a Walmart and get some new blades. By the time I came back out, the rain was pouring but we found a Sheetz station with a canopy and I changed the blades post haste.

We carted more stuff with us than we ever have this time. We are avoiding the grocery stores here so we brought our own food. I also brought cleaning items and went in the condo and wiped down all the high touch surfaces before we took anything in. The sheets and pillows were provided. We don’t mind sleeping on sheets that we can tell were washed well, but we still brought our own pillows. We brought our own blankets as well. And, the first thing I did was strip the bed and put a brand new mattress cover on the bed. My stepson bought them for both the A & B sides and will leave them with us. That way, we can launder them, put them away, and bring them the next time we come down.

It is really a shame it was so cloudy, rainy and foggy coming through the West Virginia mountains. The colors are magnificent this year, and if it would have been sunny, I could have gotten some great shots. Instead, I snuggled up under my car comforter and fell asleep for Mr. FixIt’s first driving shift. We only saw one small accident on the way down and thank God that He delivered us safely here. The kids arrive sometime late today! I’ve never had a “family vacation” except when my own kids were little. Family beach vacations are de rigueur for my husband’s family so I’m pretty stoked!

❤️

“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Day 202: My Kitchen is my Happy Place!

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 01:30:00 -0600

Someone on my Twitter feed yesterday asked “What makes you happy?” Without hesitation, I responded with “Being in my kitchen!” As long as I can remember, the kitchen has held a special place in my heart. It’s where you pour secret ingredients like “Love” and “Hope” and “Prayers” into your family’s food. It’s where you create beautiful, wholesome meals from nothing but a handful of this and that. It’s where you work out the problems of the world over a cup of coffee with your bestie. It’s where you write out cards and bills and maybe...a letter!

The kitchen holds the heartbeat of a home. My earliest memories involve my grandma’s kitchen out at the farm...that place I still get to enjoy and soak up the wisdom she left in its bones. With an oilcloth table covering and a kerosene lantern as a centerpiece, I spent many wonderful hours in that kitchen. Another favorite kitchen was in the farmhouse we lived in when Hubby #2 was doing his internship and residency. A big old cast iron farm sink under a wide window you could throw open made cooking more pleasant, even on the hottest days.

When I got up yesterday, I immediately set on a pot of beans for supper in the slow cooker. Then, I set to organizing my workspace in the kitchen so I could start canning the produce stand on Tuesday. By the end of the day, I had eighteen beautiful jars of cubed butternut squash that will make wonderful soup this winter. As the canner was chattering away, I whipped up some cornbread and baked it in an iron skillet. I took the smoked ham hock out of the beans and removed the tender meat from the bones so we could get some of that rich, smoky flavor in every bite.

The ClearGel arrived yesterday so I can finally start on the apple pie filling. I’m really looking forward to that. I love baking pies in the winter, but don’t always want to take the time to prepare the apples. My cousin has always made pie filling so I’m going to try my hand at it. I think once I get that project done, I’m finished for the season. This has been a huge undertaking and I have to admit...the diversion has been a saving grace for me. It helped me get through some bumps in my road and now, I’ve got all this great food ready to go. I’ll have all these great memories when I put the food on the table or share the occasional jar with my loved ones.

Well, that’s a wrap on September! Let us pray October brings us moments to pause. To sit with a cup of tea and marvel at the earth turning to gold. To close our eyes and catch a thin whiff of wood smoke and wet leaves. To hear the last faint strains of crickets and katydids before they are gone for the year. Ahhhh....sweaters and leggings, here I come!

❤️

“He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”
Daniel 2:21 NIV

Day 191: Grandma’s Grape Arbor

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 01:30:00 -0600

I still remember the sour sweat of a hot, late summer day when I was around ten years old. My cousins and I had been playing up the hill on “Tea Table Rock”...a stone outcropping about forty feet up the hillside across the creek from Grandma’s house. We laid out soft, damp moss for tablecloths and served “tea” in our little cups made from acorn caps. It kept us busy for hours and our sole purpose was to stay outside and play as long as possible.

We were afraid if we went inside to get something to eat, Grandma might corral us into some chore or another or...God forbid...she might make us wash up. So, instead of heading into the house to eat, we snuck down to Grandma’s truck garden tucked in a small triangular space bordered by the creek, the hill, and the road. She grew an awful lot of food in that little space. We probably grabbed a tomato or two, and maybe some carrots...I don’t remember. What I DO remember is dessert!

We crawled under the sheltering canopy of leaves covering the grape arbor. Located right on the creek bank, the coolness of the shade was nearly shocking to our sunburned skin. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, all we needed to do was reach up and grab handfuls of the Concord grapes that Grandma made the best grape jelly from. I loved those grapes...warmed by the sun.

There was a trick to eating them. You popped the grape in your mouth, slipped the innards out with your tongue for a quick burst of sweet juice, swallowed that part down so you didn’t have to spit out the seeds, then pressed the skin of the grape to the roof of your mouth and sucked hard. What you got was an amazing blast of sour grape. When it was gone, you spit out the skin. Heaven!

When I went to the roadside produce stand earlier this week, they had quarts of Concord grapes. I smelled them before I saw them...that familiar heady aroma took me right back to those youthful days of looting Grandma’s grape vine. I pulled out my phone for a grape jam recipe to figure out how many to buy. Three-and-a-half pounds of luscious goodness went into my buggy. I added four big sweet yellow onions, five pie pumpkins, a flat of tomatoes, and ten pounds of Braeburn apples for a grand total of $55! Not a bad haul.

I finished the salsa on Wednesday so I started on the grapes yesterday morning. I knew they were going to be labor intensive because I had in mind a certain way I wanted to make my jam. After washing the grapes, I stood and painstakingly slipped the skins off of each one...dropping the pulp with the seed in a large saucepan and the skins in the bowl of my food processor. I gathered all my canning tools, set the lids and rings on the heat in a medium saucepan to simmer and the jars in the water bath canner to sterilize set on high heat.

I simmered the pulpy centers of the grapes till they were soft and the seeds could be easily removed. Then I puréed the skins, added them to the grape pulp and mashed away with a potato masher then set it all aside. Once the pulp was cooled, I pressed the whole thing through a sieve by hand to remove the seeds and any wayward stems that might have fallen in. I threw away the seeds and the dried pulpy bits that wouldn’t go through the sieve then ran the whole thing through the sieve one more time.

I was left with a deep purple sludge the consistency of a melted milkshake that smelled of grapes and sunshine. I had almost enough to to make two batches of jam so I added about a half a cup of bottled unsweetened Concord grape juice to make up the difference. I made two batches of jam in the Ball TechFresh Jam & Jelly Maker that I told you about the other day. I’m still tweaking the recipes a little because it has a tendency to make the end product a little too thick for my taste. I ended up with eight jars of the best grape jam I think I’ve ever had. Still, no comparison to Grandma’s grape jelly, but a good close second.

Today, I tackle the apples!

❤️

“And when you pick your grapes, go over the vines only once, then let the poor have what is left.”
Deuteronomy 24:21 CEV

Day 190: Playing with Fire

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 01:30:00 -0600

When I lived in Colorado, you knew fall was here when the roadside stands set up for fire-roasting green chiles. It was like any roadside stand you might see selling tomatoes and corn back east or in the south. But there, a gas fired chile roaster was set up. It looks something like a great big Bingo basket that gets rotated over a flame and slowly roasts the chiles till the skins are blackened and blistered. Then, the hot chiles were weighed out and packaged in plastic bags. All you had to do was grab a bag and take them home, clean the blackened skin and either cook with the chiles right then, or put them in freezer bags and freeze for use during the winter.

Any self respecting western cook had at least a few bags of fire-roasted green chiles in the freezer. I like to use them to make Pork Green Chile...a delightful change of pace from the traditional red chili with beef and beans. I also love green chiles in scrambled eggs or quiche. I’ve even seen them added to apple pie, although I have to admit I’ve never tried that...yet!

One of the items a roadside chile stand sells is wreaths or ristras...long strands of red chiles that dry as you use them for winter decor. Sort of like putting out Indian corn or wreaths of dried leaves. You might also find jars of salsa with varying degrees of heat or perhaps red or green pepper jelly. I love a soft goat cheese on crackers with hot pepper jelly as an appetizer accompanied by smoked almonds and fresh figs or apples. That makes for a lovely treat on a crisp fall afternoon.

One of my fondest memories of Colorado was when Daughter #2 was little. One of my best friends was Barbara, the wife of one of the surgeons in town. Her baby was about ten months younger than mine and we used to get together often to let the children play while we worked on cross-stitch projects. One fall day, we decided to can salsa. We went to the farmers market and bought our supplies and spent all day chopping and cooking and making the best salsa ever.

I haven’t made salsa in ages...probably over twenty years. The other day Mr. FixIt asked if we could make some. I didn’t have enough of our own tomatoes so I bought a ten pound flat and some nice yellow onions at a roadside stand on Monday. Then I bought two kinds of peppers, garlic, and cilantro at the store and prepared to have another busy week preserving.

There were several steps leading up to actually making the salsa and the first thing I wanted to do was fire-roast my peppers. I bought a couple of jalapeños for the salsa and picked up some beautiful Poblano chiles to make Chile Rellenos. I have never roasted peppers myself so I Googled how to do it. I know you can roast them over any open flame so a propane grill works fine. You can hold them over a fire and roast them like a marshmallow, but I wasn’t interested in starting a fire. I opted for roasting them over a burner on our stove since it’s gas and it worked great!

The grates on our stove are sturdy and aren’t spaced too far apart so they work perfectly. All I had to do was turn the flame on high and lay the pepper on the grate. It snaps and crackles as the hard membrane on the skin blisters and blackens. It only takes two or three minutes to properly roast a pepper. Poblanos are a rather large, flat pepper with a fairly mild flavor although they can vary and sometimes you’ll get a surprise when they pack some significant heat. But in general, they are mild and make the best Chile Rellenos. I’m making some to freeze and take with us to the beach.

Mr. FixIt likes his salsa very mild with pineapple in it. I like mine to pack a punch. Therefore, I divided the tomatoes and made half his way and half mine. I used a simple recipe I found on the Ball website. This particular recipe uses one of their electric Auto Canners, which I don’t have. I followed the directions except I processed the filled jars in a water bath for 15 minutes. I added some chile powder to both batches. I added crushed pineapple to Mr. FixIt’s and just a quarter of one jalapeño for flavor. It was sweet and flavorful...just the way he likes it. I added a little extra salt to mine, added the rest of the jalapeño plus another full one, and...just before I ladled it into the jars, I adjusted the heat by adding some more Tabasco and cayenne powder. Now mine has a nice kick to it without being overpoweringly hot. You can find the recipe HERE.

I finished with twenty half-pints of salsa...ten of each variety. These will be so nice to have for dipping with corn chips or for topping those Chile Rellenos or any number of other Mexican dishes we enjoy. Mr. FixIt was gone all afternoon so I had the house to myself, working happily in the kitchen as I listened to old-time bluegrass by the Stanley Brothers.

It’s FALL y’all...and I’m in my element!

❤️

“Work hard, and you will have a lot of food; waste time, and you will have a lot of trouble.”
Proverbs 28:19 CEV

Day 175: Learning in the Garden

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 01:30:00 -0600

I walked by the garden the other day and I noticed a few nibbled off branches on one of my tomato plants. My first thought was...the deer have been in here and snacking on my garden! At the same time, a distant memory swam around right under the surface and I knew there was something familiar about this particular scenario. I just couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

As you’ve seen in my posts of the the last few weeks, things have really been busy here on the Ponderosa. Between mowing, gardening, harvesting, canning, and baking bread, I’ve had little time to spend perusing the plants in our little tomato patch. As I pulled the wagon full of produce and groceries from the truck to the house yesterday, I looked over and now my tallest tomato plant was noting but sticks at the top. Now, I know deer can stand up on their hind legs to reach fruit in trees, but I couldn’t see that happening in the middle of a tomato patch without other plants being damaged. That’s when it hit me....that memory of a scourge in a garden decades ago in Colorado.

The tomato hornworm!

As soon as I emptied the wagon, I went out the the garden to look for the nasty beasts! And...there they were. Now, here is where it would have behooved me to do a Google search and learn something about this infestation before I made an unfortunate mistake. When I saw the worms with the white egg like sacs on their backs, I assumed they were eggs. I immediately plucked the stem with the offending monster and mashed it...”eggs” and all.

Enter YouTube. Come to find out, that was what is called a parasitized tomato hornworm. There is a small wasp that lays it’s eggs on the caterpillar. They hatch and become larvae and burrow down into the hornworm...killing it. The trick is to find the hornworms, cut them in half with an old pair of scissors, and be done with them. Then, when you find one with the wasp eggs on it, you carefully snip off the leaf it is currently chowing down on and transfer it to a “sacrificial tomato plant”...one that maybe isn’t growing so well or producing very much. Essentially just giving it something else to eat till the wasp eggs hatch and the larvae kill it naturally. You actually want more of those wasps in nature. Unfortunately...I learned this too late for two hornworms, but now I know better.

I told you yesterday I was going on the prowl for half runner beans and I found them. They are more expensive than stringless green beans because they are labor intensive to produce. The plants are a cross between a bush and a pole variety so they do grow vines. You have to put up stakes down the rows, then two or three times during the growing season, you string twine across from stake to stake and give the vines something to grow on. Half runners produce longer than bush beans and, according to my grandma, they make the best eating beans.

We here in West Virginia cook our green beans to death. A country cook would think you were absolutely crazy to serve a green bean “al dente”. No, you clean your beans, remove the strings, snap them in two to three pieces into a good sized pot, add water and a little bacon or salt pork, some cut up onion, a little salt and black pepper and set it on the back burner to simmer on very low heat all afternoon. You have to watch and add water when necessary because there is no saving a pot of scorched green beans.

After I had the dehydrator loaded with more sliced mushrooms, I gathered my tools and sat down in my recliner to string beans and watch old Frazier reruns with Mr. FixIt. It took me about three to four hours to do the first half of the bushel. I put the cleaned ones, and the remaining beans in the garage fridge to sit overnight and will get back to them today. I place wet hand towels over top of the bean to keep them fresh and moist. Once I finish, I can pack my jars, load my canner, and process them.

My canner holds seven quarts which takes about 14 pounds of beans. So, fourteen quarts will take about twenty-eight pounds and take two rounds with the canner. A bushel weighs about thirty pounds, so I will get fourteen quarts plus enough to cook for supper this evening. Each canner load only processes twenty-five minutes in the pressure canner at our altitude here on the Ponderosa...650 feet elevation, however adding the ten minute boil out time to time building up and reducing pressure naturally...you have at least an hour and a half or two hours per load.

This may seem like an awful lot of work when you can buy a can of green beans for less than a dollar. I can guarantee you, if you haven’t eaten home canned green beans, you don’t know what you’re missing. Sure, home canning is work...sometimes long, hard, hot work. However, inside each sparkling jar of lovingly prepared food is a little slice of summer. It’s not just the food in the jar...it’s what’s NOT in the jar. No preservatives or chemicals....just love and memories and sunshine.

❤️

“Don't let anyone tell you what you must eat or drink. Don't let them say you must celebrate the New Moon festival, the Sabbath, or any other festival.”
Colossians 2:16 CEV

Day 172: Cool Nights = Camping at the Ponderosa

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 01:30:00 -0600

We are still socially distancing other than a weekly trip to get groceries or an occasional doctor’s appointment. We have had family over that also social distance and we keep that six foot distance. We have had a total of three people in our house since February and that was very briefly and again, socially distanced.

Campgrounds were packed this year. Because of Covid, more people opted to camp for family vacations because it’s safer to have your own bedroom and bathroom and kitchen. Also, you are automatically socially distanced at a campground, so overall it’s a safer option. Consequently, campers sold like hot cakes and campsites were hard to come by.

Having our own “campground” makes it easy to feel like I’ve had my yearly quotient of camping experiences. And these cool nights have just been delightful. Friday night, it got down to the mid to low fifties and I had to put an extra blanket on the bed. Mr. FixIt has camped with me about half the time. He knows I need to have small spaces of time when I can decompress alone and I don’t feel nervous about it because he is literally less than forty steps from me. I just keep my phone turned on in case he needs me.

I finished mowing yesterday and glory be...some of the kids came out again. And, they brought me two dozen quart canning jars! I emptied the dehydrator and got a quart of banana chips out of it. Today the sliced mushrooms go in. I will also start on all the jams and jellies today. We went to the grocery store yesterday and I was shocked to find the kind of pectin I need for the new Ball Jam and Jelly Maker I bought.

We picked up a couple more 2x4’s to finish the project at the farm. Last weekend, they were a little over $3.00 each. Yesterday, they were nearly $6.00 each! So, did they jack up the price because more people would be working on projects this weekend? Or, is this the start of a trend where we see higher prices secondary to the Covid crisis? It depends on who you ask, but I imagine it’s a little of both. Just like the new bread bakers causing flour to become scarce, so too are other Mr. (and Ms.) FixIts out there with more time on their hands and less traveling. Combined with the supply side being diminished because of Covid, it’s just another thing we have to deal with.

We have a 30’x40’ building out behind the house that is jammed full of stuff. It’s sort of like having your own Home Depot. You can go in and look around and pretty much guarantee you’ll find something you need. My stepson came yesterday to borrow the extension ladder. My stepdaughter is coming out today to get an extra water heater we have out there to replace the one in her house. I love that we can have these things at our fingertips, even though I would much prefer if they were neat and tidy and organized...and much less voluminous.

It is so hard to believe summer itself is very nearly gone. It’s been a lot of hard work with a lot of things accomplished and that gives me a certain sense of satisfaction. I hope you are enjoying your Labor Day Weekend!

❤️

“As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat; winter and summer, day and night.”
Genesis 8:22 CEV

Day 164: Step One...Pick Tomatoes

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 01:30:00 -0600

Earlier in the season, I wasn’t at all sure I would get many tomatoes. Blossom end rot was decimating my crop, but I changed the feed and...wham! They are coming on like gangbusters now. I had another bucket ready yesterday morning and...they don’t know a day off from nothin’!

I went out and got the crocks of bread dough from the garage fridge first thing so I could bake in the cool of the day. When you bake sourdough bread in a dutch oven inside your kitchen oven, you have to heat it up to 500 degrees. It doesn’t take long till your house is overheated...even at 9:00am. I have a window fan so I put it in the kitchen window and exhausted as much of the heat out as I could before the outside temp climbed.

I am thrilled with the success I’ve been getting with my sourdough bread. I have read that the longer you bake sourdough, the more wild yeasts grow in your environment, and the tastier your bread becomes. I’ve been getting a really nice “oven spring”, as well. That’s the amount of rise you get in your bread in the oven before the crust gets too hard to expand. The cuts I make on the surface helps that as well as the way I form the dough before I set it in the fridge to raise slowly overnight. One of the loaves was at least 5” high before I cut it in half. The cutting kinda smashed it down a little.

As soon as the bread was done, I considered just stopping for the day, then I checked my tomatoes and I cannot stand to lose even one. So, I scalded them in boiling water, dropped them in ice water, slipped the skins off and cut the core out. Then I gave them a quick flip of my wrist to extract the seeds and dropped the pulpy tomatoes into my cooking pot. When I was finished cleaning the tomatoes, I strained the seeds from the juice in the bottom of the bowl and added it to the pot. I set it on a low flame and when the juices started to simmer, I used my immersion blender to chop up the tomatoes but stopped short of actually puréeing them. I let the sauce simmer all day, seasoning it here and there to my tastes.

Later in the afternoon, we made a quick trip to town for meat and mushrooms for the sauce and finally sat down for a feast at 6:30! I didn’t actually get my day off. But, Mr. FixIt mowed because I was busy inside, so I didn’t have to do that. Maybe today will be my real day off! lol

❤️

“It is useless to get up early and stay up late in order to earn a living. God takes care of his own, even while they sleep.”
Psalms 127:2 CEV

Day 159: Farm Life - Making Sauerkraut

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 01:30:00 -0600

Sometime in the spring, when I bought a few toys for the kitchen, I came across a fermentation kit made by Ball Corporation. It uses a typical wide mouthed quart jar and this cool spring with a zigzag base that looks like a potato masher. It also has a plastic lid with a vent to release gasses as the food inside ferments.

I cant really remember if my grandma made sauerkraut when I was little or if I just have incorporated that into my memory from all the stories I’ve read. She did have huge pickle crocks and I know she made pickles, so it shouldn’t be a hard stretch to think she also made kraut. I know she had a kraut cutter somewhere along the line...a wooden tray with a sharp blade set in it for slicing cabbage into this strips.

Somewhere over the last couple of months, I misplaced the directions for the kit...as usual...so I looked it up on the internet. It suggested using napa cabbage, but I had regular. I searched for a recipe using the typical heads of cabbage and found one by Ree Drummond of Pioneer Woman fame.

I removed the outer leaves then cored and washed the cabbage. I saved one good leaf then using a very sharp knife, I cut the cabbage into very thin slices. I weighed the cabbage and used the appropriate amount of pickling salt and tossed it together to evenly distribute. Then, I covered the bowl with a clean flour sack dishtowel and let it sit for a while.

About an hour or so later, I commenced to massaging the cabbage for about 5-10 minutes. This took a lot of hand strength...rubbing, squeezing, mashing...till the cabbage had been greatly reduced in size and there was a fair amount of brine in the bottom of the bowl. I washed the fermenting jar, spring, and lid in as hot soapy water as my hands could stand and rinsed it well.

I packed the now limp cabbage into the jar, mashing it down with my fist as I packed. Once all the cabbage was in the jar, I cut a circle out of the reserved leaf and laid it down on top and pressed it down. This helps hold all the cabbage under the brine. Then, I strained the remaining brine from the bowl and put enough in the jar to bring it up to about a half inch headspace. I pressed the spring down onto the leaf covering and screwed down the lid. I set the jar in a pie plate to catch any drips that may bubble out through the vent in the lid.

This jar will sit at room temperature and ferment anywhere from 1-4 weeks, depending on how sour I want the kraut. This doesn’t make enough sauerkraut to can, obviously. But we don’t eat it often enough to warrant making a huge batch. I used two small head of cabbage for this one jar. I just thought it would be fun to try something different for my Covid Kitchen Chronicles. With all the bread I bake, my kitchen is teeming with wild yeasts so it ought to make some really good kraut.

❤️

The only verses I could fined about fermentation:

“No one pours new wine into old wineskins. The new wine would swell and burst the old skins. Then the wine would be lost, and the skins would be ruined. New wine must be put only into new wineskins.”
Luke 5:37-38 CEV

Day 157: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way...

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 01:20:00 -0600

God has a sense of humor. He knows when we’ve had it up to here. That’s when he sends you something so patently absurd, you can’t help but break out into a belly laugh. That’s one of the ways the Great Healer heals...He brings us laughter.

Mr. FixIt and I had a laundry list of things that needed doing yesterday in town...one of which was to mail some overdue greeting cards. There were two condolence cards and a graduation card, so I sat down to write. I filled out the first card and wrote a lovely note. As I prepared to start the second condolence card, Mr. FixIt interrupted me as he was looking for the graduation announcement. We needed it for the address to send the graduation card.

I told him not to worry, I would just text his sister to get the address. It wasn’t long till she and I were chatting back and forth. She gave me the address and I wrote it on the envelope. As we chatted about the smoked pork I canned last week, I wrote the sentiment in the card and popped it in the envelope.

Then I reached for.... Suddenly, I was puzzled. The only card left was the graduation card. If that’s the case...what was I writing in? I opened the envelope and there was the sympathy card...addressed to the young graduate! I started laughing, because I could just imagine which one would be funnier.

The new graduate with...

Remembering you 
in thought and prayer...

Let there be hope.
Let there be stories.
Let there be celebration
of a life well-lived.
Let there be tears,
but let there be happy memories
of all you shared.

or...

My cousin, the new widow, with the handwritten sentiment....

“Congratulations on your
Graduation & Best Wishes 
in your Future Endeavors!”

I told my cousin about it last night and we laughed till we cried. I wonder which one I should send it to?

When we were leaving Walmart later in the afternoon, I walked by a woman on her cell phone. Her husband had wandered off and she was on the phone, trying to explain he should turn around and he could see her. Finally, she got frustrated and without the phone, she yelled his name.

“Marco!!!”

To which I turned around and shouted...

“Polo!!!”

We stood looking at each other for half a beat and literally doubled over laughing. Oh, you can’t make this stuff up!

Later in the day, I was on the phone with my son-in-law’s mom. Her husband and our granddaughter, “Little”, went to the nursing home to see her great grandmother yesterday afternoon. When she got home she said,

“Mimi, Grandma has gotten sick and almost died so many times in the last few years. There have been times Mom picked us up and we just went straight to the nursing home to say goodbye. Then she rallies and gets better. You know, I think most people go up there and knock on the doors of Heaven and are let right in. But, not Grandma. I think she rings the doorbell and runs!”

What a delightfully happy diversion laughter can be when things are so hard and dark. Laughter IS the best medicine!!!

And, oh...by the way...my cousin won. I’m sending HER the card...as is!

❤️

“Everything on earth has its own time and its own season......for crying and laughing, weeping and dancing,”
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 CEV

Day 155: Celebrating Farm Life in the Kitchen

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 01:30:00 -0600

Yesterday was tomato day. I took my soup pot out to the garden and picked every tomato that was ready. With the pot full to overflowing, I headed back into the kitchen and commenced working them up. I thought I would have tomatoes coming out of my ears this year with twenty-one plants, but up to this point...we’ve only been getting a handful at a time. Not enough to do anything with, but too many to eat. We’ve given a few away and we lost a lot to blossom end rot. I’ve been told by experienced farmers that this hasn’t been the best year for tomatoes. Seems about right since it’s the year WE decided to go whole hog.

I was in my canning prime in my early 30’s. I was telling Mr. FixIt yesterday, it wasn’t anything for me to put up a bushel of green beans, a couple flats of tomatoes, and a couple flats of pickles up over the three day weekend of Labor Day. I would have jars of food spread everywhere, stored in boxes under the bed and on shelves in the basement. I’d give jars away as gifts. I was prolific. Now? Ahhhhh...the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

I set to with my big pot of tomatoes. I elected to use the Foley Food Mill method to get a smooth, seedless and skinless sauce that I could use in a soup or a creamed tomato gravy. Optimistically, I washed six quart jars. I washed, cored and quartered my tomatoes and put them in the canner since that’s the biggest pot I have with a heavy bottom that wouldn’t scorch them. I turned the flame to medium and started mashing the tomatoes with a potato masher to get the juices flowing. I kept a close eye on them, mashing and stirring and adjusting the heat till they were soft and tender.

I removed the canner from the fire and scooped up the stewed tomatoes into the food mill. If you haven’t used one of these, they’re pretty handy. There’s a kind of slanted plate that draws the tomatoes over a screen and presses the juice and flesh out while keeping the seeds, skins, and any coarse fibers in the pan. You empty it and fill again and repeat till you’ve processed all the tomatoes. Then, you have this wonderful, smooth tomato juice.

Now, what you want your end product to look like will determine how long you simmer your juice over medium heat. You stir frequently. I wanted mine to be the consistency of store bought tomato sauce....a sort of thick, pulpy juice. When I was satisfied, I ladled the hot sauce in the hot jars with about a tablespoon of lemon juice in each jar for extra acidity, wiped the rim with white vinegar, centered a hot jar lid and screwed it down with a jar ring. Then I placed them in the boiling water bath, adjusted the water level from the simmering tea kettle, and timed them for 35 minutes from the time they reached a rolling boil.

I got...get this...TWO QUARTS!

Yes...all those plants, all that hoeing and weeding and watering and feeding and babying those tomato plants and I got two quarts of juice. I have discovered this. You do just as much work to can two quarts as you do to can twenty. I should have bought more tomatoes to add to mine. When Mr. FixIt called from town to see how I was doing (he was looking for a replacement chain for the pole saw) I told him I was really disappointed. He said, “Look at the bright side. You know exactly what went in those jars.” Ever the optimist...we are a good match.

As soon as the jars were in the water bath, I set to making a peach-blueberry lattice top pie. I reached back to my baking contest days and used my never fail pie crust that has lard in it. SO not good for you...SO flavorful. Then I made the recipe that won me a blue ribbon in the Carbondale Mountain Fair sometime back in the early ‘90s. I hadn’t made it in years and forgot it needed instant tapioca, which I did not have. I used flour...and not enough of it. So the pie is soupy....really soupy. But flavor? OMGosh...knock your socks off awesome! Served warm in a bowl with a spoon, it just couldn’t be beat.

By the time I was done with the pie and had it in the oven, the jars of tomato sauce were ready. I just turned off the heat and let them sit while I fried up some bacon for BLT’s. I had a big tomato...still warm from the sun. And a head of butter-crunch lettuce from the greenhouse down the road. It was meal fit for a king.

Oy! I can feel my arteries crackling.

❤️

“I have provided all kinds of fruit and grain for you to eat.”
Genesis 1:29 CEV

Day 143: Sparkles in the Grass

Sat, 08 Aug 2020 01:30:00 -0600

The other night, I was heading out to the camper to write. We have been blessed with some lovely, cool nights so we’ve been taking advantage of that and “camping” at the Ponderosa. We still haven’t fixed up our “campground” here on the five acres. It seems there is always something else needing our attention. Hopefully, it won’t just be a pipe dream and we will have this ground available so my camping friends can join me.

I was wearing my headlamp, and as I passed the garden, something caught my eye. When I turned to look, the light reflected back from two eyes staring intently at me. Fortunately, it wasn’t too dark and I could make out that it was a bunny...in my garden. Exactly where bunnies should NOT be. I shooed her away and started to turn when....something else caught my eye.

There were dozens of tiny green dots all around the garden. It was as if the place had suddenly been enchanted by fairies with tiny green lanterns. These little green lights were intermingled with tiny white lights like glittering diamonds. I was mesmerized...and quite puzzled.

I decided to just stand very still and observe. Perhaps the answer would reveal itself to me. It didn’t take too long to figure out the white glittery lights were reflections off the dew that was gathering on the grass. It was lovely and a bit disconcerting...like looking down at stars. As I marveled at the sight, one of the green “lanterns” moved ever so slightly. I tried to count the green lights, but there were too many...though much fewer than the white ones.

I had to get closer to see what these green lights were. At first, I thought perhaps they were a phenomenon called foxfire, a bioluminescent fungus that can grow in woody areas. I’ve never really seen it in person, but the photos I’ve seen didn’t match this save for the fluorescent green color. No, this was something entirely different.

I crept forward ever so slowly keeping my eyes trained on one particularly bright green spot. When I was about five feet away, it jumped! It slowly dawned on me. I was surrounded by spiders on the move in the grass and when they looked at me as I walked through their territory, they light reflected back from their eyes...just like the bunnies did...and the deer that bed down in the far field. I was enchanted! It was magical to discover something that has been there my whole life and suddenly “discover” it at the age of 67.

I was so entranced but the sight, I didn’t think to try to film them. I went out the next night, but we had mowed the lawn and there weren’t as many spiders. But I did find this video where a guy found the same thing in his yard. As a matter of fact, his video looks exactly like what I saw so I thought I would share it with you HERE.

There are tiny treats in life. Little gifts that remind us there is so much more going on in the world than the horror du jour on the news and social media. I took a moment to thank God for giving me the eyes to see His beautiful creations, the place to look for them, and the time to slow down and appreciate them for the gifts they are.

I hope you look for the tiny gifts God brings you today. They are everywhere...if you ask to see them and take the time to look.

❤️

“Don't be fooled, my dear friends. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing.”
James 1:16-17 CEV

Day 132: The City Park Fountain

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 01:30:00 -0600

When I was growing up, it was a very big deal to get to go to the City Park in my home town. It boasted the “World’s Largest Lily Pond”. I don’t know whether that is true or not, but it did have a massive lily pond that was so gorgeous when the lilies were in bloom. There was a large fountain out in the center of the pond and white swans swimming around. The trees were plentiful and massive...well, they were to a little girl. There were baseball games with lights on the field. There was a small zoo and a museum. There were monuments and cannons and steam machinery. Tennis courts, basketball courts, a covered shuffleboard area. And a swimming pool. There were several covered picnic pavilions and a large activity center called “The Pavilion” where dances were periodically held. At the entryway, there was a large three tiered fountain with a statue of a woman on the top. The water cascaded down and if we were very good, we got to throw a penny in the fountain. We used to go to City Park every year for the Fourth of July Fireworks and Carnival. We had countless picnics there.

Over the years, the park fell into disarray. The beautifully manicured lawns and landscaped flowerbeds were often overgrown. As with many inner city parks, vagrants could often be found sleeping in the band shelter or on one of the picnic tables. Graffiti covered the walls of the bathrooms and you took your life in your own hands going into one. There were multiple overdoses and occasional deaths in the park.

Still, memories are hard to drive out and I kept going back. Over the last several years, little by little, life has been coming back to the park. They built a splash pad for the kids. A couple of the old basketball courts were removed to make way for Pickleball. The zoo was long since removed. The pond lost its lilies in favor of a cleaner, more sanitary fishing area. The Pavilion houses an indoor ice skating rink, albeit on an artificial “ice”.

A few years ago, the Friends of the Park asked for volunteers to adopt a flower bed and several of my high school classmates have been doing a beautiful job. They are keeping the flowers in our bed looking like something out of a magazine. They should be very proud. Our flower bed is one of the first that you see upon entering the park.

The fountain at the entrance was built in the early 1900’s and became a well known landmark in Parkersburg. Somewhere along the line, the fountain was damaged by a lightning strike, I believe. It was repaired with fiberglass, then a few years ago a tree came down in a storm and the fountain was blown over and destroyed. It stood with just its broken bottom level for a couple of years. Then, this spring, work began to restore the fountain to it’s original beauty.

This weekend it was unveiled and is a near perfect replica of the original fountain. The water has been turned on...something we haven’t seen in decades. In times when there is so much uncertainty, so much bitterness and anger and division...we saw a little window to the past open this week in our little corner of the world. I can’t answer for anyone else...but I felt a little tiny bit of the weight of the last few months lift off my shoulders when we took a drive out to the park to see this proud beauty back in action.

It did my heart good. It’s the little things now.

❤️

“Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.””
John 7:38 CEV

Photo Credit: Dan Kemper

Day 126: Farm Life...Happy Wife!

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 01:30:00 -0600

Mr. FixIt had Physical Therapy yesterday so I decided it was the perfect day to put up some Bread & Butter Zucchini Pickles. As soon as the kitchen was picked up from the mess I made baking the Pepperoni Rolls, I took a box out to the garden and picked the squash I’ve been letting grow. They were some monsters! All told, I ended up with seventeen pounds of squash.

When I used to make this about three lives ago, I grew both green and yellow zucchini. When I told Mr. FixIt I wanted to grow them for pickles, he bought the crookneck variety. I thought maybe they would work. Unfortunately, when I started cutting them up, I realized the yellow crookneck squash gets very hard...like gourds...when you let them grow big. They just didn’t work for this...and they are too woody to eat. Lesson learned. My cousin is raising a couple of pigs so none of this stuff will go to waste.

You can tell a great cookbook when it’s got splashes and spills on it and the very best things you’ve tried are on dog-eared pages. I’ve made so many things from this cookbook. I’ve won many ribbons at fairs and baking competitions. When I was preparing to sell my home and downsize, this was one thing I would not part with.

Once I got all the veggies cut up, I layered them with pickling salt and set them to rest for an hour or two. This draws out the excess water...something especially needed when substituting squash for the cucumbers the recipe calls for. I stumbled on this whole Zucchini Pickle thing quite by accident.

I was growing zucchini and tomatoes in the garden I put in at a rental house when Hubby #2 was in Medical School. Anyone who grows zucchini knows...after the first few servings, it’s easy to let a few get away from you and grow way too big to eat. We were poor as church mice and I was raised by a frugal grandma. You never wasted food! I rummaged through my cookbooks and found this one. It has recipes from all over the country that have won ribbons at State Fairs. I saw the recipe for Bread and Butter Pickles and I thought...what the heck? It’s worth a try!

Eureka! I could sit with a fork and eat a whole jar of these. I had some of those little tri-colored sweet peppers about the size of jalapeños. They are colorful with their red, orange, and yellow. I cut them in rings. And, I cut the last two Vidalia into chunks. The turmeric ends up coloring the pickled squash yellow so they are not only good to eat, but they make a beautiful gift.

Mr. FixIt came in with the mail...and there was my copy of Girl Camper Magazine. It was everything I could do to not open it up right then and there and sit down with a cup of tea. Then, while the cut veggies were resting in the salt, Mr. FixIt and I went for a lovely swim. The water was 91℉...so it wasn’t necessarily refreshing, but it was wet and it’s always fun to float around out there and chat as the sun goes down. The deer flies aren’t biting just yet, and it’s still too early for the big horse flies. We haven’t had a big mosquito problem this year because it’s been so dry.

I still have two or three big zucchini left so I can make more pickles today. I have ten pints done, so far. The tomatoes will be coming on hard and heavy soon. I need to find someone who sells green beans, too.

Farm life. This is what I’ve waited my whole life for.

❤️

“The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”
Proverbs 21:20 NIV

Day 123: Comfortable Seating...Coming Up

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 01:30:00 -0600

If you’ve been following me any length of time, you know I went through a huge downsizing after Mr. Virgo died. And I swore I would never accumulate another dang thing...SWORE. Yet, here I am, happily remarried. And the stash is growing. In my defense, there was a lot of stuff when I got here. And, in all actuality, we haven’t purchased a heck of a lot since we got married. But since Mr. FixIt’s strokes, we have noticed his arthritis is bugging him a lot more because he can’t take the medications you typically take. Yesterday, we decided to go take one more stab at finding a comfortable chair for him.

We went Friday to just about every place in town and didn’t like anything. This time, we hit pay-dirt. Belpre Furniture had dozens of recliners to choose from. I’ve gotten to the point I bypass the “bargains”. Bottom of the line merchandise ends up costing you in the end because it wears out or breaks before too long and you have to replace it. I’m also past the point of buying the best there is. I’d rather buy mid-range and get the best quality I can.

We ended up with matching La-z-Boys in “claret”...a deep wine red that will look nice with the blue/grey sofas we already have. When I had my home in Colorado, I had Ralph Lauren ladies’ wingback recliners. Perhaps not the most comfortable, but they were so stylish and the living room looked so “put together”. Now? Heck...I am all about comfort. I really do not like how these overstuffed recliners and sofas look. But I also do not care because if I’m going to sit down for any length of time with my sweetheart, I’d better be able to get up without frowning and having to walk, wincing till my joints get the cricks out of them. I also hope getting a new, more supportive chair will help my hubby feel better, too.

The part of me that went through that downsizing is groaning. But the part of me that likes a little more “cush for the tush” is a happy little camper. Oh, another downside of Covid...it will take ninety days to get them. I told him there was absolutely no hurry. So, here we are...two new pieces of furniture. What’s next? End tables? An area rug? Will this madness ever end? lol

❤️

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”
Proverbs 24:3-4 NIV

Day 119: Once in 6,800 Years

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 01:30:00 -0600

Last fall, when I was on the journey chasing the sun with the Girl Camper Raffle R-Pod, one of the first places I stayed was Calhoun County Park. This is a 200 acre park with a renovated Historic Village, a campground with only eight sites, and a designated “dark sky stargazing area”. That means, there are no streetlights or floodlights in the park and the surrounding area is very rural. When it gets dark, it’s “can’t see your hands in front of your face” dark.

When I heard there was a comet in the area, I told Mr. FixIt I wanted to go for a drive over there to look for it. The sky was clear and the Milky Way splashed its cotton candy cloud of stars and noble gases across the indigo dome above us. We watched the sun set and the stars pop out one by one. I saw something but decided it was just a cloud. We didn’t even know which direction to look. So, we turned our chairs to see the darker side of the sky.

We saw the International Space Station go over. And satellites. We heard frogs and a whippoorwill and something rattling around in the woods. There were lightning bugs and the occasional whine of a mosquito in our ears. But, alas...no comet. By 10:30, we called it quits. The park is nearly an hour from home and it had been a long day. We gathered our chairs and as I was folding them, the man parked nearby asked us if we saw the comet. When we said no, he and his wife showed us where it was and handed us a pair of binoculars. And, sure enough...there it was!

Comet Neowise.

I gasped when I saw it. I saw the Hale-Bopp Comet when I was in Salt Lake City. This one was so much bigger. A little harder to see with the naked eye...but that thing I thought was a cloud was actually the comet. If you look straight at it, it’s hard to see. But if you look just to one side, you can easily see it. And you can definitely see it with a pair of good binoculars. We thanked the couple profusely and headed back home.

It was a really great day all the way around. I made a scratch pizza. Cleaned the pool. Watered the garden. And saw a comet that won’t be back around for 6,800 years. Not something you get to do everyday.

❤️

“He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.”
Psalms 147:3 NIV

Day 116: It’s Marshmallow Season!

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 01:30:00 -0600

MARSHMALLOWS!

It won’t be long before these tasty treats will be showing up in farmer’s markets everywhere, because....Marshmallows are in Season!!! That’s what Daughter #1 told her little sister when she was about four years old. They grow them big like this, then they cut them up in little pieces, put them in bags, and ship them off to stores. The weather has to be just right to get a bumper crop like this one. I was driving out to the farm yesterday, came around the turn...and there they were. Oh, there is NOTHING like fresh, vine-ripened marshmallows!

I’ll bet you never heard of the Great Marshmallow Disaster of 1957. I guess it rained so much that summer the marshmallows just floated off down stream. And the ones they were able to salvage were a sticky mess. It was terrible. Little campers everywhere had to eat nothing but graham crackers and chocolate...poor dears. I believe they were scarred for life over that one.

I can’t drive through the West Virginia countryside without pulling over and capturing them in their native habitat. When they’re wild like this is when they’re the sweetest. I’m thinking we should grow them here on our acreage and have an Annual Marshmallow Festival! What do you think?

After my breathtaking discovery, I went to the farm and finally finished the taxes. I really struggled with them Friday. Then, after sleeping on it, I woke up yesterday morning and knew what to do. I just chucked Friday’s return and started over with a brand new one yesterday. And, wouldn’t you know it...I breezed right through the whole thing and it was easy peasy. Last year we had to pay out the nose. This year, we still had to pay a little, but nothing like last year’s...so I was a VERY happy camper when I hit “send”.

Every year, I tell myself I will be ahead of the game. I’ll have things organized. And, every year it’s the same thing. I spend days doing the online banking, reconciling the books, running reports, and finally getting the data in TurboTax...just under the wire. It’s stressful. But, I think the getting mad at myself for not being more organized makes it worse. Next year, I’m just going to accept the fact that I have far more important things to do all year than to stay anal about the whole thing. A couple of years ago, I created the most organized thing I will ever achieve surrounding taxes. I place a big, flat Rubbermaid container with a lid on my desk. Then, whenever I walk in with something that has to do with taxes, it immediately goes in that tub. At least everything is in one place when tax time comes around. That’s the best I can do.

I’ll miss being out at the farm every day. I always love being out there. Since we made the commitment to have a cat and a garden, we really can’t run off and stay for any length of time at the farm. But, maybe when the garden is done, we can go out for a few days. We’ll take the cat...it’ll be an adventure!

Now that the taxes are done, I can turn my attention to the garden. I have a few crook neck and zucchini squash I am keeping an eye on. I want them to get really big so I can make Bread & Butter pickles out of them. That’s the BEST!

I’ll be baking today after church. I’m sending my girls some of mama’s sourdough bread tomorrow.

Enjoy your Sunday!

❤️

“I think you should finish what you started. If you give according to what you have, you will prove you are as eager to give as you were to think about giving.”
2 Corinthians 8:11 CEV

Day 108: Chronicles of a Country Wife

Sat, 04 Jul 2020 01:30:00 -0600

After staying up late to bake two loaves of sourdough bread on Thursday night, I mixed up a batch of dough for English Muffins. I love this recipe because you put it in the fridge overnight and bake them the next morning. And, it makes three dozen smaller muffins or two-and-a-half dozen regular sized ones. I used my electric skillet this time. I had more control over the temperature. And, I could cook a dozen at a time. You cook them on one side for about seven minutes, turn them over, pop the lid on, and cook another seven minutes. Then I put them back on the baking sheet and put them in a 350 degree oven for about nine minutes. They were perfect, and...I can freeze them and have fresh English Muffins for the next three weeks!

Once the muffins were finished and the kitchen cleaned, I was pretty much finished for the day. The internet is giving us fits and the guy came out to fix it. It worked for two hours then was off again. That’s one of the frustrating things about living out in the country...modern conveniences aren’t as quick and easy to come by. He’ll come back soon and hopefully figure things out.

I noticed on my rounds through the garden that something was into my squash. I looked around and very nearly stepped on a good sized box turtle. I explained to the little critter there wasn’t room for the both of us in my veggie patch and he had to move back down to the creek. I carried him to the end of the far field and set him loose in the underbrush with lots of vegetation and water accessibility. He doesn’t need my squash and tomatoes as much as I do.

I harvested the first zucchini from the garden and made Zucchini Fritters with it. Mix up a batter with half cultured buttermilk and half all purpose flour. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix with a fork till well blended but little lumps are ok. Dip each slice one at a time in the batter and slip into a pan with hot oil. Cook till golden on each side and drain on paper towels. I served them alongside pork chops and it was fabulous!

You can find the English Muffin recipe here: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/sourdough-english-muffins-recipe

Enjoy your Fourth of July, dear ones!

❤️

“who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’”
Job 35:11 ESV

Day 98: Where is The Kitchen Fairy?

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 01:30:00 -0600

I don’t understand it. My kitchen looks like I’ve cooked a meal for the 101st Airborne when I’m done making....anything. Egg sandwich? Clean the range. Thanksgiving Dinner? Disaster! Bake two loaves of bread, make a double batch of tofu, and a summer pasta salad and I have to run the dishwasher AND wash the dishes and run a load of dishtowels! And clean every surface, the sinks, and the floor. It’s ridiculous! I keep looking for the Kitchen Fairy to come and clean but so far, no luck.

The thing I love about the sourdough recipe from Tartine’s is how foolproof it is. The detail in their cookbook and the abundance of step by step photographs really simplify what sometimes feels like a daunting task. I always wanted to try sourdough, but I was always a little intimidated. It all seemed so incredibly complicated. I especially love how the book teaches you about the dough’s characteristics and how to treat it with care. This is not a dough that you pound and knead. This is something you develop a relationship with.

The dough is very wet. The first step combines nothing but water, fLour, and your leaven (the sourdough starter/flour/water combo. You only stir it with your hands until the flour is moistened. Then you let it rest. You add even more water with salt in it by squeezing the dough around gently. You cover and let rise for thirty minutes. You don’t knead it. You gently lift it up and fold it over on itself, give the bowl a quarter turn, and lift and fold again. In the first two hours of rising, you do this every 30 minutes. You can actually see the character of the dough change with each gentle folding. I love the feel of the dough. You can feel the life in it. I’ve never felt that when baking bread before. This is an experience.

Once you get through all the steps, you can shape the round loaves in a towel lined bowl and pop them in the fridge overnight. I took it out at 8:00 yesterday morning and had two loaves of fresh, hot sourdough by 10:00. Once the loaves cooled, they went in an airtight storage container to soften overnight. Today, it will be a whole lot easier to cut the round loaf in half than it would have been yesterday. I’m taking some over to the former Mrs. FixIt this morning. She sent us three jars of homemade jam last week.

Today is our big trip into town for shopping and errands. Too many errands to count, really. I’m glad yesterday was pretty low key. Tomorrow is PT for Mr. FixIt and a trip to the farm to mow and do laundry. And the beat goes on...

❤️

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Ephesians 5:21 NIV

#Homemaking, #Sourdough, #Tofu

Day 97: Grass...Make it Stop!

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 01:30:00 -0600

This is the time of year where you can almost see the grass grow. Long, sunny days of hot, humid weather brings slow, steady growth. Add the rain that’s coming in the next three days and it’s going to get crazy out there! Mr. FixIt is still recuperating from his last stroke so he can’t really mow right now. I love mowing, so I don’t mind it at all. And, he is so appreciative. He always thanks me when I pick up the slack and tells me what a good job I’m doing. It makes it so much easier when you are appreciated.

I mowed the whole six acres yesterday...including with the push mower inside the fenced yard around the pool. Mr. FixIt took the hoe to the garden. My stepson told me to mix up a solution of one gallon of water with one teaspoon of Epsom salts in it. He said to pour one whole gallon on each tomato plant, once a week. I got all but eight of them fed when Mr. FixIt thought maybe I shouldn’t do all of them...just in case. Probably smart. We’ll do a science experiment and see if it makes a difference.

While I was mowing, I also worked up another couple of loaves of sourdough bread (on my water breaks). It was ready to put in the fridge in the garage by evening and will rise slowly overnight. I’ll bake it first thing this morning before it gets too hot. It was nearly 8:00 by the time I was done and a dip in the pool was just what the doctor ordered.

As I was writing this, thunder started rumbling as a storm front approached. It was the perfect ending to a really stellar day. Summer Solstice is over and the days will get incrementally shorter now. But for now...

We are knee deep in June!

❤️

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.””
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Day 96: Pizza on the Grill

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 01:30:00 -0600

We had a little social gathering last night. Just six people. Socially distanced. But, it was for dinner. This was my first attempt at cooking for company after Covid and I was a little nervous. I wanted to make sure our guests were comfortable with what I made, so I chose homemade pizza. I wore gloves during prep, and I wanted them to see that the food was untouched after baking.

I made two batches of pizza dough. I never double a recipe when it comes to yeast dough. It never works really well. I found a recipe where you can rebake the crusts kind of like those yeast rolls you buy at the store and finish baking at home. I had four large pizza crusts ready. When our guests arrived, I quickly assembled the first pizza and popped it into the gas grill at about 500℉. I ran back in and topped the second pizza and by the time I got back out, the first was was ready. I put the second one in and took the first to the table and transferred it to a large rustic wooden cutting board on the table under the maple tree. The sun was on the other side of the big building and the evening began to cool. I baked all four pizzas and there was plenty to send home with our guests. We ended the evening with a lovely lemon cake that they brought with them.

I forgot how much I love entertaining. Mr. FixIt and I have had the kids over for socially distanced visits, but to prepare food and sit around talking for hours is such a treat. The other day I had to go into town without Mr. FixIt. I kissed him goodbye and turned to leave then looked back.

“I don’t like leaving you.” It was different before the strokes. Now I worry.

“I know. We’ve been together 24/7 for the last four months. It does seem weird, doesn’t it?” He gave me that reassuring smile that told me two things. He’ll be ok. And if he isn’t, we cannot spend the rest of our lives walking on eggshells. So far, the tests they’ve been running are all good. I told him last night we have to accept that we may never know why he had two strokes in less than three months. We might as well move forward as though he’ll never have another one.

We used the last of this week’s sourdough bread so today I’m making more. I made yoghurt yesterday. I don’t think I like this culture I’m using. It comes out more like cheese than yoghurt.I told Mr. FixIt last night...I no sooner get the kitchen cleaned till I’m off making something else and messing it up again. It’s like picking up after your kids...only I’M the one making the mess!

Edit: I want to make something clear here. The people we chose to dine with last night have been following strict social distancing so there was an added level of safety there. And, when I said I need to tell Mr FixIt we can’t live in fear of this, I meant the fear of another stroke. We don’t live in fear of the virus. We live with caution. There’s a difference. Safety first, always.

❤️

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

Day 89: Way to Go! Pulling off a Great Birthday!

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 01:30:00 -0600

My mom always said, “Mind over matter!” She was right, of course. I could have headed into my birthday without expectation. My post yesterday morning looked like that’s where I was heading. And, somewhere between there and here, I heard my mom’s voice telling me “Mind over matter” and I pulled myself up by the bootstraps. First, I made sure I slept really well Friday night. I didn’t eat spicy food and I didn’t eat late. I took it easy on caffeine in the afternoon. And I practiced good sleep hygiene before bed, ie no TV, no news, soft music, and we slept in the camper. It was cool overnight so it was the best sleeping weather.

I woke up completely refreshed and the sun was shining and we were knee deep in June! The green is so green it almost hurts your eyes. We had a nice, healthy breakfast of oats and fresh fruit and coffee and loaded up the tractor on the trailer. We hauled it over to the farm and knocked out the mowing in record time. We hit the road and stopped at the pizza place for sandwiches. After having a picnic by the river, we headed on home.

All my people either called, FaceTimed, or texted me for my birthday. I got lots of pictures of Grandma’s flowers out at the farm. I had a Magnum Chocolate Caramel Ice Cream Bar as my “birthday cake”. Life is GOOD!

You know, bad stuff happens to everyone. We cannot always be sitting on top of the world. Sometimes we find ourselves in the valley. That’s normal...even though it sucks. And...like I said yesterday...it’s perfectly OK to NOT be OK sometimes. If you find yourself struggling often and you feel like you are floundering, it is ok to talk to a Mental Health professional. There is nothing wrong with that. I’ve had a lot of therapy in my life so I have a lot of tools in my toolbox to handle most situations. In this case, I just had to have a really good night’s sleep and tons of contact with people who love and support me...including all of you.

Thank you all so much for the words of encouragement and the Happy Birthday Greetings! You really helped me pull myself up by the bootstraps and get moving and the day turned out to be grand!

Here’s to showing 67 how it’s done!

❤️

“For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.”
Proverbs 9:11 ESV

Day 75: Back in the Kitchen

Sat, 30 May 2020 01:30:00 -0600

I’ve been itchin’ for the kitchen all week and finally got to spend the day in my “food lab”. I started out putting soy beans on to soak so I could make tofu before the end of the day. I meant to set them out the night before, but I forgot. In order to make them plump up faster, I covered them with hot water to give them a jump start, then set them aside while I went on to the next idea.

I bought blueberries on special a few days ago and I knew if I didn’t use them up somehow, I was going to lose them. So, I mixed up half a cup of water and a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice with half a cup of sugar, a pinch of salt, and a tablespoon of cornstarch. I stirred in three cups of fresh blueberries and brought them to a boil over medium heat and cooked them till they were thickened and glossy. Then I poured them into an airtight container and popped a beautiful container of Blueberry Sauce to be served over ice cream or cake or yogurt. Yummmm!

Once that was done, I fed three jars of sourdough starter that I have going. One is for a friend. One is my regular starter. The third is my experimental starter. I’m thinking of turning it into a sweet starter to use for a Southern Sourdough Bread recipe I found. Once the starters were fed and put away to incubate, I mixed up a big batch of Whole Wheat Sourdough Pancake batter and that’s what we had for brunch.

The thing about sourdough...it rarely tastes the same every time you use it. It grows and changes and picks up new wild yeasts. And it gives off more and more acids and that’s where sourdough gets its name....it’s very tangy. You can increase the tanginess artificially by adding citric acid, or you can let it rise overnight in the refrigerator. My pancakes are always tangy now because they use older, more acidic starter. Yesterday’s were delicious and I don’t think I can ever go back to pancakes from the box again. They’re much too....blah.

Once brunch was complete, I mixed up a dough for English Muffins and set it to rise. By this time, I was ready to get outside and get some sunshine. I took down all the bird feeders and filled them. I took down the old hummingbird feeder and threw it away. I don’t know what it is about that feeder, but the hummers just don’t love it. I filled and put up the one from the farm. Hopefully, the little velociraptors will return.

I sat down to watch “Grant” with Mr. FixIt. I tried...I really did...but I just couldn’t stick it out. I kept thinking of the million other things I could be doing instead and I begged my leave. I went back to the kitchen and cooked up a double batch of spaghetti sauce and sweet it in the crockpot to simmer and thicken.

I ran the soaked soybeans through the soy milk maker...two loads this time...and strained the solids from the soy milk. I saved the thick, damp solids (called okara) and put it in an airtight container and stored it in the fridge. There are things I can do with that. We’ll talk about that when we come to it.

Once the soy milk was heated then cooled to around 170, I gently mixed in a liquid nigari solution to start the curd process. Once the fluffy white curds began swimming in the lightly yellow whey, I scooped them out and placed them gently in a cloth lined tofu box. But this time, Mr. FixIt was tapping his foot...it was time to leave for therapy. I placed the lid on the tofu box and set a quart jar of dried beans on top to gently press the extra whey from the bloc of tofu and make it a nice firm texture. My preference for slicing and cubing for cooking.

A quick trip to town, Physical Therapy, post office, a takeout picnic from Olive Garden (because it was date night!) and a stop at the store finished of the town trip. As soon as I got home, I had to unbox the tofu, place it in the storage container, cover it with fresh water, and pop on the lid. Stored in the fridge, that block of tofu will feed us several meals and remain fresh all week as long as I change the water every day. I stored the three jars of starter in the fridge, then prepared the English Muffin dough for its final rise before cooking. While it was rising, I did the dishes and wrote this post. Tomorrow, I’ll show you the final step in cooking the English Muffins.

Another good solid day of “fun work”. Another good kind of tired at the end of the day. It’s supposed to be cool the next few days so I’m looking forward to some field camping this weekend!

❤️

“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.”
Ecclesiastes 9:7 NIV

#Food, #Baking, #Comfort

Day 61: Busy Inside...Busy Outside

Sat, 16 May 2020 01:30:00 -0600

This week flew by. All these projects keep me from dwelling on the time creep and we wrapped up the week with a bang! Mr. FixIt got the mower deck off the old tractor to get it welded. I fed the sourdough and made a batch of blackberry jam. Unfortunately, it didn’t set so I need to do it over today. Just repeat the process and add more pectin. I cut the fresh tofu in half inch cubes and set it in the fridge to marinate for supper. Harvested the alfalfa sprouts I’ve been growing in the kitchen. I saved the blackberry containers to use to keep the sprouts fresh in the fridge...score! I drained the coffee elixir from my Toddy brewer for cold brew. So that’s ready for some delicious iced coffees in the coming weeks. We tilled the garden and planted fifteen tomato plants, two hills of squash...one yellow crookneck and the other zucchini, and I planted some extra squash in a planter I have. I like to let the squash get really big, then cube them up and can them like bread and butter pickles. I washed dishes a hundred times. I took lots of pictures to share but I’ll wait till the jam actually sets. Then I will share some. Till then..I’m done. This was a beyond tired day but we needed to get it done before the rain comes again.

The big news is, I made stir fry with the marinated tofu, broccoli, cabbage, mushrooms, egg, jasmine rice and a couple of handfuls of the fresh sprouts I harvested yesterday. We ate out on the deck by the pool and Mr. FixIt looked at his supper and started naming the ingredients. When he said “chicken”, I just smiled. He looked at me in surprise.

“That’s tofu?”

“Yep! What did you think?”

“Pretty good!”

That’s Mr. FixIt speak for “delicious!”

Score!

❤️

“and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ESV

Day 57: Still the Sweetest Thing

Tue, 12 May 2020 01:30:00 -0600

So, after my virtual meltdown on my blog yesterday, Mr. FixIt and I had a really beautiful day. We’ve been binge-watching West Wing and we are down to the last disk in the collection...the final three episodes. We have really enjoyed this series and I was thrilled to introduce my husband to its intricacies. I think he had only watched a couple of episodes back when it was on the air, and it’s one of those shows you really should watch in succession in order to bond with the characters.

We decided in the afternoon to head up to Marietta, Ohio. It’s a college town, so there’s a level of sophistication mixed with Midwest charm that I find really cool. I never really spent time up there when I was growing up. Going to Marietta would have been a BIG trip for us...it was in a whole other state! Granted, you could SEE that state from the house I grew up in, but still...it seemed so far away.

After we finished our errands, I asked Mr. FixIt if he’d like to go over to Barlow, Ohio to Seaman’s Mercantile to check it out. When we were at the nursery last week getting tomato plants, the owner shared her love for canning with me. We were chatting about the best place to buy jars and lids when she told me about Seaman’s and I just had to check it out.

The original business in the building was started in 1857. The business has changed hands, and names, over the course of time and has been owned by Charles and Kara Seaman since 1983. I fell in love the second I crossed the threshold. There were flyers to the left of the door advertising butcher pigs and other assorted farming interests. The front window was filled with canning supplies. There were little treasures to be found at every turn.

I went with a singular purpose. I wanted to buy a large sieve to drain tofu, yoghurt, and cheeses. I knew what I was looking for but couldn’t find it in the local shops. When I went around behind the cooler filled with soft drinks, there it was...hanging on a nail high above my head. I climbed up the step ladder and plucked it off the hook. While I was up there, I spied a clear plastic half gallon jar with a screw on lid that I could use for storing dry goods so I picked that up. I also noticed a box of canning and pickling salt. I want to try my hand at making sauerkraut and you can’t use table salt. The iodine will ruin the kraut. Bingo...just what I needed.

As I was checking out, Mr. Seaman and I struck up a conversation about canning and preserving. He told me he had a couple of glass jars this same size if I was interested. They were a good price so I picked them up as well. They will work as my pantry storage for flour to keep it fresh. The owner at Sim’s Greenhouse told me about a large stainless steel canner that is made by the Amish. She had just received one for her birthday and it came from Seaman’s. It’s huge! It is a large rectangular box and fits over two burners. It was $121. I was tempted...but decided to wait and see how much I actually can this year. I told Mr. FixIt, if I were thirty years younger with a large family, that would definitely be a worthwhile investment. I just don’t know if I will be canning the kind of quantities that would justify such a purchase, so I passed...for now.

It turned out to be such a lovely “date day” and we were reminded yet again why we really do enjoy each other’s company. You can find Seaman’s Mercantile HERE.

❤️

“Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.”
Proverbs 24:27 ESV

Day 54: Up to My Elbows in Flour

Sat, 09 May 2020 01:30:00 -0600

I know I’m not the only one baking up a storm. You can’t find yeast. Flour is in short supply. There really is something to that theory of reaching back for comforting smells and tastes when you are going through troubling times. And there are not many aromas more comforting than bread baking in the oven.

As I’ve told you in the last couple of weeks, I have never explored the wonders of sourdough so I felt it was high time to try my hand at it. Bread has been around longer than metal. Our earliest ancestors baked flatbread from the grains they gathered and ground between stones. Egyptians recorded the use of leavening in both beer and bread. Wild yeasts have been used since before the written word.

Sourdough starter is created using nothing more than flour and water. Wild yeasts are all around us, but specifically they are on the wheat berries themselves. When they are ground, the yeast spores ride along in the flour. Mixing the flour with water gives the yeast food to grow on. The acids produced by the fermentation process are what gives the bread its distinctive sour taste.

Making sourdough bread is a true labor of love. You nurture the starter, feeding and babying it every day with just the right amounts of nutrients. I actually bought a kitchen scale...something I thought I would never in this lifetime need. Now I can’t imagine not having one. I use it for everything. Every morning, you stir up your starter and discard all but four ounces. Then you add four ounces of lukewarm water and four ounces of unbleached white flour or whole wheat or pumpernickel...depends on your recipe. Stir it well. I place a sandwich bag over the jar and poke a few holes in it so it can breathe. Then, you do it all over again...every morning. It really is becoming second nature.

I mixed up the beginnings of the bread on Thursday night, covered it with plastic wrap, and placed it in the fridge overnight. Then I took it out yesterday morning and started playing with it. It was a good ten hours before I had two hot, crusty loaves fresh from the oven. We could hardly wait to cut into it and slather on some butter. It wasn’t as sour as I expected it to be. I still need to work on this, but I was really pleased with my first batch.

In the meantime, I mixed up a batch of yoghurt and set it up to culture overnight. Today I need to make a blackberry pie with the berries I picked up this week. We are having a cold front this weekend, so puttering in the kitchen is just what the doctor ordered. It’s the perfect escape and it fulfills my basic need to nurture and feed those I love. While things begin to open up around us, we continue to stick close to home. We are healthy and happy here.

We’ve been camping all week out in the field here at the Ponderosa, but I conceded defeat last night. I agreed to sleep inside since it was supposed to be down as low as the 20’s by daybreak. Probably tonight, too. It will soon warm up again and later in the week we can get back out there in TOW-Wanda and camp.

If you are interested, here is an excellent recipe for sourdough bread. There is a link at the bottom for a recipe to make homemade sourdough starter.

❤️

“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.”
Ecclesiastes 9:7 ESV

Day 31: The Redbud and Dogwood are Blooming!

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 01:30:00 -0600

The redbud are blooming!!!

Mr. FixIt and I have been watching the weather reports very carefully the last week. We needed to get out to the farm to mow so we have been waiting for a dry, sunny day. Yesterday and today both were forecast to be beautiful, but...there was a 60% chance of rain last night. The ground at the farm is very soft and since it’s in a holler, it just doesn’t dry out very well. A heavy riding mower could easily tear up the lawn if we weren’t careful so we decided to go yesterday.

The wispy purple-pink of redbud are so ethereal mixed with the spring green. One of my favorite color combos.

As I was gathering things up to leave, I asked Mr. FixIt if he would like to go spend the night at the farm since we were going out anyway. This coming weekend is when we were supposed to go to the beach, so we have both been feeling the disappointment of changed plans. This would be a nice little getaway and feel like at least we saw something other than our own four walls.

The first mowing of the spring out at the farm.

As soon as we drove into the driveway, we saw the tarp on the vintage camper had been ripped off in the wind. We knew we needed to get that fixed as soon as possible so we quickly got the lawn mowed then headed to the closest town with a hardware store to buy a tarp. The drive there was stunning. The sun was shining. It was just warm enough to have the windows open and the wind blowing through our hair. On the way home, we stopped to pick up a pie and ice cream for dessert. I also finally had the opportunity to snag a shot of this really cool dry-stacked rock wall I’ve been eyeing for the last couple of years.

I think this big pine is going to have to come down before too long. It keeps leaning out over the yard.

Every time I had the opportunity, I stopped and took photos. After Mr. Virgo died, I realized I only had a handful of photos of him. He was always the photographer so we didn’t get many pictures of him. I’ll never make that mistake again. Now I take pictures of everything and everyone. I have hundreds of photos of Mr. FixIt and since I’m taking photos of him, I end up taking pictures of a lot of other things, too.

I drive past this dry-stack rock wall frequently and finally got a picture of it.

We have a lot of cherry blossoms. Now if we could just keep the birds out when they’re ripe in order to actually have some for pies.

One of my friends from Grandma’s church posted a picture of a batch of Redbud Jelly. Unfortunately, I don’t have the stuff to make it at the moment, but I’ll have it for next spring!

Stacie says it’s really easy to make and has such a delicate taste. And, my oh my...isn’t it just beautiful? I’m thinking Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits and Redbud Jelly are definitely on the menu for Spring 2021!

Here’s the picture of Stacie’s jelly and the recipe she sent me:

Stacie’s Redbud Jelly. It’s as pretty as a picture!

I hope you are finding things to look forward to today. When we were at the hardware store yesterday, we bought seeds to plant green beans. The last three springs, the rabbits have eaten them. Now that we have Pumpkin the Guard Cat...we haven’t had any bunnies in the yard so maybe we will have beans this year!

❤️

“Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.””
Hosea 6:3 ESV

Day 19: What Day is This?

Sat, 04 Apr 2020 01:30:00 -0600

Our new pergola on the deck by the pool. We are a good team!

I’m finally getting some relief from the pain in my muscles and joints and that means I am sleeping better. Hyperparathyroidism. Big word for a very tiny little gland that has decided to go haywire. It takes an average of eight years to be diagnosed with it. Eight years. It’s taken me three years to get an answer and I feel like that’s forever. Hyperparathyroidism causes an elevation in calcium which takes calcium out of your bones where you need it and they get more brittle and ache. It also causes muscle aches, insomnia, hair loss, depression and irritability. Like...grumpy on steroids.

I kind of accidentally discovered something that really helps. I had a bottle of a mild muscle relaxant left over from my car accident. I’ve tried everything else for the muscle aches. I won’t take prescription pain meds, but a muscle relaxant acts differently without the abuse potential. I took what I had last month and after the first three days, I couldn’t believe how much better I felt. Then I ran out and didn’t have them for a week and wow...could I tell the difference. I saw the Nurse Practitioner this week and she gave me a prescription and already I’m feeling so much better. I was able to work for several hours standing on my feet and climbing up and down a ladder yesterday and it felt great!

We finished our first big project of the Pandemic Era yesterday. Last summer we purchased a pergola for the deck around our pool. It is way too hot in the summer to sit out there and we were hoping this would offer enough shade to at least have coffee and meals. This week we decided it was the perfect time to put it together. Mr. FixIt and I are a good team and we had that thing up in a couple of afternoons. Now we just need to figure out how to keep the cat off of it. She was SO excited to see it. She thinks we have erected her very own pedestal and I’ve chased her down several times. We are going to have to come up with something to keep her from trying to jump up from the railing in the back. If you have any ideas, let me know.

After the pergola was finished, we went for a drive. It was 4:30 when we arrived at the nursery about ten miles from our house. It is out in the country and there were only six people there in all, spread out over three greenhouses. We quickly picked out fourteen tomato plants, a small bag of onion sets, and a couple of fresh heads of butter-crunch lettuce for salads. We were in and out of there in less than ten minutes and wiped everything down before we put it in the truck.

We called ahead for a pizza and the owner brought it out to us wearing gloves. It was hot and fresh from the oven so no contamination there. We wiped down the box with disinfectant wipes then cleaned our hands. Then we drove over to the park, turned the truck so the bed was facing the river, and sat on the tailgate for a picnic. There was no one near us at all and it was such a treat. We came home and cleaned up again and placed the tomato plants on the windowsill in the family room.

It was a little taste of normalcy. We had a huge dose of Vitamin D from working outside in the fresh air and sunshine. And we avoided the news all day till 6:30 when we watched Lester Holt. We are finding a better rhythm...a better balance. We are picking ourselves up a little and adjusting more. We are remembering how blessed we are to have each other’s support and love. And, how much fun we have together.

Thing only thing I’m noticing is, I have no idea what day it is. All day yesterday I thought it was Saturday. I told Mr. FixIt...every day is Saturday now. Of course, don’t say that to the people working from home. A lot of places are saying there won’t be school the rest of the year and this is something teachers and children will have to adjust to. There will be no closure, no sense of an ending or a moving on. This will take some time for them to process how to best serve their students and their own children.

This is just another layer to the onion...another way this pandemic will affect us and future generations. There will be ripple effects that reach far beyond today. Of course, being safe...keeping our children and everyone else safe...that is of primary importance. Still...it’s just one more thing. Another loss.

The weather is supposed to be beautiful again so today will be spent emptying out the truck so it can go in the body shop on Monday for a couple of weeks. I also want to get the camper cleaned out so we can go “camping”. After all...we have our own little five acre campground here. We might as well take advantage of it!

❤️

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."”
John 13:34-35 ESV

Sweet Caroline

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 01:30:00 -0600

Memories are like pictures in a shoebox. Sometimes you get to find out what happened to that girl.

She was just a little girl when I first met Caroline. Two years my junior, I felt ever so much older and worldly than the little girl with the long, straight hair. Caroline had an older brother about my brother Gary’s age. Our brothers both went to the “special school” in our home town. Our moms knew each other through the Easter Seal Treatment Center where the boys both received speech and physical therapy. My mom was the secretary. Caroline’s mom volunteered whenever mom needed envelopes stuffed for the fundraisers that were held periodically.

I never really knew Caroline. Our ages were just enough different that our paths didn’t cross through school, but I remember seeing stories about her and her brother and parents in the newspaper from time to time. She always had that long, straight hair. She went on to become an artist and lived in New England. But, so many times over the years, she and her brother would come to mind and I’d wonder how they were.

Last night, as Mr. FixIt was at the bowling alley with his buddies, I went to Panera to write my post. As I pulled out my iPad, I looked up at the woman sliding into the booth next to mine. I smiled. It was Caroline!

I caught her eye and smiled.

“I’m sure you don’t know me, but you would know my mom and my brother.”

Turns out she did remember and we had the most lovely conversation...comparing notes of lives lived and times past. Well, as much as you can in a few minutes in a restaurant. I’m afraid our conversation took up much of her dinner time, but I was so happy to have connected with her.

Her brother is in a care center now and really doing as well as can be expected. He seems to be happy and content where he is and there’s a lot to be said for that. I invited Caroline to find Marshmallow Ranch. I hope she does. It’s so wonderful when you can dot some “I’s” and cross some “T’s” in your life. It closes an open loop that has run through my mind over the years.

What a treat it is when there’s some completion to a story.

❤️

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."”
John 8:32 ESV

The Party’s (Almost) Over

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 02:30:00 -0600

Have fun little girl!!!

I didn’t sleep well at all my last night in the little rpod. I lifted the shade over the bed at about 1:00 in the morning and watched the clouds flitting over the bright, shiny moon. I smiled as I thought of all the beautiful places I’ve been in it. I felt my phone buzz and saw my friend Diane had texted me. She’s the “non-camper” that I took camping back in early October. She wanted to know if I was still in the camper. (Yes, we often chat in the idle of the night...we are both night owls.) Finally, we both decided we might sleep if we had a bowl of cereal. lol

As I sat nibbling on Raisin Bran, I got to thinking...wouldn’t it be nice if you could tow a camper around and live in it a little bit before you buy it? You can rent some models, but it is not an exhaustive list to choose from. I knew within a week of living in Big TOW-Wanda that there were things I really didn’t like about it. For one, the windows didn’t open very far and you never really got a nice cross breeze.

After having this little beauty for the last five months, I’ve just about decided to sell the big camper and downsize to the rpod 196. There’s really nothing major I would want to change on it. I think I would put some sort of rain guards or an awning over the tops of the sliding windows so I could have them wide open when it rains. Other than that...it’s golden. And that comes from really living in it over time.

I was telling Mr. FixIt how much I would miss this camper and being on the road with her, but just as much as that, I am looking forward to getting some things done around the house that have been pushed to the back burner. I’m not sure how much camping we’ll get to do this summer anyway with all the work that needs doing on the house in order to get it on the market. I do know there will be a trip to Colorado!

When I did finally wake up yesterday after a fitful hour or two of sleep, it was so quiet. No rain! The rivers are high and overflowing all around and this little respite was short lived. As soon as I got the rest of the items packed up and the bed stripped, the drizzly rain started again. I hooked up in the wet and waited till I got to Setzer’s to sweep out the camper. It was useless to do it beforehand with all the dirt and wet I was tracking in.

I hauled on over to the dealership and unhooked in what was now a very steady rain. Everything was out of the camper and I handed over the keys. It felt really weird to leave without towing something! As I pulled away, I stopped and snapped this picture and said a quick prayer...for the new owners...and for safe travels home for both of us. She’s gonna make someone very, very happy in a couple of days!

And now...back to work!

Here’s the link for the camper. If you buy a ticket (or three) I promise I’ll stop bombarding you with these links. (Ohhhh, that’s not fair. The raffle ends tonight at midnight. Still...) There are also links in the story for all the wonderful companies who partnered with us to bring the camper from “Factory to Fabulous” as well as the HoldYou Foundation. It’s worth your while to go check them out.

[girlcamper.com/introduci...](https://girlcamper.com/introducing-the-r-pod-196-from-factory-to-fabulous/)

❤️

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 NIV

Please Share...the Last Chance for Raffle Tickets!

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 02:30:00 -0600

Praying for lots of ticket sales to help the families of critically ill children. And, for the new owners of this sweet little camper!

The last five months have been SO much fun! Traveling through five states, camping at several state parks and private campgrounds, over 6,000 miles driven, plus some boondocking off the grid. All in one of the coolest little campers I’ve ever had the privilege to spend time in. I’m seriously considering selling Big TOW-Wanda and getting an rpod 196. I love the floor plan, it is so super easy to tow, the kitchen is really workable, the sofa is honestly indistinguishable from a residential as far as comfort (and folds down into a twin bed to boot!) There is SO much storage and the bed is situated so no one has to crawl over their bed partner to get out in the middle of the night. And to top it all off, the windows let in an amazing amount of light. They had me when I saw the window over the bed!

I spent the day yesterday clearing out the things I’ve toted around with me on the trip. It’s amazing what can accumulate in five short months! There were things that stay with the camper, things that go back to Janine, things that go home, and things to throw away. As I sat and sorted, I prayed for the new owners of this little camper...that they see beautiful sights, that they enjoy peaceful solitude and/or family adventures, and that all their travels are safe and secure.

Thank you all so much for joining me on this journey! I’ll post a farewell photo tomorrow. In the meantime, if you could please do us the honor of sharing this link with everyone you know, I would be ever so grateful. The monies from ticket sales goes to the HoldYou Foundation to assist families who have critically ill children with the practical things they need...keeping the lights on, buying groceries, gas for the car to get their child to and from the doctor. It’s a wonderful charity that the Girl Campers supports wholeheartedly. If you have access to a newsletter or mailing list, that would extra super special! We are getting down to the wire now. We have extended the hours to purchase tickets to midnight on Valentine’s Day! Wahoo!

[girlcamper.com/introduci...](https://girlcamper.com/introducing-the-r-pod-196-from-factory-to-fabulous/)

❤️

“and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”
Isaiah 58:10 NIV

Raindrops & Resting

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 02:30:00 -0600

On a rainy day, I head to the campground with the sweetest little camper in tow...the rpod 196.

Getting the camper out of the mall was a lot easier than getting it in there. When I took it in, it was facing in the opposite direction of where I wanted it. And, when we made the arrangements to display the camper in the first place, we all failed to take into consideration the full length of the camper plus the hitch and the truck. There was no way I could make enough three corner turns to get it turned around on my own.

The maintenance man came to the rescue with a wooden pallet and a floor jack with a fork lift on it. We unhitched onto the pallet and he manually turned the camper till it was where it needed to be....which happened to be in exactly the perfect spot to hook up to the truck and pull it out.

I had such a blast driving it through the mall. There are tons of walkers there in the mornings and I was there bright and early to avoid the crowds. I waved as I slowly drove behind the security guard who walked ahead of me making sure everyone knew I was coming out with this monstrosity behind me.

I was really glad to see it was raining and warm yesterday morning. It would have been a real mess if it had been snowing. I got on the interstate at around 10:00am. I had a reservation already made at the campground, a hot cup of coffee, and my GPS. I didn’t need directions to where I was going, but I like knowing how much further I have to go when I am towing.

It rained like crazy while I was driving down here. At one point, as I was crossing a river, I could barely see through the rain. Luckily, I wasn’t driving very fast when I hit some standing water and felt the camper fishtail a little bit. It is very important not to hit your brakes when you feel that because you can easily hydroplane out of control. I took my foot off the brake and the camper came right back in line. I dropped my speed an additional 5mph and let people go around me if they wanted to.

The staff at the campground were waiting for me with warm greetings. One of the nice things about camping in the off season is people have the time to chat a spell. Mary was delightful. There was a young man in a golf cart to escort me to my site. I was a little disappointed in the price of the campsite, but pickings are slim in this neck of the woods so I took what I could get. It is a full hookup site which doesn’t do me any good other than the electric since the camper is winterized. I am conveniently located near the bathhouse which is handy.

I was up very late the night before and awoke early yesterday. I had to unhook in the pouring rain so the first thing I did was get the heater going. I had to remove the propane tank when the camper was on display in the mall. Whenever you hook up a new tank to the gas lines on a camper, you have to bleed the air out of the lines till the propane gets through. This involves turning on a burner on the stove and holding a long handled lighter flame to the burner till it catches. Then you turn on the second one. Once you turn off the burners, you can start the furnace and it should light right up, which it did.

The next step was to turn on the refrigerator in preparation for getting a few groceries later. But first, I was chilled to the bone so I piled the blankets on the bed and crawled in till I was nice a toasty. Around 3:00, I went to the Piggly Wiggly for some food to get me by for a couple of days. I will turn in the camper on Wednesday and head back home.

As I am writing this, there is a gentle rain falling and bigger drops falling from the trees overhead. I love this sound. I have my electric blanket on and this wonderful rechargeable lamp from FLI Products is casting a warm glow to the room giving it such a homey feel. When I first saw the wallpaper in this camper, I have to admit...I was slightly taken aback. But I have come to absolutely love it! It’s so cheerful with the colors and patterns and I think Janine did a tremendous job. Spoonflower has over 750,000 patterns to choose from and I never would have thought to put these patterns and colors together. But they really work. I will definitely keep them in mind the next time I decorate a camper and make it my own.

Today is all about writing and cleaning out the camper. It is a bittersweet day, but I bought myself something special to cook in my Hot Logic Mini portable cooker so I’ll have a yummy dinner waiting when I’m done!

❤️

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV

The Last Trip with the RPod and The First Trip of 2020

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 02:30:00 -0600

Heading out for the last trip in the rpod today! What a fun little camper this has been. Don’t forget to buy your tickets!

Well, today I go get the rpod and drive her out of the mall. The raffle is this Friday (Valentines Day!) so I’m taking her out on one last camping trip before she goes into storage to await her new owner.

The last trip in this sweet little camper. I have really enjoyed my time with her. And, it’s my first road trip/camping trip of 2020! I’m looking forward to snuggling up for a couple of days of writing and cleaning things out.

It’s been a crazy busy, super fun five months! I was just telling Mr. FixIt over the weekend that I haven’t had time to even consider Seasonal Affective Disorder this winter. Part of that is the mild winter we’re having. And part is all the writing and traveling I’ve been doing.

I am looking forward to having a little rest this week then I’m getting busy stripping wallpaper in the dining room! As my sweet husband says...life is always an adventure with Ginny McKinney!

❤️

“Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.”
2 Corinthians 8:11 NIV

Camping in the Mall

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 02:30:00 -0600

“I love the little picket fence the maintenance man at the mall fixed up for me. Now I want one for camping ALL the time!”

I spent much of yesterday at the mall meeting and greeting folks coming in to see the Girl Camper Charity Raffle rpod. When I walked in, I took one look at the camper and smiled ear to ear. I was talking with one of the maintenance guys the day I took the camper in and told him how some of the gals I’ve camped with doll up their camping spot. So, he took upon himself to go dig around in their prop room and find this cute little picket fence and set it up around the business end of the camper to hide the jack, propane tanks, and hitch. OMGosh! Now I want Mr. FixIt to make one of these for me when I camp all the time! Too cute.

I can’t remember if I told you about the cutest little boy who came into the camper over the weekend. He must have been about 7 or 8. He studied the layout and then asked if I had schematics for the camper. I showed him the floor plan. I knew it wasn’t exactly what he was looking for, but he was too polite to say anything. I knew he was trying to figure something out. Finally, he turned to me and told me how cool it must be to live in the mall in a camper because I don’t have to drive to go shopping! What a sweet boy.

I still can’t get over how few people I know who come through the mall. Yesterday I saw a husband and wife that I knew and that was it. I was away for a long time, and Parkersburg is a lot bigger than it used to be when I was growing up.

Here’s something I’ve found interesting. When I arrived at the mall early to deliver the camper the other day, there must have been well over a hundred people walking in the mall for exercise. I was really happy to see that. West Virginia has always ranked really high on the national obesity scale. Yet, in the summertime you see walkers everywhere and in the winter, they go in the mall. I wonder if this is common elsewhere because I’ve not noticed it in other places I’ve lived.

Today is my Gigi day...I am meeting the girls and all three babies for lunch and a little shopping and exercise. I can hardly wait! Then tonight is bible study. I love Thursdays!

❤️

“that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:17 ESV

The Bonus Family and Basketball

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 02:30:00 -0600

Having fun with the bonus family and basketball.

When I married Mr.FixIt, I immediately more than doubled my family. I have all these bonus kids, grandkids, and now great grandkids. I remember dreaming of having a big family like my own grandma had. And now, Mr. FixIt and I have a combined family of 8 kids (with significant others), 9 grandchildren (with significant others) and 3 greatgrands. It’s so wonderful!

My stepson and his family gave us tickets to a WVU Basketball game for Christmas. We met them at a restaurant in Morgantown for dinner before the game and had such a wonderful time. I’m learning so much from this experience...mainly how to be a better mom and grandma to my Colorado family. I miss them terribly and can’t wait to see them again. I don’t know if I can wait till summer to see them or not. We’ll see.

The basketball game was a bit of a blowout as West Virginia beat Texas 97-59. The highlight of the game came from a freshman...a preferred walk-on named Spencer Macke. He’s made a few points on foul shots this season, but had yet to score a two, let alone a three pointer. As with most young players, the coach will often bring them into the game when the score is really lopsided so they get some experience with court time.

I heard the student section cheering really loud and asked Mr. FixIt what was going on. He said Macke was about to come into the game and the students were cheering for him and encouraging him to make his first basket of his career with WVU. I loved that. I watched carefully as his fellow teammates tried to set him up with the ball. Two or three times, the ball came to him but either he dropped it or he missed the basket. There has to be a lot of pressure on a young kid being watched by 14,000 screaming fans.

Macke was being guarded tightly and could not break away. The students started chanting his name, the clock was ticking down. Then, all of a sudden, the ball was passed and Macke saw his chance. He faked out his guard, spun to his left, and let loose a high arcing shot that hit the basket from the 3-point line with seconds to spare. The crowd went wild! His teammates were jumping up and down on the sidelines. It was a sight to behold!

When the team lined up to link arms and sing “Country Roads” at center court, the team made sure Macke was standing in the middle. The older students took him under their arms and tousled his hair. Others patted him on the back and shook his hand. And, on the way off the court, he was lifted to the shoulders of the other players and carried out of the coliseum.

Such is the right of passage for a young athlete. I loved seeing the camaraderie...the encouragement from the other players...the warm enthusiasm from the crowd and his fellow students. It feels good when people lift each other up instead of feeling threatened or jealous. This is how we rise...by lifting others. It was a wonderful lesson to see.

❤️

“But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”
Exodus 17:12 ESV

There’s a Fire in My Soul

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 02:30:00 -0600

There’s a Fire in My Soul!

There is a fine line between having a fire within...and running around like your hair’s on fire. A lot of times, the difference between the two is nothing more than attitude, perception, decision. I’ve been so super busy for over a year. Ever since my dear friend Janine chided me and told me to put my knitting down and write my book last February, I haven’t stopped running.

I’m hoping my travel schedule isn’t quite so intense this year. I was gone for a total of four months last year. Not only is that too much to do, it’s expensive, and it keeps me from getting things done around here. Things that NEED doing.

Mr. FixIt is making great headway on the new bathroom now. He’s patching drywall and putting in new light switches. He’s doing an excellent job and I am terribly impatient. I’m an instant gratification kinda gal. He is a hardworking perfectionist. We’re learning.

Yesterday was SO much fun! I took the camper to Huntington and they interviewed me for a segment on their “First Look at Four” show. They filmed me cooking a meal in an RV kitchen. There will be a link I can share and you can watch the segment...hopefully tomorrow.

Nothing deep and meaningful today. Just enjoying living in the moment...soaking it all in. It feels good to be in my skin. There were many, many years when I could not make that statement.

Happy Thursday!

❤️

“"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:34 ESV

Finding My Sea Legs

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 02:30:00 -0600

“I first learned to sail on a catamaran just like this. Liberation!”

I know very little about sailing. What I have learned was from a handsome young Mayan boy at a Caribbean resort many years ago. A dear friend had lost her husband after a relatively short struggle with cancer. Three of us decided to take her away after the funeral for a change of scenery. We thought it was a grand idea, and indeed...she took it like a champ. But, none of us had had any experience being a widow at that point and honestly...I have no idea how she did that. But she pulled it off and we all had a grand time.

We stayed at an all inclusive resort in Cozumel. It was a new resort, and it was travel agent week. The ringleader of this little soirée has a sister who was a travel agent and she got us the most incredible deal. We pulled this thing together quickly and within a matter of four days after the funeral, we were being greeted at the airport by men in crisp white and were handed refreshing wet towels and cool drinks. Our luggage was whisked off and we were treated like royalty for the next few days.

One of the activities we could experience was sailing a catamaran. I have always had a massive fear of water, but felt somewhat secure with a life jacket. We met at midday for an hour lesson and soon we were zipping back and forth...up and down the coastline. For some reason, I just “got it”. It seemed like second nature to gauge the wind and turn the sail to take us where we wanted to go.

It wasn’t long till my three friends had become bored and hot and were ready to head back in and do something else. I guided the craft back to shore, but when I let them off, I waved and said I was heading back out. I sailed alone on the Caribbean for the rest of the day and came back in as the sun began to set.

I felt so free...the wind in my hair, the salty sea spray splashing up on my skin keeping me cool. The rudder secure in my hand...let me steer the boat this way and that. I’ve been thinking about that experience a lot this last week. The confidence I felt on that catamaran is far different than the course I am sailing at the moment.

I knew there would be an adjustment phase to cutting back on writing every day here on my blog. But, I didn’t expect to feel so “rudderless”. Writing every day was my way of dropping anchor when the seas of everyday life tossed me about. That hour or so before bedtime was my daily meditation. Without that, I feel a little lost.

Oh, don’t get me wrong...my dance card is full. I’m writing like crazy. And, I’m doing lots of other busy and fun things that are keeping me hopping. Mr. FixIt and I met in town for dinner last night. We had no sooner finished till I received a return phone call I had to take and answered several texts that I had been waiting for. All for really cool, fun things coming up that I’ll share soon.

When I put my phone away, I took my sweetheart’s hand.

“Thank you for being so patient with me while all this is coming together. I really appreciate it.”

He smiled and squeezed my hand.

“Do you remember this time last year? I was sitting all day long...every day...knitting washcloths. What on earth happened?”

He laughed and said, “YOU happened!”

He’s right. He tells me all the time...”It’s always an adventure with Ginny McKinney!”

My friend Gail and I are a team. We share the Ohio / West Virginia Girl Camper Chapter. Gail is the Ohio Guide and I am the West Virginia Guide. We run the Chapter’s page on Girl Camper sharing features like “Local Finds” and “My Picks”. We write stories about our experiences, how-to’s, and places we’ve traveled. And, we just joined 99Walks which we’ll be sharing with you. You can find our page here.

The Girl Camper Chapters are not just about camping. We also share the fun things about our states that we love...great places to stay, play, and dine. We want to make our page a place where anyone can find something enjoyable and we’d love to have you stop in to see it, poke around a little, and tell us what you think. If you can’t find me here every day, you might find me over there. I write on the main page under the tag “Girl Camper Wisdom” and in the articles about the Charity Trailer Raffle.

Some of you have said how much you miss me writing every day. Believe me, I’m missing it too. I’ll try to share past posts on the odd days that I’m not writing a big piece and hopefully that will fill in the blanks a little for both of us. I need this as much as anyone else. it’s become my comfort zone...my soft place to land. That’s not a bad thing to learn about myself.

I hope you are enjoying this odd little stretch of warmth we are having this month here in the east. It’s January and it can change on a dime. If the sun shines, go out midday and walk facing the sun. Air out your house. Drink some tea. Bleach your sheets and your counter tops. It gets rid of some of the germs hanging around in a closed up house. It’s good for what ails ya’, as my grandma used to say.

Oh, yes...I almost forgot. We are getting a new great grandson tomorrow!

❤️

“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”

Proverbs 18:15 ESV

Seeking Comfort in an Uncomfortable World

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 02:30:00 -0600

“Travel brings me comfort in an uncomfortable world.”

Well, dear ones...this is it. The last day of the year. The last day of a decade. And oh...what a time it has been. At the beginning of it, I was happily married to Mr. Virgo...living in Denver and not much liking that part, except for being in close proximity to my children. Not that I got to see them much. I was very focused on my husband and didn’t see past the end of my nose. A major regret.

Three years into this decade, my life stopped when Mr. Virgo died unexpectedly...and I set out to create a new life with a new me. I sold the only home I had ever owned on my own. I made some bad decisions...but I’ve also made some good ones. I’ve driven tens of thousands of miles. I settled into and lived in the home of my heart on a beautiful farm that’s been in my family for nearly ninety years.

I’ve connected with some really wonderful people, and reconnected with people I’ve known for a lifetime. I’ve written hundreds of thousands of words as I poured out my grief and my heart and my love into the ether sphere. I married a man I initially set eyes on when I was six years old.

I gained people. And...I lost people I loved dearly.

I totaled a truck and escaped with nothing worse than a small brain bleed that left me struggling to remember things for a couple of years, which filled me with fear. This last year, things finally started to fire on all cylinders in my poor noggin and I feel more like myself than I have in a very long time.

I’ve aged a hundred years in some ways. I’ve gotten much younger in others.

I got a cat. Well...she got me.

I gained a huge extended family and I’m now not only a grandma....I am a GREAT grandma to two little ones with a third one due any day now. I am a GiGi, to be exact. A Mom and a mother-in-law and a Nana and a GiGi. A sister and a friend and a wife. How cool is that?

I went to Church Sunday night and Pastor Justin asked us to think about who we were before we were saved. In that moment, I realized THAT’S what has been hovering in the back of my mind as I contemplate the end of this decade. Because it was the beginning of the previous decade when my life very nearly came to an end.

I let myself cry as the music wafted over me, the Holy Spirit covering...filling me with his Love. My life has moments of demarcation with lines in the sand marking the points between “before” and “after”. The overdose. My mom’s death. Finding Jesus. Meeting, then losing, Mr. Virgo.

Finding ME.

Finding love again.

Marrying a wonderful man.

All while traveling. I get bored being in the same place too long. I need to seek new horizons from time to time. I need to get away and “blow off some stink” every once in a while. I need to recharge...away from everyone and everything I know. I need to go where no one knows me and rest in the anonymity that comes with the unfamiliar.

I get uncomfortable when I become too comfortable. When things start to get too predictable, I need to shake things up. I tried to count how many houses and apartments I’ve lived in during my lifetime and I lost track. I crave change. Thank goodness I’m married to a very understanding man. It makes me easier to live with, I think.

I don’t usually travel like I did this year...not since I was on the road with the camper after Mr. Virgo died. It was different this time. It was harder to be away from my sweetheart. Partly because I genuinely love being with him and partly because I’m older now and I have intimate experience with loss. Things have changed. There’s more to lose now. I’m not sure how much I’ll travel in the coming year...but I’m sure it won’t be quite like 2019.

We’re heading out tonight for a family bowling party to ring in the New Year. I can’t remember the last time I bowled. I can’t remember the last time I was out past 10:00! I have to remind myself...I’m only 66. There will be plenty of time to lay down when I’m dead and gone, right?

Maybe I can take a nap before we go.

Happy New Year, my dear ones! If you are struggling, may 2020 bring you peace, prosperity, and good health. You are so loved.

Thank you. Truly...thank you for being here all these years. I am eternally grateful for the connections I have made through this page.

Be blessed!

Ginny

❤️

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.”

Psalms 96:1-3 NIV

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Psalms 90:12 NIV

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

Proverbs 16:9 NIV

The Family Christmas Extravaganza

Sat, 28 Dec 2019 02:30:00 -0600

“Is there anything better than an apple pie fresh from the oven?”

We entertained my bonus family last night for our annual Christmas gathering. I started a new tradition with them when I entered the picture...chili and cinnamon rolls. One of the grandchildren loves Key Lime Pie so I made one along with an Apple Pie...another family favorite. Along with the chili came a large platter of peanut butter sandwiches. This is a West Virginia thing. When we were in school, the cooks either served peanut butter sandwiches or peanut butter cookies on chili day. We had both last night.

There was enough to send everyone home with some chili and desserts. I took the easy route this year and used paper plates and bowls and plastic silverware. The kitchen looked like a bomb went off in there and I don’t care. It had to wait till morning.

We added something different this year and did a white elephant exchange which went over really well. There was lots of laughter and feigned sadness when one of our gifts was “stolen”. The kids mentioned several times how fun it was and they want to do it again next year.

These big family dinners seem like a lot more work the older I get. That’s one of the reasons I adopted my Colorado family’s tradition of the chili and cinnamon rolls. After Thanksgiving, everyone is sort of turkeyed out and another big meal seems overwhelming to me. I dream about the possibility that someday all my Colorado family will come to me for Christmas...but they don’t come here for the same reason I don’t go there. The weather is just too unpredictable and with Colorado being such a tourist destination, it isn’t cheap to fly there any time, let alone in the winter.

Now that this event is behind us, I feel like I have a little time to breathe for the next few weeks. We received tickets for a WVU basketball game as one of our Christmas presents and I’m really excited about that. It was a lot of fun the last time we went.

I hope you all are enjoying the holidays in whatever way you can.

❤️

“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.”

Psalms 128:3 NIV

A Good Kind of Tired

Sat, 14 Dec 2019 02:30:00 -0600

“Girls with Grandmother Faces”

The best laid plans. I had every intention of taking yesterday off and doing nothing but knitting. As soon as coffee was finished, I headed to the office to finish up “just a couple of things”. Three hours later, I emerged when Mr. FixIt needed my help. We are working steadily on the master bath and yesterday was “hang the door”. I’ve never hung a door before...like a pre-hung door with the frame and all. That’s a chore.

I have to tell you...Mr. FixIt doesn’t get things done quick, but when he’s finished, it’s quality engineering. When he had the shower stall in place, it was measured and placed so precisely, you couldn’t slip a dollar bill in the space between. Hanging the door was a little tricky but when it went in, it was darned near perfect. I am very impressed with this man of mine!

We finished in time to clean up and meet our fellow high school classmates for dinner at a local Italian restaurant. There were forty of us there and I looked around at these beautiful people with grey hair and we’re still so young!

An update on the kitten. After spending her entire ten days post-spaying confined to the house, she let us know she was bored out of her gourd and wanted O-U-T-S-I-D-E by firmly biting us whenever we came within reach of her. After I pulled her off my leg for the umpteenth time, she got her wish and has become her sweet kitty self again. We tuck her into the pole building at dusk every night and give her some snuggles and food and water. We check her heated water dish and heated kitty condo and make sure her litter box is presentable and say goodnight.

So, I ended the day...tired and happy. A good tired. The kind of tired where you know you accomplished something. Not bad for a Friday the 13th! And today? It’s up in the air, but I really mean to knit and address Christmas cards. And watch some Christmas movies and make phone calls. And maybe bake something yummy to go with the BEST beef stew that I made yesterday. What are you all up to today?

❤️

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”

Psalms 20:4 NIV

It’s a KISS Christmas - Keep it Simple, Santa!

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 02:30:37 -0600

“Simple and elegant…vintage Shiny Brite ornaments like these hang on our tree here at the Ponderosa”

Wait! How can it possibly be just two weeks till Christmas Day??? It seems like I was on the RPod Tour yesterday and now we are sliding into the home stretch and the year will be over. I went to the farm Monday midday to write. I fell asleep to the sound of rain on the tin roof. I couldn’t help it. Not only was it soothing, but it’s my happy place and I’ve been running around like crazy this year. I just enjoy it so much.

I woke up yesterday morning and looked at the weather reports. When I went to sleep it was 61℉ and raining. By morning they were predicting snow in the afternoon. I had limited groceries with me so I decided to pack up and head back to the Ponderosa. When I walked in, I heard the carpet shampooer running in the basement and that can only mean one thing. The basement flooded again. I went down and helped my sweet Mr. FixIt clean up the mess.

Once we got the worst of it done, I sat down to write. I have deadlines to meet every couple of weeks and I had a lot of work to do. Several hours later, I turned off the computer. I’ll finish this morning. Mr. FixIt baked some peanut butter cookies. We watched the news. We read the mail. We got our first Christmas cards yesterday. I haven’t even thought about doing ours yet. I haven’t gone Christmas shopping. I haven’t baked cookies or made special gifts. Nothing.

I used to feel really bad about myself if the holidays weren’t visions straight out of a Hallmark movie. I have SO gotten over that. The house is decorated…enough. Did I get the Christmas Village out on the dining room table? Nope. It’s ok. If my friends and family get a New Year’s letter from us, is it going to be the end of the world? Nope. It’s ok. If the kids get cash cards instead of intricately wrapped gifts, will it make the holidays any less bright? Nope. How about if I buy a store bought cheesecake instead of making fifteen dozen cookies…does it take anything away from our celebrations? No.

Because…all the decorations and the hoopla, the frenzy and the manic late nights aren’t what this holiday season is about anyway. It’s about love. And celebrating Jesus. And gathering the family and holding them close. I started a new Christmas tradition for Mr. FixIt and family when I came into the picture. I make a big pot of chili and homemade cinnamon rolls. It’s low key. We exchange modest gifts. And this year, we’re going to have a White Elephant gift exchange as a fun activity. If you’ve never done that, it’s a lot of fun. Here are the rules:

Each participant supplies one wrapped gift, usually of similar value. The gifts are placed in a central location, and participants determine in which order they will take turns selecting them. The first person opens a wrapped gift, and the turn ends. On subsequent turns, each person has the choice to either unwrap a new present or to steal another’s. When a person’s gift is stolen, that person can either choose another wrapped gift to open or can steal from another player. To avoid never-ending circles, each gift can only be stolen once per turn. The game is over when everyone has a present. Generally, it is recommended to have at least six participants for the gift exchange party. With a larger group, game play may be more protracted.

It’s a KISS Christmas…Keep it Simple, Santa!

❤️

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:21 NIV

Love to the Rescue

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 02:30:55 -0600

“One of my besties! Deneene and her sidekick, Griffen the Grey, came for a visit. She’s good for what ails ya!”

I wrote in yesterday’s post about feeling “in the ditch”. I struggled for a few days with grief waves triggered by a traumatic loss in the family. Then, in swept my dear friend Deneene with lots of love and her trusty sidekick, Griffen the Grey. Griff is a nine month old French Bulldog who wriggled his way into my heart when we visited Deneene and her husband Mark in South Carolina this summer.

I had been greatly anticipating Deneene’s arrival for the last week and when she walk in the door, all the “holding it all in” released with her big bear hug. I had the gas stove in the family room fired up so it was nice and toasty. And I had the TV on with this really great ten hour YouTube fireplace video running in the background. We have a huge TV because the family room is huge. It used to be a two car garage, so if you want to read the fine print at the bottom of the screen, you need a big TV. When Deneene walked in, she said she could see the fire blazing from the road leading past our house. I was glad no one thought the house was on fire and called 911!

We didn’t stay up too late and talk because my friend is a new grandma and had just spent a week at her daughter’s helping out with the new baby. She was pretty tired so we said goodnight early. Deneene is not a real morning person, so when Mr. FixIt and I woke up at 8:30, I told him to be really quiet so as not to wake her. I forgot that puppies get their mommies up really early and she had been waiting for US to get up and keeping Griffen quiet.

When I heard them talking in the family room, I quickly dressed and went into the kitchen to cook breakfast. Scratch biscuits with homemade sausage gravy and eggs. OMGosh! It’s been forever since I fixed that and it was SO good. I made Paula Deen’s Cream Biscuits. They are love in the palm of your hand. Look up the recipe. Super easy! And sausage gravy couldn’t be easier to make than mine. Fry a pound of sausage till browned, sprinkle about a third of a cup of flour over it and stir till combined then slowly pour enough milk over it to loosed it up, adding more milk as it cooks, stopping when you get the right consistency.

As we sat and ooohed and ahhhed over the delicacy before us, we slathered butter and local orange blossom honey over the rest of the biscuits till there were just three left. I tucked them in a bag for Deneene to take with her to nibble on the road. Deneene raved over our hospitality and I told her it was the best B&B this side of the Mississippi…and it’s free!

We said our WV goodbye. She announced she should be leaving. We told another story. She said she really should get going. We hugged and talked about when we would get to see one another again. She gathered up her things. I made sure she didn’t forget her biscuits. We walked to the door. We hugged again and declared it had been too long since the last visit and we shouldn’t wait so long next time. She double checked if she had everything. I asked if she needed a bottle of water for the road. She picked up her bags and we had another long hug at the door. As she walked through, we noticed she had set down the biscuits when she put on her coat so we retrieved them for her. If it hadn’t have been raining, we would have walked her to her truck and the goodbye would have lasted another fifteen to twenty minutes. Thus is the nature of goodbyes in the country. It’s a goodbye full of love!

I called after her, “Don’t forget to text when you get there!” If it was dusk, I would have said, “Watch for deer!” That’s West Virginian for “I love you!”

Deneene honked from the road as she drove by and I waved madly from the front window. And she was gone. My friend whom I helped through her own grief had come and returned the favor. I felt so much better after her visit. I have a big deadline to meet this week so after Deneene left, I packed up and went to the farm where I turned the TV to the same fireplace video. I survived another wave and I’m on to the next thing. Such is the nature of grief. It just gets incorporated into life and you move forward. Thank you for your support yesterday. You have no idea what that means to me. I wish everyone who grieves had cheerleaders like you to support them through their journey.

❤️

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
John 15:12 NIV

A Good Book is a Good Friend

Sat, 07 Dec 2019 02:30:31 -0600

“Books open the mind of the reader and sparks an interest in the world.”

I am so busy writing now, I seldom have time to read. I have a stack of books by the bed. A cabinet full in the family room. My iPad has at least a dozen good books just waiting for me to sit down…yet I seldom do. And when I do have time, I love to knit.

I used to read voraciously, but since Mr. Virgo died, I just can’t seem to concentrate long enough to get into the story. I wish I could. I think I would love to sit by a babbling brook on a warm spring day and while away the hours, getting lost in a captivating storyline. I keep hoping.

I do have such fond memories of reading. My mother taught me to read before I started school. The first grade teacher was so taken with my early reading skills that she sent me to other classes to read to the children. I always had a book, and when I didn’t have one, I read the dictionary or my hand-me-down encyclopedia. Mom bought a set of books as shopping rewards from the grocery store when I was very young and I devoured them.

I have memorable moments with certain books. Love Story. I threw the book across the room and sobbed. To Kill A Mockingbird. I felt an inherent shame for the ill-treatment of others. Of Mice and Men. It broke my heart because I have a differently-able brother. There was Watership Down which got me through seasons of anxiety. There were the horror stories of Stephen King. The dramatic mysteries from the likes of James Patterson and Robin Cooke and so many others.

A very special time in my life was when Daughter #2 and I cuddled in bed every night and read the Harry Potter books. Thinking back on that time is bittersweet. Reading with her was wonderful. But my marriage was falling apart, as was my fragile mind in the midst of it all, and that season of my life was clouded by Prozac and assorted pharmaceuticals.

I have a new generation to read to now. Our oldest great grandchild is two now and is beginning to take an interest in books. The younger is just four months old so it will be a while before I can read to him, but we’ll have lots of picture books. And, another little boy will be gracing our presence in January.

I think I may have to start scheduling a time to read for pleasure. What are your favorite reads these days?

❤️

“He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord.”
2 Kings 23:2 NIV

It’s Feel Good Friday

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 02:30:21 -0600

“Here’s a photo of my happy big brother. He makes this a true Feel Good Friday!”

Wednesday night, after leaving the funeral home in support of family who suffered a devastating loss, I came home to an empty house while Mr. FixIt ran errands in town. I cleaned up around the house a bit, snuggled the kitten and put her to bed, then padded down the hallway to our room. I got into my cozy jammies, climbed into bed, and prepared to write my post…as I do every night. Then my phone dinged.

I looked down and it was a text from Hubby #2. He was having dinner with my brother and sent me a picture. He does this whenever they go out and it makes my heart burst…for a number of different reasons. First, because I miss my brother and I only get to see him once a year now. He is my only blood sibling. I have two sibs of the heart…but my Bubby is the the best. He owns the biggest piece of real estate in my heart. It made me so happy to see that great big smile from this sweet, sweet man.

The second reason my heart exploded is…this picture was only possible because the man I was married to for twenty years thinks enough of my brother to make a point to take him out to dinner several times a year. There was a time in the throes of divorce that I truly mourned, not just for the loss of a marriage, but the loss of my friendship with #2. I was always hopeful we could develop that again, but it wasn’t until Mr. Virgo died what we set everything aside and called a truce. I’m so glad because it’s so much better for the kids and grandkids when you can get along. The fact that he takes my brother out for dinner and sends me the picture makes me proud of the personal growth we both have accomplished.

I’m always looking for good news stories to share with you all because there’s already so much bad stuff. We need something uplifting. A friend shared a cute little Christmas commercial with me last night so I decided I’m going to try to have “Feel Good Fridays” to give us all something joyful to take us into the weekend. Thanksgiving was so late this year that it’s giving us a shorter Christmas season. And…this is the time of year for all the feel good stories. After December, I’ll have to go hunting for them. But, hunting I shall gladly do. I hope you enjoy this sweet little story out of the UK.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/04/uk/heartwarming-christmas-advert-intl-scli-gbr/index.html?ofs=fbia

❤️

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

My First Pickup Truck

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 02:30:19 -0600

“My first pickup truck was a 1968 Ford F-100”

I was talking with someone the other day about a pickup I used to own. My first pickup. Husband #1 bought it to move our belonging to Colorado when he got stationed there in the Air Force. The truck was a 1968 step-side Ford F-100…the most beautiful blue with a white grill. Like many things from my younger years…I had no idea what I had and lost till many years had passed.

When I took up camping and wanted a vintage trailer, I thought a vintage truck to go with it would be grand. I don’t have a picture of my actual truck and, since the advent of the internet, I periodically search images to see if I can find one. This week, I did!

This was the coolest truck. It was truly a stripped down basic pickup. It did have a radio and a heater. Other than that, it was quite utilitarian. We drove it from West Virginia to Colorado in early April. I honestly remember nothing about that trip save for two schemes that stick out like a couple of old slides from a dusty shoebox.

The first is trying to pack all of our belongings in the truck. We had a small freezer, a washer and dryer we had accumulated. Along with our clothes. All of our household furnishings were being shipped from England and would arrive sometime after we checking into Lowry AFB and our new apartment off the base. Our wedding gifts had been stored at my parents’ house while we were living in England. We tucked those and our clothes into the freezer, fit everything else into the bed of the truck, and tied a tarp over it all.

The second memory I have is driving through a raging dust storm in Kansas. I had never seen anything like this. It was reminiscent of one of those movies we saw in school on the Dust Bowl. It was foreign and frightening. We could taste the dust in our mouths and felt the grit of sand between our teeth for days. Once we arrived at our new apartment and were emptying the truck, I remember finding fine dust and dirt in our clothes that were packed in the freezer under the tarp. It permeated everything.

We were a one vehicle family. We were so young. I was only 21, my husband 22…with a nine month old baby. I don’t remember when we got rid of the truck or what we replaced it with. I don’t really remember loving it at the time. It was just a necessary piece of equipment to me back then. Now I look back and see it as the “one that got away”.

Maybe someday I’ll run across a truck like this again. Then again…maybe memories like this are best kept just that…memories. I look at the steering wheel of vehicles from that era and there were no safety features. I think seatbelts might have even been optional. And certainly there was nothing like airbags. Once you have been in an accident where the airbags deploy, you’re pretty conscious of the need for such safety features.

For now, it’s just fun to have found a picture of the exact model and color of the truck we had. Although, if memory serves, the roof of ours might have been white.

Memory is a funny thing, isn’t it? I chatted with Husband #1 after I wrote this. I showed him the photo and he said it was close. The one we owned was 4WD. Close enough.

❤️

“I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.”
Psalms 143:5 NIV

Refill Your Cup

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 02:30:55 -0600

“You can’t fill someone else with an empty cup.”

I met the Coffee Divas from my high school class yesterday. We try to meet once a month or so but I’ve been gone so much this year, it’s been a little less than that. When I returned from my WV tour in the Girl Camper charity raffle trailer, I was really ready to just be at home for a little bit. I wouldn’t say I was burned out…that sounds so negative and it wasn’t a negative kind of feeling at all. I just missed home and missed my sweet Mr. FixIt and I was ready to just be in one place and not move for a while.

There were eight of us at coffee yesterday. We are all so different…yet so similar. We’ve gone through a lot of the same things…sometimes at the same time…sometimes not. The wonderful thing about being “of a certain age” is our ability to relate to so many different experiences. One of my friends lost her mom a year ago Friday. She’s been experiencing all the things the come with that and I was so happy to see her reaching out as she lifts herself up from that slump we all go through in the year after a significant loss.

One of the gals had never been to one of our coffees. She knew some of us but not all. I never knew her in school, but she knew Mr. FixIt. She is introverted, as so many are. And she was stretching her boundaries to reach out and make new friends. That is not an easy thing to do when you’re sixty-six. We welcomed her with open arms. I watched a change come over her as the two hours passed. When she came in, her shoulders were tense…her eyes searching for a familiar face. By the time she left, her eyes danced and her dazzling smile said she had reached a happy place. Her cup was being filled.

As we chatted about the places we find ourselves on this journey, I told the girls we cannot expect to fill others with an empty cup. We have to get replenished…to drink from the well and be filled ourselves. I told them…it is not selfish to practice self-care. I love that we are there for each other…this variety of women whose singular most common thread is the high school class we graduated from.

I feel so much better now after being home a few weeks. I’ve rested. I’m sleeping well. I’ve had lots of hugs from my sweetheart and snuggled my great grandbabies. This week is Thanksgiving. Our plans are fluid. We might go to my cousin’s house. We might just stay home. Our local family Thanksgiving celebration is next Sunday. This is a week for all of us to reflect on the blessings we have…whether we are on the mountain top…or in a dark valley.

This is our time to look for ways to fill up our cups. When I look to God first as my Source, I’m filled with Living Water. When I look to my loved ones second, I’m filled with the blessings He has already given me. As you walk into this week, may you remember to fill your cup first so you can be a fount of inspiration for others. And may you encounter peace and love.

❤️

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NIV

Let the Preparations Begin!

Sat, 23 Nov 2019 02:30:00 -0600

“At the end of a dreary, grey day, the sun peeked through the clouds.”

We went to town yesterday to do “Phase 2” of the Thanksgiving shopping. I have a tip for you that will save you TONS of time if you’re shopping at Sam’s. Quite a few years ago, I downloaded the Sam’s app on my phone then never did anything with it. About two weeks ago, I was walking into Sam’s with my phone in my hand. I happened to look down and I had a notification that I was near the store. I clicked on it and the app opened and my Sam’s card popped up on the screen.

Our Sam’s has started checking your member card again upon entry so I just showed the lady my phone and she waved me through. No fishing around in my purse or rummaging through my wallet! I gave the app a cursory glance and saw the button for scanning your items. As I went through the store, I scanned each item before placing it in a box I had found by the front door.

When I was done shopping, I realized I didn’t have a debit card loaded so I sat down in a camp chair in the outdoor section and filled in my info. (I would suggest you do this at home and not out in the middle of everything like I did. Hindsight is 20/20.) Once all my info was in, all I had to do was slide my finger across the screen, my payment went through, and a QR code popped up as my receipt.

When we went shopping yesterday, I showed Mr. FixIt how to do the shopping in the app and it was so slick. No waiting in lines. It cuts your time in the store to a fraction and that suits me just fine.

One thing I will warn you about. When we came into Sam’s, there is always a long display of seasonal items to the left of the door. Yesterday, it was filled with holiday food items and the first display was pumpkin pies. Big…gorgeous…yummy looking pies. I haven’t had a pumpkin pie since last year and I was SO excited. I could hardly wait to get home and cut into it.

It. Was. Awful.

The filling was thick and pasty. The crust was undercooked and flavorless. And there was about twice the amount of pumpkin pie spice in it than was needed. I was SO disappointed. I think I’ll take it back today when I go to town to have coffee with the girls.

I really wanted to get a fresh turkey again this year. Our celebration won’t be until December 1st due to work schedules and the man in the meat department at Walmart said they probably wouldn’t have fresh turkeys that late. We bought a big frozen Butterball Turkey but I’m going to start thawing it WAY earlier than I did last year! I put it in the refrigerator a full five days before I needed it and it was still frozen solid the day before Thanksgiving.

Have any of you brined a turkey? Last year was only the second time I’ve done that and it makes the sweetest, most succulent turkey I’ve ever had. I only rinsed mine off before baking and I should have let is soak for a few hours in cold water to leach off some of the sodium from the brine because it was really salty. Keep that in mind if you decide to do that.

I finally ordered myself a Genuine Granite Ware turkey roaster this year. I got the big rectangular one that will hold up to a 25 pound bird. I haven’t had a Granite Ware roaster in decades. I don’t know what ever happened to my old one. Gone in the downsizing, I suppose. I’ve tried cooking a turkey about every way you can imagine. In a brown paper sack. In a plastic roasting bag. Covered with foil. Uncovered. In an electric roaster. And even deep fried. The best and easiest I have every made was in a Granite Ware roaster, just like my grandma’s.

Granite Ware Covered Rectangular Roaster, 19.5 x 12.88 x 7 Inches - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000050AVD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_3jj2DbRY14ZRX

Sometimes, you just have to go back to your roots.

❤️

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV

#Thanksgiving, #Turkey, #GraniteWare

Drum Roll, Please...I’m a Girl Camper Guide!

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 02:30:14 -0600

“The Three Girl Camper Amigas…Ginny, Gail, and Janine!”

You’ve heard me refer to a “big project” I’ve been involved with over the last year and the time has come for the big reveal. It all started when my dear friends, Janine Pettit and Gail Bable, were having an impromptu “slumber party”. Janine was driving cross country and called to say she was headed to Gail’s in Ohio to spend the night. I was the same distance away on the opposite side so I threw some things in a bag, kissed Mr. FixIt on the forehead and off I went.

After supper, we were sitting around drinking tea and knitting when Janine said she had something she wanted to talk to us about. She had a vision for Girl Camper…the website that accompanies her Podcast. She told us all about it and we started throwing ideas around. It’s been a lot of work and a whole lot of fun over the last year and now all the work has paid off!

I am now wearing even MORE hats!

There is an all new Girl Camper website! It has so many new features. You can listen to Podcasts. You can read Girl Camper Stories. There is a section called Girl Camper Wisdom and another that features Experts. We have a new Food Editor…Kate Dunbar, the Campground Gourmet! And…Janine is introducing “Girl Camper Guides”. Each state on the map colored red has a Guide. Gail and I are sharing Ohio and West Virginia. Gail writes from her vast experience as a lifelong camper, mother of ten, and camp host extraordinaire! I am writing for Girl Camper Moments. We will have camping and educational events and Meet and Greets in the coming year. And…I am the RPod Ambassador for the Annual Girl Camper Charity Raffle!

We are so excited!

You can browse the site at: www.girlcamper.com

You can visit the Ohio-West Virginia page at: www.girlcamper.com/ohio-west-va

Browse around and see what you think! Leave a comment! Sign up for the newsletter! Listen to Podcasts! It’s a lot of fun…whether you camp or not. In the meantime, I’ll still be here…sharing my daily thoughts with you all.

Thank you all for all of your amazing support!

❤️

“Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.”
2 Corinthians 1:12 NIV

Bathing on the Back Porch

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 02:30:16 -0600

“Bathing on the back porch was all I knew at the farm till I was six.” (not my photo)

This picture makes me smile. I found it on one of the Facebook pages I follow about Appalachian life. I remember in the days before Grandma had indoor plumbing, she would fill a canner full of spring water, heat it up on the kitchen stove, and fix a bath for my brother and I when we stayed with her. In the winter, the old galvanized tub was brought into the kitchen so we wouldn’t catch a chill. And in the summer, we bathed on the back porch. It was a great way to cool off and prepare us for a night of blissful slumber. I would pad up the staircase with bare feet, dressed in a clean cotton nightgown, and Mom would tuck us into bed…one on each side of her. I would drift off to the sounds of the night…a screech owl, katydids, crickets, and the sound of the creek bubbling over the rocks just at the side of the house.

When Daughter #1 was little, I felt I was ever so much more sophisticated than my countrified counterparts and bathed my daughter in the indoor bath…you know, like civilized people. But, by the time Daughter #2 came around, I started to appreciate and embrace my Allegheny roots. By this time, my daughter was big enough she couldn’t fit in the old galvanized tub so we took things a step further. It was always August when we went to WV for a visit and it was hotter than blue blazes so we took what my daughter called “moon baths”. We waited till dark, went outside, and stripped down to our “all-together” as my mama used to call it. Then we washed from a bucket of sudsy water and poured buckets of cool rainwater over us to rinse. It was heavenly.

In 2004, my mom died after a brief illness and I went home to take care of her estate. I was there for several months to clean out the house and remodel it as best I could to sell it. During that time, Daughter #1 brought Big to West Virginia for a visit. When we went to the farm, I pulled out the same old galvanized wash tub and drew a bath for my granddaughter on the back porch. This picture made me smile at all the memories that came back to me. I sent it to Big yesterday (who will be 16 in February) and told her the story of the old tub. My Colorado peeps are pretty well gentrified so she was astonished at such a primitive upbringing I had.

There aren’t many opportunities to walk down memory lane with my kids and grandkids. They live busy lives and don’t get here often so I take time when I can to share the past with them. I think it’s important for them to know their roots go deeper than the Rocky Mountains. Their past stretches back to the ancient Appalachian Mountains…to a place time forgot…on a little old porch of a little old house in a holler in the hills.

❤️

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”
Psalms 127:3 NIV

A New Approach to Winter

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 02:30:56 -0600

“Making choices to find more joy…that’s my approach to winter this year.”

I started dreading winter with a vengeance after Mr. Virgo died. I wasn’t crazy about it a long time before that, but after he died the snow shovel only had one name on it and that was mine. Before long, I began to dread fall because winter wasn’t far behind. While I was out on the West Virginia Tour in the RPod, it began to dawn on me how negative this was becoming.

I can’t change the weather. I can change my geographic location, which I’ve done. Just moving to West Virginia has added at least two full months of warmer weather with a longer growing season. If I wanted to get away from cold weather entirely, I’d have to move much further south and for now, that isn’t in the cards for Mr. FixIt and me.

We love West Virginia. It’s our home…the home of our hearts. It took me a long time to get back here. I’m not about to go someplace else at this point. So, that leaves the adjustment up to me. I saw this meme the other day and it really hit home. I can choose to hate winter, and now fall because winter is right after it. I’ll be miserable and consequently make everyone around me miserable. Because, we’re still going to have the same amount of snow and cold weather no matter if I’m happy or sad.

When I was a little girl and would get upset, my grandma would tell me to just “scratch my mad place and get glad”. In other words, get over it kiddo…you’re not in control of everything. This year I’ve decided to scratch my mad place by embracing all the wonderful things I can do in the colder months that I can’t do in the summer.

I have a much better winter wardrobe than summer. I can look forward to wearing my really pretty sweaters and boots, hats and coats.
I never drink hot beverages other than coffee in the summer. In the fall and winter, I pull out my tea pot and enjoy a cuppa in the middle of the afternoon. Or, I can hug a mug of hot cocoa with yummy, gooey, melty marshmallows in it.
It’s way too hot in the summer to bake so I indulge in trying out new recipes in the cooler months. I’ve always wanted to try my hand at baking sourdough bread. So this winter I’m going to order some sourdough starter and see what I can do.
Winter has given us the break we need from outdoor chores so Mr. FixIt is back at work on the master bath. While he’s doing that, I am going to steam off the wallpaper in the dining room, paint the walls, and put up new curtains. Then we can tackle the main bath.
I haven’t touched my book since February. This winter, in my down time, I’m going to try to wrap that up once and for all then we can focus on getting it published.
We have a new great grandson coming in January!
We always try to get down to Florida in February and that’s something I always look forward to.

Having goals allows me to set joyful things in front of me…something that has helped me ever since Mr. Vigo died. Just reading this list makes me feel far less frustrated by the cold weather. The meme is right…there will be the same amount of cold, no matter what. I might as well embrace it.

❤️

“The animals take cover; they remain in their dens. The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds. The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.”
Job 37:8-10 NIV

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

Sat, 09 Nov 2019 02:30:22 -0600

“The cold, arctic air is hitting deep into the south in the coming week.”

I think Mother Nature has other ideas for me than traveling through the Blue Ridge Mountains through an Arctic cold front. Last week, I had every intention to knock out the arm-long list of things that needed my attention and be back on the road by this time. Then, I got home. And got a real look at what needs done around here. The temps have gotten increasingly colder day by day with next week looking even worse. To top that off…there’s the new kitten. We can’t just up and leave now. It’s going to take more planning than it has in the past. That’s not to say we won’t be going anywhere, but honestly…I do not want to be off somewhere and not be able to get back because of bad weather.

In the meantime, we’ve been hustling around the farm and the Ponderosa battening down the hatches before the coldest weather of the year arrives. The top of the agenda was the pool. We really needed to get the level down and unhook the pump before last night as the low this morning was predicted to be 22°. Mr. FixIt worked all day Thursday in the cold rain and got that finished. Now we just need to get the cover over it and it’s put to bed for the winter. I emptied the food from the r-pod and turned off the refrigerator yesterday in preparation for the coming cold snap.

Cold weather is perfect for a big pot of homemade soup. When I was at the store Thursday, asparagus was on sale for $.99 a pound. I bought two pounds and made a pot of Cream of Asparagus soup. I’ve never made it before and it was divine! I made enough for four big bowls for under $4.00! Here’s the recipe should you wish to try it.

Cream of Asparagus Soup

2 lbs. fresh asparagus, washed, trimmed, and chopped in 1” pieces

1 large onion, chopped

4 tbsp. unsalted butter

4 cups chicken broth

1 cup heavy cream

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 tsp. Lemon juice

Melt butter in soup pot and add onion and chopped asparagus. Stir over medium heat till onion begins to become transparent. Add chicken broth. Cover and simmer over low heat till asparagus is very soft. Remove from heat and purée using a blender, food processor, or hand held blending wand. Return to heat, add cream, and bring just to a boil. Add lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste and serve hot or cold.

It was delicious and so quick and easy to make. Mr. FixIt said he had never had Cream of Asparagus soup before and he loved it!

Today’s culinary circus will include a Sour Cream Apple Pie and Homemade Ooey Gooey Macaroni and Cheese! These are the days I love…the days I’ve worked so hard for this year. What’s cooking in YOUR kitchen today?

❤️

“Give us today our daily bread.”
Matthew 6:11 NIV

Back to the Comforts of Home

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 02:30:13 -0600

“My little office on the go in the R-Pod 196”

One thing I really was challenged by with I was touring West Virginia was internet accessibility. If it weren’t for the fact I’m a writer and I had deadlines to meet, I wouldn’t have really cared. But when you write every day, for yourself and for others, you have to be creative in how you stay connected.

There was a delicate balance I walked. On the one hand, I needed accessibility. On the other, I craved getting lost in the woods. I chose campsites based on the view first. I always looked at the campground maps when I made my reservations and chose the one off by itself. The one with the view….the quiet…the peace. My second criteria was electric. I didn’t really need water or sewer hookups. The r-pod has plenty of water tank capacity, both fresh and wastewater.

My last question was always, “Where can I get cell or wifi?” There were campgrounds I stayed in that had neither. In that case, I drove to the lodge to use theirs. There was one campground that had AT&T, but not Verizon. This picture was taken in the kitchen of the r-pod while I was camped at Watoga. I was pleased when the camp-host said the campground has WiFi at both bath houses. Then he added, “It’s really slow, though.”

He wasn’t kidding. One little bar. As a matter of fact, every place I stayed had either one little bar of cell or one little bar of WiFi. It was a tad frustrating. Anyway, there at Watoga I happened to be camped right beside the bath house. And, if I was away from that window, I couldn’t send or receive anything. I stood a lot at that window when it was time to upload my posts or check my e-mail or Facebook. This was my little office that particular week.

I was telling Mr. FixIt about this the other night when he came to camp with me at Twin Falls. I told him I used to complain about the WiFi at home. Now it’s going to feel like high-speed fiber-optics! Well, until I get used to it and then I’m liable to complain again at how slow it is.

Yesterday was a much better day. Mr. FixIt and I went to town to buy a warming pad and a storage tote to make Pumpkin a nice warm bed out in the pole building. We also bought a litter box. We already had the feeding dish/water bowl combo. I think Pumpkin is a girl but we’ll know for sure when we take her in to get her shots and checkup on Tuesday. Now I feel really good about her bedding situation and she has already come to love the building. I think she feels safe in there.

I’m so excited to go to my home church today. I have really missed my church family! I’m heading out to the farm this afternoon after church to get the house ready for winter. And then there will be far less items on that very long to-do list. Giving myself permission to have some down time with family and falling in love with a little black kitten just might be the best things I’ve done for myself in a very long time.

❤️

““Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.”
Psalms 39:4 NIV

Meet.....Pumpkin, the Kitten!

Sat, 02 Nov 2019 01:30:07 -0600

“Kitty has an appropriate Halloween name…Pumpkin!”

I hit the ground running yesterday. The first order of business was to haul the camper to the nearest dump station…a lovely fifty-four mile round trip drive out to and up the interstate and back. When I woke up at 8:00, it was a whopping 36 degrees. Two hours later, when I was finally hooked up and ready to go, it was all the way up to 37! Ohhhhh, I really wasn’t looking forward to that, but it had to be done. Last night’s overnight low was predicted to get down to 27 and stay there for four hours. That’s when you get freezing and possible damage to water lines in a camper.

The only way I have ever winterized a camper was to run pink RV antifreeze through the lines. But this camper is different. I looked it up on YouTube and it said to open the drains, dump the tanks, pour some antifreeze in the wastewater tanks to keep any residual from freezing, and take out the element in the hot water heater. Then, you go around and turn on each faucet, one at a time, and turn on the water pump. Any residual water left inside should drain out through the low water drain. It worked like a charm! But, man…I was chilled to the bone when I was done.

I pulled the camper back home and unhooked, fully expecting to head back to town and run errands on my list that’s a mile long. As I sat in the truck, I took inventory. Have you ever had to sit yourself down and give yourself a stern talking to? Well, that was me yesterday. I was feeling overwhelmed by the expectations I was placing on myself. No one else was telling, or even asking, me to get everything done. I counted up what I had already accomplished. I looked at the list to see what I could do alone, and what I would need Mr. FixIt’s help with. I checked off the list of phone calls I had already made. Then I took a physical inventory. My shoulders and neck were so tense and tight, I was getting a headache. My body was just…tired. So…I gave myself permission to kick back for the rest of the day.

I got out of the truck and the little black kitten came running and rubbed against my legs. I reached down and picked it up and really gave it a good once-over. Well, except for checking the nether regions. It still just didn’t occur to me to look. I was more interested in testing the kitten’s demeanor. One of the tests you do with puppies is to cradle them in your arm on their backs to see if they trust you. An alpha won’t have anything to do with that. And that may be a more stubborn, if not aggressive, animal. I didn’t know if it worked with cats, but this little baby let me roll it over and snuggle and scratch it all over. It purred like an Evinrude motor on a power boat. It head butts you to snuggle face to face and taps you very gently on the face. What a precious baby!

I held it up to look face to face.

“What is your name, little one? Hmmm? Is it…Spooky? You’re a black little who came to me on Halloween. It should be a festive name to commemorate the holiday. How about Snickers? You’re pretty sweet, and that’s my favorite Halloween candy. Someone suggested Ash or Asher, but I don’t know whether you’re a boy or girl. They thought Boo was cute, but that’s what we call our little Boone, now isn’t it.”

By this time, I was at the bay doors on the pole building. There is an old kitchen stool there and Mr. FixIt put a couple of our pumpkins on it. I plopped the kitten down and took a picture. I looked up from the camera app on my iPhone and smiled.

“Pumpkin! THAT’S your name, isn’t it?!?! I knew if I listened close enough, you’d tell me, you sweet little snuggle-bug.” I picked up the kitty and was again serenade with that mystical sound of purring. Now that the kitten has a name, Pumpkin just rolls off my tongue. So sweet, so simple. Such simple pleasures found in a sweet kitten. I had forgotten. The last time I had a kitten this size, I was in 9th grade and I talked my mom into letting me have a little orange marmalade kitten from my friend Sharon’s cat.

I gave the kitten a little more snuggle time and then went in to stretch out and read till Mr. FixIt came home. My nose was running like a sugar tree from handling the cat, but I wasn’t wheezing. That was a good sign. I washed my hands well, and was careful not to touch my face or eyes. I’m definitely allergic, but we’ll see how much of this I can get away with. Because this feels like something I didn’t even know I needed. Kittens are good medicine.

I have an appointment Tuesday for a checkup and shots. We’ll see how old Pumpkin is and when we can get him/her fixed. Today I will fix a winter box with a pet safe heating pad in it. I had those for the cats out at the farm. I’ll also get a heated water dish. The kitten seems to really like the safety of the building. We won’t have any mice in there anymore once this one gets big enough to catch them. And, there isn’t any poison in there. It’s a good, clean, safe place to sleep all cozy warm in a kitty condo. When we are home, the kitten is glued to us so…I think we’ve got this!

Oh, and I slept in the house for the first time in a month last night. I feel like I’m in prison after the freedom of the road. It’ll take time to acclimate, but last night’s low of 27 drove me back inside. In the meantime, I am filled with wonderful memories of the latest “Great Adventure”!

❤️

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
Isaiah 55:12 NIV

Re-Entry Begins!

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 01:30:08 -0600

“And, just like that…two became three.”

It was a very long day yesterday. I ended up pulling the camper myself with my truck and it did fine. Mr. FixIt is pretty sure the problem was a rock in the brakes. We’ll get it checked before we head anywhere with it. That was a big relief.

The weather yesterday was terrible driving home. We came through some torrential rain and as soon as we got home, the weather channel gave a tornado warning from the same storm. There are thousands without power from the wind. It seems I got home just in time for some wintery weather. I’ll have to winterize the camper after all…something I was hoping to avoid by heading south. We’ll still get there, but there’s quite a lot of work that needs to be done here at the Ponderosa before we can leave. The cold weather just caught up with me, I’m afraid.

As I’m writing this, I am home and snuggled in bed…in the camper! I can’t give it up yet. Re-entry has always been a problem for me. I love sleeping in a camper and this camper is especially comfortable. So, we’ll try a little cold weather camping this week and see how she does. After all, we’re out on five acres…it’s like our own little campground!

Another little thing happened yesterday. My world shifted. Mr. FixIt sat me down after breakfast yesterday and told me he had something to tell me. Oh, what woman wants to hear THAT? It seems, that while I was gone Mr. FixIt has been keeping company with someone else…a little black kitten that someone dumped at the Ponderosa. He’s been feeding it. Honestly, I didn’t know what to say. I’ve been determined to never have another pet. Then, when I got out of my truck at the house, this little black fur ball came running to me like it had been waiting its whole little life for ME! I’ve never seen such a friendly cat and my heart melted.

And, like that…two became three.

We have a cat!

❤️

“There is no fear in love...”
1 John 4:18 NIV

The Red Carpet Treatment

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 01:30:59 -0600

“Sitting on a red carpet of maple leaves, the 2020 R-Pod 196 is one of my favorite campers.”

You know the story of the toothache going away as soon as you get to the dentist? Well, Mr. FixIt is here (YAY!!!) and we took the truck for a long drive…all round the park, up and down hills, around and around curves and…..nothing. Not a sound. Except, when I very first pulled out of the campsite, the brakes squeaked. A long time ago, I was driving over a dirt road in the boonies of Colorado and suddenly the car started making this horrible grinding, screaming noise. When I stopped…the noise stopped. I had no idea what to do. Finally, a couple stopped and asked what was wrong.

When I described the noise to the man, he suggested perhaps I had a rock stuck in the brakes. He directed me to put my foot on the brake, put the car in reverse, and back up with my foot still on the brake. When I did, the rock was dislodged. I don’t know if that was the problem here, but when I pulled forward again with the truck, there was no squeak, no grinding…nothing. Good news…I hope! Great news…Mr. FixIt is here!!!

Since the truck seemed to be working fine, we went for a hike to see the falls here in Twin Falls State Park. It rained and was a little chilly so when we got back to the camper, I heated up some chili I had in the freezer. It really hit the spot.

So, this was the last night of the West Virginia Tour. It was so, so beautiful. And the r-pod worked perfectly. We’ll pull it home with Mr. FixIt’s truck today and watch my truck carefully. When I get home, I’ll have it checked to make sure it really is ok. I’ll leave you with a last look at the camper sitting on a beautiful red carpet of maple leaves. This part of the tour has been really special and I can’t wait to get back on the road to head south.

In the meantime, I’m going to spend a few days at home for some much needed family time and attend my home church on Sunday. Thanks so much for traveling along with me!

“The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭121:7-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Welcome to my Living Room!

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 01:30:00 -0600

“The camper is the kitchen, bath, and bedroom…the great outdoors is where I live!”

I got to my new campsite in the middle of the afternoon. The mountains I drove over yesterday weren’t anything like the ones last week but man, the road up into the campground here at the park is really, really steep! This truck did a great job pulling the r-pod in these West Virginia hills. When I arrived at my site, I was amazed to have this entire mountaintop to myself! I didn’t have any concerns about that, but I was pleased to see two more couples come into the campground with trailers.

It’s quiet as a church mouse up here. I heard some owls just after dark and a coal train. And the squirrels were in the hickory trees all around me all afternoon. I opened the awning and set up my chair outside and enjoyed the 75° temps and the warm sunshine. A few weeks ago, I purchased an adapter for my tripod so I could use the iPad as a camera. I got it out and played with it for awhile. I had a blast setting the timer for 10 seconds then running to see if I could get in the picture in time!

I wanted to tell you about what happened yesterday. I always sit in my truck before I pull out and pray for travel mercies. I list off all the things I’m going to be talking with Him about as I drive. Then I pray the Prayer of Jabez and ask Him to send me whoever He needs me to talk with that day. I hadn’t driven a hundred feet when I came around a corner and there was a whole crowd of folks my age sitting around a campfire. I stopped and rolled down my window.

“You kids look like you’re having entirely too much fun!”

“Oh, we are!!!” Everyone turned around and smiled and waved. We made some small talk and one of the gals asked if I was traveling alone. I told her all about Girl Campers and how I’m taking this camper around for a few months and we are raffling it off. One thing led to another and the subject of my writing came up. When I told them my writing is faith based and that I even have a Sunday Evening Prayer Circle, one woman came over and took my hand and asked if I would pray for her granddaughter who is sick with ulcerative colitis. I opened my blog and added her name to the prayer list. Before I left them, I took their hands and prayed with them…right there in the campground. God is so good…I asked, He delivered. Immediately! I know it happens so often, I shouldn’t be amazed. But I am always in awe at that.

I’m in the home stretch of the West Virginia tour now. Just one, maybe two more nights and I’ll be back at the Ponderosa for a few days. It’s been such an amazing trip and I’ve seen some beautiful places. I’m looking forward to heading south next week. If you all have any recommendations for campgrounds or state parks in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina…I’d love to hear them!

❤️

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.”
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NIV

Rounding Out October

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 01:30:32 -0600

“Bluestone Lake is gorgeous this time of year.”

Today is moving day so that means I get to tell you where I have been the last few days. I arrived at Pipestem Resort State Park on Thursday. I’ve been here before, but never camping. There’s a tram that takes you down in the canyon to the lower lodge that sits on the Bluestone River. There is a restaurant, gift shop, and artisan center on the canyon rim at the top of the tram. There is an equestrian center, golf course, pool, recreation center, nature center and a main lodge with every amenity you could want.

The campground is large. The interior sites have full hookups and are pretty close together. The sites around the perimeter are roomier and of course they back up to woods. There is a very large camping area with no hookups. I was told there is a major upgrade coming adding more service sites and leveling them out…something that is sorely needed.

The weather has been typical WV autumn…unpredictable. Yesterday dawned sunny and clear but within an hour we were socked in with clouds. Then, by 3:00, it was sunny again clear through sunset. The foliage is still beautiful but is definitely past the peak of color. This happens where we get cold, rain, and wind…which we had last night.

I drove over to Bluestone State Park yesterday. There is a large dam on the Bluestone River which has created a large lake. The park is smaller, less developed, and more remote then Pipestem which is less than ten miles away. There is one main campground with a few full service sites and electric only sites. There is a more primitive and rustic campground on up the road. The primitive campground sits right on the lake and is popular for fishing.

One thing I thought was pretty cool. There is a campground on the far side of the lake that is accessible only by boat. Each campsite has it’s own dock. That would be a lot of fun, I would think. There is more wildlife activity at the Bluestone Campsites because they are less densely populated. Bears, fox, and bobcats frequent the area as well as more common deer, raccoon, possum, skunks and squirrels. There are occasional sightings of otters and mink.

Bluestone State Park has a large number of cabins spread around on a wooded hilltop. One of the cabins sits beside a very old cemetery that has been there long before the park came to be. I couldn’t find anyone who knew the history of the grave sites so I will have to do some research on my own.

Again, there are so many amazing photos from this weekend but I am limited to what I can send over two bars of cell service. I’m planning on creating a video of this month’s circuit of the stunning State Parks of West Virginia. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for that or see the photos as I have the opportunity to upload them.

Today I head to the last park on my WV Fall Foliage Tour…Chasing the Sun. I’m supposed to camp there till Friday, but I’ve decided to cut it short just a little so I can go home for a few days before I head south. Well, actually…before WE head south. I’ve talked Mr. FixIt into doing the southern circuit with me!!! Bless his heart…he has been awfully patient having his wife galavanting around the countryside. I need to get back and help him with a few chores and get a few things done to be better prepared for more camping.

❤️

“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.”
1 Corinthians 7:3 NIV

Between the Trees

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 01:30:43 -0600

“Sitting by the river is soothing to the soul.”

Being a writer is a wonderful thing. I can get lost in a blank page, creating worlds from my thoughts. It’s like magic…making something from nothing. I pray over my keyboard. I ask God to bring me words to say and people who need them. I am humbled when someone reaches out and tells me how my words have encouraged them or helped to ease the pain of their particular loss. I am quick to tell them…it is not me. I am merely the transcriptionist.

When I pray the Prayer of Jabez, I ask for God to give me those Blessings with my name on them. I ask Him to expand my territory and to walk with His hand over me to keep evil far from me so that I may not feel/cause pain. I love when He brings people to me. It happens daily and I am so blessed by His generosity.

As I sat yesterday in the r-pod, working on a writing project, I noticed the camper next door had turned their outdoor speakers up and were playing loud music. Not over-the-top loud…just annoying because it was disturbing my flow. I stopped and looked at the clock. Just after noon. I had been working straight through since breakfast. I sighed and closed my iPad.

Should I go say something to the people? Should I give them a stern look as I pass by? Should I report them to the park office? I sat and prayed for discernment and wisdom. As I washed up the breakfast dishes, I looked out and there were two children…maybe ‘tweens…carving pumpkins! They didn’t have their noses glued to an electronic device. They were camping with their family and doing fun, creative things in the outdoors.

I smiled as I dried my hands. Just WHO is the one with her nose glued to an electronic device? Oh, yes…that would be ME! I laughed as I looked up and said, “Ok, ok…I get the hint!” After taking a look around the camper to make sure things were unplugged and safe to leave, I donned my jacket and headed to the Fall Harvest Festival.

I watched a chainsaw artist carve a bear out of a log. I sat and listened to some live Bluegrass music. I went to the river and sat in a chair and read for an hour. I put my book away and just breathed in the smells of the day. The aroma of good food from the lodge kitchen. The smell of wet leaves and swift river water. The earthy smell of wool as the sun warmed my sweater. I closed my eyes and listened to children throwing rocks in the river and an elderly couple chatting softly as they walked slowly by…their feet shuffling through the leaves.

I thanked God for reminding me to remove the plank in my own eye before I asked my neighbor to remove the sliver from theirs.

It was a really good day.

❤️

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:5 NIV

Time Travel

Sat, 26 Oct 2019 01:30:14 -0600

“Coffee and sunshine and a little nosh!”

As I explored the latest West Virginia State Park on my camping itinerary yesterday, I took a king sized jump back in time. The last time I was at this particular park was with Hubby #2. I can’t tell you the year, but my guess is it was the summer of 1979, although it could have been later. I remember bits and pieces of that trip. I remember feeling so extravagant to travel to such beautiful places. We stayed a night in this lodge I am sitting in as I write this post. Oh, my…so much water over the dam since then.

I sat there in the morning sunshine, watching the river making riffles on the smooth stones below. The trees are yellow and brown and still-green here. Tiny little splashes of red and orange peek through as you move your eyes across the steep hillside at the far edge of the river. By 1:00 in the afternoon, the brilliant sun of morning gave way to the clouds portending the heavy storms predicted this weekend.

I haven’t met a West Virginia State Park I haven’t liked. This trip has seriously been magical and something my heart and soul so desperately needed, if for no other reason that to remind me how dearly I love Mr. FixIt. Not that there has ever been a question. We all have a tendency to get wrapped up in the busyness of life and forget to stop and appreciate what we have. I’m just as guilty of that as anyone.

Getting away also reminds me of the independence I cultivated for my self after Mr. Virgo died. I either got out and had adventures, or I would spend the rest of my life sitting at home alone. And that is just not me. I need solitude from time to time…to refresh and recharge and stretch my abilities. When I do that, I am a much better partner for my husband. I am more patient, more loving, and decidedly happier. This is a benefit for both of us.

I’ve been gone for quite a bit this year. Between Girl Camping trips, six weeks in Colorado for my daughter’s wedding, and this Charity Trailer Raffle Tour, I think I have spent more time away from home than I was there. I have a patient husband, to be sure. But we are missing each other a lot so we are working on our itinerary for the next two months and figuring out the best way to travel AND be together.

It is supposed to rain a lot this weekend so I’ve saved my writing and indoor projects till then. I need to take advantage of the sunshine when I can. When I woke up yesterday morning, it was 37 degrees. By the time I rousted myself to get coffee, it was 8:00 and 42 degrees. I took the electric griddle outside and cooked with it sitting on the picnic table. I fried a whole package of bacon and carefully placed the cooked strip between layers of paper towels and slipped the entire batch into a zip lock bag. Stored in the refrigerator, these will be eaten up long before they would spoil. I did the same with a batch of pancakes and stored them two to a sandwich bag. That way, I’ve cooked several days of breakfasts ahead of time. When it’s raining this weekend, I can still have outdoor cooked meals.

As I finished writing this piece, I watched a little boy, maybe four or five years old…walking along the river. Bright yellow leaves rained down around him. With hands reached out, he laughed as he tried to catch them…his feet crunching on those he missed. He picked up rocks on the river bank and watched out for his little brother toddling along behind him. They were out with their dad. I love seeing dads with their littles…teaching, loving, experiencing the joy of the day. I close with this thought. Wouldn’t it be a better world if the littles spent more time outside with their dads? Or moms, if dad isn’t around? Or with anyone who loves them and wants to teach them about the world and about life? Wouldn’t it be better than handing a child an electronic device to keep them quiet…engaged in learning what someone else is teaching them? Maybe something that isn’t reflective of your values? I’m not being judgmental here. There were plenty of times I let my own little watch too much TV in order to have some peace. It just seems we are raising a generation that’s greatest skill is dissociation. I’m not sure how you put the smoke back in the bottle.

With that thought, I have spent entirely too much of my morning sitting here with my own set of electronic diversions so I’m heading out to enjoy this day before the rains come and I get stuck inside. I hope you have a beautiful weekend wherever you are. Put the phone down…go outside and play. You’re never too old to “go places and do things”, as the Girl Campers say!

❤️

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
Proverbs 22:6 NIV

Less is More

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 04:10:38 -0600

“My favorite boots.”

Ok…you all know me. You know I have something to say about…you know, everything. I’ve been known to turn a phrase. I’ve been able to paint pictures with my words. It’s not me…it’s all God. But, as I sat down last night to write this post, I was at a total loss for words. Yesterday was just about the most beautiful day I have ever seen and I didn’t have anyone to share it with. Not in real time, anyway. Mr. FixIt is still at home, picking pears and cleaning out the last of the garden. And there’s all of you. And Kaye and her fella, “Not John Hancock” (sorry, I’ve forgotten his first name but it’s definitely NOT John). I met them on a hike in Beartown State Park.

I just spent the whole day yesterday gobsmacked at every turn. It started when I awoke before dawn and saw the fog settling in on the river. I jumped up in the dark, threw on my camp clothes and muck boots, and headed down the road in the campground. I got down on the riverbank and waited. I’ve learned to wait patiently for the light. There’s a moment…just a fleeting moment, when the light is perfect and the color is perfect and the subject is perfect. It happens every day…but most of the time, we aren’t there to catch it. Or we aren’t paying attention.

If you blink, you can miss it….that one perfect shot. That one picture that says “WOW”. You can take 500 shots and have one, if you’re lucky. Or, you can take 500 shots and have SO many that just knock your socks off and you can’t choose. Some I need to keep aside for the project I’m working on. And some, while I would love to share them with you today, are just too big and the internet here at the campground won’t handle it. You’ll have to wait.

So, I chose this one. I was standing by the river, waiting for the perfect light, when I looked down and saw this colorful array of leaves around my feet. Simple. Yet it says so much. These feet have carried me for sixty-six years now. They’ve run and jumped, danced and snuggled. They’ve kicked and stomped and run away from so many things. But this day…this day they stood…patiently waiting for the perfect light. In a pair of boots that my Aunt Peeps gave me years ago. They are one of my most prized possessions. Rugged. Sturdy. Utilitarian. And practical on a wet, foggy morning on a riverbank.

These boots symbolize where I am in my life. I’m comfortable. Happy in my own skin, just for the sake of being happy. There’s something to be said for that kind of simplicity. And for knowing when less is more.

❤️

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 ESV

A Perfectly Beautiful Day

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 01:30:02 -0600

“Dining al fresco in the glory of autumn.”

Now that I have left the last campground, I can tell you about it. Some of my friends who have camped there guessed where I was. Revelle’s Family Campground is just up the road from Elkins, WV in a little burg called Bowden. There’s a fish hatchery there…and lots of cabins and campgrounds. I’ve driven past Revelle’s since I was a teenager. They actually opened when I was sixteen and the just celebrated their 50th Anniversary.

The current owners purchased it in 2015. It was a little rundown and they have put a lot into it, bringing some of it’s glorious past back to life. They have lots of fun activities like WVU Football Tailgate Parties and bingo every other weekend. There are over 200 campsites with several backed right up to Shaver’s Fork of the Cheat River…a stocked trout stream. About half the sites are permanent campers…meaning, they lease out the spot to one person on a yearly basis. Those campers treat their travel trailers like a mountain cabin and often only come for weekends. There are some who come to spend the summer.

I was really taken by the lovely surroundings and the equally lovely owner, Katharine. I can already envision organizing a Girl Camper trip next October to show off the amazing colors this time of year.

Yesterday was my travel day to the next campground. My route took me on a two-lane blacktop that climbed over mountains, twisting and turning through forests of hardwoods, evergreens, and the ever present mountain laurel. It was sunny and absolutely gorgeous as I climbed through the Allegheny Mountains and the colors were spectacular. Every turn was more beautiful than the last. However, there were NO turnoffs or scenic overlooks and I couldn’t very well stop in the middle of the road to take pictures so I will have to search the internet for the photos taken by others of this area to give you some idea. I’m telling you…words cannot do this day justice.

Along the way, I saw a sign for an old general store which is really more of a museum these days. I was fortunate to find a parking place out front and welcomed the opportunity to get out and stretch my legs. The owner was graciously greeting the crowds of people as they made their way to the portico out front. When he greeted me, he asked where I was from. When I told him Parkersburg, he lit up. He was born and raised just a couple of miles from me and graduated the year after Mr. FixIt and me and knew my sweet hubby back in the day!

Tom Shipley’s mother left this farm to him, thus ensuring the little store and grounds would stay open and in the family. Tom says it’s a lot of work, but he’s been there since 2004 and is a fixture in the community. There is a small log cabin located on the grounds not far from the huge main house. It turned out to have been built by Tom’s great-great-great grandparents. What a treat that must be to have that family legacy remain in the same hands throughout the generations. I would have loved to have stayed longer, but I needed to move on. But, not without purchasing some jars of homemade apple butter, red raspberry jam, and cherry jam first. Tom carried my purchases out to the truck for me and gave me a big hug…”for Parkersburg,” he said.

Unfortunately, as I crested the last mountain, the clouds gathered and that was the end of the glorious sunshine. Still, it was quite beautiful as I closed in on my final destination. I got unhooked and set up and within minutes, I had people wanting to come see the camper and buy tickets for the raffle. The only way to purchase tickets is to buy them online at girlcamper.com . I can’t tell you how many people reach for their wallets when they find out we are raffling off this trailer!

There is WiFi at this campground, but no cellular because of the blackout area of Greenbank Observatory. I’ll write about that another day. The WiFi is pretty slow and has to be shared by all the campers, so I don’t know if photos will come through to post or not…we’ll see. In the meantime, it was supposed to rain all last night and all day today. I have an indoor project to do today, so that will be perfect timing.

❤️

“Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.” 1 Chronicles 16:33 ESV

Take a Little Time

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 01:31:56 -0600

“The color crimson is startling in the woods of WV.”

I tell people all the time…”Self care is NOT selfish!” This weekend I took a little time for some self care and it felt wonderful. First was the old time music and folk dancing Saturday. Then yesterday, I took off early and drove over to see family in Grant and Pendleton Counties. The aunt that I cared for when I first moved back here from Colorado has been living with her brother, my Uncle Bud, for the last three years. She is suffering from dementia now and I am not at all sure she knew who I was. Which is probably a good thing because she doesn’t necessarily like me much. She was quite personable during our visit, which was nice.

I helped around the house…cleaning the kitchen and picking up. I took a chuck roast over and put it in the crock pot for them along with noodles and a pumpkin pie. They should eat like royalty for a few days on that. I shared pictures with them and we swapped stories for a while before I left to go to my cousin’s house for a while. I haven’t seen her since Thanksgiving last year so it was a long overdue visit.

As I was driving back to the campground late in the afternoon, I got to the top of Middle Mountain and saw this amazing tree. Actually, I saw amazing trees everywhere. But it was raining all day and very foggy on top of the mountain. I pulled over to the side and stood with my camera ready…just willing the fog to part long enough to capture the beauty of this lone tree on the mountaintop. It was well worth the wait, don’t you think?

The mountain sides look like a rich tapestry with everything from green to garnet, scarlet to sunshine yellow. It was mesmerizing and it was all I could do to keep my eyes on the road. Stunning! It’s this time of year that makes you hold your breath. In the spring, when the green leaves pop out, you know there is a long stretch ahead with lovely foliage. Then this time of year comes and we sit and wait for the proverbial “other shoe” to drop. Because, in a heartbeat it will be gone and the trees will reach for the sky with naked bony fingers grasping at the winter winds that whip through them.

So, till that time comes, I will gaze in wonder and will share that with you as I travel this path to see where it leads me. Today is a travel day for me. My next stop is the first campsite I have had without electricity so I’m going to rely on the solar to power me off grid. I can’t wait to see what I can still do in the camper without shore power!

❤️

“"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."”
Isaiah 1:18-20 ESV

Waiting for Home

Sun, 20 Oct 2019 01:30:07 -0600

“The house I wanted for a B&B in Elkins…it always makes me wonder…what if?”

I’m not kidding when I say I spent just about every moment of the forty years I lived in Colorado waiting for the day I could move back home. Oh, there was a stretch of time when I was young and cocky and I thought I knew better than those “old fogeys” back home who were SO out of touch. Little did I know I would give my right arm to return to my roots one day.

I had the opportunity to come home when Hubby #1 and I split up, but I turned it down. My daughter was about three years old at the time, and I wanted her to have broader horizons than I had growing up so I elected to stay in Denver where I had no family support and a relatively small social circle.

When I was married to Hubby #2, there was some talk about going back home, but he is a Colorado boy, born and bred. You just don’t take them out of that climate and plop them down in humidity. I remember dreaming at night that if anything happened to him, I’d hightail it home as fast as I could.

Then, Mr. Virgo came along. He was my best bet to get back because he was born and raised in South Philly. But he had tried his whole life to get back to Colorado, which he adored, so I knew there was a very slim chance we’d actually move back to West Virginia. However, I did get him to discuss the possibilities of owning a B&B somewhere back here.

I’ll never forget those days when we would do internet searches for B&B’s for sale. We found a big house in the historic district of Parkersburg that was a real possibility. But the one I had my heart set on was actually here in Elkins, WV. It was right across the road from the back side of the Davis & Elkins campus. It had seven bedrooms and five full baths with a large commercial kitchen. I was in love!

Mr. Virgo? Not so much. This is where the wheat was separated from the chaff and I realized it was never gonna happen. He had put his roots down in Colorado and there would be no budging that man. Now, every time I am near here, I have to drive past “my B&B”. I have no idea who bought it. It doesn’t look as though it has been turned back into the B&B it was many years ago. When I see it, I am reminded that we don’t work on our time. We work on God’s time. And it wasn’t time for me to be here back then.

I do have an affinity for this little town though. Mostly because of the college and the Augusta Heritage Center which works to preserve the old timey ways of our ancestors. I was thrilled to spend the afternoon with “my people”…folks who obviously love their heritage as much as I do. I’ve seen some beautiful places on this trip already. But I think this stop has been my favorite so far. I just wish Mr. FixIt could have been with me. He would have enjoyed this so much.

❤️

“And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.”
Deuteronomy 8:2 ESV

Allegheny Autumn Splendor!

Sat, 19 Oct 2019 01:30:32 -0600

“Oh….be still my heart! Autumn’s splendor in the highlands of West Virginia!”

I slept so soundly Thursday night. Maybe it’s sleeping by moving water that makes me drift off quickly and sleep all night…a welcome treat. It was pretty darned nippy yesterday morning and it will be even colder tonight. I got chilled when I first arrived at the campground. I went through a couple of mud puddles and the camper had been splashed from the tires. I got a pail of warm water and washed it down, but I was chilled to the bone. It was’t long after dark that I got in my warm, flannel jammies and hopped in bed under the electric blanket. I still didn’t warm up till after 10:00.

I awoke to the sun coming over the far ridge…lighting the leaves along the river with a beacon of gold that reflected on the window shades of the camper. I slipped the shades up and stayed snuggled under my warm blankets for another hour before I ventured out to begin my day. After a cup of fresh brewed coffee, I took a hot shower in the camper. It’s awfully nice to not have to traipse across a cold campground to use their bathroom facilities in the middle of the night or the chill of the morning.

When you camp and live in a small space, it’s important to stay on top of the cleaning and organizing daily or you end up just throwing things everywhere. I can’t stand living in a cluttered environment, especially in close quarters. In touring with the r-pod, there is always someone who wants to have a peek inside and it’s just easier to spend a little extra time every morning making sure everything is presentable.

I drove to town and had lunch at CJ Maggie’s in Elkins then drove over to the Davis and Elkins College. What a gorgeous campus. D&E is a small liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. With an enrollment of only 805 students, it offers a 13:1 Student/Faculty ratio and both national and international accreditations. D&E is also the home of the Augusta Heritage Center, keeping Appalachian music and skills alive for future generations. There are opportunities to hear Old Time music, both at the summer series and Old Time Week in October. I am especially interested in the Fiddlers Reunion today, as well at the Flat Foot Dance competition. It speaks to my roots and I’m really looking forward to going.

After my tour of the college campus, I drove up into the Stuart Recreation Area, a densely forested federal park along the banks of the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River. The trees are at their peak of glory here in the Allegheny Mountain Range, part of the Appalachian Mountains. This morning’s low was predicted to hit 30 degrees, bringing us the first frost of the season. If I stay around West Virginia too much longer, I’d have to winterize the camper to keep the water lines from freezing. But a couple of hours of freezing temperatures aren’t enough to cause damage. The weather is predicted to get warmer after this weekend freeze.

I’m having a lot of fun on this trip and it reminds me of those early months and years after losing Mr. Virgo. I traveled for much of the first three years after he died. The big difference between then and now, of course, is the degree of grief healing that has taken place. As I became a different woman in the aftermath of Mr. Virgo’s death, so too have I become a different person on the other side of deep grief. I think we all change and remake ourselves multiple times in our lives. Our “being” is not static…it is ever-evolving.

As my dear friend Sue told me the other night…”We love this new you.” So do I, my friend. So do I.

❤️

“that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ,”
Colossians 2:2 ESV

What a Difference a Day Makes!

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 01:30:23 -0600

“One day sunny and warm, the next day blustery and cold. Still…a day camping is better than anything else!”

When I arrived at Stonewall Jackson Resort Campground on Wednesday, it was a lovely, warm day. This campground is decidedly different from Cedar Creek. Where Cedar Creek was more rustic and filled with nature, trees, deer, squirrels, and all manner of birds, Stonewall Jackson is quite “resorty”. There were a lot of really big rigs…the huge, expensive Class A motorhomes that are just passing through. There are a lot of resort amenities here, too. A golf course, a huge lodge, a grand lake with a big boat that tours around in the evenings…weather permitting. It just has an altogether different feel and I honestly think I prefer the far end of a campground that might be visited by bears over this…even though it really is quite nice.

The sun was shining when I arrived and I spent the afternoon reorganizing the pantry in the kitchen. I wasn’t sure what all I would need on this trip so. I brought way too much “stuff”. So far, I’ve sent Mr. FixIt home with extra stuff every time he comes to camp with me. This time, I knew I had too much in the big pantry because I just kept pushing things to the back and only using what was in the front. I have an empty tub in the bed of the truck that I throw the things I am not particularly using so a big bag of heavier stuff went out there. The rest got more evenly distributed throughout the camper so the shelves weren’t overloaded.

Once the organizing was completed, dinner was done, and the dishes washed and put away, I went for a walk around the campground before turning in for the night. I know we are almost at the end of Daylight Savings Time and it’s already getting dark way too early. Once the time change hits us, it will be getting dark at 5:00pm…making for some long nights to fill in the camper. Since I don’t watch TV as a rule, I’m working on writing, reading actual books (wow), and knitting.

I spent almost the entire day yesterday over at the park lodge. The WiFi at the campground slowed down markedly because it started raining at 5:00am and people were stuck inside their campers. I’m sure they were surfing the web and maybe live-streaming movies. The WiFi at the lodge was much faster and I settled in after breakfast and sipped coffee as I met some writing deadlines. Along about 11:00, the hostess of the restaurant gasped and pointed out the window. Leaves were swirling about and the rain was coming down in sheets. I jumped up and asked them to watch my stuff…I’d be right back.

Leaving the camper in the campground unattended worried me and I wanted to drive back over to check on it. It was fine and I breathed a sigh of relief as I drove back over to the lodge to finish a piece I was working on. When you are put in charge of something that doesn’t belong to you, you don’t take chances with it. I don’t take this charge lightly.

Today is a gypsy day and I am leaving this campground. I have tentative plans for another further east, but that leads me into the mountains and the low Friday night is near freezing. I need to get the propane refilled and decide if it’s worth staying in the mountains, or should I move a bit further south. Weather forecasts can change quickly this time of year, and there is something special I would like to do this weekend where I was originally planning to stay. Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. So, we shall see where I land. Sometimes those are the best travel days…when you end up doing something entirely unpredicted.

❤️

“But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.”
Jeremiah 10:12-13 NIV

Eat, Pray, Camp!

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 01:30:46 -0600

“The r-pod 196 nestled in the trees at Cedar Creek State Park near Glenville, WV”

I moved to the next campground easily enough yesterday morning. Mr. FixIt met me at the McDonald’s in Glenville for breakfast so I could get my travel coordinates before we parted company for another couple of weeks. We had the BEST weekend! It was our first wedding anniversary, which I had told you about. When he arrived at the campground Saturday night, he greeted me with a dozen roses and a sweet card. I greeted him with a warm supper and a big hug. We hiked, biked, and chatted with folks he knew in the campground. (Have I told you he knows EVERYONE?!) We rested and watched movies and took naps. And we just flat out enjoyed not having cell service or TV to distract us from enjoying each other’s company. It was wonderful!

Speaking of no cell service, we had just finished eating lunch out in front of our camper on Monday when Mr. FixIt’s phone rang! We could barely hear a woman’s voice and she was saying something about coming to the office. We thought it must have something to do with his insurance policy because the call came from his agent’s office. That was really weird.

After lunch, we decided to go for a bike ride around the state park. It’s such a great place to ride bikes because the campground is essentially flat. When we got back to the camper, Mr. FixIt reached to remove his wallet from his back pocket and…it was GONE! We looked in both trucks and all over the camper and campsite, but he figured he had to have lost it when he was riding his bike.

I hadn’t realized till I got back to the camper that he wasn’t right behind me. I got off my bike and took off my helmet and gloves and here he came. It turned out he had gotten his shoe lace wrapped around the bike pedal and had to stop at the camp store to get untangled. He assumed that is where he lost the wallet. So, we got in the truck. I prayed out loud.

“Jesus, please help us find my husband’s wallet!”

We took off driving very slowly…looking for a brown wallet amongst the equally brown leaves all over the roadway. We hadn’t had any luck when we passed a couple out for a walk.

“You haven’t happened to find a wallet, have you?”

“Nope…sorry. We haven’t seen a thing!”

“Ok, we’ll keep looking. Thanks!”

While we were talking to the couple who were walking, another couple rode past us on their bikes on the other side of the truck.

Suddenly, we heard the walking couple.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!”

I looked in the rear view mirror and they were waving us back and pointing at the couple on the bike. The bikers rode up to us.

“You looking for a wallet? I just turned one in at the park headquarters building! They have it waiting for you!”

I stuck my hand out the window and looked up and shouted, “Thank you, Jesus!!!”

We drove on up to the building at the park entrance and sure enough, it was Mr. FixIt’s wallet…intact with his one lone dollar bill and his credit cards. As we were driving back to the camper, he looked at me and said, “Man, that was really lucky!”

I looked at him with a level stare and said, “No, honey…luck had nothing to do with that. What did I do as soon as we got in the truck? I prayed that Jesus would help us find your wallet, didn’t I?” He nodded in agreement. “Then, we asked the walkers if they found a wallet and they didn’t. But they asked the bikers, and THEY did…and had turned it in. All in the space of about ten minutes after I prayed! That was a prayer answered, sweetheart…plain and simple.”

He had to agree. Especially when we were sitting at breakfast yesterday and he checked his phone.

“Huh…I have a missed call.” It was from the same number that got through in an area with no phone service. They had called back and left us this message.

“Hi there…this is __________ from you insurance agent’s office. We received a call from the folks at Cedar Creek State Park saying someone found your wallet. You need to check in with the headquarters office to get it back.”

I looked at Mr. FixIt and smiled. “See? You can add getting a phone call in an area with no cell service about your lost wallet to the list of steps God took to return it to you!”

I’m gobsmacked when God does these things…especially when it shows another person that He’s really REAL and cares about ALL the things, not just the big stuff. Even a wallet that falls out in the leaves.

❤️

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
John 15:7 NIV

Go With The Flow

Sat, 12 Oct 2019 01:30:33 -0600

“Early morning fog on the lake. Almost Heaven…West Virginia”

So, I know I told you I wouldn’t be running to town every whipstitch, however…I really do need to write some things for a deadline I’m facing…AND, I needed to get some reservations for this trip. I ended up heading into town to use the WiFi at McDonald’s. I wasn’t finished when I saw my battery was almost gone on my iPad so I packed it up and headed back to the campsite and plugged in.

It was early enough in the day that the fog hadn’t burned off the lake yet and I stopped in the road to take a photo. There was another, even more spectacular view on down a ways, however, there was someone coming up behind me so I had to move on. Sometimes the most beautiful, unforgettable photos get left to memory and never see the light of day. Those are really special.

The campground is filling up and I just realized this is Columbus Day weekend. I imagine there will be crowds of people there by later today. Some campgrounds close by the end of October around here. I managed to get West Virginia camping all the way through to the first of November. Then I am going to either have to head south or winterize the camper. There will be some nights in the next week that will get down to the 30’s. It won’t be a problem unless it gets down and stays down, which it is not likely to do at this time of the year here.

As I am writing this, I am listening to a group of college girls. They are FaceTiming with one of their moms and it is hysterical. They are talking about their hair and what to do with it for some special event. It reminds me so much of when my older daughter was that age. I was so young and I really loved the kids. As I was driving into town earlier, Daughter #2 called and we chatted for a while. It’s crazy how fast they’ve grown and how long ago those crazy fun times in McDonald’s really were.

“Sycamore Tussock Moth Caterpillar”

The second picture is a Sycamore Tussock moth caterpillar. It was climbing up my tire at the campground…not surprising seeing how I’m camped in a grove of sycamore trees. I looked it up and they aren’t poisonous, but they can irritate your skin if you happen to be allergic to them. They said it is best to move them away with a stick or piece of paper, which is exactly what I did.

I hope you have a wonderful Saturday and enjoy the autumn weather, wherever you are!

❤️

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.”
James 5:7 NIV

Slow Down

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 01:30:15 -0600

“There’s something special about moseying out country roads instead of roaring through on an interstate.”

There is something special about driving on a two-lane blacktop in the fall. First, you’re forced to slow down…especially in West Virginia. There are a lot of 15 to 20 to 25mph turns in these parts. Beyond safety issues is the sheer beauty around every curve.

I love how the leaves fall in a shower of gold and red light in the sun. I love how the car in front of you stirs them up into a whirlwind that splashes on your windshield as you drive through them. I love how the the denuded trees cast lines on the roadway making it seem to glitter and shimmer as the miles fly under your wheels.

The morning dew glistens as the leaves flutter in the breeze of your passing. The whole world takes on an auburn glow with rich yellow, tawny bronze, and deep indigo undertones. Crows and turkey buzzards circle overhead, waiting for the tasty morsels of the unfortunate squirrel or groundhog that doesn’t make it across the pavement in time.

Deer stand tenuously on the shoulder of the road seeming to be making a decision. Should I go? Should I stay? My mind wills them to turn and run up the hill away from my approaching bumper…left to live another day. Chipmunks seem to be enthralled with the macadam madness that cuts through their turf. Scoot out fast. No…wait! Dart back quick! How I keep from hitting them, I’ll never know.

I arrived at my next campground shortly before noon. I stopped at the store on the way so I could buy chili fixin’s. Mr. FixIt was talking about chili the other night and it’s been on my mind ever since. I got unhooked and mixed up a batch for the crockpot. I made plenty to have leftovers for the freezer.

This is one of the best things about traveling with a camper. With a well equipped kitchen and a stocked pantry, you can eat healthy and save a lot of money on the road. Avoid the fast food places and steer clear of processed foods and your food budget can go a long way. I have homemade chicken noodle soup, beef and noodles, pepperoni rolls, cinnamon rolls, taco meat, potato soup, pizza, old fashioned noodles, and now chili in the freezer. Potatoes, sausage, cheese, salad greens, broccoli, cauliflower, oranges, grapes, eggs, potato salad, sliced turkey, avocado, yoghurt, milk, and cottage cheese in the fridge. I have an assortment of dry goods in the pantry, including microwave popcorn if I want a snack. We’ll be eating like royalty this weekend when Mr. FixIt arrives.

There’s and upside and a downside to this campground. Gorgeous woods. No internet at the campsite. I’ll have to drive to town to post this. If I didn’t have writing deadlines, I’d just cut the cord for the duration, but alas…my “work” is never done! There are worse things than writing every day!

❤️

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.”
Psalms 19:1-2 NIV

What Would Grandma Say?

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 01:30:37 -0600

“Autumn Glow Lights up the R-Pod”

I camped the last two nights at a park hardly anyone knows about and I’d almost like to keep it that way. Except…it’s so uber cool, I just have to share. I’ve written about Calhoun County Park before. Mr. FixIt and I took a drive out here once and took pictures of the Heritage Village…a collection of buildings that were transported here and restored. There’s an old general store, a school house, a church, and a post office among others. The post office was from Freed…not too far from Grandma’s farm. Grandma introduced me to some of the Freed family.

When we came out to the park that time, we saw a little campground and I was intrigued. As it turns out, Calhoun County Park is a designated “dark sky site”…meaning there is minimal light pollution and it’s easy to see the stars. The last couple of nights were peak meteor events. The first night was blanketed in dense cloud cover but last night was clear as a bell. Still, at the time I am writing this, I haven’t seen any.

When I got up yesterday morning and went outside, there was something about the light and sounds and smells that took me straight back to my childhood. Grandma’s farm is probably 15 miles or so from here as the crow flies so I’m practically camping in the backyard. It got me to thinking about her and what she might think of this little adventure I’m on.

My grandma always loved me, but she…like several of my family members…thought maybe I was a full bubble off the level. I have always marched to my own drum and never really did things in a traditional way. Here I am, out on 258 acres and not a soul in sight. Oh, there were some folks up at the community building the last couple of nights. And yesterday a state patrolman came through the park on his rounds. But that’s the extent of it. Grandma would think I was off my rocker!

Was I scared? Not really. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a care in the world, but fear didn’t really enter into the picture. I have protection. I have street smarts. I know the fire department is only a couple of miles away and I passed a policeman’s house not a mile from the park. Mr. FixIt is 20 minutes away at the Ponderosa. I have great cell service. I’m good.

I decided yesterday was a good day to figure out how to use the convection function on the convection microwave. On the R-Pod Owners V2 Facebook page, they talk about the “Cinnamon Roll Challenge” so I decided to bake some. Granted, they were from a can, but baking is baking, right?

It took me a little bit to figure out how to work the stove. I read the directions but it wasn’t until I watched a YouTube video that I totally figured it out. I baked the rolls…5 in the can…and iced them. I ate one and packaged the others for the freezer because Mr. FixIt is going to join me this weekend for another weekend of camping. AND…our first wedding anniversary is Sunday, so what better way to celebrate than getting lost in the woods with my sweetie?!

The autumn colors have really shown up the last couple of days and I’m in the most beautiful state to enjoy it. Almost Heaven…West Virginia! Today, I head to another State Park to enjoy more scenery and color!

❤️

“Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.”
1 Chronicles 16:33 NIV

Autumn, Sweet Autumn!

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 01:30:03 -0600

“It looks like we will finally get a little color after all!”

I stayed an extra night at Beaver Creek State Park so I’d have an uninterrupted stretch of writing time. The other Girl Campers left Sunday, but my friend Gail is the Camp Host for Beaver Creek so she stayed to keep me company. In the past I have dreaded autumn because winter comes right after. But autumn…sweet autumn. The time of harvests and gold, apples and honey. Crispy, crunchy autumn…I’ve come to love it!

It rained all night Sunday and the majority of the day yesterday. It stayed cloudy and cool which made snuggling up in the camper with my iPad and writing a rare treat. I took a break in the afternoon and went over to visit my friend Jan and see her farm…Paradise Acres. She is my age and runs a 200+ acre farm, plays in an Old Time band, sits on boards, campaigns for political candidates, and takes college classes. She is a retired Presbyterian minister. She has more energy in her little finger than I could ever hope to have!

“My friend Jan gazes out over her fields of corn at Paradise Acres.”

When I got back to the campground, Gail was there to greet me with a steaming bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup and hot rolls. What a wonderful way to spend my last night camping in one of my favorite places in the world. I am heading out and about today. It’s going to be a gypsy camp day…meaning, I have no idea where I will sleep tonight. I want to see the meteor shower for the next two nights, skies willing, so I need to be somewhere away from city lights. I’ll let you know where I end up!

In the meantime, we’ve had a good deal of rain. I think perhaps enough to pull us out of imminent fire danger in West Virginia. Mr. FixIt said there were places near the Ponderosa that received as much as three inches of rain in a very short amount of time. We have been parched here. The reason the fire danger was so high this fall was the overgrowth of vegetation from the unusually wet spring and summer we had. The vegetation is thick. Add dry weather and heat and it created dangerous conditions. I think we are past the worst of that now.

“Jan’s barn at Paradise Acres. She holds Old Time Music concerts here.”

As I was driving back from Jan’s farm this afternoon, I could really see the change in color in the leaves. Lots of yellows and some reds now. I’m looking forward to my drive today and checking out the autumn leaves. I can’t believe how early it’s getting dark already. The r-pod is comfortable and it stays nice and toasty in here. I think this new Adzel material they built the walls with is a better insulator.

❤️

““As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.””
Genesis 8:22 NIV

All Good Things...

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 01:30:46 -0600

“The curtain closes on another successful Fall What-a-Hoot!”

What a FUN event we had this weekend at the Fourth Annual Fall What-a-Hoot at Beaver Creek State Park with the Girl Campers! OMGosh…we ate and laughed and knitted and crafted. We sat around the campfire every night and talked and talked and talked. We toured each other’s campers. We broke in a newbie. We hugged and prayed and praised.

We antiqued and flea marketed and shopped and faired. We watched a movie on the big screen outdoors. We captured sunrises and sunsets. We cooked and shared recipes. We shared pictures of the kids and grandkids and great grandkids. We taught and shared. We listened. We embraced each other’s differences. We lifted each other up. We included everyone and made everyone feel welcome and special. You know what we didn’t do? We didn’t talk politics. We didn’t watch TV. We didn’t complain…about anything. Not even the 41 degree morning. Ok, maybe a little about the mosquitoes. And those folks on that one site that had a WAY too big fire and a drunken party till the wee hours of Sunday morning that kept some gals awake. Oh, and did I say…NO POLITICS! It was heavenly! The weekend ended with a much, MUCH needed rain. I’m staying on for another extra night since it’s supposed to rain all day today. I have writing to do and some trip planning. I’m also going to work on a little project I’ll share with you soon.

Happy Monday, everyone!

❤️

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NIV

Cooking in the RPod!

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 01:30:58 -0600

“Even with a compact, kitchen, cooking in the RPod is really easy.”

Saturday is Soup Day at What a Hoot. The Girl Campers gather at Beaver Creek State Park in the spring and fall…both wonderful times to camp and both offering cool nights when a hot mug of soup is most welcome. Yesterday morning it was all of forty-one degrees when I woke up. The perfect day to get out the crockpot and make something yummy.

I’m really getting the hang of cooking in the RPod. It’s a compact kitchen, but there is plenty of storage in the ample pantry…even for this monstrous 8-quart slow cooker. There are always several varieties of soup at the Saturday evening meal. This year, I decided to make beef and noodles…a wonderful comfort food that never fails to satisfy.

I bought a big chuck roast, some pre-diced onions/celery/carrots, a large pack of sliced mushrooms, some beef broth, a family sized jar of prepared beef gravy, and a 24oz. bag of frozen noodles. I sear each side of the roast in my iron skillet, then sauté the veggies and mushrooms, and put it all in the crockpot. I pour the bottled gravy and about a cup of the beef broth over the whole thing and simmer it on low for about eight hours. About an hour before I’m ready to eat, I throw in the bag of noodles and add another cup or so of beef broth. I turn it up on high and when the noodles are done, it’s dinner time! One of the nice things about having the leftovers is packing up individual containers and putting them in the freezer for meals down the road.

I realized last night, I haven’t been as conservative with water as I thought and my freshwater tank is down to 1/3 full, which means I have approximately 10 gallons left on board. I have at least two more nights camping before I can refill my fresh water and dump the grey and blackwater tanks so I’ll need to watch more carefully. I can warm up leftovers the next couple of days and use paper plates so I’ll be fine.

I think Diane had a good time camping. She enjoyed the girls and the campground. She learned a lot about staying in a travel trailer. The only camping experience she ever had was sleeping in a tent in Girl Scouts…which she hated. She really liked the RPod. I don’t know that camping will be an activity she seeks out in the future, but it sure was fun to show her the ropes and to spend some time with my good friend. There have been a lot of people who never dreamed of camping and end up enjoying themselves…whether or not they ever take it up as a pastime.

❤️

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.”
Hebrews 11:8-12 NIV

Setting up the “Spare Room”

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 01:30:44 -0600

“Converting the sofa to a spare bed in the RPod 196!”

I’m Back!!! Mr. FixIt and I had a wonderful time camping together and the little break was just what I needed to recharge. There’s nothing like being in the woods in a little camper. Losing Mr. Virgo taught me to really appreciate every moment and this week has been grand!

On Monday, we checked into Tomlinson Run State Park in the tippy top of the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. The drive up was lovely as we followed the Ohio River on Rt. 7. Mr. FixIt drove separately and followed along behind me. We got to our campsite by mid-afternoon and unhooked. It’s a lovely campground, located on top of a hill and densely wooded. The sites are all nicely spaced apart from each other. We had electric but no water. That’s not a problem, really. You just use the water you carry with you in your fresh water tanks. We rode our bikes around the campground, we cooked outside, and we spent as much time as we could sitting out looking at the stars.

We left Tomlinson Run on Wednesday and headed to Beaver Creek to meet up with the Girl Campers. Mr. FixIt loves to hang out with the girls and they really enjoy him as well. We had fires in the Solo Stove which is wonderful…so much less smoke than a conventional campfire but still enough that you feel as though you had the camping experience. We had some rain here Wednesday night. Quite a bit actually.

Mr. Fixit left yesterday mid-day to head home. My friend Diane joined me last night. Diane graduated from high school with me but we didn’t know each other back then. She and I didn’t really become good friends till I moved to the family farm in West Virginia in 2014…the year after Mr. Virgo died. I needed to find someone who could help me unload a truck so I called her to get a recommendation. We became fast friends after that.

I tried to get her to camp with me several years ago, but Motel 8 is roughing it to Diane. Then, when she found out I was taking the RPod out for a road test, she texted me with a bombshell. She wanted to come camping with me! She knew I’d be writing about my camping experiences and wanted to offer her services as “blog fodder”. “Camping with the Non-Camper!” Brilliant! This could either be really, really good…or really, really bad. I’m happy to report that, so far, she seems to be having a grand time! She fits right in with these great gals.

As is always the case, there’s always a good deal of food at these events and last night was a smorgasbord. Tonight is soup night…my favorite night during What a Hoot. Everyone brings their A-game on soup night and we all go around taste testing each person’s creation. I decided to do something a little bit different this year and make beef and noodles. I’ll stick the chuck roast in the crock pot in the morning and let it simmer all day. It will be a welcome addition, I am sure.

This morning was predicted to be 41 degrees! After a long stretch of hot, dry weather, I am really welcoming the cooler temperatures of fall. I needed to make a reconfiguration of the camper to accommodate my guest. I turned the jack knife sofa into a twin bed. The back of the sofa is a little bit higher than the seat when it’s laid out flat. I bought some firm upholstery foam sheets to lay down on the lower section to make an even base and place my inflatable mattress on top. It was cool enough for the furnace. Today is Pioneer Days down in the Historic Village. The grist mill will be running and there will be tours of the village buildings. Our friend Gail’s son wrote a book about the haunted history of Beaver Creek and will be on hand to sign his books.

So far, the trip is fabulous and so is the RPod 196! The tickets are on sale on girlcamper.com for $10 each and the proceeds benefit the Hold You Foundation, an organization that assists families with critically ill children. This is a wonderful chance to support a worthy cause as well and get the opportunity to buy a wonderful camper! It’s good to be back!

❤️

“We love because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:19 NIV

The Best Pizza...EVER!

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 01:30:45 -0600

“Pete’s Pizza…best pizza EVER! Located in Mineral Wells, WV on Old Rt. 14.”

When Daughter #1 and her husband lived on Long Island, we visited her as often as we could. We took the train into the city and had great pizza and bagels. When I visited my aunt and uncle in Chicago, we had some really great pizza. We found a place last night that literally blew everything else out of the water.

My husband is very picky about his pizza, and frankly, so am I. I cannot stand to have the outside third overdone, the middle third perfect, and the center soggy and undercooked. We have been hearing about Pete’s Pizza for quite some time now. The owners go to our church and I hear people raving about it so it was time to check this place out.

The other night, our church outreach fed people in a very hard neighborhood with lots of drugs and crime. Pete’s donated fifty pizzas to the cause. For that reason alone, I decided we needed to throw some money their way and enjoy a pizza date night.

I was not disappointed. Good pizza takes a while to cook. (Remember that crispy crust I raved about? Cooking too fast is the reason pizza is undercooked in the center and nearly burned on the edge.) We kept the phone off the table and visited, enjoying our Saturday night out.

The family run restaurant was cozy with a darling gift shop that reminded me a bit of a Cracker Barrel, but less “kitschy”. They have events during the week…trivia nights, family night, bonfire night (complete with s’more kits) and they are currently looking for live entertainment for Saturday nights.

Pete’s is a little out of the way…1.3 miles out Rt. 21 just off the interchange of I-77 at Mineral Wells. If you ever find your way to our neck of the woods, or even driving past on the interstate…do take the time and stop in. They have quite a variety of menu items and a great lineup of deserts. They do serve beer and wine.

I’ve found my all new favorite date place. Mr. FixIt and I loved it!

❤️

“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.”
Ecclesiastes 9:7 NIV

I Love Fall Camping!

Sat, 28 Sep 2019 01:30:14 -0600

“The week in review…dressing up the dinner table, camping like a girl in the RPod 196.”

The crisp nights of fall lend themselves to camping in a big way. The days are still plenty warm to enjoy outdoor activities and the nights are cool enough to sleep well. I love to spend the evening around a campfire…to slide the windows in the camper open and pile on the warm blankets. There’s nothing like making memories in the golden light of fall!

Yesterday was a busy day from the get go. A leisurely breakfast with Mr. FixIt and a day full of errands catching up with the business of the week. Then we drove to the farm and enjoyed a few hours of peace and quiet in my happy place.

The last two weeks were packed full of fun and learning experiences. I drove over two thousand miles and visited Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and came within four miles of Michigan. We have our great granddaughter’s second birthday party tomorrow so I told Mr. FixIt I am NOT stepping foot in a car! Today is a piddle around the house day and prepare for the upcoming week of fun camping. This time I get to take my sweetie camping with me for four whole days!!!

It’s the last weekend of September. It’s officially autumn. I know I always say this at this juncture, but…where on earth did this year go???

❤️

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 NIV

Driving the Northerly Route

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 01:30:12 -0600

“This barn catches your eye traveling I-80 across Ohio.”

I love to drive. That is probably one of the biggest reasons I love camping…because I have to drive there. Yesterday saw me driving across Ohio on I-80. I’ve never driven this route before. I always travel I-70 when I go to Colorado so I was really looking forward to a change of scenery. Ohio did not disappoint.

The farms of the Buckeye State are beyond beautiful. Looking more like still life paintings by Andrew Wyeth, the farms are pristine and perfect. One barn in particular caught my eye and I had to research it when I got to the campground last night.

There was a large mural painted on the side with a portrait and quote of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th president of the United States and former Governor of Ohio. You can find a story about the artist here.

https://www.thenews-messenger.com/story/news/2015/10/05/new-mural-mark-turnpike-milestone/73370206/

Another super feature of the Ohio Turnpike is found in the Service Plazas dotting the stretch of well maintained highway. I-80 is a toll road through Indiana and Ohio. Instead of “rest areas”, the Service Plazas actually have camping spots in the back with electricity so you can sleep in your camper overnight with air conditioning. Every interstate in America should have these! I’d want them especially in Indiana, Missouri, and Kansas for my cross country trips to see my Colorado family.

As I wrote this last night, I looked back and the fun two weeks I’ve had. I’ve learned a lot and seen a lot and most importantly enjoyed it all! This trip is reminiscent of the journey I took after Mr. Virgo died…but without the grief and sadness. A kind of “do over” with fresh eyes. There is nothing like cool crisp days with farms and trees tinged with gold and stacks of pumpkins and mums everywhere. America, the beautiful!

❤️

“They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works.”
Psalms 145:5 NIV

Mississippi Pot Roast

Sat, 21 Sep 2019 01:30:15 -0600

“Yummmmm….Mississippi Pot Roast! It’s going to be fall soon and I’m going to cook this when I’m camping with the Girl Campers next month!”

I have heard of this recipe before and have seen it on Pinterest, but I’ve never made it. Our fellow Girl Camper, Lynn Butler came over to the campground Thursday morning toting a crockpot. She set it up in her camper and went off to work for the day. When she came back at supper time and opened the door to her camper, the most wonderful aroma came wafting out over us and we fairly swooned!

But first, I have to tell you a little about Lynn. You don’t often see RV Dealerships owned by women and Setzer’s is second generation women owned. Lynn’s mom started it all and Lynn took it over when her mom retired. Now she is grooming her own daughter to hopefully take it over when she hangs up her clipboard and decides it’s more fun to camp.

I was very impressed by the entire operation at Setzer’s and they have a wonderful inventory. One thing I didn’t know before…they have an RV Flea Market in April where you can bring your extra camping gear and even your own trailer to sell. I hear it’s a hoot and I can’t wait to go next spring!

Speaking of hoots…the owls were really active at Beech Fork State Park Wednesday and Thursday nights when we were there. The nights are getting so nice a cool and I slept with the windows open so I could hear the hooty hoots. SO relaxing!

Now, back to the recipe for the pot roast…

Chuck Roast, Olive or Vegetable Oil, Salt & Pepper, Ranch Dressing Mix, Dry Onion Soup Mix, Real Salted Butter, Pepperoncini Peppers

Pat your chuck roast dry with paper towels. Season it with a little salt and pepper and sear it on each side in a little olive or vegetable oil in a hot skillet till it’s nice and brown. Transfer the meat to your slow cooker, sprinkle with the packets of dry ranch dressing and onion soup mixes, and top with a stick of butter. Then place your peppers on and around the roast. Put your lid on and cook for eight hours on low. You don’t add any liquid with this roast! All those yummy juices come from the meat (and that delicious butter!)

The meat was incredibly tender and juicy but I would have to say it was a bit too salty for me. You could really cut the salt by using low sodium versions of the ingredients.

There is nothing more fun than getting out in a camper with a bunch of gals who love it as much as I do!

❤️

“Give us this day our daily bread.”
Matthew 6:11 KJV

WV Hotdogs!

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 01:30:01 -0600

“WV Hot Dogs….one of the finest pastries ever to be found in the Mountain State!”

We had a small gathering of Girl Campers who came to see the new R-Pod all dressed up over at Setzer’s on Wednesday. It was a long day and we were all pretty tired by the time we got back to the campground. One of the girls that arrived said she was so excited because she brought WV Hotdogs. I thought to myself…this gal must really like hotdogs. A bit later, someone asked if anyone brought dessert and Deirdre said, “Yep! I brought WV Hotdogs!!!” Everyone was ooooohing and ahhhhhhing. I totally didn’t get it.

After a dinner of steak and assorted sides, Deirdre brought over a small white box from her camper. When she opened it, there were several cream filled pastries…WV Hotdogs! It seems to me now that I’ve thought about it, the term was way back in the recesses of my mind where words go to die. I just needed to dust it off a little back there and find it!

The pastries were delicious, by the way. And we had the “leftovers” with coffee yesterday morning. Two of the girls had to leave right after lunch and I had the campground to myself till suppertime when Janine and Lynn came back. We had Mississippi Pot Roast for supper along with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. It was a very relaxing day. Today, I’m packing up the camper and heading home for a couple of days before I had out for Elkhart, IN on Sunday.

On the road again!

❤️

“in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.” Acts 24:3 ESV

The Girl Camper Trailer Reveal!

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 01:30:00 -0600

Today’s the day!!! Tune in at 3:00 on the goRVing Facebook page for a live reveal of how Janine has taken our little R-Pod 196 from “Factory to Fabulous!” We are so excited to show you all the special touches that have totally transformed this camper into a cozy, elegant showstopper.

“Janine used bright and cheerful wallpapers from Spoonflower to give the camper an elegant, artsy feel. Campers don’t have to be brown!”

We came to Setzer’s RV Center in Huntington yesterday and were greeted by the owner…our good friend, Lynn Butler. I handed her a laundry list of little things that needed doing. First off, the scissor jack that I bent needed replaced. Then they filled my propane tank and provided me with a water hose so I could fill my freshwater tank. They replaced a low point drain cap that was missing. Once I was plugged into power, I was all set.

“Mixing different patterns delineates different living areas giving the camper a much roomier feel.”

We spent the evening finishing up the decor. We put the memory foam mattress topper on the bed and dressed it. After a meal of smoked ribs, we settled in for the night, each in our own little campers…in the parking lot of the RV dealership! We were locked in, safe and sound. There is nothing….nothing like snuggling into your little camper. It has always been a tiny sanctuary for me…my safe place. My happy place.

“Custom fabric was used post factory to make the living area more homey. This jack knife sofa folds out to a twin sized bed.”

Today will be really busy, but fun. I can’t wait till you get to see the interior of this camper. Last night was my first night sleeping in it so I’ll have to tell you about that tomorrow!

“The kitchen is compact but fully functional. A deep stainless steel sink with a goose neck faucet is a big plus.”

AND…Raffle Tickets go on sale today on GirlCamper.com

❤️

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
Proverbs 14:23 NIV

Chasing the Sun!

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 01:30:53 -0600

“2020 RPod 196…taking her for a test run for the next four months!”

I’ve been trying to come up with a great name for my epic trip. I have decided I’ll be chasing the sun to stay warm as I travel further south so that’s just what I’ll call it. And yesterday was officially the very first day!!! And what a crazy day it was.

First, we had to pack up our hotel room. It is absolutely amazing what two people can accumulate in three short days! Once we were packed up, we headed to Advanced Auto Parts to buy a 2” ball for my hitch since that’s the size the RPod needs. I found one, but they didn’t have a wrench big enough to handle the job so I went across to the Goodyear store. They didn’t have a big enough tool either. So, rather than keep searching, I just went back to Advanced Auto and bought a new hitch at the correct size and we headed to Hershey Park to pick up the new camper.

When we arrived, our little camper was sitting all by herself at the end of the row. We hooked up and off we went. We had an easy, uneventful trip till we pulled into the field at the Ponderosa. I miscalculated a small incline and caught one of the scissor jacks and bent it. It’s no big deal, it didn’t hurt the camper at all…but it did hurt my pride because I knew better than to come in at that angle. We’ll just chalk it up to being overly tired because we were!

It was wonderful to see Mr. Fixit! He had a pan of my smoked ribs out of the freezer thawing and I popped them in the oven as soon as I walked in. We fiddled around with the campers a little here and there. Janine had a spill in hers from a jar of balsamic vinaigrette that fell out of the cabinet so she had quite a sticky mess to clean up. We were all really excited to dine al fresco on the deck by the pool.

And, just like that…the evening was over and Janine and I both retreated to separate rooms to do our writing while Mr. FixIt watched his evening shows. It was too hot to dry camp in the field without air conditioning so we went for comfort and slept indoors. Today we are driving down to Huntington to Setzer’s RV to get some fine tuning on the campers and I will get my official walk through to learn the inner workings of the RPod. I’m going to have to come up with a cute name for her! Any ideas?

❤️

“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
Proverbs 28:13 NIV

We’ve Come a Long Way Baby!

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 01:30:40 -0600

“Camping in the early days in Denver. This is just down the street from where Ben & Sue live!”

Janine and I spent our time at the RV Show yesterday browsing around for content for our blogs. We stood for eight hours and walked nearly 10,000 steps. By the time the show was finished, we were exhausted but then there was work to be done. Processing and editing photos, writing blog posts, calculating trip routes and travel times. All the logistics that come with the postmortems of a travel show.

I’ll bet we didn’t get to see one tenth of this show. And even that was overwhelming. We did see a couple of really cool campers. We saw some really EXPENSIVE campers. We saw everything from bargain basement, bare bones boxes to luxury on wheels. It’s amazing what some of the interiors of these campers look like. Marble counters, high end furnishings, and appliances that look like they come out of the finest kitchens. It boggles the mind that people would pay half a million dollars for a fancy bus.

There are so many accessories….many that you definitely don’t need, but there are lots that were pretty handy. One was a rechargeable work light that would work well to illuminate a campsite if you arrive in the dark and need to back in. We have some really fun accessories that I’ll be sharing with you after the big reveal next week. We are still holding back the majority of the photos till then.

In the meantime, they are breaking down the show overnight. I need to get a smaller ball on my hitch to fit the new camper. Janine and I are heading to the Ponderosa today then to Huntington tomorrow. We’ll dry camp out in the field tonight! So please keep us in your prayers for travel mercies today. I am so excited about pulling this camper today!

❤️

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Proverbs 2:6 NIV

The Really REALLY Big Show!

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 01:30:02 -0600

“Janine, her BFF Carol, and me in front of the R Pod at the Hershey RV Show.”

Ok, so I thought Friday’s show was busy? Hokey Smokes!!! Yesterday was absolutely insane at the RV Show…but SO amazingly fun! Hundreds of people came and walked through the camper. Everyone loved the decor and if they didn’t…it was probably a guy. Guys don’t necessarily get the whole “decorate your camper” thing. That’s why most campers are varying themes of BROWN. I think a guy takes a look and says, “Yeah…that won’t show dirt. Use that!”

I do have to say, the folks at Forest River are stepping up their game in the new R Pod. The cabinets are a lovely shade of grey and the walls are off white. It is a perfect canvas on which to decorate in whatever style strikes your fancy. The light colors along with multiple large windows brings in an abundance of light which is exactly what I am looking for in a camper. I am going to switch the mattress out. I’ve never found an RV mattress that I found satisfactory. I am very choosy about my mattresses. I have an extra memory foam mattress at home so I’ll switch it out when I’m there next week.

Janine and I were so exhausted when we got back to our hotel room yesterday. We both took a long nap, then headed out for dinner. Our meal was ok. I was disappointed in my main course. I had pasta and meat sauce with Italian sausage. The sausage had been left in the skillet too long and was actually burnt. When the waitress took my plate, she asked if there was something wrong. I explained and she offered something different. By that time I was full from just the pasta and sauce and didn’t care for anything else.

Pretty soon, the manage/owner came out to talk with me. He said he took my entree off the check. In the process of our discussion, I informed him I had a good understanding of what he was going through. I told him about Mr. Virgo working in the Food & Beverage industry all of his career. He lit up and we began a long discussion comparing notes of who worked where and when. This is something I always found fascinating with Mr. Virgo. No matter where we were, he could find someone who knew someone and there was always common ground. It made me smile.

I told him our story. I told him about going out to buy the camper and how he died while we were looking. I told him about buying the little camper and taking it out in the wilderness and backroads of Colorado. I told him about selling my house and buying the big camper and getting rid of 95% of my personal belongings. I told him about being on the road in the camper and writing about it and how I came to know Janine. Then, I told him the happy ending of the story…running into Mr. FixIt and how we are just about ready to celebrate our 1st Wedding Anniversary.

A happy ending. It’s never “The End” though…is it. Mr. Virgo died. But it wasn’t the end. It was the end of many things…but not of him. Or of me. There is always more story to be written…even when you cannot believe you can survive another moment after such a painful loss. Being away, doing something different, learning new things, expanding my territory. All these things offer a lovely perspective of life. I can’t think how my life could be any more perfect than what it is. I am so incredibly grateful. Telling my story gives me this gift every single time.

❤️

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
James 1:17 NIV

“It’s a Really Big Shew!”

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 01:30:56 -0600

“I can’t believe the number of camping trailers here at this show!!!”

Who remembers Ed Sullivan telling you to keep watching because “it’s a really big shew”? Janine and I made it to the Hershey RV Show yesterday and…OMGosh…it is HUGE!!! I mean…like, you couldn’t see everything in a whole week! Every camper you can think of is here. And some I’ve never heard of. There are vendors selling everything from bumpers to hitches and everything in between.

Everyone who came into the new R-Pod just marveled at how awesome the interior is. And it really is. It’s trendy and stylish…very elegant in a hip sort of way. I could hardly wait to get inside! I walked all around and looked in every cupboard and drawer. It was so fun to meet all the people looking inside and tell them about the camper and my upcoming journey.

There are so many cool features on this camper that I can hardly wait to share with you, but I can’t just yet. Janine is doing a live Facebook reveal next week so it will have to wait till after that!

At the end of a very busy day, Janine and I headed to a nearby steakhouse for dinner then came back to the hotel to work. Today will be another busy day so I’ll going to cut this short. I hope you enjoy your weekend. It was so chilly here in Hershey yesterday. I actually had to put on my barn coat! Fall is definitely in the air!

❤️

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Hebrews 13:16 NIV

Full Moon...Friday the 13th

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 01:30:48 -0600

“Tonight is a full moon AND Friday the 13th! What could POSSIBLY go wrong?”

If you have ever worked in an emergency room, you know it is guaranteed to be crazy busy on the night of a full moon and any Friday the 13th. Add the two? Yikes! Let’s just say, I’m super happy I am going to go work an RV show today and not an ER!

Yesterday was insanely busy. I got up early and finished packing. Mr. FixIt had to work so I loaded up the truck by myself. Although I started early and it was only 73 degrees, within an hour I was sweating buckets and things became decidedly more difficult. I managed to get everything finished around 11:00 and headed to town. I had some errands to run before a doctor’s appointment at 2:45. The Doctor ran really late so it was 4:15 by the time I was finished.

As I walked around the back of my truck in the parking lot, I noticed the hitch wasn’t on my truck. Mr. FixIt usually does that for me because a hitch with all the gear to use weight distribution bars is really heavy. I had to drive all the way home and hook it up myself before I could head out of town. I was really tired by 10:00 and started looking for a hotel room. I finally found one around Hagerstown, MD and stopped for the night. There’s a long stretch through the mountains where the pickin’s are slim.

I love traveling by night. The traffic is lighter and the moon was amazing! By the time I got settled in my room, it was 11:30 so I was whupped. I don’t have to be at the RV Show till noon so I could sleep in this morning! Gotta be ready for a busy, busy couple of days!

❤️

“For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ””
Luke 4:10-11 NIV

The Amuse-Bouche

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 01:30:23 -0600

“A little sneak peek of the all new R-Pod 196 from Forest River…Girl Camper style!”

When Mr. Virgo and I managed a 4200 acre luxury resort in southern Colorado, we found ourselves needing a chef. One of the happy little benefits of being married to the boss was getting to sit in on the results of the chef’s “stage”. Typically, when chefs are interviewed for a position in a fine dining restaurant, they must demonstrate their skills before the person looking to hire them. This means…observing their kitchen skills while the food is being prepared, then taste testing. In our case, we were treated to three different chef stages before one was selected.

This was where I learned about the amuse-bouche which literally means “amused mouth”. A typical amuse-bouche is just a small savory tasting to demonstrate the chef’s style. One chef gave us a single scallop seared to perfection but I almost lost it when I bit in and it had been marinated in vanilla! Ugh…vanilla and seafood do NOT go together, trust me. He didn’t get the gig. The chef that was hired had a small slice of ahi tuna in a flat bottomed spoon. On top was a small dollop of green foam that was as light as air but had the most intense flavor. I can’t even tell you what it tasted like…savory, spicy, rich, and so light as to almost not even be there but it complimented the tuna perfectly.

Amuse-bouche…the little tease of the culinary world. We also experience this in other areas of life. The free sample. The previews at a movie theater. And here? A teeny, tiny little sneak peek of the little camper I get to pull around for the next five months!

If you haven’t caught what’s happening, Forest River donated the very first 2020 R-Pod 196 that came off the line this summer to the Girl Campers for our Annual Trailer Raffle. And, Janine Pettit…our Camper-in-Chief…received the camper sometime in August and has brought it from “Factory to Fabulous”! Let’s face it…the interiors of most RV’s are b.o.r.i.n.g. Or downright ugly! Forest River is listening. They realize that women represent the fastest growing demographic in the RV industry and us gals are tired of brown, right?

I can’t get into all the details yet, but we wanted to let you have a little peek inside to see how I get to Camp Like a Girl in this darling camper. It’s bright and cheery, bold and elegant, and can be dressed up or down. It demonstrates to manufacturers we want neutral palettes we can build on without having to paint over everything. It demonstrates to dealers one of the countless ways a camper can be customized so they better understand a girl camper and what she’s looking for in a travel trailer.

Not everyone wants to go all “she-she” with their camper decor so we went with something a little bold, a little trendy, and ultimately elegant. We can’t wait for the big reveal which will take place via live broadcast on Go-RVing’s Facebook page Wednesday, September 18th at 3:00pm Eastern Standard Time. I leave tomorrow for Hershey so hang on…we’re going on a road trip!

❤️

“He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.”
Exodus 35:35 NIV

Let Things Go

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 01:30:33 -0600

“Letting things go for a little while gives your mind and heart a chance to breathe.”

I have a list as long as my arm to get accomplished in the next four days. On the upside, I don’t have a camper to clean and prep for a trip. On the downside, I still have laundry, errands, packing, planning, writing, and a couple of doctor’s appointments before I slip out of town on Thursday for the beginning of this amazing Girl Camper Trailer Tour.

So, with all this stuff on my list, what did I do yesterday? I let things go. I created a day just for me. I met ten of my dear friends from my high school class for coffee and conversation. We caught up with what’s been going on since the beginning of summer. We haven’t met since June before I left cross country. This is the first chance I’ve had to plan a coffee gathering since returning from Colorado. I needed to fit it in before I leave again this week.

We caught up with everyone’s health issues. Yes, we’re THOSE people now…surgeries, hospitalizations, injuries. We are “of a certain age” and things break down more often it seems. One of the gals was new to our gathering. She’s been liberated from a longstanding situation that didn’t allow her to socialize before now so there was a lot of catching up to do there. We talked about our vacations over the summer and travel plans for the fall. We shared photos of the grandkids…and GREAT grandkids! Ninety minutes flew by and someone called, “Picture time!” We needed to enlist a patron sitting in the cafe to come take our photo. A young woman doing homework. I smiled. “High school friends. Don’t ever lose touch!” She smiled back and took the perfect picture.

When it was time to leave, we each hugged everyone there. We’re of that age…we don’t know “when” and “if” anymore. So we hug and kiss a lot and give lots of “love you’s” and “take care’s”. I left feeling loved and supported and relieved those I care about were experiencing a pretty good week. As I was heading to the truck, one of our granddaughters texted to say she was in town and did I want to snuggle our great grandson. Well…of course! Silly question!

I went to the former Mrs. FixIt’s house and visited her and with not one, but BOTH great grandchildren for an hour or so and caught up with everyone, then headed off for errands. I met Mr. FixIt after his golf scramble and went to one of my favorite stores…Rural King. I’m looking for a cool barn coat but I’m not finding one. I’ll probably have to buy online.

So, there you go…my primer on how to let things go. Totally self serving and vitally important. Church today, then I can piddle around the house. It’ll get done. And, it’ll get done without me feeling like I’ll tear my hair out at any minute. That is a monumental win-win in my book.

❤️

“a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;”
Ecclesiastes 3:5 ESV

Gathering Camping Supplies

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 01:30:24 -0600

“What a mess! Trying to organize and choose what I’m taking on my next Girl Camper Adventure!”

When I was forced to sell my sweet little camper when I was in Colorado, I had to unpack everything and put it all in tubs to store in the bed of my truck. I knew there would be things I would need for this trip and we have been so busy since we got home, so I just left the tubs in the family room. It didn’t make sense to haul it all downstairs to storage and then have to bring it all back upstairs.

I spent the day yesterday going through those tubs, choosing what I would need to take with me and deciding what could be left behind and put with the rest of the camping supplies in storage. It’s actually a little harder than I thought. I’ve never stepped foot in this camper, so the only visual I have to go by is the video Janine posted of the walk through with Cody from Forest River RV.

From what I remember, there’s not a lot of counter space in this camper. And, I won’t be spending a great deal of time at each spot. I think my biggest issue will be coffee. I hate taking a big coffeemaker because I’ll just be taking it out and putting it back every time. I think pour over is going to be the way to go. I love French press, but that has to be cleaned out every time. With a pour over, you throw your coffee grounds out with the filter the same as a drip coffee maker.

Mr. FixIt finished sealing the deck yesterday and it looks great! We need to cover TOW-Wanda Grande before I leave. That means I need to take everything out of her that I’ll need beforehand since it won’t be easy to get in and out with the cover. One of my very funny friends wrote on her facebook the other day:

I love how being an adult is basically just saying, “But after this week, things will slow down a bit,” to yourself until you die. ~ Lisa Cooke

So much truth in that. I can hardly wait till the Girl Campers gather the first week of October. I’ll have six days to sit and knit and talk with my peeps around the campfire. And do a craft project or two. Period. The Spring and Fall “What a Hoot” gatherings are my all time favorites. We all just bring food to share and make a big pot of soup. So easy and so much fun.

Progress is being made and I’m feeling a bit more organized today!

❤️

“But all things should be done decently and in order.”
1 Corinthians 14:40 ESV

Singing with Jesus

Sun, 25 Aug 2019 01:30:39 -0600

“Mr. FixIt says our pear trees have never produced…he thought they were ornamental. This year, they’re loaded!”

The other day I had to have a fasting blood draw for some tests. When I came out of the lab, I was humming a praise song as I walked through the lobby. “Your promise still stands…great is your faithfulness, your faithfulness.”

The woman in front of me turned around and gave me a huge smile and said, “You must be really happy! I’m a singer, too. I’m always walking around singing.”

I smiled back. “Well, Jesus is always with me and we love to sing together.”

She stopped and looked at me and said, “That’s a really good thing. I like that!”

Yesterday was a busy day. We had our class picnic in the afternoon. Then, Mr. FixIt went to help someone with a move and I went home and mowed five acres. Then I cleaned the pool. When I mow the lawn, I use a pair of ear protectors that have Bluetooth speakers in them so I can listen to the music on my phone. I crank up my worship music and once in a while I have to laugh when I catch myself driving with one hand and praising with the other!

Mr. FixIt came home when I was just finishing cleaning the pool. He was kind enough to deal with back flushing the pump for me so I didn’t have to keep getting out of the pool to do it. There is a decided turn in the temperatures that have put the unmistakable tinge of fall in the air. Mr. FixIt said the temp was 54 yesterday morning and very foggy when he left to work on the porch he’s building with a friend.

And today is church day…my favorite day of every single week! See you this evening for Sunday Evening Prayer Circle!

❤️

“Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.”
2 Thessalonians 3:11-13 NLT

Do You Remember When.....?

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 01:30:50 -0600

“Clockwise from Top Right: Phone Booth, Fireweed, Joe Pye Weed, Naked Ladies (Belladona Lily)

Mr. FixIt took the day off yesterday. I had to run a couple of errands, but I was back home by noon. The temperature was already well into the 90’s by then and I actually had the thought…”Ok, I’m done. I’m ready for FALL!” Cool, crisp days with a warm sweater, sipping a mug of cider while gazing at the changing of the leaves suddenly sounds very appealing to me. And this from a woman who hates fall because winter is right behind it. Not this year…I’m ready for this sweltering heat wave to break.

We never did put the window air conditioner in the family room this summer. Mostly because we were gone a lot. And also, it didn’t get all that hot till we were ready to leave on our big trip out west. At this point, I told Mr. FixIt we should just skip that particular ordeal this year altogether. It is quite a chore getting that huge air conditioner into the window and before we know it, we won’t need it anyway. That being said, we were both tired of the heat by 5:00 so he asked me if I wanted to go for a drive with him.

We love going for drives in the countryside. West Virginia has the best roads for drives and there’s always something interesting around the next bend. We kept remarking how overgrown everything is from all the rain this summer. Old abandoned houses are all but swallowed up by vines that threaten to take them by force into the woods. The Joe Pye Weed covers the roadsides with its smoky pink blossoms. Naked Ladies (Belladona Lilies) poke their heads up in the corners of rural lawns. Dark pink Fireweed mingles with Goldenrod, Queen Anne’s Lace, and Black-eyed Susans. They all look like weeds, but they are West Virginia’s cacophony of late summer wildflowers.

We had no idea where we would end up. We drove past the greenhouses in Palestine and saw they are filled with baskets of mums that will bloom in October. We drove past the place where they used to produce railroad ties. Mr. FixIt said the trucks traveled by night because their loads were always way over the weight limit. He said you could tell it was the railroad ties because the heavy night air smelled of creosote long after they’d passed.

We finally pulled into Spencer, West Virginia…an old town built on the backs of the oil, gas, and timber industries. There are some beautiful old houses there. At one time, the State Psychiatric Hospital was located there and if you weren’t good growing up, “you’ll get hauled off to Spencer” was fair warning to shape up. Now it’s just like any other tired, old town in the Mountain State…bored adolescent boys yelling from passing cars, bored adolescent girls giggling in the booth at Wendy’s over a series of texts and photos they were sharing. An old man climbed into a car with barely enough room for him to sit in the driver’s seat. The rest of the car was filled wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling with trash. Literal trash. He opened the door to the back seat and carefully placed his half-full cup of soda on top of the pile, closed the door, and got in to drive off to who knows where.

The Wendy’s was impeccably clean inside so we stopped for a bite to eat before we drove on to Ripley, then past Ravenswood to Mineral Wells and on home. Mr. Fixit said it would be dark by the time we got home and he was right. I love these kind of evenings with him…away from the television, going for a drive, holding hands and laughing and telling stories. It occurred to me, one of the very best things about our relationship is…even though we’ve only been together since late 2016, we have so many memories in common. We were best friends in high school. While he lived all but a few years of his life within a 20 mile radius of where we were born, I lived two years in England and forty years in Colorado. But, I still came home for a visit every year so I had my finger on the pulse of my hometown. We lived our lives in a parallel trajectory for sixty-some years before our paths crossed for good. We have much of the same history and memories.

As the sun was beginning to make it’s last glorious descent over the beautiful Ohio River, I saw this phone booth standing alone near the Wendy’s parking lot. I turned to Mr FixIt and smiled.

“Do you remember when…..?”

❤️

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Luke 2:19 NIV

Bowling Season Has Begun

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 01:30:06 -0600

“Pink roses and strawberries…and bowling season. Somebody loves me!”

Mr. FixIt is an avid bowler. He’s been on two bowling leagues for the last thirty-five years and he enjoys it immensely. He has friends there. He has ample opportunity to talk. It’s his guy time. And, I enjoy having a couple of evenings a week to do whatever I want to do as well. Honestly, I fell asleep late in the afternoon and didn’t hear him leave. When I woke up, I caught up with my Sunday evening phone calls and chats so it was a relaxing evening.

When he arrived home, he went into the kitchen to fix something to eat and we were trying to carry on a conversation while I was in the family room. He called out, “You know…I could hear you better if you were in here with me.” Of course! Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what we’re doing, we forget the basic manners and niceties we should offer those we love most.

I walked into the kitchen and there on the counter was a dozen pink roses and two cartons of fresh strawberries! I am always thunderstruck when he surprises me with these lovely unexpected gifts of love.

I looked at him and smiled. “What’s this?”

“It’s been a little while since I brought you flowers. It was time.” He smiled back.

What goodness this is…this life that is sweeter than any red strawberry…softer than any pink rosebud. This is a blessing. This is God’s gift to me. This man who lifts me up and celebrates who I am. Who cheers me on and encourages me to explore and be everything I can be. This man who holds my hand in church and prays alongside me. Who holds me and comforts me when I am sick or sad. I only pray I give him this same love back every day of my life.

There was so much sadness in my life after Mr. Virgo died. I swore I would never fall in love…never remarry…because the thought of going through that again was too much to bear. Then color came back into my life. And I could hear music and I could breathe and somehow I knew I could love again. I don’t know how long we have together…but it’s bowling season and I have strawberries and pink roses and my life is good.

❤️

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4 NIV

“Let The Sun Shine...”

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 01:30:25 -0600

“The Ubiquitous Photo from Woodstock”

Fifty years ago this weekend, a gazillion people descended on Mr. Yasgur’s New York farm just five hundred miles from where I grew up. What started out as a ticketed music event soon devolved into chaos as tens of thousands of unticketed hippies made their way into the tiny village of Bethel. The festival had already suffered a last minute change of venue and was seriously short on cash, but there came a point where Woodstock took on a life of its own.

Fifty years have passed. I didn’t go, of course. I was only sixteen and actually didn’t even hear about it till it was on the news. Not that I would have done something so brazen as to defy my parents because I know they never would have allowed me to go. I never even skipped a class in school, let alone run off to a hippy concert five hundred miles away. Still, I marveled at the mass of humanity. And, I liked the music.

It was such a crazy summer…the Summer of ‘69. The Summer of Love. That’s what we called it. But the older generations thought we young people were out of our minds. Sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll. And now look where we are. I saw a meme today. A grandpa was saying he fought in WWII and built his house with his own two hands. His great grandson said, “Sometimes I put a meme on Facebook and it gets a lot of likes.” That is so sad…and unfortunately, all too true.

We didn’t have the internet in 1969. We didn’t have the news on 24/7/365. We didn’t have violent video games. We didn’t have as many latch key kids and no iPad kids or YouTube kids. Dr. Spock was just beginning to tell us how to raise our kids and to never swat their butts or we would bruise their fragile self-esteems. I’ll tell you what, if I sassed back to my parents, they bruised my “self-esteem” with whatever was handy. I did the same with my kids. Nowadays, you can have your kids taken away for that. And they know it.

I remember Daughter #1 saying she was going to call Child Protective Services because I wouldn’t let her go to a party. I smiled and recited the number to her. Then I took her car keys. It’s hard to parent now. Having the grandkids over this week with their own little ones made me compare how easy I had it compared to what they are facing. And I didn’t have it all that easy.

After my first divorce, I was a single mom in Denver. My family lived in West Virginia. I didn’t have anyone I could leave the baby with while I went to work. I had to find child care…and pray they wouldn’t hurt my daughter. I lived in HUD housing, on food stamps and WIC. I drove a beat up old Pontiac that I paid some Iranians $200 for. The hood and the trunk were wired closed with coat hangers. All four sides were dented in. I prayed every day I could get to work so I could take care of us. I didn’t have a smart phone and five sets of grandparents to step in when I was overwhelmed.

God knows, I made plenty of mistakes in those early years. It’s a wonder we made it through. The music of 1969 was five years old before my daughter was born. I look back now in awe. I knew I’d be “old” someday. I just thought it would take longer. Oh, sixty-six isn’t OLD, exactly. I sure feel the difference, just in the last couple of years. Mr. FixIt and I work very hard and it’s taking it’s toll. I hurt in places that never hurt before. It takes me a bit to get moving. But, like my husband says…you’ve got to keep moving or you’ll stop.

Fifty years since Woodstock…and there’s a real part of me that genuinely feels a little past my prime. However, I’m about to take a brand new camper wherever I want for five months and write about it! Isn’t that just about the coolest thing? I wouldn’t take who I was in 1969 back for anything!

“Let the sun shine…let the sun shine in…the sun…shine in!”

❤️

“I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,”
2 Peter 1:13 NIV

There’s Babies Everywhere!

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 01:30:34 -0600

“There’s nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby!”

I have to tell ya…I’m fried. There’s a reason God gives babies to young people. We do not normally babysit for the great grandkids. Our life keeps us moving around a lot and we love to visit with them and play with them and send them home with their mamas. Nothing wrong with that. But our services were really needed yesterday, so we had an extra busy two-year-old with us for fourteen hours.

We also have our grandson and his girlfriend and the new baby with us for a couple of days. He is helping his grandpa with a bunch of work around the Ponderosa. Just like I was telling you about the farm yesterday, all this rain has created a jungle out there and the saplings that weren’t such a big deal last year, are towering trees this summer. Combine that with all the vines that have gone crazy and you couldn’t even see between the building out back and the fence six feet away. The grandson is a hard worker, I’ll tell you that.

While the babies were being babied, Nana smoked two big pork butts and four full racks of ribs. I’ve decided whenever I fire up the smoker, I’ve packing it as full as I can while still getting good air flow for the smoke. Because this thing is a pain in the rear to clean. I also processed all that meat when it was done, served dinner three times as people came and went, and then went out and cleaned the pool. It was a busy day that didn’t end till midnight!

The neighbor across the road from the farm gave me a grocery sack of fresh vegetables as I left and the sweet corn was SO delicious. I love the tastes of summer! Last night the air was nice and cool and we slept with the windows wide open. It was wonderful! I love this time of year when the nights are cool.

❤️

“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.”
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ESV

A Vivid Imagination

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 01:30:30 -0600

“The moment I saw this, I knew it was the answer to my dream!”

I was probably about ten years old when I got my first (and only) childhood bike for Christmas. I remember lusting after the sleek English racers I saw some of the bigger kids riding. Oooooo, the idea of all those gears and the trendy dropped handlebars and the hand brakes…I could just picture myself tooling around the world, peddling that bike, looking ever so sporty and sophisticated. I had a vivid imagination!

Christmas morning came. I jumped up out of bed in my worn and tattered flannel jammies, and ran to the living room. There, leaning on its kickstand in the middle of the living room, was a brand new shiny blue bicycle! It wasn’t an English racer. It didn’t have any bells and whistles. It was a heavy, single speed monstrosity from Sears with the label “J. C. Higgins”. It was a sturdy, reliable bike and it didn’t take me long to figure out Mom couldn’t afford that trendy bicycle. I was darned lucky to have this one and not some hand-me-down from one of my cousins.

I used to ride that bike all over the neighborhood. The following summer was the first time Mom let us stay home unsupervised. I played outside from first thing in the morning till I needed to be in to start supper before my folks got home from work. I remember having this intense fantasy of riding my bicycle to Canada. I envisioned panniers on the back…before I even knew what panniers were. I pictured what I would pack in there. I had read The Boxcar Children a dozen times so I knew just what I would need to survive on my own.

In my ten-year-old brain, I had it all figured out. I would need money to survive so I would need to either get a job or sell something. The Christmas Wishbook from Sears arrived that fall and I ran to my room with it to figure out how I was going to raise funds for this epic adventure. And there it was! A snow-cone maker!!! My friends and I LOVED snow-cones! I figured if I had one of these babies, I could set up a stand out in front of the house and blow all those Lemonade Stands out of the water. I mean…who could resist a great snow-cone on a hot summer day, right???

I look back at my youthful exuberance and my little girl naïveté and smile. I was sure I would sell a gazillion snow-cones from this cute little plastic gizmo. Just as sure as I would ride my bike to Canada. Well, I never rode my bike to Canada. I didn’t get the snow-cone maker. But I’ve been on lots of adventures. And, I’ve done things I never thought I could do. And now…I’m going to get to have another GRAND adventure and they’re handing me the camper to do it in!

Believe me…I know how blessed I am to get this opportunity. Between now and the middle of September when I pick it up, I need to plan out an epic road trip. I’m thinking it would be really awesome to combine this with several Meet & Greets and get a chance to meet you wonderful “Ranchers” along the way! I’m just in the formulating stage but I’m thinking this could turn out to be….

Ginny McKinney’s R-Pod-196 Adventure!

Stay tuned to Marshmallow Ranch for details as plans fall into place!!!

❤️

“For nothing will be impossible with God."”
Luke 1:37 ESV

There’s an Adventure Coming...

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 01:30:05 -0600

“Where will my next adventure take me???”

I’ve been hinting at an adventure coming up for me this fall and now I can tell you a little more about it. The manufacturer of the R-Pod has just come out with a totally new design…the Model 196. This is the first redesign Forest River has done in the ten years since the R-Pod was first released. And, Forest River has very generously donated the very first Model 196 R-Pod off the line to the Girl Campers for our annual trailer raffle!!! Isn’t that exciting???

My good friend, Janine Pettit, will receive the camper in the next couple of weeks. She will be putting a Girl Camper spin on it with some beautiful interior decor. Then, the camper goes to the Hershey RV Show. Janine and I will be at the show on September 14th for a meet and greet and to show off our Girl Camper version of the new R-Pod. After that, we head to Setzer’s RV in Huntington, WV for the big reveal!

At that point, I take over and get to pull this camper wherever I want till the end of January…which of course means I’ll just HAVE to go where it’s warm over the winter! (And, yes…Mr. FixIt gets to come along…for at least part of the trip!) Stay tuned for lots of fun and excitement in the coming months! In the meantime, here is a sneak peek at the “before” in a video Janine made at the Forest River factory. This is a gorgeous camper and I can hardly wait to get her out there on the open road!!!

https://www.facebook.com/janine.pettit.5/videos/10157250788233444?s=1219785470&sfns=mo

❤️

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
Psalm 91:11-12 NIV

A Farm Girl at Heart...sans Shoes

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 01:30:44 -0600

‘Sitting on the tailgate of my truck…drinking coffee and soaking up summer!”

I hate wearing shoes. I know it’s so stereotypically West Virginian, but I do not wear shoes unless I absolutely have to. Mr. FixIt emptied the truck yesterday morning so I went out with my mug of coffee and sat on the tailgate, contemplating my bare feet and the beautiful sounds of an August day in the country.

It wasn’t long after I finished my morning brew when I heard Mr. FixIt start up the push mower and I knew it was time to get to work. I ran to town to fill up the gas cans. Once I got back home, I hooked up my headphones and hopped on the riding mower. It could have waited till Monday, growth-wise. But the next two days are supposed to be 95 degrees and rainy. So, you know what they say...you gotta make hay when the sun shines!

I love watching the seasons changing here in my home state. Some of the trees already have some yellowing leaves on them. And you can tell a difference in the texture of the grass at this time of year. It’s tougher and harder to weed eat. I left home the 27th of June. There was a whole lot of growth between then and now and there are a lot of branches hanging over the edge of the fields. I’m going to have to get out there with the loppers again.

As soon as I got home the other night, I could just feel the stress leave my shoulders and neck. I can sit outside and listen to the night sounds instead of the constant hum of traffic in the background. As I sat basking in the velvet night air, I thought over all the places we saw over the last several weeks. It was such a wonderful vacation. And, as always, it’s both good to be home and sad that it’s over.

❤️

“The priest answered them, “Go in peace. Your journey has the Lord’s approval.””
Judges 18:6 NIV

Mother Earth..How Does Your Garden Grow?

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 01:30:23 -0600

“Product of our burn pile, aka pumpkin patch.”

Back when I was a wanna-be hippy mama in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, I was an urban farmer. Before urban farming was a thing. I had dug and turned over a garden patch at every house we rented while Hubby #2 was in medical school and residency. We were poor as church mice and we needed to put as much free food as we could on the table to make our meager budget stretch as far as it could.

I was dismayed at the fact Colorado has such a short growing season. With Denver being literally a mile high, compared to the relative low elevation of West Virginia, I longed for a farm of my own in my home state. I remembered my dad’s gardens. We rented the lot behind us and put in a huge vegetable garden every summer. My grandma not only had a “truck garden” across the creek…their farm also produced strawberries for the local farmer’s market. I was spoiled by the earth of my youth.

West Virginia soil runs from really sandy to heavy red clay mud. If you’re lucky, you find great gardening soil that’s rich and loamy and needs nothing more than a good tilling to prepare the perfect garden. You can get all scientific and test the soil and add lime or ash to adjust the pH but mostly anyone with any gardening skill at all can turn out some pretty impressive vegetables in a fairly small space.

When we were married last October, Mr. FixIt burned a lot of brush on our burn pile out in the field. We used pumpkins as a cheap wedding decor, then used them in turn to decorate for Halloween. Once they were frostbit, Mr. FixIt tossed them in the burn pile along with whatever else was in there. He figured once spring came, he’d clean out the flower beds and trim bushes then burn it all at once.

Winter came and went and when the first signs of spring hit the Ponderosa and the weekly mowing commenced, lo and behold…pumpkin vines popped up all around the burn pile! I was really excited to do a walkabout when we got home this week and see how the pumpkins fared while we were gone. There must be a dozen pumpkins growing out there. White ones. Dark orange. Light orange. Short and flat. Big and round. All kinds of pumpkins. And we didn’t have to DO anything…just throw pumpkins out there and they grew!

This is the stuff of my dreams….getting something from literally nothing. If we would have been here while they were growing, I would have nipped off all but one or two on each vine so the plant’s energy could have forced bigger pumpkins, but as it is, they are certainly a respectable size for decorating. And, maybe they’ll make some pies.

Our tomato vines did not stay tied up on the supports Mr. FixIt set out. They are all laying down on the grown and consequently, many of the tomatoes have touched the ground which makes them rot. But there are enough to eat and that’s all we care about. We missed all but the earliest summer squash. There are vegetable stands all around this area so I had Mr. FixIt stop and get some fresh sweet corn and a cantaloupe on his way home yesterday. We’ll eat like royalty tonight!

❤️

“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
1 Corinthians 3:7-9 NIV

Nana & Papaw & Baby Boo!

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 01:30:56 -0600

“Nana needed some baby snuggles before we went home!”

We made it back to West Virginia, safe and sound..thank you, God! But, we absolutely couldn’t go home without seeing the baby! Our little great grandson arrived nearly two weeks ago and we stopped to get a snuggle. Oh, he’s so sweet! We had the bonus of our great granddaughter visiting as well!

I have to tell you…we are so tired. I drove all but the last 20 miles after we stopped to see the baby. Just over 5400 miles since June 27th! I figured out the other day, I have been home exactly four days since June 5th. I knew this was going to be a busy summer but this is a little crazy!

Tomorrow’s another day. But for now…I’ve got to get some sleep. We’re both whupped!

❤️

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 NIV

Corn a’Plenty

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 01:30:40 -0600

“The vast cornfields of Iowa”

I don’t think I have ever seen as much corn as I have in the last two days. All of Nebraska and all of Iowa were vast expanses of corn fields broken by occasional little towns and villages along the way. I think I love the I-80 corridor drive much more than I-70. The cities you go through are not nearly as congested as St. Louis and Kansas City.

We left York, Nebraska yesterday morning at around 10:15 and pulled into Morton, Illinois at around 8:00 last night. I have family history here. Morton, Pekin, and Peoria are clustered nearby. Grandma and Pop-Pop came here when my mama was around two years old. Pop-Pop had to go where the work was. He and his two brothers’ families worked in this area as well. My uncle was born in Pekin. I have distant cousins in this area, but no time to look them up this trip.

As we were driving through Iowa yesterday, it was about lunch time when I saw a sign for the town of Walnut. They are known as the “antique city” of Iowa. I asked Mr. FixIt if he was ready to stretch his legs and maybe browse a couple of antique shops and grab some lunch. He’s always game for a good time so I put on my turn signal and exited the hustle-bustle of the interstate and stepped back into time.

When you drive down the wide avenue into the antique district of the bucolic little village of Walnut, you can’t help but notice the amazing Victorian style homes lining each side of the street. The town was neat as a pin…each yard was well groomed with magnificent trees and landscaping. We parked in front of the post office and strolled across the herringbone brick street and wandered through a handful of shops. It was everything I could do to not strap a couple of beautiful finds to the top of my truck as there is absolutely no room inside for one more thing.

I glanced at the time, and as much as I hated to, I told Mr. FixIt we’d better get on the road. As we walked back up the street hand in hand, he smiled at me and asked me that question every woman wants to hear.

“Do you want to get ice cream for lunch?”

Back off girls…I found him first!

Who doesn’t want ice cream for lunch, right? We crossed over to The Banana Split where Sarah greeted us warmly. We shared the usual pleasantries and asked a bit about the town. Then we got down to the business at hand. There are about eight or nine flavors of hard ice cream as well as soft serve, candy, chips, and the usual soda fountain fare of banana splits and sundaes. Their special yesterday was banana bread pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and a sprinkling of pecans to finish it off. I demurred and told Sarah that was WAY out of my calorie limit for a whole month!

I selected cherry nut ice cream in a waffle cone. My dad’s favorite ice cream was cherry nut so consequently that was the one we had most often in our house. I didn’t catch where they get their ice cream or if they make it themselves, but it was the best cherry nut I’ve ever had. Rich and smooth and not cloyingly sweet. Mr. FixIt followed my lead and had the same, but in a cup.

If you ever find yourself crossing Iowa on I-80 and you want to enjoy a couple of hours at a slow and sweet pace, drop into Walnut, check out the antiques and go see Sarah at The Banana Split. Tell her Ginny McKinney sent you!

❤️

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

Making Our Way Back Home

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 01:30:16 -0600

“Truckin’ across Nebraska”

Yesterday was a challenge. First, I was still so wound up from the wedding and the super long drive home, I couldn’t settle down and was still awake at 4:00 in the morning. We woke up at 7:00 and had to try to fit all the stuff from the camper into the bed of the truck and still make sure the tonneau cover would close. We finally made all but a couple things fit and were finished at 10:30. We waited till Ben got home so we could say our goodbyes and finally hit the road at about 11:00.

I drove all day and we pulled into York, Nebraska…just shy of Lincoln…at about 7:30. We marveled at how green everything is. I have never traveled I-80 as my route between Colorado and West Virginia, but there are major closures on I-70 in St. Louis and Kansas City for construction. We were going to stop in Kearney, NE but they had nine inches of rain on July 8th and all the hotels and restaurants were flooded. There are only about 3 or 4 hotels open and they were either full or pricey. So we drove on.

The flooding certainly explains why everything is so green here. The mountains of Colorado were the same way and that is good news for the communities who worry about forest fires. It’s not good news here in Nebraska. The farmers here have had a hard time getting crops in the ground…especially wheat. There’s corn to beat the band but not all of it has tasseled yet.

It was interesting watching the crop dusters all along the highway. I’ve only seen them once in my life and they were everywhere! I’m not sure what they were spraying and I certainly hope it doesn’t harm the honeybees!

Today, we keep on truckin’!

❤️

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Psalm 119:105 NIV

Morning Visitors

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 01:30:06 -0600

“Morning visitors on Loghill.”

Yesterday was my ME day. I told Linda when we arrived that honestly all I was looking for was her company and a little R&R. We’ve been running around like crazy and I just needed to sit and visit on their beautiful deck overlooking these amazing mountains. I knitted and we all laughed and had a wonderful time. We couldn’t believe it when it was 1:00 and we hadn’t done a thing.

We were sitting on the the deck and heard something down below. I went and peeked over the edge and there were turkeys walking through the gravel drive below. These guys were huge. We’ve seen a lot of deer….even a little spotty baby bounding around. The first night, I woke up about 2:30 in the morning and wanted a little nosh. There was nothing in the camper, so I needed to go in the house. As I was climbing out of the bed, Mr. FixIt woke up.

Him: “Where are you going?”

Me: “I need some cereal.”

Him:

Me: “Do you think there might be bears out there?”

Him: “There could be.”

Me:

Me: “I’m not going.”

Him: “Ok.”

Me:

Me: “Drat! I’m hungry…I’m going.”

coyote howling outside camper

Me: “Come after me if I’m not back in five minutes!”

Him: zzzzzzz

Last night, I brought my cereal with me in the first place. There be beasts about!

❤️

“...who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?’”
Job 35:10-11 NIV

Red Mountain Pass to Ouray

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 01:30:57 -0600

“Clockwise from top left: At one of the many overlooks on the Million Dollar Highway, the beautiful little town of Ouray, our little home away from home, the falls up above Ouray.”

It has been three years since I’ve been in this area. I’d forgotten how incredibly majestic these mountains are. And high! We stopped so many times between Durango and Ouray to take pictures and just marvel at the scenery. I’m sure Mr. FixIt thought nothing could top Monday but as we drove yesterday, he just kept exclaiming over and over how beautiful it was.

We pulled into Ouray and found a parking spot…not always easy during peak tourist season. We went into my favorite kitchen store and no sooner walked in the door till the sky opened up with a summer thunderstorm. We were stuck in there for some time. It finally slowed down enough that we could make it across to Mouse’s Chocolates…my OTHER favorite store.

We drove around and looked at the cool little houses. Ouray was a mining town and it still holds that Victorian charm. We finally drove on to our friend’s house in Ridgway. When we pulled into the driveway, there was her little camper. I slept in it the last time I was here and asked if we could sleep in it this time. Linda was happy to oblige and I have to tell you…my heart swooned a little when I climbed into that camper. When we went to bed last night, Mr. FixIt said, “I feel like we’re back home!” Me too, sweetie…me, too!

❤️

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”

Proverbs 24:3-4 NIV

#Camping, #Mountains, #Ouray

The Ancient Ones

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 01:30:39 -0600

“Clockwise from Top Left: Long view from Mesa Verde, Cliff Palace through the binoculars, Serious Texas BBQ, Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde, Colorado”

When I was on my three month journey into the wilderness and backroads of Colorado after Mr. Virgo died, one of the places I visited was Mesa Verde. This is such a mystical, ancient place. Whenever I am here, I can feel this amazing energy and peacefulness. I truly love showing Mr. FixIt places that I have been. I love watching the awe on his face. The long views in the west are unlike anything we have back east. He keeps saying how glad he is that he has his own personal tour guide!

We sat in the parking lot and ate fresh fruit for lunch. OMGosh! The black plums are exquisite! And the red grapes were perfection!

I was thrilled to find a very reasonably priced motel last night. $89 plus taxes and fees. It’s one of the cheapest we have found. And, I could hardly wait to go to Seriously Texas BBQ for dinner. I make great ribs. These are better! Durango is a pretty little college town. We parked and watched the Durango Silverton Train come back into the station. It was a really great day!

Today we head to Ridgway and we’re staying a couple of days with friends. It’s going to be a relaxing couple of days leading up to the wedding festivities!!!

❤️

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:14 NIV

Abundance

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 01:30:54 -0600

“Heading into the Weminuche Wilderness”

Joyful abundance! Mr. FixIt is such a great traveler. I love showing him places he hasn’t seen. As a matter of fact, he told me the other night his neck hurts from swiveling back and forth, trying to take it all in. We arrived in Pagosa Springs on Friday afternoon. This is where Mr. Virgo and I lived in 2008. He was the General Manager for a 4200 acre luxury resort here and I did the marketing and catering. It was a short-lived position as our job was to try to turn their losses into profits and try as we might, it was not to be. This is the nature of being a fixer. If you can’t, they close and you lose your job. If you can, they sell and you lose your job. We didn’t really expect to be there long term.

Pagosa Springs is a gorgeous area and I enjoyed the rugged beauty of it. I did not like the short summer, long winter, and gobs of snow. So I was just as happy to get out of there and move on. Still, it is someplace I wanted Mr. FixIt to see and experience. We went out for a wonderful breakfast yesterday morning then headed to the backroads. Mr. Virgo and I used to spend every day off exploring the many dirt roads in the Weminuche Wilderness. This is where I came when I started my grief journey in Little TOW-Wanda. I carried strands of Mr. Virgo’s silver hair into the dense woods above Williams Lake and buried them at the base of a tree, affixing a cross to mark the spot.

We didn’t walk back into the woods yesterday. That wasn’t part of the deal. That was mine…my memory. As a matter of fact, as we drove deeper and deeper into the woods, I felt Mr. Virgo so strongly…as if he were gliding along with us. I told Mr. FixIt story after story. Here’s where we worked. Here’s where we shopped. Here’s where we loved to eat dinner. There’s the car wash where they had to unfreeze the doors so we could get out. That little bakery has the best pastries. This restaurant has the best coffee. My sweet husband held my hand and smiled and nodded and encouraged me to share because he knows this helps me heal and move forward.

Then…in the middle of the afternoon, we found out…great grandchild #3 is on the way!!! Another little boy…arriving in January!!!

My heart is about to explode! THIS!!! This is what I so very nearly lost in January 2000 when I overdosed. At the time, my world was so small, so dark, so difficult and I couldn’t see anything beyond that darkness. And now…look at this! My world is so blessed with such abundance and joy, I can hardly contain myself! Babies! The Wedding! My sweet husband! My wonderful family! My health! My heart!

Thank you…..thank you dearest Heavenly Father…for healing my family…for healing me…for giving me Mr. Virgo to show me I was worthy of earthly love…for giving me Mr. FixIt for helping me through the most difficult period of my life…and for this tremendous family, mine and his, that brings our numbers up and up and up! I’m so high on life, you have to scrape me off the clouds!

❤️

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

One of These Things is Not Like the Other...a BABY!

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 01:30:28 -0600

“Clockwise, top left: Hollyhocks, Toes along the San Juan River, The view from Independence Pass, and….Baby Boo!!!!!”

It was a beautiful day for a baby! We had a leisurely breakfast and headed through Aspen and up Independence Pass. Mr. Fixit ooooohed and aaaaahed all the way. He’s never seen the likes of Colorado’s beauty. We stopped at the top of the pass and I was going to walk out to the windy point to take pictures but I could hardly catch my breath at 12,000+ feet elevation so I elected to stay in the car taking slow, deep breaths. I was glad to get down lower.

We stopped here and there. When I saw the sign for the turnoff to St. Elmo, I hung a right and went back in time to the 1800’s. It has probably been 40 years since I was there. We looked around at the old buildings and antiques. We sat on a bench and ate ice cream. And we finally climbed back in the truck and headed further south.

Along about Saguache…the phone rang and all I could hear was a tiny baby boy crying. “Wait….OMGosh!!! Is that a baby????? He’s here already????” Yes! Our tiny little Boo made his debut at around 5:30 eastern time weighing in at 6lbs13oz! And, of course….he’s perfect!!!

So, the mountains and the flowers, the river and the relaxing beside it….all pale in comparison to being a great grandma…again! What more could I tell you about today??? Thank you God, for protecting Mommy & Daddy and Nana’s little Boo!

❤️

“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.”
John 16:21 NIV

Road Trippin’

Fri, 26 Jul 2019 01:30:44 -0600

“Views from Loveland Pass”

We got a slow start yesterday. We cleaned out the truck and packed, checked and rechecked to make sure we had everything, then almost pulled away without my brother’s package we waited for. Once we retrieved that, we were on our way! We drove over to the west side of town, down through Golden, then out Clear Creek Canyon and picked up I-70 at Idaho Springs. I love starting out my trips that way. The canyon immediately makes you feel like you’re in the mountains and you don’t have to run the gauntlet that is Floyd Hill.

We exited the interstate just before the Eisenhower Tunnel and took Route 6 over Loveland Pass. We have a function on our GPS that tells you what your elevation is. It was right on…11,995 feet at the top of the pass. We stopped and took lots of pictures along the way. It was so much fun to play tourist and show Mr. FixIt some of the hidden beauty of Colorado.

We dropped down into Keystone then on into Frisco. I was hoping the weather would be cooperative and we could check out the chuck wagon dinner at Two Below Zero, but it was really cool and rainy so we decided to try another time. We walked the streets of Frisco, checked out the little shops, and ate dinner at Bread + Salt. I wasn’t overly impressed, but I was hungry so it was ok.

This is a Gypsy trip…one without reservations, except for the wedding stay. We sat in the truck and browsed the hotel.com app and chose a hotel in Keystone with a really reasonable price. $76…but with taxes and fees it was $92. Welcome to tourism in Colorado. The room was perfectly fine. The beds were comfy and clean, there wasn’t an exceptional amount of noise, and there’s a complimentary breakfast. You can’t beat that when you consider most of the others in the tourist towns here are upwards of $200 a night.

The biggest problem that occurred was when I went to check in. I cannot find my driver’s license anywhere. I’ve searched through everything. The last time I remember having it was at the Quick Care on the 22nd. I called them and the pharmacy and they don’t have it. So now I have to see if I can get a replacement sent to me here. It’s not the end of the world and it certainly won’t ruin my fun. But I am frustrated that I’ve misplaced it.

I have no idea where we’ll end up today, but no matter where it is, it will be beautiful! Colorado has some stunning scenery!!! Oh…and please send up a little prayer for our family that is scheduled to grow in the next day or two. Our great grandson will make his debut in West Virginia and we can’t be there to welcome him. Prayers for a safe delivery and a healthy, happy baby, mama, and daddy!

❤️

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:2 NIV

Avoiding the Heat

Fri, 19 Jul 2019 01:30:18 -0600

“Shrimp…it’s what’s for dinner!”

The temperature went up into the triple digits yesterday. Mr. FixIt and I hung out indoors most of the day. I did laundry and worked on the socks I’m knitting for Big. We watched some television. We visited with Ben & Sue. And we stayed cool in the air conditioning.

Finally, along about 5:00, we ventured out to the grocery store. We wanted to pick up something for dinner so I could take a turn cooking. When Ben & Sue went with us to the Outer Banks in April, we learned they love grits. I asked them if they had ever had Low Country Shrimp & Grits and they had not. We brought them a bag of grits from our trip down south last month so I wanted to fix this especially for them.

This isn’t a particularly difficult recipe to make, but it does take about an hour or so to pull together. We bought a pound of frozen medium sized tail-on shrimp, a lemon, a container of sliced mushrooms, a bunch of green onions, a package of fully cooked bacon, a package of shredded extra sharp cheddar, a small container of shredded parmesan, and a tube of minced garlic. The convenience of buying the prepped veggies, bacon, and cheese saves time.

What better source for a southern recipe than Southern Living Magazine. I had as much fun reading about the origin of this dish as I had making and serving it. You can find the full recipe and directions here:

https://www.southernliving.com/grains/grits/low-country-shrimp-and-grits

I have to say, this was a big hit for supper. There wasn’t an abundance of cooking so the kitchen didn’t get hot. It really was delicious. I made this with yellow grits, even though the recipe calls for white. I love both varieties. You know people love it when there aren’t any leftovers! We finished it off with some cold melon…watermelon and cantaloupe.

After supper, we played a few hands of rummy as we laughed and enjoyed each other’s company. Making memories. It’s the most important part of our travels.

❤️

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19 NIV

Coffee & Plowing the South Forty

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 01:30:46 -0600

“Can you tell by looking whether it’s got caffeine in it? Yeah…me neither!!!!”

I love coffee. Like…LOVE coffee! I like to think I’m a coffee connoisseur, but I can’t name the region where a coffee was sourced just by tasting it or smelling it. I just know a good cup of coffee when I taste one. Ben & Sue are half-caff kids. No strong coffee for them. I learned to really appreciate coffee when Mr. Virgo was alive. If the spoon didn’t stand up in the cup, it wasn’t strong enough as far as he was concerned. And don’t DARE serve him a cup of coffee that you can read a newspaper through!

When Mr. Virgo and I were first together, I griped incessantly about his coffee…it was too strong, it was bitter, it was wretched! I bought a coffeemaker that actually had two sides to it. He would make his coffee in one side…I’d make mine in the other. We both turned our noses up when we saw the other’s brew. Then, that coffeemaker broke and he finally convinced me to buy a Bunn. They are fabulous! Your coffee is ready in literally 1-2 minutes. It was great.

After making a big show of pouring half a cup of coffee and filling the mug with milk before I popped it in the microwave, accompanied by a heavy sigh, I started actually appreciating the flavor of his coffee. It wasn’t until after Mr. Virgo died, that I started drinking my coffee the same strength as his. A “hanging on to memories” kinda thing, I think.

Ben & Sue have offered a place on the counter to put my own coffeemaker where I can brew my version of coffee, but I just haven’t taken the time to go out to the storage bins and search for it. Until I do, I am happy to have a cup or two of what is available. But at least a couple of times a week, I have to take advantage of the many coffee shops in the Metro Denver Area and get a “real” cuppa Joe.

Yesterday, Mr. FixIt and I had a list of things we wanted to accomplish. We went out to breakfast with Ben & Sue. We started out at Denny’s, but after 15 minutes and no one did so much as bring us silverware, we got up and left. We went to Perkin’s Pancake House. After breakfast, we headed out to run our errands. By the time we were finished, it was 3:00 and we decided to go to Caribou Coffee and get something cold and refreshing.

I am adamant about my caffeine intake. I cannot have regular coffee after about noon or else I’ll be up all night…ready to plow the south forty. I got about halfway through my iced coffee when I realized I forgot to order decaf! O. M. Gosh!!! As I’m writing this, it’s 8:30 Wednesday evening and I could start painting a barn if I had one! Zooooom! Zooooom!

It’s been hot here, but nothing like the heat y’all are getting back east! Ninety-eight here is certainly not the same as ninety-eight back home. I hope you all are staying safe and well hydrated so you stay healthy!

❤️

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

The Golden Arch

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 01:30:15 -0600

The Golden Arch over downtown Golden, Colorado.”

When Hubby #2 & I parted company, I bought a house about twelve miles west in a little cow town called New Castle. About a year later, my neighbors sold their house to a lovely couple. Bob & Ellie were the sweetest people you would ever want to meet and we soon became very close friends. They were instrumental in my becoming a Christian and prayed for me unceasingly.

If life is anything, it’s unpredictable and changes came that took us in different directions geographically. Mr. Virgo and I were married and moved to Pagosa Springs within a year. Shortly afterward, Bob & Ellie sold their house and moved to Golden. We have always stayed in touch, and they were a wonderful source of love and support when Mr. Virgo died.

They have followed my journey via my blog and the occasional texts and phone calls. They came to our belated wedding celebration Sunday and invited us to their house for dinner last night. They are so thrilled for Mr. FixIt and me. They have been looking forward to meeting him and having a chance to get to know him better.

Dinner wasn’t scheduled till 5:00 so we went over to Golden early to explore. It was a really hot July afternoon so we were happy to duck into the occasional shop to catch our breath in the air conditioning. We stopped in a little coffee shop for an iced coffee. We browsed an antique store. Mr. FixIt is a good shopper…he looks through the racks of ladies clothes and picks out things he likes. He has great taste!

It was a lovely evening. We couldn’t believe the time had flown by and we said our goodbyes. That’s the sign of good friends when you have known each other for ages and you can still talk for five hours over dinner. It was 82 degrees as we drove back to Ben & Sue’s house. The moon was full…and so were our hearts.

It’s supposed to be blazing hot the next couple of days with temps in the triple digits. I’m not sure what we’re going to do but whatever it is, it will entail air conditioning and not overdoing things.

You all be safe out there and stay hydrated.

❤️

“It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.” Isaiah 4:6 NIV

Mother Cabrini Shrine

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 01:30:27 -0600

“The view from Mother Cabrini Shrine is stunning!”

The other night when I picked Mr. FixIt up from the airport, I was accelerating to get on the interstate when the transmission made an eerie slipping sound. I turned to him and said, “Did you hear that?” He did…it wasn’t just me! I had heard this same noise several times and I was really worried something was wrong with the transmission. But, Mr. FixIt has been in that truck hundreds of times and never heard it.

Before I even got up yesterday, he and Ben had looked up the number for a reputable transmission shop nearby and as soon as I had a cup of coffee, I called them up. They told me to bring the truck right in and they would check it for me. The transmission fluid was low and they added a whole quart to it. Then the manager of the shop drove the truck around and came back. He said it made every sound it was supposed to and no slips. No surprise there. However, when I got out and drove it, I was pleasantly surprised to feel and hear how smoothly it was shifting, so I think we may have fixed the problem. When we prepared to leave, I asked how much I owed them and they said, “Not a thing. You have a great trip!”

If you need a good transmission place in Arvada, Colorado…go to Jerrod’s!

Since we suddenly had a free day in front of us, we ran to Starbucks for a cup of coffee then headed to the mountains. I was thinking of taking Mr. FixIt to Red Rocks Amphitheater, but I could see dark clouds starting to form in the west. I decided instead to turn into Mother Cabrini Shrine to explore instead.

It has been a full forty years at the least since I’ve been up there. I once went up there and just sat in the field near the shrine to gaze out over downtown Denver. I haven’t explored when improvements were built there, but I don’t remember all those steps. My memory had a path going up and you could walk out into the field surrounding the statue of Jesus at the top of the hill. But, like I said…it has been four decades since I was there so I’m not sure my memory is accurate.

I was surprised the chapel didn’t have candles to light in memory of someone. But there was a grotto below and a much smaller chapel with candles. I lit four candles for special people and said prayers for all of you. Then we went down to the springs. When Mother Cabrini purchased this land for a retreat for orphans, she told others she got it so cheap because there was no water. When she explored the land, she struck a rock with a staff, it broke open, and fresh spring water flowed out from it. We each drank a glass of this miracle water and thanked God for the blessing of the water in such an arid place.

Mother Cabrini is the first American to be canonized as a Saint. There is a small museum on the property with personal articles that belonged to her. There were also religious relics on display. You could even take a free third degree relic which was a laminated card with a tiny piece of fabric which had come into contact with Mother Cabrini’s clothing somewhere along the line. It was all quite fascinating.

We left just as it started to sprinkle and headed to Olive Garden for an early supper. Then back to Ben and Sue’s. It was a fun day and a good workout with all the steps up to the Sacred Heart statue. This photo was taken about halfway up and if you zoom in, you can just make out the tall buildings of Downtown Denver in the distance. Day one of exploring is under our belts!

❤️

“"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:1-4 ESV

A Celebration

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 01:30:49 -0600

“Celebrating a love…and a life.”

When Mr. FixIt and I got married last October, it was really a rather spur of the moment decision. I didn’t wan’t my kids to have to spend money to come out for the wedding when we were planning a trip to Colorado this summer anyway. So, I told them we would just have a dinner together with those we love and celebrate that way.

Yesterday was our day to celebrate our wedding with our Colorado peeps. Daughter #1 organized it and we had fourteen people over for the same menu we served at the actual wedding…pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, chips, and drinks. In lieu of a wedding cake, and the fact that we all need to fit in our pretty dresses in three weeks for Daughter #2’s wedding, we had fruit salad instead of cake.

It was wonderful to have our loved ones around us. I really wanted them to spend some time with Mr. FixIt and get to know him better…and vice versa. It was such a lovely day and everyone had a great time. And, today is my daughter and son-in-law’s 24th Weddiing Anniversary! Remembering that beautiful day and hoping they have many, many more!

I am so blessed to have these wonderful people in my life.

I ended the day with a note of sadness, however. I found out a sweet friend of mine died after a ten year struggle with cancer. Rae Ann and I connected six years ago after I joined Sisters on the Fly. She was the only Sister in my area. Rae Ann had an infectious laugh, a gravely voice, and was the best storyteller. She could make your sides split without even trying. I had the very good fortune of camping with her several times. The last time was after she found out her cancer could not be cured. She taught me so much about living the life you have to the fullest. She was camping and kayaking up to the last couple of weeks of her life. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Rest in peace, Rae Ann. You were a shining example of living in the moment and I celebrate your life today!

❤️

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."”
Hebrews 13:5 ESV

Revisiting Memories

Sat, 13 Jul 2019 01:30:54 -0600

“Daughter #2…Marching to her own drum!”

When Daughter #2 was thirteen years old, she and I took off for a three week road trip. It was epic. She was not only in that early teenager mode. We were also working on repairing the damage done from years of depression and too many prescriptions and martinis…not to mention the overdose. It took a lot out of our relationship.

When I arrived in Denver this visit, the ultimate goal is the wedding. My baby is getting married. My little Moon Pie. Only, she’s a full grown woman…out on her own…thriving…dancing to her own drum, as always. We saw each other the day after I got here and spent several hours visiting and dining out. She made me promise we would do one special thing…just the two of us…before the wedding.

She wanted to go antiquing.

I couldn’t believe my ears. Antiquing? This poor kid was dragged, kicking and screaming, into every antique store in West Virginia, I think. And several between there and Colorado. I loved going to antique stores. She did not. So, this was new. I asked her what brought on this miraculous transformation.

“I don’t know. Just…suddenly, I find myself looking at antiques online. For fun.”

Ladies and gentleman…there IS life after adolescence!!!

So, yesterday was our antiquing adventure. We started out by having lunch with Daughter #1, Big, and Little. Oh…if you have children, you know what that did to my heart…sitting there with my Colorado kids! ❤️melt After lunch, Daughter #2 and I went to the Brass Armadillo off I-70 and Kipling.

We walked in and she stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened, her mouth dropped open, and she gasped.

“This place is HUGE!”

Yes, my girl…it is!

We wandered around for three hours. She kept grabbing my arm and pulling me over to see this or that. Lots of oooohs and aaaahs and wows. Several times she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tight and thanked me so much for doing this with her. That’s when I realized…this was SO much more than going to see a bunch of old stuff.

This was a celebration. Of healing. Of love. Of warm memories shared. Even of forgiveness. This was a bonding ritual…something only she and I could share as the wedding rapidly approaches and her life is forever changed. This was incredibly special. And we enjoyed every minute of it.

We didn’t get to see 1/4th of the store before we were both fried. We left arm in arm and headed out to the truck. I drove her back to her car. As she prepared to leave she reached over and kissed me on the cheek.

“Thank you, mamacita. That was so much fun!”

You’re welcome, Moon Pie.

❤️

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”
Psalm 127:3 NIV

Blog Inspiration

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 01:30:12 -0600

“Enjoying a midsummer’s eve in Colorado.”

I was talking about my blog the other day with the owner of a lovely antique store in Minturn, Colorado. Just a stone’s throw from the glitz and glamour of Vail, Minturn still holds that little mining town feel it’s had for decades. It is kind of land bound…there can’t be a ton of new expansion and building outrageous mansions for the rich and famous. The town center is located just two miles off I-70, but it seems like a step back in time.

I told the owner of the shop that my life experiences are “blog fodder”. Just about everything I do, I look for the gold in the moment. I ask myself, “How can I weave this into an interesting story without sounding like Aunt Bertha describing her breakfast for the umpteenth time?” I always look for ways my posts can be positive, uplifting, encouraging, and even empowering. I want you to come away with something good for your day…even if it’s just a smile or a giggle.

Yesterday was bittersweet as I began emptying the camper and packing the items away in plastic bins. I need to be able to fit everything in my truck, including what Mr. FixIt brings with him from West Virginia. I’ll list it tomorrow so people can shop over the weekend and hopefully she will find a new home and someone will love her as much as I have. We girl campers have a strong attachment to our little homes on wheels.

I bought some of those big ziplock bags that you vacuum the air out of and the compress the contents for easy storage. I’d never used them before but they were amazing. Ben and Sue have a huge dining room table to accommodate our large family at dinners. I had the top of that table piled two feet deep with pillows, blankets, towels, and my fur throw. By the time I got the items packed and the air vacuumed out, I couldn’t believe how compact it was. There is room in the back under the tonneau cover for one more large bin with some extra space around them. These bags will easily slip between and on top of the plastic bins, keeping the contents from getting wet.

When I was finished with my chores for the day, I went out on the back porch to write. Sue has the most beautiful flowers this summer. It has been rainy and cool up to this week so they are thriving. It’s unusual to keep pots this pretty by the middle of July here in the semi-arid climate of Colorado. The air cooled to a reasonable 81 degrees by 8:30 so I sat there for a long time…admiring the beauty of a midsummer’s eve.

I hope you are enjoying your summer. I was telling Sue at supper list night…I think I’ve only been home a week or so since the last week of May. It’s ok…I’m having a wonderful time and it will only be made better by Mr. FixIt’s arrival on Saturday. Two more sleeps!!!

❤️

“In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”
Ephesians 5:28 NIV

Swift Water

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 01:30:31 -0600

“I enjoyed watching the kayakers at Eagle Water Park yesterday.”

When my brother told me he was going to be at the Day Program all day yesterday, I decided to stop in for a visit to see how he liked it. I needn’t have worried. The activity yesterday morning was drum circle. He has loved the drums ever since he was a little boy and asked Santa for a set of bongos. I enjoyed every minute watching him really get into the music and the rhythm. It was so much fun to see him enjoying himself.

I stopped at the cemetery on my way to town and visited with Mr. Virgo again. I was disappointed the night before at the state of the cemetery. The weeds were over your knees in some places. I was also disappointed there were no bluebirds. I always see bluebirds when I go and it wasn’t the same.

Mike is the volunteer caretaker and usually keeps everything really well mowed and trimmed. This year, the rain and cool weather made everything grow so fast, it all got ahead of him. When I arrived there yesterday, he was mowing next to Mr. Virgo’s grave. Three years ago, when I visited the grave for the last time before I made West Virginia my permanent home, Mike was working on some new pine tree seedlings nearby. I went over and introduced myself. I slipped him a crisp $100 bill and asked him if he could keep watch over my husband’s grave for me because I wouldn’t be back for a year. Tears ran down his cheek when he saw the money and he shook my hand warmly.

“I’d be honored to.”

I have to say, there were a lot of weeds everywhere, but Mr. Virgo’s grave was neat and tidy. I called Mike over and thanked him profusely for his gentle care. We chatted for a good while as I pulled what little weeds there were. I laughed as I told him how Mr. Virgo would never pull the right plants when he worked in a flower bed because if it had a flower on it, it wasn’t a weed in his book.

After visiting with my brother, I decided to drive up the road toward Sunlight Ski area. That is where we first lived when we moved to Glenwood in 1986. We had a five bedroom log house on two acres. As I drove up the narrow blacktop, a wave of vivid memories washed over me and I let myself go back to that place in my mind…how it felt to be 33…young, fit, my whole life ahead of me. There were times in the past after the divorce from that marriage where letting myself feel that would have been unbearable. But yesterday was sweet. It was a warm, good memory of when Daughter #1 was Little’s age and I was a stay-at-home mom for the first time in her life.

Once I’d seen all I needed to see, I headed for Denver. But, I kept being drawn to the river. I stopped at Grizzly Creek and watched a guy in a wetsuit swim out to the middle of the raging water to capture a runaway kayak. It was shocking how fast that water was. I could easily see how people could drown in situations like that.

I stopped at Eagle Water Park and watched kayakers battle the man made waves and rapids on the Eagle River. I ran into a guy that was camping in his truck and told me the clouds were actually angels and he had some really great pictures of them. I think maybe he’d been partaking in a little “herbal refreshment”, if you catch my drift.

My next stop was Minturn. There used to be a really cute yarn shop there but it was gone. I went into a little antique store there and chatted with the owner for a while. I purchased a gift for my son-in-law’s birthday. The owner suggested if I had a few minutes to spare, I should go out behind her store and sit on one of the benches along the river and just enjoy…take a minute. I smiled because I’d been seeing signs all over Glenwood the last couple of days imploring people to slow down as they drive through town.

I went out back and watched a hawk hover on the warm wind currents over the river. The sun was warm on my skin and a soft breeze blew my hair across my face. I closed my eyes and listened to the white water rolling big rocks along the riverbed. When I looked across the river, my eyes wandered up the slope noting the incredible variety of wildflowers in full bloom. There was a cliff that ran along the roadside. In it, there was a large hole…a den, I’m sure. I wondered what creatures had called it home over the years.

I finally pulled myself away and got back on the road. It was going on 3:00 when I got to Vail. I’ll bet I haven’t been in Vail proper in twenty years. I pulled into the parking garage and wandered into the village. There were tourists everywhere, wandering around. I stopped and had a fabulous pizza for an early supper then got back on the road. I hit Denver at about 5:30, but most of the rush hour traffic was heading west.

It was a beautiful day for a slow meander through the most amazing scenery. I arrived back at my little camper feeling as though I’d been gone a month instead of just a quick overnight. I felt good getting up there. I’ll be back to see my brother and take him with us to the wedding in a couple of weeks. Time is flying!

❤️

““But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”
Job 12:7-10 NIV

A Quick Road Trip

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 01:30:18 -0600

“I stopped at Grizzly Creek to catch a shot of the runoff from the snowmelt.”

I decided to make a quick trip up to the mountains to see my brother yesterday. We only get to see each other a few short days when I come to Colorado every summer. Bless his heart…I felt he looked better this time than he did last summer. Although he uses a walker all the time now, he seemed stronger. He is shrinking with age and the first thing he always asks me is, “Are you getting taller???”

My brother has cerebral palsy and some diminished intellectual capacity. His memory has never been very good and it’s only getting worse. He thought I hadn’t come to see him in years but I see him every summer. I told him I would try to figure out how to FaceTime with him. Computers are too complicated for him, but a friend told me about something called a “GrandPad”. I think it’s just for email and pictures though. It doesn’t do video chat. We’ll work something out.

I was a little saddened by the way this little town I lived in for so many years has grown. There were so many people there yet I saw just about all I wanted to see in a couple of hours. The traffic is terrible. It barely resembles the sleepy little cow town we moved to in 1986. The price of progress is often quality of life. Yes, there’s a lot to do now. But that means everyone and their brother wants to come do it. Good for the economy. Bad for the working person. The price of housing is astronomical.

I stayed with my good friend Terri last night. We’ve known each other for many, many years and she lives right around the corner from my old house. We drove by on our way to dinner. I had visited the cemetery earlier and talked with Mr. Virgo. I was a little distressed by the overgrown weeds up there. When I mentioned it to Terri later, she pointed out the vacant lots in the subdivision. The weeds and wild grasses are nearly three feet high in some places. Like much of the rest of the country, Colorado has had a very wet and cool year which promotes overgrowth. Then, when things get really hot and dry out in August, there’s a lot of fuel for wildfires. We pray a lot about that here.

My brother has a full schedule today, so I’m going to head back to Denver. The title for the camper arrived yesterday so I’m going to finish emptying it out and preparing it to sell. Four more sleeps and my sweetheart arrives in Denver!

❤️

“Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.””
Acts 14:17 NIV

Quality Time

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 01:30:19 -0600

“Little snoozing in the morning sunshine.”

Yesterday was so much fun. Little absolutely loved sleeping in the camper. She went to sleep much earlier than usual and I had to wake her up in time to have some breakfast before we left for church. She was very excited to go to “Nana’s Church.” The contemporary mega church model suits Little’s personality to a T. She sat with me and was focused on the sermon throughout. She loved the praise and worship music. She was so animated when we came out of church and declared she wants to go every week. I am highly encouraging that because she had a definite light about her when we came out.

After church, I took Little home and traded….Big came shopping with me all afternoon. We walked all over Flatirons Crossing Mall, had a delicious lunch at California Pizza Kitchen, enjoyed ice cream on our rest break between stores. She is a frugal shopper and had a wonderful time picking out just what she wanted. As I expected, they were things like athletic wear from Dick’s Sporting Goods…with a definite fashionista flair.

The weather here in Colorado has been quite lovely. We have had rain just about every day and it cools things off nicely. The nights have been wonderful for sleeping in the camper with just the windows open and maybe a small fan. Daughter #2 is in the process of changing jobs and found out today her new job doesn’t start till after the wedding. That means we get some more time together this week. I’m so happy for her. This new job pays more, utilizes her degree, and sends her in a direction that offers advancement.

Mr. FixIt is tying up loose ends at home…preparing to fly to Colorado this weekend. I can’t wait to see him! We really miss each other when we’re apart. He has mowing to do and business to attend to. I’ve been looking up things to do to replace the camping portion of our trip. I’d love to show him the Four Corners area and Mesa Verde. We’ll see what all we have time for.

I hope you enjoyed your 4th of July weekend and have a wonderful Monday!

❤️

“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8 NIV

Making “Little” Memories!

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 01:30:08 -0600

“Little’s nest in TOW-Wanda!”

Little is here! She has been at camp all week and we only saw each other for an hour after I arrived last Sunday. I spent a good deal of time with Big this week, so I could hardly wait till Little got back and came over to “camp” with me.

She is my camper. No one else in my Colorado family is even remotely interested in camping. We had big plans to take the camper up in the mountains and stay a couple of days, but with the unfortunate demise of TOW-Wanda…we had to change plans.

I have the camper pulled around behind Ben & Sue’s house, underneath a locust tree. It doesn’t offer anything but a feeling of protection from the frequent hail storms we’ve had this week. I’m plugged into electric and water so I have all the comforts of home in my own little suite.

This incarnation of TOW-Wanda has a queen sized bed with a memory foam mattress that is swoon worthy. It had a bunk bed over the queen bed that also had a memory foam mattress on it. I removed that because I couldn’t sit up without hitting my head. The little dinette collapses down to make a separate twin sized bed that uses the seat cushions for a mattress. Not comfortable for an adult, but just fine for a kid.

Since I’ll be selling this camper here, I went to Walmart yesterday and bought some plastic tubs with tight fitting lids. I spent a couple of hours yesterday taking things out of the camper and fitting them neatly into the storage bins and put them in the back of my truck underneath the tonneau cover. See? There’s a reason I got that before this trip!

With all the extras removed, Little has plenty of room to stretch out and be comfortable while she camps with me. We went out for ribs last night. (Big is a vegetarian so Little and I have to get our carnivore cravings satisfied while her sister isn’t with us.) We had “Mamma Mia: The Movie” downloaded on the iPad to watch after dark.

I don’t get to see my Colorado grands very often…so when I do, I need to make deep and lasting memories with them. Camping with Little last night. Shopping with Big this afternoon. Life is so good!

❤️

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”
Proverbs 17:6 NIV

Here Comes the Rain Again!

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 01:30:31 -0600

“Looking east as the sun set over Arvada.

I think I brought the rain with me from West Virginia. We got about an inch of rain in two days in the northwest suburbs of Denver. It dropped from the mid 80’s to 75…then in thirty minutes it dropped down to 60 degrees. Lots of small, pea sized hail but no damage that I can see.

Along with Colorado’s severe thunderstorms, California had a 7.1 earthquake aftershock last night, Europe is having an unprecedented heat wave, and West Virginia just sits and soaks in sweat. It’s crazy weather. I hope things settle down soon. It’s downright chilly here right now.

I’ve been “camping” at Ben & Sue’s house. We pulled the camper back under a locust tree for some little bit of protection from the elements. When you are in the camper, even pea and marble-sized hail sounds like a gunshot. Little is going to come join me and “camp” tonight. I had to tell her the camper is broken so we can’t go to the mountains like we wanted to. She is so easy going. She said she didn’t care where we camped, as long as we were together!

I’m sad I’ll be saying goodbye to this camper sometime this month. It has such a beautiful layout and is pristine inside. I know the right person will come along and be so happy to get her to place on a piece of property or in the back yard. I’ll just keep praying about it. Mr. FixIt put the title in the mail to me today so I should receive it Monday or Tuesday.

My sweet man arrives in Colorado a week from today! I can hardly wait to see him!!! He’ll be at the baby shower today for our little great grandson due this month. We got him a crib. I’m so sorry I’ll be missing that but I’m busy making memories here!

❤️

“He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them. At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them. He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love.”
Job 37:11-13 NIV

Hail, Hail...The Gang’s All Here!

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 01:30:30 -0600

“The beauty of sunshine and lilies.”

Daughter #2 and I got a chance to spend a few hours together yesterday. We had coffee at the house then went shopping at Target. Man, that store has changed since the last time I went there. I used to shop Target all the time, but we don’t have one anywhere near where we live in West Virginia. After shopping at Walmart all these years, Target looks like an upscale department store.

We went out to breakfast at Sam’s No. 3…a wonderful diner in Cherry Creek that has the most extensive menu I think I have ever seen. Eggs Benedict was my choice yesterday and it was divine. If you ever go to Denver and get to spend any time there, you really should go.

We had a big family gathering with those who were in town yesterday. Lots of food and homemade ice cream. The fireworks were going off all around us. And Mother Nature provided some of her own! We had two big storms blow through with a tornado watch and lots of hail. It did succeed in cooling things off immensely, which was very nice.

I showed the girls the dresses I’ve bought that I could wear to the wedding and we all agreed on one. Also, I gave them the quilt I made for their wedding gift and they loved it! It was a beautiful day with my Colorado family.

❤️

“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”
Proverbs 23:22 NIV

Independence Day!!!

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 01:30:37 -0600

“Colorado’s sky is always amazing!”

It seems like I’m in Denver just about every Independence Day. Since I don’t travel here in the winters anymore, I make my trips extra long in the summer and they just about always hit during this fun, but noisy, holiday. As I am writing this, neighborhood fireworks are going off all around me and it sounds like a war zone.

Yesterday, I helped Daughter #1 upholster a padded cover for a chest she uses as a coffee table. Their new couch doesn’t have the recliners like her old one and they needed something comfortable to prop up their feet when they watch TV. It turned out beautiful and we were very proud when it was finished.

Big has her learner’s permit and I rode with them to lunch yesterday. It brought back memories of when I taught her mommy how to drive. I was very pregnant at the time and it was quite an adventure. My granddaughter is a very conservative driver and she did a great job. I cannot imagine learning to drive in Denver traffic! It’s crazy busy here all the time now…not just rush hour.

I forget how amazingly beautiful Colorado’s sky is! We came out of the grocery store at sunset yesterday and the clouds and light were stunning in every single direction. I stood there like a tourist seeing it for the first time…turning round and round taking pictures in the parking lot.

Today is full of family, food, and fun! I hope you all have a fun and safe holiday!!!

❤️

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV

America’s Bread Basket is Baking!

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 01:30:10 -0600

“Clockwise from top left: My rig in the summer sun in Kansas, the long straight stretch that is Kansas…look how green!, my digital laser thermometer that I use to check my hub temperatures at every stop, me looking decidedly fresher in the AM than I was by evening!”

You know you are getting into farm and ranch land when you start seeing billboards advertising bovine genetics and DEKALB seed corn. I left the Lazy Day Campground in Danville, Missouri yesterday morning about 8:00. It was a very long, very HOT day. A section of I-70 was closed at Kansas City so I took the recommended detour. I recognized it as the route I usually take anyway to avoid downtown. There is one interchange on the interstate near the city where you have to get from the right hand side onramp to a left hand side exit in less than 1/4 mile. Pulling a camper makes that a real challenge, let me tell you!!! At least it wasn’t with big TOW-Wanda on a Friday night at rush hour. We have to look for the little things!

When I was emptying the tanks on the camper before I left yesterday, it wasn’t 8:00 yet and the sun would take the hide right off of you. The temperature quickly soared to the high 90’s and by the time I was halfway through Kansas, it was 100. The low was only expected to go down to 80 so I stopped and got a hotel room. When I first got in the room, I cranked up the air conditioner and stretched out on the bed. I texted Mr. FixIt and said, “I am NEVER doing this again!!!” He texted back that I don’t have to. I’m holding him to it!

Ok, it was the third day. It was hard. It was hot. I was tired and probably a little hungry and dehydrated. And knowing I have over 350 more miles to go had me feeling really sorry for myself there for a few minutes. But, once I rested for a while and got something to eat and drink, I felt a ton better. When I stop tonight, it’s going to be at my son-in-law’s parents’ house so I’ll be with family. It’s going to take me a week to rest up and acclimate to the altitude. Mr. FixIt will join me on the 13th so that time will pass quickly.

I had a lot of time to think about this as I was driving yesterday. I don’t like being this far away from Mr. FixIt. I thought about that from every angle. I asked myself if it was co-dependency. I don’t think it’s that at all. I do all kinds of things without him and I don’t need to be attached at the hip. I talked with my dear friend Deneene about this last night. She lost her husband unexpectedly about a year after Mr. Virgo died. She is also recently remarried. We decided it’s not co-dependency at all. It’s the fact that we KNOW what can happen and how quickly it can come. I don’t think it’s that I’m doing something without him. It’s that I’m doing something so far away from him and I can’t get to him quickly. THAT I don’t like at all.

Still, it is fun in many ways. I’ve seen some beautiful countryside. The sky was blue and wide open. I’ve forgotten what that looks like living in West Virginia. (I took the picture while driving but my phone was in a cradle and all I did was touch the screen. No eyes off the road for me!) I don’t have anything pressing to do once I get to Denver so I can relax and catch up on my rest, keep myself really hydrated to counteract the altitude, knit, write, and visit with my Colorado peeps. I could not believe how green Kansas is. They had the same long, drawn out, wet spring everyone else had. It is so hard to believe the temperature is in the high 90’s in Colorado and one week ago they had two feet of snow. Crazy weather!

Oh, see that picture bottom right? That’s my digital laser thermometer. After burning up an axle in Indiana two summer ago, I check my hubs religiously…every time I stop and get out of the truck. I know you can just put your hand down there and feel if it’s hot, but how hot is too hot and if it IS that hot, you’ll burn the heck out of your hand. I keep watch on it and it’s always between 100-110. That’s perfect. If it goes up, it means the bearings need grease.

Well, I’m on the last leg of this Grand Adventure. The last leg of the first part of it, anyway! It’s just me and Jesus…making our way west!

❤️

“….“The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight.”

Genesis 31:49 ESV

#Separation, #Marriage, #Adventure

Road Trip: Can’t Keep a Good Gal Down!

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 01:30:19 -0600

“A Shady Spot”

If you would have asked me at 10:00 Wednesday night, I would have told you (as I told you this morning) there was NO WAY I was going to leave for Colorado yesterday morning. Ahhhh…but, once I got past the icky stomach, took my tummy medicine, and slept a solid eight hours, it was a whole different ballgame.

Because I was getting up and down, I slept in the guest room so I wouldn’t wake up Mr. FixIt. I awoke before dawn…around 5:00…and felt great. I read my devotionals and caught up on some correspondence then my sweetheart came to check on me around 7:00. I met him with a big smile and said I was good to go! He smiled back with relief. He doesn’t like it when I’m sick anymore that the other way around.

It took a couple of hours to finish packing the truck and camper and I was on the road by 9:00. My first stop was Walmart to pick up a few things. I had some things to return. I got back to the camper and put away my purchases and got in the truck. There were my return items sitting on the front seat. Oy! I really didn’t want to cart them to Colorado so I went back in and stood in a long, slow line. But, it’s done and I was out before too long.

The next and final stop was gas and a great big drink to stay hydrated on my trip. The young gal behind the counter was very excited because she is leaving on vacation today. Her very first camping trip! Well, I turned right back around and talked with her for awhile! I sure hope she has a grand time and decides to keep right on camping! Those first few camping trips are critical. You’ll either love it or hate it.

It was really hot yesterday and about midway through my drive, I pulled over into a rest area to stretch out on my bed. Well, it was over 90 degrees! Of course, when you pull into a rest area, there’s no electricity, so no AC. You need to improvise. The last time I drove cross country alone, I stopped in Kansas for a rest and needed to do something to cool off. I had a tiny little battery fan and a cold pack from the freezer. It worked ever so slightly, but it wasn’t long before the cold pack was melted and that was the end of that.

When I was at Walmart yesterday, I bought two 10” fans that are powered by fan and batteries. I’ve also taken to carrying a very large bottle of water that I keep in the freezer of the camper. Went I stretched out on my bed yesterday, I sat the large frozen container in a basin and put the fan behind it. I also had three water bottles I had frozen. I set them up in front of the other fan. I positioned myself in front of the cool air and had a lovely mini siesta. Perfect! I popped all the bottles back in the freezer before I pulled back on the highway.

“Hillbilly Air Conditioner!”

That right there is a little hillbilly ingenuity. Appalachians are a resourceful lot. I arrived at my favorite little campground in Richmond, Indiana at around 5:30…had supper from my slow cooker and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings as the sun went down. I tried to keep from turning on the AC, but it was still 85 degrees at 8:00 and I was done with the heat by that time. I’ve never slept all night with the AC on in this little camper. It’s pretty noisy in this tiny little space.

I wrote early last night so I could have a good solid night’s sleep. Yesterday was a long day, but I didn’t get very far. That’s usually how it works on the first day out. For me, anyway. I monitored all the systems on the camper and the truck and everything worked just as it should so I don’t foresee any difficulties. As always, I say my prayers for travel mercies. I appreciate when you do, as well.

Have a beautiful Friday!!!

❤️

“Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet.”
Psalms 140:4 ESV

A Tidy Purchase

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 01:30:58 -0600

“A tonneau cover turned out to be an extraordinary pargain!”

I told you all yesterday about our great find…a tonneau cover for my truck. We installed it yesterday and it was SO easy. It only took about fifteen minutes to do. We had to trim a couple small places in order for the tailgate to close, but that was super easy to do. We didn’t realize exactly how good this deal was till Mr. FixIt looked up this particular model of cover. New, they sell for nearly $800! And the carpeted bed liner sells for almost $500! We got them both for $75!!! Ok, I’m a little excited! Such a good bargain hunter I have for a husband.

We went to the farm yesterday. It appears the young man we had arranged to mow the yard…didn’t. But that’s ok. It is still mow-able without having to bale it. It is awfully wet out there. In the two weeks we were gone, the farm got over four inches of rain. We only got two at the Ponderosa. The ground is soggy when you walk out there. The house at the farm sits back in a holler and doesn’t get much sunlight. It’s nice for keeping cool, but causes a lot of problems with mold and mildew.

We noticed some evidence of termites this time. The first time I’ve seen that so we need to jump on that right away. I did a deep cleaning out there because my uncle is coming for a visit while I’m in Colorado and I wanted fresh bed linens for him. I mopped the floors and dusted. Mr. FixIt cleared off the back porch and scrubbed it down. Everything looked wonderful when we were finished.

I had every intention of leaving for Colorado today, but have decided to wait till tomorrow. This way I don’t have to run at breakneck speed getting everything done and I can take my time. The linens have all been washed and put back on the bed. I have some items to take out of the camper…things I took camping at Blackwater Falls and won’t need on this trip. This will cut down on the weight I pull which will improve my fuel consumption.

Oh, another thing Mr. FixIt did for me. Something was wrong with the water pump in the little camper. A water pump is supposed to turn on, build up pressure, then shut off. It only comes back on when the water pressure drops as you’re using water in the sink or toilet. Mine wouldn’t shut off. It ran on and on and was dreadfully loud. While we were in Florida, we discussed it and I ordered a new pump. It was here when we returned. Mr. FixIt installed it yesterday and it works perfectly! Now the only things I have to do is replace the shower nozzle and test out the hot water heater and we’re in business. Having your own shower when you camp is such a luxury.

I’m really getting excited now about the trip. I can’t wait to see my Colorado family…I’ve missed them so much! Today will be fun packing and preparing for a much needed road trip. Many of you asked yesterday. Mr. FixIt will fly out in a few weeks to join me before the wedding. Then, we will camp around Colorado and all the way back across the country. I’ve been looking forward to this trip for a whole year…I can hardly wait to get started and savor every single moment!!!

❤️

“Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.” Deuteronomy 28:6 ESV

Road Trip: Falling Into Place

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 01:30:20 -0600

“Tonneau Cover for a Pickup”

My old truck had a fiberglass topper on it. It was really nice. I had the top lined with a carpet liner as well as a carpet bed liner. I had a couple of garment rods, a light, and two 12v outlets installed as well. It had a rack on the roof for my kayak. It was a sweet setup. Then, when my truck was totaled, the topper and all it’s accouterments went with it.

My new-to-me truck just has a plastic bed liner. There have been many times I have wished I had some way to tote things on my trips without necessarily having them visible to anyone who parks right beside us. I happened to mention this to Mr. FixIt the other day. He doesn’t forget things like this. We’ll get back to that in a minute.

A lot of things fell into place yesterday. First, we thought we might need new tires before I head to Denver. Mr. FixIt called all around and finally found a suitable pair for a reasonable price at Sam’s, but still…mounted and balanced…four tires were going to cost nearly $800! A chunk of change, to be sure. That’s the price of owning a truck.

We signed in at the tire desk, ordered the four tires, and paid for them. It was going to take about two hours so we started wandering around the store. About ten minutes later, they paged me overhead and we went back to the auto department. It turns out, I had a little over half the tread left on the tires and he didn’t want me to buy something I didn’t need.

How refreshing! Thank you, Brandon!

I did ask them, since they already had the truck back there, to please rotate the tires so they did that. As we were looking around the store, Mr. FixIt got a text. He said he had found a used tonneau cover for my truck for $150. I texted the woman selling it. She asked if I could also use a carpet bed liner! Well, yes…as a matter of fact. She then went on to tell me she was sick and tired of advertising stuff and if I wanted them both, she would sell them together for $75. Score! Now I can have a cover over my stuff during the Colorado trip.

We went to pick up our mail at the post office and there was my new water pump for the camper. Mr. FixIt can get that put in for me today, I can clean out my camper and restock it, run to town, change the oil on the truck, and leave for my trip west…maybe on Wednesday! I am really looking forward to seeing my kids and grandkids so if everything lines up like this, I’ll be on my way sooner rather than later.

Another road trip, Ranchers! Head ‘em up…move ‘em out!

❤️

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9 ESV

The Simple Things

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 01:30:28 -0600

“My birthday present…a shade for the tractor!”

Mr. FixIt and I were in Florida on my birthday. Like most men…smart men, anyway…he wanted me to tell him what I would like for my birthday. I told him, if I were younger, I would dearly love to have a chainsaw. He smiled. I told him all the great things I would do with a chain saw. The only thing is, I don’t have the upper body strength to do much with a chain saw anymore. So it was a rather moot point.

I couldn’t think of anything else. I don’t need tchotchkes. I like to buy my own clothes. I don’t need jewelry or anything fancy. Experiences are the best, but I was even drawing a blank for that. Finally, I told him there would come a moment when I would know exactly what I would like to have for my birthday and he could buy it then.

After church yesterday, we stopped at Lowes to pick up some dust masks so I can mow without worrying about getting another sinus infection. While we were there, I turned to Mr. FixIt.

“Do they make some sort of umbrella or something to put on the riding mower so when I’m out mowing, I’m not sitting out in the hot sun?”

“I’m sure they do, sweetheart. Let’s go look.”

We came around the corner to the riding mower display and there, before my very eyes, was exactly what I wanted! My husband always looks at me in a rather bemused way…as though I’m some sort of strange and exotic creature he’s never seen before. And, I suppose in a way, I am. He has never known a woman who would want a sunshade for the riding mower as her birthday present.

When we got home, he put my shade together and…unfortunately…there was a piece that was broken on it. I managed to fiddle with it and made it work yesterday while I was mowing, but we will return it for one that isn’t broken. It worked really well. The only think is, you have to be really careful when you are going under trees because the low hanging limbs will knock it down.

When I finished mowing, I came around the corner and Mr. FixIt was in the pool cleaning it out so that when I was done, I could take a refreshing dip. What a sweet man! Afterward, we went to the local pizza joint. We ran into my cousins and visited with them while we ate. It was a perfect, sunny summer day. My grandma would have declared we are “knee deep in June.” She would have been absolutely correct!

❤️

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."”
Genesis 8:22 ESV

Home Again, Home Again!

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 01:30:48 -0600

“Clockwise from top: The BEST Carolina BBQ I have EVER eaten…Phifers!, I almost finished one sock this trip, Griffen the Grey (a French Bulldog), a field of yellow lilies.”

I love a good road trip. And I love getting back to my own bed. In this case…the one in TOW-Wanda! I have missed this camper so much while we were gone. Isn’t that silly? Mr. FixIt and I were trying to explain to our friends in South Carolina the merits of sleeping in our little camper out on our property with this really great memory foam mattress. I think they got it. No matter…we made a bee line home yesterday and I barely emptied the truck before I was stretched out and writing this!

I got a text from Big yesterday asking if we were about to get hit with some bad storms. I thought we had dodged them, but apparently not. We stopped in Statesville, NC at an RV dealer to get something when the sky started looking really menacing. We hurried over to our favorite BBQ joint and just got seated when the rain started coming down in buckets.

This barbecue place was just a chance find a couple of years ago. We stopped over night in Statesville that trip and the gal at the front desk said we had to go to Phifer’s for the best BBQ in North Carolina. Now, I’m not a huge fan of the North Carolina style sauce. It has more of a mustard base and has a distinct vinegary taste to it. But theirs? Oh…..my…..gosh. It is sublime!

I asked the nice BBQ lady yesterday what the best thing on their menu was. She said, “ALL of the things!” I said…bring it!

I had a BBQ sandwich with the slaw on it. And a side of fries. I am a fast eater. Mr. FixIt is always getting on me about that. Not yesterday. I savored every last morsel. And, I kid you not, when I beheld the last bite between my thumb and index finger…I felt sad. It was over! It ended far too soon!!! It was a heady experience that I wanted to hang onto. The sauce has just the slightest kick to it. And it seemed there were red pepper flakes in the meat itself. So my mouth held onto this delicious warmth for an hour or so afterwards. I have never experienced food in such a way before!

I want to get back in the car and live next door to this place.

Is that so unreasonable?

Ok…ok. I’ll just have to wait till the next time, I suppose. Uber eats would be WAY over the top, right?

It rained on us part of the way home but it wasn’t too bad. I almost finished knitting one sock of the pair. I caught a picture of a field of yellow lilies. And there’s little Griffen, the grey! He was just as kissable as he looks.

And here it the very best part…there was NO water in the basement!!! Thank you, Jesus…we’re coming to Your house this morning!

❤️

“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.”
Ecclesiastes 9:7 ESV

The Deep South

Sat, 22 Jun 2019 01:30:57 -0600

“A canopy of live oak lines a stately boulevard in the equestrian city of Aiken, South Carolina.”

I don’t know if y’all consider South Carolina to be the “Deep South” or not, but I do. Anything south of the Mason Dixon line is Deep South to me. I love the south. Southern hospitality, amazing architecture and delicious taste sensations await you in the south. When you can sit and get as much moisture off the outside of a cold glass of iced tea as there is liquid inside…you are celebrating the Summer Solstice in the Carolinas.

When we left the condo yesterday morning, we made a bee line for St. Augustine where I met up with my longest long-time friend…my sister of another mother…my partner in crime…mi amiga who would open a can of whoop a** on anyone who ever did me wrong….THAT friend. We jumped out of our cars and ran into each other’s arms. We haven’t seen each other since my mom died fifteen years ago and our reunion has been long overdue.

We crammed a lot into the following two and a half hours till we finally had to kiss and hug over the car door for another half hour. That’s a southern thing…the long front porch goodbye then the longer driveway goodbye. We finally tore ourselves away and headed for Aiken, South Carolina.

My dear friend Deneene and her husband Mark got married this spring and we were unable to attend because we were away at the OBX. We had never been to their home nor had we met the newest member of the family…a lovely blue-grey French bulldog named Griffen. Shortly after we arrived, we went to visit Mary…a Sister on the Fly I met in Nashville four years ago at the Country Living Fair. Deneene and Mary met here and somehow I came up in the conversation and they both knew me. Small world.

We went on a “windshield tour” of Aiken and saw much of the equestrian facilities. We drove around and ogled the stately homes along wide boulevards connected by tunnels of live oak dripping with Spanish moss. The air was sticky and hot and we soon found ourselves at Deneene and Mark’s favorite ice cream parlor. I had a blackberry ice cream that made me swoon, it was so good.

I caught this picture of the lovely old live oak canopy. Mark stopped and let me out so I could patiently wait for the traffic to subside in order to get as unobstructed a view as possible. I stood in the middle of the street and marveled at the view. The story is, a physician used to drive his horse and carriage up this boulevard to and from his rounds. His wife felt so sorry for him in the scorching Carolina sunshine so she had these live oak trees planted to provide him shade.

It was a lovely day and evening. Old friends are the touchstones we have with our former selves. Love knows no distance. Nor does it know time. Each visit picked up right where we left off the last time. You almost feel like, “So, anyway…as I was saying…” And they totally know what you’re talking about. That’s a GOOD friend…a dear friend…an honest and true friend.

What an incredible honor it is to have friends like that.

Today we head on home. It will be at least a ten hour day. I knitted all day yesterday. I can’t ask Mr. FixIt to do all the driving today though. I have to do my share. But I do so love to knit while we drive. We have periods of animated conversations. And, we have periods of companionable silence. We are great travel companions, come to find out.

❤️

“Again the watchman reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."”
2 Kings 9:20 ESV

Vacations: Past & Present

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 01:30:50 -0600

“Vacation Photos: The Making of Memories”

The idea of a vacation was totally foreign to me till I was in my late twenties. My family were not big travelers. We didn’t go to the beach every summer like many of my friends’ families did. We didn’t go camping or hike or play on the river that was a mere five blocks from our house. My Grandma was only west of the Mississippi a couple of times in her life. The first was to see my Uncle Sonny get his wings as an Air Force pilot. The second was when she went to Minnesota to visit my aunt’s resort on Lake Kabetogama. Two vacations in her life.

We didn’t have the money to have extravagant vacations. We visited my aunt and uncle over near the eastern panhandle of West Virginia for a week every summer. That was as close to a vacation that I ever got until I was married to Hubby #2. Our first real vacation was a road trip, car camping around Colorado. After that, we went to West Virginia several times to visit family and one year we went on a twenty mile backpack trip there.

The first extravagant vacation we had was a trip to Cancun with friends the year before I had Daughter #2. We went to Hawaii once, but it was very difficult to get him away from his practice for very long. We did quick trips to DC, Yellowstone, and Disney. After he and I parted company, I traveled alone whenever I could. I took Daughter #2 on a three week road trip when she turned thirteen and took her to Mexico for her sixteenth birthday.

When Mr. Virgo came along, we had great plans to travel when he retired. We did go on a long road trip for our honeymoon. We went to Utah once, and Yellowstone twice. In the summer of 2011, I took him to West Virginia to meet my family. He wanted to take me to Europe to see all the beautiful places he had been. We were buying a camper for retirement when he died.

Heading out on my own again, this time with my own little camper, I found travel to be my solace…my escape…a panacea for the pain of losing my husband. I traveled a lot in those years following his death. And, I was still on the road when my Uncle Bud called me home to live on the family farm. Even living there seemed like a vacation…a dream vacation luxuriating in the memories of my loving family.

Then, Mr. FixIt came along. Thankfully, he was retired and itching to get out and do things. We’ve already accomplished more travel in the short time we’ve been together than I did in the last thirty years. But, is it really “vacation” when you’re retired? Yes and no. No, because every day is Saturday, to some extent. We aren’t bound by the clock and time is somewhat our own. Yes when you consider all the work our properties entail.

I am so grateful for the opportunities to travel and see new places. I know there may come a time in the future when I may not get to do these things, so I’m making up for lost time. I’m banking memories like a squirrel hiding nuts. Someday, I’ll look back on all this…I’ll read the pages of this blog or my book…and have some wonderful stories to tell.

❤️

“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.”
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ESV

A Sweet Treat...Yarn!

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 01:30:04 -0600

“Clockwise from Top Left: Hibiscus, Chasing the rain, Low Country Shrimp & Grits, Fishing Boats, New yarns & a present, interesting sand castle.”

One of my readers sent me a message the other day and said I simply MUST go check out the little yarn shop in Ormond Beach. I told her I would sure try to get there. But, I’ve purchased yarn everywhere the last year and I just was having a hard time justifying going because I knew I wouldn’t get out the door without at least two more sock yarns.

I was right! After receiving a little nudge from her yesterday, I told Mr. FixIt we should head to She Sells Yarn after our walk on the beach. He is such a good sport. He’ll take me anywhere I want to go. We walked in and I introduced myself. The owner (Helen) said, “Oh! You have a gift here!!!” Sure enough, there was a little package with my name on it and a jaunty “Happy Birthday” message written on the bag. Inside were little locally-made turtle stitch markers! Thank you, Cindy!!! That was so sweet of you to think of me!

She Sells Yarn is a beautiful shop with a wonderful collection of yarns. I am always partial to locally raised, spun, or dyed yarns and this place didn’t disappoint. One in particular that intrigued me was String Theory Colorworks’ “Matrix”…a blend of 80% SW Merino, 10% Cashmere, and 10% Stellina (to give it sparkle…who doesn’t like a little sparkly in their socks?) This yarn is developed and “lovingly hand dyed” by a husband/wife duo living in Orlando. He is an engineer, she is a biology major. One day she asked, “Honey? Wouldn’t it be cool if…?” And the ball got rolling. She started dying yarn that night with a mathematically determined pattern that would guarantee an even repeating stripe pattern. With their backgrounds, they decided all their yarns had to have science-y names. And the rest is history.

The other yarn is by Violet Flamingo Fibers of Satellite Beach, Florida. Wendy uses ethically sourced and cruelty free fibers for happy socks with good karma. The yarns are all hand dyed in beautiful colorways named after local attractions, flora, and fauna. I chose a mix of bright primary colors called Daytona Beach Boardwalk. This fingering weight yarn is a blend of 85% merino and 15% nylon which will knit up into a lovely, non-pilling sock.

Thursday night is Fiber Friends night at She Sells Yarn so I am looking forward to toting my knitting down and chatting with some of the local makers and meeting new friends. We’ve heard there have been terrible rains in West Virginia since we’ve been gone so we are heading out Friday to drive home with stops along the way to visit dear friends. Even with my darned sinus infection, we’ve still had a wonderful, very restful and relaxing vacation. It won’t be long after we get home that I’ll be packing up the camper and heading to Colorado!

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for some really fun and interesting developments in my world! I’m getting excited…and you should, too!

❤️

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”
Psalms 90:17 ESV

Working Vacation

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 01:30:34 -0600

“I can’t think of many places that are prettier to write than at the beach!”

If writing is my “job”, then I’m always working…every day…365. It doesn’t FEEL like work. They say if you find something you love to do, you’ll never work another day in your life. And I do love to write. I once tried to calculate how many words I’ve written since Mr. Virgo died. I stopped at a million. That was a long time ago.

Everything I see or do becomes “blog fodder”. An opportunity to tell a story, share an insight, or discover new places together. I love telling stories. Where I find my stretch is in writing “content”….a disconnected observation without personal viewpoints involved. It’s more like news reporting. I have been contracted to do some of this type of writing and it doesn’t come nearly as easy to me.

Back when I first attempted writing, I asked a press writer/photographer to read some of my work and give me an honest opinion. He told me it would never be publishable. I put too much of myself in my writing. In his defense, this was before blogs. But still, he was the wrong person to ask, or take and opinion from. If I hadn’t have listened to him, I might have been writing for the the last twenty years instead of the last six.

Part of this new project does use my writing style, and I am most grateful for that. I am blessed that I have a husband who knew from the get go that my writing is as much a part of me as my arms or legs. He isn’t the kind of guy that needs babysitting or entertained on an ongoing basis. He has his own interests that he pursues when I sit down at the keyboard. I am careful to keep things balanced, but when I am working on a deadline, I have to get in the zone.

Can you think of a prettier place to sit and write than on the beach? My only problem this day was the wind and my shorter haircut. The wind slowly sent my beach umbrella listing at a forty-five degree angle. And it had my hair in my face and eyes to the point of utter distraction. I packed up and moved up to the pool area. Much less wind and reflection on the screen of my iPad, but by then, my battery was low.

At that point, my only option if I wanted to get this thing knocked out was to go back indoors. It was a good thing Mr. FixIt was ready to go inside, as well. A pitcher of ice tea was made. Some peanut butter and crackers and a bowl of berries were consumed. And my sweetheart headed off to Walmart for a loaf of bread and a jug of milk so I could get back to work without distraction.

I write. It’s what I do. I’ve said it before…I can’t NOT write. I’ve tried. Those of you who have been with me all along can surely remember the times I’ve said, “Hey! I’m going camping and I’ll be off the grid for a few days…see ya when I get back!” Yeah, not so much. I will drive to the top of a mountain to find enough cell signal to post a story. It’s a sickness. An obsession. An addiction. But it’s one I have no intention of walking away from because the benefits I have gained from my writing has far outweighed any inconvenience it has caused.

Till tomorrow…be blessed!

❤️

“Beautiful words fill my mind, as I compose this song for the king. Like the pen of a good writer my tongue is ready with a poem.”
Psalm 45:1 GNT

Early Bird Special

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 01:30:53 -0600

“Father’s Day in Florida…a little slice of Heaven!”

It wasn’t that many years ago that I looked on as “old people” toddled into restaurants to eat dinner at 4:00 in the afternoon. The “Early Bird Special”. “Bonkers!” I thought. “What on earth are they doing eating at this time of day? Don’t they know how to have FUN anymore?”

HA!

Guess who can’t eat anything other than Raisin Bran after 5:00??? Yeah…what goes around, comes around, don’t it?

So Father’s Day started out great. A lovely breakfast served to my sweet man…father to a great family…love of my heart. Then, we headed to the Ponce deLeon Lighthouse. We’ve been there before. It was earlier in the day…I was in much better shape…and it wasn’t so darned hot the last time. The “feels like” temperature yesterday when we arrived at said lighthouse was 98 degrees.

When you came out of the drastically air conditioned gift shop into the Florida heat and humidity at 1:00 in the afternoon, it seriously felt like walking into a sauna. And, there were signs everywhere that said “No water bottles.” Among other important things to leave behind like pets and flip flops.

Seriously? You want a slightly pudgy West Virginian with heat intolerance to climb up 203 steps…without water…or air, for that matter. Ok, I’ve done it before…I’m sure I can do it again. As I climbed the stairs, I got to the first landing and remembered. THIS was the lighthouse I didn’t like before. It gets narrower and narrower the further up you go till it becomes really tight. AND…they don’t open the windows so there is zero air flow.

The last time I felt like this was in 1989 when I climbed up the interior staircase of the hidden inner pyramid of Chichen Itza. Very narrow, steep stairs, slippery with the dampness, only the occasional incandescent bulb hanging dimly to lead your way. Four of us entered…our good friends, Hubby #2, and me. Only two of us made it up. Me and our friend’s husband. The others backed out with feelings of claustrophobia.

This felt tight and close like that and by the time I got up to that first flight, I couldn’t breathe. It was the heat and being out of and still feeling the effects of illness. There’s nothing wrong with saying, “Nope…not doing this one!” I went down and out and sat in a rocker on the front porch of the lighthouse keeper’s house, waiting for Mr. FixIt to come out on the balcony above.

He snapped a few pictures and chatted with some folks from Roanoke then gave me a jaunty wave. When he came back down, he looked like a drowned rat. It was time to cool off and we headed for the air conditioned museums.

Once we were cooler, we headed to the truck and drove down to New Smyrna Beach. I’ve got to tell you, driving down that narrow little street with the Father’s Day crowds didn’t feel much different than climbing that ever narrowing lighthouse with no air. I couldn’t believe how many people were crowded into such a tiny area.

I’ve been there before so I didn’t really need to get out. But it was Father’s Day…we do for the ones we love. I won out when we finally found ONE parking spot in a lot. You pay by entering your driver’s license number and stick in your credit card. When the fee came up in the window, I nearly fell over. $20.00! You had to pay for a full day. Nope! Not doing that either.

We headed back toward our condo and we both decided we were hungry and wanted seafood. We came by Blackbeard’s Inn and remembered eating there the last time we were in Florida. We pulled in and had such a good meal. Blue crab cake and coconut shrimp with a baked potato. All perfectly delicious.

What time was it, you ask?

4:00

The Early Bird Special!

sigh

❤️

‬‬“Do not reject me now that I am old; do not abandon me now that I am feeble.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭71:9‬ ‭GNT

Happy Birthday!

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 01:30:17 -0600

“Happy Birthday, to ME!”

June is my birthday month.

I love June. I love my birthday. So I just combine them and celebrate the whole month!

After sleeping twelve hours straight on Tuesday night, Mr. FixIt and I went down to the beach and walked then played in the pool for a while. After lunch, I took a three hour nap. Seeing a trend there? It’s all about ME ‘cause it’s my birthday month!

Just as I woke up, Mr. FixIt walked in to make sure I didn’t sleep too long and not be able to sleep later. Then he asked me that question every woman longs to hear.

“How would you like to go eat ice cream for dinner?”

Back off girls…I saw him first!

Yes, ladies…I have married the perfect man. Not only does he celebrate my birthday with me for a month…but he also takes me out for an ice cream dinner. Sexiest man alive.

After a dinner of butter pecan in a chocolate dipped waffle cone, we drove around. We shopped at a couple of Mr. FixIt’s stores. We found Aldi’s and picked up a few groceries. Wonderful strawberries for a dollar.

A simple day…Birthday Eve.

Today is my actual birthday.

Sixty-six. Wow. Why does it sound so much older than sixty-five?

Some of the grandchildren were over Monday evening before we left. I told them how old I was going to be.

“Sixty-six! Can you believe that? It has been half a century since I was sixteen! Half a century!!! You know that’s fifty years, right???”

My wise grandson-in-law said, “Did it go fast?”

How do you answer that? Yes…it flew by in a nanosecond! No, it lasted forever! It’s both.

It’s the coolest thing…to be sixteen plus fifty. I was sixteen in 1969…the summer of love. “God Bless Pink Summers ‘69!” That’s how my best friend signed her letters when she was off at a summer internship. Woodstock. Rock and Roll. Hippies. Bell bottoms. Long hair.

I thought I was free.

I was so wrong.

It took living those fifty years to actually BECOME free. Funny how that works. I’d hate to have gone through all that and not learned the beautiful, hard, gritty, wonderful lessons involved.

Sixty-six. Nope, that doesn’t bother me a bit.

I’m a crone now. I love that!

Happy Birthday to ME!

❤️

““ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’” Numbers 6:24-26 NIV

Van Life

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 01:30:34 -0600

“One of our Girl Campers brought her conversion van to camp in. We were sold!”

My dear friend Gail has a conversion van that is tricked out like a camper. It’s currently in the camper hospital so she camped in a tent this time. But one of the other gals brought her conversion van and was kind enough to give me a peek inside.

I can see now why van girls love these so much! There is a lot you can pack into a small space. Christy has hers in soft pastels and cream, making the space seem much larger. She uses her Yeti cooler as extra seating. She has a whole kitchen crammed in this little cabinet.

This really got my creative juices flowing and I was thinking of all the things I can do to the minivan when I get ready to convert it. The only downside I could see is no air conditioner. She does have a 12v fan she can use, but I’m thinking I would be limited to spring and fall excursions.

Christy spend five weeks at Quartzite, Arizona in the winter and never felt claustrophobic in this setup. She is thinking she would like to take it on the road full-time. I belong to a few Facebook groups that focus on the van life. It’s intriguing…but a little too confining for two.

Anyway, someone asked to see the van…so here she is! Enjoy!

❤️

“It’s better to live in a hut in the wilderness than with a crabby, scolding spouse!” Proverbs 21:19 TPT

Steaks on the Grill

Sat, 25 May 2019 01:30:00 -0600

“Iris on the creekbank.”

I’ve felt a day ahead all week. Yesterday, I thought it was Saturday. That’s a happy kind of mistake…it gives me a whole extra day! We got lots done yesterday. It’s time to open the pool. I had no idea how much work a pool is. We put the cover over it last fall and it doesn’t fit just right. Then, all the rain collected on the top and pulled it down on the surface of the water. Top that with leaves, pollen, and algae and we had a mess to clean up.

It took us the longest time to get the cover out. We did everything we could to keep from dumping all that algae down into the water. Mr. FixIt finally got the submersible pump and managed to get the most of the water off the top. Enough to get it out of the pool, anyway. He hosed all that junk off of it and we spread it out to dry in the field while we started cleaning the pool.

There is a tool you use to sweep up the leaves and junk out. It’s round with wheels that hold it an inch above the bottom of the pool. There is a hole in the top with a net bag over it. You attach a water hose and a long pole to it. Then you drop it in the water, turn on the hose, and it sucks the stuff out of the bottom and filters it through the net. All you have to do is empty the net when it gets full.

Once we got the majority of the stuff cleaned out, we let the hose run and filled the pool back up to the correct level. That isn’t the end of it though. Now we have to start putting in the chemicals and algaecide till the water is crystal clear. Then, once a week or so, we need to clean the pool out and keep monitoring the chemical levels. Honestly, if it weren’t for the kids, I’d say the heck with it. It’s a boatload of work for the few times we actually use it. But, the kids love it and you know what you do for your grandkids.

We relaxed on the deck around the pool last night and enjoyed a beautiful sunset. I grilled steaks and had corn on the cob and baked potato for supper. When I retired to the camper to write, the soft evening air was redolent with the heady aroma of the honeysuckle in bloom. I sneezed my head off…but the aroma was worth it.

❤️

“I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees.”
Ecclesiastes 2:6 ESV

Thunderbolt and Lightning(bugs)

Fri, 24 May 2019 01:30:58 -0600

“Dew on the grass. Lightning bugs. Whippoorwills. It’s springtime in West Virginia.”

I saw the very first lightning bugs of the season on May 17th. It was the first night Mr. FixIt and I slept in the new camper. Then it got cold and I didn’t see any. But I saw a couple more last night. Some folks call them fireflies. We loved summer when we were kids…for so many reasons. But one of the best things was catching lightning bugs and putting them in a canning jar.

PopPop would poke holes in a jar lid. We’d put a little grass in the bottom of the jar so the lightning bugs would feel at home. Then us kids would run all over the yard catching the little critters when they swooped up out of the lawn at dusk. We would capture as many as we could and then take the jar to bed with us to watch the magical little lights flash in the dark.

Sometimes before bed, my Uncle Bud would bring a watermelon out of the cellar house and cut it up in thick slices. He’d cut each slice in half so we had a semi-circle of red sweetness to cool us off. Grandma would let us use the salt shaker and sprinkle a little on before we ate it. To this day, I can’t eat watermelon without salt. We had contests to see who could spit a seed the farthest. Uncle Bud always warned us not to swallow any seeds or we’d grow watermelons in our bellies. For a long time I thought pregnant women weren’t eating watermelon the right way!

Once the watermelon was finished, grandma ran a basin of warm water and we washed up and headed to bed. If it was the peak of summer, we wore little seersucker babydoll PJ’s to bed with just a sheet to cover us. We didn’t know what air conditioning was. We were lucky to have a fan in Uncle Bob’s room that sucked all the hot air out of the house. When it was cool enough, someone turned off the fan.

I remember so many summer nights with my jar of lightning bug on a chair by the bed, listening to the night sounds out at the farm. Whippoorwills. Owls. Peepers and tree frogs and bull frogs. When I was really little, we heard bobwhites. I think I might have heard one or two since then.

This is why I love the farm. These memories. They’re as thick as cobwebs and unavoidable. West Virginia. The country. It all just brings me so much peace. I am so grateful I listened to that inner voice and came home when I did. I have never been so happy as I am here…in the home of my heart.

❤️

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 NIV

Wascally Wabbits!

Thu, 23 May 2019 01:30:35 -0600

“Mr. FixIt…working in the garden.”

Mr. FixIt came to me the other morning with a dejected sigh.

“Something ate the beans.”

Again? Hmpffff! Don’t they know that little piece of ground is OURS??? They have five acres. I just want this little patch. Yeah…not likely. We used the rabbit deterrent faithfully…until, we didn’t. All it took was one little rain and one lapse of memory and…poof! No more beans. I think it is the rabbits. But it could be that little chipmunk. Or deer. Or…whatever. The point is…unless you put some sort of protective fencing or netting or both around your garden, you cannot expect to provide a salad bar without getting dinner guests.

That’s ok. We still have the tomatoes. Plenty of tomatoes!!! We had twelve tomato plants and one mysteriously disappeared. No footprints. No trace…just gone. So, we are left with eleven tomato plants and a couple dozen onions. We’re good.

I went to the farm yesterday to get the shades from the big camper. For those of you who have been around for the long haul, you will remember the first thing I did when I bought that camper was take those hideous window coverings off. If I’m going to sell the camper, I need to put them back. While I was there, I did the last load of laundry and gathered some camping items I will need in a couple of weeks when we go to Blackwater Falls with the Girl Campers. That’s one thing I like about Girl Campers…you can bring your hubby if you like. We just ask that they do something on their own while we’re there so we can have our girl time. Mr. FixIt is taking his golf clubs.

I’m taking the ice cream freezer. There is something so special about homemade ice cream when you’re camping. I also brought the screen house. The mosquitoes will be making an appearance before long and some people are more susceptible to bites than others. I want to make sure everyone is comfortable and has a place to sit out of the rain if need be.

When I got home, Mr. FixIt had a table saw on the back of the truck that needed to be unloaded. It was way too heavy to pick up but we used our brains over our brawn and tipped it onto a dolly and down the ramps into the garage. Perfect! Just as we were done, the former Mrs. FixIt came over to pick up a tent to go camping. I really like her and we sat for four hours visiting. Then my bonus granddaughter and the baby came over with ice cream. It was such a beautiful day!

I love that we can demonstrate for the younger generations that the family relationship doesn’t have to end with divorce. We just open our hearts more and let in love and healing.

❤️

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 NIV

Girl Camper Quilt

Tue, 21 May 2019 01:30:55 -0600

“The Girl Camper Quilt is almost finished!”

I spent the day yesterday at Schoolhouse Quilts. I finished sewing the border on the quilt and Carolyn did the machine quilting. I sat and visited and looked at quilting books for inspiration while the quilt was in the longarm. They make these things so fancy these days. First, she scrolled through the different patterns the machine could quilt in, then you simply put it in the rollers that hold it and push go. You do have to kind of keep an eye on it, but it’s pretty amazing how fast you can machine quilt. I think there’s probably 12 hours of work in this quilt. I do still have to hand stitch the binding down yet. It will be a prize in a giveaway we’ll be doing soon so stay tuned for details and how to enter to win!

We slept in the camper again Sunday night. I am not kidding…I could sleep in my camper every night of the year. I love it that much. I love CAMPING that much. I was going through my calendar yesterday and realized the next Girl Camping event is in sixteen days. The time really flies once warm weather gets here, doesn’t it? It seems like it crawls all winter.

The weather is so beautiful right now. We had rain and I swear, between the rain and the heat, you can actually HEAR the grass grow! I know starting today, we’ll have to start the next round of mowing. I don’t mind mowing, really. It’s fun to get out on the riding mower and let my mind wander as I watch the fields become groomed lawns. But when you start having to mow twice a week, it does get tiresome.

Still…with all the work, with all the heat and humidity and bugs and mowing…I wouldn’t trade this life for anything in the whole world! This week we clean and open the pool and mow and hoe the garden. I also will sew the binding on these two quilts and maybe even knit a little on the socks I started at camp. That plus keeping up with my writing schedule and I’ll be one busy Mountain Mama!

❤️

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

A Lovely Summer Evening

Mon, 20 May 2019 01:30:50 -0600

“Spring? It’s more like summer here in West Virginia!”

Ok…it’s not officially summer for another month. But the temperature on the truck was 93 yesterday afternoon so that is close enough for me! Mr. FixIt and I camped in the yard beside the big building Saturday night and it was wonderful. The windows were open and a small fan on low kept us very comfortable. The mattress in the camper is better than any in the house and it’s the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a week. The climb-over-you bed configuration wasn’t a problem so I think we’re a go for the big Colorado trip later this summer.

Church was wonderful…again. As I stood there, holding Mr. FixIt’s hand, praising with the other…I counted my blessings as I counted my bonus family down the pew. Afterwards was breakfast out and catching up with what’s going on in their busy lives. (They thought it was very funny that their grandpa and I camped in the yard. He does lots of new things since I came along!)

We delivered a saw to his son and checked out the deck they are rebuilding. Then we headed home. I had a deadline to meet on this new writing project I’m involved with so I climbed in my little camper, turned on the AC, and got busy. In the meantime, someone came to look at the camper we are selling. When we were both finished, we did that very fun thing we love to do…we took a drive and stopped for ice cream!

As we walked back in, the light was perfect on our peonies just outside the back door so I had to stop and snap a picture. It was the perfect summation of the day…soft and sweet, warm and blessed. As I write this, I am again in the little camper, the windows flung open, the frogs peeping in the creek beyond the far field. What a rich and lovely life we lead!

❤️

“The season has changed, the bondage of your barren winter has ended, and the season of hiding is over and gone. The rains have soaked the earth and left it bright with blossoming flowers. The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived. I hear the cooing of doves in our land, filling the air with songs to awaken you and guide you forth.” Song of Songs 2:11-12 TPT

Another Quilt Top

Sun, 19 May 2019 01:30:27 -0600

“Cute camper material for a raffle quilt”

My dear friend Gail and I will be co-hosting a Girl Camper Gathering at Blackwater Falls next month. Gail is so talented and we have so much in common…it’s always fun to camp with her. We have some great ideas for fun things to do while we are camping. This is our Kick Off to Summer Camping Event so I wanted to do something special so I’m making a lap quilt to raffle off. There will be more details as we get things finalized. If any of you are interested in camping with me, this would be an excellent opportunity! Blackwater Falls has cabins and a Lodge so there are alternatives to traditional camping if that’s not your thing. It is a beautiful park with lots to see and do.

I went to Schoolhouse Quilts again yesterday and sewed for a few hours. I almost have the top for the little camper quilt finished. I’ll have to go in next week to finish it up. I just LOVE this material and the colors are SO Girl Camperish. Carolyn who owns the shop had some really cute ideas for the border so I can’t wait to share it with you when it’s done.

Mr. FixIt and I went to the cemetery yesterday to decorate the graves of my family. We will do his family’s after church today. I wanted to avoid the rush of next weekend, especially at the little country cemetery where my family members are. There’s one little lane that goes in…the same lane comes out. And it’s on a hillside so there’s no wiggle room to pass each other.

After the cemetery, we went to North Bend State Park and checked out the campgrounds. The main campground was jam packed with kids, which I think is wonderful. They were riding bikes and playing games and enjoying themselves immensely. I am so glad their parents are getting them out and teaching them the love of camping. That being said, I am past the age of wanting to camp in a crowded campground full of screaming children. Fortunately, there is a new campground for the older, more sedate crowd. It was far more to my liking.

We ran to the farm and had dinner out so it was date night for us. It was a welcome respite to mowing, mowing, mowing!

We didn’t get to go camping this weekend so we camped last night at home in my new-to-me camper. This was our first attempt sleeping in this camper together so we will see how the climb-over-you bed arrangement works.

❤️

“However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 11:8 NIV

Quilting and Thunderstorms

Sat, 18 May 2019 01:30:21 -0600

“Sewing a quilt for my daughter’s wedding gift. The finished top below. Now it will be machine quilted.”

I was trying to remember the last time I made a quilt. I do believe it was a wedding gift for Daughter #1. They’ve been married 24 years this July! So, it’s been a long, long time. Twenty-four years ago, I had a lot more patience doing piece work than I do now. I made a beautiful king sized quilt in an intricately pieced pattern. It took me a long time to make the quilt top and I knew I would never get a quilt that big hand quilted in time for the wedding. I had heard about Cabin Creek Quilters so I took it there to see if anyone could quilt it for me.

The lovely lady in the fabric room in a house WAY up a single track dirt road up a narrow holler was kind enough to do it for me. I picked it up the following summer when I came to West Virginia for a visit. I asked her what I owed her and she said $100! I refused to pay her that. I paid her $200 and that was a bargain.

The quilt for Daughter #2’s wedding is different. I used precut 10” squares and decided the machine quilting would be the showpiece. Their colors are purple and green. I finished the quilt top yesterday and left it with the shop owner. She will sandwich the batting and backing fabric and sew on the binding. I’ll finish the hand-stitching on the binding myself.

While I was at the shop, I saw some really cute fabric with little campers on it. I’m going to make a throw with it. I don’t know if I’ll make another quilt with an intricate pattern again, but I might. It was really fun to sit at the quilt shop and sew all afternoon. It was reminiscent of my little needlework shop when the gals would come sit and stitch all day on Wednesdays. Those were wonderful memories.

It rained terribly hard yesterday afternoon and it made the humidity go up to 90% last night. Today is supposed to get up to 89 degrees. I think I could live at 72 degrees year round and be perfectly happy. At least the basement didn’t leak! All that rain brought out the frogs. We had them calling in the yard all night. I love the night sounds here. Night before last there was a whippoorwill on the old TV antenna over our bedroom window. Believe me, they aren’t as pleasant to hear incessantly nearby as they are off in the distance.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

❤️

“Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”” Acts 14:17 NIV

Farm Life is a Good Life

Fri, 17 May 2019 01:30:58 -0600

“Clockwise from top left: Grandma’s peonies, a row of tiger swallowtails, the peonies out by the road, bearded iris alongside the house, the view from the road, tiger swallowtail up close”

As I was washing the breakfast dishes yesterday, something outside the kitchen window caught my eye. I stood quietly and studied the branches in the cedar and maple trees that frame my view of the yard. Suddenly, I saw it again. A fledgling house wren just took it’s first tentative flight from the nest. It snuggled in amongst the leaves, trying not to draw attention to itself. Mama came flying down and sat beside her brave baby. Soon, she swooped down to the grass and picked up a bug and brought it back to the little one. And so begins the feeding and teaching till this little fellow can survive on his own.

I smiled as I dried my hands and set to my morning chores. Mr. FixIt would be home soon and I needed to get things together to go out to the farm. I packed a couple of bags and gathered the laundry to do while we were out there. I took my morning coffee out on the deck by the pool. Then I wandered over to the garden. I sprinkled the plants with rabbit repellent. I caught sight of a chipmunk darting around the corner of the big building out back and wondered if the repellent works for them, too.

When Mr. FixIt got home, I helped him get the riding mower and the push mower on the utility trailer. Why we didn’t think of doing this two years ago, I’ll never know!

When we got to the farm, we unloaded the mowers and I hopped on the riding mower. If you remember correctly, when I was mowing the farm by myself it took me a good five hours. I had to mow thirty minutes then cool off and rehydrate…over and over till I was done. I literally finished mowing in less than fifteen minutes with the riding mower! Mr. FixIt took the push mower and mowed the ditches out front and the perimeter of the yard. The edges of the lawn are too soft to use the riding mower. It could collapse the creek bank and take me with it.

When we were finished, I cooked a good supper of pork chops, lima beans, and Amish potato salad. We sat down to watch the news and there it was…bad storms coming. We were prepared to stay a night or two, but until we fix that drain at the bottom of the steps, we have to be at the Ponderosa if there is a threat of heavy rain or else we’ll have a flooded basement.

I washed the dishes and was getting things ready to head back home when Mr. FixIt called to me to bring my phone outside. There, on the driveway, were six or seven tiger swallowtail butterflies, intently feeding on something. I have no idea what. When I startled them at one point, they rose up and circled around and around us for several minutes in a dazzling butterfly dance. Then, just as quickly, they settled back down in the same spot. It was magical and went on for forty-five minutes or so.

We finally had to say goodbye to the butterflies and head back to the Ponderosa. Sometimes farm life is a hard life. But, it’s really a good life.

❤️

“May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness— an abundance of grain and new wine.” Genesis 27:28 NIV

Wednesday Evening Walkabout

Thu, 16 May 2019 01:30:23 -0600

“Clockwise from Top Left: Abundant Blueberries, Honey Locust, Wild Grape Vine, Beautiful Peonies”

I finished mowing at the Ponderosa while Mr. FixIt was in town working on a porch he’s building. There were several areas around the edges of the fields where brush, vines and trees had encroached into my mowing space. They are the worst when they hang over and I have to try to mow under them. I bend way far forward over the riding mower, but sometimes a briar will jump out and grab me. So, last night after supper, I did my walkabout and took the loppers with me. I pruned back a lot of branches and threw them into the woods for the critters to munch on and hide in.

I finished the back property line before I gave up for the evening. I love how the fields look when they’re freshly mowed. They smell so good and they are all smooth and even. I snapped a few pictures as I moseyed around looking at the many varieties of trees in the woods beyond the far fields. I love this time of year. The dense foliage makes the shadowy underbrush dark and a cool breeze comes out smelling of musty earth and moldy leaves. It’s a rich aroma of sweet decay combined with cut grass, honey locust, and creek water. It’s heavenly, earthy, decadent. It makes me happy.

Once my tools were put away, I climbed in the little camper, snuggled back into my favorite corner and looked out at the sun setting over the far hill. The reflections of the puffy white clouds and bluebird sky on the windshield of my truck added movement and color to the scene. These are my tranquil moments. It’s MY time. Mr. FixIt is in his recliner inside, watching the news. We both worked hard today. It makes the evenings such a gift.

We are blessed beyond belief. We have a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, and love in our hearts. We have a wonderful family. We have our health. We have each other. As I was walking around the field last night, a bluebird dashed in front of me and I smiled.

“Well…hello there, Mr. Virgo. I’m doing just fine!”

❤️

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

A Quiet Place

Wed, 15 May 2019 01:30:15 -0600

“Living in a quiet place fills me with peace and gratitude.”

Mr. FixIt had to go help his friend move some things in town yesterday so I hung out at home and “pretend camped”. I piddled around in the camper most of the day. I cleaned up and put things away. I swept and washed the floors and emptied the trash. I wiped things down and stripped the bed. While I was taking off the comforter, I noticed it was damp up by the front wall towards the driver’s side. A leak!

It didn’t leak when I was parked at the campground and we had some pretty heavy rain. This leak came when I was driving through torrential rain on Monday so it has to be either around the window or something at the edge. I happily discovered the bed raises up with pneumatic lifters so I could get under there and have a good look. There were no wet places on the flooring under the bed or in any of the compartments. So I’ll have to look some more.

While I was in under the bed, I got a good look at the water system. Mr. FixIt helped me and we could not figure out why the pump won’t build up pressure and shut off. Again…more investigation is needed. In the meantime, if I can flush the commode and wash my hands and the dishes, I’m not too concerned about the rest of it. Just about every place I plan to camp will have electric and if it’s cold, I have either the electric blanket or the little space heater to keep me warm.

When Mr. FixIt got home, he staked up the tomatoes. Something happened to one of the plants. It’s just gone. The rest look good though. And the beans are coming up much better than last year. I still have a bunch of food in the refrigerator in the camper so I fixed us some supper and we sat at the dinette and ate. That made me smile.

After supper, we went for a quick walk down the road. There’s been some activity on the property next door so we moseyed over to see what’s going on. They are clearing the lot so maybe we’re getting neighbors. We don’t have neighbors within sight of the house so this is something very new for Mr. FixIt. He’s lived here over 40 years.

When we were walking back down the road, holding hands, I looked out over our field and smiled. All of my life I’ve wanted to live on five acres. And here we are! I looked around and thought of all the things I would have liked to have on these five acres over the years. A barn with maybe some animals…a cow for milk and butter, some chickens, maybe a couple of goats or sheep. A big garden. Some fruit trees. I sure would have done more with this than five acres of lawn to mow. And now?

I never say it’s too late to do something. But my priorities have changed. We like to travel and we’re going to be too old before too long to maintain that level of farming. No…we’re looking at simplifying now. But it’s nice to dream about what we might have done, had we been together when we were younger.

This is our little slice of heaven, and so is the farm. When we got back from our walk, I jumped on the riding mower and mowed till it was almost too dark to see. I watched Mr. FixIt with the push mower in the fenced yard. I watched how the mower took the curves of the field and turned them into the swirly rows of a contemporary quilt. I watch the old yellow cat sitting at the edge of the field, eyeing me to see if I was going to sacrifice another turtle for him. Thankfully, I did not. I noticed the petals of the poplar blooms fallen as I mowed over them. I watched the robins swoop in to get the bugs the mower stirred up. I took a deep breath of new mown grass. And…I smiled.

❤️

“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18:19 NIV

Rainy Days and Mondays

Tue, 14 May 2019 01:30:55 -0600

“Watching the softball game in the rain and cold.”

I opened my eyes and looked around the camper. Something woke me up but not sure exactly what. I picked up my phone and there was a text from Gail. She had to head home from the campground early and asked me to let her know when I got home safely. We do that, us Girl Campers. Nothing says I love you quite like “Let us know when you get home.”

I thought I might go ahead and get up. I put away just about everything the night before. Instead, I rolled over and pulled the covers up under my chin and dozed off for another three hours. I heated up my coffee and hopped back under the covers to sip and watch the birds around the campground. I recognized a mockingbird and a downy woodpecker. I heard a pileated woodpecker up in the canopy of leaves over my head. I saw some buzzards circling over the nearby field and caught sight of a blue heron with his head tucked back, long legs following along behind him as he flapped slowly on his way to the water.

After my second cup, I decided it was time. I hooked up the camper and took off for home around 11:30. It wasn’t too long till the heavy clouds overhead took on a dark and menacing greenish grey and the sky opened up. I drove through some very heavy rain. I dropped my speed and didn’t use cruise control…two things that increase the risk of hydroplaning.

I stopped at a rest area just inside the West Virginia border and emptied the black tank. I had no grey water this time. I got home and parked the little camper alongside the building out behind the house so I can plug it in and use it for writing and naps. There is something so special about spending time in my camper…whether I’m actually camping or not.

As soon as I got home, I needed to clean up so we could go to our granddaughter’s softball game. We stopped for some supper on the way and it was so cold at the game, we actually parked beyond the outfield and sat in the truck. It rained a few times but not enough to delay the game. Our team lost, but they sure worked hard. They have a rematch tomorrow at an away game.

When I got home, I turned on the electric blanket on the bed in the camper and climbed in. As I did, I noticed the coverlet on the bed is damp. Apparently the camper leaked somewhere as I was driving through that heavy rain so I’m going to need to get to the bottom of that. It doesn’t leak sitting in the rain so it must have come from the water splashing up from the road. Ahhhh, campers…there is always some thing that needs fixed or replaced.

Home, Sweet Home…it was so good to see Mr. FixIt and give him a big hug!

Thank you, God…for travel mercies, for such good friends, and for a precious homecoming.

❤️

“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” Psalms 121:7-8 ESV

Camp Hair...Don’t Care!

Mon, 13 May 2019 01:30:38 -0600

“Images from camp…The Three Amigas (Gail, Janine, & Ginny), fishing, TOW-Wanda III, and ramp casserole in an iron skillet.”

OMGosh! Other than not having subzero temperatures, this week has been quite reminiscent of my first winter in TOW-Wanda Grande. I was parked up on the banks of the Ohio River with no running water. This state park has a few electric sites and I was lucky enough to get one. But, there’s no water at the sites. I had to rely on the freshwater tank for flushing the toilet and bottled water for drinking. Since I don’t have the propane system or the water heater checked out yet, I had to heat up water in the microwave or running it through the coffee pot for washing dishes or taking sponge baths. I am really looking forward to a proper shower when I get home today. I definitely have camp hair. And I definitely don’t care!

Everyone left yesterday and headed home. All except for me, that is. I already had last night reserved thinking at least someone would stay over. That’s ok, though. I used the day to do some writing I have a deadline for. Then I did a little knitting and watched old Andy Griffith reruns. All the kids either texted or called me for Mother’s Day which was so nice. Gail came back to the campground after dinner and brought me some homemade cream of broccoli soup. It was a really good day.

Gail and I are cohosting a Girl Camper event next month at Blackwater Falls so now I can turn my attention to that. I ordered a floral canopy with matching chairs to set up at that outing to give people a place to sit when they come to visit. When you have a campout with a group of Girl Campers, everyone wants to see inside each other’s trailers so we usually have a little snack out or a cocktail to share with guests.

The gal who camped right across from me this time had her little camper all decked out on the inside like a vintage one, but it was brand new. She used her grandmother’s quilt to cover the seat cushions and had her mother’s 25th anniversary silver tea set on display. She made banners for each window from embroidered linens. It was absolutely darling. When her husband peeked in to see what she had done to the inside he said, “Really? Really??? You had to do all PINK?” She created a grey interior for him and switches it out. That seems like a lot of work to me, but as long as the hubs is happy.

So, today I pack it up and head home. I can’t wait to see my Mr. FixIt and give him a squeeze. He sent me a picture of the garden and the beans are all up. He’s been spreading the rabbit repellent and so far, so good! They haven’t eaten any of the young plants.

Hope you have a Happy Monday!

❤️

““All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded:” Exodus 35:10 NIV

What a Hoot!!!

Sun, 12 May 2019 01:30:56 -0600

“Coffee in the camper…my favorite thing about camping!”

The Girl Campers have been meeting at Beaver Creek State Park for the last three years or so. Some come for a day or two. Some come for a full week of fun. Gail is our Hostess Extraordinaire. Janine, our fearless leader and “Camper in Chief” is here with her Mister and anytime the three of us get together…it’s the Three Amigas. A good time is always to be had when we gather around the campfire.

“Janine loved her socks!”

We have a Spring and a Fall “What a Hoot” event. Where did we get that name, you ask? We get to listen to the owls! We cannot call them in the spring because they are on the nest. But in the fall, we can play their calls over a speaker and call them in close so we can hear them. It’s beautiful.

“The blossom of the pawpaw tree. Isn’t it beautiful?”

The park naturalist came again yesterday. He took some of the campers on a guided nature walk and identified several varieties of wildflowers. Then later in the afternoon, we went fishing. One of our gals caught a good sized catfish on her second cast. I casted fifty times and didn’t catch a thing but I had fun!

“Sherri caught a catfish on her second cast!”

I finished knitting the socks I was working on. Janine has been marveling over them for a year. That’s how long it took me to knit them! So, I gifted them to her and she was so tickled.

“Some of the girls made camping journals to keep as a memento from their trip.”

Dinner last night was a smorgasbord of soups and fresh fruit. Bourbon Brownie S’mores for dessert! I didn’t have the ones with bourbon…I had mine plain. But they were gooey and decadent. Today, I get back on my diet!

I hope you enjoy the photos! I’ll be heading back to the Ponderosa tomorrow!

Oh, and…it’s Mother’s Day. Moms come in all shapes and sizes and descriptions. Some of us are moms. Some of us chose not to be. Some wanted to be and couldn’t. Some were…and lost their babies in one way or another. Some lost their relationships in some way. A lot of us have lost our moms by the time we get to be my age. And, some are fortunate to yet have theirs. The bottom line is…no matter what state you are in….it’s Mother’s Day. I hope it is a good day for you and yours…even if there are tears.

I miss my mom…my grandma…and my “other mother”, Louisa. I’ll see you all some fine day.

And, I miss my girls. I’ll see them soon!

❤️

“Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Dreams & Camping

Sat, 11 May 2019 01:30:44 -0600

“Bathing al Fresco…imagine a long soak and watching the stars!”

When I was on my three month journey through the wilderness and backroads of Colorado after Mr. Virgo died, I camped on ten acres owned by my dear friend Susan. The property overlooked Mesa Verde. The house was situated in such a way as to give a glorious view of the mesa from the master bedroom. There was an outdoor shower just out the patio doors. It was surrounded by a rock wall with strategic dips so you could actually shower overlooking the grand view without being seen from the neighboring property or the one road that went by out front. I loved showering out there in broad daylight. It was liberating, exhilarating, refreshing while maintaining some semblance of modesty.

The only thing I thought would improve the experience would be having an oversized claw foot tub in which to lay back and relax at night watching the stars. Scented bubbles would definitely be in order. I could imagine having a small fireplace nearby to ward off the chill when getting out and stacks of fluffy white Turkish towels at the ready. There would be a platform of slatted wood over pea gravel for a floor. Soft music playing low in the background and maybe a hundred candles. Or, just one.

This would be my idea of heaven. My little oasis on those hot, sticky West Virginia nights. We have the pool, but the water is so hot in the summer, it isn’t refreshing. This al fresco bath would have hot and cold running water so I could have hot baths in the winter even. It sounds lovely.

I don’t want to build this at the Ponderosa because we want to fix it up and move. The farm would be the perfect place because of the privacy, but I don’t own it, so I don’t want to build anything there. The only other alternative is to wait till we build our place in town which could be a couple of years. I don’t know how practical it would be, but I can dream. I just look at pictures on Pinterest and swoon.

In the meantime, the Girl Campers had a grand time yesterday. I’m almost finished with my socks I started on our honeymoon last October! More girls arrived today and it’s fun getting to know them. The park naturalist came to our campfire last night and gave a talk about wild ramps. They are kind of like a cross between a wild onion and garlic. When they are raw, they have quite a bite to them, but Mike’s wife made a casserole from eggs, potatoes, ramps and cheese and it was delicious. He also spoke about hummingbirds and we made a hummingbird feeder out of a plastic water bottle.

This kind of trip gives me the camping experience I wish I could have had as a kid. It’s like something you see in the movies but we aren’t going snipe hunting or short-sheeting the counselor’s bed. It is so much fun to be a girl again and forget the mowing and cooking and responsibilities of adulthood. If you ever have the opportunity, you should do this. There are a couple of gals here staying in one of the cabins. You don’t have to have a camper…you just have to want to go out and play.

My dear friend Gail and I are co-hosting a Girl Camper event at Blackwater Falls in June. If you are interested, check out Janine’s Girl Camper page here on Facebook. It’s free to join the group and the camping trip is $20 plus your campsite fee. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1943334755897759/?ref=share

❤️

“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.” Proverbs 27:9 NIV

My View

Fri, 10 May 2019 01:30:03 -0600

“Oh, how I have missed the big picture window over the bed!”

The thing I have missed the most since I bought TOW-Wanda Grande was the window over the bed. Propping up on pillows with a cup of coffee in the morning and looking out on the sunrise is priceless. And now, I have that back. The other things are the windows at the head and foot of my bed. The windows in TOW-Wanda Grande don’t open very wide and you really don’t get a good breeze. I love having that window open over my head and feeling the cool evening breeze wash over me. It’s also nice to hear the night sounds of frogs and crickets and whatever fauna is lurking around in the dark.

The more I stay in this little camper, the more I absolutely love it. I did have a little problem. I noticed a trail of little black ants making their way up to the cabinet over the refrigerator on Wednesday night. By yesterday morning, there was an army. I opened the cabinet and took all the food out and discovered they had found an open packet of Club Crackers in a box. How can they find this stuff?

I pulled everything out and sprayed with a botanical ant killer and they were soon gone. It seems ants have been terrible this year everywhere. We are having a huge problem with them at the Ponderosa.

Other than that, and the bed being a tad bit firm for my liking, my heart just sings in this little tiny, tiny home on wheels.

More girls are arriving daily and I believe all should be here by this evening. We have been knitting and talking and eating and napping. Oh, and having campfires. Gail has this new thing she bought called the SoloStove. It looked similar to the tub out of a washing machine and when you burn wood, it doesn’t smoke. You can still smell a wood fire, but just enough that it’s pleasant and it doesn’t choke the life out of you. Life doesn’t get much better than that!

❤️

“A friend loves at all times...” Proverbs 17:17 NIV

Camping With the Girls

Thu, 09 May 2019 01:30:29 -0600

“The sun sets on another fun day camping with the Girl Campers.”

There is something special about camping with a bunch of gals. In ancient times, women gathered at the well when they went to fetch water. Farm women gathered at the Grange or at barn raisings, or when babies were born. Quilting Bees and Afternoon Teas. Women have always wanted/needed the company of other women.

When I was much younger, I got along with men better than women. I found women to be gossipy or competitive…neither of which were appealing. However, since Mr. Virgo died, I have learned to appreciate my fellow females. Especially when we are sitting around a campfire or under a pavilion on a rainy afternoon.

My favorite campouts always include an afternoon siesta. Lots of talk time and knitting. Catching up with people to find out what’s been going on in their lives. When you come to a camping event that occurs once to twice a year, that may be the only time to get to see these women and they become good friends. Lifelong friends.

I came back over to the camper after supper last night and caught the sun just before it dipped below the horizon. I thought it was lovely how the light changed to a golden green glow. These are the moments that make me remember why I bought my first camper. I want to do this as long as I am able.

Oh, yes…I love camping with Mr. FixIt. But, there’s just something special about camping with a bunch of gals.

❤️

“O God, to the farthest corners of the planet people will stand in awe, startled and stunned by your signs and wonders. Sunrise brilliance and sunset beauty both take turns singing their songs of joy to you.”
Psalms 65:8 TPT

Unbeatable Laughter...Unbearable Tears

Sat, 04 May 2019 01:30:38 -0600

“Chocolate cake pops aren’t the most delectable looking things till they get their pretty candy coating.”

The last couple of days were an incredible jumble of extreme emotions. First, we had an intense discussion about the impact of addiction in this area and on our lives. It was deeply personal and what is said in the room, stays in the room. Suffice it to say, I could not wait to get out and call my daughters and thank them for never going down that particular path. As I left messages for them…(who’s kid ever answers the phone these days?)…I broke down in tears. Because…instead of my kids being addicted…it had been me when they were growing up. I hate that I exposed them to opioid and alcohol abuse and the aftermath it caused. But, what the enemy tried to kill, God has used to our good and His glory.

Later in the evening, Daughter #1 called me back. I adore both of my girls and they couldn’t be more different. My firstborn has always been the strong, dependable kid who turned into a wonderful woman and an excellent mother, but she’s not a terribly demonstrative person. She is a little crusty on the outside but soft in the center but she’d rather chew off her arm than show it. When I answered the phone, I could hear that slightly vulnerable tenderness in her voice that I so seldom get to hear and my heart melted.

She went on to regale me with a story about her evening. It seems HER firstborn informed her earlier in the week that she needed cake pops for a going away party for one of her friends. She needed them yesterday. And…she wanted them shaped like pineapples for some reason. Now, Daughter #1 is highly creative, and an incredible teacher, but she was not particularly crafty or interested in baking when she was young. It’s amazing what we do for our kids, isn’t it?

She looked up how to make cake pops on YouTube and Pinterest. She e-mailed her principal who makes cake pops for stress relief. She found out that…surprise, surprise…cake pops are not baked in molds with sticks in them and then dipped in frosting. Actually, you bake the cake, let it cool, crumble it up very fine, then mix in a little bit of frosting. Just enough to work it together into a ball but not enough to get it wet. I had no idea!

Since my granddaughter asked for chocolate, my daughter baked two layers of chocolate cake. Then she used a small ice cream scoop to make balls of the dough and rolled them into a slightly oblong egg shape to represent little pineapples. Then she stuck sticks in them that had been dipped in the melted candy coating so they would stick. At this point, it struck her what her little creations actually LOOKED like and she had to send me pictures. We laughed til we cried. It was so delightful. I was so proud of her…for everything. Being a good kid and a great mom. For having a sense of humor. For loving me so much, even though I make her crazy half the time and she can’t let me know either way.

Then, yesterday, one of my mom’s cousins texted to tell me another cousin in Illinois passed away on Sunday. That made me sad because I just loved Betty Mae. When she and her family came to West Virginia to visit my grandma, it was an EVENT, I’m telling you. I sent a potted plant with a note and then called my aunt and uncle to make sure they knew.

Remember I told you I made the difficult decision to not go to my niece’s graduation in Indiana? Well, I found out the graduation is outside today…in the rain…in Indiana…in tornado season. They’re giving them ponchos to wear. Oy! That’s not why God prompted me to cancel, though. Mr. FixIt was driving home yesterday and he got the strongest urge to call his best friend. When he did, his friend was crying because his wife had just passed away. His friend is going to need him here and I am so grateful I listened to the whispers of the Holy Spirit telling me not to go!

The camper is almost ready for my big camping trip next week. I installed a new smoke detector yesterday, packed some things in the overhead cabinets over the dinette, added deodorizer to the tanks, and swept the floors. There were a couple of very small holes on the wall where I removed some curtain hardware so I filled them with a little caulking. I tried putting the quilts that I wanted to use on the bed but they are too small for the queen bed. That’s ok…I’ll use the all white quilt I used in big TOW-Wanda and just fold the extra quilts at the bottom of the bed for decoration. The only thing left to do is wash the floors and windows, lay down the rugs, take out the trash, and finish packing. It’s supposed to storm all day today, so I can get in there and play…and maybe we’ll camp in the driveway tonight!

❤️

“So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 8:15 NIV
“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”” Revelation 21:4 NIV

A Trip for Tomatoes

Thu, 02 May 2019 01:30:07 -0600

“Shari Sims and her precious pooch greet customers at Sims Greenhouse in Palestine, WV”

Twenty-eight years ago, Shari Sims and her husband opened a little greenhouse in Palestine, WV. It’s a tiny little blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town on the quintessential two-lane blacktop way out in the country but you’d never know it from the looks of the enterprise they’ve got going now. I counted at least four greenhouses filled to the brim with the most gorgeous flowers and vegetables.

“I love the colors of succulents…so soft and soothing.”

We browsed through the many varieties of tomato plants and chose ten. Several of them were at least two feet tall and already have tomatoes set on. $14.00 for all of them! I couldn’t believe it. They also sell wholesale to businesses. We visited with several people as we looked around in the various greenhouses. Shari’s son is soon graduating and has taken an interest in the plant business and runs a separate greenhouse that raises lettuces. I’m really looking forward to that when he opens.

Sims Greenhouse, 7460 Palestine Road, Palestine, WV ( out Rt. 14 past Elizabeth)

“Rows and rows of the most beautiful hanging baskets and the heady aroma of petunias…enough to make you swoon!”

As we were on our way home, I asked Mr. FixIt to drop me off at the little quilt shop that opened this winter. I have decided to make my daughter and her fiancée a quilt for their wedding gift. I can sew it when I’m with the Girl Campers next week. It’s just going to be quick with 9.5” squares in shades of purple and green…their colors for the wedding.

“Moss baskets add a lovely texture”

I have to tell you…I felt so much better yesterday. We watched the evening news last night and they said I-70 from Pittsburg to St. Louis is going to be under severe weather warnings and that’s exactly where we would have been today if I hadn’t listened to that still, small voice guiding me to stay home.

I worked on the camper this afternoon and have it about two-thirds ready. The issues with the propane and the water heater won’t be fixed before I go, but it’s going to be fine. I have dry-camped many, many times. I have electric at my site and a microwave. I can heat up water that way and wash my hair and “bathe”.

It was really hot and humid here yesterday but we are expecting thunderstorms the next couple of days. It was 89 degrees here yesterday afternoon! May can still have some chilly days so I don’t think we’ve hit “summer” weather yet. But, my oh my….it is SO beautiful here this time of year!

❤️

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;” Proverbs 3:5 NIV

Goodbye...For Now

Sat, 27 Apr 2019 01:30:17 -0600

“Best Friends”

Goodbyes are so hard…especially since losing Mr. Virgo. My world perspective has forever changed and grief has colored every thought since that fateful day. I am so aware of how tenuous life is and how strong the bonds between us and those we hold most dear.

Today we have to say so long to our dearest family/friends as they head back home to Colorado and we head back home to the Ponderosa. We have had such a delightful week. The weather seriously couldn’t have been more perfect. Our first morning here dawned sunny and gorgeous and remained the same the entire week until a band of severe thunder storms came through last evening. It rained hard into the night and brought cooler temperatures but today is supposed to be sunny with a high around 70 so it will be perfect traveling weather.

While grief and death are not in the forefront of my thoughts anymore, there are certain things that have changed because of my loss. Now, when I see a scene, I see it through the eyes of a widow and know the scenes I wish I had pictures of. As we watched the sunset in a quiet cove along the sound in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore the other night, I looked back. I noticed Ben & Sue turn to take in the last of the golden light as the sun dipped below the horizon over the glassy surface of the water. I smiled as Sue reached for Ben’s hand and I reached for my cell phone to snap this picture. I added the location and date and sent it to her.

We do not know when our time will come, but we do know statistically that women outlive their husbands. When Mr. Virgo died, I really had fewer photos of him than I thought. I wanted to make sure Ben & Sue had all the special events of the week recorded for posterity.

As we drove down to the beach last weekend, I kept thinking…”It’ll be over in an instant and we’ll be driving back home.” And, here we are. But…oh, my. We made some beautiful memories together this week and I will cherish this time together for the rest of my life.

❤️

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 NIV

Oh...Oh...OBX!

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 01:30:47 -0600

“Is there anything better than spending time with loved ones?”

This has been the BEST week! The weather has been amazing. The company SO much fun. And the food has been divine. The only thing that could have made it better would be if ALL the family could be here.

We started out with a hearty breakfast. I had a box of matzoh leftover from the Seder demonstration at church group the other night and brought it along. My very favorite Passover breakfast is Matzoh Brei. You take the sheets of matzoh and crumble them up. Pour enough hot water over them to cover them and let them sit for a while. Then you squeeze the water out of them and place the wet matzoh in another bowl. Beat three or four eggs with some cinnamon, a dash of salt, and a little vanilla extract together then pour it over the wet matzoh and stir till you get a thick batter. Drop 3/4 of a cup of the thick batter on a hot oiled griddle and cook till browned and set in the middle. Serve with butter and syrup like pancakes. Yummm!

We all gathered our things and headed to the beach. Sue and I walked for a while and the guys fished. Mr. FixIt let me cast for him once. We got out the umbrellas and sat for a long time watching a school of dolphins playing in the surf not too far from the shore. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any cooler, we saw the blowing mist from a small humpback whale that breached and showed his beautiful tail fin as he dove back into the sea. OMGosh! That was SO exciting. The guys never got a nibble while we were there so Sue and I decided to head to the indoor pool and exercise. We did some stretches and water aerobics moves till we were tuckered out and headed for the condo.

After our showers, the boys come in with stories and pictures of all the fish they caught AFTER we left! Skates, shark, drum, croaker…they were busy but as always, practiced catch and release. It is the sport that is fun…not the killing.

Once we were all cleaned up, Mr. FixIt hunted up a restaurant that served scallops as that is Ben’s all-time favorite. We discovered Henry’s in Kill Devil Hills and it did not disappoint! I had the best coconut shrimp. Sue had a blackened tuna steak and the boys both had scallops. The hush puppies were really good. We were all too stuffed to order a rich dessert. We stopped at the Ben Franklin store for souvenirs for the grandchildren and Walmart for milk and we were done for the day!

As Sue and I were splashing around in the pool in the afternoon, I shared a concern that’s been bugging me just a little. My younger daughter is getting married in August and I am heavier than I wanted to be. I still have some time to lose weight, but that’s not the point. I’m self-conscious because my ex-husband will see me as fat. It’s ridiculous that I should even let that thought in, but there it sits. Sue has known me through thick and thin since my older daughter started dating her older son. We talked about it as we bounced around in the water with our ample sixty-something tummies and laughed at how silly we can still be, even when we KNOW it doesn’t mean diddly squat what others (ESPECIALLY ex-husbands) think! We talked about dressing strategies and letting go of the rest.

This has been an excellent week for me…just what I needed. A week of fun and sun, sand and surf, and lots of love. My best champions are with me this week and I feel surrounded by their love and care. As Ben & Sue head off to the airport tomorrow, Mr. FixIt and I will drive home to the Ponderosa for a few days of mowing before we pack up the new camper and head out on her maiden voyage to Indiana!

My heart is so full!

❤️

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:15 NIV

The Tourists

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 01:30:07 -0600

“A day in the life of an OBX tourist.”

It is so much fun to see a place through new eyes. Although this is only my fourth trip to the OBX, I’ve seen all the sights multiple times. Sharing them with some of my Colorado family has been such a joy.

Yesterday, we took off a little earlier than usual, picked up a quick breakfast at McDonald’s, stopped to buy some cold medicine to keep me upright, and headed to the Elizabethan Gardens over on Roanoke Island. I think that is one of my very favorite places on the OBX. It’s only a mile around the gardens, but there is so much to see. It’s also interesting to compare one year to the next as far as the bloom. Last year we were at the peak of the camellia bloom and this year we were just past. Some of the trees had already lost all their blossoms. Many of the azaleas were just past their prime as well this year but there were a few rhododendron in full bloom which is such a treat. The gardens need about fifty more gardeners to clean up the winter detritus but other than that, it was gorgeous. And, it was a glorious day! About 78 degrees with a nice breeze off the sound. Such a treat!

The next stop was the aquarium where we slowly browsed our way through, reading the information placards and taking photos. We especially enjoyed the Turtle Hospital and the educational area where we petted the sting rays. Afterwards, we stopped at High Cotton for ribs, collard greens, slaw, hush puppies, and sweet tea. My favorite place but yesterday wasn’t my favorite visit there. I’m going to chalk that up to having a cold and my tastebuds were off.

After we returned to the condo and I took a quick nap, we high-tailed it over to the sound side to catch another beautiful sunset. Sitting on the deck of the Sunset Grille, a cold beverage in hand, my sweet man and two of my dearest friends in the world…it doesn’t get much better than this!

❤️

“He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land— the Lord is his name.” Amos 5:8 NIV

From Pancakes to Ghost Crabs

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 01:30:12 -0600

“Ghost crabs…creepy little monsters in the night”

We started our day out on the perfect note with a plate of pancakes from Stack ’em High At Milepost 4.5. My only disappointment was Christina wasn’t there. She and her husband own the restaurant and I’ve come to look forward to visits with her as we munch on her fabulous pancakes!

After breakfast, we took the guys over to buy bait and their fishing licenses. Then, we dropped them off at the condo to go fishing and us gals went shopping. The only thing we purchased was yarn for a baby blanket and headed back to the condo.

By this time the guys were finished fishing and we ate taco salads out on the deck in near 80 degree weather. I took a nap…I’m kind of feeling like I have a cold coming on but it could be allergies. The day ended with a walk on the beach with flashlights looking for ghost crabs.

They are nearly transparent and range in size from little baby ones that aren’t an inch across to about 5 inches. It’s always really neat to go out on the beach at night and if it would have been a little warmer, we might have gotten our chairs out and sat out there to watch the stars. As it was too cool for star gazing, we went back to the condo and finishing watching Forrest Gump and then watched The Lake House.

It was another lovely day spent with special people.

❤️

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27 NIV

Hatteras National Seashore

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 01:30:31 -0600

“Sunset over Pemlico Sound”

The only thing more fun than exploring a new area is showing it off to friends who’ve never been there. This is my fourth trip to the Outer Banks. Mr. FixIt is sixty-seven and has only missed one year coming here. Some years he came here multiple times. Suffice it to say…this is a favorite destination.

We cooked a hearty breakfast yesterday and then headed out to explore. The first stop was the Wright Brothers National Monument. The new Visitor’s Center is open and very nice. We meandered through the exhibits and learned about the different phases of developing the first airplane. We saw the markers that indicated the length of the first few flights. The guys hiked up the mound to the monument and looked around.

We stopped at both the Bodie Island Lighthouse and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and explored. We found some really great pizza. We wandered around Hatteras Village and stopped for ice cream along the way back. We kept an eagle eye on the setting sun and slipped across to Pemlico Sound to an abandoned campground. We sat on old, weathered picnic tables and endured a swarm of gnats and the occasional mosquito in order to watch another beautiful Carolina sunset.

We got back to the condo long after dark. We drove through a thickening sea mist that settled over the island and made the windshield kind of greasy looking. It was another beautiful day spent with loved ones.

❤️

“So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:21 NIV

Service, Sunshine, and Seafood

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 01:30:32 -0600

“Low Country Shrimp and Grits”

We enjoyed our Easter service at the United Methodist Church across the road from our timeshare. We attended the contemporary services and the music was very nice. The sermon was thought provoking. And it was fun to go to a Southern church and see folks in their Easter dresses. The children enjoyed a demonstration up front with the Pastor before the services began. The church itself was lovely with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Curratuck Sound.

Afterwards, we drove around and found a restaurant that was open and had a seafood extravaganza and ate till they had to roll us home. I had the Low Country Shrimp and Grits. Yummmmmm. We came back to the condo and some napped while others walked or made phone calls. We were all still too full to eat dinner but we did finally polish off the apple pie we started Saturday night.

It was a lovely, lazy, family day sharing stories and photos. Today, we are tourists!

❤️

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.””
Mark 6:30-31 NIV

Hummers!

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 01:30:16 -0600

“The hummingbirds are back!”

They’re baaaaaaack! I was stretched out in TOW-Wanda, relishing my very satisfying afternoon nap, when I turned over and gazed out this great big, beautiful front window at the stunning pink flowers on the shrub nearby. That’s when I saw her…a lovely iridescent hummingbird, hovering around the heady floral aroma…getting some much needed nourishment from her migration. My heart leapt for joy! I do so love this time of year…the day I get the taxes done for another year!

This time…I promise…THIS time I will keep my records straight. I will make sure enough is withheld for taxes. I will NOT put it off till the very last minute! I promise!

Yesterday was a coffee day for the girls from my class and it was such a beautiful day. So many of them couldn’t come for one reason or another and we missed them. Mr. FixIt came and met me at the local library and we sat down to get our taxes done. It went pretty fast because I had most everything completed the day before. We just tidied up loose ends and ended up filing jointly. It saved us some money.

When I finally hit “send” and the returns went flying through the wires on their way to the IRS, I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief. I turned to Mr. FixIt and said, “Steak! Give me steak! And a baked potato! And broccoli!!! He grinned ear to ear. He was just as glad to have the taxes over so he could get his wife back instead of Godzilla!

We hit traffic coming through town. It was the Easter Parade! I haven’t been to one of those in decades. I rolled the window down and heard the high school marching band going by. I could see them through a parking lot as I sat in traffic. Children rushing for thrown candy. Balloons being carried through the crowds. And finally…the Easter Bunny. It made me realize…since my littles are either too far away, or too big, or too little for the Easter Bunny, I hadn’t even given the furry guy much thought, even with all the store displays. Today after church, we are taking our great granddaughter to the mall to see the furry guy himself. Then I can give the baby her book…Baby’s First Book of Bible Stories. We bought it for her Baby Dedication and forgot to bring it with us. And, we won’t be here for Easter…we’ll be at the beach. There is a church right across the street from out condo so we can still go to services.

The steak was fabulous. Then we went to the park to walk. I couldn’t walk more than half a mile with this painful foot. I have an appointment Wednesday with the Orthopedist to determine what’s going on. I think it’s a Morton’s Neuroma. Let’s lay odds if I’m right or not.

We got home and I fell asleep in the camper…I really LOVE having a window open right above my head! Beautiful, beautiful day!

❤️

“I know every bird in the mountains...” Psalm 50:11 NIV

A Room With a View

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 01:30:31 -0600

“This was the biggest selling point on this camper.”

I could hardly wait to get home yesterday afternoon. We had a beautiful day….the baby dedication at church was lovely and we had a family breakfast afterwards. Then we ran errands. It rained while we were in church and again while we were eating breakfast. Then it was dark and cloudy all afternoon. We got home about 4:00 and I made a bee line for TOW-Wanda III and a much anticipated Sunday afternoon nap. I was no sooner tucked in till the sky opened and the sound of rain on the camper roof lulled me quickly into a deep sleep.

When I woke up…this is what I saw and I smiled from ear to ear. This window. I love all the light in this camper and this window takes the cake. I can prop myself up in the corner with my lap desk and iPad and be a totally happy camper!

I remember all the times in Little TOW-Wanda when I sat like this, propped up with a mug of good coffee and a stack of magazines…staring out a window like this and letting God’s nature heal my broken heart. Oh, how I’ve missed this. To turn over and see the sky. To gaze at stars as I drift off to sleep. I’m itching to get off on adventures but there’s stuff to be done first.

Today we are heading to my friend’s house to pick up the camper she’s giving me. I have no idea what shape it’s in so we’ll see. Then there’s taxes. The bathroom is coming along…Mr. FixIt has plumbing to do before we can move the rest of the shower stall in. I need to clean out TOW-Wanda Grande and get her on the market. I need to clean out the truck because we leave the 19th to head to the beach. The first mowing at the Ponderosa occurred this weekend. That means the yard at the farm is going to need mowed this week, for sure.

And off we go. This is the time of year when we hit the ground running. That lazy nap yesterday, stretched out in my little new-to-me camper looking through my big picture window at the rain on the flowering bushes, will just have to hold me over for a while.

❤️

“Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don’t for a minute lose sight of them. They’ll keep your soul alive and well, they’ll keep you fit and attractive. You’ll travel safely, you’ll neither tire nor trip. You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry, you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep. No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner, Because GOD will be right there with you; he’ll keep you safe and sound.” Proverbs 3:21-26 MSG

TOW-Wanda III: Day 1 - Cleanup

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 01:30:52 -0600

“The first thing that had to go was the bunk bed over the main bed.”

The first thing I did yesterday…after coffee, of course…was head out to the new camper. I could hardly sleep the night before, I was so excited. I didn’t realize how very much I missed my first camper till I got a load of this one! I hooked it up to electric and checked out the systems again. The air conditioning worked fine. I cleaned the filter screen in the AC unit so it works more efficiently. The fan, lights, and microwave. I haven’t checked the refrigerator yet.

Mr. FixIt was kind enough to bring a ladder and some RV cleaning products out to the camper for me as well as a hose and scrub brush. I started scrubbing with an RV wash/wax combo and followed up with a Norwex cleaning cloth and Norwex cleaning paste to get the black streaks off. I rinsed it well and checked inside…NO LEAKS! Yesssss! No leaks is a good thing…especially with a 2007 camper. This thing is built exceedingly well.

The camper is a Cikira Classic Cruiser 18FB…which roughly translates to an 18 foot camper with a front bed. From what I can find, Cikira RV wasn’t around for very long, but I don’t think that was because they lacked a quality product. If this camper is any indication, the quality is excellent. The RV industry isn’t easy to break into. But more importantly, look at the date of my camper. The economy in 2007 was booming and people were traveling a lot. Then 2008 came and the bottom fell out of the market. No one was spending money on anything extra. I know…that’s when I had to close my needlework shop. Hobbies like camping and needlework are the first to go when it comes to extraneous expenses.

Once I had the outside walls scrubbed down, I opened the awning and gave it a good wash. I left it open to dry in our beautiful 72 degree weather and closed it up before dusk so it wouldn’t gather the dew. Then it was time to head indoors. The first thing that had to go was the bunk bed overtop the main bed. The previous owners had a 10 year old daughter who loved the bunk above, but it was too confining to lay underneath it and I knew I would hit my head every time is sat down. The bunk was secured with sturdy angle iron and the plywood base was screwed securely to it. I removed the twin size memory foam mattress and Mr. FixIt helped me carry it down to the storage room. We can use it for an extra if we have overflow company.

The front piece of the bunk bed was a long piece of heavy angle iron attached to a decorative wood front. I removed that piece but left the other three pieces of angle iron connected to the three walls above the windows. This way, if we ever need the bunk bed again, we can pop it back in easily enough. Taking that bunk out opened up the entire bed area and made it much more comfortable, roomy, and light. By this time I was fried so I gave in and snuggled up on my new bed and took a nap.

So, our blessings continue. Our great granddaughter is being dedicated to Jesus in church this morning! My heart is so happy!

❤️

“And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
Mark 10:16 NIV

The Third Generation

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 01:30:09 -0600

“Introducing TOW-Wanda III”

I’ve spent a lot of time in my big camper so far this year. She has been my office and sanctuary where I sequester myself and write. And lately, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about how she came into my life. It was the year after Mr. Virgo died. I sold my house and traded in Little TOW-Wanda for TOW-Wanda Grande. She was fancy-schmancy, let me tell you. When things didn’t work out on the farm like I thought they would, I lit out with this behemoth and hauled her all over the country…writing about it all the way. I lived for months at a time on a hill overlooking the beautiful Ohio River. I camped in my son-in-law’s parents’ driveway in Denver and on my friend Sue’s property overlooking Mesa Verde. I towed her from South Dakota to South Carolina and all points in between. But to just hop in and take her camping spontaneously became a chore. A major chore. It was literally like pulling a house and I didn’t go camping nearly as often as I would have liked.

I was visiting with my very wise and experienced friend, Janine Pettit of Girl Camper fame over the weekend in Huntington. I told her I was thinking of going out to get a bigger truck because my camper was just too beefy for her in the mountains. I loved her response. Simple, direct, and too the point.

“Ginny, you don’t need a bigger truck. You need a smaller camper.”

Stopped me cold. It had never seriously occurred to me to downsize the camper until that moment. Suddenly, it made perfect sense. As with all things, I talked to God about it. I told him I would be able to get out and reach more people if I wasn’t so bogged down with the big camper. I told him what I needed in a camper….a bathroom with a toilet and shower, a kitchen with a good sized fridge, a dinette, plenty of storage, and a comfy bed with windows like my first camper. I’ve always been so sorry I traded her in. If I would have known the thing with my aunt at the farm wasn’t going to work out, I never would have gotten such a big camper. That being said, I still wanted a camper with more than one bed. I also wanted a camper with fiberglass sides instead of that rippled aluminum. Those can get dented up so easily with hail and errant branches. Then, I just left it with God. If He wanted me to have a little camper again, He would bring her to me. I knew this…I felt it.

Yesterday morning, I picked up my phone and I “accidentally” hit the FB Marketplace button and up popped the cutest little camper. I almost couldn’t believe it. I haven’t measured her yet but I think she is about 18’ long…exactly the size of Little TOW-Wanda. It has the fiberglass sides like I wanted. It has a bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower. It has a kitchen with a full-size refrigerator/freezer, a double sink, a two-burner stove, and a microwave. It has a dinette that will turn down into a single bed. It has a double bed and a bunk bed over it…both with a memory foam mattresses. And, get this…it has the very same window configuration Little TOW-Wanda had. It is absolutely perfect and it cost 1/3 the price of a new one of comparable size with a better floor plan than any I’ve seen.

I showed the picture of the camper to Mr. FixIt and told him I was going to text the owner. It had been on FB an hour. I was the first to contact the gal and I went to see the camper last night. I couldn’t believe it. It was exactly….EXACTLY…what I asked for! God is SO good! After carefully inspecting the camper, I told her I’d take it and gave her a little earnest money to hold it till she gets the title for me.

I have been trying to think of a name. I was thinking I should call her Pollyanna. But that just doesn’t fit right. Here’s the thing. My main camper will always and forever be “TOW-Wanda”, no matter what she looks like. It’s how I take my mama with me. She would have loved traveling and having her little house with her. Therefore…meet “TOW-Wanda III”.

❤️

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3 NIV

Girl Campers

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 01:30:57 -0600

“Aren’t these the cutest little campfire cupcakes?”

There is something so special about camping with a bunch of gals. You may not have met them yet, but they’re going to be your new BFF’s before the weekend is over. I’ve been involved with the whole camp-like-a-girl movement since Mr. Virgo died and I got my first camper. I was first introduced to Sisters on the Fly and along the way, I met and got to know Janine Pettit.

Janine has been a girl camper (little “g”) since she was a child and traveled with her parents on camping vacations. Along the way, Janine was asked to write a series on the GoRVing blog about amazing women campers. The RV industry recognized there was a whole demographic they weren’t serving well and Janine was just the person to bring on board to reach them. She’s personable, fun, and extremely knowledgeable about all things camping.

Almost four years ago now, Janine started the Girl Camper Podcast which has become an incredible resource for women hoping to get into camping but may not be sure where to start. You may recall I have been interviewed several times on Janine’s show and I am always honored to attend her events. I meet some of the most wonderful women.

I went to Milton, West Virginia yesterday to visit with my tribe. Janine was in from New Jersey for a Camper College at Setzer’s RV in Huntington. Camper College is an event an RV Dealer sponsors with Janine and the gals get a couple of hours to ask questions and learn more about campers and their operation. Gail Bable is the Camp Host for Beaver Creek State Park in East Liverpool, Ohio and she is one of my home girls.

I love going to these events because you get to see gals you haven’t seen for a while and you always get to meet new people. I was standing in the kitchen visiting when Gail came up to me and drew my attention to the two women sitting on the sofa.

“Ginny, I overheard those two gals chatting. They are both widows.”

I walked right over and sat with them. I could see they were emotional and wiping away tears.

“What are we talking about, girls?”

“Dead husbands, I’m afraid.”

“Ahhhhh….yes. I have one of those. I’m Ginny McKinney. It’s so nice to meet you.”

We sat and visited for a bit and exchanged info. One is a published author and the other is a blogger and about to head out full time in her new Little Guy Max camper. You never know who you might meet along the way and how you might be able to help each other.

My good friend, Cherry, brought the cupcakes that look like little campfires. Aren’t they the cutest things??? Janine handed out some swag…collapsible fans, sunglasses, bottle openers. A good time was had by all and of course there was enough food there to feed a small army. I left after dinner to head back home so I could get up in time for church this morning. What a fun, fun weekend!

If you haven’t followed Girl Camper yet, do head over to her Facebook page and her website. It’s such a loving, warm community of women.

Girl Camper

❤️

“...a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” Proverbs 27:9 MSG

My Friends

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 01:30:06 -0600

“The little whitetail deer of West Virginia are so delicate and fine boned compared to the larger mule deer of Colorado.”

Thursday nights have been fun the last three weeks because I’ve spent the evening at the local pizza shop…munching on yummy pizza and people watching. Last night, my friend Charlotte came to have dinner with me and catch up. Charlotte and her husband, my second cousin Rick, are the couple that took my farm cats down to their barn to live. She says they are doing really well. As a matter of fact, four or five beautiful ducks showed up recently and have taken up residence with the cats and a plethora of roosters. A lot of times, people end up with more roosters than they need to get the job done and they end up down at Charlotte’s barn. She has quite a menagerie now. Next week, my small group meetings begin for our Spring session so I won’t be hanging out at the pizza joint for a while.

The other night, I came out to the camper with Mr. FixIt’s headlamp on my head. As I was unlocking the door, something caught my attention and I turned to my left. The light swept across the big field and it looked like the lions of the Serengeti out there. Nothing but eyes shining back at me from just above the grass level. There must have been a dozen deer bedded down out there and at first, it was downright spooky till I figured out what they were.

We don’t have any new babies yet. It won’t be long before we see little spotted fawns gamboling about in the fields of The Ponderosa. Once in a while, we sleep out in the camper now that the weather is getting warmer. When Mr. FixIt joined me the other evening, a huge possum was standing just outside the camper and about scared the stink out of him. The furnace was running and I had the music on so I didn’t hear him yelling.

I haven’t smelled any skunks out yet. The birds are starting to nest in the eaves. We have had a problem with swallows nesting in the chimney so we need to get it covered before too long or they’ll be back. I noticed the mockingbird was back this week. It sits on the old TV antenna above our bedroom window, its distinctive call sounding like a multitude of birds. I’m waiting to hear the whip-poor-wills and the owls.

Tonight is the women’s conference at my church and I’m really looking forward to going with my bonus girls. Afterward, I’m headed to the Girl Camper weekend and the Camper College near Huntington. A fun girl’s weekend!

Mr. FixIt is making great progress on the master bath now and the flooring is about to go down. He did a wonderful job on the drywall. That is something I never did in all of my renovation projects. It’s hard to handle a full sheet of drywall by yourself. Fortunately, he only had to patch a few places. Hopefully we get this project done soon as there are many more in the lineup and the weather is getting nicer every day. We are about to head into our warmest week yet and it’s none too soon!

Happy Friday, everyone. I hope you are going to go out and enjoy this beautiful spring weather in your neck of the woods!

❤️

““But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:7-10 NIV

The Ponderosa

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 01:30:52 -0600

“The Ponderosa is the land I have dreamed of all my life.”

I’ve still been recuperating from this bronchitis/cold/virus/allergy thing. Kind of laying low, taking care of myself. To keep from re-infecting Mr. FixIt (he already had this last month), I’ve been spending a lot of time out in TOW-Wanda…resting, reading, writing, napping, cogitating. It has been very good for me to spend so much time in my little house on wheels. It certainly made winter go by MUCH quicker!

As I was writing this yesterday, I was stretched out in my “sun room”…the slide-out in my camper. It is actually the dinette, but it collapses down and makes a twin-sized bed and I actually have a mattress in there. I have piles of pillows and comfy blankets all around so it’s a nice little cocoon in which to snuggle and write and dream.

An e-mail came in while I was writing and it took me back probably ten years or so. It was from a site called Land Watch. Many years ago, I was trying to convince Mr. Virgo that it would be a very good idea to move back home to West Virginia. He humored me and looked at the farms and land I found. He half-heartedly searched for B&B’s for sale here and in the surrounding states. But, he came from Pennsylvania…he lived a long time in Florida…all with the goal of ultimately living in Colorado. His Nirvana. I think if push came to shove, he would have moved here for me…but he wouldn’t have been happy. God had different plans anyway because he took Mr. Virgo to His home before I could take him to mine.

As I looked at that e-mail and thought of all those times I dreamed of having a few acres in West Virginia, I looked out the windows of TOW-Wanda at the fields and far hills of the Ponderosa and smiled. I have what I have always dreamed of having. A faith-filled life. A wonderful family…biological and bonus. And land…a garden, grass, trees, flowers. TWO farms, actually. I’m doubly blessed. I had no idea ten years ago I would realize my lifelong dream but it wouldn’t look at all like I thought it would. It’s funny how life plays out.

I took the liberty of blurring out some identifying features in the photo above. There’s a neighbor up at the top there…I blurred out their home. And I blurred out the roads and route numbers that were on the map. But it gives you an excellent view of the Ponderosa. All that green there? That’s what we mow! This satellite image was taken at least two and a half years ago because the maple is still in the front yard. It fell in late 2016 or early 2017. You can see the curved drive where there are two campers parked. My TOW-Wanda sits where that blue dot is on the map.

Nature is getting ready to show off…things are getting green. The trees are starting to bud. The forsythia are blooming, as are the daffodils. They were stunted somewhat by the polar vortex, I think. They are much shorter than usual. We were walking through the yard on Monday and realized it won’t be long till we need to mow it. It will be at least a month before we get the pool ready. As I am writing this, the sun is shining. We are at our high for the day…51 degrees. We are going to our Alma Mater’s Girl’s Softball game this evening to watch one of the granddaughters play. It is a good life we live and I still have to pinch myself sometimes to believe I’m really here.

❤️

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,” Psalm 23:2 NIV

Into the Woods

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 01:30:28 -0600

“A satellite view of The Farm….lots and lots of trees and hills.”

You have seen pictures of the farmhouse I’ve been caring for…the home of my heart. I’ve tried to describe what the 74 acres looks like. “Lots of trees and woods” is a bit of an understatement and it’s hard to picture if you are unfamiliar with the dense deciduous woods of West Virginia.

I went on Google Maps and took a satellite view of the farm. I wasn’t able to get all the land in one picture without making the house look so small you couldn’t see it. But, that little red dot in the lower left corner is the map pin on the house. And those dense woods you see there is maybe two-thirds of the farm itself. Inside those woods are trails and roads, creeks and rocky outcroppings. And somewhere off to the right about one-third up from the bottom is the strawberry shed where we sorted berries for the farmer’s market.

The ground gains elevation rapidly on both sides of the house and comes together in a “V” and on up the hills to the back of the farm. The little creek that comes down off those hills and runs right past the bedroom window roars when there’s been heavy rain. It crosses under the road through a two or three foot culvert and joins the bigger creek across the road. That flows on down to a larger river, to a larger river, to the Ohio River to the Mississippi River, and finally to the Gulf of Mexico. Water from our farm. Isn’t that cool?

Well, in theory it is cool. But this is the time of year for massive flooding so our rushing creek water gets added to thousands of other creeks and the drainage backs up. Our watershed isn’t related to the flooding in the Midwest. Their flooding is of epic proportions and people are still trying to dig out from under that.

Before Parkersburg built the flood wall, town used to flood a lot. When I was a little girl, around five years old, the creek that ran beside our house overflowed its banks and we were evacuated by rowboats going up our street. Since then, a lot of mitigation work has been completed and they don’t see that kind of flooding anymore.

We are supposed to be getting rain all day again. A little cooler today, but soon….soon we will enjoy long stretches of warm spring days and we can spend more time outside. The forsythia is just started to bloom. Whole hillsides are covered with bright yellow daffodils. They were an inexpensive flower that farm wives could afford to put in their yards to brighten up their little corners of the world. As a matter of fact, you drive along country roads and you can tell where houses once stood by the evidence of daffodils in a square or rectangle…surrounding the perimeter of a house long gone.

The grass is greening up. Mr. FixIt and I remarked that we’ll be mowing before long. And, the spring onions are sending up their shoots in clumps all through the lawn. The first time or two that we mow, it will smell strongly of onions when we pass over them. When I was a little girl and we milked cows, the milk smelled and tasked of onion. NOT want you want to eat on your !Cheerios! The butter also smelled like onions…not quite so bad if you were putting in vegetables, but yucky if you were putting on biscuits with jelly.

I love, love, love this time of year. Time to roll up our sleeves and get stuff done!

❤️

“Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.” Deuteronomy 32:2 NIV

The Bodega

Sat, 23 Mar 2019 01:30:29 -0600

“Coffee at The Bodega”

I decided to treat myself yesterday and stopped in the brand new coffee house that just opened. The Bodega. In Spanish, bodega actually means grocery store. But a broader meaning is a meeting place where you get supplies. I knew when I walked into this sweet storefront…this wasn’t your average run-of-the-mill coffee house. There was something special going on here.

The atmosphere is soft, inviting, with a great big overstuffed sofa with a soft blanket and pillows. Next to it was a huge, supple leather chair. Small tables, fresh flowers, and a sort of fresh vintage farmhouse vibe made the place very comfortable. I ordered one of the homemade cinnamon rolls and a latte. Both were delicious. The staff were warm and inviting and are willing to accommodate the Coffee Divas when we gather for our monthly caffeine infusions.

As I sipped my latte, I caught the music overhead…worship music. I have been immersing myself in praise music lately. I find my spirit uplifted and my writing goes much more smoothly when I get into the Word and Praise more. Then, when I am actually writing, I listen to the Nature Sounds station on Pandora. If I listen to praise music while I write, all I want to do is sing!

The owner of the coffee shop was a missionary in Honduras for some time. While there, they had a gathering place where they received their marching orders for the day. They called it The Bodega because a lot of good things came into and went out of their doors. When she came back to the states, she took some time to heal and ponder how she could create such a place here. There are so many within the surrounding area who need loved on and lifted up.

After countless “what ifs” she decided to just go for it and jumped in with both feet and thus, The Bodega was born. The owner is looking forward to seeing what kind of great things God has in mind for this little oasis. And so am I.

❤️

“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15 NIV

A Night Out

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 01:30:21 -0600

“I love vintage embroidered linens.”

When we finally got home from town after church yesterday, I went out to TOW-Wanda and started getting her ready for the camping season. And, by getting her ready I mean I made the bed. And got in it. There’s nothing better than a good book in your camper on a Sunday afternoon. That, and a little snooze.

As I was getting the linens out to dress the bed, I came across these pillow cases. The blue and white one was purchased as part of a set made from antique German linens I purchased in Colorado in the ‘80s. The antique dealer had them embroidered…the pillow cases with the scroll embroidery and the shams with “Good Morning” and “Good Night”. I love this set and had forgotten the pillowcase had made it’s way into my camper at some point.

The other pillowcase is from a set I had my mom embroider when she came to Colorado one time. She used to embroider all the time and I loved the idea of having something she made to carry with me forever. It makes me smile and think of her.

I sent my manuscript to the proofreader last week. There were a few typos she highlighted for me. And, there were a couple of notes to areas that needed fleshing out in my book. She mentioned she wanted to know more about my mom and our relationship. When I curled up under the covers in TOW-Wanda yesterday, I thought of my mom…Wanda. I picked up my iPad and wrote more about this kind and loving soul who was my mother. She was one of a kind and I loved listening to the rain on the roof as I walked down memory lane with my mom.

Mother-daughter relationships can be tricky. My mom and I butted heads a lot. In all honesty, I was always a little too big for my britches, as my grandma would have put it. I was married to a doctor. I had a career in medicine. I had traveled a lot more and had lived in big cities. I fancied myself ever so much more sophisticated than my mom. It wasn’t until after the overdose that I realized what a horse’s patoot I had been to my poor mother. The only defense I have is the fact I was on Prozac for so many years and it changed my personality so that I really didn’t care much about others.

Fortunately, I got off all the meds and alcohol and grew up quite a bit so that my mom and I had a much better relationship the last few years of her life. It would have been so terribly sad if she would have died before we got to that point. She has been gone for 15 years now…so hard to believe. I am so happy I have tangible reminders of her and that I chose to keep them when I downsized. There are some things you just can’t get rid of and this pillowcase is one of them.

When Mr. FixIt came home, he came out and joined me in TOW-Wanda and we spent the night in the camper…our first night out for 2019. Maybe it’s not quite camping weather because they were predicting a bit of snow overnight, but we had plenty of cozy comforters and a furnace to keep us warm. Bring on the camping season!!!

❤️

““Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.””
Ephesians 6:2-3 NLT

Kiss Me...I’m 23% Irish!

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 01:30:33 -0600

“We’re all Irish on St. Paddy’s Day!”

According to my DNA test results, I am 23% Irish-Scottish. I wish I would have known this before Mr. Virgo died because he was a very, very proud Irish lad. I mean…McKinney, right? It doesn’t get much more Irish than that. He acted like he had a corner on the market when it came to Irish roots. He adored St. Patrick’s Day. Every year, we had corned beef and cabbage and fried apples for dinner. He stopped short of wearing green since he worked in 5-Star hotels and restaurants. He had a certain decorum about him. But, ohhhhhh, that was HIS holiday.

He called me the night of the 16th and said…”OMGosh! I forgot to buy green food coloring for the beer! You’ve got to go to the store for me!” Ok…every…stinking…year.

“Are you telling me you can’t think of this at least ONCE in the 364 days between the holidays?” I was always thunderstruck this incredibly organized VIRGO couldn’t seem to grasp that he was going to need green food coloring every year.

“Yes! Please…it’s 9:00! The stores are going to close soon…I need to bring it in with me in the morning. Get as many bottles as you can!”

sigh

“Ok, babe…I’ll do my best!”

We lived in a teeny little town with one grocery store. I rushed in and cornered the first grocery clerk I came to. “Quick! Green food coloring! I need ALL of your green food coloring!”

Do you have a picture in your mind of the look on her face?

“Ummmmmm, ok. It’s over here.”

Four little bottles. I bought them and tried to calculate if I could get to the next town in time before they closed so I could buy more when my better angels said, “Nahhhhh…that’s enough.”

Every year…same thing.

I was sitting in the pizza joint typing this the other night. I haven’t really felt Mr. Virgo around for quite awhile, but as I was in the middle of typing this story and literally laughing out loud…the radio overhead got really loud.

“At Last” by Etta James.

We danced our first dance to that song. I sat back and looked at the empty seat across the booth from me and smiled.

‘Are you here? Did you come to say hello? Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Mr. Virgo! I’m so glad you stopped by.’

❤️

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16 NIV

My First Job

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 01:30:08 -0600

“McCrory’s Five & Dime in Downtown Parkersburg”

I got my first job when I was 16. My family didn’t have much money, and if I wanted to buy anything extra, I had to come up with a way to pay for it myself. I saved my babysitting money in a piggy bank. Then when I had a fair amount, I went to the bank and opened a savings account. Then I learned McCrory’s was looking for help with sales and stocking the store in the evenings after school. I walked downtown from my mom’s office and got the job.

I especially remember a beautiful jewelry box. My mom didn’t have nice things like fancy jewelry and the like, but what she did have…she treasured as if it were something from Tiffany’s. I wanted that jewelry box for my mom.

I knew that once the money went in my savings account, it was off limits for spending. That’s when I heard about The Christmas Club. If you went in to the bank and put in a dollar, you could open an account that basically just parked your money for you till the holidays. Then you withdrew all but a dollar and started over.

I put that jewelry box on layaway at McCrory’s and opened my Christmas Club account. I remember feeling SO grown up when I put money in my account and knew it was going to be something special for my mom. Every Saturday, my friends and I would take the City Bus downtown to walk around the stores. My first stop was the bank to put some money in my Christmas Club. Then we went to GC Murphy’s and I bought a 45RPM record and a small ball of angora yarn to wrap around my boyfriend’s ring to make it fit me. Then we would sit at the lunch counter and have a Cherry Coke and laugh and talk for a couple of hours.

Sometimes we would walk through Dils Brothers Department store. The front of the store had huge display windows that were tastefully decorated. We took the elevator up and down. There was a woman in a uniform who operated the elevator and called out each floor. Every once in a while, you heard a small soft chime overhead. I believe it was some sort of communication to the employees. None of us could afford to buy anything at Dils. We couldn’t afford Broida’s Stone & Thomas or Buttermore’s Jewelers either, but we walked around and pretended we could.

When the first of December came around, I went to the bank and cashed in my Christmas Club and bought my mom that jewelry box. She thought it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. I had enough money to buy her a bottle of Evening in Paris as well as some bath salts. I know I bought her gifts over the years, and as my financial situation improved, her gifts became more elaborate. But none were ever given, or received, with such pride as the ones I gave that Christmas from the first money I ever earned on my own…from McCrory’s Five and Dime. ❤️

“Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” Proverbs 13:11 NIV

Spring Ahead

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 02:30:54 -0600

“Daylight Savings Time begins at 2:00am tomorrow!”

I sat down yesterday to browse my calendar when it struck me…it’s, like…MARCH! Not only that, it’s over a week into it already. This winter was SO much easier to take so I have to think about what I’ve done differently and do it again next year.

We kept the tree up. Ok…it’s STILL up. It’s not decorated but no one who comes out our road and sees the white lights twinkling through the window really knows that. I love the white lights. They make me happy and if that’s all it takes, then I’ll leave the darned tree up all year round! Ok. I’m not going that far. Maybe it should come down tomorrow. After all, tomorrow night when we go to bed, we turn the clocks forward and Daylight Savings Time begins. I think that should be the new benchmark…the tree goes up the weekend after Thanksgiving and comes down when we spring forward!

I spent the entire month of February out in TOW-Wanda. You have no idea what that did for me. My mood stayed up and I felt like I was camping, even though I was out in the field and didn’t actually sleep in the camper. So, I guess this means I have to write a book every February from now on. That works for me!

The writing itself kept my mind occupied and off the fact that we were in that long, dreary stretch of wasteland called winter. I poured myself into my book and before I knew it, 75,000+ words had poured out of my fingers.

We planned and executed projects around the house. Having goals helped make the time pass more quickly.

All of these things kept me looking forward and boosted my spirits. I took breaks away and spent time at the farm which is always my happy place and helped immensely. We have a lot of fun things planned in the coming months. There’s going to be camping trips and gatherings with my friends. My niece is graduating from college in Indiana. We’re going to meet my son-in-law’s parents at our time share in the Outer Banks. We’re going to fit a trip to Florida in there somewhere. We have friends in South Carolina and Tennessee that we want to see. My daughter is getting married in August in Colorado. And we have a new great grandchild coming around the time we get back from the wedding.

It is going to be a fun and busy summer and those are the months I want time to slow down to a crawl!

Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead tonight when you go to bed. We’re heading into spring time!!!! ❤️

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV

Another Peaceful Day

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 02:30:01 -0600

“Deer grazing outside my window in TOW-Wanda.”

I have now spent eight out of the last ten days in TOW-Wanda and I have to tell you…I feel like a million bucks! Usually by this time of year, I’m ready to pull my hair out with boredom. I usually become less content with each passing day, even though the daylight is becoming longer…the long, dark nights shorter. The only two things I have done differently this year is leave the tree up and spend long hours in my camper.

There is a reason girl campers like their little houses on wheels. They offer us a safe sanctuary in which to create. Some of us haul our sewing machines out to the camper in the fall and sit out there happily sewing quilts, clothes for the grandkids, linens for the home, gifts for family and friends. Some knit and crochet, weaving prayers and stories into their creations. Some cross-stitch or needlepoint, creating marvelous pictures from colorful threads.

Some gather friends to join us for tea or drinks, showing off our fancy little playhouses. Some have sleepovers with the grandchildren, bringing up the next generation to adore our little campers in the same way we have. There are as many different varieties of girl campers as there are travel trailers and we celebrate each and every one of them every time we tow.

Me? Well, as you well know…and I’ve told you repeatedly this week…I write in TOW-Wanda every chance I get. I turn on Pandora, find the Nature Sounds channel, and listen to raucous rainstorms, salient sea breezes, flighty feathered friends chirping in the forests. I’m instantly transported from the chill of wintery West Virginia into another place, another time. My little twinkle lights glow above me…the view out the windows revealing a stoic blue heron near the creek or a browsing herd of deer making their way across the lawn. Yesterday, I watched the moonrise over the hills to the east of the Ponderosa and I counted my blessings in that very moment.

I’ve written 30,560 words on my book as of last evening. Words that take me to corners of my mind I sometimes wish were never there. And to places and times that I cherish dearly. These words stir something in me…always. But they are just feelings now. They aren’t happening in this moment. That’s how I keep them from poking me now with little barbs…trolls with sharp sticks…fairies with tiny wands…giants with hammers. They aren’t happening now and God is bigger than any poking thing in our lives.

30,560….encouraging words, painful words, funny words, sad words, terrifying words, loving words. This thing is happening! ❤️

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
Proverbs 15:4 ESV

Verbosity

Sat, 16 Feb 2019 02:30:18 -0600

“I’ve typed over 25,000 in seven days, not including my blog posts. Crazy!”

My mother said I had the “gift of gab”. Daughter #2 swears I can “talk to a tree”. They are both correct. I am, as my longtime sister/friend puts it...wordy. I try to trim my words down, but If I don’t tell you the back story, how are you going to get the significance, right?

I fixed my coffee and stepped into TOW-Wanda at around 10:00 yesterday morning. By 4:30, with only one short break, I had over 25,000 words written over the course of seven writing days. I think that’s got to be some sort of record! For me, anyway.

It made me curious…what is the average word count for authors? Turns out, Google knows everything. Ernest Hemingway churned out 500 to 1000 words per day. Stephen King claims he types upwards of 2000 words per day. One thousand words per day is the average for bloggers. Twenty-five thousand words in a week isn’t counting the blog. Holy cats!

A memoir, or autobiography, is in the same category as a novel and should be between 80,000 and 89,000 words. It’s important to keep track of your word counts. Too few words and you aren’t giving your readers enough. Two many, and you’re trying to emulate War & Peace and it’s snoozeville. Anything over 100,000 is more expensive for a publisher to produce so it’s important to try to land somewhere in these guidelines.

So, I’m at 25,000 words. If I can continue at the current rate, I could have the rough draft done in less than a month. That would be awesome. Thanks for hanging in there with me! I’ll be back out there today. My plan is to just take Sundays off. ❤️

“"Have you understood all these things?" They said to him, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."”
Matthew 13:51-52 ESV

On Loving...Unconditionally

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 02:30:27 -0600

“I am a Christian AND I love everyone… unconditionally.”

The other day, a West Virginia delegate made a series of ugly and disparaging comments about the LGBTQ community. He compared them to terrorists and the Ku Klux Klan. He was interviewed later and given an opportunity to clarify his position, and it was actually SO much worse than what was originally reported. When asked what he would do if his son or daughter came home and told him they were gay, the delegate said if it was his daughter, he would take her for a pedicure. If it was his son, he would take him hunting. And if, upon their return, they still said they were gay…he would take them out and “see if they could swim”. The interviewer was aghast and asked, “Are you saying, you would take them out and try to drown them???” He just looked at her with a sinister grin and didn’t answer.

I was sickened, on so many levels. First and foremost, that he has this kind of hatred in his heart and calls himself a Christian. Second, that he would turn away from his children, or worse…do them physical harm. And, finally…it HAD to be a West Virginian. Why did he have to come from MY state? The answer is, because there are people like him in every state.

Here of late, I have been so uplifted and fortified by my faith, I have been shouting “Hallelujah!” from the rooftops. And that’s how I feel…excited by the ways I see God move in my life. Excited about the opportunities to share my stories of his love and provenance. Then, this week…I received this wedding invitation. And I was reminded, I may be giving people the wrong idea about who I am in my faith.

Some people may equate my bold Christian joy with the kind of person who denigrates those who are unlike them, like that delegate from West Virginia. Nothing could be further from the truth. I do not discriminate against anyone. I’m not perfect, but I certainly try to emulate Jesus at every turn. He loves everyone. He does not see people from the outside. He looks at their hearts. After raising my daughters in the Jewish faith, I was appalled when Daughter #2 came home from school crying because the kids called her a “stupid f****** Jew”. I held her close and tried to explain ignorance and intolerance and bigotry. It broke my heart.

I respect all faiths, save for those who kill people in the name of their god. I respect all people, save for those who kill or maim or injure children or animals. When I raise my voice in praise for Jesus, I don’t want it to exclude my love for others who don’t believe as I do. I don’t want to walk ahead of and ignore the one who is still looking for God. I don’t want the Muslims and the Jews and the Seiks and the Hindus and even the atheists…anyone of any faith…to think I do not love them equally. I look for, and see, the God in all people. That divine spark that comes from somewhere far beyond the stars. That sign of something far greater than any of us here.

I also embrace the LGBTQ community as my fellow human beings, who house that same divine spark as me. It is not my place to judge anyone…not even that delegate from West Virginia. Everyone will be judged by their maker in the end. It’s not my job. At the same time, I’m going to tell you about this amazing Jesus who rules my life. And, I’m going to show you, as best I can by the way that I live, how a good and loving and forgiving Father has changed me. The two can, and in my humble opinion SHOULD walk hand in hand.

Because, you see…that wedding invitation we got in the mail this week? That’s from Daughter #2 and her fiancée…a very kind and loving woman who has helped my baby become a better version of herself. They are getting married in Colorado in August. They love each other completely… unconditionally. How can I not do the same with both of them? This is my child. We love who we love. It is not my place to judge. You may do what you wish, but I do pray I will always, always, always land on the side of love. Because that is the way Jesus loves me.

***If you don’t agree with me, that’s ok…I won’t judge you either. I know this is a hot topic for some, but this is my house, my rules. We speak with respect here. This is a case where we’ll take my grandma’s advise…”If we can’t say anything nice, we won’t say anything at all.” ❤️

“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
Romans 14:1-4 ESV

The Not-So-Super Bowl

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 02:30:07 -0600

“Super Bowl Party food!”

Was it just me or was that not the most boring Super Bowl game ever? I mean…the commercials were even boring. We did have a wonderful day, though. Mr. FixIt’s daughter and her family came to church with us (second Sunday in a row!) and they really enjoyed the service. Everyone came out to our house and the weather was SO great! Clear, sunny, and sixty-four degrees. I made a big pot of chili, hot wings, guacamole and white cheese queso. Everyone played outside. We had the corn hole boards set up and the baby had her trike and some other toys. When the evening was over, I was fried, so I’ll just keep this brief. It was so wonderful to have the family with us at church and for an afternoon of fun. Boring game or not! It’s going to be 64 again today so I am making hay while the sun shines. Happy Monday! ❤️

“And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes."”
Mark 9:23 ESV

What Do You Call A Knit Cap?

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 02:30:52 -0600

“Toboggan. A knit cap, or a sled? Turns out…it’s both!”

The cold weather this week brought lots of images to Facebook and lots of memories of my winters past. One picture in particular reminded me of the drafty old farmhouse Hubby #2 and I lived in when he was doing his internship and residency. It was on a busy street in east Denver, surrounded by newer houses. I learned it was the original farmhouse before the land was sold off and the resulting neighborhood developed around it.

The house was a bungalow type, built of tan brick. It had the original double-hung windows, single pane with the wavy glass of old. A large covered front porch ran the entire width of the house. A large tree sat in the corner of the front yard…a bank lead down to the front sidewalk. The house had only one real bedroom, which we gave to my daughter. We slept on the sunporch at the back of the house.

There was little, if any insulation in that house. A Petit Godin parlor stove sat in the living room. I burned coal when I could get it…much to the neighbor’s dismay. Eventually I resorted to a Kero-Sun stove in the middle of the living room. It heated up the living space to some degree, but I was really afraid to let it burn kerosene all night unattended.

We had no money. I was working full time as an x-ray tech and medical assistant for a busy four doctor clinic about a half mile away, doing my best to support the family while my husband was in training. There were times I had to use my Sears charge card to buy Hickory Farms gift boxes of summer sausage and cheese in order to eat.

Someone posted a picture of frost on the inside of a corner of their house last week and I sent it to my daughter. I asked her if she remembered sleeping in her thick, footie jammies with a toboggan on her head to keep her warm. Some of my friends in Colorado had no idea what I was talking about. How could a sled keep my daughter warm at night?

I had to laugh. I grew up calling knit caps “toboggans”. As a matter of fact, when I first moved to Colorado, I couldn’t understand what people were talking about when they talked about taking their toboggan out and riding it in the snow. It took a while before I figured out it was a different kind of sled with a curled front on it. I had never seen one before I moved out west. Somewhere around 1929, the term toboggan (from the French Canadian “tabaganne”) which was indeed a sled. The knit cap became a “toboggan cap” and eventually “cap” was dropped. The word is typically used in the south and the Appalachian mountains.

I am the first to admit…I’m a bit of a word snob. When I was growing up, my mom bought me a set of encyclopedias, one a week, as bonuses at the grocery store. I read those, as well as the dictionary, when I ran out of books to read. I love words. They say when you write for public consumption, you should write at about an eighth grade level. I never agreed with that. I think we should all stretch our knowledge and learn new words. As a matter of fact, I have the “Word of the Day” from the dictionary app feed me new words every day. Sometimes I throw them in here just for fun.

There are different words for things in different areas of the country. West Virginia has a lot of colloquial phrases that have me scratching my head sometimes, if not outright gritting my teeth. Mr. FixIt is an educated man, but he a) grew up here and b) worked his entire career in a factory. I sometimes have to ask him what the heck he’s talking about.

Not only are there different words, but different pronunciations. English is a quirky language anyway. Add an accent and it can complicate things. Here in West Virginia, you might hear “crick” for creek or “boosh” for bush or “poosh” for push. Roof is often pronounced with a long oooo sound. The one that sets my teeth on edge is “‘fer I kin”….as in, “I need to get the saw fer I kin cut that board.” It stems from old English. “Before I can” originated as “afore I kin” and became the more colloquial “‘fer I kin”. There’s “over yonder”. A “pretty fur piece” has nothing to do with an animal pelt and every thing to do with how far it is to a particular destination.

What are some words that are pronounced differently where you live? ❤️

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Proverbs 16:24 ESV

That Flash of Red

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 02:30:53 -0600

“Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal in the forsythia bush.”

Cardinals don’t migrate, so we have an abundance of them here in West Virginia. It is our state bird, along with that of six other states. I grew up calling them “redbirds”. They were my grandma’s favorites and she took such delight when she saw a flash of crimson darting in and out of the shrubs out on the farm.

This picture shows a pair of cardinals. The male of course is flashy and bright with a black mask across his face. The female is a dusty, rusty reddish grey. They both have a peaked crown of feathers on top of their heads. They had a distinct chirp you cannot miss. This pair is nesting in the forsythia bush out by the corner of the house. Mr. FixIt pruned them way back just before the wedding when he cleaned up the property.

I just love these birds. We have talked about them here a lot. We have discussed whether they signal a visit from a loved one who has passed. I like to think, since Grandma loved them so much, it is her flying by to say hello, but the truth of the matter is, you see them here year-round.

It finally warmed up a bit yesterday but we still worked inside. The dry, winter air in the house has caused the glue to dry out in the joints of some of our bigger pieces of furniture so Mr. FixIt took a support rail off and used wood glue before screwing the piece securely back together. I knitted and made a big pot of Beef Stroganoff for dinner. It was a pretty laid-back day and we really enjoyed it. ❤️

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."”
Genesis 8:22 ESV

Finding the Right Tools

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 02:30:23 -0600

“Having the right tool leads to success.”

Good communication skills have not always been my strongest suit. For years, I was afraid to speak up for fear of judgement and rocking the boat. That changed with Mr. Virgo and I’ve honed the skill with Mr. FixIt. Yesterday I told you he was being a little stingy with his power tools. So, that night, instead of stewing over it, I just pointed out that I like power tools, too. He smiled and said he just wasn’t used to women who know how to do things like that. I understand that. Not all women can, or even want to, operate power tools.

Yesterday, we needed to build another brace at the other end of the bathroom floor. That is where you attach two short pieces of 2x4 to a long piece in an “H” fashion and fasten it between the floor joists to support the new floor above. This end of the floor is located directly over the washer and dryer. It’s an awkward position to stand on a ladder and it was impossible for Mr. FixIt to get up in there, so I climbed up on the washer and dryer and fastened the new boards in with three inch wood screws.

I don’t know if you have ever held a drill at an awkward angle, over your head, and tried to hold enough pressure to keep the bit from slipping in the head of the screw, but I assure you it’s not easy. The first two screws stripped immediately. So I did what I always do…I talked to Jesus. I asked him to help me get this job done and the screws went in easily as I kept saying “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” When it got really difficult, Mr. FixIt just reached up and held the end of the drill and it worked like butter.

When you face the tough things in life, you need the right tools for the job. We had the right wood screws. We had the right drill and bit and a fully charged battery. We had proper lighting and ladders. We had mutual support and trust. And we had Jesus standing in between us. We can call on Him to help us with the most mundane of tasks. My shoulders relaxed and I put all my focus and force on the task at hand and was successful. The right tools for the job…it’s what creates success. ❤️

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 ESV

Little Vintage Campers

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 02:30:55 -0600

“Little vintage campers…how many people were IN this thing?”

Yesterday, Mr. FixIt and I were having breakfast when he picked up his phone to show me something. He watches Facebook Marketplace closely because, you know, you never know when you might need one more thing, right? Anyway, there was an ad in there for a 1969 Shasta Compact camper. Swoon! Anyone who knows anything about campers knows Shasta is kind of a status symbol for campers. This particular one was being converted into a food trailer, but it’s too small for the job so the people are trying to unload it. It’s gutted already, no leaks, towable, new tires, and only $500. Not bad.

We contacted the gal and as one might imagine, she already has people coming to look at it, so the chance of me even getting to see it are pretty slim. And, like I need another project! Anyway, if I get to see it, I’ll take pics and show you.

Thinking about tiny little campers got me to looking at vintage camping art and photos. Look at this tiny little camper. Now, look at how many people there are camping. Wow! It’s like one of those clown cars where clowns keep coming out one after another! Cars were a lot heavier and more powerful back then so you would see the family car pulling a really big trailer. Do you remember the movie Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz made called The Long, Long, Long Trailer? It was huge but they pulled it with a convertible!

I never camped as a kid, but I remember going over to a friend’s house and they had a camper. Us kids were allowed to go in it and use it like a playhouse. I remember being absolutely mesmerized by it and I wanted one in the worst way. I was always married to non-campers till Mr. FixIt came along. Now we have four campers between us and I am preparing to convert an old minivan into a mini campervan. Oh yeah…I REALLY need another camper! ?‍♀️

❤️

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'”
Luke 14:28-30 ESV

Latkes for a Late Hanukkah

Fri, 28 Dec 2018 02:30:38 -0600

“Latkes for a Late Hanukkah!”

In early December, our friend Doug Kreinik makes latkes at an area restaurant and sells them for charity. A couple of my friends and I were lamenting we didn’t get to go to this year’s event so we were feeling latke deprived. I told them...Fear not! I am the Latke Maven! Last night was the night for latkes at the FixIt’s!

For those of you who have been around long enough to hear all my stories, you know I was a practicing Jew for 27 years. You don’t live that long submersed in a culture without it becoming a big part of your identity. Hubby #2 was Jewish, and while I didn’t convert for him, it all happened around the same time…dating and discovering Judaism. I became a Christian in 2004, but I relate culturally to the ethnic foods and holidays I celebrated all those years. It’s been a long time since I’ve cooked traditional Jewish dishes and last night was so fun!

This photo is not my latkes…I chose one from Google images that looks exactly like mine. You wouldn’t think there would be so many ways to make the crispy potato pancakes fried in oil, but there are. Some use packaged shredded hash browns. Some grind the potatoes into a coarse mush. When you squeeze the water out and mix up a batter, the pancakes resemble a regular pancake. Some use a shredding attachment on a food processor. That works well if you are making a ton of latkes for a party. I like to use the old fashioned grater like Grandma used and shred about six good sized peeled red potatoes by hand. I also grate up a medium sized onion. I mix in about 1/8-1/4 cup all purpose flour which serves two purposes…it keeps the shredded potatoes from getting dark and it helps the pancakes hold together. At this point, you can set the potatoes aside to finish a little later.

I squeezed the excess moisture out of the potatoes and added four eggs lightly beaten and about a cup of Matzah Meal. I like my potato mixture to be think enough to form into thin patties and fry in hot oil till they are golden and crispy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside. Oh, my…they are divine. Some people eat latkes with applesauce on them but I prefer a dollop of sour cream. I made a big pot of Turkey Matzah Ball soup to go with the latkes, and a Cranberry Orange Walnut Bread for dessert. So yummy!

When we were visiting the FixIt kids the other night, I told them about Hanukkah and they were intrigued so I promised next year we’ll have a Hanukkah party. And maybe a Passover Seder, too! I think it can only benefit kids to be exposed to other cultures and religions and traditions. It makes for a more tolerant society and allows them to be conversant wherever they may go in life. ❤️

“The time came for the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. This was during the winter.”
John 10:22 ICB

The Story of the Traveling Bowling Shirt

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 02:30:47 -0600

“The Traveling Bowling Shirt once belonged to Bill T. And…I found him!!!”

In 1986, Hubby #2 finished his Residency in Internal Medicine and joined a practice in a small mountain town in Colorado. We were thrilled to have that long seven-year stretch behind us and were looking forward to building a life on the Western Slope of Colorado.

We rented a five bedroom house on two acres just outside of town. With a lease option to purchase, it was the foot in the door we needed to step into home ownership eventually. We were young and happy…in that way you are when you are poor as a church mouse but are too naive to know it. We had to count our pennies in those early years and with a daughter going into seventh grade, we bought our clothes at resale shops.

There were several really great consignment stores in our area and one of my favorites was a place called Miser’s Mercantile. I went there at least once a week or so to browse through the clothes. A lot of the women from Aspen would bring things in and you could get some great bargains. I once bought a wool coat from Nordstroms for $20! Anyway, I came across this really campy bowling shirt one day and I absolutely had to have it. I wore it a lot over jeans…tied at the waist. When my daughter got old enough to raid my closet, the shirt became hers. I really missed it when she took it with her when she left home and set out in the world. Daughter #1 has been married for twenty-three years. This shirt went with her all the way to Long Island and back to Denver and she still has it.

Mr. FixIt has been on two bowling leagues for nearly forty years. Last week, I went to his league Christmas parties with him. On Sunday night, a bunch of us were talking about the old bowling shirts embroidered with the Sponsor’s logo on them…your name over the pocket. You don’t see them much anymore. I remembered “the shirt” and I’ve never forgotten the name…Bill T. (I’m only using the first letter of his last name to protect his identity.) Whenever the shirt was worn, we always said a kind word about “Good Ol’ Bill T”. I picked up my phone and did a quick search on Facebook…and, there he was!!! It HAD to be him…he worked in the bowling industry and he lived in Pennsylvania.

I sent my daughter a text and asked if she could send me pictures of the bowling shirt. Then I sent them on to Bill T with a note explaining how I came to own the shirt and was this THE Bill T. About an hour later, I received a lovely reply.

“Hi Ginny, this was my shirt from early/mid 1980s when I bowled in the Berks County Major League at Bowl-O-Rama in Reading, Pa. Crazy that it has survived over 30 years and traveled so far. I kept it for a few years after switching teams in that league and gave the shirt to a special needs bowler when I started working in that center. I am pleased to see that the shirt has brought comfort in some way to you and your family, and glad you reached out to me with the story. Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and yours!”

It really WAS our Bill T! I told him I felt like I’d known him forever…like he was a member of our family. I told him it was really interesting that the shirt made it all the way to Colorado. It was also interesting that he had given the shirt to someone with special needs. My brother has special needs and has participated in Special Olympics Bowling for over fifty years. AND, the daughter who now owns Bill T’s bowling shirt teaches Special Ed. AND…now I’m married to a life-long bowler and I was writing from the bowing alley!

Was this all just coincidence? Sort of like throwing dice or casting lots? I don’t think so. I think these sorts of things are God winks. Circles of life that wind round and round. The story of a traveling bowling shirt that has touched the lives of special people, special bowlers, on both sides of the country. I love how God works….even when it’s something as simple as a story that connects people across the miles through a bit of thread, a lot of smiles, and a warm heart. ❤️

“People throw lots to make a decision. But the answer comes from the Lord.”
Proverbs 16:33 ICB

My Hygge Christmas

Wed, 26 Dec 2018 02:30:40 -0600

“Mr. FixIt is a good gift giver…exactly what I would have picked out for myself!”

“Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment.” Wikipedia

I don’t think I have ever had a more relaxing Christmas Day in my life as I had this year. Mr. FixIt gave me Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve and I never changed out of them yesterday. I ate chocolate cake for breakfast. I knitted all day. I caught up with loved ones on the phone and via chat. Mr. FixIt and I watch movies all day. I ate leftover chili…and chocolate.

I was totally pleased with my gifts from my sweetheart. The sweater is the most gorgeous color, style, and fit. The book is something I really wanted. And the travel mugs are lovely. I think he’s setting me up for a winter of comfort! Exactly what I need after a long season of hard work keeping up two big properties. I have some projects to do this winter…writing, home, and business things. So, having this comfort break is just what the doctor ordered!

There are so many who are missing their loved ones this season. If your heart is screaming “he/she should be here!”…you are not forgotten nor are you alone. My heart is with you…I remember that pain and I pray for comfort for you and yours. ❤️

“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “ Lord, save me!” The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.”
Psalm 116:1-9 NIV

The “Griswald” Family Christmas

Fri, 21 Dec 2018 22:20:02 -0600

“Making Cinnamon Rolls in the kitchen at The Ponderosa.”

Not having things done ahead of time made for a rather long and hectic day yesterday. I didn’t even start wrapping presents till noon and the family started arriving around 4:00! But hey, I made three dozen pepperoni rolls, two dozen cinnamon rolls, and two huge pots of chili. We had a table full of snacks when they got there…chips and queso, cheese and crackers, nuts, and Rolo pretzel cookies. When they left last night there was a small container of chili and six cinnamon rolls. It was tons of fun and we had a great time.

I used a different recipe for the cinnamon rolls this year. I couldn’t find my favorite cookbook with the blue ribbon recipes in it. This one come from Divas Can Cook. They were pretty darned good. The only thing was, I have these new pans and two fit on one rack in the stove. I didn’t even consider how close they were together and heat could not circulate around them…therefore, the bottoms burned. It didn’t stop people from gobbling them up, though! Filled with so much yummy goodness…I added toasted pecans and raisins to these before I rolled them up.

“Cinnamon Rolls…fresh from the oven!

The only thing we have to do today is church services this evening so I’m looking forward to a relaxing day of knitting and Christmas movies! What’s on your agenda? ?

https://divascancook.com/fluffy-homemade-cinnamon-rolls-recipe/

““Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf.”
Leviticus 24:5 NIV

Hot Cocoa & Knitting & Winter Solstice

Fri, 21 Dec 2018 02:30:05 -0600

“Hot cocoa and knitting…stop and enjoy the season.”

Productivity is a matter of personal interpretation. Did I wrap presents yesterday for the family Christmas dinner tonight? Um…nope. Did I bake the Pepperoni Rolls like I thought I would? Huh, uh. However, I DID sip hot cocoa while listening to Christmas carols and knitting dishcloths. Why? I’ll tell you…

Because, we get so wrapped up in trying to have the perfect Hallmark holiday that we forget to just…be. To enjoy the moments. To sit down with someone you love and watch the rain pour down and ask if we’re ready for another cup of tea. To listen to Christmas music. To feel the warmth of the fire. To catch up with a friend on the phone. To read Christmas cards. To light candles with the scents of pine and cinnamon apples.

Those presents will get wrapped. Dinner is a pot of chili with peanut butter sandwiches and a pan of homemade cinnamon rolls. Easy peasy. We don’t get yesterday again. We only get today. Don’t be so busy trying to make something perfect that you forget to enjoy the process. Today, you have my permission to put your feet up, have a cup of tea, and knit. The rest will get done…or maybe it won’t. But you’ll feel ever so much better by slowing down. Breathe! Today is the first day of winter…the shortest amount of daylight of the year. Winter Solstice. It starts getting brighter from here on out. ❤️

““Slow down. Take a deep breath. What’s the hurry? Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway? But you say, ‘I can’t help it. I’m addicted to alien gods. I can’t quit.’”
Jeremiah 2:25 MSG

Winter Wonderland

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 02:30:59 -0600

“My favorite entry in the Gingerbread competition at The Blennerhassett Hotel…three little gnome houses on “stump” cakes!”

One of my favorite places in my hometown is The Blennerhassett Hotel. It is the finest hotel and restaurant in town and I have had the pleasure of visiting it many times. It’s the place where my gal pals from my high school class gather for coffee. It’s where they have the parade of trees. Then the gingerbread houses. I marvel at both. The innovative ideas for the Christmas trees always leaves me smiling at all the creativity. And the gingerbread houses are just flat out amazing. This year, my favorite was the one with three little gnome houses on tree stump cakes. Camping was a big theme, as well.

“Camper Gingerbread House…SO cute!”

The Blennerhassett is where our High School Reunions meet on the second night. It’s where I sought refuge in February 2015 when I was living in my camper high over the banks of the Ohio River. The temperature got down to -25 wind chill, my refrigerator stopped working and all my food was ruined. I went to The Blennerhassett and took fifteen bubble baths in two days and came back refreshed and ready to face the rest of the winter. There is often live music in the bar on Friday nights. And there is a Farmers Market one day a week in the summers. It is truly one of my favorite places.

“Camping at Christmas Ginerbread House”

This year, Mr. FixIt and I were downtown paying a bill and ended up wandering into the hotel to walk around and marvel at the exquisite gingerbread houses. There is a competition and the prizes are the big rosette ribbons like the ones I earned when I baked competitively in Colorado. There is also a People’s Choice Award.

“Another little camper gingerbread house!”

Yesterday, I made about 12 dozen Rolo Pretzel Cookies and knitted dishcloths. We cleaned in preparation for the big family gathering Friday night. Tonight is the Thursday night bowling league Christmas party so we’ll be making beef noodles to take. I’m baking a Hummingbird Cake today. And, I’m going to bake up a big batch of Pepperoni Rolls…West Virginia’s state food! So, watch for pics and recipes tomorrow! ❤️

“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35 NIV

Say “I Love You” With a Little Yarn & a Lotta Love

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 02:30:47 -0600

“Hand knitted dishcloth with the ASL sign for “I Love You” in the pattern.”

Yesterday’s post had me thinking about quick, last minute gifts for the holidays. I was in town Sunday afternoon so I stopped at Walmart and picked up some cotton yarn. Those cute patterns for dishcloths had me thinking I’d like to whip up some.

Mr. FixIt had to go to town yesterday to help a friend build something and do a little Christmas shopping. I elected to stay home. I asked Alexa to play “Soft Christmas Music”, turned up the stove in the family room, grabbed a cup of coffee, and curled up by the tree. I pulled up the fox fur blanket that I had made from the coat Mr. Virgo gave me years ago. And I set to knitting.

In the comments on yesterday’s post, my friend Jamie told me someone made her a dishcloth with the ASL symbol for “I Love You” knitted into it. I asked for the pattern and her friend sent the link. I still have the remnants of grief brain so I had to really concentrate on the pattern. I had to take out a row every now and then when I couldn’t remember where I was in the pattern. But before too long, I had one finished! I’ve started a second dishcloth from one of the pattern in the link I included yesterday.

The other day, Daughter #2 called and said she missed my cooking. I asked her what dish she loved the most. Turkey Tetrawhatzit…my version of Turkey Tetrazzini. So, before Mr. FixIt got home, I put some of the frozen turkey from Thanksgiving in a pot with a little water and simmered it till I could shred the meat with a fork. In an electric skillet, I sautéed half an onion, some sliced mushrooms and celery in a little butter. I added a drained can of mixed veggies. When the turkey was shredded, I tossed it in the skillet with about a pint of the drippings from the pan I roasted the turkey in. While that simmered, I cooked some egg noodles. I mixed up some flour in some of the broth and thickened the turkey mixture, stirred in a cup of sour cream, and brought it just to a simmer then added the drained cooked noodles. Topped with a little shredded Parmesan and…voila! Turkey Tetrawhatzit! Comfort food at it’s best…and it made me think of my daughter. Mr. FixIt said…”Send her a picture!” I did…then called her so she could “join us for dinner!”

It was a lovely day…peaceful, comforting, homey, warm with a big dash of “I Love You!” ❤️

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalms 23:6 ESV

The Pleasure of Needlearts

Sun, 16 Dec 2018 02:30:08 -0600

“A lovely display of vintage hotpads and dishcloths.” Photo Credit: Pinterest

Staying out at the farm brings out the nostalgia in me. My grandma didn’t have fancy things. And when she sewed, her aim was function, not fashion. She mended sheets, shirts, and work pants. She often used old blankets, and even old quilts, as the batting for new ones. She sandwiched the old between fabric if she had the money…sheets if she didn’t. Then she tied them with colorful yarn or perle cotton every few inches. I found a pair of knitting needles and some yarn in her work basket but she said she had never mastered the craft.

Every once in a while, someone would give Grandma a pretty little handmade potholder like the ones in this picture. She hung them on the fridge with a magnet and never used them…they were too pretty. She also had hand-knit dishcloths. Those she used. And I love them! When I first really picked up knitting, I practiced by making dishcloths. They are soft and absorbent and you can have a simple one made up in an hour. They make lovely hostess gifts at the holidays. Here is a page with twelve easy dishcloth patterns. I use a cotton yarn called Sugar and Cream for my dishcloths. ❤️

“As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”
1 Samuel 18:1 ESV

https://www.allfreeknitting.com/Dish/Learn-How-To-Knit-With-a-Knit-Dishcloth-Pattern-Patterns-For-Beginners

The Farm: Sharing My Happy Place

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 02:30:12 -0600

“I knitted this little beaded evening bag many years ago.”

There is only one thing better than spending time at the farm. Spending time at the farm with Mr. FixIt! I asked him Thursday if we could go out for a couple of days and he is such a sweetie. We don’t quite have the amenities at the farm that we have at the house, but he’s a real sport. Usually we pack enough stuff for a month-long safari, but we’re getting better at it. Dinner was Hamburger Macaroni (SO simple…brown 1# hamburger with a med. onion chopped, stir in a can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes and a can of drained corn, add a few cups of cooked elbow macaroni and a couple slices of Colby cheese, a little red pepper flakes, garlic salt, pepper, and oregano…stir and serve. Comfort food when served with homemade peanut butter cookies! Yummmmmm!

I was going through some of the things I saved and brought with me from Colorado. I chatted with my knitting buddy, Gail, yesterday. I told her about a little purse I knitted many years ago. When I was going through a box, I ran across this pretty little beaded bag. I remember the day I went to the Convention Center in downtown Denver for a bead show. There was a lady from Evergreen selling reproduction silver plated purse handles, Japanese silk, seed beads, tiny little double-point needles, and patterns for the most darling little evening bags. I bought enough supplies to make four.

This was the first one I made. It was tedious to make, I will not lie. To start with, you have to transfer all these little beads to the silk. The beads come on something called a hank. It’s several strands of beads in a loop, and the ends of the threads are all tied together in a knot. Each loop had to be very carefully removed from the hank without dropping one end. If you drop it, alllllllll the beads slip off and go everywhere. Don’t ask me how I know that. ?

When you slide the beads from the thread to the silk, you sometimes find a bead whose hole is too small for the silk. In that case, you take a pair of pliers and gently squeeze the bead till it breaks. You have to be careful because the sharp edge of a broken bead can cut the silk, then you’re in a serious mess. Strand after strand, you slide and pull them along till you have the required number of beads on the silk thread. Once the beads have been threaded on, you wrap them around and around the ball of silk ill you get back to the beginning. You have to stop and unroll this often and slip the beads further down the thread so you have room to knit. Did I tell you it was tedious?

I made this one and another just like it for my cousin’s daughter. She was born with cancer in her spine and had major surgery and treatment as a very young child. When she turned sixteen, I made her the little bag to carry to her first formal. I have enough to make two white purses…one for each of my daughters. The intent was to give each their purse for their weddings. The oldest has been married since 1995. Her purse isn’t finished yet. Did I tell you they are quite tedious to make? I thought I did.

I love having this. I used to display it in a curio cabinet that now sits in Colorado waiting for me to bring it here one day. Maybe next summer I will tote it home. In the meantime, it sits on the dresser in our room and I pick it up every now and again, just to remember I once did very tedious work. ❤️

“as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.””
2 Corinthians 8:15 NIV

The Geminid Meteor Shower

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 02:30:35 -0600

“The night sky holds endless fascination for me.”

”We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year old carbon, and we got to get ourselves back to the garden...”
Crosby, Stills & Nash

I have always been fascinated by the night sky. Ever since I was a very little girl and my dad woke me up and helped me into my coat to go outside in the middle of the night. We went out to see the Northern Lights. I’ve been smitten ever since. I think that’s one reason I love to camp so much…there’s usually a clear night sky at least one of the nights in the woods.

When I was a single mom living in my first house on my own, I packed a thermos and a couple of sleeping bags in the car. I woke up Daughter #2 in the middle of the night and said, “C’mon…we’re going on an adventure.”

We drove up to the ski area, turned off the car, and spread the sleeping bags on the hood. We leaned back against the windshield and sipped our hot cocoa and watched the Persied Meteor Shower. She still talks about that to this day.

Last evening, I got a call that my wedding rings were ready to be picked up. I lost a diamond a couple of weeks ago and the service warranty covers that. I could have waited, but I’ve missed my rings, so I drove into town to get them. Afterwards, I went to the bowling alley to visit Mr. FixIt then we grabbed a bite to eat together. On the way home, we stopped to pick up a Christmas gift and some new baking pans. As we were driving out the country road home, Mr. FixIt was behind me in his truck. He called me and I said…”I SAW IT!” It looked like something out of Star Wars! Meteors were falling everywhere. BIG ones!

When we got home, I told him to park his truck and meet me in mine out in the lane that goes through the field. I turned off all the lights, rolled down the windows, and we sat there for the better part of an hour….staring at the sky.

“There’s one!”

“Wow…did you see THAT one?”

“OMGosh! This is so cool!”

God’s 4th of July…another memory made! ❤️

“and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.”
Revelation 6:13 NIV

Feel Your Feels

Wed, 12 Dec 2018 02:30:17 -0600

“These are some of my favorite Christmas memories.”

As I sit and write this post, Mr. FixIt is in town helping his daughter with something and I am getting ready to address Christmas cards while listening to carols on Pandora. I just had my coffee and a couple of the Oatmeal Raisin Cookies I made yesterday. Another heavy hoar frost has the branches of the forsythia decorated with fuzzy white crystal fingers outside the window where I am perched. The mechanical angel on top of the tree is gently moving her wings and arms as she nods her head slowly. It’s a peaceful scene here on the Ponderosa.

As I was baking my grandma’s Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Monday, I was reminiscing about Christmases spent out on the farm. Grandma seldom had any extras around because money was always tight living off the land. But, as Christmas approached, you could be sure to find certain special treats brought home from the Five & Dime in Harrisville in small brown paper sacks.

I especially remember the Christmas candies Grandma always set out in a special glass dish. Ruffled ribbons, chocolate straws, peppermint sticks…all conjure up the warmth of my grandma’s house at Christmas.

My Uncle Bob had a developmental disability and lived at home all his life. Every Christmas, Bob would walk back on the hill with Grandma and select a tree to drag back down to the house. They were sparse little Charlie Brown trees. I thought they were kind of sad and pitiful back then because ours was always a big, full tree we selected from the lot down at the Shopping Center. Looking back with 65-year-old eyes, I’d give anything to go back and see the ornaments and sweetness of my childhood Christmases on the farm.

Mr. FixIt and I have an artificial tree. He purchased it for me the first Christmas we were dating. I was in Colorado and he was walking around the mall when he saw Sears had their trees marked down drastically. He called and asked if I wanted one. He sent several photos and I selected a slim tree with feathered tips on the needles that make them look frosted. It’s prelit with white lights. No twinkling for me. And no colors. I like white light…and lots of it in the wintertime. It helps with my winter blues.

Keeping these memories alive helps comfort me in times of great loss. When I conjure up images of my grandma, my mom, my cousin, my aunt, my other mother…it reminds me while they are away from me physically, I have them with me always in my heart. Christmas isn’t always a happy occasion when you are actively grieving. Holding the memories close can help ease that pain and gives you the outlet you need to process your grief. Feel your feels, I always say. ❤️

“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”
Isaiah 32:18 NIV

A Victorian Christmas

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 02:30:14 -0600

“Lynn Nicholson opened her home for the Victorian Christmas Tour this weekend. Lynn has been a faithful reader for the last three years and it was a treat to visit with her!”

It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does…it blows me away.

Gasp! “It’s Ginny McKinney!”

I had just stepped into the door of Lynn Nicholson’s house when I caught her eye from across the room.

“OMGosh! It’s you!” Lynn said as she walked toward me. “Welcome to my home!”

“Lovely Christmas Villages are all around the living room in Lynn’s lovely home.”

We greeted each other with a warm hug as if we’d met years ago. And, in a way, we did. I had recently arrived in West Virginia when I saw in the paper they were having a walking tour of Victorian homes in the Historic Julia-Ann District in Downtown Parkersburg. I knew these beautiful homes by sight as we often drove by when I was growing up. I remember pressing my nose to the window in the backseat of the Oldsmobile, dreaming of what such elegance might look like inside. Never dreaming one day I’d know people who lived there and could go inside to visit.

“Icy crystals are sprinkled over the Belsnickel-style Christmas decor Lynn is so fond of collecting.”

The summer of 2015, I walked up and down the streets of Julia-Ann Square visiting yard sales. A woman and her husband were sitting in the driveway in front of their lovely home. We struck up a conversation and immediately clicked. I gave her my card. Now, three years later, I step into her home on the Christmas tour and…she knows me. I mean…she really KNOWS me. Lynn has been reading my blog every morning since the day we met in her driveway and I am equally thrilled and humbled.

“More Belsnickel decor.”

As we walked around her house, Lynn shares her treasures and gives us a history of the home. It was built in two phases. The original part of the house is log and sits in the back of the lot. Additions were added on over the years and the house gives off a Federalist vibe with a taste of Colonial thrown in for good measure. The principal floors are impeccable and built in bookcases provide ample space for the family heirlooms they keep on display year round.

“As I visited with Judy Smith in the Caswell-Smith House, who should walk in but…Hubby #1 and his lovely wife! How fun!”

There were four houses on the tour this year. One is owned by one of my former classmates from high school, Debra Schaffer. Another is a massive mansion that is for sale. But the one house everyone always raves about belongs to my lifelong friend and relative, Judy Smith and her husband, Norm. If you recall, Judy and Norm had us over for dessert the week after the wedding. Norm gave Mr. FixIt the tour of the house as Judy and I sat and visited.

“Charlotte and me…in the perpetual Christmas room at the Caswell-Smith House.”

The Smith-Caswell House is truly like stepping into a museum. And they live there. You can go there any time of the day and it looks the same. The beds are always made. The dishes are always done. The house is always dusted and impeccably clean. And every surface is adorned with something delightful. Music boxes, statuary, silver, crystal, china, and art from around the world is virtual eye candy. The icing on the cake is the warm hospitality with which every guest is greeted. This home was not only decorated for the owners, it is appointed with the guest in mind. The Smiths know this house is bigger that them. It belongs to us all a little bit. At least during the summer Garden Tour and the winter Christmas Tea.

“The new train in the postage-stamp sized backyard at the Caswell-Smith House.”

I took my wonderful friend, Charlotte with me this year. She is my cousin’s wife and my dear friend who graciously feeds the cats at the farm when I am not there. I wanted to do something special to repay her and since she has never toured the Victorian homes, we met for a long afternoon of browsing and sitting for cookies and Wassail.

“Vintage feather tree with hand-blown Victorian glass ornaments.”

As we stood in the small first floor bedroom in Judy’s house…in walked Hubby #1 and his wife! This brought the visit full circle and allowed me to connect the dots for Charlotte. Judy’s parents lived in what is now the home of my heart…my grandparents’ farm. Her parents brought her home to that house after she was born. They moved and my grandparents purchased the farm. Our families were always close and I always called her parents Uncle Ken and Aunt Lucy. When I started dating Hubby -#1, he spoke of HIS Uncle Ken and Aunt Lucy and they turned out to be the same people. Uncle Ken was my former mother-in-law’s brother. Confused yet? Hang on! When I married Hubby #1 and we had Daughter #1, that made her and my grandchildren blood relatives of Judy! I love that I am close to my exes and consider them family. I get along well with their wives. Heck, I get along well with Mr. Fixit’s ex wife. I try to exemplify love in all relationships so the generations coming up know it doesn’t have to be ugly when marriages don’t work out.

“The day started out having coffee with my home girls…the ‘71 Divas Do Coffee!”

I want to end by letting you know I spoke with my cousin Tom’s wife last night. She wanted me to know she is doing surprisingly well. She has her moments, but having the four and a half years to grieve along the way as she prepared to say goodbye has been a great help in her adjustment. She appreciates everyone’s prayers. So, thank you for that.

Life is a huge quilt. We are all connected in some way, but love is the thread that holds us all together. ❤️

“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”
1 John 4:19-21 NIV

Grandma Lois’ Very Best Chocolate Cake

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 02:30:46 -0600

“Homemade chocolate cake…Grandma Lois’ recipe.”

My son-in-law’s Grandma is one of the sweetest and feistiest women I know. Grandma Lois is 90 and now lives in a nursing home. But up to just a few years ago, she drove herself around in her little Ford and assisted in a grade school classroom several days a week.

Grandma Lois and Grandpa Bud had an upholstery business. She was always a hardworking woman. She didn’t stop working when her husband passed suddenly. She’s the matriarch of a wonderful, salt-of-the-earth family. I tell people when Daughter #1 got married, she won the lottery with these wonderful people.

Grandma was a member of a womens’ social club. One gathering had everyone bring their favorite recipe on a card to exchange. This is the recipe she received that day. My son-in-law LOVES chocolate cake and this is the family’s go-to chocolate cake for special occasions. I took this one with me to my cousin’s for Thanksgiving and I’ve had many requests for the recipe. I always check with the source before I share old family recipes and they were happy to let more people enjoy this yummy cake.

I’ll make another one to serve for drop-in company here at the Ponderosa. Hope you enjoy it!

Favorite Chocolate Cake

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

2 tsp. Baking soda

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/4 to 1/2 cup cocoa

Sift together the above then add -

2 eggs

1 cup Wesson Oil

2 T. Mayo

3 tsp. Vanilla

1 cup sour milk (add 2 T. Vinegar to milk & let sit 5 min.)

OR you can use one cup buttermilk instead

1 cup boiling water

Put all ingredients in bowl; put boiling water in last. Beat 2 minutes or so.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Let cool in pan for 10 minutes then tip out on a cake rack to cool. Slice “domed” top from each layer before frosting with your favorite icing.

Makes two good sized layers.

If making cupcakes, bake for 20 minutes.

❤️

“Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman.”
1 Chronicles 16:3 NIV

Buckwheat Flapjacks & Bacon

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 02:30:30 -0600

“Buckwheat Flapjacks & Bacon”

Twice a year, Spring and Fall, I go camping with the girls at Beaver Creek State Park near Liverpool, Ohio. It’s a Mister/Sister trip so we can bring our beaus if we’ve got ‘em. I usually go for a couple days alone so I can gab with the girls and drink coffee all day in my jammies. Then Mr. FixIt comes up and joins us. Much of the time, it’s him and about 15-20 women. He is in his element, let me tell you! He can gab with the best of them.

“The old mill at Beaver Creek State Park near Liverpool, Ohio”

One of my favorite parts of Beaver Creek is the Pioneer Village. We’ve been there twice now for the Civil War Re-enactment and we walk around the village and look at the old buildings. There is a large grist mill that has been renovated. Several times a year, The mill trace is filled with water and the wheel at Gaston’s Mill turns and grinds corn meal as well as whole wheat and buckwheat flour.

“The refurbished Gaston’s Mill”

When I was a little girl, my dad would make buckwheat flapjacks. In our house, if you made them out of flour, they were pancakes. If you made them out of corn meal they were corn cakes or hoe cakes. You’ll normally see them just called Buckwheat Pancakes. I didn’t really like my dad’s flapjacks. They tasted bitter to me, so all my life I’ve said I didn’t like them. When Gaston’s Mill runs, the flour and meal sell out quickly. I was thrilled the last time we were there to find the refrigerator full of one and three pound bags. I stocked up and at the last minute, decided to try the buckwheat flour.

“Gaston’s Mill at Christmas”

My friend Gail is the camphost at Beaver Creek. I texted her Tuesday and asked her what recipe she uses for her buckwheat. She sent me the link and I made a batch Tuesday morning. Oh…Em…Geeeee! They were SO good. Not bitter at all. My new favorites, even though it’s a pretty complex recipe compared to box mix.

“Camping with TOW-Wanda and the Girl Campers at Beaver Creek State Park”

Since this is cozy, comfort food season…get out your fleecy jammies and whip up a batch of these. They are rich and hearty so you don’t need anything else but a couple slices of crispy bacon and plenty of hot coffee! Enjoy! ❤️

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/buckwheat_pancakes/

“He gives food to every creature. His love endures forever.”
Psalm 136:25 NIV

Your Chance to Win a Camper!

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 02:30:15 -0600

“The Little Max by Liberty Outdoors”

My good friend, Janine Pettit, has gone camping since she was a little girl. When her kids were heading off to college, Janine decided to be an ambassador and help women learn everything they needed to know to get out and “Go Places and Do Things!”

I met Janine in the Spring of 2015 in Nashville. She had been a blogger for goRVing.com for quite some time, and asked if she could interview me. We had an instant rapport and I have subsequently appeared at least three times on her podcast talking about my journey.

One of the sponsors of the GirlCamper Podcast is Liberty Outdoors with their Max and Mini Max campers. This past summer, Liberty Outdoors loaned Janine a camper to haul around the country and give feedback on the design. After pulling this gorgeous little camper over 10,000 miles across 14 states. She camped over 60 nights this summer! And now, it’s YOUR chance to own this little beauty!

Liberty Outdoors has generously donated this Mini Max to the Hold You Foundation, a non-profit that assists parents in making ends meet when they are caring for a seriously ill child. The camper is being raffled off and you can buy a ticket by clicking on the following link. Who know? This little beauty just might end up being yours!

Fingers crossed!

girlcamper.com/mini-max-…

“Abraham traveled from there south to the Negev and settled down between Kadesh and Shur. While he was camping in Gerar, Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She’s my sister.””
Genesis 20:1 MSG

A Tale of Thanksgiving

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 02:30:59 -0600

“Thanksgiving Turkey”

Multiple trips to the store.

Two turkeys because the frozen one refused to thaw.

Two full days cooking.

A fifteen minute feeding frenzy in which 90% of the food was devoured.

Followed by three hours cleaning the kitchen.

I am thankful for the following things.

Thanksgiving only comes once a year.

And…

Thanksgiving only comes once a year.

❤️

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17 NIV

Flexible is My Middle Name

Fri, 23 Nov 2018 02:30:42 -0600

“Thanksgiving Sunset on North Mountain”

The first change in holiday plans came when my cousin’s mother-in-law was admitted to the hospital and we decided to stay home Wednesday night and leave yesterday morning. Then, when we got there, we found out my elderly aunt fell this week and was too banged up for her brother to bring her for dinner. So, Mr. FixIt and I packed up some food and headed for a visit with them.

As we were driving, I suggested we go back home after dinner instead of staying the night. We have fourteen for dinner tomorrow and there is much to be done. We returned to my cousin’s to eat and then headed home. It’s hunting season in West Virginia and the deer are all stirred up. We nearly hit six deer in the first ten miles. We arrived home, safe and sound. Fourteen hour round trip but OH so worth it!

The uncle we visited is the one whose wife died the day after our wedding. I’ve been worried about him because he and my aunt were inseparable since they were in high school. He still has my elderly aunt living with him but right now he’s doing much better because he is getting some regular sleep.

Sometimes, after being the long term caregiver for a dying spouse…there can be almost a sense of relief. Not that the loved one is gone, but that the suffering has ended. Fast on the heels of that can come guilt. You know you did everything you could while your person was here. You know you were at the end of your rope. But, you can easily punish yourself for feeling relieved that you can eat and sleep and rest. Once your mind goes into guilt mode, it’s easy to start finding other things to feel guilty about. Those times you lost your patience. Those times you said or did things you regret. It’s easy to beat yourself up about that because you KNOW you aren’t glad they’re gone. You just needed the pain to stop. For them, and for you.

This doesn’t happen with everyone, but it happens more often than you think. And it’s hard to admit. Being a long term caregiver is not something I have gone through personally, but I’ve been around enough close family members to see how difficult it is. My point is, if you experience a sense of relief, please don’t beat yourself up. You’ve done a long, stressful, most difficult thing easing a loved one through their final journey. Be gentle with yourself. ❤️

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NIV

Nothing Like the Last Minute

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 02:30:28 -0600

“A fresh turkey takes the guesswork out of thawing.”

We were going to leave yesterday to travel to my cousin’s for Thanksgiving dinner but they have a loved one in the hospital and wouldn’t be home till late. We decided to leave bright and early this morning as that would give us another day to prepare for our company coming Saturday.

Mr. FixIt and I bought a 25# turkey in preparation for 14 guests and plenty of leftovers. We bought said bird early last week. I pulled it from the freezer and put it in the fridge in the garage on Friday. I figured it would be totally defrosted in the ensuing eight days. Well, yesterday morning it was still hard as a rock. I mean, maybe the slightest icy give under the skin, but that’s it. No way that monster is going to be ready for Saturday’s guests. Heck, it might not be ready for CHRISTMAS at that rate.

I pulled the turkey from the fridge and let it sit in a galvanized tub on the basement floor till I realized the temps are supposed to be down in the twenties over the next few nights. That thing will never make it and since we’ll be gone for a couple of days, I can’t put it in the sink with water or leave it out of the fridge in case global warming shifts into high gear before Friday. I made the decision…I had to go to town and buy a fresh turkey. On the day before Thanksgiving. In a small town. My chances of meeting success were drastically slim.

I left Mr. FixIt and his vacuuming (for the fourth or fifth time this week…I’m not sure there are fibers left in this carpet. But, I digress.) and headed to town. The first store I come to…besides Dollar General…is Walmart. Since Dollar General most assuredly doesn’t carry fresh turkey, I elected to stop at Walmart. I didn’t hold out much hope and I was totally prepared to have to drive all over town. I sent up a little prayer and said, “Lord, you know I’ll drive all over town to find a fresh turkey but I sure would love it if You would make sure I find one at the first store I come to?” Sure enough, there was my turkey…and everything else I needed!

“Homemade chocolate cake…Grandma Lois’ recipe.”

I came home and baked a cake for today. My son-in-law’s mom makes this cake all the time. Her mom got the recipe in an exchange at her ladies club years ago. It uses buttermilk, mayonnaise, and boiling water and it is the BEST chocolate cake I think I have ever had!

“Butter crunch lettuce…one hour from harvest to table…in November! Hydroponics rule!”

Later in the day, my friend Diane posted she had just bought some hydroponic lettuce produced in our tiny little town. I asked where I could get some and she brought a head over as a gift. It was fabulous and I can assure you, this is where I’ll be purchasing my salad greens this winter. And…NO fear of E. Coli! Win-win.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. May your turkey be tender and your gravy lump-free! I am thankful for all of you!!! ❤️

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV

The Gem Roller Organ

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 02:30:10 -0600

“The Gem Roller Organ”

When we were guests at the Caswell-Smith House this week, Norm Smith shared this lovely restored roller organ with us. I have always been intrigued with music boxes and unusual instruments and this one did not disappoint. It was made 135 years ago but was restored in 1989 and came with an assortment of “cobs”…rollers with pins that activate the levers to produce the note.

Enjoy…and may you have a blessed Sunday! ❤️

A Gem of a Roller Organ

by Bob Brooke

A deluxe 19th-century roller organ. By the late19th Century, working and middle class Victorians, with more free time on their hands, sought out ingenious, yet affordable modes of home entertainment. One such home entertainment device was the roller organ, a type of table-top music box that played wooden rollers called cobs because they resembled an eaten cob of corn.

Although roller organs came in different sizes and degrees of luxury, the most popular one was the “Gem” Roller Organ, manufactured by a number of companies, including the Autophone Company of Ithaca, New York.

Originally, these hand-cranked organs operated by air pressure from exposed bellows, As technology improved, later models worked by vacuum pressure, thus enabling manufacturers to reduce the size of the units, much as today’s technology has reduced the size of radios and cassette tape players.

Because of its relative simplicity, manufacturers produced tens of thousands annually, thereby keeping the cost of a roller organ affordable. Sears & Roebuck, in their 1902 Catalog, was able to offer the Gem Roller Organ for as low as $3.25, including three rollers. Contracting with companies to produce large quantities of these devices enabled Sears to sell in volume and keep its price low.

The Gem Roller Organ, available in either a painted black or walnut-like finish with gold stenciled applied designs, used teeth or pins embedded into a 20-note wooden roller, similar to the cylinders used in Swiss music boxes. Pins operated on valve keys while a gear turned the roller. Priced as low as 18 cents each–and according to the Sears Catalog, less than traditional sheet music–roller music ranged from classical to sacred to ethnic and popular tunes. The tone was similar to a cabinet parlor organ of the time.

You can listen to The Gem Roller Organ here.

At 16 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high, the Gem Roller Organ was small and light enough to place on a parlor table. The 1902 Sears Catalog listed 220 different rollers of the over 1,200 different titles available.

To understand just how much the value of the Gem Roller Organ has appreciated, Sherrill and Barb Edwards of West Grove, PA recently priced one at $850 at an antique show in Pennsylvania. ❤️

“speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,” Ephesians 5:19 NIV

A Step Back in Time

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 02:30:31 -0600

“Butterscotch Creme Brûlée, French macarons, spiced cider…lovely company, beautiful Victorian mansion. What a special day!”

Mr. FixIt and I were guests at the Smith-Caswell House yesterday. The owners are Norm and Judith Smith. Judy’s parents lived on my family farm before my grandparents bought it. Mr. FixIt finally got to tour this incredible Victorian mansion in the historic district of my hometown. We had creme brûlée, French macarons, nuts, chocolates from the Greenbrier Hotel, and spiced cider.

“Old Victrola”

The highlight for me is always the music room. For Mr. FixIt, it was a tossup between the perennial Christmas display in the attic and the Carriage House with Norm’s vast collection of antique automobiles.

Afterwards, we went out to dinner and used one of our wedding gift cards at Texas Roadhouse. An extraordinary day…an extraordinary life. ❤️

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10 NIV

Home Again, Home Again...

Mon, 05 Nov 2018 02:30:36 -0600

“Riding shotgun gives me beautiful views as well as time to knit.”

What a day! I am most fortunate that Mr. FixIt drove all the way home so I could sit and knit and talk and look at the GORGEOUS colors! The trees are at their peak right now.

“Knitting socks as we drove through the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains.”

We only had one hold up coming home. There had been a fender bender and before they could get it cleared, there were two more in the resulting slow down and congestion. We were only delayed by about ten minutes. Nothing else happened till we were 45 minutes from home.

I had been texting with the friend we were with when they hit the deer last week. She texted, “Don’t hit any deer!” I hadn’t even looked up from my phone when Mr. FixIt hit the brakes and swerved. I heard a tiny thump but we didn’t run over anything. He said a deer was just starting to cross the road and he though he had just grazed her. We pulled over where there was adequate light and there was no damage whatsoever.

As we headed out our road, someone flashed their lights to warn us of something ahead. There was another deer…hit and injured, but not dead. That’s the worst because I hate to see them suffer. I did not take my pistol with me on this trip so there was no putting her out of her misery. I needed to get her off the road to prevent an accident. I pulled her by her front legs and she bleated like a lamb. I’ve never heard a deer make that sound. It just broke my heart. I called 911 and they said they would send someone out to see what they could do for her.

I am grateful we made it home safe and sound. Thank you, God! Now, life will get back to normal, right? (Insert laugh track here!) ❤️

““But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:7-10 NIV

A Day in Hatteras

Sun, 04 Nov 2018 02:30:55 -0600

“Sweet little Argosy!”

Our last full day on the OBX is in the books and what a beautiful day it was! The day dawned overcast but warm. By the time we were up and had breakfast made, the clouds were gone and there was abundant sunshine. It was looking like a perfect day for what we had planned.

“Cape Hatteras Lighthouse”

We headed south for Buxton to see the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. Unfortunately, it was closed for climbing just after Columbus Day so we didn’t get to go inside. But we walked the beach and visited the site where the ashes of Mr. FixIt’s son-in-law were spread in August. We didn’t stay long because that sunshine was just a bit deceiving. The wind had a definite bite to it and my sweetheart didn’t bring a jacket.

“Is there such a thing as TOO MUCH YARN?”

My new hubby knows the things I love. He took me to a house that had the cutest camper in front of it. I’m glad there wasn’t any traffic because he stopped right in front so I could take a picture. He also knows when there is a yarn shop, you look for the nearest parking spot. Such a good man!

“Cape Hatteras Lighthouse”

I love when I meet someone and I instantly know they’re special…someone I want to keep in touch with. That was Jenn Johnson. She has the sweetest little shop in Hatteras. Blue Pelican is a gallery and gift shop with a generous portion dedicated to yarn. When you walk in the shop, you are instantly bombarded with great splashes of color. Large windows let the North Carolina sun in and light is reflected from the many displays of handcrafted jewelry and art objects. Then…Mr. FixIt said, “Baby, wait till you see this!” He had just stuck his head in the yarn room.

“Sunset on the trees.”

This place was eye candy. There was a lot of yarn packed into a small area and I could have spent a lot more time in there. Everywhere you looked, the colors and textures invited you to come in and play. Samples screamed, “Touch me!” I couldn’t get enough. And, since you can’t get enough yarn, I bought two more skeins for socks. Ok…I’m done. No more yarn till this is knitted up. (Please don’t hold me to that!)

The week is over and we pack up to head home today. I was telling Mr. FixIt, when you first get to the beach, the week stretches out in front of you. And, when the last day comes, you wonder where the time went. We are well rested and happy as a pair of speckled pups. So, home we go. Let the adventures continue! ❤️

“You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.” Deuteronomy 28:6 NIV

The Three C’s...Chickens, Coffee, & Clouds

Fri, 02 Nov 2018 01:30:57 -0600

“What honeymoon is complete without chickens?!”

Ok, just when I think the days couldn’t be more perfect here on the OBX, along came an even MORE perfect one. Yesterday’s temperature climbed up into the 70’s! Oh, rest my heart. We had another lazy morning with bacon and eggs. I took my coffee out on the deck and lounged in the morning sunshine. Midday, Mr. FixIt suggested we go for a long walk on the beach. I’m ALWAYS game for more beach time!

As we left the house, “Henrietta” here came to see if we had any chicken treats. She and her two companions live at the house next door and they roam around the neighborhood. They come running when they hear the rustling of a bag! Mr. FixIt just happened to have peanuts in his pocket and they were a huge hit with our little feathered friend.

“Coffee in the morning sun.”

Mr. FixIt didn’t fish yesterday so there was no lugging of chairs and poles and tackle in a rolling cart to the beach. Instead, we took a blanket to sit on. We walked a long way. (Much longer than that health app said, I’m sure.) We talked to other fishers to see if they were having any luck. They were about like us. A few here and there. But there was general consensus that fishing on the OBX…even when the fish aren’t biting…beats the heck out of working. Amen!

We went north on the beach yesterday so we could spread out our blanket and watch the surfers. There were four adolescent boys in wetsuits out trying to outdo each other. One was obviously more experienced than the others and he made it look so easy. There was one younger boy who really struggled and we were somewhat concerned for him Mr. FixIt said it looked like maybe he had succumbed to some peer pressure. We kept an eye on the young man and eventually he made it back to the beach.

“Autumn sky over the OBX”

It was siesta time when we got back. I made hot chicken sandwiches and potato salad for supper. A few hands of rummy and it was time to write while Mr. FixIt watched some television. When we went out on the deck at sundown, he wrapped his arms around me as the salty breeze whipped through our hair.

“This is the best honeymoon. It was the best wedding. It is the best life!”

I sighed and leaned against him.

Amen, my love. Amen! ❤️

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

This is How We Honeymoon

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 01:30:21 -0600

“Got to the sound just in time to catch the kiteboarders framed by the sunset!”

Yesterday was so wonderful! After a nice breakfast, we headed out to the beach. It was in the low 60’s but the wind didn’t pick up till around 3:30 or 4:00. Mr. FixIt fished all afternoon while I finished knitting a pair of socks. He only caught two little sheepshead…a perch-like fish. We didn’t learn until later that they have teeth that look human! Darn…maybe we’ll catch another one today!

When we came in from the beach, I made a pot of spaghetti with sauce and garlic bread. There will be plenty of time to watch our diet when we get home. This is our honeymoon! After dinner, we chased the sunset and found a little cove on the sound where we could park and watch the kite boarders. There were four of them circling around and around as a photographer worked from the water. They were all wearing wetsuits because the water is getting pretty cool. The sunset was spectacular with the kites flying in the foreground.

Afterwards, we enjoyed an ice cream cone.

Yes…the Outer Banks is great! I think we’ll just stay on a permanent honeymoon! ❤️

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

1 Peter 1:22 NIV

#Grief & #Love

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 01:30:02 -0600

“Mr. FixIt fishing on the Outer Banks.”

This man. This love. There was a tipping point in my grief. That point where you cross a raging river and the bridge collapses after you. You can’t go back. And, once you’ve lived in the new place a while, you know things have changed in your heart. That other place isn’t your home anymore. This is where you belong. Where you were meant to be. The whole exercise made possible because of the sum of your experiences.

Do I wish Mr. Virgo hadn’t died? Of course I do. But I live in this world now. This life. This is the phoenix rising.

This man. This love. ❤️

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7 ESV

The Beginnings of a New Life

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 01:30:10 -0600

“Shadows on the seashore!”

Yesterday was a MUCH better driving day. It was sunny and the temperature was in the low 60’s. There were big, puffy white clouds till we got near the coast. Then the sky was a wide open expanse of clear blue. There was a little breeze but it was truly lovely. The colors were nice on the way down. What traffic we encountered was quite manageable.

We stopped at the Walmart as soon as we got on the island then drove the hour south to Waves, NC. We checked in then found our rental house. It took many trips to get everything upstairs. Once we had everything unloaded and put away, I made a cold supper of sandwiches and potato salad. We went for a long walk on the beach and hoped for a pretty sunset. But, it isn’t dramatic when there are no clouds.

The rental house is huge! Far bigger than two people need. But Mr. FixIt is an excellent deal finder and the house is less per week than most hotels. You can see both the ocean and the sound from the deck. And there are no kids running up and down the halls, slamming doors, stomping feet upstairs, or toilets flushing all night. This time of year is very peaceful and quiet here on Hatteras Island. Being the brilliant man that he is, Mr. FixIt purchased the trip insurance offer at the time of reservation in case of a hurricane. I told him as long as we had it, we were sure to not need it…but, if we didn’t? Who knows?

I am so blessed to have this week in such a beautiful place with such a wonderful person. My cup runneth over. ❤️

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

Trick or Treat!

Sun, 28 Oct 2018 01:30:13 -0600

“Trick or Treat…I’m writing!”

Ok, I’m writing on my honeymoon. There is a reason other than I am absolutely addicted to writing. I was worried that not producing an essay every day as I usually do would cause Facebook’s algorithms to kick in and negatively affect my circulation. And it did. I went from being sent to nearly 2,000 pages to less than 500 in only three days. I have worked so hard to keep my statistics up so that my social media platform is appealing to a publisher. I really can’t let those algorithms tank all the hard work I’ve put in over the last five years.

That being said, we’re only three days into the honeymoon and SO much has happened I just HAD to write. It’s like calling your best friend and filling them in!

The first day, we met up with our friends, Dianne and Bobby. They followed us to Morgantown and, even though it was 42 degrees, we had a blast watching the Mountaineers trounce Baylor, 58 to 14! There was a tragedy at the game, however. During the first quarter, a 49-year-old fan got into a verbal altercation with some people sitting near him. Then, for some unknown reason, he ran to the top of the stadium, climbed the wall, and purposefully jumped over the top falling 60-70 feet to the cement walkway below. At this time, I believe he is still in ICU. It is an absolute miracle that he survived the fall.

We rode to the game from the hotel in our friend’s car. Parking is hard to come by on game day and the people who live near the stadium turn their front yards into impromptu parking lots. At $20 a car, some of them are making $200-400 per home game…football AND basketball. Not a bad side job! We parked in this nice lady’s yard and STILL walked over half a mile to the stadium.

On our way back to the hotel, traffic was terrible and it took well over an hour to get back to the highway. I-69 is crazy and people drive bumper to bumper, three lanes across, at 65-70mph. My heart was in my throat as I sat in the back seat with Dianne. All of a sudden, I heard Bobby yell, “Deer!” I looked over his shoulder in time to see a buck spinning in the roadway directly in front of us and he had no choice but to run right over it. They have a Dodge that sits low to the ground and the impact ripped both the front and back bumpers and a plastic splash guard from underneath that was dragging. We made it back to the hotel and the guys went out and ripped off the broken piece that was dragging. At this point, all the restaurants were closed so we went to a 24-hour WalMart and bought some food, came back the hotel, and ate. We didn’t get to sleep till 2:30 in the morning. Thank you, God…for seeing us safely through such challenges!

Friday morning dawned with a chilly, gray sky and light rain. We headed out around 11:00. Our first destination was Colonial Williamsburg. We programmed in the address of the hotel we found…an old Howard Johnson that was clean, safe, quiet, and CHEAP! It was only $59.99 a night…unheard of in that area. Mr. FixIt had mapped out a route that would get us to Williamsburg in about five-and-a-half hours, avoiding DC like the plague. Now, here’s where we both made a tactical error. I programmed in the address of the hotel, and neither of us double-checked the route against an atlas…something we ALWAYS would have done. But, it was our honeymoon and we were busy laughing and talking and telling stories. Before we knew it, traffic was getting really heavy and we took a closer look at where we were. Yup. Washington, DC. Friday night. Rush hour. Only…NOW we were in the middle of a nor’easter and it was getting dark. A trip that should have taken just over five hours ended up taking nearly eleven. We were absolutely fried by the time we got to the hotel.

Yesterday, we slept in then headed to the breakfast place we went to in the spring when we were on our way home from the beach…Capital Pancakes. It was still good. But not AS good as we remembered it. Then we headed to Colonial Williamsburg and walked a good four miles touring the historic buildings and gardens on the sprawling grounds. This weekend they expected five thousand kids last night and another five thousand tonight…along with their parents…for a big costume parade, Trick or Treating, and live music. The decorations were great fun and the kids were all SO cute dressed in their costumes.

We stopped at a deli on the way home to a so-so meal and vegged out all evening. Today we head to the BEACH!

So, ok…you’re coming along. A little. I’ve got to keep up those numbers…and I can’t NOT WRITE! It’s part of who I am now. We are having fun, but we’ll be especially glad to get to the beach house and just chill out for a week. Hope you hare having a great weekend! ❤️

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 NIV

My West Virginia Sisters

Tue, 23 Oct 2018 01:30:37 -0600

“My West Virginia sisters.”

I didn’t have a sister growing up. I had girl cousins that meant the world to me. I had sister friends in high school that were very important to me. Then life got in the way and I lived in England for two years, then Colorado for forty. Sometimes I would see high school friends when I came to WV for family visit. And we would touch base and reminisce at high school reunions. But it wasn’t until I moved back home that I developed a tight network of girlfriends who are as close as family.

When I first returned to my hometown, I asked a friend how often the girls get together for coffee…assuming they, like me, gathered with other women at least monthly…if not weekly. I was dismayed when I found out this wasn’t a “thing” here. I was sad for all those potential relationships that had fallen by the wayside. I thought of all the events in a lifetime that hadn’t been shared…all the times when support was needed that only a really good girlfriend can provide. So, I set out to introduce my gal pals to the joys of coffee.

Not coffee, literally…but “coffee” as in a gathering for talk therapy and laughter and sharing and support. I’m happy to say we get together monthly at a historic hotel and kibbutz. We have become so close and we all look forward to seeing each other at least once a month. Sometimes more.

I was thrilled so many of our classmates could come to our wedding. And to have the ‘71 Divas join us was icing on the proverbial cake. Our photographer, Elizabeth Adams, had so much fun taking our pictures and she did an excellent job in capturing the joy and love and laughter of the day. Here’s my favorite picture of me and the Divas admiring my turquoise boots. What a hoot! I love these gals! ❤️

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20 NIV

A Whirlwind Week

Sat, 20 Oct 2018 01:30:05 -0600

“Our photographer know how to capture love and joy!”

I can’t believe it’s been a week since the wedding! So much has happened this week with the cleanup and the funeral and more cleanup! Our friends came by yesterday to get their quilts and extension cords we borrowed. I vacuumed the pool, cleaned house, covered the hay, emptied the truck, made a quiche for supper. And…I got more wedding pictures. I spent all evening playing with them so I didn’t get much else done.

“Our cross.”

I need to get both campers dumped and winterized this weekend. We need to winterize the pool and get the last of the burn pile finished so we can mulch the area with grass seed and hay. We have to mulch the new dogwood tree Mr. FixIt planted for me this summer. There are gutters to be cleaned and trees and brush to be cut and hauled. All before Thursday when we leave for our honeymoon! I’m tired just thinking of it.

“Happiness is dancing with your new husband!”

So, in the meantime, here are some more wedding photos to enjoy! ❤️

“The lucky penny for my shoe, and something old/something new…the blue topaz earrings Daughter #2 gave me years ago.”

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,”

Colossians 3:23 NIV

Sparkles and Sunshine

Sat, 13 Oct 2018 01:30:02 -0600

“My fancy earrings from Daughter #2…perfect for the wedding!”

“Always be humble, gentle, and patient, accepting each other in love. You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so make every effort to continue together in this way.” Ephesians 4:2-3 NCV

Our good friends, Dianne and Bobby came over to the Ponderosa yesterday and helped us decorate the tent for the wedding. We moved the forty bails of hay and made rows of seating. We strung five hundred white twinkle lights above. We set up the serving tables and hung the cross at the front. We have the extra bales out front and I finally found a use for these two pieces of rustic decorative fencing I’ve had for years. The quilts are all in plastic tubs to keep from gathering moisture. The pulled pork goes in a slow oven in the morning and the fried chicken goes in the smoker to heat up.

The soft drinks and water are already in the big galvanized washtubs chilling outdoors overnight and ice will be added in the afternoon. My sweet friend Deneene came from South Carolina and arrived at 4:30. We went to town to fill up two big propane tanks for TOW-Wanda because I ran out of propane in the middle of the night. It was REALLY cold by morning! We dropped the tanks back off at the Ponderosa then we went to the farm to get Mr. FixIt’s white dinner jacket. As I was leaving I saw my mom’s quilt peeking out from under a stack of linens and grabbed it. I also brought the big box of fireworks we bought for the wedding.

And now, the day is here. I found a bag with a bunch of jewelry in it when I was at the farm yesterday. Last night I was showing my friend Deneene something in the bag and ran across these earrings. Daughter #2 bought me these for Christmas many years ago. I never had an occasion to wear time so they have been tucked away in a safe place…just waiting for the most special occasion. I sent my daughter this picture and asked if she remembered these. I told her I finally have a special occasion to wear them. You’re supposed to have something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. I haven’t borrowed anything yet, but the center stone in these earrings is the palest ice blue topaz, they’re old in that I’ve had them for years and they’re new in that I have never worn them. My daughter said that made her all fuzzy inside. I wish my girls could be here. But we will celebrate when we get to Colorado next.

Today! TODAY!!! I’m marrying my best friend today. The sweetest man on the planet. I’ve never been more ready, more prepared.

“Thank you, Jesus…for every gift, every blessing, every friend and family member. Bless those who cannot join us today. Bless my cousin Tom and his wife Suzy as he fights the ravages of mesothelioma. Bless my Uncle Bud and cousins as they sit with their wife and mother as she inches toward her final journey home. And Bless all these wonderful people who come here to read about how You impact my life. Lord, thank you for the gift of love from Mr. Virgo. Thank you for letting lightning strike twice and bringing me Mr FixIt. This is a love affair for the ages!

And, as always…To God be the Glory.

Amen”

❤️

The Glory of Love

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 01:30:18 -0600

“Sunset over the Ponderosa.”

“Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness [living a consecrated life--a life set apart for God’s purpose] in the fear of God.” 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1 AMP

What beautiful sunsets we get to see here on the Ponderosa! I was just heading back in the house after dining al fresco with Mr. FixIt when I notice the light changing. I turned around and caught this. With the hill behind the house, we don’t catch the setting sun itself. However, if there are clouds, you can catch the reflection and oftentimes it is so stunning it takes you breath away.

I got a bit of a late start this morning and by the time I got out to clean the smoker, it was already 88 degrees. Sitting in the sun scrubbing furiously is all it took to knock me down. I had to go lay down in the air conditioning in TOW-Wanda till it cooled off outside and I cooled off inside. We drove to town for a couple of things and picked up hamburger for supper. Mr. FixIt tried to burn the brush pile again and it just will not burn. Too green, too wet…who knows? Not sure what we’re going to do now with two charred piles of blackened brush. Some will burn…just not much. I finished the inside of the smoker at dark and will clean the racks tomorrow while Mr. FixIt bowls.

My good friend Diane hunted down some hay for me so we’re picking that up this afternoon after church. Now I’m on the hunt for some cutter quilts. A friend of mine told me where I might find some. Now it’s just a matter of having the time to go look. sigh

As you can see in the picture, TOW-Wanda is tucked in there under the maple tree by the building. I’m staying out there till the wedding. I am determined to see this through. A commitment is a commitment.

I’m looking forward to church today. I need the break…and the soothing calm I get from worshiping with our church family. I am not at all nervous about the wedding or marrying Mr. FixIt. There is just so much we would like to get done beforehand. We were talking as we drove to town last night. I suggested we go get massages before the wedding. Don’t you think that would be a lovely idea?

Six days!!!!! ❤️

Yeehaw...Bargains Galore!

Fri, 05 Oct 2018 01:30:53 -0600

“We’re keepin’ it country and serving smoked pulled pork sandwiches at our wedding reception.”

“It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:54‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I went yesterday to get my hair trimmed for the wedding. There is nothing worse than getting your bangs trimmed and finding they’re just that little bit too short for your liking, especially if there is something huge like a wedding soon. If you get them done the week before, at least you’ve become accustomed before the event. I’m happy to say, Michelle has only let me down once and that’s because I wasn’t paying attention. Now she makes sure we make eye contact when she asks if I want layers in my hair.

I picked up my boots from the shoe shop then went to Big Lots and bought a couple turquoise table clothes and a set of sheer curtains for decorating the tent. And I got some ribbons and things for a little garland idea I have. Then I met up with my small group for dinner instead of the usual bible study because the leader is out of town.

I’ve been very carefully watching the budget for the wedding. I want nice but reasonable. In keeping with that, I stopped at the store to buy forty pounds of pork butt. Pork butt and shoulder roasts are not expensive cuts of meat but with the proper preparation, they can knock your socks of while feeding a large crowd affordably. We decided to have smoked pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw and potato chips. We’ll purchase some fried chicken for those who don’t like pork.

There are as many pulled pork recipes as there are pigs, I think. I’ve read several and, as usually, I will draw a little from this recipe and a little from that recipe till I get what I want. I read only how many pounds of pork to buy in order to feed the number in your crowd…in my case, 44 pounds for around eighty people. I priced the difference between buying individual ingredients and making my own rub or buying ready made and ready made won. I bought several jars of different varieties and will combine them to make my own. The same with barbecue sauce. I have no idea how much barbecue sauce we’ll use so I bout twelve bottles. I may not need to ever buy it again! All told, I was pleasantly surprised when the total at the grocery story was $136! I expected to pay twice that!

Today, I’ll heat up the smoker as I prepare the meat. We’ll go over the details of that tomorrow.

This is getting exciting, my friends!!! ❤️

Country Living Fair - That’s a Wrap!

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 01:30:14 -0600

“The Little Guy Mini Max by Liberty Outdoors.”

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10 NIV

OMGosh! You all...this was SUCH a fun weekend but incredibly hot and I’m fried in more ways than one. I didn’t go out in the sun at all without an umbrella. I forgot sunscreen, and even with the umbrella, I got a sunburn on my arms. You’d think I’d learn by now, wouldn’t you?

The hardest thing about the last day of the fair is…you can’t even begin to start breaking anything down until 5:00. Then, you have to get a pass to bring your vehicle into the area to load up. If you didn’t have some organization, with all these vendors…it would be total chaos. I have to tell you, they do have this thing down to a science and it all runs very smoothly. Gail got her van packed up first, and since it was its OWN vehicle, she got out first. Then came getting Janine’s truck in, packed up, and hook up her trailer. Last, I dragged my little wagon out to the parking lot where my truck was parked, unloaded everything into the back, and headed to the campground. The girls decided to head on home and not camp…which I totally understand. I had already paid for my campsite, and I was exhausted. So, this morning when you read this…I’m sleeping in!

Here’s a picture of Janine’s little camper by Liberty Outdoors. It’s a Little Guy Mini Max. It weighs only 2000 pounds and has absolutely everything in it you could want…potty, shower, two-burner propane cooktop, microwave, a big refrigerator/freezer with a refrigerated wine drawer, a deep sink, hot and cold running water, AC, furnace, plenty of storage, TV, and 200 watt solar panels on the roof. Janine has it configured with a twin bed, but you can pull it out into a queen. In the low $20,000’s.Not bad for a new 2019. Very well built with quality materials.

“Will Moses…great-grandson of Grandma Moses.”

The second picture is Will Moses. He is the great-grandson of Grandma Moses. He was there with his art…done in the style of his famous great-grandmother. He says he remembers her…he was five years old when she died.

And with that…I’m heading to bed. I had WAY too much fun in the sun the last three days. But I’ll drift off with a smile remembering all the really nice people I met and talked with.

Have a great Monday! ❤️

Country Living Fair - Day 2 (Fun, Friends, and Fair Food!)

Sun, 16 Sep 2018 01:30:23 -0600

“Fellow Rancher, Ruth Ann, came by to see me today at Country Living Fair! What a treat!”

“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.” Ecclesiastes 9:7 NIV

You know what? One of the sweetest things that ever happens to me at one of these events is when one of my readers steps up to me and says...”I love your blog! I’ve been reading it for a long time.” My heart melts and I just want to give them a great big hug! It happened twice yesterday! First, Ruth Ann came all the way from Cincinnati. She was so gracious and I was so happy to meet her. Then, Beth stopped by to say hello. She follows Janine’s podcast and learned about Marshmallow Ranch from my interview on Episode #5. What a sweetie. She’s young and looking forward to camping in her own trailer someday.

“Fellow Rancher, Beth, came to see me at Country Living Fair. It’s such an honor to meet my readers!”

It was another scorcher yesterday. The truck said 93 degrees at 5:00 when I got in to head back to the campground. I got a little sunburned this time. Janine and I were sitting outside her little camper when Mary and her friend Amy stopped to visit. Over an hour later, we were exchanging e-mail addresses with promises to keep in touch. You know…sometimes you just meet someone and you know there’s a reason you’re supposed to keep in touch. That was the case with these two.

“Mary and Amy listening to Janine talk about the joys of Girl Camping.”

We had an extra person with us yesterday so we got to take little breaks and walk around more. I explored the near side of the fair. I bought this cute little striped dress I’m wearing in the pictures. It was pretty comfy. Then I headed to the food court to get my supper. I had an organic, grass fed beef cheeseburger, an ear of roasted corn, and a small scoop of Buckeye Bash iced cream. Lunch was a corn cake with pulled pork, slaw, and roasted corn relish with a drizzle of BBQ sauce. OMGosh…what a treat!

“Fair Food…Roasted Corn!”

Fun, friends and fair food. Lots of sunshine. Awesome art, antiques, clothing, and crafts. And visits with Ranchers! What a great day!!!

Don’t forget to go to my webpage and register your name and e-mail address in the “Become a Rancher” box for a chance to win that WAY cool yurt tent!!! The drawing is Tuesday!!! (If you have already registered your name and e-mail before, you’re automatically entered!) ❤️

Country Living Fair - Day 1

Sat, 15 Sep 2018 01:30:45 -0600

“Freckles has the cutest little camper as a prop in their booth.”

“You prepare a table before me...” Psalm 23:5 NIV

OMGosh! It was SO hot yesterday at the fair. The ground was saturated from the storms last weekend and with the heat baking down on all that damp earth, it was like sitting in a sauna. Fortunately, we had an EZUp and battery powered fans, and there was a bit of a breeze most of the day. If I walked around anywhere, I used an umbrella and a wide brimmed hat and that helped a lot.

“Fun fencing surrounding a booth full of baskets and pumpkins.”

The fair didn’t seem quite as busy the first day as it has in years past. Some vendors attributed that to the heat. Others to the fact they added a spring Country Living Fair in Columbus this year. They were worried maybe that kind of divided our audience. I do know the booth rent is pretty steep for an event like this so I hope the vendors do well and the show continues to be a success.

“LOVED this light fixture made from an old pulley and Edison-style bulbs.”

We each took turns wandering around the booths yesterday. We also had our favorite food vendors staked out. For breakfast, there was Miss Perolee’s Blackberry Cobbler and lunch was from Sweet Carrots…baked Mac ‘n Cheese with Pulled Pork on top drizzled with a little Smoky BBQ Sauce. Yummmm!

“Nothing more cozy than a chippy-white porch swing filled with pillows made from vintage quilts.”

Here are some of my favorite items from my meandering. I only covered half the fair. It’s all a bit overwhelming. It would truly take three days to walk through and see everything…hence, it is a three day festival. But, when you are working the fair, you don’t have that kind of time. I really enjoy visiting with the people who stop to see the campers. Our glamped up tent was a big hit! I’ll walk the other half tomorrow and get more pictures. It’s supposed to be another hot one but we have an extra person helping tomorrow. Let’s hope it’s really busy! Come see us!

“Crocks are some of my favorite collectibles, although I prefer blue ones. I haven’t found any…yet!”

“A row of bold red plaid pillows make a striking display at Country Living Fair.”

“Signs are always sought-after decorator items at these fairs.”

“Different textures and materials add visual interest to this display.”

“There’s something lovely about worn utilitarian objects that both evoke simpler times, yet remind us how much easier life is with modern conveniences.”

“I remember these pressboard cutouts from elementary school.”

❤️

Country Living Fair

Fri, 14 Sep 2018 01:30:21 -0600

“You don’t have to have an expensive camper and tow vehicle to go camping! Come see us at the Country Living Fair in Columbus, OH this weekend…we’ll show you how to camp like a girl!”

“The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents.” Genesis 25:27 NIV

It’s here! My favorite event of the year. I’m here to lend a hand to Janine Pettit...Girl Camper Podcaster and Blogger and all around great camper gal and Gail Bable, my dear friend who is the camp host at Beaver Creek State Park. We headed to the fairgrounds bright and early yesterday morning. Well, ok...not TOO bright and early. We had to sit in TOW-Wanda and gather our wits about us while we had our morning hot beverages and cinnamon rolls! The camp host here at the fairgrounds woke me up WAY too early to register and pay so if you’re up anyway...it’s time for coffee!

You can see in this photo of TOW-Wanda…I got a primo campsite under the only tree in the place! You can’t see beyond us, but there’s another huge campground and beyond that are the railroad tracks. Between the trains and the flight path out of the Columbus airport and all the sirens…it’s a pretty noisy place. But I just popped in my earplugs and slept like a baby!

“My friend Gail brought her vintage 1990 Ford Econoline 250 camper van to show at Country Living Fair this weekend. There’s TOW-Wanda…stocked and ready to give us a cool respite in the heat of the day.”

Gail brought her vintage 1990 Ford Econoline 259 camper van to dress up and show at the fair this year. Janine has her Little Guy Mini Max with her. (Photos tomorrow!) TOW-Wanda is staying here at the campground as a staging area for cooling off and napping.

Center stage at this year’s Girl Camper display is “Champ”…Janine’s WAY cool new tent made by Stout Tents. A lot of gals follow the Girl Campers, Sisters on the Fly, and other women’s camping pages and they want to join in the fun but don’t have a camper. We wanted to demonstrate this year that you don’t have to have a huge investment in something as expensive as a camper to go out and have fun with the gals. This tent can not only serve as your single source of camp lodging…but, it can also become your “guest bedroom”. Janine loves camping in her little camper, but sometimes she wants to take some friends along and there’s just not enough room in her trailer. Voila! Champ becomes that second bedroom big enough to put at least three cots in. At 13’ across, you could sleep 5-6 in sleeping bags. That would make for a fun slumber party, wouldn’t it?

“Setting up the new Stout Tent at Country Living Fair. Janine pounds in the ground stakes while I pull the guy wires taut.”

We spent the day in wilting heat, decorating this little tent with some wonderful old wool blankets and afghans, pillows, and vintage camping gear from Janine’s vast personal collection. She has her own She-Shed devoted entirely to the vintage finds she has gathered over the years. It was fun watching the grounds fill up with some of the COOLEST stuff around. I can’t wait till we get to take our little breaks and walk around to see all the booths. It’s literally like walking into the pages of a Country Living Magazine. If you ever get the opportunity, you really should go. And, if you happen to be in the Columbus area this weekend, come and see us!!! ❤️

Knowing When to Quit

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 01:30:40 -0600

“Rain, rain, go away…we still camped and had fun!”

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV

I had an absolute blast this week camping with the Girl Campers! Even when it started raining and didn’t quit. Even when I got cold and wet and hadn’t had a shower since Tuesday. Mr. FixIt came up and that was icing on the cake. But, as you can see on the weather radar, home was getting slammed as hard, if not harder than the campground up north and that puts our basement at risk of flooding. So, my sweetie was up and kissed me goodbye at five o’clock yesterday morning. On his way down the hill from the campground, he had to stop and move a tree that had fallen across the road. Then there was a rock slide near the house that held him up a bit. But he made it home safely, for which I was very grateful.

I managed to get a little more sleep then joined the rest of the gals in Gail’s fifth wheel. We laughed and ate and knitted and had a blast. In the middle of the afternoon, I took a little snooze and when I woke up, I was cold and damp and there was no Mr. FixIt around to warm me up. I looked at my watch, calculated the time and distance from home, and figured I could be there and showered before dark. I threw my stuff in bags, dragged it out in the pouring rain, and loaded up the truck. I was soaked to the skin by the time I was finished, but as soon as I made my goodbyes, I got in the truck, took off my wet coat, and cranked up the heat and I was dry and toasty in no time. I got home just at dark and as soon as I had the important stuff unloaded, I took that long, hot shower and felt like a new woman!!! There is one thing that does NOT go with Girl Camping…whining. And I was getting dangerously close to it! Steroids make me agitated and I didn’t want anyone to be subjected to a temper tantrum.

When I was alone after losing Mr. Virgo, I took off by myself everywhere. It was either that or stay at home alone. Now, I’m walking this fine line. On the one hand, I have this really great guy that I love spending time with. I have a very real understanding of what it feels like when that is taken away. Consequently, I have found I really don’t like being away from Mr. FixIt for more than two or three days. On the other hand, I need to maintain my independence skills so I’m not caught flat-footed if something should happen to him before me. If it hadn’t been so wet and cold, and if I hadn’t been on steroids, I very likely would have toughed it out and stayed one more night in that sweet camper with my dear friends. However, I knew when to say “uncle” and call it quits. You just have to know which race to run. And, it ended up being a perfect week of camping fun!

Next up is a couple days at home then heading to the Country Living Fair with these same fun gals! ❤️

Fun at Girl Camp

Sat, 08 Sep 2018 01:30:13 -0600

“Dehydrated baby copperhead…you always learn something new at Girl Camp!”

“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. Proverbs 9:9 NIV

Edit: A kind reader shared a post from another page warning this is the time of year when baby copperheads are born. They arrive with venom and are ready to defend themselves. Even though they are small, they can pack a wallop so be extra careful rummaging around in damp flower pots and under bushes. Watch out for your pets and teach children to move outside toys with a stick first...these little guys can be hiding anywhere!

I tell you what…coming to camp with these girls is as close to summer camp as you can get at the sweet age of 65! Yesterday was so chill…I slept in again, had a leisurely breakfast, stretched out in the afternoon, then joined the girls for appetizer night. Mike, the Park Naturalist, came over at five and gave a talk on providing habitat for photographing birds in the winter time from inside your home. Then there was archery. After supper, we went through his two big boxes of bones and pelts and played guess the animal. This little mite in my hand is a dehydrated baby copperhead! He was very fragile and was found this way in the woods.

There are gals here from as far away as Chicago and Michigan. And, Mr. FixIt was feeling much better yesterday so he came up and joined us last night just after dark! So, my world is complete.

Today is a Civil War Enactment in the Village here at Beaver Creek State Park and we are all looking forward to going down and checking it out. However, we are also predicted to get a lot of rain in the next couple of days from the tail end of a tropical storm so I’m not sure how much we will get to do. There is nothing wrong with sitting in the shelter and visiting with the girls when it’s raining. Or taking a nap with the rain on the tin roof of the “Dorothy Jean”. Whatever you choose to do (or NOT do), Girl Camping is a real treat! And you always learn something! ❤️

Camping with the Girls

Fri, 07 Sep 2018 01:30:13 -0600

“A 1967 Avion is my home away from home this week!”

“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”” 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV

One of my favorite things about camping with other women, besides laughing till you’re silly, is touring the wonderful vintage campers that the gals bring along. This is an 1967 Avion that belongs to my dear friend Gail Bable. Gail is the camp host at Beaver Creek State Park in East Liverpool, Ohio. Every year, she hosts the Girl Camper in the Spring and Fall at “What a Hoot!” So named for the many owls that call the park home.

“The Dorothy Jean - a 1967 Avion, only belonged to my friend Gail’s aunt.”

The Dorothy Jean once belonged to Gail’s aunt. An Avion looks much like an Airstream camper…it’s just not shiny. The surface is anodized and doesn’t take nearly as much work to maintain as the more expensive Airstreams do. The inside is just about the same, however. I do have to admit, for a long time, I really didn’t like this style of camper. I saw it as a long, metal tube that would be hot, cramped and stuffy inside. After staying in this one, and visiting several others, I can honestly say this style has a lot of distinct advantages. The roof is entirely different than most travel trailers and they don’t leak like the ones with so many seams. The air conditioner works just as well as any other camper. And there are lots of windows for light. This particular model has twin beds in the back by the bathroom. There’s plenty of storage, a full sized refrigerator in the kitchen, and a fold out bed up in the living room. I think I would be happy to have something like this…only smaller.

“The Girl Campers sitting around the table, visiting…making new friends and catching up with long time gal pals.”

Our friend Michele showed up Wednesday night with her vintage 1967 Pennant she just finished fixing up. OMGosh! It has to be one of my favorite vintage campers EVER. Why? Because she mixes in sweet family treasures in her decor. A girl after my own heart. There is a story about everything…from her dad’s ties used as a curtain, to her saddle shoes from high school, to her and her sister’s Easter bonnets…and the love just shines through! I love a camper that you can scan your eyes over and find something new every time. There is a lot of work that goes into staging a camper like this, but when you can pull it off as much as Michele does, the results are well worth the work!

“A 1967 Pennant has the unusual configuration of the gaucho bad in the back.”

“Michele decorated her camper with treasures from her childhood.”

“Vintage camper decor in a 1967 Pennant.”

“Mixing treasures and iconic memorabilia makes for visual interest in this vintage camper.”

“I love chenille bedspreads in vintage campers. They take me back to my childhood.”

“The Queen is in!”

“You may ignore the Queen. But, she’s still the QUEEN!”

Janine (of Girl Camper Podcast fame) and I went junking yesterday and found some really GREAT treasures for staging next week at the Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio. If you’re visiting the area…do come look us up. We’re going to have a couple surprising variations on the usual array of vintage campers on display this year. This is one of my favorite two weeks of camping with the girls every year! Always someone new to meet and always someone fun to catch up with from the past. ❤️

Girl Camping!

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 01:30:37 -0600

“Vintage Coleman Coffee Set”

“I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”” Psalm 55:6-8 NIV

As I was driving up to the campground yesterday, every mile passed filled my heart with a lightness I haven’t felt for many months. Was it getting away? A little. Not FROM Mr. FixIt...but TO my dear camping girlfriends. Some of whom I haven’t seen in a year.

I think the most noticeable difference was…I actually FEEL good. I haven’t felt great since last February or March. And I know I can’t prove this, but I think the antibiotic they gave me for this lung episode fixed my gastritis. It’s the first time in months I’ve been able to eat without feeling ill afterwards. And no stomach pain. I won’t jinx it by trying to figure it out. I’m just grateful it’s better.

I pulled into the campground at 3:00 and two of my besties were here. It’s always so exciting to see them! We all decided to take a little snooze and then go grocery shopping. We had dinner together in the big fifth wheel because it’s really hot and sticky here. It’s supposed to rain about midnight and all day tomorrow. None of us mind that a bit!

I’ll take pictures of the Avion tomorrow. I forgot when it was daylight. I’m sitting outside writing this at 9:00…listening to the night sounds. Haven’t heard an owl yet. They are heard here often. This is a vintage Coleman coffee set that was on the counter when I arrived yesterday. So fun to stay in a vintage camper. I don’t believe I have ever had the pleasure!

❤️

Road Trip #1 - Fall 2018

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 01:30:43 -0600

“The leaves are beginning to change and you know what that means? Fall Girl Camping!!!”

“That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’ ”” Exodus 16:13-16 NIV

I’ve been doing everything I can to be well enough to join the Girl Campers for their fall outing. I was pretty worried last week and over the weekend as to whether I would get to go or not. With the help of my doctor and my Girl Camper friends, I am all set to go on a road trip today. Now, before you go all “mom” on me, let me tell you my plans.

First, I’m not pulling a camper this time. My dear friend and fellow Girl Camper Extraordinaire has kindly offered her vintage Avion for my use for the next week. For those of you unfamiliar with the Avion…it looks very much like an Airstream, but not shiny. I am so excited to get the opportunity to stay in a vintage camper! And this cuts out all worries of having a mechanical breakdown on the way to or from the event.

Second, I went to my doctor’s office yesterday and got a good looking over. I’m not wheezing anymore. I’m stable on the meds they gave me and everything is under control. She gave me a prescription for a nebulizer since I cannot find mine so I can give myself a breathing treatment if I need to. I promised I would not do the extra activities and I’m taking my knitting and crafts and magazines and a couple of books. I’ll take my writing and my art supplies. Just sitting and relaxing…and no campfires near me!

Third, some girlfriend time is exactly what I need! Mr. FixIt is slowly on the mend. His virus hit him as body aches. No head or chest congestion. He’s hoping by Friday he will feel up to driving up and joining us for the weekend as this is a Mister-Sister trip. He loves to sit around the campfire over the weekend with the girls and they love having him. I’ll be up at camp till Tuesday morning. And I promise…I’ll be careful and there are a lot of people watching out for me so I wont get in trouble! I can’t wait to share stories from around the propane “campfire” and I love taking you all along with me!

❤️?❤️?❤️

Winding Down

Fri, 24 Aug 2018 01:30:58 -0600

“Picnic in the park…it’s date night!”

“Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11 KJV

Remember when you were a kid and summer stretched out before you like an endless ocean of fun? I do. We played all over the neighborhood from morning till dusk when the street lights came on. Then you could still be outside playing for a while but you had to be out in front of the house. Finally, mom would call us in and we would drag our seriously sunburned and mosquito bitten bodies in for a much needed bath. If we were really good, we got milk and cookies or a bowl of ice cream before bed.

Even though I didn’t own a calendar and I never really payed much attention to time, I always knew when summer was drawing to a close. You could hear the loud “whee-oh-whee-oh-whee-oh” of the cicadas droning in every tree in the neighborhood. There is a constant serenade of night noises in the summer in West Virginia. Our climate is bug heaven. But it was the cicadas, or locusts, that were the harbinger of fall. As we drove around town last night, we heard their incessant buzzing every time we passed a tree. I cannot hear them without having that same back-to-school cozy feeling I got when I was a kid.

After the adventure yesterday with the smoker and I boxed up the ribs, we stopped at the store for side dishes and headed to the park for live music. It was date night. The ribs were divine, if I do say so myself. I think the pork loin was a little dry. It’s just not my favorite cut. We carried our chairs over and found the perfect spot. You can definitely feel fall in the air. I had to pull on a sweatshirt before the end of the performance. Afterwards, we ran a couple errands and stopped for ice cream before heading home.

“Live music in the park!”

It was really fun smoking the meat yesterday. There was a very long time after Mr. Virgo died that I just did not cook. I couldn’t concentrate and had little appetite anyway. It’s been a lot of fun cooking for, and with, Mr. FixIt. It’s another area of my life where I see healing. I have to clean the smoker this morning before we head to the farm to mow. And the beat goes on…

I’m Hearing Voices!

Sun, 19 Aug 2018 01:30:59 -0600

“Brer Rabbit better stay out of my tomatoes!”

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV

The other day when I was out at the farm doing laundry, I sat on the front porch with my coffee and wrote my post. There was a little traffic, but nothing like earlier in the summer so I wasn’t paying any attention. I was gazing around when suddenly, I hear someone whistling. Sound direction can be deceiving with all the woods and hills and hollers so I couldn’t quite tell where it was coming from. I carefully scanned the neighbor’s place across the road to see if they were home but there was nothing. The whistling sounded all the world like it was coming from behind our farmhouse. I sat very still and suddenly I could hear voices. Two distinct voices having a conversation, but I couldn’t tell what they were saying. It only lasted ten seconds or so and was gone. It was quite eerie, but I shook it off and went on with my writing.

As I was driving home…suddenly, I heard the voices again. I could catch a word or two, but could not get the gist of what was being said. I checked my phone because it kind of sounded like when you set your phone down but don’t put it on speaker. You can hear the conversation, but not clearly. It wasn’t the phone. I glanced at the radio to see if perhaps it had come on. Nope. It wasn’t the radio. This went on for several minutes.

“Work truck on the two-lane.”

I was stuck behind one of the pipeliner’s trucks and he was going SO slow. There was a whole line of cars behind me. I was hoping he would pull over and let us all pass, but no such luck. This was a big, boxy truck with a lift gate and tools and outdoor lights…obviously someone who does a specific job at the well sites. As we approached the sharpest turn on the road, he slowed way down and I came up close behind him. There it was again! Only now, it was louder and clearer. One of the voices said, “Where are you?” The other answered back, “I’m driving out 53.”

I couldn’t believe it. I started laughing out loud. The truck in front of me had a large speaker on top and the driver obviously had it turned on and was talking over the radio to someone! Anyone within a country mile could hear it. He must have gone up the road earlier and that’s what I heard when I was sitting on the porch. I must say, I was quite relieved. I knew this wasn’t a spiritual conversation, so it was good to have an answer.

Mr. FixIt and I went for a nice walk out the road after supper last night. As I was waiting for him to finish painting a sign for the camper we are selling, I got a good shot of Brer Rabbit here. I don’t know if he was over in our garden or not. Something has been nibbling on our tomatoes. They are about at the end of their growing season, but I hate to lose any. I cooked a big batch of stewed tomatoes on Friday night. Have you ever had creamed tomatoes? Also called tomato gravy. Oh, my gosh….SO good. You just stew your tomatoes till they’re nice and soft. Cook them down a little, then thicken them with a white sauce and serve it over biscuits or toast or even mashed potatoes. Yummmmmmm!

“Very cool tree out the road from the Ponderosa.”

This really cool tree is out the road from the Ponderosa. I love how it’s growing out of rock that looks as though it’s been stacked in a dry wall. I imagine what kind of animal might sleep in the recesses beneath the roots. Raccoons, perhaps. Fox? Could be. I doubt it’s something like bears, although it is not unheard of to have a sighting in this neck of the woods, but highly unlikely. It was a beautiful day…cooler with intermittent rain showers. I can feel fall coming. It’s whispering down the hollers…”Soon, soon.” ?

In recognition of our little friend Khloe, who is fighting leukemia, I’m using an orange heart while she is in the hospital getting chemo. (orange is the color for the leukemia awareness campaign) Fight those icky cells, Brave Girl!

Date Night...”Mamma Mia - Here We Go Again!”

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 01:30:35 -0600

“Mamma Mia! I’ve always loved what Daughter #1 called ‘Singing and Dancing Movies’.”

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

We were at the mall the other day and I saw that Mamma Mia 2 was showing. I asked Mr. FixIt if he had ever seen the original and he said he hadn’t. Well, we couldn’t go see the second till he saw the first, so I downloaded it on i-Tunes. We watched it Monday night and he really enjoyed it.

Yesterday was mowing day at the Ponderosa and when we were finished, Mr. FixIt asked if I wanted to go see the new movie. Now, this would only be the second time he and I have gone to a movie together. We don’t even watch them at home. Because…I don’t watch TV. I can’t even tell you what the name of the movie was we saw last year. I don’t remember what it was about. All I know is it was LONG and I sat through it thinking of about a million other things I could be doing with that time.

This is a side effect of my grief. My attention span was that of a hamster. I didn’t read books…I didn’t do crafts or hobbies… and I certain didn’t watch TV other than The Voice and an occasion MASH rerun. Then, this spring, something changed. I picked up knitting again and made a pair of socks. It felt like such a HUGE accomplishment. I am actually reading a book. Slowly…ever so slowly. But I’m reading it. And now this…a movie!

We had a date! Like real people. We cooled off and cleaned up after mowing and headed to town. We got to the theater just in time to catch some of the previews. We shared a popcorn and a soda. The theater has those reclining seats so it’s just like sitting in your living room…only with a ginormous screen. I felt a thrill of excitement and reached over to squeeze Mr. FixIt’s hand. He turned to me a smiled. He knew this was BIG for me and he was happy for me…and, I dare say, a bit proud. These are such simple things for most people. When you have suffered loss, and grief, these simple things can be monumental…even after five years.

We both really enjoyed the movie. We both got a little teary-eyed at the end. When we were done, we had dinner at Chik-fil-A. We ran some errands since we were in town, and headed home after dark. It was a real live date! In the big picture, our relationship is still relatively young. It’s important to court each other and have a real date on occasion. Even when you’re retired and you can do pretty much whatever you want. It was a lovely reward for working so hard and something like that doesn’t break the bank.

“Mamma Mia…here we go again! My, my, how can I resist ya!” ❤️

Smokin’!

Sat, 11 Aug 2018 01:30:07 -0600

“Cool Smoke: The Art of Great Barbecue by Tuffy Stone”

“She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.” Proverbs 31:14-15 NIV

Well, y’all...I’ve decided to start smoking. No...not THAT kind of smoking. The BARBECUE kind of smoking. I keep seeing my cousin Mike’s pictures on Facebook of the wonderful things he makes in his smoker and I just had to try it. Mr. FixIt and I have been pricing smokers since it’s nearing the end of summer. I’ve had my eye on one particular model and I’ve been watching the prices, but just wasn’t ready to bite.

My other cousin Tom smokes a lot of meats, fish, poultry…you name it. He uses a pellet smoker and they are really pricey so I nixed that idea. He recommended an electric smoker over propane because you can regulate the temperature easier. Although, there are some models out now that are propane with a thermostat so maybe they’re ok. I just figured, the only place I’ll be using it is at home so I can just plug it in and not worry about it running out of gas mid-smoke.

As I was cogitating, trying to figure out which one to buy, two things happened. Mike returned my text telling me his smoker is a Masterbuilt and he loves it. And, I got an e-mail telling me how many reward points I have on my credit card. I had totally forgotten I even HAD reward points, so I quickly signed in to see if I could get a smoker. They didn’t have one in their list, however they did say you could transfer your points over to Amazon and that’s the next best thing. I ended up getting a Masterbuilt 40” Digital Smoker for $120…a significant savings over the MSRP of $449.99! With Prime, shipping was two-day, and free. Well, not really free. You pay for Prime. But I use it enough it evens out at least.

When the box arrived yesterday, I was shocked at how big…and HEAVY…it was. It said 73# on the shipping label! (I’ve got to say…the man in brown did an impressive Arnold Schwartzenegger impression when he hoisted that bad boy up onto his shoulder and carried it to the door for me.) And, you know what they mean when it says…”Some assembly required.” It means you don’t actually have to FORGE the metal pieces. It took me a good hour plus to put this thing together. Did I ever tell you Mr. FixIt is a mechanical engineer? He is. He loves to assemble things. And to take care of me. That’s sweet…really. But…I ALSO like to assemble things and take care of myself sometimes. He picked up the instructions and I just sat there and stared at him. I really didn’t want to say “MINE!” Fortunately, the man is astute. He took one look at me and he excused himself to go work on the camper. Smart man!

Since I have never used a smoker, I bought a couple of cookbooks. One is by Masterbuilt which shows specifics regarding my model. The other is by Tuffy Stone…5x World Barbecue Champion. I figured I’d start with the best. I seasoned the smoker yesterday…a process that took three hours, not counting cool down time. Now it’s ready to use and I am perusing recipes to determine what I want to try first. Ribs? Pulled pork? Turkey? Yummmmm…I can’t wait to start smokin’! ❤️

Hindsight

Tue, 07 Aug 2018 01:30:51 -0600

“Ahhh…the joy of youth!”

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If you could go back to a fork in the road of your life, what would you do differently? Was there that one moment that you made a split second decision only to immediately regret it? Or, did you labor over some long term plan that just didn’t turn out the way you wanted it to go? We all have those critical junctures, don’t we?

Sometimes life does offer you opportunities for do-overs, but not very often. I’ve had a couple, and the privilege was not lost on me. When I hit the bottoms of my barrel and my second marriage ended, I had an immense opportunity to rebuild my life from the ground up. It was a tremendous amount of work, but it was also tremendously fulfilling.

Losing Mr. Virgo was a life-shattering experience, but one in which there were incredible moments of personal growth. Again, I completely reinvented myself…I finally explored who I was and what I wanted my legacy to look like.

The young woman in this photograph is my friend Gail’s beautiful daughter who is traveling all over the world, teaching and learning. I look at what she is doing and marvel at her courage and strength, her stamina…her youth. While hers is not necessarily the course I would have taken, there are things I would have loved to do. I really wish I could have been a doctor. The opportunities with that would have been tremendous.

Acceptance of what was obviously God’s plan and not my own, shows me I am exactly where He wants me to be. If things were different, I would have my girls, my wonderful son-in-law and his family, my grandchildren. I wouldn’t have gone through the exact circumstances I needed to be who I am today. I wouldn’t have been married to the men I needed to be married to to learn the lessons I needed to learn. I wouldn’t have had Mr. Virgo. I wouldn’t have lost him. I wouldn’t have found love again with Mr. FixIt.

I love the freedom in this picture. It reminds me of my carefree youth and makes me smile. ❤️

Once Upon A Time...

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 01:30:56 -0600

“Your wedding day is your ‘Best Day Ever’. But what about attending weddings when you’re grieving?”

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Weddings are joyous occasions for family and friends to gather and witness two people joining in a lifelong commitment. Just like baptism is the outward sign of an inward commitment, so is a wedding. Mr. FixIt and I went to his granddaughter’s wedding on Saturday and it was so touching to hear her voice thicken with emotion as they said their vows. Toasts were given, tears of joy were shed, as well as tears of sorrow as the bride’s step-father passed away unexpectedly last summer. My heart went out to her mom...his widow...my sweetheart’s only daughter.

There have been times when a wedding cut me off at the knees. After a painful divorce many years ago, a wedding was a slap in the face…a reminder that my marriage had failed. My second to do so, actually. Then, after losing Mr. Virgo, it was a stab in my heart…a huge neon sign that read “You are a WIDOW!” Which, translated meant…”You are not married anymore!” That’s not really true…yet it is. It’s a heck of a place to be in your head.

I distinctly remember riding a city bus one time after my second marriage ended. There was a couple on the bus…sitting close, holding hands, looking lovingly into each other’s eyes. I wanted to literally get up out of my seat and go slap them. After losing Mr. Virgo, my response was different. I wanted to tell every single person who was in a relationship to CHERISH EVERY MINUTE!!! I wanted to lecture them of the sin of taking their person for granted…for not appreciating every single thing, every word, every action the other did.

Attending a wedding when you are grieving, no matter what the cause, may be difficult. If you feel you just aren’t up to it, then by all means decline. I’m sure most people will understand. If the wedding is for a close family member or friend and you feel you need to go, pace yourself. Take breaks for a bit of fresh air or to go to the powder room. Hopefully, the bride has extended a “plus one” invitation and you can bring a friend for support. (I always encourage brides to extend a “plus one” invitation for widows/widowers as a courtesy. We sometimes need that extra boost of confidence a friend can provide.)

I am grateful to have come through that and can now attend a wedding…happy for the newlyweds. I can remember the past with less pain and more love. It is such a blessed relief to be in this place of peace. That being said…I was immensely relieved the bride and groom did not choose “At Last” for their first dance. ❤️

Playing Dress Up

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 01:30:22 -0600

“Playing dress up is fun. Mr. FixIt and me…at a wedding.”

“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.” ‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭8:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

One of Mr. FixIt’s granddaughter’s got married yesterday. I bought an outfit when I was in Colorado. I needed something nice to wear to weddings...including Daughter #2’s when it comes around in the next year or so. It’s nice to have at least one dressy outfit, even though I don’t have very many occasions to dress up anymore.

Mr. FixIt came home with his tux the other day. He said he thought he would just dress at home and not bother toting it back and forth but I talked him out of that. First, he didn’t want his backside to look like he’d been sitting in a truck for an hour. And second, it was in the high 80’s…I knew he would be miserable.

He carried the tux in the church and headed to the room the men were dressing in. I killed time wandering around the church, reading the guest book, and chatting with early arrivals. Then someone said, “Here he comes!”

I turned around and caught my breath. I’ve never seen him in a tux before. Wow! I knew there was a reason I liked this guy! Don’t men look great in a tux? They are always so dashing and sophisticated…sort of like Sean Connery. I gave him my brightest smile and stuck to him like glue all afternoon.

The wedding was sweet, the bride was beautiful, the cake divine. The weather was perfect and everyone was happy…beyond the usual wedding day jitters. The Pastor told a story about the Velveteen Rabbit and compared it to marriage. We get older. We get a little worn and frayed around the edges. But we never become more genuinely real than we do when we are loved. What a lovely goal for a new marriage…to love and be loved until we are our most real selves.

There’s something about weddings. They bring out the sweetness in us. They bring us closer and remind us of what’s important in life. Love. They also remind us of love gone too soon. I always think of Mr. Virgo in times like this. I reflect. And, more often than not, I smile at the memories. ❤️

Afternoon Walkabout

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 01:30:25 -0600

“Hooded Warbler”

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!” Luke 12:27-28 NIV

Mr. FixIt and I decided to walk up the road yesterday afternoon before we headed home from the farm. The heavy truck traffic from the gas pipeline construction has eased up slightly and the road repair crew had moved back toward the bridge, so walking was a little safer and more enjoyable. I was particularly interested in a mulberry tree down the road. I wanted to check if the berries were ripening so I could make some jam and jelly. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a single mulberry on the tree. Last year at this time is was loaded so the only thing I can figure is the late freezes this spring got them.

Just as we headed out for our walk, this beautiful Hooded Warbler darted into the spicebush next to the porch. I have never seen one and had to look it up to find out what it was. What a beauty…and such a sweet little song it sings.

The photos, in order:

“Cicada”

As we walked along, I scanned the roadsides for interesting things to photograph. A cicada caught my eye, as did this black and yellow millipede. Creepy crawlies, to be sure. According to projectnoah.org, “Some millipedes emit liquid secretions of hydrogen cyanide gas through microscopic pores, so always wash your hands after handling.” Yeah…like I’m going to be picking THAT thing up! ?

“Flat Backed Millipede”

This is the most I’ve revealed of Mr. FixIt. Six-foot-one and sweet as can be. I love this guy! ❤

“Mr. FixIt…ooooh, I love this guy!”

When Daughter #1 brought her future husband to West Virginia to meet the family, we stayed in this sweet little cabin up the road from the farm. It is owned by my mother’s cousin. My aunt called it “Jack-in-the-Pulpit Inn” because of all the wildflowers around.

“Jack-in-tha-Pulpit Inn”…an old log cabin down the road from the farm.”

Goldenrod or Ragweed made my grandpa sneeze like crazy. He just hated when it came in bloom, but they are so pretty alongside the roadways.

“Goldenrod”

Queen Anne’s Lace is one of my favorite wildflowers. If you look closely, you can see the “Queen’s Heart” in the center.

“Queen Anne’s Lace”

I have no idea what this little butterfly is. I spend about ten minutes trying to find out and gave up. Anyone know?

“Little Brown and Orange Butterfly”

This one I know…it’s a Tiger Swallowtail.

“Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly”

Ahhhh, sweet Honeysuckle vines. When its hot in June, you can smell this from a mile away on a warm summer night.

“Honeysuckle”

This little guy is a Red-Spotted Purple. People often mistake these for swallowtails, but as you can see…no “tail”.

“Red-Spotted Purple”

These last two pictures show the damage to our road from all the heavy equipment running up and down the road all day long. I will be so glad when they get this pipeline and compressor station completed and the pipe liners move on down south.

“Road damage from gas pipeline equipment,”

“Deep grooves in the asphalt from six-axle loads of rock.”

Walkabouts are fun on the farm, and I truly love sharing the beauty with you all. It’s Friday! I hope you are going to do lots of fun things this weekend. Mr. FixIt’s granddaughter is getting married tomorrow so this is a BIG weekend for us. ❤

Vaya con Dios, Colorado!

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 01:30:24 -0600

“Goodbyes are always bittersweet.”

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37:23-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It is time. Three weeks ago, the time for my visit stretched long before me. And, in the blink of an eye...it is gone. Today I travel home to West Virginia. Goodbyes are always so bittersweet. Oh, how I miss my babies...big and little. How I miss my brother and the rest of my Colorado family and friends. How I miss being nearby and stopping to visit with Mr. Virgo whenever I want. But it can’t be helped. There are so many reasons why I don’t live in Colorado anymore.

The main impetus that led my move to West Virginia was two-fold. Economics made Colorado far out of my housing budget and caring for an elderly family member in my home state seemed appropriate. If I would have known that endeavor would have only last ten weeks, I likely would have done things differently. I may have kept my Colorado house and rented it out. I may not have purchased such a big camper. I may have more evenly split my time between Colorado and West Virginia. But, hindsight being 20/20, it is what it is and I wouldn’t have changed a thing if I could.

Moving to West Virginia was the path my life needed to take. I needed to feel the freedom of living on my own. I needed to feel the love and connection of caretaking my family farm, which turned out to be the ultimate conclusion of the elder care situation. I needed the social group my hometown afforded me. And, most importantly of all…destiny brought Mr. FixIt and me together! He is such a joy to have in my life and I can’t imagine him not being there.

One of the downsides to living so far away is the limited amount of time my family has to spend bonding with Mr. FixIt. They don’t feel the connection with him that they felt with Mr. Virgo. You can’t develop a loving bond with someone you have a couple of dinners with over a period of a week or so. I understand that. I just hope they can understand my commitment to him and why I live where I do and not near them. It tears at a mother’s (and grandmother’s) heart when you can’t be near them always. The other side of the coin is, travel goes both ways. So do phone calls and texts and FaceTiming. It’s a new time in our lives. A new adjustment. A new phase.

I know where they are coming from, though. When my mom lived in West Virginia and I lived in Colorado, it used to drive me crazy. I wanted her to move to Colorado where I could help her more. I wanted her to have access to excellent healthcare. I wanted her close where I could watch over her. I guess what it boils down to is…I wanted more control. (Ahhhh, it always boils down to control, doesn’t it?) My girls saw me struggle to help my mom long distance. They don’t want to have to do that, too. I get that. But, NOW I totally get where my mom was coming from. Whereas I though she was being terribly stubborn and unreasonable, I now see she was living the way SHE wanted to live…WHERE she wanted to live. I wish I could have understood that more at the time. I think I would have been more gentle with her.

At any rate…I have promises from all my Colorado family that we will make a concerted effort to reach out more and stay connected by the various media channels we have access to. And…my sweet and handsome all-time BEST friend in the whole wide world will be standing in Columbus Airport today welcoming me home with the very best hug on the planet!!! I wouldn’t trade that for ANYTHING!

Vaya con Dios, Colorado…I’ll be back as soon as I can! ❤

Memories and More Memories

Mon, 23 Jul 2018 01:30:56 -0600

“Love these cowgirl boots but they’re too small!)

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yesterday was as near a perfect day as I can get without being with Mr. FixIt. My son-in-law’s parents...Ben & Sue...are the most gracious people on the planet. My daughter hit the lottery when it comes to her husband and his family. When I come to Colorado, I stay at the in-law’s house. There’s more room and more privacy. When the kids are busy, Ben and Sue and I hang out. We have our coffee together every morning that I’m not off galavanting around. We often eat dinner together and I always take them out a time or two for dinner...my treat.

“Antiquing is one of my favorite things to do.”

After coffee yesterday morning, we had a few hours to kill before we headed to the last day of the swim meet. Sue and I have been planning to go antiquing ever since I arrived three weeks ago and one thing after another got in the way. So, yesterday was the day. We went to a new antique place on Tennyson in Arvada. OMGosh! What an amazing place.

“Vintage bike”

From the moment I peeked in the garage door, I was in love. I knew this was my kind of place. Not overwhelmingly stocked like so many antique stores. I don’t particularly like “smalls”…those little tchotchkes you have to dust. The Tennyson Antique Warehouse had lots to look at but it wasn’t so busy you couldn’t concentrate.

I met a delightful couple in the antique shop. Leslie and Deana have been married ten years. They sell antiques in a small area of the shop. Deana is from Virginia so we had a lovely chat about the Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge. You know how you meet some people and you just understand them…who they are, where they’ve been? That was how it was with these two. I hope we stay in touch.

“I remember watching cartoons on a set similar to this.”

As I wandered around, I came across a Victorian chamber toilet. It has a porcelain bucket for emptying. The lid closes and a mechanism moves and deposits some sort of deodorizer into the potty. Probably lime or some sort of perfumed concoction, I imagine. I’ll have to do some research. This wonderful find will go in my ‘67 Franklin…”Joy”. For now, it will reside in the basement here until I bring Joy cross country…hopefully next summer.

“My new-to-me Victorian chamber pot for my ‘67 Franklin camper.”

After antiquing, and a quick light lunch at Panera, we hightailed it up to the aquatic center to watch Big swim the mile. She added ten seconds to her time and came in last in her heat. She was devastated. She is a sprinter and couldn’t believe she qualified for the mile in the first place. But to be trounced really stung. She cried it out in the shower and picked herself up beautifully. A wonderful lesson…both for her and for me. Being an elegant loser is a sign of good character.

“Grandma Lois and me. Today is her 89th birthday!”

The kids left for vacation right after the swim meet so us “old folks” hit the early dinner at the barbecue place. Then we went to visit the matriarch of the family. Grandma Lois turns 89 today! It was a beautiful, beautiful day! Such wonderful memories. ❤

State Swim Meet

Sun, 22 Jul 2018 01:30:15 -0600

“Big takes the plunge for her leg of the 400 medley relay.”

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you...” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is what we’ve been waiting for all year...the State Swim Meet. Big is an accomplished swimmer. She’s all arms and legs and has finally developed enough muscle and control to overcome her gangly growth spurt of last year. She is strong and graceful. She is incredibly focused and goal oriented. It is a pleasure to watch her strive to beat her personal bests.

It was hot and humid in the aquatic center. Parking was abysmal and necessitated a 3/4 mile hike in the hot sun from a distant lot. And that’s with getting there fairly early. The benches are hard metal with little ridges that quickly become uncomfortable. Someone spilled coffee all over the place where I sat. But, you get this little gal up on the starter’s box and I’m zoned out of all that. All I want to see is that wave from the deck. That bright smile that says “I’m glad you’re here!” That quick flip around to check her time. The raise of her fist when she’s accomplished the goal she set for that event.

It warms my heart that her daddy’s entire family were there for this. Mimi and Gramps, uncle, aunt and both cousins. Mom, dad, and Little. And…me. So happy to share this with my Colorado family. We have another couple of events today then they head off for vacation. I’m winding down to the last couple of days here then I head back home on Wednesday. It’s gone so quickly. But…my heart is full and we’ve made more memories. ❤️

Shopped Till I Dropped

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 01:30:10 -0600

“I shopped till I dropped!”

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yesterday was my special day with Big. She is fourteen so our yearly one-on-one is normally focused on fashion. Our trip to the mall began at the opening bell and ended at 3:00. That’s five hours of walking from one end to the other and back...several times. My suddenly sixty-five year old knee said, “What are you doing to me??? Get thee to a restaurant!”

Big and I took our time over huge yummy salads at California Pizza Kitchen. We discussed her upcoming entry into high school. We talked about making our visits really count since I only get one a year. We promised to text, call, and FaceTime more often to stay connected.

This little gal is quite the shopper. She searches for the best deals and gets a ton of stuff for her money. She is stylish, yet conservative. Being a swimmer means you have broad shoulders so shirts and jackets don’t always fit well. She was thrilled with her purchases and I was thrilled to have that alone time with her. She is such a good person.

I came home and stretched out and when I woke from my power nap, my knee was really hurting. Ice and naproxen and rest. What on earth has happened to my body? I turned sixty-five. It’s like anything else…it breaks down the week after the warranty expires. Oy! ❤️

A Gal About Town - Part Two

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 01:30:41 -0600

“Michelle uses livestock tanks as elevated garden containers.”

“and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭35:31-33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yesterday’s post didn’t have very many pictures to illustrate my descriptions of Michelle’s lovely home. Michelle was kind enough to send me several photos so I could run a “Part Two” of A Gal About Town.

“A faux wall hides an unsightly electric box. It is adorned with a salvaged window and shutters from the family farm in Kansas.”

She and I have decided we could give Joanna and Chip Gaines a run for their Magnolia money if we, too, had an adequate staff and unlimited resources!

“A repurposed farm table and vintage metal chairs creates an outdoor dining space underneath a string of market lights.”

Isn’t this backyard oasis inviting? We sat out here for hours till the sun started to set and the overhead strings of market lights turned on automatically.

“Repurposed materials adds visual interest to a garage makeover.”

“Even the ceiling gets a makeover to hide extra storage.”

“An antique refrigerator doubles as winter boot storage.”

And who wouldn’t want this gorgeous garage remodel that created a unique “maker space” for the ever creative Michelle? Architectural salvage pieces mixed with family heirlooms make for an eclectic view.

“Antiques perched atop a modern refrigerator and freezer.”

“Stunning “maker space” in Michelle’s garage.

To top it off, we get the name of the wonderful olives we nibbled on as dinner was cooking. We drank “mocktails”…non-alcoholic concoctions made with coconut water mixed with the juice of a whole lime. Next time I’m asking for salt on the rim!

“The BEST olives!”

I hope you enjoy the added photos Michelle sent me. Several of you asked for more so I created part two of yesterday’s post. ❤️

A Gal About Town

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 01:30:22 -0600

“Colorful Colorado”

“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭113:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I met up with one of my favorite Sisters on the Fly last night for dinner. Michelle Michelle Cummings is an amazing woman. She created a business nearly 20 years ago because she couldn’t find a job doing what she loved. She now travels all over the world teaching team building to major corporations. She just returned from Beijing and I was thrilled she had a little time to spend with me while I’m in Colorado.

First, let me say how gorgeous her home is. Michelle is one of the craftiest women I’ve ever known. She turned her garage into a workspace that would make Joanna Gaines green with envy. She lined the walls with corrugated tin from the roof of an old barn than blew down on her parents’ farm in Kansas. She hung windows as well as her grandparents’ front door on the walls. She turned salvaged wood into a trunk to store camping chairs in. She converted an ancient fridge into winter boot storage. There is a place for everything and I’m not kidding when I say everything is in its place.

We sipped on coconut-lime “mocktails” as we nibbled on fabulous green olives she found at Costco. (Maybe she’ll see this and tell us the name of the olive. They weren’t too salty and had a nice, firm texture.) We chatted as she prepared Brussels sprouts and bacon to go with a delightful homemade chicken salad. We carried our meal out into the yard and ate at the white farm table under a string of market lights. Her obvious green thumb was apparent wherever you gazed…from the beautiful rock garden bursting with colorful flowers to the elevated stock tanks holding her vegetable gardens to get them up away from the rabbits. She built a wooden wall and hung another of her grandmother’s windows, a floral wreath, and little shutters made from chippy green painted wood that had been salvaged.

“Vintage suitcases house craft supplies, camping gear, and Halloween costumes.”

Everything has a story. Every antique, every gift, every piece of wood or sign or windmill fan. Michelle’s Kansas roots are proudly displayed. She has a stack of vintage suitcases, some belonging to her grandmother, on either side of the piano. She keeps Halloween costumes in one. A couple have camping gear. Several hold crafting supplies like beads and yarn. Storage in plain view that is pleasing to the eye and adds to the obvious farmy esthetic.

Our conversation varied from Sisters on the Fly and the inimitable Maizie Morrison, Sister #0, to “The Reel Sisters”, Michelle’s recently published debut novel depicting the lives and friendship of five women fly fishers, to her travels to exotic locales. She regaled me with stories of climbing the Great Wall of China and how the Chinese bring out the grossest foods just to see what your response will be. Michelle was one of the first Sisters on the Fly I met and we became fast friends.

“Michelle and me…writers, campers, fly fishers, Sisters.”

As I finally pulled myself away and headed home, I had to stop at a school parking lot and snap this picture of the sunset. This is what gives Colorado her nickname…”The Colorful State”. It was a lovely evening and I hated for it to end. One week left of this trip…it’s going by too fast. ❤

Maker Day

Sat, 14 Jul 2018 01:30:09 -0600

“My take on waves.”

“He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭35:35‬ ‭ESV

Little is a maker, just like her Nana. Yesterday was Maker Day. We headed to Starbucks to get super charged, then Hobby Lobby to buy the assorted art supplies that any 11-year-old maker needs for projects. Next week she is going to Tech Camp and while she’s gone, her mom and auntie are creating a new “Maker Space” in her room. I made a sign for her today then relaxed with a painting to try my hand at waves. I really am not much of an artist but I do have fun playing.

Today I am heading to the mountains for a few days. I need to spend some more time with my sweet brother and clean up Mr. Virgo’s grave. I heard from a gal in Glenwood Springs and we’re going to gather any readers in the area that may be interested and meet for coffee while I’m in town. It is always such a delight to spend time with my readers.

What a fun day with my girl! ❤

‬‬

Little & Me

Fri, 13 Jul 2018 01:30:21 -0600

“Little & Me”

“For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭9:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I make it a point to spend one-on-one time with the grandchildren when I visit them in Colorado. Little is my “maker” so yesterday we baked her daddy’s birthday cake. She “painted” on the iPad for quite a while. Then she stayed the night with me over at her paternal grandparents’ house where I stay when I am here.

I love the frankness of this child. She tells long tall tales but she also speaks truth that cuts to the chase. She has a way of feeling great empathy and is forever the champion of the underdog. She made me promise to take her to church while I am here. We listened to praise music as we drove around yesterday.

Today will be spent doing some sort of art project…not sure what yet. Tonight we celebrate several birthdays and an anniversary. I head to the mountains again this weekend for a good visit with my brother. Just about every day of the rest of my trip here is spoken for. It will be over before I know it. But, we’re making memories here, and that’s the name of the game! ❤️

Road Trip!

Tue, 10 Jul 2018 01:30:12 -0600

“Officer’s Gulch”

“On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭145:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It was a quick over night trip but much was accomplished. After having a trying day on Sunday, yesterday was lovely. I stayed over with my brother friend and we talked till late. I felt much better with his perspective and listening ear. He fixed me Costa Rican coffee yesterday morning. We sat on the back deck with the beautiful views.

My rental car, a VW Tiguan, got excellent gas mileage…36.3mpg on the highway. Not bad for mountain travel.

I chilled out at a mountain campground waiting for my friends Linda and Jim to return from town.

I visited a mountain lake and spent a good time meditating.

And I saw the remnants of the Basalt fire before I headed back to Denver.

We cannot avoid the messes in life. But we can decide how we’re going to deal with them. I came out of that round feeling much better, all told. I just needed some time in nature. ❤

God’s Gifts

Sat, 07 Jul 2018 01:30:02 -0600

“Little is quite the artist.”

“May you see your children's children!...” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭128:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Grandchildren. What an amazing gift they are. My heart breaks for people who long for them and don’t get to experience something so amazing. One of the best parts about being a Nana is getting the best parts of the children. Their behaviors are different around grandparents...especially when they don’t get to see them quite as often. I haven’t seen my Colorado family since last August. A lot of growing up occurred in that time.

Big is just a tich taller than I am! How did this happen? She is lovely and elegant with her long, wavy blond hair. She’s an athlete…a swimmer. Dedicated and focused with a dry wit. She’s quiet, observant, fiercely loyal, and bright. I’m looking forward to having some alone time with her. We like to go shopping. She’s a frugal shopper and is careful to get the most with what she has. My first grandchild. I’ll never forget the summer after Mr. Virgo died. I brought the camper down to my son-in-law’s parents’ house and Big climbed up on the bed and talked to me for two hours straight. Before that, I’d have been hard pressed to get two sentences out of her. She’s fourteen now, and camping is SO passé. She likes to camp at the Marriott.

Little…ah, little. She is at that delightful age when everything warrants a l-o-n-g story. Her words tumble out faster than my sixty-five year old ears can keep up with. The bottom eight inches or so of her long blond hair is now a faded turquoise blue. She wears pink lip gloss and pale blue eye shadow. She is all of eleven, but her soul is ancient. She is a maker…just like me. We were driving around yesterday and she was talking about her ADHD. She informed me very matter of factly…she can choose to look at it as a disability or a super power. She chooses super power. It gives her the advantage of having lots of energy. She admitted the downside is anxiety, however…she thinks that gives her empathy for others who go through the same thing. She is so relatable. Her insights blow me away. Our time will be spent doing art projects. Today’s picture is one she drew on my iPad using the iPencil and a program called Procreate.

I savor every moment I get with these two. Before I know it, they’ll be grown and out on their own in the world. ❤

The Infamous Blueberry Harvest

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 01:30:44 -0600

“The blueberry bush on The Ponderosa.”

“Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you’ll harvest.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:7‬ ‭GW‬‬

Mr. FixIt has a blueberry bush. I’ve never raised blueberries, nor have I seen a blueberry bush. But, he has one and he’s darned proud of that thing. He’s been babying it for years. He had a cage around it to keep the birds and deer away from his beloved blueberries, but over time, the wood rotted and the gizmo collapsed over the winter. This spring, Mr. FixIt (who happens to be a mechanical engineer) drew up plans for a fool proof contraption to replace it. He decided to use PVC pipe, which is brilliant. It won’t rot or get termites. He took off for the hardware store and came back with everything he needed, including bird netting to put around the whole thing. Sixty-five dollars later, he had this impressive cage build and anchored to the ground. There was NOTHING going to ruin his berry harvest this year.

The first day I came home and saw this thing out in the field, it vaguely resembled a teeny-tiny batting cage. It really stood out with the stark white of the PVC against the lush green backdrop. So, Mr. FixIt went back to the hardware store for green paint for camouflage. It turned out to be John Deere green, but it was a darn sight better than it was before.

We have checked this little bush every week and were thrilled to see the first green berries begin to form. Finally, yesterday…Mr. FixIt announce it was time to harvest the berries! He asked if I wanted to come along and being that I am ever watchful for blog-worthy moments, I trotted along behind him with my camera. He carried the mixing pitcher that I use for making pancakes. I was excited. I bought pie crusts in anticipation.

“Fat blueberries, ready to harvest!”

With great fanfare, Mr. FixIt carefully lifted the cage off the bush so he wouldn’t knock off any berries, and we set to picking. Well…HE set to picking. I documented the event for posterity. He finished and I peeked into the pitcher. There were forty-nine berries. Well, there were fifty, but one was under-ripe so we tossed it. I pulled out my phone and brought up the calculator. $65.00 for the PVC contraption. $5.00 for the paint. 49 berries. That comes out to $1.53 per berry. Not bad. It reminds me of the Great Tomato Harvest of 2010.

“The Great Blueberry Harvest of 2018!”

Mr. Virgo and I decided we wanted to grow tomatoes. We saw those Topsy-Turvy hanging baskets for growing tomatoes and decided that was the perfect thing for the patio of our rental home in Denver. I bought two of them, because…after all…the commercial showed a huge bumper crop and I’m picturing making salsa! I bought two really big tomato plants because Colorado has such a short growing season and I needed a head start. Add a bag of topsoil and you’ve got $75.00 invested in this little gardening project.

My first problem was trying to plant the tomatoes in the containers. The gigantic root ball would not fit in the small opening in the bottom of the Topsy-Turvy thingy so I had to squeeze and mash the roots up to get it to go through. I filled the container with top solid from the top…about a half bag each. Then I hung the whole shebang from two “S” hooks at the edge of the covered patio. I dragged the hose over and gave them a good soaking and went in the house. When Mr. Virgo got home, I told him to go out and look at my handiwork and he called for me to join him. Apparently, when you add multiple gallons of water to half a bag of topsoil and a tomato plant, things get pretty heavy. The “S” hook stretched out and both the plants and the containers were now lying in a muddy mess on the patio.

I picked up the first one and the plant had broken clean off at the roots and wasn’t salvageable. I picked up the second one and half-dragged it out to the old swingset where I wired it up so it wouldn’t fall again. I babied that thing all summer and by the first frost I had….one tomato. My $75 tomato. I could relate to Mr. FixIt’s disappointment.

With thoughts of warm blueberry cobbler and ice cream dissolving right in front of me, I assured Mr. FixIt his berries would taste delicious over our cereal and we will revel in their sweetness. And, we still have a really sturdy blueberry cage to protect NEXT year’s bumper crop! ❤

“What it lacked in volume, it made up for in flavor!”

Big A** Steak Day!

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 01:30:43 -0600

“That is one BIG steak!”

My friend Deneene is having her estate sale this weekend. Then it won’t be long before she packs up a U-Haul and heads south to live. I met her through my blog. She was a fairly new widow at the time and when I found out she was local, I invited her to coffee. Dee is one of those people you run into that becomes your instant, lifelong friend. I am going to miss her terribly, but this means I have yet another place to go visit!

“I could only eat a third of it!”

Dee is one of a handful of people who are so kind as to contact me early in the mornings to tell me if there is a typo or grammatical error in one of my posts. Oh…I SO appreciate that because I am a stickler for good spelling and grammar. She texted yesterday morning to point out a little something and we had our usual 5-10 minute conversation to catch up. She asked if I was free for lunch. She and her friend Julie were going to meet at the Polo Club for “Big A** Steak Day”. I laughed and said, “Wow…you AND a big a** steak? Blog fodder!”

BASD is legendary in these parts. They serve it every day, of course. But on Thursdays, it’s $10 cheaper! Twenty-one ounces of ribeye. Holy Cats! In a strictly food critic way, it was really fatty. But, then again, ribeye is a fatty meat. It’s what gives it flavor and tenderness. I’ve got to tell you…I ate about a third of it and brought the rest home. It was SO good!

“What fun it would be to glamp this thing up!”

After lunch I stopped at Walmart to pick something up and saw this really cute “yurt tent”. I could see so many possibilities with this thing being glamped out. I’ve been told by others since sharing this on my FB page, the reviews aren’t very good. But it’s cute as a bug.

“A young buck out on the lawn.”

Once I got home yesterday, it was time to get out in the yard and get some things done. Trimming low hanging branches that threaten to knock me off the riding mower were my first priority. Then I tied up the tomato plants as they have grown tremendously. We sprinkled rabbit repellent around the garden so we’ll see if that keeps the little critters away from the beans and squash we just planted. I caught this deer wandering through the yard. I was thrilled to see it is a young buck. See the little nubbins above his eyes? Those are his antlers budding up. I’ll keep a close eye out for this guy as he grows to see how big his antlers get.

Spending time with friends, time in the yard and garden, time watching nature, and time with Mr. FixIt made for a really nice day. The weather is back to normal and the day was pretty. We will need several more hot days to warm the pool back up. It got down to 75 degrees with all those cold nights…too cold for me to swim.

Enjoy your Friday! Anyone going on a road trip or camping??? I’d love to get out there and camp somewhere soon! ❤️

“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭96:11-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#steak, #glamping, #nature

A Typical Saturday in June

Sun, 03 Jun 2018 01:30:13 -0600

It was a mostly cloudy, humid day in the Mid-Ohio Valley yesterday. Lots of fun activities to kick off some summer fun. First, we met family at a Chinese restaurant to celebrate a birthday and we got to play with the great-grandbaby for a little while. That was fun. Then we headed to City Park for a picnic that we were too late for, however, there was a car show going on so we walked around and gawked at some seriously gorgeous cars. There was a red 1953 Chevy there that was killer. Hard to believe it was built the year I was born and it wasn’t rusted out. Harder to believe I’M not!

My favorite was this blue and white Chevy Custom pickup truck. I could definitely see this baby pulling my ‘67 Franklin. I would paint it the same colors. Wouldn’t that stunning? After the park, we hit a garage sale then headed to the annual flea market at the fair grounds. The only thing of interest there was this American Camper iron skillet…not because it is worth anything, because it’s not. They’re cheaply made in China. But the name was pretty cool! Which brings me to something that was REALLY cool!

My good friend, Janine Pettit…of the GirlCamper Podcast…was on Fox & Friends yesterday morning! GoRVing was there on the Plaza with Janine and others. There were three campers…a big motor home, a lightweight camper designed by a NASA engineer, and the Little Guy Mini Max (the one Janine is road testing for Liberty Outdoors.) I am so excited for her! She works hard and travels all over the country promoting Girl Camping. She teaches Camper Colleges, she speaks at Country Living Fairs, and she has a great podcast that teaches you a lot of things about “camping like a girl.” Great accomplishment, Janine…way to go!

The air yesterday looked so thick you could cut it with a knife. Heat and humidity are not my favorite. Why can’t West Virginia have ALL my family and friends here along with 60-75 degree temps during the day, 50-55 degree temps at night, 345 sunny days and 25% humidity year round? It that asking for too much? lol My grandma used to say “If wishes were horses then beggars would ride.” So I’ll end with this…When all seems lost, put a piggy in a harness and take him for a walk at the flea market. You are guaranteed to have a good time! ❤

“He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:2-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Home Again

Thu, 24 May 2018 01:30:52 -0600

“Beaver Creek State Park, East Liverpool, Ohio”

I’ve always promised my family and friends that I wouldn’t reveal where I am while I am actually there, especially if I am traveling alone. Even though Mr. FixIt joined me for part of this trip, I still adhere to that basic rule of safety. Beaver Creek State Park is one of my all time favorite camping destinations. Part of that is the surroundings. Part is the relatively close proximity to my home. I love the drive up Ohio Route 7 as it meanders along the beautiful Ohio River. And…if you’re on the Ohio side, you are looking at the rolling hills and dense woodlands of West Virginia beyond the smooth water.

The best part of a Girl Camping trip is, of course, the friends you know and meet when you get there. These are friends for life and there’s a lot of love and laughter and encouragement that grows from those interactions. As I drove home yesterday, my heart was full.

Mavis, my GPS, tells me it takes two hours and fifty-seven minutes to drive to Beaver Creek State Park. I left there at 11:00 and got home at 5:00. Granted, there was one rest area stop. But there were several places where the road was down to one lane due to land slides and we had to take turns. Then there was my LEAST favorite part of camping…dumping the black and grey water tanks. There is a really good dump station at the West Virginia Welcome Center in Williamstown that I always stop at. It takes me a good forty-five minutes to clean my tanks, but it’s necessary to do a good job.

I had a few things going on with the camper this trip. One is, a leak has developed. Mr. FixIt got the ladder out for me and I think I found where the problem is. A seal on the top front edge of the camper is aging and cracked. The seals are only good for a few years and they need to be replaced so I guess it’s that time. When I was pumping up my tires before I left yesterday morning, I noticed the outside edge of one of them is shredding slightly. I need to check into that. Also, when I got home, I placed my hand on each hub and one was too hot to comfortably rest my hand on it. I need to tear into that and probably repack the bearings. There is a kind of hub you can get that has a valve on it and you can top off the grease before you travel just to make sure it is well lubricated. The downside of trailer ownership…constant maintenance.

So, I’m home. The baby birds in the cypress tree out front are feathering out and they had their little beaks aimed high waiting for mama. The rabbits have eaten all but four bean plants in the garden, but the tomatoes are looking great. My pink dogwood is thriving. The irises and peonies are in full bloom. There is standing water around the yard from all the heavy rains in the last week. And, as I write this, I can hear the whip-poor-will in the hedgerow along the creek on the far side of the field. I’m sore all over from lugging and toting and hooking up and driving the camper so I’m calling it a night. When you read this, we’ll be mowing out at the farm and doing laundry. What a wonderful trip it has been. ❤️

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭90:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Winding Down

Wed, 23 May 2018 01:30:28 -0600

“Knitting projects”

I always hate the end of a trip. The goodbyes. The packing up and cleaning and laundry. The pulling away from a really great camping spot. No more owls overhead. No more gals sitting around a table full of food. No more all day knitting sessions. No more leisurely naps in the afternoon. sigh

Mr. FixIt left yesterday morning. We’ve had boatloads of rain so he needed to get back and check the basement. Also, I’m sure sitting around all day while the girls knit wasn’t high on his to do list. He was a great sport though. He went fishing one night, hiking one day, and exploring the area another day.

Today, I head home. Another Girl Camper trip is in the books. I wonder where I’ll head next on this Grand Adventure? ❤️

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37:23-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Feeling Totally Relaxed

Tue, 22 May 2018 01:30:16 -0600

“A big bullfrog serenaded me from a pond.”

Three more of our Girl Campers left yesterday morning. It’s always sad to see the week end. So much fun and wonderful memories are made during this gathering. I’m blessed this year with two extra days spent with Gail, my fellow Girl Camper and camphost extraordinaire. Plus, there is the added bonus of Mr. FixIt being here!

“Alpaca roving for spinning.”

After coffee yesterday, we sat around for an hour or so and chatted before the gals said goodbye and headed on their way. One was headed straight home but two were going to Lehman’s, a wonderful hardware store in Kidron, Ohio that specializes in non-electric appliances and tools. I really want to make a trip up there. I’ve received their catalog for years.

“Gail spins the alpaca roving into a fine yarn…her fingers skillfully knowing how hard to hold and draw the fibers onto the spindle.”

After everyone was gone, Gail and I headed to check out a new shop that advertises fibers, wool, and rugs. It’s a darling little “she shed” shop on this gal’s farm that had belonged to her grandparents. She raises sheep for her wool. She has two looms set up in her shop. She had several handmade items for sale. But I was disappointed there was no yarn and Gail was disappointed there was no wool available for sale as yet. I did get to look around a bit and caught this big bullfrog that was in the pond by the shop. And the little lambs were darling frolicking in the pasture. There were lovely flower and herb gardens all around. I just don’t think the gal was quite ready to be open for business yet. Maybe in the fall she’ll have more items available.

“The camp kitty snoozes in the chair beside me as I knit. I wasn’t patient enough for the spinning.”

When we got back to the campground, Gail got out the spinning wheel she learned on. She picked up a basket of alpaca roving and set to teaching me to spin. I found it incredibly frustrating because I am an instant gratification kind of a gal. Gail says if I just keep trying, I’ll get the hang of it. I might try again, but for now, I’ll just buy beautiful yarns that I can work with right away. I started a new pair of socks with a beautiful fingering yarn. It’s 100% wool though so I’ll have to take extra special care of them. They are for me. Gail also gave me a beautiful skein of German wool/polyester blend to knit Mr. FixIt a pair of socks. It is a grey, heathery blend.

Today is our last day of just sitting around and enjoying Gail’s company, knitting and talking and laughing. This is such good therapy. The camp kitty is content to lay in the chair beside me and snooze. This is about as peaceful as it gets…the smell of pine and rain, woodsmoke and spring flowers…the sound of crows and pileated woodpeckers and songbirds and owls…and the laughter of friends. sigh Tomorrow it’s back to the real world till our next adventure. ❤

“Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭35:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Campfire and Conversation

Mon, 21 May 2018 01:30:18 -0600

“A pileated woodpecker has decimated this tall pine tree at the edge of the campground.”

This trip has been such a blessing to me. Laughter is the best medicine and there has been so much joy shared between us as we sit and work with our hands. We have shared stories and learned more about each other. We have loved on our furry friends, including a little stray black cat who showed up Friday night. We think someone must have dumped him along the road because he is so friendly. He’s the camp cat for now and will more than likely go home with the camphost as her husband has taken a shine to him.

“The hat I knitted from the yarn Gail spun from Alpaca and wool.”

I’ve become very close friends with our camphost, Gail. She is a woman of strong faith. She reminds me of the woman in Proverbs 31. She’s the kind of woman you want to learn from and emulate. She is kind, courageous, fair, fun, and family oriented. And talented? OMGosh! She can do anything. I just love her to the moon and back. Her husband took Mr. FixIt fishing last night and he had a blast. They only caught one fish between them, but they had good fellowship and got to know each other better.

“Mr. FixIt enjoys his morning coffee in one of the Girl Camper mugs.”

This is one of the things I love about Mr. FixIt. He has friends outside of our relationship. I loved Mr. Virgo…you know that. And, he had no real friendships other than me. He had friends he worked with, but he never did anything without me. I was telling the girls around the campfire the other night…I never would have been a Girl Camper or a Sister on the Fly if Mr. Virgo were still living. It’s just not something I would have done…even though it was something I would have enjoyed. This is the difference in the woman I have become since losing him. I am far more independent. And, I am more assertive…something Mr. FixIt deeply appreciates in me.

“Campfire and Corgis”

Loss changed me. It was terribly difficult. It tore me apart and dropped me in pieces on the ground. When it came time to rebuild, I put myself back together in a way that suited this new life…this new me. I love this me that I am today. While I hate what happened to get me here, I am grateful for this new life and all the new people that have been brought into it.

Yes, this trip is just what the doctor ordered. Food, fun, and frolic…Girl Camper style! ❤️

“A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: “Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!” Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of- GOD. Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:10-31‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Just Like Summer Camp

Sun, 20 May 2018 01:30:49 -0600

“I finished knitting socks for Daughter #1’s birthday! Shhhhh….don’t tell. It’s a surprise!”

I only went to summer camp once. It was a church camp that I attended with my good friend, Sharon. There were about eight to ten girls per cabin. Sharon and I were instigators and we often got in trouble. “We are the the Night Owls. The mighty, mighty Night Owls. Everywhere we go, people wanna know…who we are, so we tell ‘em….” It was tons of fun. I’m not sure we were welcome back the next year because I never went again.

“Starting a hat with the yarn Gail spun from alpaca and wool.”

Camping with the Girl Campers is the grownup version. We are welcomed back every time because the most trouble we get into is laughing too loud. I was thrilled that I finished my socks yesterday. My good friend, Gail, spun some yarn for me from alpaca and wool for a hat. I got a good start on that. Mr. FixIt arrived in the afternoon and he helped the Park Naturalist with a birdhouse clinic. So now we have a new birdhouse to take home.

“Laura, one of the Girl Campers shows off the birdhouse she made.

I haven’t even started the truck since I got here Tuesday. I’ve laughed and talked and knitted and cooked and ate and slept. Oh, it’s just like Summer Camp, only better…we can’t get in trouble! ❤️

“Mike, one of the Ohio State Parks Naturalists, teaches the Girl Campers how to build a birdhouse.

“The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

S-s-s-s-snake!

Sat, 19 May 2018 01:30:19 -0600

“Baby Water Snake”

The first time I remember holding a snake was back-to-school night in seventh grade. Mom walked into the science lab and I went straight for the aquarium that held a tiny blue racer. Much to my mother’s horror, I picked up the wiggly little critter and let it slither around my fingers and hands. I laughed at my mom’s squeals of horror as I held the snake closer so she could see. Poor mom. I deviled the heck out of her at every opportunity, I’m afraid.

Snakes have never bothered me, really. I don’t particularly like being startled by them, but if I know they’re there, and I’m assured they are not poisonous, I have no real problem with them. I remember going to my cousin’s girls’ band concert once. As I drove into the parking lot there were several women standing around, bouncing from leg to leg and screaming. I parked and came over to see what was going on. There was a huge black snake between them and the school. I reached down, picked it up by the tail and carried it over to the edge of the woods. The screamers looked at me sideways as though I were some sort of witch to be steered clear of.

Grandma always taught me to carry a hoe with me to kill snakes in the garden or when wandering around the farm. When Hubby #2 and I went on a twenty mile backpack trip up Spruce Knob back in the late ‘70s, she loaned us two hoes to carry with us as we hiked so we would not only have something to kill any errant timber rattler, but also have a hiking stick. I’d love to know what the other hikers on the trail thought of these two greenhorns with the hoes and the WAY overpacked backpacks. I think Grandma laughed for a month at our expense.

It’s always fun when the naturalist shows up at the campground to give a little nature lesson to the Girl Campers. Yesterday, Mike showed up with a baby water snake he had found during the stream stomp earlier in the day. He also was helpful in identifying a particular beetle that is detrimental to the trees in the area. It needs to be reported so the woods can be monitored. A tree fell across the road during the night and had to be removed early yesterday morning. Later in the day, the maintenance crew came in and cleared the ditches along the road and removed another dead tree that was in danger of falling across the road.

Mr. FixIt arrives today…can’t wait to see him! The girls are all looking forward to his arrival, as well. He’s a favorite around here. ❤

“On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭145:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Knitting at the Old Campground

Fri, 18 May 2018 01:30:45 -0600

“Knitting at the campground.”

What a wonderful day. Several of us got out a “work in progress” and did some hand work yesterday. One gal was working on a woodcarving. One was crocheting. Two of us were knitting. It was peaceful. These are women of faith so as we worked, we shared stories of our faith walk. We spoke of the many ways God has blessed us, the lessons we have learned along the way. It reminded me of the early farm communities when the women would gather at someone’s home, or the local Grange, and spend the day quilting, cooking, sharing. We don’t get much of that this day and age and I feel the younger generations are sorely missing something. Their lives are so busy…athletic teams, music lessons, social events…young mothers today spend all their free time in cars shuttling the kids to event after event. I wish they had the peace just spending a few hours knitting and chatting with like-minded women could afford them. I hope they don’t wait too long to figure out how important these relationships are. And, these skills.

I was talking with a friend the other day. If the internet crashed tomorrow, if there was a sudden catastrophe and there was no power grid, the highest prized people would be the ones who know how to hunt, grow, prepare, and preserve food…ie farmers. Simple country folk. We’ve become so dependent on electronics for everything, it’s scary. I’m the first to admit, I am a tech head, but I know how to do the things that need to be done to survive. I worry for our future generations. I want to make sure my girls know how to do the things they need to do to survive beyond the grocery store.

I don’t live a stressful life, by any stretch of the imagination, but I’ve got to tell you…I’m feeling pretty mellow after three nights in TOW-Wanda and hanging with the Girl Campers. ❤️

“By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Campfire...Nature’s Therapist

Thu, 17 May 2018 01:30:14 -0600

“A campfire is cheaper than therapy.”

There is something incredibly special about girl camping…be it with an organization like Girl Campers or Sisters on the Fly, or just a group of like-minded gal pals who like to get out in the great outdoors. Sometimes conversations go deep. Sometimes you open up about things you never dreamed you’d talk about. You meet strangers and they become Sisters. You laugh. You cry. You learn. There is always common ground with someone.

Camping can be as simple as a pup tent or a minivan or as complex as a big travel trailer or motor home. Meals can be simple throw together salads to an elaborate spread of grand proportions. It can be a fee free gathering of two or three to an epic multi day extravaganza with a hundred or more gathered for “Cowgirl College”. The bottom line is always the same…get away from everyday life and become a girl again.

I never camped with my family when I was growing up. The closest was a week in a cabin along the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River in the mountains of West Virginia. I went to church camp in 7th grade. And I camped a handful of times as an adult. But I never learned the joys of girl camping till after Mr. Virgo died. Girl camping saved me. They taught be that he died…I did not. They set examples of how to be self reliant. They taught me new skills. They taught me that, even in my grief, it was ok to laugh.

Miss Maizie, the original Sister on the Fly, was still camping in her nineties…a martini in one hand and a cigar in the other. And, while I don’t drink or smoke, I can surely identify with that independent, carefree spirit.

I know camping is not for everyone…I certainly don’t rough it. I camp like a girl and sleep on 800 count sheets on a memory foam mattress. I have a bathroom and a shower and a full kitchen. I have a house on wheels. Some would not even call that camping. For me, if there’s the sound of nature at night, if there’s a campfire, and I can sit beneath the stars and laugh with good friends…that’s camping for me. If you’ve never had the opportunity to do this I hope you try it at some point in your life. My heart is happy in my camper. ❤

“The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Still Praying Together

Sun, 13 May 2018 01:30:50 -0600

“My good friend, Lisa and me.”

It was the fall of 1960 when I met Lisa. We were in second grade together in Mrs. Alexander’s room. It depends who you talk to. Some say Mrs. Alexander was a sweetheart. Others…not so much. She seemed to have one student every year that was on her black list. Nothing you could do would please her if you were on her dark side…and that is the unenviable position I found myself in during second grade.

She made me nervous. And when I get nervous, I can’t eat. Every day I would try to eat my lunch because every day she saved my lunch tray to show my mom that I wasn’t eating. I always felt like I was in trouble. Mom took me to the doctor and he gave me a “tonic” that I took a spoonful of every day. Together, they decided Mom should pack my lunch. Maybe it was just the school food I didn’t like. But that wasn’t it. Even when I had my favorite foods in my cute little plaid lunch box, I just could not eat.

One day, before lunch, I was standing in line to wash my hands in the bathroom. My stomach was churning and I knew I was going to have trouble eating. I was praying under my breath, when the little girl in front of me turned around and looked me straight in the eye. It was Lisa.

“Are you praying?” she asked.

I silently nodded my head and cast my eyes downward…ashamed to be in such a dire circumstance.

“What are you praying about?”

“Mrs. Alexander scares me and I can’t eat. Every day I get in trouble because I don’t eat my lunch. She even took me to the office and the Principal spanked me!” My words tumbled over each other as I confessed my self-perceived weakness.

“Well, here…I’ll pray with you.” Lisa wrapped her arm around my shoulder and hugged me close and we both prayed that I could eat again and that Mrs. Alexander would leave me alone.

I was stunned by her kindness. I was relieved beyond words. Someone cared. Someone understood me. Someone wanted to help me. And…it was a little girl I didn’t know. I instantly loved her.

Amazingly, that is the last time I remember the whole lunch fiasco. I don’t remember if my appetite returned, but I do know we moved shortly after that and I started attending a new school. I never had to deal with Mrs. Alexander again.

Lisa and I attended high school together but we didn’t cross paths. We had a huge class and circles sometimes stuck to who you went to junior high with. However, several years later, I ran into Lisa at a high school reunion. She is an associate pastor now. I asked her if she remembered praying with me in the restroom before lunch that autumn day so long ago. But, alas…she did not. You see, Lisa was struck by a car as she crossed the street several years ago and very nearly died of her injuries. It left her with some long term memory loss. She was happy to know she helped me though, and we have become good friends.

Lisa recently suffered a heart attack and we were absolutely thrilled when she came to coffee yesterday with the ‘71 Divas. She looks wonderful, healthy, strong. I couldn’t stop hugging her. She asked how Mr. FixIt was. She went all through school with him. Last year, when she found out we were dating, she literally jumped up out of her chair and threw her hands in the air and praised Jesus.

“If there were anyone in the whole wide world I would want the two of you to have, it would be each other. This is PERFECT!” I couldn’t help but laugh and clap along with her exuberance. Lisa is wonderful. She is a straight shooter. She has seen her share of hardships in this life and has come out a loving, giving, God-centric woman and I love her dearly. I just wanted to share her with you today.

Sending you love and light and prayers for continued good health, my friend. ❤

“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:19-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Gardening

Thu, 10 May 2018 01:30:57 -0600

“Beautiful hibiscus in the West Virginia sunshine.”

In 1986, Hubby #2 joined a medical practice in a small mountain town in Colorado. My daughter was just turning 12 and about to start junior high. I had worked to provide for the family while my husband went through medical school, internship, and residency so when he started his practice, I stayed home to be a full time mom.

Having grown up in West Virginia and spending a good portion of my childhood on my grandparents’ farm, I longed to have a farm of my own. I traveled ahead of my husband to find a place to live. Rentals were few and far between, and when the realtor showed me a five bedroom log house on two acres just outside of town, I was smitten. It had everything I was looking for, except…it was for sale. We had absolutely no money nor did we have any way to get some. The realtor threw out an idea…rent to own. I knew I could get enough money out of my beloved VW Westfalia camper to put down as earnest money. I returned to Denver and told my husband we had a house.

He wasn’t thrilled. I mean, looking back, I can’t blame him. I kind of took advantage of an opportunity that was presented and figured I could get him on board when he saw it. And, after he saw it…he was smitten as well. The house had cathedral ceilings in the living room. It had one whole wall of glass that overlooked the valley with the Red Cliffs and the Flatirons Wilderness beyond. It was incredibly beautiful, and beyond anything we ever could have dreamed of.

One acre was a fenced in pasture. I always wanted a big garden, and here was my opportunity. There were some problems, however. First, Colorado is a semi-arid state prone to drought. Second, it has a short growing season, and just the two miles out our road was enough of a rise in elevation that the growing seasons was a full 2-4 weeks shorter than Denver (which is a full two months shorter than West Virginia). My dream of lush fertile ground was dashed and anything I did manage to raise was either frozen out in the middle of June or ravaged by deer.

When I first came back to West Virginia in 2014 to help my aunt on the farm, I had full intentions of planting a garden in the spring. Things didn’t work out as planned, unfortunately. I ended up traveling for much of the next couple of years. Then Mr. FixIt came along. And, now I have a garden! He tilled in some manure and compost yesterday just in time for a predicted rain storm last night. We’ll set out the tomato plants this weekend along with some bush beans. If I were going to be home all summer, I might do something more ambitious. As it is, there are tons of farmers markets and fruit and vegetable stands. I hope to do some canning this fall for the first time since before Mr. Virgo died. This is this first time I’ve been excited about doing something like this and it feels wonderful. It’s another level of healing, another step forward.

Another thing I’d like to do is build a small greenhouse. Bedding plants are so expensive anymore. There are dozens of pots around the pool and the yard and it would cost a mint to buy bedding plants. I will try raising some of my own seedlings next year. I was telling a friend the other day…I wish I was thirty again. Oh, the things I would do with the access to the land that I have now! Ahhhhh…youth is wasted on the young. ❤️

“Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭9:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Eating my Way Through the South

Sun, 29 Apr 2018 01:30:09 -0600

“A Big Southern Breakfast”

Ok, I literally ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted it on this trip and I think I made the right choice. Life is too short. I don’t eat like this all the time…it was vacation!

The last hurrah was in Williamsburg, VA at the Capitol Pancake House. That name alone drew me in. But when I saw the parking lot was full, I knew we had stumbled on something good. I didn’t have to even taste this to know it was going to be over the top delicious. (This photo didn’t catch the short stack of pancakes on the side! Wow!)

I am telling you what…I learned how they spell “love” in the south. B-A-C-O-N! Or, it is G-R-I-T-S? Either way, this was the icing on the cake, so to speak. It was the best way to close out a stellar vacation. I didn’t have to do anything or be anywhere at a certain time for a whole week. I’m feel relaxed, refreshed, renewed. A huge thank you to Mr. FixIt for sharing so much with me…I had a blast! Thank you God for safe travels! And…truly, is there anything better than crawling back in your own bed??? ❤

“You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.” ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭28:6‬ ‭NIV‬

Saying Goodbye to the OBX

Sat, 28 Apr 2018 01:30:19 -0600

“Sunset over the Sound, OBX”

After watching the twenty day forecast for the Outer Banks, Mr. FixIt and I were fully prepared for a cold, cloudy, wet week at the beach. As it turned out, the weather predictions were almost entirely incorrect. We had one day that rained all day. The first day we arrived, I had to wear my down coat on the beach. One afternoon, we had a really great thunderstorm. And, that was it. We couldn’t have asked for a better week. Yesterday was around 70 degrees. A gentle breeze came off the ocean, but it was still warm enough to sit out in the sun in a bathing suit…knitting! I got a little sunburned in the spots I missed with the sunscreen, but overall, it was perfect.

Last night’s sunset was a true gift. I turned to Mr. FixIt and asked, “How can anyone sit and watch this and think there is no God?” It was the best sunset of the week by far…we only had two that were picture worthy. We are driving all the way home today so we can go to church tomorrow. We don’t want to miss it. And, remember last summer when I went to the Revival? Well, Pastor Matthew is having one this week and I’m going so get ready for some fired up posts in the coming days!

Get out there this weekend and enjoy the beautiful weather if it’s nice where you are! We only get so many sunsets. ❤

“The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭65:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Exploring

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 01:30:56 -0600

“Wild Horse of Corolla Beach”

Oh, my gosh…what a gorgeous day it was yesterday on the Outer Banks! Sunny and 73, it was filled with sun, sand, and surf. We headed to the north end of the island where you can drive out on the beach for miles. There are wild horses up there and although we seemed to drive forever, we only saw two. It was stunning (and a little nerve-wracking) driving so close to the thunderous waves. Mr. FixIt has told me stories about people getting stuck in the sand and I was sure we would, but he is an excellent driver, has done it many times, and I trust him completely. The nice weather drew crowds to the beach and no one had a bit of trouble.

“Terns on Corolla Beach”

“Corolla Beach Lighthouse”

“Taxidermy at Wildlife Education Center, Corolla Beach Lighthouse”

As we headed south back to the condo, we stopped at the Currituck Beach Lighthouse and the Wildlife Education Center. We returned by early afternoon, packed a picnic supper, and headed for the beach. We sat and nibbled on various cheese we had purchased the day before and watched the waves as the tide came in. Finally, a thunderstorm blew in and we made it back to the condo just before the skies opened. Thunder crashed for a good half hour. I took advantage and had a nap. When I awoke, the sun was just a half hour away from setting so we drove over to the sound. The storm left enough clouds for a semi decent show of color. After the sun went down, we drove around for a while and got an ice cream. It was another perfect day in North Carolina.

“Sunset over the Sound, Duck, NC”

I believe I could live down south…maybe even a little further south, like South Carolina. It would be nice to be within an easy drive to the beach and have less snow and cold to contend with. I don’t think I could do Florida full time. It’s entirely too hot in the summer. Two more beautiful days here! ❤️

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Revisiting

Tue, 24 Apr 2018 01:30:45 -0600

“Time spent in nature is never lost.”

There is no way to avoid bumping into grief. It’s around the corner. On any given day, something...anything...can trigger a grief response. Sometimes it’s a whisper. Sometimes it’s a roar. It’s such a relief when things are going smoothly and the interruption is just a riffle in the stream. That’s what happened yesterday when I opened Facebook and there was one of those “memories” right in my face. There was a time that would have knocked me flat. Instead, I felt the sting then let it go. It will always be there in one form or another. I just try not to focus on it so much anymore. That doesn’t always work, but it did this time.

“Turtles at the aquarium.”

I am having such a wonderful time at the beach with Mr. FixIt. We started out yesterday with the fabulous pancakes at Stack ‘Em High 4.5. Look up Kristine…the owner’s wife. What a hoot! Then we went to the Elizabethan Gardens, the aquarium, and the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. We learned about Sir Walter Raleigh and the Lost Colony. We drove all over Roanoke Island and saw the shipyards where they make those huge yachts. We had crab for supper, tried to see a sunset (no go…yet), and drove up the island toward Corolla. We ended the evening with a few hands of Rummy. It was a very good day.

“Dungeness crab!”

I hope you enjoy the photos. The flowers are stunning down here! ❤

“Stuffed Flounder”

“Shark!”

“Jellyfish at the aquarium.”

“Elizabethan Gardens”

“Cherub in the Hostas”

“Ornate Marble Birdbath - Elizabethan Gardens”

“Sculpture Garden”

“Interesting trees make for a pleasant stroll through the gardens on the sound.”

“Virginia Dare sculpture - Elizabethan Gardens, Roanoke Island, NC”

“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Press “Pause”

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 01:30:06 -0600

“Love: No Crowds! Hate: Down Coat on the Beach!”

What do I love about being at the beach this time of year? NO crowds! There isn’t a wait at the restaurants. There’s practically no traffic. It’s easy to feel like you live here. The shops are filled with fresh merchandise that’s fun to look through.

What do I hate about the beach this time of year? Having to wear a down coat to walk on it!

It’s ok, though. I prefer this cool, sunny weather to the oppressive heat of summer. Yesterday was gorgeous! We walked about four or five miles yesterday. I took a nap. Then we went for a long drive. We didn’t have a pretty sunset which was disappointing. The sunsets here are stunning. I’m hoping to catch a sunrise or two while we’re here. The temperature all night is a steady fifty-three degrees. I’ll take that!

Sometimes you just need to take a break from your surroundings. It can be something big that you plan for ahead of time like a trip away. Or, it can be a drive or a hike or a visit to a museum. BE-ing. Breathing. Taking a break from the ordinary hubbub of life can give you a fresh perspective. Our mind needs a mental break. Our body needs refreshment. Our spirit needs to be recharged. It doesn’t have to cost a lot to accomplish a lot. I hope you will make plans to just BE for a little while…no matter what that looks like for you. Press “pause”.❤️

“The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭33:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“He’s a Texan!”

Sun, 22 Apr 2018 01:30:17 -0600

“He’s a Texan!”

Mr. FixIt is a great travel companion. I have absolutely no sense of direction so between him and Mavis the GPS, I always know just what turn is coming up and what lane to be in. And, unlike Mavis, Mr. FixIt has a million stories that keep me laughing the whole way.

He was telling me about his grandmother yesterday as we drove. Get this…his grandma brought four little boys under the age of ten all the way down here in the mid ‘50s and camped in a tent in a state park for two months at a time…by herself! No electric. No water hookup. No showers. She cooked on a campfire and let these little boys run like the wind. I am in awe of her…I would have LOVED to have met her.

I am forever ribbing Mr. FixIt for his accent and his colloquial turn of a phrase. Appalachian English actually has it’s roots deep in the ancestry of the people here. English, Irish, and Scottish folk have a different way of speaking and it has come down through the generations and resulted in words like “rench” for rinse, “crick” for creek, “boosh” for bush. Things like “we was” instead of we were. “Them” instead of they. They put the letter “a” in front of things like, “I’m a’fixin to go.” They drop the “g” off of everything…”goin’”, “fixin’”, “bein’”. It’s not a matter of education either. Mr. FixIt has three degrees and he still says some things that make me scratch my head and wonder. Being a word nerd, I vacillate between wanting to correct everything to being highly entertained.

When we were driving on Friday, we were behind someone and Mr. FixIt said, “Look at that guy. He’s driving like he’s a Texan!” I thought to myself, “How can he tell that? Are Texans bad drivers?” I brushed it off and drove on. An hour or so later he said, “Look at that…he’s a Texan!” I looked at Mr. FixIt with a puzzled look. He just shrugged and said, “Well, he was!” Again, I didn’t question.

Yesterday, we were on the interstate again and he said, “Oh my gosh…I think that guy is a Texan!” I saw the license plate and said firmly. “He is not! He’s from New York!” This time Mr. FixIt looked at ME weird. He turned back around and looked at the guy as we passed him and he said, “Yep, he was a Texan!” I couldn’t stand it any longer. I had to say something.

“Honey, how on EARTH do you know he’s a Texan just by looking at him???”

Mr. FixIt gave me a funny look then started laughing. “He was a’TEXTIN’! TEXTIN’!”

Seriously…I almost peed my pants laughing.

I love this guy…he’s a never ending source of pure fun! ❤️

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them."” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭126:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Bittersweet

Sat, 21 Apr 2018 01:30:48 -0600

“Dogwood”

We had an amazing visit with my cousin and his wife this weekend. Instead of running around and doing things like we usually do while we were there, I was content to stay put and visit with this most beloved man. Our visits are numbered and I am always pleasantly surprised at his resilience and positive determination. He assured me he will be around a while so I told him I’m counting on that.

“I’m not sure what kind of flowering tree this is. Anyone?”

We stopped at Pilot Mountain this afternoon and took in the views from the top. We stopped at a lovely rest area outside Greensboro and had a picnic under the spreading arms of flowering dogwood trees. There was a wonderful sweetness drifting on the warm breeze as we nibbled on cheese and crackers. We browsed the area on my cell phone and found an affordable hotel nearby and called it a day. We’ll drive the rest of the way to the beach today.

“Pilot Mountain, North Carolina”

Thank you God for travel mercies. My many blessings are not lost on me. ❤

“And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness…” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭55:6-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Back to Square One

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 01:30:17 -0600

“Back to Square One”

I need to exercise more! After sitting on my hiney all winter long writing and working on my website, I went out Friday and Saturday and worked in the yard. As I began my two hour excursion on the riding mower, the word “sunscreen” flitted through my mind like a feather on the wind and was gone just as quickly. After all, I had a broad brimmed hat on…what could go wrong? Ohhhh…I paid for that Saturday night. I couldn’t find anything in the house to put on my sunburned arms and shoulders and felt too miserable to even think about looking up home remedies on the internet. Then yesterday morning I tried to get out of bed and discovered muscles I’d forgotten I had. The word grumpy comes to mind. I turned over and went back to sleep and ended up missing morning services.

I looked in the mirror the other day and realized all that hard work I did climbing all those stairs a couple years ago is long gone. Hard muscles have been replaced with something between cottage cheese and pizza dough. My stamina is decreased, I get sick easier, and I’m turning sixty-five in two months. This simply will not do! I told Mr. FixIt we have to get back in gear this spring. Fortunately, he’s a good eater and loves to exercise so I have a partner to motivate me.

We will be heading to the Outer Banks this week. The bikes are coming with us this time. I anticipate lots of long walks on the beach and bike rides in the evenings. The weather will be cool but hopefully the rain will stay away for the most part. If not, there is an exercise room at the condo complex. We have a full kitchen in our place so we can eat well and stay out of expensive, fattening restaurants. It will be nice to get away and sit by the ocean for a while. We have visits with family coming up as well on this trip so we’re really looking forward to the break. ❤

“This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord Almighty is his name:” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31:35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Be Still My Heart

Sat, 24 Mar 2018 01:30:13 -0600

“Is there anything sweeter than little girl socks?”

Is there anything cuter than little girl socks with little girl feet in them? We got to see our little sugar bean yesterday at her first visit with the Easter Bunny. There was a mommy and daddy, a granny, three great grandmas and a great grandpa in attendance for such a monumental event. Then we all went out for dinner. It was a beautiful day!

With the five year anniversary of Mr. Virgo’s death past me, I’m feeling much better…hopeful, centered, happy, peaceful. I’m was talking with a couple of other widows the other day about being in “moving forward” mode. I write so much about grief because I took this on as my ministry. And, even though I WRITE it, I hope you understand that I don’t feel sad every single day anymore. I write with empathy for those in the throes of grief. For those who are new on the journey. For those who still struggle no matter how much time has passed. I am healthier this way. I seem to have found my balance now, even though the scales still get tipped back toward sadness from time to time. This is the nature of the beast.

I hope you have a beautiful day. Get out there and enjoy the first weekend of Spring!!! ❤️

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭127:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Pages from the Past

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 01:30:57 -0600

“Scrapbook”

Who kept a scrapbook growing up? My mom had oodles of them. She had page after page of obituaries, memorial cards from funerals, pictures of people she knew who were in the paper, articles of interest to her. She had book after book of pictures she cut out of magazines. There must have been twenty books of postage stamps. Nothing valuable, mind you. And nothing mounted or preserved in the way of a philatelist. These were just stamps she thought were pretty or interesting that she saw on the letters she sorted over the years of working in offices. She would tear the envelope around the stamps and stick them six to a page in those photo albums with the clear plastic that covered whatever you stuck to that sticky paper. You know, the kind you could never remove anything from 50 years later.

Tuesdays are usually our stay-at-home day. We just hang out and don’t do much of anything. I was writing so Mr. FixIt went rummaging around in a closet and came out with a box marked “scrapbooks”. That piqued my interest. He spent the better part of four hours reading cards, looking at pictures, opening small boxes of treasures. Of particular interest to me were items from high school since we graduated together. Mr. FixIt was the head of the Stage Crew and he had all of the flyers from the shows. I was in the art department and had worked on the sets of many of those productions so it was fun going down memory lane with him.

I took photos of several of the items in the box and posted them on our class page on Facebook. When you find that kind of treasure…you share. We had so much fun last night reading the comments from our classmates as they found their names on programs they hadn’t seen in nearly fifty years. Joy…I’m all about the joy. When I can bring a smile to someone’s face, my world is complete!

When I downsized, I did get rid of a lot of those things of Mom’s. She left the stamp scrapbooks to Daughter #2, her coins and jewelry to Daughter #1. None of it had more value than the sentiment of it belonging to their Grammy. I donated some collections to the library and some genealogy work to the the Hacker’s Creek Pioneers of the Central West Virginia Genealogy Society. I gave some particularly sentimental things to a cousin who will treasure them. And I kept what I could, carefully choosing what to keep and what to let go.

Trimming my life back like that opened up so many options for me. It’s not like my children or grandchildren want any of that stuff. I remember an aunt telling me long ago to not burden my children with the things I wanted them to have. Just give them the choice of what they want, keep what I absolutely couldn’t part with, send the next best things off to those who will love them as I did, and say goodbye to the rest of it. This is particularly difficult when you are a widow because those things often represent you as a couple. Mr. FixIt is a sentimental man. He holds on to things, but he’s learning to let go…little by little. ❤

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Surprises

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 02:30:34 -0600

“Old friends”

I love the way my life has begun to set into a rhythm. Not predictable, exactly. But life…you know, cooking, cleaning, caring, sharing. It’s a sweet life. Mr. FixIt has been going to Physical Therapy three times a week since the beginning of the year and I don’t usually tag along. I stay at home and snuggle up on the couch with my lap desk and my iPad and I write. I try to imagine a life without writing every day and I simply can’t. What did I DO with all that time before I started writing? Besides working. And making jewelry in my art studio. And being a wife to Mr. Virgo. When he died, I filled in the void with words. I polished and tweaked my craft till it became an integral part of my DNA. It’s like breathing and eating. It’s something I do.

“Spring Snow”

Mr. FixIt was well aware of my fixation with the written word when we started dating. He is supportive and empathetic and helps keep me centered. It wasn’t long after he left yesterday that the skies opened and a beautiful snowfall began. When I took the Christmas tree down the last day of February, I situated a sofa in front of the big picture windows in the family room so I can look out at the hillside across the road as I write. I watch the birds flit in and out of the forsythia bush at the corner of the house. I see the neighbors coming and going. The snowfall was beautiful and even though I am WAY over winter…I’m learning to stay present and enjoy the moments.

Along in the afternoon, I received a message from a friend from Glenwood Springs. Linda and Al were driving from Pennsylvania to Kentucky yesterday and She wanted to “wave” at me as they passed through West Virginia. I pinpointed their route and we met in Parkersburg for a quick visit. Our daughters went to school together. Her daughters and my daughters are both about 16 years apart so we had much in common. It was such a treat to see them!

“Whiteout”

About a week ago, I received a request to write a guest post for the manufacturers of some RV supplies. They sent me some of their products and asked for pictures of me using them. I didn’t receive the items until last evening and it snowed all day. She wanted the pictures by the end of the day so she could post on their blog for International Women’s Day. Finally, at 4:00 in the afternoon, the sun broke through. Even though it was really cold, I was able to get those pictures with the help of Mr. FixIt. I hit send at 5:01! I’ll post a link when the blog goes live.

“TOW-Wanda and Me”

A day full of surprises. A surprise snowfall. A surprise that I didn’t mind it. A surprise visit from old friends. And a surprise splash of sun in the late afternoon. It was a really good day! ❤

“As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Date Night

Tue, 27 Feb 2018 02:30:01 -0600

“Budding Branches”

Mr. FixIt and I live a pretty frugal life. We are careful in our spending so that we can afford small indulgences now and then. We both came from mixed backgrounds. We’ve both known what it’s like to have very little and to have much. We have a healthy appreciation of both. Because we came together later in life, money will be something we watch carefully. We have become good stewards of what God has given us.

There was a time when either one of us would have gone to games and concerts without thinking of the cost. And to be honest, now that we give a great deal of consideration toward our outings, we actually enjoy and remember them more. I can’t tell you much about the vacation to Hawaii with Hubby #2, but I can tell you where we sat, where we ate, who we played, and the nature of the basketball game we attended a year ago. Of course, the company you keep makes a difference in how memorable an occasion is, don’t you agree?

We drove up to Morgantown yesterday to see WVU beat Texas Tech…soundly. It was a good game. Not nearly as tight and exciting as the Baylor game last year, but it was Senior Night and the graduating seniors were honored. It was fun to see them go out on a winning note.

As we walked to dinner from our hotel, we remarked at what a gorgeous, sunny afternoon it was. The trees are budding as a result of the recent warming trend which may end up being a bad thing if we get a late frost. The variety of birds is increasing and it is such a lovely thing to hear nature’s orchestra filling out.

We get to take one of the grandchildren out for breakfast this morning as she is a student here. Afterward, we are going to explore around the area where my ancestors lived. We stopped at Prickett’s Fort on our way up to Morgantown yesterday. I have people in my family tree buried there. It’s a fun, overnight trip, not terribly expensive, and filled with love. ❤️

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Binge Watching TV

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 02:30:33 -0600

Jim and Pam from The Office

I need an intervention. I’ve gone without watching practically any television for the last five years. I took great pride in my “sobriety” from the tube. Then Mr. FixIt turned on his TV. I watched a game or two. Then there was the occasional MASH episode or Big Bang reruns. I wrote the other week how I found The Office on my iPad, and now I’m like a junkie…I can’t stop. I’ve been binge watching a show that is so cringe worthy it’s like watching a train wreck…you can’t look away.

The Office started it’s nine season run in March of 2005. I didn’t have satellite TV till sometime the following winter after Mr. Virgo and I started dating. I had been on a long dry spell from TV between 2000 and 2005. I didn’t really WANT TV, but Mr. Virgo was a sports fan and it was football season. At first, it was fine. We enjoyed watching a few shows. We looked forward to them every week. And, of course…there was always the winter spent watching football. After a while, the television became a problem. Mr. Virgo insisted on eating in front of the TV…every night. I hated that. And I told him so. I asked for one night a week with no television. Maybe we could play cards…or a board game…or go for a walk. My sweetheart informed me that television was his martini. And, I’ve got to tell you…the man didn’t drink, he didn’t do drugs, he came home every night to me. If television relaxed him, then we would watch television.

This wouldn’t have been a problem except for one thing. Mr. Virgo wanted me to sit beside him and watch TV with him. He didn’t really want me to play on the computer or read a book beside him. He wanted me to watch the shows with him so that we could discuss them during the commercial break. It’s my own fault. I didn’t set boundaries and tell him I would watch one show then I was going to do something else. I indulged him because I loved him and wanted him to be happy. But…OMGosh! I came to HATE the television.

Now it’s been nearly five years since Mr. Virgo died. It’s winter and Mr. FixIt had hand surgery so we are limited by what we can do around the house. There is a flooding issue in the basement and we think we have fixed it, but until we get a torrential rain that challenges the repair, we have to hang around here to monitor the basement. I’ve been reading and writing and drawing. And…I’ve been watching some TV. Never the news. Never anything dark and scary. A little sports, a little MASH, a little Big Bang…even some westerns on occasion. Most of the time, when the TV is on, I’m sitting on the couch with my headphones on, listening to relaxing music or nature sounds, and writing or reading. That is the boundary I’ve set with Mr. FixIt. He’s a grown man…if he wants to watch TV, he can watch TV. AND…I am a grown woman. If I want to sit near him for the company, I don’t HAVE to watch or listen to TV. It’s a win-win.

Then…I started watching The Office. Not watching….binge watching. Each episode without commercials is twenty-two minutes long. I watch episode after episode. Season after season. I’m almost done with Season Three. It brings back memories. Some good…some not so much. The show ended two months after Mr. Virgo died. I remember I didn’t see the last episodes for a long, long time after he died because I disconnected the satellite. It’s an interesting walk down memory lane. I’ve laughed….I’ve cried…I’ve cringed at Michael Scott. The character is so NOT self aware. But, mostly I’ve laughed. Laughter is good medicine. But I have to say, I can feel the difference in me from watching TV. There are a lot of shows being revived and I’ve heard The Office may be one of them in 2018.

Spring is coming. Mr. FixIt’s hand is healing. Projects will get started. Camping, gardening, mowing, traveling, home projects…all these things will take care of the TV binging. But for now…I’ll just indulge myself and laugh. ❤️

““The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:22-23‬ ‭NIV

The Eagles Have Landed!

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 02:30:14 -0600

Eagles win the Super Bowl!

Everyone loves an underdog. In a Google poll, only a handful of states hoped for a Patriots win, even though they were predicted to win by a substantial margin.

The game was tight. Philadelphia held the lead till they faltered in the third quarter when they seemed to run out of steam. Or, more accurately, Tom Brady got a fire lit under his team…finally. For a few brief moments, the Patriots led till a fumble picked up by the Eagles gave the birds some wings.

All through the game, I kept calling up to Mr. Virgo. “Are you watching this???” “OMGosh! Can you believe this???” Mr. FixIt laughed. I have no shame. I will call on the ghost of my late husband to go down on that field and trip the opponents’ quarterback if I have to.

It literally came down to the last few seconds of the game when an incomplete pass gave the Eagles their very first Super Bowl win. Mr. Virgo watched them religiously. He hoped. He dreamed. And they always failed him. They always broke his heart. I wish he could have seen that game last night! I have a feeling maybe he did. In the post game interviews and presentation of the Vince Lombardi Trophy, each player gave credit to God first. I was so proud. I cried. These are men of character. Gone are the shameful days of Michael Vick. These men worked hard and, even after losing their franchise quarterback to an injury earlier in the season, they managed to pull off an unimaginable feat and beat the famed New England Patriots. Within moments of the win, my brother called from Colorado to share the joy of the win with me.

We had family with us all afternoon. We had game day food. We had an incredible game with a glorious win. We had credit given where credit was due. sigh It was a really wonderful day. ❤️ ? ❤️

“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:31‬ ‭NIV

The Smallest of Worlds

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 02:30:10 -0600

“Charley Chadock - My Great Grandfather”

Sharon and I graduated from high school together. Although we didn’t “hang out” and she may not have known me from Adam back then, everyone knew who she was. Her name put her at the end of the line in a graduating class of nearly 800 students. We knew we were about done on graduation night when they called out Sharon’s name.

I moved away two years after high school…about as far away as I could get…England. I followed Hubby #1 there when he was in the Air Force. From there I lived in Colorado for forty years. Sharon and I ran into each other at a couple of reunions, maybe. I don’t really remember. However, once I moved back to West Virginia, I longed for my local coffee group and decided to gauge the interest of my high school friends.

Gathering for coffee on a Saturday morning wasn’t something these gals had done on a regular basis. Being the rabble rouser and resident cheerleader, I gathered a handful of friends to meet me at the Historic Blennerhassett Hotel for a Starbucks. What started out slow has gained momentum and we now have a monthly gathering of around fifteen of the ‘71 Divas for a couple hours of caffeine fueled “therapy”. Sharon is one of our regulars.

I love all the Divas. They’ve become an inner circle of devoted friends. I enjoy Sharon’s dry sense of humor and the way she shoots straight from the hip…telling it like it is. You have no problem knowing exactly what Sharon is thinking and I love that about her. I consider her a dear friend.

A couple of nights ago, I sent her a private message to see how she was doing. I mentioned in our conversation that I’d been spending most of my time at Mr. FixIt’s since his surgery. I told her where he lived and she said her great grandmother was from near here. When she told me the family name, I nearly fell out of my chair! Chadock. My mother’s maiden name!

Chadock is an uncommon name. Historic documents often have spelling variations so sometimes you see it spelled Chaddock, Shaddock, Shattuck, and sometimes even Chadwick. I recognized the name she gave me and quickly pulled up ancestry.com to confirm it. And there she was! Her great grandmother was my great grandfather’s sister. Sharon and I share the same great great grandparents making us 3rd cousins!

Unbelievably small world! As we discussed it come more, I came to find out another of our classmates is a cousin through the same line. Ok, West Virginia isn’t a huge state. Parkersburg isn’t a huge city. But Chadock is a rare name and we were just flabbergasted to discover we are related.

Sharon and I will get together soon and compare our genealogy notes. I’ll introduce her to more of her kin she didn’t know she had. And I’ve added yet another member to my ever expanding family. Mr. FixIt and I were just discussing how large my family has gotten by adding his large family to mine. I never dreamed I’d have this many people to call “mine”. It makes my heart swell! ❤️

“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#genealogy, #family, #cousins

Playing with Art

Sat, 27 Jan 2018 02:30:23 -0600

I have loved art since I could hold those fat crayons in my chubby toddler fingers. I loved school because, not only did I learn the secret to time travel was reading, I also learned the secret to inner peace was making art.

I was fortunate to have wonderful art teachers in school though I can’t name one. I loved working in pastels. I struggled the most with watercolor. My favorite thing is drawing. Pencils, pen and ink, charcoal, pastels, colored pencils. I love the feel of the paper and how the medium lays in the fibers.

My dad was a talented artist. He gave it up when he had to raise a family. After he died, I found several of his drawings. I wish I knew then what I know now. My conversations with my dad would have ultimately been much deeper. And now he’s gone. It’s too late to ask him what art meant to him.

I remember my mom sent me to a local artist for lessons. Again…if I’d have been more mature and responsible, I might have learned more. I think most of what I’ve done has been self taught…a sort of chemistry lesson on paper.

I have a friend from high school that has the same iPad, Pencil and app as me. We are meeting today for coffee. I’ve been studying the Procreate guide and we hope to help walk each other through the learning curve. She is a beautiful artist and I am looking forward to learning more from her. This picture shows my progress on this particular drawing over the last four weeks. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with practice. Grandma Moses was a lot older than me when she started! ❤️

“He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭35:35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A Very Good Memory

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 02:30:12 -0600

“Little Girl in Blue”

I have excellent long term memory. Short term is getting shorter as I age, sped along by grief and a multitude of head injuries along the way, I am sure. But, long term…you can make bank on the accuracy of my memories. My earliest memory takes me back to sitting in the front yard, in the dirt, just inside the fence. I was still in diapers. I remember the way the sun shone on the plastic pants I wore over them as I rolled the material between my chubby baby fingers. Two large neighborhood dogs came up on the other side of the fence and started barking at me. My mother ran and picked me up, comforting my terrified screams. I had nightmares often and can remember sitting in my crib, seeing those dogs coming at me and screaming for my mother to come save me.

My next clear memory is my Aunt’s wedding in Chicago. My grandma woke me before dawn and tried to feed me breakfast but I told her I would eat it in the morning. She laughed and rocked me. I was piled up in the car and we headed north. When we reached Parkersburg, I cried because I didn’t want to go to “Sparkysburg”…I wanted to go to “Shiscago”. We arrived in the Windy City after dark and I remember “lights that moved in the sky”. I later learned they were the neon signs popular in the mid-fifties advertising restaurants and hotels along the busy boulevards.

The first picture is of me and my brother. I remember this like it was yesterday, although I just scanned this slide into my computer this week. I had never seen this picture before. I remember that blue dress. I was supposed to be the flower girl but I think I wasn’t terribly cooperative and ended up having to sit with my grandma. When I saw my mom walking up the aisle, I screamed for her to come get me. I’m sure it was a lovely wedding. Sorry Aunt Rosie…sigh Anyway, my brother and another boy were down in the basement of the church. What you see in my hand there is a used flash bulb from the photographer’s camera. I was gathering them up, peeling the blue plastic coating off, and stepping on them…crushing the glass under my “shiny party shoes with buckles”. Then, I scooped up the crushed glass into a shoe box and filled the ash trays that were sitting all around. I was a pistol!

“Chicago Wedding Reception”

The second picture is a group shot of my brother and me with my Uncle Ernie’s family. Now, my Aunt Rosie grew up here on the farm in West Virginia. But she spent her entire childhood in the nurse’s office at school from getting carsick on the bus and she swore when she was graduated from nursing school, she would move far away from those twisty roads with the kiss-me-Kate turns and never look back. She and a girlfriend moved to Chicago and worked together at Cook County Hospital.

One night, the two young women found their way into a local drinking establishment where she met a handsome sailor on furlough. They fell in love and were married soon after. My Uncle Ernie grew up in an immigrant German family on the South Side of Chicago. He was rough and tough and took no guff. His family was large and loud and the antithesis of our quiet little farm family. I love this picture. Look at all the booze. I can just picture my Grandma and Pop-Pop at this wedding reception…teetotalers that they were. Grandma with her sensible shoes and her pretty little hat perched on her head just so, her purse clutched in her lap for fear these hooligans might try to take it from her. Pop-Pop in the only suit he ever owned, his fedora neatly brushed, his shoes worn. It must have been a sight. The story is, Grandma caught me going from table to table and drinking down the bits of champagne left in the glasses. Lawrdy…I can just imagine.

My other memory of this trip was walking into a kitchen. Uncle Ernie’s mother was a caterer so I imagine she and her helpers were cooking and baking for the reception. There was a very large bag of flour and, as was common in those days, there was a prize in the bag. She found the prize…a little 14k gold ring. Someone put it on my ring finger and tied it on with a blue ribbon that matched this dress. I remember wearing it, but I don’t see it in these pictures.

I was thrilled when my Aunt sent me these two slides. I had never gotten around to putting them in my scanner till this week and was so excited to see this image confirming such a clear memory for me. I cherish every good memory of my childhood. Even though there were some dark times, it’s memories like this that banish them to the far corners of my mind and bring a warm flush of love through me. ❤️

“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:14 NIV

In the Beginning

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 02:30:44 -0600

Marshmallow Ranch actually started in 2001. I was separated from Hubby #2 the year before. I had worked in medicine before becoming a stay-at-home mom in 1986. Unfortunately, since my soon-to-be ex was a doctor in the community, it was a decidedly uncomfortable environment in which to seek employment. I found myself struggling to find a new career in our small, mountain community. I worked for about a year filling in at the local downtown shops…working one day a week at each of five stores, giving the shop owners a welcome day off. I found I enjoyed the interaction with the customers and I was very good at merchandising. My ex noticed this and proposed I open a shop of my own and he would help me get started.

One of my favorite pastimes in those days was needlework. I belonged to the Embroiderer’s Guild that met once a month. I also belonged to a quilting guild. But my favorite was our weekly “Stitch and B****” held at my friend Judy’s house. We brought whatever project we were working on and sat around with coffee and pastries and got all the support we needed for whatever issue we were facing as young mothers. When I started thinking about what kind of shop I wanted to open, I asked the girls and they unanimously chimed in. “A needlework supply shop!”

I really wanted my store on the main street through town for the foot traffic. Unfortunately, the rents there were out of my budget so I went two streets east. I was across the street from the Hotel Denver and catty corner from the Amtrak Station. The building was one of the oldest in town. It had been the St. James Inn at one time with a shady history of being one of the brothels in the early days when most of downtown consisted of tents and mud. When coming up with a name, I thought of Cat House Cross Stitch, but thought better of it. I finally settled on Needles & Pins. The owners of the building did a major remodel with my shop in mind. When it was complete, it was lovely. Old hardwood floors were brought back to life. Salvaged brick lined one wall. A large table was in the back room. Every Wednesday, women gathered at my shop for our own version of “Stitch and B****”. From the moment I opened the doors to closing time, the shop rang with the laughter of women sharing stories and solving the problems of the world. I lost my shirt…twice…but it was wonderful therapy for a lot of women, including myself. It’s when I first found my footing on my own again.

If you are a cross-stitcher, you are familiar with cute publishing houses like “Birds of a Feather”, “Mosey & Me”, “Blackbird Designs” and “The Prairie Schooler”. Being an artist, I thought I would try my hand at designing some cross-stitch patterns. I wanted to come up with a cute name for the division of my business. As I was going through a box of things in my art studio one day, I came across the picture of a field in West Virginia with large, round bales of hay wrapped in white plastic. They looked all the world like huge marshmallows. I had taken the photo on a trip a few years earlier. My youngest had asked what those things were and her big sister teased her telling her this was a marshmallow ranch. This was where they grew big marshmallows then cut them up in little pieces, put them in bags and sent them to the stores. Marshmallow Ranch! The perfect name for my tiny little art division of Needles & Pins.

Unfortunately, the shop wasn’t open long enough for my ideas to come to fruition. I did design three or four patterns and had samples stitched, but never got them published. This is the most detailed of my designs. I called it “Three Sheep”. Maybe someday I’ll get around to developing that idea again. Designing cross-stitch patterns isn’t as easy as it looks. Even with my interest in art, I’m not a very good judge of color. I found this picture on my new computer when the photos were delivered from the cloud and thought I’d share it with you. It’s been thirteen years since I closed the second incarnation of my little needlework shop. It was a difficult time in my life, but one that shaped the path of who I have become. It’s something I am proud of in retrospect. ❤️

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Savor the Sweet

Sat, 20 Jan 2018 02:30:14 -0600

The first time I set foot in a trout stream, I was six years old. It was the summer before my life would be forever changed by the illicit touch of a stranger. The summer of 1960 found my family on its very first vacation. We traveled to the mountains of West Virginia and rented a small cabin for a week. I remember mom frying trout in an iron skillet. I remember my brother and I playing quietly in the shade of the many trees surrounding our camp. I remember my dad standing in the shallow middle, up to his knees, casting over and over with the flies he had meticulously tied at his workbench in the basement. And I remember the river. The North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River, to be exact.

I didn’t have much experience with open bodies of water. Mom had instilled an unhealthy fear of water in me with stories of the time she saved her baby sister from drowning. She had no intention of ever having to save me, so I was banished from any water sports. And, it turns out…I’m a bit of a water baby. I remember one day in particular. Dad was out in his favorite fishing hole, patiently casting, and I stood at the river’s edge. I contemplated the ripples as they passed over the smooth river rocks. I gazed at the deep pools that changed to the color of emeralds where the sandy bottom lay two or three feet below. I delighted at the light dancing on the surface like a thousand diamonds and the trout flashing as they breached the surface to catch their next meal.

That was a simple and peaceful summer…the last I would know before my innocence was taken from me. But, that is not to say, I have never found moments that have recaptured that sense of awe and wonder. I have…many times. Yesterday was one of those days that delivered sweet things…one after another…till I was overflowing with the beauty and simplicity of it all.

I made my routine trip to the farm to see how the kitties are fairing. I checked the stove and the basement. I sat, as I always do, in the chair in “Grandma’s Window” and watched the birds at the feeder. I listened to the sounds of an old house…living and breathing…its bones creaking like the old woman that she is. I watched the pendulum in Mr. Virgo’s clock swing back and forth, reminding me I couldn’t stay too long. We had company coming.

I stopped at the neighbor’s for a bit and delivered a small gift of French Truffles. We passed the time, catching up on the news of the neighbors and I left with promises it wouldn’t be so long till my next visit. I turned the truck toward home. I checked the mail and found a pink slip…a package had come and would be waiting for me at the post office. Mr. FixIt offered to go pick it up as I put the groceries away. I no sooner sat down till our company arrived.

Mr. FixIt’s granddaughter and her family brought their baby to see Papaw and GG! I have inherited a whole passel of people in this relationship, including a son and his wife, a daughter and her man, three granddaughters (two of whom have significant others), a grandson and his girlfriend, and a great granddaughter. You know what that means, don’t you? I am a great grandmother! And…considering I am WAY too young to be one (smile)…I am GG. Great Grandma. Grandma Ginny. GG. It suits me. The baby is four months old and the most precious little thing. What a treat to hold and rock a little one again!

Before long, Mr. FixIt came back with my box. I couldn’t wait to open it. It was a special introductory gift box from my dear friend, and fellow Sister on the Fly, Michelle McMullen Cummings with her newly published book, The Reel Sisters! https://www.thereelsisters.com/product/the-reel-sisters-gift-box/ Now I have two books to read, one published and one unpublished with an invitation to write early praise for its release. Both written by strong women I admire and I can’t wait to get into them! The reminder of these sister friendships warmed my heart as rocked and sang a lullaby to the newest member of our immediate family. I thought…”I will teach you to fly, little sister” as I sniffed the top of her sweet, soft head.

I am enjoying getting to know and bond with Mr. FixIt’s family. As his granddaughter bundled up the baby and prepared to leave yesterday, she turned to me and said, “I like you. You make my grandpa very happy.” I like her, too. She reminds me a little of myself when I was her age. A young mother, in love with her baby, her life stretching before her like an endless summer. It filled me with a soft warmth. As I sat propped in our bed last night, typing away at the keyboard writing this post, that very happy Papaw came in with a small bowl of ice cream and a kiss on the top of my head. And I swear…my heart exploded with joy.

The sweet simplicity of a life lived with boundless joy. My God has delivered me far, far from the pain life can bring. For now. There will be pain again. There always is. This is life, after all. The difference is, I have this now. I am building my insurance policy. These stories are money in my emotional bank…stories to look back upon one day and remember the joy I felt on a cold January day in the sun. ❤️

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On Being Loved

Tue, 16 Jan 2018 02:30:37 -0600

Mr. FixIt and I have developed this little routine the last few months. We have a nice dinner and clear up the dishes. We sit together for a while and talk or maybe watch a movie or an episode of Big Bang or MASH. When it’s time for a bedtime snack, I take mine into the bedroom at the far end of the house and write while my sweetie watches a ball game or the news and weather. It works out great and we both have that little bit of alone time everyone needs in a relationship. I’ve taken to listening to nature sounds on Amazon Music as I write so quite often, in my head, there’s a thunderstorm raging or ocean waves are gently lapping at the shore or birds are singing in a tropical rainforest. It’s so soothing and easy to write to.

My guy bowls on a couple of leagues and has for over thirty years. Bowling offered him the opportunity to socialize with fun people. He is gregarious, and bowling has been a great outlet for him. The other night he stopped at the store on the way home. He always calls me before he heads home because no matter where we are staying…his house or mine…it is a good forty minutes from town. He asks if I need anything. Usually, I don’t. He called me from the driveway the other night and asked me to open the door. He’s not supposed to carry anything in his bad hand yet. When I greeted him at the door, he handed me the groceries and I ducked in the kitchen with them. It was SO cold out there…I wanted away from the door as fast as I could. When I turned around to hug him, he handed me this bouquet of yellow roses.

I love yellow roses. I love great big bouquets of mixed flowers but all in white. I love a live orchid. Mr. Virgo used to bring me flowers. And now…I have this sweet love…this good, good man. And HE brings me flowers, too. Guys like Mr. Virgo and Mr. FixIt are a rare breed. My sweetheart told me the other day he wished we had started dating in high school so we could have had our whole lives together. I understand that thinking, and it’s sweet…really. But the thing is, we are the people we are right now simply BECAUSE of the life experiences we have been through. There is a really big chance we wouldn’t have gotten along in our early years. All of our experiences have been opportunities for personal growth. We came together when we did because it was GOD’S timing…not ours.

When we can move over and get out of the way, God does extraordinary things in our lives. “Let go and let God” isn’t just a pithy saying or a tired cliche from an AA meeting. It is straight outta the instruction manual for life…the Bible. Oh, we are such proud creatures. We want to have control. We want to steer the boat and make it go where WE want it. At any given moment, there is a preordained course designed specifically for us. God knows your name. He has plans to prosper you. God loves you more than anyone in the world. He loves you more than you can fathom. You can make it SO much easier if you put God in the driver’s seat. The easiest way to do that is ask. Just ask Him…first thing in the morning. “Where are you going to take me today, Lord?” Then get out of the way. Oh, my…could it really be that easy??? ❤️

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sweet, Sweet Memories

Sun, 14 Jan 2018 02:30:05 -0600

I was fiddling around yesterday hooking up my new printer and computer when I received a text from an old friend. Cindy lived in the flat below me when Hubby #1 and I lived in England in the early ’70s. We’ve stayed in touch all these years and although we don’t get to see each other very often, we will always be close. We were young and so very far away from home and we became “family”.

To my surprise and utter delight, Cindy sent me several photos. Her ex was in England and had visited our little village. He sent her several pictures of the apartment building and the surrounding area. I have always wanted to go back and this was the next best thing. I’m not terribly surprised to see things look exactly as they did in 1973 when I arrived to begin my life as a newly married military bride. My husband was stationed at RAF Greenham Common in Newbury and we lived in a small village on the outskirts called Thatcham.

I have so many wonderful memories of life on foreign soil. I remember arriving at Heathrow International Airport. I had never flown before and everything was so big and loud. I was raised in a very quiet town in West Virginia. There were very few “foreigners” in our neck of the woods. Mom had a friend who was from Lebanon. I had a distant relative who married a man whose parents immigrated from another country. When I arrived in London, I wasn’t sure there hadn’t been some sort of mistake and I had landed in Pakistan!

As I went through customs, I looked out a long wall of windows and saw nothing but a sea of faces staring back in. I was horrified! I turned to the Customs Agent and asked her how on earth I was going to find my husband in all this mess. She smiled and assured me HE would find ME…not to worry. He did, of course. As we left the parking garage, we entered The Twilight Zone! Every thing was different. We drove on the wrong side of the street. Huge crosswalks called “zebras” made it clear they took pedestrian safety very seriously in this country. As in any major city in the world, the cacophany of car horns were only outdone by the odd “wee woop” of emergency sirens. Big, black taxis looking all the world like they came straight out of a ’50s movie jockeyed for position to pick up the bazillion people frantically waving their arms for attention. I know for a fact I didn’t blink for the first hour I was there.

I remember long drives through rolling fields of green. We lived in horse country. The only thing worse than hitting a pedestrian in England would be hitting a horse! Quite often, horse and rider would be spotted on the little country lanes we traveled and you had to always be on your toes to watch out for them. Hubby #1 worked the night shift so on his nights off, we would drive in the dark, foggy countryside. It was peaceful and quiet then…the yellow streetlights cutting through the dense fog to allow us to see our way.

I had my first baby when I lived in England. We traveled often to Reading for my doctor’s visits. We stopped at tea houses or bakeries or the local fish ’n chips shop. The only fast food in the country that we were familiar with was a Kentucky Fried Chicken there in Reading. We went to a park with our food. There was a large circular pond and people floated big motorized model boats on the water with remote controls. It was all so serene and peaceful. It really was like stepping back in time. The only thing that didn’t feel like a throwback were the young people. They were way ahead of the times sporting mohawks and studded leather jackets. It was an interesting dichotomy.

Shopping was done frequently as the refrigerators were nothing larger than a dorm fridge. You carried a basket to market twice a week to buy food and whatever else you were looking for at the time. Cindy and I often shopped together. I was once mistaken by a shopkeeper as her mother yet I was only two years older than she! Granted, she looked very young for her age and I was very pregnant. Cindy threw a surprise baby shower for me. She is my sweet, forever sister/friend.

I know I’ve talked about this part of my life before, but I wanted to share these photos with you. It was so great to send them to my daughter and say…“Here’s the place we brought you to when we came home from the hospital!” I do SO want to return someday. I want to take Daughter #1 and her family. I’d also like to have Cindy and her husband join us. Dreams. Something to work towards. Always put something joyful in front of you! ❤️

“People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

On Being Brave

Thu, 04 Jan 2018 02:30:08 -0600

I step out…WAY out of my comfort zone here sometimes. I believe in pushing boundaries in order to grow. It has made me a stronger, more well-rounded person to stretch since Mr. Virgo died.

I’ve always been creative. I can draw and paint landscapes, flowers, houses and do a pretty fair rendition. But people and animals…faces…elude me. I never get the proportion right. I’m heavy handed. There is no “life” in them.

When my iPad died at the beginning of the year and I bought a new one, there was this white pencil lying next to it. I asked the salesman what it was and he told me it was a new tool to draw with. He showed me a program called Procreate and he could turn the pencil into a paintbrush loaded with oils or a big, fat pastel or a fine technical pencil. Anything…this thing can be anything! It was magic to me and I HAD to have it. Have it, I did. I knew I wouldn’t have time to really use it until the long dark nights of winter so I’ve been anxiously waiting to play with it.

I have no idea why on earth I would start with a face. I did a study on eyes. I did a quick sketch that vaguely resembled Mr. FixIt. Then I put on my headphones, turned on the Kari Jobe station on Amazon Music and closed my eyes. I thought of Jesus as I listened to the praise music and pictured His face. Then I started to draw. I tried to “get out of the way” and let my hand draw what I saw in my mind. I enjoyed watching it take shape. It’s amateurish, to say the least. And (here’s where I’m stepping out of my comfort zone) I’m sharing it with you here.

I’m much better at painting a picture with words. I’m much better at making a quilt or stitching a sampler or knitting a pair of socks. I’m much better at making jewelry out of old silverware or antique maps. A long time ago, I tried my hand at writing and I listened to the wrong people. They told me my writing wasn’t publishable. That it really wasn’t good. And I believed that, so I stopped trying. This drawing of Jesus may not be very good…but nothing anyone ever says to me will ever make me stop trying again. No matter what it is I’m trying to do.

It doesn’t matter what the end product looks like. It doesn’t matter if a piece of art is gallery worthy. It doesn’t matter if you can’t carry a tune in a washtub. It doesn’t matter if your words aren’t Pulitzer Prize material. What matters is one thing…does it give you joy? If it does…do that! Don’t worry about what others might think. Don’t worry about being judged. Just do what brings you joy!

I’ll keep drawing. Who knows? My writing has improved over the years. Maybe the drawing will, too. But honestly? It’s a form of meditation for me…no matter how it looks. Be brave and stretch! ❤️

““Now get up, Ezra. Take charge—we’re behind you. Don’t back down.”” ‭‭Ezra‬ ‭10:4‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Let Me Entertain You

Sat, 30 Dec 2017 02:30:39 -0600

One of the all time BEST things about Mr. FixIt is this…he LOVES to have guests over as much as I do. I know it’s hart for you to believe but…I love to talk with people and learn about them and visit and tell stories. We had dinner guests three times this week. What a blessing it is to share a table with friends and family.

We started with an appetizer of baked brie en croute with fig jam. It sounds like something complicated but it wasn’t. I bought it at Sam’s, baked it at 375 for 20 minutes. Done!

Our dinner guests brought salad and I served it with hot rolls and an aioli of crushed herbs, salt, pepper, more of that wonderful Chardonnay Garlic infused olive oil drizzled over top, and a small pool of both Mango pulp and Blueberry vinegar. Yummmmm!

For the main course, I roasted two chickens. I did something completely different. I stuffed them with whole garlic cloves, quartered onions, and wedges of lemon. I trussed them up with kitchen twine, rubbed the sling with Chardonnay Garlic Olive Oil and sprinkled them with fresh ground pepper, ground pink Himalayan salt, more garlic, rustic herbs, and crushed rosemary. I placed a parking rack in a roasting pan and baked them at 350 for a little over 2 hours. OMGosh! When I cut into that chicken and the aroma of lemon and garlic hit the air? Wowza! It was awesome.

I accompanied the meal with fresh steamed broccoli with mashed potatoes and gravy (Sam’s ready made Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes and Teay’s Valley Cream gravy made this part of the prep fast and easy.)

Dessert was homemade Gluten Free Bread Pudding with a dollop of French Vanilla Ice Cream. It was pretty heavenly!

Served with a Pinot Noir or my personal favorite, Fré dealcoholized wine, this was a meal fit for royalty. And it really wasn’t that difficult, or expensive, to throw together.

Here’s the recipe for the dessert. Bon Appetit!

Gluten Free Bread Pudding

6-8 slices of stale gluten free bread, cubed 4 eggs 2 cups milk 3 tablespoons Splenda blend brown sugar 1/2 c. Stevia for baking 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon 1/4 tsp. Apple Pie Spice 1 tsp Vanilla 1/2 tsp salt 3-4 big handfuls of raisins About 2/3 c. chopped pecan4 T. butter, melted

Cube bread and place in prepared baking dish. In this case, I used an 8” iron skillet sprayed with Baker’s Joy.

Add raisins and pecans.

Mix the rest of the ingredients and pour over bread. Using a fork, press the cubed bread down into the egg mixture to moisten it thoroughly. Drizzle the melted butter over the top. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven till the top begins to brown and the filling is springy to the touch. Serve warm with ice cream.

❤️

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Here We Go a’Wassailing

Fri, 22 Dec 2017 02:30:51 -0600

I remember going caroling as a young girl. A group of my friends and I would gather and roam the neighborhood, ringing doorbells then singing carols to the family who answered. Of course they were home. It was just after dinner time…families were always home at dinner time.

I loved Christmas when I lived in England. Steeped in such old world traditions, carolers there literally looked as though they had just stepped from the pages of a Charles Dickens novel. Wassail is both a greeting and a drink. Traditional wassail is a complicated affair that includes eggs. This recipe is more like what we call spiced, or mulled, cider. Victorians carried a bowl of wassail out into the street and sold cupfuls for pennies. A bit of toasted bread was placed on top. Hence, the expression…”Let’s have a toast!” when you raise your glass.

Wassail, or spiced cider, or mulled wine…all conjure up Currier and Ives scenes of horse-drawn sleighs, women in capes and muffs, men in top hats, snow gently falling. Sleigh bells jingling with the rhythm of the horse’s gait. The last scene of one of my favorite movies, White Christmas, shows this very picture as they throw open wide the doors behind the stage.

I doubt we will have a white Christmas this year in West Virginia. But we WILL be having “The First Annual FixIt Family Holiday Extravaganza” on Saturday. This will consist of the WVU Basketball game, hors d’oeuvres, opening presents, and eating a big pot of chili with homemade cinnamon rolls for supper. I’m over my cold, thank you God! (Zicam is my secret weapon…reduces a two-week ordeal to three days!) I didn’t go to Colorado this year…for a number of reasons. Mainly because Mr. FixIt had hand reconstruction surgery two weeks ago and couldn’t do much of anything. He’s doing really well…thank you for your prayers. He went to get the stitches removed but it’s not quite healed up enough for that so he’ll go back next week.

What are some of your favorite family holiday traditions? I’d love to hear them! And, if you have a recipe you’d like to share, please do. ❤️

“Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Things That Make Me Smile

Sat, 16 Dec 2017 02:30:58 -0600

These dishes! Man, do these take me back. When I lived at home, I set the table every night with these dishes for as far back as I can remember. I know the Golden Wheat pattern by Homer Laughlin came from boxes of Duz Detergent. The green pattern was also from Homer Laughlin and was called Pastoral. It came in boxes of Mother’s Oats. Mom would get gas every couple of days so she could get glasses from the service stations. And the only “china” she ever owned came from the Kroger Store. I had a set as well. I had some white teacups with a gold rim on them that came from my grandma. She saved them and kept them nice to use at her and Pop-Pop’s Golden 50th, but he passed away two months before their anniversary. I can’t remember but I might have given them to my cousin so she would have some precious family keepsakes.

As you probably experienced in your home, it was difficult to get an entire set of dishes of one type before they went on with a new pattern, so our dinner tables were often set with a mish mosh of mismatched dishes and glasses. There were often hand-me-downs and “heirlooms” mixed it. And then, of course, there was Melmac and Melamine. Those came in handy when there were active kids in the family.

Mom bought her first real set of new dishes when she came to visit me when I lived in England. We went to market in Newbury twice a week. There were vendors there selling everything from yard goods to blood pudding. Don’t ask. It’s gross. Anyway, mom bought what I thought were the ugliest dishes ever made but she adored them. They were brown (the first strike against them) and had a bold black and white geometric pattern around the edges. I know, they don’t SOUND that bad, but trust me…they were awful. I bought a dainty rose patterned tea set. I was predictable. Mom was the maverick. She may not have had much, but she’d gladly share whatever she had.

This has been wonderful trip down memory lane this month. I guess it’s the holidays and missing loved ones that has be looking back with such fondness. I hope you’ve been enjoying taking a break from the news and the hectic hubbub that surrounds holiday celebrations. I’ll see what else I can come up with from the memory banks. ❤️

““Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Happy Accident

Fri, 15 Dec 2017 02:30:04 -0600

I love this time of year! There are so many fun things to do…parties, family gatherings, cookies to bake, trees to trim, packages to wrap. One thing I really miss this year is the chance to see my granddaughters perform in their annual holiday programs at school. I miss my girls. So, when Mr. FixIt’s son called the other night to tell us about his youngest having her program, we were thrilled to say, “Yes!”

I asked Mr. FixIt where the concert was going to be and he said it was at the historic hotel downtown. Neither one of us could figure out why on earth they would have it there. The venue isn’t nearly big enough. But, we didn’t ask questions. We just dressed for the occasion and headed downtown last night. We were lucky and found a parking space pretty close. We were really early so we could get a good seat. We got a coffee and walked around looking at the gingerbread houses on display for the contest being held this week. Finally, we headed to the ballroom to find a seat. When we opened the door, it was set up for a Christmas dinner party. We looked at each other in confusion. A gentleman said we could go on in.

“Ummmm, we’re here for the junior high choir concert.”, I said.

Now it was the gentleman’s turn to look puzzled. “This is the First Bank Christmas Party.”

I saw the light bulb come on over Mr. FixIt’s head. He started laughing. “It’s at the school!” he said. “It has the same name.” In his defense, he’s been taking pain pills since his surgery, but we had a good laugh over it. We had plenty of time to get where we needed to go and we found good seats. If it hadn’t been for Mr. FixIt’s misunderstanding, he wouldn’t have seen the gingerbread houses. So, it was a happy accident that we went to the wrong place first.

This particular granddaughter goes to the same junior high I went to. I remember we had a strong choir program so I was looking forward to not only seeing her perform, but to see how well the choir did in general. As it turns out, they’re doing great. Over 270 students take part in the music program. That’s nearly half the students. They did a great job.

School programs always take me back to the days when I performed onstage. I was in choir all through school and loved it. I still remember my first solo. I was in sixth grade and sang “What’s New at the Zoo in the musical “Cowboy on the Moon”. Yeah…it wasn’t Broadway material, but oh…I thought it was magical! The lights, the applause, the nervous excitement, the new dress or choir robe. Some of my most fond memories are of choir concerts. ❤️

“Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭33:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Let’s Take a Ride on the Brain Train

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 02:30:54 -0600

In the early ‘80s, Hubby #2 was just finishing medical school and was about to start his internship and residency. I was working for a four-doctor Internal Medicine clinic as a Diabetes Educator. The wife of one of the doctors I worked for was writing a book about a kind of water exercise called “Flugel Fitness”. She contracted me to illustrate the instruction manual. In the process of working with her, we had lots of conversations about health and wellness. She had a workout studio and I started some weight loss classes for her. I remember having a conversation with her about my situational anxiety surrounding public speaking and she recommended a book by Shakti Gawain called Creative Visualization. I loved that book and read it many times and it did help.

Creative visualization and guided imagery are sort of like meditation. One image helped me feel grounded. I sat in the lotus position and imagined a lightning rod going from the top of my head, down my spine, and sinking deep within the earth. I pictured energy drawing up from the earth and showering out the top of my head and raining down over me. It was all very New Agey.

At this same time, Daughter #1 was about nine or ten years old. She loved for me to tell her stories at bedtime. Reading Shakti’s book gave me an idea. I wanted to see if creative visualization would work to help an active child settle down and fall asleep more easily. So, I created the Brain Train. We went on lots of “trips” on the Brain Train as I described intricate scenarios. It worked beautifully! She would relax and fall asleep much quicker with this type of guided imagery.

I decided to write a children’s book. I made it like a dry erase book with basic background images. The child uses a marker to draw in what they “see” as they ride the Brain Train through the countryside. It was a fun idea and Daughter #1 loved it. I submitted it to dozens of publishers and received dozens of rejections. Then, about a year later, creative visualization for children took off and there were books similar to mine everywhere. I figure I was just too far ahead of my time, right?

When Daughter #2 came along, she had many of the same anxiety issues I’ve struggled with. One day we were looking through some things and she saw the prototype book that I sent to publishers. I told her all about the Brain Train and we started using creative visualization to help her cope with stress. She loved it as much as her older sister.

I don’t get to talk to the girls as often as I’d like these days. They are busy with their lives. But, yesterday I got to talk with Daughter #2 for a lovely, long conversation. The subject of The Brain Train came up and she told me what an important tool that had been for her and how she still uses creative visualization. She said, “Mom, I still have the painting you did for me. It’s hanging in my bedroom.” She sent me this picture. It brings back so many memories of my girls when they were little. Tucking them into bed…warm from a bath, hair still damp, tummies full of milk and cookies. We would hop onboard the Brain Train and soon found ourselves riding through mountains or along the ocean or through a forest. We saw animals of all sizes and colors. Blue elephants, pink giraffes, polka dot monkeys. We crossed bridges and went through long dark tunnels and soon they relaxed and I heard the familiar deep, even breathing of sleep.

What a gift that was…to learn something I did for them…something I really haven’t thought of in ages…had such an impact. It made me feel like I felt when I held them on my lap, brushing their hair from their foreheads, kissing the top of their heads. It made me feel like a mom. I mean…once a mom, always a mom, right? I mean like a real, active, momming mom. It gave me the feels. ❤️

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

A New Old Tradition

Mon, 11 Dec 2017 02:30:29 -0600

Mr. Fixit and I have a unique relationship. Even though we have only been together a year, we share our earliest childhood memories because we grew up in the same town, at the same time. We are a little over a year apart in age, yet we graduated high school together. We have a lot of conversations that start with…”Hey, do you remember…?” That is unusual unless you’ve been with someone forever. We were in very early grade school together, then my family moved from Parkersburg up to Vienna…the next little town upriver. We joined up again in high school and became the best of friends so, we have literally known each other just shy of fifty years, even though I remember him from 1959.

As we create this new life together, we are revisiting time-honored traditions we each enjoyed with our families growing up. Last night, we shared one of our favorites…driving around looking at Christmas lights. We started our day out going to church. Afterwards, we went to the old Dutch Pantry restaurant for lunch. Now, the Dutch Pantry opened in 1972…the year after we graduated from high school. And, much to Mr. FixIt’s disbelief, I have never eaten there. To celebrate their 45th year in business, the Dutch Pantry is serving four meal specials…at 1972 prices! We had a huge plate of melt-in-your-mouth pot roast over dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and green beans for $2.45!!! It was SO good. Afterwards, we headed to the mall and walked around. I bought a red Christmas sweater for $11 and we went to our first movie together. When we came out, it was dark. We stopped at Rural King and bought cat food and litter, got a cold drink at McDonald’s, and headed to City Park to drive through and see the animated light displays.

One of my most treasured childhood memories was the one night during the holidays when we piled in Dad’s Oldsmobile and drove around to see the Christmas lights. The last stop was the most special. Robert Fankhauser…Dr. Bob…brought me into this world. (Back in the days when they held the baby upside down and smacked them on the butt! Can you imagine???) Dr. Fankauser had a big house on Grand Central Avenue…the main drag through Vienna. He always decorated with elaborate displays. Painted plywood cutouts of angels and carolers and Santa and Rudolph and Elves were the standard fare. But this one year, he made a rocket ship…a nod to the space age we were in. This first photo shows that rocket ship. There was music playing over loudspeakers and everyone drove slowly by with their windows down…ooooohing and ahhhhhhing over the beautiful decorations. It was truly magical.

I love creating new memories with this sweet man who shares so much of my past memories. It is so special and I t makes me smile. ❤️

“I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,” ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

A Lost Art

Thu, 07 Dec 2017 02:30:32 -0600

How many Christmas cards did you get last year? Not too many, huh? Yeah…me either. Maybe it’s because I lived on the road for a couple of years. Maybe it’s because Mr. Virgo died. Maybe it’s because the “old guard”…the older generations…are passing on. Maybe it’s because I stopped sending them. Whatever the reason, the giving and receiving of Christmas Cards seems to have fallen to the wayside with the likes of the “Thank You Note” and the “Handwritten Letter”.

I remember it being such an honor for Mom to let me open a Christmas Card when it arrived. I slowly opened each envelope, being careful not to rip the return address. We ooohed and ahhhed over the picture on the cover marveling over the glitter or the crystals of “snow”. We read every word. We pored over the newsy letter that was enclosed in the cards of those who lived far away. These weren’t “brag letters”. These were informative bringing us up to date with the news of the year because phone calls were expensive and this may be the only way to catch up.

My mom knew a man named Mr. Pancake. Really…that was his last name. One year, he had Christmas Cards made. They were cutouts of a pancake with a smiley face on it. Inside, it said “Merry Christmas from the Pancake House.” We kept that card forever. I think it was still in Mom’s treasures when she died. I don’t know if I kept it or not. That was my most memorable card.

I love the photo cards that you can look back on and see how children have grown and the older folks have aged. I even love the “brag letters”. Getting a piece of mail that isn’t a bill or an advertisement is such a joy that I don’t care what’s in it or on it. I just appreciate the thought.

I was shopping the other day and came across the Christmas Card display. I browsed through them, smiling over Santas and Snowmen and Reindeer. My heart warmed at the Nativities and The Wisemen and Angels. My fingers and hands were sparkling with glitter when I chose a small box and took it to the register. When Mr. Fixit got home from Florida, I showed him my prize. He smiled and took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’ll get my address book.” he said. I smiled back and said, “I’ll get mine.”

Next, we’ll make one that is “ours”. ❤️

“You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:2-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Making Progress

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 02:30:04 -0600

Mr. FixIt came home yesterday! happy dance Doggone it…we really miss each other when we are apart. I always say, “But, I still need my space. I have to have time to recharge!” And I do. About four days and I’m good. After that, I’m ready to see that happy smile on Mr. FixIt’s face. It is a good thing to miss your love when you’re apart. It means you’ve got it goin’ on, right?

I worked like a little bee while he was gone. I did some rearranging and cleaning and decorating and nested like a woman about to deliver. (Thank God THAT’S not happening anymore!) I didn’t want to post pictures while he was gone because he reads my posts every day (didn’t I say he was sweet?) and I didn’t want to ruin the surprise when he walked in the door. I have to say, the look on his face was worth all the work. I literally finished minutes before he pulled into the drive!

Really, the only room we’ve done any work on has been the family room. Some paint, a new desk and chair, editing what was in there, and adding some of my special things, and it’s a whole new room for very little outlay. There’s more to do, but it’s really lovely now and it reflects US! This picture is the corner where I set up my desk and chair. I love how the desk closes up, hiding any “office clutter”. The raven on the top is an old orchard decoy I bought thirty years ago. The heron lamp belongs to Mr. FixIt. The quilt was a wedding gift to Mr. Virgo and me from a friend. It hung in the breakfast nook at my home in Colorado. The sign on the top says “Once in awhile, in an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale.” I bought that to put in my camper as a remembrance of the love I had with Mr. Virgo. And now, it’s doing double duty because I get to live another fairytale!

I’ll share bits and pieces of my decorating as we go along but I have to maintain Mr. FixIt’s privacy as well. Bless his heart, he signed on for a heck of a ride when he asked me out for lunch a year or so ago. He’s never said a word about showing up in my posts, but I want to respect his boundaries at the same time.

The house is decorated for Christmas and this week is jam-packed busy with appointments. I hope you are enjoying your early holiday preparations. If you are experiencing your first (or second, or tenth….doesn’t matter) holiday without your loved one and you’re really missing your person, I hope you are practicing good self care. Reach out here if you need extra support. There are a lot of us here who have been through similar losses and we’re here to help as we can. ❤️

“…I found the one my heart loves.” ‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭3:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

MORE Christmas Memories

Sat, 02 Dec 2017 02:30:56 -0600

I have been on such a nostalgia kick lately! Here’s one I know you all will remember and you probably had (still have!) one of these bad boys. My mom had one that she made in a ceramics class. As a matter of fact, I think I might have made one somewhere along the way. I seem to remember painting on the glaze that puffed up like snow and gluing the little ornaments in the holes. Wow…that’s like opening the top of your head and reaching WAY back in the memory banks!

Mom got to the point where this was the extent of her holiday decorating. When Christmas was over, she dusted off the “tree”, put a dry cleaning bag over it, and took it back upstairs to the attic till the next year. I found it up there after she died. It’s one of the things I saved when I cleared out her house. And, unfortunately, it’s one of the only things that broke during one of my many moves over the years. It made me so sad.

I was rummaging around in the upstairs of the cellar house the other day and ran across one of these in a box up there. I need to get it out and set it up on the dining room table. My aunt used to put it out when she lived there.

I was wandering around the mall yesterday and was thinking of more things we used to get at Christmas. Remember those round bath oil beads? They were jewel-toned, came in about four or five scents, and often were in a tube with a plastic crook on the end to look like a candy cane. You put on in your bath and the hot water would melt the gelatin bead and the oil would come out into the water. Only, who could resist picking it up and playing with it till it completely dissolved???

How about the Easy Bake Oven??? OMGosh! Do you remember how horrible that stuff tasted??? Yet, we ate it! There was Chatty Cathy, Betsy Wetsy, Tiny Tears. I always wanted one but never got one. I did get the bride doll that was as tall as me! And I had a Barbie. My Aunt Marge once traded eggs for a Barbie Doll dress that the neighbor made. I knew that was a big deal for her to do that and I took extra special care of that dress.

How about the socks with the toes in them? Or games like Operation or Chutes and Ladders or Candyland. I remember getting a set of Old Maid cards once.

One year, money must have been really tight. Mom ordered our Christmas presents from a catalog and they didn’t come in time for Christmas. So on Christmas morning, mom gave us each an envelope with the pictures of what we were going to get when the box arrived. But then, when the box did come, Dad found out Mom had charged the items so he made her send them all back. We were so disappointed and to this day, it makes my heart ache for her. She had to have felt horrible that we didn’t get a Christmas.

We moved into the house we grew up in over Christmas break when I was in second grade. The house and furnishings were our Christmas that year. I remember my Grandmother bought me a bedroom set. It was grey, very modern. It had a twin bed and a dresser that had a drop Front that turned into a desk. Grandmother made curtains out of pink fabric with grey poodles on them. There was an old TV console in my bedroom and for some reason, she made a cover for that as well. I even had a black metal trash can with a poodle on it! My brothers room was decorated with a Cincinnati Reds theme. That was a grand Christmas!

I remember when I got old enough to babysit, I would go downtown to Kresge’s and buy Mom a little bottle of Evening in Paris perfume or a chiffon scarf. She always acted as though that was the finest gift a mother could have wished for and it made me so proud. I loved wrapping the presents. As a matter of fact…when we got old enough, she would put our gifts in boxes and I’d wrap my own presents! I wrapped everyone’s presents. It took all day on a Saturday. I’d sit on the floor in front of the TV and use up all the bows and the stickers and the gift tags and have a big time. Then I’d pile everything under the tree. We didn’t have a lot. But we had enough. ❤️

““Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Throwback Thursday

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 02:30:46 -0600

I don’t know about you, but I’m scared of all this threatening talk between the US and North Korea. I need memories of my childhood to focus on so I can sleep at night. So here goes…

I love, love, LOVE Pinterest! Think of anything….some obscure thing from your childhood…and you can just about guarantee someone has posted a picture of it. Like…Glass Wax Window Stencils! I remember the can, the color, the smell, how it felt when it dried on your fingers. I could hardly wait for Christmas so we could get a new set.

And spray snow in a can…remember that? Oh, that stuff was wicked awful. Who knows what kind of chemicals were in that stuff? We would spray it around the bottom of the windows to look like drifted snow. And I would spray it on a mirror that mom set on a table then I’d set up ice skaters and make it look like they were skating on a pond.

Ribbon candy? And those straw-like candies that were crunchy on the outside and had some sort of chocolate on the inside. And Christmas morning we would have an orange in our stocking. Or better yet, a couple of tangerines. And a candy cane. And a handful of nuts, in their shells. And a Lifesaver Storybook! We didn’t have much money when I was growing up, but we had enough for a stocking and a couple of toys. I remember the year I was ten…I got a bike! Somewhere there’s a picture of me in my baby doll pajamas, my finger over my lips and my eyes open wide as I caught sight of it! It was blue. One speed. I think the metal label said JC Higgins on it.

There were a lot of Christmas memories that I used to drag around like a load of bricks…usually surrounding my dad and alcohol. But now? Since I lost Mr. Virgo, I’ve decided to rewrite history and just remember the good parts. There was almost always a doll. A game that my brother and I had to share. Clothes. (Insert eye roll here) I begged Mom to wrap every single thing so it felt like I got more stuff. (See? I learned early about accumulating “stuff”!)

The paper was thin and printed with what are now vintage Santas or Rudolph or stripes or metallic foils. There was flat satin ribbon when we were a little more flush. Usually it was curling ribbon and a bag of cheap bows. And gift tags! There were little gift tags made out of card stock with “Season’s Greetings” and “Silent Night” printed in glitter with a space for “To:” and “From:”.

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. Christmas and my birthday. Some of my very best memories totally surround those two days. What are some of your best Christmas memories? Did you go caroling and sledding? Did the neighbors invite you in for hot cocoa with a big melty marshmallow in it? Did you build snowmen and forts for epic snowball fights? Let’s share some warm fuzzies and forget about the scary stuff for a little while. ❤️

“Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Shift

Wed, 29 Nov 2017 02:30:12 -0600

The earth shifted yesterday. Did you feel it? I did. Mr. FixIt is about halfway through his guy getaway to Florida with his buddy and I’ve been staying at his house…feeding cats, cleaning, decorating, rearranging. It’s been great fun.

For those of you who have been following from the beginning, I downsized and got rid of ninety-five percent of my personal belongings when I sold my house in 2014. I brought those things to West Virginia that I could not part with. A friend has been so kind as to let me store them in his basement all this time. I went over a couple of weeks ago and brought a whole truckload over to Mr. FixIt’s house. The Christmas decorations were all put out so yesterday, I got into the boxes of decorator items. A pink Fenton hurricane lamp, an antique cast iron rabbit doorstop, some quilts, my raven decoy, a sign that says “Kindness Matters”…these found themselves mingled with Mr. FixIt’s memories. Looking at the finished project, they could have all been purchased together for just the same house

I went back into the storage room and lugged the heaviest box to the kitchen. This is where I felt the shift. Do you sense what’s happening here? I’m nesting. The lines of “yours” and “mine” are blurring. Nowhere did I feel this as much as when I opened that heavy box. It was filled with china. Precious cargo that has been carted from one side of the country to the other…never seeing the light of day.

One winter day, what seems like a lifetime ago, Mr. Virgo and I were shopping for a tablecloth. When I caught up with him, he was standing in front of a display of china. He was studying something intently so I followed his gaze. When I saw what he was looking at, I gasped out loud. Royal Doulton’s “Tennyson”. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. And, six months later, I got eight place settings for my birthday. I sat down and cried like a little girl. I’d never had anything so…fine.

Those dishes were packed away in 2014 when I sold my house. Yesterday…I carefully unwrapped each one, inspecting them for chips or cracks. They were perfect. I carefully hand washed and dried each piece and set them out on the dining room table in Mr. FixIt’s house. I thought about how far I have come in the nearly five years since Mr. Virgo died.

Mr. FixIt and I still have an unconventional relationship. He has his place, I am taking care of the family farm. We stay a little here, a little there. We travel, and we stay apart a little. It works for now.

I am so blessed that Mr. FixIt gets me. He’s an angel…tolerant of many things. And he’s thrilled to spend whatever time he can with me. The feelings are mutual. ❤️

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain…” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭127:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And So...It Begins

Fri, 24 Nov 2017 02:30:07 -0600

The other day I found myself with a little time on my hands and stopped at the Blennerhassett Hotel for a Starbucks. The Easter Seal Parade of Trees was on display so I took my coffee and wandered among the holiday decorations, getting inspiration. There were some stunning trees this year. The trees are decorated by volunteers, sponsored by local businesses, and auctioned off to the highest bidder. It’s a wonderful fund raiser for the Easter Seal Society and helps provided needed services for area physically and developmentally disabled children.

I grew up going to the Easter Seal Treatment Center. My big brother was born with cerebral palsy and went to therapy every week. He had physical, occupational, and speech therapy for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories was a play table with little doors. You went in and the door shut after you. It was designed to allow children with disabilities to stand up for a period of time. There were toys and puzzles you could play with on the table in front of you, but what really stuck with me was the milk and cookies we got at snack time. Even though I had no need of these services, I was allowed to attend many of the sessions because I totally understood my brother’s speech when others found it difficult.

Mom learned to drive when my brother was first starting therapy so she didn’t have to rely on my dad to get us to school and therapy at the end of the day. I’ll never forget my mom’s friend Elaine trying to teach her to drive. I sat in the back as mom drove around and around City Park. At one point, we ran up an embankment and nearly hit a tree. Mom put her head down on the steering wheel and cried. She kept saying, “I can’t. I can’t do it!” And Elaine would pat her arm and say, “Wanda…you have these kids to take care of. Of course you can do this. Now, let’s try again.”

Elaine was a saint. And…so was my mom. I look back now at what her life was like and I’m in awe of her. I wasn’t always a supportive child and I sure wish she was here now to receive this new appreciation I feel for her.

Christmas is such a special time of year. I love bringing beauty and light into the long, dark nights of winter. We came back last night from our Thanksgiving visit with my family and will work today to get some decorating done before Mr. FixIt leaves for Florida on Saturday. This will be our second Christmas together…my fifth without Mr. Virgo. Bittersweet becomes more and more sweet with time.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I ate a lot, loved on my family, and took a nap!!! ❤️

“You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry, you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:24 ‭MSG‬‬

With Gratitude

Thu, 23 Nov 2017 10:36:49 -0600

It’s deer season in West Virginia and I bagged my first deer yesterday. Unfortunately, it was with Mr. FixIt’s 2007 Tundra. There was no stopping and I did exactly what I was supposed to do. I didn’t swerve. I held steady. Fortunately, there’s not much damage to the truck but we will have to replace the bumper. I’ve never hit a deer before. One fell down in front of me once but I drove right over it and it jumped up and ran away. I am grateful we weren’t injured and the damage was minimal.

The other night, Mr. FixIt and I were having dinner and talking about Old Mama Kitty being gone. He stopped with his fork halfway to his mouth and asked, “You don’t suppose she wandered into the cellar house when you were in there last week and got trapped, do you?” OMGosh! The look on my face must have been pure horror. He looked at me with such compassion and said, “Don’t worry…we’ll go right back out there and check.” We drove the twenty-two miles and I ran up to the building and checked but she wasn’t there. Im sad she is gone but I’m grateful I didn’t accidentally trap her and keep her from food and water.

We visited my mom’s sister and brother and his wife yesterday. My aunts are having memory issues and my uncle is caring for them. So far they’re holding their own. Actually, the aunt whose dementia is really bad was having a pretty good day. She recognized me and told me she had been worried about me. She put her arm around my neck and pulled me close. She told me she loved me. She waved goodbye with a smile. I am grateful to have made that connection with my aunt.

My uncle regaled us with funny stories all evening…one of which I thought to record. He told the story about the day they rolled the old farmhouse I’m living in down onto the new basement they built. We all laughed. I am grateful for this man’s strength, courage, and sense of humor. Most of all, I’m grateful for his heart…it is full of love!

I am grateful for my Colorado family. They are healthy and happy and enjoying their lives. My brother is doing well. I’ve more than doubled my family since bringing Mr. FixIt into my life. More people to love!

I am grateful to all of you for making a little space in your lives for my words. You all bless me every day. Thank you for indulging me in my stories. May you all be richly blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving! ❤️

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

You Never Know

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 02:30:47 -0600

You buy a desk…you need a chair, right? And not just any chair. I wanted an old banker’s chair. I found one on Facebook Marketplace. I went to pick it up Saturday. The woman I spoke with over the phone was lovely. I felt comfortable meeting her to pick up the chair.

The house was back away from the road…the quintessential farm house. White with green shutters, a long covered porch. As soon as I drove up to the house, the garage door opened and I was greeted by a middle-aged woman. I’ll call her June. June directed me to the chair and helped bring it out to the truck. We stood in the driveway and chatted for the longest time. This was her parents’ place, she told me. Her dad died in July and her mom is starting the daunting process of downsizing. I told her my heart is with her in her loss…then I told her about Mr. Virgo. Suddenly her eyes lit up and she said, OMGosh! You write a blog! You’re Marshmallow Ranch!

This always slays me when someone knows me. And I always go through a little mental inventory of my behaviors leading up to the moment of recognition. You never know who you might be talking to. I have a certain self-imposed regulation. I want to always put my best foot forward and exemplify good Christian values. It was wonderful to make June’s acquaintance.

The family dinner party was wonderful. The only mishap was forgetting to take the candied yams out of the oven to serve. The company was delightful. I cooked for three days and I was exhausted when I posted this so I’ll catch up more with you tomorrow. ❤️

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:27-29‬ ‭NIV

Almost Heaven...Homemade Apple Pies!

Sun, 19 Nov 2017 02:30:46 -0600

One of the happiest places in the world for me is a kitchen. I used to bake competitively and had a huge kitchen back then. My last house had a rather small galley kitchen but I still managed to bake several times a week as Mr. Virgo had a sweet tooth. When I sold that house after his death, I lived much of the next three years in my camper. I don’t know if you have ever tried to bake in a camper oven but they are nothing like a home stove. The bottom of everything burned and I gave up trying to bake anything. There is a big country kitchen at the farm, but I traveled so much this last year, I really didn’t cook all that much. I kind of got out of the baking habit.

We’re having our early Thanksgiving dinner with Mr. FixIt’s family today. I actually started cooking Friday evening. I cooked a bag of cranberries and put them in the fridge in a covered container. I have the sweet potatoes parboiled and in the fridge ready to assemble with butter and brown sugar today. The fresh green beans and ham have been cooked and will just need reheated. Yesterday I fried bacon and added chopped pecans and dried cranberries. I parboiled Brussels sprouts and tossed them with the bacon mixture in my huge electric skillet, then put the whole thing in the fridge. I mixed up two pans of dressing…one sage, the other with nuts and cranberries…sealed them with foil and put them in the fridge as well. Then I made two pumpkin pies and two apple pies.

Today I have to bake a 20-pound turkey and a ham, hot rolls, the two pans of dressing, and the sweet potatoes. I’ll heat everything else up and time it all to be ready at 4:00. The table is set. The ice is made. We are expecting thirteen for dinner. I’ve got this!

The family room is finished. It took three coats of Kilz and two coats of Valspar with primer to cover that dark green but we got it done. I didn’t get curtains made in time for dinner, but that will come soon enough. I sat there enjoying the fruits of our labor, listening to soft music in the background as I wrote this. It was very warm yesterday…nearly 70, but rain came in at dusk and it will continue to get colder as the week progresses.

All but the most stubborn of leaves have fallen now, the color all but gone. I have such vivid memories of going out to the farm for Thanksgiving dinners and having it look just like this. It’s funny how our senses take us back so quickly, isn’t it? The sights, sounds, and smells transport me over six decades and brings me so close to my mom and my grandma. I miss them both so much. And I miss my Colorado family. The grandchildren are growing so fast. I always say this, but I wish Colorado and West Virginia were closer. It’s hard when your heart has two homes. ❤️

“She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:15-17‬ ‭NIV

It’s Just a Phase

Fri, 17 Nov 2017 02:30:27 -0600

Mr. FixIt and I graduated from the same high school class. Our classmates started gathering once every two or three months for dinner. We are “of an age” where loss is too real and we want to enjoy each other while we can. Last night was just such a gathering…and it was wonderful. There were forty-two of us…our largest gathering yet outside of an actual class reunion.

Being the social butterfly that I am, I went from table to table to visit so I could speak with everyone, at least for a few minutes. Some of these people I’ve known since first grade. They are all Important to me, whether I’ve known them forever or not. Some of my dearest friends were talking about Mr. FixIt and I. One of them mentioned I’m in a new phase. She wasn’t crazy about my “I downsized so you all should too” phase. lol I don’t blame her…I can beat a subject to death sometimes.

We’re having a dozen or so family members over for an early Thanksgiving Sunday. The family room is nearly finished. Another coat of Kilz on the second door then the trim color can go on. A little touch up here and there, then up comes the tape and drop cloths, a good vacuuming, and move the furniture back then I can start cooking.

Yes, this IS a new phase. Not totally uncharted territory. I’ve been in relationships before. I’ve nested and played house and been Susie Homemaker. This time around is different somehow. It’s more deliberate…easing into it, savoring each moment like a fine French wine or an aged Camembert. Feeling the silky smoothness of love and fun and laughter and even the serious moments. I love this phase. Remember how you wanted to stop your kids at three…at least for a while? Three-year-olds are perfect. They have gained some reasoning skills and they are sweet as sugar. That’s how this feels. I want it to just be like this…forever and always. I’m a realist…and a dreamer. ❤️

“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7:8-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Letting Out Your Inner Child

Tue, 14 Nov 2017 02:30:05 -0600

I saw something yesterday that totally melted my heart. Daughter #1 is at Disney World with her family and her brother-in-law’s family. She was standing with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. There’s a long story why this was so touching for me.

I was a single mom with #1 by the time she was two years old. It was not easy. We lived in HUD housing. We got WIC and food stamps. There were roaches and the people downstairs abused their kids. I looked in the open door one day when I walked by and my neighbor yelled at me to keep moving or she’d “come up behind me and slit my $&@?ing throat!” It was NOT a healthy scenario and if I had been any brighter or bolder, I would have packed up my stuff and hightailed it back to West Virginia. But that wasn’t what I wanted for my little girl. I wanted her to have every opportunity that I didn’t have growing up and I knew if I worked hard enough, I’d get her out of there. We would have a good life.

And things did get better. I got a really good job. I found a roommate, I lived frugally. I got good daycare. She was never wanting for the basics, but there wasn’t much extra. Just lots of love. Then, we met Hubby #2. He was applying to medical school. We worked really hard. He was a good daddy and a great provider…even though it was many years before we started making any money.

We moved to a small town when my ex finished residency and joined a practice. We were thrilled to be in the mountains and a lovely community. Daughter #1 was going into 7th grade…a tough age to make such a big move. The kids at school only knew her as the “new doctor’s daughter”. There was a group of kids out on the lawn one day, talking about how hard it was to not have money for nice things. My daughter spoke up and said she totally understood that. The kids scoffed and she told them, her dad wasn’t BORN a doctor. There were many nights we ate a box of generic mac & cheese and a tomato out of the yard. She had a genuine appreciation for where she came from and she gained the respect of all the kids.

Still, we didn’t really start making a decent living till she was nearly finished with high school. Then we had her little sister. My girls are nearly sixteen years apart. It was a different world raising the two of them. The level of affluence was drastically different and the little one definitely made out when it came to vacations. My younger one was only two or three the first time we took her to Disney World. By then, her older sister was in college. I never did get to take my oldest to see Mickey and Minnie…something she never, ever let me forget, even though she understood why.

She’s been to Disneyland a couple of times with my son-in-law’s family. But never Disney World. Not till this week. I’ve been going on her Facebook page several times a day to see the pictures she posts. Yesterday…there she was. Beaming. Standing between Mickey and Minnie, grinning from ear to ear. The post simply read, “Six-year-old me is happy.” It made me smile. It warmed my heart. She is showing her children a good time. She is sharing her joy with them. She’s such a good mom and I’m so proud of her. I’m proud of both of my daughters. And…I’m happy they know how to let their inner child out to play. ❤️

“Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sweetness

Sun, 05 Nov 2017 02:30:40 -0600

It seems like yesterday when I traced the delicate shell of my first baby’s ear. She was so tiny at just over five pounds. I was terrified I would break her. That was forty-three years ago. Twenty-seven years ago, I did the same thing with my second daughter. Thirteen years have passed since my first grandchild was in my arms and ten since I cradled her little sister. I thought it would be a long time before I got to hold a little baby again. But, along with Mr. FixIt came a brand new great grandchild and I’m in love all over again!

Oh, this makes me ache for Big and Little…my sweet grand daughters in Colorado. I won’t get to see them till Christmastime. They are growing so fast…and without me. This is the hard part…the only downside…of living in West Virginia. Being so far away from my family. I wish I could tie a rope around Colorado and a rope around West Virginia and pull them closer together. My heart has two homes and sometimes it really hurts when I’m away from those I love. Holding this little sweet thing (who I am SURE is going to call me Gigi!) brings me all kinds of feels.

We had a first yesterday. Our first dinner party together was quite successful. I used that electric pressure cooker again. This time I cooked a pork roast. Mr. Virgo only wanted pork roasts actually ROASTED in the over with EVO, garlic salt and pepper. I seared this roast in a hot skillet then placed it on a bed of sliced onions in the bottom of that pressure cooker, sprinkled it with fresh ground salt, pepper, rustic herbs and garlic and two cups of water. I cooked it on high for 45 minutes then turned it off and let the pressure come down on its own. I opened it and checked the meat and it wasn’t quite tender enough. I cooked it another 45 minutes (it was a big roast) and released the pressure. I let the roast rest in its juices while I made mashed potatoes, fried sauerkraut, green beans, fried apples and hot rolls. When the guests arrived, I tore off chunks of the roast with a fork and served it with the rest of the fixings on the side. It was wonderful and we all had a fun evening filled with fellowship and laughter.

In case you forgot, daylight saving time is over. Turn your clocks back an hour. Have a blessed Sunday, dear ones. ❤️

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I Spy With My Little Eye...

Sat, 04 Nov 2017 01:30:20 -0600

Some very observant readers picked up on something in my picture yesterday. My inbox lit up like a Christmas tree! I didn’t answer the questions directly and suggested they come back today to read my post. I love a little mystery. What was it they saw? A ring…a shiny ring…on my left hand!!! squeeeee

Yes, I have a ring! And in all fairness, so does Mr. FixIt. I gave him his first though. So here’s how it went down, what it means, and how we’re feeling about it.

Early in the year, just a couple months after Mr. FixIt and I started seeing each other, we found out there was something wrong with his blood. The initial thoughts were he had leukemia. Suffice it to say, we were both pretty devastated about it. After all, we just “found” each other again after 45 years. It would be terribly tragic to turn around and lose him, too. He had more tests run and they were worse, so we went for a bone marrow biopsy.

We had been talking about a life long commitment but that’s as far as it had gone. Then the blood thing came up. I wanted some way, some outward sign that would show Mr. FixIt that…no matter what the results of this bone marrow biopsy, I was in this for the long haul. I didn’t want him to worry or be afraid. I happened upon a beautiful gentlemen’s ring and in a moment of impulse, I bought it. We were leaving for the hospital when I pulled out the box and told him I wanted him to know…good or bad…I’m not going anywhere. I thought he was going to cry. He knew I was sticking with him, but the gesture was not lost on him. He asked if this meant we were engaged. Smiling, I said, “Halfway.”

One evening we were going out to dinner with friends and I stopped by Mr. FixIt’s to get ready. I was sitting out front when he came home. He said, “Oh! You’re wearing my favorite dress!” I stood up and twirled around. He had a concerned look on his face and I thought. “Uh-oh. Somethings wrong.” He looked at me and said the dress was missing something. Something sparkly. Then he gave me this beautiful ring!

Here’s where it gets complicated. This is the most personal I’ll ever get about our relationship. I don’t want to get married again. At least, not in the conventional way. I’ve had three husbands. That’s two other women’s quotas. It has nothing to do with how much I love Mr. FixIt…or Mr. Virgo, for that matter. When women of a certain age become widows, they qualify for “widow’s benefits”. If they get married, they lose that. Things don’t work in the widow’s favor in this regard. Therefore, a lot of very long engagements take place in my age bracket. And that’s just fine.

From a faith standpoint, it slays me that women are forced to lose income in order to do what God says to do. Someone said to me…”Well, you aren’t trusting God to provide.” To which my answer is…maybe He already provided. Maybe those widow’s benefits ARE his answer to prayer. The Lord takes care of those who help themselves. To me, it would be crazy to throw away money He had provided.

Long engagements are still in vogue. I will be here for the long haul. The rest is a matter of semantics. So, no…there’s no date set. No fanfare. No hoopla. Just love. Lots and lots of love…always and forever. I’m sure I’ll be talking to God about it when I get to Heaven. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long conversation! ❤️

Edit: He still has an abnormality which they have determined is not leukemia. They still don’t know what it is. We have to repeat the tests in six months. I’m sorry. I was writing this late and missed that piece.

“…..may you ever be intoxicated with her love.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭5:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Turning Back Time

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 01:30:31 -0600

Mr. FixIt and I go to church every Sunday. It has become the center of our relationship and sets the tone for the rest of the week. It helps us keep our focus on God first. This is the first time in my life that I can go to church with my love every single week. I love it!

We went to the noon service yesterday and decided to drive over in Ohio to a flea market we’ve had our eye on. Really, the only thing there I felt was worth going for was a really awesome antique store. They had a lot of beautiful pieces of furniture at very reasonable prices. But the one thing that really caught my eye was the Soapbox Derby racer. It was obviously sponsored by someone out of Zanesville…a rather large town east of Columbus on I-70. It brought back such fond memories.

I have some cousins on my dad’s side of the family through my dad’s youngest brother. When I was growing up, my mom used to take us to their house several times a week. My cousins were older than me so we weren’t terribly close. But I adored my aunt. She was always fifty years ahead of her time. She did great projects with her kids. One year they actually built canoes and studied the currents in the Ohio River. They built a putt-putt golf course in their yard. They went scuba diving and water skiing. I was enthralled with all of them. They were larger than life. I remember feeling honored when I got their hand-me-downs.

One year, the passion-du-jour was the Soapbox Derby. In typical fashion, my aunt sat down with the kids and researched and pored over ever bit of engineering information they could get their hands on. And they meticulously built the perfect racer. And, of course, my cousin won. They always won everything they put their minds to. One year, there was a treasure hunt. The grand prize was a Ford Pinto. They won. They were awesome.

When I saw that racer in the antique store, it made me think of other toys and things of my childhood. I went on my Pinterest page and created a board called “Childhood Memories” and…holy cats! So many cool pics popped up. Things I had totally forgotten about, like those colorful pens you could buy as souvenirs with a scene in a water-filled tube. There would be something like a boat or an airplane that would move through the water when you tilted the pen. I found a TV that was just like our first one. There was our phone, and my skate key, and colored toilet paper and the black and white sign-off screen when the station went off the air at night.

If you’re interested, you can check out my Pinterest boards at https://pin.it/h0vDp2x I have all kinds of boards on there. Pinterest is addictive, though…quite a time suck if you let it. I have to limit myself or I could lose hours in there!

I’m having coffee with some of my high school friends today…one of which I haven’t seen in nearly fifty years. Talk about bringing back childhood memories! I hope you have a great start to your week! ❤️

“And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.” ‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭8:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

#childhood, #memories, #soapboxderby

A Bird's Eye View

Wed, 18 Oct 2017 01:30:29 -0600

Have you ever gone on Google Earth and looked at the places you know? I remember one winter day before Mr. Virgo died. I was missing home…the dense, green woods and dusky purple mountains of West Virginia. Google Earth was still relatively new and they had just added the “street view” feature. I plugged in the address for Grandma’s farm, clicked on the little man icon, and…viola! I was “standing” in front of the farmhouse! I was SO excited! I quickly moved the map so I could “drive” down the two-lane blacktop the three miles, taking in every turn, house, and tree. It was mesmerizing. I could “go home” anytime I wanted to! I have “traveled” to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, London to ogle Big Ben, Rome to see the ancient ruins…all from the comfort of the easy chair in my living room.

The other night, Mr. FixIt was doing a little virtual traveling and he stumbled upon this. TOW-Wanda! MY camper…sitting right where I park her in the summer! I know approximately when this was. This is mostly uber cool…and, a little bit spooky in a Big-Brother-is-watching-you sort of way. It’s a good thing there was no nude sunbathing going on…for a vast number of reasons! ?

This satellite photo was taken about fifteen months after Mr. Virgo died. I had been full-timing in my camper for about seven months at this point. I was interviewed yesterday for another episode of Janine Pettit’s Girl Camper podcast. This time we talked about full-timing…dream vs. reality. I’ll post a link when it goes live.

Living on the farm has been such a treat that I’ve hardly thought about whether I miss all that time I spent on the road. The answer is yes…and no. Could I do that again? Yes! Would I? Maybe. I’m a lot more awake and aware now than I was back then. Grief brain may have clouded my judgement sometimes. But I’ve never regretted having that time alone out in the wilderness and backroads. I was so free and life was pared down to the bare essentials. There’s something to be said for simplicity. Janine asked me if I ever found myself lonely and I’m not sure I properly answered. I’m a people person. I’m gregarious and thrive in a place where I can have regular contact with people I know and love…friends and family that love me for who I am and I can let my hair down. I think that was the driving force behind allowing the Siren Song of the farm to lure me into planting some roots…at least for a while. And now…I have Mr. FixIt. We both love to travel and we never stay put for too long. But I’m looking forward to some nesting this winter. That’s the goodness of fall…it invites us to put another log on the fire, brew a nice cup of tea, and read a good book. The campers are put away for the season and I’m ready to be a homebody for a while. ❤️

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A Perfect Fall Day!

Sun, 15 Oct 2017 01:30:56 -0600

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day for football yesterday. It was HOT…about 84…and not a cloud in the sky. The stadium was sold out and the crowd was great. West Virginia clearly got our butts whipped the first half. Frustrating calls, penalty flags out the wazoo, and eleven points down definitely put a damper on things. I was thinking to myself (ok…I MAY have said it out loud) that maybe college football games weren’t my thing. Mr. FixIt looked at me and said, “It’s not over yet…you just wait.” As if he somehow held a crystal ball and knew a change was coming.

The halftime show was cool. The alumni band played because it was homecoming and they mentioned my friend Karen Nutter Ali as being the oldest alumni member playing. They crowned the homecoming king and queen. I ran into someone I knew. Then…the magic happened. The Mountaineers came out on the field looking less like an aberrant junior high school team and more like a well-oiled machine. Far less flags flew in the second half as the ’eers finally settled down and got it together. Down eleven points as they left the field at the half, they ended up trouncing Texas Tech 46-35 to win the game. They always play John Denver’s “Almost Heaven” at the end of every game but the atmosphere is electric when sung in victory. My heart swelled and I teared up as I sang along with 65,000 Mountaineer fans. It was glorious!

After the game, we joined Mr. FixIt’s family for a tailgate party. I’m just now meeting more of his family and it was great fun! The meatball sliders I made were a big hit. Here’s the recipe.

www.jessicagavin.com/grandmas-…

Note: I used three pounds of ground beef so I added a little extra of the other ingredients to compensate. I also used jar sauce but added two cans of fire-roasted diced tomatoes and about a cup and a half of diet blackberry flavored fizzy water for a sweet kick. I used packaged hot rolls from the grocery store, cut them in half, added a meatball, a little sauce, and some shredded mozzarella cheese and topped with the other half of the roll to make a little sandwich. I arranged the sliders in two disposable aluminum baking pans. I brushed the tops with a little melted butter and sprinkled the top lightly with garlic salt, covered with foil and baked them at 375 until the cheese was melted. Yield: 24 sliders. These were SO good! I’ll definitely make them again.

❤️

“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Let's Go, Mountaineers!

Sat, 14 Oct 2017 01:30:04 -0600

Today is a day I’ve been looking forward to for months. I’m attending my first college football game…EVER! West Virginia takes on Texas Tech at home. Milan Puskar Stadium is a couple of hours from the farm so we’ll be up early. We’re tailgating so I need to get the food assembled early since it’s a noon game.

Mr. FixIt is a seasoned Mountaineer Fan. One of his three degrees came from WVU and he is a rabid fan. Ra-bid. We listen to the game on the radio when we’re driving and he’s a hoot to watch. He’s bought me three WVU shirts. So far. Yesterday afternoon he announced we needed to go wash my truck to take to Morgantown. I didn’t get it till we got home and he stuck two big WVU magnets on my tailgate. Ahhhhh….it’s going to be one of THOSE days! I’m excited, actually. I had such a good time at the basketball game Mr. FixIt took me to. The football game is a sellout so there will be around 65,000 people there!

WVU has three games a season where they play up a color. One is gold, one is blue, and the other is striped. The game against Texas Tech is striped, meaning even numbered sections wear gold, odd wears blue. We’re gold…hence the new shirt! ?

Since I’ve never tailgated, I went to my favorite supplier of fun ideas…Pinterest. I searched for tailgate recipes and got an idea for meatball sliders but I wasn’t crazy about the recipe itself. I Googled “Italian Meatballs” and came up with this great recipe. I used jar sauce (some Italian grandmother is rolling in her grave) but I used the meatball recipe. I used three pounds of meat because I made twenty four sliders. I used store bought hot rolls, sliced them, put a meatball with a little sauce on it, sprinkled with shredded mozzarella, topped with the other half of the hot roll, brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with garlic salt. I put them in an aluminum sheet cake pan, covered tightly with foil and popped them in a 375 degree oven till everything was hot and melty while I got ready. Just before we left, I took the sliders out of the oven, covered them tightly with foil and popped the whole thing in a paper bag and wrapped it tight with a couple of towels and set it on the floor of the back seat. Voila!

I’ll have pictures for you tomorrow along with a game day recipe for Italian Meatball Sliders.

? Go, ’eers!!! ?

❤️

“He has blocked my way so I cannot pass…” ‭‭Job‬ ‭19:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Free Spirit

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 01:30:38 -0600

Much of my life was spent trying to conform…to not be too loud, too big, too much. To fit into the mold of who I (and others whose opinions I valued over my own) thought I should be. I was a doctor’s wife. I was supposed to fit in, entertain, volunteer. I converted to Judaism. I smiled, a lot. I had a perky voice. I did the best I could. And still, things unraveled, my marriage fell apart, and it darned near killed me.

It took a long time, and a lot of therapy, to find my voice. So many times women hang their identity on a hook by the front door and become who they need to be…who they’re expected to be. I have two beautiful daughters who are wonderful adults. Honestly, I don’t know how they survived me because I was a hot mess back in the day.

Mr. Virgo was the first man to really “get” me. He was patient and listened intently and fiercely supported me. He helped me see, and really FEEL, my value. When he died suddenly, my world and my self-confidence was rocked. When I was alone on my grief journey in the wilderness and backroads of Colorado in the first few months after he died, I really understood for the first time that it’s up to me to be happy. If we search for happiness from external things, we will always be disappointed.

I had a Mr. Virgo-sized hole in my heart and a God-sized hole in my life. I couldn’t bring Mr. Virgo back, but I could…and DID…reach out to God to fill me up with a peace only He could give. My go-to scripture became “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Over and over, through long anxiety-riddled nights, I repeated it till I believed it…till I felt it in my bones. And magically, God filled in the empty, hurting places with a golden love-light like none I had ever known.

I was telling someone yesterday…I loved Mr. Virgo with the white-hot heat of the sun. But I still never felt whole till I loved GOD with the white-hot heat of HIS Son. My light shines from within. I carry myself differently. I’m happy and content with myself and my life. And now? Now I have Mr. FixIt. I’m so glad he came into my life after I was broken open. I don’t know that we would have appreciated each other if this would have happened at any other time in our lives.

God’s timing is so perfect. ❤️

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:6-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Long Horns to Long Rifles

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 01:30:01 -0600

It’s going to rain today…thank God. We haven’t had measurable precipitation in a month and its dreadfully dry. Since yesterday was such a gorgeous day, chores were put on the back burner yet again and we went gallivanting all over three counties. Our first stop was to finally get some pictures of these magnificent long horned cattle. Seems there’s a wealthy oil man in our county who likes them so he bought himself some. I believe these are a cross between longhorn and the watusi. I must say, you do a double take when you drive down a two-lane blacktop in West Virginia and come across these big boys! I had an uncle who had white-faced cattle simply because he liked looking at them through the window when he ate breakfast…so, I get it.

The next stop was Elizabeth’s Pioneer Day. That’s singular…as in, blink and you miss it. We ran into cousins. Did I tell you I love small town life? We missed the car show but we visited the town’s museum where my cousin regaled me with more juicy family history that I was, as yet, unaware of. I love hanging with them…not only are they fun, but they’re educational.

The last stop was really awesome. As we rounded a curve to head back to the farm, there was a Civil War reenactment camp set up in a field. Mr. FixIt turned to me and smiled. Blog fodder! We turned in and introduced ourselves and an hour later we were making ourselves at home, telling stories and laughing around the campfire. Mr. Virgo was a huge Civil War buff so I’ve watched dozens of documentaries on the subject. I felt a softness around me as the sun hung low over what will today become a battlefield. That part I have no interest in seeing. But the people? I wanted to know who they were, how long they’ve done this, how often, and why? Turns out, they’re Civil War buffs, just like Mr. Virgo. One couple have been doing reenactments for 29 years. They were from Ohio and West Virginia. Some represented the Union, others the Confederacy. I didn’t ask why. It didn’t matter.

They were quick to share their knowledge. They took great pride in their clothing and uniforms and weapons…and knowledge. They explained the flags and the units and the differences in the tents. They cooked over an open fire, just as I did last weekend. They slept on rope beds and bedrolls the last two nights. They had young men and a young boy with them, teaching them the old ways. It was absolutely fascinating. And, instead of scrawling a rural address with a hand sharpened pencil on a page from a bible to be tucked away, hoping to reconnect when the battle was over…we became friends on Facebook. And, we were instantly brought back to 2017.

I love the connections I make doing what I do. I was thrilled when I surpassed 6,000 readers over the weekend. I’m honored and humbled to write stories for you every day. Thank you so much for being here. ❤️

“a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Country Livin'

Sat, 07 Oct 2017 01:30:50 -0600

It took two days to empty TOW-Wanda, clean her up, and winterize. It took an hour to empty both pickups, twice, into my itty bitty farm house. It took forty-five minutes to make pancakes, eggs, bacon and coffee yesterday morning. It took me approximately two minutes to convince Mr. FixIt to take me on a ride in the country instead of sorting through all that stuff and putting it away. Two minutes. Not bad!

We headed back on the hill to check the back end of the farm. Someone has been up there with a brush hog clearing out paths for hunting season. There are several people who have permission to hunt back there so I wasn’t surprised by that. We saw one hunter but he was camped two farms over. Nothing looked awry up there so we headed on our way.

One of the fun things Mr. FixIt and I have in common is our love for taking off out country roads just to see where they go. We wound our way through the woods on a two lane blacktop till we started seeing a lot of houses having garage sales. We stopped at a few and I came SO close to buying an old Maytag wringer washer for $40 but declined at the last minute. I. Need. NOTHING! Sigh.

We finally got to Grantsville and stopped at the little market for vegetables for supper. Mr. FixIt remembered hearing about a historic village and wanted to see if we could find it. We stopped at the courthouse to ask directions. There was a man on the street so Mr. FixIt asked him if he’d heard of the place. He sure had! His aunt lives right at the turnoff. I love country life! Everyone knows everybody.

Heritage Village was restored by the Calhoun Historical Society. There’s a chapel, a blacksmith shop, a school, a post office, a store, a cabin and a house. They had all been salvaged from around the countryside and reassembled at a beautiful park. There’s a community building, a few picnic shelters, playgrounds, and a small campground there with electric hookups. The park is in an area with very low light pollution so a lot of people go there for star gazing.

The woods have finally got some color in them and the day was perfect for a drive. We got home and Mr. FixIt mowed the lawn while I fixed supper. We sat on the porch listening to the wild turkeys in the woods. These are the days we live for. Peace. Quiet. Beauty. Love. There is nothing more wonderful save for being surrounded by family. That I miss terribly. If they were here, life would be perfect. ❤️

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭126:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

My Love-Hate Relationship

Wed, 04 Oct 2017 01:30:45 -0600

“It’s part of the camping experience!” This is the justifying battle cry of the die hard camper when it comes to the subject of campfires. But I have a distinct love-hate relationship with them. I love the crackling of the wood and the shower of sparks you get when you throw another log on. I love the welcome blast of heat when the night air has chilled me to the bone. I love splitting wood and the satisfaction of seeing a plentiful stack ready for a long winter. I burned wood as my primary source of heat for four long, cold Colorado winters and I cut, hauled, split, and stacked wood for four long, hot summers. I love a wood fire. I love a wood burning stove with a pot of stew bubbling on top in a cast iron Dutch oven.

Those things I love…AND hate. I hate wasting natural resources and polluting the atmosphere. I hate the dirt and bugs you drag into your house when you burn wood. I hate spending all that time cutting, hauling, splitting and stacking only to watch all that hard work go up in smoke. And speaking of smoke….that is the number one thing I hate about a campfire. Seriously, it doesn’t matter WHERE I sit in the Sister circle around the campfire, the smoke ALWAYS comes straight at me. I get up and move…here it comes. Move back…it’ll find me. And I can’t breathe. It chokes me, hurts my lungs, burns my eyes, and I guarantee you everything I own will smell like I’ve been fighting a forest fire for a month. The worst thing is when the campfire dies down, you go to bed, and you lie there in your camper, windows open, hoping to catch a cool breeze or hear the owls, but noooooooo….in wafts this dank smell of wet ash and smoke mixed with fog and dew…creeping over the campground, up the outside wall, through the window and fills my camper. I’m forced to either close the windows and roast or leave them open and cough.

This makes me sound like a boat load of fun to go camping with, doesn’t it? I try really hard to rein it in while I’m camping with others because I truly understand the campfire is a huge part of the camping experience for most people. So I play musical chairs a lot and try not to look too ticked off when the smoke inevitably finds me. But when I’m camping alone, I pull out my propane fire ring (this is the one I use but there are others Camp Chef Compact and Portable Outdoor Camping Gas Fire Ring with Lava Rock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GSGSRFO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vAn1zbZZ9SE81 ). I set up my chair, turn that bad boy on, roast a marshmallow or two, enjoy the heat, relish in the clear air, and turn it off at the end of the evening. No smoldering ashes to worry about setting the woods on fire. No smoke laying low over the campground and sneaking into my camper. No smelly hair, clothes, bedding, etc. I swear…when Mr. FixIt kissed me goodnight…he tasted like smoke. I kissed him anyway…I’m such a martyr.

I love to camp and I love the looks and sounds of the campfire and the time shared with friends sitting around it. But if I had my druthers, I’d light up the gas fire and call it good. ❤️

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:28-29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Hickory Tussock Caterpillar

Tue, 03 Oct 2017 01:30:25 -0600

When my youngest was little, there were certain words she had trouble pronouncing. Me being a wordy, I had to correct her. We once were in the sewing center. She was crawling around and pulled herself up on the chair and babbled something. I asked her to slow down and enunciate so I could understand her. And she did. We never spoke baby talk to her. She would have called this a “capetiller”. There were mazagines" and “hopistol”. “Ambliance” and “swanich”. These are wonderful memories.

This particular “capetiller” was rummaging around in the leaves by the campfire at Beaver Creek State Park yesterday morning. It’s one of those that can leave you with an itchy rash much like poison ivy so it’s best to leave them alone. There are several caterpillars that sting and irritate the skin so you should wear gardening gloves when picking up leaves this time of year.

The drive home from camping was uneventful. It was getting dark by the time we hit Parkersburg so we took the camper over to Mr. FixIt’s house and we’ll clean it out today. I emptied the tanks and the clean water reservoir. Now we can winterize it.

I’m truly looking forward to some down time. It will give me time to reflect on the wonderful people I’ve met, the beautiful sites I have seen, and the wonderful times I have shared with family and friends and especially with Mr. FixIt. I am so blessed. ❤️

“and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭33:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Last Hurrah

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 01:30:52 -0600

Hanging up the camper for the season is always so sad but TOW-Wanda will stay at the farm with me for a little while longer. I’ll need to clean her out really well and winterize her. We’re still up in the air about travel plans for February and March so I need to have her ready to face freezing weather.

Yesterday was glorious. The Girl Campers gathered midweek at Beaver Creek State Park in Lisbon, Ohio and stayed through the weekend. A lot of time was spent around the campfire talking, laughing, and bonding. Hugs were plentiful as many broke camp yesterday and headed home. We had more gals in tents this year. We had a couple of gals who had minivans set up with beds in them which I found intriguing. It got really cold the last couple of nights (down into the 30’s!) so these gals are hardy souls! As Janine Pettit says… Girl Campers…we go places and we do things!"

Some of the gals painted tennis shoes. One gal made kettle corn over the fire in a cast iron Dutch oven. She used a handmade wooden paddle that I coveted. I used a sandwich iron for the first time and grilled a sandwich of cream cheese with cinnamon butter on the outside. We visited the Pioneer Village where they use an old grist mill. I purchased some freshly ground corn meal and buckwheat flour. Then last evening, a 1937 International towed a little camper into the campground and I was smitten! I love old cars and this one was pretty funky.

We didn’t hear any owls last night. They seem to move around from place to place within the park. Beaver Creek is such a gorgeous place. This is my fourth time camping here. It’s only about four hours from home so it’s pretty easy to get here and I love the camphost. She’s a dear friend of mine. We are going to an apple orchard today before we head back to the farm. There’s lots to do at home to prepare for winter and it’s coming on fast. ❤️

“So heap on the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well, mixing in the spices; and let the bones be charred.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭24:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Camping

Sun, 01 Oct 2017 01:30:13 -0600

I went to church camp when I was thirteen. I remember having a wonderful time but I don’t quite remember what we did. My camping excursion this week has seriously felt like BEING at camp. This State Park (which I will name Monday) has the best naturalist. He organized a fly fishing class yesterday afternoon. Five of us went and had a grand time. One gal caught a little fish and was so excited. We were excited FOR her. We didn’t have waders. I had rubber rain boots and I promptly filled them by stepping in too deep. So I just kept on going and waded in up to my hips. I didn’t catch anything but it didn’t matter.

Our next activity was the “stream stomp”. We held a net across and below rocks in a riffle and someone would pick up the rock. The net would catch any little critters that had been hiding under the rock. Some children who were camping nearby joined in and it was so much fun watching them giggle and squeal over the crawfish and hellgrammites (dragonfly nymphs) that landed in our nets.

I spent much of the afternoon with the publisher/editor of Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine for an article they are doing about the Girl Campers. I was thrilled to represent this great group of gals and talk about Janine Pettit and all of her hard work with her podcasts. Gail Bable, the camphost of this park, joined me for some photos. I’ll let you know when the article comes out.

The next thing on the agenda was an archery lesson. I can’t remember when I last shot a bow but I remember I loved it. I originally learned archery in high school. It turns out, I’m a pretty good shot.

The day ended with 27 people around a campfire listening to the park naturalist give a talk on honeybees. The entire day was fun and fascinating and one I will long remember. ❤️

“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Fall Camping

Fri, 29 Sep 2017 01:30:34 -0600

I don’t think there’s anything that beats camping in the fall. I do more camping in September than I do the rest of the year, total. The nights are crisp which makes for great sleeping. The days aren’t unbearably hot but still plenty warm to go out and do fun things. The mosquito population is much less intrusive by this time of the year making things more pleasant. I hate using insect repellents so this is a distinct advantage.

I’m with the Girl Campers in one of my favorite state parks in Ohio. (I’ll tell you which one once I leave…I never divulge where I’m camping in real time.) Our numbers grew yesterday so there were more chairs around the campfire last night. One of the Misters of the Mister-Sisters showed up and he thoroughly enjoyed himself sitting around the campfire with all these women.

I spent the day visiting with the girls and getting my camper set up. We didn’t get a chance to clean and organize after the last camping trip. The weather really cooled off yesterday and into the night. I put the electric blanket back on the bed. That comes in handy at about 4:00am.

Besides seeing old friends and meeting new ones, the best part of last night’s campfire was the barred owls. They were talking all around us and it was SO cool. At one point, one was in the tree right above TOW-Wanda and was really loud. I love hearing them. I took my spot light out but couldn’t see any.

This is probably the last big camping trip of my season so I’m going to enjoy every minute of it. And, since this is a Mister-Sister trip, my Mr. FixIt is joining me later on today! It’ll be the first time I get the chance to introduce him to my camping friends and I’m really looking forward to it! More gals arrive today…the more, the merrier! ❤️

“That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When the Party's Over

Sun, 24 Sep 2017 01:55:09 -0600

Girl time is important to me. Yesterday it was coffee with a few of my home girls…the ‘71 Divas Do Coffee. We figure Starbucks is cheaper than therapy. I popped into the Women’s Center at 7:00am to get the tatas smushed (Save the Tatas, ladies. Get your mammograms!) then ran over to the hotel to wait for my tribe. They never disappoint. Once we were properly caffeinated and had solved the world’s problems, we went our separate ways till next month.

Two weeks ago it was twenty-four Sisters and last weekend it was four Girl Campers. On Wednesday, I meet up with thirty-five or so Girl Campers (and some Mister Sisters) for five nights of fun and frolic in eastern Ohio. Given the week I just had, I promise you there will be napping involved!

The anticipation of a trip is delightful. We “meet” ahead of time on the Meetup app page or a Facebook page to get to know one another and get directives. We send messages back and forth. We share recipe ideas and weather forecasts. We count down how many sleeps till we get there. It can be a little stressful…especially when you are new at it. But overall, you should just go with the flow and have fun.

The day you arrive at the event, you get unhooked and do any decorating you might like in and around your camper. I had two huge tubs of decorations I used to use but have pared way back since my camper is for living in, not necessarily for showing off. Once you’re settled, you go around and greet old friends and make new ones with the common bond of loving outdoors adventure. The fun commences in earnest!

The first night is usually a meet-and-greet potluck. The second might have a low scale event and the third night is usually an all out blowout. You fall in bed, tired and happy. But then comes the inevitable and you have to say goodbye. It’s like summer camp when we were kids and we cried when we had to say goodbye. There’s definitely a certain melancholy that comes over you when you hook up and head home. But you promise to do it again. And you exchange recipes and contact info and ride off into the sunset.

I love this picture that was posted on the Sisters on the Fly page yesterday. I asked the photographer for permission to use it, which she graciously gave. It really summed up that melancholic feeling you get when the party’s over. Thank you, Rebecca, for such a great shot! ❤️

“As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭18:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Back in the Saddle!

Sat, 23 Sep 2017 01:55:13 -0600

You can’t keep a good gal down for long! I still felt a little rough yesterday morning but once I had a couple cups of good, strong coffee and a bowl of oats in me, I was pretty much good to go. Mr. FixIt mowed the lawn for me here at the farm and wouldn’t let me help. I felt pretty guilty being lazy while he was out working. By the time he was done, and I had rested, I was feeling bored so we went for a ride.

Our first stop was Volcano Days. No, it has nothing to do with molten lava and everything to do with oil and gas. This is in celebration of the people I heard about on the tour we gave the Sisters on the Fly when they were here a couple of weeks ago. The Flywheel Club brings their little pumps and big pumps and start them up. Some run to just show you what they can do. Others run washing machines or ice cream freezers or saw mills. There was a giant flea market, a large concession area and a stage with live entertainment.

Mr FixIt can’t go anywhere without running into five people he knows and last night was no exception. We wandered through the booths and I bought a Griswold No. 8 704S cast iron skillet for twenty bucks! I love Griswolds. They’re smoother on the cooking surface and they’re great for frying anything, as long as they are properly seasoned as this one is. . I love frying potatoes in them. The new Lodge cast iron skillets are too rough in the bottom.

After dinner, we drove on into town to see the aftermath of the demolition. A trailer Mr. FixIt owned was torn down yesterday and we went to see the empty lot. It looked massive without the trailer there. We ended the evening with dinner at Bob Evans. I’m still babying my tummy and the comfort food of chicken pot pie hit the spot.

This video (on the Facebook page only) from Volcano Days shows a large pump that came off a well. I wanted you to hear this because this is a sound from my youth. I was awakened from a sound sleep many summer mornings to the crack, crack, crack of these engines as they were started up by the pump guys to run the wells. I loved hearing them again.

Thank you all for your kindness when I was feeling under the weather! You really helped! ❤️

“Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.” ‭‭3 John‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Time Out!

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 01:55:48 -0600

Last weekend was four days of fun (and hard work) hostessing the Sisters on the Fly. This weekend was four days of meet and greet at Country Living Fair with the Girl Campers. When I came back to town late yesterday afternoon, really…the only thing I wanted to do was go home, take a hot bath, and go to bed. Instead, I went to the 7:00 service at my church. I missed last week. I couldn’t miss again.

I stopped at Starbucks yesterday morning for a GOOD cup of coffee. Hotel coffee is marginal. As I left, a young man was sitting on a bench outside the door. He said, “Excuse me. Can I ask you something?” I stopped, knowing what was coming. “I just got out of prison and I want to go to church today. Can you give me something?” He was clean. He didn’t look strung out. He looked like the son of any of my friends. I walked up to him, placed my hand on his shoulder and said, “Son, I can give you two things. I can give you one dollar. And I can pray with you.” He looked like he was about to cry and knelt his head. I prayed for him right there on the streets of downtown Columbus in front of Starbucks. Afterwards, he smiled and thanked me and I went on my way.

I can’t give much but I can give my time, my prayers, my heart. So what if I got to the fairgrounds ten minutes late? Sharing that moment with that young man might have made a huge difference in his life. Surprisingly, it made a huge difference in mine. It made me bolder in my faith. It made me more compassionate of others. It made me love on a fellow human being for a few moments. It set the tone for the rest of the day at the fair. When I received praise for my accomplishments, I put praise where the praise was due and told them it wasn’t me…it was God that brings me words.

With that, I will be honest and tell you I am truly tired. I’m totally talked out after four days of nonstop talking. Mr. FixIt has been so wonderful and picked up the slack for me the last couple of weeks. He’s worked hard and helped me load and haul and unload stuff for my events only to turn around and help me take it all back home and put it away. We are packing up this morning and going camping for three days. It’s his turn to get my attention. It’s my turn to take a time out. I’ll be back soon! ❤️

“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My Lot in Life

Sat, 16 Sep 2017 01:55:20 -0600

For those of you who’ve been following me for awhile, you remember what a struggle it was to downsize when I sold my house. Getting rid of 95% of my personal belongings just a year after losing Mr. Virgo was very stressful. I have been so careful not to accumulate “stuff” again. But, I’ve got to tell ya…this Country Living Fair is exceptional. I think this is my third in a row and it seems each one gets better. I will have to say, there were a lot more people here on opening day than the last two years. If that’s any indication of the overall attendance, we’re in for a whale of an event!

When you work a Fair such as this, you try to have enough people helping that you can take breaks and wander around. As I was walking over to the main stage for Janine’s talk yesterday, I spied some windmill vanes and stopped after to price them. The one in this photo was a half vane for $600! One with two less fins was $400. Still way out of my price range. My daughter’s sister-in-law has one she got from the family ranch and has it mounted on the wall in her dining room. I’d love to have one, but A) I’m not spending that kind of money and B) I don’t have anyplace to put it right now, and C) experiences before stuff. I could have a really great trip for $600.

Wandering the aisles of the fair is so tempting. I will tell you what I bought yesterday. A nice serving of Miss Parolee’s Kentucky Deep-Dish Blackberry Cobbler warmed up with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. Windmill vane. Miss Parolee’s cobbler. I think I made the better choice! ❤️

“Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭5:18-20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Ooooom-Pa-Pa!

Fri, 15 Sep 2017 01:55:43 -0600

I arrived at the Country Living Fair in the early afternoon yesterday and met my Girl Camper friends. We had to wait our turn to pull the three campers into the grounds so we sat around and nibbled on finger foods and caught up with what’s been going on in each other’s lives. Girl Camper extraordinaire, Janine Pettit, regaled us with stories of her epic month long trip to the National Parks out west this summer. Gail shared that her daughter is going to live overseas for a year. Jill was excited about her new-to-her Airstream she recently redecorated. I shared the article from the Fidelity online magazine. Sisters and Girl Campers always pick up where we left off the last time.

I don’t know if you’ve ever gone to a Country Living Fair but the amount of work that goes on in the background to set something up this massive and intricate is astounding. We drove in on cue when it was our turn. The area where we set up is pretty tight and it took a great deal of maneuvering to get all three campers in just right. I’m glad I have some mad backing up skills because they came in handy yesterday!

Once the three campers were set up, they had to be “staged”. You’ve all seen those cute campers in the magazines with all the vintage collectibles or great quilts or baskets of flowers? All those things were placed there with an eye much more skilled than mine. When these girls were finished, it looked just like a photo shoot! I can’t wait to take pictures today!

As I walked through the fair grounds, the displays were eye candy for someone who cannot resist the colorful, glossy pages of Country Living Magazine. It’s like the magazine itself has come alive…its pages exploding on the grounds all around you! Antiques, linens, rusty farm implements, artsy clothing and jewelry…you name it, it’s here. Including the kitchen sink. It’s truly one of the most beautiful fairs of its kind in the country. I’m so looking forward to browsing when I can.

I’ve read Country Living Magazine for years. Now that I’m living a country life, it would be so easy to accumulate too much stuff again and, seriously…I really don’t want to go through that kind of downsizing ever again. I carefully curate what comes in my house now. I only have what is useful and I know to be beautiful. The trouble is…there is SO much that I find beautiful. So my third measure is…Would I rather have this “thing” or go someplace with that money. Experience over stuff wins just about every time.

We ended the evening at a German restaurant where the highlight of the evening was a group of dinner guests playing cowbells to the tune “Edelweiss”. You can’t make this stuff up!

Stay tuned…I may not be able to resist some extra posts today when I see something pretty! ❤️

“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Mountain Music

Wed, 13 Sep 2017 01:55:41 -0600

I’m still glowing over the events of the past weekend. When I was planning this gathering for the Sisters on the Fly, I had everything pictured in my head and it came out just like I had hoped. But the months leading up to the event had points where it was pretty nerve wracking. The two big items on my list turned out to be the two most difficult to fill. A caterer and entertainment for Saturday night.

I have such a wonderful network of friend on Facebook. They come from all walks of like. After making countless calls and searching the internet, I finally called the administration at the park where we camped and she gave me the name of a caterer to try. One phone call and I had them booked…at a price about half what I expected. The food was fabulous! If you need a BBQ caterer in the Mid-Ohio Valley, call Smokin’ Pig’s Ash Barbecue.

I kept striking out on the entertainment front, too. First off, it was the same weekend as the Sternwheel Festival in Marietta (the main reason we planned it when we did) and there was a huge bluegrass festival up north. I really wanted old time jammers, but they were scarce as hen’s teeth. I finally contacted my friend Todd Burge, a talented local musician who is more a folk singer. Unfortunately, he was booked, but he told me to contact Jake Eddy. Jake turns 18 this week, and has already been named #1 in guitar and banjo in the state of West Virginia. He and his brother (only 13!) and grandpa played for two hours and I’ll tell you what, they did not disappoint. The girls were so impressed! And, frankly…so was I. We are all going to look back one day and say we saw him way back when!

Tomorrow, I head out for my next event. I’m going to be at the Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio with Janine Pettit and the Girl Campers lending a hand in any way I can to support her. Janine is so talented and well spoken. She will have the crowd eating out of her hand and I so enjoy tagging along whenever I can. I always learn so much from her.

This is an incredibly busy month in the camping circuit and I’m thrilled to take you along with me. We’re going to see some amazing things. Watch for some live broadcasts from the Country Living Fair! ❤️

“I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭101:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Jersey Girls

Tue, 12 Sep 2017 01:55:31 -0600

We had such a mish-mash of gals at the SOTF event this weekend. I’ve heard so much about Jean Taylor over the years that I felt I already knew her, even though we’d never met. She came with three of her umpteen cousins and they were an absolute hoot and a half. They love to “camp”. As a matter of fact, Jean owns a campground in New Jersey. I am not sure how “campy” the others get, seeing how the sum of their experience thus far seemed to be staying in the motor home at the campground. But I loved them. You know why? Because they didn’t know you could make ice cream by hand. They’d never seen the Milky Way. They hadn’t heard of clogging in any other sense than what cholesterol does to your arteries. They were delightful!

One story they told was how, very early on, their great grandfather lived in WV. He was an Italian immigrant and a miner with a huge family. And, as any good Italian did, he made wine for their consumption. Apparently, the revenuers caught wind of this, raided his home and broke all the bottles of wine. Great-grandma sent one of the kids to the mine to tell papa not to come home and why. He took off for New Jersey and stayed there till grandma could get there with the children. Thus, they put down roots in NJ. If not for the revenuers, how many more West Virginians would we have?

I named them “Honorary Hillbillies”…those wonderful Italian women from New Jersey!

We also had a published author of historical romances. A woman who owned a farm, played guitar, and is learning to drive horses. There were a few widows. There was a woman simultaneously going to college and living in her new Airstream as she explores the country over the next eighteen months. There were three moms of autistic children who bonded over that. There were artists and nurses, retired and employed. They slept in everything from cars to tents to vintage campers to modern campers to a brand new Airstream. Yet they all have one thing in common…they are Sisters. A fact that is never taken lightly. I am so proud to be a member of this organization and look forward to more gatherings with them. ❤️

“She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Sisters on the Fly

Wed, 06 Sep 2017 01:55:09 -0600

What is Sisters on the Fly?

It’s the world’s largest outdoor adventure group for women. We have affected the lives of over 9,000 women from around the world. Our motto is “We have more fun than anyone!” And it’s true! Sister gatherings are jam packed with fun and we turn women into girls.

What do the Sisters do at their gatherings?

We do a number of things! Some of us fly fish. Some ride horses or mountain bikes. We love to go junkin’ and eat great food. Some hike. Some play and listen to music. Whatever floats your boat. And speaking of floating your boat, we are going to ride the sternwheeler on the Ohio River over to visit the Blennerhassett Mansion this week. We love to eat so we’re going to have an old fashioned weenie roast. My Pop-Pop whittled the end of sharp sticks for roasting weenies and marshmallows. We’ll serve them the WV way with sauce and slaw. We are playing music and listening to music and maybe even clog dance. Sisters will try just about anything!

How can I be a Sister?

You can have more fun that anyone by heading over to www.sistersonthfly.com and signing up. Dues are $70 a year and there are gatherings of every interest all around the globe.

What kind of women become Sisters on the Fly?

Bold women. Shy women. Women with campers. Women with tents. Women who prefer the lodge or a fine hotel or a cabin. Single women. Taken women. Married women. Widowed women. Young women. Old women. Key word is Women. No men. (Sorry, guys!) No kids. (Sorry, kids!) and, no pets.

These gals love to eat! I shopped yesterday. Such a wise shopper I have become. This big grocery cart ended up costing $150! I was impressed. We will see how the menu and activities go over. I’ve done the planning, the shopping and the prep. As my friend V says…it’s time for the fun! ❤️

“Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

(Photos from older Sisters on the Fly gatherings.)

Flatfootin' to the Fiddle

Mon, 04 Sep 2017 01:55:32 -0600

Y’all remember I came to West Virginia in October of 2014 to live on the family farm and help my elderly aunt. That lasted ten weeks and she decided she didn’t rightly think she wanted anyone extra around and I graciously bowed out. That’s when I moved around in my camper…first at the river then out to Colorado, South Dakota, Tennessee and all parts in between. I spent the better part of two years as a gypsy of sorts…writing, speaking, and healing my broken heart.

That same aunt gave me a fiddle after my grandma died in 1999. She left it on the bed without fanfare. When I went to bed that night and saw the fiddle, I sat on the edge of my bed, cradling it, running my fingers over the worn wooden frets…tears streaming down my face. I remembered that fiddle well. I was a very little girl. My great grandfather, a moose of a man, was at the farm. He and my uncle and my Pop-Pop built the basement and rolled the old house down over the foundation on long well casing pipes from an oilfield. My uncle loves to tell me that story and I listen and laugh every time as if it were my first hearing.

They had to jack the house up to put the pipes under. The new basement was slightly downgrade and they didn’t want it to take off and get away from them. They wrapped a chain around the pipe and attached a huge pipe wrench for leverage. Murphy’s Law tells you what happened next. The house did indeed start rolling and the only thing that stopped it from shooting off the other side of the basement was that wrench. The handle had been driven about two feet into the ground and worked like a brake.

My great grandpa had gone down in the basement to monitor things from below and tell my uncle when the house was over the new foundation. When it took off, Grandpa start yelling to “Make ’er stop, boys! Make ’er stop!” There weren’t any steps in place yet, so as soon as my uncle had the house secure, he ran to the basement doorway and hollered for my grandpa. “I stopped ’er!” Grandpa cried. “By golly, I stopped ’er, boys!”

My uncle shinnied down a ladder into the basement and there was Grandpa, wedged up between the floorboards of the first floor and the pipe! Seems he deemed it a good idea to tie a stout rope to that pipe and tie the other end around his waist so he could “stop ’er”. Well, the rope wound up around the pipe and drew him right up like a bucket from a well. Thank God that wrench caught or that would have been the end of Grandpa!

Soon after the house was secured to the new foundation, the stairs were built, and they added a front porch and poured a concrete slab for the back porch and the new bathroom that was being added. One summer night, after all the work had been done, my Pop-Pop pulled out the old fiddle and played “Turkey in the Straw”. My great grandpa grabbed a walking stick, stuck his bowler hat jauntily on the top is his head, and started flatfoot dancing on the porch. I will never, ever forget the deep thrill I got watching that scene unfold before me as I clapped my hands with the beat.

I’ve always wanted to learn to flatfoot dance…also called clogging, or Apache dancing. I’ve watched countless videos but haven’t seemed to get it right. One of these days I will take a lesson and finally learn. This is the week I am hosting a Sisters on the Fly event here in West Virginia and I am so excited to showcase our state and its fine traditions. We’re having an old-fashioned weenie roast and we’ll churn ice cream. We’re going on a sternwheel ride on the Ohio River. We’re touring two mansions and an abandoned oil and gas boom town. And, we’re having a catered barbecue. Our entertainment is a young banjo player named Jake Eddy. He’s bringing some friends for some Old Time Jammin’…that front porch informal style typical of performers who sit around after shows and play for the sheer enjoyment. At this point, he hasn’t been able to find a fiddle player but he’s hoping he can get one. So do I!

I’ve added a link to some great flatfoot dancing if you are interested. This is going to be a tremendously busy week for me so you may not hear much from me till the 10th or 11th. I’ll touch base but probably won’t have time to write my usual daily essay. This is going to be great fun so hang on for pictures, video, or quick stories. ❤️

youtu.be/xyqcHMPa1…

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭30:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

A Family...of Sorts

Sun, 27 Aug 2017 01:55:05 -0600

For a class as huge as ours, my high school classmates are extraordinarily close. We have a bond seldom seen in a graduating class. I’m not sure why but classes before and after have reported they aren’t nearly as close as ours. The gals gather every month for coffee therapy and every other month or so, we have a class dinner. Then at the end of summer, we have a class picnic which is always well attended. Yesterday was our picnic and around thirty of our classmates gathered for three hours of fun. We’re starting to see more health issues, more deaths. But we are also seeing joyful achievements and the first arrivals of great grandchildren. Ok, we’re WAY too young for the great grandchildren thing….just sayin’! This particular group that gathered seem more like family, than classmates. When one hurts, we all hurt. There’s not much we wouldn’t do for each other. I love that closeness we have.

This week our high school celebrates its 100th birthday. There will be ceremonies. Our football team won on Friday. The big thing I’m looking forward to is a gathering of the Alumni A Capella Choir to sing in a concert Tuesday night. I was in choir all through high school but did not get selected for A Capella Choir…a rather elite bunch who sang beautifully.

After the class picnic and some errands, Mr. FixIt and I stopped to get a cold drink. As we left, we saw a sign…Earthstock. Our local health food store, owned and operated by one of our classmates, has had an annual customer appreciation picnic for over thirty years at a private park overlooking the river. We went and listened to some really great music and ate even MORE food. A couple errands later and we were headed back to the farm. It’s been crazy busy, and September is going to be even crazier. I’m looking forward (a little) to some slower, less frantic days. Maybe October! ❤️

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” ‭‭John‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Back on the Farm

Sat, 26 Aug 2017 01:55:41 -0600

It’s been a year since I put down roots here on the family farm. Well, as deep a root as I can put and not own property. What a remarkable year! I battled fleas, painted walls, mowed, trimmed, pruned, cleaned, sorted, dehumidifier, and about scared myself to death that I had ruined the well or burned up the pump. I’ve learned to stop letting grief steal my joy. I’ve learned to let go of the fear of loss and clear out enough room in my life to accommodate the love of a sweet man. I’ve spoken in front of crowds, large and small. I started blogging for Sisters on the Fly as well as here on Marshmallow Ranch. I bought a vintage camper to fix up. I’ve been to Colorado twice, Florida twice, the Outer Banks, Tennessee, Savannah, Amish Country, and a fun trip to a WVU basketball game. I’ve been to concerts galore…Garth Brooks, SHEL, Brandy Carlisle to name a few. I’ve camped at some pretty cool places. I’ve been interviewed for podcasts and articles. I’ve lost some people in one way or another and I’ve gained more. I spent some wonderful time with my family. I’ve grown stronger in my faith. And I fell in love. All in one year! Whew!

We got home from the trip to Indiana and It was almost dark. I had to back this camper up into the driveway and it was more challenging as the light faded. I got it in ok and Mr. FixIt was a real trooper coaching me along. He filmed it. It might be funny…I don’t know. I haven’t taken the time to look at it yet.

We are going to a class picnic today so as soon as I walked in last night, I mixed up a yellow cake to bake. I’ll make Penuche Frosting this morning so it’s nice and fresh. I looked through Grandma’s notebook hoping to find her recipe but it wasn’t there. Her Brown Sugar Pie recipe was though. I’ll have to make that soon…it’s wonderful!

As I sat and wrote this, Mr. FixIt asked if I could hear the owl. I couldn’t until I went to the front door. I recorded it for you and posted it last night so be sure you catch it. It’s the Eastern Screech Owl we heard the other evening on our walk. Oh…we visited with the neighbor down the road he other evening. He had a health scare while we were in Colorado and I was so happy to see him out working in his garden! It’s just another reminder how uncertain life is.

If you are in Texas, or have loved ones there, you are in my prayers. Please check in and let us know how you’re doing.

Yes…it’s been an amazing year on the farm, hasn’t it? Big things, little things, fun things, scary things. But we made it through. We’ll keep on keeping on and I’ll keep telling you these stories about this crazy, beautiful life I am privileged to lead. Thank you all for being here! ❤️

“and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Playing Tourist

Fri, 25 Aug 2017 01:55:26 -0600

We drove into Richmond yesterday and looked around the Depot District. We went around the block and found this really cool alley with paintings on all the windows and old doorways. I love little surprising art finds around cities and towns. We wandered through Two Sisters Used Books where I found The Prayer of Jabez a couple years ago. We browsed through a huge furniture store and stopped at a coffee shop. Then headed for Oxford, Ohio.

We ate dinner at the Steinkeller Restaurant and we’re very disappointed that Dave…the lederhosen wearing, accordion playing, Uptown Funk singing entertainer wasn’t there. Apparently he doesn’t perform in the summer when the students are gone they were hoping he would show up again since classes start at Miami university on Monday. We asked our waitperson about him. I told her I was so glad the students didn’t make fun of him. She said the students love him and sometimes they would hang around in the restaurant till 2:00AM…long after closing time…singing along with Dave I hope he comes back this year. The world needs more Daves.

I love the Insomnia Cookie Shop. They’ll deliver warm cookies till three in the morning. Hey, it’s a college town…kids are up late studying. I’m sure it’s nothing else…you know, like the munchies or anything. Just late night study sessions and the need for a warm cookie at 3:00AM, right?

I’m trying to figure out what this tree is beside the camper. Last night whatever is growing on it was falling on the roof with a clatter. The leaves look like hickory but smaller and the pods look different than the hickory on the farm. I’ll let you know when I find out what it is. I asked Fred, my tree guy but haven’t heard back yet.

As you can see, TOW-Wanda is still looking good. When she was in the shop at Camping World, they were detailing the camper next to her and splashed suds all over her. So, she got a free bath.

We head home today! ❤️

“And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Ahhhh...Indiana!

Thu, 24 Aug 2017 01:55:30 -0600

I’m beginning to really like this state. I have been to Bloomington in the south. I’ve been back and forth along the I-70 corridor countless times. I spent a weekend here in Richmond in December 2015 when my daughter graduated from Miami University. And now I’m on my third camping excursion here. We picked TOW-Wanda up yesterday and she’s pretty as can be. They detailed her after putting on the new axle. I checked the hub temperature with my new infrared digital thermometer after driving a few miles and it was right around 97-98°. It may give me a false sense of security since the service guy told me “if it’s too hot, it’s too late.”

Just after we turned onto I-70 from I-77, we came to a standstill. As far as we could see, cars and trucks filled the highway like a parking lot in all three lanes. I was just telling Mr. FixIt I wished I had the extension app on my Garmin GPS to tell me about traffic when I remembered Waze. Some of my Sisters on the Fly friends were just discussing the merits of this free GPS app that is populated by user input. I had tried it a couple of years ago and didn’t like it so I took it off. I figured I couldn’t lose anything and I was sitting in a giant parking lot on the interstate so I downloaded the app and turned it on. Sure enough, it showed my location and several people up ahead posted what was going on…a car fire. When we finally started moving, there was not one, but two burned out shells of cars alongside the highway. I’ll have to see if I can find a news story about it because it was pretty impressive. I have unlimited data on my cell phone so I kept Waze running. Whenever there was a hazard, a policeman, or even a pothole in the roadway, the app let me know with an electronic voice. I’ll be using it whenever I drive.

The other thing I wanted to tell you about was this really cool tool I bought at Costco. I’ve been wanting a windshield mount for my cell phone and found a package of two at Costco when we were in Colorado. I gave one to Mr. FixIt for his truck and I put the other in mine. Now I can run Waze AND my GPS as I drive and have an unobstructed view of the road. I can answer calls hands free. I can even ask Siri to read my text messages and answer them by dictating and never take my eyes off the road.

If you find yourself in Richmond, Indiana in need of RV services…see Matt Green at Camping World. If you need a great campsite that’s easily accessible, check out Grandpa’s Farm Campground. And if you want a really great meal, go to O’Charley’s. Excellent! There are my PSA’s of the day. Helpful hints for your traveling pleasure…and, I get to sleep in TOW-Wanda again!!! ❤️

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Back to Business as Usual? Not so Fast!

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 01:55:18 -0600

Ok, move along…nothing to see here. Just a boxer in some goggles…looking uber cool, I might add! This is Chloe. I met her and her human, Kelly, at Point Park yesterday. All weekend I’d been poo-pooing this whole eclipse madness as though the entire world had gone ‘round the bend. I was on my way back to the farm yesterday…fully intending to go home and mow, when I got a call that something I was having repaired was ready for pickup. I hadn’t gone far out the two-lane so I turned around and headed back. Mr. FixIt called and when he found out where I was, he came to join me. (Mr. FixIt would crawl through glass to see me. He told me so. ?) So, there we were, nothing to do, with a nearly total eclipse about to occur. And…I went silly!

I asked the clerk for a couple pieces of paper. I got a manila envelope with a large hole for the clasp. And, I punched a smaller one in it with an earring post. Whatever works, right? We took off for McDonalds to arm ourselves with cold drinks and headed for Point Park. It was hot! The light started to change. I wasn’t getting the right distance to get a clear picture with the pinhole projector I had jury rigged. There was a couple standing next to us that offered to share their eclipse glasses. A few others gathered. And for one glorious hour, we were treated to a taste of what life was like in the olden days. You know…pre-election. We had an awesome goal…share a cool experience and have fun! And then it hit me. THAT’S what the whole over-the-top, staggeringly silly, brouhaha was all about…these mega gatherings. We just wanted an escape. A reminder of our humanity. A reminder there is peace and goodness and kindness in the world. It filled me with hope of brighter days ahead.

We have the power to turn this around…this sense of frustration and fear. It’s all about focus. What we focus on is what we see. Yesterday it was the sun. Today…what will it be? For me? I’m looking for joy. Joy created by others. And joy which I can create. C’mon…let’s change the story. Let’s go do the good stuff. Look at Chloe, The Boxer. She changed the story with a pair of shades! ❤️

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭ESV‬

West Virginia Date Night

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 01:55:16 -0600

I remember a time when “date night” involved a little black dress and makeup. But let me tell you, a trip to Lowe’s or Rural King will do just fine, thank you very much. Last night was date night. We started out with a trip to the mall to run a couple errands and walk some laps. Sitting in the truck too much the last few weeks has taken its toll on my fitness level. We tried to eat at our favorite BBQ place but the wait was over an hour so we went for a quick bite at Qdoba. Then we headed for Rural King. Oh, I love that place! We had to clean out the bird seed barrel yesterday and throw the old seed out. It was filled with thousands of weevils. Something took off with my big bird feeder…raccoons more than likely but it could have been a bear. I got a new feeder and fresh seed. I also bought a handheld infrared thermometer to monitor my hub temps when I get TOW-Wanda back. That was a very expensive lesson.

We went to Walmart and bought a dehumidifier for the basement so I can reduce the humidity in the farmhouse. I’ve washed all the surfaces that had mold and mildew from being closed up while we were gone. I used a bleach solution to kill the spores. I have the attic fan running to draw the excess heat and moisture out. The house had some mold and mildew this time last year when I arrived but this summer has seen more rain and everything was closed up for a month so it was much worse.

We went for a little drive through City Park and headed home. We set up the dehumidifier with a hose down the drain in the basement. The monitor said it was 75% humidity down there. I set it for 50% so we’ll see how it does. I also bought a large tub of DampRid and put it in the bathroom. It’s a bucket of some sort of granules that absorb moisture from the air. The bathroom is typically a damp place, but ours is made more so by the washer and dryer being in there.

The cats are fed. Phone calls have been made. Mr. FixIt is settled in his favorite chair reading the news. And I’m in the big chair in front of the window in the dining room. The evening is cool. The evening sounds of the insects and frogs are my background music. It’s date night in West Virginia…and I couldn’t be happier. God has blessed us with a simple life and abundant love. ❤️

“addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:19-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Thirty-One..."Camping in Comfort!"

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 01:55:34 -0600

OMGosh! After camping two nights in parking lots, Grandpa’s Farm Campground is just what the doctor ordered. Mr. FixIt and I were up at the crack of dawn and dragged our sorry butts into the IHOP for breakfast. Coffee, coffee, coffee. I slept maybe three pharmaceutically induced hours to the refrains of a hundred diesel engines idling all night. Ok, there were…like, twenty-five, ok? All I’m sayin’ is…it sounded like the 10th Armored Division were on maneuvers in my living room. Have I ever mentioned I’m grumpy in the mornings if I don’t sleep well and coffee is delayed by the briefest of moments? I thought not…I hate to tarnish my pristine reputation. Oy.

After breakfast, we sat down with the Atlas and the RV Campground Directory and figured out how long we wanted to drive today. It put us right in the vicinity of Richmond, IN…a very cute little burg. I was in Richmond when Daughter #1 graduated from college a few miles away in Oxford, Ohio at the Miami University. I stopped at this campground on my way out to Colorado this summer. It’s the one I found on a Saturday night when I was contemplating how sorry I was that I’d miss church the next morning, only to find out they have Campground Church every Sunday. It’s run by a lovely family. There is some road noise in the early evening, but it soon dies down after folks get home from work. There’s also a rushing stream along the edge of the campground that you can hear at night. AAA got me a discount and a full hookup site was $32.50. As soon as I got everything hooked up, I turned on the hot water heater so we could enjoy hot showers for the first time in three days! Heavenly!

But, here’s the very coolest thing….Mr. FixIt DROVE for me all but the first hour. We were tooling along and I just hadn’t had enough sleep or enough coffee. We pulled into a service station, got my pillows and blankets out of the trailer, and I crawled into the passenger side and slept for two hours. When I woke up, I marveled at the decadence of having someone drive me around…pulling my camper with confidence, being just as careful of her as I am. It felt amazing…this giving over some control after having to do everything by myself for so long. The thing is, I kept hanging onto that control…long after I had a capable partner to help me. It was liberating in the totally opposite way of women’s liberation. It felt inclusive, a communal effort. And I was in hog heaven!

We got to the campground by 3:00 which allows for so much more of an evening than midnight does. Mr. FixIt went for a walk while I wrote this post so we could just enjoy the evening without interruptions. We cooked a nice dinner and sat outside listening to the many sounds of the campground. What a precious treat this man is. Thank you God for safe travels. And thank You for bringing me such a wonderful man to enjoy! ❤️

“Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16:23-24‬ ‭NIV

Road Trip: Day Thirty..."Camping at Walmart"

Sun, 06 Aug 2017 01:55:49 -0600

Mr. FixIt was in an automotive store picking up a part for my truck when I was preparing to leave on this trip. He was telling the sales guy about all the trouble I was having getting out of town with the camper. They guy handed him the part and said, “Well, it’ll be smooth sailing from here on out.” Mr. FixIt laughed and said, “I don’t know…everything is an adventure with Ginny McKinney!” He gets me! Yesterday was no exception.

It took us thirteen hours to get from Denver t this Walmart. The drive on the two-lane was amazingly beautiful. The terrain is sand hills giving way to intermittent flat and rolling fields of corn, soybeans, and what not. There is supposed to be a bad storm this morning in western Kansas and Nebraska so we wanted to put plenty of distance between us and the weather so we kept driving. We stopped in McCook, NE so I could stretch out and take a nap. That gave me my second wind.

We stopped to eat at a historical marker for the Texas-Ogallala Trail where cattle drives crossed the plains. It was so much more fun having a traveling companion. He could Google in real time things I asked about.

While the views were wonderful and the roads so much easier to travel without all the truckers, finding a campsite was nearly impossible. There just isn’t the traffic on these back roads to warrant a campground and the couple we saw signs for were impossible to find in the dark. Hence the decision to find a Walmart. I searched in my Garmin and found one about thirty miles away. After eleven miles into it, we made a turn and there was a small sign that said “Bridge Out, 21 miles”. I looked at the GPS and it said to turn in 21 miles. I called the Walmart and they said the bridge was out right where you turn to come into town so we had to take a detour. It added 27 miles to our trip but we were committed at that point. We pressed on and arrived at the store 2 minutes before they closed. We immediately went inside and spoke to the person in charge, asked where we should park, and thanked them profusely. We fell into bed with great relief.

Yes…everything is an adventure with Ginny McKinney! ❤️

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Twenty-Nine..."On the Road Again!"

Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:55:47 -0600

This is the hard part…saying goodbye. I don’t like goodbyes. I miss my kids and my grands when I’m in West Virginia. I wish we lived closer. At one point I was ready to move back to Colorado. But man…the cost of living is nearing the breaking posing for most people and it has gotten so incredibly crowded. As much as I will miss my girls, I am longing for home…for the peacefulness of the country…for smaller towns and fewer crowds.

We had a great day yesterday. We fussed around getting the camper cleaned and ready for travel. We did laundry and visited with my son-in-law’s parents, then went to Little’s Art Camp program. She displayed several art pieces and played the violin. Afterwards, we had 14 for a family dinner and that will have to do till next time. We’ve decided to drive the back roads and see what a cross road trip was like in the days of the two-lane blacktop. We’ll follow a river into the sand hills of the western prairie. Our progress will be slow, but I’ll check in and share with you. This is an entirely new experience for me and I’m looking forward to it! ❤️

“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ ”

For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:4, 10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Twenty-Eight..."Dancing"

Fri, 04 Aug 2017 01:55:04 -0600

I love listening to live music. We met Daughter #1 and the grands for dinner then attended the outdoor concert at Flatirons Crossing…a large mall in Louisville, CO. They left at intermission so when the band started up again, I led Mr. FixIt out on the dance floor for the second half. I love to dance, but my 64-year-old knees were screaming in protest before long. I’ll pay for it today, I’m afraid.

Yesterday was spent running errands like getting the oil changed on the truck for the trip back. Today is cleaning, doing laundry, packing. We all get to attend Little’s presentation at the end of art camp this afternoon then one last family gathering before we head out in the morning. It’s been a fast month and I’ll miss my babies. I’m already planning our return trip around Christmas! I know this isn’t much of a post…just touching base as we tie up loose ends before we leave. ❤️

“Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭127:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Twenty-Five..."Life is Better at the Ranch"

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 01:55:23 -0600

The trip out west is winding down. The kids are busy with camps and getting ready for school so there isn’t as much time for visiting. I could spend another month showing Mr. FixIt around Colorado, but there are things that need tending to back home. I was going to stay till the end of August so I could attend a Sisters on the Fly event. However, I am hosting a Sisters event in WV the first week of September and there are still so many details to take care of and I want it to be memorable for the gals. So, I’m heading back east this weekend. I’m not going to put Mr. FixIt on the plane…he’s going to drive back with me. We have found an alternate route that will take us along the America River on a two lane and off the wicked roar of the interstate. I’m looking forward to an easier ride home with good company.

Our last days here will consist of family time and perhaps a drive to Colorado Springs to the Garden of the Gods and Pike’s Peak. Yesterday was laundry day (I ironed a shirt! gasp!), lunch out with my son-in-law’s parents, a little nap in the afternoon, dinner with the family, and a trip to my favorite antique store. The Brass Armadillo is huge and would take a full day to browse. We only had a couple of hours but we did our best to see as much as possible. It floors me to go into an “antique” store and see the things we grew up using and playing with. I mean, really…antiques? How is that possible when we keep getting younger?

I loved the Ranch sign. And the angel wings were awesome. The trailer with wings was adorable. I didn’t buy a thing, although there were so many things I could see owning. I can’t shop anymore without envisioning the work involved with downsizing when I sold my house and got rid of 95% of my personal belongings. It was so incredibly difficult and I don’t ever want to do that again. I already own too much stuff! I want to keep my life light and not be burdened by the weight of possessions. I love stuff. I love that my friends dig their stuff and want to keep it around them. I totally get that. It’s going to be interesting to see how things unfold as my relationship with Mr. FixIt moves forward. Ohhhh, he’s as big a pack rat as I am!

Today’s a day of helping my daughter while Mr. FixIt entertains himself. He can find his way around Denver with the GPS. I hope you all have an incredible day! ❤️

“He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Twenty-Three..."Back Across the Divide"

Sun, 30 Jul 2017 01:55:15 -0600

I don’t think the trip back to Denver was quite as difficult as going over. Yesterday was overcast, rainy, and much cooler and that helped keep the transmission temperature down. That and the fact that the eastbound approach to the Eisenhower Tunnel is a much more gradual slope. But Vail Pass? Brutal! It is so steep I drove much of it at less than twenty-five miles per hour and the transmission temp still shot up to 232 degrees! I had to pull off the road three times to let the truck cool down. I tried the trick of staying in third gear and that didn’t help. I have vowed never to pull this camper with this truck over these mountains…ever again. It was too stressful and I was exhausted when I was done. But, we arrived safely and got parked back under the tree at my son-in-law’s parents’ house so all is right with the world.

We camped the last three nights at Redstone Campground in Redstone, Colorado. What a beautiful place. The campsites are broad and private. We couldn’t even see the next site and it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. The camp host told us there had only been one bear sighting in camp this summer and that was back in May. I was kind of surprised because the campsite was literally surrounded with shrubs that were loaded with all kinds of berries. We paid for a double site in order to maintain privacy. If someone took the other side, our door would literally open up on the neighbor’s camper, so it was worth the extra expense.

When we returned to Denver, we took our son-in-law’s parents out for dinner at Culver’s. It’s a hamburger place but we had salads that were quite good. After dinner, we went for a drive and went to see the new Light Rail Station in Westminster. Denver is developing a wonderful train system that will soon be completed. You can now catch the train into downtown Denver and be at Union Station in eleven minutes. Senior Citizen rate is $2.60 round trip. You can’t park downtown for that! We’ll take the train down just for the experience while we’re here. Maybe we’ll go to the Art Museum.

There is so much to do and see in Colorado. And, I don’t think it is my imagination when I say there are more people here than there was when I left three years ago. Granted, I’ve been living a fairly solitary existence, but this is crazy! It felt like being in a bee hive. There are people everywhere. I especially noticed when we went to Maroon Bells near Aspen. Here we were, in one of the most picturesque settings in the stat…bus after bus emptying tourists from all over the globe out onto a parking lot. Paths spread out in every direction like tentacles and there were people wherever you looked…scrambling in every direction…grasping for their moment in the sun. It made me cringe. It made me sad. I think maybe the economy is allowing people to vacation again and there does seem to be an awful lot of people camping these days. Colorado is a desirable destination and it IS high summer tourist season so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised…but it was surprising nonetheless.

Regardless of how busy everyplace was, Mr. Fix and I had a fabulous time and we made wonderful memories. After all, that was the goal. Mission accomplished! ❤️

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Twenty-Two..."A Night on the Town"

Sat, 29 Jul 2017 01:55:31 -0600

After a busy day sightseeing, we visited with my “surrogate parents” and my sweet brother. We walked around town and looked at the darling shops of downtown Glenwood Springs and chose one of my favorite restaurants for dinner…The Riviera Supper Club. So, I’m out on the town with my man as I jot this note to you…and this is “all she wrote” for today. We will head back to the campground (NO cell service or WiFi…yay!!!) We’ll head back to Denver tomorrow! ❤️

“On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭20:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Twenty-One..."Exploring!"

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 01:55:09 -0600

Seriously…have you seen anything more beautiful than this??? Maroon Bells…the most photographed scene in Colorado. Mr. FixIt has never been to Colorado and I’m trying to jam in as many amazing sights I can in the short time we are up here in the mountains. We got our exercise yesterday! We started with The Ritz Carlton Club in Aspen Highlands to see Mr. Virgo’s Memorial. They planted a tree and laid a plaque in his honor off the patio of his restaurant in the hotel. It has grown about three feet since they planted it. I felt him all around me there. He loved that restaurant and the view. After paying our respects and talking to some of the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Ritz Carlton, we took the shuttle up to Maroon Bells Wilderness Area and hiked around the lake and through meadows of mountain wildflowers in their prime. The Colorado sky did not disappoint, and even though we didn’t see the bear Mr. FixIt wanted to see, he had a grand time. By the time we finished our hike we were famished. We took the shuttle bus back into Aspen Highlands and drove into Aspen for a late lunch. We walked the streets, people watching and browsing through the shops till it was time to head back to the camper. There was live music in the park last night and we didn’t want to miss that. We have no cell or phone service in the campground so I have to post when I have service somewhere. If I miss a day, don’t worry…it just means I didn’t come to town.

It was another beautiful day in the Rockies. The night sky is so incredibly black you can’t see your hand in front of your face but the stars??? OMGosh! You can see the entire Milky Way! They’re so close it feels like you can touch them. Amazing! ❤️

““But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” ‭‭Job‬ ‭12:7-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Twenty-one..."Old Home Week"

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 01:55:31 -0600

There are moments in life that you would like to freeze and keep forever, aren’t there? Yesterday was just such a day. The part came in for the camper and Mr. FixIt went to pick it up while I packed up and got the camper ready to haul it to our next site. It was a really easy, short trip without any hills to speak of and we were there in no time. There was only one little glitch. The campsite I had reserved was a group site and there was someone coming to stay right beside us…which kind of defeated the point. Fortunately, there was another site nearby that was even better and we got set up quickly and headed to Marble for lunch at Slow Groovin’ BBQ. It was there I met Kevin from Grand Rapids, MI. Kevin is doing what many young college grads do…he’s finding his groove and he couldn’t have picked a better place than here! As many of these stories, it all started with a blown engine and this person knew that person and off he is on an adventure. (Note to Kevin’s mom…you raised a fine young man. He’s polite and friendly and has great dreams. I know you must be very proud of him. He says you worry. I understand but…he’ll be careful. He misses you and all his nieces and nephews.) Anyway, Kevin was a bright spot in our day and it was a delight to meet him.

After lunch, we headed to Glenwood Springs to listen to live music in the park. The Black Lillies from Nashville were the highlight of the night and they were awesome! This is my old stomping grounds. I moved here as a young doctor’s wife in 1986. I ran into people who have known me, supported me, and cheered me on through every incarnation I went through since then. It was such a treat to introduce Mr. FixIt to so many of my longtime friends. He had a blast!

Today we are off to explore Aspen! Stay tuned!!! ❤️

“I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭104:33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Twenty..."Another Day in Paradise"

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 01:55:09 -0600

Last week I reported to you that Mr. Virgo was in my dreams two nights running saying he was leaving me. He appeared again Sunday night. In this dream I found out that he had some sort of neurological problem and that’s why he decided to go on and not try to come back. He was brought to me in a black limousine. They told me he was coming and that I could see him the way he would have looked had he survived the heart attack. When the car pulled up, he rolled down the window and he had obvious neurological damage, yet in the dream, he could still stand. He got out of the limo and looked at me so sad. I wrapped my arms around his neck and cried, “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.” He said it was HE who was sorry he had to leave me like that. I pulled away from him and said, “You know how much I love you, right?” He said of course he did. I said, “Well, I’ve met someone wonderful and I love him, too. I can’t leave him now.” His eyes softened and he wrapped me in his arms and whispered into my hair, “It’s ok. It’s ok. It’s ok.” And…I woke up. Three times in a week he’s been in my dreams and he hasn’t been here that much in the last four and a half years. I think it’s because I’ve brought Mr. FixIt here to Colorado…turf that, up until now, belonged to Mr. Virgo and me.

It was still dark…the first hint of daylight tinting the eastern sky. I lay there quietly, listening to the soft breathing of this wonderful man I have come to love. “It’s ok. It’s ok. It’s ok.” I smiled in the darkness, snuggled closer, and went back to sleep.

We were up bright and early yesterday. Lots to do…doctor’s appointment and pick up the replacement thermostat (it’s still not in after two more stops in the RV dealer). We went out for breakfast then stopped to visit Mr. Virgo’s grave. I left one of the painted rocks that I’ve found recently that said “I love your smile!” It made ME smile. Then I took Mr. FixIt up to Rifle Falls State Park. In all the years I lived here, I had never been there. We hiked up to the top, took lots of pictures, and headed back to town to take my brother out to dinner again. Afterwards, we stopped at the grocery store and ran into Rob and Jordan, two young men from Virginia who had built this funky trailer from scratch and are on a five month trek across the country. They have a YouTube channel called Fantasy Jive ( www.youtube.com/channel/U… ) What an adventure!

A trip to Lowe’s rounded out the day. We needed some wire connectors and wire stripper for the thermostat project. With the groceries put away, we finally had time to sit in our new chairs and listen to the river rushing through the canyon as the sun set. We stayed the last two nights at Glenwood Canyon Resort…one of the most beautiful places to camp in Colorado, in my opinion. While the sites are rather close together, there’s nothing like sitting and staring up at the steep canyon walls directly across the river from your campsite. Trains run through the canyon at all hours, but if you’re like me, they make you smile.

Today we break camp and head on to our next stop on this adventure. Stay tuned to see what we are up to next!❤️

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14:16-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Eighteen..."Fort Collins"

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 01:55:53 -0600

Located sixty-five miles north of Denver, Fort Collins is a bustling college town with plenty to see and do. Shopping, restaurants and abundant recreational opportunities will keep you occupied for days. We gathered as a family to cheer on our oldest grandchild as she competed in the State Swim Meet. She did very well, carving time off her personal bests. Her greatest competition is herself. She is humble and hard working. It was a joy and honor to attend and watch the young woman she is becoming.

We all stayed in the Historic Timnath Hotel located just across I-25 in the little village of Timnath. Now a private residence, this lovely building has been lovingly restored and was quite comfortable to stay in and cook our meals. You can rent it on Air B&B. I am so grateful to have such a loving extended family. We especially enjoyed sitting out on the balcony talking till late as we enjoyed the cool of the evening.

Last night, the rest of the family came over and fifteen of us celebrated the 88th birthday of the matriarch of the family. It was such a delight! Today we head to the mountains for a week of camping. I’m a little nervous about pulling the camper up real mountains with this truck. I’ll feel much better when I get this first day behind me. We need to stop at Camping World and buy a new thermostat for the air conditioner. It has become unreliable. I did manage to get it to work by using a can of compressed air to clean out any dust and dirt that has accumulated on the switch contacts. But there is nothing worse than arriving at a campground in the heat of July or August only to discover the AC isn’t working. Better to just fix it.

I hope you have a Happy Monday! ❤️

“You’ll travel safely, you’ll neither tire nor trip. You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry, you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep. No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner, Because GOD will be right there with you; he’ll keep you safe and sound.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:23-26‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Road Trip: Day Sixteen..."Tour Director"

Sat, 22 Jul 2017 01:55:38 -0600

I get the biggest kick out of showing people places they’ve never seen…especially when it’s a place I love so much. Colorado was my home for forty years and it’s truly spectacular. Mr. FixIt has never been here so I’m having a blast watching him explore. Yesterday we went up to Rocky Mountain National Park. We no sooner got there till the skies opened up and a major thunderstorm blew in. I pulled into the parking area at Sheep Lake and turned off the engine. Mr. FixIt asked what we were looking at. I pointed up high in the mountains and said, “See that lightning? That’s where we’re going. I’m going to wait till it breaks up a bit.” He looked up at the high peaks and I could read a lot on his face. “Cool!” “Man, that’s high!” “I’ve got the coolest girlfriend on the planet!” Well, ok…I could be projecting that last part. lol

Once the storm let up a little, we proceeded on through the park and turned right to go up Old Fall River Road. To me, that’s the only way to approach Trail Ridge Road from the east. We drove past the site where the flash flood several years ago brought down an alluvial fan for the record books. Shortly after the falls at the fan, you jog to the right and start up the mountain on a narrow, single lane dirt road with no guard rails. Majesty comes into view at every turn, be it waterfalls or sheer drop offs, abundant wildlife or above-treeline vistas. Mr. FixIt said his neck hurt from flipping his head back and forth trying to take it all in. The road is seven-and-a-half miles long and with all the stops and pulling over to let the faster cars by, it took five hours. But, that included a stop for coffee at the restaurant at the top of Trail Ridge Road. It was 49 degrees and really windy at the top. You seriously feel like you’re on top of the world up there. Mr. FixIt was beside himself!

We are staying with my kids, grandkids, and son-in-law’s parents in a historic hotel and have the whole place to ourselves. We got back in time last night to grill burgers and have salad and corn on the cob. Summer is such a wonderful time of year. Mr. FixIt kept thanking me all day for showing him such a good time. It is so incredibly sweet when you’re on the happy side of life, isn’t it? To be appreciated…and told so??? What a gift that we get to give away to each other! Life is so good! ❤️

“In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭95:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Ten..."She Is My Crown"

Sun, 16 Jul 2017 01:55:59 -0600

Dear God in Heaven…thank you for bringing this small human into my life! She and her sister are the delights of my life. Yesterday was our semi-annual “Nana and Little’s Day of Fun!” Each grandchild gets to pick and choose what they want to do with Nana, where and what they want to eat, and how the day and night will play out. Big is thirteen now so we pretty much go shopping and have lunch although last summer she did want to go to the Denver Aquarium with me. Little is only ten and she is still all about the fun we can have. Her day is always centered around shopping, doing a craft or baking, and a sleepover in TOW-Wanda. She told everyone at the mall what the significance of the day was and what we’ve done and what we’re going to do. She’s like me…gregarious, funny, creative. Her sister is the thinker, brilliant, caring…strong and tender.

Little always comes up with the funniest things. She is deep and profound and hilariously, seriously funny. Our first stop was 2nd & Charles…a bookstore where you can sell or trade your old books, movies, CD’s…even vinyl. There are three bins out front filled with free stuff. Yesterday, I picked up a book by Michael Moore, a cookbook with gluten free recipes, a Dr. Who Christmas Ornament still in the box, and Audubon’s Field Guide on Insects and Spiders of North America. Not a bad haul. As little and I rummaged through what was left in the bins, she came across a coloring activity sheet from either a Sunday School or Vacation Bible School. Jesus was standing with several children and someone had placed a sticker over his mouth. Little turned to me and said…“Nana…I can’t tell if this is Jesus or a Jedi.” For some reason that just totally cracked us both up and the more we laughed, the funnier it got. Joy…sheer joy. This is my reward for being puked on at 3:00am…for putting up with a sassy pants teenaged girl…for the pain of letting her grow and get married and move to the opposite end of the country. This. This sweet child and her sister.

Last night was dinner out with the other grandparents and a viewing of the first Harry Potter movie with popcorn. We “camped” in the driveway in TOW-Wanda. This morning is church with my girl. My heart is so full. ❤️

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Eight..."What a Feeling!"

Fri, 14 Jul 2017 01:55:27 -0600

There’s nothing like feeling really good after feeling really bad. I was so miserable Wednesday…too tired, too much junk food, too much altitude, not enough water and I was laid low. Nancy, one of my Colorado readers, sent me a message yesterday first thing and suggested I try to find some “Altitude Adjustment”…a nutritional supplement that helps your body adjust to the changes our bodies go through at elevation. I don’t know the science behind it, but if they told me twirling a chicken over my head would have made me feel better, I’d have been heading to the nearest barnyard. I was willing to try anything because I didn’t want to spend another day miserable. Nancy even offered to meet me halfway to deliver some if I needed her to. I called the number on the back of the package from the picture she sent and got the name of the nearest store that carried Altitude Adjustment and took it right away. I drank three bottles of water. My son-in-law’s mom insisted I eat something and made me an egg sandwich. And within an hour, I felt great. I spent the day out with my daughter and grandchildren and last night we all got together to celebrate birthdays and an anniversary. It was a great day!

Also, my latest post on the Sisters on the Fly Blog series “Getting Bolder” went live yesterday. It is always so exciting to see that! You can catch it here…

www.sistersonthefly.com/getting-b…

Thank you for your kind words of support yesterday. I never feel entirely alone with God..and all of you out there! ❤️

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭15:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Six..."I Made It!"

Wed, 12 Jul 2017 01:55:03 -0600

OMGosh! I thought it was going to take forever to get here. With the long drive day on Monday, I was sure hoping today would go better. My good friend Diane called me Monday night and said, “I’m waiting to read about the fun part in this. Why on earth are you doing this if it’s so miserable?” And, my answer depends on when you ask. If you would have asked me Monday evening, I’d be hard pressed to come up with a good reason. But, if you asked me Thursday and Friday when I was camping with my gal pals, I’d tell you that’s the best. And if you ask me right this minute while TOW-Wanda is tucked in the shade at Ben and Sue’s house and my grandkids are here, I’d tell you this is the best. And, on the 24th, when Mr. FixIt and I head to the high country to camp for a week, I’ll tell you that’s the best. I will tell you this…the very worst day pulling a camper cross-country through Kansas in July at 103 degrees with no air conditioning STILL beats the very best day at work…hands down!

Yesterday wasn’t as windy so the trailer wasn’t getting buffeted around so it was a much easier drive. It wasn’t quite so hot. It was a relatively short drive day. And, I slept eleven hours Monday night so I was rearing to go! I love a road trip…even when things don’t always go smoothly. It presents me with opportunities to work out problems on my own. And, even though I have this wonderful man in my life now, I’ll still be traveling on my own sometimes. It’s what I do. I’m not giving that part of my new life away. I’m accommodating Mr. FixIt INTO my new life, just as he is accommodating me into his.

As I was driving along yesterday morning, I finally came across a Starbucks that was easily accessible. Yay! But what I found in the truck stop store was a bigger WOW! I love those big truck stop stores. They always have hard-to-find accessories. When I was in the wreck in February, everything made it out of my truck except the piece that attaches my Garmin GPS to the windshield. I had jury rigged something that sort of worked until the afternoon sun melted the adhesive. I found the replacement piece in that truck stop store yesterday and I was ecstatic! Problem solved. And, this mount is even better than the original! Score!

I’m really looking forward to some lay-low days with family this week. I want to thank God first and foremost for travel mercies and thank all of you for your prayers and love and light sent out for my protection. I didn’t even see a single fender bender. God is the best and you all are, too! ❤️

“Here’s what will happen. While you’re out among the nations where GOD has dispersed you and the blessings and curses come in just the way I have set them before you, and you and your children take them seriously and come back to GOD, your God, and obey him with your whole heart and soul according to everything that I command you today, GOD, your God, will restore everything you lost; he’ll have compassion on you; he’ll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered. No matter how far away you end up, GOD, your God, will get you out of there and bring you back to the land your ancestors once possessed. It will be yours again. He will give you a good life and make you more numerous than your ancestors.” ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:1-5‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Road Trip: Day Five..."So Near, Yet So Far"

Tue, 11 Jul 2017 01:55:56 -0600

When I hooked up my camper Sunday night at the Kan-Do Kampground in Montgomery City, Missouri, the temp was in the 90’s and I was hot and tired. However, no matter what I tried, the air conditioning in TOW-Wanda would not come on. Therefore, the only things I had to cool me off were two fans and the exhaust fan in the bathroom. That drew the heat out somewhat, but still, I didn’t get to sleep till around midnight. I woke up at 2:30 yesterday morning and try as I might, further sleep eluded me. I laid there till the sky started to lighten around 5:00 then I got up and started putting stuff away, got dressed, closed the windows, and unhooked the camper from the water and electric. I pulled out at 6:15 and headed east in the cool of the day…73 degrees. It was rather windy on the plains so my top speed was 55 most of the day. Gas/pit stops were brief and I finally pulled into a rest area around 12:30 to stretch out for a 30 minute power nap. Only problem was…it was 92 degrees by then and the camper was stifling. All of a sudden, I had a brilliant idea. Gail, one of the Girl Campers had a little fan she let me borrow the second night at Beaver Creek State Park when I didn’t have electricity. The fan had a small drawer that you put ice in and the air cooled as it blew over it. I went to my freezer in my camper, took out two frozen bottles of water and a frozen cooler insert and sat them in front of my battery powered fan. It worked like a charm and offered me about 30 minutes of cool air which was delightful. Once I started losing the chill, I popped everything back in the freezer, put the fan away, and got back on the road. I drove till 4:30pm and just didn’t have it in me to go another five hours from Hays, Kansas to the Denver suburbs. I pulled into a name-brand hotel, negotiated my best deal, parked the camper, and was safely ensconced in my room by 5:00…a bubble bath drawn. The temperature was a staggering 100 degrees and I refused to take the chance of finding a campsite and not having AC. The campsites aren’t great out here anyway. I brought some food in from the kitchen in the camper and wrote this early so I could roost with the chickens. Today is another day. I’ll get there rested instead of having to sleep all day. Today is Daughter #1’s birthday!!! The truck and camper did fine yesterday, but I had forgotten how much work this big camper is to pull. I’m looking forward to having the little vintage camper refurbished and I can take it instead of this big one. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow! Thank you, Lord…for the travel mercies thus far. ❤️

“in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭NIV‬

Road Trip: Day 4

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 01:55:17 -0600

This is the part of the trip where I’m always ready to be there yet I have a long way to go. It would be one thing if I were just meandering along without an agenda, but I’ve got grandbabies to see and I’m ready to be there NOW! Between not being able to drive over 60 (you shouldn’t drive over 65 while towing anyway!) and all the construction zones at 45-55mph, this trip feels like it takes forever. I always stop every four hours, stretch, get a bite to eat, use the facilities, and stretch out on the bed for a power nap of 30 minutes or so. When I stopped at 5:30 yesterday, I walked around to the passenger side of the camper and about a third of the trim over the wheel well was flapping in the breeze. I took it off then went to Walmart for a package of nuts and bolts to screw it back on securely. By the time I was done with all that, it was after 8:00. I started watching for signs for campgrounds and before long I had a site secured in Kan-Do Kampground. I really enjoyed speaking with the owner at checkin…she was a hoot!

It was pretty hot and stuffy when I pulled in so as soon as I got the electric hooked up, I flipped on the AC and…nothing. The switch “hesitated” a couple of times last year so I imagine it needs fixed. It seems like an awful lot of “bugs” are showing up this year. I don’t know if that’s normal or not, but I don’t like it.

Church yesterday morning was very nice. A lot of people attended. I’m going to try to get an early start this morning but don’t know if I’ll make it all the way to Denver today. Safety first! ❤️

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭15:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip: Day Three

Sun, 09 Jul 2017 01:55:13 -0600

I had to say goodbye for now to my Girl Camper friends yesterday morning. I hit the road about 8:30 after enjoying coffee and breakfast burritos with the early birds. Hookup was easy and after doing my safety check and checking the air in my tires (thank you Jeremy and Stephany of RV Family Travel Atlas!) I was on the road in no time. I did find this new truck can’t tow nearly as fast or stable as the ole one. It must have something to do with that rear axle ration. It was still a little windy yesterday so that might have been a contributing factor. I can’t drive much over 60mph with this truck but then again, you shouldn’t tow over 65 anyway so it’s probably just as well. Maybe I’ll look at trucks in Colorado. The 373 rear axle ratio is much more available out there.

I really took it easy yesterday. At lunch time, I pulled into a rest area and had lunch and a little power nap. I stopped at Camping World and bought extension mirrors so I can see around the back of my camper. I also bought some covers for the bedroom windows. The first thing I did when I bought this camper is take out the valances and shades. I hated them. But, when I travel alone and nap in the rest areas by the truckers, I’d just as soon not be so visible from the outside. I bought some Command Hooks and two cat litter mats that were the perfect size. I stuck the hooks on the outside of the camper and hung the mats over the windows on the outside. That way I still get air circulation when I open the windows. Brilliant!

I pulled into another rest area at supper time and ate and stretched out again. I guess I needed to catch up with a little sleep. One thing I do when I drive is think about stuff. And I talk things over with God. It’s our special alone time. I was telling him how much I hated missing church this weekend. Especially since our pastor is coming back from vacation today. My plan for driving this trip was drive, stop, eat, nap, repeat. I really had no intention of camping in RV parks. When I was in Camping World, I saw the new RV Campground directory…their three inch thick book listing all the campgrounds that give a Good Sam discount as well as many other. I’ve always found it very helpful. When I woke up from my nap, Spirit told me to look in the book for the closest RV park. I know better than to question so I did and there was one three or four exits away called…get this…Grandpa’s Farm Campground. There were others, but that’s the one that jumped out at me. I called. They had one site left. I took it and was there in ten minutes. There was a group of about thirty people out on the front lawn playing bingo as I pulled in. Located right on the bank of a rushing stream, the sites were nicely spaced down at the end where I was parked. Full hookup with Wifi was $34.50 with the Good Sam discount, tax included. As I was signing in, I noticed on the map “This campground is run by a Christian family.” Camp Church is at 8:30 in the morning…free coffee and donuts at 8:15! Isn’t God good to provide a safe, clean place with church in the great outdoors?

I took advantage of the full hookups to do some housekeeping last night. The tanks needed emptying and I hooked up to city water, turned on the hot water heater, and took probably the best shower of my life. And that did me in for the night. I always write my posts at night before I go to bed. I have to get into the Word when I write and search for the perfect scripture to go with it so this becomes my evening meditation. Another day safe, and closer to my babies. Mr. FixIt arrived safely in Florida last evening so I am very grateful for that as well. Have a happy Sunday! ❤️

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Fun Around a Campfire

Sat, 08 Jul 2017 01:55:46 -0600

Traveling on a cross-country road trip, you must be flexible whenever possible. Yesterday’s forecast had severe thunderstorm warnings off and on all day with winds predicted to top 50mph. I don’t know if you have ever driven in winds like that or not, but it is ill-advised to do so while towing a camper. I figured if I was going to be overtaken by severe storms, I would just as soon be in a campground with a bunch of girls I know so I stayed put another night. Today is another day. As it turns out, I would have driven right through those bad storms as they were right along the way I would have been traveling so it’s a good thing I stayed where I was.

Yesterday was a lovely, lazy day filled with naps and reading, conversation and laughter, and plenty of good food. Too much good food. I did have to move my camper…twice. I had only reserved a site for one night and it was booked for last night. I moved and set up at another site but didn’t think to go online and reserve it. I just filled out the reservation form. After I got everything set up, I took a nap then got a call from the park employees telling me the site I was in had just gotten booked. So, off I went again. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t long enough to stay hooked up so I had to disconnect. That’s ok…I’m a pro at hooking up and unhooking this trailer now. It’s no big deal.

The purpose of stopping here to camp just a few hours from the farm was to surprise the head Girl Camper, Janine Pettit, and her good friend, Mary Brennan Morey, as they begin a four week tour of several national parks, including Yellowstone and Glacier. If you haven’t checked out the Girl Camper Facebook page or the Girl Camper podcast series, you really should. Not only are they informative, but they are just plain fun! I filmed Janine yesterday doing her F-150 Fitness Routine that she learned from MizzFitness herself, Bianca Jade. Janine is going to stay fit on the road by doing this routine every day as she explores the highways and byways of America.

There’s nothing like spending time with other women who are camping enthusiasts. Sharing knowledge, stories, and camaraderie is such a bonding experience and we forge life-long friendships over the campfire. I never would have dreamed how important my girlfriends would turn out to be at this stage of my life. ❤️

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15:12-14‬ ‭NIV

On the Road Again!

Fri, 07 Jul 2017 01:55:40 -0600

Oh, I love a good surprise! Some of the local Girl Campers gathered to surprise our fearless leader, Head Girl Camper Janine Pettit yesterday. She and fellow Girl Camper Mari pulled into the campground to find half our crew sitting around the picnic table. The other half arrive tomorrow. Janine was so excited…she jumped out of her truck and squealed and did the happy dance right there. She called me to catch up Wednesday and I never let on I’d be waiting for her yesterday when she pulled in. I told her I was leaving for Colorado instead. What a fun surprise!

Camping in the rain. It’s sloppy and chilly and such a respite from the intense heat and humidity we’ve had this past week. I really don’t mind it. I didn’t unhook the camper as I am more than likely heading west this morning…depending on the weather. If it looks like severe storms in the Midwest, I may stay here one more day. I love sleeping to the sound of rain on a camper roof! I hardly slept Wednesday night in anticipation of leaving.

Mr. FixIt is heading to Florida today. While we miss each other when we’re apart, I love how supportive he is of my writing and travel. I explained when we first started dating that he would have to share me with the world. I told him about my travels and speaking engagements. He did two things. First, he told me if I ever need someone to carry my bags, he’s my man. And second…he went out and got an iPhone so we can FaceTime while we’re apart. I like seeing him every day. Ahhh…new love. It is a beautiful thing!

I’ll keep you apprised of my travels as I move along. Oh, I love a road trip! ❤️

“I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭1:11-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A Room With A View

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 01:55:46 -0600

The last few nights have been insufferably hot and muggy in the farmhouse. There is a room air conditioner in the living room, but unless you’re sleeping on the couch, it doesn’t effectively cool down the house and ends up running up the electric bill to no avail. The best alternative is TOW-Wanda. Equipped with fans and open windows, it’s been pretty darned comfortable out there. I will miss this view of the bank along the driveway here at the farm. The lush green of West Virginia summers may bring bugs and humidity, but the foliage is a sight to see any given day of the week. Colorado is semi-arid so it is a sharp contrast from here. At least it’s a dry heat, right?

I emptied out the belly of the camper yesterday and cleaned the floors. I reorganized the contents of the big tub of odds and ends I keep down there. After repacking, I cleaned out the fridge, scrubbed the floors and vacuumed the carpets. The pantry needs vacuumed and wiped out then restocked. The bathroom needs a good scrubbing and I need to organize the storage under the bed and in various cabinets. Since this new truck doesn’t have the torque the old one had, I need to be more conscious about my weight.

I’ve made a list of last minute items for the trip. I’ll go into town for those today. Tomorrow I head out on another segment of The Grand Adventure. The longest Mr. FixIt and I have been separated was when I went to Colorado for a month at Christmas. We didn’t like it one bit. I so wanted to tell you about that homecoming back then but it was not the right time. I can tell you now. I flew in and out of Dayton because it is SO much cheaper and my dear friend Cindy lets me park at her house so I don’t have to pay for parking. That drive to the farm from Dayton felt like it took forever. I knew Mr. FixIt was at the farm waiting for me and I could hardly contain myself. It was after dark when I pulled into the driveway and I stopped dead in my tracks. For the first time since I was a child, the house was decorated. There were trees lit on the front porch and a large lit-up star on the second floor above the porch between the two windows! It made me cry. I jumped out of my truck and ran into the house squealing like a little girl. Mr. FixIt walked out from the living room and I stopped, mouth agape. He was wearing charcoal dress pants, a crisp white shirt, and a red sweater vest. He took my breath away and I knew…anyone who would do this for me was a keeper. He knew how much Christmas means to me and how much I love this house. He knew I missed having a country Christmas at the farm, so he made sure I had one on my return. What a wonderful guy!

My babies live in Colorado. I have to see them as often as I can. In the meantime, Mr. FixIt has obligations he must attend to here. We couldn’t stand the thought of being apart two whole months so he’s flying out to join me for three weeks in the middle of my trip so he can meet the family. We’ll go camping and sightseeing as he has never spent time in Colorado. The kitties are covered, the farm is being watched, my sweetheart is coming to see me, and I get to spend quality time with my girls! What’s not to love about that? Sweetness. Sheer sweetness! ❤️

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4:9-12‬ ‭NIV

The Fourth of July

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 01:55:02 -0600

OMGosh! How does the summer fly so quickly and winter drags on forever? Yesterday was the quintessential perfect summer day. We had our first dinner party yesterday! This is something that, I have to tell you, absolutely thrills me to no end. Mr. Virgo was not one for socializing because he worked long hours and was exhausted when he got home. Mr. FixIt is a social butterfly just like me and we are looking forward to entertaining often. I invited my cousin and his wife who live down the road from the farm. Mr. FixIt told me the other day that he loves cabbage rolls and…I just so happen to make GREAT cabbage rolls! I haven’t made them in years. It was entirely too hot to turn the oven on so I cooked them in the crockpot. It worked out great. Tennessee tomatoes, fresh green beans with bacon and onions, fresh corn on the cob. Charlotte brought salad. A new tablecloth in a salmon pink quilt pattern and a basket of strawberries dressed the new picnic table Mr. FixIt bought me for my birthday. He set up the dining canopy for some evening shade.

After supper, we went for a ride in the side-by-side. If you don’t know what that is, it looks like an ATV (4-wheeler) but has a front and back seat and can carry four people. It’s rugged and has a sturdy roll bar and cage around you as well as seat belts. We went all over the back roads up on the ridge behind the farm. All the way, my cousin was telling family stories I knew nothing about. They showed us where they are building a compressor station on a big gas line that is going down all the way to Louisiana. The compressor station will be built straight back over our hill and it will make a good deal of noise. It is upsetting to think that in a year, the whole timbre of the region will be changed forever. I think that’s why I’ve been led to live here…so I can really experience the peace I remember before it’s gone.

Some of these backroads where people live are unbelievable. Little children running barefoot…not a care in the world, living in squalor while a ridge or two over are huge homes tucked into quiet groves of trees. We bumped and bounced around till we came to an area where the “road” was actually the riverbed. We were driving along holding our feet up because the water was up over the floorboards. Up steep hills and over places where cinderblocks were thrown into the deep ruts to hopefully allow passage. I was hootin’ and hollerin’ all the way. On the way back, I turned to my cousin’s wife and said breathlessly, “OMGosh! I feel like I’m sixteen!!!” What a great day/evening. We got back just after dark…exhausted and beat up but highly entertained. I hugged by cousins goodbye till I return from Colorado the end of August.

I am immensely grateful for the infinite sweetness of this life. I am wealthy beyond my wildest dreams and it has absolutely nothing to do with worldly goods. I ran into a gal at the yard sale yesterday who lives out the road from the farm. When I told her where I was living she said she just knew someone new was living there because the house is coming back to life. I am so blessed to be living here at this time of my life. And to have Mr. FixIt and family and friends to share it with.

Be safe out there today and enjoy your holiday! ❤️

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭16:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Weekend Walkabout

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 01:55:23 -0600

I’m a procrastinator. I have a list as long as my arm to prepare for this trip west. I could have spent the entire day yesterday cleaning and organizing the trailer, doing laundry, straightening up the house. But yesterday was the Lord’s day, so Mr. FixIt and I went to church first. The rest of the day was ours. We went my mother’s family’s reunion and made the introductions. Mutual admiration was expressed. Everyone loves Mr. FixIt. He’s highly personable and, like me, strangers are just friends he hasn’t met yet. We went from there to the City Park and wandered around the carnival. We played a few cards of bingo. We went to a car show. We stopped and visited friends. One of the coolest things about dating Mr. FixIt is…we have a ton of mutual friends so the comfort level is already there. It’s the easiest thing I’ve ever done. This man knows people wherever we go. Literally. My family reunion? A guy that worked at the plant. Church? The daughter of a friend in his bowling league. Car show? Two guys we went to high school with. It’s crazy…and SO fun!

We ended the day with dinner out.

We.

We’ve been “us” for several months now yet it still surprises us sometimes. Because I have been trying to keep him under wraps, my posts have always been “I”. Now that we’ve decided to “go live” so to speak, there seems to be a bit of a learning curve. Like remembering to introduce the other. We’re at that point in our relationship where we’ve just passed this margin threshold where we have built up enough recent memories together to say …“Remember when we…” Oh, I love that! The icing on the cake is our shared memories from high school. I actually remember him from 2nd grade but he has no memory of me back then.

We.

Odd…but so lovely and exciting and full of promise. I love when he tells stories of “us”. I love that he got teary eyed when he read some of your comments about finding each other. I love that even though he had a difficult childhood, he is a kind, gentle, peaceful man. I love how he reaches for my hand when we stand to worship and pray in church. I love this man…my lifelong friend…my best friend.

Someone commented yesterday that she didn’t understand my once a pickle, always a pickle analogy meaning I will always be a widow. The thing is, grief has no rule book. She felt remarrying meant she was no longer a widow. At what point does the pain of grief become fond memories? It’s different for everyone. And grief is variable by time. You can be fine, think it’s gone, truly fall in love, yet still be blindsided by a chance encounter, or the smell of familiar cologne. The way the light slants in at supper time. The sound of your grandchildren playing. Memories remain alive when you feed them. No, I’ll always be a widow. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be joyful. And crazy in love. ❤️

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

TOW-Wanda is Home!

Sun, 02 Jul 2017 01:55:39 -0600

First of all…OMGosh! Your response to my post yesterday was more than I could have ever imagined. Thank you all so much for the lovely comments, likes, and shares. You warmed my heart! I was so worried that introducing a new party to this adventure would change the dynamic and people would drop away. It turns out, more people tuned in so we’re off to a good start in this new chapter of Mr. FixIt and me! Of course, grief is a lifelong process so I will still touch base on how that affects me as we go along. Ever the teacher.

There’s an interesting timbre to this new man. None of the men I have been with in my sixty-four years were mechanically inclined. Mr. FixIt, however, is a mechanical engineer and a lifelong camper. Imagine how difficult it was for him to sit back and watch as I hooked up and unhooked my camper. Oh…this is entirely new territory for this guy! He wanted to do the heavy stuff for me, and while I certainly could have sandbagged and let him, I still will be traveling alone some of the time so I need to keep up my skills and know for certain how things have been hooked up. I know, I know…control issues. I asked him sweetly to wait till I got what I needed to do done, then I would share some of the other duties. I also told him when we camp in his campers (he has two!) I will sit in a chair and watch him till he has a job for me to do. I made it up to him by doing all the cooking and fixed some pretty fabulous meals! He did a wonderful job changing out the gas lines for me and helped me troubleshoot the electrical bug we had. He doesn’t get the name Mr. FixIt for nothing!

When we arrived home I told him I needed to back the camper into the driveway rather than pull it in like I usually do. With the vintage camper up at the end of the drive, there was no room to get the truck out and around the camper. Our road is a narrow country lane and the driveway is tight. I have to say, I totally impressed Mr. FixIt with my mad backing skills! He was bragging about me at dinner Friday night when we met 20 of our classmates at a local Italian restaurant. I don’t think this guy has ever run across a woman like me. He just looks at me in amazement. It makes me smile.

I washed the exterior of the camper yesterday. It hadn’t been cleaned since I was in Myrtle Beach in September of 2015. It looks so much nicer now. I need to do a deep cleaning inside in the next few days, reorganize, and pack her up for the trip cross country. I leave Thursday. I am traveling alone so I won’t be divulging my exact location when I’m there, but I’ll be checking in daily to give you progress reports and tips for traveling solo in a camper. Mr. FixIt gets to come join me in a couple of weeks and meet the family. That’s exciting!!! In the meantime, he’ll be holding down the fort for me and keep the farm going.

Back off girls…I saw him first! ❤️

“Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When "I" Becomes "We"

Sat, 01 Jul 2017 01:55:15 -0600

You could knock me over with a feather. I never, ever dreamed I would get another chance at a deep, loving relationship after losing Mr. Virgo. I’ve walked this path of widowhood for over four years now. At first, I was adamant. I would never have another relationship because I would never go through this again. It was just too hard. I had an ill-advised attempt at dating just five months after my husband died suddenly. It didn’t take me long to figure out that was a bandaid that I hastily slapped on the gaping hole where my heart had been. When I ripped that bandage off, the pain was even more unbearable. I didn’t try again for another year. My second attempt wasn’t much better. Both were perfectly nice men. They just weren’t for me. And the timing was still too soon. I had a lot of healing to do before I could risk dating so I made up my mind I’d just give it to God. I told Him if He had someone for me He’d have to just dump him in my lap because I wasn’t going out there looking anymore. It was too hard on me and it wasn’t fair to involve men and break hearts along the way.

I’ve kept myself busy. I’ve traveled. I’ve deepened my relationship with God because He became my primary focus. My writing grew in depth and meaning. My reach broadened. I had everything I needed. But I still wanted someone to share it all with. I was planning to live up at the river again when I came back to West Virginia last August. Then I got the call that my aunt wasn’t doing well and was going to go live with her brother. My uncle asked me to live on the family farm. And I put down more roots than I’ve had since I sold my Colorado house three years ago. It has been an amazing time of healing for me. I have a wonderful group of friends and a rich social life here.

Sometime in the fall, I ran into an old friend from high school. I’ve known him for almost 49 years. I was fifteen and he was sixteen when we met. He was on the stage crew and I was in the art department. One day I was up on a ladder painting a backdrop. I heard someone clear his throat. I looked over and there was this tall, lanky redhead with the most beautiful blue eyes and an impish grin. We became fast friends and always looked for each other in the halls. Funny…we never dated in high school. We were both shy. We both went on and dated others and after graduation, our paths went in different directions. We never forgot each other though and were always so happy to catch up at class reunions.

Sometime before Thanksgiving, we ran into each other and the timing was finally right for us. He invited me out for lunch and the rest, as they say, is history. He understands me. He is tender and sensitive to my needs as a widow. He has made room in our relationship for Mr. Virgo because he realizes he is only gone physically. He listens to my stories. He knows Mr. Virgo would have been the kind of guy he would have respected and enjoyed being around.

I’ve been leaving breadcrumbs for you here. I’ve spoken of “my friend”, “my traveling companion”, and even his blog identity…“Mr. FixIt”. He has fixed many things for me…around the farm, around my heart, around my life. He is so much fun to be around. Sweet, attentive, open, honest to a fault…an honorable man I am proud to be with. We wanted to keep this to ourselves for a while for a number of reasons…not the least of which was just savoring every moment with it being just us. Now, we’re ready to step out into the world and walk through anything life hands us…hand in hand. I wasn’t sure how to tell you. I am not sure how this news will be received. But, since the very beginning, this blog has been about speaking openly and honestly about my grief journey…and this is just another twisty turn in it. My grief is not over. It will never be over. I’ve gotten through the worst of it, by far. Even though I’m in a relationship, I am still a widow. Once a pickle, always a pickle…you don’t get to go back to being a fresh cucumber again. I have always wanted my story to be about my love for God and to give you hope. Hope that, if you want to travel, pull a little camper, write a blog, or fall in love again…you can. Life comes to a screeching halt after the death of a spouse. Everyone’s grief is different…but, you CAN find joy again. I’m living proof of that.

I hope you will stick around and see what comes next. I hope you’ll share the love and joy and hope. It’s all about beauty. It’s all about love. It’s all about life. ❤️

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” ‭‭Amos‬ ‭3:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Rest & Relaxation

Fri, 30 Jun 2017 01:55:18 -0600

We all need a little R&R from time to time, don’t we? My little two days away were peaceful, yet productive. I really wanted to see how the new truck performed pulling TOW-Wanda. My other truck had a rear axle ratio of 373. That thing would pull TOW-Wanda up Vail Pass at 65MPH in cruise control…piece of cake. Trucks with that rear axle ratio are scarce as hen’s teeth in these parts but a dime a dozen in Colorado. That’s because Coloradans have some pretty steep passes to go over and a large proportion are towing big stuff like campers and horse trailers. Around here, that ratio is overkill. Let me tell you, there is a huge difference between a 373 and a 331 like my new truck. I was so worried it wouldn’t be able to tow the big camper but she worked like a charm. Very smooth. I watched my transmission temperature on the hills and she did fine. A little hot on the very steepest hill, but I took it slow. I’m sure the Rockies will give her a run for her money but I think she can handle it. I feel much more secure now than I did before I went.

I knew there would be some maintenance issues to address before the trip. When I went to pick her up, the first thing I noticed at the storage lot was the nose of the camper tilted down. She wasn’t like that the last time I went. Turned out, the ground under the front jack softened after the last really big rain and the wood block it sat on shifted. The jack dug down into the ground and held solid but it could just as easily have bent the jack. Thankfully, it did not. I pressed the buttons to raise the jack. Nothing. I called over to the workman and he came out with the tractor. He lifted the nose and sat the jack back down on solid wood. I told him the electric jack wasn’t working. He said the battery was dead. I said the only time this had happened before was when there was a problem with the fuse that is on the pigtail line running from the battery. No, he said…your batteries are dead…even though I assured him I had just gotten them last spring. I wish I would have opened the little fuse covering but didn’t. I took his word. I went to Walmart and bought a battery charger then went back to the lot. With the electric line hooked to the back of my truck, I was able to raise and lower the jack and finally got hitched up and left. What should have taken four hours took seven.

I arrived at the Beaver Creek State Park (Lisbon, OH) campground and discovered the refrigerator was warm. This was a mystery but I decided to worry about that later. I finally got unhooked at the campground and hooked up to electric, I opened that fuse cover and there was my answer. The fuse was badly corroded. Some battery post cleaner and a new fuse fixed the problem. Next to address was why the refrigerator didn’t run on gas. I took the cover off the gas tanks, moved one slightly, and it started to hiss. The hose had sprung a leak, but only just then…not on the drive up. I puzzled over the problem and figured the igniter didn’t go off because of the fuse thing. But now I had to address the gas hose. If one goes out, you should replace both. It doesn’t cost that much and better to be safe than sorry.

The nearest RV dealer was twenty miles away and fortunately they had the hoses. I asked if these were what I needed and the guy said yes so off I went back to the campground only to discover the fittings on the hose was too small! Back to the RV dealer for two adapters, which he just so happened to have, and back to the campground. Lesson learned…always double check your fittings when you buy replacement hoses. Everything fit back together perfectly. I checked for leaks with dish soap…nothing. Good. Turned on the gas, switched the refrigerator to gas, and voila…it turned right on!

I took my hose out from the underbelly of the camper only to come to the sad realization that my site was electric only and I had neglected to fill the water tank before I left! No hot showers or doing dishes for me because I was NOT hooking that camper back up for anything! I ran into town and bought water and heated it in my electric teakettle for dishes. I kept some water bottles in the bathroom for rinsing the toilet and used the camp bathroom for solid waste.

BLT with fresh leaf lettuce and Tennessee tomatoes, fresh corn on the cob, Amish potato salad and fried green tomatoes…a perfect camp dinner. I was so excited to have friends at the campground. We sat around the campfire and caught up. Other than the maintenance items, which I fully expected to deal with, it was a wonderfully relaxing couple of days away. I hope you all have been enjoying your last few days of June. It’s hard to believe that the 4th of July is upon us! I’m in the final countdown before I head out on my next big road trip! I need to deep clean TOW-Wanda and get her packed. I backed her up into the driveway at the farm so she’s here where I can work on her. Stay tuned! ❤️

“let the priests take, each from his donor, and let them repair the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered."” ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭12:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Further Inspection

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 01:55:32 -0600

The more I pry into this camper, the more work there is to be done. Oy! Good thing I’m not in any hurry!

I had a lovely day yesterday. I got a lot more done in the camper but got to a stopping point and had to go to town for a special bit to remove screws. I stopped at an antique mall and picked up the white metal cabinet and the little chandelier for my camper renovation. Ran errands, then picked up a salad and a friend and went to the park to listen to live music.

As I was listening to the music, I kept looking over at this guy sitting nearby and decided I knew him. After the concert, I asked. Turns out, I did know him. He broke my heart in high school! I had asked him to the Sadie Hawkins dance and he said he’d go. The next morning at our lockers, he said, “You were just kidding about the dance, weren’t you? I’m dating a gal that does to the other high school.” Oh, my feelers were hurt. I had such a crush on him! And there he was, sitting twenty feet from me.

When I stood up to go over to say hello, our eyes met and I saw a flicker of recognition. He smiled politely as I went over to say hello. And when I reminded him of my name, he remembered me. He told me he remembered me as a sweet girl with long brown hair. He didn’t remember the dance scenario. He seems just as darling as he did in high school and I was thrilled to get to see him and meet his wife.

I love seeing the people I grew up with doing well. So many are still here in da ‘burg. I am enjoying an active social life which keeps my world interesting. It’s Friday, y’all! The first official summer weekend. Have fun!!! ❤️

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” ‭‭John‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Summer Nights

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 01:55:02 -0600

Oh, how I love summer! The days are long and bright and packed full of sunshine and flowers and fun activities. Yesterday was an action packed day. I was up at 6:30 and didn’t get back home till nearly midnight, at which time I had to still write my post. I write every evening, pretty much without fail. I think I could count on two hands how many days I’ve missed since Mr. Virgo died.

Doctor’s appointment. Breakfast with a dear friend, reader, and fellow widow who has recently fallen head over heels in love so there were lots of things to catch up on there. Errands galore. I had the truck thoroughly inspected since I’m going on a road trip soon. They found the pinion seal was leaking and replaced it. Fortunately, it was under the drive-train warranty. It’s good to go now. I borrowed some tools from my good friend, Mr. Fixit. I can work on the camper today. I went out for dinner with a friend and then a group went for live music in the park situated right on the river. We sat and talked till dark and I made the hour long drive back to the farm.

I’ve got a list as long as my arm of things that need doing. I found someone to stay at the farm while I am gone to Colorado. They will feed the cats and the birds. There’s never a dull moment here. It wasn’t 10 minutes after I got home that I wrote this and gave up for the night…happy and content with a day well lived. I’ll write more tomorrow. ❤️

““As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭8:22‬ ‭NIV‬

Lawzy, Lawzy...What Have I Done?

Sun, 18 Jun 2017 01:55:02 -0600

Oh…I almost hate to show you what I’ve gotten myself into. Y’all are gonna sit there and roll your eyes and shake your heads. As with most projects, the more you tear into it, the more you find needs doing. Thank goodness my friend, Mr. Fix-It, is willing to help me with the heavy stuff. We cleaned everything out of her today so we could get a good look at the job ahead. We started by making a list of what needs doing and setting priorities. First off was the realization there is no earthly way of getting this thing done before I leave for Colorado next month. Not and do it right anyway. Sigh.

First off, there are several wooden ceiling joists that have rotted through and need to be removed and custom cut to the curvature of the roofline. Once those are tied into the frame, the roof needs to be completely removed, a new underlayment placed, new wiring and insulation, then a new roof placed on. Once the roof is done, the windows come out and any rotten wood replaced. The windows will be sandblasted and glass replaced then the windows go back in with caulking. There are some cabinets that need to be removed. Also the bunk in the back comes out. Then the floor gets touched up and mended. Once the wiring and the insulation in the walls is replaced, paneling goes in making it an open room. There will be a double bed on a platform in the back. I will find used furniture to convert into a cabinet/kitchen/workspace. I don’t necessarily want a gas stove in this camper but there is one so but we’ll see. A small convection microwave and an electric convection hot plate would be fine. I might have a small refrigerator…not sure. I want a closet with a luggable loo and up front I’d like a couple of comfy chairs and a small table between them. Very simple inside. I just need a cozy place to sleep out of the rain.

I know she looks like a ton of work, but I’m in a place right now where I love a challenge and I need another joyful thing to look forward to. So…I have named her “Oh, Be Joyful!” I’ll call her “Joy” for short. My challenge for myself is to find as much stuff as possible free to fix her up with. I love the idea of salvaging and putting as little money in her as I can while still making certain she is roadworthy. This is indeed going to be a joyful experience!

I went to church last night and the pastor preached on Exodus. He pointed out that even though the Israelites were freed from slavery, they were still in bondage because they looked backwards at the chariots full of Egyptians bearing down one them. In order to break free from the bondage you are in, you have to have faith and move forward. I am weary of watching for chariots carrying grief. I’m moving forward…with “Joy”! Isn’t that a beautiful thing? ❤️

“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27:5-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And So...The Camper Addiction Begins!

Sat, 17 Jun 2017 01:55:55 -0600

The obsession has begun. The camper was ready to be picked up yesterday afternoon. The gentleman I purchased it from had to get the title for me. A lot of time these old campers have no title...just a bill of sale. Depending on the state you are in, this can be a huge, drawn out, expensive problem. I have passed on several affordable campers because there was no title.

A torrential downpour hit just as I pulled up to the house. After ten minutes or so, the clouds broke and I was able to hook up the camper. I thought I should check the air in the tires before I drove too far so I headed to the nearest gas station. Upon further inspection, the tires were so old and dry rotted, I didn’t dare put more air in them. The first order of business was the dreaded DMV…that black hole where time is sucked into a whirling vortex and spits you out several hours later…poorer, starving and frazzled. After sitting an hour and a half, my number was next. That’s when the nice DMV lady stood up and said, “I know it looks like we aren’t doing anything up here, but I finally reached someone I know in Charleston and the entire state’s computer system is down. We will let you know if it comes back on.” If. Not when…IF. Sigh. I waited a while and gave up. If I got stopped without tags, I’d just have to show the trooper the title and tell them the story.

Stop two was Walmart for tires. I prayed the entire way, driving 35 miles an hour with my flashers on. I breathed a sigh of relief and sent up a prayer of gratitude when I arrived safely. I was thrilled when they had trailer tires in stock that fit. I went ahead and bought a new spare as well. I know there are some people who run car tires on a trailer but I have been taught you shouldn’t do that. I always run 8-ply trailer tires on my campers. It probably took two hours at Walmart but those tires are perfect and you could really feel the difference in the way the camper felt being towed. $200 is a small price to pay for safety. I hated to put those nice new tires on those ratty old wheels. I have a friend who knows a guy who will sandblast the rims and paint them with a powder coat finish that is baked on. It lasts much longer than painting the rims. That, however, can wait and be one of the last things that gets done.

The camper followed right along behind me, just like it’s supposed to. I got her home, backed up the driveway like a pro, unhooked like a boss, and covered her with a tarp. She needs a new roof so the tarp will have to do until that can happen. Now, to name her! Someone suggested “Aretha” (‘cause she’s a Franklin and just needs R-E-S-P-E-C-T!). That’s cute! I have some ideas on decorating. This one is crying out for really comfortable, real furniture…not “camper cabinets”. “The Country Cottage” or “The Cozy Cottage” sounds lovely. Or “Fernweh” which means wanderlust. I could call her “Fern” for short. “The Merry Widow”? Let’s hear your suggestions! ❤️

“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

She Followed Me Home!

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 01:55:13 -0600

Those of you who have been here from the beginning know I really, really wanted a vintage camper when I started this adventure. I listened to Mr. Virgo’s advice…posthumously…and bought a new camper. It was probably the right decision at the time because I lacked the necessary skills and stamina to deal with a camper that needed fixing up. Now though…now I’m good and really excited to start a new adventure. And this time I’m going vintage!!!

It’s about a 40 minute drive into town from the farm along a twisty, turny two lane blacktop. I’ve driven it 1,000 times but about a week ago, a darling little two seater Mercedes convertible was sitting out in the field in front of a house. I spun around to get a second look. That was exactly the car Mr. Virgo dreamed of! Soon though, it wasn’t the Mercedes that caught my eye. It was this baby…tucked in beside the house with a tarp over her head. My heart raced. I drove down the road and turned around and came back. I passed some folks leaving as I pulled in the drive. They backed up and asked if I was there to see the Mercedes. I said, “No…I just wanted to come see this little camper here. Is she for sale?” The lady said, “How much will you give me for her?” The gentleman was kind enough to get the key and show me inside. They had bought the camper to glamp it up for their daughter. All but the back end has been gutted. They ran into time constraints and they were about to get back to it when the mom broke her ankle. The next day is when I showed up. She was exactly my price. I can fix her up the way I want her, and I was an answer to their problem as well. It was definitely a God thing. I need this little girl right now. We are both spreading our wings.

I want to get her water tight and road worthy quickly. I’d love to take her with me to Colorado. Then I could work on her while I visit my family and have her ready when I go to the big Sisters on the Fly gathering called Rocky Mountain Hi in August! Then Girl Campers in September. Man, I’d have to really push to get that done but I might be able to! We’ll see. I’ve wanted her for a long, long time. I just needed to find her.

Isn’t it interesting that Mr. Virgo’s favorite car would be out in front of a house with a tiny camper that needed a new home? There are no coincidences…I was guided there…without a doubt. She’s a 1967 Franklin, a rather rare travel trailer. I’m going to decorate her inside in shabby chic white with pale green and pink. She’s going to be a girly-girl camper. I’m so in love! ❤️

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yes, Sir...I Live in the Country

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 01:55:47 -0600

One of my biggest treats as a child was to go to Harrisville with my Pop-Pop. We would go to Stout’s Hardware for a part for the Gravely, or maybe seed potatoes and onion sets in the spring. This is one of the last old timey hardware stores around these parts. Still with the original hardwood floors, Stouts has one of everything and two of most. You can get parts for a pressure cooker, lawn mower blades, salt licks, marshmallow and weenie roasters, coon urine…. Wait! What? Coon urine?! Yes, just look in the photo closely. Right next to the flavor injector for your deep fried turkey, and the ginormous spatula, and the paper targets for shooting practice, you can buy your bottle of coon urine to spray on yourself when you go coon hunting so the little critters don’t get scared off by the smell of your Old Spice. This begs a question…does someone who coon hunts even WEAR aftershave? Does he shave? I don’t know. I have a picture in my head of people chasing raccoons around trying to get them to pee in a cup. Then I read this is synthetic urine. Ok, someone had to duplicate raccoon urine. How’d you like to have that job? “So, you’re Ann’s husband. What do you do for a living?” “I had to figure out what raccoon urine smelled like and duplicate it.” “Nice. Oh, look…there’s John. Will you excuse me?” Or how about one of the guys from Deliverance? I keep hearing banjos and envision speckled dogs with ropes tied around their necks, baying in the back of a rusted out pickup. Not that there’s anything wrong with coon hunting, I suppose. They’re varmints that get in the garden and the trash and make a general mess of everything. And, there ARE people who eat them. I probably have relatives somewhere who eat them. I really don’t want to know what kind of ground meat is in that SOS. Really…I don’t.

I’m not stereotyping West Virginians as hicks who eat vermin and talk funny. We have a bad enough rep when the evening news chooses to focus on the basest of stories about us hill folk. But, I’ll tell you what…you know you’re in the country when you can buy coon urine and weenie roasters side by side.

I made the trip to Stouts to look for those gizmos you screw into the overhead porch light that adds a couple electrical outlets. I want to string some outdoor lights on the porch for summer entertaining and Christmas lights in the winter. I figured they would have them if anyone did. They did. My fix-it friend installed my new ventless gas space heater in the bathroom yesterday. While the gas was off, I installed a new mantle and globe in the gas light in the front yard. I also needed sealant for my new wooden picnic table I got for my birthday. I borrowed Mr. Fix-it’s pole saw to trim out some of the saplings and weeds along the creek bank before they totally take over. Lots of little odd jobs getting done around the farm before I head west with my camper next month.

I love country living…it brings me such joy! ❤️

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Learning MORE New Things!

Sun, 04 Jun 2017 01:55:01 -0600

I did it! I changed the oil on my truck all by myself! Well, ok…I watched a YouTube video and my fix-it friend sat there and watched and answered any questions. There was some question as to which bolt was the plug to the oil pan so he got down under the truck with me. We consulted the video again (he’s not familiar with Fords) and once we agreed I had the right bolt, I was on my own. Next, I had the hardest time trying to find the oil filter. I went back to the video and figured that out. I was pleased I had the strength to turn the oil plug and the filter to remove them. All told, the whole thing was done in 45 minutes. I did have to buy an oil pan and a filter wrench for the first change, but after this, I can change my oil myself for $35. And that’s using Mobil 1 Full Synthetic oil. I use that because I tow the camper and it’s better for the truck. The same thing would cost at least $80. If I would have known how easy it was, I would have done this myself all along! I felt SO accomplished! I didn’t get greasy and dirty. It was easy peasy. I have been gifted by God with abilities to learn and do mechanical things. I can’t take the credit for that.

I went to the hardware store to get a dryer vent cover to keep the birds from nesting in the vent tube. When I got it home, I realized the cover that is on there is attached and couldn’t be removed. Upon further inspection, I could see there was a metal flap in there that is supposed to close down on the opening when the dryer isn’t running. I got a flashlight and could see there was a great deal of lint and old wasp nests holding the flap open. I got a long, skinny screw driver and cleaned out years worth of impacted lint and now it closes fine. No more birdies in the dryer vent!!!

On my way home from the hardware store, I stopped at the cemetery. I had decorated the graves for Mother’s Day and Memorial Day before I left for Florida. But, when I went yesterday, the flowers for Grandma and Pop-Pop’s graves were gone. The rest were there but not my grandparent’s. That chaps me…the lowest of the low to deface and steal in cemeteries. I’ll replace them this week.

That was my day. We will soon be “knee deep in June” here at the farm. People are putting up hay so I’m sneezing my head off, even with my allergy meds. Ahhh, this too shall pass. The melons are getting good flavor. It won’t be long till there are fresh green beans and tomatoes at the produce stands. Life is oh so good here on Marshmallow Ranch! ❤️

“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Shooting Stars

Sun, 28 May 2017 01:55:13 -0600

I didn’t go anywhere yesterday. I sat out on the front deck with my coffee for a couple of hours then took a short walk on the beach. It was already getting hot and oh so crowded, so I came back to the condo and sat on the front deck for another two hours reading and writing. True decadence. I cooked a nice supper and went down with a chair to sit on the beach for sunset. I had a lovely conversation with several people and was gifted this photo of myself. I have to tell you this…and I’m not being vain or self-aggrandizing. But, it’s been a long, long time since I felt this beautiful. It was such a peaceful day. The sun was setting. The mist began to settle in on the beach and my skin felt dewy and fresh. I even had a glass of my “merlot”…a dealcoholized wine made by Fré that I really enjoy…as I watched the people strolling up and down the shoreline. Some 40-year-olds tossed a football back and forth. A little 12-year-old girl practiced on her surf board. I sat out till long after dark, watching the stars come out and the moon slowly set. I saw two huge shooting stars overhead and counted my many, many blessings. I had heard there were fireworks scheduled after the concert down at the pavilion by the pier. I saw two or three small ones but it didn’t amount to much. Then I walked up the beach with a flashlight looking for crabs and jellyfish. I saw a few, and also the first seagulls I’ve seen during this trip…only three or four of them. Lots and lots of pelicans, though.

So that was my day…peaceful, joyful, happy, and oh so grateful!

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ ❤️

The Lighthouse

Fri, 26 May 2017 01:55:30 -0600

After four days of stormy, grey skies, yesterday was stunning in Daytona Beach. I had a slow start to my day, enjoying coffee on the deck, before I headed out for a day of fun in the sun. First stop was the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. Billed as one of the tallest lighthouses on the east coast, they didn’t mention it was narrower and the stairs are steeper. OMGosh…what a workout! They didn’t have the windows open so it was stuffy and close. But I just took my time and plugged right along. The view from the top was well worth the climb. You could see the ocean, the Halifax River, the Indian River, the Ponce Inlet, and various salt marshes. On a really clear day, you can see Cape Canaveral. It was stellar!

After the lighthouse, I drove north to Tomoka State Park. I have reservations there for a couple of weeks next winter and since I was so close, I thought I would check it out. What a gorgeous place! Lots of live oak canopy dripping with Spanish moss. A large variety of palm trees and dense underbrush gives each space a feeling of privacy. I imagine it’s going to be pretty “buggy” and, of course, there are snakes and alligators. But hey…it’s Florida and it’s warm and there’s no snow, right? There are 97 campsites and all have electric and water hookup. You can only stay for two weeks at a time in Florida State Parks and this will be the last one on my two month trip. Seeing it in person was really exciting and makes next winter’s trip more real.

It was time for a late lunch after traipsing around the state park so I headed to the Boardwalk and Pier at Daytona Beach. Lunch on the patio of Bubba Gump Shrimp Company was relaxing and delicious. Jambalaya! By this time it was 5:00 and the sun was really baking. I walked down the way and out onto the pier and watched the fishermen for a while. I finally gave in and made my way back to the condo for the evening. It was a fun and delightfully tiring day. The crowds will start coming in today for the Memorial Day weekend. Can you believe that? Time really flies when you’re having fun. I’m sticking close to the condo the next few days. The beach will be crowded but not as bad here in the southern region as it will be closer to downtown and the race track. Thanks for traveling with me! ❤️

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Smokin' Pig

Mon, 22 May 2017 01:55:14 -0600

I arrived in Statesville, NC at 2:00 yesterday morning. I had stopped at the NC Welcome Center and picked up a hotel coupon magazine and found one for the Ramada. I stayed here in February when I was on my way back from Florida. I managed to get one of the last rooms available for $65, including a really good hot breakfast. I love this hotel because it is clean, convenient, and the staff are always friendly. I worked in the hotel business for a few years and I learned that you pay more for a reservation. You can get your best prices as a walk-in, especially with a coupon and a big, friendly smile. I asked for a late check out and got on the road by 11:00.

If you want to know the best places to eat when you’re traveling, you need to ask where the locals go. When I’m in the south, I’m hunting for Southern delicacies like really good soul food and the very best barbecue. My great find this time was a little hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint located at the end of the BP Station next to the Raceway station off exit 87 of I-95. Oh…em…geeeee! Delicious!

It rained quite a bit through Georgia and cleared up by the time I got into Florida. It was still twilight when I pulled into the condo here at Daytona Beach so I could still see the waves. And of course, I could smell the salty sea breeze and hear the waves on the beach. I can see the ocean from the patio doors off the master suite so I can’t wait for coffee this morning! I’m literally a hundred steps from the ocean!!! I am so blessed that a dear friend is sharing this condo with me. I couldn’t do this without that kindness. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And…Thank you Jesus for travel mercies!!! ❤️

“The LORD said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’ ”” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:11-12‬ ‭NIV

Road Trip...The Grand Adventure Continues!

Sun, 21 May 2017 01:55:53 -0600

OMGosh! I miss the open road! Traveling along the highways and byways of this beautiful country is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world to do. I’ve been stationary the majority of the last nine months and I miss TOW-Wanda. By the time you read this, I will be several hours into my drive to Florida. I didn’t want to miss church last night so I went then headed out on the road. Cooler of snacks and ample tunes makes for a good time. I love driving at night. There isn’t as much traffic and it’s cooler. I drive till I’m ready to call it a night, then pull in to an area with a bunch of hotels and search my hotels.com app for the best deal in the area.

This picture is little TOW-Wanda at Steamboat Lake State Park. I look at this picture and remember that trip into the wilderness and back roads of Colorado. It’s hard to imagine I did all that so soon after losing Mr. Virgo. The memories of that trip are fuzzy. I was still in shock, trying to navigate the world alone for the first time in my life, really. It’s like a slide show in my mind now. I have pictures and my early posts to remind me where I was…physically and emotionally. I was so lost emotionally. I have continued writing the stories of my life because I want those who have just boarded this ship to know that life gets better. Calmer seas are coming, even if you cannot envision them. I promise…you will be different, but you CAN find joy again. Just keep looking. As I headed out from the farm yesterday, cats and lawn care covered, my heart sang in the sunshine and all was right in the world!!!

Destination…Daytona Beach! You get to come along vicariously!!! I’ll post pictures! ❤️

“Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don’t for a minute lose sight of them. They’ll keep your soul alive and well, they’ll keep you fit and attractive. You’ll travel safely, you’ll neither tire nor trip. You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry, you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep. No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner, Because GOD will be right there with you; he’ll keep you safe and sound.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:21-26‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Life is Sweet on the OBX

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 01:55:14 -0600

Oh, my…I have discovered the subtle intricacies of North Carolina BBQ. A totally different experience from the bold, smoky heat of the BBQ I’m used to out west, Carolina BBQ sauce is vinegar based. Slightly sweet, slightly tart with a mild heat that just wakes up your tongue. And the meat? Heavenly! I had a sampler platter from High Cotton BBQ in Kitty Hawk yesterday afternoon that was to die for. While I was a little disappointed in the ribs (the meat was fairly chewy even though it did fall from the bone), the pork was succulent and melt-in-your mouth perfection and the brisket was only slightly less so. All this was accompanied by collard greens that were perfect and a wonderful crisp coleslaw. I opted for fries because I like the crisp, salty contrast to the tender meat, even though I didn’t even eat half of them. Trust me, there was no room for dessert and a long walk was definitely in order afterwards.

It was another cool day yesterday…cloudy with occasional glimpses of the sun. I started out the day with a fabulous latte from Sweet T’s Coffee House. Subtle hints of chocolate made this nectar of the gods my go-to brew for my entire (and any future) stay. Afterwards, I had a plate of farm-fresh scrambled eggs and a steaming bowl of the perfect mix of coarse ground yellow and white grits at Stack ’em High Pancakes and So Forth. I left off the bacon in exchange for butter on the grits. No bread either. Fabulous!

No trip to Kitty Hawk is complete without a visit to the Wright Brothers National Memorial? (My $10 Senior Pass from the National Parks Service pays again! You can get yours at age 62!) It was fascinating to see the actual flights marked in distance down the makeshift airstrip. Four flights in all…each going further and further. I stood there with goose bumps thinking of the young brothers taking turns trying out their new contraption, the onlookers cheering and throwing their hats in the air. To think, in all of recorded history, more has been accomplished in the last 114 years than in all the rest combined as far as technology. These bicycle mechanics created a flying machine and now, spacecraft are recording the outer regions of our current capabilities at the edges of our galaxy. It is a marvel.

We are forecasted gale-force winds and rain today. It will be another lay-low day, listening to the rain and wind, curled up with a good book and cup of tea. The rest of the week is supposed to be hot and sunny…solid beach time. Life is sweet on the OBX! I am so blessed to be able to travel. I live a pretty frugal life in order to do this. My mantra now is experiences over stuff. ❤️

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭6:30-32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Outer Banks

Sun, 23 Apr 2017 01:55:57 -0600

Think “Wright Brothers”. Think “Cape Hatteras” and “lighthouses” and “sand” and “surf”. It was 86° and sunshine when I got here at 3:00. Four hours later there had been a heavy rain and it dropped down to 60°. Welcome to springtime on the Outer Banks. The complex I have the good fortune of staying in is half empty right now with only the occasional sound of children playing on the beach or in the nearby pool. In six weeks, it will be an entirely different place. This is my favorite time to travel…off season.

Unfortunately the next few days will be rainy and cool but by Wednesday it will be warm and sunny again. The rainy days are best spent doing the touristy thing and looking at monuments and shopping. Not to mention relaxing, taking naps, reading and writing.

Frankie Faison at arrivals for Marvel’’s LUKE CAGE Premiere on NETFLIX, AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 Theater, New York, NY September 28, 2016. Photo By: Patrick Cashin/Everett Collection

I saw a man at breakfast this morning. He looked so familiar but I couldn’t place him. Turned out he was Frankie Faison. He’s an actor who has been in lots of television shows and movies. What a gentle and funny man he was. So gracious. He kept stopping by and adding a funny line to the last interaction. By the time he left, I was laughing hysterically at him. It’s a fun start already. I love the kind of vacation that remains largely unplanned and you never know what’s around the corner.

Oh, I saw my first alligator in the wild today! ❤️

“Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:133‬ ‭NIV‬

Rock On!

Sat, 22 Apr 2017 01:55:54 -0600

Oh. Em. Geeeee. What a day! I finished packing and hit the road with a full cup of coffee by 10:00. I got to mile marker 82 in I-77 when traffic came to a dead stop. I mean like, get out of your car and meet your neighbors stop. One of the most important things I recommend for travel is a smartphone with access to the internet. While my GPS neglected to tell me there was traffic congestion on my route, Siri informed me there had been a truck fire and emergency crews were working to put it out. Three hours later , I drove past this charred hulk of a semi, a tanker truck still hosing down its contents strewn all over. I couldn’t tell for sure but it was loose bags of something orange. I stopped in Wytheville, Virginia for gas and found this painted rock. It’s all the rage right now…paint rocks and leave them places. When you find one, you take a picture of it and say where you find it, then you hide it again. I know a lot of people who do this and it’s fun. I’ll take it to the beach and leave it there.

I pressed on past Mount Airy where I had initially planned to stop but felt I needed to make up for lost time. I thought I could get a room near Winston-Salem but you couldn’t find a room within 100 miles of there due to a furniture show. North Carolina is big in the furniture manufacturing biz. Therefore, I ended up driving till 1:00am and found one of the last two rooms in North Carolina…if not the entire country! The wonderful lady at the front desk gave me a great deal for a large, comfy king-sized room and check out isn’t till noon….yessss!

The floaters in my eye bugged the heck out of me till it got dark. I’m told my brain will get used to the floaters and I won’t notice them. That can come now, please. With that, I’m closing and hitting the hay. Tomorrow (today!) is another day! ❤️

The Moon Bath

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 01:55:10 -0600

Bathing al fresco by the light of the moon was a necessity in the mid ’90s. Having a total hysterectomy caused me to wake up from anesthesia with complete menopausal symptoms on top of the surgical pain. I struggled for the next seven years till we finally got my estrogen level up to something I could live with. I had hot flashes that sat at a ten on the Richter Scale and no one wanted to be anywhere near me. I didn’t blame them…I didn’t want to be near them either. It was miserable.

I brought my children home for visits with the family every single summer. If you have ever suffered through August in West Virginia, you’ll have some idea what Dante’s Inferno was all about. With the heat and humidity, one could not begin to imagine running a bath or taking anything but a cold shower. I’m not sure how it began, but along about the time my youngest was three or four years old, we started taking “Moon Baths”. Where that tub sits in this picture, there used to be a 50 gallon drum to catch the rainwater. A few years ago, it didn’t get emptied in the fall and when it froze, the bottom busted out of it. Since then, there’s been a galvanized tub strategically placed at either corner of the bathroom addition to catch the rain.

One night back in the mid ’90s, I was so sticky hot and Daughter #2 had just about had it with the whole “let’s go visit grandma and watch eggs fry on the sidewalk” thing. I was carrying groceries in the back door when I looked over and saw that cool water in the water barrel and all I wanted to do was drop everything and stick my head in it. As soon as it was dark enough and everyone had turned in for the night, my Little and I grabbed a bucket of warm water from the bathroom and carried it outside. She looked at me with some trepidation. I smiled and said, “Trust me!” We gathered bar soap, shampoo, wash cloths, towels and clean night clothes and headed for the backyard. I explained, with great authority, that we were about to take our very first “Moon Bath”. I stripped down to my all-together and Little happily followed suit. We soaped up with the warm, sudsy water from the bucket, lathered our hair, then took that enamel saucepan off the nail and dipped fresh, cool rainwater over us to rinse off. We squealed with delight at the shock of water that felt so cold at first but soon felt perfect as we acclimated. Squeaky clean and refreshed, we dried off and dressed for bed. It became a nightly ritual and I think we continued to do that every visit till Little got too big.

My time in West Virginia now is opposite of what it used to be. I spend my summers in the rather temperate climate (comparatively) of Colorado. It is semi-arid there and a shower indoors is not a bad thing. But, should I spend any hot August nights here again, you can rest assured I’ll be bathing in the moonlight at the corner of “ooooh” and “aaaah”! ❤️

“Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭18:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Fun on the Farm

Tue, 11 Apr 2017 01:55:06 -0600

I got my first company on the farm yesterday! I’m telling you…I was SO excited. I even bought a new vinyl tablecloth at Dollar General for the occasion! I picked up a potted hyacinth at the grocery store, dressed my bed in floral pastels, and the house looked positively springy!

I love having company. It gives me a chance to cook. Open-faced cheeseburgers and locally made Mr. Bee potato chips for lunch and pork loin chops, brown and wild rice and fresh asparagus for supper. We roamed the farm and explored the old barn and found a few treasures. An old lantern, some spats and a hat that I think belonged to my great grandfather, and the rusty front of an old Model A Ford that I want to hang on the wall in the dining room. While we were driving out the dirt road at the back of the farm, V saw a flash of red and we couldn’t identify what it was, even with binoculars. She has no fear. I have an abundance of caution. Between us and this red thing was what I would consider snake territory but with great caution and beating on the ground, we carefully moved forward and got a good look at the plant. Now, to identify it. Anyone have a clue?

I put the green twinkly light out back aimed up into the trees. It looks like a fairy land out there shining above TOW-Wanda where my company is all tucked in. I wanted her to be very comfortable here. V is the West Virginia Wrangler for Sisters on the Fly and we are planning an event for September in the Mid Ohio Valley to coincide with the Sternwheel Festival. Today we’ll be checking out venues. I love camping with my Sisters and I’m hoping this will be a well attended and fun event to remember! ❤️

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Bird Watching

Thu, 06 Apr 2017 01:55:53 -0600

One of the most pleasant things about this farm is the multitude of birds singing all the time. From the earliest risers announcing the break of dawn to the owls hooting in the night, I have always been mesmerized by their chorus echoing up the holler and in the woods surrounding the house. I hung several feeders out front last fall and have enjoyed watching the various birds as they migrate up and down on their annual patterns. There were a few varieties that wintered over…the cardinal being my favorite. Black-capped chickadees and house wrens and goldfinches were frequent visitors with the occasional bird I have yet to identify.

I mowed the lawn yesterday with my new mower. (Jackie…tell Don it’s a Troy-Bilt, not a Toro. Hey, it started with a T!) It worked like a charm and the yard looked lovely when I was done. I worked on the taxes for quite some time and finally took a break in the late afternoon to sit in the sunshine on the porch. The birds were having a field day out there so I went in to get my iPad and binoculars. My massage therapist asked me the other day to identify a bird from a call she recorded the evening before. I downloaded “iBird Ultimate” on my tablet and set to work. After two days, I discovered she had caught an American Woodcock with it’s repeated three-note croak common during mating season in the spring. I don’t know if you have ever seen one, but they are very odd birds. They hold their heads far back, have a very long beak, and walk in slow motion. Funny birds. Since I had the app at the ready, I decided to try to identify some of my afternoon visitors.

I’ve been trying to identify a certain call for quite a long time now. It sounds “watery”, like a drop of water plunking down in a well. Kind of hollow, echoing. I could hear them in the brush but could never get a good look at them. Finally, they came to the feeder…only briefly. Just long enough to see they were Brown-headed Cowbirds. I looked them up, listened to their song that is recorded in the app, and sure enough…that’s what I’ve been hearing for years! It was actually pretty exciting!

The most fun interaction I had though was with a Tufted Titmouse. Beautiful little birds. A blue-ish grey with a blush of dusty pinkish yellow on the sides of the breast, just under the wings, they have a peaked cap of feathers on top of their heads that looks like a jaunty little hat. Once I identified it, I played the birdsong on an endless loop and that little bird went crazy. Ok, I played a recording of the mating calls between a male and female. This guy fluttered all around the porch, staring at me, shaking his wings hard enough to make the dogwood tree quiver. He even flew in under the porch roof and landed on the clothesline not ten feet from me. He stayed around for awhile till he figured out I wasn’t an interloper invading his territory. Finally, he flew off into the woods nearby, but I heard him scolding and chattering at me for quite some time afterwards.

The temperature got up to 80 out there with the sun preparing to settle behind the ridge across the road. It felt wonderful to just sit there and soak up some Vitamin D. The wind picked up with the approaching storm front and the trees on top of the hill danced and roared a muffled sigh. Another lovely day has passed here on the farm and my heart is full of love and hope. ❤️

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.” ‭‭James‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Starting Over

Sat, 25 Mar 2017 01:55:59 -0600

Last night I sat on the sofa for an hour, typing my post for today. It was long and quite eloquent…trust me. I did something I SWORE I would never do again. I typed for an hour without saving any of it and, what happened? The FB app crashed and I lost it all! You would think I would learn this valuable lesson because I can never duplicate a post once it’s gone. They are original, one-of-a-kind essays. So, I’m starting over.

I needed coffee. Or something stronger. Since I don’t drink coffee after noon and since I don’t drink alcohol in years starting with a 2, I was forced to turn to the next best thing. Peanut M&M’s. Candy porn. Those sweet little crunchy nuggets of love! Sigh. I seldom indulge in chocolate anymore. But, I received these from a friend as a little “thank you”. I’ve kept them for just such an emergency as this. Everything can be cured with Peanut M&M’s. Trust me…I’m a writer.

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with chocolate since I was a teenager. ProActive wasn’t a thing yet. I didn’t care. Chocolate was my friend. Chocolate didn’t make fun of me. Chocolate loved me unconditionally. In its sweet darkness, chocolate told me I had a friend. And then, glory be! Scientists found out what I’ve known all along. Chocolate is actually GOOD for me! See? Told ya!

While you may never read the amazing post I originally wrote for today, you will forever know what to get me for any holiday…ever…for the rest of my life. Peanut M&M’s. Oh, and coffee. Really great coffee! ❤️

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:103‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Peace & Quiet

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 01:55:51 -0600

I live a pretty peaceful and quiet life out here on the farm. The biggest excitement comes in the evening when I chase the possums and raccoons out of the cat’s dish. It’s gotten cold again just to remind us it’s still winter, no matter how mild it has been. Thankfully, we didn’t get the snow that was forecasted. Just really cold weather and some flurries.

Now that I have that shiny, white truck out in my driveway, my thoughts are turning to camping. Peace and quiet when you’re camping is so much better than the peace and quiet of home…no matter how wonderful home is. I’m already planning my trips over the next year. I want to spend a good deal of time in Florida next winter and you have to make your reservations eleven months in advance. You can only stay two weeks at a time in state parks so that has you booking reservations every two weeks in March and April. You have to stay organized and know where you’re going and when.

In the meantime, you research the areas and choose where you want to go and make plans. I’m hoping to travel a lot this year. The Outer Banks, Colorado, Tennessee, Florida, and all points in between. Whether it’s with Sisters on the Fly, Girl Campers, friends or family…I’m looking forward to another year of adventure! ❤️

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭20:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Road Trip!

Sat, 11 Mar 2017 02:55:47 -0600

When life hands you lemons, call up the girls…the Girl Campers, that is! Last week I saw that my Girl Camper friends were having a girl’s weekend in the mountains of West Virginia and I thought to myself, “You’re gonna NEED that!” So, I signed up. I called up one of my local friends for a road trip and off we went. It’s been an adventure already, let me tell you!

Deneene plugged the address into GPS and we left around 1:30. The forecast was for snow in the mountains but most of the drive was partly sunny. We chatted happily about this and that when Siri told us to turn off the highway. I’ve been here a dozen times and I thought it odd, but I’m always up for some new scenery so I didn’t say anything. Each road became smaller and smaller with every turn. For the most part, we were greeted with a marshmallow world where every twig is frosted with white fluff and, thankfully, the roads were clear…till we started climbing.

We hit the first place where the stiff wind was blowing the snow across the road and I started to get a little concerned. It wasn’t long till we were in white out conditions in four-wheel-drive. Deneene and I took turns praying as we climbed ever higher, creeping along. Finally, we turned off the county road to a two-lane blacktop. As we were coming down the mountain, a semi came down way too fast and really freaked us out. There wasn’t any place to get off the road and we were afraid if he got in front of us and jack-knifed, we’d be in bigger trouble so we hung in there and finally made it to the lodge.

We checked in and spent a fun evening with a dozen or so gals, eating big bowls of homemade soup and breads, chocolate, and wine. Some knitted. One quilted. Deneene applied henna tattoos to whoever wanted one. There was lots of laughter. There is always laughter, isn’t there?

Women have been having gatherings since before recorded time. We bond, we grow, we mentor, we listen. We should strive to lift each other up with love, honor and support whenever we can. I, for one, have had a pretty stressful two weeks and I’m tickled to death to be here with my fellow sisters. No worries…just fun for a few days. As my grandma used to say, “It’s good for what ails ye!” ❤️

“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭20:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Perception

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 02:55:06 -0600

When I was sixteen, my world changed like every other teenager with a new driver’s license. It wasn’t just my freedom and ability to come and go more easily, but also my perception of the natural world around me. Driving piqued my senses and made me much more aware of my surroundings, and being artistic, that included the way I saw my world.

I remember one mid-summer day, I was heading out of the house and into my mom’s 1964 Ford Fairlane 500 to meet up with my friends. As I turned to close and lock the door behind me, I was suddenly captivated with the way the sun caught on the huge forsythia bush by the back door. While the brilliant yellow of the spring blossoms was long gone, the verdant green foliage was so intense, it almost hurt my eyes. I stood in wonder and let that moment wash over me like watercolors on fresh, velvety paper. I can still, at 63, close my eyes and see that scene in my mind.

I awoke yesterday as the sun broke briefly through the rain clouds of the past few days. My eyes instinctively moved to the ridge of the hill across the road as I watched the morning sunlight work its way down through the woods. That’s when I caught sight of something that took my breath away. Overnight, as if by magic, the large, bare, nondescript shrub on the creek bank outside the bedroom window had exploded in a riot of soft pink blossoms. I sat bolt upright and stared out the window as I marveled at this sudden appearance of spring right under my nose. I smiled and my heart exploded with joy. I cannot recall noticing this bush in all the springs I have visited the farm, but the gift of the moment was not lost on me. I thought of my grandma and all the many mornings she woke up in this bed and saw that first blush of spring out her window. She always said there was nowhere else in the world that she would ever want to live and I can surely understand now what she meant.

Awareness. Mindfulness. Deep appreciation. Gratitude. I live and breathe these on a daily basis here on the farm in the home of my heart. Who knows how long I will be blessed with the opportunity to live in this little slice of heaven…but, while I can, I will cherish every moment I am given here. ❤️

Historic Downtown Savannah

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 02:55:24 -0600

I’m not even going to bother telling you about the place I stayed at St. Augustine Beach. It was a tired, run-down beachfront hotel that was pretty heavily damaged on the oceanfront side during the last hurricane. It WAS fairly inexpensive for beachfront. And I COULD see the ocean from the balcony. It was quiet and clean. They did have to come put a new AC/Heater unit in because mine didn’t work. It had a mini fridge and microwave, which was nice. It was $77/night. Not bad, but I wouldn’t stay there again.

Savannah, however, is an entirely different story. Thirteen years ago, when my mother died, I brought my older brother to Florida for the vacation our mom had promised him. We drove through Savannah and I was charmed. I can’t remember where we stayed back then, but when we drove to the River Walk, we came through an enchanting neighborhood with square parks every other intersection, gorgeous trees with their crooked arms draped gracefully with Spanish Moss, and delightful Victorian homes. I swore if I ever came back, I would stay in the Historic District.

As I prepared to leave St. Augustine yesterday morning, I talked myself out of a B&B or one of the trendy historic hotels in the old district because I spent my bigger budget on beach accommodations. But I thought I’d just take a peek on the Hotel.com app to see if there was something affordable. Lo and behold, I found a room at $77 and snatched it up. When I received the confirmation, it was via text on the cell phone. And…it was a room in a Victorian house right in that beautiful neighborhood I was looking at! Not only that, my hosts said I had my pick of rooms and I had the whole house to myself!

Oh. Em. Geeeee! This place is amazing. It’s a four story home but the top floor is locked for storage. There are two bedrooms on each floor and a three bedroom apartment at the garden level. Tall ceilings, soft grey walls, crisp white trim, fireplaces everywhere, gorgeous wide plank hardwood floors. Breakfast was in the fridge when I got here. Off street parking was free. All for the unbelievably low price of $77 per night! Score!!! It’s called The DuLinn on York.

What a great way to wrap up my road trip, pretty much. I will probably have one more night in a hotel before I get to my cousin’s in Bristol, Tennessee on Friday. Unless I drive all the way in tomorrow. I’m by no means ready to go back to the snowy/rainy cold of late winter in West Virginia, but this trip broke the season up and the sunshine was just what the doctor ordered. And, spring comes early on the farm. I’m looking forward to the dogwood and redbud blooming late next month. Spring is my favorite season…it holds such promise. ❤️

Sigh

Mon, 06 Feb 2017 02:55:14 -0600

I hate leaving. What a beautiful week it’s been. Beauty and fun at every turn. I was hoping for a gorgeous sunset for the last night and, while it wasn’t colorful, Florida did not disappoint. If money was no object and I could have anything I wished, I would live on the farm in West Virginia in the spring and fall, Colorado in summer and at Christmas, and Florida the rest of the time. But, until I WIN the Powerball, I’ll settle for getting here for even a little bit of a break in January or February. I am so grateful for this opportunity.

I had the opportunity to see my dear friend, Lionel, yesterday. I haven’t seen him since my mother died thirteen years ago. My mom had promised my brother a trip to Florida that spring but she died before they could go. I stepped in and brought my brother down to Disney World. Gary has cerebral palsy and had never done anything like that. Lionel drove over from Tampa to spend the day with Gary and I. It was so wonderful to see him and his beautiful family (I got to see all three of his kids!) and spend a few hours catching up over some pretty decent Mexican food yesterday.

I got back to Clearwater in time for this one last sunset. I noticed a large group of people down the beach and walked into the middle of a big Super Bowl party…just in time to catch the National Anthem. My heart swelled with hope and pride when I turned to the woman beside me and the man on the other side…standing, hats off, hands on their hearts…singing, some crying with the emotion of the moment. I cheered along with the crowd when they panned to show the soldiers watching from overseas. It was beautiful to share this moment with complete strangers and feel that human relationship. There is hope for a better tomorrow. There is always hope.

I leave today for St. Augustine. I’ll stay there a couple of nights and I’ll have to get up early to catch the sunrise. Keep following along…we’ve still got a week of fun ahead of us! Let’s go! ❤️

“Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭65:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Bounty

Wed, 01 Feb 2017 02:55:56 -0600

I love Greek food. Spanakopita, dolmas, gyros, baklava…oooooh, I love it all! There’s a baked ziti that has a thick savory custard-like layer over it that’s SO good. I’m sure none of it is good for me, but if I get the opportunity to have Greek food, I don’t miss out. So, yesterday I headed for Tarpon Springs…the “sponge capital of the world”. And home to tons of Greek restaurants. Sixteen years ago, I ate at Pappas Restaurant but it closed a few years ago. I opted for Hellas Restaurant and Bakery. OMGosh! While the food was really quite good, the bakery was amazing! I stood in there and looked at every single item offered. I didn’t buy a single sweet…but they looked marvelous! Instead, I walked my three miles along the piers and walkways of town.

I ended the day watching the sunset over the Gulf and caught this Pirate Ship going out for a sunset cruise. There were fishermen catching drum and feeding them to the egrets and pelicans. Here and there musicians set up their open cases to busk for cash. The weather was warmer and hit near 70. It is supposed to be even warmer today. It was an absolutely pristine day. As I sat in the late afternoon sun, I could feel the life force flowing back into me. I have a friend living in Alaska…like, NORTHERN Alaska, just shy of the arctic circle. She goes months without seeing the sun at all. I can’t imagine that. I am so happy to be soaking up some sunshine this week. ❤️

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:105‬ ‭NIV‬‬

THE GRAND ADVENTURE 2017: "BROWN PELICAN ON THE PIER"

Tue, 31 Jan 2017 03:00:25 -0600

Day 3: Splitting the drive into three days made the day of arrival an easy three hours or so. My total drive time was exactly 17 hours and just over 1,000 miles. I didn’t break any speed records and stopped as I needed to stretch my legs and have a snack. And…I spent a whopping $61 in gas to get down here! Hotels were $137 including tax. Food was around $20 because I brought most of it from home. Since I love to drive, I don’t count my time because the drive is half the fun and all the entertainment. My room is budget but certainly not cut rate. It has a pool and kitchen and is very close to the beach. There is a grocery about a mile and half away so I bought what I will need for the week for $85. I’m thrilled to have pulled this off without spending a mint! I don’t think I will ever go a whole winter without seeing the sun again.

I could hardly wait to get to the beach. It is unseasonably cool here right now. The high yesterday was 62 but, since it snowed in West Virginia, I will take 62 and sunshine on a beach any day of the week! I have been in Florida in January when it was so cold, we had to wear our ski parkas, hats and gloves to Disney World. By midweek it will be in the mid-70’s so I’m good with that.

One of the first times I ever traveled alone was a year after Hubby #2 and I split up. I came to Florida to visit my sister/friend from high school. I drove all over the state. From Jacksonville to Tarpon Springs…Sanibel to Captiva to Naples…Ft. Lauderdale to Flagler Beach to Kissimmee and back to Jacksonville. It was a wonderful trip. Traveling alone takes courage and planning but it’s doable in one way or another, regardless of your budget.

So, I’m here safe and sound. I’m in a safe area and a secure hotel. I’m getting the lay of the land and looking for fun things to do. I’ll keep sending youthese little “picture postcards”!

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

THE GRAND ADVENTURE: 2017

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 02:55:14 -0600

Day 1: The Farm to Columbia, SC Day 2: Columbia, SC to St. Augustine

Both days were sunny and breezy yet cool. Even as I crossed into Florida and stopped at the Welcome Center for some brochures and a taste of fresh-squeezed orange juice, the temp had just barely crossed 60. Still 60 and sunny beats 29 and snowing any day of the week.

The highlight on Saturday was the Shot Tower located on the banks of the New River. On first glance, I assumed this structure had something to do with the Civil War…watching for troops or guarding a fort, perhaps. Closer inspection shows an entirely different purpose for this tower, and an ingenious one at that.

According to the historical marker, by 1770, captain William Herbert has established a ferry at this point that crossed the New River. This ferry became know as Jackson’s Ferry. In the early 1800’s, Thomas Jackson erected this tower to manufacture lead shot for weapons. There was a deep well-like structure dug down into the ground with a tunnel crossing out to the river. Molten lead was dropped through a sieve at the top of the structure and it dripped down through the tower, cooling and forming round pellets. It splashed into the water below and was transported down the tunnel to waiting barges to be shipped to munitions makers. Interesting!

I stayed the first night at a Day’s Inn just off the interstate. I asked for a quiet, safe room and, while the room was decidedly tired and could have used a serious updating, it was clean and bug free and inexpensive at $55 plus taxes and fees. The continental breast was, as you can imagine, nothing to write home about so I had a yoghurt and headed for Starbucks and Panerra. Being gluten free isn’t a problem in a bakery like Panerra. I just ask for my favorite breakfast sandwich to be served in a bowl, sans bread, and add lots of fresh spinach. Yummmm. Starbuck’s new Cascarra Latte was definitely the splurge of the morning and it was worth every penny. With hints of chocolate and cherry…I was a happy girl as I headed South for Sunny Florida.

Sunny was the key word yesterday. A little breezy, the 61 degrees didn’t allow for the picnic in the rest area I was hoping for, but it sure made driving fun. I chose to head down the Atlantic Coast first and try to catch a friend before going to my final destination. Unfortunately, my friend had a dental emergency and I couldn’t see her this trip. I’ll give you a great travel tip. Stop at the welcome centers when you come into a new state. I picked up one of those brochures with all the hotel discount coupons and headed to my next stop. (I’ll share that story tomorrow!)

A bubble bath, a bag of popcorn, and the SAG Awards made for a quiet, peaceful evening. Today, I cross the state to the Gulf Coast…one of my favorite places in the whole world! ❤️

“You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.” ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭28:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

GETTIN' OUT OF DODGE

Sun, 29 Jan 2017 02:55:31 -0600

Ok, kids…it’s that time of year when mama’s got itchy feet. The grey clouds of January in the Mid-Ohio Valley has turned me into a pale and grumpy girl and I have to head for some sun, sand, and surf! Yesss….you guessed it…it’s time for a ROAD TRIP! And you’re coming with me so turn on the sunlamp, play some Beach Boys, and slather on some coconut scented lotion, put on your sunglasses, get out the road map, and lets have some fun!

I’m not traveling with TOW-Wanda this time. I always get a little squirrelly when I think about pulling a 30’ camper in the snow over the Blue Ridge Mountains, so the big girl is holding down the fort at the farm. This is the econo-version of the Great American Road Trip! First, I rented a car. Now, before you freak out about the cost of that, figure that I get TRIPLE the miles per gallon in a small car than I get in my big, mama-honkin’ truck. And, I had an e-mail from Enterprise for a free upgrade. I tried making the reservation through the website but “free” upgrade actually increased the price and free is supposed to be free, right? So, I ordered an “intermediate” sized car. When I got to the desk, I showed the clerk the e-mail and actually GOT the free upgrade. A standard car turned out to by a Chrysler 200 with pretty much all the bells and whistles I could have needed. I brought my own GPS so I didn’t rent one. (For those of you who know me, I literally cannot find my butt with both hands and a flashlight so a GPS is non-negotiable!). This fine little American made automobile is imported from Detroit and I got a very respectable 34.6MPG on the highway coming down and that was over some fairly respectable mountains. As always, I do not divulge my exact location real time so I’ll tell you more about that tomorrow when I move on.

Another really great money saver when I travel is the hotel.com app on my phone. Hotels put rooms out on sites like this when they have a lot of empty rooms and they don’t expect to sell out. You can get some really great deals last minute. I drove till I was tired, found an exit with a lot of chain hotels, opened my hotel.com app and found a reasonably priced, name-brand hotel. Then, with the app still open, I went to the front desk and introduced myself. I said, very politely, “I just found this really great deal for a room here and I’m wondering…can you match this or do I need to go through the purchase here online?” I’ve never had anyone turn me down. They always give me the price I found online. This time, I got a bonus. The clerk said she could do me one better if I had AAA. So, I got a perfectly respectable room just off the interstate in a large southern city for $55 plus tax. And I get a free continental breakfast. Not bad!

I carry a cooler on road trips with sandwich makings and healthy snacks. I allow myself one diet soda when I drive and save it for late in the day. The little caffeine boost keeps me alert during rush hour traffic and I feel like I’ve really had a treat since I rarely drink soda anymore. I buy one meal a day on the road…in this case, breakfast at Denny’s. That is always an affordable meal packed with protein.

I have some basic rules of safety when I travel. I carry a smart phone with internet access. I try not to drive too long after dark. I stop for gas at the big places like Pilot or Travel America because they are well lit, their gas is restocked frequently, and they are busy. And, if you have a Good Sams Club card, you get $.03 off per gallon when you prepay at Pilot…another savings that adds up over a long road trip. That’s the end of day one. Today I head further south and I’ll tell you more tomorrow about the sites I’ve seen so far. ❤️?❤️

“For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:10-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

OUTSIDE IS FREE

Wed, 25 Jan 2017 02:55:29 -0600

As I plug along and copy the content from my blog here on Facebook and move it to my new website, I try to work from both ends of the spectrum. I work on new stuff for a while, then I work on the older, early writings. I have to do it this way as the early stuff is so painful…most of the time. Right now, I’m in the midst of the first spring/summer after losing Mr. Virgo. I have purchased Little TOW-Wanda and I’ve been out on The Grand Adventure for quite some time. I am enjoying looking back at the pictures of all the beautiful places I visited. So much of that year is a blur to me. The brain fog of grief had me pretty firmly in its grip for the first year and seeing these photos, and reading the meager writing I was able to produce fills in some blanks and makes me long for getting out on the open road again…wind in my hair, tiara twinkling in the sunlight.

As most of the nation struggles with snow and cold, we are still deluged with this incessant rain. Grey skies are gonna clear up…put on a happy face! Meh. I’m not feeling it. I have been plunked down in front of this computer for days and it is slow going. But every day is progress and I will reward myself with an outing to town today or tomorrow.

Yesterday was the Angelversary of my mother’s death. I posted it on my personal page and received an outpouring of love from friends and family. I love that people remember her and tell stories about her. I love that they speak her name. One of the things I hear the most from my readers who are grieving is they wish people would say his name. Talk about him, tell stories, remember. It normalizes grief. It acknowledges the fact that this wonderful person lived and we got to live with them. It keeps their memory alive. I appreciate that. I love it when someone tells me a funny mom story or Mr. Virgo story. My mom…I loved to make her laugh. And I had a talent for it. She lived a hard life and I took it upon myself to entertain her, boost her spirits, and make her laugh till she cried. Oh, I aggravated the heck out of her sometimes, too. That’s the nature of the mother-daughter relationship, is it not? But, her laughter was like sunshine to me and I would do whatever I could to bask in that glow.

I called her every Sunday night. Without fail. And I tried to visit her in West Virginia at least once a year. She came to Colorado a few times. I once lived in a very tiny house. Hubby #2 was in medical school and was on a rotation of work one night, sleep one night, study one night…on and on and on for nearly three years. For some reason…I didn’t see my mom during that time. There wasn’t room for visitors at my house and no money for a hotel or for a plane ticket home. So, I just didn’t see her. I made excuses. I put her off. I hate that I did that. I’ll never forget when I did finally make it home for a visit, her hair had gone completely white! I was convinced it was all my fault. Silly, that…but still. I can’t imagine not seeing my girls for nearly three years. It had to have been difficult for her. I tried to make up for it in her last years. I think I probably did. She was a very forgiving soul when it came to me. Not that I deserved it. But a mother’s love, you know.

I’m going on an adventure in a few days. Are you ready to travel with me? Get your sunscreen and your flip-flops out…there’s sand, sun, and surf coming your way soon! Wahoo!!! ❤️

“"‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭ESV‬

NCAA BASKETBALL

Wed, 11 Jan 2017 03:00:55 -0600

I have never been to a college ball game and I’ve always loved the Final Four. When I learned that WVU was playing Baylor who are undefeated, I knew I had to make the trek up to Morgantown…a place I’ve never been, believe it or not. Wow, what a game! WVU defeated Baylor, 89-68. There is so much excitement at a game when you attend. Lots of audience participation and of course, it’s always fun to watch college students supporting their team.

Baylor was ranked #1, not only in the Big 12, but also in the NCAA. The Mountaineers played with finesse and took them down. It was great fun to watch! I think the greatest highlight for me beyond the actual win was watching the students storm the court and the entire coliseum singing “Almost Heaven, West Virginia” with John Denver. It brought a tear of pride to my eyes to see our boys in Blue and Gold upset such a great team.

West Virginia has devout fans. I ran into friends at the game and that always makes me feel the closeness of our friendly state. We may be small, but we are fierce! Today, I’ll have a look around the campus and explore the town before I head back to the farm. It’s always nice to do something fun and adventurous…something I have never done. And…since this is my year to “REACH”…I’ll be doing more of that. Come on along…it’s gonna be a fun year! ❤️

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

THE MARATHON

Sun, 11 Dec 2016 03:00:13 -0600

832 cookies!!! Yesterday was the great Cookie Baking Marathon with the family. I absolutely love these people…every single one of them. And they are a vocal family. It’s great fun…everyone laughing and talking over one another. The kids running around playing and challenging each other over who iced the best cookie. Christmas carols and the television and electronic games and telephone calls. A great cacophony of joy and raucous noise that weaves the fabric of what constitutes a family.

It is really interesting. In the first two years, and even somewhat the third year, after losing Mr. Virgo, noise grated on my nerves. After an hour, my head hurt and my teeth were on edge. This year, was totally different. Ten hours of eight adults and four kids jammed in a kitchen was great fun! I nibbled on one too many cookies so when it was time to head out for BBQ, I elected to spend a little down time, write my post, and chill before we start packaging up all the baked goods for distribution to friends, neighbors, co-workers and teachers.

I “talk” to thousands of people every day in the written word. But, 75% of my daily vocalization is to farm cats! I live a pretty quiet life. I’m not complaining…I really enjoy the bustle my family brings to my world. I just also like my peaceful moments when I can concentrate and write.

I’m supposed to head to the mountains today but it’s snowing hard in the high country. I’ll be careful and go when the roads are clear. At the front end of my trip, time stretches out before me and now a week is gone already. Plans were made today to spend quality time with my grandchildren one-on-one doing something fun that they enjoy. They grow oh so fast. Today was one of those days when memories were made and love was felt deep within. ❤️

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

BAKING DAY

Sat, 10 Dec 2016 03:00:12 -0600

Ok, disclaimer…I lifted the picture from the Internet when I Googled “Christmas Cookie Fails”. That being said, who hasn’t seen similar results when you’re baking for the holidays? Oh, there are people out there who make perfect…and I do mean PERFECT Christmas cookies. (See Buffalo Baking Co! My dear friend Patti and her daughter Jamie make the most beautiful, and delicious, cookies!!! https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloBakingCo/posts/1338179656203105 ) I’ve tried. Seriously, I have. But I don’t have the patience to decorate dozens of cookies. One, and I’m done.

Today is the family cookie baking marathon in my son-in-law’s mom’s beautiful, big kitchen. From Grandma Lois in her mud-eighties to my youngest granddaughter who is nine, this place will be buzzing till late afternoon. Dozens of dozens of cookies will be produced today. There will be fudge. And we’ll dip anything we can get our hands on into melted white, milk, and dark chocolate. There will be nut clusters and cherry mash, dipped Oreos and turtles, rolled cookies and drop cookies and bar cookies. And yes…some of them may be unrecognizable. But I can guarantee you they’ll be good. And they’ll be eaten. Anyone lucky enough to get a variety plate out of this kitchen will be blessed indeed!

It will be a fun day, for sure. And memories that will be cherished for years to come will be made. I look forward to this day all year! I’ll post pics tomorrow. ❤️

““You must bake twelve flat loaves of bread from choice flour, using four quarts of flour for each loaf.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭24:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS IN THE JULIA-ANN DISTRICT

Sun, 04 Dec 2016 03:00:00 -0600

There is a historic district in my hometown that has the most amazing homes built by lumber barons, oil and gas men, lawyers, doctors, and government officials in the latter half of the 1800’s. Every summer, the Julia-Ann District holds a garden tour and every Christmas they hold a tea and tours of these magnificent mansions. I have a close family friend who owns a house that is like living in a museum. It is stunning, truly. I have always wanted to volunteer for the Christmas Tour and this year it worked out. I led tours through a home that once belonged to a family in the oil field machinery business and now houses the offices of the WV Baptist Convention. It is a three story home built in 1880 and was really quite modern for its time. I climbed up and down steps for five hours this afternoon so I not only had the fun of leading tours, I also got my exercise. By 5:30 last evening I had climbed three stories…24 times! Wowza…and that was in cowboy boots! It was great fun. I’m thinking I really need an entire Victorian wardrobe. I love the fashions of that era. But…it depended on where you stood on the social ladder whether you sat in the lap of luxury or served those that did.

One of the interesting tidbits of information I learned before the tour involved the reasoning behind floor to ceiling windows in Victorian homes. There was an old superstition in the Victorian Era to never bring a casket through the door of a house that was used by the occupants. It invited spirits into your home. Since funeral homes were not common in those times, either a false door or floor to ceiling windows were built into the front formal parlor or sitting room to allow a casket to be brought into the home. Communities had groups of women who took it upon themselves to attend to the dead and “lay out the body”. The departed would lay in state for 3-4 days to allow time for family to arrive. Since this was before embalming was common, the practice of placing flowers around the room was a practical solution to any bad odors.

So, there’s your “I learn something new every day” moment. ❤️

“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭32:18‬ ‭NIV

THE MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING AND I MUST GO

Fri, 02 Dec 2016 03:00:32 -0600

While I don’t relish snow and cold, I’m leaving soon to go see my family in Colorado. A Colorado Christmas is a beautiful thing, especially with grandchildren around. They’re getting so big! That’s the hardest thing about being away from them…seeing how fast they grow. My heart is torn…I truly feel “home” in two places so I have to split my time. And for now, home base is in West Virginia.

I’ve been watching with great sorrow as the Smokies burn. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve “almost” gone camping in the Smoky Mountains only to change my mind and now they will be scarred for the rest of my lifetime. The mountains you see in this picture have burned…twice in the time I lived there. I will never forget the Storm King Fire that took 14 firefighters. Young smokejumpers based out of Oregon. The fire started as one small pine that was struck by lightning on a Wednesday. That night, you could see a little wisp of smoke up there and we were all alarmed but we were told they were just going to let it burn itself out. Three days later, the hot, dry winds blew the fire into a conflagration the likes of which I had never seen. The sky was black and the sun was a dim red dot. The young firefighters were working below a ridge line when the winds shifted and they could not outrun the flames to the top. It was a terrible tragedy. A few years later, the Coal Seam Fire erupted in much the same place. I was the last car allowed to drive west through South Canyon. The flames actually arced over the highway and the river and hit the hillside to the north of the interstate like a tremendous fiery arch over my car. I was immediately engulfed in thick smoke and ash. I was too frightened to stop and too terrified to keep going. Fortunately, I got through it in maybe fifty feet. I cannot imagine what these people are going through. My prayers are with them. I have family there as well as my agent, Italia.

After the wildfires in Colorado, they flew helicopters overhead and sprayed a mixture of seeds and fertilizer and reseeded the mountainsides. And, within a couple of years, the only evidence of the fires were the crooked, blackened skeletons of piñon pine, cedar, and scrub oak. Our greenery is scarce to begin with in the Rockies. It’s not like the lush, green deciduous forests in the east and south. That will take generations to come back.

The fact there are forest fires this late in the year in a typically wet, humid area of the country is alarming to me. Pray for rain or snow to come quench these fires and save what’s left. Pray for the families of the victims. Pray for the survivors whose every belonging is gone.

And now, for some good news…Bernie can hear! I watched a live video feed Wednesday as they activated my former father-in-law’s cochlear implant. It will take a while for his brain to catch up and process the sounds correctly. I cried as I watched his face light up when he heard my daughter’s voice as she told him his children were watching from all over the country. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. They were greatly appreciated. ❤️

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

NAMASTE FROM THE "PALACE OF GOLD' - MOUNDSVILLE, WV

Thu, 01 Dec 2016 03:00:35 -0600

Mr. Virgo loved the ghost hunting shows. We would sit and watch them every week…week in, week out. I kinda liked Ghost Hunters because I liked the stars. But I could not stand Ghost Adventures because Zach made me crazy. We took the Ghost tour at the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, WV. My late uncle actually was the administrator there back in the ’60s. Mr. Virgo really enjoyed that tour. He wanted to tour the prison at Moundsville, but we never got a chance to come back here before he died.

When I was heading south home from Wheeling, I drove right through Moundsville. The Penitentiary sits in an old, tired neighborhood and presents an imposing edifice with its dark, weathered stones and bar-covered windows. It is directly across the street from a huge Native American burial mound. I decided to pull in and check it out. It was a cool afternoon with low-scudding grey rainclouds blowing over as the tour began at 3:00…the last of the day and, as it turned out, the last of the year.

As you enter and buy your ticket, you see the usual gift shop fodder…snacks, sodas, t-shirts. To the left is “Old Sparky”, the electric chair that executed nine men in the lifetime of the pen. Eighty-five men were hung. The prison closed in 1995. The tour guide had worked at the prison as a guard for twenty-some years and she had so many stories to tell. She showed me a scar on her arm from her elbow to her wrist where an inmate cut her when she slipped his meal through the passageway in the door. It was gruesome and the whole place gave me the creeps.

The guard-turned-tour-guide is Maggie. She’s in her early seventies. She was retired for nine years but was called back by another prison not too far away who said they needed her. She spoke of her husband and I got the feeling he had died. When I asked her how long he’d been gone, she looked me square in the eye and said “A year ago tomorrow.” Here is a woman who faced physical attacks by murderers and went back for more…yet her voice cracked when she explained that even though he had been desperately ill, it was still just awful losing him. She’d been with him since she was sixteen. I marveled yet again how God creates my journey and sends me people to talk to at just the right moment. I hugged her and asked her to join us here at The Ranch. I hope she does. Keep a kind thought for Maggie today as she goes through the first angelversary of her Rick….a talented photographer.

After the tour, I noticed some brochures in the lobby. I saw one about the huge “Palace of Gold”…a Hare Krishna compound I have read about for years. It was only fourteen miles away and I figured I could use some peace after touring such a dark and dismal place as an abandoned state penitentiary. I was disappointed that the Palace itself was closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but I was told I could go into the temple if I wanted. I walked into a large foyer and was met by a sign directing me to a room where I could leave my shoes. I pulled the huge door open and was awed by the room I entered. There were vignettes around the room where different deities sat in various settings. Their costumes were bright and colorful. Two men were chanting. One was inside a fenced in area burning incense, ringing bells, and blowing a conch shell. The other was chanting “Hare Krishna” and wandering around the room greeting people. He brought me a sweet smelling flower and invited me to an adjacent room for cookies, fruit, and milk from their own dairy. They revere their cattle and the residents let them live out their years being lovingly tended to. I went in after exploring the temple and was warmly greeted and handed a small plate with a few bits of banana and cantaloup and a small, round, unbaked “cookie”. It was yellow, sweet, a little grainy, and contained raisins. This was topped off with a thin bread much like a tortilla and a cup of rich, warm milk softly scented with cardamom. I sat in quiet reverie…slowly tasting the different flavors and savoring the textures and aromas of this simple meal, lovingly shared with me by a total stranger whose English I could barely understand. But love is the universal language and we both bowed to each other afterwards…quiet smiles…hands clasped in front of us in “Namaste” position. “The Divine in me honors the Divine in you.”

There may be division in our country right now. But…in a quiet space in the backwoods of West Virginia…two strangers from two different worlds, with different faiths and different cultures and different languages…shared a moment of peace and I was humbled in that sacred space between us. We were merely humans, sharing food and joy. How beautiful is that? ❤️

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

DOING NEW ACTIVITIES KEEPS YOUR MIND FRESH AND BOOSTS YOUR MOOD

Wed, 30 Nov 2016 03:00:56 -0600

I’ve done more new things in the last three and a half years than I have in my entire life combined, I do believe. I’ve always heard of Oglebay Park in Wheeling and they put on a huge Festival of Lights at the holidays. Over 600 acres you drive through with animated light displays and trees galore. I’ve always wanted to go and since I’m leaving soon for Colorado, I decided to run up to see the spectacle and get my holiday month off to a great start!

While last night was fun, something awesome is happening this morning. My second father-in-law is having his cochlear implant turned on today and we’re all joining a live Facebook session to watch. Please say a prayer that all goes well and it gives him the gift of hearing again. It is so important for his quality of life since he is nearly blind from macular degeneration. He’s a good man and has worked hard all his life. He raised three kids on a meat packer’s pay and I love him dearly. Thank you in advance for sending some kind thoughts for Bernie.

Family…no matter who they are or how they come into your life, they are a part of who we are. I was blessed with three husbands and enjoy an extended family through them, even through divorce. I love every one of them. ❤️

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

THE "CRAZY CAT LADY KIT" HAS ARRIVED

Sun, 27 Nov 2016 03:00:12 -0600

Oy!

The “Crazy Cat Lady Kit” arrived while I was gone for Thanksgiving. I returned well after dark and emptied the truck. I had just settled into a long awaited bath when I heard the plaintive cries of a tiny kitten. I thought I was hearing things. I don’t have a kitten. I CAN’T have a kitten! I don’t WANT a kitten! After my bath, I went out back and sure enough, someone dumped a little orange and white kitten who was scared and looking for mama. I put out some extra food because it’s big enough to feed itself. But it was obvious it missed someone. It cried all night.

In the morning, there was a pecking order established over the food. Old Mama Kitty rules the roost so she chased the kitten off the porch till she was finished eating. When Little Bit, the big boy cat, came out of the woods for breakfast, the kitten chased him off and set to chowing down from every dish available. Including the warm Half & Half I put out for it. Oh, no…I REALLY don’t want another cat!

I set about my chores and was filling the bird feeders when Little Bit came out on the front porch and talked to me for awhile. He was definitely complaining about that little thing that was, even at that moment, weaseling it’s way into the farm family. He rolled around and looked cute for a little while just to make sure I loved him most. He won’t let me near him since he got flea medicine up his nose in August. But he’s warming up little by little. He doesn’t understand what happened to his peaceful breakfast. I told him I didn’t understand either. I don’t WANT another cat, I assured him. He looked at me steadily as if to say, “Yeah? How’s that working out for you so far?”

So, the chores progressed and the kitten has a name.

Tootie.

sigh

❤️

(picture is not the actual kitten, but it looks just like it)

“These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

AND SO, IT BEGINS...CHRISTMAS

Sat, 26 Nov 2016 03:00:02 -0600

I’m the only person I know who can turn a four-hour drive into a twelve-hour adventure and spend less than twenty bucks! I left my cousin’s early yesterday and drove up to my uncle’s house. I took my aunt a sack of McDonald’s sausage biscuits…her favorite. I took my time and made a last-minute decision to drive up to Canaan Valley Lodge for the best chef salad I believe I have ever had. There were only two other people in the restaurant and the wait staff were most attentive and fun to talk with. I stopped in Elkins, Buchanan, and Weston. The Christmas Parade was about to take place but I scooted through town instead of stopping for some small town American fun. I had to drive slowly to keep from hitting the deer who were out in force. I made another last minute decision and stopped at the cemetery to pay my respects to my family for Thanksgiving. Two years ago, I placed a few strands of Mr. Virgo’s hair between a couple of the headstones so I can visit him there, too. I am so grateful that the pain of losing him has, for the most part, turned into gratitude for having had him and happiness for the memories he gave me. I got home and answered messages and called the neighbor to let her know I was home and to thank her for feeding the cats for me. It was a wonderful trip and a great Thanksgiving.

And now, the build up to Christmas begins with a vengeance. Driving home last night, there were lights everywhere…even way out in the country. That is one of the best things about the holidays….bringing light into the darkness. It is how I live my life…shining a light into the world. It gives me great joy to see the colors and lights and designs in the displays. I love to drive around town and see the neighborhoods dressed up. And snow will come soon. That’s icing on the cake as far as decorations go. I have lots of fun things planned for December. It wasn’t long ago that Christmas filled me with dread, fear, sadness, and anger at my loss. I am so relieved this year is different. This year is better. ❤️

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” ‭‭John‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

BABIES, BUDDY, & BRUSH-HOGGIN'

Fri, 25 Nov 2016 03:00:16 -0600

Thanksgiving in rural West Virginia. Work still needs to be done on a farm…no matter what day it is. The son-in-law’s field next door grows some sort of inedible huckleberry bushes that cows won’t eat. And it chokes out the hay. It overgrows when the pH is off in the ground so the field needed brush-hogged (a brush hog is a really big mower that will cut through small trees and scrub brush) and then very finely ground limestone spread on it. All hands are needed when a big job comes up and Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity with the extra company around.

We walked down to the shop and there was a problem with one of the spreaders. The axle was frozen and wouldn’t take grease so they got the wheel off, heated the axle with a blow torch till they could make it move enough to get some grease in it. Once it was reassembled, two of us sat on the spreader while they drove it down through a field till the wheel moved freely. How they know what to do for these problems is beyond me but it was fun riding over through the farm in a convoy of three tractors, a bobcat and the pickup full of farm dogs. They always want to go where the action is.

Thanksgiving is all about family after getting a good chunk of work done. We gathered seventeen of us around our particular brand of traditional Thanksgiving fare…brown beans, corn bread, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, beef, pork, coleslaw, and several sweets. It’s totally different than the typical turkey and dressing feast. The beef and pork was home raised and butchered right here on the farm. It’s a simple, humble meal served to wonderful, earthy, hard-working people. It’s loud and boisterous and fun. There’s football and Nerf gun fights and crying babies and teasing and jokes and gratitude…gratitude for the love of a good family, a solid hand-built home, and the abundant blessings of a loving God.

I love my life.

❤️

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭107:8-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Nesting 2.0

Fri, 18 Nov 2016 02:30:12 -0600

“My favorite piece of my childhood.”

I gathered some of my belongings out of storage the other day and brought them to the farm. I kept my dearest antiques knowing someday I would either decorate TOW-Wanda or I would have a small home of my own again. I have postponed making this house my “home” for the last three months till I was fairly certain I wouldn’t be moving for a while. Now that I feel more secure in that, I’ve been nesting with a vengeance.

“I bought this in an antique store in Carbondale, CO years ago. Perfect for my farmhouse kitchen.”

I’m loving how cozy this place is getting. The items on top of the cabinets are special and I haven’t lived with them for two and a half years, at least. As I unwrapped the dishes Mr. Virgo gave me, I carefully cleaned them and placed them in the jelly cupboard so I can see and use them every day. The watering cans were in my flower garden in Colorado. They were literally the last thing I grabbed from my house as I left. The sap bucket on the far left was hanging here in the basement by my grandma’s old canning stove. The copper bucket on the far right holds my mom’s wooden clothespins. The crocks on top of the cabinets belonged to my late Uncle Bobby Joe’s grandparents…as did the little red rocking chair that was found in their barn years after they passed. The churns in the middle belonged to my grandma (left) and mom (right). The little lamb was my toy when I was a baby. The blue mason jar is a #13…rare because moonshiners broke #13’s because they were unlucky. The old lunchpail on the right belonged to my grandpa. The folk art “Homemade Pies” sign came from an antique shop in Colorado many years ago.

“My favorite little red rocking chair…found in an old barn in West Virginia.”

I made the door decoration yesterday from a horn I bought in a junk shop. That and the two candles in the first floor window constitute my entire holiday decorating since I’m going to Colorado for Christmas again this year. I found the bird’s nest in the ditch by the driveway this fall and the boots were an old pair in a barrel downstairs. I bought the handmade broom at Country Living Fair. And the little “dress” hanging from the light over the sink is a reproduction and is actually a tea towel. (My windows REALLY need washing!)

“Old hunting boots from the basement.”

I have a picture hanging in my bedroom here that says…“It’s not the size of the house but how happy the home.” My home is where I lay my head and I always make it happy. It might be a thirty foot camper on the road through Tennessee. Or it might be on a ridge overlooking the Ohio River. Or it might be on a farm that hold memories so thick they feel like cobwebs when I brush through them. I am rich beyond my wildest dreams. Not monetarily…I’m rich with family, love, memories, health, happiness, joy, and words. These are my everyday gifts from God. I am so blessed. ❤️

“Treasures!”

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”” Hebrews‬ ‭13:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“I made a wreath from an antique horn.”

“Reproduction apron hanging from the light over the sink. Loving my farmhouse look.”

Let's Do the Time Warp Again

Fri, 28 Oct 2016 01:30:33 -0600

"It's just a jump to the left..." Sometimes that jump is a big one. I'm not shy about stepping boldly out of my comfort zone and doing wild and wacky things. But for some, it's a big stretch to reach out into the unknown. Last night I got to do something I've wanted to do for years. There was a showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at a newly refurbished historic theater. I've seen the film before, but never in a theater.

RHPS was not a hit when it came out in 1975. It was very racy for the time and there are still parts that would never pass mom approval. It wasn't until they started showing the movie at midnight in art theaters that the movie became a cult classic. Audience members dressed up as their favorite characters and interacted with the film. Squirt guns, newspapers, toilet paper, toast, cards. All become projectiles with certain lines shouted along with the actors.

I have no problem putting myself out there. But I was not married to men who would play along so I never went. A friend of mine is reinventing her life after losing her husband about a year and a half ago. RHPS was NOT in her wheelhouse. But when I asked her to go she didn't skip a beat and said yes even though she was shy about it. She didn't want to be a showy character. We both chose "Columbia". She in the pajamas scene and I as the showgirl scene. I was thrilled to see her enjoy herself and I had a blast.
I came out of the theater feeling like I was in a time warp. I was so present in the moment that I couldn't tell you how long the movie was. But I'd do it again. And so would my friend.

❤️

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”‭‭
2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Heading Home

Sun, 23 Oct 2016 01:30:43 -0600

Wow...a few days in TOW-Wanda made me a happy camper! What a beautiful campground. In keeping with my safety plan, I don't divulge where I stay till I'm gone. This trip was to Little Beaver State Park in Shady Spring, West Virginia. I think it's in my top five all round favorite campgrounds! Most of the campsites are nestled among mature oak and pine trees. Being a senior and having a West Virginia ID gave me the delightful rate of $14 per night for a pull through site with water and electric. You can't beat that!

There are deer meandering through every evening. At this time of year, there are very few campers and I have the place virtually to myself. It is peaceful and quiet. And there is a beautiful lake perfect for kayaking and canoeing. As I sat writing this, several owls started hooting in the trees around my campsite. What a perfect way to end the last campout of the season!

It's definitely time to winterize my girl, though. It was 36 at 11:00 last night when I started writing this. Maybe one of these days I'll take her south for the winter. In the meantime, I'll hook up and head home....just as soon as I have my coffee.

My life is blessed. I have everything I possibly could want. I have love, safety, security, health, a place to call home...a loving God who provides everything for me. Yes...my life is blessed indeed. I look back at where I am vs. where I could be. We all deal with grief in our own ways. I make a choice...every single day...to live a happy life. Live a good life. I don't have time to stay stuck in one spot for long. So I get up, straighten my crown and remember whose daughter I am!

❤️

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”‭‭
Philippians‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Tea in a Coffee Mug

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 01:30:49 -0600

Sacrilege?

Spontaneity

Sat, 08 Oct 2016 01:30:54 -0600

I'm not a huge planner. I fly by the seat of my pants most of the time so when my niece texted early this week and said she had a three day weekend break from college, I'm like "Heck yeah, girlfriend...I'm there!" No matter that I left the farm at 9:30 and didn't get to my niece's sorority house till 6:30. I'm all about the trip!

Yesterday was our chance to go explore. We were going to go into Indianapolis, but at the very last minute decided to go to Louisville. We went to Nashville, Indiana first. Nashville is filled with block after block of small shops, galleries, artisans and restaurants. We arrived in Louisville in time to catch our breath and head to the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. We went out afterward to walk off all that pasta. We went down to the waterfront park and watched the sternwheeler take off. We were going to a blues festival but I was unsure about going into an unfamiliar neighborhood after dark when the only way in and out was with an Uber driver. Especially with a cute little 19 year old. We decided to head for 4th Street Live...a long stretch of restaurants and bars with live music in the square. On our way, my niece spotted a horse drawn carriage and shyly asked if we could do that. She'd never done it before. So, of course...we did, because I'm the cool aunt!

Spontaneity. Flexibility. The ability to enjoy the next thing that comes around the corner without having to map it all out. That's the way I like to live my life. You never know what you might miss if you are too rigid in your planning. Seeing my niece's face when I said we could take the carriage? Priceless! We'll both remember this weekend...far more than any tchotchke I might have bought her for her high school graduation or Bat Mitzvah.

❤️

“give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:38‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Mothman

Fri, 07 Oct 2016 01:30:04 -0600

In mid-November of 1966, five men were digging a grave near Clendenin, West Virginia when they reportedly saw a "bird man" with a seven foot wingspan swoop down over them. The next month, two couples were cruising the backroads in a area called TNT outside of Point Pleasant, West Virginia (named for the old munitions plant that was located there) when they saw the same creature swoop down over their car. It allegedly followed the car for some distance and understandably freaked the couples out. This was big news and in all the papers at the time.

In mid-December of 1967, I was preparing to go to my eighth grade dance when a special news announcement came over the television. The "Silver Bridge" that crossed the Ohio River at Point Pleasant failed and crashed into the cold, dark water below during rush hour. The bridge was filled with holiday shoppers and workers going home to their families. Forty-six people died. There were conspiracy theorists then, too. They thought the disaster was related to the Mothman. Or, perhaps it was the Curse of Chief Cornstalk in retaliation for the attacks on his people by the settlers pushing into the west. At any rate, there was never a sighting of the Mothman after the bridge collapsed. Scientists theorized what the hapless victims actually saw was a particularly large sandhill crane that had wandered off its migratory path. They can grow as tall as a man and have seven foot wingspans and reddish feathers around the eyes.

Those were the days of flying saucers and little green men, duck-and-cover drills in grade school, and the very real threat of annihilation by atomic bombs just 90 miles from Miami. Our parents still remembered Orson Welles broadcasting the drama series "War of the Worlds" on the radio causing mass hysteria across the country when people thought we were actually being attacked by creatures from outer space. The Roswell Incident was just twenty years old when this now mythical creature made its appearance over the sleepy town of Point Pleasant.

Mass hysteria, mob mentality, and the power of the imagination still wreaks havoc when something gets a foothold. And now, with the whole world separated by mere nanoseconds thanks to the Internet, large crowds of people are seen in videos as they rush down the streets of college campuses chasing scary clowns. The psychology of that fascinates me.

Anyway, I digress. I went for a drive the other evening. It was warm and the colors were really starting to look gorgeous so I meandered down the river roads till I found myself near Point Pleasant. I had never seen the Mothman statue nor the bridge that replaced the fallen Silver Bridge so I went the extra fourteen miles to see them. I was a little disappointed that I got there after the Mothman Museum had closed for the night...fall hours, you know. West Virginia is a fascinating state. You never know what you're going to find around the next bend.

❤️

“And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths.”‭‭
Revelation‬ ‭9:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

On the Road Again...

Thu, 06 Oct 2016 01:30:09 -0600

I swear...this has been a really busy autumn! My niece texted me last week and she has a three day weekend break from college so I'm off to Indianapolis today to explore with her. I can't wait! I've loved her since the moment I held her in my arms when she was born.

I really don't know anything about Indianapolis other than driving through on I-70 when I go cross-country. Is there anything I really shouldn't miss??? I'm not taking TOW-Wanda. She's just too big and cumbersome on trips like this. I have GOT to get a smaller trailer so I'm more apt to take off and explore. The right one will come along. I'm going camping one last time on the weekend of October 21st then TOW-Wanda gets put to bed for the winter. At least she's here at the farm so I can go out and visit.

...just can't wait to get on the road again!

? ❤️

“Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭28:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Wedding

Sun, 02 Oct 2016 01:30:17 -0600

I drove through the misty grey morning and prayed the sky would break in time for the wedding. The bride has waited a long time for her match...I wanted it to be the perfect day for her. I waited in line with the other guests to be shuttled to the top of the hill on a flatbed trailer filled with quilt-covered hay bales. Once seated, I gazed out over the valley below. The mist rolled in under heavy, low-lying clouds. It felt like visiting the English countryside.

Once most of the guests were seated, a single banjo picker pulled a chair up and sat...quietly picking out a few tunes. The mountains in the distance were a perfect backdrop, accentuating the simplicity of the moment. Soft voices murmured greetings. I sat with a cousin I haven't seen in quite some time. Finally, the bridal party was brought up to the field and a very brief and simple exchange of vows took place. Some rode back down the hill on the trailers pulled by farm tractors. Others walked. Nothing was rushed. It was like something out of the past...a simpler time...a simpler place.

When we arrived at the tent, we waited for the bride and groom to appear after pictures. The pastor called for quiet and the blessing was said. Then, finally...the food was served...smoked chicken, ham, beef, pork, venison, and kielbasa. Country style green beans with ham, potato salad, deviled eggs, coleslaw, rolls, butter, sautéed mushrooms and onions, macaroni and cheese. All served at the perfect temperature to a large crowd. A string band set up. A lady tended bar. The proud father of the bride mingled.

It didn't rain.

And then I realized...

The sun doesn't have to shine to be a perfect day.

❤️

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”‭‭
1 Peter‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Beaver Creek State Park

Sun, 25 Sep 2016 01:30:00 -0600

In keeping with my promise to my family and sister/friends, I never divulge my exact location till after I leave. The Girl Campers met at Beaver Creek State Park in East Liverpool, Ohio this weekend and...OMGosh...it is beautiful there! I want to take one last camping trip in TOW-Wanda this fall and I might just go back there.

Yesterday was so much fun. We gathered for breakfast then sat around a campfire all morning chatting. I took a long walk through the campground. This is a really big park! We went for a tour of the Pioneer Village. There is a working grist mill where they still grind wheat flour, buckwheat flour, and cornmeal and sell it in the trading post. After the tour, we watched a demonstration of a wood-fired cell phone charger! I'll tell you about it tomorrow.

We toured the trailers, oooooh-ing and ahhhhh-ing over the cuteness. Then we had a meal and watched The Long, Long Trailer on a big screen outdoors. It seemed much colder last night than the night before and I fished my little electric heater out of the truck to put in my tent. Fall is chasing us down and soon there will be frost. Chatter around the campfire confirms it's going to be a hard winter.

I was interviewed yesterday by Janine Pettit for another episode of the Girl Camper podcast. I'll let you know when it goes on the air. Also, my story was recently picked up by another writer and I'll let you know when it is published. I'm giving another talk November 3rd. Lots going on and it's very exciting!

❤️

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”‭‭
Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Girl Campers

Sat, 24 Sep 2016 01:30:57 -0600

One of my favorite things to do is camp with one of my girl camping groups. I didn't get to camp at all this summer so this weekend I came to a state park in Ohio to meet up with the Girl Campers. Janine Pettit does a podcast about camping like a girl and her listeners started clamoring for opportunities to get together. I got to visit with Janine last weekend at Country Living Fair. When I heard the Girl Campers were meeting this close to me, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I didn't bring TOW-Wanda because it takes two people to get her out of where she's parked. So, I took this opportunity to camp in my tent. If you ever want to have a great time, camping with a bunch of women is such a hoot!

Speaking of hoots, we went on a hike in the woods with a naturalist last night searching for owls. We heard one far off and that was it. We did see a flying squirrel. That was pretty cool. I haven't seen one since I was a little girl.

I love the state parks back east. The campgrounds are almost always jam packed with trees. They are so beautiful with their nature trails and stunning vistas. I tucked my tent back along the pines. The trailers are all under oak trees and man, the acorns are fat this year. Another sign of a hard winter coming, I'm afraid. These big acorns are dropping this time of year and they sting when they hit you and make a lot of noise when they hit the metal roof on a trailer. I'd just as soon not be startled every five minutes all night long.

Good news for me...I get to stay at the farm for at least another couple of months. I hope my aunt is at peace with these decisions. I can't imagine what it will be like when my independence is taken away. I doubt I'll take it well. My heart is with her.

❤️

“Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.””‭‭
Matthew‬ ‭13:3-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Opportunity

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 01:30:41 -0600

What a beautiful weekend! First, the Country Living Fair was amazing. I got to spent a good block of time with my friend and mentor, Janine Pettit of the Girl Camper podcast and goRVing fame. We did live broadcasts from the fair which was great fun. TOW-Wanda is ready to put away for the winter. Her water pump works fine according to the guy at the RV shop. It didn't work for me all summer. Go figure. Her bearings have been repacked and they rebuilt the wall behind the bed where the water leaked in because a seal was missing from when it was built.

Church was absolutely amazing yesterday. And, my talk at pub church was very well received. I felt the Holy Spirit speak into my life on many levels the last few days and it was a beautiful thing. I love it when God brings me opportunities to speak into people's lives. I videotaped my talk last night but have to wait till I find Wi-Fi to upload it.

I need to get a lot done in the next few days. The flea dude comes back Wednesday. I'd like to get some more painting done in the house. I need to spray the poison ivy before the leaves fall off and I can't recognize it. And, I'm going camping with the Girl Campers this weekend! Autumn is coming...life is good!!!

❤️

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”‭‭
Proverbs‬ ‭18:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Country Living Fair

Sat, 17 Sep 2016 01:30:32 -0600

The first thing I noticed as I arrived at the Country Living Fair yesterday was the number of women pulling wagons and wire grocery carts, prepared to haul off oodles of awesome stuff. Booth after booth of antiques and high quality arts and crafts spilled out in the pathways, beckoning you to come into the shady recesses of the vendor tents. Soaps, candles, jewelry, clothing, wall art, figurines, signs...it was a veritable cacophony of color and rust, lace and dust. And don't get me started on the food tents! Ice cream and honey and salsa and cobbler and burgers and pickles...it was enough to put me over the edge of my self-imposed dietary restrictions. But I was good. A cheeseburger, no bun. Fries with Sriracha salt. A roasted ear of corn. Yummmm.

I showed my greatest restraint when I sat in a beautiful Airstream, looking out over the fair goers lugging bags and wagons and carts full of stuff that looks like much of the stuff I dropped off at the thrift shop when I downsized two years ago. Even the clothes held little appeal to me. Most of the styles are loose and flowing and I have plenty of that already. One artist had my attention. I circled around twice, three times. I liked her jewelry last year but resisted buying anything. She's back.

I don't know what's wrong with me. I used to love to shop. But now all I see is stuff I'll have to get rid of someday. If it doesn't serve a purpose or bring me great joy, I really don't need it. I know at least three men who would have loved for me to have felt this way when they were married to me! lol
TOW-Wanda is ready to be picked up today. They said the water pump worked fine. It hasn't worked for me for months so who knows. Maybe something was loose and driving it up there jerked it back in place. I'll keep an eye on it.

I am doing something fun today. At 11:00 I'm broadcasting live here on Marshmallow Ranch from the Country Living Fair. My special guest is Janine Pettit of the Girl Camper podcast. I hope it works well and you can get a glimpse of the fair!

❤️

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”‭‭
Philippians‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬