{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "title": "Joy on Marshmallow Ranch", "icon": "https://avatars.micro.blog/avatars/2026/36/1962506.jpg", "home_page_url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/", "feed_url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/feed.json", "items": [ { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2025/05/06/ahhhhthe-whippoorwill-is-back.html", "title": "Ahhhh…the Whippoorwill is Back!", "content_html": "\n
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An eastern whippoorwill (Antrostomus vociferous) perches on a tree branch in the eastern deciduous forest (Photo credit: birdsoftheworld.org).

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It was dusk when I walked out to the camper. The air was cool after a late afternoon rain and the frogs called back and forth in their amphibious love fest. The bunnies froze in place as my headlamp brushed across the new mown grass, their red eyes glowing in the impending darkness. Night birds called here and there as they settled for the night. That’s when I heard her…the lone whippoorwill in the hedgerow at the end of the far field.

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Sunday’s hail storm about a mile from our house.

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I love the sound of a whippoorwill. It takes me back to my childhood, lying in bed beneath the tin roof at my grandma’s house. Back then, there was a pair of bobwhites on the hill across the road. One night I heard their unmistakeable call followed by the scream of a bobcat. That was the last time I ever heard a bobwhite. 

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A foggy night at Marshmallow Ranch.

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A whippoorwill’s call can get mighty obnoxious if they’re close to the house. I don’t know if you remember the story about the time a whippoorwill perched on top of the old TV antenna at the end of our house. We were “yard camping” and that thing would NOT stop and it wouldn’t fly back to the hedgerow where it belonged. I got up and left the camper to try to shoo it off. I got a big pot and a metal spoon and clanged away but it didn’t move an inch. It called nonstop for 45 minutes and I was about ready to pull my hair out. 

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The rhododendron is blooming! It seems early to me this year.

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I looked around for something else that might work. There was a ball peen hammer laying on the grill for some reason. I grabbed that thing and marched out to the antenna and gave it a sound WHACK! That bird few off and much to my dismay, I didn’t hear it again for three years. I heard it once last year in the early spring, but I’ve heard it several times this year. I don’t think I’ll ever try to scare it off again. These are God’s gifts to us and should be appreciated for their beautiful song.

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The beautiful rhododendron…West Virginia’s state flower.

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Especially if it’s down in the hedgerow at the end of the far field!

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🐦‍⬛

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“The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.” Song of Songs‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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***Gratitude Journal***   
Today I am grateful for the many songbirds who are migrating through WV at this time of year. I awoke to my very favorite bird yesterday morning…the lovely wood thrush with its crystal clear song just makes my heart sing. When I’m out at The Farm, I hear them back up the holler behind the barn and their song echos and rings like a bell choir. 
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We made it to the pier at 9:00 yesterday morning and didn’t leave until 3:00 in the afternoon. From 9-Noon, there wasn’t a great of wind. The temperature hovered around 73°. We had a grand time, but we didn’t get one single nibble. As a matter of fact, we only saw one person catch a fish the whole time we were there. But, you know what? The worst day at the beach is better than the best day mowing, so we’re happy with that. 

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We finally had to pack it up and head back to the camper. There’s a lot to do before we hit the road so we divvied up the chores. I cleaned and organized the cab of the truck while Mr. FixIt broke down the fishing equipment and started packing up the bed of the truck. Then I went inside to sweep and clean the interior of the camper and pack things away so they don’t go flying around while we are driving. 

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Once that was done, I started supper. This is one of our favorite things to eat and you want to talk about frugal and filling? Wowza…it hits both marks big time. I made my friend Gail’s Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls. The other evening, we had hamburgers. I buy the Beef-Pork Blend at Walmart for $3.63 a pound. I had half a pound leftover and about a third of a pound of pork breakfast sausage. I browned the meats, then tossed in half a head of cabbage cut in one inch chunks. Stir it around to combine and add about half to three quarters of a cup of water and put a lid on the pan. (I use our electric skillet.) Once the cabbage starts to get tender, I added about 1/3 jars of Prego Italian Sausage and Garlic Spaghetti Sauce and season with more garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper to taste, and a few shakes of red pepper flakes. Stir to combine, the shrinks some grated cheese over it and cover till the cheese melts and the sauce is hot. OMGosh! It is SO good. Mr. FixIt ate two plates full, I had one, and there is enough left over for a side dish for dinner tonight.

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We headed over to catch the last sunset of the week and hit the hay early so we can get on the road at a reasonable time. We have to get to the same campground that makes you arrive before 7:00 so we don’t want to run the risk of missing that. I’ll check in tomorrow with the news of the first half of the trip home. 

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🚙💨Beep!Beep!

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“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”   Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬   

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***Gratitude Journal***   
Today I am grateful for God’s peace…even in the face of darkness, His name brings Peace to my heart.
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The sun was out all day long. The wind had died down and even though today’s high was only 57°, it was warm in the sun. After a good breakfast, I de-winterized the camper so I could use the water. Having hot running water in the camper and a working toilet are big bonuses when you’re out for as long as we are this trip.

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Mr. FixIt got the fishing gear together while I did the dishes and cleaned up the inside of the camper. Then he took a nap while I started knitting a pair of socks with the yarn Gail gave me. We drove up to Kitty Hawk to the Walmart to get bait. There is a Harris Teeter next door and we both love that store. We’d been discussing our special dinner out that we always have once during our trips down here. The restaurant we usually go to hasn’t been as good the last couple of times, so we looked around at others. Finally I said I could make a much better meal for far less and we wouldn’t have to get dressed up. Wow…my priorities have sure changed as I’ve….um, ripened. lol

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Harris Teeter is owned by Kroger, who also owns King Soopers, City Market, and Smiths among others. They are a more upscale store and have a wonderful selection of foods. We picked out a two-pack of t-bone steaks that looked great and were only $10 a pound, which is pretty good these days. We can’t even remember the last time we had a steak…let alone a t-bone. We bought a couple of baked potatoes and some asparagus. The entire meal cost less than what one meal would have cost us at a fancy restaurant We had so much fun cooking together and enjoying our treat. 

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By the time I got finished cleaning up it was time to go over to the marina to see the sunset. It certainly didn’t disappoint! We love going over there every night. The sunset is different every day. Sometimes they fizzle out. But other times…wow, they’ll knock your socks off. We came back to the camper and had a sliver of pie and a hot beverage and so ended the first full day of our trip. 

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We think we’ll get to fish at the old bridge today. Hopefully the wind won’t be gale force like it was one time we went. It was ridiculous. But you have to take what you get when you come to the beach at this time of the year. 

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🩵

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“the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.”   ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭8‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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***Gratitude Journal***   Today I am grateful for the way God paints the sky for us…ever morning and every night. The thing to remember is, even when our view of them is obscured by the clouds, the beauty is still there. Just like God is still there, even when we can’t see or feel His presence. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.   Hebrews 11:1
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It felt great to get back out on the mower yesterday. It was our only window without rain so I really had to hit it hard. As usual, there’s always something that throws a monkey wrench in the works. This time it was a dead battery on the tractor. We need to buy another one but we didn’t have the time yesterday. We’ll get one when we get back from the beach. In the meantime, I couldn’t let it stop or Mr. FixIt had to drive the truck out to where I was and use the jumper cables. He had to do that three times…bless his heart.

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I carved out several pollinator gardens for this year. I lost count, actually. I’m even trying a couple in the near field. It doesn’t have the nice grass like the far field, so I may end up mowing over it if it doesn’t grow well. By the time I finished, I was exhausted. It’s the first time I’ve really worked outside this year so I’m sure I’ll be sore today. The reward is…it looks like a golf course out here.

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Mr. FixIt started packing the truck. I started cleaning the camper. I’ll strip the sheets and wash them today. I started the refrigerator. It takes a day or two to get to ideal temperature and I want to put frozen meats in there before we head out tomorrow. We have two trunks that we use as a kitchen…one for foodstuffs, and one for utensils and cleaning products. We both have our clothes hanging on the rod in the back seat of the truck. All we need to do is put our baskets of clothes and toiletries on the shelves over the bed and we can head out bright and early. 

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The campground where we always stay overnight on our way down and back from the OBX has a checkin from 3:00 to 7:30. If you are late, they will lock the gate and you cannot get in…whether you paid or not. The first time we stayed there, we were a little late and sure enough…we were locked out. Fortunately, the tennis pro asked one of the campers if we could come in right behind her. If not, we were facing a night in the parking lot. We learned out lesson. Now we leave earlier so we are sure to get our spot.

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I didn’t think I would like going to the same beach over and over. I like variety. Then I realized, I came home to WV from Colorado nearly every year of the 40 I lived there. Mr. FixIt has only missed one of the last 65 or so years visiting the Outer Banks. I’ve learned to love going there, too. I especially love to see what that place does to my sweetheart. You can see the tension drop off him like scales and he’s relaxed and happy. And that makes ME happy.

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It may seem like this vacation is an extravagance while I’m trying to be frugal. Really, the only pricey thing will be the fuel and we have cards for discounts at several places. We’re bringing most of the food from home. And the camping was only $23 a night, with amenities like shower houses and water/electric at the campsite. You can’t get a hotel room for anywhere near that. So, we’re going to go and enjoy ourselves camping, fishing, sightseeing, and cooking outside!

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🩵🌷🩵

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“They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem. They will be radiant because of the Lord’s good gifts— the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone. The young women will dance for joy, and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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***Gratitude Journal***   
Today I am grateful to live in the lush, green paradise that is West Virginia. I am grateful for the gifts God has entrusted us with.
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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. 

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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.

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Mr. FixIt: You going to go write?

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Me: What?

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Mr. Fixit: What?

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

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Mr. FixIt: Huh?

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Me:

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Mr. FixIt:

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

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

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

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It sure is, babe….it sure is.

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💜

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

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***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. 
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(Image created using Meta AI)

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