{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "title": "West Virginia 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/2025/06/28/how-does-your-garden-grow.html", "title": "How Does Your Garden Grow?", "content_html": "\n
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We’ve been so busy this week getting things together before I leave for a month in Colorado. In the middle of it all, we had a funeral, the dryer broke, and the garden was getting out of control. I still had boxes of fabric in the family room that needed to go downstairs. We grabbed the bull by the horns and started working on the dryer. We went to a place in town that sells appliance parts a bought a couple of things to try. They didn’t work, and without giving it much thought, we put the darned thing back together. Mr. FixIt took the parts back yesterday and got the one we needed. He is so kind to let me help when we do these projects, and I learn a lot. YouTube is irreplaceable! We got the dryer working in tiptop shape, and I started catching up on the laundry.

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It had been a couple of days since I was out in the garden, and I couldn’t believe my eyes! The tomato plants shot up at least two feet! Some were leaning way over, so I tied them up. I even had to tie them to the deck railing. I picked four tomatoes last night and more will be coming soon. They taste so good, but we aren’t getting very big ones yet. I try to keep the suckers trimmed but when they grow this fast and the foliage is so thick, I don’t catch them till the plant has already put a lot of energy into their growth. I’ve gardened most of my life, but I still can’t turn out stellar produce. Yet I keep trying!

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Four more sleeps and I get to see my Colorado family. Other than video chats, I only get to see them in person once a year. That’s why I’m staying for a month! What will Mr. FixIt and I do without each other???

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💜

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“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”  Colossians 3:23 ESV

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***Gratitude Journal***   Today, I am grateful for mechanical abilities and a husband who’s happy to show me how to fix things. And…that we didn’t need to buy a new dryer!

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#HomeRepairs, #FixingThings, #Appliances

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Just a photo dump for this evening. We’ve had quite a day. We're almost ready to open the pool (we’re running a bit behind schedule this year due to the excessive rain). Then the motor on the pump crapped out. We lost one of our dear friends and classmates yesterday morning. She was the pastor who officiated our wedding. Yesterday was hot, sticky, and the humidity in the house was 98% here in West Virginia! Trying desperately to keep the house cool by not cooking more than I possibly have to. I have to figure out how to bake our bread without heating the house up. I’ll be back tomorrow with a proper post! If you are reading this, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m just here to share what’s happening in our day-to-day lives on our tiny homestead!

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I love going for drives here in my home state of West Virginia. Ever since I moved back here in 2014 (after living in Colorado for 40 years) I soak all this lush growth in like a desert flower drinks the monsoon rains. Don’t get me wrong…Colorado is stunning with the majestic snow capped mountains and the riffling trout streams and the golden quaking aspen in the fall. But, the Mountain State really is Almost Heaven.

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The first tree to show up to the spring party is the Eastern Redbud. Drive out any two-lane blacktop in early March and you will see what looks like a lavender-pink smoke hovering in the edge of the road. Your heart sings when you joyfully announce, “The redbud are blooming!!! Look, look!” A couple of weeks later, the dainty white lace of the flowering dogwood shows up in the understory of the woods. It looks like the dainty tutus that stand straight out on a lithe ballerina.

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There comes the sad day when the last of these blooms fall to the forest floor. Soon there will be Jack-in-the-Pulpits and May Apples, morels and ramps…peeking out from the leaves that carpet the ground where the redbud and the flowering dogwood made their debut a few weeks earlier. Daffodils and Naked Ladies and Snowdrops and Crocus dot the flower beds and foundations of old houses long ago reclaimed by the unrelenting decay a moist environment brings.

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Next up are the irises of nearly every color of the rainbow. The former Mrs. FixIt and I scavenged the site of an old home that was demolished when the owner said, “Take what you want…I’ll never be back.” They were black! Well, a very deep inky purple that, in the right light, appeared black. We planted them two years ago in our respective gardens and this year they graced us with a plethora of gorgeous blooms. (Mine had a little hitchhiker among them…a tiny, yellow iris that somehow tagged along.)

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Everyone’s flower beds are trying to outdo each other, everywhere you look. But the one flowering tree that comes out mid-May looks like dogwood. But the tree blooms after the leaves emerge. And they have a greenish tint to them. Four petals…just like the flowering dogwood earlier except these have pointy petals instead of the curved little cup we’re used to. I’ve tried to discover the difference between these two trees. The AI image checkers swear it’s a dogwood tree. This time I dove deeper in my search and found out there are indeed 30-60 different species of dogwood worldwide. They are everywhere around here, and they make my heart sing almost as much as the redbud. I am determined to buy one and plant it here on the homestead.

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Mr. FixIt bought me a pink flowering dogwood one year and it was doing great. Then we had a hard, cold winter and she just couldn’t survive. You know…I’ll be 72 years old on the 13th of next month. I know I won’t have long to adore these beautiful trees, yet I plant them anyway. Why? Because it isn’t all about me. It’s about the grandchildren and the great grandchildren (we have four of them now.) Someday, their parents will take them for a drive and point out the trees and say, “Your great granddad planted that for GiGi one year so you would have something beautiful to come visit.

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At least…that’s how I imagine it going.

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He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.   Psalm 1:3 ESV

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***Gratitude Journal***   Today, I am grateful for the friendship of my husband’s former wife and that we can demonstrate to the family what love and forgiveness can do in relationships.
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#Dogwood #Redbud #WestVirginia

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Just a quick update on the tractor. I got is all put back together and wouldn’t you know it…it did the SAME thing it was doing before I started. I looked at even more YouTube videos and I finally fell onto a couple that talked about the brake. If the brake is at all engaged, the mower will not move forward. After seven years of mowing five acres, sometimes twice a week, the spring that brings the brake back up in a disengaged setting was getting a little old. I tried mowing and holding the brake up with my foot and bingo! The mower drove like a champ. So, being the mechanical girl that I am, I said, “Why don’t we just use a bungee cord to hold that pedal all the way up? It would still be stretchy so I can hold the brake in to start the tractor.” Mr. FixIt said he thought that might work, and sure enough…I was mowing in five minutes.

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Then…I smelled something hot and there was a big clank and the mower blades stopped working. The deck belt came off. I drove it back to the building and looked underneath. The belt didn’t just pop off. It was shredded! It turned out, I didn’t tighten one of the belt guides in the right place. Ugh! Fortunately, Mr. FixIt had another deck belt in the building. (Of COURSE he did! lol) I got the belt on and we changed the position of the guide to be sure it didn’t rub on the belt anywhere and I was back in business.

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I mowed the whole five acres and I’m telling you, by the time I was done I was done for. I ended up having a nice Mother’s Day. I spoke to both of my Colorado girls and the WV family, as well. I’m going to knitting group this morning then, if it’s not raining, I’ll go out to the farm to mow. If it’s raining, I need to bake bread…today or tomorrow.

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Hope you had a nice weekend. The weather was perfect and things are so green it hurts you eyes! Oh…the “Black Iris” bloomed just in time for Mother’s Day!!!

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Well, actually…in a certain light…my iPhone makes them look very dark purple.

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🩵

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“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”  ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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***Gratitude Journal***  
Today, I am grateful to have a patient husband who enjoys teaching me how to do things around our little homestead. He never gets mad at me for making mistakes…even when I ruin a $55 mower deck belt!
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All planted…five varieties of tomatoes, all heirloom except one.

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I grew up in a medium-sized town in WV. We had a bustling downtown till they built the mall around the time I graduated from high school. Even though I was a “townie”, we spent just about every weekend out at my grandparents’ farm. Grandma and PopPop had a truck garden next to the house, and they grew a canning garden up on top of the hill. I worked alongside my grandma for as long as I can remember. From planting seeds to harvesting to putting up the produce, my hands were always busy.

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I planted marigolds to keep the bugs away.

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Like most adolescents, I grew up wanting something different. I didn’t want to be “stuck” working on a farm all my life raising a houseful of children. I wanted my life to be exciting. And it was. I lived in England for a couple of years and then Colorado for forty more. Somewhere in there, I decided I wanted a farm. Trouble was, I didn’t have a husband that wanted the same thing.

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Our rhubarb plant was overgrown and died, so I bought a new one. This will be kept in a pot.

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When Mr. Virgo died in March of 2013, I took advantage of the opportunity to return to my roots. I actually lived on Grandma’s farm for a couple of years and it was phenomenal. Then, about five years later, I married my high school sweetheart and, as most of you know, we live on our little five-acre pseudo homestead. We are not self sufficient, but we get closer every year. And even though we are both in our early seventies, we strive to do everything we reasonably can to reduce our carbon footprint and be prepared for any negative circumstances.

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Tomato Variety Board…SIMM’s Greenhouse - Palestine, WV

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We’ve tried having a garden here on Marshmallow Ranch, but we are of an age where dragging a tiller around and bending over for hours planting and weeding is just too much for our aging bodies. We always plan our summer projects during the winter when we are closed in with snow. This winter, Mr. FixIt decided he wanted to build a raised garden bed where we could at least raise tomatoes for the table. He bought the wood last week and slowly put it together. We tweaked it a little here and there till we got the configuration we thought would be useful. He finished putting the boards on the last side yesterday and lined the box with a double thickness of plastic. He had half a pickup load of top soil, some straw, and a few bags of compost/manure mix. Our son came over yesterday and between the two of them, they had the raised bed filled with dirt in a couple of hours.

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While the guys worked on our super new garden space, I went to the tractor store and bought a new drive belt for the Husqvarna. We need to take the mower deck off today and replace that belt so I can get out there and mow. It’s getting really deep in the areas that are not designated as pollinator gardens. When I got home, our son was just leaving and Mr. FixIt and I decided to go to Simm’s Greenhouse for plants. When we got back, I planted the garden. Along with the tomatoes, I bought some marigolds to help keep the bugs away. I also bought a beautiful rhubarb plant and I’m going to grow it in a tub out back.

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Our grand-doggy, Cooper. He is SO precious!

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It was a very busy day but our bones were weary in a good way. It’s supposed to rain so I know I won’t get out on the mower today. But, there is ALWAYS something to do around here so I am sure the grass won’t grow under our feet. As I am sitting here writing to you, the little grey tree frogs are out there singing their hearts out for Ms. Right. It’s a pink-fringed evening with a cool breeze and I’m happy to my core.

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I’m finally home.

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🩵🌷🩵

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“Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation. After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears and the mountain grasses are gathered in, your sheep will provide wool for clothing, and your goats will provide the price of a field. And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself, your family, and your servant girls.”

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‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭23‬-‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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***Gratitude Journal***   Today, I am grateful for the opportunity to be as close to a farm girl as I’ve ever been. No chickens or pigs or goats, but we’re living in the country with the birds and the bees! And that’s something!

\n\n", "date_published": "2025-05-08T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2025/05/08/wannabe-farm-girl.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Gratitude","Farm Life","Home"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2025/04/27/a-fist-full-of-berries.html", "title": "A Fist Full of Berries", "content_html": "\n
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Monster strawberry from California.

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I had a really busy day yesterday and along the way, there was grocery shopping to be done. As I perused the produce section, these gorgeous GIANT strawberries captured my attention they brought back such strong memories of my childhood at my grandma’s farm.

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The Strawberry Field back on the hill at Grandma’s farm.

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Some time after my Uncle Sonny was killed when his fighter jet crashed in a German potato field in 1955, my grandparents needed something to focus on…a way to bring in extra money and ease their broken hearts. So, when my Uncle Bud was in college studying agriculture, he hatched a plan to turn a section of the fertile ground on top of the hill into a strawberry farm.

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Grandma in the hat and Nanny Goff in the overalls working the berry fields.

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My earliest memory of the strawberries was in the early ‘60s. I was 8 or 9 years old and banished from picking strawberries because I ate more than I carried to the sorting shed and I stepped on the runners. The runners make more plants which in turn produce more berries. No runners, no berries. I can so clearly remember the huge strawberries that grew in that rich soil. We had berries just like these and one filled my entire hand. You could only get five or six berries in a quart.

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Strawberry Pickers. That’s my PopPop in the hat driving the old Model A he converted into a tractor.

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I don’t know how many years we had berries. I do remember going to farmer’s market with my PopPop with the bed full of strawberry flats. We went two or three days a week and people knew when to expect us. They’d be standing there waiting for us to get there with these precious gems. They were so sweet and juicy, they hardly needed sugar.

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The berries were smaller in 1964. These were in the bed of PopPop’s truck.

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When we emptied the truck and headed back to the farm, PopPop always stopped at the old grocery store in Macfarlan and bought me some penny candy with his proceeds from the sale of those strawberries. According to my Uncle Bud, it was an awful lot of work with not a lot of return and they eventually gave it up.

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Another view of the strawberry field.

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Even though they turned to other endeavors, I will always remember those hot summer days and warm, juicy berries that stained my hands and cheeks. I smiled as I picked up a carton of berries and put them in the buggy. Warm memories on a cold and rainy afternoon.

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🍓

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 “Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.”   ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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***Gratitude Journal***   
Today I am grateful for my bonus family here in West Virginia. I am blessed with the friendship of the former Mrs. FixIt…a strong woman with a heart of gold.
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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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Finally…I got it together enough to come out to The Farm for a few days. The internet is so much faster here than at the house, so I came out to do the taxes. Then, when I opened the computer program I use, my information from 2023 did not migrate over. That’s when it hit me…I did the taxes on the desktop computer. Either that, or I saved everything in a backup on an external hard drive. There’s just one problem with that…

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I remember putting all my external hard drives together to put them away when I cleaned up for a family gathering. I put them “somewhere safe.” You guessed it…I don’t have the foggiest idea where I put them. It’s always something with me and these taxes, isn’t it? Argh!

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Still…I’m at The Farm!!!

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Frank and Beans came over for a visit. It was great to see them. It had been quite a while. There were no further incursions in the house and no tracks outside so I think (hope…PRAY) that was a one-and-done once they found out there is absolutely nothing in this house that’s worth taking. I guess I won’t be staying as long as I thought I would since I can’t get the taxes done. Although…I did bring my knitting.

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Hmmmmmm.

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It will be much warmer in the coming week which is most welcome. It’s so funny…I can’t wait to get out to The Farm and away from the television. Then, I get out here and I’m lonesome for Mr. FixIt. What can I say…he’s my person!

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💜

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“Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”

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‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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***Gratitude Journal***   Today I am grateful I can still spend time in my grandma’s house fill with memories…sights, sounds, and smells of my childhood. Just walking through the back door is like getting wrapped up in one of her hugs. 

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#TheFarm, #Home, #Taxes

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On September 6, 1916, Clarence Sanders revolutionized the grocery shopping experience. Up until that time, the woman of the house, or someone in her employ, would present a list to the grocer. She would wander around looking at the wares for sale while her groceries were gathered and either placed in a box, or a basket of some sort. The grocer would hand her a bill and she had a choice to pay it then, or have it put on her tab. 

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Mr. Sanders realized he could save time and money if he stocked shelves and had the customers make their own selections. Thus, the first Piggly Wiggly was opened in Memphis. I heard of “The Pig” for years, but they were mostly operated in southern states. The name “Piggly Wiggly” conjures up a simpler, slower life to me for some reason. So, when our local grocery store aligned with the brand, I was thrilled.

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My grandkids enjoyed going to the store with me when they were here visiting. It didn’t look like any of the grocery stores they are used to in Colorado. The idea of ham salad about did them in. Jars of pickled eggs and smoked ham hocks and cornmeal mush had them nearly running for the door. They didn’t have a clue what I was talking about when I asked them to “get us a buggy.” My daughter whispered to the oldest, “She means a grocery cart.” Yeah…they felt like they had jumped into the “Way Back Machine!”

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I love the Pig. I don’t do the bulk of my shopping there because they’re a lot more expensive than the shops in town. To me, saving money is not the point. It’s going in the front door and the two gals at the register waving a happy hello to me. It’s pushing my cart up and down the aisles looking for little treasures like homemade sausage seasoning, Amish goods like honey and jams and jellies, and local produce from the high tunnels out Nursery Road. 

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I moved to this little town of 698 souls in late 2017. The population peaked in 2000 at 1,012 but has steadily dropped since then. We have a service area of 4,098 in the county and gain some from the neighboring counties. We’ve seen mom and pop businesses come and go. We have a number of churches, three thrift shops, two gas stations, a quilt shop, a parts store, a barber and a hairdresser and a firehouse. There’s a little flower shop, a couple of banks and insurance agents and restaurants. We have a couple of schools and a really nice library. We even have a recycling place next to the ambulance barn and across from the little park by the river.

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You often meet people at the post office and catch up…looking at pics of the grandkids and asking after someone’s health. I actually made friends with one of the gals from my knitting group at the PO and through her I’ve gathered even more friends. It’s just the quintessential small town…kinda like Mayberry. I love it here…a little bit isolated from the big world outside. Where you can breathe clean air and sit in the sunshine…maybe fish a little.

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It’s home.

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💜

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“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

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***Gratitude Journal***   
Today I am grateful for a simple life in the country. A place where I am free to be me and enjoy God’s nature, my sweet husband, and clean living.
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#farmlife, #countryliving, #PigglyWiggly

\n\n", "date_published": "2025-02-14T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2025/02/14/help-yourself.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Farm Life","Home"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2024/06/15/finallyrain.html", "title": "Finally…RAIN!", "content_html": "\n
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Not my kitchen…but I‘d love to have one just like it!

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It’s been so dry here the last two or three weeks. I mean, it sprinkled a couple of times, but not enough to make the sidewalk wet. We kept getting storm warnings all day and it finally hit at 8:00…just as soon as Mr. FixIt left to run across town for some things at Piggly Wiggly. It’s been so hot this week and Sunday ushers in a week in the 90’s. 

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I have an appointment first thing this morning to get the wheel bearings repacked on the camper. It’s customary to get this done every 10,000 miles and we’re quickly pushing that. I went out last night before the rain hit and hooked up so all I need to do this morning is drive out I need to get back quickly because we’re having the WV family over this evening for a cookout. I saved the smoked pork for the occasion. I’m learning in this “seasoned age” to delegate. I don’t have to cook ALL the things to be the perfect hostess. I mixed up several bases for ice cream and put it in the freezer. Pineapple Cream, Banana, Berry Cheesecake, and Chocolate. A taste for everyone.

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One of the Facebook pages I follow focuses on Vintage Kitchens. Someone shared a photo with the message “If you’re feeling stressed right now, then here’s a Grandma kitchen to help you relax.” I love looking at these vintage kitchens and indeed, they do make me feel relaxed. We never had a pretty kitchen like these two photos at home or out at Grandma’s house. But I have been in homes that looked like this. Hubby #2 and I lived in three different houses in Denver that had vintage kitchens and I loved them.

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I think these kitchens suit me, being an earth mother country girl. If I had unlimited funds, I would build a house that is identical to Grandma’s. I’d build it on the lot we own on the outskirts of town. I’d paint it red with white trim and have a galvanized tin roof that plays the music from a gentle rain. I’d have wide plank flooring, white cabinets with windows in the doors. I’d have a deep, wide farm sink with a double window over it that looks out on the garden. I’d have a great reproduction vintage gas cookstove and a fridge to match. 

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It’s never too late to have dreams and it’s never too late to make them a reality. We are of an age where we live on a fixed income. So a windfall would need to manifest itself in order to make these dreams come true. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, right? I keep picturing my book, finished and doing well. This thing is NOT going to finish itself. I need to either make the commitment to publish it…or let it go. I’m not willing to just let it go, so I guess I’m going to have to double down and get it done. That may mean a sabbatical from writing this blog for a little bit while I focus on the book. I’m thinking I might do that this winter…after the mowing season is past us.

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🩵

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“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.”

\nProverbs 4:25-26 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2024-06-15T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2024/06/15/finallyrain.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2024/06/07/going-in-different-directions.html", "title": "Going in Different Directions", "content_html": "\n
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We are divvying up the chores these days, trying to get more done before the Colorado trip. We pull the camper with my truck. It’s been making a funny noise lately. It’s really difficult to get in to a mechanic around here. We had a wonderful guy right here in town but he suffered a devastating injury in an ATV accident early this spring and had to close his garage. Thank God he’s still with us, but we needed to find someone else. I’m not sure what is causing the shortage in mechanics, but we’re running into roadblocks at every turn. 

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Mr. FixIt finally found a guy that would at least listen to the sound and send us in the right direction. We found someone to work on it on the 18th. Cutting it a little close before our departure date, but we’ll take what we can get. While he was off taking care of the truck, I took his truck and went to The Farm to mow.

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We had a hard rain yesterday morning and the ground was pretty wet, but by the time I got out there, things were starting to dry up. It doesn’t take long at all to mow out there. It’s probably just about an acre of grass. There was a nice breeze, full sun, and only 79° so it was quite pleasant.

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I stopped on the way home at Happy Jim’s to see what he has that’s new. They recently bought out a couple of estate sales and there are lots of things to choose from. I’ve been looking for garden flags around town but they’ve gotten so expensive. Jim had three of them from my favorite shop. They were new in the bag and half price so I couldn’t pass them up. 

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On my way back to the checkout counter, I passed a bookcase stuffed with wonderful cookbooks. Several of them had handwritten recipes stuck within the pages. I didn’t have time to sort through them all, but I picked eight of them to start with. The hard covers were $1 and paperbacks were $.50! The first one I looked through was copycat recipes of favorite dishes from popular restaurants. I found several recipes that I want to try. The book that intrigues me the most is the Martha Washington Cook Book.

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When I got home, I put things away then headed out to mow the fenced area around the pool. Mr. FixIt usually does this, but we’ve been so busy and it’s been raining. I had the time and the energy to do it so I was finished, showered, and glancing through a cookbook when he got home. I stopped and fixed us hamburgers and waffle fries for supper. We had a great tomato and Vidalia Onions to slice. And we’re still eating from the jar of Bread and Butter Pickles that Loretta gave me for Christmas. Honestly, I could sit there with that pint of pickles and a fork and finish them off in five minutes, but I really want to savor them.

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One of Mr. FixIt’s errands yesterday was to take a water sample from the pool in to the pool supply store to see where we are with the chemicals. We needed to add a pound of chlorine and two pounds of alkali to the water. We had another really hard rain storm but once that was over, we treated the pool and watched the news. An hour later we tested again. Getting these chemicals just right is a really tricky business but I’ll get the hang of it. And then, we’ll be gone nearly six weeks and won’t be able to monitor it every day. I’m sure whoever we get to mow while we are gone will be happy to dump some chemicals in for us. 

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I’m praying for rain to keep things cool while we are so busy getting things caught up around here. I’m also praying all these storms calm down by the time we head through the upper Midwest. 

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🙏🏼

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“The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.”

\nProverbs 12:24 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2024-06-07T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2024/06/07/going-in-different-directions.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2024/06/05/still-chasing-frogs-and-bees.html", "title": "Still Chasing Frogs and Bees", "content_html": "\n
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We made another big step in getting the pool ready. Mr. FixIt put the ladder in for me so I could get in with the broom and brush down the sides and bottom to loosen up all the dirt, dead algae, and debris. The first dip in the pool is always a little shocking. Even though the water temperature was 80°, it still felt chilly when I got in. However, after a few minutes, it was comfortable and I didn’t even notice it. I trapped three little green tree frogs yesterday and put them back in the trees where they belong. If they keep getting in the pool, I’ll start taking them down to the creek where there’s a good water supply.

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I spent at least three hours in the pool cleaning it. Talk about an upper body workout! My upper arms and shoulders were telling me to quit about an hour before I finally did. I’m sure I’ll feel it today. Mr. FixIt cut the last two boards and put them in place then cleaned up all the tools because it’s supposed to rain today.

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I’m kind of excited about having a rainy day. I need to make a few phone calls, schedule some appointments, and really start working on the curtains for the camper. We run from the time we get up till we fall in bed at night at this time of year. We need a little break. Of course, the rain will make the grass grow so we’ll soon be out there working again, so it’s not much of a break.

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I go out every day and survey the grounds for pollinators. I’ve seen a few more honey bees the last couple of days and that’s been encouraging. If I were younger and financially better off, I’d seriously look into keeping bees myself. But we are gone too much and it’s necessary to travel to Colorado every summer to see my family. I’ve found a nursery here in West Virginia that sells native plants and seeds for wildflower gardens for pollinators. I’m going to take a field trip to interview the owner and pick up a few things that will contribute to “bee food.” Our most frequent pollinator this year has been the Common Eastern Bumblebee. They’re rather small and dainty and I love them. 

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I need to start making a list of what we need to get done before our trip. The 27th is sneaking up on us! Yikes!

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⏰

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“The heavens are the Lord’s heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.”

\nPsalm 115:16 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2024-06-05T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2024/06/05/still-chasing-frogs-and-bees.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Change","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2024/06/03/country-living-the-flip-side.html", "title": "Country Living - The Flip Side", "content_html": "\n
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As beautiful as it is here on Marshmallow Ranch, it doesn’t come without its issues. Besides being so far away from everything, there is just SO much to do to even begin to keep up with the maintenance of five acres. Mr. FixIt and I have taken to walking around the property of an evening to see what’s showing up. We flushed a baby bunny from one of the pollinator gardens last night. And we found a hole where something has burrowed in at the edge of one. Too big for a mouse or vole…too small for a bunny or a groundhog. Perhaps I need to get a trail camera out there to catch whatever it is.

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Invasive Species: Chinese Yam

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As we ventured up the hedgerow, I noticed rapid new growth on a vine I first noticed last year. Cinnamon Vine or Chinese Yam (Dioscorea polystachya) is an invasive species that I now need to go about trying to eradicate. It is a lot harder to get rid of unwanted vegetation without using chemicals, but I refuse to put chemicals on this ground. I’ll make up a batch of vinegar, salt, and Dawn dish soap and kill the vegetation, then I can go about digging out the roots. They grow and reproduce, not only by tubers in the ground, but also tubers that look like little potatoes n the vine itself. This isn’t going to be easy. I don’t know if we can live long enough to make a dent in what needs to be done here to be a good steward of the land, but we’ll do our level best.

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Elderberry

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In the meantime, an Elderberry bush has shown up intermingled with the Flowering Quince and Forsythia bushes. I don’t mind having those. You can make an elixir with elderberries that supports the immune system. And, the pollinator gardens are looking beautiful in their own right. The grasses stand a good two feet deep and all look so healthy. It just makes me so happy to walk down the paths I’ve cut through them, holding hands with my sweetheart.

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As I sat here last evening writing my post out in the camper, my eye was drawn to the scene outside the screen door. Just before dark, the lightning bugs rise from the grass on cue. One of the evenings, I need to have my tripod ready and see if I can get some time lapse photos of them. The pool is looking really good. We are starting to see the bottom and the new sand is filtering it much better. We’re adding chlorine daily but there are other chemicals we need to use as well. We’ll take a sample into the pool place today to see what we need. We bought the last two boards (for now) for the deck. We’ll replace them as needed.

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So, there’s a lot to keep up, but oh…the rewards are many. Listening to the tree frogs. The barred owl up the holler. The occasional night bird. The soft evening breeze feels delightfully cool. The smell of faraway rain. These are the rewards for jobs well done and make the doing worthwhile.

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There is peace here.

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🐝

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“So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?””

\nHebrews 13:6 ESV\n
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#Peace, #Work, #CountryLife

\n\n", "date_published": "2024-06-03T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2024/06/03/country-living-the-flip-side.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Peace","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2024/04/12/were-building-an-ark.html", "title": "We’re Building an Ark!", "content_html": "\n
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This creek runs along the border of our property.

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Hokey Smokes, y’all! I have seen hard rain before. I rode out a storm in a camper one time at Myrtle Beach that lasted a week and dumped 25” of rain. We had one heck of a rain storm yesterday and received at least two inches of rain. Mr. FixIt came in and said I should go down to the creek and see how high it was. Both creeks were roaring. We are at the mouth of the holler and the bottom of a big hill. Gravity is not our friend when it comes to drainage around here. 

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Poor Mr. FixIt was watching the drain at the bottom of the outdoor staircase that goes to the basement. Every fifteen minutes he went out with the headlamp to see if the pump was dumping water out in the yard and if the water level was going down in the drain. It finally let up around 8:00 with intermittent light rain showers predicted during the night. Hopefully he won’t be up all night worrying about the drain. It’s been doing a lot better the last few years, but when we have really high water, it covers the drain opening where our roof water drains into the creek and that backs things up. Ahhhh, the hazards of living in the country.

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I worked on a lot of different projects yesterday. I was up a lot earlier than my sweetheart so I cleaned up the living room and put some of my finished projects and supplies away. Then I settled in with my cuppa RYZE and worked on the cross-stitch sampler for a couple of hours. By the time Mr. FixIt got up, I was working on the computer. I have all the arrangements made for our trip to the beach later this month. Mr. FixIt Jr is going to be at the beach the week before us, so we made arrangements to go a couple of days early so we can fish together the day before they leave. Fun times ahead!

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I did a little knitting on the striped socks and made big progress downloading all those photos to my external hard drive. That on top of making Chicken Alfredo for supper! Yummmmm! Ok…don’t be too impressed. I deboned what was left of the rotisserie chicken, mixed it with a jar of Bertolucci Alfredo Sauce and poured it over spaghetti. Bon Appetit! 

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The redbuds are blooming!

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I told Mr. FixIt they shouldn’t give us old folks that memory test where they ask you what day it is. It isn’t fair. Every day is Saturday when you’re retired! 

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🩵

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”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.“

\nZechariah 10:1 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2024-04-12T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2024/04/12/were-building-an-ark.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Farm Life","Home"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2024/04/05/roller-coaster-weather.html", "title": "Roller Coaster Weather", "content_html": "\n
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Yesterday was one of those days that gave us four seasons in one day. Warm, springlike weather with sunshine followed by dark, heavy skies with snow so dense you couldn’t see across the field. Sun, rain, snow, sun, sleet, rain. Crazy, right? Typical spring weather. We can’t complain because in a few weeks it’ll be so hot you could fry an egg on the hood of your car.

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Our granddaughter’s home by yesterday afternoon.

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My goal yesterday was to tune up my computer and get it working faster. All the graphics I put on it when I was creating designs for my ETSY shop that it got really bogged down. I purchased this computer on Amazon last summer so I knew it was still under warranty so I started a chat with the Hewlett-Packard service department.

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After several questions, he began a remote scan of my computer. And in the process, he asked me if I’d ever added hardware to the computer. I had not. However, according to the serial number, my computer should have a lot less RAM and Hard Disk size. That means, the Amazon store I bought it from had boosted the RAM and put in a bigger hard drive…voiding the warranty. I have no recourse because it’s long past the 30 day return period. It was late in the day when I discovered this, and I found a number for the store that sold the computer on Amazon. I can call them and see if I have any recourse through them.

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The Blennerhassett Mansion on Blennerhassett Island in the Ohio River.

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Mr. FixIt went to the barber and walked his laps then he swung over to the other side of the Ohio River to view the flooding. Parkersburg has a flood wall and they closed it ahead of the rising water on Wednesday. Belpre and Marietta don’t have flood walls and they get a lot of water damage most springs…sometimes two or three times. As a matter of fact, Mr. FixIt owned a single wide trailer when he was young and first married. He had just moved it to a lot in Belpre when four days later, the river rose and flooded them out. 

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When I stayed on the river in 2015-16, there were several floods but I was way up high out of danger. But I have a healthy respect for floodwaters. They are powerful and can float whole houses away. That is why they tell you “Turn around, don’t drown!” Even a few inches of rushing water can sweep a car off the road. We just got a notification on our phones last night with the report of a local woman being swept away in her car by floodwaters. A Good Samaritan was trying to reach her to help her out when the car was flopped over by the strength of the water and she was gone. You become water aware when you are raised on the river. My prayers are with her and her family…and that kind man who tried to save her but couldn’t.

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I think I’m going to need to go out to the farm soon to use the high speed internet to set some stuff done on my computer. I can get done in three hours what takes a whole day to do here. Maybe I can talk my sweetheart into joining me for a farm fix this weekend! Wouldn’t that be nice??? 

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Be safe out there, y’all!

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🌷

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”The seas have lifted up, Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty.“

\nPsalms 93:3-4 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2024-04-05T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2024/04/05/roller-coaster-weather.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Warning","Choices","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2024/04/04/the-calm-after-the-storm.html", "title": "The Calm After the Storm", "content_html": "\n
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Yesterday was a pretty decent day, considering all the bad weather we had the day before. According to our rain gauge, we had about two inches of rain in twenty-four hours. The creeks were roaring and there were standing pond in our yard in all the low places. We expect more rain in the coming days…maybe even some snow. It’s weather whiplash around here. But thank God we didn’t have the bad winds and tornadoes. Our family is safe, and that’s all that matters. Stuff can be replaced if need be, but not our people.

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The low place in our yard fills up with rainwater every spring.

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One of my WV granddaughters lives on their horse farm. There is a low lying area with a creek running through it. Their driveway cuts this area in half and is elevated fifteen to twenty feet above the bottom. They sent us this picture yesterday afternoon showing the water high above the driveway. We are grateful they got to the barn side of the flood before the water blocked their way. They have places to stay and the horses are in the barn and safe, so it’s all just part of farm life in the Ohio River Valley.

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When it rains hard up north, that water has to go someplace, so it heads downriver…filling up the estuaries on the way down. The higher the main waterway gets, the more the creeks and small streams that feed into it get backed up. More rain brings even more water to what’s coming down from up above us and we can get in trouble in a hurry. We watched the news last night and stores in Marietta are packing up and moving their merchandise to higher ground till the danger is past. Thank God for the early warning systems that helped to protect those in the low ground.

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A walnut got stuck between branches last fall and here it stays.

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I’ve never been IN a tornado. I’ve seen them many times, but was never affected directly by one. I don’t know if this was something I read when I was a kid or if someone told me this story, but there was a bad tornado in the Midwest somewhere. Gas pumps in the old timey service stations had a clear glass bubbler in the top. Someone pulled into a service station for gas and there was a broom straw driven right through the glass. Now…that seems like a pretty tall tale to me, but I’m just relaying what I heard. 

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We didn’t get a lot done around here yesterday. I made biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast. Still holding my weight below 165# so I’m ok with that. It’ll start falling again soon as we get busier outdoors. I got a lot done on the first sock of a pair I’m knitting. We watched a little TV till I was tired of it. Then I put my headphones on and listened to a thunderstorm. Mr. FixIt visits the barber tomorrow but other than that, we don’t have a thing scheduled this week.

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We walked down to the creek last evening just before the skies opened up again. You could see where the grass was laid down that the water had been much higher last night. The field flowers are just beginning to pop up. The ground ivy has it’s delicate periwinkle blue flowers peeing out. The dandelions are offering up their shining faces to the hungry bees that are beginning to emerge. There were some little white flowers peeking out from under the fallen leaves and I can’t quite get them identified via Google Image Search. Do any of you know what they might be? Maybe when they open a little more, I’ll be able to tell better.

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🌷

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”For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.“

\nIsaiah 61:11 NIV\n
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#Rain #Storms #Spring #Flowers

\n\n", "date_published": "2024-04-04T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2024/04/04/the-calm-after-the-storm.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Change","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2024/04/02/april-showers.html", "title": "April Showers", "content_html": "\n
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Easter Flowers

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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. 

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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.

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Pulled Pork

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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🌷

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”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.“

\nZechariah 10:1 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2024-04-02T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2024/04/02/april-showers.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2024/03/17/what-a-difference-a-year.html", "title": "What a Difference a Year Makes", "content_html": "\n
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I went to town yesterday with the intent of getting my hair cut. But, after blowing my hair dry on Friday evening, I started having second thoughts. When I walked into the salon, Kendra took one look at me and said, “OMGosh! I love your hair!!!” It had been a year since I was there and my hair had grown at least six inches or more.

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The photo on the left is what I WANTED the December 2022 haircut to look like. Unfortunately…the one on the right is what I got. I should have known better than to go to a cut rate shop…you get what you pay for sometimes.

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As I was preparing to sit in the chair, she looked at me and said, “Are you SURE you want to cut it?” I had decided before I walked in…I really didn’t. We decided to trim the bottom because the shorter parts of the horrible cut I got a couple of years ago had finally grown out enough to even up the hairstyle. I wanted to do something with the bangs because they had become unruly. We opted to feather them into a curtain bang that could be worn swept to the side or down.

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When we were finished, I was thrilled. Kendra kept saying how strong and healthy my hair is. No split ends or broken off areas. I attribute that to taking collagen supplements this past year and being really careful with my hair…protecting it and using a good quality repair and strengthening shampoo. I haven’t used color on my hair since long before Mr. Virgo died but it truly looks blonde in these pictures, although in the sunshine, it’s really silver.

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I ran a few errands and treated myself to lunch at Qdoba then headed home. Again, I worked on the taxes, making little progress, but every step forward is closer to being done. Mr. FixIt called me outside to look at the sky. It was a gorgeous day with feathery white clouds like wispy strands of cotton stretched over an azure sky. I love springtime in West Virginia. The warm days and pretty flowers bring us hope for the days ahead. As I drove home, there is a curve you come around that opens up to a view of flowering trees and daffodils. I always smile, but this time, the huge weeping willow across the road was now a beautiful spring green as the leaves burst forth in all their glory. 

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Looking for joy in everything, every day brings so much more peace than engaging in fights with strangers on social media, don’t you think?

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day…Erin go Bragh!

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☘️

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”The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:“

\nPsalms 68:11 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2024-03-17T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2024/03/17/what-a-difference-a-year.html", "tags": ["Health","Hope","West Virginia","Holiday","Change","Be Joyful!","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2024/03/15/a-time-to-sow.html", "title": "A Time to Sow", "content_html": "\n
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Mr. FixIt did a great job getting my flower bed ready. I did a little earthmoving to get the drainage I was looking for, but other than that, it was perfect. He brought around a wheelbarrow load of rocks from the old flower garden on the other side of the house. And, while I got to work planting the black iris bulbs, he started cutting down trees at the end of the pole building.

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The first spring I lived here, I suggested we cut them down, but we had so much going on, it got put on the back burner. Now we wish we would have gotten to them when they were saplings. They’re far past that now and it’ll take a lot more effort to get them out of there. We’ll get it done, though. Of that, I’m sure.

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I got the bulbs in and watered and the rocks placed. I had extra that I placed along the back wall of the house. We had to take breaks fairly often as it was so hot. Once we got everything done, it started clouding up and I knew rain was coming. I started supper while Mr. FixIt put his tools away. We had lamb chops last night and they were SO good! Air fried potatoes and fresh asparagus rounded out the meal. We each had a piece of the apple pie I baked Tuesday. We’ll have the last slice today and that ends the sweet treats for a while.

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Now, back to the taxes. I am still trying to figure out how to transfer my previous returns onto the new laptop and frankly, I was pretty tired at the end of the day so I put it away. I’ll get it back out today and start again fresh. As I expected, the rains came in around 4:00. We were supposed to get heavier rain last night. Then it will get chilly again of a night. I’ve been enjoying “field camping” the last few nights but it’ll be time to come back inside now. I need to get things ready for our knitting retreat, and I have a hair appointment on Saturday. I’m really not liking my hair pulled straight back and my bangs are too long to do anything else with them. I’ve never been very creative with hair styling. I’ll be fresh and ready to go come Monday. 

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🌷

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”“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”“

\nGenesis 8:22 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2024-03-15T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2024/03/15/a-time-to-sow.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2024/01/27/christmas-in-january.html", "title": "Christmas in January", "content_html": "\n
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”Smoke on the Water” by Sue Lilly

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I was up early when the sun hit the trees on the far ridge with a golden glow. A single pine tree provided a stark contrast to the bright, sunny trees. It wasn’t long till the sky became more overcast. We didn’t get rain for the first time in days and it was really warm. I worked in the studio for a couple hours and didn’t accomplish much. I started making a baby and the yarn wasn’t right. It was way too light for the project. I’ll save it for something else.

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I was working with a different yarn, but I heard Mr. FixIt up rummaging around so I stopped and came up to fix breakfast. When I came upstairs, he was already cooking oatmeal…his specialty. He put fresh blueberries in it for me. He’s such a sweetie. I sat in the Big Red Chair and put babies together till it was time to start cleaning. 

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Mr. FixIt and I split up the duties. He’s a doll…he cleans the bathrooms! He is definitely a keeper! I was going to make cinnamon rolls to go with the chili for our family gathering, but Mr. FixIt’s birthday is next week so I told him I’d make him whatever he wanted…a cake or a pie. It took me ten minutes to get him to tell me what he really wanted instead of what he thought everyone else would want or what would be easier for me to make. He’s the most selfless person I know. We finally settled on pies…an apple and a peach. So I’ll be up bright and early baking pies and then I can put the pork roast in the oven.

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The family is coming over at 1:00 and I’m really excited to see them! We get stuck out here in the country and become hermits in the winter so it will be nice to have company and see the kids. Mr. FixIt bowls tomorrow night then we have a light week ahead. I mean…hear we are nearly at the end of January already. We will be mowing again before we know it so I need to step up my game and get more done before I won’t have the time to.

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As I was writing this last night, one of my high school friends read my post from yesterday. She lives along the river and saw the fog rolling in. She ran up to Fort Boreman Park and caught a beautiful photo of the “smoke on the water” and gave me permission to use it today. We live in such a beautiful and picturesque place, don’t we? 

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🩵

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”Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.“

\nProverbs 27:1 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2024-01-27T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2024/01/27/christmas-in-january.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Baking"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2024/01/11/in-loving-service-to-our.html", "title": "In Loving Service to Our Fellow Classmates", "content_html": "\n
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My Beloved Alma Mater

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Our high school class was huge. Somewhere between 700 and 800 kids. One would think it impossible to know more than two or three dozen of the kids. But, our class was extraordinarily tight. There were cliques, for sure. There were jocks and nerds and stoners…but most of my friends were happy to just love everybody.

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We have a group of people who adopted one of the big flower beds in the City Park. For over ten years, they have religiously tended that garden, making it one of the showpieces at the entrance of the park. One very dedicated classmate has taken care of the memorial and flower fund for as long as I can remember. We send her checks periodically to fill the coffers and there has never been a former classmate go without something from us to show their family they have not been forgotten.

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Somewhere along the line, one of our fellow classmates started a Facebook page for our class and that really started the ball rolling. We were able to reach out to our classmates all across the country and we became even tighter. As time went on, we started losing more and more people and it occurred to me that, should the page administrator pass away, no one else could access our page and that wouldn’t do. I reached out to the administrator..a gal from my home room…and she added me as a page admin. I in turn added another friend who was willing to help out. Having three admins just made more sense to us and it’s gone smoothly ever since.

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My main duty is keeping a close eye on two of the most important files of the page… “Where Are You/They Now?” and “Gone, But Not Forgotten.” If I don’t catch news of a death, or things get hectic and I don’t get the pages updated in a timely fashion, I can count on my friends to be sure I’m up to speed. Over the years, I’ve had people say they wish the lists had pictures to go with the names on the list. Not everyone has their high school yearbook anymore and as we age, our memories fade.

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We lost three classmates in the span of the last two weeks. I was going through my list yesterday and one of the things on it was to update the page. Since I was going to be on there anyway, I decided to start on the Memorial Wall and add photos from our yearbook. As of today, we have lost 139 classmates, and I at least wanted them to have a photo by their name. So, I sat down and got to work. 

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Mr. FixIt went to town yesterday to help his friend Joe fix a toilet. I knew I’d have a quiet house in which to work. By 10:00, I had that list complete. I will plug along and get photos on the other list as I have time. But, I felt really good getting that part finished. That’s just one thing checked off the list. Today’s a new day…and I’ll be checking my list to see what I can get into next!

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❄️

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”As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:“

\n1 Peter 4:10 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2024-01-11T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2024/01/11/in-loving-service-to-our.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Choices","Memories","Friends"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/12/03/big-on-the-big-screen.html", "title": "Big on the Big Screen", "content_html": "\n
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As promised, I stayed home and had a lay low day. I did a little cooking. I worked on the computer awhile. I watched some instructional videos on YouTube. Mr. FixIt went to town to unclog a pipe in the rental house. When he came back, we watched football. It was a lot of fun to watch the students win big scholarships to further their education. It makes the high cost of sodas a little less painful. We got to have a video chat with some of the Colorado family, and that is always a delight!

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The highlight of my day was watching Big in her swim meet. It still floors me that I can sit in the Big Red Chair and watch her swim in the Pacific Northwest! Her other Grandma sent me this picture that they caught of her. I had to watch on my laptop and between the smaller screen and the terrible internet, I had a hard time picking her out of the crowd. She did really well. I chatted with her on Friday night and she said she was a little nervous about this meet. It’s big and it counts for a lot. I told her I was sure she’d do great. And if she did her best, no one could ask for anything more of her. She’s a solid swimmer, but not Olympic material. She knows that and she’s fine with it. She loves to swim, she’s competitive, and she has a lot of fun. Swimming at college has really brought her out of her shell, so that’s Number 1 in my book.

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I need to stay off the screen more today because my eyes were really tired by the end of the day. I think they’ve been like that for awhile, but now I’m paying closer attention to them and really noticing how irritated they are. You know, you can have a medical issue creep up on you so slowly, that you accommodate what’s happening. Then you don’t realize how bad it was till it starts to get better, and then you go, “Oh, yeah… this is what I’m supposed to feel like.” I’m looking toward to that happening!

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I hope you have a Blessed Sunday and enjoy some restful moments.

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🎄

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“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

\nProverbs 22:6 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2023-12-03T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/12/03/big-on-the-big-screen.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Home"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/11/09/oh-what-a-beautiful-day.html", "title": "Oh, What A Beautiful Day!", "content_html": "\n
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OMGosh! On a day like yesterday, all you can do is praise God for his artistry! I’m at the farm to work on the computer since the internet is lightning fast. And, I needed to get the lawn mowed for the very last time of the season. I always breathe a king-sized sigh of relief when it’s over for a few months. I don’t mind adding this yard to my list of chores to do every week. It’s my payment for the privilege of staying here whenever I want. 

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When I went out to start the mower, I was afraid it might not turn over. It is a little persnickety if you haven’t started it for a couple of weeks. And this had been awhile… maybe three weeks or so? It only took two or three cranks till the ol’ John Deere came to life and I set to mulching up what seemed to be every downed leaf in the county. When the leaves are so deep you’re just pushing them along, you need to run back and forth over them to kinda mash them down so they’ll go under the mower deck. Even with that, I had to mow over the entire yard twice to mulch everything down.

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When it’s done it looks so beautiful. Especially in the late afternoon sun when everything takes on a golden glow. It’s supposed to start raining today and get cooler so it was the last chance I would get to mow before the leaves turn to a flat layer of detritus that resembles leather. That can kill the grass and this house sits in a little holler. It doesn’t get much light as it is and stays wet. A layer of wet leaves would further deteriorate the creek bank as it would never dry out. It’s sinking down pretty bad the last few years. Frank and Beans should be here this afternoon. I hope they’ll get a chance to stop in for a quick visit. They’re the sweetest people.  

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You remember my dear friend Sparky who died a couple of years ago? Well, her son is a well tender in this neck of the woods and when I was out mowing, I saw him checking a well across the road. I turned off the mower and we had a nice roadside chat. It’s been almost two years since his mom died and then he lost his uncle this spring and his dad shortly after. He’s had a heck of a couple of years, but I was glad to see him doing so well. He looks so much like his mom it’s not funny. I just stared at his face and mannerisms while he talked and felt a little closer to Sparky, even if it was just for a few moments.

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You can see a video of these creatures on my YouTube Channel HERE.

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I swept the front porch and inside the house and got rid of a bunch of Asian Lady Beetles. I’m kind of amazed I didn’t see a single stink bug. As a matter of fact, there aren’t a lot of them at this house this year either. Maybe it just hasn’t been cold enough yet. The weather will be turning chilly again as the week progresses and I sure hope they get the part in for the furnace soon. We need to get that fixed in a hurry.

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Hey, have any of you used Zenni or any of the other eyeglass shops on the internet? I bought my first pair about three years ago maybe and my prescription changed this time. I went online and shopped. I bought a pair of pretty glasses with progressive bifocals with a wide angle along with a new carrying case and two pairs of clip on sunglasses…one for night driving and one for sunglasses. Grand total? $128.93 including tax and shipping! The cheapest glasses I could find in the optometric shop was $250 and that didn’t have any of the extras. Zenni offers a 10% senior discount, too! I’m all about getting the best I can for my money. I’ll let you know how they turn out!

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It should rain today, so I’m planning on sitting here in Grandma’s chair, in front of her window and watch the world go by. It’s awfully nice to have this peace and quiet. NO TV!!! I hope you’re having a good week!

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🍁

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“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

\nRomans 12:10 ESV\n
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Soon there will be snowflakes falling instead of leaves. Here’s a sweet Norwegian inspired Christmas Ornament. These make great hostess gifts or a gift exchange with your girlfriends.

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Shop Now

\n\n", "date_published": "2023-11-09T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/11/09/oh-what-a-beautiful-day.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Peaceful Moments","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/10/31/the-kindness-strategy.html", "title": "The Kindness Strategy", "content_html": "\n
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I opened my eyes to the sound of the bedroom door being gently closed…my husband’s attempt to keep from awakening me. I smiled because that meant he was feeling better…up making tea and getting his day started as usual. Such good news. I turned and looked out the bedroom window at the ridge beyond the far field. It was a dull, grey morning with a steady misty rain making everything look like a faded WWII movie in an English countryside.

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By this time of the year, the majority of the leaves have fallen…blown away by the wind and rain. Rather than a dismal view, I was greeted by Autumn’s bold invitation to look deeper at the waning colors. While most of the leaves of the giant sycamore trees have fallen, those in the uppermost branches retain their last flash of color looking all the world like starry crowns. While I love the flashy bright colors of early fall, it’s these days that draw me in closer.

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West Virginia is covered with dense deciduous forests in a tangle of underbrush. The first time you see a bit of color is in the spring when the redbud and dogwood trees bloom before the rest of the trees leaf out. Now, at the end of their growth cycle, that dense under canopy pops with bright reds, oranges, and yellows. It’s Mother Nature’s curtain call…the encore that you might totally miss if you don’t look deeper and pay attention.

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A lot of life works in the same way…inviting us in to see the rare beauty after the really big show. That which draws us in touches our spirits and forces us to find the magic in life. If you watch the main stream new outlets, you are likely to see only the sensational and the gaudy…the ugly and the frightening. Because that’s what sells. That’s what stirs up the populace to gather pitchforks and torches, pitting neighbor against neighbor. 

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You may sit there in your chair with your morning coffee and think, “What difference can I make? The world is so big, and I am so small.” Well, this is true…but, let me tell you something. The smallest, most insignificant gesture sent out towards another will cause a small shift in the forces of nature. It will spread like the ripples of a pond, every growing till it crashes into another’s love-sent ripple. And eventually, the tide will shift, a voice will grow, a heart will mend. No kindness will be unnoticed.

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Every single thing we do, good or bad, will be reflected through the large lens of life. I prefer to send out love and light and peace into the world because I know that will feed the planet. If you want a garden to grow, you don’t throw seeds out on the parched earth and expect to grow anything. You have to break the ground open with diligence and strength. You have to plant the seeds with service and hope. You have to fertilize and water the garden with an abundance of love and light in order for it to grow into a rich harvest. 

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God gives us every one of the tools we need to do this. I saw a meme yesterday. I can’t find it now, but I’ll paraphrase.

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Narrator: Imagine you have been assigned to the crew of a starship.\nYou: Cool!\nNarrator: But, the time travel is really, really slow and you’ll be with a lot of other crew members for a really long time.\nYou: Oh, ok. We would have to cooperate and get along and make compromises in order to finish our mission successfully?\nNarrator: Yes, that’s exactly right.\nYou: I can do that! By the way…what’s the name of the starship?\n\nNarrator: Earth.
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🌎

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“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”

\nProverbs 31:26 ESV\n
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Peace on Earth…Goodwill to All

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Shop Now

\n\n", "date_published": "2023-10-31T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/10/31/the-kindness-strategy.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Peace","Choices","Kindness"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/10/05/its-deer-season-in-west.html", "title": "It’s Deer Season in West Virginia", "content_html": "\n
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Honey, I’m telling you…deer season is a religious holiday in my home state. Lawsy…the number of trucks with muddy ATVs on the back is staggering. Day Glow Orange is the new black. Men named Bubba and AJ and Jim Bob are sitting in their tree stands before dawn, quietly waiting and watching for the deer to start browsing the woodlands. There are several sections of deer season…bow/crossbow (which we’re in now), buck firearm, antlerless-1, antlerless-2, antlerless-3, antlerless-4, muzzleloader, etc. You get the drift. Hunting is big here. It’s a right of passage fathers hand down to sons (and daughters.) A lot of schools close sure the first week of rifle season because the kids will be out there with their dads.

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The people who hunt in West Virginia are largely subsistence hunters…that is, they aren’t necessarily hunting just for a trophy to mount on their walls (although, that is prevalent. Mostly, people hunt for meat for the table and for preserving. Some people do hunt for the meat, but not for themselves…they donate it to food pantries. Personally, I am not a big fan of venison. I did fry up some deer tenderloins a couple of years ago and they were just…ok. Some people are just crazy about it. People who hunt on their own land feed the deer corn for a while before hunting season and fatten them up to make the meat less “gamey.” It’s a big deal in these parts.

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We camped in the Greenbrier State Forest Campground last night. It’s a very small, somewhat rustic campground however, it DOES have electric. We emptied our fresh water tank before we came down to keep the weight down but we just stayed here one night so we did without. We had plenty of bottle water so it was fine.

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October is such a great time to camp. The days are warm, the nights are cool. It couldn’t have been a prettier day driving down. The colors are really changing up closer to Marshmallow Ranch, but the farther south we went, the trees were just starting to change. I think it’s going to be a beautiful trip and driving back through Virginia will be stellar.

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We were both pretty tired last night and turned in early. We got a late start because there was still so much to do. We’ll have two nights at the next campground so we can rest up for the big push to the beach. Back in the day, Mr. FixIt would pack up the family and leave at their bedtime. Then he would drive straight through while they slept. Once they got to the beach, everyone was refreshed and ready to go play on the sand…except Mr. FixIt who had to take a nap! That does NOT sound like fun to me. When we drive, we make it to Williamsburg the first day, then drive on down to the beach on the second day. That way neither one of us is exhausted from too much driving. Mr. FixIt, Jr. had never done that till they came down to meet us at the condo one year. They’ve learned something from the old folks! 

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I’ll share more photos tomorrow. It was almost dark when we got to the campsite!

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🍁

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“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

\nIsaiah 40:8 ESV\n
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The Skeleton Crew….dancing beneath the harvest moon!

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Shop Now

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Passionflower Vine, foreground. Elephant Ears, background.

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The roadways are lined with Joe Pye Weed, Giant Ironweed, St. John’s Wort, Black-eyed Susans, Goldenrod and all manner of wildflowers. Most people think of these beautiful wildflowers as weeds, but they’re wonderful feeding stations for pollinators to store up the rich honey they need to survive on in the winter. I used to look at them as weeds and pulled stuff up out of my carefully landscaped flower beds all the time. Now, I seek them out to harvest seed for my own pollinator gardens.

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We have a few passionflower vines that grow on our fence and somehow they all got pulled up either last fall or early this spring and I didn’t think we were ever going to get any this year. But they’re pretty hardy and low and behold, by the first of August, we had one little vine weaving it’s way up the chain link. Just last week, it started producing a few flowers and my heart was so happy. They are truly beautiful and I hope they come back next year, bigger and better.

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Arabian Starflower…a variety of Star of Bethlehem. We harvest the bulbs from these and store them in the basement over the winter then plant them again in the spring in an old galvanaized washtub.

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Our Elephant Ears are really looking good at this time of year. They are almost to the top of the chain link on the other side of the fenced in back yard. They grow from a tuber that looks an awful lot like a jicama. Every year, the plants produce more tubers and we give them away like crazy to all our family and friends. And still, every spring, Mr. FixIt has to extend the bed by several feet in order to accommodate all of them. It’s too bad we need to dig them up before the first frost or they’ll die. They are a lot of work, but they make a real nice display.

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I thought perhaps I would mow yesterday, but it rained off and on and is supposed to continue on today. That will push off the mowing till later in the week and then the grass with be tougher and thicker and harder to mow. Since we couldn’t get outside and work, we fiddled around in the house all day. I was looking for glass tops for these end tables we bought over the weekend, but glass has gotten so expensive and I’m not going to pay as. Much for the glass as I did the tables. After researching alternatives, I decided to just use doilies and coasters and call it good.

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I haven’t seen a single Monarch Butterfly this year. Photo Credit: Pixabay

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I worked on the computer and designed a few Halloween shirts. I cooked and cleaned and made popcorn after supper. And that was good enough for me. We don’t have to be anywhere this week, so I’m happy to be nesting a little. 

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If you are in the path of severe weather or fires or crazy gunmen today, please be safe and know we are all praying for you! Let us know what’s happening in your neck of the woods.

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?

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“It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.”

\nIsaiah 4:6 NLT\n
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The Black Cats Boo Band…three little black kitties play guitar and “BOOgy”!

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Shop Now

\n\n", "date_published": "2023-08-30T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/08/30/fall-flowers-and-storms-are.html", "tags": ["Prayer","West Virginia","Gratitude","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/08/28/the-honey-festival.html", "title": "The Honey Festival", "content_html": "\n
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We needed a break…from mowing, from working, from everything. It was the Lord’s day and we vowed to keep it that way. We still haven’t landed in a church since covid. We became disillusioned. Not with God or His church, but with churches who were becoming more radical and political and less about actually following God’s word. But we still worship and are faithful and share our faith whenever possible.

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We saw an ad on FB Marketplace for a pair of end tables so we went over yesterday right around lunch time to see them. They were just what I was looking for and I got the bonus of buying two wooden ironing boards. I got all four for $145. We carefully wrapped them and put them in the back seat of the truck. The young man who did the refinishing was incredibly talented. (I’ll write more about the people I met this weekend as the week progresses.)

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We left from there and went to City Park to walk. I forgot the Honey Festival was going on and we spent quite a lot of time wandering around the booths and talking to people while we got our steps in. I connected with several people I need to get to know better. One has a greenhouse about ten miles from us and she sells native pollinator plants as well as seed. One grows broom straw and makes brooms. One was a direct appointment from God. She gave me samples of honey. 

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The first was from her early spring honey and as soon as it touched my tongue, It transported me straight back to my childhood…standing in my Aunt Marge’s kitchen…eating a spoon of the best honey I had ever tasted, her spring honey. Light and loose, it was delicate yet full of flavor. The second one was mid summer and had notes of sweet peaches. The third was a deeper end of summer honey that was rich and robust. The last was a late fall honey…strong and concentrated and jam packed with sugars.

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I visited with the alpacas and felt the incredibly soft sweaters and socks they had for sale. I had no money with me, therefore it was a cheap excursion! We got home in time for a little rest then Mr. FixIt went off to hang with his bowling buddies. I went to my friend Richard’s house and sat on the veranda and talked for three hours. We promised we would do this several times over the summer. This was the first time I’ve seen him since last winter.

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It was a lovely day all around and gave me lots to write about during the upcoming week.

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Stay tuned!

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?

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“My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.”

\nProverbs 24:13 NLT\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2023-08-28T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/08/28/the-honey-festival.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Farm Life","Pollinator Garden"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/08/22/sourwood-honey-and-boggin-for.html", "title": "Sourwood Honey and Boggin’ for Jesus", "content_html": "\n
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Yes…these things went together.  We live in a pretty tiny town. Really tiny. I mean…we have a post office and a grocery store. A couple of gas stations and several churches. And there’s a bar not too far out of town. But we’re good people in Small Town, America.

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We luxuriated in not really having to do much yesterday. It was pretty hot out. So we hung out indoors in the AC. I worked on my shop while Mr. FixIt snoozed with the TV on in the background. We didn’t do anything of any importance till the news was over and we headed over the hill to the Piggly Wiggly to get some bread and milk. 

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There is a good sized section in the store that features products made in West Virginia. I always have a look to see if there’s something interesting and this time they had Sourwood Honey. Oh…if you’ve never had it, see if you can find it. It has a very delicate flavor...not like the stronger honeys of the Appalachias. There is a world championship of honey called the Apimonda and this honey regularly wins. As the Appalachian Beekeeping Collective says, Sourwood Honey “is highly coveted by food connoisseurs throughout the world.”

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And here it was…on the shelf in our Piggly Wiggly that serves a town of 706 souls without a stoplight!

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Even though we’re going to the big town today, I picked up a few things yesterday to make another batch of that Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. I’d like to take some to our granddaughter’s workplace today. She loves hummus and I love surprising the kids with treats from time to time.

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As we were leaving the store, we always stop and look at the bulletin board to see if there’s anything we don’t want to miss out on. That’s where I saw the poster for a local event…Boggin’ for Jesus. For those of you who aren’t in the know, boggin’ is short for Mud Bogging…ie running a motor vehicle of some sort through a muddy course. They have boggin’ contests and boggin’ fundraisers. Tons of people just go out boggin’ for entertainment…or a great date. 

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Boggin’ is puredee country…it’s as real as it gets. There may be alcohol involved. I’ve gone boggin’ before. And, while it was a hoot and a half…it’s not something I would actively pursue. But I’m sure glad they’re doing it for Jesus. It means their heart’s right. I’m not sure HOW they’re doing it for Jesus. There are Rodeos for Jesus and Bikers for Jesus. I’ve been to Cowboy Church. So maybe it’s a church service in the middle of a mud hole, I don’t know.

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I think I’ll stick with the Sourwood Honey and leave the boggin’ for the younger crowd. Now I’m thinking some biscuits might be needed to go with it.

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Yummmmm!

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?

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“My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste. In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.”

\nProverbs 24:13-14 NLT\n
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Whether you love it or hate it…Pumpkin Spice is HERE and I’ve gotcha covered. Here’s the I LOVE IT version!

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Shop Now

\n\n", "date_published": "2023-08-22T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/08/22/sourwood-honey-and-boggin-for.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Farm Life","Home"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/08/16/autumn-leaves-teach-us.html", "title": "Autumn Leaves Teach Us", "content_html": "\n
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There are lessons to be learned in the simplest of things. Once you look for God in the mundane, you see extraordinary concepts play out before your very eyes. I’ve been designing autumn themed shirts for my Etsy shop so I’ve been searching through graphics with images of leaves, pumpkins, Pumpkin Spice Lattes…even footballs. While I’m not ready for summer to be over, I do love the change of seasons and autumn is certainly stunning when she gets all dressed up.

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I was studying a very old cherry tree out at the farm the other day. I remember when that tree was so small, even a little like me could reach up and pluck the crimson red cherries and put them in a pail at my feet. That tree must be 30’-35’ tall now. It’s not necessarily healthy and there hasn’t been a cherry on it for decades. But, I’m telling you, in her heyday…she produced gallons and gallons of pie cherries.

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As she ages, her lower branches die and the leaves have mostly fallen off by the beginning of August. I watched each golden yellow leaf twist in the wind till it finally let go and made its single, solitary flight to the ground. It doesn’t hold on forever. It doesn’t get a second chance. It just flies.

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There’s the cherry tree. That’s my mom’s ‘64 Ford Fairlane so this had to have been before ‘69 because she got a Plymouth Duster that year.

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We can do that, too. If we don’t hold on so tight. If we live our seasons with love and intention. If we just let go we might find the subsequent journey to be a little less frightening than we imagined. But, ohhhh….we do want to hold on tight. We really don’t like change.

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I’ve always said “Change is my middle name.” Bring me more of it. I get bored if things aren’t stirred up from time to time. Mr. FixIt is hesitant to change. We both grew up in homes that were unpredictable. My coping strategy was to roll with the punches and learn to look forward and anticipate change. His is trying to maintain the status quo so we can stay safe and secure.  I think it’s just the difference between a man and a woman…seeing things so differently.

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When I see a leaf in mid flight, enjoying its journey…fulfilling its purpose…I smile and remember. 

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It’s ok to let go of things and embrace change.\nGod will always be there to catch us when we fall…\nor teach us how to fly.
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?

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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

\nGalatians 6:9 NIV\n
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Autumn Leaves Teach Us - Long Sleeved T-Shirt

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Shop Now

\n\n", "date_published": "2023-08-16T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/08/16/autumn-leaves-teach-us.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Growth","Change","Farm Life","Memories","Insight"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/08/11/a-beautiful-day.html", "title": "A Beautiful Day!", "content_html": "\n
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It was cool and a little drizzly…definitely a little hint of fall in the air. I fiddled around on the computer for a bit. I ate good, healthy food. I visited with the neighbors across the road and they brought me fresh veggies from their garden. And, my cousin’s wife came for a visit. We talked till 11:30 last night! I shared my new bounty of veggies with her. I head home today and can’t wait to see my Mr. FixIt!!!

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The neighbor’s garden across the road from the farm! Beautiful!

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I posted a “Feel Good Friday” video this morning so I’ll keep this short…with lots of photos. I’ll be back with a normal post tomorrow!

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?

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#TheFarm, #Produce, #Garden

\n\n", "date_published": "2023-08-11T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/08/11/a-beautiful-day.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life","Feel Good Friday"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/08/07/a-respite-at-the-farm.html", "title": "A Respite at The Farm", "content_html": "\n
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I know how blessed I am to still have time at The Farm. It’s old. The pump on the well isn’t working now. The floor isn’t level and there is evidence of carpenter ants here and there. But no matter what else is going on in my world, when I walk in that back door…it smells exactly as it has since I was brought here the very first time. And that’s been quite a while ago.

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It smells like old wood. It’s dank and dusty but I run two dehumidifiers to try to keep her old bones dry. And even though I cannot actually smell the red furniture polish Grandma used to use on the wood, my mind tells me this is what it smelled like. I keep gallons of fresh water on hand for heating up to do the dishes. Beans has some big containers of water in the bathroom to use to flush the toilet, but I use my tinkle tank from my camping gear. It works fine.

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I remember when there wasn’t running water here. There may have been a water tank on the side of the house that caught rainwater. That’s what Grandma did the wash with. She heated it up for baths in the galvanized tub that she placed in the middle of the kitchen floor. She used to turn on the gas cook stove to warm up the kitchen so we wouldn’t catch a chill. We had indoor plumbing at home of course. But stepping back in time at Grandma’s house spoke to something primal in me. It was simple and pure and good. It was hard work and sweat and a feeling of accomplishment.

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Sitting on the front porch during a rainstorm yesterday afternoon was better than a dose of medicine for an ache I’ve felt ever since my grandma died. Listening to the wood thrush’s song echoing down the holler. Watching the Eastern Wood PeeWee and the Eastern Phoebe pick the elderberries. Catching sight of a rabbit underneath Grandma’s Rose of Sharon. Picking seed pods from the 4 O’Clocks alongside the house. Rocking gently as the hot and humid day fades into the glorious coolness of the Golden Hour.

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My children don’t get it. This was just a place to visit for them. A place to tolerate Mom’s obsession for a week or two before heading back to what they defined as civilization. I had the chance to move back here with Daughter #1 when she was about three years old. Instead, I elected to stay in Colorado for two reasons. The first was, Colorado had more educational opportunities than West Virginia did. And the second was, I was self aware enough to know that If I went back when Hubby #1 went, I’d end up back with him and I couldn’t see a positive future with him. So, I stayed out West…hoping one day to return to the home of my heart.

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Sitting on this front porch, married to my best buddy from high school, and knowing my girls are happy where they are?

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Priceless.

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?

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“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.”

\nIsaiah 32:18-20 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2023-08-07T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/08/07/a-respite-at-the-farm.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Wisdom","Farm Life","Memories","Home"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/06/04/its-tick-and-storm-season.html", "title": "It’s Tick and Storm Season!", "content_html": "\n
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It was a crazy day from start to finish yesterday. I slept in the camper Friday night. Mr. FixIt doesn’t like to sleep in the camper unless we’re like…you know…camping. But he always comes out for a little snuggle time and to watch a funny video. Sometimes he’ll come out in the morning and I fix him tea or breakfast, or both. Yesterday morning he was up cooking the chicken and noodles he took with him to the company picnic so I hopped up to come in the house to join him.

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As I was getting up, I felt something on the back of my head near the hairline. I ran my hand through my hair and felt a tick! ICK! It came off easily and I dispatched it quickly but ohhhhh….I really hate to get a tick bite. This one was another American Dog Tick, a juvenile…and they do not carry Lyme Disease. They can still carry viruses or parasites, but I’m thinking since it was young and it hadn’t had a chance to really latch on, I’m good. I’m wondering if I got into a mess of them when I was mowing.

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Mr. FixIt was gone for the day so I settled in my big comfy red chair and started reading a great book I recently purchased from AbeBooks.com. They are a used book company who will watch for specific books for you. The book I’ve been wanting for years is Mountain Cooking by John Parris. If you remember, I have been watching the video series Celebrating Appalachia with Tipper Pressley for quite some time. She talks about all things Appalachia and she was singing the praises of a writer from her neck of the woods. That writer was John Parris.

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Parris wrote for the Asheville Citizen-Times in Western North Carolina for 42 years. He won many honors for his writing and published several books as collections of his essays. John was born in 1917 and died in 2016 and was a beloved collector of Appalachian folklore. The book I was most interested in was Mountain Cooking, but it’s been out of print for many years. So, I put in a request with Abe Books and voila….the book is finally mine. 

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I don’t read a lot of books since Mr. Virgo died. I don’t really have the patience to sit and concentrate that long. And, if I stop and start as my schedule allows, I’m apt to forget what was happening and have to go back and read large sections. It’s frustrating. For some reason, I can concentrate on books about Appalachia or cooking…old timey things. I think it’s because the stories are so similar to my own.

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I sat down in the quiet house and lost myself in the stories of folks long dead now. How they cooked in iron pots on the hearth or the wood-stove. How they butchered hogs and made cider. I was delightfully entertained for several hours before I tore myself away and started on some chores that needed doing. I am so grateful I learned about Mr. Parris’ writing from Tipper and I’d recommend him to anyone who enjoys stories of the old timey way of doing things. You can get his book…Roaming the Mountains…on Amazon as his work was revived by the mother daughter team of Marty Keener Cherrix and Amy Cherrix.

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When Mr. FixIt got home, I put my reading down and gave him my sole attention. It was dreadfully hot and we finally gave in and turned the air conditioning on. We watched the evening news together and soon learned there was a big storm blowing up and we were directly in its path. We called our granddaughter who was putting up hay to make sure they were watching the weather. I ran out to the camper to close the windows and draw in the awning. I had no sooner come back in when the sky let loose and the wind started howling. Leaves were blowing everywhere and with a mighty roar…here came the HAIL! The temperature dropped 23° in less than 30 minutes.

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We stood at the back door watching things blow around and were helpless to do anything. It rained so fast, the gutters couldn’t keep up and the water ran over the top like a waterfall. We could barely hear each other with the pounding from the roof and window, and the mighty claps of thunder. Flash after flash of lightning was met with instant crashes of thunder so we new it was right on top of us. The ground was becoming white with hailstones the size of dimes and nickels. I turned to Mr. FixIt and said two words…the camper! There was absolutely nothing we could do there but I kept pleading to God to keep us safe and protect our homestead here on Marshmallow Ranch. 

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When the storm finally abated, we ventured out to make sure the gutters and downspouts were clear. As soon as I opened the door and took a deep breath I smelled it. Ozone! I’ve only smelled ozone like that once before in my life and that’s when I was driving over the mountains to Denver in a terrible thunderstorm. I was in the left lane of a three lane section of I-77, coming down the mountain into Georgetown and lightning was actually striking the pavement all around me. I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t pull over. All I could do is keep going…and praying. The ozone was thick and smelled like a transformer blew up. My hair stood up on my arms from the electricity in the air. That’s what it was like walking out of the house yesterday.

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We waited till the radar showed the storm was truly past us, then we ran out and checked the gutters. Mr. FixIt held the ladder while I shinnied up to peek over the edge. They were fine. We grabbed some quick photos and checked the camper for dents from the hail or leaks. It was just as it was before…good as new! Thank you for protecting us and our investments, Lord!

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We are still expecting more rain, but we have needed it terribly. It’s been so dry here, I’ve worried about fires. This will really help. Between the tick and the hail storm, it sure made for an interesting day!

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?

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“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.”

\nPsalms 107:29-30 NIV\n
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No Ad Sunday…may you be “blessed-ed” and rested!

\n\n", "date_published": "2023-06-04T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/06/04/its-tick-and-storm-season.html", "tags": ["Camping","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/05/23/appalachian-cooking-on-a-diet.html", "title": "Appalachian Cooking on a Diet?", "content_html": "\n
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Why…yes, as a matter of fact! When we were camping last week, we went into Yokum’s store to look around. They had a little diner in the back and we decided to sit and have a salad. I wish she would have told me how big the salads were because we each bought one. My word…we could have easily fed four people and had some left over! 

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As we left the store, I happened to notice there were one pound bags of fresh ramps for $10 in the cooler. I overheard the clerk telling someone ramp season was nearing it’s end so if we wanted any, we’d better snap them up now. Not one to miss out on something, I rummaged around and picked the freshest looking batch they had.

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Now…I have never had ramps. My first father-in-law was from Richwood, WV…the self-proclaimed “Ramp Capital of the World!” He would tell me stories of the ramp feeds when he was growing up and it was a flat out right of spring to eat at least one mess of ramps. It was considered a spring tonic to cleanse your blood after being inside all winter. Ramps are a good source of Vitamin A, Selenium, and Chromium so I suppose they have some nutritional value.

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We talked about ramps the other day, and yesterday had to be the day to use them or they were going to go bad. I took them outside and swished them around in a bucket of cold water, emptied it out and refilled it, them washed them again. Ramps have a bulb on them like green onions, but the tops look like Lilies of the Valley. So, when you find them in the woods, take a good whiff of one of the bulbs because the Lily of the Valley is poisonous. 

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These were most definitely ramps. They smell like a cross between an onion and garlic. The guy in the old country store said this was a fine year for ramps because they weren’t too strong. I guess some years they can be downright rank. But this mess was very mild. I cleaned and cleaned till I had all the sand and any leaves that were turning wilted and slimy removed. I cut off the root end, cut the bulb from the stem, and sliced everything up…tops and all. I saved a few of the ramps that were beginning to send up a flower shoot and I’m going to find a place in the woods down by the creek where I can plant them and see if I can establish a bed. We’ll see.

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You do not want to cook ramps in your house…no matter how mild they are. You won’t get rid of the smell for weeks! I asked Mr. FixIt to light the grill for me then I brought out the utensils I was going to need. I found a recipe for a ramp and potato frittata that sounded great, but some of the ingredients were NOT on my Noom plan…namely a cup of heavy cream and grated cheese. I decided to see what I could use from the pantry and I was SO happy with the results!

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I ended up with about two cups of chopped leaves and sliced ramps. I had two cans of sliced new potatoes that I drained well. I beat eight eggs n a bowl with salt, pepper, a heaping tablespoon of goat cheese, and half a can of evaporated milk. I put about a tablespoon of vegetable oil in the cast iron skillet and set it on the grill. When it was hot, I put in the potatoes and shut the lid on the grill to bring it up to frying temperature. I opened the grill and turned the potatoes from time to time to keep them from burning. 

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As soon as the potatoes started getting a little brown, I tossed in the ramps and tops and cooked them till they were softened and become translucent. Then I poured the egg mixture over everything and immediately shut the grill for no more than a minute. When I opened the grill, the edges of the eggs were getting browned and I started lifting and turning the eggs to then would set and stay fluffy.

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The timing had to be perfect…too little and you have pockets of runny egg. Too long and the eggs get rubbery. You just have to watch them close. I plated up the eggs and were rushed in to sit in the dining room and enjoy our feast. I wish I could tell you I took a picture of the dish when it was completed, but we were in such a hurry to eat…well, you know. We have leftovers and can have more tomorrow if we want. We took some over to my bonus daughter because she hadn’t had them either.

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My bonus daughter took a white peonie and put it in water with blue food coloring. The peony took up the blue and it shows in streaks on the petals. When I looked at it, I could see a very tiny drop on the tip of the stigma. It had also taken up the blue dye and it looked like a tiny gem dangling there. It wasn’t as big as the head of a pin, but it caught the light just right.

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While we were eating, I remarked to Mr. FixIt how incredibly mild they were…you could hardly taste them. Then…about thirty minutes after eating, I guess they kicked in because I couldn’t get to my toothbrush fast enough! I brushed and rinsed and brushed and rinsed a couple of times and I wouldn’t be surprised if you can still smell them on my breath today. But, they really were surprisingly good. I don’t think I’d go out of my way to go buy ramps every year, but if they were available, I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to cook them again.

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How about you? Have you ever had ramps? 

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Our peonies finally bloomed yesterday!

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?

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“Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”

\nGenesis 1:29 NIV\n
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If you do decide to cook some ramps, you’d better have a nice candle to banish the “aroma”!

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\n\n", "date_published": "2023-05-23T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/05/23/appalachian-cooking-on-a-diet.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Farm Life","Cooking"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/05/22/my-morning-walkabout.html", "title": "My Morning Walkabout", "content_html": "\n
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The garden is filled with Field Hawkweed and the bees love it!

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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.

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

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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?

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The Philadelphia Fleabane looks like tiny little daisies.

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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. 

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

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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!

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

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?

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“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.”

\nProverbs 3:7-8 NIV\n
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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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\n\n", "date_published": "2023-05-22T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/05/22/my-morning-walkabout.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Be Joyful!","Farm Life","Home","Pollinator Garden"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/05/18/what-a-whirlwind-trip.html", "title": "What a Whirlwind Trip!", "content_html": "\n
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The view of Seneca Rocks from the tent camping sites.

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I was hoping there would be some time for sitting around the campfire, knitting and listening to the birds in the forest on this trip. It was anything BUT that. It was even BETTER! This trip was all about visiting my beloveds and making memories and that is priceless. 

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My only living uncle…my precious Uncle Bud…is a widower. Living on his own and keeping himself busy as ever. He’s 86 years old now when we arrived, he was welding a contraption he designed to pull a submersible pump and copper wire out of a 600 foot deep water well. He is a force to be reckoned with. He took us out to dinner at Cheetah B’s…a little mom and pop restaurant in the building they share with the American Foreign Legion. The Whiskey Glazed Filet Medallions were SO good!

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The second day was spent with my wonderful Cousin Tammy and her husband Alvy. Located at the base of a mountain, their sprawling property houses a wood chip mill, and meat processing facility, a flower stand, and a gorgeous home they built with their own hands. They even cut the timber in their own sawmill. They recently purchased a 27 acre lot adjacent to theirs and Alvy took Mr. FixIt and I in the side-by-side up these crazy 4x4 trails in the rain. I had NO idea where we were. It felt like we were just going around in circles. We went out this one trail and there was a good lined tree blocking the way. We had to go back. There was no room to turn around, so Alvy just started backing down the mountain. I never should have let him see I was getting a little freaked out about not being able to see where I was headed, because that just added to the fun and he gave us a ride to remember, let me tell you. Alvy is a great big, strong, mountain man with a heart the size of the rugged mountain he he’s scrabbled a life on. They raised three equally strong women and now have a passel of grandkids they absolutely adore. It was SO much fun seeing them. The bonus was her middle girl stopped by with her two kids.

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When we got up yesterday morning to sunny skies, I suggested we stay one more day so I could get some of that knitting and listening to the birds in that I was hoping for. But my sweetheart reminded me we had a boatload of stuff to do.

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Who wouldn’t want to stay here a while?

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It’s a good thing we did come home because there was a frost warning for this morning in the area we camped in. It didn’t take us long to pack up and we took our time towing up and down four mountains on our way back. 

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We stopped in Buchanan at a Walmart parking lot. I jumped in the camper and cooked us a delicious meal and we sat there chatting about how wonderful it is to have the freedom and the means to take such adventures and to have someone to share them with. It was a really nice getaway.

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The first morning before all the visiting began.

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We stayed at Seneca Shadows Campground located in the Monongahela National Forest. It is a beautiful place with four loops with well-spaced campsite. There are flush toilets and showers, fire pits, and picnic tables. There is a large tent camping area that overlooks Seneca Rocks so there are a lot of rock climbers that stay there. There are a couple of little stores at the intersection about a mile or so away and they have a climbing school with a huge climbing wall. West Virginia has some of the most beautiful scenery there is and I hope y’all will come see why John Denver called it…Almost Heaven!

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The view from my uncle’s front yard.

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“Ain’t it good to be back home again?”

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?

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“Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.”

\nProverbs 15:17 NIV\n
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Our camping trip reminded me of this shirt I designed. Memories!

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\n\n", "date_published": "2023-05-18T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/05/18/what-a-whirlwind-trip.html", "tags": ["Camping","West Virginia","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/05/11/back-home-again.html", "title": "Back Home Again!", "content_html": "\n
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Here’s a funny story. Well, I guess it depends on who you’re talking to whether it was funny or not. The former Mrs. FixIt sent Mr. FixIt a picture today. It was a huge…and I mean HUGE possum in a live trap on her porch. She was trying to catch a pesky raccoon that has been eating her birdseed and getting into her plants up on the deck. Instead, she got Mongo the Marsupial! She tried to figure out what she was going to do and finally decided to just open the door and let it go. 

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Instead, it stayed in the cage. Would NOT come out! She had errands to run so she left the door open and left. When she returned, Mongo was still in the cage doing what possums do in the daytime. Snoozing. Well, she really wanted that thing back in the woods where it belongs so she got the water hose and started spraying it. That did the trick! That possum bolted right out of the cage and made a beeline……straight into her house!!! 

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I’m sure she nearly jumped out of her skin. She took off after Mongo into the house and he was nowhere to be seen. She had to go play hide and seek with a possum the size of a Buick! She finally found poor ol’ Mongo, scared to death and cowering in the far back corner of the closet in the spare room. He got as far as he could go and was trapped. The Former Mrs. FixIt spent the better part of an hour trying to get that thing out of there. She opened all the doors and set to evicting the possum.

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About that time, Mr. FixIt was finished with the project he and his buddy were working on. He was only a couple of blocks away from her house, so he decided to stop by and see what she was doing with this guy. He saw the storm door propped open and thought, “What the heck?” So he stuck his head in the door.

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“Hello? HELLO!”

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“HELP! I’m back here!!!” she hollered.

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Mr. FixIt followed her voice and, thinking something might have happened to her, hurried to the back of the house. There she was with a big stick, trying to prod the recalcitrant critter out of her closet. She had removed everything but he still wouldn’t move. She handed Mr. FixIt the stick and told him to press down on the possum when it came out. 

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He looked at the stick and he looked at the possum and he looked at the stick and said, “Don’t you have a laundry basket or something you can throw on top of it?”

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Eureka! They got the basket over poor scared Mongo and scooted him down the hallway and out the door. When she lifted the basket, Mr. FixIt said that possum took off like a shot down the steps and into the woods. By this time they were both overheated and sweating buckets. They turned on the air conditioning and I’ll bet she’s still sitting there, trying to recuperate!

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I, on the other hand, enjoyed a wonderful, quiet afternoon at home working on my shop. Someone commented the other day that I should put my pretty flower photos on note cards and sell them in my shop so that’s what I worked on yesterday. I hope to have them and the Comfort Blankets live in the shop tomorrow. But I also have to mow today, so…we’ll see. Oh, I lost 3.3 pounds at the farm this week!!! Wahoooo!

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?

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“who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?’”

\nJob 35:11 NIV\n
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#Opossum, #Marsupial, #TalesFromWV

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I love the colorful hearts on this Weekender Tote! So cheerful and fun!

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\n\n", "date_published": "2023-05-11T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/05/11/back-home-again.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Farm Life","Friends"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/04/20/holy-toledo.html", "title": "Holy, Toledo!", "content_html": "\n
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Saying Goodbye to the Old Hybrid Camper

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I can’t tell you how tired we both were last night. I stayed home and mowed while Mr. FixIt took a bunch of stuff to the salvage yard. As I was making one of my rounds, I looked over and there was the gentleman who bought the old hybrid camper coming to pick it up. It took him a couple of hours to get everything tacked down and get it ready to transport. I continued to mow and when Mr. FixIt got back, I stopped for something to eat. 

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It was really hot out there yesterday. Up in the low 80’s. I used my umbrella and sunscreen. I still needed to take breaks and I drank one of those dehydration rescue drinks. They’re called Drip Drop. There are other companies that make these, but this is the first thing I’ve ever used that keeps me from getting heat exhaustion. That’s something I avoid like the plague. Once you’ve had it, it seems to come on more easily and more severe. You can buy Drip Drop through my affiliate account on Amazon if you’re interested in trying it. One bag ought to last you a year or two. I mix one up in a bottle of water and keep it in the cup holder on the tractor and sip on it as I mow. It’s a miracle! Here’s the link for the variety pack.

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I don’t think I even made supper last night. I pieced on this and that during the day and was just too tired. Mr. FixIt bought some egg salad for sandwiches but I didn’t even want that. After my rest break, I went out and moved the new camper around to the back of the house. It’s convenient in the winter time to have it by the building where we can keep an eye on it and plug it into the bigger outlet. But once summer comes, I like having it out in the field. And now, with the old hybrid gone, the only thing left out there that needs to go is Mr. FixIt Junior’s old Chevy S-10. Then I can FINALLY have the little campground I envisioned three years ago! I don’t know when we’ll have time to put in an electric pole, or even IF we will since we’re considering downsizing and moving closer to town. But I can have friends come down and “boondock”…camping without any of the frills like electricity. We do have water and shower access. 

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The fella who took the camper today said he thought he smelled a copperhead. I don’t know if any of you have smelled this particular poisonous snake or not, but they put off a smell like cucumbers. He said it was really strong out where he was hooking up the camper…which of course is very near where I was writing this post last night! Snakes don’t necessarily scare me, but I’m not fond of the poisonous variety.There are wasps nesting in the engine compartment of the S-10…yet another reason to get it moved out of here. They were swarming all around me when I was mowing and they can be aggressive. I remember going across the road to check the mail at Grandma’s farm when I was a teenager. I opened the door to the mailbox and there was a nest of bees that attacked me as I ran. They stung my hands and my back. It was decidedly unpleasant and I don’t care to have a repeat performance.

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Today is a less strenuous day. We need to do a little laundry, a little packing, and finish straightening up the living room, dust and vacuum. Then we can hop in the truck and head for the beach on Friday! We have someone to watch the kitty, I have my knitting packed, and I get to see the Girl Campers at their Camporee. Beach time with the fam, toes in the sand. It’s going to be a great vacation!

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?

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“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.”

\nPsalms 121:7-8 NIV\n
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#Travel, #Mowing, #FarmLife

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“Let’s Go Camping!”

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\n\n", "date_published": "2023-04-20T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/04/20/holy-toledo.html", "tags": ["Travel","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/04/16/there-is-progress.html", "title": "There is Progress!!!", "content_html": "\n
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“There was fog after yesterday’s rain.”

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OMGosh! Y’all…I got all the rows pieced together yesterday and half the borders cut! I would have continued to work on it, but bending over the pool table to work for any length of time hurts my back. I’ll have it finished on Monday and take it to the quilt shop to get it quilted. It should be ready in time for the wedding. I told Mr. FixIt that I’m NEVER going to make such a complicated pattern again. And…folks may have to get by with quilted wall hangings from now on!

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My grandma made very few quilts that were actually quilted. I remember as a very young child, there was a quilt on her old quilting frame that she rolled up at night and stuck in the corner of the dining room. Then when the neighbor ladies came, she propped the frame up on the backs of dining room chairs. They sat around the quilt and everyone had a hand at quilting it. Grandma even let me take a few stitches. I was thrilled and I’m sure that’s where I got the quilting bug. 

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My mom always had McCall’s Needlework & Crafts Magazines around the house. I don’t know where she got them because we didn’t have extra money for such things, so I’m sure someone gave them to her. I loved that magazine so much! There was always a little craft for kids to do and I looked forward to each new issue so I could make something special. Mom was an excellent seamstress but I don’t recall her making quilts. She sewed clothes. And she was fastidious with it, believe me. When I learned to sew, she supervised with an iron fist! I’ve ripped out so many seams it would make your head spin. She always made me BASTE my seams by hand before I sewed them. Drove me batty!

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When Mom died and I came home to get her affairs in order, I found many items that were only half finished. Now that I look back, I should have kept and finished them, but there was so much to do, it was too overwhelming. So I let them go to the church thrift store. I’m sure someone was happy to have them.

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My Grandmother Roush was the quilter in the family. She pieced quilts and gave them to family members. At some point, I had a quilt she made and hand tied. It was made out of terrible polyester knit fabrics from the ‘60s…in shades of green and orange. I kept it and used it for years but somewhere along the way, it wasn’t around anymore. She did give me a quilt top she pieced from very light fabrics…white, yellow, and green. I knew nothing about quilting, so I put it away for the day when I might learn. When it was time to quilt it, I took it out of the box it was in, unwrapped the tissue paper, and somehow something had leaked into the box and the top was ruined beyond repair. 

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When Daughter #2 was little, I took classes at the local community college and learned how to quilt. Several of the other doctor’s wives got together and worked on crafts when our babies were little. I knew the basics from watching my grandmothers, so I watched my friends intently and before you knew it, I was making quilted wall hangings. It grew from there, but now I’m at a point where the tedious work is just more than I want to put into things. I’ll still make simple block quilts but nothing like this latest project!

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Mr. FixIt went to town again yesterday to help his friend put up the storm door they bought the day before. I stayed home and worked on the quilt and my shop. We had another thunderstorm in the afternoon which was lovely. We’ve needed rain here. There have been several fires already this spring. I never thought of West Virginia as being prone to wildfires. I don’t remember them when I was growing up. But global warming has changed everything and the weather is completely different now.

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As soon as this quilt is finished, we need to do a whirlwind job cleaning this house so we’re ready for my cousin’s visit in a couple of weeks. Then it’s packing time and we’ll head for the beach! I’ve been eyeing the weather in North Carolina and it’s not looking terrific. However, we’ve been there many times when they predicted cold, wet weather and it turned out gorgeous. That’s what I’m praying for!

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I hope you have a beautiful and blessed Sunday! 

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☔️

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“Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.”

\nJohn 12:28-29 NIV\n
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“Be Still and Know That I Am God”

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I went out yesterday to put the top down on the Big Birdhouse and caught sight of this little dew covered spider web. There was a small black spider in the “tunnel” and he came out to see me for a few seconds before scurrying back to safety.

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I had every intention of sewing on the quilt yesterday, but one thing after another kept me busy. Mr. FixIt had to go to town before lunch to get the oil changed and tires rotated on the pickup for our trip to the beach. I stayed home to catch up on things around here. I didn’t get half what I wanted done, but it was still productive. The slow laptop is hampering my progress at every turn. I’m not sure what else to do to speed it up, but I have to do something. I can’t sit around all day and only get two small projects completed.

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The weather was beautiful again yesterday. The Weather Channel predicted rain at 8:30 yesterday morning so I jumped up, got dressed, and hurried out to put the top down on the Big Birdhouse. There’s a small place on one corner of the dormer that I want to touch up with silicone sealant and I didn’t want any water near it. Turns out, it didn’t rain at all and the sun broke through the clouds mid-afternoon. It stayed nice till about 8:30PM when a cold front blew through and stirred up the winds. Of course, this happened after I came out to write my post. I’ve gone through worse so I just stayed out there. It wasn’t predicted to amount to much.

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Mr. FixIt didn’t get home till 8:00 with his arms full of groceries. He had errands of his own to take care of and sometimes he just needs a day off to himself doing whatever he wants to do. Lord knows he deserves it after the week he had. He really worked hard and got a lot accomplished. He was a dear and brought me a sandwich from Arby’s.

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One of my dearest peeps in the world got hold of me yesterday to tell me her sweet daddy went to be with Jesus this week. Yesterday would have been his 102nd birthday. He almost made it. She called…not only to tell me, but to ask if I had any particular memories of her dad. I remembered he wore little round wire rimmed glasses. I also remembered the first time I saw him on TV, I thought Mr. Roger’s was exactly like her dad. Same gentle spirit…same kind demeanor. She laughed and said, “Yeah…I can see that!” I hope she knows what a wonderful thing she did for her dad helping him so much in his final years as a widower.

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As I was writing this last night, a big ol’ West Virginia thunderstorm blew up and I put everything aside. Not because I was afraid of anything happening to my electronics. But, because I LOVE thunderstorms and I wanted to close my eyes in the camper and just listen to the thunder rolling across the surrounding hills. We may get more storms today so I am hoping to sew. I want to get that quilt top finished before Monday so I can take it in to be quilted.

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I received my new iPad keyboard case yesterday. This time I bought the same model as the one that got me through the last six years or so. I am familiar with the keyboard as it is the same as the one that died a few weeks ago. No more skipped letters and the aggravating chore of editing!

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This is good because my sweet friend who always sends me a text when she finds a typo is off on a European vacation! I’m only slightly jealous. lol I hope you all are safe and secure from any inclement weather this weekend. Be safe and I’ll see you tomorrow!

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☔️

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“Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.”

\nPsalms 77:18 NIV\n
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“This is my Knitting Mug”

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Shop Now

\n\n", "date_published": "2023-04-15T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/04/15/a-big-ol-wv-thunderstorm.html", "tags": ["Camping","West Virginia","Big Birdhouse"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/02/20/the-grounds-keeper.html", "title": "The Grounds Keeper", "content_html": "\n
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Pumpkin Kitty is almost three-and-a-half years old already. She is our resident Grounds Keeper and keeps the area fairly well free from mice and snakes. She also catches the occasional vole but those little suckers are mean so she usually ends up batting them around till they manage to get away. So far, she has never left us a gift on the doorstep. She probably thinks since she is the Queen, she needn’t leave presents for the hired help. 

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Since her brush with death during the coldest part of winter, she has steered away from the pool. She still goes up on the deck, but I haven’t caught her leaning over the edge for a drink since her inadvertent baptism in the pool. She’s starting to mellow out a little, too. She doesn’t attack us nearly as often as she used to. But she’s still really fickle and you cannot trust that you’ll get away with your hand intact after scratching her head. 

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Mr. FixIt is the Cat Whisperer. She’ll let him pick her up and carry her to the building to give her treaties. I’m not as apt to do that. I’m not a fan of bleeding. So, when I walk by her to the building, she starts meowing like she does with her Prince. Then, if I walk on by, she amps up the volume as if to say, “Hey! Down here! How am I supposed to get to the building for what is rightfully mine???” It actually makes me giggle. 

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We didn’t get the a-frame camper cleaned this weekend. It was kinda cool and windy so we did mostly indoor stuff. Some pictures of Big TOW-Wanda showed up in my memories yesterday and it got me to thinking about our new camper and ways I can dress it up to make it warm and cozy. 

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The valance for the big window over the dinette fell off last summer and rather than put it back up, I’ve decided to make some curtains instead. If I make curtains for one window, I need to make them for the other two. And, there is a large room divider curtain, so I might as well do that one, too. 

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I really loved the backsplash in Big TOW-Wanda. I’d love to have that look in the new camper, but the wall over the sink has a lot of control panels, switches, and outlets on it. It may not work out the way I envision. I’m sure I can do something to make it homey. It’s not like I don’t have anything else to do so it may just end up being a dream.

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We have errands to run in town today. I am hoping it will be warm enough to go for a walk in the park with my sweetie. We both want to start getting these winter pudgies off. It’ll be no time and we’ll need to get out and start doing the heavy work. We should really ease our way into it. 

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I’m almost ready to get back to the quilt! The knitting has been put aside since before Christmas so I could work on this project. There’s light at the end of the tunnel. Now before you get all excited…it’s not my book. But I’m laying the groundwork for that in the not so distant future. 

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“Easy come, easy go, but steady diligence pays off.”

\nProverbs 13:11 MSG\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2023-02-20T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/02/20/the-grounds-keeper.html", "tags": ["Camping","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/01/19/another-trip-to-town.html", "title": "Another Trip to Town!", "content_html": "\n
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It just doesn’t end! Yesterday I had to go in for a test that took about a half hour. Easy peasy…just had to lay there, turn this way, turn that way, hold my breath…you know the drill. Within a couple of hours the results came back…all good! I had one million errands to do. You know those days when you think… “I’ll do these five things and be back home by noon…1:00 tops!” Am I the only one who NEVER gets that right? It was 6:30pm when I got home! Errands that I thought would take 5-10 minutes turned out taking an hour…EACH! Ugh. And to think, I couldn’t even blame it on Mr. FixIt. He stayed home!

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Ah, well…I did get just about everything I need for this new project. At least until I decide to tweak it a little. I’ve been known to tweak. Bless my heart. I just didn’t get anything done at home but that will change today. I don’t have to go anywhere for DAYS!

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Living in the country on a septic system presents challenges. I am not sure, but I don’t think the septic system out at the farm has EVER been treated with RidX, but Mr. FixIt treats ours once a month. Now, with as many places here that have septic systems, you would think RidX would be something easy to find. Well, it is…sorta. Mr. FixIt doesn’t like the liquid variety. The first two places I went to only had one month supplies of the powdered variety. Finally, I found the three month pack. Then, I blew my frugal husband away when I found a SIX MONTH supply of a different brand for the same as the three month. Winner, winner…chicken dinner! I know the way to my man’s heart…save him some money!

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While I was at Sam’s Club looking for the RidX, I came across a display of “Grammy Skirts.” My girls called my mom Grammy. She used to wear these elastic-waisted, pleated skirts. She’d pull the waist way up under her boobs. Mama had a “yummy tummy” and wasn’t in the least bit self conscious about it. I sent my girls a picture of the “Grammy Skirts” and they both remembered right away. I mean…how could we forget? My mom was one of a kind. No one is ever going to forget her. She was golden and everyone loved her. Next Monday, she’ll be gone nineteen years. So hard to believe. She left us way too soon!

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A couple of my stops were for some supplies for my “secret project” and I was so pleased to have coupons that cut the prices WAY down. Over half in some cases. I love a deal and since this is a process I’ve never tried before, I really don’t want to invest a ton of money in it till I know if I’m going to enjoy it. I priced some other things on my wish list for future reference. 

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I bought myself a day planner that was half off. I use my iPhone and iPad exclusively to keep track of things, but sometimes I find the old fashioned way easier to keep track of. I am a visual person. I need to see things written down in order to commit them to memory. One thing that may challenge this project I’m doing is my memory, so I want to stay on top of things to give myself the best advantage for success.

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I called Mr. FixIt eleven times yesterday! By the last call, I told him he was probably sick of hearing from me and he was adamant I’m never a bother…he loves talking to me and hearing my voice as much as I love his. For someone who says she needs time away to recharge, I sure do miss the heck out of that man in a couple of hours!

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Today…I get organized! 

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“But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.”

\n1 Corinthians 14:40 NLT\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2023-01-19T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/01/19/another-trip-to-town.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Crafts","Home"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/01/17/what-doctors-appointment.html", "title": "What Doctor’s Appointment?", "content_html": "\n
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I had just turned six and My Auntie Rosie brought Cathy from Chicago to meet us!

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We got up and out the door to go to Mr. FixIt’s eye doctor appointment in plenty of time. When we got there, the doors were locked. Martin Luther King Day? Did we miss something? We checked our calendars again and we both had the same day and time. Mr. FixIt called the doctor’s office and the gal who answered said they called us in November to change the appointment to next month. Neither of us remember getting that call, so we came to town for nothing.

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We didn’t let it be a wasted trip, however. We went to Sam’s and the Post Office Box. We went to visit the Former Mrs. FixIt to pick up some cookies she bought for us. Then we went to Michael’s. I’ve seen a new art medium I’m dying to try…Gel Plate Printing. It wasn’t very expensive to get a few supplies and I’ll give it a try. I’ll tell you more about it when I get set up. There are a few things I simply must finish first. 

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We stopped at Der Dog Haus for a little early supper before we headed home. 

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My cousin called last evening to give me an update. My sweet Auntie Rosie is in the final days of her life’s journey. She’s now in hospice care so it’s just a matter of time. My mom’s last sister. *sigh* But, what a homecoming she’s going to have! She gets to see my Grandma and PopPop and my mom soon. But most importantly, she gets to meet Jesus face to face! And someday we’ll ALL be together again! We are planning a gathering here in WV to spread some of her ashes with her parents and siblings. We’ll spread some at the farm where she grew up. And we’ll get the cousins together for some love. That will be good for all of us. 

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The last time I visited with my aunt, she told me when she was old and frail, she didn’t want me to come see her. She wanted me to remember her like she used to be…with vim and vigor. We talked on the phone regularly and we always had stories to share. We laughed and we cried. I am so happy I sent her a copy of the memory book I created after the farm sold so she had all the special old photos and stories. She cherished that and it warms my heart.

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Letting go of our elders is sad. With my aunt’s passing…I will become the matriarch of our family. That is sobering. It seems impossible. There’s a lot that’s going to be packed into the next week…and in my next birthday…my 70th. I’m not necessarily sorrowful. I’m introspective and somber. That is normal.

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And now…a Bible verse for my bold and brassy Aunt Rosie…travel peacefully, dear one.

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“God and Jesus and angels all back me up in these instructions…..And don’t worry too much about what the critics will say. Go ahead and drink a little wine, for instance; it’s good for your digestion, good medicine for what ails you.”

\n1 Timothy 5:21-23 MSG\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2023-01-17T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/01/17/what-doctors-appointment.html", "tags": ["Grief","Prayer","West Virginia","Aging"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2023/01/13/a-week-packed-into-a.html", "title": "A Week Packed Into a Day", "content_html": "\n
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See the sparse trees with the dusty pinkish gold leaves? Those are Beech Trees and this time of year, they really stand out in the woods against the dark wet background. I call them ”The Dusty Pink Ladies” as they dance around beneath the towering deciduous forest.

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What an incredible day it was yesterday! I didn’t sleep well either night I stayed at the farm because it was just way too hot. That old drafty house is either too hot or too cold. I even had the bedroom window open. Sometime in the night I got up and when I came back to bed, I forgot to shut the bathroom door. There is a small vent free gas stove in there and man, did it ever heat up the bedroom. And once I woke up, I was done. I stayed awake the rest of the night and finally got up around 7:00. 

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I fixed my tea and warmed up the leftover pancakes. Once I had breakfast done and the dishes clean, I settled in the easy chair with my laptop. It took me three days to do one job because…before I could do this, I had to do that. Then there were three things I had to do before that could be done. It went on and on…round and round. By 6:00 last night, I finally had all the pieces put together and I was essentially done with biggest part of it.

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I’m getting really excited about this project. I think it’s going to breath new life into my blog. I know it’s breathing new life in me! I came home all bubbly and bouncing around. I was glad to get back to the cool bedroom and warm hugs from my sweetie. He went to town in the early evening and I forgot to ask him to pick up a pound of tavern ham and some chips. I ran out in the rain and stood out in the side yard waving my arms but he didn’t see me. I tried to call him but he wasn’t picking up the phone. So, I did the next best thing. I called the little store he was going to and asked the man who answered to have Mr. FixIt bring home my desired purchases. 

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It felt like living in times gone by…asking the shopkeeper to bring home some meat and potatoes. See? We DO live on the Little House up the Holler! I talked to my Auntie Rosie yesterday and she knew who I was, but she was talking word salad. She didn’t really know where she was or why she was there. Poor thing. But I steered the conversation to safe topics from the distant pass that I was fairly sure she would remember. 

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So, all in all…it was a really good day! It got dark enough for folks to have to drive with their lights on at 9:00 yesterday morning. Then the thunder crashed and the house shook. The wind gusts blew around the corners of the house with a whistle. An hour later, the sun broke through for a bit and the storm was gone. It came through in waves all day and by dark last night, the temp started dropping and they predicted snow.

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Let’s hope today is a beautiful day with the world blanketed in white! Stay safe everybody!

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““If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God, “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care if you’ll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party. I’ll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!””

\nPsalm 91:14-16 MSG\n
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\n\n", "date_published": "2023-01-13T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2023/01/13/a-week-packed-into-a.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/11/16/home-of-my-heart.html", "title": "Home of My Heart", "content_html": "\n
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I walked in the back door and it was as if a tuning fork was placed in my chest. It was raining and the sound of the drops on the tin roof was more magnificent than any symphony I’ve ever heard. Immediately, I was at peace and looking forward to a couple of days here at The Farm.

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It’s rained a lot since Thursday and the creek is running high. I love the sounds and the smells of this house. It takes me back to my childhood. I have a vivid memory of a Thanksgiving here at my grandma’s house. I was probably around ten or eleven years old. Mom and Dad had us bundled up in the back seat of the Oldsmobile. It was raining and cold, exactly like it was yesterday. The leaves on the ground were no longer crisp and rustling. They rehydrated in the rain and were now plastered together like a macabre kind of carpet with tufts of green fibers intertwined. There was a heavy, wet smell of damp earth and moss and old pine needles. 

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Grandma met us at the back door, her apron hastily tied over her ever-present cotton house dress. Her hanky peeked out from the pocket over her once heavy bosom…her hair neatly combed and twisted in a bun at the nape of her neck. I never saw her any other way, save for the days she washed her hair and the long, silver and black tresses draped down her back. She bent forward with her hands clasped together and pressed to her knees. Her eyes crinkled up with her smile as she prepared to wrap us up in her arms for one of the sweetest hugs on the planet.

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She smelled like vanilla and Beeman’s gum and Ivory soap. Her hands were worn yet soft from years of hard work on the farm. The roadmap of lines over her face told of countless joys and countless tears. Her heart was always overflowing with love for her family and she was never happier than when the house was full of conversation and squealing children.

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When you stepped into the kitchen of this old house, the heat and humidity hit you like a ton of bricks. The aroma of roasting turkey and dressing competed with the pot of half runners and salt pork simmering on the back burner. She handed each of us a raisin filled cookie and sent us on our way to play with our cousins who were visiting from out of town.

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The kitchen was quiet when I walked in yesterday, save for the rain on the roof. There were no yummy smells wafting out the back door to greet me. No “Ginny Lynnie…git yorself in here ‘fore you cetch yer death a cold!” I carried the groceries in and set them on the countertops where everything was still in the same spot as I left them the last time. Mr. FixIt called as soon as I walked in the back door, checking in to make sure I arrived safely. What a good husband he is! I put away the refrigerated items, gathered the magazines I brought from home, and pulled up the curtains in Grandma’s window. 

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It was dim in the room, even with the curtains opened so I went upstairs to find an old lamp to set by the chair. Once that was done, I sat there till the sun went down…my hands resting in my lap…the pages unopened as I soaked up the peace and quiet of this house. This home of my heart.

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I sat back and closed my eyes….and remembered and remembered and remembered.

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?

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“but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.””

\nMatthew 19:14 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-11-16T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/11/16/home-of-my-heart.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Be Joyful!","Farm Life","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/08/25/stranger-than-fiction.html", "title": "Stranger Than Fiction", "content_html": "\n
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There are some stories that are so “out there” you have to ask yourself how on earth they happened. Here’s one of them.

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As you know, Big started college this week. Right? I don’t know how she got to be that old that quick but there ya go. I won’t divulge what school she goes to, but it’s in the Pacific Northwest so…far away. I received a text today from her other grandma saying she ran into the typical freshman logjam and couldn’t get into any of her core classes this semester so she signed up for electives. That’s ok…I think it’s a good idea to ease into college and not be terribly overwhelmed right out of the gate. One of her electives is theater related, which is kinda cool since her mom was a theater major and this is WAY out of her wheelhouse.

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The next text I received was from the former Mrs. FixIt. She sent me a screenshot of a FB post of a friend she and Mr. FixIt have known for decades who lives in our little town. The gal was sharing the news that her granddaughter was checking into her dorm…at the same college Big is attending! AND…she’s a theater kid.

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I sent the screenshot to Big and said…”Teeny, tiny world. This girl is at your school and is interested in theater. Your paths may cross.” She texted me a few hours later…they are in a class together!!!

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You can’t make this stuff up!

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I came out to the farm yesterday for a couple of days R&R. I knitted till the sun went over the far hill then got the riding mower out and mowed. The evening was so pleasant. I visited with the neighbors across the road then sat on the front porch till it got dark. Now that the yard is mowed, I can just sit and knit today. I only have a couple inches left on the second sleeve. Then I can knit the front plackets and this sweater will be finished.

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Oh, and I was washing my supper dishes when I looked down and water was running out from under the kitchen cabinet. I got down to look and the u-shaped trap under the sink had come loose. I tried to fix it but I only had a small hand towel and couldn’t sop up the water so I’ll check it again today. I may end up having to go to the next little town over and get some plumbing parts. It’s always something with an old house. Caretaking is what I do to earn my stays here and if I ever need to buy something, the owners reimburse me so I’m still calling this a win-win situation.

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?

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“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.”

\nColossians 3:23-25 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-08-25T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/08/25/stranger-than-fiction.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/08/24/mr-fixit-to-the-rescue.html", "title": "Mr. FixIt to the Rescue!", "content_html": "\n
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Mr. FixIt was still reading the news in bed when I left to go knit yesterday morning. I stopped and picked up my coffee, found a good parking spot, and headed in to visit with my knitting crew. It was a bittersweet morning, but we exchanged contact information and vowed to try to find another venue for our gatherings. Pat, the store owner, gifted the members of the knitting group with a lovely goody bag with yarn, a knitted piece, a cute dishtowel, a pattern book, and some notions. What a sweet gift none of us were expecting.

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We knitted till mid-afternoon then I ran an errand and headed home. Mr. FixIt went to town to pull the tomato plants and bring the stakes home and he wasn’t back yet. So, I jumped on the riding mower and got to work. When he got home, he started up the weed eater then the push mower. I stopped at around 4:30 to fix supper.

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For some reason, I have been thinking about something Mom used to cook all the time. Hamburger gravy. Mom usually served it over toast or mashed potatoes…and sometimes refrigerator biscuits. I used to use tube biscuits a long time ago. I’ve tried over and over to get my homemade biscuits just right and…even with Miss Brenda Gantt’s Buttermilk Biscuit videos…I still couldn’t perfect them.

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As I was knitting on Sunday evening, I watched YouTube videos about Appalachian foodways and found one on foolproof biscuits. Tipper Pressley writes the blog “Blind Pig and the Acorn” and her YouTube Channel is “Celebrating Appalachia”. She tells a story about trying to learn how to make good biscuits when she was a new bride. She was finally given a recipe that was…literally…foolproof. 

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You can watch Tipper make these biscuits by following this link.

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Tipper uses White Lily Self-Rising Flour and says you don’t even need to write this recipe down. It has to be self-rising or you’ll need to add 1/4tsp. salt and 1 1/2tsp. baking powder to every level cup of all purpose flour if that’s all you have. You use two parts flour and one part heavy whipping cream. That’s it. I used two cups of self-rising flour and one cup heavy whipping cream. Stir it with a fork till it just comes together, scoop it out on a lightly floured counter top, fold it twice then pat it down with your hands till it’s maybe 3/4” thick. Cut it out with a 2” biscuit cutter and bake in a 425° oven for 12 minutes. 

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These were the best biscuits I’ve ever had. I liked them so much better than the ones made with buttermilk and Crisco. (Sorry, Miss Brenda!) I had the ground beef crumbled. fried, drained and set aside. I mixed up the gravy and put the biscuits in the oven at about the same time. Once the gravy was done, I added the ground beef and as soon as those biscuits came out of the oven, I broke a couple open in the bottom of a bowl and ladled on the piping hot deliciousness I remembered from my childhood.

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Mr. FixIt and I watched an old rerun of Andy Griffith while we ate and I’m telling you…I think I felt my mom smiling down on me. I know my grandma was because there’s nothing she loved more in this world than a perfect biscuit to sop her gravy up with!

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As soon as we’d finished eating, I hopped back on the tractor and was almost finished when I looked down and there was some weird looking piece of metal sticking out from under the mower deck. I immediately turned off the mower and went to get Mr. FixIt. It turned out to be a piece of trim inside the front edge of the mower deck that helps to reinforce it. The metal was already bent and not salvageable so he figured we could just cut it off.

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First, we had to figure out how to get the mower up on ramps. Mr. FixIt bent the piece back so it wouldn’t puncture the front tire. I couldn’t drive forward because the piece of metal kept sticking in the ground. So, I backed the mower to the driveway and we ran it up on the ramps we use when we’re changing the oil. We got the saws-all and my sweetheart had that thing cut off in less than a minute so I could finish up the mowing before dark.

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And that’s how our work day ended at 8:00 last night. I was super glad to have that job finished. Now, I can clean up the kitchen and I’m free to go to the farm or just sit here at home and knit to my heart’s content for a little bit. I took some more photos yesterday morning. The flowers are so pretty…what few we have.

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?

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“The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.”

\nProverbs 12:24 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-08-24T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/08/24/mr-fixit-to-the-rescue.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Farm Life","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/08/21/putting-up-tomatoes.html", "title": "Putting Up Tomatoes", "content_html": "\n
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A bushel and a half of tomatoes took me a little more than fourteen hours of work to process. I ended with twenty-eight quarts of tomato purée and a pint and a half of tomato paste. I just cooked down the last of the purée because there wasn’t enough to make a canner full and I can use it in the vegetable beef soup I’m going to can the first of the week.

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My helper was unable to come over yesterday, but I managed to get it all done without too much trouble. Mr. FixIt put the finishing touches on the new steps by mounting solar lights on each step. We went out and sat on the deck when we were finished and it felt so good to catch our breath and enjoy the quiet evening.

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If I were a great deal younger, I would invest in a freeze dryer. You can preserve a lot of food in a shorter amount of time, and it doesn’t take a whole room to store it. I don’t use my dehydrator like I should. I keep forgetting to use it. I did get a load of mushrooms dried. When I shared my canning shenanigans of this weekend with my friend Gail, she told me she has taken to dehydrating her tomatoes. Then when she’s ready to use them, she reconstitutes them with very little moisture and they come out thick and rich. I may have to try that. I dehydrated tomatoes a couple of years ago and I stored them in olive oil. They got all yucky looking and after a year, I threw them out. Maybe I didn’t need to store them in the fridge in the EVO, but my home economics brain said not to store them at room temp. I guess I’ll need to research that some more.

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My first canner load of tomatoes, the pulp separated from the juice. The pulp floated at the top and there was a golden fluid in the bottom half of the jar. I know they are perfectly fine…they just didn’t look pretty. I Googled it and read that you should do a hot pack and heat the sauce, then process it. I tried that, and the second batch didn’t separate nearly as much. Good to know. I made two batches with no flavorings, one batch with chili and garlic, and one batch with Italian herbs.

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I’m working up the peaches today. I love a good Peach-Blueberry Pie in the depths of winter, so I’m canning these in slices. And maybe a batch of jam. I think Peach Jam is my all time favorite. Once the peaches and soup are finished, I think I’ll take a couple of days off and go to the farm for some R&R and get off my feet for a while. I remember helping my grandma can when I was little. She made it look effortless. Let me tell ya…my dogs are barkin’!

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?

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“Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;”

\nProverbs 30:24-25 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-08-21T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/08/21/putting-up-tomatoes.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Farm Life","In the Kitchen"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/08/19/hard-work-and-a-foggy.html", "title": "Hard Work and a Foggy Bottom", "content_html": "\n
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Here on Marshmallow Ranch, we have two creeks bordering our property. They join down at the end of what I call “the far field” where it pretty much comes to a point. At this time of year, temperatures during the day can get quite hot but drop to really great “sleeping weather” temps at night. The ground is saturated from all this rain we’ve been getting so we get fog in “the bottom”…the lowest spot on the property. We have two neighbors within sight…both situated on the other side of the creeks. When we went out to star gaze Wednesday night, the fog rolled into the bottom and the neighbor’s porch light cast an eerie glow in the mist.

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I love waking up and looking out the window into a milky fog. It takes me back to when I was a child growing up just six blocks from the Ohio River. We often waited for the school bus in a pea soup fog so thick you heard the bus coming before you saw it. With the fog and the cooler night temperatures and the chorus of bugs all around, I’m really enjoying knitting this warm, cozy sweater. I know the house will smell like apple butter soon and leaves will start falling from the trees. 

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Didn’t even make a dent!

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Up until I moved in with Mr. FixIt, I dreaded autumn because it meant winter would be fast on its heels. Now…after mowing five acres for the last five years, I’ve learned to relish the cool, crisp days of fall. And with all this beautiful yarn, I’ve learned to appreciate winter. Actually, it took the Covid lockdown to make me appreciate being safely tucked in the house with my sweetheart by my side. After all, I can dread winter or I can embrace it. Either way…it’s still going to be winter. So why would I want to just plan on being miserable for three months or so?

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We’re working hard on the projects we want to finish before the snow flies. Mr. FixIt and I got the second railing put up on the deck stairs. I took the hedge trimmer out and cut the heck out some big forsythias and flowering quince along the field side of the house. I went around front and cut down the peony bushes and some tall weeds that got out of hand. I knitted through the heat of the afternoon, but I didn’t look at the pattern, and relying on my mistaken memory, I forgot to decrease stitches before I knitted the cuff. I’ll need to tease that out today. My mom would have said, “You need to stop and lick your cat over.” One of her folksy sayings that meant…fix it. Lands, she was something to deal with when I was sewing my own clothes. She made me rip out so many seams the fabrics would wear thin.

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Here it is…Friday. Big’s last weekend at home before she heads off to college. When your kids are growing up, you think…”Maybe when they’re out on their own, I wont worry.” Ha! Then things settle down and if you are blessed with grandchildren, you get a whole new set of concerns. She is going to do great and you want to know why? Because her parents did great and they poured their hearts and souls into their kids so they’ll do great, too. 

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Today, I’ll help Mr. FixIt with anything he needs, then I’ll head to town to look for produce to can this weekend. I need to drop a jar of half-runners over to the former Mrs. FixIt’s house to thank her for the home canned salsa she gave us a couple of weeks ago. I’d like to can tomatoes and peaches. And, all this brush I cut down the last couple of days isn’t going to grow legs and find its way to the brush pile on its own!

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Our work is never done…but I tell you what. I cherish every moment I’m given on this little slice of paradise we call home.

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?

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“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.”

\nProverbs 14:23 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-08-19T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/08/19/hard-work-and-a-foggy.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Farm Life","In the Kitchen"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/08/08/changing-seasons.html", "title": "Changing Seasons", "content_html": "\n
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Mr. FixIt and I cleaned house this weekend because my stepson and his family were coming over. Mr. FixIt II had a birthday last month and we were all really busy, so yesterday was the day to celebrate. We ordered pizza so there wasn’t a lot of fuss and heat being generated in the kitchen. The boys went out and dug post holes for the new steps and railing we’re putting in for the pool deck. We are getting older and balance is becoming a concern, so it’s time to have something to hang onto if needed.

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As with many DIY projects, this one took a turn when the post hole digger hit the drain pipe for the downspout so now we need to repair that before we can move forward. It’s always something. First the oven mess…now this. I think we need to slow down and draw our plans out to think everything through before we just fly by the seat of our pants with these things. The next big project is get roofs on these two houses before winter.

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When the kids left, Mr. FixIt checked in with his bowling buddy and found out their first meeting was in thirty minutes! So, off he went and I settled in to work on this new sweater. Oh, I really love this yarn. I think I’d like to have it in a dozen different colors! It knits up really fast and is light as a feather.

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I went across town to get a little bite of ice cream and sat by the river. The locusts were calling. The river was high and muddy. We’ve had tons of rain the last couple of weeks. The leaves are changing already. Way too early. I believe it’s from the more extreme weather we’ve been having. Lots of rain. Lots of heat. Sitting there watching the golden light slicing through the leaves and hearing the whir of the insects took me back to my childhood. This is the time of year when we start thinking about heading back to school and I can distinctly remember what that felt like as a kid. A combination of exciting anticipation and total dread. New clothes, new notebooks, seeing friends. All good. But the end of those carefree days of summer? So sad.

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So much to be done before the snow flies!

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Ahhhhh….farm life!

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?

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“He changes times and seasons…”

\nDaniel 2:21 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-08-08T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/08/08/changing-seasons.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Change","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/07/22/day-seven-in-almost-heaven.html", "title": "Day Seven in Almost Heaven", "content_html": "\n
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I attempted to make homemade tortillas for breakfast yesterday. Back in the day, I used a packaged flour mix called “Masa Trigo” that you only had to add water and they made the best tortillas. However, I live in white bread America and those sorts of things are NOT available. I can find the kind to make corn tortillas, but those aren’t my favorite. I found some online, so I will give that a try because the ones I made yesterday didn’t cut it. 

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What I was really hankering for was a breakfast burrito. I didn’t have chorizo…I had a little bacon. I only had three eggs and no potatoes. A really good breakfast burrito has fried potatoes, eggs, cheese, and chorizo in it…wrapped in the heavenly blanket of a soft, warm, freshly made flour tortilla. What I threw on the plates of my willing family was a very poor substitute. But, as Grandma always said, “It’ll be et.” She was right…they swallowed it down somehow…bless their hearts!

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I knitted for a while after breakfast then called on Little to get put together for an afternoon of “adventuring”. We stopped at a junk shop in our little town. I found two zinc canning jar lids that I’ve been looking for. I have two blue canning jars that were gifted to me and I wanted lids for them. I use them to hold things like dried beans on my kitchen counter. A few years ago, Mr. FixIt and I were wandering around the countryside and stumbled on a junk shop out in the middle of nowhere. I went in search of it and alas…the building was there, and there was still quite a bit of junk left around outside, but there was no sign of life, so we moved on.

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There is a small county park about forty-five minutes away that has been designated a “dark sky” area. We brought Little there last year to see the night sky. They also have a pioneer village you can tour, but there was a cable across the road so I couldn’t get in to show it to Little. Next stop was a small country grocery store to pick up a couple things for supper, then on to see what we could get into next.

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I decided to head for Harrisville, WV to stop at Berdine’s Five & Dime. Little calls it the toy store for grown up kids. I found a cool biscuit cutter and another for making donuts. Little found a rabbit’s foot keychain and a green beaded hair clip for her friend. We got some “penny candy” from the display case. I love their chocolate, but I just can’t tolerate it anymore. It always makes me sick. That’s like…sacrilegious. Of all things…chocolate??? *sigh*

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By the time we finished at the Five & Dime, it was really too late to go to the big antique store and we were pretty “peopled out”. We headed home with a quick drive by the farm to see if Frank and Beans were there. They weren’t, so we continued on. We both needed to stretch out for a little rest time. Mr. FixIt was on the hunt for a mower deck he’d seen on Marketplace for our old Cub Cadet so he wasn’t home. We all pretty much fended for ourselves for supper and ended the day sitting out on the deck watching the sunset.

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I reached out to the dealership and the manufacturer yesterday regarding the issues I’m having with the new camper and by the time I got home, there were three emails waiting for me. Unfortunately, it was after closing hours so I’ll call them today. I figure our day will be spent emptying out the camper and hauling it up to the dealership to have them try to find the leak and figure out what caused the running light to pop out. I’ll have to leave it with them and I imagine that’s the end of our camping escapades for this year.

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The first of Little’s two week visit is over already. I knew it would fly by. I so enjoy this child.

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?

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“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”

\nIsaiah 40:29 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-07-22T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/07/22/day-seven-in-almost-heaven.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/07/20/day-four-was-hot.html", "title": "Day Four Was HOT!", "content_html": "\n
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There was an inch and a half of water in the rain gauge yesterday morning. Add this heat and you can almost HEAR the grass grow! I rustled Little up out of bed fairly early. I fixed corn cakes for breakfast and man…they were fantastic if I do say so myself. I didn’t really have a recipe. I used a couple cups of self rising flour, a cup of finely ground yellow corn meal, half a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of baking powder…even though there’s baking powder in the self rising flour. I also added a heaping tablespoon of sugar. Whisk the dry ingredients. In a liquid measuring cup, pour about a cup of milk, 1/4th cup vegetable oil, and two eggs. Beat with a fork till combined and pour into the dry ingredients. If it’s too thick, add more milk, a little at a time and stir till you get the consistency of pancake batter. I added a little vegetable oil and butter in a cast iron skillet over medium heat and cooked the corn cakes two at a time, flipping them when the edges were golden. I served them hot drenched in syrup. Divine! I normally would have a side of eggs for some extra protein and maybe sausage or bacon but I used the eggs to make the batter and didn’t have any side meat. Little loved them!

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I hustled Little into the pool and headed out to mow before it got too bloody hot to tolerate being out there. I lasted longer on the mower than Little did in the water. They felt like their skin was frying so they gave up and went inside where it was air conditioned. I took a break every hour and rehydrated with “DripDrop”…an electrolyte powder that was designed to rehydrate people quickly without going overboard on the salt, etc. I jumped in the pool which was SO refreshing. Then back out on the mower. Mr. FixIt took the loppers around the edge of the yard and trimmed back the low hanging branches of the sycamore trees out front. That made a world of difference when I was mowing out there. The branches didn’t threaten to dump me off the tractor!

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Once the mowing was finished and I’d cooled off, I fired up the grill and fixed bratwursts for supper. I bought a jar of mild chow-chow at the Piggly Wiggly the other day. Chow-chow is a pickled relish that is highly favored in the south. It goes wonderfully with roast pork or as a substitute for pickle relish on hotdogs or brats. It’s made with chopped bell peppers, green tomatoes, sweet onions, and cabbage. Northern versions can have cauliflower, carrots, beans, onions, bell peppers, and more. It can also have hot peppers in it for added zing. My grandma always made it and called it “End-of-the-Garden Relish”. My mom would sit with a spoon and eat it right out of the jar. Little tasted it, but wasn’t necessarily impressed with the texture. Mr. FixIt and I slathered it all over our brats! Yummmmm!

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While we sat and ate supper, I suggested to Little that we head out to the farm and spend the night. There’s going to be a strong storm front coming in tonight, so we thought we’d get this little side trip out of the way while the weather is good. We stopped at Dollar General and bought an extra fan because it was 88° when we left home. The old fan up in the “Boy’s Room” at the farm has finally stopped working after at least sixty years of service and that is what we depended on to suck the hot air out of the house. As you might well imagine, the house isn’t air conditioned, although at one time there was a window air conditioner that stopped working a few years ago. Grandma always said this ol’ holler was nature’s air conditioner because there is always a breeze coming down out of the woods through the back door. When it got really, really hot in August, Grandma would fill a bucket with cold water and throw it out all over the cement porch.  The wind coming down over it would cool down and work just like a swamp cooler.

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We have what we need here…a box of Mac and cheese, some pepperoni rolls, the leftover pancakes and corn cakes, and things to drink. We’ll head back home today. I just wanted Little to get to stay out here at least once while they’re here. We sat together and looked at old family photos and I told some of the family stories. I’m so happy to share my love for the home of my heart with Little.

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The video above was taken the other night down by the creek at the edge of the “Far Field” at our house. I thought you might like to hear the night sounds.

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“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

\nProverbs 24:3-4 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-07-20T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/07/20/day-four-was-hot.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/07/19/day-three-was-fun.html", "title": "Day Three Was Fun!", "content_html": "\n
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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.

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Photo shared with me by a friend on Facebook.

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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.

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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. 

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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!

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?

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“Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.”

\nProverbs 12:10 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-07-19T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/07/19/day-three-was-fun.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/07/10/running-on-purpose.html", "title": "Running on Purpose", "content_html": "\n
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Country Roads

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I met Hubby #2 in the late ‘70s. I worked in the small x-ray department at a rehabilitation hospital in downtown Denver and he was working as a Physical Therapist between premed classes. We knew each other for a year but there had never been an indication that he would like to go out with me. And, I didn’t have the nerve to ask him. Finally I asked a mutual friend why he didn’t seem interested and she said, “Do you really want to know the reason? It’s because you smoke. He would never go out with someone who smokes.” I took my cigarettes out of my pocket and threw them in the trash and said, “Tell him I quit!”

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I knew he ran after work sometimes over at Washington Park, so I bought myself a pair of cheap running shoes and headed there on my way home. It wasn’t too long till we were running together and soon we were dating. We moved fast. It wasn’t six months and he asked me to marry him. I wanted him to meet my family in West Virginia first. Since he was starting med school in the fall, we went home in August for a visit.

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We went on a twenty mile backpack trip up the highest peak in West Virginia. We wandered around and visited with family and friends. And finally, we stayed a couple of days out at the farm with my grandma and my Uncle Bob. Grandma had the measles when she was pregnant with Uncle Bob so he had some special needs. He was smart and funny, but he had a lazy eye and a bad stutter so when the kids started making fun of him in school, Grandma just let him stay home with the family. He was a hard worker and a total angel unawares. He loved everyone and everyone loved him back.

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Late one morning, Hubby #2 and I changed into our running gear, had a good stretch, and headed off for our run. It was great running at sea level after living in Denver for so many years. I could run and run and run and not get winded. We finally came back and as we ran up the driveway, I could see my Uncle Bob sitting on the front porch laughing like crazy. We came up the porch steps and he was looking at us like we were some delightful oddity he had stumbled upon. 

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“What’s so funny, Bob?” I reached for my water bottle, still cold and sweating in the humidity.

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“Well…” he paused and chuckled. “I never seen anyone run on purpose before!” Then he let out a belly laugh and slapped his knee. 

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We laughed along with him, realizing this was absolutely true. Bob was trim and fit because he worked hard on the farm. He pushed a plow in the garden. He mowed the grass. And he pounded rock with a sledgehammer from a place on the side of the hill up by the barn. Then he filled the wheelbarrow with the resulting gravel and toted it down to line the driveway. He walked the hill to check the television antenna line. He fetched and carried for Grandma. The man earned his supper every day, but to go outside and run? On purpose??? Maybe if he had a bear chasing him, but that would have been the only thing to get him out of first gear. My Uncle Bob was slow and steady and that wins the race every time.

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I remembered that story last night when we stopped at the park after our once or twice weekly trip to town for a small ice cream. We walked a couple of laps to work some of it off. Who am I kidding…it only burned off, like…a spoonful or two. I haven’t run in decades. I really need to exercise more…you know…

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On purpose!

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?

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“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

\n1 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-07-10T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/07/10/running-on-purpose.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Fitness"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/07/05/those-west-virginia-hills.html", "title": "Those West Virginia Hills", "content_html": "\n
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A lone little daisy in the field.

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We have four days of rain coming up so we spent the entire day outside getting caught up on mowing and trimming. If we don’t stay on top of it, we will soon look like a tropical rainforest. I was looking at the hedgerow around the fields and the yard yesterday. We really need to get the hedge trimmers and the chain saw out and get some of this stuff cut back before it takes over. 

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I was out in the camper the other night and opened all the curtains and windows to let the cool night air in. It was a waining moon and really dark out. I pulled the screen aside and curled up on the bed…my chin resting on my hand. There was a light show extraordinaire going on outside in the trees lining the creek. The lightning bugs were out in force. 

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I hope you can see the little twikle lights of the lightning bugs.

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When I was a kid, we ran around in the yard at Grandma’s catching lightning bugs and putting them in jars. We put them on our bedside tables thinking they’d be so bright at night, we could read by the light of their little tails. Unfortunately, the sweet harmless bugs met their end in the glass jars, I’m afraid. But we were children and it was the ‘50s. Life was simple and easy.

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I had never seen lightning bugs the way I see them here. I suppose when I was a child, I just never looked up to see them in the trees. They turn the woods into sparkling twinkle lights and it delights me every time I see it. it happens like this for just a few short weeks, so I spend as much time as I can…sitting and watching. Storing up the experience and saving it for the dark nights of winter. I think that’s why I love the Christmas tree to be left up for so long when the days are so short. 

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Our babies…one laying in the shade and the other standing to the right.

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We elected not to drive into town last night for more fireworks. We were pretty tired and we’d already seen them on Saturday here in our little town. The Annual Ice Cream Social was held with a parade, a 5K run, live music and vendor booths, culminating in a glorious fireworks display down in the field next to the elementary school. We parked our truck in the school parking lot along with several other local townspeople. 

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I’ve lived in a lot of places in my life. Big cities and small towns and on five little acres out in the country. I’ll take the country any day of the week where I can sit and watch nature’s fireworks…up in the trees in the form of fireflies or up in the sky in the form of lightning and the rolling thunder of these West Virginia Hills.

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?

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“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.”

\nProverbs 6:6 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-07-05T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/07/05/those-west-virginia-hills.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Farm Life","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/06/25/back-home-and-back-to.html", "title": "Back Home and Back to Work", "content_html": "\n
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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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Go to the woods…enjoy it to the fullest…then leave it pristine for the next guest! Nature is for everyone.

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*stepping off my soapbox now.

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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!

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“You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.”

\nPsalm 74:17 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-06-25T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/06/25/back-home-and-back-to.html", "tags": ["Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Be Joyful!","Farm Life","Home","Big Birdhouse"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/06/07/bugs-and-bunnies.html", "title": "Bugs and Bunnies", "content_html": "\n
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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.

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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. 

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We didn’t get more than a handful of blueberries last year…now look!

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!!!

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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!

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“Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have…”

\nHebrews 13:5 NLT\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-06-07T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/06/07/bugs-and-bunnies.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/05/31/back-in-the-saddle-again.html", "title": "Back in the Saddle Again!", "content_html": "\n
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I’ll tell you what…recovery comes more slowly with age. Both Saturday night and Sunday night, I laid down at 5:00 just to stretch out and woke up at 9:30 in the morning! I went right out and mowed the yard yesterday as soon as I could because the temperature was supposed to be in the 90’s by mid-afternoon. I got almost finished and ran out of gas. After a quick trip to town for a refill, I did the last three loops and was done. It always looks so pretty when it’s finished.

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I received a notification that Glenwood Springs had a frost warning out last night. Y’all have no idea how nice it is to live where there’s a long growing season. We have tomatoes on our plants and Colorado is having freeze warnings. There was a blessing in that weekend in the mountains when it snowed. I stayed three days longer than I expected to and really enjoyed visiting with my brother. He’s calling me more regularly now and sounds so much better. I was getting worried about him, but I think this new move and the extra attention is helping him. He called yesterday to tell me they were having a barbecue and playing games last night for Memorial Day. That does my heart good.

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I haven’t touched anything I brought in from the truck. It’s still in a big pile in the living room. We have to mow at the farm today, I think. It’s supposed to rain the next couple of days so we’d better get out there. Mr. FixIt worked on his brakes yesterday while I mowed. We always have something to do at this time of year. The pool is just about ready to get in. I’m hoping the camper gets fixed soon because we have a little camping trip scheduled in the middle of June. Then we’ll probably put this one up for sale and look for a camper that better suits the kind of camping we do. 

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We had a little calamity at the house Sunday. A couple of years ago, I built a birdhouse at a Girl Camper event with Gail at Beaver Creek State Park. The park naturalist did a talk about bluebirds and showed us how to build a birdhouse. When I got home, I sat it on top of the smoker and there it sat. As I was sitting on the deck having coffee Sunday morning, I was on a FaceTime call with Gail and thought I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye. I thought a bird went in the birdhouse, but I waited and never saw it again. Then, I got busy doing something else and forgot to investigate. 

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Mr. FixIt came in to get me and showed me what happened. The cat knocked the birdhouse off the smoker and it shattered into several pieces. There were several little baby birds in the box and that scattered in every direction. They were SO close to fledging and I just hated that their time was interrupted. I gathered as many as I could find and put them back in the nest in a safe place. When I went out to check them yesterday morning, they were all gone. I am praying they made it up into the trees and bushes nearby. I believe they were Carolina Chickadees. They were so precious.

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There is an Eastern Phoebe nesting in the light fixture over the basement stairs. She’s doing a great job and her nest is high and out of the way. I see her sitting on the edge of the pergola on the deck every morning. We have Red-Shouldered Hawks nesting on the ridge across from the house. I haven’t seen a single hummingbird which always worries me. Our West Virginia hills are filled with beautiful birdsong every day and it makes sitting out on the deck a true pleasure.

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There was a possibility of a meteor shower last night, so check here tomorrow morning to see if I saw anything. I always write these posts the night before so they can go live at 4:00am. Some of you like to “visit” with me over morning coffee! Can you believe May is gone?!

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“Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.”

\nPsalm 104:12 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-05-31T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/05/31/back-in-the-saddle-again.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Peaceful Moments","Home"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/05/24/flexibility-is-key.html", "title": "Flexibility is Key", "content_html": "\n
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Change is my middle name. I have absolutely no problem changing direction at any given moment and can shift with the winds. I spent a good portion of the day with Daughter #2 yesterday. I picked her and her wife up and took them to our favorite breakfast joint. Then, after dropping my daughter-in-law off at home, my daughter and I ran errands and chatted. We oohed and aahed over the kittens at PetSmart. We browsed the sale racks at Target and I bought a new floor fan. Then we went to the most beautiful garden shop and looked at plants. They are working on building up the soil in their yard so we picked up a few bags of this and that. When we got back to their house, we looked around the yard at the new plants coming up. They’ve made a lot of progress since I was there in September and I’m very proud of their hard work.

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Everyone is busy at this age. Work, home, families…it all takes time and I’m thrilled with what time I can get with them. I’ll be the last one to guilt my kids into spending time with me. I remember what it was like to be their age when you’re pulled in ten different directions. So, since we all got proper visit time, I made the executive decision to head home today. I’ve been gone since May 4th and I’m homesick and I miss my husband. I’ve had a wonderful time visiting Colorado, but I’m ready to get back to my beautiful West Virginia home. It’s time!

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So, here we go…can you say “Road Trip”???

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“The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”

\nPsalm 121:8 ESV\n
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#Colorado, #RoadTrip, #WestVirginia, #Camping

\n\n", "date_published": "2022-05-24T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/05/24/flexibility-is-key.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Camping","West Virginia","Big Birdhouse"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/04/08/the-four-seasons.html", "title": "The Four Seasons", "content_html": "\n
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Red Deadnettle in the ever growing grass of spring

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No…not the hotel. And no…not the landscaping company of Giuliani fame. I’m talking the four seasons of the year. Beautiful and somewhat delineated from each other by calendar dates. Not so much on your trip to take The Big Birdhouse to the dealer to get her fridge fixed/replaced. We saw four seasons in the span of about thirty minutes. We went from sunny with big puffy white clouds to rain to sleet to graupel and back. The temperature dropped. There was thunder and lightning. Ahhh…fickle Mother Nature in all her glory!

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We dropped off the camper and implored them to have her ready by the first of May for the trip to Colorado. They said the small refrigerators are easier to get than big ones so it’s a pretty fair bet it’ll happen. I hope. If they can’t get it ready by then, I’ll just pick it up and drop it back off on the way home in May and they can fix it then. I can always use a cooler. 

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My daughter has asked why I don’t just fly. Well, there are a number of reasons. Flights these days get cancelled at a moment’s notice. I can’t get tied up like that. People have seemingly lost their ever loving minds on flights these days and act like spoiled two year olds that didn’t get the right cookie and they need a nap. I don’t have the time nor patience to deal with that. Rental cars are exorbitant nowadays and I don’t want the hassle. I’ll be perfectly fine pulling The Birdhouse out there and back. I’ll feel better having my own little house with my own stuff and my own bed. It’s an adventure, right?

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We did a thing yesterday. For the very first time since February 2020…we ate inside a restaurant. *gasp* I explained to the hostess that this was our first time back in and, while we are not afraid, we would appreciate a table away from others. She smile and said, “No explanation needed. I’ve got just the right place for you!” She picked up two menus and took us around the corner to a booth away from everyone. We had southern barbecue and sat and visited…like normal people. It felt weird…but wonderful!

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By the time we got home, the temp had dropped and the rain had all but stopped. The wind blew some things around on the deck so Mr. FixIt straightened those out. That’s when I noticed the miniature rhododendron by the pool had a few blooms on it. I ran outside to document this momentous occasion on my phone camera. As I wrote this, I had the window open…listening to the birds and the spring peepers singing their loves songs. 

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Today is going to be lower key. Taxes, knitting, maybe a softball game if they don’t get rained out. Mundane things. Things we take for granted as “more of the same”. But, what would happen if we changed our expectations to one of gratitude for the opportunity to do things that sustain us? What if we look for the extraordinary in the every day humdrum of life? What if we invite Jesus to come do some fun stuff with us today? You know…I have a feeling Jesus loves to do fun things with us too and not just hear requests for help with the hard stuff. 

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How will you fill your world with gratitude today?

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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

\nPsalm 136:1 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-04-08T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/04/08/the-four-seasons.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Gratitude","Change","Big Birdhouse"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/04/01/wake-up.html", "title": "Wake Up!!!", "content_html": "\n
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I was awakened yesterday by the sounds of heavy equipment and the incessant beep-beep-beeping of a back up alarm out front. I dressed quickly, grabbed my phone, and headed out the door to see what was going on. The highway dudes were clearing up the rockslide that occurred a couple of weeks ago. Cool!

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I came back in and fixed my coffee. The morning was fairly warm and breezy with intermittent clouds and showers. I took my knitting out on the front porch and worked while I listened to the birds. I don’t have feeders out here anymore. But I had plenty of company out there amongst my furry and feathered friends. The cardinals, blue jays, robins, wrens, sparrows, woodpeckers, towhees and a gorgeous red-tailed hawk were joined by chipmunks and grey squirrels. It was quite the show!

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Along about 1:00, I decided to take a drive over to the next town to check out the new Dollar General. I heard it was a real humdinger and they were right. This thing has a huge grocery section which is quite a convenience when you’re twenty-five miles from a real store. 

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Next was an impromptu stop at the church thrift shop. They weren’t officially open, but there were several cars out front so I took my chances. I wandered around a bit and didn’t find anything I needed…till the last aisle. There was a magnifying floor lamp with my name on it. $10! I saw them in January for up to $250 so this was just what the doctor ordered. It will really help when I knit at night with dark colors. 

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I debated where to go next. Back to the farm or on up the road to visit Berdine’s Five & Dime to get some chocolate covered peanuts and then a stop at the cemetery to visit the family. 

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It was 73° as I sat on the headstone and happily munched on my “penny candy” in the little paper sack and chattered away. I told Grandma all about her pretty posies that are blooming. I told Pop-Pop I thought I’d finally figured out how to fix the pump and all I needed was a good strong pipe wrench. I told my Uncle Sonny that I spoke with his fiancé a couple of weeks ago. I apologized again to my Uncle Bob for not always being nice when he teased me. He was differently abled and I was a petulant, headstrong child. I told Mr. Virgo I was glad I placed some of his hair in the ground alongside Mom’s headstone since I can’t visit him often in Colorado. And, I told my Mom I saw the most beautiful purple dress the other day that she would have loved.

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As I turned to leave, I glanced to my right and there, at the edge of the woods, was a redbud tree blooming. Oh, I love it when they bloom! They look like airy purplely pink clouds floating along the winding country roads and they just make my heart sing. I went to the truck to get my camera to capture photographic proof that spring has indeed arrived in West Virginia, whether it snows again or not. 

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I came back to the farm. Rather than knit, I stretched out on the bed to read and before I knew it, I dozed off. It’s been a restful couple of days even though I haven’t had running water. I’ve listened to the owls call at dusk. I’ve slept in Grandma’s bed. I’ve eaten chocolate covered peanuts and watched the flora and fauna running rampant and rich. 

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My soul is refreshed. Don’t be fooled today! 

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“My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

\nIsaiah 32:18 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-04-01T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/04/01/wake-up.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life","Crafts"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/03/17/an-eventful-day.html", "title": "An Eventful Day!", "content_html": "\n
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Our helpers couldn’t come yesterday so there was a change in plans. We got “Birdie” set up and cleaned out the ladybugs and stink bugs. Mr. FixIt gave her a bath. And I headed to the farm for a couple of days. It had been a while since I got to visit and I was in need of a farm fix. 

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The weather was stellar yesterday! I sat on the front porch and knitted in the sunshine. It was 71° and delightful. Along about 4:00, a lead car for a wide load pulled up out front. You never know what you might see out these old country roads, so I opened the camera on my phone and prepared to take a video of whatever lumbered by. 

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\n[youtu.be/aPRKMB-S1...](https://youtu.be/aPRKMB-S1oE)\n
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Soon, here came half a house on its way to become someone’s home in the country. Over the years, the phone line that crosses the road has begun to sag lower and lower. The trailer slowed way down then inched forward. Suddenly, the top of the house snagged the phone line and he hit the gas!

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I started yelling and telling him to stop and back up. The truck behind him was honking. The guy in front of him was waving his arms. He stopped, but not before he stretched the heck out that wire. The guy in the lead car got an extension ladder out and two guys extended it and lifted the line so the house could glide under it.

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Once all the commotion died down, I went back to the porch and picked up my knitting. I was looking at that line and thought it looked lower. I pulled up an earlier photo and compared them and indeed…it was MUCH lower. I tried to call the phone company but they were closed. 

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I had been having a little trouble with the water pump earlier so I was on the phone with my cousin who lives down the road. All of a sudden, a fully loaded logging truck came barreling down the road, caught that line, and ripped through it like butter! So, that was that. The water wasn’t running, and now the phone was out. And without the phone, I had no internet. And without the internet, I had no cell service. And without the cell service, Mr. FixIt couldn’t reach me and wouldn’t know what happened.

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I packed up my stuff and came back home. Not at all the relaxing day I was hoping for, but like Beans said…it was a good thing I was there or we would never have known what happened. I was in the right place at the right time again, it seems.

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“When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

\nProverbs 16:7 ESV\n
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#RightPlaceRightTime, #Accident, #TheFarm

\n\n", "date_published": "2022-03-17T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/03/17/an-eventful-day.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/02/23/counting-stitches-counting-days.html", "title": "Counting Stitches, Counting Days", "content_html": "\n
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Oh, how I love this yarn. The softness comes from 70% Superwash Merino Wool and the sheen comes from 30% Bamboo. It’s like butter. It’s lightweight and warm…just what you want in a wrap for a May outing in Colorado. The pattern is super easy and I love the edge it creates as you end rows and begin the next. It’s a series of open loops that seem to fit the nature of the both the pattern and the yarn.

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The shawl I’m currently knitting. The picture shows different yarns, but the one I am using is self striping. I could have thrown in some different textures and stitches, but I’m keeping it simple.

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I awoke yesterday morning out in the Big Birdhouse along about 3:30. I was chilled and couldn’t quite figure out why till I discovered the electric blanket was no longer working. It is super frustrating for me to spend perfectly good money on something only to have it stop working after five times. We’ll try to return both blankets. Mr. FixIt’s is still in its packaging, but if one has stopped working, the other will surely be right behind it. Here is where I have to point out…you get what you pay for. In an effort to save a few dollars, I caved and bought the cheapest electric blanket I could find. Sure enough, it underlines my shopping mantra. “Buy the best you can afford. It saves you money in the long run.”

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Starry, starry night.

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Even though I covered up with an extra quilt I had in the camper, I didn’t really warm up because I didn’t want to turn on the small ceramic space heater. It had just started raining and I wanted to hear the raindrops hitting the roof of the camper. As I lay there fiddling with my phone, I decided to take a picture of the interior with the night vision setting of my iPhone. The blue light from the clock on the microwave created an enchanting “under sea” look that was fun.

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By the glow of the microwave clock.

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I waited for the sun to come up and somewhere around 6:00, I drifted off for a couple of hours. I had to pack up my camper bag and wait for the rain to slack off a bit before I headed indoors. Mr. FixIt was sitting in the family room when I came in so I poured my coffee and sat down with him. He had an appointment in town in the early afternoon and I had my Zoom call with my brother out in Colorado. 

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Afterward, I turned on YouTube and watched a few videos on Appalachian folklore, caught a couple tutorials on knitting and making sourdough English muffins, and worked on the new shawl I’m knitting. This one starts with a cast on that ends up being the center of the back of the neck then expands the further down you go. By the time you get down to the place where you knit the lace border, you have 218 stitches. I’ve learned to place a stitch marker every five rows so I don’t have to sit and count that many stitches very often. 

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Once I start the lace border, I’ll have to go back to paying close attention in order to get the pattern right. It rained hard all day, so it was a perfect day to knit by the fire and listen to old tales from the Appalachian people. There were several videos about old folk sayings and wive’s tales…much of which I heard from my elders as I was growing up. I’ll share some in another post one of these days.

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Today is an at-home day. I think I may do a little baking as it is expected to be rather cold and dismal grey here. This bright and cheerful yarn is just what the doctor ordered for days such as this!

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““Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before.”

\nJoel 2:23 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2022-02-23T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/02/23/counting-stitches-counting-days.html", "tags": ["Camping","West Virginia","Be Joyful!","Farm Life","Crafts","Big Birdhouse"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2022/02/18/the-mysterious-moonlight-and-helvetia.html", "title": "The Mysterious Moonlight and Helvetia", "content_html": "\n
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The ring around the moon.

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Night before last, I slept out in the camper. Mr. FixIt loves to camp, but doesn’t quite see the allure when the camper is less than 100 yards from our comfy bed and a real live bathroom. Still, he does not mind when I get a hankerin’ to go “camping”. He always comes out to kiss me goodnight and brings me a bedtime snack. He da man!

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As he was leaving the camper to go back inside, he called over his shoulder, “You’d better come out here and look at the moon coming up. It’s going to be a beauty tonight.” I jumped up, stepped into my camping crocs, and grabbed my phone. I’m having a blast taking pictures with the camera on this iPhone 13 Pro Max. OMGosh! It has a function where you can take low light and night photos now and they are just magical.

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Every evening after I’ve written my post and I’m unwinding for bed, I text with my son-in-law’s mom. Sue and I started daily texting when she was going through some medical issues a couple of years ago and I felt helpless living so far away. I couldn’t bring her dinners or come to visit, so I asked her what I could do to help her. She said, “Text me every night and tell me your stories. It gives me something to think about when I’m having treatments.” 

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The fog rolling in.

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We’ve always been close. I have told my daughter many times that she won the lottery when it came to a family to marry into. They are the best people. But texting with her every day has brought us closer than ever and now, if we don’t at least check in to see how the others’ day went, it just feels weird. So, we were just wrapping up our chat when I looked up and the moon was high in the sky over the camper. I could tell there was a ring around it, so I ran out and snapped a few pictures. 

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Rings around the moon appear when the moonlight refracts on ice crystals in the atmosphere. We see them a lot here in West Virginia…I guess because it’s so humid here. When I woke up yesterday morning, I looked at my phone and saw the rain was going to start soon so I headed back into the house. Mr. FixIt was still asleep so I put a pork roast in the crockpot, ran the dishwasher, made my coffee, and settled in to knit for awhile. 

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Mr. FixIt had an appointment in town yesterday afternoon and I stayed home for some quiet time. It was lovely because the fog rolled in, the stove was glowing, and I turned on the TV. That’s unusual for me, but I’ve been enjoying watching videos about the Appalachias and her people. I love the music and the cooking, the old stories and photographs people share. I watch these when I’m home alone knitting. It’s so soothing and peaceful.

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My morning view out the big picture window in the camper.

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There was a wonderful documentary on Helvetia, West Virginia. It is our “Little Switzerland” here in the Mountain State. Switzerland was a very, very poor country and people emigrated to this country to seek a better life and a place where they could own land. They settled into a very remote mountainous area that isn’t too far off the road I take when I go to visit my family in the Eastern Panhandle. 

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This particular documentary was made possible with major support by the National Endowment for the Arts and was produced by Gerald Mills of the Augusta Heritage Center at Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia. You may recall me visiting there there for the state fiddle and flat footing competitions when I was hauling the Girl Camper Raffle Trailer around all over the state in the fall of 2019.

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I’ve never been to Helvetia, but now that I’ve seen this, I really must go. Here is a link to the documentary. It’s an hour long, but it’s just delightful and I hope you’ll take the time to watch it.

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\n[youtu.be/Sk2Gv2lKz...](https://youtu.be/Sk2Gv2lKzRI)\n
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Happy Friday, everyone!

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❤️

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“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.”

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James 4:14 ESV

\n\n", "date_published": "2022-02-18T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2022/02/18/the-mysterious-moonlight-and-helvetia.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Aging","Peaceful Moments","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/11/27/taking-a-stroll-down-memory.html", "title": "Taking a Stroll Down Memory Lane", "content_html": "\n
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My Bialetti Moka Express, made in Italy

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We were going to put up the tree yesterday, but the sweet Mr. FixIt was so sore from doing the Turkey Trot with the kids on Sunday, we decided to just have a lay low day. I fed the sourdough starter. Emptied the dishwasher and and made my morning coffee. Lately, I’ve been using a Moka Pot for some excellent lattes. This is the way to make espresso without investing big bucks in a machine. 

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I had a nice De’Longhi Espresso Machine that Mr. Virgo bought for me one year for Christmas. It cost about $400 and made great coffees, but after a few years it wouldn’t keep pressure and it just didn’t work right. I’ve carried around all these years thinking maybe I’d figure out how to fix it one of these days, but that seems unlikely. 

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I had a Moka Pot years ago and I have no idea what became of it. I don’t believe I used it too often and ended up giving it away. I saw this one on Amazon when I was thinking of replacing the old espresso maker, but when I saw the prices, the Moka Pot just sounded like a much more sensible investment. It’s really easy to use…you fill the bottom part with water, put espresso grind coffee in the filter, screw the top on and place over medium heat till the water boils and it force up through the coffee grounds and into the pitcher at the top. Smooth, easy, and delicious.

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A bustling holiday shopping season gets underway. Notice the stockings with the seams in the back and the women wearing hats and gloves. Women dressed to shop in those days.

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Once my java was in hand, I curled up in my recliner and found myself looking at old photos of Christmas in my hometown. What a treat it is to look back at the memories of my youth and the shops we frequented in what was once a thriving downtown. I scan the people and cars in these old photographs, looking for familiar faces. I did run across a picture one time of my grandmother at a Christmas party at the bakery where she worked as a cake decorator, but that’s the only person I’ve known so far.

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One of the better department stores in our downtown shopping area…all gone now.

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It’s a shame so many “downtowns” across America were left abandoned and derelict when malls came into fashion. No fancy mall can ever take the place of the department stores created and grown by sturdy pillars of the community. Names like Cox’s, Dil’s, Broida Stone and Thomas. The only two still in business are Buttermore Jewelers and Horner & Harrison and it’s not downtown anymore. 

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Me, in the snow, at my best friend’s house. We’re still friends and she reads this blog!

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There’s not much left in our downtown anymore. The Historic Blennerhassett Hotel is the anchor. There is the Art Guild and the community theater across the street. A handful of restaurants and office buildings and empty storefronts are all that’s left of a beautiful and robust center of commerce in our town. “Progress” isn’t always pretty. It doesn’t always last. And it isn’t always an improvement.

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Christmas Parade on Market Street

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I miss the days of wandering through the shops with my mom, and later with my girlfriends, picking up gifts…getting them gift wrapped with beautiful bows and tags and colorful paper…and carrying them around in big paper bags with handles. Looking in the windows of the more expensive shops and dreaming of when we might be able to afford such luxuries. Sitting on a stool at the counter in Murphy’s for a Cherry Coke and Grilled Cheese sandwich with a pickle spear and a handful of chips.

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A wet and grey Christmas shopping season in Downtown Parkersburg, WV

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I look at the lives we live now…shopping in sterile big box stores or worse, sitting in our pj’s and pushing a couple of buttons on a screen…and I wonder, “What kind of memories are we creating for our kids and grandkids?” I like to encourage people to buy local, shop from artisans and crafters in your own or nearby towns. I can guarantee…none of their goods or services are sitting on a cargo ship, waiting to be unloaded…or waiting for a trucker to take it across the country.

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A Hometown Christmas Parade

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We have come to rely WAY too much on electronics and on products being produce in other countries. All in the name of convenience. I’m just as guilty as anyone…mainly because we live out in the country and there are fewer choices. I’m going to try to do what my friend Gail does and shoot for a homemade Christmas. She just told me about this windfall she fell into and is turning a bunch of old kitchen cabinets into amazing gifts her family will cherish for years to come. Last year she knitted everyone sweaters. And she has a HUGE family.

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Dad would always drive us around town one night before Christmas to see the lights.

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Simpler is better. I’d rather have nothing but a hand written card than to have just any old thing with little thought or planning. I don’t want or need anything fancy or expensive…although this was the year we had to replace our phones, so that’s our Christmas to each other. I don’t need another camper shaped bird house or a ceramic frog. Give me your time, and your attention, and your love…and I’m a happy camper…through and through.

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We have one of those stars in our collection of Christmas decor that we picked up along the way.

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I gave my kids and grandkids and my brother the memory book of the farm this year. My son-in-law’s mom said Daughter #1 brought her book to Thanksgiving dinner and shared it and told the stories she remembered about each person and place. My brother said it was the best present and he has given it a place of honor in his room. I think I knocked it out of the park this year.

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The red arrow is pointing at my grandmother. I’d love to know who else is in this picture.

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People won’t remember what you gave them…but they’ll remember how you loved them and made them feel important and special. Let’s do more of that. Let’s look for the good and the love and the joy and spread it around! Let’s make the world a better place…one little corner at a time.

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???

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“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

\nColossians 3:17 ESV\n
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Photo Credit: Most of these photos were taken by either Harry Barnett or Dave Farrell, prolific local photographers. They are shared by Dan Kemper on the Facebook Page…”Early Parkersburg WV & surrounding area” created by local history buff, Roger Mackey.

\n\n", "date_published": "2021-11-27T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/11/27/taking-a-stroll-down-memory.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Holiday","Peaceful Moments"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/11/17/a-farm-fix.html", "title": "A Farm Fix!!!", "content_html": "\n
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That’s me, standing where the house used to sit just after they moved it onto the new basement.

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I had to go to town for a followup appointment with the endocrinologist to bring him up to speed with all that’s been going on with my parathyroid issues. The symptoms are the same and it’s obvious to everyone I need to get this thing taken care of. He said it’s like having termites in your house. You may not see much evidence, but behind the scenes the little suckers are busy and before you know it, the piano is in the basement. That’s what is happening with hyperparathyroidism. It is slowly leaching the calcium from my bones so the time is now to get to the bottom of it. 

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I woke up yesterday morning and told Mr. FixIt I needed a “farm fix”. I haven’t been able to stay out here as much as I would have liked this year…mainly because of all the traveling and medical appointments. There was always something going on. But I’m here now for a little R&R. I have a few new magazines to curl up with. I revel in the stillness here. No TV. Very little traffic. I am hoping to hear a lot of birds.

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We are supposed to have a really warm day today, so I’ll sweep the zillions of dead ladybugs off the porch and sit out there with my coffee and my magazines and soak it all in. I love this place so much. I finished the memory book of the farm and ordered copies. I can’t wait to see it! It should arrive the 22nd or 23rd. They are having an 80th birthday party next month for one of my mom’s cousins. I’m going to take a copy to her. In one of the big group family photos, she is just a little girl holding a puppy in the front yard here at the farm. Her family lived down the road a mile or so. As a matter of fact, four out of my grandpa’s five brothers lived within two or three miles of each other most of their lives.

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That’s something I marvel at. People have longevity here. My friend has been married all these years to the fella she started dating in 8th grade. They’ve lived in the same house within a block of where her husband grew up. When people announce they are nearing their 50th wedding anniversary, I jokingly say I’ve been married that long, too. It’s just been to four different men. I don’t know what that kind of “career marriage” would feel like. Or living in the same house, let alone the same city for all my life. I have made twenty-eight moves and have lived in thirteen different cities/towns in two states and two different countries. Change is all I know. I think that’s why I’m so flexible.

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I am so happy to be where I am now. I love Mr. FixIt. We’re going on five years since we started dating, but it seems like so much longer since we’ve known each other since 1968. I love living in West Virginia. I love our little five acres in the country. And, I am so blessed I can still come and stay at the farm pretty much whenever I want. What a great barter…mowing in exchange for time here. It still gives me such a peaceful feeling to sleep in my grandma’s bed. 

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I may not have lived with the same person all my life, nor have I lived in the same house. But, this farm? This farm has been in my heart since the day I was born. This farm is what gives me that feeling of longevity, of steadfast love, of comfort….and peace.

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This house still has the heartbeat of my family nestled in its walls.

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?

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“My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

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\nIsaiah 32:18 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-11-17T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/11/17/a-farm-fix.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Aging","Memories","Home"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/11/12/summers-reprise.html", "title": "Summer’s Reprise", "content_html": "\n
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It seems I drive a lot…more than I care to, actually. But it just seems there’s always something that draws me to town. I told you earlier that my truck needs brake work, so we ordered new rotors. They were supposed to arrive on Wednesday, but didn’t get here till yesterday. Which actually worked out perfectly. We had our family Thanksgiving yesterday at the former Mrs. FixIt’s house, so we dropped the truck off at the garage on the way.

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Earlier in the day, I drove out to the farm to drop off some things for Frank and Beans and to see if they’d received any mail for me. Even though I complain about being away from home too much, I do love to drive because it affords me my best thinking time. As I was driving home, the sun was slanting through the trees and turning the leaves a fiery red, gold, yellow and a deep bittersweet orange. I thought of the term…Indian Summer.

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The term has been around for at least 200 years. It describes that period of abnormally warm weather after the first frost. It was probably given the name since this was the harvest season for the Native Americans and it was know as the Indian’s Summer. Meteorologists have used the term for decades. It conjures up Friday night football, raking leaves, the smell of woodsmoke, and whatever activity that takes you outside to enjoy the last glimpse of summer before she says goodbye and Old Man Winter takes over.

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I have become more sensitive and empathetic since losing Mr. Virgo. Part of what has changed for me is the ability to stand in someone else’s shoes, if even for a brief moment. Many terms have been altered and modernized as we become more aware how our words and names affect others. Our nomenclature should evolve as the world changes…as we change. I thought about “Indian Summer” and I wondered what term would be equally descriptive without being offensive to a particular ethnic group. 

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Summer’s Reprise. That is what I came up with. Reprise literally means to “repeat the performance of”. And…it’s a lyrical term. It conjures up the same images of the former “Indian Summer” and adds a hint of musical grace to it. It is nature’s second rising…an encore, if you will. Not to be confused with the negative connotation of “reprisal” which means an act of retaliation.

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Yes…Summer’s Reprise. A time to bask in the sun for one last chance at that extra squeeze of Vitamin D. One last hurrah before the rain comes (as it is doing even as I write this) and steals away Autumn’s glorious gown and dashes it to a muddy heap on the forest floor. All of this came to me as I drove my 385 horsepower “leaf blower” through the countryside…looking in the rear view mirror as the leaves whirled up behind me…sweeping the roadway clean.

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Our Thanksgiving meal was wonderful. It was great to see almost all of the family. One group didn’t attend. Our great granddaughter came running to me and clung to me like I was her most prized possession. Her little brother wrapped his arms around my neck and gave me a big squeeze. The bigs and the littles…the old and the young…gathering around a fire, balancing heaping plates of delicious food on our knees…thanking God for the bounty, the company, and yes…Summer’s Reprise.

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?

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“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

\nPsalm 107:1 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-11-12T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/11/12/summers-reprise.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Gratitude","Holiday","Change","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/11/09/the-scourge-of-the-lady.html", "title": "The Scourge of the Lady Beetle", "content_html": "\n
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My mom died in January 2004. My Aunt Rosie met me during a layover in Charlotte and we flew the rest of the way together. We rented a car and drove to the farm where we were met by two more of Mom’s siblings…my Aunt Peeps and my Uncle Bob. It’s a small farm house, as you have seen in the photos I have shared over the years. There are two bedrooms upstairs and one small room on the main floor where my grandparents slept. There was a rollaway bed in the “Girls” Room” so my Aunt Rosie and I bunked together.

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When we arrived at the farm, Aunt Peeps matter of factly told us about a recent development. It seemed a non-native insect had been introduced to the US…the Asian Lady Beetle…in an attempt to gain control of a heretofore unnoticed over abundance of aphids. Aphids had never really bothered me as I didn’t raise roses and didn’t live in the country. But someone somewhere thought it was a good idea to bring these nasty creatures to this country and let them loose where they have proceeded to procreate into this yearly…scourge.

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As we lay in the dark, we heard the “tic tic tic tic tic” of the little buggers hitting the ceiling above us. I don’t think we slept because we were afraid our mouths would gap open and one of them would fall in. It was awful. At this point, no one knew how to keep them out of the house short of a nuclear weapon, so the only recourse was to suck them up in a vacuum cleaner. Asian Lady Beetles have something in common with that other autumnal nemesis…the Stink Bug. When you suck these bugs up in a vacuum cleaner, they release a decidedly unpleasant aroma into the room. There’s nothing like it. Really.

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The following morning, we gave each other a knowing look and said in unison… “I’m not sleeping here again.” We packed our bags back in the rental car and headed for mom’s house in town. The lady beetles are there, too…but not nearly in the numbers that they are in the country. Which brings us to today. The “Great Emergence” begins after there has been a period of very cold weather. On the first warm, sunny day that follows, you can’t walk outside in the afternoon without being covered with these bugs. And if they get down your shirt and get stuck in a skin fold, they will pinch the heck out of you! 

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In the late afternoon, with the sun shining behind them, there are literally thousands…hundreds of thousands…millions of them flying. I came home in the mid afternoon and was wearing a white shirt. By the time I got to the door, I was covered. Ugh!

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I don’t like using insecticides, but these things have NO natural predators. Even the cat gags when she smells one. I have been told by my friends that if you spray around the doors and windows of your home during the first week of October, you can at least keep the inside of your house somewhat clear of them. And yes…I’ve tried essential oils and herbs and other natural remedies to no avail.

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I love Indian Summer…but I’m telling you, I’ll be so glad when it gets cold and stays cold to keep these things under control. In the meantime, I am posting this video that I took a couple days ago. I wish I would have taken another movie yesterday because they were particularly impressive.

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\n[youtu.be/aJ9Xbcyfa...](https://youtu.be/aJ9XbcyfasY)\n
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Do you all have them where you live? Let us know how dispersed these beasts are!

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???????

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““All winged insects that go on all fours are detestable to you.”

\nLeviticus 11:20 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-11-09T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/11/09/the-scourge-of-the-lady.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Warning","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/10/24/where-did-the-year-go.html", "title": "Where Did the Year Go?", "content_html": "\n
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Our little bonus patch of volunteer petunias…teeny, tiny…hiding in the tub of African Lilies

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Mr. FixIt and I were talking on the way home from camping Friday. It was grey and chilly…one of those misty October days that chills you to the bone. A day we weren’t entirely prepared for. I was looking around and noticing the beauty of the moment…the beautiful trees lining the highway with their flashy show of red, orange, and yellow…dulled by the spooky-dim light of late afternoon. 

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“Where did the year go? I swear…it was just gone. In a snap!”

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“Some years are like that.”

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Yeah…they are. And the older we get, the more “like that” they become. 

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We did a LOT this year. It started out with Covid vaccines. Then, my surgery in Florida. Interviews and published writing. The beach trip to the Outer Banks. New Carpet in the family room. Then the kids came from Colorado. Little stayed with us for two weeks. A couple camping trips. Doctor’s appointments. A new-to-us camper. A month long trip to Colorado. More camping. Specialists in Columbus. A quick trip to Beaver Falls. More camping. Another NEW camper. And MORE camping. Yeah…ok…that’s where the year went.

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For the most part it’s been a ton of fun, except the surgery part. I’m still undergoing testing trying to find the missing parathyroid glands they couldn’t find in the first surgery. It’s looking like I’ll have to have a second surgery because my numbers are still elevated and I have the same symptoms. But, we can’t do the surgery till we figure out where these little suckers are hiding. Go figure.

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I love this…a LONG stemmed rose (nearly a foot taller than me) wrapped with the morning glory

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In the meantime, we hit the ground running yesterday. So much to get done because we’ve been out galavanting around instead of doing what needs to be done around here. I worked on winterizing the campers yesterday. I didn’t have enough RV Antifreeze to do both so I had to go on the hunt for some. I started cleaning out the little a-frame to prepare it for winter. I got it winterized. We need to bring the twin mattress back inside and get all the food items out of there and set out the mice repellant. 

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Mr. FixIt worked on the brakes on his truck all day. It was so chilly out there, we were both freezing when we called it quits for the day. I made our first pot of chili of the season. My chili never tastes the same from time to time because I rarely ever cook with a recipe. And, I like to put a little bit of bittersweet chocolate in my chili. It’s something I learned in Colorado. I think it really adds depth to the flavor. I use Lindt Bittersweet 70% Cacao. Just half a square. I eat the other half. It’s good for you!

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I lost the battle over the furnace today. Poor Mr. FixIt was getting cramps in his hands because they were so cold, so the furnace is on for the season now. The bedroom window is still cracked open a couple of inches. It takes a LOT for me to give in on that one! 

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We are scheduled to get our Covid Booster Shot this afternoon. I wasn’t sure how to go about scheduling it, but my dear friend Diane set me on the right course and it is SO easy! Just go to vaccine.gov and select “Find Covid-19 Vaccines” and follow the directions. If you are 65 or over, you qualify for the booster. There are other conditions which qualify you, as well. The website will give you all the information you need. We’ve both had our flu shots. Now we’ll get our Covid boosters, keep wearing masks in public, practice social distancing, maintain good hand hygiene, and keep our hands away from our faces. We didn’t have so much as a sniffle since this all started. I am all about preventive medicine!

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Stay healthy, my friends!

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???

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“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”

\n3 John 1:2 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-10-24T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/10/24/where-did-the-year-go.html", "tags": ["Health","Positive Energy","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/10/12/theres-a-project-in-the.html", "title": "There’s a Project in the Works", "content_html": "\n
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I am working on a family project. Around the time the farm went up for sale, I remembered a bunch of pictures my mom took home from Grandma’s house. Grandma was slipping into dementia and would often stand up all night long in front of the buffet…sorting through papers and pictures. She was actually ruining the photos by crinkling them and even tearing some of them up. So, one afternoon when her mom slept, my mom quietly took the important and irreplaceable pictures home with her. 

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When Mom passed suddenly in 2004, it was my job to go through her things and sort out the treasures from the trash. And believe me, there was a lot of trash. She was a bit of a hoarder, and photos were stuffed in sacks with junk mail. It took me four months to clear everything out. Even with that amount of time, there was no way I could go through every single thing, so anything resembling photos, albums, letters, and important papers ended up in plastic storage tubs that I brought back to Colorado with me.

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I met Mr. Virgo in 2005, so my life was a whirlwind of fun and activity till he passed in 2013. We moved several times and those tubs went right along with me. When I sold my house and downsized, I whittled those tubs down to two bins…stuffed with photos…and took them with me to West Virginia. They’d come full circle and after ten years, I finally sat down and sorted through them. 

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I scanned hundreds and hundreds of photos and put them on two external hard drives. When the farm was auctioned, and I’d met the wonderful new owners, I promised them I’d put some of the oldest photos of the farm together in order to give them a history of the old home place and the stewards of the land. When I got to thinking about it, I figured my family members would also love to have those pictures. So, I’m putting them together in a book and writing down some of the stories. I worked on it all day today and it was so much fun. I’m loving how it’s coming along. I know the old photos aren’t high resolution, and they’ll probably come out a little fuzzy but that just adds to the charm, don’t you think?

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“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

\nDeuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-10-12T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/10/12/theres-a-project-in-the.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Writing","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/10/04/the-blessings-of-autumn.html", "title": "The Blessings of Autumn", "content_html": "\n
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The Forsythia are Blooming…Again!

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I spoke to my cousin last week. She told me she and my aunt were out for a nice walk. It had finally “cooled off” and was only 84 degrees. They live near Las Vegas. Summer is 120! I can’t imagine living like that, yet that’s what’s coming with global warming, I’m afraid. I remember living in Colorado. There was always that moment when you knew autumn was coming hard. You get up and turn on the furnace. Then, mid-day…you turn off the furnace, take off your hoodie, and open the windows. Then, mid-afternoon…you change into shorts, close the windows, and turn on the AC. Then, the sun sets. You turn off the AC, open the windows to catch a breath of fresh air. Shortly after, you close the windows, put the hoodie back on…and maybe socks. By bedtime, you have the electric blanket warming up and maybe you can get by without the furnace for a while longer.

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The African Lily is Putting Out Seed Pods

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Here in West Virginia, it’s a different game. We have humidity. That makes the heat feel hotter and the cold feel colder. It’s been quite a while since we’ve had the AC on, and we aren’t anywhere near needing the furnace. I slept in the camper Saturday night and the temps got down in the 50’s. It was right comfortable out there, although I did turn on the electric blanket on low.

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Another Giant Puffball has Started on the Lawn

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We still have much to do to prepare for winter. We need to close down the pool yet. The garden needs cleaned up, the brush pile burned, and some shutters replaced. Mr. FixIt is going to put new rotors and brakes on his truck this week if it doesn’t rain too much. I need to winterize the camper and clean it out from the last trip. We were so busy all year, my brain has kinda been on autopilot since we got back from Colorado. I need to get moving and get things done around here. The snow will fly before we know it!

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Passion Fruit…also called Passion Flower Pods

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I wandered around the yard over the weekend and took some more photos. The flowers are producing seed pods for next year. I harvested some seeds from the evening primrose under grandma’s kitchen window at the farm. I need to see if I can get some more before the wind scatters them everywhere. I didn’t get the iris thinned out this year…again. Maybe next year will be better…less hectic. Whadda ya think? Any chance of that? lol

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?

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“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”

\nIsaiah 40:29 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-10-04T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/10/04/the-blessings-of-autumn.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Comfort","Farm Life","Home"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/10/01/birds-bees-and-the-little.html", "title": "Birds, Bees and The Little Meadow Vole", "content_html": "\n
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We went to the farm yesterday to mow. We loaded up the push mower and the weed eater and left around 1:00. At this time of year, with the temps so much cooler, it takes a long time for the morning dew to burn off. It’s even worse at the farm because that little holler doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight. So, even at 2-3:00, the grass is pretty damp.

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“Beans” mowed while we were gone. Yes, it’s their farm now, but…we kinda barter a little. They let us stay whenever we want and we mow the yard in exchange. It’s totally a win-win for both of us. Anyway, we pulled up the driveway and I immediately remembered the keys for the house were hanging on a hook at home. Dang! Mr. FixIt decided to go ahead and mow the ditch out front. Then, while he was running the weed eater, I push mowed the front yard. It was a beautiful day, it wasn’t too hot, and it was good exercise. Mr. FixIt mowed the backyard then I finished the driveway.

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We sat on the front porch, admiring our handiwork and listening to the birds. I have no idea why, but I was watching some bees buzzing around and thought of the Asian hornet that was discovered in Washington state last year. The one they call the “Murder Hornet”, which…not surprisingly…seems to be a bit of a sensationalized name given this monstrous bee by the media. What a surprise, right? Around 5:00, Beans showed up and we had a nice visit. She told us about the last time their son was there for a visit. He was back up on the hill doing some mowing and mowed over a nest of bees in the ground. They stung him and he ran off, leaving the mower where it sat, and headed back to the house. When they returned the next day to get the mower, the bees detected the pheromones from the stings the day before and attacked him again. That time he got pretty sick but not enough to go to the hospital.

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Multiple bees stings can be dangerous…especially on consecutive days. The bee’s venom builds up in your blood stream and…even though you don’t have an allergy to bee stings…you can have a serious reaction. As she was telling us this story, I grabbed my XL drink cup and took a swig. Ugh…warm, flat soda. I poured it into the flower bed and happened to look down by Beans’ feet. I saw something squirming in the grass and when I looked down, it was the biggest, angriest looking bee I have ever seen. Normally, my first response would have been to step on it but, having just thought of the big hornets in the Pacific Northwest…and just emptied my drink cup…I bent down and scooped that bee up in a hurry and popped the lid on the cup.

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Now what to do? I wanted to be absolutely positive that bee wasn’t going to get out of that cup, so I found a grocery bag in my truck and gingerly set the cup inside and tied it closed. I have no idea what kind of bee it is, but I’m going to town today, so I’ll drop it off at the Natural Resources office and see if they can identify it. I really don’t think it’s a “murder hornet”…but I would like to know what kind of bee it is.

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We headed home and as I pulled into the driveway, the cat was sitting staring into the field. She came running to us and out of the corner of my eye, I saw something scurry through the grass. I went to look closer and there was a little meadow vole. I’d never really seen one up close. I was really surprised when this little thing stood up and I swear he was going to come after me. It actually kinda worried me a little. I don’t know what their natural defensive behavior is, but I also know animals with rabies can be aggressive. This little guy was obviously not sick. I think he’d just been man…er, I mean CAT-handled…and he was over it. I let him scurry off as Mr. FixIt put the cat up for the night. That was enough hunting for one day!

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To top off my day, I got a note from the West Virginia Tourism Board asking if they can use another one of my photos for marketing. That’s the second time that’s happened. I have to admit…that made me feel good!

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Land’s sakes…it’s OCTOBER!

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?

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“On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.”

\nPsalm 145:5 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-10-01T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/10/01/birds-bees-and-the-little.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/09/23/home-is-where-you-park.html", "title": "Home is Where You Park Birdie", "content_html": "\n
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It rained all Tuesday night in Indiana. We awoke to a veritable pond surrounding our camper. I said a little prayer the night before that there would be at least a small break in the downpour…just enough to get things packed up and on the road. When I woke up, I listened. Nothing! The rain had stopped for the moment. I sprang up out of bed, threw on my clothes and told Mr. FixIt he’d better hustle his butt up out of bed because I was closing up shop as fast as I could. We were up, dressed, packed, and on the road in less than fifteen minutes. Good thing, too…it started raining again with a vengeance.

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I-70 is a barrel race with automobiles, trucks, tractor trailers, RV’s…it’s crazy. Add some really heavy rain and road construction and you’ve got white-knuckle driving extraordinaire! I was SO glad to turn off the “I-70 Raceway” onto US-33 and ease on down the road to West Virginia. We are always pleased as punch to see that “Welcome to West Virginia” sign over the bridge as you cross the Ohio into Almost Heaven Land. Even more so yesterday.

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We had just passed Lancaster, Ohio when we went around a curve and…all the windows in the truck fogged up at once. I looked at the thermometer on the dash and we went up ten degrees in just a couple of miles. We had crossed through the cold front. Things were about to get interesting. Those few miles in front of a moving cold front are dicey. The abrupt temperature change causes winds and heavy rain in most cases and by heavy rain, I mean car wash heavy. I hit standing water on the highway and couldn’t see the vehicles around me. For a split second, my foot said “HIT THE BRAKES!” Fortunately, my brain was there with “Not so fast, Jack!” Mr. FixIt and I both had our noses as close to the windshield as we could get and in a few hundred feet, the sky cleared up. There were cars and trucks and RV’s parked on both sides of the highway where they took shelter. That’s too scary for me. I just stay in the middle lane with my emergency flashers on and keep moving careful forward. I feel safer that way.

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We stopped and picked up the cat from the Kitty Hilton. I expect one of these days, Mr. FixIt will decide it’s cheaper for him to just stay home with the cat and let me go on these trips by myself. Wowza!

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We got home just before it started raining again. I refused to go inside at first. I hate when a trip is over. So, I stretched out in the camper, watched the rain on the back window, and relaxed. Mr. FixIt will change the oil today…unless it’s too wet, which is highly likely. In that case, I’ll run to town to get it changed. And tomorrow, I head off to camp with some of my girlfriends for the weekend! Gotta take advantage of every moment in the camper that I can possible get, because winter is coming. It’ll be here before we know it.

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“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

\nEphesians 4:7 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-09-23T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/09/23/home-is-where-you-park.html", "tags": ["Travel","Camping","West Virginia","Road Trip","Home","Birdie"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/08/26/the-found-garden.html", "title": "The Found Garden", "content_html": "\n
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I have made many FB friends since I started writing this blog. People I genuinely care for and admire. I learn from them. I celebrate their successes and mourn with them their losses. These were the people my Aunt Peeps referred to as my “pretend friends”. I mean…I can see where she was coming from. She had zero experience with technology and social media. She didn’t understand it and thought I was pretty “cuckoo”, to use her terms. But, my readers are special to me.

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One such friend is Julie Zickafoose. Julie is an amazing woman with a huge, wide open heart. She is an artist, and author, a naturalist. She is a latent hippy mama hell bent on saving Mother Nature and all God’s creatures. Her love for flora and fauna is admirable and…well, I want to be her when I grow up!

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Yesterday, she wrote a beautiful post on her Facebook page about her found garden. Plants that volunteered in the ground of her greenhouse. Flowers that shed surprising amounts of seed that she was able to nurture over the winter and plant in the spring. Bits of flotsam and jetsam found on the discount shelf in the plant section that she nurtured and revived until the thrived on their own. Strong, sturdy, and unbelievably gorgeous. And…almost all for free.

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This got me to thinking about my measly “found garden” this summer and I’ve decided to make it a goal to nurture some flower beds around the house next summer. I went around yesterday and took a few pictures. You’ve seen these crazy lilies called Star of Bethlehem that revived themselves from what looked like nothing but dead, dry bulbs into tall and stately stem of perfect white stars.

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One day last week, I was walking up the sidewalk and glanced over at that same pot and spotted a tiny little purple flower in the same pot as the lilies. When I went over and took a closer look, I was amazed to find a perfect little petunia. Where that seed came from, I’ll never know. It had to have been in the potting soil I dumped in the galvanized tub along with the near lifeless lily bulbs.

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Another surprise came in a different tub. It was under the bird-feeder. Usually, all you’ll get are grasses, unless perhaps a bird has eaten a berry or something and the seeds land in a fertile place a grow. Honestly, I’m as puzzled as I can be because a virtual plethora of vines with a tulip shaped leaf started growing. And growing. And growing! They started to climb the fence and the other flowers and went crazy. They didn’t bloom for the longest time until this last week. Then they started producing beautiful bluebird blue trumpet shaped flowers and I caught my breath…

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Morning Glories!

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I have tried for YEARS to grow morning glories and I have never, ever been successful. I have no idea why. I have a black thumb…I can kill a silk plant in no time flat. And these just….showed up! I didn’t have to do anything.

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They remind me of how God shows up. Nothing we can DO can make Him love us more. We can’t “get in his good graces” by our works. He won’t love us any more if we work harder, or earn more money, or win prizes, or rise to the top of the food chain. All we have to do is be kind, be good, be more like Jesus. That’s when God shows up and brings flowers up out of the dirt where none were planted. It’s one of the ways he says I love you, I see you, I’m rooting for you. 

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Flowers are a gift from God. Little miracles. Miracles happen every day…if you just open your eyes and look for them. I’ll miss my surprise flowers while I’m gone. But, hey…maybe God will have something else waiting for me when we get home! Today would have been my mom’s 96th birthday. Instead, she will be forever 78. Just ten years older than I am now. She left us all too soon, and I miss her dreadfully. Interestingly, the little tiny petunia is purple…her favorite color. 

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This makes me smile.

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““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.”

\nLuke 12:27 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-08-26T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/08/26/the-found-garden.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","God","Peaceful Moments","Farm Life","Insight"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/08/24/its-getting-dark-in-here.html", "title": "It’s Getting Dark in Here", "content_html": "\n
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We’re Getting Little Hints of Gold!

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Summer cruises right along and it begins to feel like it did when we were kids…like it might just last forever. Then, there’s that one evening when you look outside in shock. It’s starting to get dark earlier and it’s become noticeable. At 7:30 last night, I looked over at Mr. FixIt and said, “OMGosh! It’s getting dark already! When did that happen?!”

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I’m not ready for winter, by any stretch of the imagination. But I am open to the idea of cooler, crisper days, good sleeping weather, the splashes of color over these West Virginia hills…and no more mowing for a few months. We’ll miss a goodly portion of our beautiful fall here. It will be replaced with the quaking aspen and bluebird skies of Colorado. I’m praying we don’t get snow while we’re there because we’re taking the little camper. I have seen eight inches of snow in Denver on September 16th before, so it’s not unheard of.

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I don’t want to shovel snow yet, but I do love when I can get my sweaters and leggings out and start baking again. It’s just too hot to bake in the summer time. It makes no sense to power up the AC and the oven at the same time. I look forward to really good apples and picking out pumpkins and mums. I love when the garden and flower beds are cleaned, raked, and mulched. I look forward to cleaning the tools of summer and putting them away till spring. I like not having to worry about the chemical levels in the pool. 

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My very favorite time to camp in West Virginia is the first three weeks of October. The leaves are gorgeous and the skies are almost always clear save for some puffy white clouds here and there. I didn’t can anything this year. I still have so much left over from last season. I figured I would and it’ll still be good for another year or so. That’s the beauty of home canned produce…it lasts and doesn’t ruin like frozen veggies.

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While I had lots of work to do yesterday, Mr. FixIt and I were both pretty tired from all the outside work over the last few days. He did have to run an errand in town, but I stayed home. And we both stretched out in these wonderful recliners we bought last year. I never really like the looks of a recliner, but the comfort can’t be beat if you buy a good quality chair. I doubt we’ll get much more recliner time this week as we start packing up. 

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It’s almost time for another adventure!

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“I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!”

\nPsalm 119:19 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-08-24T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/08/24/its-getting-dark-in-here.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Camping","West Virginia","Change","Be Joyful!","Farm Life","Birdie"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/08/21/birdie-and-blue-skies.html", "title": "Birdie and Blue Skies", "content_html": "\n
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Remember I told you we’d had an inordinate amount of rain in the last week? Well, my friend Diane sent this to me today and this verifies it. We had at least 6.5” of rain at our house in the last seven days. They don’t see that in seven MONTHS out in Colorado and other parts west! It’s crazy. Where the grass had been laying dormant…crispy as dried hay…it’s suddenly turned green again and I swear you can HEAR it growing! We’ll be mowing again this week.

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After driving down to Huntington Wednesday and back home Thursday, I turned right around and went back down yesterday to pick Birdie up from the RV Hospital. They sealed the skylight, let it dry, and sealed it again. Tim says if it leaks this time, there’s a hole somewhere else! Let’s hope he got it and we don’t have to worry about that again! I decided to stay over and camp at a local campground last night. It’s very near the interstate and man, was the traffic noise loud. But, if I left the fan on, the white noise drowned it out.

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The campground was packed, and it was one of those places where the sites are pretty close to each other. I have to say, though…as I was writing this, folks were being pretty polite and staying within their campsites. Even the children have put their bikes and toys away and are settling in for the evening. That’s pretty impressive. My campsite is near a small lake with a fountain. I walked around a bit and said hello to people. Everyone was friendly…West Virginia is a friendly state.

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The afternoon was really hot, so I returned something to Menard’s that I didn’t need. I’m trying to work out storage in the little camper. When I had my first little camper, I thought it was terribly small. And it had overhead cabinets as well as a pantry and closet and drawers. This little a-frame has one drawer under the microwave and one small cabinet under the sink. It has storage under one of the bench seats of the dinette (which is converted down into a twin sized bed for Mr. FixIt). There is also a moderate amount of storage under the big bed. 

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Because the top collapses down for travel, you cannot store anything on the beds. I bought some milk crates…two pink and two blue…two for Mr. FixIt and two for me. One of each color slides easily into the door to the storage under the dinette bench. The other two will slide under the twin bed. I also have two long, flat tubs that will fit in the storage space under the big bed to use for cooking utensils and linens. We will each have a small carry on that will stay in the truck.

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I bought one of those plastic units that has three drawers in it. It fits perfectly on the counter over the microwave. That will hold our food and snacks. It will either go under the twin bed for travel, or back in the truck. As I plan the storage, I want to keep in mind we’ll be stopping for overnight stays on our way out to and back from Colorado. We aren’t going to want to do a lot of “decorating” or moving things around. I want to make this as simple and seamless as possible. 

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I was going to run a hose over the camper yesterday to see if the leak is gone, but it was so hot, I was afraid to spray cold water on it for fear of damaging the seal. I’ll do that this morning before I leave. If there’s any leak, it has to go back over to the little camper clinic. I have every faith in them, though and I’m sure they fixed it just right!

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As I was tucked in writing this, the katydids were going crazy in the campground. There were a lot of trees around so it was nice to hear more from Mother Nature once the traffic sounds subsided. I hope you are enjoying a beautiful weekend and doing something fun. Before we know it, the snow will fly and have us hibernating back inside again.

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“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

\nGenesis 1:31 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-08-21T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/08/21/birdie-and-blue-skies.html", "tags": ["Camping","West Virginia","Peaceful Moments","Road Trip","Birdie"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/08/14/rainblessed-rain.html", "title": "Rain…Blessed Rain", "content_html": "\n
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It has been so terribly hot and dry here in West Virginia the last several weeks. While Mr. FixIt was in town running errands today, I went over to the Piggly Wiggly to get pork chops for supper. As soon and I pulled into their parking lot, the first big drops of rain hit my dusty truck with resounding splats and I thougt, “Finally! We get some much needed moisture!” Alas, as soon as I got just out of town limits, the road was dry as a bone. Nothing at our house either.

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I called Mr. FixIt to see if he was getting rain in town but there wasn’t anything to report. I asked him to stop at Witten’s and get some fresh corn and a muskmelon. The rain nearby did have an effect on our temperature and we rapidly dropped…first to the 80’s…and finally into the 70’s. Such a relief! It was the first time in a while I’ve felt like cooking.

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I still watch Cooking with Brenda Gantt on Facebook and I’ve tried several of her recipes. When I make pork chops, I never get very adventurous with them. I usually fry them in a skillet with a touch of butter and salt and pepper. On rare occasions, I might use a dry rub and bake them, but I like to keep the salt content down. Miss Brenda makes a pork chop that has been dipped in buttermilk then dredged in seasoned flour and fried in a little oil in an iron skillet. I decided to try that.

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So many times, when I try to make a meal with multiple courses, they don’t come out at the same time. Usually, one dish comes out overcooked and dry and the others follow along in stages. Last night, everything came out perfect. While the pork chop was fried, it came out moist and juicy and not overpoweringly greasy. When I make my corn-on-the-cob, I set the water to boil, shuck the corn, drop the ears in the boiling water, cover with a tight fitting lid, and turn off the burner. The corn cooks perfectly and is never soggy. I cut up a cucumber a friend gave us, along with a Vidalia onion, and a couple of tomatoes from our garden. I took a shaker jar and added about an inch of olive oil, a couple inches of warm water, a good shake of a wonderful Lemon Pepper seasoning I bought at TJ Maxx, and a healthy splash of apple cider vinegar…shook it up well and poured it over the cut veggies. Added a little more salt and pepper to taste for a lovely summer fresh salad. I cut up a couple of crook neck squash from our garden and sautéed it in a little butter with some fresh cracked pepper. Lastly, I cut up some of the muskmelon in a bowl and called outside for Mr. FixIt to clean up for supper.

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We ate in the dining room…an event reserved for those rare occasions when we have an actual full meal. Everything was wonderful and my sweetheart praised each course as he ate. I swooned over the corn. He swooned over the Tomato Cucumber Onion salad. (Thank you to whoever told me to try that. It was divine!) We both swooned over the pork chops. I really love squash sautéed. Mr. FixIt eats it boiled with a little butter, salt and pepper. He didn’t comment one way or another on the squash, but he ate it all. Our only disappointment was the muskmelon. It was mushy and flavorless. I haven’t had a good one all summer. I’m not sure what’s going on with them this year…maybe it’s the hot weather.

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After supper, we went out and watched the deer in the far field. There’s a set of twin fawns…still spotted, but growing out of that phase. The air was cooler, so I gathered my things to sleep in the camper. It is such a treat to “camp”…even if it’s on our own property. The rain will make the grass grow and soon, we’ll be out mowing again. As my friend, Frannie quoted Kelly Dwyer the other day…

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August is like the Sunday of Summer.

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To paraphrase Ms. Dwyer…It’s like the last of summer. School has started. It’s Sunday night. I haven’t even started my homework that’s due tomorrow. I’m rushing to get everything done before it’s too late.

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It would be easy to get caught up in that rush of completion and miss the last of these lazy, hazy crazy days of summer, wouldn’t it? So, here’s what I suggest…stop what you’re doing…pour yourself a tall, cool drink…grab a really great magazine…and go sit in the shade somewhere this morning before the heat of the day drives you back indoors. Then, tonight…go sit on the porch or out in the yard…and just….listen. I can guarantee you, you will NEVER sit indoors on a frigid February day and wish you hadn’t spent so much time outdoors in August.

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?

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“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.”

\n2 Peter 3:8 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-08-14T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/08/14/rainblessed-rain.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Farm Life","In the Kitchen"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/07/26/the-creature-from-the-black.html", "title": "The Creature From the Black Lagoon", "content_html": "\n
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Remember that film from 1954? It was filmed in 3D black and white…allegedly a horror film about this slimy green creature that climbed out of the…well yeah…the Black Lagoon. I never found it particularly scary. I was mowing this weekend and thought maybe I had stumbled upon the creatures distant cousin…lurking in our field.

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It was a patch of green slime mold. I have no idea how I knew but as soon as I saw it, I knew what it was. Maybe I saw it as a kid and my dad or PopPop told me. Anyway, I was kind of surprised to see it so I looked it up. It is actually called Nostoc and is a phylum of bacteria. It has chlorophyll so it gets its energy from the sun.

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We have something like it growing out in the driveway that looks like greenish black grapes when we’ve had a lot of rain. You have to step carefully because it’s jelly-like and very slippery when wet. I ran over this with the mower so it was fresh and gelatinous. It’s found in poor drainage or hard compacted soil in areas that receive a lot of rain. That is West Virginia.

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I was talking with the neighbor across the road from the farm about the changes we are seeing in West Virginia weather. We used to have long stretches of fairly dry weather here in late July through August. Known as the Dog Days of summer since that was the time of year rabies became more widely spread. The last few years have been so incredibly wet and the woods look like a tropical rainforest. Everything is so overgrown and dense. I’ve never seen anything like it here.

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We had an incredibly busy weekend between traveling to buy the little camper and getting it home, moving Big Tow-Wanda out of the way and putting the little camper in her parking spot, mowing five acres, going to our great grandson’s second birthday party…we were totally done by last evening. So, we jumped in the pool, only to discover it needed a good cleaning. That’s the one cleaning job I never mind doing because…you’re IN the pool!

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We are doing something interesting today. We are going to see an acupuncturist. Mr. FixIt can’t take arthritis medicine, so we are hoping for some improvement through acupuncture. I wonder if it helps hyperparathyroidism? I had an overuse injury to my hip back in the ‘80s. I tried everything…OTC medications, an orthopedic surgeon, massage, and chiropractic. Nothing helped. As a matter of fact…it got worse. Someone suggested acupuncture so I tried it. It took three sessions, but it was gone! Let’s hope we have the same luck for my sweet man.

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Aging ain’t for sissies.

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?

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“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”

\n2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-07-26T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/07/26/the-creature-from-the-black.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Aging","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/07/25/family-friendly-farmingwest-virginia-style.html", "title": "Family Friendly Farming…West Virginia Style", "content_html": "\n
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Melissa gives us a tour of the greenhouses on her parents’ farm.

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One of the special treats Mr. FixIt and I enjoy in the summer is a lovely evening drive through the country. The temperature cools down. We don’t need the air conditioning. The light shifts to a soft green glow with touches of pink and blue. The world seems softer and gentler. A kind and safe place for sharing some love.

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As we drove home from town last night, I suggested we take a ride out to a family farm we know of. The Offutts have owned this expansive 600+ acre farm for about 35 years. They raise cattle and sell beef. There used to be a nursery on the back of the property where they sold rhododendron. Then, in 2018, they added a greenhouse. In 2019, they added a second.

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Can you imagine this view every night from a rocking chair on the front porch, sweet tea in hand? God was just showing off when He created West Virginia!

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One thing I love is their honor system produce stand. Bags of tomatoes, a cooler of green beans, and whatever else they may have at the moment, sit on a table beneath the nose of a gooseneck trailer. We came here last summer and bought produce…placing our money in a can then putting the rock over it so the bills wouldn’t fly away in the wind.

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This was Melissa’s Grandfather’s Cattle Truck that he sold years ago. A gentleman restored it, and Melissa’s dad bought it back a couple of years ago. “It’s great fun in parades!” says Melissa. “You wouldn’t happen to know where I can find a 1946 West Virginia License Plate, would you?” Hmmmmm…I just might, Melissa!

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When we pulled up, a young woman was walking back from the greenhouses. Melissa is a daughter of the Offutts. She met us with a friendly smile and asked if we’d been there before. We told her we had and introduced ourselves. I told her I’m a writer and asked if she would mind showing me around and let me take pictures. 

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The Honor System Produce Stand

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Last year was a banner year for tomatoes. This year, it seems they are struggling a little, however Melissa noted she had a late start in planting them this spring as she has five children under the age of nine. One of them was brought home from the hospital just four months ago, so she has had her hands full with them. Add two greenhouses and it’s been a lot. 

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Rows and Rows of Tomatoes

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Growing things is Melissa’s therapy. She said she wan’t going to come down to the greenhouses last night, but when her husband had all five kids in the tub, she decided that was as good a time as any to escape for a little R&R. She happily showed me around. They have some beautiful peppers going. A new batch of cucumbers is just leafing out. Of course, there are the tomatoes. And rows of green bean plants about six inches high. 

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Loofah Gourds Growing in the Greenhouse

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One of the coolest things was in the back of the first greenhouse. Melissa is growing loofah gourds on a large arbor. She says she planted them outdoors last year, but they have an incredibly long growing season so they didn’t dry and become “loofahs”. This time, she decided to grow them in the greenhouse and started by planting seeds in pots indoors at Christmas. It will be November before they fully dry.

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My Weekend Bounty: Muskmelon from Ward’s Market, Parkersburg, WV; Tomatoes from the Offutt’s greenhouses - Nursery Road off WV Rt. 14; and Apple-Walnut Pie from Abruzzino’s Italian Bakery - Gypsy, WV

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The Offutts farm sells meat, honey, and produce. They sell what they can at the roadside stand and the two local markets as well as the school buys up everything else. I love to support local farmers by buying direct. If you find yourselves out WV Rt. 14 heading east, make a left at Nursery Road. Make a left at the first fork and drive on till you find the Honor Stand at a bend in the road. Tell Melissa you heard about her wonderful tomatoes here at Marshmallow Ranch and Ginny sent you!

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?

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He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. 

\nIsaiah 20:23\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-07-25T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/07/25/family-friendly-farmingwest-virginia-style.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Peace","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/07/10/camping-with-the-kiddo.html", "title": "Camping with the Kiddo", "content_html": "\n
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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. 

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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. 

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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!

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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! 

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This is MY grandchild, for sure!

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?

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“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord...”

\nPsalm 127:3 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-07-10T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/07/10/camping-with-the-kiddo.html", "tags": ["Family","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Friends"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/07/08/whats-thisa-day-off.html", "title": "What’s This…A Day Off???", "content_html": "\n
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Standing at the Foot of the Temporary Back Steps

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I can’t remember the last time I actually took the whole day off. When we prepared for bed on Tuesday night, I told Little we were taking the day off and to feel free to sleep in. That we did. Poor kid keeps saying anytime we go someplace here, it’s a mini road trip. She isn’t far off. I didn’t cook breakfast…we fended for ourselves. Little packed for the camping trip, read and played with makeup all day. I pulled out my laptop and external hard drive and looked for old pictures of the farm. I want to make a memory book for the family. And I want to share some of the old photos with the new owners. 

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It’s been really interesting going through the pictures and trying to get an idea of the timeline. Some of the snapshots had dates printed on the border to indicate when they were developed, but most did not. I believe I have found the oldest photo of Grandma’s house that I have in my possession…and it is SO cool! I found a bunch of pictures that show the house before it was moved onto the new basement. I have memories of that, but had no idea how old I was. I found a couple of pictures of me taken right after they rolled the house onto the new foundation. I don’t believe we were there when it was actually being moved because it wasn’t safe to have littles around.

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It’s also been interesting to go through these photos and “feel” my family and what they must have been feeling at the time photos were taken. There were happy times like large family gatherings. And there were sad times like the somber, haunted faces staring into the camera documenting the loss of my Uncle Sonny. He was an Air Force pilot and crashed in Germany in 1955. I was almost two. I often wondered if there were any pictures of him holding me. I found a letter where he asked my mom how she was doing and had I arrived yet. And I also found him holding a baby that looks to be about two or three months old. I’m trying to put times and faces and ages together to figure out if it’s me. I’m hoping my uncle can help me figure it out. Once Little goes back with her mom and sister to Colorado, I want to get over to my uncle’s house for a visit.

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Little and I leave today to go camping for two days and we are SO excited. We are meeting a few of my camping friends, and we’ll do some crafts and things. 

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Little Bear and Nana’s Excellent Adventure!

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?

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

\nExodus 20:12 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-07-08T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/07/08/whats-thisa-day-off.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/07/05/when-every-week-has-a.html", "title": "When Every Week Has a Three-day Weekend", "content_html": "\n
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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.

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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

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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. 

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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. 

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Just like that…their vacation will be over and we will miss each other again. 

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In the meantime…there is FUN to be had at Nana’s house!!!

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?

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“You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.”

\nPsalm 74:17 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-07-05T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/07/05/when-every-week-has-a.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","Holiday","Peaceful Moments","Be Joyful!","Cooking"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/30/when-you-have-to-say.html", "title": "When You Have to Say “See Ya!”", "content_html": "\n
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Those five days went by WAY too fast. Oh, my…how I miss my girls. It was a really hard year anyway, then to not get to see my Colorado peeps on top of it made it seem worse. But we sure crammed a lot of fun into five days. Yesterday was a lot more low key. We hung around the house most of the day. My daughter did some laundry so they’d have clean clothes for the rest of their trip. I baked a Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie to have for dessert last night. When it was cooling, we headed to town.

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Little needed sunglasses. I needed a flash drive…and some cortisone cream. Remember when I told you yesterday about the caterpillar that landed on my neck? Well, I did some more research and it was some variety of tussock moth caterpillar. Those little hairs stick in your skin and break off. They’re very irritating. I have a two inch circle of raised, itchy welts where the little rascal got caught between my collar and my neck. Oooooooh, it itches and stings. I’m putting cortisone cream on it as well as “After Bite”…something that knocks down the stinging for awhile. The poison control website says the irritation should only last a day or two so I’m hoping this settles down quickly.

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We got home and I started a supper with Big in mind. There is more to being a vegetarian than eating salad, so I wanted her to have a yummy meal. We had corn-on-the-cob, half-runner beans, cucumbers and onions, sliced fresh tomatoes, spicy bean burgers, and homemade buttermilk biscuits with honey. What a glorious repast…and Big was a happy camper, especially after having a piece of pie!

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Mr. FixIt got home just as I was putting things away so I fixed him up a plate. He is always so appreciative of my cooking which makes me happy to do it for him. After dinner, Little and I took our evening dip in the pool. Mr. FixIt came out and watered the garden then sat and talked with us for a while. And now, two of my sweet girls hit the road this morning to head off for another ten-day whirlwind tour of several colleges in the Northeast before they swing by to pick up Little and head home. 

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I cried when she got here…I’ll cry when she leaves. My first born. The one I grew up with. Strong, hardworking, still so pretty. I hugged her last night and thanked her so much for coming to see me. She’s not one to be overly emotional. She’s the child that you know loves you, but she doesn’t say it very often. She’s just not all that huggy-kissy like me. That’s ok. I know for a fact if I needed her, she would be here in a heartbeat. When Mr. Virgo was in the ER having a heart attack, I could hear her running down the hall to leave word to come be with me…five hours away. She’s a good kid….and I love her with every beat of my heart. I’ll get to see them all in September when we go to Colorado. I’ll get to see my brother. AND…I’ll spend some quality time with Daughter #2 and her wife! I cannot wait!!!

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Where did June go???

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“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

\nProverbs 22:6 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-30T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/30/when-you-have-to-say.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Love"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/26/theyre-here.html", "title": "They’re HERE!!!", "content_html": "\n
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This was taken a long time ago…they’re 14 and 17 now!

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OMGosh! Yesterday was crazy busy! When I went to town the other day, I totally forgot to take a water sample from the pool to check for the chemical levels. I really wanted to make sure everything was ok for the girls to swim, so I took a sample in yesterday. I have to say, I’ve never taken a sample in where they didn’t adjust something so I had to make a purchase. But yesterday, they checked the levels and said it was all good! So, one less thing to worry about.

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A quick trip to Walmart to pick up some last minute things that I forgot on Thursday and I headed home. I still needed to change the sheets on our bed, dust and vacuum and put some things away. I also rethought the bed coverings in the kids room and ended up with an old chenille bedspread that I love. I felt it went better. And, I wanted the white coverlet on our bed for summer.

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The kids got here about 5:30 and…I have to tell you…I cried as soon as I got a hold of them. I haven’t seen them in almost two years and they’ve grown so much. Also, I’ll bet it wasn’t 30 minutes and they were in the pool! Daughter #1 says that’s all they’ve been talking about for the last two months…they get to see Nana…and Nana has a pool! I guess a pool is big currency with teenagers! lol We grilled and chilled on the deck and visited and had a wonderful time. 

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I was so happy with the way the house looked and our hard work has paid off. But, the most important thing was getting hugs from my babes. Big is on two swim teams so she needs to get in the pool twice a day. We’re going to go out to the farm between swims today. I hope I don’t wake up and find this was all a dream!!!

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This is one happy Nana!

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“Love never ends….”

\n1 Corinthians 13:8 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-26T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/26/theyre-here.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Aging","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/25/the-praying-mantis.html", "title": "The Praying Mantis", "content_html": "\n
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I’ve seen these around the last few weeks. The first one was about a month ago and it wasn’t a half inch long…just a hatchling, or thereabouts. About a week ago, I was driving to town to join my high school friends for coffee when I noticed another one on the windshield wiper. It was about an inch long and, unfortunately, it was swept away before I could find a place to stop and rescue it. 

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This one was on the frame of the garage door. I always like to see these glorious creatures because, for the most part, they keep the bug count down here on Marshmallow Ranch. They’re a scary looking critter, but they won’t hurt you a bit. Now, that’s not saying what happens to the male during mating. The female evidently becomes a little peckish by all that activity and is known to chow down on her paramour…while doing the deed. They have a lot in common with black widow spiders in that regard.

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Folk lore says spying the mantis is a sign to be still and meditate. She looks for all the world like she’s praying, yet “preying” is far more accurate. They are odd with their triangular shaped head and their googly eyes. When they are very still, they will pivot their head and stare right into you. And…oh my gosh…those claw like forearms and “hands”. They definitely have some creep factor working for them. I would never kill one of these beauties. They remind me, like the platypus and the giraffe…God definitely has a sense of humor.

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I went to the grocery story yesterday and I’m telling you…I can’t remember the last time I went and bought a cart full of groceries. We just don’t eat that much. But we have the kids coming today, and the family gathering Sunday to meet each other. So I needed lots of stuff. I’m going to make homemade pizzas for the crowd. We’ll swim. And catch lightning bugs. And eat watermelon. And maybe watch a movie on my new outdoor theater! 

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Prayers for safe travels for my kiddos. Oh, I can’t wait to get my hands on them!!!

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?

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“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

\nRomans 1:20 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-25T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/25/the-praying-mantis.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/24/with-all-good-intentions.html", "title": "With All Good Intentions", "content_html": "\n
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Mr. Virgo’s Clock…I hung it, set the pendulum in motion, the time on the clock said 6:07. I turned to check the time on my Echo device…6:07!!! You can’t make this stuff up!!!

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We start every day with a semi-plan. We may not know exactly what we’ll accomplish every day, but we have a general idea in which direction we want to go. We’ll be moving right along at a respectable clip when all of a sudden, something pops up and sends in a completely different direction. That’s what happened yesterday.

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I finished cleaning the guest bedroom, put the new sheets on and selected the quilts I wanted to showcase. I moved Grandma’s mirror from the family room to the guest room and hung it over my “Kindness Matters” sign. I took down a small wall quilt that I was tired of looking at and hung a whimsical picture with some sort of fairy tale reference. To be honest, I didn’t take the time to read the info on the back of the painting that explains it. I’ll get to it.

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I put the last of the books on the bookshelves in the office and adjusted the placement of some portraits of our ancestors so the symmetry was more pleasing. Once I was satisfied with all that, I went downstairs to get the twin sized memory foam mattress to put on the floor in the guest room for Little. As soon as I stepped in the storage room, I knew something was wrong. The floor was wet! I called for Mr. FixIt and he said that room has never gotten wet like that. The only thing different is, he put a new galvanized window well in early this spring. I don’t know if the rain was just too much for it and the water backed up and leaked through the casement window. Or, if it’s still related to the drainage issue from the mitigation of the road when it was totally redone many years ago. The lot has never drained right since, so I guess it’s time to call the state road folks again.

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Miraculously, there were only three cardboard boxes down there on the floor and they were filled with old camping gear, so I transferred them to rubber tubs for storage. Unfortunately, we lost the two mattresses. They were pretty saturated and not knowing the exact source of that water…out they go. I mean, I know it wasn’t sewage, but any water with potential contamination or the presence of mold has no business in your bed. I pulled the twin bed out of the camper and brought it in the house, dressed it in coordinating bedding, and the guest room is ready for my family!

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The former Mrs. FixIt came over yesterday bearing gifts. She know Big is a vegetarian, so she brought me the latest copy of Vegetarian Times magazine…and big, beautiful, juicy red tomato. There is a man that’s been setting up a produce stand across the road at the mailboxes for the last couple of weeks. She stopped and Vick us both up a couple of tomatoes. I had some wonderful Colby cheese and some sliced tavern ham in the fridge so I made us some great sandwiches for supper. 

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Mr. FixIt finished connecting the fixtures in the bathroom and everything worked great, except there is a small drip behind the wall when the hot water supply was turned on to the shower. We turned it off, and in a couple of weeks when we start working on the big bathroom, we can tear into that wall and fix that little problem. In the meantime, two thirds of the bad is fully functional! When he was finished, he mounted the door to the bedroom. Then he shampooed the carpet in our bedroom. Back off girls…I saw him first!

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I wanted the refrigerator cleaned out yesterday, but the mess in the basement diverted my attention. So, I will get that done this morning then run to town to go grocery shopping. I haven’t done a proper shop in months and I want to stock up on the special treats my Colorado kids love! Isn’t it fun to spoil your loved ones when they come to visit? I remember my own grandma greeting me at the door with, “You want some jelly bread, sug?” And off she’d go making me two sliced of bread with butter and her homemade black cap jelly! Lord…I’l love to have a cupboard full of that stuff! I need to perfect it myself this year.

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T-Minus One Day! I’m so excited I could plotz!

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?

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“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

\n1 Timothy 5:8 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-24T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/24/with-all-good-intentions.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/22/wowza-the-sky-is-falling.html", "title": "Wowza! The Sky is Falling!!!", "content_html": "\n
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Man, did we have some crazy weather yesterday. I mean like, Wrath of God thunder and lightning and rain, rain, rain! We even had a tornado warning. I was going through some papers in a box when I heard Mr. FixIt’s phone make some sort of weird noise…just like the one that comes over the television when there’s an activation of the Emergency Broadcast System. I picked up the phone and was met with bright red letters and exclamation points saying there was a tornado warning for my area and we should go to the basement immediately. 

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I asked Mr. FixIt if he had ever seen that before and he said very, very rarely. We grabbed what we needed and went downstairs and watched the radar on our phones as the thunder was crashing overhead. The rain came down in torrents and we could tell it was overwhelming the gutters, but I’m so happy to say…the drain out back stayed clear and we didn’t get a drop of water inside the basement!

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As soon as the coast was clear, we put on our rain boots and went out to survey the damage. We didn’t hear any trees crashing, but when we were down at the big creek out back, there was a huge log flowing downstream. And, the creek flooded out of its banks and up into the field. Mr. FixIt says it doesn’t happen very often and this is the first time I saw it. The road crew came early this spring and graded the gravel road alongside our house so the water would flow away from the yard. Well, we still got standing water in the yard and this time, water flowed down off the road and created its own little creek across the near field. We’re going to have to have them figure something else out because this won’t work. Intermittent thunderstorms were forecast for all of last night. I just got setting in TOW-Wanda to write when the next wave hit. I packed everything up quickly and came back in the house. I really didn’t want to be out there if another severe storm came through.

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Now, update on the bathroom…we have a toilet! It’s not hooked up to water yet, but it will be today. We managed to put it in without killing each other. It must be hard for Mr. FixIt. I know just enough about renovations and tools to be dangerous. I think he should do it my way. He says, “I don’t know.” Which, loosely translated means… “I think it’s great you’re helping me and that you’ve done things like this before, but…we’re going to do it this way.” Which is fine. Because…when it’s MY job, I’m going to expect him to do it MY way! Which he does.

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T-Minus four days and counting till Daughter #1 arrives with the kids! I made a lot of progress on their room yesterday. Not much left to do and I’ll be kicked back in my summer dress and pearls with a cold ice tea with a plate full of sugar cookies…sitting on the veranda when they arrive. Looking all the world like this hasn’t been a bit of trouble getting ready for company! You know I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat just to see my Colorado Peeps!

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The average annual rainfall for New Castle, Colorado (where I used to live) is 15 inches. In a YEAR. Yesterday, we got about 2.25” in around an hour’s time. It’s crazy how wet and humid it is here in West Virginia.

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?

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“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”

\n1 Peter 4:8-10 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-22T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/22/wowza-the-sky-is-falling.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/15/positive-aging-is-a-mindset.html", "title": "Positive Aging is a Mindset", "content_html": "\n
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So, 68 years and 1 day. I don’t feel a bit different on the inside. I’m still younger on the inside, but I’d have to say...overall, I’m crushing this aging thing. I’m always doing something because there’s always something to do. That keeps you young! There is truth in the old adage “Use it or lose it.” I’m so happy to see Mr. FixIt feeling like getting up and moving and working hard. And, if he’s working...I’m working. That’s just how it works.

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It was 87 degrees yesterday afternoon and I was out there trimming and pruning and cutting down trees. I moved three truckloads of trimmings to the burn pile. I cut down half a dozen maple trees. I trimmed this tunnel-like area where I drive the tractor when I’m mowing. Everything grows like a tropical rainforest here, so it needs to be cut back frequently. I cut that weed/plant/tree thing that was taking over the corner of the house. And I trimmed and pruned the crabapple and one of the pear trees. 

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I worked a half hour at a time and took breaks in the AC. I discovered this electrolyte powder called DripDrop that was designed by an ER physician to keep people from needing an IV. I’ve found if I drink at least one of those when I’m working in the heat, I do really well and I recover quickly. When we finally finished, I was going to jump in the pool, but I haven’t had the water tested yet this year so I decided to wait to make sure the chemicals are right.

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Mr. FixIt finished mudding the drywall yesterday. So today he can sand it then paint. Once he gets that done, he can plumb the fixtures and put in the lights. I have an old medicine cabinet that I want to put in there to give it a country feel. A little trim work and he’ll be finished. In the meantime, the next three days are supposed to be much cooler. Our son-in-law is going to help Mr. FixIt with some projects around the yard tomorrow. And my bonus daughter will help me inside. 

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I’m feeling much better about things this week. I was struggling a little last week. Feeling a little overwhelmed. Feeling a little old. Feeling a little stressed and anxious. I know from past experience...if I get back to reading my devotionals every day and reading what the Bible says about what I’m going through, I always feel better. Because I know Jesus is big enough and strong enough to carry everything I give him. I just have to remember to give it and stop taking it back!

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We are all a work in progress, aren’t we? 

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Even at 68!

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?

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“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

\nIsaiah 41:10 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-15T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/15/positive-aging-is-a-mindset.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Aging","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/12/a-comforting-routine.html", "title": "A Comforting Routine", "content_html": "\n
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Not ours...just an idea of what I want to create.

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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.

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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?

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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! 

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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! 

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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!

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?

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“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,”

\nPhilippians 2:14-15 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-12T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/12/a-comforting-routine.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","Love","Be Joyful!","Farm Life","Marriage","Friends"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/08/on-a-saturday-night-in.html", "title": "On a Saturday Night in West Virginia", "content_html": "\n
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Roller Rink in Belpre, OH - photo by Harry Barnett

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I was born in the Fifties and grew up in the Sixties. It was a fine time to be a kid. We didn’t have a lot of money and we didn’t really go out and do a lot of “stuff”...especially if it cost money. Most of our Saturday nights were either spent at home or at the farm with Grandma and PopPop. During the summer, Saturday wasn’t any different than any other day of the week, except for one thing. Saturday night was “Skate Night” for the cool kids.

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I wasn’t...WAS NOT...one of the cool kids. My cousins were cool. I knew people who were cool. But somehow...I missed out on the cool gene. However, when the Stanley’s moved in down the street in the summer of ‘66, I found my partner in crime. Sharon was my age, in my grade. My very fist same-age friend. Everyone else in the neighborhood were either much older, or much younger. We soon became inseparable.

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We did everything together. We rode bikes for hours. We took tennis lessons at the town park. We were awful, but we had fun at it. We explored the woods up on the hill above our houses. Even though I couldn’t swim and was terrified of water, we went to the pool and “laid out” in the sun. From first light, off we’d go whenever we could. As long as we were home by the time the street lights came on, we were good.

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One of our favorite things to do was go to Cavalier Roller Rink. I was in awe of the older kids who could skate backwards and do spins and never fall down. We were used to those awful metal street skates you crunched down on your shoes with a key. Mine came from the Plaid Stamp store. I can still see them. They were shiny and had a foam pad on the ankle strap that was red plaid. We were really uptown in those, I’m telling ya.

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Skating in rink skates was an entirely differently proposition. The floor was smooth as glass and the wheels met the floor with precision. Smooth....and slick as ice. We fell far more than we skated till we finally got the hang of it. I never did get to be a really great skater. I couldn’t spin or skate backwards, but I could skate arm in arm and in long conga lines. We played “Crack the Whip” which was deliciously terrifying when you were on the end of the line.

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By the time we were teenagers, there was the typical posturing...trying to attract the eye of someone who interested you. Getting to skate with someone during the “Couples Only” skate was our loftiest goal. We most often sat that one out, munching on popcorn and soft drinks till we could get back out there and zoom around and around. I think back to those Saturday nights with great fondness. For several reasons.

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One...I have a birthday coming up soon. Sixty-eight. How that happened...I’ll never know. But it’s been fifty years since we graduated from high school...fifty years ago today, to be exact. It’s been fifty years since I went to a roller rink, too. That’s ok...I don’t miss it. I just miss those days of not being reminded I have knees every time I stand up. I miss long summer days playing in the sun without a care in the world. I miss that feeling of hurrying down the street when you knew the streetlight would be on any minute. The sound of TV’s in people’s houses. The quiet conversations on front porches. The shouts of, “See ya’ tomorrow!” 

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There is a whole lotta space in the “dash” between then and now. A lot was done. Many accomplishments. Too many mistakes. A rich tapestry woven with the experiences we’ve all had over these last fifty years. We’ve postponed our 50th High School Reunion till next year due to the uncertainty of Covid over the last year. It takes a lot of money and planning to put on that show, and it would have been terrible to have to cancel. This way we have another year to take off some of this Covid weight! lol

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I guess where I’m going with this is...my sweet friend Sharon isn’t doing very well right now. She has some pretty major health issues, then ended up with long haul Covid on top of it so she’s struggling to get better. She has a fighting spirit. After all, at church camp, we were notorious, as our theme song stated...

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“We are the Night Owls, Mighty Mighty Night Owls, every where we go-oh, people want to know-oh, who we are, so we tell them....”

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Please join me in lifting up my life-long, good time loving, slumber party giving, all night skating, best iced tea making, bike riding bunk mate in earnest prayer that the gifted doctors at Mayo Clinic will fix her up so she can get back to this wonderful life and we can finally go camping together!

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I love you, Shubs. Please get well soon!

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???

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“A friend loves at all times......”

\nProverbs 17:17 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-08T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/08/on-a-saturday-night-in.html", "tags": ["Faith","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Courage","Aging","Change","Memories","Friends"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/07/the-sunday-drive.html", "title": "The Sunday Drive", "content_html": "\n
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I grew up with a family that took Sunday drives. Most often, it was out to see Grandma and PopPop at the farm. But, sometimes we’d go visiting someone else or maybe pack a lunch and have a picnic at one of the many “Roadside Parks” that used to dot the two-lanes around the countryside. Sunday was when you went to church, and then you went for a visit or a drive...or both. When you were really lucky, you got a nap, too!

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Hubby #1 was a West Virginia boy...born and bred. We went for Sunday drives all the time...even when we lived in England. Hubby #2 was a Colorado boy and using up precious natural resources driving around with no purpose was beyond reprehensible. Mr. Virgo LOVED going for drives, but they were seldom on Sunday’s because of his work schedule. And now, Mr. FixIt...another dyed in the wool Mountaineer...is up for a drive any day of the week.

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We hooked up the utility trailer midday and loaded up the mowers to head to the farm. It was 86 degrees by the time we were done. I think we hit a speed record for mowing and getting out of there. When we got home, We vacuumed the pool and put chemicals in. Then, it was time to go for a Sunday drive. We decided to go into town for carry out, then head to City Park to dine al fresco. It was downright pleasant with a breeze in the shade of the many huge trees. 

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When we were done, we stopped for gas then I asked...”Where to now?” First we went to visit one of the grandkids but they weren’t home. We decided to go out the road at the top of the hill not far from our house to check on the growth of the tomatoes in the high tunnels. They’re doing great...a good four feet high already. Then, when we were almost home, Mr. FixIt wanted to drive out another road to see if these people had finished building their house. 

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When we headed toward home, we came to a fork in the road. 

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“In all the years I’ve lived here, I have never been out this road.” He pointed straight ahead so that’s where we went. Another single track road with nowhere to pull off. We drove along and saw old farm houses and lush fields of hay. We hoped someone was going to mow it. There were many, many people cutting and bailing their hay this week. We finally came to a dead end and turned around. As we came to a small creek bed cutting through bedrock, I caught the familiar song of the Wood Thrush. I stopped and turned off the car and listened. There were other birds, but the Wood Thrush is what I identify most readily. It is the song of The Farm. For as long as I’ve lived, I’ve heard their sweet calls echoing through the holler up behind Grandma’s house. I do not hear them here at the house, but just a few miles away, in the dense lush West Virginia woods...there they were. I recorded them for a bit, then I just sat back and listened. What a treat!

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The Song of the Wood Thrush

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On our way home, we passed a beautiful field with the sun setting behind it. We found a big old houseboat looking decidedly out of place with the tall grasses growing up around it. It must have been a beauty in its day. Then, the last shot of the day was some beautiful white-faced calves laying in a field while their mamas grazed nearby. One little bull calf stood and watched his mama as if to find out if he should be worried about us. My Uncle Howard always raised white-faced cattle simply because he loved to look out his window at breakfast and see them in his field. I can see why. They are lovely creatures.

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That was a wrap on the weekend. Sleeping in the camper was absolutely heavenly! I slept like a rock! Many things to accomplish this week as time is ticking away and the girls will be here before I know it!!!

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?

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“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

\nPsalms 133:1 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-07T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/07/the-sunday-drive.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Love","Peace","Be Joyful!","Memories","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/05/mowing-and-weed-identification.html", "title": "Mowing and Weed Identification", "content_html": "\n
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We missed the dark pink blossom, but this one is a beauty!

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It didn’t rain yesterday so I finished the rest of the mowing. I much prefer getting it all down at once since staggering it can lead to long weeks of multiple mowing days. I don’t mind mowing, but I have to many other things to do to tie up too much time. The road in front of our house was moved several years ago in order to cut down on some of the really bad accidents in the sharp turns. Since that time, no one enters or leaves that side of the house. All the action is on the other side where the pool is. There is a sidewalk leading from the door to the driveway and big metal building. Consequently, we refer to that as the “front” of the house.

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The only time I really see the other side of the house is when I mow. The other night at my bonus granddaughter’s softball game, the former Mrs. FixIt and I were handing our phones back and forth sharing photos of our flowers. She asked if the dark pink peonies had bloomed yet. I din’t even know we HAD dark pink peonies. When I was out there mowing yesterday I looked and sure enough, there had been blossoms...but I missed them. I did catch some pretty medium pink blooms though. 

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I have NO idea what this plant is but I’m sure it’s a weed!

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While I was wandering around, I noticed the plants at the corner of the house had grown like crazy! I’ve been posting the photos trying to identify what it is and haven’t come up with anything yet. I’m sure it’s invasive because it just took over. Mr. FixIt had that stuff cut clear down to the ground last fall and here it is 10’ tall already! I’ll have to get after that pretty quick.

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Mr. FixIt stretched a line out last evening to show where the trench is going for the power line to the “campground.” I’m really excited. It would have been in already if it wasn’t for the rain this week. We’re going down today to pick up TOW-Wanda. We’ll set her up temporarily by the building so we can plug her in out there. That way, we can sleep out there and give up our bed for company when the kids come in three weeks!!! I talked with Big on video chat yesterday for nearly an hour. She is pretty much vegan so we discussed menu options that she will enjoy. Little isn’t a very picky eater so there’s no real worries there.

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Mr. FixIt laid the line for the trench for the electric to the “campground.”

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We’re heading into a hot stretch now after having some very pleasant weather the last couple of weeks. I’m pretty much taking the weekend off to play in TOW-Wanda and get her all cleaned and set up. We haven’t “camped” at all since about this time last year...so I’m pretty excited! There’s something special about spending time close to nature. I’ll get back to the inside work at the first of the week.

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?

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““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. Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”

\nJob 12:7-12 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-05T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/05/mowing-and-weed-identification.html", "tags": ["TOW-Wanda!","Camping","West Virginia","Gratitude","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/04/play-ball.html", "title": "Play Ball!", "content_html": "\n
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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.

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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. 

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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? 

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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.)

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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? 

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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!

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?

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“May you live to see your children’s children....”

\nPsalms 128:6 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-04T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/04/play-ball.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Peace","Wisdom","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/03/an-abundance-of-green.html", "title": "An Abundance of Green", "content_html": "\n
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\n\n\n

I wish I could bottle the first week of June and keep it for January. This is the time of year when the green that hits you as you walk out your door almost hurts your eyes. The vegetation makes me think of the tropical forestation in Hawaii or Mexico. So lush and thick and so, so green. The air even looks green.

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Tuesday evening, I drove to town to try to catch my bonus granddaughter’s softball game. Although I thought I had plenty of time to spare, they weren’t doing well and they called the game early due to the “Ten Run Rule”. I got there just after it ended, but I still got to see the kids and visit for a little bit. As I drove home, I had the windows down. The wind blowing in carried the redolent scent of honeysuckle and multiflora rose...so sweet and hypnotic. I caught myself wanted to close my eyes and breathe that heady aroma in...committing it to memory.

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We have honeysuckle growing on the fence surrounding our backyard. Every time I walk out to the truck or to do some chore outside, I’m met with that familiar sweetness. I think the first time I recognized it was out at the farm. One of my mom’s cousins lives a couple miles down the road and we often took walks out there. I remember going for a run in the ‘70s and that scent stopped my in my tracks till I found its source. If you pull a blossom of honeysuckle off the vine and suck the end, you can taste that sweet nectar that attracts every bee from five counties. 

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We headed out to mow our five acres yesterday around noon. I should have gotten an earlier start because by 3:00 it was drizzling pretty steady and the grass became too wet to mow without clumping. I got the two big fields done and Mr. FixIt finished mowing the edges and the bank by the road. He also had the weed eater out. It doesn’t look like we’ll have another shot at it till Saturday or so because of rain.

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Setzer’s called yesterday to say TOW-Wanda is ready to pick up. They sealed the roof, replaced the 7-pin power cord on the front, and replaced the plug on the main power cord. When I was a newbie, I pulled away from my neighbor’s house and forgot to unplug the cord from the outlet on their front porch. I dragged the cord for a few hundred yards before someone flagged me down. By then, much of the rubber was ground away and seemed to be getting worse as the material hardened with age. 

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Campers are fun, but they are a lot of work. You have to keep up with regular maintenance and watch them like a hawk to catch things before they become major problems. I’m still thinking of downsizing and have my eye on a couple of camper models I might be interested in. Like cars, campers are in short supply this year. We will be feeling the effects of the pandemic for some time to come. For cars, it is a shortage of computer chips. For campers, it’s the foam core insulation and the glue that fastens down the laminate sheets. There were a couple of fires that damaged the plants that produce this products. All that trickles down to the consumer in higher prices and/or shorter supply.

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Mowing put cleaning on the back burner yesterday. Now we’ll have to decide if we want to go pick up the camper or stay home and get things done around here. It depends on the weather, I think. If it’s raining, I’ll wait a couple of days to bring TOW-Wanda home. We haven’t slept in the camper once this year because of her leak, so I’m really anxious to get her back here and camp!

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?

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“The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.”

\nGenesis 1:12 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-03T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/03/an-abundance-of-green.html", "tags": ["TOW-Wanda!","West Virginia","Peace","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/02/theres-always-an-adventure-with.html", "title": "There’s Always an Adventure with Mr. FixIt!", "content_html": "\n
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A Little Lake We Found

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We were puttering around the house yesterday. Mr. FixIt was preparing to put another coat of paint on the man door to the building and I was going through an old tub of papers, photos, and mementos from Colorado. He took a break and checked his phone.

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“Hey, here’s a camper someone is selling right here in town. Wanna go see it?”

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Always up for a drive and a look/see at a camper, I jumped up and put on my shoes. He got a text from the fella and had read the directions to me. I admit, I was only half listening, but enough to help get us there. We headed out and finally found the first turn off. For some reason, I didn’t think we were supposed to drive so far out that road. We are talking a single lane, dirt road with mud holes and rocks and no cell service.

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I was just about ready to give up when Mr. FixIt looked at his phone. 

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“Well, would you look at that...I have three bars!”

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We were high on a hill by this time, so I stopped right there and got my own phone out. I looked at Google maps and could see where we were. We weren’t anywhere. I mean...we weren’t on any road that was on the map. I switched to satellite and...bingo! The road magically appeared! I ran my finger backwards, looking for landmarks. Then, I headed forward and found the next two turns. Yes...you read that right. Two more back roads. I was beginning to hear banjos!

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Once we had it in our heads which direction to go, we set off again. The road was getting more primitive with high spots and ruts, but not a real problem for my truck. I had four wheel drive if I absolutely needed it. Suddenly, we came to an intersection that looked like a three-pronged pitchfork with the left prong bent out at a 90 degree angle. I stopped in the center.

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“I think we need to keep going straight and bear to the right!” Mr. FixIt said.

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Now, I don’t have any sense of direction. Unless there are mountains to the west like Denver, or the sun is setting, I’m pretty much useless. So, imagine my husband’s dismay when I said, “Nope, we need to go down there.”

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“Down there” was a dogleg turn onto a steep road winding down into the shadows of the dense canopy of trees. Mr. FixIt was the one hearing banjos now. But, the man DID say “You’ll find me down at the bottom of the hill.” And, by golly...this was going down the hill!

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We twisted and turned and squeezed past the trunks of downed trees that were sawed off. Down, down, down...till, finally...Mr. FixIt said, “I can see cut grass down there!” Sure enough, we came around a turn and there was the back end of a camper sticking out of a metal canopy cover. There was a man with two big dogs. He gave us a wave and I knew we were there. It took us forty-five minutes from home to go maybe 15 miles by road...but not four miles as the crow flies. 

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There’s something about people who live that far off the grid. Although he had electric and water and septic, he lived in a small manufactured shed he had turned into a cabin. The most expensive thing out there was the cover over the camper. People like that live out there for a reason. They like the peace and quiet away from people. But, this guy obviously liked to talk and he met his match when it comes to Mr. FixIt.

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It literally wasn’t five minutes till they figured out they both knew several people. Some Mr. FixIt worked with, one who’s a dear friend of a friend, and another we actually graduated from high school with. Even out in the boonies, we know people. We knew right off, the camper wasn’t for us. But we obliged our host with some polite conversation and talked about places we’ve been and things we’ve seen. He kept the dogs in a kennel, thank goodness.

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After a respectable bit of time had passed, we started the Appalachian goodbye ritual. There’s the first announcement.

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“Well, we’d best be going.” Followed by a couple more stories. Then, we managed to move a few feet in the general direction of the truck and followed with the second announcement.

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“Well, we sure have enjoyed chatting with you. Thank you for sharing you’re beautiful place here.” That’s when the history of the property gets told and we heard about the last two or three owners. “There was a cabin here once that burned. The fella lived in the chicken coop after that.” We’ve made it within ten feet of the truck now. Finally, phase three of the departure ensued.

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“Oh, my gosh...look at the time! We really need to scoot and let you get back to what you were doing.” Mr. FixIt shared he’d been in the middle of painting the man door when we decided to come see the camper. This initiated an 8-10 minute discussion of how hard it’s getting to do those kinds of jobs. “It’s hell getting old.”

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Finally, the last goodbye. 

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“Welp...we gotta go!” And, off we went in the truck, waving as we bounced down the rocky drive and headed back up the steep and narrow gravel road that lead us back to civilization. As we drove home, we allowed that was a fine excursion and we’d have to tell the kids about these hidden roads for their Jeep rides. I’m really glad we got to meet this fella. He told us sometimes he goes two weeks without seeing another soul. He was good company and I’m glad we could spend some time.

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Honestly, there is never a dull moment with this man of mine...and I wouldn’t change a thing about him. Life is a joy!

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? 

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

\nProverbs 3:5-6 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-02T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/02/theres-always-an-adventure-with.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Be Joyful!","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/06/01/my-heart-is-happy.html", "title": "My Heart is Happy", "content_html": "\n
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Late Afternoon at the Cemetery on the Hill

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Yesterday was a perfectly beautiful day. We slept in, which is always nice. We stopped for breakfast on the way into town, then picked up my bonus daughter and son-in-law. They didn’t know where some of the family graves were, so we took them with us. Every year it’s the same thing. We know where all but one of the graves are in this huge cemetery. We walked around for a good forty-five minutes when I had the bright idea to look at the picture we took a couple of years ago of the headstone we were looking for. We all studied the photo, then fanned out and our son-in-law had it in less than a minute. Thank goodness it wasn’t as hot as it was out there last year. 

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We Found the Elusive Headstone

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Our high yesterday was only 72 and I consider that perfect. Even in the sun, you aren’t over heated. We decorated all the graves then I realized, same as last year...I hadn’t bought enough. We went to Dollar Tree and they were sold out. Then we went to Michael’s. They had flowers, but I wasn’t going to pay $5 for one flower when the cemetery is going to throw the decorations away in ten days. So, I bought pinwheels. They were festive and colorful and move in the wind. 

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A Stunning Lily Growing at a Gravesite

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We dropped the kids off and headed out to the country to my family’s cemetery. On the way, Mr. FixIt asked if I wanted to drive through the state park that’s on the way. It was a lovely day. The sun was shining, a gentle breeze was blowing, and the trees are all fully leafed out and provided a full canopy that cast a fresh green hue over everything. One campground was nearly empty...the other nearly full. We figure the empty one is where the families camp most often. The people in the other campgrounds seemed more our age.

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We arrived at the cemetery and I once again was struck by how beautiful and well kept it is. Nearly every headstone was decorated...and all military graves were decorated with flags. I love that so many people have peonies planted on the graves. My grandma would love that. I am going to propagate some of Grandma’s peonies from the farm. I’ll plant some for us here at home and some up at the cemetery. We wandered around and looked at the headstones and the dates and thought of the families who had to say goodbye. 

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As I placed flowers on my grandparents’ grave, I told them the farm had been sold and we’ve al been working hard getting things out of there. I told Grandma all about Frank & Beans and how they already love the farm. They have grand-babies so there will be little ones in the house again some of these days. I told her she would be really proud of the way we took care of the farm all these years without her and that we will still be able to visit the old home-place because Frank & Beans really get it. They know how much we love the place.

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A Carpet of Rhododendron Blossoms

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On our way home, we stopped at the farm and brought another load of things home. There are only three things left in the basement, Grandma’s bed/bedding, and what little is in the outbuilding and barn. We drove home as the sun was setting and decided it was a really good day all the way around. 

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It is a brand new month...and, my heart is full and happy.

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?

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“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out.....”

\nJohn 5:28 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-06-01T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/06/01/my-heart-is-happy.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Holiday","Farm Life","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/05/30/i-have-a-dream.html", "title": "I Have a Dream", "content_html": "\n
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My Bubby turns 70 this fall. We’ll be traveling to Colorado to help him celebrate. My dear sister/friend texted me yesterday telling me her husband will soon be 75. Mr. FixIt will be 70 in the early New Year. And I’ll be 68 next month. I told my friend, “How can this be possible? We were just laying out with baby oil and Sun-In in our hair...like, five minutes ago!” And now? Wow!

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It’s not bad, though. I mean...I’ve done an awful lot in this life. I had countless “careers”, four husbands, kids galore if you count all the ones who called me “Mom”. I’ve lived in England and Colorado and now back to my roots in WV. I’ve traveled alone halfway around the world. I’ve pulled a 30’ camper by myself back and forth across the country. I’ve slept under the stars and howled at the moon. I’ve skinny dipped in hot springs in the nooks and crannies of the Rockies. I’ve brought two amazing women into the world...my greatest achievement.

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And now...I have this amazing life. This almost-68-year-old amazing life with this wonderful guy I’ve known since I was a kid. And we live on five beautiful acres in the country. Honestly...I’m living my dream life. Short of owning Grandma’s farm, this is perfect! And, now that we’ve decided to stay put, my heart is putting down roots even further. I’ve been thinking about ways to carve out spaces on our acreage that are not only beautiful, but functional and fun.

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I’ve wanted a “she-shed” for years. I have it in my head what I want it to look like. I save photos that I see and file them away for reference. There is a beautiful shed in a garden in Seattle that inspires me. It’s a Little White House that the owners rent out as a space for photo shoots and teas and such. I’d love to have something like that. To make this into a complex with little sheds and gardens and paths. A place for a couple of campers. A large communal fire pit. We already have the big building. We could start with something like an Autumn Festival and sell antiques. We could have a place for live music. There’s plenty of room for parking. It could be really cool. Or it could just be a dream. Who knows? The important thing is...always having a dream. Something to look forward to. Something that brings you joy. 

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Sixty-eight. Hey...it’s not NINETY-EIGHT! I have a DREAM!

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?

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“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

\nPsalm 37:4 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-05-30T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/05/30/i-have-a-dream.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","New Ideas","Gratitude","Comfort","Be Joyful!","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/05/29/memorial-day-weekend.html", "title": "Memorial Day Weekend", "content_html": "\n
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I still get notifications from 911 in Garfield County where I used to live in Colorado. Not that I need them for me, but my brother lives there and I like to keep up with what’s happening. I got a notice yesterday afternoon of yet another accident on I-70 that was blocking the road with no estimated time to reopen. I’ve seen a huge uptick in fatal and near fatal accidents come across my notifications and I began to wonder what on earth was going on. Then, I read a couple of articles that said people who stopped driving or seriously cut back on their drive time during the Covid crisis are actually having to re-learn their driving skills. We get rusty when we don’t practice something. I’ve noticed it in myself and consequently, I’ve backed off the gas pedal a good deal to compensate for my slower response times.

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Yesterday’s notice was serious. A semi jumped the rail on an elevated portion of I-70 where it travels through Glenwood Canyon and landed on its top on the eastbound lanes below. Some of those west bound lanes are over fifty feet higher than the eastbound. Traffic has been at a standstill for hours at the time I’m writing this and could be closed for twelve hours or more. In the meantime, hundreds of people are stuck in the canyon...no facilities, dicey cell service. The cars are parked and people are out talking and commiserating with each other over the delay.

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More than likely, there’s nothing they can do about it. There’s no place to go. They just have to sit and wait it out. That’s why Coloradans carry an emergency kit in their cars at all times. You don’t know when or where you’re going to get stuck...in a snowstorm, a tornado, a rockslide. Blankets, flashlights, a change of clothing, jackets for layering, energy bars, water, a first aid kit are musts. Heck, these people are going to wish they had a tent! Many of them were heading east to catch planes for the Memorial Day weekend...travel they’ve been desperate to enjoy for over a year. I hope their entire weekend isn’t ruined by this inconvenience. But, most of all, I pray for the health and well being of the driver and that he didn’t land on top of someone else.

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Memorial Day isn’t about barbecues and air travel anyway. It is about remembering those who gave their lives in the service of our country. Not to be confused with Veteran’s Day where we thank people who have and are currently serving in the military. When I was a very little girl, I remember family trips to the cemetery in Ravenswood where my dad’s family is buried. We called it Decoration Day, because that’s when we went to the cemetery to decorate the graves of our departed loved ones...military or not.

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I used to go to the family cemeteries every time I came home to West Virginia for a visit. I could always find our people because they were buried beneath the biggest tree there. On April 9th, 1991 a derecho came through West Virginia, destroying buildings and houses and countless trees. One such unfortunate victim was the big tree over my family’s graves. The next time I went, I had a hard time finding them without the big tree to guide me. 

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I knew I had a photo somewhere of the big tree. I figured there was a picture somewhere in the family archives of us when we were little...and therefore the tree would also be smaller. I found this picture when I was going through things to bring home from the farm. It was tucked inside a box of tchotchkes which just goes to prove you need to go through everything before you throw it away or divvy it up. You never know what treasures you may find. 

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The first picture is of my brother and me on Decoration Day. I remember seeing this picture when I was very young, but haven’t seen it in decades. I am almost certain this is the same tree...some fifty-odd years before the second picture. You can see how big the tree was before the derecho took it out in 1991.

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Remember the meaning of this weekend. There are parents missing their children, spouses missing their loves, children longing for their elders. None of us live long without experiencing the loss of a beloved family member. It is our duty to remember them, and to mark the solemn occasion with more than a hotdog and chips.

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??

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“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

\nJohn 15:13 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-05-29T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/05/29/memorial-day-weekend.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/05/28/days.html", "title": "3,000 Days", "content_html": "\n
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Grandma’s Peonies

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While Mr. FixIt busied himself fixing the door into our pole building, I headed to the farm to bring some more stuff home. I have to admit...I stretched out on Grandma’s bed for a half hour before I packed up the truck. Soaking up the atmosphere. It feels good. I really don’t have a whole lot left out there...but I don’t pack the truck too full with each load. It gives me more trips to the farm! I canceled the Dish Network account out at the farm this morning...thus ending a 23 year run with them. It will be interesting to find out how long that phone number has been in the family!

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Wisteria

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I had a little walkabout and photographed Grandma’s flowers. I think her peonies are the prettiest I’ve ever seen. The irises are lovely, and since irises need to be thinned on occasion, I’m going to bring just a few over to the Ponderosa and make a special flower bed out near my new mini-campground we’re putting in. I also have a she-shed in my future that I want to build out there as part of my little compound for gathering my girlfriends and campout. I have it pictured in my mind. Now I just need to gather old doors and wood to build it with! I have so many projects I want to complete here at the Ponderosa. I do believe, once it’s complete, it shall be renamed...what? Marshmallow Ranch, of course!

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Clematis and Carolina Spice Bush

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I got the nicest note from Frank and Beans on Wednesday night. They were on their way down to WV to work on their cabin, so when I was finished loading what I wanted to bring home yesterday, I headed up to see what’s going on. They have one of those driveways that are very common in these West Virginia hills...straight up! Well, not really...but it sure seemed that way. I jumped out of the truck to greet my newest friends and look at their place. It’s beautiful up there and they have a view that looks right out over the treetops. It reminds me of pictures taken above the canopy of a rainforest...but without the monkeys!

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Iris, foreground...Rhododendron, background

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When they had their driveway graded, the folks doing the work found a huge rock in the shape of a heart. It has special meaning to Frank, so I brought them another heart shaped rock I brought home from Colorado and gave it to them as a housewarming gift. I couldn’t stay long, but we vowed to stay in touch, and they reiterated I am welcome to stay at the farm anytime. Just sitting on the porch during a rainstorm will be a huge treat, let alone getting to stay for a day or two.

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Iris

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I stopped at the store on the way home and fixed a quick supper. We have been dining on the deck every night under the pergola. We’ve only stayed out long enough to turn the market lights on a couple of times because we’ve been so busy with projects. But I envision more late nights out there as we catch up a little. Especially when the kids are here. I’m looking forward to doing more entertaining, as well.

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Iris

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It’s supposed to rain today and the weather will turn quite cool over the next few days. The nights will be especially cool...good sleeping weather. I have discovered something very interesting. Now that I write in the spare bedroom, I am sleeping much more soundly when I get up and go to our room. Something about separating “work” from home has really improved my sleep hygiene. I sure wish TOW-Wanda was here and fixed already...I’d really enjoy sleeping out there on these cool nights. That’s what I get for procrastinating getting her to the RV Doctor!

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Multiflora Rose

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Oh, and another thing...just as a matter of course. Today marks 3,000 days since Mr. Virgo died. I never could have dreamed of this life...of experiencing joy and happiness and deep love again. I couldn’t picture myself surviving that loss, let alone coming out the other side with a beautiful and fulfilling life. I just thought I would share that with you so that...if you are bereaved...there is hope for a good life down the road. I know it’s such a hard, hard journey...but a good life is worth working for.

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?

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“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

\nJeremiah 29:11 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-05-28T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/05/28/days.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Grief","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Choices","Change","Widow","Marriage","Healing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/05/26/pumpkins-magnificent-adventure.html", "title": "Pumpkin’s Magnificent Adventure", "content_html": "\n
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Pumpkin

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For those of you who’ve followed a while, you’ll know I lived in my camper for a few years and vowed never to have pets again. Mr. Virgo’s little dog died just three months before he did and it was all just too much. I didn’t want to lose any more beloveds. Then, when I came off the road, I inherited a farm cat I dubbed “Boy Cat”. When I was gone on a trip over Thanksgiving, I came home to a tiny little kitten with exactly the same markings as the long-haired big boy except he had a short, sleek coat. I named him “Kitty Boy”.

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While Boy Cat eventually warmed up to me and marked me as his by rubbing his face on my legs, Kitty Boy was as wild as wild could be and took off like a shot if he saw you. No rubs and chirps, but he came back every day to be fed and slept soundly through the winter in his bed box complete with an electric warming pad. While not a terribly enthusiastic cat person, I came to love them and watching their antics around the farm.

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Boy Cat and Kitty Boy

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When the time came to move to join Mr. FixIt at the Ponderosa, the farm kitties moved quite happily to my cousin’s barn down the road and adjusted well. Fast forward to Halloween 2019. Mr. FixIt and I had been married a year and I took off for several weeks camping all around the state of West Virginia in the Girl Camper Raffle Trailer. When I returned, here was this little black kitten someone had dumped and Mr. FixIt had been feeding him. I wasn’t thrilled to be tied down with another pet, but when this little thing shot straight to me like she’d been waiting forever to see me...well, let’s just say...she’s home.

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We woke up yesterday morning and decided it was THE day to take TOW-Wanda down to Setzer’s World of Camping to get some leaks fixed. We haven’t moved that camper for at least two years...maybe three. As a matter of fact, we weren’t really sure when we camped in her last...save for sleeping out there in the field at the Ponderosa. All four tires and the spare were low on air so I got them pumped up. Mr. FixIt struggled and finally got the big tarp off of her. The battery was dead so we had to plug her into shore power to raise her up with the electric tongue jack.

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Towing TOW-Wanda to Setzer’s

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It was already near noon by the time we got her completely hooked up and ready to go. I went and closed the doors to the car. Mr. FixIt went to close the doors to the bay. We were sweating buckets. We grabbed a couple of electrolyte drinks and hopped in the truck for the three hour drive to Huntington.

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When we got there, we went inside to register with Matt in the service department and told him all the things we wanted fixed. We visited a little while, then went back out to unhook the camper so the tractor could pull it into the shop. I needed a tool to unhook the weight distribution hitch so I went over to the storage compartment in the belly of the camper. When I opened the hatch door, I stood there so confused for a few seconds. There was Pumpkin! She cautiously peeked her head out and looked around...sniffing the air.

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Now, Pumpkin is like most cats I’ve ever known. She’ll let you pet her for a few seconds then when she’s had enough, she’ll turn around and bite you a good one! Not this time. I picked her up and she literally climbed me and planted her head under my chin. Bless her heart! It never occurred to us that she would have jumped into the belly of the camper. And she’s black as night so you would never see her in there with all the gear and cargo we carry.

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Pumpkin Peeks Out From Her New Roomy Carrier

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Fortunately, she was no worse for the wear. We gave her a drink and sat with her for a while in the truck, running the air conditioning so she’d cool off. We stopped at the first Walmart we came to and bought a collapsible pop-up pet carrier and got her settled in on a nice clean blanket and hit the road home. She does really well in the car on the interstate. And she does fine for the short ride to town, which she often makes with Mr. FixIt. But you put this poor kitty in the car and go very far on these twisty turny West Virginia roads and she lets loose from every orifice. I don’t know what to do about that. The only time we ever go far is when we have to take her to the vet...or, when she’s a stowaway on an illicit adventure, apparently.

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From now on, we’ll double and triple check compartments on the camper when we leave for a trip. This could have had disastrous results, and should serve as a warning to others, but fortunately...all it left us with was a very snuggly kitty...and some blog fodder!

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?

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“The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.”

\nPsalm 145:9 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-05-26T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/05/26/pumpkins-magnificent-adventure.html", "tags": ["Travel","TOW-Wanda!","West Virginia","Warning","The Cats","Farm Life","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/05/25/getting-things-done-and-making.html", "title": "Getting Things Done and Making Big Decisions", "content_html": "\n
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Shredded Documents

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We’ve been checking things off the master list of things to do here at the Ponderosa this spring. And, I’ve got to say...it feels pretty good. The end of the house that we painted and put a new storm door on looks great! The electric line over to the deck is going to come in very handy. We had the kids over Sunday evening and plugged a fan in and it made all the difference sitting out there. Plus, the market lights are so pretty. 

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New Paint and Doors

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Mr. FixIt had things to do in town today and I elected to stay home and get some things done here. I had all kinds of plans, but ended up sitting for five hours shredding documents. We’d been putting it off, and since I’ve been doing some deep cleaning and organizing, today was the day. I still have some to do, but managed to get the most of it done. Now, to file the papers that weren’t shredded. Oy! The work of life is never done, is it?

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Irises Blooming

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I remember when I was a new widow, sold my house and 95% of personal belongings...I felt so incredibly free and liberated. There was none of this accumulating, organizing, cleaning, purging, and re-accumulating that life seems to be filled with. My time was my own, to come and go as I pleased. Now, my time is full....but I’m incredibly happy. Not so much with the clutter, but we’re dealing with that...slowly, but surely.

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A Room Always Looks Worse Before it Looks Better

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Change has been a big focus in our lives the last few weeks with the sale of the farm. And, it has come to change our priorities in a way I didn’t expect. For the last couple of years, we’ve been giving serious consideration to selling the Ponderosa and moving to our acre lot near town. The driving had become cumbersome, and the responsibilities and upkeep seemed to loom large as we begin to wind down toward our sunset years. 

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The Butterflies are Coming Back

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Living near town had great appeal to me. Our friends and family are there. We’d be closer to medical facilities and shopping. And our outdoor chores would be minimal compared to here. However, knowing the farm was always there to commune with nature and get our “country fix” made it easier to think of letting this property go. After going through what I’ve experienced with the farm selling, I gained a greater insight to Mr. FixIt’s attachment to this place.

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Mama Box Turtle in the Far Field

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I know how I feel losing my lifetime home. This weekend when we were driving home from mowing at the farm, I asked him how committed he was to selling out and building on our other property. He’s lived here on the Ponderosa for 45 years or so. That’s a long time to put down roots. We discussed all the pros and cons and what it would take to even get the lot ready to build a house on....all huge considerations.

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Milkweed...Waiting on Monarchs

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In the end, we’ve decided to just stay put where we are for the time being. For a lot of reasons, really. Neither one of us are ready to give up farm life yet. I love waking up to the neighbor’s rooster. I love the mockingbirds in the hedgerow and the lightning bugs in the field. I love the little town we live close to. I love having a garden and a pool and a place to see the stars. I especially love having a place to “camp” on our own property. It’s what I moved to West Virginia for in the first place...to live in the country.

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The Near Field by the Road

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Mr. FixIt agrees. This is home to him. And, somehow...after going through the farm selling...it’s suddenly become more “home” to me, too. Besides, Covid showed us we don’t need to drive to town as often as we were...merely out of boredom. We’ve saved money on gas and dining out and extra shopping. And, we’re getting this place fixed up and more like “ours” and less like “theirs”.

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Sunset Over the Far Field

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I’m feeling more settled this week than I have in a long time. Having the sale of the farm dangling over my head for the last few years has been difficult for me....like waiting for the ax to fall. Now that it’s here, I know where home really is. It’s wherever we are...so, it might as well be here because it’s what we are blessed with. Sometimes the best things in life are right under our noses.

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?

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“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

\nProverbs 24:3-4 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-05-25T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/05/25/getting-things-done-and-making.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Wisdom","Aging","Farm Life","Home"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/05/18/my-grandma-had-a-dream.html", "title": "My Grandma Had a Dream", "content_html": "\n
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She was only fifteen when she ran off with the hired hand on her daddy’s farm and got married in Oakland, Maryland. She finished eighth grade, and could read and write and cipher. PopPop was twenty-two. He also left school when his daddy died young, leaving his mama to raise five little boys under the age of ten. He was the oldest and he needed to help feed his little brothers.

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Grandma always dreamed of having a farm of their own where they could raise their kids and feed them with what they could grow. She was a farm girl, after all. I have pictures of her riding the plow horse when my great grandfather put up hay for their cattle. Grandma saw that long drink of water in my PopPop and the rest, as they say, is history. 

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Life has a way of happening in spite of what you plan. I’m still learning of their early years. I know they were married in 1921. Her first born was a little boy, named after his daddy. He was born sleeping in 1924. I do not know where he was laid to rest, but I do know that my mom was born the following year in Indiana where PopPop and Grandma had gone for work. Their second child was born in Illinois the year before the Great Depression began. They had two more children before they headed back home to West Virginia. They had six children before the Depression ended.

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As I moved things around yesterday, preparing to pack up the last of my belongings, I noticed something was taped to the window frame in Grandma’s room. When I took a closer look, I smiled. I’m sure the rest of the article clipped from the Journal Star of Peoria, Illinois is somewhere in my papers. I remember it was a photo of some flowers in a garden...Lily of the Valley, to be exact. They reminded Grandma of home, so she cut that picture out and vowed to find her a farm where these delicate little flowers could grow. She finally did, sometime between 1932 and 1934.

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West Virginia was home to both of them, and they soon found a place back on the hill on this very farm. Eventually, they purchased the farm and moved down off the hill into the present house. Grandma always said...this farm was her dream and she never wanted to live anywhere else in the whole wide world.

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When my grandma became older, my Aunt Peeps took this clipping and taped it to the window frame in Grandma’s bedroom where she could look at it. She always called this place her little slice of heaven, and my aunt wanted her to see her coming heavenly home as something loved and familiar.

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As I sat on the front porch during my dinner break, it started raining. I threw a handful of old English Walnuts into the yard to lure the squirrels out for a treat. I noticed a little scuffle under the rhododendron and soon, out popped mama robin with three fledglings chasing her...wanting to be fed. They’re big enough to eat on their own...but they wanted the comfort of something familiar. I could relate.

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You see, even though I’ve been saying I let go of the farm already, it’s obvious to anyone reading my posts the last couple of weeks...that wasn’t quite true. It’s the same as these little fledgling robins...I need to leave the nest, but I want the place to feed me. I once climbed a cliff with Hubby #2. When I looked down, I froze. He tried to talk me out of my fear but I was escalating. Finally, he calmly said...

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“Well, you can figure out a way to move on from this point, or you can buy real estate here.”

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I got the same message yesterday from a very dear friend. She shoots from the hip and kicks me in the butt when I need it.

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“Look, you’re going to either need to buy the d*** place, or move on. You can’t stay where you are.”

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They were both right...unless I’m prepared to buy the real estate where I am...and I just can’t. I mean...I COULD, but I shouldn’t, I have to find a way to move on. I’m finding little bread crumbs...marking the trail in the direction I need to go. Finding this little snippet of old, crackly newspaper with my aunt’s shaky writing on it let me know I’m on the right track. It says...

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“Mom’s Lily of the Valley”

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It was a picture of what she dreamed of having one day. This was it...her special place. She made sure I loved it like she did. And now she’s leading me on to great adventures elsewhere. (It’s more accurate to say, my memories of her are inspiring me. I’m not ACTUALLY having conversations with dead people.) I’m not sure what the next adventure will look like, but I know who my traveling partner is...my sweet Mr. FixIt. And, as he says...

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“There’s always an adventure with Ginny McKinney!”

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My story isn’t finished yet, but I’m telling you what...I am so grateful to have had this little slice of heaven to call my home and to love with all my heart, whether I owned it or not.

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?

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“Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.”

\nEcclesiastes 3:1 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-05-18T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/05/18/my-grandma-had-a-dream.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Wisdom","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/05/17/it-was-the-best-of.html", "title": "It Was the Best of Times...It Was the Worst of Times", "content_html": "\n
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Charles Dickens was speaking of the events leading up to the French Revolution, of course. And my little slice of reality is nothing in comparison. However, whenever we are going through hard things, our things are the hardest things because they’re OUR things. Grief has many sources, and it’s no small thing to walk away from your family home.

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I’ve been at the farm since Saturday afternoon. I thought I’d get a lot done yesterday, but I did not. And that’s ok. I sat on the front porch most of the day, staring at my grandma’s huge rhododendron. It isn’t lost on me that THE most beautiful peak of bloom is occurring during my last official day here. Tomorrow evening is the close of the auction. I’ve asked everyone I know to buy the farm so I can still come here. Who knows the fate of this land besides God? I just have this wonderful feeling it’s going into the hands of someone who will love it the same as I do. I’m going to stand on that conviction.

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I was a sponge yesterday...soaking up every ounce of love from this place. I awoke to the beloved sound of a gentle rain on the tin roof...even though we had no such rain predicted. I drove over to the service station-diner-convenience store-tire center early to get some butter. I forgot to bring some over and I want pancakes on my last morning here. The time passed all too quickly and just as the light began to change, I snapped this shot of the perfect blossoms on the perfect bush in the most perfect place I know. I sat on the porch and watched the chipmunks chasing each other around the yard. A flicker kept sweeping in to the old, rotten stump of the poplar tree my PopPop planted years ago...snatching an insect here and there, then flying on. A big, fat rabbit slowly made its way along the base of the spirea along the ditch by the road....nibbling on the new grass and avoiding the bee balm and flags.

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The neighbor across the road was planting his garden. It’s always so lovely because he keeps the deer out with an electric fence. Otherwise, it’s nothing but a salad bar for critters. His wife came out with Molly, their one year old lab pup who is full of boundless energy. Bees from the hives down the road buzzed from flower to flower. I happily munched on my sandwich, sharing some chips with the chipmunks. Four-wheelers came one by one down the road...heading back home after a fun day of “muddin’” on the area’s many dirt roads that lead to old oil and gas wells and timber cuts. 

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As night fell, I talked with Mr. FixIt. I told him I saw him on the security camera planting OUR garden. I laughed and told him he can’t get away with anything now that we’ve put those in! lol We hung up and I came in, locking the doors behind me...just as Grandma did over the decades she lived in this little red house in the holler. This is my last day. The last night I’ll spend in my grandma’s house. Even if it DOES sell to someone I know and even if I DO get to sleep in here again...it’ll be different. It won’t be ours...mine. Not physically, anyway.

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Life is still lovely...and it will go on. More stories will come. I’ll remember things I haven’t told you about the old home place. And...more likely than not...I’ll tell you stories I’ve told you before. I’m of that age, you know. It’s one of the joys of growing older...you get to tell stories with freshness because you can’t remember who you’ve told them to before. Probably easier on me than you, come to think of it.

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The barred owl came to talk softly to me in the growing darkness. He didn’t give his usual full call....just a short “coo” to let me know he was there. Then, ever so slowly, he made his way from tree to tree...getting further and further away...till I could just barely hear him in the woods on the far hill. Fitting, I think....that things get softer and further away as I let this lovely place go.

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Tomorrow morning, you’ll read of my last night here...but it’s surely not the last you’ll hear about the farm.

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?

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“I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering. You will turn back to me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers.”

\nJeremiah 29:11-12 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-05-17T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/05/17/it-was-the-best-of.html", "tags": ["Faith","Grief","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Grace","Wisdom","Farm Life","Insight"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/05/13/the-open-house.html", "title": "The Open House", "content_html": "\n
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Kitchen

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My goal was to have the house clean and presentable for the Open House yesterday, and I have to say...I was so proud of the way it looked when the auction agent (Wayne) got there. They arrived about 3:15 and needed to get back up on the hill to show the property lines to the one who hadn’t been there yet. Wayne took a quick look around the house and he was so pleased. The first time he saw it was when Mr. FixIt and I were at the beach so nothing had been done. It was in quite a state of disarray.

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Kitchen - My uncle made this cabinets after they rolled the house down onto the new basement

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None of us have ever seen it so empty, but it didn’t seem forlorn or depressing to me. It seem light and airy...like it could breathe in the sunshine. It was a beautiful, cool day. Members of the family or the sellers aren’t supposed to attend an open house. I didn’t realize that’s for our own protection against any liability. They are licensed and insured and that is their business. I really liked Wayne. He was genuine and personable. After he glanced at the house, he said, “I have a gift for you. You’ve worked so hard, you deserve a present!” He went out to his truck and brought me a wonderful Yeti travel mug! That was very kind of him.

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The Dining Room

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I had another truckload packed by the time they arrived, so all I had to do was put my overnight bags in and head home. I sent my cousin Katie the pictures of the house when it was ready and asked her to show my uncle today when they go help him mow. The house was always a shrine of sorts. It seemed like once we lost our Uncle Sonny in the plane crash, the house never changed much after that. Other than replacing worn out furnishings, it always looked the same year after year. The pictures were all hung in the same spots, the curtains were replaced by identical curtains. It was eerily comforting because you always knew you were home when you walking in the door. It still smells like old wood and dust and lemon oil.

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Living Room

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I haven’t heard if anyone showed up to the Open House. I hope so. I hope lots of people want it and they just fight over it and cause a bidding war. Not necessarily because it will bring in more money, but because it would show someone loved it enough to fight for it. I talked to my uncle last night to let him know the place looked nice for them and he said, “It’s kinda depressing, isn’t it?” I told him about talking to Grandma at the cemetery the other day and what she “told” me. I could hear his voice quiver. I said, “I know it’s hard because it’s HOME and it’s always been there. But, you know...that land saved a whole lot of people, myself included.” I thanked him tremendously for letting me live there and heal after losing Mr. Virgo. It was honestly like a medicine I took straight into my soul.

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Grandma & PopPop’s Bedroom where I sleep. You had to walk through their room to get to the bathroom. Grandma always reached her hand out to touch mine when my mom walked me through.

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So, the days of time at the farm are winding down. I’ll go back over one last stretch...maybe Friday. My last night there will be Monday because the auction ends on Tuesday at 7:00. I don’t want to sleep there after that...it won’t seem right. Oh...the stories we have! I’m looking forward to going over to see my uncle and sit with him and ask all the questions I’ve never asked. I want to know everything. For instance...I had no idea the back property line went clear over the back of the hill and across the creek and up the other side a little ways. No idea! All these years I thought it ended at the road on the other side of the old home place. 

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The Boys’ Room

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Today? I HAVE to finish the taxes! Mr. FixIt is working away on the entryways in preparations for the carpet installation tomorrow. He has one finished. One to go. It’s always something, isn’t it? 

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The Girls’ Room

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?

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“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

\nProverbs 16:3 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-05-13T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/05/13/the-open-house.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/05/11/every-yearits-the-same-thing.html", "title": "Every Year...It’s the Same Thing!", "content_html": "\n
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Ok, those of you have followed me oh, these many years know what happens every single year at tax time. I wait till the last week, then I sit down to do the taxes and the doggone computer decides it needs to choose THAT EXACT MOMENT to download thirty-seven updates plus a scan of the hard drive, then there’s an error downloading something and you’re on hold with tech support for three years and the whole thing makes me wonder why on EARTH I stopped drinking! Ok...that may be a small exaggeration...but still, all day on the computer and I was no further getting the taxes done than when I started. Except now my computer has every shiny new update created by mankind!

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You might say...why don’t you do the updates ahead of time? At which point I would politely reply, “I did! About three or four weeks ago, I downloaded all my transactions from my bank and balanced the account....the first time I’ve done THAT in years! I also updated my security software and scanned my hard drive and cleaned the trash off it and defragged it. I was ready! But, nooooooooooo! Microsoft had to release a zillion new updates right at tax time. I’m blaming them. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

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One thing I did while I watched the little hamster wheel turn on my computer screen was...knit. I figured if I had to be close by to hit “yes, I want this program to change my hard drive”, I might as well get something productive done. And it’s the darnedest thing...I didn’t have a bit of trouble with the pattern. I figured I’d be ripping out every other row. I think God took pity on me and let at least one thing go smoothly yesterday!

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As I was checking my calendar, when I discovered...to my great dismay...that May 12th is TOMORROW! The open house at the farm is tomorrow at 4:00. OMGosh! I have SO much to do to get the house in the shape I want it to be. So, the taxes get moved to the back burner, again. And today I will work my hiney off and get this place ship shape!

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I took a break in the afternoon and took a walkabout. The iris along the driveway have started to bloom. It was a cool day and the sun popped out every now and then. If West Virginia would stay 74 degrees year round, I’d be a happy girl. But before we know it, we will go from meat locker to microwave and it will be so sticky hot. I’ll enjoy this as long as I can!

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?

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“then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.”

\nLeviticus 26:4 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-05-11T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/05/11/every-yearits-the-same-thing.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/05/09/joy-is-home.html", "title": "“Joy” is Home", "content_html": "\n
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Back in 2017, when Mr. FixIt and I were a new item in the dating scene, he called me on a drizzly afternoon.

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“Hey...I was driving home and saw a beautiful two seater Mercedes!”

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Oh, no. That was Mr. Virgo’s dream car. Was I going to get to enjoy it instead? 

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“Really? Are you interested in getting something like that? Let me tell you...I had a Mercedes once. They are NOT cheap to take care of!”

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“Well...why don’t you come with me to look at it.”

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I agreed and the next afternoon, we drove by to see. We sat in the truck looking at that gorgeous silver bullet and he didn’t make a move to get out. He didn’t say a word. He just looked at me and smiled.

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“What?” I laughed. 

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“I’m sure you would be much more interested in what’s under the carport than in the little sports car.”

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My eye followed his gaze and there she was! A black and white, 1967 Franklin travel trailer. The Franklin Coach Company was founded in 1945 and was instrumental in creating the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and is the longest running, continuous ownership in the industry.

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I squealed and clapped my hands and jumped out of the truck. A man came out of the house and walked toward us.

\n\n\n

“Hey, there! You all interested in the Mercedes? I just put her out yesterday. I’m buying a Corvette so I need to get rid of this baby first.”

\n\n\n

I smiled and said, “No. I’m more interested in that little camper. Is she for sale?”

\n\n\n

The camper was actually his 16-year-old daughter’s. Her best friend had fixed up a camper, so she wanted to do one, too. But, as with many things teenage girls do, it stopped being fun when it became work. I get that. But, I’d been wanting a vintage camper and I thought maybe this one would be mine.

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We talked back and forth and his daughter was willing to part with it, so I dubbed her “Joy” and took her out to the farm. And, as with many things ADULT girls do, life got really busy and she sat at the farm all this time...covered up and waiting for me. I kept her out there mainly because I wanted to give the appearance that someone was living there. Now that the farm will be sold soon, it was time to bring “Joy” home to the Ponderosa. 

\n\n\n

I still have dreams of fixing her up. I’m far more likely to do so if she’s close at hand. Even if I don’t, she’s mine.

\n\n\n

I’m back out at the farm after spending a day at the Ponderosa. Today is Mother’s Day, and...as much as I love my step-children and they love me, this is their mom’s day...not mine. I’ll get phone calls and that will be lovely. I told Mr. FixIt we would celebrate when this work is all finished at the farm. I remember Mother’s Days when the kids were growing up. There were so many times when I just wanted a few hours to myself to take an uninterrupted bubble bath and a nap. Now, I wish I could be with them. Daughter #1 will be here in June, so I’ll have my Mother’s Day then. And I’ll see Daughter #2 in September.

\n\n\n

I hope you have a good day today...you are loved.

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?

\n\n\n
\n

““Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),”

\nEphesians 6:2 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-05-09T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/05/09/joy-is-home.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Comfort","Holiday","Be Joyful!","Healing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/05/03/snips-snails-puppy-dog-tailsand.html", "title": "Snips \u0026 Snails \u0026 Puppy Dog Tails...and Snakes...and Mice!", "content_html": "\n
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\n\n\n

I’ve never had the pleasure of raising a boy. I love all the boys in my life immensely. But, I didn’t have to do all the things boy moms do like go to the ER every other week or follow along behind them catching everything that falls. I was treated to Teddy Bear Teas and “Let’s Put on a Show!” That was my mom life. Don’t get me wrong...dealing with girls’ hormones while you’re dealing with your own can be a trip. And don’t get me started about girl drama. But, I admire Boy Moms. They earn their crowns in an entirely different way. This little guy is as sweet as they come and his younger sister was a peach...my kind of energy. I guess I’m just a girl mom.

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I met my uncle and his youngest granddaughter and her family over at the farm yesterday. First, let me tell you....when my fully vaccinated uncle got out of that truck and we hugged? Ohhhhhh, I wanted to cry, it felt so good and so....normal! They weren’t there five minutes till we got the barn unlocked and they set to emptying out the loft of assorted Model A parts and forge blowers and pumps and lawn mowers and windows. They filled several blue plastic barrels and half the gooseneck trailer. Then we started in the house, then the cellar...both upstairs and down. The house is beginning to get that hollow sound of vacancy. It’s a little eerie...a little sad...just so, different.

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While they were in the barn, they came across a couple of black snakes. And Katie was digging through a box of books when she uncovered a mouse nest with two tiny little baby mice...not an inch long. I hope mama mouse got back to them in time. In all the time I have been at this farm, I’ve seen one garter snake and a fellow driving up the road stopped and killed a copperhead out front. Granted...I never necessarily went looking for them either!

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I had already gone through a lot of the stuff in the house and staging it so it would be easier to get to. They picked and chose those things they wanted to take home with them. And all too soon, they were climbing back into the truck to head home. Uncle Bud is in his 80’s now and....my oh my...he is the spitting image of my PopPop. Well...what I imagine my PopPop would have looked like at his age. He passed away when he was only 71.

\n\n\n

By the time I got home, and got the truck emptied of yet another full load, I was exhausted and hurt all over. I made hamburgers and a little potato and macaroni salads, took a hot shower, and I was D.O.N.E! I am not doing anything except knit today...period.

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?

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“We love because he first loved us.”

\n1 John 4:19 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-05-03T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/05/03/snips-snails-puppy-dog-tailsand.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/04/30/protecting-the-turf.html", "title": "Protecting the Turf", "content_html": "\n
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\n\n\n

I had a pretty productive day at the farm. The cabinets still had tons of food in them that had long ago gone out of date. It was one of those jobs I kept saying I’d get to, then there was always something more pressing to do. I’m amazed the place wasn’t infested with mice, but there wasn’t a single sign. My cousin dropped off some contractors bags for me and I filled two of them only half full and one I can’t even lift. I’ll have to use another bag and divvy up the goods so I can haul it out.

\n\n\n

Once that was finished, I moved upstairs. There’s still quite a lot of my clothes up there and several boxes that need sorting through. When I got one of the closets empty, I noticed a box on the floor in the back. I lifted it out and put it on the bed. I found some pictures of my mom. There were several bags of things with names on an envelope tucked inside to tell the person who found them just who they were intended for. My Aunt Peeps was incredibly organized. I attribute that to never having had children. Nothing was EVER messy or out of place!

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I noticed a cloth near the bottom with embroidery on it. I lifted the bags out of the way, and there...wrapped ever so carefully...was the folded flag that draped my Uncle Sonny’s casket. He was killed in 1955 in Germany. His plane crashed during a routine training mission. It was a loss that changed everyone and everything in the family from that date forward. There were some papers, a letter that accompanied his personal effects home, and some odds and ends. I didn’t dig further. But I did pick up that flag, and held it close to my heart, as I am sure my grandma did on that sad, sad day so long ago.

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I tucked everything back safely in the box and set it aside. By this time, it was getting time to eat a late lunch, early supper. I took my meal to Grandma’s chair and sat looking out the window at the view she cherished. Suddenly, I heard something. I picked up my phone and quietly went out on the porch to listen. There it was again...one of the Barred Owls that woke me up in the middle of the night was calling in the middle of the day. (Watch the VIDEO here.) They do that when they sense something encroaching on their turf...especially when they’re nesting. In this case, it was probably a Great Horned Owl. These two breeds dislike each other and clear out when visited.

\n\n\n

I brought my lunch out on the porch and listened while the rain pattered on the roof. The noise was amazingly joyful and it lifted my heart. I’ve done remarkably well not crying over the loss of the farm. That is, until Wednesday night when the rain started. Ohhhh....I will miss that sound desperately. I texted Mr. FixIt. I told him I am going to need a substitute place to recharge and write...even if it’s on our own property. Like a She Shed. I asked him if he could put on a roof just like this one and he assured me he could.

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It’s been easier today. As things are torn up and tossed, gathered and tucked away, and distributed here and there, the house seems less like Grandma’s house and more like a tired old building...long past its prime. It’s funny...when you take the rose colored classes off, the walls look a little grimy, the linoleum a little tired, the furnishings a little shabby. Water spots speckle the ceiling tiles from leaks long since fixed. Pictures that were strategically placed to cover holes in the plaster have been removed...exposing the evidence of a hammer missing the nail sometime in the past. The windows are filmy from years of gas heat and neglect. 

\n\n\n

Dismantling the old homestead doesn’t dismantle the many wonderful memories me and my cousins share. One son and one daughter survive of the original six children and this was the actual home they lived in growing up. Grandma used to say, if it wasn’t for her dairy cow, her children would have starved to death during the depression. This ground saved them all, just as it saved me. In a totally different way, but it saved me just the same.

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Sitting here with this old place, nurturing it as it prepares to leave us, is like sitting with an old friend who is preparing to make her transition to the great beyond. We say our goodbyes in our own way. Mine is making sure Grandma would be proud of the way I took care of it when I had the chance. She and I will rock on a porch in heaven one day, stringing beans, and talk of the place that was sheer heaven on earth to her. And to me.

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?

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“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.””

\nRevelation 21:4 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-04-30T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/04/30/protecting-the-turf.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/04/29/full-moons-and-hoot-owls.html", "title": "Full Moons and Hoot Owls", "content_html": "\n
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I never sleep well when the moon is full. It was going on 1:30 yesterday morning when I finally dozed off. I was awakened a couple of times by a bird calling in the Carolina Spice Bush along the creek bank. Bless its heart...it almost sounded like it was questioning why it was singing at such a crazy hour. It was quite pretty. I couldn’t identify it as I was unfamiliar with the call, and...it was the middle of the night. I really wanted to sleep.

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Barred Owls at The Farm - turn up volume!

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Then, at 4:00...a couple of Barred Owls decided to have a conversation very close to the bedroom window. I grabbed my cellphone quickly to record them for you and it came out great! Now, that kind of sound I don’t mind getting woken up for. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go back to sleep. So....I laid there. Not tossing and turning. Just...listening. I was still awake when the first tentative morning song came. Gradually, one after another, birds were trying to outdo each other and it was a veritable chorus. I wish I would have recorded that one...perhaps another time. I was so enthralled, I didn’t think of it. 

\n\n\n

I never realized there was a pattern to the morning songbirds. They start out a little soft...a call here, a song there. Then, one by one, more and more birds join in till it’s like an entire orchestra playing the crescendo of a symphony! Finally, the bird go about the business of the day and head out doing what birds do and for the rest of the day, there is a steady background of chatter. If you focus on the birds all day, it can become overwhelming.

\n\n\n

I finally got up and made coffee. I told you I had to give up coffee before I had my surgery? Then, for about two weeks after, I could drink it again. And now...I’ve slowly gotten to where it made me sick again yesterday morning. I was going to dig in to work, but decided to take a truckload of stuff over to the Ponderosa. When I got there, I emptied the truck, woke up Mr. FIxIt, and laid down to try to sleep for a while. 

\n\n\n

I woke up feeling great, so I headed back over here to the farm and will pack up some more stuff. Each load I take out, I feel less like a burden is hanging over me. You eat an elephant one bit at a time...that is the same way you get a big job done. As I write this, there is a storm heading this way so I’m hurrying to schedule the post before it hits. Storms take the electric out frequently here in the country. 

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Hope you all have a wonderful day!

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?

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“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.”

\nProverbs 14:23 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-04-29T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/04/29/full-moons-and-hoot-owls.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/04/28/hiding-in-plain-sight.html", "title": "Hiding in Plain Sight", "content_html": "\n
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Mr. FixIt got an early start on the tractor yesterday. I could see him on the security camera, sitting in the driveway, threading the new drive belt on the mower deck. I jumped up, grabbed my coffee, and headed out to join him. He got the mower deck on and running, but the new belt slipped off twice and it really shouldn’t do that. I took the push mower into the fenced area of the back yard around the pool and started mowing. It was rapidly heading to 80 degrees by the time I was half finished. 

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After a quick rehydration break, and checking to see if Mr. FixIt needed any help, I made quick work of the yard and checked back in with him. He ordered a different belt from the tractor company, but I talked him into heading out to the farm with me to mow before the rain starts today. I left before him so I could be first in the driveway, because I’ve decided to stay at the farm for a few days and get some sorting and packing done.

\n\n\n

This was the first time I was going to see the farm after my cousin came and took a lot of their things...grandma’s dining room table, the old buffet, the oak secretary from the living room. I knew it would look so different when I went in, and I prepared myself for an emotional homecoming.

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As I drove through the backroads, my eye was continually drawn to the hillsides around me. There, standing like misty clouds of white in the shadows of the tall, leafless trees stood countless dogwoods in full bloom. I’ve lived in the country here for several years now, and I cannot remember seeing SO many dogwoods. They made me smile.

\n\n\n

It occurred to me...so many beautiful things in this life live in the shadows. Here are these huge poplar, sycamore, hickory, and all manner of deciduous trees that will soon be fully leafed out in all their glory...showing off, bending in the breeze, their fresh spring green foliage shimmering in the sun. For now, they are still mere buds on bare grey limbs. But there, underneath them...the dogwoods are dressed in their lacy dresses, floating Ike dancers on a stage for all the world to see if they just look.

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As I am wont to do, I looked for what God was trying to tell me as I drove the familiar route to the home of my heart and it didn’t take long to make the connection. It was God who brought me here in the first place. He knew my heart was broken from losing Mr. Virgo. He knew my servant’s heart wanted to help my elderly aunt. He knew we were both stubborn, cantankerous women...oil and water. He knew there would be a parting of the ways. And...He knew my destiny was to cross paths with Mr. FixIt.

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My life was so tenuous when I came here. I practically had nothing more than what I could carry, and TOW-Wanda. I didn’t have a long range plan because I couldn’t see a life for me after losing my husband. I felt my children were older and didn’t really need their mom and my grands were busy with school and friends. And to be honest? I didn’t think I could possible live much longer anyway because my heart was broken...as was my spirit.

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God knew just what He was doing when He brought me here. I had the opportunity to come off the road and live on this hallowed ground where my grandparents lived. This was my healing place. This was where I danced among the tall trees...tenuously taking steps out onto the stage in my lacy dress. Just like the sweet dogwoods on the hills that surround me as I write this.

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We often are overshadowed in life by the bigger things, the brighter people, the seemingly more important stuff. We hide in plain sight until it is our time to shine. Will I be sad when the farm sells? Of course...there will be a part of me that will always ache for THIS home. But, it won’t break me. God gave me seven whole years to call this place home. It is my touchstone to the past and these years have been such a tremendous gift to me. I did a lot of healing here. My sweetheart came to court me here. We sat many times on the front porch in the quiet evenings and listened to the night sounds...the heady aroma of the woods washing over us. You can’t buy that kind of love. This is GOD love, this farm. That will ALWAYS be mine because God poured that all over me and into me...every moment I’ve been here.

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From now till the day I die, whenever I see dogwood trees blooming among the naked trees, I will remember this sunny, perfect April day and the many blessings God gave me on this little patch of ground.

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?

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“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.””

\nGenesis 28:15 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-04-28T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/04/28/hiding-in-plain-sight.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Grace","God"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/04/27/the-best-gift-ever.html", "title": "The Best Gift EVER!", "content_html": "\n
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We had a lot to do yesterday and in order to get it all done, we had to split up and share the chores. I ran to our little burg and bought gas for the mowers and picked up the mail that was held. Mr. FixIt headed to town to pick up the cat. 

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The grass was really thick, and still a little damp with dew in the shady spots, but I got right to work. I filled the gas tank and topped off the oil and started the mowing. Things were moving right along...I had about 15-20 feet all around the edges of both fields and the yards done when...the blades stopped turning on the mower. No sound, no sudden problems...they just stopped turning. Although it’s never happened to me, I knew the belt had either broken or popped off the pulleys. Well, that was not what I expected.

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I drove back to the big building and pulled the old tractor out to finish mowing. Mr. FixIt changed the oil this spring so both tractors would be operational. I hopped on, turned the key, and...nothing. The battery was dead! Hmmmmm...I sat there cogitating. Now, taking a mower deck off and changing out a belt is not part of my skill set so the next best thing was to jump the old tractor with my truck. 

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I pulled my truck up close and hooked up the jumper cables, started up the truck, and hopped on the tractor. It started right up! I felt so empowered! I sat there for a little while to let the battery start to charge up a bit. I thought, “I’ll just leave it running and unhook the jumper cables and turn off my truck, then I can get back to work. I started to get off the tractor and the engine promptly threatened to die. Of course! There is a safety switch under the seat. The engine will stop when you lift weight off it.

\n\n\n

Ok...Plan B. I tugged on the jumper cables to disconnect them, but I parked a little too far away to get leverage. By this time, the tractor had been running for a good five minutes. I was sure it would start again. I turned it off, disconnected the jumper cables, turned off the truck, and hopped back on the tractor. I turned the key and....nothing. Grrrrrrr. I pulled the truck up closer, repeated the steps above, got the tractor started, disconnected the jumper cables and thought, “How am I going to turn off the truck?”

\n\n\n

Well...the answer was...I wasn’t. I had a full tank of gas and Mr. FixIt would be home any minute, so I just headed out and mowed. When he got home, I drove up to my sweetheart and yelled, “Turn off the truck!” He shook his head indicating he couldn’t hear me and motioned for me to turn off the tractor. I shook my head and said, “I can’t...the battery’s dead!” He shook his head and yelled, “Turn off the tractor!” I yelled back, “Turn off the truck!!!” lolol We both ended up laughing when he finally figured out what I was asking him to do. I’m sure the neighbors thought we were a sight!

\n\n\n

Taking the mower deck off and cleaning it then running to town for a new belt and blades (one was cracked in two places) was not on Mr. FixIt’s agenda today. The old tractor really beats me up so I felt like I’d gone ten rounds in the WWE by the time I was done. I told my sweetheart, if he’d let me stretch out for 10 minutes, I’d go to town with him and buy him dinner. It was a fair trade, but the icing on the cake came as we drove home and the Pink Moon rose over the hills of West Virginia and took our breath away!

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We are so incredibly blessed to live the life we have in the most beautiful place in the world. (OK, I’m biased.) I thought as I mowed...how this ground, this West Virginia red clay...has formed me as much as God forming Adam. My blood runs blue and gold and my heart will always be a Mountaineer. 

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Montani Semper Liberi...Mountaineers are Always Free!

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\n

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.”

\n1 Peter 2:16 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-04-27T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/04/27/the-best-gift-ever.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","West Virginia","Gratitude","Be Joyful!","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/04/25/when-you-take-your-goats.html", "title": "When You Take Your Goats to Arby’s...You Must be in West Virginia!", "content_html": "\n
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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.

\n\n\n

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. 

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Goats!

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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.

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“We’re home!”

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?

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“Happy are you who sow beside all waters, who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.”

\nIsaiah 32:20 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-04-25T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/04/25/when-you-take-your-goats.html", "tags": ["Travel","Fun","West Virginia","Road Trip","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/04/24/so-long-obxsee-you-next.html", "title": "So Long, OBX...See You Next Time!!!", "content_html": "\n
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It was our last day and we wanted to do something fun so as soon as the temp warmed up a little, we gathered a few things and took off. Mr. FixIt has had his picture taken with a specific dog statue every time we have been here together, so we surely couldn’t leave before getting this year’s shot. And...since he was all masked up, I’ve decided you get to see him from the front without blurring out his face! Yeah, I know...you still can’t see him ‘cause his picture and his name is the only thing I keep close to my heart. The rest of my life is pretty much an open book. He reads most of my posts and...so far...he’s never had a complaint about any of the stories I tell. As a matter of fact...I think he kinda likes it!

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The day started out cool but sunny and clear. We walked the boardwalk and looked at some of the little shops. Finally, I looked at him and said, “You know...every one of these shops has the same darned things in them. Let’s go fishing!” His eyes lit up and we went back to the condo to pack a quick lunch and headed off to the beach. There was barely a breeze and with the sun shining, I was warm enough in leggings and a sweatshirt. I took my knitting and worked on the shawl as we chatted between casts. The fish weren’t biting, but the crabs were devouring the squid off the hooks as fast as he could throw them out in the surf.

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Around 5:00 or so, the clouds started to gather and it got chilly. We packed up without eating our sandwiches so we decided to drive up the island to the Currituck Lighthouse again and have an in-truck dining experience. It soon became apparent the sunset was going to be obliterated by cloud cover and we headed back to the condo. We’ll pack this morning and head home so we covet your prayers for travel mercies.

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In the meantime, here is my progress on the shawl I’m knitting. I chose these colors because they reminded me of the sand, surf, and sunsets here on the Outer Banks. Now I’ll have a lovely reminder of our 2021 trip to the beach every time I wrap myself in its cozy warmth. I don’t know if I’ll get to knit on the way home as I am usually the designated driver and my sweetie is my navigator. If not, there will be plenty of other opportunities. I’ve decided to spend a little time every night after I write and before I chat with my son-in-law’s mom, Sue. If I keep at it, I’ll definitely get it done! Sometimes I’m not so good at finishing projects but I’m determined to do this one.

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We usually divide our trip down into two segments, staying overnight somewhere around Williamsburg. That’s so we don’t get here totally exhausted and ruin our first day trying to rest. I don’t care so much going home because we can always lay around on Sunday and not miss a thing. I was telling Mr. FixIt last night, I’m usually ready to go home about Thursday. Then on Friday, I want to stay another week! At any rate...we’re at that age when I’m really excited to sleep in our own bed. So, getting home in one day just might be the way to go.

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See you tomorrow!

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?

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“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

\n1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-04-24T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/04/24/so-long-obxsee-you-next.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/04/14/the-things-that-take-my.html", "title": "The Things That Take My Breath Away", "content_html": "\n
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Redbud Out on the Two Lane

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Unless you have driven down a country road in West Virginia in mid April and been treated to the magnificence of a full on display of redbud and dogwood...you are seriously missing out on God showing off! Some years are better than others and the stars must be aligned just right this year because they are show stoppers. And, no matter how hard I try, photographs just do not do them justice.

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Violets Growing Out of a Crack in the Sidewalk

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As soon as I had breakfast down me yesterday, Mr. FixIt had the mowers loaded up on the utility trailer and we headed to the farm. By the time we got there, the morning dew was dry and it was smooth sailing getting the lawn mowed. I think back to the year I lived there on my own and had to mow with a push mower. Land sakes...it took ALL day and I was exhausted. And it’s only about an acre. I once thought of getting a riding mower for out there, but never did. Let me tell you...a riding mower makes short work of that yard. Poor Mr. FixIt uses the push mower and trims around the edges where the riding mower can’t reach. He also mows the ditch out front along the road and when we’re done, it’s a showpiece! I did a load of sheets while we were mowing and once they were finished, we headed home.

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The Lawn Always Looks Great Freshly Mown

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As we pulled in the driveway, I told him not to put the riding mower away when he took it off the trailer. I could NOT believe how much the grass has grown since I mowed it last week. We quickly set to the chore and had it knocked down long before dark. But, man were we tired. Mowing is a lot harder on the back the older you get. I bought Mr. FixIt some pretty strong CBD lotion for his back and he swears it works. So I decided to try it myself last night. I’ll let you know how well it works.

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Our Redbud at the Ponderosa

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I also started bringing home some tubs of my belongings from the farm. There’s still a lot of stuff out there that I brought with me from Colorado, and since I haven’t touched it since 2014, you can imagine just how badly I need it, right? The last thing I wanted to do was drag that stuff to the basement last night, but I had to. The tonneau cover on the back of my pickup doesn’t keep the bed dry and we’ll be getting rain again today. Heavy boxes and my poor sweetie couldn’t carry one more thing so it was left to me this time. I just slid them down the steps, one step at a time. It wasn’t all that bad.

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I turned off the gas heaters out at the farm now because we are long past the threat of freezing pipes. In exchange, I turned on the dehumidifier. It’s that time of year when it will start getting hot enough to bring up the humidity and left to its own devices, that house will get moldy inside and that just will not do. There’s so much to do there to get ready to sell and I know it’s not mine, but my uncle lives on the other side of the state so I need to at least get my part done. 

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So, that’s it for another day of farm life. I have a new appreciation for REAL farmers. Those who raise animals and hay and crops and work from sunup to sundown. This is just pretend farming, but I love it just the same. It is wonderful when you lay down at night with the bone weary satisfaction of jobs well done. I do love that!

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?

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“It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.”

\n2 Timothy 2:6 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-04-14T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/04/14/the-things-that-take-my.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/04/12/listening-to-the-night-sounds.html", "title": "Listening to the Night Sounds", "content_html": "\n
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I love the sounds of spring. From rain on the roof to the happy chirping of frogs in the wet areas around us, Unfortunately, TOW-Wanda has a leak that needs fixing so we can’t sneak out there and “camp” till she’s fixed and I’m really missing that! I don’t know if we’ll have the time to get her down to the dealership to get fixed before we leave...mainly because it’s supposed to rain every day this week, except Tuesday. We’ll have to mow out at the farm that day. 

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The night sounds are different here at the Ponderosa than they are out at the farm. You don’t hear the frogs out there like you do here. But, we have neighbors that live closer now and we hear. Their dogs barking periodically. I’ve learned I can pretty well mask them with a fan in the window, but this week is cooler, so it may be a little less comfortable in the bedroom. The farm has the ever present sound of the creek. Sometimes it’s just a trickle...sometimes a roar. The biggest difference is the sound of rain on the tin roof of grandma’s house. There’s nothing that compares to that.

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When we finally sell this house and build in town, I’d love to have a roof just like the one at the farm. Then I can hear that sound again whenever it rains. I don’t even know if they still make that kind of roof, but I can dream. At one time, I wanted to build an exact replica of Grandma’s house....but, it’s two stories and a basement and for practical reasons surrounding aging in place, we’re going to have to opt for a ranch style home. I’m going to have my favorite picture of the farmhouse printed and framed and present the family with copies this summer. And I’ll keep one in our home...perhaps over a fireplace. A place of prominence...a place of honor.

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We had a busy weekend. We installed another security camera and we got the pump hooked up on the pool. You wouldn’t think that would amount to a lot of work, but believe me, it took all day Saturday. We have two more cameras to hook up and the pool to clean. We have to mow at the farm and get things ready for our trip to the beach. There’s never a dull moment around here!

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?

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“Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.”

\nProverbs 24:27 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-04-12T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/04/12/listening-to-the-night-sounds.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/04/11/in-search-of-the-silver.html", "title": "In Search of the Silver Linings", "content_html": "\n
\"Grandma’s
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The Farm

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Yesterday we talked about letting the farm go and the inevitability of change in our lives. I read the lovely comments and encouraging words you left me on my post and it gave me much to think about throughout the day. When life hands me lemons, I start looking for all the different ways to use them. There are so many ways to make a lemon sweet and more palatable.

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When I took over the farm in 2016, I also took over the utilities. When I no longer have that to deal with, I’ll have at least an extra couple hundred dollars in my bank account. That’s a good amount of camping I could be doing. Also, we won’t be responsible for the mowing and that will give us a lot more time and less pressing need to always be here.

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You know, normally I never would have had the opportunity to spend more than a week or two at the farm when I came home for vacations every year. After Mr. Virgo passed and I came back to West Virginia to help my elderly aunt, I had a taste of life in the country. It only lasted ten weeks that go round, but it was enough to let me know it was the life for me.

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When I returned to West Virginia in the summer of 2016, I was presented with an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. My uncle was taking my aunt to go live with him and he needed someone to live at the farm and take care of it. He asked if I could come off the road and stay there for him. I didn’t have to think twice. 

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Having all this time to live in my grandparents’ house was such a gift from God. I did a lot of healing there. Not only from the wounds of losing my husband, but of losing so much of myself over the years. It brought me back to my simpler roots. I remember, as a doctor’s wife...talking to one of my lifelong friends. Apparently I needed to be brought down a peg or two because she reminded me, in no uncertain terms, that she and I had the same roots in the red clay of Appalachia and it would do me well to remember that.

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I’ve never forgotten that conversation. Living a simple farm life after downsizing humbled me in a way nothing else has. As I read stories on Facebook yesterday, I was reminded of the most basic point. I am letting go of a house. I have friends letting go of their children, of their marriages, of their livelihoods. I have friends who are in life and death struggles with health concerns. I am letting go of a HOUSE. I’m not planning a funeral, yet I will grieve. I am not burying a loved one, yet I am bereaved.

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It isn’t lost on me the way God is helping me through this. Daughter #1 and her girls will be here the week before we have to vacate the farm. We are planning a gathering of family to say goodbye to the old girl...and to the long line of loved ones who called her home and are no longer with us. Little is staying with us while my daughter takes Big to go see colleges. You see? I get to not only share the farm with Little, but I get to share my heart and the stories of her ancestors and instill a love and appreciation for what came before her. She and I have never been together....here. It’s extraordinary how well orchestrated this is. God is so good!

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It is a natural process in life to grieve the things we lose that bring us such love. And, just as I have learned to keep Mr. Virgo’s memory alive within me, the same will be true of the farm. I will remember the sights, sounds, smells, and every little feeling that creaky old house gives me till the day I part this earthly plane. When I hear rain on the roof of a camper, I’ll be transported back in time to a little red house in the woods. When I lay my head on a pillow where I can hear the rushing sounds of water in a creek, I will close my eyes and remember.

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When I hug those I love, I give away bits of the love my family poured into me. That love comes from an endless source...a fount of remembrances of love and joy and faith. I carry the farm within me. I AM THE FARM and THE FARM IS ME.

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We are one and we are love...simply because, we were loved. By the family and by the land upon which we stood. For we are but sojourners here.

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?

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““The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.”

\nLeviticus 25:23 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-04-11T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/04/11/in-search-of-the-silver.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Love","Wisdom","Peaceful Moments","Farm Life","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/04/10/the-one-thing-you-can.html", "title": "The One Thing You Can Count On", "content_html": "\n
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Spring flowers on my walkabout on the Ponderosa.

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Besides God, there is only one thing for absolute certain you can count on in life, and that is change. Mr. FixIt doesn’t like change. I usually relish it. I find change exciting and challenging and it can lead to many adventures. But there’s one change I’ve been dreading and the time has come to face it.  My uncle is selling the farm.

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I’ve known it was coming. And I asked him to put it off a year so we could have a family gathering this summer to say goodbye to the old girl. He was gracious to accommodate me, but we can’t keep putting off the inevitable. Grandma’s farm has been an integral part of my life. I have become who I am because of the love in that home. My roots grow deep in that West Virginia red clay.

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I’m so grateful to have had all this time to spend out there. I think I’ve photographed every square inch of the place so I’ll forever have something to look back on. I have indelible memories of time spent there over my nearly sixty-eight years. I have stories and more stories...as you all well know. I imagine you feel you know the place, too. 

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From the stumps of trees my PopPop planted to the three story barn he and my grand grandfather built...from the cinder block cellar house to the basement they rolled the house down onto when I was six...from the original tin roof to the old smokehouse now teetering precariously by the creek...the farm is as much a part of my life as any of my loved ones. It’s almost as though it is a living, breathing entity...which in some ways, I suppose it is. 

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We ran to town yesterday to get sand for the pool filter and pick out carpet for the family room when my uncle called me to break the news. It makes me sad, but not as much as it would have had I not been so blessed to have had the last several years to be free to stay whenever I want. I have called around to let family members and close friends know it’s going to be sold. It would be ideal if someone I know buys it. Then, at least I could come back for a visit from time to time. 

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Then again...maybe it would be best to just make a clean break. To not watch what someone else does with the place. I mean, I have to look at the plus side. I’ve been paying the utilities out there for the last five years so that will be a little extra back in my pocket every month. And, we won’t have to mow out there any more. That will be a huge weight off my shoulders. Still...it’s hard when the home place is gone. My last tangible connection to my family member who have gone on to their rewards.

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What was it I said about change? Ahhhh, yes...I relish change. 

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Just not this one.

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This one will be hard.

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?

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“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: - a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;”

\nEcclesiastes 3:1, 6 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-04-10T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/04/10/the-one-thing-you-can.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Change","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/04/06/the-jobs-are-lining-up.html", "title": "The Jobs are Lining Up", "content_html": "\n
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It’s springtime in full force here on the Ponderosa and the list of things that need doing is getting longer already. We were going to paint yesterday, but we received an invitation to an impromptu late Easter Egg Hunt for the great grandbabies and off we went! They were so cute...hunting for the eggs, then running around themselves and hiding them again so the could do it all over. I wanted to get them something other than candy, but Papaw won and they each got a basket with treats and toys in it. I remember how much fun that was when I was a little girl and it brought back sweet memories for me to watch them.

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Mr. FixIt was looking at something in the back of his truck when I came out to leave. It was an old wheelbarrow that was made by Ames back when he was an engineer there. I looked at that sad old thing...well used but suffering from being exposed to the weather over the years. The wood is grey and rough, the bed is rusty but solid, and the tire was rotted to the point it wouldn’t hold air. Now, the former doctor’s wife in me thought...I’d just get rid of that thing and get a better one. But, the frugal West Virginia boy I married said...This thing can be saved!

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We bought a new wheel for it over the weekend, but we neglected to actually measure the tire beforehand. Consequently, the new wheel was much too small. We returned it yesterday and found a suitable replacement. Now the wood will get sanded and oiled and the pan will get wire brushed and painted. And we’ll have a wheelbarrow that will be perfectly suitable to do the odd jobs for which it was intended. I’ve changed a lot since I met and married this man. I might have been a lot better off over the years if I would have remembered my frugal West Virginia roots along the way instead of disposing of things when they were looking ragged.

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When we got home from town, Mr. FixIt taped off the window on the outside wall we are painting today. We had to order a special extension cord for the security camera for the back of the house and it won’t arrive till Thursday. In the meantime, we can put one up over the side door of the garage. 

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Checking off a list gives me a great sense of accomplishment. It’s just that...I keep finding more things to add. I guess that’s called life, right? There’s always something to do. 

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Always!

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?

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“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

\nColossians 3:23-24 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-04-06T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/04/06/the-jobs-are-lining-up.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Be Joyful!","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/03/31/what-is-that-noise.html", "title": "What is That Noise?", "content_html": "\n
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I like quiet. I don’t like the television blaring or traffic humming or weird mechanical noises you often times get in a house. So, when I get to have some quiet time out at the farm, the last thing in the world I’m going to do is turn on the TV or listen to music. Consequently, I have discovered my tinnitus has cranked up a few notches since the last time I stayed out here on my own. I can really hear the ringing when everything else is still.

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The refrigerator crapped out sometime last fall, so we bought a small dorm fridge and that thing is so quiet, you don’t even know it’s there. The old fridge used to run all the time...rarely cycling off...and it was just on the other side of the wall from Grandma’s bedroom. Fortunately, I sleep with earplugs or I’d never last a night. But now it’s so quiet, all I can hear is my ears ringing...and birds...and the occasional car going up and down the road. 

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We are supposed to get hard rain here today. I finished the laundry last night and put it in my truck so I don’t have to drag it out in the wet. I do love to hear the rain on the tin roof here. There are two levels of roof here so when there is a gentle rain, it drips down off the upper edge down onto the lower porch roofs. That’s when you hear a dripping “plink” sound that is somewhat like a wind chime. And of course, when there’s a good rain, the creek runs hard and loud about ten or twelve feet from the bedroom window.

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I sleep with the bedroom window open, no matter what the temperature is outside. I have an electric blanket on the bed and it makes for cozy sleeping. I’ve read it’s healthier to sleep in a cold room and I believe it. Between always having fresh air and wearing masks, I haven’t had a cold in two years. I usually have one or two every winter and this is a welcome change. I do believe I’ll continue the mask wearing in public during cold and flu season from now on.

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Speaking of the bedroom window, the shade has long since deteriorated to the point you cannot put it up or down. There is only a sheer curtain and the window is right beside the bed. Now, granted, you’d have to be about eight or nine feet tall to see in that window, but I always kinda feel exposed when I sleep here alone. I went upstairs to look for something to cover it with and came across this narrow twin sheet. I put it up and laid here feeling the good quality of the fabric. Who know how old it is. Then I noticed a marking stamped in the corner. Turns out, it is a top sheet from an old Pullman sleeper car. I have no idea where it came from or how it got here. My grandparents were NOT travelers. I do have two aunts that would have traveled by train and I suppose it could have made its way here through them. My best guess is, my great grandfather brought it. He was all the time buying lots at antique auctions and dragging the stuff over here. It very likely could have been in a box of things he brought here in the ‘50s and ’60s. However it got here, it’s pretty cool and works perfectly as a window curtain.

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We are supposed to get down in the 20’s the next three nights with a chance of snow showers. March came in like a lamb so I suppose it’s going to go out like a lion! It’s always shocking when you have a nice day in the mid 70’s then crash down into a hard freeze. But this too shall pass and before we know it, there will be days so hot we can’t breathe and we’ll be wishing for some of that cool air. Staying in the present and enjoying what we have is always the best way to live. I’ll be heading back to the Ponderosa sometime today so I can see what Mr. FixIt has gotten himself into while I was gone. It’s kinda funny...my phone pings me when motion is detected on the security camera and there was my sweetheart, mowing and trimming around the yard. 

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It’s the last day of March already! Hokey smokes...time flies!

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?

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“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

\nColossians 3:14 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-03-31T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/03/31/what-is-that-noise.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/03/30/my-home-away-from-home.html", "title": "My Home Away From Home", "content_html": "\n
\"Daffodils\"
“Grandma’s Daffodils “
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I pulled into the drive at the farm at 2:30, shut off the truck, and opened the door to get out. Before I could move an inch, the sounds and smells of spring washed over me and I had to lean back and take it all in. The Caroline Wren in the old cherry tree called “Cheer! Cheer! Cheer!” as I watched a fat chipmunk scamper under my kayak. Squirrels rustled in the dried leaves at the base of hickory and oak trees, scavenging for nuts to munch on. The sky was crystal clear and the air was crisp. I smiled and a let out a contented sigh.

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I’m home.

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It’s just one of my “homes”, but this one rests so solidly in my heart. I’ve never known a time when this farm WASN’T home. Whether I was a little kid scrambling up the hills looking for moss and rocks. Or a young bride bringing her first baby home to meet her great grandmother. Or any other time I’ve walked in the back door and into my family’s embrace. 

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So many are gone now. PopPop in ‘71...my first experience with death. Grandma in 1999. Mom in 2004. Uncle Bob in 2008. I have one aunt living and once she is gone...I will be the matriarch. This place is woven out of memories and hard work and sacrifice. As I lay propped up on the pillows in my grandparents’ bed writing this, I can still see them laying here in the dark as my mom quietly walked me to the bathroom in the middle of the night. 

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Grandma would whisper in the dark, “Are you ok, pet?”

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“Yes, Grandma.”

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As we walked back through she’d whisper, “Sleep tight.”

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“You, too.”

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Grandma called me “Pet”. My brother was “Geddy Lee”. My cousins were “Tissy Rae”, “TimTam”, and “Trinket”. She had a nickname for everyone and always made you feel like you were the very center of the universe. She was never happier than the days when everyone was here at the same time. That happened less and less often as the grandkids grew and had families of their own. We all came together a year or so before Grandma died so she could have us all here with her one last time. I will always hold that memory close. After this last year and not seeing my own children and grandchildren, I have a much deeper appreciation for what she felt during those gatherings.

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When Daughter #1 and Co. come this summer, I’m hoping to gather as many of the family together as I can. This house is living on borrowed time. When Aunt Peeps died last year, she requested no funeral or memorial. But, she didn’t say we couldn’t have a picnic! I think it’s high time we get together and honor this old farm and all those who have called it home and gone before us to their heavenly rewards. It’s time to say goodbye to a piece of my past.

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I’ve never known a time when this farm wasn’t “mine”. Unfortunately, that time is coming. My uncle is aging and can’t do what needs to be done. If I were 30 years, even 20 years younger, I’d buy it. But, there’s just too much work to do to bring this old gal back to life. I have a 2nd cousin 1x removed that would be the perfect person to buy this house and keep it in the family. This is something I’ve been praying on. If it’s meant to be, it will happen. But, for me, the days here are numbered. 

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I’ve been working on letting go for the last couple of years. It won’t be easy when I can’t stay here whenever I want. But, really...nothing will ever take away my lifetime of memories in this little slice of heaven. I think my blood is the color of the faded red paint on the rough sawn timbers or the red clay soil. The place is as much a part of me as my hands and feet. 

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It is my heart.

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?

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“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24:3-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-03-30T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/03/30/my-home-away-from-home.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/03/29/in-the-still-of-the.html", "title": "In the Still of the Night", "content_html": "\n
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It rained so hard, it just poured over the gutters!

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The Covid Era has changed many things for Mr. FixIt and me. There have been big changes surrounding going to church and socializing and having the kids over. Those have been difficult. And, as is my tendency...I look for the silver linings and one of the best is our new bedtime routine. I’ve always excused myself to the bedroom to write while he watched his evening shows or a movie. When I’m finished writing and have my post scheduled, I chat with my son-in-law’s mom for a half hour or so to catch up. We got into that habit when she was going through chemo and radiation for breast cancer and now we feel weird if we don’t check in.

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I’m usually wrapping up my conversation with Sue when Mr. FixIt comes to bed. Then, he starts pulling up funny videos that we watch for another half hour or so till we are sleepy. I love that. We watch Keeping Up Appearances, mostly. It’s an old British sitcom and we just adore the characters. Hyacinth is an overbearing matronly woman who fancies herself some kind of socialite and wishes to rise in her circles by rubbing elbows with aristocracy. Her poor husband Richard has learned long ago to nod his head and “Yes, dear” his way through life. There are a variety of other characters and subplots, but the story is just about as simple as that. It’s great fun and there’s no foul language. I do kind of cringe at some of the situations Hyacinth gets herself into, but overall...it’s just good, clean fun.

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After Mr. FixIt gives me a kiss goodnight and turns off the light, I read my devotionals and drift off, maybe an hour or so later. In the wee small hours yesterday morning, I kept seeing a flash of light. I thought it might be this eye that’s been bothering me. The vitreous hasn’t finished detaching and I still get little flashes of light in it. Soon, I figured out what it was. The big, bad thunderstorm that was heading in from the south hit us with a vengeance. I watched the radar as the large bands of red marched over us and the sky opened like a waterfall.

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It wasn’t long till the new security system sent me an alert. I opened the camera to find what looked like a movie filmed from behind a waterfall. We got about a half inch of rain in just an hour or so and it just obliterated any real view of the driveway. I’m still trying to figure out the best settings for recording the motion events. Most often it’s the cat or the wind or a passing car that triggers the camera to record. I’ll get the hang of it.

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We have one of the tractors ready for mowing. I was under it holding a nut while Mr. FixIt tightened a bolt when I heard my stepdaughter pull in. It was a delight to sit around in the sunshine in chairs and still have a socially distanced visit. She and her fiancé dug up some forsythia and flowering quince shoots and some flowers to plant in her yard she brought my canning jars back empty. I sent some home with her...full. She brought us a bag of apples and a bag of potatoes. It feels so good to do normal things.

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I’ve been reading more and more stories about re-entry after social distancing and how it’s going to be a problem for some. I’ve been talking about this for a while. I have social anxiety. When I had that little raffle camper and had to get out and about and travel through much of that winter, I found my spring adjustment to being around others was much easier. Unfortunately, with the pandemic, I couldn’t do that as well and I’m working on getting myself back out there and socialize while still remaining safe.

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Social distancing really suits introverted and anxious people because nothing is expected of you. They’re the ones who found peace in the pandemic. I’m a real mix of introvert and extrovert. I love people...I love hugs and social contact...AND I love to spend time at home with Mr. FixIt and off on my own. As a matter of fact, I’m going to take a little break and head out to the farm this week for a few days. At least this time I don’t have to worry about getting quarantined out there, wondering if I was getting covid!  Ahhhh, the benefits of getting vaccinated....that little bit of security you feel knowing you have antibodies now. It’s wonderful and refreshing!

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?

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““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

\nMatthew 5:14-16 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-03-29T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/03/29/in-the-still-of-the.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Comfort","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/03/27/knocking-down-the-to-do.html", "title": "Knocking Down the To Do List", "content_html": "\n
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Forsythia!

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As soon as coffee was consumed, it was time to start working on the security system. Mr. FixIt headed on out with the first camera and his tools and got to work. I messed around in the house and pretty soon, here he came back to ask for my help. He still has a little dexterity issue after the strokes last spring and, even though he hates to ask for help, he trusts my ability to do so.

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Little did he know, as soon as we began, my sugar took a tank and I could hardly hold the drill because my hand was shaking so much. I bailed and went inside to eat something. By that time, I had the mounting hardware lined up and taped to the soffit where he needed to drill, so he had it done in just a few minutes. Sometimes it takes more than one person to do a job that we used to be perfectly capable of doing alone. Those are bitter pills to swallow when you’ve been as independent as Mr. FixIt and I have.

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We played around with the camera angles till we got what I wanted to see. We have decided to add two more cameras to the building and another on the back of the house. It’s a little extra money, of course, but I am so impressed by the quality of the picture this thing gives. I haven’t had any experience with security systems except for that episode in Colorado after Mr. Virgo died.

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I let a young sales girl talk me into adding a security system to my house because it was dark on that hill, the green space went up the side of the mountain from the back of my house, and there were no street lights out there. It was really dark, and I was alone. We had talked about getting a system before, but hadn’t gotten around to it. I thought maybe this was the right opportunity.

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Remember how I’ve told you not to make big financial decisions in the first year after your spouse dies? Well, there are reasons I’ve told you that...because I made some pretty big mistakes. That security system from Vivint cost me a lot of money, then when I sold my house the following summer, I called to cancel. I was informed I needed to take the service with me to the next house because I hadn’t had the system long enough to cancel without penalties. I asked how much it would cost to just get out of the contract. I’ve forgotten the exact amount, but I think it was over $2000!

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This system is made by Cobra and you can buy it with two cameras for $229 on sale right now at Harbor Freight. Each additional camera is $99. But there are no monthly fees and you can record events, view remotely from an app on your smart phone, and it has an intercom. You can yell at intruders and tell them you’ve called the police. Pretty cool. At least I’ll know who comes and goes out there.

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The boxes from the Florida trip are emptied and preparations are being made for the next trip...a REAL trip...to the beach! I’m cautiously optimistic and hope the trend in covid continues to go down with more vaccines. We’ll see what happens after the craziness of spring break! I’m also preparing for a really BIG event! Daughter #1 and Company are arriving in late June and Little is staying with us for a week!!! OMGosh! I can hardly wait to see them. Daughter #2 called yesterday and she got a new job. So like is really good this week here at Chez Ponderosa!

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?

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“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.”

\nProverbs 14:23 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-03-27T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/03/27/knocking-down-the-to-do.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Gratitude","Farm Life","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/03/25/basking-in-the-sun.html", "title": "Basking in the Sun!", "content_html": "\n
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Pardon the Pollen!
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Boy, howdy...yesterday was a PERFECT spring day in West Virginia! We hung around the house till about 2:00 then Mr. FixIt asked if I wanted to go for a drive out to the farm. We hadn’t been there since the week before we went to Florida and I was itching to catch some spring flowers blooming. 

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Actually, there was only one small patch of daffodils in bloom, but it won’t be long till the spring flowers are going to burst forth in their flashy displays. Everything in the house was great. I turned down the heat and checked all the lights, windows and doors. The only thing that has changed is a huge tree up the holler fell across the creek and the big boxwood out front split in half with the weight of the last spring snow. That made me sad, but it’s all part of life in the country.

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We decided to take the long way home. Our first goal was the cemetery to see my mom and family. Then we went to town. Ever since Mr. FixIt saw footprints in the snow all around my car, we have been on the hunt for a reliable security camera system. They had them on sale at Harbor Freight so now I’ll know who dares to set foot out there.

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We got dinner and took it to the river and sat on the tailgate having a picnic. We stopped to see two of our great grandchildren on the way home. It’s the first time we have really seen them up close since the baby was a newborn. Even though we are vaccinated, we still wore our masks. The kids are much more lax with precautions than we are so it’s imperative that we remain protected.

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The Belpre Bridge
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It felt so good to get out and drive in the sunshine! It was 80 degrees by the time we got to the river and....oh, what a welcome sight. It’s been so long since we’ve taken a riverside picnic. It was seriously like medicine. 

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?

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“so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

\nMatthew 5:45 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-03-25T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/03/25/basking-in-the-sun.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Be Joyful!","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/03/18/guess-where-i-am-hint.html", "title": "Guess Where I Am? Hint: The Peepers are Peeping!!!", "content_html": "\n
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Pollen coating the parking lot in Savannah, Georgia

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Yes...we made it home last night by 9:00. Not the original plan, but...once my husband starts seeing how many miles it is to home on the road signs, we’re done. There’s no stopping that draw, no matter how hard I whined. In all actuality, I was really ready to be home in our own bed and the peepers greeted us where ever there was any standing water...all the way out the two lane. I stood at the edge of the driveway and tears stung my eyes at that beautiful sound...SPRING!

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We started our day just south of Savannah, Georgia at 10:00 yesterday morning. I drove for the first three hours or so, then Mr. FixIt took a turn at the wheel. I took over in Wytheville, Virginia and drove the rest of the way home. We had an easy drive. We avoided the terrible storms that are hitting the south this week. As a matter of fact, it didn’t rain a drop till we were emptying the truck at home. We did see a couple of accidents, but no emergency vehicles so hopefully the occupants were ok.

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South Carolina roadside filled with white flowers

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I love it down south...spring comes early and everything is green and lush. But I swear...there are WAY too many people south of the Mason Dixon Line. Y’all are seriously crowded and I don’t know where all those people were coming and going to, but I-95 is like the Daytona 500...day and night. When we walked out to the truck yesterday morning, there had been a light rain during the night and it washed the pollen into wide yellow stripes like paint on the asphalt. It’s no wonder we were both sneezing like crazy.

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Heading up Fancy Gap in Virginia

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So, now we are home and in reverse isolation. We have been in crowded areas where the coronavirus mutations are running rampant. Even though we both are fully vaccinated, we could still carry the virus to others who may not be. That’s fine with me. I can use a little down time on the Ponderosa and out at the farm. Once the first few days were over after the surgery, I’ve felt better every day. And, so far, the pain I was experiencing before the surgery hasn’t returned. I did have pain in my hands yesterday while driving. I told Mr. FixIt, the educational materials on the parathyroidectomy specifically said if you had joint pain before, you may still because it doesn’t take away things like arthritis, which I know I have in my hands. I happy with the results and pray it stays that way. Now I can relax a while before mowing season starts!

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?

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“With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.”

\nProverbs 3:5-6 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-03-18T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/03/18/guess-where-i-am-hint.html", "tags": ["Travel","West Virginia","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/03/05/day-its-a-matter-of.html", "title": "Day 354: It’s a Matter of Engineering", "content_html": "\n
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Where the water meets the creek from the drain we baby!

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I told you all the other day about the water coming off the road into our yard when we get really hard rains. It saturates the ground, overwhelms the French drains around the foundation of the house, and the runoff has nowhere else to go but the drain at the bottom of the back stairs. I cannot tell you how many nights we have stayed up or set our alarm for every three hours to check the basement or suck up water at the door where it comes in. 

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First of all, that’s a pain in the butt. Second, we are prisoners here because we cannot just up and go someplace if rain is predicted and...let’s face it...it’s West Virginia. We get a lot of rain. We called the Division of Highways and they said they would send someone out. The next morning. Mr. FixIt and I were talking over coffee and he said he didn’t think it was going to do any good since they haven’t done anything up to this point.

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So, we called the Charleston office a second time the next day. I just wanted to ask when there was an engineer here in our district, because this road has an engineering issue. It wasn’t forty-five minutes till they DOH folks were here. They checked the road from every angle and agreed the road was not graded properly to begin with. They’re coming in with an initial quick fix to replace the dirt and gravel berm to keep the water from flowing down in the yard. Then they’ll come back when a grader is available and shave the road down on the far side so the water will flow into the drainage ditch where it belongs.

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You know what they say...the squeaky wheel gets the grease? Well, sometimes you just have to look on a higher shelf for better quality grease, ya know what I’m sayin’? The folks here couldn’t have been nicer to us and we are so grateful we may finally be past this terrible problem!

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Today is “Feel Good Friday” and I’ll tell you what...that made me feel pretty darned good!

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?

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“God will bless you, if you don't give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him.”

\nJames 1:12 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-03-05T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/03/05/day-its-a-matter-of.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/02/16/day-ice-ice-baby.html", "title": "Day 337: Ice, Ice Baby!", "content_html": "\n
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I grew up in West Virginia, but I had barely turned twenty when I left the state and moved to England to live with Hubby #1. I really didn’t have much of an understanding of the weather here, other than big thunderstorms in the summer and sometimes snow in the winter. Since moving back here in 2014, I’ve come to appreciate the subtle nuances of our climate in the Mountain State. 

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The winter of 2014-15 was pretty remarkable as far as snow and arctic temperatures go. I know this because I was living in my camper on a bluff overlooking the Ohio River. That was one crazy season with lots of snow and double digit deep freezes that was so cold, my refrigerator stopped working in the camper. I made my escape one weekend...exactly six years ago now (has it BEEN that long?) and checked into the Historic Blennerhassett Hotel in downtown Parkersburg. 

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The winters since really haven’t been that bad. This is my fourth winter living here on the Ponderosa. We do what all people do who live out these country roads in preparation for winter storms. We make a run to Sam’s for some goods, we make sure we have batteries for the flashlights, and we charge up all of our electronics and chargers. Because, we are a heavily wooded state and trees fall down in storms.

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Our major task since Friday has been starting the generator. Mr. FixIt dragged it up to the house from the building and tried to start it without luck. He tried again Saturday and Sunday. Sunday evening he got to the auto parts store in our little town just before they closed to buy a can of starter fluid. He spent the majority of yesterday hunched over the engine on the generator, cleaning it out and changing to fresh fuel. He pulled and pulled and pulled that starter cord and nothing.

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I went out in the afternoon and helped him lift it up on a piece of plywood set across two sawhorses so he wouldn’t have to bend over so much. Finally, he was ready for me to help him put it back on the ground. It tried to start several times but just wouldn’t do it. Mr. FixIt had to take a break so I asked if I could try starting it. I made a small adjustment to the choke, pulled three times, and it started up just like it was brand new! Of course, the look on my husband’s face was priceless. lol

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Like the majority of the country, we are in the path of a major ice storm. In all my years, I have never experienced this. My friend Kate has been sending out videos of the damage to her trees in Texas and it’s crazy how hard this storm is for them. It started raining lightly around 4:00 and just before dark, I could see icicles forming on the pergola out on the deck. I think the gutters are frozen because the water is running over them in several places. As it gets colder, we are going to be in one heck of a mess.

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As I sat writing this, I didn’t hear the usual road traffic out front and it always surprises me how quiet it is without that droning in the background. I’m glad we are at a point in our lives where we don’t have to go anywhere. It always sits in the back of my mind that Mr. FixIt had his first stroke almost exactly one year ago. When I got up to come back to the bedroom to write last night, I looked at him and said, “You can’t get sick again...especially tonight.” He smiled and promised nothing would happen.

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We can’t live in fear and worry about things that may never happen. So, as I walked down the hall, I just handed that particular weight to God and He’ll take care of it for me. He’s very good at that.

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?

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“So be on your guard! You don't know when your Lord will come. Homeowners never know when a thief is coming, and they are always on guard to keep one from breaking in.”

\nMatthew 24:42-43 CEV\n
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\n\n", "date_published": "2021-02-16T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/02/16/day-ice-ice-baby.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Gratitude","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/01/31/day-my-big-fat-family.html", "title": "Day 321: My Big Fat Family Tree", "content_html": "\n
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One of my mama’s very favorite things to do was research our genealogy. Lands, she had boxes of handwritten notes and charts and graphs. She had books that were dedicated to different branches of our family tree. And she was on a first-name basis with the librarians in town who helped her do research. Oh, she loved it so. She gathered a bunch of her direct line and made a little booklet. She copied them off and sold them to family member for the price of the copying. She was so proud of it, and everyone still has their copies. 

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When the internet came along, I took over looking things up for her as best I could. The pickin’s were slim early on. Then Ancestry came along. When Mr. Virgo and I were married and he watched TV in the evening, I sat with my laptop every night, searching for my roots. Mom was gone by that time and I’m telling you what, she would have been blown away at what I’ve been able to accomplish. Then, Mr. Virgo died...and I lost my desire. To do a lot of things, not the least of which was having the concentration to do research.

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I let my subscription to Ancestry lapse eight years ago. I looked at it every once in a while and watched the hints pile up, but you can’t make any changes unless you pay for it. When I finished copying the Facebook posts over to my website and balanced my checkbook, I decided to rejoin and see what it’s all about now. Oh my gosh...what a change! The sheer number of resources available, and others who have built their own trees and done their own research makes it a lot easier to get information.

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I did the DNA test several years ago and it is absolutely amazing how you can connect with people who share your ancestor’s genes. I’ve heard of some downsides to that...people finding surprise family members or finding out maybe THEY were the surprise. One of the fun things is finding stories about people you may be related to, based on DNA and the research of others. One that popped up for me was Abraham Lincoln, believe it or not. And, I have several ancestors linked to passengers on the Mayflower. 

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When you think about it, there were FAR fewer people in the world back in those days, and the Mayflower was a “captive audience”, so to speak. It’s not terribly hard to track yourself back to people of some repute....ill or otherwise. I remember one time, I found an ancestor who had stolen a pig. They took him to court, but he got off because, you know...they ate the evidence. You might think that would be the last of the drama, but the pig thief got into a scuffle a couple of years later with that same sheriff and one of them didn’t make it out alive, unfortunately. Hint...I’m not related to the law enforcement officer. 

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I have found my new activity to do when Mr. FixIt watches his television shows. It’s kind of a full circle event...it feels like it’s the right time to get back into it. I can certainly tell my mental faculties aren’t quite the same as they were back when I did this before. But hopefully, when the parathyroid surgery is over, that will improve. In the meantime, I’m going to have some fun with this and see what I can learn about this big fat family tree of mine.

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?

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“So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there:”

\nNehemiah 7:5 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-01-31T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/01/31/day-my-big-fat-family.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2021/01/11/day-putting-on-the-brakes.html", "title": "Day 301: Putting on the Brakes", "content_html": "\n
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I asked Mr. FixIt on Saturday night if he’d like to go out to the farm with me yesterday to check things out. I like to get out there several times a month to make sure everything is ok and to pick up the mail. And, I like to just sit for a bit and breathe in a bit of the peace that place gives me. 

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It was a beautiful day to go for a drive. The sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It was chilly...in the 30’s...but a perfect day to go to my happy place. Especially after the week we’ve had. There was quite a bit of mail...the Livestock Market Quarterly and the flyer that tells you what farms are open and what they are selling. There was the usual advertisements, a couple bills, and the new phone book. Typical fare.

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Everything looked good. I checked all the rooms, windows, and doors. There were four new messages. One was telling my late aunt she was eligible for a Covid vaccine on Tuesday. A couple hung up. And one was a man named John. He said we didn’t know him, but he was calling to give us the Good Word and share a couple of Bible verses. I didn’t think to write them down. I should have.

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While I was wandering around the house, Mr. FixIt was checking up around the barn. He called me out to look at something. The ground between the barn and a drain pipe that goes across is very soft and always wet. It never gets sun and the only thing that really grows in that soil is a luxurious ground cover that’s about two to three inches thick. It sits like a dense carpet on top of the wet earth below and easily peels away like the skin that forms on pudding. 

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I walked up to where Mr. FixIt stood, staring at the ground. 

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“What do you suppose did this?” he asked.

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I wandered around, looking at several places where the ground cover was disturbed. At first, I though perhaps coyotes had been digging for moles or voles in the soft earth. But I quickly ruled that out when I could find no foot prints. I studied the claylike soil that was exposed. There were two large cuts, with two smaller cuts within each. The smaller spots nearby were punctures straight down in the loamy material.

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Eureka! What we had here was a fairly large deer came running down through the area between the barn and the house, put on the brakes for some reason, and skidded through the slippery clay and ground cover...trying desperately to stop. My guess is, he lost his footing and danced around a bit till he got his bearings before he continued on. I would have loved to have been there to see that!

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One our way back home, we came around a curve only to be greeted with a pickup truck halfway in our lane. Mr. FixIt yelled. I might have said a bad word. I had no place to go but over the bank into the creek, but fortunately the guy swerved back into his lane and I moved back into mine. Our hearts were in our throats for a while, let me tell you. I thanked Jesus for getting us through that.

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These twisty turny roads of West Virginia can be dangerous and I will definitely breathe better when we are able to live a little closer to town. It will still be a bit before we can do that, but in the meantime, I keep my cross hanging in my truck and pray God keeps us safe.

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?

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“Don't be afraid. I am with you. Don't tremble with fear. I am your God. I will make you strong, as I protect you with my arm and give you victories.”

\nIsaiah 41:10 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2021-01-11T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2021/01/11/day-putting-on-the-brakes.html", "tags": ["Faith","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/12/31/day-the-story-of-what.html", "title": "Day 290: The Story of What Might Have Been", "content_html": "\n
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When I sat down to write last night, I closed my eyes and let my breath go deep and slow. I often do this when I’m “fishing”...trying to find just the right story to tell you today. This is the last day of 2020. Lord, what a year it has been. We know where we’ve been. We know where we are now. And, we hope we have a good idea where we’re going in the coming 365 days.

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We’ve all been here before, resting on the cusp of a New Year...hope this one will be better than the last. Or as good as. Or totally different. We have different hopes and dreams. We see ourselves through different lenses, yet we truly have more in common than we have differences. Well, beyond ideological, of course. In that, we have a lot of healing to do, I’m afraid.

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As I rest on this ledge, preparing to dive into yet another year, I take inventory of how different it all could have been. In 2011, Mr. Virgo and I found ourselves at a crossroads of sorts. We managed to get through the Great Recession of 2008 when we lost half of our portfolio. We were blessed we didn’t lose more, but even after three years, jobs weren’t all that stable. We had already had our travel adventure where we lived in Pagosa Springs for a year, and the Denver Metro area for two more. We hated Denver and it was wearing us out. We wanted to go home, so we moved back to the house I had built on the Western Slope a decade before.

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It took a while to get a job. It was summer and we hadn’t had a vacation for years. We made an executive decision...repair the landscaping and take a trip to West Virginia to meet what was left of my family. Oh, I loved it so much...and my desire to move back home was stronger than ever. Mr. Virgo and I had a dream of owning a Bed & Breakfast as our “retirement job” and properties in the Mountain State were so much more affordable than Colorado. While we were visiting, we started looking at suitable properties to convert.

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The historical area of Parkersburg is called the Julia-Anne Square. Stately Victorian mansions line the streets steeped with history and drama of days gone by. We were particularly smitten by a certain house and we felt it might be perfect...but it wasn’t on the market. The following summer, when I made a trip to West Virginia alone, lo and behold...the “Purple House” was on the market...and at a price that seemed incredibly doable.

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Then, two things happened. First, my realtor friend Geni took me to see it and....lands, did it need work! LOTS of work. The fact that it was filled with the current owner’s tchotchkes from floor to ceiling and the walls were covered in a stark green and white English Ivy print wallpaper was pretty overwhelming. The bigger disappointment was when Mr. Virgo divulged...he really didn’t want to move back East. He grew up in Philadelphia. He lived the majority of his adult life on the East Coast, primarily Florida. He just couldn’t face going back to the humidity and heat that is a West Virginia summer.

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I was so disappointed. But it was one of those compromises you make when you’re married. It wasn’t till sometime after his untimely and sudden death in early 2013 that I realized God takes things away from us for a reason. If we had bought the big Victorian house, renovated it, and opened it as a B&B, I would have been left running all of that on my own while juggling my own grief. I wouldn’t have been free to buy that little camper and head off to the wilderness and backroads of Colorado for the three months that changed the course of my life.

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So, when I opened my eyes last night, and turned on my iPad to write, I opened Facebook and the very first thing that popped up was...a video tour of the “Purple House”! It’s on the market again and the current owners have done a tremendous job fixing it up inside. I leaned back,took a deep breath, and hit play. I watched the story of “What My Life Could Have Been” play out on the screen. I looked at those stairs and thought, “Wow, those would be killer now...for me AND for Mr. FixIt.” The house is still really cool...and looks SO much better without all that hideous wallpaper. I’ve gotta say...those purple carpets upstairs have to go, as well as the blue living room.

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I can look at this house now and say, “This is what could have been. But I am so incredibly grateful for what I have.” Mr. FixIt and I have birthed a new life together that is happy and fun and challenging (in all the right ways) and adventurous and so easygoing. We have five acres to play on and a camper to travel in and a life to love in. I love my life.

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I thought I’d share the tour with you, so you can see where I might have been, had things gone differently ten years ago. The house itself is worth the share. 

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You can see the video HERE.  

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You can see the Realtor’s Listing HERE.  

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I hope you have a safe and healthy evening planned. Here’s to celebrating the end of the world’s longest year and hoping for the very best for 2021!!! Thank you all so much for being here with me for yet another year. Writing this blog is sort of like the “Letters from Home” that my grandma used to send us every week. Full of my stories, my hope, my faith, and most of all...my heart. I am grateful for each and every one of you!

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“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.””

\nHebrews 13:5 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-12-31T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/12/31/day-the-story-of-what.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","West Virginia","Holiday","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/12/23/day-special-deliveryjust-in-time.html", "title": "Day 284: Special Delivery...Just in Time for Christmas!", "content_html": "\n
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I’ve been feeling kinda blue about Christmas this year. Covid has us sequestered and the kids all feel like they could just as well be on the moon. Top that with our firm commitment NOT to buy each other gifts this year and the season has just been...blah. I certainly have no complaints about the gift thing. We bought ourselves new recliners this year. Then the microwave went out and we replaced that. We had a trip to the beach in October. And there was an unexpected assessment on the condo this year, so we figured that was plenty. There really isn’t anything we really need anyway.

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I’ve been so blessed to have all this time and supplies to do so much canning this year and those things don’t come cheap. But there’s only so much room in the kitchen and I’ve long since run out of space to store my small appliances. There are the shelves in the basement where I can store them but I know just as soon as I cart them downstairs, I’ll need one of them. Some of them are fairly heavy and unwieldy. An idea has been bouncing around in my mind for the last several weeks.

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My dear friend Ryb had a beautiful piece of furniture built in her Colorado kitchen to store her small appliances and baking pans. I always admired that, and vowed someday to have one. Then, divorce took away my big country kitchen and the house I built was just too small for such a cumbersome piece. Segue to 2020 and the Ponderosa. Another country kitchen, but still not enough room to house all my kitchen gadgets. I’ve been scouring Facebook Marketplace for something that might work but nothing was catching my eye. So, I did what I always do...I gave it to God and went about my business.

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Yesterday morning, I was having my coffee when a notification came across my phone...from Mr. FixIt...who was sitting on the other side of the living room. 

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“Look at this,” he said.

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It was a three piece, solid wood bookcase cabinet combo. An early entertainment center, really. But lovely. Country styling. Light oak. Interesting. I figured it would be way more than I wanted to pay. I kinda had a price in mind...$300.

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“Nice! How much to they want for that?”

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“$300!”

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“Each piece?”

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“No...total!”

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We looked at each other and smiled. I texted the lady and made arrangements and by 8:00 last night, the office was cleaned out, the furniture was in it, and it was holding all my appliances! I mean...if I would have measured out the space I needed to house my stuff, I couldn’t have done any better than this! It is so solid and heavy (thank you Harry and Joe for helping bring it home!) Seriously, it took three men to get it over here.

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As I carted my appliances from the floor of our dining room into the office adjacent to the kitchen, I placed each one in just the perfect spot. And with each trip, my heart got lighter and lighter. Because, I realize how truly blessed I am. I know there are people struggling mightily this year to just put food on the table. We are blessed this pandemic hit when we were retired and not when we were trying to raise a family. But, mostly...my heart was light because God always provides us with what we need. 

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Did I NEED that piece of furniture? No, I did not. Did it brighten my heart and fill me with a sense of awe that God hears us? Yes, it did. God isn’t a Sears & Roebuck Catalog. You don’t just send out wishes and He fills them like the genie in the lamp. But He provides and wants to hear from us about all our hopes and dreams and wishes. Sometimes He says no...a LOT of times He says no. But...sometimes He says yes! We have been so blessed to be able to help out food banks and assist a few people during these trying times. This gift makes it easier for me to be organized and cook and provide for others without breaking the bank so that we CAN keep helping others. I am so humbled that God is so good.

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“You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous. Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift.”

\n2 Corinthians 9:11 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-12-23T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/12/23/day-special-deliveryjust-in-time.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Change","Farm Life","Baking","Cooking","In the Kitchen"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/12/18/day-be-careful-what-you.html", "title": "Day 279: Be Careful What You Wish For", "content_html": "\n
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I was browsing photos in a Facebook Group I belong to the other day. It was one of those “You Might Be From __________ If...” pages. People post stories and photos. There are a precious few of the “old guard” who grew up and know those pictured. But there are far more who come on and say... “Does anyone recognize the people in this photo?” Those are the sad ones because the elders are dying off without labeling the photos or teaching the young’uns who were in them.

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My grandma was pretty good about writing the names of folks on the back with the stub of a pencil, most likely whittled to a point with my PopPop’s pen knife. This particular photo caught my eye because I’ve seen it all my life. It’s the old one room schoolhouse that was a couple of miles from the farm. My mom and one of her brothers are in that photo and I smiled at the memories that came rushing back to me.

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We have that photo somewhere in the family archives, and now, thanks to modern technology, I have it safely ensconced in my iPad and the Cloud. I can still see Grandma in her rocking chair by the front window, looking through her “picture book” and walking down memory lane. She would point and name everyone, then tell a story or share their nickname. Everyone had a nickname. Just yesterday, my baby cousin asked me what Grandma’s name was for me. I was “Ginny Lynny” or just “Pet”. She was “Trinket”. 

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This particular photo was taken shortly after the Great Depression. I want to say it was around 1936-37, judging by the size of my mom and her brother. When Grandma saw pictures like this, she shared with me the hard stories. Stories of struggles and just trying to get by. She would tear up when she said their milk cow was the only thing standing between her children living or dying of starvation. They never wasted a thing. Shoes were resoled at home because there wasn’t money for a cobbler. Clothes were sewn from flour sacks and mended and handed down. Grandma had a baby every two years till she nearly died after the last one and they saved her life with an emergency hysterectomy.

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It was right around this time when Grandma and PopPop managed to scrape enough money together to buy the farm that I still take care of. When they moved down off the hill into that house, Grandma said she felt like a queen in a castle! She didn’t have running water or an indoor bathroom for twenty more years. They had an old wringer washer with a hit and miss engine out on the back porch. My earliest memories are of Grandma carrying buckets of rainwater she heated on the stove and pouring it in the washer. 

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She used lye she made from ashes and mixed it with rendered fat from butchering to make soap that was used for everything. Wash was done once a week. You started with the delicates when the water was still clean and soft and you ended with work clothes. PopPop worked in the pipe yard on old oil and gas well pipe and parts. He was always sticky and stinky with black creosote and a hard day’s sweat when he got home. Those work clothes had to be boiled and scrubbed on a washboard by hand to get the most of the grease out of them. I remember they were always an army green or khaki color.

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Once the clothes were as clean as they were going to get, Grandma used the rinse water to scrub the floors of the house and the last bit was thrown out on the porch and worked with a broom to get what mud they could off the steps. It was a hard life she lived, working from sunup to sundown doing as much hard work as any man, then mending clothes and sewing on buttons at night after supper. 

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I look at that picture of my mom as a little girl, and I’m humbled. The “going back in time” I get to do at the farm at my age is a walk in the park compared to actually living the life they lived. You hear people say “It was a simpler time.” Simpler? Be careful what you wish for. Simpler in those day meant they didn’t have the time sucks we have now. They didn’t have TV and computers. They were lucky to see a newspaper or a magazine. They didn’t know what was happening in Asia or the Middle East or Africa unless a missionary happened to be traveling through trying to raise a little money for an orphanage somewhere. However, their lives consisted of hard work and more than their fair share of sadness. And fortunately, I come from the kind of people whose glasses were always full to overflowing and I heard of all the goodness of life.

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What are we giving our children’s children’s children to know about those who came before us? What are we handing down from our great grandparents’ days? What are we teaching them about long lost skills like growing our own food and preserving it or making our own clothes and tools? Part of the purpose of this blog is sharing the past along with the stories of the present. You’ve followed along in my grief journey after losing Mr. Virgo. You’ve been here for the adventures in the camper and traveling the country as a widow trying to heal my broken heart, one campfire at a time. You shared in my joy when I found love again with my best friend from high school and remarried. Interspersed with all these events are the stories of my roots. I share them with you here because many of you grew up with similar lives and they spark your own memories. Some of you couldn’t dream of living such a life and it’s like reading a history book. So, why do I share so much of myself and my family’s history?

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Because...one day, I’ll be dead and gone, and my grandchildren and their grandchildren’s children will read these stories and know from whence they came. I don’t have great material wealth to leave to my family...to the world. All I have are my experiences and my knowledge and my wisdom...the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

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I’m the storyteller.

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?

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“Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love.”

\nEphesians 4:15-16 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-12-18T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/12/18/day-be-careful-what-you.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Wisdom","Aging","Farm Life","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/12/11/day-just-a-simple-country.html", "title": "Day 272: Just a Simple Country Kitchen", "content_html": "\n
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There was a time in my life when I was fussy about my surroundings. I mean, I grew up in a tiny little house and spent as much time as I possibly could out at my grandma’s farm. I was used to just having the basics...nothing fancy. And while I was a doctor’s wife for twenty years, I can’t say my kitchen was extravagant. Big, yes...tons of cabinets and storage for days. But it certainly wasn’t like some of the kitchens the other doctor’s wives got to cook in. 

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I built my own house after my divorce in 2001 and had a simple galley kitchen with lots of light...light cabinets, light countertops, light flooring, and no curtains. I needed as much light as I could get. My kitchen was perfectly functional, but really small. I didn’t know what small was till I moved into my camper and lived for much of three years. Now THAT’S tiny living.

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When I came off the road and moved back into the little red house on the farm, I was back to my roots. The kitchen was really a nice size. My uncle made the cabinets out of cedar back when they moved the whole house onto the newly built basement. Grandma was in hog heaven in that kitchen...it was like the Taj Mahal to her, and it was perfectly serviceable for me as well.

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Then along came Mr. FixIt. When we set up housekeeping, the kitchen at the Ponderosa was already set up. Fortunately, he is a really flexible guy and gave me free rein to adjust and move things around to suit my cooking style. It’s funny. We’ve been together three years now and whenever he empties the dishwasher, he still puts things in the “wrong place.” I have to laugh because he lived here for forty years...it’s ME that’s putting everything in the wrong place...poor man. It’s a nice sized kitchen, and it’s nothing fancy...just a simple country kitchen. And I couldn’t care less. I am blessed beyond measure to have this wonderful man who is willing to share this beautiful life with me. 

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About three or four weeks ago, the big over-the-stove microwave died. We went to Lowe’s and bought a new one only to realize several hours later...we weren’t sure if it had the right kind of exhaust. Sure enough, it was the wrong kind so we cancelled and kept shopping. Mr. FixIt is quite the bargain hunter and he quickly found us a deal at Big Sandy Superstore. We ordered the new microwave and it came in late last week.

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First things first...the family room needed cleaned and organized so we could put up the tree. Once that was accomplished, it was time to tackle the new microwave. We took the old one out on Wednesday then had to run to town to get a new outlet to plug it into. Errands took up all afternoon...as they always do. There is no such thing as a “quick trip to town.” Mr. FixIt did get the outlet wired Wednesday evening, but we left the actual installation for yesterday.

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After a nice, leisurely breakfast...it was time. There was measuring. And remeasuring. Then discussion about the measurements. There was puzzling over the template...turning it this way and that. There was trimming and more measuring. Then it was time for tea. Holy cats! It took us five hours to install that microwave. There was no blood loss. There were very few bad words spoken. And we were still married when the job was complete, so I’d call that a success!

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Of course, once the job was done, I had to clean the kitchen...again. It seems that is all I get done. Cook. Clean the kitchen. Over and over and over. My friends and I were discussing the other day...our lives have become something akin to the Bill Murray movie, Groundhog Day. Every single day is the same stuff with very little variety to it. Breakfast. Clean the kitchen. Some other chore. Lunch. Clean the Kitchen. Another chore or two. Dinner. Clean the kitchen. News. Write. Snack. Clean the kitchen.

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Covid has done this. Retirement has done this. Comfort has done this. We had family come over yesterday and we all lamented how the year has just felt weird because we didn’t have our big family Thanksgiving Dinner and now we are facing the same disconnect at Christmas. They decided we’ll have to set up the outdoor propane heater outside our big picture window and share Christmas that way. We are only halfway kidding. I’m not quite sure but somehow we need to work it out so we can at least see each other and the babies, even if we can’t get close and be inside and give hugs around their necks.

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There is hope around the corner, though! The vaccines are coming and it’s going to help us turn the corner and start heading into a post-Covid life. We can’t let our guards down completely because the vaccines are still only 95% effective. But it’s going to be a darned sight better than this last year has been.

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Today, I’m going to try making Appalachian Gingerbread and I’m working on a surprise to go along with it. We’ll see how it works. My friend Diane came over yesterday with some extra food she had received and we neither one want things to go to waste. I have a large container of plain yoghurt now so I’m going to set it over a strainer in cheesecloth to drain some of the whey and make a soft cheese we can use on bagels instead of cream cheese. Thank goodness I am getting some of my “Merry Mojo” back!

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““Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’”

\nLuke 14:28-30 NIV\n
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\n\n", "date_published": "2020-12-11T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/12/11/day-just-a-simple-country.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Comfort","Farm Life","Baking","In the Kitchen"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/12/10/day-a-day-in-chemical.html", "title": "Day 271: A Day in Chemical Valley", "content_html": "\n
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I grew up five blocks from the Ohio River. The soundtrack of my life was the constant background noise of heavily laden trains and tugboats pushing barges up and down the river. Their cargo varied from coal to sand and gravel to gasoline and chemicals. Honestly, you never knew what dangers lurked just a few blocks away when you lay sleeping in your bed on those hot summer nights. The toots of the barges signaling the locks...the locks signaling back when it was ok to move forward.

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Union Carbide, Bayer, Shell, Corning, Marbon, Viscose, DuPont, Johns Manville...all were as familiar to us as Wonder Bread and Borden’s. We didn’t think anything of it. These chemical, plastics, glass, and petroleum plants were our bread and butter. Like the coal fields of southern West Virginia and the steel mills up north, big chemical plants ruled the Mid-Ohio Valley. If our parents didn’t work there, we knew someone who did.

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Occasionally there would be an accident or a fire or a chemical spill at one of the local plants. But, before the EPA taught us the dangers of some of the things in our very backyards, we really never gave it too much thought. It was part and parcel of life here. I remember in grade school when the father of one of my classmates was killed at DuPont. It struck us on many levels. First, it taught us that parents can die. Second, it meant some jobs were dangerous. And, it gave us our first taste of death.

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If you saw the documentary Dark Waters, you get an idea of the reckoning between big polluters and the little people who worked for them. DuPont worked with a chemical called C8 that leaked into the ground water all around where I grew up and caused cancers, deformed fetuses, and deaths. The people eventually won a settlement, but money is never enough to rectify a situation like that. Extremely expensive filtration systems have been installed to allow the drinking water from the aquifer below us to be potable because...C8 is a “forever chemical”. It will never break down and is here to stay.

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They don’t use C8 anymore. One of my friends spent his entire career working for DuPont...the last several years in a lab trying to come up with a C8 substitute but they were still not successful when he retired. DuPont sold out to a French company called Chemours who subsequently sublease their facilities to other companies manufacturing any number of products.

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Tuesday night at 10:00, when people were settling down to watch a little TV before bed, a loud explosion rocked the small communities surrounding the Chemours plant in Belle, West Virginia just south of Charleston...about a hundred miles from the Ponderosa. Amazingly, only four people were injured...one of whom died yesterday at an area hospital. A young man in his 30’s with a family won’t be home for Christmas...or any other holiday. Things are a lot cleaner now and much safer, but still...accidents happen. There’s still a much higher level of cancer here than most places. 

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West Virginia is a beautiful state. But the wealthy robber barons have continually raped my home state of her natural resources and left her permanently scarred and polluted. The price of progress? Or the “taking advantage” of simple Appalachians trying to get by the best they can? We were resource rich and education poor and it’s hard to complain when “The Man” was putting the bread in your children’s bellies. 

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I’ll never forget the time I flew into the Charleston Airport one summer. We were approaching from the south...not the way I commonly arrived. I looked out the window of the plane and the tops of the mountains...MY MOUNTAINS...were just...GONE! They were shaved off the top in a new, quicker, cheaper method of strip mining. The landscape has been permanently altered. Farmland that’s been handed down from generation to generation has wide, treeless paths cut through virgin timber to allow gas and oil pipelines to pass through. It breaks my heart and makes me sick.

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All in the name of fossil fuels. Large, gas-guzzling SUV’s. Mr. FixIt and I contribute with our two pickup trucks so I can’t even complain. I pray for a cleaner world and for some way for my fellow Mountaineers to make a living once the switch is made. We have to do something more than pray. We have to change. And change doesn’t come easy, so I’ve found.

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““ ‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelites.’ ””

\nNumbers 35:33-34 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-12-10T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/12/10/day-a-day-in-chemical.html", "tags": ["Health","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","West Virginia","Warning","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/12/08/day-the-gift-of-an.html", "title": "Day 269: The Gift of an Heirloom Recipe", "content_html": "\n
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The first day of holiday baking was a huge success. After a relaxing start to the day and enjoying my morning coffee, I got to work in the kitchen. I grew up in the ‘50s and ‘60s when the obligatory holiday fruitcake came to our house...usually as part of my dad’s Christmas bonus package. Fruitcakes back then came in these really great heavy-duty tins embossed with festive Victorian holiday scenes. These tins often went on to become the button boxes many of us remember sifting through at our grandmother’s homes. 

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I really hated fruitcake. It was almost a rule of thumb that children and fruitcake did not mix and if you liked it, you never admitted to it. It was thick, dark, gummy, and so sickeningly sweet. Once in a while, I might pick out a candied cherry and eat it, but that was the extent of my experience with fruitcake. The fact that it’s often soaked in booze might have been a deterrent in my house growing up. (I received a cookbook as a wedding gift from my grandma and she crossed out the word “beer” in a recipe for barbecue sauce!)

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Enter, Mr. Virgo. Fruitcake, like opera and the Philadelphia Eagles, entered my world along with that tall, handsome man. Unfortunately, he liked traditional fruitcake. I happened to mention this to my cousin’s wife and she sent me my Aunt Marge’s White Fruitcake recipe. She assured me, even a diehard fruitcake hater like me would love this recipe. The following year, I made two loaf pans of fruitcake before Thanksgiving, wrapped them in cheesecloth, and started giving them a weekly drink of bourbon.

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The week before Christmas, I brought the fruitcake in from cold storage in the garage and cut a few slices for Mr. Virgo’s gustatory pleasure. He declared it the best fruitcake he had ever tasted. I felt this was a fine endorsement and he talked me into trying a piece myself. Being the good sport that I am, I complied...fully prepared to again, hate it. But...oh my GOSH, people! It was divine! Granted...it’s still not something I’m going to overindulge in. It is definitely an acquired taste. But as far as fruitcakes go, this is the bomb. And here’s where the bad news comes in.

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I cannot share the recipe with you.

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My Aunt Marge was an incredible cook. Legendary. She worked and perfected this recipe over the years and would never give the recipe away, no matter WHO asked. I was privileged to be gifted this recipe and had to promise I wouldn’t share it. (Trust me, I asked with you all in mind...no go.)

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So, why am I sharing this when I can’t share the recipe? Basically, to share my love for my Aunt Marge. To share a tradition. And, yeah...to maybe brag a little that I finally found a fruitcake I can eat. Don’t be too dismayed. If you hate fruitcake as much as most people, you’ll just scratch your head at the thought people really eat this stuff. If you DO love fruitcake, you can Google “White Fruitcake” and find a recipe that might give you something like Aunt Marge’s. But I doubt it will be as good as this one. ‘Cause...it’s truly a family heirloom.

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Next up...Banana Bread!

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?

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“Your wife will be as fruitful as a grapevine, and just as an olive tree is rich with olives, your home will be rich with healthy children.”

\nPsalms 128:3 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-12-08T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/12/08/day-the-gift-of-an.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Holiday","Be Joyful!","Farm Life","Baking","Memories","Cooking","In the Kitchen"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/11/24/day-still-waitingand-waiting.html", "title": "Day 255: Still Waiting...and Waiting...", "content_html": "\n
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I finally gave in and called the little clinic where I had my Covid test done on Saturday. I know they said three days, but I was hoping it might have come in. No such luck. As a matter of fact, I left a message and it wasn’t returned. So, hopefully it comes in today. My back still hurts some, but the rest of the symptoms seem to have abated, so I’m thinking it was just a run of the mill virus and not the BIG one.

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I puttered around the house yesterday out at the farm. I decided to put the Christmas decorations up. I have a couple of trees that light up that Mr. FixIt gave me the first Christmas right after we started dating. I went to Colorado that Christmas and was gone a month. When I got back, I pulled in the driveway and the trees were on the front porch of Grandma’s house. It was the first time I’d seen lights out there since I was a little girl and I sat right there in my truck and cried. It was the sweetest thing.

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I pulled the trees out and put them together and ran the extension cord out to the front porch. No matter how I hooked it up, they wouldn’t light. I tried plugging them into the light receptacle. Nothing. I even brought them back inside and purged them into the house. Nope. When I have them set up out here, they run 24/7 for at least 6-8 weeks. I’m sure they just burned out. Unfortunately, they aren’t the kind of lights you can change, nor is there a fuse. So, I’ll just have to come up with something else for the porch this year.

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When I was living here at the farm, I saw a couple of boxes of Christmas stuff in the basement. I went down there yesterday and rummaged around and found them. There wasn’t a lot that was really usable, but I salvaged what I could and put them out on the dining room table to brighten up the place for the holidays. Grandma always had pretty tablecloths for the old round dining table. Most of them were practical flannel-backed vinyl, but one of them is this printed cloth one for Christmas. I also found the three red plastic bells that have always hung on the front door ever since I was a very little girl. They don’t work anymore either, but they’re out there...bringing back the memories. So, we’re all decorated on the inside. 

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While I’ve enjoyed my respite here at the farm, I am really ready to go home. I miss my boyfriend! I had the opportunity to have long conversations with family and friends the last few days. We talked about marriage and how we get into a groove when we are together all the time. Bring in a global pandemic and keeping to yourselves and that adds a whole new layer of togetherness. BC...before Covid...Mr. FixIt bowled two nights a week. BS...before strokes...he worked odd jobs with his friend Harry. I traveled and camped and spoke publicly. We were used to having some separation. So, yeah...any breaks away only make us appreciate each other that much more when we get back together.

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I’ll hang around today for the phone call. I’m just certain it’s negative. It has to be...if not, we’ll be spending Thanksgiving alone. I need to get home and prep some pumpkin and make some pies! Thanksgiving is just around the corner!

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?

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“I have provided all kinds of fruit and grain for you to eat.”

\nGenesis 1:29 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-11-24T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/11/24/day-still-waitingand-waiting.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Baking"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/11/23/day-waiting-it-out.html", "title": "Day 254: Waiting it Out", "content_html": "\n
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As I hunker down here at the farm, an alert came over the phone. Rain is coming. Plink. Plink. Plink. You hear the first drops hit the tin roof. Before long, you know it will sound like bacon frying. If it rains hard enough, it turns to a roar. I smile as I remember all the rainstorms of my youth in this house. There was this one time when it rained in the back yard, but not a drop in the front! 

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If it rains hard enough, I’ll hear the water running in the creek outside Grandma’s bedroom window. But, as I write this, a gentle rain falls. I don’t watch TV, but when I want to feel cozy here on a chilly day, I turn it on and find the channel that plays a blazing fireplace...complete with snaps and crackles. There’s nothing better than the sounds and sights of a crackling fire AND rain on a tin roof.

\n\n\n

I’m still here, waiting for word from the results of my Covid test. I still have a cough. I still have a backache. I’m still really tired. I know it’s something...probably just a cold...but I can’t risk making my sweetheart sick. So here I sit. My friend Diane called me the other night and told me our little town is delivering Thanksgiving meals. I called and ordered two. When I get home, I’ll make a couple pumpkin pies and we’ll call it good.

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Yes, it sucks to not have our family around for the holidays this year. But, imagine what it was like during the 1918 influenza pandemic? For us, it means no TV...no Hallmark Christmas Movies or football games or even reruns of Andy Griffith. No electronics, no internet...few diversions. In 1918, the first wave was relatively mild with few deaths, the disease lasting about three days. When it came back in the fall, it killed with a vengeance wiping out entire families. No promise of a vaccine. No lifesaving super meds. Covid is rising rapidly here and I’ll do everything I can to keep it from hitting my home and my family. If it means empty chairs now, it increases the odds of full chairs down the road.

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I’m praying my test is negative. Because, if it isn’t, I’ll be having Thanksgiving here at the farm alone and my sweetheart will be at the house alone, as well. My gut tells me it’s negative. I just don’t feel sick enough for it to be Covid...at least from what I hear about symptoms. Still, I’ll wait it out, listening to the rain on a tin roof, and feel so grateful for this safe place...this “home of my heart”.

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?

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“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”

\n

\nIsaiah 32:18 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-11-23T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/11/23/day-waiting-it-out.html", "tags": ["Health","West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Peaceful Moments"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/11/19/day-a-little-rr-at.html", "title": "Day 250: A Little R\u0026R at The Farm", "content_html": "\n
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I can’t remember the last time I got away for a couple of days at the farm for a little recharge time. Mr. FixIt is doing really well these days and I’m feeling a little braver in going off on my own for a little bit. Not too far, though. I’m only eighteen miles away, so if he needed me, I’d be there in a whipstitch. And, as he said...he has plenty to do to keep himself busy while I’m gone as there is never a shortage of work around the Ponderosa.

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I had to run to town this morning, so by the time I did that and a couple of errands, it was after 2:00 when I got to the farm. The big refrigerator out there never worked again after the power was off for several days from the tree falling over the line. I have no idea how old it was, but it had certainly seen its better days. When Mr. FixIt and I went to Sam’s this week, I picked up a small dorm sized fridge to bring out here. All we really need is room to keep enough food and drinks cold to feed the two of us when we stay out here for a few days, so small was better.

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It took a good two hours to clean, move the old fridge, and set up the new one. I brought four big baskets of laundry out to do today. I also brought a stack of magazines since I never seem to find the time to just sit and read them. I don’t know how to describe the feeling I get when I come out here. It’s like taking a king-sized step back in time. I connect to that little girl that lives inside me. I touch my grandparents, my mom, my people who have gone before me.

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I sleep in the same bed they did, in my grandparents’ room. I look out the same window. It restores something primal in me and heals my heart. This year has been rough all the way around. But it’s been full of opportunities, too. Opportunities to touch people and be touched by them. To practice trusting God. To lean into my relationships...especially with my family. To continue to build on that foundation with Mr. FixIt that will carry us through good times and bad. 

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Still, I’ve come to appreciate the introverted aspect of my extroverted personality. I love people, and I thrive on service. Now I recognize...and don’t fault myself for stepping away to recharge. It doesn’t make me selfish. It makes me smart. Because, I know I can give so much more when my cup is full and I have to fill it with peace and quiet. No TV. No noise. No expectations. 

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Just me. 

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And God.

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And the little red house on the farm.

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?

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“Generosity will be rewarded: Give a cup of water, and you will receive a cup of water in return.”

\nProverbs 11:25 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-11-19T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/11/19/day-a-little-rr-at.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Peaceful Moments","Farm Life","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/11/14/day-more-foodi-fun.html", "title": "Day 245: More Foodi Fun!", "content_html": "\n
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OMGosh! The longer I have this new kitchen toy, the more I absolutely love it! I was skeptical when I saw the picture of the golden brown, perfectly roasted, crispy-skinned chicken in the little cookbook that came with my Ninja Foodi. I mean, who hasn’t had trouble getting a product to come out looking like the photo on the box, right? Well, I am here to tell you, I made the BEST roasted chicken last night for supper and it was a “piece of cake”, so to speak.

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When I saw the time had crept away from me and it was going on 5:00, I thought I’d have to wait another night before I cooked the chicken I bought Thursday. I was planning on trying the recipe for the Foodi and when I saw the times listed, I figured...what the heck, I’d give it a shot. Preparing the chicken itself was simple. 

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I removed the giblets from the cavity, gave it a good rinse, and tied the legs together with kitchen twine. I added lemon juice, water, honey, fresh thyme, garlic, salt, and whole peppercorns to the bottom of the cook pot of the Ninja Foodi. I place the whole chicken in the air fryer basket and lowered it into the cook pot and placed the pressure cooker lid on. I set the pressure to HI and the time to 22 minutes and set to peeling three Yukon Gold potatoes.

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A few weeks ago, I found a small pressure cooker at a thrift store. It’s not much bigger than a large saucepan. I placed the potatoes in the bottom on the steamer rack, added a generous cup of water, and placed the lid on but didn’t light the burner. I opened a jar of the half runner beans I canned this fall and set them on to simmer with a pat of butter and a tiny bit of bacon grease for flavor.

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I mixed up some gravy and set it on the back burner to simmer. About that time, the timer went off on the Foodi. I let it cool on it’s own for 5 minutes before I opened the vent and released the pressure. I gently patted the skin with a paper towel and spritzed the skin with a touch of olive oil, then sprinkled with cracked seas salt and ground pepper. I let the air fryer lid down but didn’t turn it on yet. I just wanted the chicken to stay hot. When the pressure cooker got up to temp and the weight started jiggling a little, I set the time for 8 minutes.

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I turned the air fryer on, set the temp to 400 degrees and the timer to 10 minutes. The timer for the potatoes went off a few minutes before the air fryer was finished. I let it cool a bit then released the steam. When it was almost finished venting, I ran some water over the lid to finish exhausting the pressure rapidly. I strained out the potatoes, put them in a dish with a little butter, and mashed them by hand.

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The timer went off on the air fryer at the same time the mashed potatoes were ready. The gravy had been turned down to simmer so it was hot, as were the green beans. All that was left was to take the chicken out of the pot and plate everything up. We had a delicious meal in less than 45 minutes! I was stunned! And ohhhhhhh....the chicken was as melt-in-your-mouth tender as a rotisserie chicken from the deli but without all that sodium. And the skin was indeed golden brown and crispy. Seriously, the only way you could tel you hadn’t roasted that chicken was how moist and tender the meat was.

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My forays in the world of kitchen appliances have not always been wildly successful, but I have to say, this was the best investment I’ve ever made. I can’t wait to try other things like ribs and roast.

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Oh, and speaking of appliances, Mr. FixIt and I were having our coffee yesterday, watching the news when he asked, “Do you remember if that microwave we ordered yesterday had a recirculating exhaust or external vent?” I remembered talking to the sales person earlier, but to be honest, I couldn’t remember if we discussed that feature when we actually placed the order. He called Lowe’s and, wouldn’t you know...it was the wrong kind of vent. We don’t have a vent that goes outside. So, we had to call and cancel the microwave. Mr. FixIt started researching more microwaves after supper.

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It’s always something, isn’t it? 

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?

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“Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish.”

\nJohn 21:13 CEV\n
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#NinjaFoodi, #CovidCooking, #AirFryer

\n\n", "date_published": "2020-11-14T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/11/14/day-more-foodi-fun.html", "tags": ["Health","West Virginia","New Ideas","Cooking","In the Kitchen"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/11/11/day-farm-work-is-never.html", "title": "Day 242: Farm Work is Never Done", "content_html": "\n
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Yesterday was probably the last day till spring with the thermometer hitting 80 degrees. Rain was scheduled to arrive in the wee hours this morning and with it come the more seasonable temperatures. This late stretch of warmth afforded us the opportunity to finish up a few more projects around the Ponderosa. 

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West Virginia is lush and green with annual rainfall that rivals a tropical rainforest. Consequently, plants grow like crazy here and if you don’t stay on top of it, you can soon feel like Jack and the Beanstalk. Such was the case with the North end of our house. We have a huge hydrangea bush that took up a full third of the wall and wrapped around the front corner. There is an old television antenna and, unfortunately, a combination of wild grape and Engelmann Ivy climbed it to the top with abandon. The base of some of those vines were a full three inches thick and woody.

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This was one of the many jobs on our to-do list and it finally got bumped up to first priority. Last Week, Mr. FixIt and his buddy Harry fixed the soffits under the eaves to keep the critters out of the attic this winter. That’s when they decided to tear out the vines and hydrangea this week. Actually, I didn’t realize they were going to scalp it quite this much. I was working inside and my sweetheart asked me out to see their handiwork. The nice thing about West Virginia...it won’t be too long and there will be growth again. We’ll need to salt the ground where the grape vine is because it’s harder than the dickens to kill.

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We still have to get the antenna down, but they needed a third pair of hands so it will just have to wait. We’re getting rain today...1-1.5 inches, to be exact. So it will be an inside day. Time to get those shelves downstairs cleaned off so I can store all these beautiful jars of food I canned this summer.

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We ended the day with a trip to get Chinese carry out. We sat in front of the old one room schoolhouse and had a picnic while the sun set over the ball fields. It was a good and productive day. Farm life...even just a little five acre plot with a barn cat...is a good life. It’s the life I’ve always dreamed of.

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?

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“My friends, be patient until the Lord returns. Think of farmers who wait patiently for the autumn and spring rains to make their valuable crops grow.”

\nJames 5:7 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-11-11T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/11/11/day-farm-work-is-never.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/10/28/day-a-girl-needs-a.html", "title": "Day 229: A Girl Needs a Little “Me Time”", "content_html": "\n
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I had the day off yesterday. Well...I was off by myself. A doctor’s appointment, a breast ultrasound, and a DEXA scan (bone density). All quick, one right after the other and timed perfectly so that when I was done, I had about three hours to do whatever I wanted. My first errand was to one of my favorite stores...Rural King. I purchased an apple peeler a few weeks ago to make working up all the apples easier. However, they don’t make them like they used to and it didn’t work at all right. As a matter of fact, it created MORE work. So, I returned it and got my money back.

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Next stop was Michael’s. I needed to get some supplies for winter projects. I purchased several skeins of Sugar ‘n Cream cotton yarn to knit dishcloths. They make great little gifts. I also got some more clear plastic ornaments to knit covers for and some fluffy white yarn. I think I’ll make snowballs. My cousin shared one of her favorite recipes with me the other day and I want to try it. “Goat Cheese and Fig Cornbread” sounds wonderful and she says it’s amazing. I went to TJMaxx because they have all the great Christmas specialty foods out now. I picked up some imported fig jam and I can’t wait to try out that recipe. They also had some really nice herbs and spices so I picked up a variety of things to try. It’s hard to find Herbs de Provence in West Virginia so you have to get it when you see it!

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As I was driving home, the light was so beautiful, it was hard to keep my eyes on the road. The light was muted and golden with casts of misty blue. The trees have shed much of their leaves only to expose the dense underbrush blazing. Patches of scarlet and crimson mixed with canary yellow. Swaths of russet met the deep green pines. Rich, deep dark chocolate browns rustled with gold and pink and deep burgundy. It’s as though the trees beckoned...begging me to turn and look just once more before the coming rains strip them bare. I felt as though I was driving through a Monet painting...soft, a little out of focus, muted brights. It was brilliant. 

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I thought of the days of wanderlust on my state park tour this time last year. I was about to wrap up a good solid six weeks of camping on Halloween. The trees were giving up the ghost and the chill rains of fall had descended. I was footloose and fancy free for the last half of September and all of October. I will never forget that time on the road and all the amazing places my home state has to offer. As I drove out the two-lane blacktop toward the Ponderosa, I was reminded how tremendously blessed I am to live in this beautiful place that feeds my soul.

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My sweetheart was waiting for me at home. He offered to carry my bags in, but I was fine. I helped him search for the kitty to put her to bed. (She was already in her building asleep on the tractor seat.) I heated up leftovers and we watched the news. It is a sweet and simple life we live here. The days are easy this time of year. No mowing. No canning. Just everyday pursuits...catching up inside with the stuff left undone from being outside since March. Though there are still things to do out there. The pool has officially been put to bed. Some of the garden plants have been cleared. Today we go to town to pick up our new chairs...the first real furniture we have purchased together. When we get back, we have to clean out the gutters because the rain from the hurricanes will be here soon. 

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It really doesn’t end, does it.

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❤️

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“You control human events— you give rulers their power and take it away, and you are the source of wisdom and knowledge.”

\nDaniel 2:21 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-10-28T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/10/28/day-a-girl-needs-a.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Gratitude","Change","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/10/22/day-takin-care-of-business.html", "title": "Day 223: Takin’ Care of Business", "content_html": "\n
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Foggy Bottom on the Ponderosa

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Yesterday was a day of pure satisfaction. I was up at 6:00am to head into town for my yearly mammogram. I had a lumpectomy done a couple of years ago so it’s really important to stay on top of that. I was amazed to have the results by the time I got back home...normal! When I got home, Mr. FixIt was just getting his day started. As soon as breakfast was done, we were off to the County Court House to vote early in person. As I predicted, we are the smallest and least populated state, so there were only two people in front of us. They had us seated on benches with several feet between us. Everyone wore a mask. I’m glad we got there when we did because the line went out the door by the time we left.

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Fog Rising on the Ponderosa...8:30am

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Mr. FixIt had to go to town in the afternoon to let a repairman into his friend’s house while they are away. While he was gone, I mowed the five acres here at the Ponderosa. The sun was going down over the far hill and the trees were literally glowing gold. I kept stopping the mower to pull out my camera and snap some photos. Mr. FixIt came home with a sandwich for my supper. I rode the tractor out into the field and stopped there to eat among the shower of leaves. It was so beautiful and peaceful!

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Late Afternoon...the Long Shadows Taking Over

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I have to go to the DMV today. Mr. FixIt stuck my 3-year camper sticker on his license plate by mistake so I need to replace it. Then I’m meeting my late cousin’s wife for a visit. She lives in Tennessee so I don’t get to see her nearly often enough. I’m really looking forward to a little socially distanced conversation. Oh, and by the way...our Covid tests were negative...thank God. I was sure they were, but I’ve had a little bit of a sore throat since we got home from the beach and of course, that is worrisome given what’s going on.

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I must say, felt such a sense of relief to have voted and done my civic duty. I know I tried to stay out of the boxing ring when it came to politics this season, but I certainly wasn’t always successful. I do want to say, no matter the outcome, I’m really praying for our country to come together and work for the greater good...lifting each other up. And, if I have offended any of you, I hope you will forgive me. This election cycle has the been the most contentious I’ve known since the ‘60s and I wasn’t always my best self.

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I hope you get a chance to get outside and enjoy God’s beauty around you today. I know it snowed in the upper Midwest, but we are enjoying a little Indian Summer here in West Virginia with a high of 80 degrees.

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❤️

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“then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil.”

\nDeuteronomy 11:14 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-10-22T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/10/22/day-takin-care-of-business.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Gratitude","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/10/21/day-doo-doo-doolookin-out.html", "title": "Day 222: “Doo, Doo, Doo...Lookin’ Out my Back Door”", "content_html": "\n
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When we got back from the beach, we had thirty-three pounds of bagged and frozen fish filets in our huge cooler packed in ice. We have a refrigerator out in the pole building and I needed to move some stuff out of that freezer to make room for the fish. I had several bags of vegetable soup, a pound of hamburger, and a small chuck roast in there. I put them down in the refrigerator part and yesterday, I checked and they were just starting to thaw a bit.

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I carried it all inside and dumped the soup in a large pot. I added a quart of the tomato sauce I canned earlier this summer. Then I chopped up the hamburger, cubed the chuck roast, and tossed them in a little flour, added salt and pepper and cooked them till they had just lost their pink color. I added the meat to the soup, adjusted the seasonings, and brought it to a boil. Then I canned eleven quarts of fabulous vegetable beef soup. Now I have all this great soup to add to the shelves for winter. Canning is a lot of work up front, but it sure saves time when you’re fixing a meal. And there’s nothing better than homemade vegetable beef soup!

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As I was waiting for the last canner load to process, I sat down in the family room and looked out the back door. I caught this sliver of moon hanging low over the near field beyond the pole building. You can see the honeysuckle vines on the fence to the left of the back gate. The fog rolled in as night fell. I love the little treasures I find every day here in the country. After a day of standing on your feet and working, having these moments to catch my breath and share this beauty with my love is a blessing I still have to pinch myself over.

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A friend of mine texted the other day. She was the Human Resources Director that initially hired Mr. Virgo in Aspen. We’ve been friends ever since and she was the person who came to my home the week after Mr. Virgo died to help me begin to make some sense of the paperwork involved with dying. Anne was back at her Colorado house cleaning out more “stuff” when she came across a couple of pictures she had to share with me. They were taken at our wedding and one shows Mr. Virgo walking out and up the aisle to wait for me. I smiled when I saw him. I rarely see pictures of him that I haven’t seen before.

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I don’t cry anymore when I see pictures of him. He has been placed in a safe place in my heart and I rarely take him out. I’ve learned how to live in the present and enjoy what God has given me this go ‘round. But I did have a dream about Mr. Virgo the other night. And my mom. Mom had passed the year before I met Mr. Virgo so he only got the stories. In my dream, I realized I hadn’t seen Mr. Virgo in a while so I told my mom I was headed to Aspen to see if I could find him. I’ve had that dream a couple of times since he died. The first time, I found him in my dream. He was working in an office. He was wearing a handsome hand-tailored suit and was shuffling papers at a large desk. We sat down and talked, although I can no longer remember what was said. This time, I couldn’t find him. It didn’t leave me bereft like the first time. It was more like, “Ahhhh, yes...I remember that love. He doesn’t live here anymore.” It’s ok now. It’s ok to move forward. It’s ok to have a happy life and to laugh and love again. And, it’s ok to keep those memories tucked in a safe place in your heart. Because they will never go away entirely. I am blessed to have a strong, secure man who gave me room to hold those memories.

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So, today I get my annual mammogram. Keep checking the tatas, ladies...it’s important. Then, I am going to go to the courthouse and exercise my right to vote. Who knows what I’ll get into after that? Mowing, probably. We are thinking this is probably the last time of the season since we have had two hard freezes here. We’ll have a little warm up in the coming days before the regular frosts of fall arrive. And you know what that means in West Virginia, right? The arrival of the Asian Ladybugs and those gosh awful stink bugs! Ugh...it’s just an infestation and I dread them every fall. Here’s hoping the blue Dawn and water solution I sprayed around the windows and doors helps to ward them off.

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❤️

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“They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them down.”

\nPsalms 118:12 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-10-21T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/10/21/day-doo-doo-doolookin-out.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Wisdom","Farm Life","Widow","Cooking","In the Kitchen"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/10/20/day-testing-testing.html", "title": "Day 221: Testing, Testing, 1-2-3", "content_html": "\n
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We live in a tiny, sparsely populated county in rural West Virginia where an awful lot of people scoff at the idea of wearing masks. And we’ve been extremely lucky. There have been only twenty-nine cases of Covid-19 in our county. But, up till a week ago, there was half that. With the fact that we traveled...very carefully, but still...and the fact that our numbers here at home doubled in a week, free testing was offered at the small clinic in town yesterday afternoon. We drove over and didn’t even have to get out of the car. The test itself is only slightly uncomfortable and we should have results in 24-48 hours.

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We went to town yesterday morning to pick Pumpkin up from the Kitty Hilton. They loved her there and gave her lots of loves. Poor thing made a mess in her crate on the drive home but was no worse for the wear. She was happy as a little clam to get back to her old haunts and explore. I read online that you could spray a solution of water with a little blue Dawn dish soap in it around your windows and doors to keep the Asian ladybugs and stink bugs out. I have no idea if it works, but I gave it a try. I’ll let you know. I also brought in the hummingbird feeder, cleaned it, and put it away for next year.

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We’ve been busy trying to put everything away from our trip so we haven’t messed with putting the garden to bed for the winter yet. We had two hard freezes so the growing season is over in our neck of the woods. It’s sad to see all the beautiful pumpkin and passion flower vines hanging limp on the chain link fence. Our one little pumpkin is resting on the ground out by the pepper plants so I need to get that cleaned out.

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I finally took the time yesterday to take a picture of the dining room table filled with the fruits of my labor. It’s pretty darned impressive, if I do say so myself. I still need to clear out a space on the shelves downstairs to store the filled jars. That’s when they are so pretty. Our little great granddaughter came over for a socially distanced visit last evening. She can count to ten now so we played hide and seek. When she hid, she scooted into some weeds and her baby fine hair got filled with burrs. It took us over an hour to strip them out...bless her heart. She was such a trooper and sat very still.

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Slowly getting back into the swing of things at home. It isn’t easy for me to let go after a very busy summer and then traveling. There’s still mowing to do, both here and at the farm. I need to organize all my canning accoutrements and put them away for the season. Then I can take a little break and do something else for a while. It was truly fall here yesterday...cool, rainy, and showers of golden leaves falling all around. The Lord is putting the earth to rest for the winter...I need to prepare to follow suit.

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❤️

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“As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat; winter and summer, day and night.”

\nGenesis 8:22 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-10-20T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/10/20/day-testing-testing.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Farm Life","In the Kitchen"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/10/09/day-my-word-of-the.html", "title": "Day 210: My Word of the Day...Obstreperous!", "content_html": "\n
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On our way out to the farm yesterday to mow, we stopped by Charlotte’s barn with a big bag of apple peelings for the chickens. Oh...they LOVED me! I can’t remember when we went last, but the grass was SO long. And, it’s changed again. It’s gone from this rough fall grass to very fine grass that grows really fast and stays damp. Oh...it was a booger to mow! I had to go over it and over it and over it dozens of times to mulch it all up because we don’t bag it. It took forever, but when it was finished, it was so lovely. The late afternoon sun was golden as it reflected off the leaves turning the red farmhouse a deep garnet glow.

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I did a load of laundry while we were there because the water and gas are free and it lets me stay at the farm longer. I started the load then went out to mow. When I came in and checked on the washer, it was humming but not moving. I fiddled with it for a bit then realized I had not turned the pump on! I ran out to the cellar house and plugged in the pump and we were back in business in no time. 

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The neighbor across the road called me a couple of days ago to say there was a box on the front porch and he moved it to the back to get it out of sight. It turned out to be a box from Misfits Market that was delivered to the wrong address. I took it to it’s rightful owner and hope it isn’t completely spoiled. Have any of you used Misfits? From the advertisements, it looks pretty neat. You receive a box of vegetables that may not look as pretty as the ones in the store, but they’re still perfectly useful. I’ve been thinking about checking into it. Maybe when we get back from the beach. My daughter gets a box of vegetables every week from a warehouse in Denver and loves it, but we don’t have anything like that here.

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We stopped on the way home and picked up some supper and sat at the park having our weekly date night. It was a little chilly to sit on the bumper, but the leaves were still beautiful and the river was as smooth as green glass. Believe it or not, I’m not always the nicest person to be around when I’m getting read for a trip. I have my head in the clouds, thinking of a million things that need to be done. When Mr. FixIt talks to me, I don’t hear it half the time in the days leading up to vacation. This week has been a challenge with the added chores surrounding canning. When we finally sat down last night, I looked over at him and said, “It’s a darned good thing you love me because I can be a real snot.” He objected vociferously. “You are not a snot!”  I looked at him and grinned. “Ok...I’m obstreperous!”

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I sat there mulling that over. 

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obstreperous: adjective

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  1. resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner; unruly.
    2. \n
  2. noisy, clamorous, or boisterous
    3. \n
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Yep...that’s me. There’s not much of anything delicate and ladylike about me, although I can clean up and be presentable in public. I wasn’t always this “free to be me”. Mr. FixIt has brought that out in me in a big way and sometimes I still feel like I need to rein it in so as not to be “too much”. For FAR too many years, I was “too much”...too loud, too boisterous, too...too...too. I stifled myself to fit a mold till I got lost down inside. Not anymore. Maybe it’s age. Maybe it’s the times. Maybe it’s Mr. FixIt embracing my every quirk. I don’t know. All I know is...now I’m obstreperous...in the very best of ways!

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T-minus one day and counting. SO much to do today, I hardly know where to start...but I made a list. I can’t live without lists anymore. I’m just at that age. I tell Mr. FixIt, we have one brain between us and it’s a good thing we have each other...obstreperous or not!

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❤️

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“Always be joyful and never stop praying.”

\n1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-10-09T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/10/09/day-my-word-of-the.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Wisdom","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/10/04/day-a-space-of-my.html", "title": "Day 205: A Space of My Own", "content_html": "\n
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I think every woman should carve out a little space that is just hers. Guys get the “man cave” or their “workshop”. Women get the kitchen. That’s all well and good. I mean, I love being in the kitchen and creating wonderful foods for the people I love. But it’s not like that...or the products that come from it...are for me alone.

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I have my camper. For now, anyway. But what happens when I sell her? I may not have another one right away, and since I don’t have a “she shed”, I’ve decided to create a space of my own here at the house. We have a bedroom that has nothing but boxes of things labeled “Garage Sale”. These are boxes that the former Mrs. FixIt left thinking when the time came and we decided to actually HAVE a garage sale, we could stick this stuff in it. She is very helpful that way...very organized...and I appreciate it immensely. I think, if Covid hadn’t struck, we might actually have had a garage sale this year, but alas...it was not to be.

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Rather than wait another whole year, I’m taking matters into my own hands. I’m going to clear that room out and create a space just for me. Mostly because, when I settle in to write this blog every night, I write while I’m propped up with a bunch of pillows in our bed. I don’t think it’s doing my back any good and I’m tired of feeling like I’m in bed all the time. I’ve tried writing in the living room while Mr. FixIt watches TV but I find it distracting at best and mostly agitating, even with headphones on.

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I have a picture in my head of what my room will look like. I have a Tiffany style floor lamp out at the farm. I brought it from my home in Colorado and I’d love to have it beside a comfortable chair. I would like a small side table...a place to set my cup of tea, a basket by the chair for my knitting, and a small footstool to prop my feet upon. I would like lacy white curtains to let in the light. I have an electric space heater out at the farm that looks like an antique wood stove. I would like to create a faux fireplace with it. I’ll hang the wooden clock that I bought Mr. Virgo for his last Christmas. I’ll have a small Bluetooth speaker to listen to soft music...or the sounds of a crackling fire. The room will be cozy and comfortable and quiet and peaceful. A nice place to write and retreat without having to climb in bed. And the best part? NO TV!

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We went to our great granddaughter’s 3rd Birthday Party yesterday. We stopped at the 4H Ox Roast on our way home to pick up a couple of meals so we wouldn’t have to cook. Oh, my goodness...that was wonderful food. And so much of it, too. After supper, I opened Facebook and...there was my chair! It was absolutely the exact chair I’ve been wanting at a price that can’t be beat. We’ll run into town today to pick it up and that will motivate me to get the back room cleared out. I’m nesting and getting my winter she shed ready.

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❤️

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““As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.””

\nGenesis 8:22 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-10-04T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/10/04/day-a-space-of-my.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Peace","Wisdom","Peaceful Moments","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/09/25/day-grandmas-grape-arbor.html", "title": "Day 191: Grandma’s Grape Arbor", "content_html": "\n
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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. 

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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!

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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. 

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Today, I tackle the apples!

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❤️

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“And when you pick your grapes, go over the vines only once, then let the poor have what is left.”

\nDeuteronomy 24:21 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-09-25T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/09/25/day-grandmas-grape-arbor.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Memories","In the Kitchen"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/09/17/day-itty-bitty-critters.html", "title": "Day 183: Itty Bitty Critters", "content_html": "\n
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I was hopeful when we spent the entire day in town on Monday, it meant I wouldn’t have to go back for a week. But that was not to be. I woke up yesterday and went over my to do list and remembered I needed to have blood drawn. Dang. I needed to pick up flea medicine for the kitty and buy a new set of sheets for the camper. And I’ve been wanting a food processor. I have one of those tiny food choppers, but they don’t do what I need done. Mr. FixIt had an appointment in town as well, but we decided to drive separately since we each had things that we needed to do.

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When I got home, I stretched out to read my instruction manual for the food processor. I bought a simple 9-cup Kitchenaid that grates, slices, and processes with a blade. I really didn’t need the Mercedes model. After my little siesta, I went out to finish mowing. As I was pulling the tractor back into the building, something caught my eye. A baby Eastern Rat Snake was sunning itself at the doorway and I startled it. The little baby went slithering behind the extra refrigerator. 

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I know we have snakes out there. Remember the story I told you last year about rummaging around in the back corner, putting away camping equipment, and that massive Black Rat Snake fell out of the rafters and landed on the box in front of me? Yeah...there are snakes. I keep my eyes peeled when I’m in the building.

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I like walking out to the camper on a warm summer night and seeing the little frogs and toads. They hang out under the outdoor lamp and catch bugs. By the end of summer, we have fat little critters all around here.

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Mr. FixIt and I were giving the kitty a little snuggle before I put her flea guard on and noticed there are tons of red tomatoes on in the garden. Today will be a kitchen day, for sure. Maybe I’ll get to try out my new food processor.

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And, ohhhhh....there’s nothing like new crisp linens on a camper bed!

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❤️

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“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”

\nProverbs 6:6-8 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-09-17T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/09/17/day-itty-bitty-critters.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/09/16/day-zoom-zoom-zoom.html", "title": "Day 182: Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!", "content_html": "\n
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I had my first Zoom meeting yesterday. Well, almost had it. One of the key members didn’t show so we postponed till next week. I was all jazzed to see what this Zoom thing is all about. First of all, it took me three hours to prepare for it. I wanted to use the desktop computer, but I couldn’t find my plugin headset. Our computer doesn’t have Bluetooth so I couldn’t use the wireless headset. I finally figure out I could used the plugin headphones on the laptop while using the laptop’s microphone. It was quite a chore.

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I wanted to used one of those really cool backgrounds like I see some of the celebs use when they are on Zoom. But, I would have had to have a green screen and I just didn’t have the inclination, nor the time, to waste on it. It all worked out and maybe I’ll figure out that background thing before the next meeting.

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I don’t remember if I told you...our new neighbors have chickens! I’ve always wanted chickens and to hear a rooster crowing. This way, I don’t have to feed them or keep them safe yet I can still hear the hens clucking as they scratch around the neighbor’s house. And that rooster! Close enough to hear...far enough away to not be annoying. So now when my friends come to camp with me, they can hear real farm animals! My country cred just went up immensely. 

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Oh, the nights are getting so much cooler now. Our high yesterday was in the upper 70’s but Monday night’s low was 51 degrees. We threw an extra cover on the bed out in the camper. I wouldn’t let Mr. FixIt shut the windows, though. I like a cool room with warm blankets. It’s so cozy!

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When I was finished on the computer yesterday, I went out to ride the lawnmower and got the two big fields finished before dark. I had to come in and put on a flannel shirt before I was done, though. The air has a definite chill to it now. There are some leaves falling already. I didn’t have time to work in the kitchen at all yesterday other than to do the dishes and clean. I’ll have to find some time today to get something done in there.

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I always have good intentions to get certain chores done on certain days. It makes me think of the calendar in Martha Stewart Magazine. You know the one...September 3rd, pull the spent flowers from the south garden...September 9th, harvest the gourds...September 17th, mulch the roses. You know as well as I do, these are the orders she’s giving the hired help. I had to let my hired help go. They were nipping at the cooking sherry and stole the silver. lol

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I guess I’ll just do what I always do. Look at what needs doing and do it...one chore at a time. It keeps me honest....and usually pretty tired.

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❤️

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“No matter how much you want, laziness won't help a bit, but hard work will reward you with more than enough.”

\nProverbs 13:4 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-09-16T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/09/16/day-zoom-zoom-zoom.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Comfort","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/09/15/day-hummingbirds-hollyhocks.html", "title": "Day 181: Hummingbirds \u0026 Hollyhocks", "content_html": "\n
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I met my classmate’s sister in the McDonald’s parking lot yesterday and traded my wide mouth canning lids for the coveted regular size. Three for three...even Steven. At the same time, two of our grandkids met us with their sweet little boy....our first great grandson. It was all I could do not to pull him out of his car seat and kiss him all over. I haven’t held my babies since February! But, ohhhhh...it was so good to see them. 

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Honestly, that was all we planned to do, but one thing led to another and we didn’t get home till after 6:00 last night. That is the nature of a trip to town when you live out in the country. You try to squeeze all the errands you possibly might need to do into that one trip and hopefully you don’t have to make another one for a while. 

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We did the usual...bank, post office, Sams, grocery store, and checking on a friend’s house while he’s away. On a whim, we decided to stop in Kohl’s. There are a couple of things I’ve been looking for and I hoped to find them there but alas...no luck. On our way home, we stopped for a sandwich. The last think I want to do after a day of running around is to cook. 

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One of you wrote yesterday asking where I got our yard flag. Honestly, I can’t remember, other than it was locally. I looked online and found a website that sells the same flag. You can look in the comments on yesterday’s post and find the link if you’re interested. I loved this flag as soon as I saw it. I’m crazy about hummingbirds and even though we had our feeder out at the appropriate time with the correct feed and changed it regularly, we just didn’t have as many hummers this summer. 

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I love the deep red hollyhocks. The only time I’ve ever had hollyhocks was when Hubby #2 was doing his residency. We lived in an old farmhouse surrounded by more modern mid century houses. After researching, I found out that this area had been a dairy farm at one time. The house we lived in was the main residence for the farm. There were old flowerbeds around the house and I did my best to be an urban farm girl and bring them back to life. I planted garnet colored hollyhocks along the sand-colored brick on the front porch. On hot summer evenings, as the sun began to dip low and turn the air to spun gold, the hummingbirds would bob and weave and dive their way around the yard, fighting for a sip of the sweet nectar. Daughter #1 and I would sit in the front porch swing...the sound of the chain squeaking as we swayed back and forth and the darkness closed in around us.

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There was a lot of traffic on Holly Street and I would do my best to tune it out and focus on what little night sounds I could hear in the busy neighborhoods of east Denver. Crickets. The whine of mosquitoes around our ears. The distant bark of a dog. I would rock and close my eyes and pretend I was back home on the farm in West Virginia. I swear...I missed home more than anything in this world and would count the days till I could hop on a plane and come see my family.

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Now, as I write this, I’m laying in a camper...the windows thrown open. The night air is cool and tonight we’ll need an extra blanket as it’s supposed to get down to 51 degrees. There are the crickets. And the katydids. The whine of a mosquito and the sound of the neighbor’s dog announcing a possible four-legged interloper. This time, it’s the occasional car that passes up the road out front that breaks the stillness instead of the other way around.

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I still marvel at this scenario. There was a time that I didn’t dare dream I could live here again...let alone live on five acres where I can grow anything I want. Or care for Grandma’s house and stay there whenever I want. Or find my BFF from high school and marry him. I am living my dream. There is only one thing that would make this life better...having my Colorado family closer. That would be absolute perfection!

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But...this is pretty darned close!

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❤️

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“You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.”

\nPsalms 16:11 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-09-15T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/09/15/day-hummingbirds-hollyhocks.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Comfort","Wisdom","Choices","Be Joyful!","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/09/12/day-battling-west-virginia-vegetation.html", "title": "Day 178: Battling West Virginia Vegetation", "content_html": "\n
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The area where we removed the biggest trees.

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Colorado has snow. West Virginia has dense foliage. Both are a result of moisture. Both are beautiful. And, both can be a king-sized pain in a horse’s patoot! We went out to the farm yesterday to do battle with the tough fall grass that grows in September. It’s so hard to cut. Then, instead of weed eating, I took the pole saw to several small trees and wild grape vines.

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The trunks of most of the trees were around an inch or so across, but there were a few that were around 3-4” and they were more cumbersome. You really have to stay on top of things around here or you soon have a veritable jungle surrounding you. The Rose of Sharon at the back corner of the house had grown in so close, you could hardly walk through there. That had to be trimmed back, as well as some of the branches still attached to the tree that fell. They were encroaching in the yard where I like to mow so they needed to go.

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The larger brush pile.

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Old blackberry canes, multi flora rose, wild grape vine, Virginia Creeper, sumac, pig weed, sycamore...all rapid growing and invasive. Of course, as soon as you get them cut, you have to haul them off to the brush pile or the grass will die where they lay. One tree was absolutely woven into the shrubbery with wild grape vines...just like weaving fabric. That one was a lot of work to get out and we had to chain it up to the tractor to pull it out of the road and into the yard where we could cut it up in smaller sections. I know I’m going to be sore today. For those of you who may not know what a pole saw is, it’s literally a small chainsaw on the end of a telescoping pole so you can reach low lying limbs without a ladder. Ours extends to about twelve feet so you’re trying to wield this thing around over your head and hold it steady while it chews through four or five inches of wood. It’s hard work, trust me.

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The smaller brush pile.

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I also ran a couple of loads of laundry while we were there, and we didn’t even leave our house till the bread was baked. We were supposed to go to the class picnic today, but with Covid and the new warnings to hunker down for the fall and winter, we just decided not to go. Some people say you can’t let fear keep you from living your life...we only get this one trip...make the most of it. My answer is, we are not living fearfully. We are living scientifically informed. Just wear the mask so we can get this over with. There...that’s my PSA for the day.

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These nights are “false fall”...a series of cool evenings that are great for sleeping in the camper with the windows open. There are so many who cannot open their windows because of the smoke. We are blessed here. Lots of moisture. Lots of vegetation. Lots of work...but so worth it!

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❤️

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“And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”

\nGenesis 1:11-12 ESV\n
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#HardWork, #Vegetation, #WestVirginia

\n\n", "date_published": "2020-09-12T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/09/12/day-battling-west-virginia-vegetation.html", "tags": ["Strong Women","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Farm Life","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/09/11/day-breaking-a-record-in.html", "title": "Day 177: Breaking a Record in Canning", "content_html": "\n
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It has been humid the last couple of days. Add all the pots of boiling water in the kitchen from canning and this last batch of Romas in the dehydrator are taking longer than usual to dry. I don’t have any real canning projects to do today, so the humidity in the kitchen should drop significantly. Maybe then the last tray of tomatoes will finally dry.

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I made two batches of plum jam and a batch of grape jelly yesterday. I also made my sourdough loaves and put them in the fridge to rise overnight. I’ll bake them first thing this morning and get the oven off before the heat of the day. I’ve now broken my official record for number of jars canned. I’ve done around 110, if you count what I’ve already given away. Everything is still sitting on the kitchen table. I have plenty of jars left, but I’m running low on lids. I have four boxes of wide mouth lids, but only regular mouth jars, so that doesn’t help me. Maybe I can find someone who would like to trade some with me.

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The former Mrs. FixIt came out last night and we sat on the deck, chatting about canning and great recipes. A friend of hers told her about eating fried cucumbers. I’ve never heard of such a thing, and neither had she. But she tried them and said they were great! She also mentioned a recipe she learned from an old Amish woman where she used to work. It’s called “Freezer Slaw” and she says it’s delicious. If I get the recipe and try it, I’ll let you know.

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I have a head of cabbage I was going to make another jar of sauerkraut from, but then I used the jars for dill pickles. Now I think I’ll make what my mom called “piccalilly”. I’ve also heard it called “Chow Chow” or “End-of-the-Garden Relish”. It’s usually made before the first frost so your green tomatoes don’t go to waste. It is essentially shredded and chopped veggies like red and green bell peppers, onions, green tomatoes, and cabbage with mustard seed, bay leaf, black peppercorns and turmeric mixed with sugar and vinegar. My mom would sit at grandma’s table and eat a whole jar of it with a spoon...it was that good. 

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That will have to wait till next week. After the bread comes out of the oven this morning, we need to load up the utility trailer again and head to the farm to mow before the weekend rains. Saturday is our high school class picnic. We are being extra careful with Covid now, but we can socially distance and visit a little while. 

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Mr. FixIt and I both had our flu shots last week, and he had his second pneumonia vaccine...Prevnar. I’ve already had both of mine. I think it is very important to be as healthy as we can be as we ride out the next few months in this pandemic. That’s one of the reasons I’ve been so busy canning and preserving food for the pantry. Good healthy nutrition, social distancing/masks/hygiene, vitamins, plenty of fluids and whatever supplements we feel we may need to maintain good health will be our way of getting through the winter. I’m making a list of indoor projects I’d like to accomplish and I have plenty of sock yarn to work with. I think I’ll get some cotton “Sugar ‘n Cream” yarn to knit dishcloths with as well. 

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We have one trip planned to our condo at the beach. Weather will have the final word whether we go, as well as the Covid infection rate locally. We think since it’s in the middle of October, we’ll be much safer than during peak tourist season. We’ll see how we feel when we get closer to the date.

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Speaking of dates...it’s been nineteen years since the towers came down. I will never, ever forget that day...what I was doing, who I was with, how it felt. Our country pulled together for the greater good in the aftermath of 9/11. I pray we can find that common ground today.

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If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s that God laughs at our attempts to make plans. So, I’ve discovered my new word for the year...even this late in the game.

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Flexibility.

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❤️

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“I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. Christ gives me the strength to face anything. It was good of you to help me when I was having such a hard time.”

\nPhilippians 4:12-14 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-09-11T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/09/11/day-breaking-a-record-in.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Cooking","In the Kitchen"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/09/10/day-beans-tomatoes-picklesyummm.html", "title": "Day 176: Beans \u0026 Tomatoes \u0026 Pickles...YUMMM!!!", "content_html": "\n
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Ok, yesterday was a marathon day in the kitchen here at the Ponderosa. I started out by packaging up the dehydrated mushrooms then rummaging through the garden to get a few more Roma tomatoes. I set what was ready in the dehydrator and turned my attention to the green beans.

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I had enough of the beans cleaned yesterday to set a canner on to process. Then, Mr. FixIt and I enjoyed rocking in the recliners, watching old Frazier reruns while I finished stringing and snapping the last of the beans between canner loads.

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I learned something yesterday. I should have weighed the beans, because apparently I had a LOT more than I thought. According to the weights and measures scale for produce, a bushel of snap beans should weigh between twenty-eight and thirty-two pounds. This should result in a quart of processed beans for every one-and-a-half to two pounds of raw produce. Initially, I figured I would get two canners full with enough leftover beans to cook up a mess for supper. (\"Mess is Appalachian for a batch...a dinner's worth with leftovers.)

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I ended up with four canners full! That's twenty-eight quarts. I did my math and I payed just over a dollar a quart for these babies. AND I got the fun and satisfaction of putting them up for winter. I know, I know...this is nothing compared to what my cousins can every year. They put up hundreds of jars of food. I'm a little limited by supplies this year as I was sort of starting from scratch in the canning department. I'll get more jars and lids next spring.

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When the last canner was filled and on the stove, I got out my fermenting equipment and got two quarts of dill pickles started. They will sit for one to three weeks in the brine till they get to my desired taste. I made one quart with hot red pepper flakes for a little extra pizazz. I would normally use dried whole red peppers from the spice aisle but Walmart didn't have them.

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And that was the end of my day. I was tired...but it was a good kind of tired. My hands smell like garlic and they're soft from working with wet beans for two days. My hips are sore from sitting so much. But, ohhhhh.....those beautiful jars of bottled summer take my breath away when I look at them!

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It was not till I was typing this last night to post this morning that I noticed the date. Today would have been Mr. Virgo's 70th birthday! It feels so unreal. He will always and forever be 62...a number I passed five years ago. I can't even imagine him at 70. He would have reluctantly retired. He had no hobbies other than golf and me. I never, EVER would have considered taking off in the camper by myself and having adventures without him. He told me when we were first dating that if I was the kind of woman who was going to leave him alone for long stretches of time, he wasn't interested. I had been in a two decade marriage with a workaholic who had dinner between 8:00-10:00 every night. I was ready for that one-on-one attention.

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Don't get me wrong...I absolutely adore Mr. FixIt and I treasure every moment we have together. AND, I learned I need some space to recharge from time to time...for my own mental health as well as the comfort of my spouse. Different people. Different marriages. Different expectations. Still...I think of that silver-haired man and smile now.

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Seventy.

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Wow.

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Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mr. Virgo!

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❤

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Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

\nColossians 3:23 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-09-10T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/09/10/day-beans-tomatoes-picklesyummm.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Wisdom","Aging","Peaceful Moments","Be Joyful!","Farm Life","Widow","Memories","Marriage","Cooking","In the Kitchen"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/09/09/day-learning-in-the-garden.html", "title": "Day 175: Learning in the Garden", "content_html": "\n
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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. 

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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.

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The tomato hornworm!

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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❤️

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“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.”

\nColossians 2:16 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-09-09T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/09/09/day-learning-in-the-garden.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Farm Life","Cooking","In the Kitchen"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/09/08/day-getting-things-done-for.html", "title": "Day 174: Getting Things Done for Winter", "content_html": "\n
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You can see the tree to the left that fell and crushed the old meter box. You can also see the old iron bridge that went across the creek to the outhouse.

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My Colorado family has checked in and they are expecting snow today! I think they said it will be the earliest measurable snowfall in twenty years. I must say...I certainly don’t miss that! I miss my kids and my Colorado peeps...and I miss the beauty of the Rockies...but I do NOT miss snow and cold...not one bit. Still, snow will come to West Virginia one of these days and getting ready for it is what a proper country gal does.

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I wanted to make another batch of jam yesterday, but we decided we had better go to the farm to mow and finish building the enclosure for the gas meter. I found out why there is a cover for it. The holler up behind the house works like nature’s air conditioner as the cool air sweeps down through the woods past the house. That’s great in the summer, but in the wintertime, that same air flow brings frigid temps with it. There is a good deal of moisture in natural gas and the water condenses and lays in the gas lines. If it gathers at the meter and the temperature takes a nosedive, the line can freeze and shuts off the gas to the house. Then, there’s no heat and the water lines are the next to go. 

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We’ve been really lucky the last few years to have fairly mild winters, but you never know when one will be harsh. The little shed surrounding the gas meter protects it from that downdraft through the holler and helps to keep the gas running. We finished rebuilding it yesterday and got it in place and if I do say so, we did a pretty good job. We decided not to mow out there. The grass hadn’t grown nearly as much there as it did here at the Ponderosa, so we didn’t even unload the mower.

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Oh, we did have one little bit of excitement on the way over to the farm. I’m the one who hooked up the little utility trailer and loaded the riding mower and lawn mower while Mr. FixIt was busy doing something else. I checked everything, just like I do when I hook up the camper. I did notice the latch that locks the hitch in place was a little hard to put down, but I finally got it. Well, we stopped at the Piggly Wiggly for some lunch supplies and when we went over a bump, the trailer came unhooked! Thank God we were going very slow or that could have been a problem. The safety chains did their job and nothing was damaged. We got it hooked back up and didn’t have any more trouble.

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Dehydrated mushrooms. I was surprised how easily these dried.

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I emptied the dehydrator and put the mushrooms in a jar before we left for the farm. These will be really nice to throw into soup, stew, and spaghetti sauce over the winter. Our dining room table is getting filled with jars of goodies. Mr. FixIt thought we should carry them downstairs, but I told him I want to take a picture of the bounty before we do that. I love looking at all the jars of healthy foods put away for the coming winter.

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It’s time to bake sourdough again and I think I’m going to try to cut the recipe in half and only make one loaf this time. I actually had to throw some away last time because it got moldy. I should have stored the extra loaf in the fridge, but there wasn’t enough room and I just got so busy canning, I forgot about it. I really hated to throw that bread away! If we had a pig or some chickens, that would have gone out to them. I still haven’t fixed up a compost bin yet. So much to do...so little time to do it.

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So, Labor Day is gone and we are heading into fall. I’m not minding it a bit this year. We don’t have a thing on our schedule till Saturday so we’ll see what we can get into here at the Ponderosa. I’m on the prowl for some half-runner beans to can!

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❤️

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“Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.”

\nEcclesiastes 3:1 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-09-08T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/09/08/day-getting-things-done-for.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life","Baking"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/09/07/day-jam-and-jesus.html", "title": "Day 173: Jam and Jesus!", "content_html": "\n
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I love Sundays in the country. While they are supposed to be a day of rest, they most often turn into a different kind of worship...the kind I do every day. First, since we are staying out in the camper every chance we get, we are sleeping so soundly that it isn’t hard to completely miss online church. However, yesterday, I opened my eyes, smiled at my sweetheart and he said, “Good morning, baby...ten minutes to church!”

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I glanced at my cell phone to confirm and hopped right up. When your man is excited for church, you get moving! I was up, dressed, in the house with coffee in hand at 10:00...a new world record, I am sure!

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Church was really great, even though they played a repeat of the last sermon of 2019. For one thing, it was so cool to see what life was like just 9 short months ago. A little nostalgic, I have to say. Also, our pastor...as I am sure any pastor would be...was so animated and on fire in front of a congregation without restriction. Next Sunday they are going back to in person worship, but we will stay home and continue to watch online. We just feel safer that way and we still get spiritually fed. This is actually working very well for us under the circumstances but I will look forward to the day we feel it is a healthy choice for us to go in person. In the meantime, we do not feel deprived of the experience.

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As soon as church was over, I headed to work in the kitchen. I filled the dehydrator with sliced mushrooms and set it aside to do its thing while I turned to the main task at hand. I had peaches and plums that needed to be made into jam and I could hardly wait to try the new Jam & Jelly Maker. When I preserve food, I set everything out in an orderly fashion so I don’t have to go looking for something I need right in the middle of things. There might be a little wiggle room if you are canning tomatoes or green beans, but jams and jellies are absolutely time dependent.

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As I set to peeling the peaches, I asked Mr. FixIt if he would mind filming me while I did it. I wanted to show how easy it is to peel peaches and make jam. It was the first thing I learned to can when I started and anyone can do it...especially with this handy appliance. When Mr. FixIt was in high school, he ran the stage crew so he is quite at home behind a camera. However, from a technical standpoint, we made some errors so there is definitely a learning curve.

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For one thing, I not only had the window fan going, but I also had the exhaust fan on over the stove, trying to keep the house from getting too hot. That’s great for temperature...not so great for sound. The second thing we discovered...if you film in portrait view and compose the movie in the app iMovie, it converts to landscape orientation. That’s cool except...it cuts off the top and the bottom of the film. In other words, the top of my head is cut off, but you can hear what I’m saying, so we’ll just take it as a learning experience. Just a head’s up disclaimer if you decide to watch. I’ve added a link to my YouTube Channel. (Yes...I have a YouTube Channel...who knew? lol)

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It was a productive day. The Jam & Jelly Maker only makes four jars at a time. If there is a downside, that’s it. However, the upsides are awesome. It stirs itself and the temperature is preset so there’s no scorching. And, while one batch is cooking, you can get the ingredients together for the next batch. It went very smooth once I got the hang of it.

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I ended up with eight jars of Peach Jam, but not enough mashed fruit left for a third batch. I pulled the plums out of the fridge and cut up enough to make up the difference and made four jars of Peach-Plum Jam. It was my favorite. The flavor combo was really special. Then I made four jars of Plum Jam but there were not enough mashed plums to make another batch. I put what was left over in a jar in the fridge and will buy some more plums today to add to it. So, sixteen jars of jam and a dehydrator full of mushrooms. Not a bad afternoon’s work.

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When we had the kids over on Friday for homemade pizza, I only baked three of the four pizzas. I covered the fourth one tightly and set it in the garage fridge to have over the weekend. It seemed like the perfect time yesterday so after the mess from the jam was put away, I baked the pizza on the pizza stone and I think it was even more flavorful than the others. The flavors had a chance to meld in the fridge and it was really delicious. I’ll do a pizza-making video one of these days!

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When all was said and done, I stretched out to edit and upload the video to YouTube. While I waited for the upload to go through, I fell asleep. Who would have imagined such a thing, right? I hate falling asleep that late, but it couldn’t be helped. It was a really good day. Sometimes worship comes in the form of putting food by for a rainy day.

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You can watch my “Making Jam with Ginny” video HERE.

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❤️

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“Flowers and grass fade away, but what our God has said will never change.”

\nIsaiah 40:8 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-09-07T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/09/07/day-jam-and-jesus.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Gratitude","God","Farm Life","Cooking"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/08/31/day-making-hay-while-the.html", "title": "Day 166: Making Hay While the Sun Shines", "content_html": "\n
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Grandma’s Hydrangea full of Honeybees

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I thought for sure I was going to be a lady of leisure yesterday. But, nooooooooo! Even though it was Sunday, the Weather Channel App informed us first thing when we woke up what our day was going to entail. We had absolutely no other choice than to go to the farm and mow. But first, we had to go back to town. We got to the pharmacy too late on Saturday and then, when I opened up my brand new jelly maker, the knob for the lid was missing. Fortunately, they had another one and held it for me till we could get back yesterday morning.

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As soon as we got back home, we loaded up the truck and the trailer and headed to the farm with the mowers and assorted tools and materials we needed for a project we are working on. The grass was still pretty wet, but I went ahead and mowed anyway. It just meant I had to mow over it several times to mulch up the wet clumps of grass that gets left behind. It takes twice as long, but you do what you have to do.

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The Gas Meter between the House and the Barn

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While I mowed, Mr. FixIt got to work on rebuilding the cover for the gas meter. The week after the tree brought down the power lines, a smaller tree fell...narrowly missing the gas meter itself. It basically crushed the old sheet metal “lean to” that covered the gas meter to protect it from the weather...and I suppose falling limbs, as well. Mr. FixIt took the pieces of mangled sheet metal and removed all the rotten wood and laid them out on the sidewalk. Then he took a heavy hammer and the rubber mallet and beat it back flat. 

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Rebuilding the Cover for the Gas Meter

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He measured and cut the wood to rebuild the frame. I finished mowing the front yard about the time he needed me to help reassemble the lean to. We realized when we got the sides and back done that we were going to need more wood. So, we put our tools away and I made lunch while he ran the weed eater. After lunch, I mowed the back yard with the push mower and he finished the weed eating. We were about done in by the time we loaded the mowers back up and headed home.

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That’s when Mr. FixIt said the back yard at the Ponderosa really needed to be mowed but he just didn’t think he had it in him to do it. I told him that was no problem...I could do it. We unloaded the mowers and I set to work. He emptied the truck and took everything inside and came out to run the weed eater around the fence, the sidewalk, and the pool. He can’t stand it if I’m working and he’s not helping.

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We finally finished around dark and that was the end of our day. I know it was Sunday and we aren’t supposed to work on Sunday. But, we enjoyed seeing the fruits of our labor and working together on a project. We talked about God and brought Him with us in everything we did. And, we thanked Him for Mr. FixIt’s improved health that allows him to do the things he loves to do. We are so grateful to still have access to the farm. We are so grateful for our health and our home and our relationship. So that had to suffice for our “Sunday Sermon” this week. We can watch our online church today...God will still love us.

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Oh, I wish you could have heard the honeybees on Grandma’s hydrangea bush out back! When I came around the corner of the house to take stuff inside, I could hear them from twenty feet away. A man down the road keeps about 25-30 hives so we have lots of bees which makes me so happy. The Rose of Sharon is nearly spent. There was another limb down from the huge old cherry tree out back so I told Mr. FixIt I need to get my vintage trailer out of there and bring her to the Ponderosa to work on before the snow flies.

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There’s never a dull moment around here and I’m telling you...TODAY I am taking the day off. After I make a pan of lasagna...and maybe an apple pie!  

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❤️

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“Honey is good for you, my children, and it tastes sweet. Wisdom is like honey for your life— if you find it, your future is bright.”

\nProverbs 24:13-14 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-08-31T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/08/31/day-making-hay-while-the.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/08/29/day-step-onepick-tomatoes.html", "title": "Day 164: Step One...Pick Tomatoes", "content_html": "\n
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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’! 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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❤️

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“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.”

\nPsalms 127:2 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-08-29T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/08/29/day-step-onepick-tomatoes.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Farm Life","Baking"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/08/28/day-the-evening-and-the.html", "title": "Day 163: The Evening and the Morning", "content_html": "\n
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This is the time of year when I look back and remember long, leisurely days of knitting in front of the fire...a mug of tea, fuzzy slippers, and snow falling gently outside the window. And I wonder... “Will we ever get back to those days again?” 

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I’m sure we will...eventually. At least we didn’t have to wrangle that drain snake yesterday. I am not sure I had another day in me to mess with that thing and still walk upright. I hit the ground running yesterday. I mixed up some bread dough and fed the starter again. I set it aside in the fridge for the time being. It will grow slower and actually develop a nicer flavor if you do that from time to time. It saves you from having to feed it every day.

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I turned the bread dough every thirty minutes. You don’t knead sourdough bread...you lift and fold the dough every thirty minutes for about three or four hours to incorporate and support the rise from the wild yeasts. They aren’t as strong as commercial yeast. In between the turns, I emptied the dehydrator and used the kitchen shears to cut the dehydrated tomatoes into julienne strips. Then I packed them into sterilized jars and covered them with olive oil to preserve them. A whole bucket of tomatoes shrank down to two pint jars...but oh, the flavor that is packed into those two little jars will add a little sunshine to dishes in the coming year. They can’t be beat!

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Once the tomatoes were done, I turned my attention to the smoked pork that was still warming in crockpots. I ran the jars through the dishwasher earlier and they were still steaming hot. I packed the jars, put in a teaspoon of pickling salt and topped it off with hot broth, sealed the jar, and set them one at a time in the simmering water of the pressure canner. Once filled, I placed the lid on and let the water boil without the pressure cock. I placed it on 10 pounds and as soon as it jiggled, I set the timer for ninety minutes. 

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By then, the bread dough was ready to be worked and formed into two round loaves. Once they were wrapped in flour sack dishtowels and placed in crocks, I took them out to the refrigerator in the garage to rise overnight and I’ll bake them this morning. 

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The timer went off for the canner and I turned off the heat. Once the canner cooled and the pressure was equalized, I removed the pressure cock and the lid and let the canner rest for another thirty minutes to acclimate. Two pork picnics produced another seven quarts of smoked pulled pork that’s unbelievably good. I had two quarts and two pints of broth left over that I used in the jars of pork. I didn’t want to throw that way, so as soon as the canner was emptied, I processed them for thirty minutes. Now, when I smoke pork the next time, my broth will be ready made.

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When I made that vegetable beef soup in the spring, I couldn’t find the pressure canner so I ended up freezing it. I’ve decided to bring it in from the freezer in the garage and cook it up again and can it this time. I have a huge tin of mixed veggies I want to put in it. I have enough tomatoes ready to make a batch of spaghetti sauce, too. That should just about finish up my available canning jars.

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I love looking over the bounty I’ve created for our winter eating. These things will be so nice to have when that snowed-in leisure time returns and I can have a day of knitting in front of the fire. It sounds delightful right about now, doesn’t it?

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❤️

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“Try your best to live quietly, to mind your own business, and to work hard, just as we taught you to do. Then you will be respected by people who are not followers of the Lord, and you won't have to depend on anyone.”

\n1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-08-28T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/08/28/day-the-evening-and-the.html", "tags": ["Strong Women","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/08/27/day-if-at-first-you.html", "title": "Day 162: If at First You Don’t Succeed...", "content_html": "\n
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Round three of the “snaking the drain” saga. I had some things to do first. Run to the nearby Piggly Wiggly and pick up the pork picnics I ordered. Make the pork rub. Rub the pork and get it in the smoker. Clean and prepare a bucket of Roma tomatoes and load the dehydrator. Feed the sourdough starter and make a batch of sourdough pancakes with the discard. Clean up the kitchen. THEN I could go downstairs and help Mr. FixIt.

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We wanted to run the snake down that drain at least once to make sure it was open. We painted a line on the cable the first day to indicate where the point of resistance was. Tuesday we could get all the way down...fifty feet. But, for some reason, yesterday the cable would not feed beyond that point. We fussed with it...pulled it back...sent it down again...same thing.

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That’s when we noticed the cable was all jammed up in the drum. We turned everything off and unplugged the unit for safety, then manually pulled the cable all the way out. Easy peasy. However...as soon as we tried to run it back in, the cable would just flip around and twist on itself. I straightened that thing our three times...no easy feat. We brainstormed different ways to get that cable to go back into the drum but we came up with blanks.

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Then, Mr. FixIt said, “We COULD go read the instruction manual.” This, from the man who already read the manual three days ago so I didn’t bother reading it. I can’t say a word, though. I didn’t think of reading the directions either. I went in and read the instructions and within two minutes, I went back downstairs and stuffed that cable in manually. Bingo!

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We ran the snake down one more time and it went the entire fifty feet with no resistance. The cat snuck in the basement...again. She bit Mr. FixIt when he picked her up...again. She’s a pistol. It was getting to be a lot of fun at our house and I was hangry. *sigh*

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I heated up pizza for supper. I couldn’t believe it was 5:00 already. The pork came out of the smoker at dark and went in the crockpots to slow cook overnight. I used Diet Pepsi this time for the broth. The tomatoes are dehydrating nicely but they take a while here in West Virginia. We had an inch and a half of rain on Tuesday so the sky was hazy with humidity and that will slow the process. 

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I fed the sourdough starter before I headed in to write so I can start the bread this morning. I checked on the sauerkraut and it’s coming along...bubbling and fermenting well. I’ll also be canning this smoked pork and putting the dehydrated tomatoes in olive oil to preserve them. I cannot believe it’s Thursday already...time is just getting away from me. 

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I think I’m taking tomorrow off!

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❤️

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“Hard work is worthwhile, but empty talk will make you poor.”

\nProverbs 14:23 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-08-27T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/08/27/day-if-at-first-you.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","West Virginia","Comfort","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/08/26/day-calling-in-the-troops.html", "title": "Day 161: Calling in the Troops on the Ponderosa", "content_html": "\n
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Today would have been my mama’s 95th birthday! Happy Heavenly Birthday, Wanda Belle! 

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It was hotter than blue blazes yesterday and we had to work on that drain some more. I ran the snake down several times and we weren’t making any progress so I suggested using a different blade on the end. We switched to a metal end that looks like a spring. I told Mr. FixIt that we might break through with that end, then we could switch back to a cutter. I put the snake down twice and we got stopped at the same point each time. We painted a small white spot on the snake to mark how far we got down.

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Each time we pulled the snake back out, there were strands of fibrous roots attached. The pipe goes underneath the forsythia and flowering quince so there’s no wonder there are lots of roots down there. Finally, we got the snake to break past the roots and the mark we painted and extended all 50’ into the drain. We changed to the smaller cutting blade and it went through twice so at least we knew we had an opening, however small.

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There were several times when I could feel the snake getting caught up in the roots and every time, I calmly asked God to help me get this job done. And every time, I got further and further along. God isn’t just there to help with the big stuff. He wants to help with everything. He loves when you ask him for assistance in your everyday life. And he answers. I was sure to thank him every time I made progress.

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The storm drain goes to the creek so we went down to make sure that end was open. It was covered with at least two feet of earth from the spring floods! We worked with a 100 degree heat index and soon decided this job was bigger than the both of us so we called in the troops. Our friend Harry and his son were there within the hour and ninety minutes later, they had the ditch dug out and water was flowing through. And what should come out of the pipe? A golf ball! A remnant from the days when an active dog lived here. He loved to throw golf balls down the back steps into the drain. 

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There are a couple of things we still need to do before this drain is winter ready. There’s a thing you can put on the end of a garden hose that goes down the drain. When you turn on the water, the gizmo fills up and compresses against the edges of the pipe, creating a seal. Then, the running water builds up pressure and blows out the stuff that’s clogging up the pipe. After it flows well, we’ll put a solution down it that kills the roots in the pipe without killing the flowering shrubs above.

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At the end of the work day, we were both too tired to cook so I ordered a pizza and picked it up. We had one heck of a storm come through here. It started just as the boys were finished digging the ditch and ended about ninety minutes later after dumping an inch and a half of rain. The storm drain did its job and the pumps didn’t kick on! On the way back from town, I snapped this picture. Even though it was well in the nineties yesterday, when that storm came through, the temperature dropped rapidly and the hills were shrouded in fog. You could see the hint of fall coming.

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Used to, the idea of fall saddened me because winter would be close on its heels. Nowadays though, fall means cooler temperatures and the outdoor work begins to slow down. I’m looking forward to that...less mowing, less watering and weeding the garden, more time for a little fun...like camping and bonfires and roasting marshmallows. We are ready for a little break from the frenetic summer schedule.

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When you live in the country on acreage, there is always something that needs to be done. When we go to my cousin’s for Thanksgiving, the men always go out and work the fields during the day while the women cook and visit. A body needs as many hands as he can get when things need fixing. The key is, knowing when it’s time to call in the troops. We are getting to the age where we have to admit...it’s time.

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❤️

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“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks.”

\nMatthew 7:7-8 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-08-26T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/08/26/day-calling-in-the-troops.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Gratitude","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/08/24/day-farm-life-making-sauerkraut.html", "title": "Day 159: Farm Life - Making Sauerkraut", "content_html": "\n
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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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❤️

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The only verses I could fined about fermentation:

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“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.”

\nLuke 5:37-38 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-08-24T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/08/24/day-farm-life-making-sauerkraut.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/08/14/day-a-cool-dip-shooting.html", "title": "Day 149: A Cool Dip \u0026 Shooting Stars", "content_html": "\n
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The last couple of days have been super, super busy. I put about thirty pounds of pork in the smoker on Wednesday after I pulled the bread out of the oven. We bought a full rack of ribs and two pork picnics. Those are the pieces of meat that are often cured and turned into picnic hams. We found a good deal at the local Piggly Wiggly and I wanted to stock up on pulled pork for the winter. 

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I don’t know if you have ever used an electric cabinet-style smoker or not. They are really easy to use and turn out some dynamite smoked meats. However...they are a booger to clean. The first couple of times I used it, I carefully scrubbed it by hand till it looked brand new when I was finished. Now, I take the power washer to it and call it good. Consequently, I usually only smoke meats about once a year. I load the smoker as full as I can without overcrowding it then I’m done till the next year.

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We don’t have a great freezer. It’s old and the seal is loose. It’s not a frost free freezer either and it desperately needs thawed out. Therefore, I elected to can the pulled pork in jars this time. I loaded the smoker and got it running around noon on Wednesday. The goal was to reach an internal temperature of 203 degrees. At 1:00 yesterday morning, I was only at 168 and it wasn’t rising fast. I elected to removed the two roasts and put them in slow cookers on low for the rest of the night. I didn’t really have any broth, so I poured a can of 7UP and a can of water over them and put the lids on for the night. I had removed the ribs long before and sealed them in a plastic bin in the fridge for dinner last night.

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Yesterday morning, I gathered all my canning supplies. I put the jars through a hot cycle in the dishwasher while I shredded the pork. I mixed up a combination of a quart of beef broth, a quart of chicken broth, and two more cans of 7UP and set it on to simmer. I packed the jars, put in a little salt, topped with the broth, sealed the jars, and slipped them in the simmering water of my pressure canner. Once they were all loaded, I set the lid on, let it boil for ten minutes without the pressure cock, then set it at 10 pounds pressure. Once the pressure gauge started rattling, I processed the jars for 90 minutes. When the time was up, I just turned the heat off and let the pressure slowly normalize. I carefully opened the canner and let the jars sit in the water for a while to acclimate to the room temperature then finally lifted them with the jar lifter and set them on a soft clean towel to rest for 24 hours before I wash the outside of the jars with Windex so they sparkle. All seven quart jars sealed. If you’ve ever canned...you know that is music to the ear.

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I spent the rest of the afternoon copying more posts over from Facebook to the blog and when the sun went over the far ridge, I took the power washer out back and cleaned the smoker. It will sit slightly open overnight to dry, then tomorrow I’ll close it up and put the protective cover over it to protect it till the next time I decide to smoke meats.

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I checked on the fire in Glenwood Canyon throughout the day and spoke with my brother’s caseworker. They are still carefully watching the fire and will evacuate the clients if they need to. We wondered if perhaps he could stay with a family member, but Covid has ruled that option out. It’s ok, though. My brother isn’t at all afraid or worried about this...especially if his roommate is with him. They have their “bug out bags” packed and are ready for whatever comes their way. 

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As I am writing this, it is storming here in West Virginia and I am praying for a steady, gentle rain for Colorado to assist the firefighters. Please pray they get a handle on these fires and everyone is safe. The fire is getting dangerously close to the homes of friends of mine and they have been evacuated. It’s so difficult to be this far away and I can’t be there. But, I just have to pray and offer my brother encouragement from here.

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The best treat at the end of a long hard day was going out after it was pitch dark and taking a dip in the pool Wednesday night. Mr. FixIt didn’t join me, but he sat on the deck and we watched the meteor shower. It was a hot and sticky night and the water was cool and refreshing. We saw several “shooting stars” and it was one of the sweet memories I’ll tuck away for when I’m old and sitting in my rocking chair. ?

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❤️

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“Our Lord, you are eternal! Your word will last as long as the heavens.”

\nPsalms 119:89 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-08-14T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/08/14/day-a-cool-dip-shooting.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","Comfort"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/08/08/day-sparkles-in-the-grass.html", "title": "Day 143: Sparkles in the Grass", "content_html": "\n
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.  

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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.

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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.

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❤️

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“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.”

\nJames 1:16-17 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-08-08T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/08/08/day-sparkles-in-the-grass.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/08/07/day-having-trouble-feeling-good.html", "title": "Day 142: Having Trouble Feeling Good?", "content_html": "\n
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It’s “Feel Good Friday” and I don’t know about you, but...it could get pretty frustrating looking around this dark world for something to feel good about. I gave this week’s edition of FGF a good, hard look yesterday. I usually search the internet for some story or video that tells of some heart warming thing someone has done. That’s all well and good, but it wasn’t working for me yesterday. So, I do what I always do when I need a little inspiration. I went for a walk with Jesus.

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First, we went out into the garden and looked at the abundance of tomatoes that are coming on. There’s zucchini and yellow crookneck squash, green onions and peppers, pumpkins and Passion Flowers. The honeysuckle clings to the fence along the back of the yard and brambles of wild black raspberries tangle in the corner over the rhubarb. Sumac and wild grape vines threaten to shade the garden as they compete with pokeweed and Virginia Creeper. I felt the stress in my shoulders begin to ease.

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I gave the plants a good drink and took off for a walk around the far field. I saw a hole out there when I was mowing this week and I wanted to check it out. As I ambled across the fresh mown grass, I asked Jesus to give me something to feel good about. I let my mind go blank as I strolled and took in the sights and smells of the pasture. I let myself feel the gratitude for the beauty of this place Mr. FixIt has so generously shared with me. I started humming softly to myself. 

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“I’ll Fly Away” started drifting around in my mind. Not just any version either. It was the Stanley Brothers bluegrass gospel version. It was on their album “Good Old Camp Meeting Songs” and was recorded in May 1962...the month before I turned nine years old. In an instant, I was back in the front yard of Grandma’s house out at the farm, a quart jar in my hands, catching lightning bugs. Grandma and PopPop were inside with the Grand Ole Opry on...cranked up high...and Ralph and Carter Stanley were singing “I’ll Fly Away”.

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My heart smiled.

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A few years ago, I met a lovely young woman named Rachel. She plays the guitar and sings in her church and I had the pleasure of singing with her at a few gatherings when I was staying in my camper up at the river. We harmonized really well together and sang several of the old timey gospel hymns. It’s a precious memory I will always keep close.

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I continued my walk and peeked at the progress on the neighboring property as they clear some ground. As I was coming back down the road, I saw Mr. FixIt out looking for me in the field. The cat keeps losing her breakaway collars and he was hoping to find the one he bought her yesterday. No luck.

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I came in to write this, opened Facebook, and the first person I saw on my feed was...Rachel! My heart smiled big! I searched for, and listened to, some of Ralph Stanley’s great bluegrass gospel and found this album. So, this is today’s treat for “Feel Good Friday.” If this doesn’t make you feel good, I don’t know what will!

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The Stanley Brothers - Good Old Camp Meeting Songs

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Love you all. Take care of yourselves...and each other.

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❤️

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“speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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Ephesians 5:19-20 NIV

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#GospelMusic, #StanleyBrothers, #Hymns

\n\n", "date_published": "2020-08-07T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/08/07/day-having-trouble-feeling-good.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Prayer","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Grace","God","Wisdom","Peaceful Moments","Be Joyful!","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/08/04/day-fall-down-fallout-fall.html", "title": "Day 139: Fall Down, Fallout, Fall Over", "content_html": "\n
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I had to zoom over to the farm yesterday to meet the satellite guy. That was what I thought to be the final fix from the tree-falling fiasco of last week. The farm is really rural and there was a county-wide planned power outage yesterday from 7:00am to 1:30pm. This happens fairly frequently as they work on what is often quite old infrastructure. When the satellite guy arrived, the power was still off and didn’t come back on till after he left. He said we were doing this job on faith. Faith that he did the job right and it would work once the box rebooted. Sure enough, the power came on, and the TV worked. However...the internet would not come back on. I called and there was an outage at the main hub. Hopefully it comes back on and we don’t have to have another service call.

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I arrived at the farm before Mr. FixIt. When I pulled up at the house, I noticed the sheet metal “lean to” that protects the gas meter was crushed. When I looked closer, another tree had come down and just narrowly missed the gas meter by a couple of inches. I cleaned up the branches and threw them up behind the barn. Then I lifted up the tree. It really wasn’t too heavy because it was dead and pretty well dried up. I moved it to the side and dropped it...right on my foot! Let me tell ya...that thing was a little heavier than I thought when it landed on my toes. Just dinged them up pretty good and I’ll have some decent bruises out of the deal.

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We mowed and did the laundry and ate a lovely lunch on Grandma’s table. I cannot do anything there without feeling her love...for the place...for me. I know without a shadow of a doubt that she would be so incredibly pleased that I take such good care of her house. One of her kids complained to her once about this dusty old house. She told them in no uncertain terms that this house was like the Taj Majal to her. She used to cook on a hot plate on the stair landing of a boarding house. This place is the Ritz compared to some of the places she lived.

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Oh, she’s showing her age, this old house. She’s going on a hundred years old, I think. The kitchen floor is off kilter with a hump in the middle that makes you feel like you’re heading downhill when you cross over it. The refrigerator is on shims to keep it level. There are rain stains in the ceiling tiles my uncle put up back in the ‘60s. The house has four kinds of linoleum on the main floor. The walls are plaster and lathe on the main floor and a kind of cardboard looking stuff upstairs. I think the same curtains are up that Grandma hung when I was a little girl. 

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Grandma was a frugal woman. Having survived the Great Depression with six children, she learned how to make things last. I remember washing sheets in the old wringer washer downstairs and then she would take bits of material and sew up any holes or worn places in them. She used her treadle sewing machine and she made that needle fly. I always wanted to learn how to do everything she did. She wasn’t always a patient teacher because she had work to do, but she taught me a lot. It would be my highest complement to be even just a little like her. 

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We ended the evening mowing a little here at the Ponderosa and gathering a shirt bottom full of ripe tomatoes from the garden...still warm from the sun. I cut them in wedges and arranged them over cool cottage cheese with a couple good twists of fresh ground salt and pepper for Mr. FixIt’s supper. It seems like I am always busy doing something, but it feels like a much simpler life than I’ve ever lived before. I think it’s because it’s here...in West Virginia. Time is a little slower here...a little gentler...a little sweeter.

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❤️

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“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

\nPhilippians 4:19 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-08-04T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/08/04/day-fall-down-fallout-fall.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Love","Aging","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/07/31/day-a-blessed-day-of.html", "title": "Day 135: A Blessed Day of Rain", "content_html": "\n
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Yesterday was a peaceful day. I made French Toast from my homemade sourdough bread for breakfast. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything so divine as that. There is something wonderful about the texture of this bread that is only magnified when it’s coated with a slightly sweetened custard and fried to crispy perfection in one of my magical iron skillets. 

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I think I’m finally getting the feel for cooking in an iron skillet. I’ve always been a little heavy handed with the heat when I cook. Cast iron demands a gentler approach. There is a delicate balance between hot enough to fry crispy but not so hot as to burn food to the pan. That way, cleanup is much easier and you don’t need water and soap...two things that are deleterious to a well seasoned iron skillet. 

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When it comes time to clean my cast iron, I wait till it’s cooled down enough to handle without burning myself. I sprinkle in a scant tablespoon of coarse grained salt and a teaspoon or so of olive oil. Then I wad up a paper towel and scrub the inside of the skillet with the oily salt. You can feel when any bits of food have been removed because the surface will feel silky smooth under the salt. I take the skillet to the trash can and wipe all the dirty salt and food bits into the trash then wipe the inside of the pan with a clean paper towel and little bit more oil. Once the inside of the pan is done, I wipe down the outside and the handle with what’s left of the oil in the paper, then leave the skillet on the stove top. I have a gas stove. I have heard of people who have used cast iron on a glass cooking surface, but I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s too easy to scratch or break the cook top.

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Once the kitchen was clean, I set to work in the office again, copying the posts from 2015 and 2016 over to the blog. I’m at the point now where my aunt invited me to leave the farm and I struck out on my next adventure. A sweet friend left for Wyoming to take care of her grandchildren while her daughter was doing her student teaching and allowed me to stay in her loft apartment in exchange for watering her plants and bringing in the mail. 

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It’s really interesting to go back and read my earlier posts. It reminds me how hard grief was those first couple of years. And it shows my how much my life has changed...how much I have changed in the time since I arrived in West Virginia. I really want to get all the work from Facebook transferred over to my blog so it’s safely in one place. I invested a lot of blood, sweat, and tears in my writing these last seven plus years...I would certainly hate to lose any of it. It’s irreplaceable, actually.

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It has finally rained like crazy here off and on all day. Our garden will be so happy. I went out yesterday and found a few tomatoes that aren’t quite ripe, but something has been eating the low hanging ones. I imagine it’s the relentless bunnies I chase off only to find them right back a few hours later. I was trying to get a picture of how tall the tomato plants are but the only way to really do that by myself was a selfie with my hand raised up. As you can see, the plant is a good six inches beyond my reach...and I’m 5’6” tall! It’s crazy how much they’ve grown. 

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Here it is...the last day of July! How can that be possible? I promised Mr. FixIt we would go for a drive today. It’s time for an adventure. I’ll keep you posted!

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❤️

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“Try your best to live quietly, to mind your own business, and to work hard, just as we taught you to do. Then you will be respected by people who are not followers of the Lord, and you won't have to depend on anyone.”

\n1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-07-31T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/07/31/day-a-blessed-day-of.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Presence","Peaceful Moments","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/07/30/day-birds-bugs-and-bread.html", "title": "Day 134: Birds, Bugs, and Bread", "content_html": "\n
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I woke up yesterday in one of my favorite places in the whole wide world...TOW-Wanda! Night before last got down into the 60’s and it was perfect sleeping weather in the camper. Mr. FixIt and I went out after supper to watch for meteors and while we were stretched out on the lounge chairs by the pool, we decided it was the perfect night to go “camping”. I gathered what we needed and headed out to the camper and he joined me later when the news was over.

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We both sleep really well in the camper. It’s probably the best mattress I’ve ever owned. I bought it when I got my first camper about three weeks after Mr. Virgo died. I woke up fairly early and went in to fire up the stove and bake a couple loaves of sourdough. After I cleaned up the kitchen, I worked on here. I still have two years’ worth of posts to copy from Facebook over to the blog and I work at it whenever I have an hour or two. It’s something nice to do when it’s too hot outside. 

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I baked a couple of pizza crusts and we had homemade pizza for supper. Afterwards, I went out to water the garden and picked a few tomatoes. I’m still seeing some blossom end rot on my tomatoes so I’m hoping they respond to the tomato food I put on them a couple of days ago. It would be a shame to put all this work into growing them only to have them be ruined because I didn’t feed them right.

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Mr. FixIt and I were sitting in the family room watching the news when I caught something out of the corner of my eye. He jumped and said, “There’s a bird in here!” I looked over at the window and sure enough, there was a little chimney sweep fluttering against the glass trying to get out. I grabbed the first thing within reach to trap it before it flew around...Mr. FixIt’s WVU hat! Ohhhhh....he wasn’t too happy about that but I caught the bird faster than he could grab the hat away from me and let it go outside.

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Later on, I was back in the bedroom writing this when I heard him “whoop” again and called for me. “There’s another bird in here!” I grabbed a dishtowel this time and caught the little bird. We took it outside and it got really confused by the outdoor light and kept fluttering around it. Before I could get the door shut, it flew back in! I corned the little thing in the kitchen and this time we turned off the outdoor light and closed the door before I let it go.

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We had to determine where the birds were getting in. We know we have had Chimney Swifts in our chimney for the last couple of years because we see them swooping in and out at dusk. And, we can hear them in there feeding their babies. I checked the upstairs fireplace and the glass fireplace door was closed, as was the door to the dining room. They had to be coming in from the fireplace in the basement. 

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Mr. FixIt swore the flue was closed. He pulled on it and said, “Yep...it’s closed.” I don’t trust anything unless I see it for myself so I got down on my knees to shine a flashlight up the chimney. It wasn’t closed and I am telling you what...it was a darned good thing birds didn’t shoot out of there at me! He closed the flue for sure this time and I double checked it so I don’t think we’re going to get anymore birds in here.

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Then, as I was getting up off the floor, I notice little round circles all over the floor. I couldn’t see very well because I didn’t grab my glasses when I went running to catch the bird. Upon closer inspection, I realized what I was seeing. Little baby millipedes. HUNDREDS of little baby millipedes. Ok, I’ll catch birds. And I’ll catch snakes and spiders and groundhogs and raccoons and possums and turtles. But centipedes and millipedes creep me totally out. Mr. FixIt to the rescue.

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While my sweet hubby was vacuuming up the curly little devils, I was online Googling why the heck we had a gazillion of these critters in our basement. It turns out, we had a really long wet spring so a whole bunch of the buggers were produced. Then, since it’s been so incredibly dry, they’ve been coming in under the basement door trying to find moisture. Vacuuming them up is the quickest way to get rid of an infestation. Then, you want to make sure the crack under the door is sealed. You can also use ant spray to deter them. 

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So, it was a crazy busy day farming here at the Ponderosa. Honestly, you don’t know from one day to the next what we’re going to run into. Let’s hope there’s no big surprises today!

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❤️

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“The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.”

\nPsalms 104:12 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-07-30T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/07/30/day-birds-bugs-and-bread.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/07/29/day-the-many-faces-of.html", "title": "Day 133: The Many Faces of Grief", "content_html": "\n
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I received a phone call yesterday from my baby cousin. She was the one who lived far away and came to visit us several times when we were growing up. She’s had her hands full...caring for her mom, my favorite auntie. And for her husband, who has been ill for quite some time. They are young...not quite sixty. I remember the first time I got to see her. She couldn’t quite walk and my aunt had her dressed in the sweetest little outfit with a matching coat. Her little curls stuck out from under the edges of the matching bonnet.

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We were all smitten with our “Trinket”, as Grandma called her. She was like a china doll and we didn’t even mind that Grandma paid all her attention to this little one. We knew she was special. Anyway...she called yesterday. Her beloved husband passed in his sleep Sunday night. My heart breaks for her because I know what she is going through. I know what she has ahead of her. I pray for her comfort and peace. I know she is very strong and capable and she will get through this. I just hate it for her.

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When I look back at pictures of us all those many years ago, we had no idea what was going to happen to us in our lives. She is now the third of us cousins to lose a spouse. Grandma lost her only love when she was sixty-five. She showed us girls how to live through that with strength and dignity and courage.

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There are so many faces of grief. It isn’t just the death of a person that grieves us. We can feel just as deep grief whether the source is a person, place, or thing. I’ve been grieving a potential loss the last couple of years knowing my beloved family farm will not always be “mine”. My uncle owns it and he is aging now. He cannot keep coming to fix it or put the money into it forever, so the time will come. 

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I was grieving that more this week since the tree came down and the house needed fixing. It made the “eventuality” come closer to the forefront. I have to admit, I became distraught over it. Then “Trinket” lost her husband and God whispered...”All things must come to an end and come Home to me.” 

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We can make all the plans we want. We can have dreams and adventures. And in the end, our best gift is the memories we made with the time we were given. I’ve been having a lot of fun with this baking and gardening and canning. And, as soon as that settles down, my focus is back on writing. I’m going to write the story of...The Farm: A Story of Love and Land. I’ll gather pictures and stories from everyone and we’ll have a book for the family to read and remember. Then we’ll have a grand reunion and say a proper goodbye to this home of my heart. 

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I have no idea how much time I have exactly for this project, but I’m giving myself a year. That should be plenty. And it will help ease my dependence on the old house. Someday she will not be ours...she will belong to another family. But, she will always and forever be the home of my heart.

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❤️

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“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.”

\nIsaiah 32:18-20 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-07-29T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/07/29/day-the-many-faces-of.html", "tags": ["Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Wisdom","Choices","Change","Farm Life","Widow"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/07/28/day-the-city-park-fountain.html", "title": "Day 132: The City Park Fountain", "content_html": "\n
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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.

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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. 

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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”. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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It did my heart good. It’s the little things now.

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❤️

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“Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.””

\nJohn 7:38 CEV\n
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Photo Credit: Dan Kemper

\n\n", "date_published": "2020-07-28T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/07/28/day-the-city-park-fountain.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Fun","West Virginia","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/07/22/day-farm-lifehappy-wife.html", "title": "Day 126: Farm Life...Happy Wife!", "content_html": "\n
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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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Farm life. This is what I’ve waited my whole life for.

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❤️

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“The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”

\nProverbs 21:20 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-07-22T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/07/22/day-farm-lifehappy-wife.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/07/20/day-mary-mary-quite-contraryhow.html", "title": "Day 124: Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary...How Does Your Garden Grow?", "content_html": "\n
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The is the first year since I moved back to West Virginia that I am staying home all summer. I usually spend a month in Colorado with my kids, but Covid and Mr. FixIt’s health put a damper on that. So, the commitment to grow a garden took hold in the spring and...here we are. I gathered a handful of peppers off the three pepper plants yesterday. Peppers aren’t my favorite thing, but I wanted to put some banana pepper rings in my zucchini pickles this year to give them a little zing and there were several plants marked down at the greenhouse. Something happened to the labels, so it was anybody’s guess what kind of peppers I would end up with. It’s fun to take a chance once in a while, right?

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The zucchini and yellow squash are really getting big so I’m definitely going to pick them today and get those pickles in the jars before I run out of luck and one of my nocturnal visitors decides they’re hungry. The Passion Flowers are blooming as they climb up the old chain link fence.

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When I saw this meme the other day, I laughed. It’s so true. Growing anything is empowering. I remember all the times I had a garden in Colorado and how hard it was to grow much of anything. But, tomatoes? Lands...you could grow a tomato in the worst little square foot of soil and get at least enough to satisfy some of your cravings. I tilled and dug, planted and weeded, and watered those tomato plants and I was lucky if they came up to my waist. We have tomato plants out here in this garden that are taller than me...by a good foot and a half! The Romas are really putting on fruit fast now. They will be great for canning stewed tomatoes. The Big Boys and Better Boys are doing very well. There are some that are as big as baseballs now. There are some other varieties out there, but Mr. FixIt never saves the labels so other than the Romas, I don’t know what the others are.

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It has been so terribly hot here...and sticky with humidity. Once it hits 10:30 or so in the morning, it’s really difficult to do much of anything. I’m still having to water 2-3 times a day to keep the garden from frying. Thank goodness we had a couple of rain showers pass through last evening. We dropped over twenty degrees in a matter of an hour or two. Now it will be even more humid today, but we have to take the rain when we can get it. We do have some little pumpkins setting on. I’m looking forward to harvesting some “Wedding Pumpkins”. These are grown from seed salvaged from the pumpkins that decorated our wedding nearly two years ago.

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Our ground is getting cracks in it. West Virginia soil has a lot of clay in it and when it dries out, it contracts leaving great cracks and fissures. I remember one year I came home in the summer to visit and there had been a really long hot and dry spell. The ground out at the farm had cracks in it that were 2-3 inches across. It’s not that bad here...yet. Maybe this little bit of rain we got will bring some of the grass back. We haven’t mowed in over two weeks here at the Ponderosa.

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I hope you had a good weekend and that you are staying safe and healthy.

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❤️

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“The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.”

\n2 Timothy 2:6 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-07-20T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/07/20/day-mary-mary-quite-contraryhow.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/07/18/day-more-critters-more-mowing.html", "title": "Day 122: More Critters, More Mowing, More Ice Cream!!!", "content_html": "\n
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I’m still eating my way through the pandemic. Pandemic Pounds are justifiable...things are sucky...eat ice cream...liberally. The variety du jour is Cookies and Cream. *swoon* Maybe I’ll get the ice cream freezer out and make some homemade! Of course...I’ll have to find the ice cream freezer first. *sigh*

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It continues to be hot and sticky here in West Virginia. And one of the true upsides of that is...the grass has gone dormant. Well, it’s really more like...it’s gone crispy. Seriously, whereas just three weeks ago, you could sit and watch the grass grow, now there are large areas in the lawn that crunch under your feet when you walk. The only thing that seems to be growing in the lawn is the flowers on the clover. They pick their little heads up and the honeybees glide from one to another all day long. When it’s like this, we really don’t have to mow nearly as often. It’s been almost two weeks here at the Ponderosa and it still doesn’t need it. It’s been the same amount of time at the farm, but it is cooler there and in a holler so we mowed it yesterday morning before the sun got things too toasty. 

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As I walked out of the house to go to the car, I heard a noise I didn’t recognize. I stood stock still and listened, running the sound through my memory banks. It was metallic but it wasn’t mechanical, per se. Was it coming from inside the house? Was it the sliding closet doors in the guest bedroom when Mr. FixIt was looking for a clean shirt? Suddenly, I heard it again and I knew what it was. The live trap! I’ve been trying to catch the really big raccoon that kept bending the trap up and escaping. The trap was set for the last few evenings with no results. Till yesterday morning.

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There he was...in all his splendor! A brute of a raccoon. As I approached the trapped, I spoke softly to him, but he rammed himself into the cage, snarling and spitting at me. He was a monster! I picked up the cage by the handle and it had to weigh twenty pounds, at least. I had to hold the cage out away from me because he kept reaching his almost human-like foot out to get at me. We put him in the back of the truck, loaded the tractor up on the trailer, and headed to the farm. There is a pull-off out a two-lane country road on our way to the farm. It’s right on a river. There are no houses in the immediate vicinity...just a lot of countryside and hills. The perfect habitat for an errant raccoon who does not need to be eating my garden.

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We lifted the cage out gently and set the opening towards the woods with the river beyond. Mr. FixIt had a long pole with which to gently urge the critter away from us, should he decide to come after us. I needed to open the cage, but didn’t necessarily want my hands near the opening. I happened to have a pair of loppers in the truck and I was able to hold onto the trap door and open it from a couple of feet away. We needn’t have been worried. As soon as there was an inch of space between that door and the trap, the raccoon took off like a shot into the tall grass, running down towards the riverbank.

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Mr. FixIt and I congratulated ourselves on a humane transfer. Many people “dispatch” raccoons because they get into the chickens and gardens. It’s a country life...and varmints are often taken care of rather than go to the trouble of trapping them and moving them to other places. I have been known to do the same, but as I get older, and my heart gets softer, I let them live another day.

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So, we had the raccoon. I found another beautiful bright orange box turtle when I was mowing. I only moved him out of the way of the blades. We saw some gorgeous birds...Cedar Waxwings. I don’t believe I have ever seen them before. They were hanging out down by the locks on Wednesday evening. They have a little tuft of feathers on the top like a Cardinal. But their feathers are so smooth and sleek with distinctive markings on their backs, wings, and tails. I was thrilled to see them. (The pictures of the bird and the turtle were lifted from the internet.)

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I love how the flowers at the farm change during the summer. This weeks’ beauties are a beautiful scarlet-colored “Bee Balm” on the bank by the driveway. And the beautiful lavender “Rose of Sharon” over on the creek-bank at the corner of the house. My heart sings every time I get to go out there.

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We were done and back home before noon and spent the rest of the day in quieter pursuits in order to stay cool. We are trying to stay on top of the watering to keep the garden going. Right now it’s twice a day. We truly need rain...a good soaking rain. I need to mulch the garden but I don’t want to use pine needle mulch or anything toxic. I have a huge roll of craft paper. I’m going to put a couple of layers out between the rows of tomatoes to try to keep some of this precious moisture in the ground.

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❤️

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“I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.”

\nSong of Songs 2:1 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-07-18T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/07/18/day-more-critters-more-mowing.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Gratitude","Peaceful Moments","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/07/15/day-once-in-years.html", "title": "Day 119: Once in 6,800 Years", "content_html": "\n
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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. 

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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. 

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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! 

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Comet Neowise. 

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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.

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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.

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❤️

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“He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.”

\nPsalms 147:3 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-07-15T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/07/15/day-once-in-years.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Humbled","Peaceful Moments"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/07/14/day-the-books-from-beyond.html", "title": "Day 118: The Books from Beyond", "content_html": "\n
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I have a mystery. But it has a backstory you need to hear first.

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If you’ve been following me for some time, you know I moved to West Virginia from Colorado to care for my elderly aunt who was living alone on the family farm. We tried it out for ten rather long and, dare I say, miserable weeks for both of us. She was a strong willed, independent woman who expected you to do what she said, when she said it. I’m not the type to take orders well, so when she invited me to leave on Christmas Day, I took myself on a totally different adventure for the following couple of years. 

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I didn’t realize it at the time, but Aunt Peeps was slipping into the netherworld of dementia which caused her to lose what little bit of a filter she had to begin with. Still, I had wonderful conversations with her over the years. If she liked you, she would do anything to help you achieve your dreams. She admired hard work and perseverance. She was a teacher...erudite and proper. 

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I remember when I was very young, she came to visit with photographs from Cleveland and Washington, DC. Grainy black and white snapshots depicting water fountains and lunch counters with signs over them that said “Whites Only”. I didn’t understand what that meant and she carefully explained racism to me in words a little girl might comprehend. She was quite adamant...as was my grandma...that we never, ever treat other’s differently. We are all God’s children.

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I grew up poor. Not dirt poor. Not welfare poor. But we didn’t have a lot of extras and ate from grandma’s garden quite a bit. I married my high school boyfriend and escaped what I felt at the time was the hell of West Virginia. When that marriage failed, I ended up marrying a young physical therapist who was heading into medical school. As our affluence increased, we rose higher and higher on the white privilege scale. Five years after that marriage ended, I met Mr. Virgo. He had worked his entire career in the hospitality industry at numerous Five Star resorts and restaurants around the world. So I was still in the realm of privilege. I had a housekeeper and a full length blue fox coat and a new car every couple of years. 

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I don’t believe I’ve ever been overtly racist, but there were many years where I just didn’t really give the struggles of ethnic communities much thought. And that is the essence of what is referred to as white privilege. With the onset of civil unrest over racial disparities, I have taken it upon myself to learn as much as I can on the subject so that I can better understand the plight of People of Color. I want to be a better human.

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After Aunt Peeps died, my uncle came to the farm to get some of her papers that he needed to settle her estate. These papers were in boxes in the closet upstairs in her bedroom. The next time I was out there, I went upstairs and there were a few items on the bed. There was also a day bed up there with several boxes of my own things. I didn’t notice anything of any import that day.

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Last weekend, when I was out there working on the taxes, it was so bloody hot and the air conditioner was not working. I went upstairs to turn the fan on in the bedroom opposite hers. As I was coming back out of the room to the top of the stairs, I glanced into Aunt Peeps’ room and noticed something I hadn’t seen before. There were two books laying neatly stacked on the pillow. I would have sworn they weren’t there before.

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I went in and picked up the books and my jaw dropped.

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“The Autobiography of Malcom X” by Alex Haley.

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“Black Boy” by Richard Wright.

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Two seminal literary works about the black experience in this country. Not at all the kind of books I saw my aunt reading as I grew up or when I lived with her. And certainly not anything I had ever seen there before. Where did they come from? Who placed them so carefully where I would be sure to find them? I have no idea. But I picked them up and smiled, tucked them neatly under my arm, and have set a goal to read them both to better understand.

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Ever the educator. Ever the fair-minded yet fierce educator. I believe my Aunt Peeps left me a gift...exactly the gift I needed at exactly the right time.

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She teaches...still.

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❤️

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“For God does not show favoritism.”

\nRomans 2:11 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-07-14T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/07/14/day-the-books-from-beyond.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","The Farm","Wisdom","Courage","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/07/13/day-hallelujaha-cool-night.html", "title": "Day 117: Hallelujah...A Cool Night!", "content_html": "\n
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I have really missed getting out and camping this summer. We did get some good camping in during the cool nights of spring, but once the summer heat index started creeping up, and night time temps didn’t go down enough for sleeping in the camper without air conditioning, we were kind of stuck sleeping inside. We could take the camper to a campground nearby, but there are a few reasons why that’s not optimal. Mr. FixIt is still having physical therapy and medical appointments. We have the cat...and the garden needs watering daily. And, why should we pay to camp in a noisy campground with potential Covid exposure when we have five free acres and our own electric? 

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It rained off and on all day yesterday. It did get up to the low eighties, but the low was predicted to be 61℉! That’s all I needed to hear. Once I was finished with the bread dough and had it in the fridge to rise overnight, I gathered my writing gear and headed out to the camper. I haven’t been in it for a few weeks so I needed to open it up, air it out, and cool it off. But within a very short time, it was quite comfortable in there and I quickly set up my little writing nook...happy as a clam!

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I had a long video chat with Daughter #1 for her birthday on Saturday. It’s not the same as being there with her and it has been many years since I’ve missed a birthday in person. It breaks my heart that I can’t be there this summer. I have never gone this long without seeing my kids and I don’t like it one bit. I think, if I had a smaller camper and if Mr. FixIt hadn’t had the two strokes this spring and if we didn’t have the cat or the garden...I’d pack us up and head west. The good thing about traveling with the camper is being self enclosed with your own kitchen, bathroom, and bed. You can pretty much self-isolate as you travel as long as you are extra careful at the gas pump.

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I’m watching the zucchini getting bigger and bigger. I’m really looking forward to making pickles this week and showing you how it’s done. It is a great way to use up those huge zucchini that get away from you in the garden and they are SO delicious! I could eat a whole jar with a fork. The tomatoes are looking great and the peppers are getting bigger. I am not sure if the banana peppers are ready yet. I don’t know what they are supposed to look like. I thought they were supposed to turn yellow, but they are still green. I’ll take pictures tomorrow so maybe some of you with experience can tell me.

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I’ll bake bread early this morning to keep the house from getting too hot. As soon as the loaves are cool, I’ll wrap them and ship them to my girls as a treat from mom. If I can’t be there to hug them, at least I can send them bread baked with Mom-love. I remember one time going over two years without seeing my mom. I remember being so incredibly shocked by how she had aged in such a relatively short time and vowed I would never do that again. And I didn’t. I took my kids to West Virginia every summer of their lives while my mom was still living. 

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I’ve been thinking a lot about my mom and my grandparents this weekend. I’ve been thinking how terribly worried I would have been about them...living so far away in Colorado. And now, it’s me that’s here and my own kids and brother are the ones out west. I would have never predicted this scenario in my wildest dreams. But you know what they say...if wishes were horses, and all that. This is the hand we have been dealt. This is the hand we will play.

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I caught a picture of Pumpkin sleeping beside me on the deck yesterday afternoon. I seldom see her sleeping as there is SO much to do and see on HER five acres! 

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❤️

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“The Lord answered, “Could a mother forget a child who nurses at her breast? Could she fail to love an infant who came from her own body? Even if a mother could forget, I will never forget you. A picture of your city is drawn on my hand. You are always in my thoughts!”

\nIsaiah 49:15-16 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-07-13T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/07/13/day-hallelujaha-cool-night.html", "tags": ["TOW-Wanda!","West Virginia","Choices","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/07/12/day-its-marshmallow-season.html", "title": "Day 116: It’s Marshmallow Season!", "content_html": "\n
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MARSHMALLOWS!
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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!

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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.

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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?

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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”. 

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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.

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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!

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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!

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I’ll be baking today after church. I’m sending my girls some of mama’s sourdough bread tomorrow.

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Enjoy your Sunday!

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❤️

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“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.”

\n2 Corinthians 8:11 CEV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-07-12T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/07/12/day-its-marshmallow-season.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/07/04/day-chronicles-of-a-country.html", "title": "Day 108: Chronicles of a Country Wife", "content_html": "\n
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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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You can find the English Muffin recipe here: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/sourdough-english-muffins-recipe

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Enjoy your Fourth of July, dear ones!

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❤️

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“who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’”

\nJob 35:11 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-07-04T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/07/04/day-chronicles-of-a-country.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Peaceful Moments","Choices","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/06/28/day-duty-a-dip-and.html", "title": "Day 103: Duty, a Dip, and Date Night", "content_html": "\n
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After my morning coffee, Mr. FixIt was on the phone when I walked by, blew him a kiss, and went out to mow. It was pretty hot out there, but I have learned how to mow with one hand and hold a huge golf umbrella with the other. I have to wear a mask because of all the allergens that get stirred up, so it’s kind of stuffy and sticky out there. I’ve figured out how to hold the umbrella just right to catch any hint of a breeze which makes the chore so much easier.

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I was just about finished with the two big fields when I saw my sweetheart come out and start with the push mower. He mowed around the areas I couldn’t reach with the big riding mower. Then he got the weed eater out and trimmed around the yard as I took up the push mower inside the fenced yard. I kept one eye on my work and the other to make sure Mr. FixIt didn’t overdo in the heat, but he did great. It was a good day. 

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He feels bad when he can’t do everything he did before, but he is gaining his strength and the confidence that comes with realizing he’s improving. I was talking with my cousin the other day. She asked how I was holding up. I told her I was doing great. I’m keeping really busy and that occupies my mind so it doesn’t go places it doesn’t need to go. Listen, I’d be lying if I said none of this has affected me. I would surely have loved having fifteen years of the fun stuff before we have to deal with the not so fun stuff of health issues. But, that’s not what happens in real life. Not when you marry at our age. The truth is, it doesn’t make a bit of difference if we were married a week or a year or two decades...you do what you need to do when circumstances change. It’s in the vows we took that day in our field...”to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death I do part.” It is our sworn duty.

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My duty is to do the things Mr. FixIt can’t right now. Just as he would do if the roles were reversed. One can whine about it. Or one can put on the big girl panties and get the job done. It’s a choice. I always choose joy and love. I mowed, watered the garden, and tied up the tomato plants. Easy peasy.

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When we were finished with the hot and dusty work in the yard, we took a refreshing dip in the pool. It’s times like that when I can totally justify the extra work and expense the pool entails. We cleaned and skimmed and walked around while we talked and enjoyed a perfectly beautiful evening. I swam up to my man and said,

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“Hey...how would you like to buy me dinner?”

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He lit up like a Christmas tree. We decided on Italian, placed our order, then drove to town. As we were picking up our food, the leaden skies opened up into a downpour. We drove across the river and found a lovely parking spot where we could watch the boat traffic. We had our picnic in the rain...inside the truck. It seems to do that every date night, but it doesn’t dampen our enthusiasm.

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We got home just before dark and walked around a bit, checking out the garden and the fruit trees. We don’t have a single pear this year. There were late frosts this spring and that took care of any hopes of a bountiful harvest like last year. We have onions and zucchini and crook neck squash setting on and several tomatoes are showing. There are teeny, tiny peppers starting to grow and the pumpkin plants are vining. I love watching a garden grow and this year I’m actually going to be here to enjoy it.

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We came in and I fed my sourdough starter in preparation for baking today. As I was settling in to write this, I thought...”How many times and how many ways can I tell them I’m mowing and baking bread?” Spoiler alert: Many, many times! 

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❤️

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““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. Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”

\nJob 12:7-12 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-06-28T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/06/28/day-duty-a-dip-and.html", "tags": ["Family","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","West Virginia","Love","Wisdom","Courage","Choices","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/06/27/day-back-from-the-farm.html", "title": "Day 102: Back From the Farm", "content_html": "\n
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I was telling Mr. FixIt on the way home yesterday...when I get to stay a couple of days at the farm, I feel like I’ve had a week’s vacation. It’s not like I went out there and put my feet up for two days. There was mowing to be done. Cooking, cleaning, and laundry. But there’s something about that place that renews my energy. It’s magical. 

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When I awoke yesterday morning, I was rested and refreshed. I achieve a deeper sleep at the farm. The bed is smaller. It’s up against the wall and, since Mr. FixIt’s strokes, I get the inside up against the wall. And I get the window at my feet. The night air in that holler gets pretty cool so I throw another blanket on instead of closing that window. I crave fresh air. I sleep with the window open year ‘round. Yeah...you should have been a fly on the wall when we had THAT discussion. 

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We had a really hard rain during the night while we were at the farm. The noise is deafening on that old tin roof. And it’s a symphony to my soul. As the rain subsides, the water continues to drip from the top roof to the porch roof and the plink, plink, plink is a song I’ve listened to since I was a baby. There’s truly nothing like it.

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The first night we were there, my cousin and his wife came over to share a wonderfully sweet watermelon I picked up in town. We sat at the picnic table Mr. FixIt bought me for my first birthday we were together. The second night, I stood across the road and spoke with the neighbors about our gardens and how the creek is trying to navigate it’s way back to it’s original position before they built his house. I turned to look back at Grandma’s house and noticed one of the trees on the bank across the creek leaning way far out. It looked as though it might fall on the house at any minute.

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I walked back home and inspected the errant tree. I called Mr. FixIt out front to look at it. We decided it likely will not hit the house if it comes down, but its branches would more than likely damage the front porch and would definitely take down the power lines and the satellite dish. So, there’s another job that needs doing...sooner rather than later.

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My view when I first open my eyes at the farm is this window. It was Grandma and Pop-Pop’s view for many, many years. I cannot look out this window without feeling like the luckiest woman on the planet. I can’t quite describe what it feels like to truly be “home”. I spent decades pretending Colorado was home...but it never, ever was. My people are there. My home is here. My heart lives in both places. I will forever be torn...first when I longed to live in West Virginia, and now because so many of my loves live so far from me.

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I cannot help but think back to my mother. She was in her last couple of years of life when I begged her to move to Colorado where I could take better care of her and my brother. She refused. This was home. I was furious with her because I couldn’t help her like I wanted to and I felt she was SO stubborn. And now, here I am. There will be a conversation down the road when my daughters will want me to come “home” to Colorado so they can better care for me. And, I will be the one saying no. At least, as long as Mr. FixIt is around. That day is not today. 

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Today, I live where my spirit sings.

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❤️

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“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.””

\nMatthew 6:34 TLV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-06-27T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/06/27/day-back-from-the-farm.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Choices","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/06/22/day-grassmake-it-stop.html", "title": "Day 97: Grass...Make it Stop!", "content_html": "\n
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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...

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We are knee deep in June!

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❤️

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“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.””

\n‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-06-22T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/06/22/day-grassmake-it-stop.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Farm Life","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/05/23/day-call-lowesim-building-an.html", "title": "Day 68: Call Lowe’s...I’m Building an Ark!", "content_html": "\n
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Hokey Smokes! It has rained 20 inches so far this year in our neck of the woods. We waited all day yesterday to get enough warm sunshine to dry out the yard so we could mow one more time before my step-son comes to get his riding mower today. Mr. FixIt had physical therapy and we needed to find a couple things for the old tractor to work on it today. By the time we got back home, the skies opened up again and we were back to square one.

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Hopefully today is a nice day and we can mow and be good for another week, at least. I mean...on the one hand, when it rains you don’t have to mow. But, on the other...the grass grows like crazy with all that wonderful moisture. It’s a Catch-22. We also need to take the push mower out to the farm and mow out there. And this time, Mr. FixIt can’t help. I’m definitely going to get back in shape with all this exercise!

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I hate that I’m not spending as much time in the kitchen as I was. It’s so soothing to me to create good things that nourish my family...and our wounded spirits. We have nowhere to go this weekend...our people are coming to us to help with mowing and welding and fixing things that need fixing. I can spend some time in the kitchen and bake them some treats to take home. That will soothe my heart and bring me peace.

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I’ve been thinking about my Aunt Peeps a lot this week. While she was a sophisticated woman with impeccable taste in fashion, she was a country girl at heart. She once told me, her main goal in life was to get a teaching degree and use it to make enough money to buy a farm in West Virginia. I don’t recall seeing her can and preserve food, but she was quite the cook. She didn’t quilt or sew, but she could work sunup to sundown with any man and give him a run for his money. She was an enigma. Tight as a drum with money, yet incredibly generous when she saw you were trying to improve yourself through education. She was your cheerleader if you were a hard worker. She deeply appreciated a good work ethic and had no patience for someone who she felt was lazy or “working the system.”

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She and I didn’t always see eye to eye about things, and I talked WAY too much for her tastes, but...we had one thing in common and that was the love we felt for Grandma’s farm. She was born in Pekin, Illinois along with two of her siblings. Grandma and Pop-Pop were living there during the Depression where work was to be found. When they finally came back home, there were already four children. Two were born after they moved back to West Virginia. The Farm was where they grew up. It’s where I grew up, too.

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My Uncle Bud came home to the farm last weekend to pick up some things that belonged to Aunt Peeps. He needed to find a picture of her for her obituary. I didn’t get to see him because that was the day Mr. FixIt came home from the hospital. I spoke with him this week and he was so pleased with how well we are caring for the family home. He said he was worried it would begin falling apart without someone living there full time, but I told him we go there often enough to breath life into the old place.

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There are some things that are failing...like the big barn and the old tool shed. They are starting to lean and there’s termite damage. But overall, the place looks great for being nearly a hundred years old. I still yearn to go there often to just rock on the front porch and listen to the birds and the wind in the trees. Everything is aging...the old home place, the tractor, the Ponderosa...and us.

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These are the things that went through my mind as I sat pretending to read while I watched my sweet husband having physical therapy. We’ve known each other since we were kids. But we’ve only been together a little over three years. We’ve both changed a lot in those three years. This marriage isn’t like the marriage of my youth...where time stretched before us like an endless summer vacation. This is the marriage where we get to wrap each other up in warm, comfy love and ride the long wave home. There’s no fooling ourselves. Oh, we aren’t at death’s door....but it is Autumn now. And, there is much comfort knowing I’ll be going through this with my best friend at my side.

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❤️

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“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

\nActs 20:35 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-05-23T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/05/23/day-call-lowesim-building-an.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Comfort","Love","Wisdom","Courage","Aging","Choices","Change","Farm Life","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/05/10/day-a-different-kind-of.html", "title": "Day 55: A Different Kind of Mother’s Day!", "content_html": "\n
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As I sat at my keyboard last night, I looked for pictures of my mom and thought of all the Mother’s Days we had together. Really...very few. Once I left home to seek my fortunes, I am not sure we ever got to see each other on Mother’s Day. I always came home in the summer months when the kids were off of school. But I always called her and sent her a card and flowers. 

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I keep my pictures of Mom in an album on my iPad marked “”Family”. That way, when I get lonesome for them, they’re all in one place. I thought of all the sad and sentimental things I could say about my mom and how much I miss her. But, the truth is...even though I miss her desperately right now...I would NEVER want her to have had to experience what’s going on in the world. All the anger and divisiveness and ugliness would have upset her greatly. She had such a tender heart. And this virus would have worried her to death. I am much more peaceful knowing she is with her family and with Jesus.

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My eyes scanned the photos and lingered on my own children...from when they were littles to when they had littles of their own. These girls made me a mom. I wasn’t always very good at it. I made huge mistakes and it broke my heart that I let them down. So many years were lost to depression when I just couldn’t seem to connect with them as they needed. I’ve spent much of the last twenty years trying to fix that. Trying to be a better mom. Trying to create new and better memories.

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Since I moved back to my home state, I have returned to Colorado every summer to see the girls and spend time with my grandchildren. Then, the pandemic hit and I am not at all sure I’ll get to go back this year. There was a time when I would have focused on that loss and that’s all I’d see. Things are different now. Now I see where God is taking this situation and turning it for good.

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My girls and I have communicated more since the Stay at Home orders came out than we ever have. There are lots of phone calls and texts, sharing pictures, video chats. When I watch their Facebook feeds, I see them reaching back for THEIR comforting touchstones and I see myself there. In the raised bed gardens. In the baking and making and growing. In the phone calls asking for advice. It has warmed my heart.

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In the last two months, during this lockdown, I have finally realized...I made a difference in my kids’ lives. The things I taught them, stuck with them. And now, they are using those gifts I gave them to comfort themselves and their families. This means more to me than any trinket they could give me. It doesn’t get much better than this. 

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Mr. FixIt told me last night he didn’t get me anything for Mother’s Day because shopping isn’t the same. And I told him not to buy me flowers. I smiled and said, “I have everything I need for Mother’s Day. I have a great big blended family that gives me great joy.” Besides, I’d rather have kitchen stuff than flowers that wither and die.

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I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day. And if you are actively grieving, I hope you find some moments of peace and comfort with your memories of your loved one. 

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❤️

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“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.””

\nProverbs 31:25-29 ESV\n
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#MothersDay, #Children, #Holiday

\n\n", "date_published": "2020-05-10T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/05/10/day-a-different-kind-of.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Holiday","Forgiveness","Aging","Presence","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/05/03/day-trial-and-error-in.html", "title": "Day 48: Trial and Error in the Kitchen", "content_html": "\n
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I was really productive in the kitchen yesterday. I made a double batch of spaghetti sauce and cooked a huge pork shoulder...both in crockpots. Then I decided to try my hand at making yoghurt in my instapot. That was a big no go. It smelled like yoghurt, but even after 10 hours, it was still a soupy mess. I used to have a yoghurt maker a zillion years ago and I used yoghurt starter. I never had a bad batch. So, I gave in and ordered a yoghurt maker online. I eat a lot of yoghurt so I think it will soon pay for itself. You can buy one HERE.

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I’m on Day 3 of the Sourdough Starter. Oh, my gosh...this is like having another pet! You have to feed and water it every day. Like...forever! The guy on the YouTube video said it’s like brushing your teeth...you’ll just get used to it being something you do every day. I am looking forward to trying it out though. Mr. FixIt and I both love sourdough bread. And, I had sourdough whole wheat pancakes once and they were fabulous. We’ll see how this works out.

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My friend, Kate Dunbar, is the Campground Gourmet. She sent me this sourdough starter and she used to have her own bakery, so I’m guessing it’s pretty good stuff. Kate is the Food Editor for Girl Camper and she takes the most beautiful photographs of food. I really need to up my game. I would love to put lovely photos out for you like the one above, but I seldom remember to take pictures till either the kitchen is a disaster or I’ve finished and the product is half eaten. I’ll try to remember to take pictures more often.

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Mr. Virgo used to roll his eyes when I cooked. I can cook for two and make the kitchen look like I’m feeding the 5th Battalion or something. I try to clean as I go, but I seem to be able to do one or the other...not both at the same time. This makes for long days in the kitchen, but I really am enjoying it at this point so I’m not complaining. 

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Things are starting to open up, but we’re still closed for business here on the Ponderosa. We’ve had no lack of things to keep us busy at home. I want to see the grandkids and the babies, but we’re just going to have to wait for a while to see how things go. We think that is the prudent thing to do. That being said, it is really hard to believe it is May already.

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I hope you are all staying well and doing the best you can. My prayers are always with you.

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❤️

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“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,”

\n2 Corinthians 3:5 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-05-03T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/05/03/day-trial-and-error-in.html", "tags": ["Health","West Virginia","Choices","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/05/01/day-its-feel-good-friday.html", "title": "Day 46: It’s Feel Good Friday \u0026 I’m Gettin’ Back to my Roots", "content_html": "\n
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It’s May Day! Can you believe that??? In what seems like three lifetimes ago, I was a bit of a hippie earth mama. I had all the Mother Earth News Magazines and the Moosewood Cookbook. I made all of our bread, yoghurt, tofu, pasta, granola, and Grape Nuts. I grew veggies on any piece of land available. And I frequented the Farmer’s Markets to preserve as much food as possible. I was a girl on a budget. I did all this while working full time, raising a child, and putting my hubby through medical school. What can I say...I was young and could do anything.

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I can still do all those homestead crafts, but once my second child came along and Hubby #2 was established in his medical practice, it was just easier to buy stuff than make it. Times have changed and I’m living this country farm life. And with the changes in the economy, I am picking those skills back up and dusting them off. I buy a couple cases of canning jars every time I go to the store. And I’ve slowly picked up some necessary pieces of equipment that I’ll be needing like tofu making supplies and the like. I’ll show you how I do that once I get everything in place.

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I came home from the farm yesterday. As I was pulling out of the driveway, I had to stop and take a picture of the dogwood. The hills look like they’re draped with white lace. The flowering dogwood are so delicate and airy and they don’t last very long. You can see in this photo that some of the trees are beginning to leaf out but the dogwood stand alone with their flat four petaled posies.

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I stopped at the store on the way home to pick up some Chobani plain Greek yoghurt. I’ll need about a half cup to use as starter so I can make my own. I was going to buy some whole wheat flour, then remembered I had some that had been stone ground at the mill up at Beaver Creek State Park in Lebanon, Ohio. When I got home and got everything put away, I decided to make a batch of homemade Grape Nuts.

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This is one half of the thin “cake”.
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The Amish make everything from scratch and somewhere along the line, I learned how to make this tasty crunchy cereal from an old Amish recipe. Once you’re done, store the cereal in an airtight container. It should last a while since it doesn’t have oil or eggs, but it’s so good, you won’t have it around for long.

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The “cake” has been through the food processor and ready to toast and dry in the oven.
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I’ve been trying to cut down on sugary treats but I love having a little ice cream in the evening. Last night, I put a couple heaping tablespoons of the plain Greek yoghurt in a bowl, drizzled some buckwheat honey over it and sprinkled a couple handfuls of the cereal on top. Oh, my gosh...it was amazing! Buckwheat honey has an entirely different taste than orange blossom or wildflower. It’s a dark brown and reminds me of molasses with its strong, bold flavor.

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Homemade Grape Nuts Cereal...toasted golden brown.
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Homemade Grape Nuts Cereal
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Preheat oven to 350℉.

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Mix dry ingredients together.

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Mix wet ingredients together and add to dry ingredients. Stir to make a batter similar to pancake batter.

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Line a large baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Pour batter onto the paper and spread evenly with a spatula. Bake at 350℉ for 20-25 minutes. Cool in pan for 10 minutes then remove to finish cooling on wire racks. 

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Break half of the “cake” into chunks and pulse in a food processor till you get the consistency of Grape Nuts. Line the baking sheet with another piece of parchment or waxed paper and spread the crumbs around into an even layer. Place in a 275℉ oven. Take them out every 10-15 minutes to stir them around. It will take about 45 minutes to toast them till they’re dry if you live in a humid area like WV. Let them cool and place in a large bowl. Repeat with the other half of the “cake”. Once the other half is finished and cooled, place the entire batch into an airtight container to store in your pantry. Serve as a topping for yoghurt or ice cream. Use as a crunchy sweet addition to a salad. Or eat as cereal just like the Grape Nuts in the box. This tastes SO much better than the store bought variety!

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So, there’s my Feel Good Friday suggestion...bake up some homemade Grape Nuts! Easy peasy and it feels good to make something wholesome like the hippie mama I used to be!

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❤️

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“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

\n1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-05-01T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/05/01/day-its-feel-good-friday.html", "tags": ["Health","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Peaceful Moments","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/04/28/day-the-census-and-voting.html", "title": "Day 43: The Census and Voting are Civic Duties", "content_html": "\n
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I’ve been looking for the good stories to use on “Feel Good Friday” because Lord knows there are far too many of the tragic ones. One such story was about a little four-year-old Staten Island boy. Little CJ Tardy’s mom wanted to keep his time structured like his pre-school class days so she started out with the Pledge of Allegiance. Now he is doing a daily Zoom call with up to fifty participants from family and friends to first responders.

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There are more American Flags on display. People are planting “victory” gardens. I’m seeing more people coming together and helping food banks and checking in on the elderly. There’s nothing like a national crisis to create unity...or at least a semblance thereof. 

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We received a postcard in the mail a couple of weeks ago to request a mail in ballot for this year’s Primary Election. It came on the heels of the 2020 Census. Both are important. I know there are some who blow off both of them, but they are terribly important. The Census isn’t Uncle Sam gettin’ up in your bidness. It’s how the Government determines where the funding for individual programs is distributed...by population.

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I took care of the Census online the end of March. Yesterday, I sat down with my ballot for the primary. I read down the list and was dismayed by how many names I didn’t even recognize, let alone know anything about. (One of the side effects of watching very little television.) I spent the next couple of hours with my smart phone in hand searching the names of each candidate and reading their bios and platforms so I could make an informed choice. 

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This is the first time in my life that I have felt such urgency in voting. I have to admit, there were times in the past that I voted a straight ticket or I voted in the women candidates on principle. This years is different. There’s a lot riding on this. The people holding offices in this country will be facing circumstances the likes of which no one has seen since the 1918 Influenza Pandemic. They need to be prepared to govern in ways we haven’t even thought of yet. I felt the heavy mantle of responsibility in a way I’ve never felt before.

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I was happy with my selections. As I was folding the ballot and placing it in the two separate envelopes, Mr. FixIt and I were watching Governor Jim Justice give the daily Covid briefing. He ran and was elected as a Democrat then changed his party to Republican a couple of years ago. He sounds like he just came down out of a holler with his accent and folky colloquialisms. And his ill fitting suits sag on his massive frame. His sallow skin and heavy lidded eyes make him look unwell. But I’ll tell you what...that man is rockin’ the management of this Covid Pandemic. And he loves the West Virginia people. 

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After I voted, I grabbed my sneakers and hopped on the riding mower. I mowed the whole thing in less than three hours. When I parked the tractor in the building, I noticed a rod hanging down. I got down under the back to see what was wrong. Mr. FixIt found a metal bracket out in the field the last time we mowed and I suspected this rod had something to do with that. The internet can be a marvelous tool. Within 10 minutes, Mr. FixIt and I had the whole thing figured out and ordered a new part for the tractor.

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Our field is so lovely in the late afternoon light after it’s just been mowed.
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There’s nothing prettier than an expanse of freshly mown field. I’ve talked with Mr. FixIt about cutting down on the mowing...maybe letting part of it grow back into pastureland. I was feeling guilty that I was depriving critters from habitat, and...while that may be true of the exact area of the field...we are quite literally surrounded by forest on all four sides. There are lots of meadows and pastures and fields and gardens. This expanse of green makes us both happy and as long as we can physically do it, we probably will.

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When I was a doctor’s wife, and even when I was the princess I was with Mr. Virgo, we didn’t have the time nor the inclination to fix things. That’s what garages are for. Oh, early on I was quite the fixit guru, but as time went on, I let more and more of those handyman projects go to the professionals. I wish I would have been more frugal all those years and done more of the work myself. And it would have been left to me. Hubby #2 was too busy and, seriously, Mr. Virgo didn’t have a handy bone in his body. He was cute, though. 

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I had a real sense of accomplishment when I was finished for the day. I relaxed in a bubble bath and let that good feeling of warm skin, sore muscles, and happy countenance wash over me in the reverie. I do love a good hard day’s work.

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❤️

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“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”

\nColossians 3:23 ESV\n
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#Work, #Mowing, #FarmLife, #Coronavirus

\n\n", "date_published": "2020-04-28T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/04/28/day-the-census-and-voting.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/04/26/day-creating-space-to-stay.html", "title": "Day 41: Creating Space to Stay and Play", "content_html": "\n
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This is where my new “campground” will be on the Ponderosa.
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Since I can’t take off with my camper and head for the hills, I’m having to be more creative with my favorite extracurricular activity. I decided to work on Big TOW-Wanda yesterday. I didn’t camp in her at all last year so she really hadn’t had a good cleaning since 2018. Mr. FixIt ran a power cord out to the camper and I found the surge protector and plugin adapter and got her powered up.

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Even if there wasn’t a stay-at-home mandate going on right now, I still wouldn’t be as inclined to run around the country on my own as I was before Mr. FixIt had his stroke. He is doing very well...almost back to normal. He still has a little tingling in his left hand, not quite the grip he had before, and he tires more easily. But even that isn’t the main reason I am hesitant to leave him. Coming that close to having a life altering health crisis brought to the forefront of my mind how tenuous life is...something I know all too much about. If I had been on the other side of the country on a camping jaunt and something happened to Mr. FixIt, I’d never forgive myself. It’s not fear as much as it is love and caring. I don’t like being that far away from him for too long...especially now.

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So, I’m being creative while still enjoying camping. It’ll be a whole lot cheaper to camp on our five acres. And with at least two full hookups plus lots of room for boondocking, I can host camping groups here at the house. My buds can come camp with me anytime and I don’t have to leave Mr. FixIt alone. I’ll still be here to help with chores during the day. It’s a win-win!

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The dinette is always down as a daybed in this camper. This is where I write when I’m camping.
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After we got the camper hooked up, Mr. FixIt brought the vacuum cleaner out to me and I commenced to cleaning up a zillion Asian Ladybugs and spiders and a couple of wasps that have wintered over. I sprayed wasp killer in the power cord storage area where I saw some enter last fall in hopes I can nip any nesting in the bud. The refrigerator is on and bottles of water are chilling inside. The beds are made, the floors are swept and the surfaces are dusted. 

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My first campout of the season is in the bag. It is Sunday and my day of rest will be spent reading in my tiny home on wheels...my little sanctuary.

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❤️

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“It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”

\nExodus31:17 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-04-26T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/04/26/day-creating-space-to-stay.html", "tags": ["Camping","West Virginia","Comfort","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/04/18/day-the-transmogrification-of-the.html", "title": "Day 33: The Transmogrification of the World", "content_html": "\n
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The gorgeous woods of Beaver Creek State Park bring me back at least twice a year.
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You can ask anyone who knows me...especially my sweet hubby...CHANGE is my middle name. I can roll with the punches like the best of them. I can adapt, adjust, regroup, reform, revise, diversify, shift, twist, transform, remodel, and steer in a whole new direction. I’ve made myself over so many times, I am unrecognizable to those who’ve known me longest. But there comes a point where it gets “purt near impossible” as my grandma used to say...even for a flexible person like me.

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I can handle when things slow down. I can take it when certain items are unavailable. After all, I lived through the great gasoline, toilet paper and sugar shortage of 1973-74 in the UK. We were actually given ration coupons. I hate that this disease is causing so much hardship on the world. It breaks my heart the amount of death that lies in its wake.

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The first time I ever faced the visual shock of devastating change was in the late ‘80s, early ‘90s. I was on my annual trip to West Virginia to visit my family. I always stayed at the farm as much as possible when I went home and no trip was complete without a hike back up on the hill to the old Strawberry Shed. At this time, I could still walk up the trail behind the barn and walk through the woods. Now, old trees have long since fallen up the holler and blocked any way to get up through there, let alone finding the path since it’s overgrown.

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That one particular summer, I hiked back up on the hill and when I came out into the clearing where the old garden was, I dropped to my knees in disbelief. The woods were gone. Just...gone! They had been clear cut and nothing was left but stumps. Something inside me felt broken and I cried my heart out. Someone had killed my childhood memories and I felt violated.

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No one told me about the woods. No one warned me what the change would look like or that I should prepare myself. For them, it was a matter of course. Wood is a commodity on a farm and when you need to build a building or you need some money to live on, you make a withdrawal out of the “Bank of Nature” and cash it in. I knew this in my logical brain, but my emotional brain was devastated.

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Last fall, my dear friend Gail told us our beloved Beaver Creek State Park was going to close soon after our “What a Hoot” event with the Girl Campers. She said they were going to cut out some dead wood, thin out the woods to improve the forest health, and mitigate a couple of old holding ponds leftover from the days when the area was a strip mine. The plan was to fill in those two pits and cut some of the far trees so you could once again look down over the edge to see the Pioneer Village below.

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The devastation of the clear cut woods in Beaver Creek State Park brought back the terrible image of my grandma’s farm when they cut the trees down without telling me.
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That sounded good. A healthy move. A needed change. It would promote healthy new growth and cut down on the terrible mosquito problem that infested the area in late summer. I haven’t been back up there yet. The state park is still closed for rehab. And, the pandemic has kept us from camping yet. Then, I saw the first photos from the park and I was once again hit in the gut with that familiar pain from such a visual change.

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The trees are just...gone. It looks like all of them, from what I can see. What was once magical is now just a memory. We can only hope that what is there will become beautiful again, but it won’t be in our lifetime. The changes we are seeing from the pandemic may also be far reaching. Many are unimaginable and hit us in the gut. Things are different. And more change will come. And some of it will be downright ugly and frightening, but....at the same time...

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The birds will sing.

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The sun will rise and set.

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The seasons will change.

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Babies will come.

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Elders will go.

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The water will flow from the peaks of the mountains to the valleys below.

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There will be fires and storms and earthquakes and disease.

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And there will be life.

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Resilient, strong, adaptable people will persevere. We may not live long enough to see how it all plays out but we can rest assured of one thing...

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No matter what is thrown at us in this life, we know the end of the story and good triumphs over evil. 

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It is finished. We just haven’t seen the end of it yet.

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❤️

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“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

\nJeremiah 29:11 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-04-18T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/04/18/day-the-transmogrification-of-the.html", "tags": ["Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","The Farm","Anger","Courage","Aging","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/04/17/day-the-hour-vacation-and.html", "title": "Day 32: The 24 Hour Vacation and Feel Good Friday", "content_html": "\n
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Quintessential spring...a robin’s nest with two sky blue eggs.
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We were supposed to leave today for the Outer Banks. For most people, this is a disappointment and an inconvenience to reschedule. For Mr. FixIt, it’s really hard to take. He has been going to the OBX every year since he was five...except for one. The Outer Banks is, obviously, his favorite place in the whole world. He has been uber excited ever since we got the the time share there. It meant we had a great place to stay and it’s booked the same time every year. 

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A Jenny Wren’s nest is distinctively filled with dried moss.
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Except this year. He understands why. And he agrees it’s necessary. It’s just not any fun to have to give up everything. It’s small potatoes to what a lot of people are giving up. I’m trying to come up with special things to help him feel a little less trapped in one place, so we went to the farm to stay the night. We mowed on Wednesday, then just sat back and enjoyed the atmosphere.

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Moss grows all over everything in West Virginia. It’s lush and green like a rainforest here.
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It is SO incredibly quiet out there. The spring flowers are beginning to peek out. As I was riding the mower over the lawn, I continually apologized to my grandma in a running commentary in my head. Ohhhh, she would have been so upset that we mowed the lawn while the Johnny Jump-ups were still showing their pretty little purple faces. She made my Uncle Bob wait till they were gone before you could mow. I’ll bet this is the earliest that lawn has ever been cut.

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Little Fiddlehead Ferns uncurling in the morning sun.
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I made a country breakfast yesterday in Grandma’s kitchen. We had hominy, bacon, eggs and toast. Have you all had fried hominy? Do you even know what hominy is? Hominy is made from dried whole corn kernels that have been soaked in lye to soften the hard outer hulls. Then the kernels are rinsed well and cooked like beans. I have never made them from scratch. I’ve always bought them in a can. I drain them and fry them in some butter or a little bacon grease.

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The view from the back of the barn.
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I had some thin crispy bacon and fried eggs ready when the hominy was done. I like to mix mine all together. Mr. FixIt likes to eat them separately using the hominy like fried potatoes. It doesn’t matter how you served them...they’re delicious!

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My ‘67 Franklin...one of these years I just KNOW I’ll get her fixed up!
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After breakfast, I grabbed my second cup of coffee and headed outside for a walkabout to see what’s blooming. Moss grows over everything here because of the moisture and the shady holler. There aren’t a whole lot of wildflowers out yet. There are still a few fiddleheads coming up. I thought I found the asparagus, but the lookalike shoots I found were milkweed. I read that you can eat them, but I would prefer to leave them for the monarch butterflies.

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Giant Snowdrops have bloomed at the front corner of Grandma’s house for as long as I can remember.
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While I was in the garden, I got a closer look at the cherry blossoms. They don’t look like they got nipped too bad from the frosts we’ve been getting. As I was walking back up to the house, I passed the big rhododendron and startled a robin from her nest. I got up high and zoomed my lens in to peek in the nest without disturbing it and there were two sky blue eggs in it! When we were replacing the tarp on the ‘67 Franklin on Wednesday evening, I uncovered an old Jenny Wren nest on top of the air conditioner. It was abandoned so I removed it and look a picture of it. Their nests are distinctive because of all the moss they use to construct them. 

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Cherry blossoms over by the garden. I used to hear stories about where these cherry trees came from, but I’ve forgotten. I have to remember to ask my uncle.
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When we finally wrapped up all the chores at the farm, we headed back home. As soon as Mr. FixIt unloaded the riding mower, I mowed both big fields before it got too dark and cold. I noticed there towards the end that my shoe was wet. When I pulled the tractor up to the garage, Mr. FixIt flagged me down. It turned out the dipstick for the oil had loosened and oil was spattering all over my leg and shoe. I had to go in and strip just inside the door to keep from tracking oil through the house and jump in the shower. What a mess!

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Country living...it’s a peaceful life, but the work is never, ever done. I wouldn’t trade it to live back in the city for any amount of money. I’d much rather have deer and possum for neighbors. And I wouldn’t trade Mr. FixIt for anyone to quarantine with!

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Oh, and today is “Feel Good Friday”. What good news do you have to share this week?

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❤️

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“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

\nProverbs 4:23 ESV\n
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The redbud are blooming!!!
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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.

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The wispy purple-pink of redbud are so ethereal mixed with the spring green. One of my favorite color combos.
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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.

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The first mowing of the spring out at the farm.
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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.

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I think this big pine is going to have to come down before too long. It keeps leaning out over the yard.
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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.

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I drive past this dry-stack rock wall frequently and finally got a picture of it.
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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.
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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! 

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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!

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Here’s the picture of Stacie’s jelly and the recipe she sent me:

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Stacie’s Redbud Jelly. It’s as pretty as a picture!
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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!

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❤️

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“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.””

\nHosea 6:3 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-04-16T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/04/16/day-the-redbud-and-dogwood.html", "tags": ["Health","Uplifting Stories","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Presence","Peaceful Moments","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/04/08/day-a-moment-of-peace.html", "title": "Day 23: A Moment of Peace", "content_html": "\n
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“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.\"”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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I slept a deep and dreamless sleep at the farm. I went to sleep with the sounds of owls and the occasional night bird. I awoke to the sun striking the the tippy top of the far ridge, the glorious choir of songbirds echoing down the holler from the woods above. What little bit of spring rain we’ve had trickled quietly in the creek outside the bedroom window I had propped open with an old bottle. My breathing was steady...my heartbeat was slow. I was feeling quite zen in the moment.

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I stretched and yawned and gazed out the window, then I received an alert on my phone. My brother/friend Greg was texting from Costa Rica.

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“Hey...wish me happy birthday, sis!”

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OMGosh! Why wasn’t his birthday on my calendar? I’m challenged in this area. I sat up, pulled the covers up around my chin, brushed my hair back, and hit the little camera icon. I have never tried a video chat on Instagram before, but there is a first time for everything, right? After three rings, there he was. My curly-haired buddy with the sparkling blue eyes...retired attorney, world traveler, born in the same hospital as me and delivered by the same doctor. We grew up right across the Ohio River from each other but didn’t meet until 2002 at a board meeting in New Castle, Colorado. Go figure.

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His gap-toothed smile is charming, his innocent youthfulness belies his age. Greg is truthfully the little brother I never had. I adore my older brother. I didn’t get to do the things with him some sisters do. He didn’t play football and look out for his little sister. He didn’t reluctantly drive me to school or protect me from boys he didn’t approve of. My older brother was born with a developmental disability and cerebral palsy. I would never trade him for anything in the world. I was HIS protector, so God sent me Greg to do the other stuff.

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When Mr. Virgo died and I returned from my three month excursion in the wilderness and backroads of Colorado, I couldn’t sleep in my house. I didn’t want to sleep in my bed...our bed. So I kept Little TOW-Wanda out front, plugged in, and essentially lived out there till I finally had to park her in storage for the winter. Greg and I were both night owls. If he saw me online at some ungodly hour, he sent me a text to see if I was ok. I can’t tell you how many times he walked the six or seven blocks from his house to mine at 2:00 in the morning to just sit with me in my camper. 

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We propped pillows up at each end of my bed, he at one end...me at the other. It was getting chilly so we threw a quilt over our legs. Sometimes we listened to music. Sometimes we shared pictures on our phones. Sometimes I cried and he sat quietly and listened. He’s a good brother...as much a brother as any. And I got to start my soft, zen-like day singing happy birthday to him and catch up with each other’s lives. It was delightful.

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When we finally said goodbye, I padded into the kitchen to make my coffee, threw in another load of laundry, and sat in Grandma’s chair to watch the world play out in front of me. I took a deep breath. No television. No news. No “press conferences”. No updates. I could just as easily have been sitting in a cabin in the woods in 1886 as remote and distant the world felt. This is what I was talking about a couple of weeks ago when I posted on my personal FB page... “Should married couples socially distance from each other? (Asking for a friend.)” I was trying to be funny...sort of. 

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I love Mr. FixIt completely. AND...I know myself. I need a break away from time to time to recharge and catch my breath. I need to NOT hear a television for, at the very least...24 hours. I am a much happier person when I get these little breaks...and when I’m happier, Mr. FixIt can’t help but be happier, too. It doesn’t take long and we can’t stand being apart. But oh...that twenty-four hours is delicious.

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Grandma’s Spirea
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I finished my laundry and gathered some things up from the kitchen that I wanted to take home. The pots and pans I left at the farm are much nicer than the ones over at the house, so I gathered the good pans up to bring home with me. The next time we go back over, I’ll take the older pans from here and leave them at the farm. No one comes there but us, and we will do fine with them. I also brought my blender and my handheld KitchenAid mixer. Some knives and my wonderful crock with my spatulas and wooden spoons. And the red teakettle I bought a few years ago when I came back to the farm full time.

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By the time I got the car packed up, it was nearly 3:00 in the afternoon. I drove home and mowed the back yard for Mr. FixIt. It was warm and sunny. When I was done, I stretched out on the bed in front of the fan for a power nap. We had supper and sat out on the deck under our new pergola and played with the cat. 

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For twenty-four hours, coronavirus was far away. Scary things were far away. Death and dying and illness were far away. I had the mental health break I needed and came back feeling stronger and more centered and rested. It’s important to take care of our mental health...always, but especially now. 

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What are you doing to help with your mental health? What are your self care rituals?

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❤️

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“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

\nJohn 14:27 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-04-08T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/04/08/day-a-moment-of-peace.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Peace","Wisdom","Presence","Peaceful Moments"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/03/30/day-when-times-are-hard.html", "title": "Day 14: When Times are Hard", "content_html": "\n
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“This brush fire was alarming when it was only a couple of miles from the farm.”
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When times are hard, the little extra things that come along can really add up and become overwhelming if you aren’t careful. Some days are just out of control. Actually...they all are lately. But yesterday was a winner. We had a great day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, it was warm enough to have the windows open to air out the house. Then, about 3:00 in the afternoon, the power went out. It was a really windy day and this often happens at this time of year in the country. A tree comes down on a power line, and depending on where it is, it may or may not be an easy fix.

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Mr. FixIt decided to go out and mow since our binge-watching of West Wing was interrupted. I decided to gather up my laundry and head out to the farm. When I pulled off the main road onto our little country lane, I smelled smoke. Not half a mile in, there was a column of white smoke and several firefighters and local people were working on a brush fire. A tree had come down and knocked a live wire down into the fallen leaves. The entire hillside was in flames and my cousin’s wife had a generator in the back of her truck running a pump to get water up from the creek.

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We’re really out in the boonies there. We don’t have city water out that road so there’s no fire hydrants. Most houses that catch fire just burn to the ground. While this fire wasn’t immediately threatening any structures, there were some not terribly far away. The farm is another two miles down the road so I’m certain there is no danger there. 

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Needless to say, when I got to the farm, there was no electric. I called to check on an elderly neighbor down the road. I called my uncle to let him know about the fire but that I didn’t feel there was a threat to the house. And then I called Mr. FixIt to tell him I was just going to turn around and come home.

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When I got back down the road to where the fire was, a fire truck was now parked across both lanes and I couldn’t get through. I don’t think they would have let me through anyway because now the fire was down at the edge of the road and the little valley was filled with thick, white smoke. I took a few pictures and headed back out the road to go the long way around.

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I thought I would stop in the little town near the Ponderosa and pick up a gallon of milk but the power was still off and all three stores were closed. I got home and Mr. FixIt was almost finished with half the mowing. He asked if I wanted to take over and I jumped on the tractor for my first mow of the season. The weather was perfect and I got as much mowed as I could before dark. 

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Mr. FixIt ran an extension cord from the generator into the house so I could have a lamp in the kitchen. I didn’t want to have the refrigerator door open very long so I grabbed half a kielbasa, an onion, and a can of sliced potatoes. I chopped the onion, sliced the sausage, and added the potatoes to a skillet with a little butter in it and fried it all together. In five minutes we had a quick meal from stuff we had on hand...and it was so yummy!

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We moved the lamp to the living room and I headed to the bedroom to write. I can’t hear the frogs over the generator. Actually, there’s not a more annoying sound than a generator running as far as I’m concerned. But it was music to my ears when I think of so many who don’t have that luxury. I’ll wear my earplugs and call it good.

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It’s just another thing. A small inconvenience. Maybe it was God’s way of saying...”Get outside and away from the television and the news!”

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❤️

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“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;”

\n2 Corinthians 4:8-9 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-03-30T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/03/30/day-when-times-are-hard.html", "tags": ["Faith","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","The Farm","Fear"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/03/28/day-when-it-rains-it.html", "title": "Day 12: When it Rains, it Rains and Rains and Rains!", "content_html": "\n
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A raised bed garden is easier on your back and keeps the veggies away from rabbits, etc.
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We are heading into what is one of the wettest times of the year in West Virginia. At the same time, the temperature is beginning to rise and that combo is what wakes up the grass and gets it growing. Every spring there are funny memes of people trying to mow the lawn in scuba gear. Sometimes it’s hard to get the garden plowed if you didn’t jump on it in early March. Then you have to wait for it to dry so you can plant. I’m not complaining, mind you. At least we aren’t planning to have more snow or hard freezes at this point like what I was used to in Colorado.

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With the pandemic, and the resultant shock waves going through the economy, it looks like we may be staying put here for a while. If I am anything, it’s flexible. And Lord knows we are all going to need to embrace that trait in the foreseeable future. We are blessed with a home and land and safety. There’s no need to rush into anything right now. Besides, that will take the pressure off and we can take our time fixing this place up.

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With all that in mind, Mr. FixIt and I have been talking about having a bigger garden here at The Ponderosa. I’m picking up a case of canning jars every time I go to the store. I bought a new gasket (plus a spare) for the pressure canner. One of the problems with growing a garden in the country is the wildlife that stand around waiting for the salad bar to open. We have tons of rabbits and they eat my green beans every year. We also have deer. In the past, Mr. FixIt grew a big garden here and used an electric fence to keep the deer out. I’ve been looking at a setup like the one pictured above...at least for the salad stuff that the rabbits get into. I don’t know how big we’ll actually go, but I really like the idea of the raised beds. It’s better on your back.

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A couple of years ago, we bought a shaded gazebo for the deck by the pool. We didn’t put it up last summer because we thought we would be pushing to get the house on the market and wanted to save it for the new house. Since that isn’t happening right away, I think we’ll go ahead and do that when the weather clears up a bit. There’s still the bathroom to finish. And the drain at the bottom of the outdoor stairwell to enlarge and install a sump pump. And then the second bathroom and the wallpaper in the dining room needs to come off. The list goes on and on. I’m hoping when the pandemic eases and gathering restrictions are lifted, we can get the boys out here to help us get some of these big jobs completed. 

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As I sit here in our home, safe and secure, and for all I know...healthy and virus free...I count my many blessings. As of this writing, no one I know is affected by the virus itself...just the inconvenience of isolation. I’ve been video chatting with the family. I pray a lot...every day. I limit myself to NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt...thirty minutes with an uplifting story at the end. It’s all I can take. 

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The other night, when I was admittedly overdosing on news and watching every update, I was sitting here writing my post and all of a sudden, I just went numb. My hearing was muffled. My skin was tingling. My heart was pounding. I wasn’t necessarily frightened. I didn’t feel the surge of adrenalin like I usually feel if I’m having an anxiety reaction or panic attack. I felt detached...like a casual observer. My inner spirit told me what was happening. I was overwhelmed. I was grieving. I’ve been passively watching life as we’ve known it fall apart and it felt way too familiar. I closed my eyes and leaned back and listened to my body cry out to me for mercy. So, I talked back. I soothed my fear. I reminded myself that God is still here...He is always here. I concentrated on my breathing and feeling the air as it moved in and out of my nostrils. I reminded myself I was safe here. Nothing was happening to me in this moment. Mr. FixIt was safe, too. I reminded myself that, even though there are so many things going on right now that are out of my control, there are still many things I can do to feel more at ease. 

\n\n\n

When people tell you to just count your blessings, they aren’t necessarily trying to be dismissive of your fear. I have found the action of actually counting my blessing to be soothing. Directing your thoughts to something in the here and now can get you off the runaway train of fear. Looking around the room and naming five things. Closing your eyes and counting five sounds...five smells...five textures can bring you down off the ledge of anxiety. As I went through this exercise, I could feel the numbness leave and my heart rate slowed down. My hearing came back clear and I was fine. 

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I may have to talk myself down off the ledge any number of times in the coming weeks. I don’t know. What I do know is...we are ok. We are safe. We are here. And, we are planning a garden for when the brighter days come.

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❤️

\n\n\n
\n

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

\nIsaiah 43:2 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-03-28T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/03/28/day-when-it-rains-it.html", "tags": ["Faith","Grief","Hope","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Wisdom","Humbled","Widow"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/03/22/day-seeking-comfort-in-an.html", "title": "Day 6: Seeking Comfort in an Uncomfortable Time", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
Oatmeal is definitely a comfort food that’s good for you!
\n\n\n

Mr. FixIt and I have a kind of rhythm. While I do most of the meal prep, we seem to take turns making breakfast. I’m the eggs and pancakes gal. He’s the maker of oats. Ohhhh, he makes the BEST oatmeal. We only use old fashioned rolled oats by Quaker. I like some chewy in my oats...not wallpaper paste. He uses a lite version of brown sugar that either has Splenda or Stevia in it...I can’t remember. He adds some cinnamon. Then, when we dish it up, we add whatever berries we have handy and a small handful of crushed pecans or walnuts. His gets a splash of 2% milk...mine gets a little bit of Half & Half. Perfection!

\n\n\n

Comfort food is a go to when times are stressful. Currently we are eating our way through that blackberry pie I baked Friday night. We had pizza for dinner. We cannot do that all the time...but at the end of a long week that lasted a year, we deserved an indulgence. Without guilt.

\n\n\n

We went to town yesterday to top off the gas tank on one of the trucks and to fill all our gas cans. West Virginia now has twelve confirmed cases of coronavirus...the nearest is one county over. Our governor came on last night to urge us to take action right now and ALL of us stay home. So many people aren’t taking this seriously and they only need to see Washington, New York, and Italy to see what can happen if you are not proactive.

\n\n\n

One of the problems in rural areas is a general distrust of government. “Revenuers” were busting up stills in these hills long before I was born. Mountaineers are fiercely independent and don’t cotton to people telling them what to do. The fella who stopped to help get the tire off the truck the other day was a perfect example. I told him I’d shake his hand but I couldn’t because of social distancing and he rattled off a profanity laced diatribe about not being worried about any virus coming to get him. We just shook our heads as he drove off with his 24 pack of Bud.

\n\n\n

We’ve decided to binge watch West Wing during our TV time instead of watching the news. I watch West Wing every election year. It’s comforting to know how it’s going to turn out. I love the cast and characters. And in the entire series, there was only one episode I don’t care to watch. That’s the one where the characters are being filmed as a documentary. I skip that one every time and I’ve binge watched the entire series at least 5 times.

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Today’s Question:

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What are you doing to combat boredom?

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Be safe, dear ones.

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❤️

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\n

“But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

\n1 John 3:17-18 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-03-22T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/03/22/day-seeking-comfort-in-an.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","West Virginia","Comfort","Courage","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/03/21/day-five-love-in-the.html", "title": "Day Five: Love in the Time of CoVid", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
Blackberry pie...sunshine in a slice!
\n\n\n

Thankfully we didn’t need to venture to town yesterday. Instead, we took a drive over to the farm to check in. Oh...what an amazingly warm day it was. I actually saw the thermometer at 79! All was well at the home place. The daffodils are blooming as are the forsythia and the flowering quince. The irises are shooting their flat, sword-like blades out from the wet, awakening earth. As you drive out through the country, the bushes along the roadsides are gaining a green, ghostly hue as the leaves begin to form.

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This is rockslide season and we saw evidence of several...one was actually encroaching on the road. The highway crew hadn’t gotten to it yet. It is supposed to get chilly again this weekend and then I wouldn’t be surprised if we stay in the high 50’s, low 60’s for a while. I don’t think there’s much of a chance of having another freeze this spring.

\n\n\n

Speaking of spring, with all the madness going on in the world, I totally missed the first day of spring! It’s here...even though it is highly overshadowed this time.

\n\n\n

I read something yesterday that someone shared. It was a letter to the humans from the vantage point of the CoVid-19 virus. It spoke of how we haven’t been paying attention. We have been so busy chasing after stuff and working to achieve a lifestyle that is unsustainable, that finally the earth broke. There were horrific wildfires and we looked on with morbid curiosity and counted our blessings it wasn’t us. There were deadly hurricanes and we sighed and looked on with a tinge of sadness at the devastation. Then our attention shifted elsewhere and the thoughts and prayers were replaced with the next thing in the news cycle.

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We as a people are so self-centered. We look out for number one. Maybe, just maybe this virus swooped in to get our attention...to wake us up to the devastation around us. To how unhealthy the world has become. And if the world is unhealthy, WE are unhealthy.

\n\n\n

I saw a picture of a mega freeway in Los Angeles. There were eight cars on it. I think someone said it hadn’t seen that little traffic since the Watts Riots of 1965. I commented that maybe Mother Earth is going to be able to catch her breath. Maybe the skies will clear. Maybe the sun will shine a little brighter. Maybe the waters will freshen a little. Maybe the pH in the rain will normalize and the fish will flourish.

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Maybe the quiet stillness will give us time to stop the frenetic pace we have set for ourselves and we can really connect with our family members...even if it’s through a window or over the phone or FaceTime. I’ve already noticed more caring for each other. Children are checking in with their parents to see how they’re doing. They are offering to run errands or go to the store. Strangers are helping strangers. 

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This is a time like no other we have faced. But, our grandparents and great grandparents were called to war. They were bombed and food was rationed. They grew victory gardens and knitted socks for troops. All we are being asked to do is stay home. While the threat of the disease itself is terribly disconcerting, we can do things to help prevent the spread.

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I’ve heard the youngsters say, “Ah, it’s not going to affect me. It’s just the Boomers.” Well, first of all, no. It’s not just the Boomers. They are finding people much younger than they first thought are getting sick and some seriously. And...who do you think those Boomers (and the generation or so after them) are? They are the doctors, scientists, financial wizards, farmers...the experts. The ones who hold the keys to a great deal of knowledge. Those who say they’re “just Boomers” had better learn a whole lot pretty darned quickly.

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I’m having nightmares. I rarely remember dreams, but I’m having dreams of death and dying. Too much news. Too much information. I had to step back and stop watching as much of it. I have to limit myself to a half hour of news a day. Just to stay up to speed with any breaking news. To counteract the bombardment of bad news, I’m putting in twice as much good.

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Yesterday, I baked a pie. I went to the farm and sat in my grandma’s chair. I did an hour of meditation/yoga on Facebook Live with my dear Earth Mother yogi friend, Sue in Colorado. I snuggled the kitty. I walked around our property with Mr. FixIt. I made BBQ pulled pork sandwiches for supper and pie for dessert. And I spent time studying my bible devotionals. It was a good day...even though the virus is creeping closer.

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My God is bigger than any virus. He’s bigger than any of my stuff. When I remember who’s in charge here and how this story ends, even if I caught the virus and went to Heaven...I win. Because HE won...and I put my faith in HIM. 

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I will not be afraid.

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I will not be afraid.

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I will not be afraid.

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You can watch my friend Sue’s movement meditation video here.

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❤️

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\n

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

\nPsalms 19:14 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-03-21T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/03/21/day-five-love-in-the.html", "tags": ["Health","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","God","Wisdom","Fear","Courage","Choices","Change","Widow"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/03/20/day-four-holy-catsits-feel.html", "title": "Day Four: Holy Cats...It’s Feel Good Friday!!!", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
You can’t hide from “Feel Good Friday!”
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One of the benefits of living in West Virginia is the rural nature of things makes social distancing pretty easy. After all...it’s what we’ve done for generations. It isn’t a big stretch for Mr. FixIt and me to hang around The Ponderosa or The Farm, but we do normally take several trips a week into town. We decided yesterday, the biggest change we’ve seen in our lives is not getting to dine out. I didn’t realize how often we eat meals away from home till that little luxury was taken away.

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We had to make a trip to town yesterday. We got the estimate on the damage to the truck...to the tune of $3,000! Yikes! Thank God for insurance. Mr. FixIt had a doctor’s appointment. I was not allowed back with him. Have you ever accompanied a man to the doctor?

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“So, how are things going?”

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“Good.”

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“Are you having any problems?”

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“No, not really.”

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“How’s that back pain?”

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“About the same.”

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“Is that new medicine I gave you last time helping.”

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“I think so.”

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“Any questions?”

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“Nope.”

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“Ok, then...you’re looking great! Let’s see you back in about three months.”

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“Ok.”

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?‍♀️

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When Lorie told me I had to stay in the waiting room, I looked at Mr. FixIt and narrowed my eyes.

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“You’d darn well better tell him everything!”

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He’s a good listener...he was in there forever. And he came out and addressed every single thing I would have wanted checked.

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What’s the message here? Oh...that he’s a grown man and can take care of himself in his appointments? Of course he can. Sheesh. But, that being said, men...no matter how diligent they are...sometimes forget the details of the conversation. Or they don’t quite grasp the subtle nuances of a new medication direction. Having a second set of ears helps tremendously, especially when they belong to someone who loves you. I also have the experience of sitting with Mr. Virgo and having him say no to every test our doctor wanted him to have and he was dead five months later. So, yeah...there’s that.

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We went to Walmart to pick up some prescriptions and bought a new tire for the truck. It wasn’t very crowded and everyone was practicing social distancing. We didn’t hang around long though and we hightailed it back home where I prepared a sumptuous dinner of steak, broccoli, and baked potato.

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There is always something to feel good about. For instance, yesterday Lester Holt told us to leave those boxes from Amazon outside for 24 hours because the virus can’t live that long on cardboard. He also said to wear gloves when you open the boxes because many of the products come from China. Why do I feel good about this? Well, I’ve been trying to cut down on my online (sometimes comfort) shopping and this is the perfect time. We can free up all those workers in the Amazon warehouses to focus on getting medical goods and critical supplies shipped and not have to worry about my books or batteries or what have you. And, I’ll be saving more money and who doesn’t need to be doing more of THAT right about now, am I right?

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Another feel good thing...people are talking nicer to each other. At least, that’s been my experience these last few weeks. We are finally getting back a little of that “we’re all in this thing together” vibe and I don’t think it’s humanly possible to have my fill of that! Letting people in line in front of you. Standing back and letting someone have the first choice of a piece of meat...even if that means you don’t get the one you had your eye on. Texts and phone calls and “I love you’s”...these are the sweet sounds of compassion I’ve been yearning for so desperately the last few years. 

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I was telling someone yesterday that I listened to NY’s Governor Cuomo address the coronavirus on TV and he spoke so kindly. He was efficient and honest and came across as trustworthy and compassionate. When he spoke...even without listening to what he was saying...his voice was soothing, calming. He told folksy stories as a way to humanize this pandemic and allay our fears. I seriously felt my emotions well up in my chest and the sting of tears as I realized...we don’t hear enough of that. And we’re getting beat down because of it. Let’s not wait for the powers that be to be kind and compassionate. Let’s take the bull by the horns and do that ourselves. 

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This is exactly how we make THE WORLD great again. Because, all we’ve got is God and each other. And dogs. We’ve got dogs. Oh, and cats, and birds, and.......

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❤️

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

\nProverbs 17:17 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-03-20T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/03/20/day-four-holy-catsits-feel.html", "tags": ["Faith","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Courage","Choices","Feel Good Friday"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/03/19/day-three-expect-the-unexpected.html", "title": "Day Three: Expect the Unexpected", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
First, you remove the spare tire from under the bed of the truck.
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We picked up my truck from the mechanic on Tuesday. It was in the shop for ten days but it was fixed and didn’t cost an arm or leg. After breakfast yesterday and a quick update on the news, we decided to drive out to the farm for a little while. On our way, we were just getting ready to cross a bridge when three things happened...I looked ahead to the intersection to make sure no one was stopped, I glanced to my left at the empty campground someone set up just before the oil and gas business left town, and I caught a glimpse of a vehicle passing me in the opposite direction. I turned back to comment to Mr. FixIt that it was a shame that man didn’t set up the campground earlier when he could have made some money on it. Just then, we heard loud banging on the outside of the driver’s side of the truck and the clang of metal on the road. 

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I looked in the rear view mirror in time to see what looked like a four foot section of rebar go flying up behind my truck with one last smack on the side. It skittered down the road and I was so relieved to see there was no one driving right behind me. Immediately, the rear driver’s side tire started hissing air as I crossed the bridge and pulled into a convenience store parking lot.

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Sure enough, the tire was giving off it’s final breath and the side of my truck looked like someone took a tire iron to it. It took a few moments to shake off the shock and try to figure out what happened. The best thing I can come up with is something fell off the truck that passed us and I ran over it. I didn’t see anything in the road before, but I was looking ahead and to my left so obviously I missed it.

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Yes...I have AAA. But, you have to remember, we live in a town of a couple hundred people, we are in the midst of a national emergency, and it was fixin’ to rain. I didn’t really feel like we needed to call for AAA. That’s for times when Mr. FixIt isn’t around.

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I set the jack up under the axle.
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The first thing we had to do was get the jack out of the truck. Well, actually...the first thing we had to do was figure out where the jack is STORED in the truck. Trust me, it wasn’t apparent but we looked it up on YouTube (thank GOD we weren’t out of cell range yet...five to ten more minutes and we would have been.) Unfortunately, I STILL haven’t gotten around to emptying that truck of all my camping gear. I know...I figured if I just left it in there, sooner or later it would be camping time again, right?

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I took stuff out of the back seat of the truck and we finally figured out how to get the jack out. I asked Mr. FixIt to let me change the tire so I would remember how to do it. That was one of the things my dad taught me when I was sixteen and I’ve probably only changed two tires my whole life. I wanted to know I could do it alone if necessary...and Mr. FixIt is wonderfully supportive in that.

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I jacked the truck up till there was enough space under it to fit the inflated tire on.
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I cranked down the spare tire under the bed of the truck and got it out. Man, it is REALLY heavy. I couldn’t pick it up, but I could scoot it along the ground till it was where it needed to be. I put the jack in place under the axle and got the truck raised up. I got the lug nuts off and Mr. FixIt reminded me to place them in the lid of the box the jack came in so I wouldn’t misplace any. Then it came time to remove the tire.

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I pulled. I kicked, shoved, twisted, pulled, pried, pounded...nothing. That thing was frozen on there. A fellow came over and tried but he couldn’t make any headway either. Mr. FixIt tried...nothing. So, I gave in and called the guy from the garage where we picked up the truck on Tuesday because he just lives less than a mile from where we were. He came right down...with a sledge hammer. I told him I was really disappointed because I wanted to change it myself. He laughed and went to hand me the sledgehammer and we both laughed.

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There was no way I could get that tire off by myself. Even the man who stopped to help and Mr. FixIt couldn’t budge it!
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“Nah...that’s ok. I’ll just hand this job over to you.”

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He got down under the truck and it took some pretty strong blows but it finally came loose. From that point, it wasn’t two minutes till the spare was on and the jack was out from under the truck. It took a little figuring, but we got the spare tire holder cranked back up under the truck, put everything back inside, and turned around. It wasn’t prudent to go out to the farm without a good spare. We stopped and filled the new tire with air and headed back home.

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\"\"
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A few phone calls and the claim, an appointment for the estimate, and a rental car were all lined up. A hot bubble bath and I was good to go!

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The enemy is pounding hard on all of us right now. But this was such an opportunity today. I got to refresh some skills I may need again down the road. I was in a safe place less than a mile from the help I ended up needing. I was fifty yards from the nearest air pump. My truck was drivable. I have a wonderful husband who supports my need for independence and courage. It reminded me of the worship song we sing in church.

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“You took what the enemy meant for evil, and You turned it for good...You turned it for good!”

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There are so many uncertainties right now and if we focus on that, things can seem so overwhelming. But as long as we are taking every precaution we can personally to stay safe, and we know we have God on our side, we can face anything that comes our way. Pray without ceasing for all of us. Be there for each other. Help in whatever way you possibly can while maintaining safety. And look for the opportunities this brings us...even if it’s just the opportunity to pray.

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It takes a lot more than a national emergency and a flat tire to get THIS Girl Camper down!!!

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❤️

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“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

\nRomans 16:20 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-03-19T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/03/19/day-three-expect-the-unexpected.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Courage","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/03/18/keeping-our-distance-day.html", "title": "Keeping our Distance: Day 2", "content_html": "\n
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This is a time to look out for one another.
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Honestly, our life here at The Ponderosa BCV (before Coronavirus) and ACV (after Coronavirus) isn’t that much different. That’s mainly because we are retired. I think we are affected more by Mr. FixIt’s continued recovery from his stroke than we are the global pandemic. We have been taking turns making breakfast. (He makes the BEST oats!)

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Up until late afternoon, West Virginia was official the only state without a confirmed case of COVID-19. Governor Justice announce there has been on confirmed case over in the Eastern Panhandle. However, I have a friend from high school...a retired nurse. She says her son and daughter-in-law tested positive last week in Morgantown and it was never reported. So, who knows what’s really going on.

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West Virginia runs 50th in so many things, it looks like we are running 50th in the number of tests being performed as well. You know it has to be here. All we can to is practice good hygiene and social distancing. 

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The garage called today and my truck was ready so we went to pick it up. While it took the guy a week-and-a-half to finish, it cost a third of what it would have at the dealership. 

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We watched the news together, but only to hear if there are more directives. I baked a pie with some blackberries from the freezer and made a casserole of pork roast, veggies and noodles. We are determined to eat through all the fresh stuff before it goes bad so we don’t waste a thing. 

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After dessert, I excused myself to write my post. I sat and thought about what we should talk about tonight. Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day. Mr. Virgo loved St. Patrick’s Day. Just about every year, I had to go buy green food coloring at the last minute so the bar could serve green beer. These memories make me smile. However, Mr. Virgo was buried the day before St. Patrick’s Day. And that always makes me think. 

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He warned me before he died that bad things were going to start happening in this country. Things with politics, finances, and health. He said it felt like a rubber band was drawing too tight or like a balloon being overfilled. I don’t know if he had a premonition, or if it was just his love of history and world events that spurred him, but he was constantly telling me to be prepared.

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I wanted to believe him, but it seemed so fantastical at the time. Still, his warnings have never left me and I do find myself more prepared than I might have been before. I have friends who have lost spouses in the last year....two in the last week. When I think back over the months after losing Mr. Virgo...it was so terribly difficult to cope. And that was in a stable world. I cannot imagine what these people are going through without their person. To try to navigate this AND actively grieve is an unbearable thought. 

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It doesn’t just take a death to trigger grief. You may be grieving the loss of security the COVID-19 virus is bringing to our lives. When things happen beyond our control, it can trigger grief reactions and PTSD. When I begin to feel frightened, I change my focus back to God and remind myself...no matter what happens here, He will never leave me. Even with that, I walk around with a little knot in the pit of my stomach. I take all the unknowns that I have no control over and put them in the God box and set outside the front door.

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All in all, we are doing just fine. We’re just taking it one day at a time.

\n\n\n

So, how are things with you in your world. Are you feeling ok? What are you doing with your time? How have things changed for you in the last couple of weeks? Let me hear from you...tell me how you're doing.

\n\n\n

❤️

\n\n\n
\n

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

\n‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-03-18T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/03/18/keeping-our-distance-day.html", "tags": ["Faith","Health","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Wisdom","Fear","Courage","Choices","Change","Widow"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/03/16/what-happens-if-nothing-happens.html", "title": "What Happens if Nothing Happens?", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
This is what most of our stores looked like this weekend. It won’t always be this way.
\n\n\n

We’ve been listening intently to the news. We’ve followed every story, listened to every nightmarish tale, seen and heard things we wish we’d never seen or heard. We’ve pillaged the stores in a way that would make a Viking proud. We’ve hoarded toilet paper, hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, and cleaners. Our pantries are stocked with everything from diapers to donuts. We’ve got every medicine available for every eventuality. The schools are closed. The stores are cutting back hours to give the staff enough time to restock. The hospitals are rationing supplies and making contingency plans for every possible scenario. And so...we wait.

\n\n\n

We are socially distancing ourselves. We are staying home...away from crowds and germs. We are binge watching every series on Netflix that sparks our interest. We are learning new skills. We are putting away food and reading. We are checking in on those who might need our help. We are watching church online or on television. We are reaching out with phone calls and texts and, dare I say...handwritten letters.

\n\n\n

And...we wait.

\n\n\n

And wait some more.

\n\n\n

What happens if...after we’ve waited and waited and sacrificed and been inconvenienced... What happens if...nothing happens? No big surge of disease. No drastic sudden influx of all these “hundreds of thousands of sick people?”

\n\n\n

I’ll tell you what SHOULD happen. We should breathe a HUGE sigh of relief because it means what we did...WORKED. It means we flattened the curve. It means we sacrificed our usual routines and made the most of it and we saved countless lives. 

\n\n\n

I know there will be a bunch of us who do that very thing. We’ll high five and say “Well done!” We’ll thank everyone in healthcare and the service industries. We will do our best to boost up the mom and pop business that took a hit from the shutdowns. We will praise our health officials who made difficult and unpopular decisions. And hopefully, we’ll remember to thank God for never leaving us in our darkest hours.

\n\n\n

If we have an ounce of forethought...a shred of decency...a touch of humanity we WON’T be that person who stands up and screams that it was all a hoax. That the whole thing was conjured up to throw an election or to make any one person or party look bad. That is petty. We must be better than that. 

\n\n\n

If we gain anything...just one tiny thing from this whole meshugas...it’s that we start looking for the humanity in each other again. We need to start finding love and kindness again. We need to remember...we may be different wings, but we’re flying the same bird here. Please, for the love of God...let’s turn something that’s potentially terrible into something that helps us see the divine in each other.

\n\n\n

Let’s let the legacy of the coronavirus be compassion.

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❤️

\n\n\n
\n

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

\nColossians 3:12-15 ESV\n
\n\n\n

\n\n", "date_published": "2020-03-16T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/03/16/what-happens-if-nothing-happens.html", "tags": ["Faith","Health","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","God","Wisdom","Courage","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/03/15/west-virginia-an-island-in.html", "title": "West Virginia: An Island in a Viral Land", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
Notice West Virginia is the only one that’s empty. There’s reasons for that.
\n\n\n

I don’t know if you’ve seen the latest news regarding COVID-19 or not, but West Virginia has the distinction of being the last state without a confirmed case of this viral menace. We hillbillies are sitting over here thinking “Heck, yeah! We’ve been drinking water tainted with C8 all our lives. We’ve been mining coal and have black lung. We cut our teeth on moonshine and coffee. Of COURSE it’s not here!”

\n\n\n

Yeah, well...not so fast. What that map says is “confirmed” cases. You can’t find a virus if you aren’t getting tested for it and, since West Virginia ranks 50th in most things, it’s only natural we wouldn’t be on the top of the list for getting truckloads of tests delivered. There are other reasons there is a hole in the map. 

\n\n\n

West Virginians are a solitary people for the most part. Our “social distancing” is created by hills and hollers and long, winding country roads. And, given the demographics, we are far less likely to participate in overseas travel...or much of any travel, for that matter. Except for the OBX and Myrtle Beach, the average West Virginian may not have traveled more than a couple hundred miles from home in their entire lives.

\n\n\n

And, let’s be honest here. West Virginia is beautiful, but there is a reason game shows don’t give away trips to the Mountain State. We are mostly rural farmlands and mountains and, while there is a lot to do here, people are not beating a path to our door. I think we kind of like it that way.

\n\n\n

The down side of this is, West Virginia is a poor state. Access to adequate healthcare can be difficult in rural areas. We are high on the obesity and chronic disease charts. Drug use and smoking are rampant. We’re low on the education and the income charts. But, I’ll tell you what we DO have.

\n\n\n

We’ve got grit. Determination. We take care of each other. We pull together in times of trouble. These things go a long way in a crisis. Yesterday, as I was working in the kitchen, it occurred to me...

\n\n\n

We know how to DO stuff. We know how to garden, raise animals, preserve food, build shelter, hunt for food. As my cousin Valerie said yesterday, “I feel like I’ve been training for this my whole life!” She’s right, you know. We have.

\n\n\n

I grew up spending a great deal of time at my Grandma’s house. I learned how to can and cook by watching her. I got out of practice when I lived a cushy life in Colorado, but it’s like riding a bicycle...you never forget once you’ve learned. I was working around the house on Friday when my good friend Diane called to say the local grocery store was still well stocked, but at soon as folks from town learned about it, they would descend on it. So if I needed anything, I’d better go.

\n\n\n

I’ve still had a few nagging thoughts that maybe we didn’t have quite enough to get by. The unknown factor here is just how long we may have to hunker down. And, what if the elderly people out the road need some soup or something? I really wanted to add a few things to our larder, so I made a quick trip to “the Pig.”

\n\n\n

When I got home, I finally felt secure that we have what we need. Other than milk, we shouldn’t have to make a trip to the store for 2-3 weeks. That sounds good to me. I bought a couple roasts. I cut one up in cubes and put up ten quarts of vegetable beef soup. That’s always a good thing to have around. I have flour and yeast to bake bread if we need it. I got another large package of hamburger and divided it into portions for the freezer. I saved out enough to make a batch of taco meat. That is great in tacos and on salads and burritos. And, I baked a big pork roast. Just the roast alone will feed us for several days.

\n\n\n
\"\"
Jars of homemade vegetable soups are not only pretty to look at, but they’re packed with nutrients. Good to have around...in sickness and in health!
\n\n\n

As I ladled the hot soup into jars, I thought of the younger generations. Unless they are raised in the country, they likely have not learned vital survival skills. When I raised my girls, I didn’t teach them these things because we lived in town. I didn’t think they would need to know how to raise and preserve their own food. And, hopefully they won’t. But at least they should know how to if the time should come and their lives depend on it.

\n\n\n

I searched the internet for some good resources for those who need/wish to learn basic survival skills. Back when I was an avid reader of Mother Earth News and a wannabe farmer, I lived on two acres and had a huge garden. Here are a couple really good books I depend on when I need to know how to do something. And a website that deals with natural remedies. (Note: These are things I use personally. I am not a physician or an expert in the field of natural remedies. Any decisions to follow any of these recommendations are your own responsibility.)

\n\n\n

The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual for Living off the Land & Doing It Yourself

\n\n\n

Complete Book of Home Preserving (400 Delicious and Creative Recipes for Today)

\n\n\n

A Better Way to Thrive

\n\n\n

This is a time of uncertainty. We can succumb to fear, or we can use this as an opportunity to hunker down and get some things done. Do a deep cleaning at home. It’s time for that spring cleaning anyway. Learn a new skill like knitting or quilting or canning. Get in touch with your faith. Meditate. Plow up a garden or prepare some big pots for veggies. Plant seeds in trays to grow your own seedlings for your garden. Paint a room...or two. Clean out that garage or basement. Gather things to be ready to donate them when you venture out again. 

\n\n\n

I read something yesterday that really hit home. @mattdpearce on Twitter posted:

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“I imagine all the closures give people a sense of ominousness. But it’s really an amazing act of social solidarity: We’re sacrificing so we can give nurses, doctors and hospitals a fighting chance. Start from there and hopefully we can figure out the rest.”

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If any of your people are in the medical profession, do whatever you can to help them. Check in on the elderly and infirm. Watch out for your neighbors. Let’s all be good humans.

\n\n\n

I know it can be frightening when we feel out of control, so look for the ways you DO have control. Social distancing, self-isolation, and good hand washing. and all these other things I’ve recommended. Let’s flatten the curve!

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❤️

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\n

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

\nPhilippians 4:19 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-03-15T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/03/15/west-virginia-an-island-in.html", "tags": ["Health","West Virginia","Wisdom","Fear","Courage","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/03/09/sweet-caroline.html", "title": "Sweet Caroline", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
Memories are like pictures in a shoebox. Sometimes you get to find out what happened to that girl.
\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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!

\n\n\n

I caught her eye and smiled.

\n\n\n

“I’m sure you don’t know me, but you would know my mom and my brother.”

\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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. 

\n\n\n

What a treat it is when there’s some completion to a story.

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❤️

\n\n\n
\n

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.\"”

\nJohn 8:32 ESV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-03-09T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/03/09/sweet-caroline.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Aging","Art"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/03/04/its-mud-season-an-ordinary.html", "title": "It’s Mud Season: An Ordinary Day", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
Too much grey, rainy weather can make one feel blue. Or, it can bring you into a cozy place.
\n\n\n

This is the time of year when we get a ton of rain. It makes me laugh to say that because, really...West Virginia gets TONS of rain. Period. I lived in the semi-arid climate of Colorado for forty years. I was dried up like a prune...constantly dehydrated. Then I moved back to my beloved home state and actually felt my skin soaking up the moisture.

\n\n\n

We have a boat load of moisture here, that’s for sure. And it comes in bands. If you look at the radar on the majority of days, you will see long finger-like bands of clouds sweeping across the Ohio River and deflect on a Northeasterly course. We waited out one such storm band yesterday and thought we might be able to get a walk in before the next band came through. But the sky darkened quickly and we soon recognized the heavy dense clouds of impending rain. We changed our course.

\n\n\n

Not that I really wanted to drive to town, we decided it was our best option to keep from getting wet. We drove to the mall and got in nearly two miles for a respectable first time out for Mr. FixIt. Errands, groceries, and dinner on a Christmas gift card rounded out our day. My sweetie was sure tired when we got home but he did great!

\n\n\n

On our way home, we experienced out first lightning of the season. I love thunder and lightning. And, I am so grateful we don’t have the kind of storms Nashville was hit with yesterday. I have friends who live there and I half held my breath till they started checking in. Please lift up prayers for all those effected by the tornado. There are buildings there that hadn’t even been fixed since the last tornado. 

\n\n\n

We watched a little TV. A little election. A little American Idol. A little reading.

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It was another extraordinarily ordinary day here on The Ponderosa. 

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❤️

\n\n\n
\n

“Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.”

\nJames 5:17 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-03-04T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/03/04/its-mud-season-an-ordinary.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/02/13/the-partys-almost-over.html", "title": "The Party’s (Almost) Over", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
Have fun little girl!!!
\n\n\n

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

\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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!

\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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!

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And now...back to work!

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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.

\n\n\n
\n[girlcamper.com/introduci...](https://girlcamper.com/introducing-the-r-pod-196-from-factory-to-fabulous/)\n
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❤️

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\n

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

\nGalatians 6:9 NIV\n
\n\n\n

\n\n", "date_published": "2020-02-13T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/02/13/the-partys-almost-over.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","goRVing","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/02/12/please-sharethe-last-chance-for.html", "title": "Please Share...the Last Chance for Raffle Tickets!", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
Praying for lots of ticket sales to help the families of critically ill children. And, for the new owners of this sweet little camper!
\n\n\n

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!

\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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!

\n\n\n
\n[girlcamper.com/introduci...](https://girlcamper.com/introducing-the-r-pod-196-from-factory-to-fabulous/)\n
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❤️

\n\n\n
\n

“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.”

\nIsaiah 58:10 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-02-12T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/02/12/please-sharethe-last-chance-for.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Prayer","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","goRVing","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/02/11/raindrops-resting.html", "title": "Raindrops \u0026 Resting", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
On a rainy day, I head to the campground with the sweetest little camper in tow...the rpod 196.
\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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. 

\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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.

\n\n\n

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.

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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!

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❤️

\n\n\n
\n

“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.”

\n1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-02-11T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/02/11/raindrops-resting.html", "tags": ["Camping","Fun","West Virginia","goRVing","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Be Joyful!","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2020/02/08/a-snowy-ladies-night.html", "title": "A Snowy Ladies Night", "content_html": "\n
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Camping Like a Girl in the Mall at Galentine’s Day
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Click on this link to the Trailer Raffle Story on Girl Camper. Follow the directions to buy tickets!

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Last night was the women’s event at the mall so I had the rpod all decked out for some “Girl Camping”. The women LOVED it! I had a blast showing off the camper and visiting with some really great people. 

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I lived in Colorado for 40 years. Women are adventurers there and wouldn’t think twice about going camping (or anything else) on their own. I have a friend who was widowed a couple of years ago and I’ve seen her hike WAY back in the mountains alone. I did those kinds of things too after Mr. Virgo died. For me, it was either get out and do stuff, or stay home and knit.

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I think, the fact that Hubby #2 was a doctor and gone from home a lot, contributed to my adventurous spirit. It wasn’t a big stretch for me to do things alone after Mr. Virgo died because he also worked long hours and was gone a lot. I missed him terribly, but not because it forced me to do things I had never done alone before.

\n\n\n

I’m finding this is not necessarily the case with the women I’m talking to in West Virginia. It’s a little different with some southern women. When I camped in Tennessee with a group of women, the majority of them had their husbands bring their little campers to the campground, set it up for them, then come back on Sunday to take them back home. 

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I’m not judging. There is NO wrong way to camp like a girl. I just know from experience that I COULD learn to do something I never dreamed of doing and I found great joy and satisfaction in it. A king-sized sense of accomplishment came along with backing that 30’ camper into a narrow campsite.

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Like I told the gals that have come to visit me over the last few weeks.You can camp in an Air B&B just as easily as you can camp in a camper or tent or a little minivan. The whole point is to join other likeminded women and experience that sense of community you get when you share the experience of the great outdoors.

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We are counting down the days now till the drawing for this little camper. I’ll miss it when I send it on to its new owners because I sure have had a good time. It’s a great little camper. Even if I never intended to tow it and go camping, I would buy this thing to put in my back yard for a guest house or a writing studio. There are so many possible uses. And for $10 a ticket, it’s a small investment for a worthy cause.

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❤️

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““The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

\nMatthew 25:40 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2020-02-08T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2020/02/08/a-snowy-ladies-night.html", "tags": ["Camping","West Virginia","goRVing","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/12/31/seeking-comfort-in-an-uncomfortable.html", "title": "Seeking Comfort in an Uncomfortable World", "content_html": "\n
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“Travel brings me comfort in an uncomfortable world.”
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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.

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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.

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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.

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I gained people. And...I lost people I loved dearly.

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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.

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I’ve aged a hundred years in some ways. I’ve gotten much younger in others.

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I got a cat. Well...she got me.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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Finding ME.

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Finding love again.

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Marrying a wonderful man.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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?

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Maybe I can take a nap before we go.

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Happy New Year, my dear ones! If you are struggling, may 2020 bring you peace, prosperity, and good health. You are so loved.

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Thank you. Truly...thank you for being here all these years. I am eternally grateful for the connections I have made through this page.

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Be blessed!

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Ginny

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❤️

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“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.”

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Psalms 96:1-3 NIV

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“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

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Psalms 90:12 NIV

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“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

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Proverbs 16:9 NIV

\n\n", "date_published": "2019-12-31T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/12/31/seeking-comfort-in-an-uncomfortable.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Aging","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Widow","Marriage","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/12/28/the-family-christmas-extravaganza.html", "title": "The Family Christmas Extravaganza", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
“Is there anything better than an apple pie fresh from the oven?”
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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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I hope you all are enjoying the holidays in whatever way you can. 

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❤️

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“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.”

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Psalms 128:3 NIV

\n\n", "date_published": "2019-12-28T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/12/28/the-family-christmas-extravaganza.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Peace","Holiday","Be Joyful!","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/12/15/the-perfect-christmas-kind-of.html", "title": "The Perfect Christmas Kind of Day", "content_html": "\n
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“Market Street in the ‘50s”
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It was rainy and fairly warm yesterday and I did something I haven’t done in AGES. I spent the entire day on the couch in my fuzzy jammies with the snowflakes on them. We watched “Christmas Vacation” with Chevy Chase...a must every year. Then I put on my headphone while Mr. FixIt watched football and played on my computer all day. Yes, I fiddled a little with the websites, but not like...work. Just tweaked a bit here and there. I made brownies and beef stew on Friday so they were both even tastier yesterday. And my long time friend, Anna, called me from Belize. We talked for an hour and it was so much fun to catch up with her!

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My friend Marion sent me this photo of our hometown. It’s black and white and was taken at night in the 1950’s during the Christmas season. OMGosh! It takes me back. In those days, downtown was where you shopped. There weren’t any shopping centers or malls. Our only “big box” store was Sears. There were a couple of large locally owned department stores and the likes of GC Murphy’s. Jewelers, shoe stores, a fabric shop. Typical small town shopping at its finest.

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“Dils Department Store had an elevator attendant who took you from floor to floor!”
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One night, a few days before Christmas, Dad would get us all in the Oldsmobile and drive us downtown to see these very same Christmas decorations. On our way back home, we stopped at Dr. Fankhauser’s house to see their display. They always had carolers and a Nativity. And one year they had Santa sitting astraddle a rocket! It was tradition.

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My friend Sharon lived down the street from me and we always gathered a group of kids together to go Christmas caroling around the neighborhood. We watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman on our little Zenith TV with the picture that rolled and rolled. Dad would fasten aluminum foil to the rabbit ears and try to get better reception, with little luck.

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Sledding down 56th Street hill was a huge neighborhood activity and we’d come in half frozen with wet gloves and soaked feet. Mom would make us hot cocoa and we’d stand straddling the furnace grate in the floor. My brother and I would fight to stay awake to see Santa but we never made it past 10:00. Then we’d wake our parents up LONG before dawn and squeal with delight when we saw presents under the tree.

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We didn’t have a lot of money but there was always a little something for each of us. I begged mom to wrap each present separately so it would look like there was more there. As an adult, I totally understood why there were five things in a box. She was tired and wrapping paper cost money and got thrown away. We saved wrapping paper, ribbon and bows and used them from year to year. We recycled old Christmas cards into gift tags. We used the empty paper rolls as swords and trumpets!

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We treasured our Christmas ornaments...some of which belonged to my grandparents. We were always so careful when we put them up and Dad was really particular about the decorating. The smallest ornaments at the top...the largest at the bottom.

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We each had a stocking and in the bottom were mixed nuts in the shell, a tangerine, a candy cane, and if mom and dad had a little extra, there were Swiss chocolate ball and bells wrapped in colorful foil. There was always, without fail, a Lifesavers “Story Book”. I immediately gave the butterscotch roll to my mom. They were her favorite.

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One Christmas was really sad. I don’t know what was going on in our family, but money was tighter than usual. Mom ordered gifts for us from the Spiegel Catalog but they didn’t get to us in time. When we got up on christmas morning, there was a letter from “Santa” telling us our gifts had somehow fallen out of the sleigh on his way to our house and he would have to bring them to us later in the week. Then, when the box arrived, my dad made mom send it back...unopened. That was so disappointing, but I never realized until many years later how hard that had to have been for my mom back then. 

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There are some unhappy Christmas memories that involved my dad’s problems with alcohol, but I’ve decided...at the age of 66, I don’t really need to rehash that all over again every year. I’ve told the stories. They’re out there in the blogosphere. That’s enough of that. When I look back now...my dad is in the background. We love(d) each other in our own ways, but now he remains a shadowy figure that no longer haunt me.

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Who says you can’t rewrite history?

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I want to remember this picture. And mom’s wool winter coat with the brooch on the collar. The thin gloves tucked in one pocket...a floral hankie in the other. There were always pennies and sticks of gum in her handbag for good girls and boys. She smelled like Evening in Paris and wore red lipstick and house dresses with patent leather heels. She had a pair of clip-on earrings for “fancy”. She pretended to be thrilled with a ten cent bottle of cheap cologne from Kresge’s. I don’t know...maybe she was. I do know this...I adored her and I miss her every day.

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Yes...this picture makes me smile.

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❤️

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“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

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1 Peter 4:8 NIV

\n\n", "date_published": "2019-12-15T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/12/15/the-perfect-christmas-kind-of.html", "tags": ["Family","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Holiday"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/12/13/definition-of-a-wv-holler.html", "title": "Definition of a WV Holler", "content_html": "

\"Grandma’s Grandma’s farm is at the mouth of a holler. No one lives back up the holler anymore.

\n

It’s “Feel Good Friday” and I want to share something with you.  We often talk about the hills of WV where my roots run deep. We talk about Grandma’s farm and the home of my heart. I tell you stories and memories that warm my soul and hopefully yours, as well. If you grew up like I did…you’ll be able to relate. And if you didn’t, you’ll be able to see how the luckiest of us were raised up.

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I belong to several Appalachian pages on Facebook. I love the pictures and the stories as they stir up memories as old as the hills. When I read the writing of one of these hill folk and it particularly moves me, I simply must share. This piece was written about the hollers of Eastern Kentucky, but that’s not all that far from here and aptly describes our neck of the woods in WV, too. I hope you enjoy!

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The Definition of an Eastern Kentucky Holler…..

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Someone from outside my area recently asked me about our Eastern Kentucky hollers, and I have been thinking of how to best describe them to those not familiar with them.  The simple answer is that a holler is a lane that follows a narrow valley between the hills.  But if you’re from the hills of Eastern Kentucky, then you know there’s a lot more to a holler than that.  

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Most hollers are just dirt roads with a little gravel spread on them every now and then.  They were never intended to carry heavy traffic.  A holler is generally very sparsely populated because that’s the way we like it.  We guard our privacy and we’re pretty wary of strangers.  Often there’s not another house in sight of your house.  

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But we still know our neighbors.  And when one needs help, then you help.  If someone is sick in the holler, then you pitch in to help until they get back on their feet.  If someone has a problem, then you listen.  When someone claims you as a friend, then you’re loyal.  And if you make a promise, then you’d better make good on it.

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There aren’t any mansions In a holler.  In fact, most houses in a holler are modest ones.  And almost everyone has a barn, and a couple of other outbuildings.  Some have chickens and cows and goats and a couple of horses.  And they all have at least one dog that runs to the road and barks at every car that passes by.  

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Most people in a holler have a front porch.  And they actually sit on it.  They shell peas and string green beans and peel apples on the porch.  And people stop by and sit on the porch with you.  They laugh and talk and cuss a little bit about crooked politicians.  And in the dusky evenings, they come with fiddles and flat top guitars and five-string banjos.  And, good Lord in heaven…..what music they make!  Sometimes the music drifts up and down the holler and it’s so pretty it just makes you want to cry!  But instead of crying, you find yourself humming along to the lonesome strains of the Orange Blossom Special. 

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A lot of the houses in a holler have been occupied by several generations of the same family over the years.  There is comfort in living in the house where your grandpa was born, or playing in the creek where your daddy used to swim.  Something stirs down deep inside of you when you know you’re walking in the steps of your forefathers.  And you never really feel alone as long as you know that your people lie buried on top of the hill that holds you so closely.  Never underestimate the way that the hills cradle you.  They will rock you to sleep at night, and awaken you in the morning with a happy heart and a joy in your soul.

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If you live in a holler, you get recognition every day.  And you’re never invisible.  People always wave at you when they see you on your porch or in your yard.  And if they don’t see you outside, then they will blow the horn when they drive by your house….just as a way of saying “howdy”.  And if a few days pass and they don’t see you, then they’ll stop by to check on you.  You can count on it.  And you can count on them.

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If your house is the first one as you turn up the holler….then you live at the mouth of the holler.  If your house is the last one where the holler dead-ends…then you live at the head of the holler.  And responsibilities fall to you according to where you live in the holler.  For example, if you live at the mouth of the holler and you see a strange car that doesn’t belong to anyone you know and it’s heading up the holler, then you call the people who live above you and let them know that there’s a stranger headed up their way.  That’s just common courtesy.  If a vacuum cleaner salesman comes to your door, then call and let the others in the holler know so they’ll have time to let the big dogs out of the house before the salesman pulls into their driveway. 

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If anyone invites you to have a meal at their table…accept their offer quickly.  And if it’s a house where an old woman runs the kitchen, get to the table just as fast as you can. And get ready to be amazed!  Because if you live to be a hundred years old, you will never have a finer meal than one served up in an Eastern Kentucky holler.

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There is a certain etiquette adhered to when you drive up or down the holler.  If you meet another car in an extra narrow spot, then one of you has to back up to a wide spot so the other can pass.  And when you are finally able to pass each other, you stop and roll the car window down and you talk until another car comes along and you have to move on.

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If your neighbor slides out of the road in the winter snow, or if he gets stuck in the mud, then you try to push him out.  If you’re unable to push him out, then you get your tractor out of the barn, attach a big chain, and pull him out.  Again…it’s just common courtesy.  

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If someone in the neighborhood dies, you get to their house quickly with huge boxes of food.  You make a pot of coffee.  And then you make another one.  And you stay beside your neighbor for as long as you’re needed.  You don’t even have to say a word, you just have to be there.

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There are other unwritten rules to holler-living.  If a forest fire breaks out, you become a firefighter.  And not just to save your own house, but to also save all the other houses in the holler.  If the creeks start rising, you don’t leave anyone behind to face the muddy waters alone.  And when storms come, and they will, you will find no better friends than the ones who are going through the same challenges that you’re facing.  

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There’s a lot more to be said about an Eastern Kentucky holler, but if I don’t tell you another thing, you need to know that a holler is more than a narrow isolated lane that runs between the hills.  A holler takes you to the place where you have always been loved and where you’ll always be welcome.  A holler takes you to the place where you can find comfort and peace and a sense of belonging.  It takes you to your roots and to your family and to the truth of who you are.  A holler takes you home.  

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Written by Roberta Stephens

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January 4, 2017

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In sweet memory of the hollers I have loved

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❤️

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“‘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.””\n

Revelation 21:4 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-12-13T02:30:29-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/12/13/definition-of-a-wv-holler.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Wisdom","Choices","Feel Good Friday"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/12/11/its-a-kiss-christmas-keep.html", "title": "It’s a KISS Christmas - Keep it Simple, Santa!", "content_html": "

\"Shiny “Simple and elegant…vintage Shiny Brite ornaments like these hang on our tree here at the Ponderosa”

\n

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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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:

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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.

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It’s a KISS Christmas…Keep it Simple, Santa!

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❤️

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“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”\n

Matthew 6:21 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-12-11T02:30:37-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/12/11/its-a-kiss-christmas-keep.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","New Ideas","Gratitude","Comfort","Holiday","Wisdom","Peaceful Moments","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/12/10/love-to-the-rescue.html", "title": "Love to the Rescue", "content_html": "

\"Friends\" “One of my besties! Deneene and her sidekick, Griffen the Grey, came for a visit. She’s good for what ails ya!”

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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. 

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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!

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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.

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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. 

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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!

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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!

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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!”

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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.

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❤️

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“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”\n

John 15:12 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-12-10T02:30:55-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/12/10/love-to-the-rescue.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Courage","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Widow"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/12/03/recovery-day.html", "title": "Recovery Day", "content_html": "

\"Christmas “Christmas Lights & Pie”

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When all the food is put away…when all the dishes are done…when all the guests have said their last goodbye…what time is it? It’s time for PIE! Well, really…is there ever a BAD time for pie? We turned off the lights…all but the tree. And just enjoyed the quiet.

\n

I took the kitten in bright and early to be spayed and immediately came home and slept three more hours. Working to put on a big family dinner takes the starch out of you. And it gets harder the older you get. 

\n

The babies were so much fun. Princess First was in rare form, ate like a champ, colored brilliantly, and melted me with “Pweeze, Gigi!” I’m toast. Then there was Prince Second. Oy, he is a solid chunk of sheer joy. He smiles and coos and bats his big eyes at me. All I wanted to do all day was kiss and nibble on those cheeks…they are so delectable!

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Once the kitten was ready, I went to pick her up. They informed me she needs to stay in the house for the next ten days. You know what that means, don’t you? It means we now have an indoor cat. Bring me all the antihistamines in the land! It’s better, really. I worry about her outside with that road even though she was safe in the pole building every night. I also found out we can board her with our vet when we go out of town. So it was a win-win day. 

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Now I can turn my focus back to writing. The OH-WV Chapter page on the new Girl Camper website needs my attention every couple of weeks. There are presents to make. Cookies to bake. Calls to make. Cards to send. This will be a busy and quick month for all of us. Then we can start making all our camping plans for the  New Year! There’s going to be some fun things happening on the east side…up and down the mid-Atlantic area so keep your eyes peeled for announcements!

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Katy bar the door…all heck is gonna break loose around here!

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❤️

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“Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.”\n

Proverbs 24:27 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-12-03T02:30:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/12/03/recovery-day.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Holiday","Wisdom","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Widow"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/11/27/my-first-pickup-truck.html", "title": "My First Pickup Truck", "content_html": "

\"1968 “My first pickup truck was a 1968 Ford F-100”

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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.

\n

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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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”. 

\n

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.

\n

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. 

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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.

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❤️

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“I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.”\n

Psalms 143:5 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-11-27T02:30:19-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/11/27/my-first-pickup-truck.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/11/27/giving-thanks.html", "title": "Giving Thanks", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
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Surrounded by family, fifteen inches of snow, and enough food to last a month! I baked five pies yesterday…two sugar free pumpkin, two regular pumpkin, and a burnt sugar pie. My grandma always made burnt sugar (also called butterscotch or caramel) pies because she had a cow and sugar was cheap. Anything else was too expensive. And hers were SO good. We'll see how mine holds up to the taste test today. I also made a big pan of yeast rolls. Today I make my famous sugar free candied yams. And whatever else my cousin throws at me. We will gather 25 family members and friends. We will remember those who are no longer with us. And we will give thanks for our many blessings.

\n\n\n

One of my many thanksgivings is for this page. I don't know if you understand how important your love and support has been to me. I was telling my cousin last night, one of the biggest gifts Marshmallow Ranch has given me is knowing I'm not the only one. I'm not the only one who grieves. I'm not the only one who gets anxious at 2:00 in the morning. I'm not the only one who finds socks (or chili or the color green) sad. I'm not alone. There are many of you reading this who are walking your own paths. We've come to walk together. We've come to trust each other. We've come together as friends…soldiers…partners in crime. We've laughed and we've cried and we've held that sacred space for each other to return to.

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I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. You are unbelievable. May you remember the little things. May you find much laughter. May you feel the love of your families.

\n\n\n

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

\n\n\n

<3

\n\n", "date_published": "2019-11-27T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/11/27/giving-thanks.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Holiday","Be Joyful!","Baking"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/11/22/drum-roll-pleaseim-a-girl.html", "title": "Drum Roll, Please...I’m a Girl Camper Guide!", "content_html": "

\"Three “The Three Girl Camper Amigas…Ginny, Gail, and Janine!”

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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.

\n

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!

\n

I am now wearing even MORE hats!

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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!

\n

We are so excited! 

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You can browse the site at: www.girlcamper.com

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You can visit the Ohio-West Virginia page at: www.girlcamper.com/ohio-west-va

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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.

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Thank you all for all of your amazing support!

\n

❤️

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“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.”\n

2 Corinthians 1:12 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-11-22T02:30:14-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/11/22/drum-roll-pleaseim-a-girl.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Humbled","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/11/17/bathing-on-the-back-porch.html", "title": "Bathing on the Back Porch", "content_html": "

\"Back “Bathing on the back porch was all I knew at the farm till I was six.” (not my photo)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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❤️

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“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”\n

Psalms 127:3 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-11-17T02:30:16-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/11/17/bathing-on-the-back-porch.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort","Humbled","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/11/15/date-night-at-rural-king.html", "title": "Date Night at Rural King", "content_html": "

\"WV “What a beautiful night for a date at Rural King…my favorite farm store!”

\n

A couple of days ago, Mr. FixIt needed to go into town to get a special drill bit. He’s back to working on our master bath! We have to fit in home jobs when the grass isn’t growing and he’s finished with all the outside jobs he does. When the weather turned cold, I came in off the road from my camping tour and we set to doing the things around here that have been put on hold.

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The big outside job Mr. FixIt has been working on is the huge covered front porch he built on the front of his ex-wife’s house. One of my bonus granddaughters told me there are people who don’t understand how I’m ok with that. Well, first off…she’s paying him, so it’s a job. But, beyond that, why on earth would I, or SHOULD I be upset by that? 

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She is the mother of his children. They share grandchildren and great grandchildren. She’s a wonderful person and I just love her. Our granddaughter told the person she was talking to that she thinks it’s awesome that we all get along and talk to each other. It makes it so much easier for the family if they aren’t being torn by split loyalties. Couples may divorce. But you don’t divorce your family. And as far as I’m concerned, we are all family.

\n

Anyway, he’s finished with all but just a little touch up over there and that has to wait till spring for good weather. And now we’re focused on getting things done at home. That prompted the trip to town. He asked if I wanted to ride along with him. Listen, this man knows me. He didn’t have to ask twice to get me to go to Rural King and Lowe’s. 

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I love home improvement stores and farm stores. I needed to get a heated water dish for the kitten just to make sure she always has fresh water available. Rural King has them…AND free popcorn! As we came out of the store, the entire sky was bright pink all the way around us. It was like being inside a big pink bubble. I love the sunsets at this time of year. They seem to be so vibrant. After the fun stops, we went to our favorite pizza place…Pete’s Pizza. Honestly…the best pizza I think I have ever had comes out of this little family owned restaurant in Mineral Wells, WV. 

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I went to the farm yesterday to make sure all is well. I unplugged the pump in case the gas should go off and a pipe should freeze and burst. Wouldn’t want to flood the basement and burn out the pump. This cold spell has kept the Asian Lady Beetles at bay and I only swept up about a half a cup of them this time. I still haven’t been brave enough to go upstairs to look.

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When I went into the cellar house to unplug the pump, I saw there was a lot of white, hairy mold growing on the wood of the old potato bin. The cellar house is no longer water tight so it’s always damp in there. Next summer, when we have a dry spell, we need to open up that door and air it out. I also need to spray the mold with a bleach solution, I think. I will do some research on that. It isn’t the black mold that is so toxic. Maybe I’ll take the dehumidifier from the bathroom and put it out there for the winter. That would solve two problems. First, it would decrease the humidity. But a dehumidifier also puts off a fair amount of heat…enough to keep the pipes on the pump from freezing when we get a REALLY cold snap.

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When you live in the country, and you have an endless list of chores that need doing, you have to find your date nights where you can get them. Mr. FixIt is a lucky man…I like hardware, power tools…and pizza!

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❤️

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“The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.”\n

Deuteronomy 28:8 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-11-15T02:30:39-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/11/15/date-night-at-rural-king.html", "tags": ["Family","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Forgiveness","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/11/13/whats-on-the-shelves.html", "title": "What’s on the Shelves?", "content_html": "

\"Quilts\" “Quilts always have stories, don’t they? Sometimes we know them…sometimes we don’t.”

\n

Yesterday I showed you the jelly cupboard with my quilt collection inside. Several of you asked about the quilts…their origins, where I got them, and if I made any of them. Here’s a photo collage of the main quilts. I didn’t include the chenille bedspread that I bought at an antique dealer in Delta, Colorado when I started my three month odyssey. It matched the one on my bed when I was a little girl. I also didn’t include my first attempt at making a quilt. I used a fabric panel of an Amish quilt and just hand quilted it like it was pieced. 

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I’ve numbered the quilts so here is all I know about them:

\n
    \n \t
  1. The year I made the wedding quilt for Daughter #1, I paid a visit to Cabin Creek Quilters. I ultimately hired the woman in the fabric room to hand stitch my daughter’s king sized quilt and she did a lovely job. I don’t recall exactly how, but I purchased a crib-sized quilt from Cabin Creek Quilters to use as a wall hanging. For those of you unfamiliar, Cabin Creek Quilters was founded by Sharon Rockefeller when her husband was Governor. It was a quilter’s co-op and gave Appalachian women the opportunity to make some money while practicing an age-old skill. An all handmade quilt is pricey and all I could afford at the time was the crib-sized and I believe even that one was around $175.00.
    2. \n \t
  2. This is a small doll quilt made for me by my good friend, Judy. She gave it to me for Christmas one year. Handmade gifts are the greatest treasures, aren’t they?
    3. \n \t
  3. I have a penchant for feed-sack and flour-sack material from the ‘30s to the ‘50s. This is one I picked up somewhere along the way. I believe it is a churn dash pattern, but I’m not totally sure. I don’t know the names of all the patterns. This one is in very poor condition and wouldn’t even be considered a “cutter quilt”...one that you would cut up to make crafts from.
    4. \n \t
  4. I also love two-color quilts. This is one I picked up on my travels but I can’t recall exactly where. It’s beautiful and in very good condition. The majority of the “pattern” comes from the quilting in the large center squares.
    5. \n \t
  5. I’ve always loved this quilt because it is bright and cheery. I bought it in Colorado and for a long time it sat folded up on a shelf under a wicker table on my front porch. Unfortunately, the sun hit it without me catching it when I was at work and there is a faded section.
    6. \n \t
  6. This is one of my favorite quilts. I bought it at my friend Maureen’s garage sale. The little tiny squares in the nine-path corners really make it pop and, like I said in #4, I love two color quilts. \n
    7. \n \t
  7. I bought this quilt at an antique shop in Vienna, WV...my hometown. I was at Mom’s after her funeral, fixing up her house to sell. I remember thinking to myself as I was going through her things....why doesn’t she have any quilts? The only one she had was a hand-tied comforter that my grandma had made and it was so old, it fell apart as I tried to handle it and I had to throw it away. This was my attempt at “commemorating” the occasion and remembering my mama’s love for me.
    8. \n \t
  8. This is another quilt I picked up in West Virginia during one of my trips here. It is made of old feed sacks. I remember my grandma bringing a piece out to Pop-Pop before we left for the feed store. It was my job to match the pattern and pick out sacks that matched.
    9. \n \t
  9. This quilt had my favorite story attached. I was in West Virginia with Daughter #2. Mom agreed to watch her for a few days while I had a little break. I was driving down a highway and saw a sign for Hinton, WV and “historic downtown” under it. That’s what I’m all about when I travel...finding those really cool old towns that time seems to have forgotten. There was a small antique store down by the railroad tracks. There was a section filled with quilts. This one is a crib quilt and it was hanging on the wall. The more I looked at it, the more it spoke to me. The handwork was quite primitive but I knew there had to be a story. I asked the clerk and she said it had been made by an old black woman in town who was blind. Her granddaughter would cut out the pieces and lay them out on a table in the correct pattern. She would pick each one up and stitch it to the next. She was well in her 90’s. I had to have it and I’ve hung it over the bed in my guest room for years.
    10. \n \t
  10. This quilt is very special to me. Mom embroidered the state birds and flowers on muslin squares when she was pregnant with my older brother. After practicing on that small wall hanging, I tried my hand at piecing the squares into a quilt. I didn’t know you were supposed to wash the fabric first. And if I had it to do over, I certainly wouldn’t have chosen that red and blue. When I took it to my friend Ginny at Log Cabin Quilts to machine quilt it, I had tried to hand quilt part of it and it was a real mess. She took those old stitches out, got rid of that fluffy microfiber filling I had used (and the sheet I had used for backing...like I said, I had no idea what I was doing at the time) and finished it like it was supposed to be done.
    11. \n \t
  11. This is a Grandmother’s Flower Garden pattern made with depression era fabrics. I just love the amount of work that goes in these quilts. I think I bought this one at an antique store in Carbondale, Colorado. The fabric is very, very fragile and has worn away in several areas, but if it’s folded just right, it’s still displayable. This one was hand pieced then quilted on a treadle sewing machine.
    12. \n \t
  12. This is another small wall hanging my friend Judy made for me for another gifting occasion. She is one of the most talented and generous people I know. She was my neighbor for many years in Colorado and I miss her very much.
    13. \n
\nI love quilts, but these days it better sing to me or I’m not buying it. I am, however, getting back into quilting myself and will probably continue to create pretties for family members. I love the idea of someone down the line treasuring something I made with love.\n

❤️

\n
“The bed is too short to stretch out on, the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.”\n

Isaiah 28:20 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-11-13T02:30:11-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/11/13/whats-on-the-shelves.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Peace","Aging"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/11/12/shelves-of-memories.html", "title": "Shelves of Memories", "content_html": "

\"Jelly “The antique jelly cupboard from the farm now houses my quilts.”

\n

When I showed you my beautiful jelly cupboard that I recently moved from the farm, many of you asked to see it when I had the quilts inside. As I sat working in the living room at the Ponderosa yesterday afternoon, the warm sunshine streaming through the big windows made its way to the cupboard. The shelves sat empty and glaring at me. I set my work aside and went on the hunt for my quilts. They have been put away since the wedding a year ago and it was about time they were brought out for all to see.

\n

I am of the mindset not to “save the good china”. I want what few antiques I have curated to be displayed and used in my everyday life. Part of this is because my kids more than likely will not be interested in them. And partly because one of the lessons Mr. Virgo unwittingly taught me was…life is short. Use the crystal and the quilts.

\n

When the unfortunate parting of the ways came on Christmas of 2014, just ten weeks after I arrived to help my Aunt Peeps, I didn’t know what to do with the cherished items I brought from Colorado. Five thousand pounds of stuff I didn’t believe I could part with became an albatross around my neck. I couldn’t leave it at the farm and I couldn’t take it with me on the road. My good friend, Steve, let me store a lot of it in his basement. And I decided many of the most cherished family keepsakes should go live with my cousin, Tammy. That way I can visit them and she can enjoy them.

\n

My quilts were one of the things I simply could not part with and I carefully stored them away for the perfect way to display them again. Once they were safely tucked on the aged bittersweet colored shelves of the jelly cupboard, I sat back to observe my handiwork. I realized something heartwarming. 

\n

For the last few years, I have been dreading the day when I can no longer visit or spend time in Grandma’s old red farmhouse. That day will come…when, I don’t know. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it is that change is the only thing we can count on in this earthy plane. As I sat and looked at the worn wood the color of a caramel apple, I realized I could feel the farmhouse. I could see the hump in the floor where it’s settled over the years. The old faded linoleum that made cleaning much easier. I could hear the squeak of the stairs and the way the spring squeals when the screen door slams. I could see the boxes of Wheaties that Pop-Pop kept on the top of the cupboard for his dessert after supper. I could hear the faint sound the doors made when I reached in as a little girl…taking the mishmash collection of dishes out to set the table or putting them back in after hand washing and drying.

\n

In that moment I realized that, even though the house may someday be inaccessible to me, this jelly cupboard is the heart of what is left of the beautiful childhood memories created within the crooked walls of a crooked little house in West Virginia. And…it is mine. Combining households with Mr. FixIt has definitely expanded our “footprint”, however…we each have things that are our personal possessions. While I don’t believe I will ever accumulate “stuff” like I did before Mr. Virgo died, what I do have will be things that are beautiful, useful, and that bring me joy. 

\n

❤️

\n
“That precious memory triggers another...”\n

2 Timothy 1:5-7 MSG

\n", "date_published": "2019-11-12T02:30:47-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/11/12/shelves-of-memories.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Aging","Downsizing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/11/10/walking-among-the-headstones.html", "title": "Walking Among The Headstones", "content_html": "

\"Old “Walking among the dead, speaking their names.”

\n

I’ve always been drawn to old cemeteries. The headstones that are crooked and worn, the names fading away with time till someday…no one knows who the departed was nor to whom they were dear. There is always a note of sadness in that. I’ve had people say as long as you continue to speak of him and keep him in your heart, he’s still with you. Yes…and no. HIs memory is always and forever with me. He is not. He is gone…never to return. The finality struck me deeply in the second year of my grief journey when I was no longer numb and couldn’t pretend anymore.

\n

What happens to these old headstones and the people they hover over? When no one ever speaks the names because they are gone from the memory of those who came after? In my genealogy research, I visited the graves of my great great grandparents. But I didn’t know them. I had never met them. The only thing I knew were maybe a couple of stories and a glimpse of what they looked like in a grainy photograph of a photograph. My children, grandchildren, great grandchildren? What will they know of them if I don’t tell them or write it down.

\n

That is one of the ripple effects of this blog. What started out as my way of walking through a very dark valley has turned, not only into a chronicle of my life and travels, but that of the generations before me. I hope someday that my great great grandchildren will read the words I’ve set down here and see the photographs I’ve posted. I want them to know and understand their roots. I want them to know ME. Then maybe, when the letters have faded from my own headstone, they’ll have a part of me that still lives on. A legacy, as it were. 

\n

It is a Jewish tradition to place a small stone on a headstone you have visited. That way, when others come, they know someone has been there to honor their loved one. I remember the first time I went to visit Mr. Virgo’s grave after someone left something there for him. It was a pack of his favorite cigarettes. I’ve found new stones in the circle surrounding his grave as well as the occasional golf ball or coin. It’s good to know others remember him. His family have largely cut all contact with me, so I have no idea if they ever come to visit him. They all live out of state, so I doubt it seriously.

\n

I only go to Colorado once a year now. I always visit the cemetery as many times as I can. I clean up his grave and replace the stones in the circle. I always leave something to mark when I’ve visited. This past summer, I noticed how grown up the cemetery was because of the heavy spring rains. Yet, Mr. Virgo’s grave was weeded and neat as a pin. I stopped the groundskeeper my last visit of the trip and thanked him. When I moved away in 2014, I pressed a crisp $100 bill in his hand and implored him to look after the grave as I wouldn’t be there regularly anymore. With tears in his eyes, he swore he would. And he has.

\n

The cemetery in this photo is in Twin Falls State Park here in West Virginia. What struck me first was the markers. There were the typical headstones…these with hand carved names indicating the poverty and remoteness of the region and the times. There were also stones at the foot of the grave. This gave a true visual of how many of these graves were occupied by children. The closer these stones were together, the younger the child. Well over half the graves were those of young children. Primitive rural healthcare, rampant infectious diseases, and poverty all contributed to high mortality in children prior to the twentieth century. I found several instances in my own genealogy research where families lost multiple children within days of each other. 

\n

I don’t know that visiting graves is something that interests the younger generations. I was raised going. We even had picnics in the cemetery on Decoration Day where my paternal ancestors are buried. I took my kids, but I don’t know that they will continue that with their own children. Maybe when they are older and feel their own mortality creeping in. We all seem to change our priorities as we approach the finish line, don’t we?

\n

❤️

\n
““Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?””\n

1 Corinthians 15:55 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-11-10T02:30:51-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/11/10/walking-among-the-headstones.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Grace","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled","Aging","Choices","Change","Widow"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/11/06/safety-on-the-road.html", "title": "Safety on the Road", "content_html": "

\"Camping “Being safe in the woods means staying aware of your surroundings and listening to your gut.”

\n

There were only two times on this last trip that my antennae went up as I paid close attention to what was happening around me. The first time was when I was at Calhoun County Park trying to see a meteor shower. This park only has eight campsites in the first place. And I was there in the middle of the week after school started so there was no one up there camping. There were people in the community building both evenings but they didn’t come over near me.

\n

Sometime after dark on the second night, a car drove slowly by my camper out to the end of the park and stayed there for about ten minutes. I turned off all the lights in the camper and peeked out from behind the blinds. The car came back and just drove right on by without slowing down, so the tension in my shoulders eased. Mr. FixIt told me he very nearly came out to camp with me out there but he resisted the urge.

\n

The second time I was even remotely concerned was at the last campground I stayed. Twin Falls is stunningly beautiful, as you can tell by the photos I took. But the campground itself is located on the very top of a long and winding mountain, pretty far away from the main park buildings. At this time of year, the campground office and store is closed and there wasn’t a campground host.

\n

On the first night, I read the story about the couple who were boondocking on South Padre Island and went missing. Then surveillance video showed a man and woman, not the owners, driving the truck and camper across the border into Mexico. They were later found buried in shallow graves on the beach. This freaked me out, I will not lie. The next evening, the man who was camping over on the next row walked through the woods between us to come talk to me when I pulled in after spending time at the lodge, writing.

\n

He told me he had tried to flag down the park worker who had just driven through the campground on a side-by-side but couldn’t catch his attention. He also said he didn’t have a phone so he couldn’t call anyone. He told me someone had come to the bath house earlier in the afternoon and their car was there for a couple of hours. After they had gone, this man went over to the bath house and someone had smeared feces all over one of the stalls in the men’s room. 

\n

Ok, that was creepy, but the man seemed harmless enough. After all, he introduced himself by name. And I know stuff happens in campgrounds. I know how to handle myself and to watch what’s going on. I told him I would let someone at the park office know what had happened and he was grateful. As he turned to leave, he swung back around with a big smile and said, “I suppose you saw me all over the news last night!”

\n

Um…no, I did not. I thought to myself…what did you do that put you on the news?

\n

I swung the door of my truck closed. Then he proceeded to tell me he rode his bicycle all the way from California to look for the father he never knew. Apparently the news had followed him across the country on his quest. I wished him luck finding his dad and I went to tell someone about the men’s room.

\n

That was the night when the truck started making a grinding noise and the first thing that went through my head was “What do I do if I get stuck here? What if the bathroom vandal came back? What if “Bicycle Man” wanted to get friendly?” My imagination started to get the better of me and I had to pray myself to peace. And ask my gal pals to pray for me as well. And, I texted Mr. FixIt to come “help me check out this truck”. 

\n

I wasn’t really scared. But I was leery. And I was tired and a little road weary after six weeks of camping. It didn’t hurt a bit to get my strong, capable husband to come help me out and be my encourager. He told me he ran into one of my friends at the mall that week. She had been reading about my journey and she told Mr. FixIt she didn’t think she could do that and didn’t I get scared?

\n

“Nope! She’s the bravest woman I know!” 

\n

Knowing he feels that way about me, and that he worries but lets me have my lead, makes me feel wonderful. I have spoken with my closest friends about this….I could never, EVER have done what I’m doing while I was married to Mr. Virgo. Not only did I lack the self confidence, but he would NOT have liked me being gone. He didn’t like me being gone for the weekend to Denver to see the kids. He wouldn’t have stood for me being gone the majority of six weeks. As a matter of fact, when we first started dating, he said he wasn’t interested in dating someone who wanted to spend much time apart. 

\n

Mr. Virgo liked me being right there with him. When he watched TV, he liked me to watch TV with him. He didn’t like it if I was on the computer or the iPad or the phone either. Because, he wanted to discuss the show with me during the commercials. I did these things because I loved him, not because I loved watching TV. When you’re married, you do things sometimes that you don’t particularly enjoy. It’s called compromise.

\n

Mr. FixIt came into my life when I was a free-spirited, independent, remote-camping gypsy who spends long hours writing. He knew what he was getting and gives me space to grow and spread my wings. That’s one of the things I love about him. I make it up to him by traveling and going to the beach and never saying a word about his bowling two nights a week. I cook him yummy meals and take him camping whenever I can. We treat each other with respect, honoring each other’s interests, and we have a lot of fun together.

\n

It’s a win-win for us both.

\n

❤️

\n
“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”\n

Ephesians 5:33 NIV

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-11-06T02:30:14-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/11/06/safety-on-the-road.html", "tags": ["Faith","Overcoming Obstacles","Camping","West Virginia","Growth","goRVing","Wisdom","Courage","Warning","Choices","Widow","Road Trip","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/11/05/beetlesnot-beatles.html", "title": "Beetles...not Beatles", "content_html": "

\"Asian “This year’s crop of Asian Lady Beetles is massive.”

\n

We went to the farm yesterday with one of our granddaughters and our great granddaughter. They’ve never been there. And I haven’t been there for over a month. This is the time of year for the Annual Asian Lady Beetle Infestation. The last few years they weren’t so bad. But this year is another massive invasion and I was appalled at the carnage in the house. 

\n

The front porch was covered. Literally covered with a carpet of a mix of dead and creepy crawly beetles. The Asian Lady Beetle looks very similar to the common ladybug but they are not the same thing. These were brought in to help control aphids, and…like many good ideas…things took a turn when they a) showed no interest in aphids, b) nothing in its right mind would eat these stinky things, and c) they multiply exponentially.

\n

They seem to love to nest in dead brush and trees…something we have an abundance of in Appalachia. They also get in crevices around windows and under eaves in old country farm houses…like Grandma’s house. They make their debut on the first hot day after the first frost of the season. Along about 2:00-3:00 in the afternoon, you can look out and see them swarming in the sunshine. You can’t hang clothes out because they will just glom all over them, leaving behind their little yellow “signatures” that will NOT come out. And they LOVE whites!

\n

We swept them up and dumped them outside by the dustpan full. We sucked them up with the vacuum cleaner. And the more we swept, the warmer it became outside, the more they swarmed. It was an entirely losing battle and we finally gave up. These little suckers bite, too! They bit my great granddaughter several times and she kept coming to me to put my cold bottle of soda on them to soothe her.

\n

I did some laundry, turned off the dehumidifiers, checked the furnace and cranked it up, and prepped for winter. I called the exterminator to come and check for termites and treat the place if we need to. I walked the grounds with the girls, telling them stories of my youth. Then Mr. FixIt helped me load my jelly cupboard up to take home with us.

\n

\"Jelly “My grandma’s jelly cupboard came home to live with me today!”

\n

If anything would ever happen out at the farm, I want to make sure those sentimental things that I highly value are safe and secure with me. I was given this jelly cupboard by my Aunt Peeps. It’s really the only thing at the farm that I’ve ever wanted. I remember being no bigger than my great granddaughter when my grandma and mom took me to an auction down the road from the farm. 

\n

I was maybe two or three years old. I was sitting in a little blue wagon and they bought me a hotdog. They pulled me all around as I happily munched on my treat. Grandma had her eye on an old jelly cupboard that had multiple layers of white enamel pain on it. She bought it for the winning bid of $5.00. When they got it home, Pop-Pop used turpentine to strip the paint. I can still remember my fat baby hand holding a scraper, my Pop-Pop’s weathered and work-worn hand over mine showing my how to scrap the wrinkly paint that had loosened. 

\n

When he was done, he set a nice coat of varnish that has weathered to a lovely golden color that accentuates the wood’s grain. They painted the inside a garish orange that I hated…until it finally aged and weathered to the most delightful pumpkin color. This cabinet speaks autumn to me and it has usurped my aunt’s rain boots as my favorite possession.

\n

There was a time after Mr. Virgo died that I wanted nothing. I would have been happy to have a handful of favorite things and a toothbrush. I have slowly accumulated things I love. The difference now is, these things are carefully selected and must meet the following criteria.

\n
    \n \t
  1. They must give me joy. \n
    2. \n \t
  2. They must serve a function. \n
    3. \n \t
  3. They must be beautiful. \n
    4. \n
\nOur kids don’t want all that heavy brown furniture our grandparents handed down. They don’t want boxes of books or pictures of people they do not know. They don’t want Aunt Maude’s tea set with the little butterflies on it. They just might want a sturdy wooden jelly cupboard. And, if they don’t, I know people who do that I can leave it to. In the meantime, it sits in a place of honor in the family room at the Ponderosa. It will house my collection of quilts behind the original glass doors that we so very carefully protected as we traveled that winding West Virginia road from the farm. My heart is so happy.\n

❤️

\n
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”\n

Proverbs 22:6 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-11-05T02:30:31-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/11/05/beetlesnot-beatles.html", "tags": ["Family","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/11/03/back-to-the-comforts-of.html", "title": "Back to the Comforts of Home", "content_html": "

\"Camping “My little office on the go in the R-Pod 196”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.”

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
““Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.”\n

Psalms 39:4 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-11-03T02:30:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/11/03/back-to-the-comforts-of.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Wisdom","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/11/02/meetpumpkin-the-kitten.html", "title": "Meet.....Pumpkin, the Kitten!", "content_html": "

\"Black “Kitty has an appropriate Halloween name…Pumpkin!”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

I held it up to look face to face. 

\n

“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.”

\n

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.

\n

“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. 

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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”!

\n

❤️

\n
“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.”\n

Isaiah 55:12 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-11-02T01:30:07-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/11/02/meetpumpkin-the-kitten.html", "tags": ["Family","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Peace","Courage","Presence","Choices","Change","The Cats","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/11/01/reentry-begins.html", "title": "Re-Entry Begins!", "content_html": "

\"Black “And, just like that…two became three.”

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

And, like that…two became three.

\n

We have a cat!

\n

❤️

\n
“There is no fear in love...”\n

1 John 4:18 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-11-01T01:30:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/11/01/reentry-begins.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Love","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","The Cats","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/31/the-red-carpet-treatment.html", "title": "The Red Carpet Treatment", "content_html": "

\"R-Pod “Sitting on a red carpet of maple leaves, the 2020 R-Pod 196 is one of my favorite campers.”

\n

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. 

\n

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!!!

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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! 

\n

? 

\n
“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.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭121:7-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\n", "date_published": "2019-10-31T01:30:59-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/31/the-red-carpet-treatment.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Road Trip","Marriage","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/30/premonitions-and-pioneers.html", "title": "Premonitions and Pioneers", "content_html": "

\"Pioneer ‘Visiting a Pioneer Farm is a step back in time.”

\n

Yesterday was a strange day from the get go. I woke up at 3:30 in the morning knowing something wasn’t right. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I had an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. After determining I hadn’t eaten anything that would cause such a feeling, I got up, wrapped my camp jacket around me and stepped outside to look at the stars. The sky was crystal clear and the stars looked so close you could just reach up and touch them. I stood there for awhile in my bare feet letting the energy from the earth seep up through my body. When I was sufficiently chilled, literally and figuratively, I went back to bed. But I couldn’t get back to sleep until dawn.

\n

I finally woke up at around 10:00…absolutely unheard of for me these days. I’m usually awake with the chickens. I stumbled around, did my morning toilette, then dressed and cleaned the camper. Finally around 11:30, I packed up my writing implements and headed for the lodge and good WiFi. I created a movie of the best photos I’d taken on this WV tour and wrote till about 3:00 in the afternoon. 

\n

I headed to the Pioneer Farm that’s on the back of the park property. This farm was abandoned for a long time, but people were always vandalizing it so now there is a farmer and his family living here. There was no one home when I was there so I wandered around taking pictures and marveling at its timeless beauty. I sat for a while and watched two horses and a donkey browse on the sparse grass in the meadow and felt more peaceful than I had most of the day.

\n

On my way back to the campground, I stopped at the Nature Center and introduced myself to the Naturalist. Tammy is a cat bird. She has a coal country drawl that put me in mind of the Deep South but she assured me she was born and raised within a stone’s throw of the park. She apologized that she had recently let all the critters go. She normally traps possums and raccoons, tags them, and keeps them in the Nature Center for a few weeks to teach people about them. Then she sends them back off into the wild to track their whereabouts and traps another one to tag.

\n

Tammy wasn’t originally hired to be a Park Naturalist. She was supposed to be a campground attendant. She doesn’t have a degree in biology, but she has a knack for nature…two and four legged. She was taking campers for nature hikes when the Park Administrators saw they had a gem in Tammy and told her she should apply for the Naturalist position. And the rest is history. She was a delight to talk with. She smiled as I left and called after me…”Put me in your book!” You bet I will, Tammy!

\n

As I was pulling back into the campground, it happened. There was a low grinding noise coming from my truck and I knew that is where my uneasiness was coming from. Something hasn’t been quite right with the truck for a couple of days but I just couldn’t discern exactly what was troubling me. A sound, maybe? A smell, perhaps? Whatever it was, I kept shifting it to the back of my mind…yet still monitored the situation.

\n

When I heard that noise, I knew there was something mechanically wrong with the truck. And that puts me in an uncomfortable position. First, I am here alone. There are two other campers in all of the campground and I am grateful for them. But they aren’t going to help me in this situation. I do not like being in a situation I cannot get out of quickly. It stems from being trapped in a garage as a young child and sexually assaulted. To say I have control issues is putting it mildly.

\n

I went into the camper and made myself sit down and think. What I wanted to do was hook up the camper and get out of here, but of course…that wasn’t the right thing to do. I texted Mr. FixIt but I knew he was working and his phone would be in the truck. Then I texted my besties, Janine and Gail, and asked them to pray that I would calm down and everything would work out. Within minutes I felt much better and realized this whole thing is an adventure and an educational opportunity, so why not make the most of it!

\n

Mr. FixIt called me a few hours later and he’s going to drive down this morning. He’ll check out my truck. We can tow the camper with his truck. And, either he’ll follow me to a mechanic or we’ll have the truck towed. That’s what I have AAA Plus for. We’ll go home tomorrow. I am so grateful for my friends who pray for me. And I am exceedingly grateful for a wonderful husband who takes good care of me. Wouldn’t you know it would happen at the last park on the last day? But I’m exactly where I should be. I have everything I need right here and I can get some work done while I wait. Thank God I wasn’t pulling the camper up the side of the mountain with no cell service!

\n

❤️

\n
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”\n

Philippians 4:19 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-30T01:30:07-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/30/premonitions-and-pioneers.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Camping","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","God","Courage","Warning","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Change","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/29/welcome-to-my-living-room.html", "title": "Welcome to my Living Room!", "content_html": "

\"Woman “The camper is the kitchen, bath, and bedroom…the great outdoors is where I live!”

\n

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. 

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

“You kids look like you’re having entirely too much fun!”

\n

“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.

\n

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!

\n

❤️

\n
“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.”\n

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-29T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/29/welcome-to-my-living-room.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","Prayer","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","God","Wisdom","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Be Joyful!","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/28/rounding-out-october.html", "title": "Rounding Out October", "content_html": "

\"Bluestone “Bluestone Lake is gorgeous this time of year.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.”\n

1 Corinthians 7:3 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-28T01:30:32-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/28/rounding-out-october.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Be Joyful!","Road Trip","Marriage","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/27/between-the-trees.html", "title": "Between the Trees", "content_html": "

\"Autumn “Sitting by the river is soothing to the soul.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

It was a really good day.

\n

❤️

\n
“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.”\n

Matthew 7:5 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-27T01:30:43-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/27/between-the-trees.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","God","Peace","Wisdom","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/26/time-travel.html", "title": "Time Travel", "content_html": "

\"Coffee “Coffee and sunshine and a little nosh!”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

❤️

\n
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”\n

Proverbs 22:6 NIV

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-26T01:30:14-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/26/time-travel.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Peace","Wisdom","Aging","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Be Joyful!","Widow","Road Trip","Littles","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/25/overcoming-challenges.html", "title": "Overcoming Challenges", "content_html": "

\"Camping\" “Kicking back in my Vasques at the campsite at the end of the day makes all the challenges melt away!”

\n

Yesterday saw its fair share of challenges. First, I was wide awake at 5:30am. I drove over Droop Mountain on Wednesday and frankly…I was a little concerned about pulling the camper over it. At 3060 feet elevation with a 9% grade, it is a considerable piece of real estate to cross over, especially hauling a camper. 

\n

The first thing I did Wednesday evening was take a long, hot shower to empty water out of the fresh tank into the grey tank. I knew I needed to offload as much weight as I could before I took on the mountains and curvy West Virginia roads the next morning. When I awoke at 5:30, I pulled out my atlas and went over my route for the umpteenth time. One side of my brain said, “Nope…not gonna.” But the adventurous side…the side that knows I can do all things with Jesus said, “Yep…we’re gonna do this!”

\n

I hooked up the camper and pulled it over to the campground dump station. It was 8:00 in the morning and 37 degrees…a tad chilly. I got everything emptied and cleaned and put away, then headed out. My first obstacle was coming up the hill from Watoga State Park Campground into Seebert. There is a sign that tells you there is a sharp drop off on the right. In other words, the “shoulder” of the road is about…I don’t know…a hundred feet down, maybe? It was really no big deal…you just hug the center line and pray no one else is coming. And when they are, you stop. It doesn’t matter who might be behind you…they can just wait.

\n

I was really pleased at how smoothly the Droop Mountain crossing went. My transmission temp stayed in a reasonable temperature range. There was a good deal of fog at the base, but I soon broke through to perfect sunshine and crisp air. The leaves that high are a bit past their prime, but still beautiful.

\n

My biggest challenge came when I got to the campground. I asked the fellow in the check-in office if the sites are level and he said, “Ma’am, I have to be perfectly honest. They really aren’t it’s a challenge to get things level.” I didn’t want to hear this because, of all the things I left at home, it was my assortment of levelers. Keith followed me out to my site and we stood there looking at it. 

\n

“Wow…that has quite a grade, doesn’t it?” I said.

\n

He allowed that it did. He brought me some scraps of wood he had salvaged from campers leaving them behind. I pulled further forward where the grade wasn’t quite as steep, and unhooked. I walked all around and finally realized, I did not have enough blocks with me to make up the difference because my stabilizing jacks wouldn’t reach the ground. 

\n

I drove back over and was about to buy a couple packages of levelers when Keith said he would look to see if there was another site. He had offered two others earlier but I just didn’t like them. They were small, crowded, and right on the road. Finally he came up with an available site and I drove around to look at it. It would be a little tricky backing into it, but it was long and level and faced way back in the woods. It was perfect. 

\n

I hooked back up and towed to the second site and got settled in. It made for a long day, but the results made me much more comfortable than the first site. Sometimes you have to listen to your gut. The only place for that trailer to go if the chocks gave way was down the side of the mountain. It is a perfectly good site for a motor home or something small like a popup tent camper…it just didn’t work for me.

\n

Keith apologized for wasting three hours of my day. I explained that I am a writer and an educator. I’m an experienced camper. But there are lots of people out there who haven’t had any experience and want to learn. These kinds of experiences offer me opportunities to teach others and hopefully avoid unfortunate pitfalls. Those kinds of things can really dampen one’s joy toward a new activity, and I want you to have as much success as possible when you “Go Places and Do Things”!

\n

❤️

\n
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”\n

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-25T01:30:39-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/25/overcoming-challenges.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Camping","West Virginia","Wisdom","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/24/less-is-more.html", "title": "Less is More", "content_html": "

\"Muck “My favorite boots.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”\nMatthew 6:21 ESV
\n", "date_published": "2019-10-24T04:10:38-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/24/less-is-more.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Peace","Wisdom","Courage","Presence","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Be Joyful!","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/23/coffee-with-wanda-belle.html", "title": "Coffee with Wanda Belle", "content_html": "

\"Autumn “The many colors of Autumn”

\n

I was pouring my coffee yesterday and my mom popped in my head. She often does, but yesterday she “came” to have coffee with me. Mom loved her coffee…hot and black. She had a Pyrex coffee pot and I was enamored with the way you could watch the coffee brewing…bubbling up through the center tube into the glass handle of the lid then seeping down through the grounds. There was never a time when there wasn’t coffee on the stove.

\n

Until she got older. Then it was “too much work” or “the pot is just too heavy to lift”. Then she turned to Sanka. Ok, there might be some of you who like Sanka. If you do, I mean no offense…I don’t mean to “yuck your yum”. But…ugh! Any instant coffee is a poor substitute for the real thing, in my humble opinion. I felt she had just…settled.

\n

As I poured my coffee and thought of Mom, I could almost hear her say, “Why are you bothering with this whole rigamarole? You get out the grinder and the beans. You measure and grind till it’s just so. You measure again and pour the bottled water in the coffee maker. You plug it in and wait. What an ordeal. Just get yourself a jar of Sanka!”

\n

I smiled.

\n

“Yeah…no, Mom. It my routine. It’s my pleasure. When I have that first sip of hot, strong coffee (with cream and stevia, please) I’m in heaven!” Is it more work? Not that much. When I first started this trip, I bought a “pour over” thingy. I used it for the first week or two and stopped at the first Walmart I came across to buy a 4-cup Mr. Coffee. That’s the perfect size to fill my Tervis coffee cup twice. And the second cup is hot in the electric coffee maker.

\n

Someone gave me a hand grinder and a French press many years ago. I used it when I was on The Grand Adventure in Colorado those three months after Mr. Virgo died. Many times I didn’t have electricity but I wasn’t about to turn to instant. Making coffee off the grid was a lot more work than this…but oh, it was the best coffee ever! I thought about bringing that setup with me on this trip but I knew, even without electricity, I can use the little Mr. Coffee because of the solar panels on the roof of the r-pod. Isn’t that a trip? I haven’t tried it yet…but I will before this ride is over.

\n

I’m camping in the woods again this time. I love waking to see the trees all around, to hear the wind rustle through the leaves, to step out of the camper into the glorious light of autumn shining with that rare amber light of fall. I believe I’ll take my coffee down to the river and set a spell before I start my project of the day. I hope you get outside and enjoy some of this before winter sets in.

\n

❤️

\n
“You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens. Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.”\n

Psalms 104:20-23 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-23T01:30:12-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/23/coffee-with-wanda-belle.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Camping","West Virginia","Peace","Aging","Choices","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/22/a-perfectly-beautiful-day.html", "title": "A Perfectly Beautiful Day", "content_html": "

\"Cheers\" “Dining al fresco in the glory of autumn.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
“Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.”\n1 Chronicles 16:33 ESV
\n", "date_published": "2019-10-22T01:30:02-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/22/a-perfectly-beautiful-day.html", "tags": ["Travel","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Peace","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Be Joyful!","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/21/take-a-little-time.html", "title": "Take a Little Time", "content_html": "

\"Crimson “The color crimson is startling in the woods of WV.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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?

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

❤️

\n
“\"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.\"”\n

Isaiah 1:18-20 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-21T01:31:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/21/take-a-little-time.html", "tags": ["Travel","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Change","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/20/waiting-for-home.html", "title": "Waiting for Home", "content_html": "

\"Beautiful “The house I wanted for a B&B in Elkins…it always makes me wonder…what if?”

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
“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.”\n

Deuteronomy 8:2 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-20T01:30:07-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/20/waiting-for-home.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Widow","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/19/allegheny-autumn-splendor.html", "title": "Allegheny Autumn Splendor!", "content_html": "

\"Autumn “Oh….be still my heart! Autumn’s splendor in the highlands of West Virginia!”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

As my dear friend Sue told me the other night…”We love this new you.” So do I, my friend. So do I.

\n

❤️

\n
“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,”\n

Colossians 2:2 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-19T01:30:32-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/19/allegheny-autumn-splendor.html", "tags": ["Travel","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/17/what-a-difference-a-day.html", "title": "What a Difference a Day Makes!", "content_html": "

\"Fall “One day sunny and warm, the next day blustery and cold. Still…a day camping is better than anything else!”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
“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.”\n

Jeremiah 10:12-13 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-17T01:30:23-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/17/what-a-difference-a-day.html", "tags": ["Travel","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Peace","Courage","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/16/eat-pray-camp.html", "title": "Eat, Pray, Camp!", "content_html": "

\"R-pod “The r-pod 196 nestled in the trees at Cedar Creek State Park near Glenville, WV”

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

“Jesus, please help us find my husband’s wallet!”

\n

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. 

\n

“You haven’t happened to find a wallet, have you?”

\n

“Nope…sorry. We haven’t seen a thing!”

\n

“Ok, we’ll keep looking. Thanks!”

\n

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.

\n

Suddenly, we heard the walking couple.

\n

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!”

\n

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.

\n

“You looking for a wallet? I just turned one in at the park headquarters building! They have it waiting for you!”

\n

I stuck my hand out the window and looked up and shouted, “Thank you, Jesus!!!”

\n

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!”

\n

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.”

\n

He had to agree. Especially when we were sitting at breakfast yesterday and he checked his phone.

\n

“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.

\n

“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.”

\n

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!”

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”\n

John 15:7 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-16T01:30:46-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/16/eat-pray-camp.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","God","Wisdom","Choices","Be Joyful!","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/12/go-with-the-flow.html", "title": "Go With The Flow", "content_html": "

\"WV “Early morning fog on the lake. Almost Heaven…West Virginia”

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

\"Sycamore “Sycamore Tussock Moth Caterpillar”

\n

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.

\n

I hope you have a wonderful Saturday and enjoy the autumn weather, wherever you are!

\n

❤️

\n
“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.”\n

James 5:7 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-12T01:30:33-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/12/go-with-the-flow.html", "tags": ["Travel","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Peace","Presence","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Be Joyful!","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/11/slow-down.html", "title": "Slow Down", "content_html": "

\"Country “There’s something special about moseying out country roads instead of roaring through on an interstate.”

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

❤️

\n
“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.”\n

Psalms 19:1-2 NIV

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-11T01:30:15-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/11/slow-down.html", "tags": ["Travel","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Peace","Courage","Presence","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Be Joyful!","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/10/what-would-grandma-say.html", "title": "What Would Grandma Say?", "content_html": "

\"RP196\" “Autumn Glow Lights up the R-Pod”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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!

\n

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. 

\n

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?

\n

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?!

\n

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!

\n

❤️

\n
“Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.”\n

1 Chronicles 16:33 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-10T01:30:37-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/10/what-would-grandma-say.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","goRVing","Peace","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/09/check-engine-light.html", "title": "Check Engine Light", "content_html": "

\"Check “How many times have you seen this come on…right in front of the dealership?!?!”

\n

I was heading through Marietta, Ohio yesterday afternoon on my way from one campground to the next. My preferred Ford dealer is there and as I was driving by, I got “the nudge”. The thought went through my mind…“Check your engine light!” Literally…I was right in front of the dealership when I looked down and…

\n

It was ON!!!

\n

I kid you not! I got goose bumps. Ok…I drove down a block, turned around, and came back. I pulled up as close to the service entrance as I could while pulling a camper behind me. Luke, the Service Supervisor, came out and checked the truck with the computer. One of the oxygen sensors was bad. They checked and had one in stock and they had a free technician. I unhooked the camper, pulled the truck in, and went out to the camper to stretch out and read. An hour later, they called and the truck was ready.

\n

You cannot tell me prayer doesn’t work. You cannot tell me the Holy Spirit doesn’t guide us. How many of you sent up prayers and good thoughts for travel mercies for me yesterday? Well, they worked…and I thank you for those prayers!

\n

But most of all, I thank God for always watching out for me. I love it when He comes through with a megaphone because there was absolutely nothing subtle about that call. Wowza!

\n

I got to the next campground just before dusk. I never reveal where I am in real time when I’m traveling alone so I’ll have to let you know the day after I leave. But, talk about peace and quiet…it’s crazy quiet here. I was hoping to see the night sky, but the clouds stole in just as I was unhooking. Maybe tonight. In the meantime…great cell service and a deadline to meet. What a great place to write!

\n

❤️

\n
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”\n

Psalms 8:3-4 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-09T01:30:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/09/check-engine-light.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Camping","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","God","Peace","Wisdom","Choices","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/10/05/setting-up-the-spare-room.html", "title": "Setting up the “Spare Room”", "content_html": "

\"RPod “Converting the sofa to a spare bed in the RPod 196!”

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

❤️

\n
“We love because he first loved us.”\n

1 John 4:19 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-10-05T01:30:44-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/10/05/setting-up-the-spare-room.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Be Joyful!","Widow","Road Trip","Marriage","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/09/29/the-best-pizzaever.html", "title": "The Best Pizza...EVER!", "content_html": "

\"Pizza\" “Pete’s Pizza…best pizza EVER! Located in Mineral Wells, WV on Old Rt. 14.”

\n

 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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

I’ve found my all new favorite date place. Mr. FixIt and I loved it!

\n

❤️

\n
“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.”\n

Ecclesiastes 9:7 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-09-29T01:30:45-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/09/29/the-best-pizzaever.html", "tags": ["Family","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/09/28/i-love-fall-camping.html", "title": "I Love Fall Camping!", "content_html": "

\"Camping\" “The week in review…dressing up the dinner table, camping like a girl in the RPod 196.”

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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!!!

\n

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???

\n

❤️

\n
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”\n

Galatians 6:9 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-09-28T01:30:14-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/09/28/i-love-fall-camping.html", "tags": ["Travel","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/09/27/love-letters-from-beyond.html", "title": "Love Letters from Beyond", "content_html": "

\"Love “Leaving love notes behind for your spouse to find later…what a gift!”

\n

My friends and I camped at Beaver Creek State Park last night. We so seldom get together, just the three of us and when we do it’s always so special. It’s always tempting to stay up really late and sleep in the next day, but Janine and I both had long drives home. We called it a night fairly early and were up and ready for coffee by 8:00. We chatted over a leisurely breakfast and prayed for each other before we finally broke camp by 11:00. I pulled in to the Ponderosa around 4:00, dropped off the camper, and turned right around to go back to town for small group. I’m not signed up for this session, but I wanted to visit and share in the fellowship with dear friends from church.

\n

I was seated by a new member of the group. Jonna is a widow of two years. I put my hand on her arm and told her how sorry I was for her loss. We chatted about the similarities and differences between people’s grief experiences. She knew ahead of time that her husband was dying and she was thrilled they had time to have important conversations, no matter how uncomfortable they were.

\n

Just before our meeting started, she leaned over and lowered her voice a little.

\n

“Wanna know the BEST part?” 

\n

I was intrigued. I had never thought about “the best part” of grief.

\n

“Yes….please!”

\n

“My husband hid love notes for me everywhere! I’ve found over twenty of them already!”

\n

My heart melted. I remember finding a note Mr. Virgo had left me for Valentine’s day just a month before he died unexpectedly. I know how precious that is.

\n

“I’m not going to go looking for them. If I find one, it’s a gift! I found one the other day in the file of Explanation of Benefits from the insurance!”

\n

I leaned over to her and said, “I think that is just the sweetest thing!”

\n

That’s a good man, right there. He knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what these little gifts would mean to the woman he had married thirty-eight years prior. Even when he was ill and in pain from the amputation of his leg, this gentle giant left his sweetheart love letters from beyond. Yes…that’s a very good man!

\n

❤️

\n
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”\n

2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-09-27T01:30:20-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/09/27/love-letters-from-beyond.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Wisdom","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Widow"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/09/21/mississippi-pot-roast.html", "title": "Mississippi Pot Roast", "content_html": "

\"Mississippi “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!”

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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!

\n

Now, back to the recipe for the pot roast…

\n

Chuck Roast, Olive or Vegetable Oil, Salt & Pepper, Ranch Dressing Mix, Dry Onion Soup Mix, Real Salted Butter, Pepperoncini Peppers

\n

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!)

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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.

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There is nothing more fun than getting out in a camper with a bunch of gals who love it as much as I do!

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❤️

\n
“Give us this day our daily bread.”\n

Matthew 6:11 KJV

\n", "date_published": "2019-09-21T01:30:15-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/09/21/mississippi-pot-roast.html", "tags": ["Travel","Fun","West Virginia","Comfort","goRVing","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/09/20/wv-hotdogs.html", "title": "WV Hotdogs!", "content_html": "

\"WV “WV Hot Dogs….one of the finest pastries ever to be found in the Mountain State!”

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

On the road again!

\n

❤️

\n
“in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.”\nActs 24:3 ESV
\n", "date_published": "2019-09-20T01:30:01-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/09/20/wv-hotdogs.html", "tags": ["Travel","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","goRVing","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/09/18/the-girl-camper-trailer-reveal.html", "title": "The Girl Camper Trailer Reveal!", "content_html": "\"Girl\n

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.

\n

\"Girl “Janine used bright and cheerful wallpapers from Spoonflower to give the camper an elegant, artsy feel. Campers don’t have to be brown!”

\n

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.

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\"Girl “Mixing different patterns delineates different living areas giving the camper a much roomier feel.”

\n

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. 

\n

\"Girl “Custom fabric was used post factory to make the living area more homey. This jack knife sofa folds out to a twin sized bed.”

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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! 

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\"Girl “The kitchen is compact but fully functional. A deep stainless steel sink with a goose neck faucet is a big plus.”

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AND…Raffle Tickets go on sale today on GirlCamper.com

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❤️

\n
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”\n

Proverbs 14:23 NIV

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-09-18T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/09/18/the-girl-camper-trailer-reveal.html", "tags": ["Travel","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","goRVing","Peace","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/09/17/chasing-the-sun.html", "title": "Chasing the Sun!", "content_html": "

\"2020 “2020 RPod 196…taking her for a test run for the next four months!”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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?

\n

❤️

\n
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”\n

Proverbs 28:13 NIV

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-09-17T01:30:53-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/09/17/chasing-the-sun.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","goRVing","Courage","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/09/16/weve-come-a-long-way.html", "title": "We’ve Come a Long Way Baby!", "content_html": "

\"Early “Camping in the early days in Denver. This is just down the street from where Ben & Sue live!”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

❤️

\n
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”\n

Proverbs 2:6 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-09-16T01:30:40-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/09/16/weve-come-a-long-way.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","goRVing","Grace","God","Wisdom","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Change","Road Trip","Chasing the Sun - Girl Camper Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/09/08/let-things-go.html", "title": "Let Things Go", "content_html": "

\"Autumn “Letting things go for a little while gives your mind and heart a chance to breathe.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
“a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;”\n

Ecclesiastes 3:5 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-09-08T01:30:33-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/09/08/let-things-go.html", "tags": ["Health","Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Wisdom","Courage","Aging","Presence","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/09/02/the-tug-of-war.html", "title": "The Tug of War", "content_html": "

\"Angel “Angel on one hand, devil on the other…trying to have their way with me.”

\n

Mr. FixIt and I haven’t had a lot of time together this summer. I was gone a lot and, even though he joined me for three weeks in Colorado, we both have been working nonstop at this and that since we got home the first week of August. Here it is September already and I’m already preparing to leave again.

\n

We miss being together and we both know the importance of devoting time to our relationship. It’s been really nice this weekend because we took three days off for some much needed R&R. When I woke up yesterday, I was tired. My allergies have been giving me fits creating fluid in my ears which sometimes makes me dizzy. I laid in bed for twenty minutes telling myself it was perfectly fine to stay home…we didn’t have to go to church. I mean…it’s just this once, right? We go almost every Sunday when we are home. That deserves a day off to sleep in. I just didn’t feel good. I didn’t feel like going.

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As I let these thoughts run through my mind, I was almost convinced to turn over and go back to sleep when a stern “voice” shook me from my reverie. 

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“When you don’t FEEL like going is exactly when you NEED to go!”

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I quite literally jumped out of bed.

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Ohhhhh….my thinker was what was “sick”. Church is the place it gets healed.

\n

When I’m thinking I don’t need to go to church is exactly when I need it the most. And yesterday, I am not kidding…church felt like plugging in my jet pack. I got fed the energy and grace and love and lessons I needed and I left there convicted. Convinced the place to feel better is to draw closer to Jesus, not turn over and go back to sleep.

\n

It’s not enough to go every Sunday and get plugged in, hoping the charge lasts till the following Sunday. That obviously didn’t work last week because I easily could have opted out. My tug of war pitted the proverbial angel on one hand and devil on the other…each trying to pull me to their side. I know I can’t ever go wrong when I choose Jesus.

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The key is to draw closer…constantly. The Bible says we are to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The way to do that is to turn whatever you are doing into worship. Whether you are singing in the choir or scrubbing toilets, it can be done with a tone of worship and praise. And when we pray, we are to devote ourselves “to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2)

\n

Just that boost, and the conviction to keep close, has given me rest and regeneration. I feel so much better and not nearly so overwhelmed by all I need to accomplish in the next two weeks. I came to the farm after church…to my place of meditation…to the home of my heart…and enjoyed a quiet evening while Mr. FixIt bowled. Today, I’ll go back home and get some work done. Perhaps I’ll pressure wash the deck!

\n

❤️

\n
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”\n

Romans 12:2 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-09-02T01:30:54-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/09/02/the-tug-of-war.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","God","Peace","Wisdom","Fear","Courage","Aging","Choices","Widow"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/27/hamster-power.html", "title": "Hamster Power", "content_html": "

\"Hamster “When your internet is powered by hamsters, you need to find alternatives.”

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Internet service is spotty when you live in the boonies. So is cell phone service. And, if you live WAY out in the boonies, the only way you can even USE a cellphone is if it is a iPhone and connected to the wonky country internet. It’s a Catch 22. 

\n

I finally bought an internet “booster”. It doesn’t make your internet any faster or less fluctuating, but it does allow what crappy internet service you DO have to reach down the hall to the bedroom. I’m been known to talk like a sailor when I’m trying to meet a deadline working from home. 

\n

The other night, Mr. FixIt was reading in bed beside me when he turned and looked at me over his glasses.

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“What on earth are you doing?”

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“I’m sending a picture!” I was holding my cellphone high over my head and waving it back and forth…willing the little waves to work faster or whatever they do in the ether sphere.

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“You look lovely, though.”

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“Thanks a lot, buddy!” I smiled over at him as he shook his head and went back to his article. 

\n

I got an e-mail over the weekend to send pictures from several Girl Camper gatherings to headquarters. I carefully went through all the pictures, divided them up over four e-mails, and sent them on. The next morning there were four notices that none of the e-mails went through. These were crucial so I went to town yesterday and sat at the library and e-mailed the photos, five per e-mail. It still took three hours but I got them done.

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For the most part, there are so many advantages to living in the country. The peace and quiet, the surrounding nature, the beautiful night sounds and all the stars. But, 95% of my work needs good internet. I had to go to town anyway yesterday. Next time, I’ll try our little local library and see if their internet is any better than ours.

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Speaking of living in the country, I went out to the farm on Sunday and was pleased to see the wild grape vines I cut in half died. The house is no longer being threatened to be overgrown and swallowed by the surrounding flora. The fellow down the road who is mowing for me is doing a wonderful job. The lawn looks like a well-trimmed golf course. 

\n

This is the great time of year when the grass growth slows down tremendously and we don’t have to mow twice a week. The trees are beginning to show twinges of color and the leaves are fading to a dull army green. The temperature the last few nights was in the 50’s which makes for great sleeping weather. I’m gathering what I will need to carry with me in the new camper on the big trip coming up. Just a little over two weeks till I leave for the Hershey RV Show!

\n

❤️

\n
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”\n

James 1:17 NLT

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-27T01:30:09-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/27/hamster-power.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Gratitude","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/24/another-trip-down-memory-lane.html", "title": "Another Trip Down Memory Lane", "content_html": "

\"1960’s “A trip down memory lane takes me to the neighborhood grocery store.”

\n

Do you remember when women dressed up to go to the grocery store? I ran across this picture on Facebook last night when I was searching for something else and it just brought back such a flood of memories. I love looking at all the details. Diet Pepsi was a thing…even in the mid ‘60s. Some of us were debating whether this was a staged photo-op because of the total on the cash register.

\n

Look at the uniforms the store clerks wore! The “K” on the lapels was for Kroger. Their stores operate under a lot of brands now…King Soopers, City Market, Smiths, among others. And the manager of any store, grocery or otherwise, wouldn’t be caught dead without his short sleeved white shirt and tie. 

\n

Notice the machine on top of the cash register. Do you remember what that was? It was the stamp dispenser. I believe the stamps dispensed at Kroger’s were Value Stamps. They were yellow. Other stores had Green Stamps and Plaid Stamps. I remember my first stuffed toy was a donkey I named Pedro. He was stuffed with excelsior…or wood wool. It was made from wood shavings that were about the size of spaghetti. My first roller skates were from the Plaid Stamp store. And, we got a lot of things with Green Stamps…dishes, a laundry hamper, my trash can with the pink poodle on it.

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My first boyfriend, who later became Hubby #1, worked at the Kroger Store in the Park Shopping Center. That was back in the days before malls. The shopping center stole a lot of business from the stores downtown and when the mall opened, it was pretty much the death of the downtown shops. 

\n

I remember stopping at the grocery store and watching the stockers use a pricing stamp and put the price in ink on the top of the cans. click, click, click, click, click. They’d stamp a case at a time. Then the checker had to hand enter each price into the cash register. I remember the first time I saw a guy working at the checkout stand. He might as well have been a zebra, he looked that out of place. 

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My very first job was at Kresge’s as a clerk, stocking and working the cash register. I never worked in a grocery store. I did stock shelves for a short time at the PX at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver when we first moved there till I could find a job in radiology. Ahhhh, I look back at my humble beginnings. 

\n

I’m at an age now where there’s a whole lot less time in front of me than there is behind me and I wax nostalgic when I see pictures like this. Maybe not so much for the jobs I had in my teens, but more for my mom. I see her in her dress and heels, coming from the office where she worked. Driving us in that big boat of a car and stopping at the store for a few groceries. Her hair carefully coiffed at the beauty college every Saturday. Sitting demurely while the young man in the skinny tie pumped her gas and washed her windshield and checked her oil. I remember her soft skin and her wet kisses, her cool hands on my fevered brow. I remember her sitting by my bedside when I had the mumps and read to me…until she too came down with them and Grandma had to come take care of us AND her.

\n

I’ve missed my mom a lot lately. I opened YouTube the other night and on the landing page where there were a dozen or so suggested videos, there was a woman getting her snowy white hair cut short and I swear…she looked so much like my mom it made my eyes sting. I showed it to my friends that knew her and they agreed. My mom’s boss is still living and even she said it was remarkable how much the woman resembled my mom. 

\n

It’s not that I “long for the good old days”. I just miss my mom. 

\n

Grief…even for those lost so long ago…still comes in a wave. Not a tsunami anymore…but sometimes it’s big enough to rock my footing. There’s so much I’d love to show her. I think she would have really loved camping in a trailer or a motor home. Sometimes I just take her on a trip in my mind and I imagine all the places we’d go and things we’d see. She wasn’t well traveled, although she did come to England when Daughter #1 was born and she came to Colorado several times. She went to the beach once with my BFF in her little convertible. 

\n

Speaking of nostalgia, my high school class picnic is today. I saw on FB the Class of ‘69 had their 50th Reunion this weekend. That means only two years to ours. Where did the time go? I remember when my aunt and uncle went to their 50th and I thought they were so OLD. They were only 15 years or so older than me! Funny…the perspective from the other end was so long and from this end it’s so short. 

\n

We’ve finally had a break in the weather and it’s much cooler. The high was only 74 yesterday. It should be about the same today. I hope you enjoy your weekend!

\n

❤️

\n
“Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise.”\n

Ecclesiastes 7:10 NLT

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-24T01:30:10-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/24/another-trip-down-memory-lane.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Courage","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/20/do-you-remember-when.html", "title": "Do You Remember When.....?", "content_html": "

\"Old “Clockwise from Top Right: Phone Booth, Fireweed, Joe Pye Weed, Naked Ladies (Belladona Lily)

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

“Do you remember when…..?”

\n

❤️

\n
“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”\n

Luke 2:19 NIV

\n 

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-20T01:30:50-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/20/do-you-remember-when.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Aging","Choices","Be Joyful!","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/18/let-the-sun-shine.html", "title": "“Let The Sun Shine...”", "content_html": "

\"Woodstock\" “The Ubiquitous Photo from Woodstock”

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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! 

\n

“Let the sun shine…let the sun shine in…the sun…shine in!”

\n

❤️

\n
“I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,”\n

2 Peter 1:13 NIV

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-18T01:30:25-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/18/let-the-sun-shine.html", "tags": ["Faith","Colorado","Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Wisdom","Fear","Courage","Humbled","Aging","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/16/theres-babies-everywhere.html", "title": "There’s Babies Everywhere!", "content_html": "

\"Sleeping “There’s nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby!”

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
“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.”\n

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ESV

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-16T01:30:34-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/16/theres-babies-everywhere.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Aging","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/15/the-metamorphosis-of-grief.html", "title": "The Metamorphosis of Grief", "content_html": "

\"Country “The Farm. Clockwise from top left: Drying the laundry on the front porch is a country thing, Elderberries, A Rose of Sharon appeared from nowhere, Life is Simple, An Appalachian Pour Over, Blue granite pan used for dipping water out of the rain barrel.

\n

Living in the country, you see many examples of metamorphosis. Where there once was a hairy caterpillar, there becomes a moth. Where there once was a striped green worm with a spiky tail, noshing on a milkweed leaf, there becomes a monarch butterfly. Where there once was a grub with legs, crawling up a tree and developing a hard shell, it soon splits and a locust emerges to call in the autumn season…signaling it’s time for school to start.

\n

Just as there is a time for everything in its season, so it is with grief. I was thinking about this yesterday while I was trimming back the wild grape vines threatening to overtake the farm. When this blog began, I was fresh in my grief. I promised you then I would be honest and speak to you from my heart about exactly what it was like…at least for me…to go through the loss of my husband. There were times when it was so painfully ugly that it had to be difficult to read. Yet, so many of you have been here from the very beginning. 

\n

This blog goes through a metamorphosis every time something changes in my life. What started out as a method of pouring out my pain, morphed into learning how to navigate that. It changed and grew just as I changed and grew. It’s not just a grief blog, although there are hundreds of posts in the archives about grief. There was a time, when my grief had subsided to a nagging undercurrent, when I thought maybe I should just quit and make it all about grief. Just leave it there. But I couldn’t stop writing. 

\n

Writing became a part of me…as much a part of me as my hands and feet, my heart and lungs. So I decided to take you with me when I traveled, when I stepped into the dating arena, when I got married. I thought…ok, maybe I’m done now. Maybe I’ll just stop here. But, I kept living…and each new day brought a new experience, a new insight, and new lesson. And it became my devotional. 

\n

In a good cake recipe, bland ingredients like flour get mixed with sweet ingredients like sugar and butter. If baked with nothing else added, you wouldn’t have cake…you’d have some hard, flat, dry cardboard. But add eggs and leavening….take your time….and mix it well….and it rises high and beautiful. My life…my stories…my experiences are the flour and sugar. The scripture at the bottom of each post…illustrating my thinking in that particular moment…that’s the leavening. The eggs. The ingredient that makes the finished product perfect.

\n

I know it’s not a grief blog so much anymore, even though I touch on the topic from time to time. That’s the nature of metamorphosis. Things are always changing…even grief. The numbing pain of the first year, the sharp pain of the second year, the personal growth of my third year, the stretching of my wings in the fourth, the explorations of the fifth, and finally…being remarried in the sixth…my grief has gone through its own metamorphosis and has settled into an undercurrent. A background noise that I have become accustomed to, yet it’s still very much there. 

\n

❤️

\n
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”\n

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-15T01:30:57-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/15/the-metamorphosis-of-grief.html", "tags": ["Faith","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","New Ideas","Gratitude","God","Wisdom","Aging","Change","Widow"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/14/the-farm-is-failing.html", "title": "The Farm is Failing", "content_html": "

\"Green “The farm is the home of my heart…but it’s aging rapidly.”

\n

Mr. FixIt and I have been back from Colorado for a week now. We talked over the weekend and decided to go to the farm for a couple of days because I haven’t been there since the third week of June. I really miss the farm when I’m away and can’t get there. Then, Monday morning came and there was so much to get done at the Ponderosa. Still…the farm…

\n

I decided to bring the dirty laundry and come to the farm on my own for a couple of days. Mr. FixIt is capable of taking care of himself and, while he misses me…he understands my need to be at the farm sometimes. He’s a good guy.

\n

There was a hard rain come through yesterday. I sat on the front porch and watched and it was soon over. The sun came out and the green dazzled my eyes. Everything was so clean and fresh. I sat for the longest time and just scoured the hillside and surrounding area…looking for differences.

\n

The power line coming to the transformer on the pole in front of the house is noticeably drooping down low over the road. A tall vehicle could easily catch that. I’ll have to report it today. Also, the big pine tree on the bank seems to be leaning further out there over the driveway. I pulled up older pictures from the same vantage point to verify both the line and the tree. Something’s going to have to be done with that, too.

\n

I noticed Monday afternoon, there’s a wild grape vine on the power line between the house and the cinderblock building. None of that was there before I left for Colorado. This monsoon summer has created an overgrowth the likes of which I have never seen here. It’s like a tropical rain forest.

\n

When I did a walkabout yesterday, I noticed another tree on the hillside across the creek from the house that has split in half. But it appears the uphill half is actually falling up the hill. That has always been the main concern here. This little holler is so narrow, and the ground is shale and very soft. It wouldn’t take much to bring trees down on this house.

\n

Maybe the earth is taking her back. Maybe it’s the natural progression of old farm houses. I do know, to bring this place back to life and prosperity would take far more money than it’s worth. And, a ton…an absolute TON of work. We’re not OLD…but we are 66 and 67. The other day, I told Mr. FixIt…if we were just 30 years younger, we could do so much with this place.

\n

I think what I have to do is start saying goodbye to the old home place…in earnest. I know there will come a time when it isn’t safe to stay here without cutting down a bunch of trees…without upgrading the electricity…without shoring up the beams in the basement and the attic. My time here is getting shorter…I can feel it. I’m working on girding my heart in preparation.

\n

It’s like the old man who can tell it’s going to rain by the pain in his knee. The only difference is…this pain is in my heart.

\n

❤️

\n
“\"Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”\n

Haggai 1:4 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-14T01:30:36-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/14/the-farm-is-failing.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","Wisdom","Courage","Aging","Presence","Warning","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/13/a-vivid-imagination.html", "title": "A Vivid Imagination", "content_html": "

\"Snow-cone “The moment I saw this, I knew it was the answer to my dream!”

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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???

\n

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!

\n

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….

\n

Ginny McKinney’s R-Pod-196 Adventure!

\n

Stay tuned to Marshmallow Ranch for details as plans fall into place!!!

\n

❤️

\n
“For nothing will be impossible with God.\"”\n

Luke 1:37 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-13T01:30:30-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/13/a-vivid-imagination.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Peace","Humbled","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/12/theres-an-adventure-coming.html", "title": "There’s an Adventure Coming...", "content_html": "

\"Adventure\" “Where will my next adventure take me???”

\n

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???

\n

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!

\n

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!!!

\n

https://www.facebook.com/janine.pettit.5/videos/10157250788233444?s=1219785470&amp;sfns=mo

\n

 ❤️

\n
“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.”\n

Psalm 91:11-12 NIV

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-12T01:30:05-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/12/theres-an-adventure-coming.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Peace","Courage","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Writing","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/11/a-farm-girl-at-heartsans.html", "title": "A Farm Girl at Heart...sans Shoes", "content_html": "

\"Sitting ‘Sitting on the tailgate of my truck…drinking coffee and soaking up summer!”

\n

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.

\nIt 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!\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
“The priest answered them, “Go in peace. Your journey has the Lord’s approval.””\n

Judges 18:6 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-11T01:30:44-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/11/a-farm-girl-at-heartsans.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","New Ideas","Gratitude","goRVing","Peace","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/10/mother-earthhow-does-your-garden.html", "title": "Mother Earth..How Does Your Garden Grow?", "content_html": "

\"Pumpkin\" “Product of our burn pile, aka pumpkin patch.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

❤️

\n
“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.”\n

1 Corinthians 3:7-9 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-10T01:30:23-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/10/mother-earthhow-does-your-garden.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Peace","Wisdom","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/09/the-dmv-me.html", "title": "The DMV \u0026 Me", "content_html": "

\"The “Take my advice…bring chocolate next time you go to the DMV!”

\n

How many vacations have you ridden along with me…vicariously? If you’ve been around very long, you’ll know I don’t do very well with “re-entry”. I’ve never just come home and smoothly transition into laundry and cooking and doing the everyday mundane things. And, it seems the older I get, the more difficult it is to come down off the high of a really good trip. And this one was a REALLY good one.

\n

There were a few little bobbles along the way. The whole camper fiasco was a pain in the caboose but I turned it into a teaching moment. Then I lost my driver’s license. I know I had it at the Quick Care when I had the stress hives. But they swear it wasn’t left there. I called the pharmacy to see if maybe I left it there but they said it wasn’t there either. The DMV told me to print off a copy of my driving record to at least prove to a police officer that I have a valid license and I’m trying to fix it. Our whole camping vacation itinerary had to be changed, but that all turned out to be fine.

\n

The first thing that had to be done yesterday was go to the DMV. Well…the FIRST thing I did was go pick up the mail to see if anyone had found it and mailed me my license. Nope. Then I went to the county building and got a copy of my birth certificate and marriage license in case I needed it at the DMV. I had my Social Security card and a vehicle registration with me. I have the Federal ID on my Driver’s License. I had to show a gazillion kinds of ID to get that. I thought SURELY I wouldn’t need a gazillion MORE kinds of ID to let them know I’m the same person with all the OTHER kinds of ID. HA! I was SO wrong!

\n

I stood in the little pre-line line to let the clerk know what I needed. She looked at what I had. Nope. Not good enough. I needed a bill with my name and address on it. Ok, I had my health insurance bill. I handed that to her. Nope. They can’t accept health insurance. I had my taxes. Nope. Can’t accept federal taxes. OK, I said…what do you need? She underlined all the acceptable forms of identification. I went out to the truck and brought back a second registration for a different vehicle. Nope. Can’t come from the same source. Grrrrr.

\n

So, I drove all the way across town and went to my car insurance agent’s office. I changed my address on my insurance and had them print out an insurance card for me. I drove back across town and stood in the pre-line again. Ok…we’re making progress. I got a number! I sat. And sat. And sat. Finally, my number was called and I ran up to the window with a huge smile.

\n

“Identification, please.”

\n

“Here you go! A registration and my car insurance…both with my name and address!” I smiled. They aren’t going to beat me this time!

\n

The clerk looked over my papers and said, “I’m sorry, I can’t accept this. The address on the insurance card doesn’t match the one on the car registration.”

\n

“What?!?!?!”

\n

She quietly starts tapping on the keyboard and read, taps and reads, taps and reads. 

\n

“What is your husband’s name?”

\n

I told her.

\n

“And what is his birthdate?”

\n

I told her.

\n

“And you got your marriage license in this county?”

\n

“Yes, we did.”

\n

“Hmmmmm…I can’t find him.”

\n

Be calm. Be calm. Be calm.

\n

They’ve added a large copy of the law, highlighted, that says what the punishment is for disruptive behavior in the DMV. It’s pasted everywhere.

\n

I looked over at the different styles of license plates you can order. And there…on number six…was a bluebird. I could almost hear Mr. Virgo say “Go easy, baby doll.” I thought of Mr. FixIt and how nothing seems to ruffle his feathers. And my shoulders relaxed.

\n

“This must be a difficult job sometimes,” I said to the clerk.

\n

“Oh, it’s not so bad.” She smiled as she continued to type and read.

\n

Finally, I picked up the insurance card. The bottom half was kind of faded where the cartridge was running out of toner. Sure enough, under “Name and address of owner”, there was a typo in the name of the street. But, above that, under “Name and address of insured”, the address was correct. And clearly darker! 

\n

“Oh, look! It DOES have the name spelled right on this line! See? The other one is just so light from the printer, it’s hard to read. See the dark one here???”

\n

It worked! My diversionary tactic to take the focus off the wrong one and place it on the right one clearly saved the day!

\n

“Oh, my gosh! It must be my glasses! That IS right!” She took my money and quickly handed my number back to me. “You only have one person in front of you so it should take long now!” She smiled sweetly at me.

\n

Right.

\n

I was there another hour before they took my picture for my new license. And now I have to look at that tired, sweaty, grumpy picture for the next however many years. Or until I lose THIS license. Whichever comes first. 

\n

The bottom line is this…these people are just doing their jobs. They don’t make up the rules. They aren’t there to make your life miserable. They just want to earn a buck and go home and put their feet up. So, next time you have to go to the dreaded DMV, bring a smile. Some chocolate for the nice person behind the counter couldn’t hurt either. Maybe I would have gotten out of there quicker if I’d brought a little Hershey’s with me!

\n

❤️

\n
“Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.””\n

Genesis 21:23 NIV

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-09T01:30:34-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/09/the-dmv-me.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Growth","Wisdom","Anger","Humbled","Presence","Warning","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/08/nana-papaw-baby-boo.html", "title": "Nana \u0026 Papaw \u0026 Baby Boo!", "content_html": "

\"Great “Nana needed some baby snuggles before we went home!”

\n

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!

\n

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!

\n

Tomorrow’s another day. But for now…I’ve got to get some sleep. We’re both whupped!

\n

❤️

\n
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”    Psalm 4:8 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-08-08T01:30:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/08/nana-papaw-baby-boo.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Aging","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/06/making-our-way-back-home.html", "title": "Making Our Way Back Home", "content_html": "

\"Nebraska “Truckin’ across Nebraska”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

Today, we keep on truckin’!

\n

❤️

\n
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”\n

Psalm 119:105 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-06T01:30:16-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/06/making-our-way-back-home.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/05/full-up-to-here.html", "title": "Full Up to Here!", "content_html": "

\"Bumper-to-bumper “Sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic up to Eisenhower Tunnel”

\n

When I first moved to Colorado, Denver was a cow town compared to what it is today. In 1975, the Denver Metro Area consisted of approximately 650,000 people from what I can deduce for a graph I found. The population now is over 3,000,000! And it’s not just the Denver Metro Area. The states population has grown steadily….every single year. It’s crazy!

\n

When I moved to Glenwood Springs in 1986, there were two stop lights in the entire town. If it took us five minutes to get across town we thought we were in some terrible traffic jam. Now, it doesn’t matter what time of the day it is, traffic everywhere is bumper to bumper.

\n

We left Montrose yesterday morning at 10:30. It took us eight full hours to drive 263 miles to Denver! Clear roads. A little rain around Eagle. The majority of the time spent driving was between Silverthorne and Idaho Springs. The Eisenhower Tunnel is a huge bottleneck and as soon as the toll lane starts around Idaho Springs, things loosened up and we made good time.

\n

I thought it was exacerbated by the fact I have lived in the country for the last five years, but everyone here comments on it. And I have to tell you, I have never in my life walked into a Walmart or a mall…anywhere…and had the thought of a mass shooting go through my mind. But last night, we stopped at Walmart on our way to Ben & Sue’s house, and that’s the first thing that came to my mind. 

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“What is that crowd doing hanging around the front entrance?” 

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“Is there going to be trouble here?”

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“Where is the nearest exit?”

\n

I hate that. I hate that chill that went up my spine. I hate that I looked in the faces of those around me and wondered what they were capable of. Then I found myself in the cereal aisle and I heard Mr. FixIt’s friendly banter. He can (and does) speak to anyone. 

\n

“You only came in for two items? Well…you’ve sure gone over on this trip, huh?”

\n

I turned to find a Hispanic woman smiling shyly at him.

\n

“Yes…it happens all the time!”

\n

I looked in her face and saw kindness and a slight self-deprecation at her inability to stick to a shopping list. And, what I saw was no different than me.

\n

I smiled warmly at her and said, “Oh, I do that, too! What’s worse is when I come home and don’t have half of what I came in for in the first place!”

\n

This was a welcome moment in an otherwise horrifying set of current events. I am devastated. I am outraged. And, I will do what I can and not just send thoughts and prayers, although those are flowing fervently. My heart is broken for the victims of yet more violence.

\n

We pack up the truck this morning and say goodbye to to our Colorado peeps and hit the road for West Virginia. Please keep us in your prayers for travel mercies but more importantly, pray for those innocents who were just going about their day.

\n

❤️

\n
“Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.””\n

Isaiah 35:3-4 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-08-05T01:30:46-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/05/full-up-to-here.html", "tags": ["Faith","Colorado","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","West Virginia","Growth","God","Fear","Courage","Warning","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/08/02/no-worse-for-the-wear.html", "title": "No Worse for the Wear", "content_html": "

\"Old “While once sleek and shiny, these vehicles still hold a deep beauty.”

\n

We left Ridgway yesterday saying goodbye to our friends, Linda and Jim. We both choked up…goodbyes have always been difficult for me ever since I lost Mr. Virgo. We just don’t know if and when we will meet again and it tears at my heartstrings. I know Linda loves Colorado, but deep down, she has that Ohio farm girl in there somewhere. I loved watching her as she listened to Mr. FixIt’s unmistakable West Virginia accent and she was transported back over the years and the miles to the home of her youth.

\n

Even though we didn’t go to the same high school with Linda, we know many of the same people…one of whom is Jeff. He and his wife Julie moved to the Ridgway area a couple of years ago. It’s funny how the webs of friendship cross over. Linda and Jeff were both friends with Cindy (a girl from my class) and that’s how they connected. I am friends with Cindy and that’s how Linda connected with me and the connection with Jeff was made through Linda and because he was on the boy’s gymnastics team while I competed with the girl’s team the same year. And….Mr. FixIt was on that same team with Jeff! See what a teeny tiny world it is? Jeff and Julie joined us for dinner at Linda’s Wednesday night. Mr. FixIt hadn’t seen Jeff in forty-eight years. There were lots of stories and laughs and we all had a grand time.

\n

We drove north out of Ridgway, through Montrose and Olathe (home of Olathe Sweet Corn) and on to Delta. I kept my eyes peeled for a place I found when I was on “The Grand Adventure”…that three month odyssey into the wilderness and backroads after Mr. Virgo died. It’s just a vacant lot on the main drag that’s filled with old, broken down cars and trucks. I don’t know why it attracted me that first time, but I couldn’t wait to show Mr. FixIt.

\n

We were almost to our turnoff to head east over McClure Pass when I saw them. Red vehicles…either from the faded and flaked paint or the rust beneath. Some had their hoods strapped down. Others had holes in the glass from years of being the target of vandals or the errant stone thrown back in the day when they motored down the highways of old. Mr. FixIt caught his breath.

\n

“Oh, wow! Would you look at that!” A smile crept across his face and his eyes sparkled like a little boy who just found the coolest treasure stuck on a dusty shelf. I immediately pulled over and threw the truck in park. We jumped out and walked up and down the rows of derelict automobiles resting on their rims because of long ago rotted and airless tires. We peeked in through hazy windows at the scraps of stuffing clinging to the old and rusted springs of the seats inside. 

\n

“Oh, look! Is that a Nash? A Studebaker? What’s this one? Ford used to make a Cortina. Do you suppose that’s what this one is?” This went on and on as we dodged the large mud holes formed from the afternoon storms we’ve been getting and made our way through the maze of cars.

\n

As I looked at these rusted out hulks, I thought about beauty being in the eye of the beholder. I have to be perfectly honest…I’ve had some trepidation about the wedding this weekend. My daughter’s dad lives in a world I no longer belong to. He’s a doctor, and consequently lives like a doctor in a fine house. With fine friends. And a fine wife. Fine furnishings. Fine food. A fine life. I used to circle in that orbit, although I never really felt a part of that world, although I tried very hard to make myself fit in. 

\n

I have to admit. I’ve let myself be a little self conscious about my comfortable tummy and my jelly thighs and my granny-wing upper arms knowing ever so painfully how that was judged by those in that orbit. I’ve been praying about it a lot. And God whispered to me as I wandered amongst these vehicles what were once sleek and shiny and new.

\n

“You don’t have to fear that world. You don’t have to feel bad for the way you fit in your body all comfy-like. You don’t have to concern yourself with what anyone else thinks of you….just remember I love you. Completely. Just the way you are. Just love them all the way I love you.”

\n

You see…the very act of feeling self conscious and judged puts me in a place where I’m being the judge. I don’t know what’s in their hearts and minds. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since those days so long ago when I circled around that orbit. It’s a foreign land to me now. I have no reason to feel “less than” anyone. I can walk right in, on the arm of a man I adore and who adores me right back. We’ve created a life that fits us perfectly and we’re perfectly happy.

\n

It’s all about love, trust, letting go, and letting God take care of the details. I’m comfortable in this life, this body…no matter where I go or who I run into. None of this is about me anyway. It’s totally about my daughter and her joy anyway. Yes…it’s all about love!

\n

❤️

\n
“Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people.”    Isaiah 64:8-9 NIV
\n \n", "date_published": "2019-08-02T01:30:06-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/08/02/no-worse-for-the-wear.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Forgiveness","Courage","Aging","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Widow","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/07/02/the-motherdaughter-dance.html", "title": "The Mother-Daughter Dance", "content_html": "

\"Happy “I am a Happy Camper!”

\n

I danced with my mother. Not literally…but figuratively we went round and round and round. She always knew I loved her and I knew she loved me right back. I made sure of that. But we aggravated the heck out of each other more than I care to admit. We were still moving in that circle when she died rather suddenly at the age of seventy-eight. By that time, my own daughters were well on their way to dancing with me.

\n

My older daughter was very pregnant with my mother’s first great-grandchild and couldn’t come to her grandma’s funeral. I didn’t bring my younger daughter either because she was only nine and in school. I traveled to mom’s funeral alone half the way, meeting up with my Aunt Rosie in the Charlotte Airport for the last flight in.

\n

I have good girls. They are as different as night and day and are often like oil and water, but deep down they love each other because they are sisters. I wasn’t always a very good mother to them. There was that long stretch when I was deeply depressed and nearly non-functional. I drank too much and I took too many prescription drugs. When I overdosed, it ripped the fabric of our relationship and I feared I would never, ever get them back.

\n

We danced our own dance. We went round and round and we didn’t know how to reach each other. I hurt them in ways I couldn’t even begin to fathom till I got well. Then I had to rebuild their trust in me. It was hard, painful work. There were times I was absolutely certain they hated me. But they didn’t really. I wasn’t the only one who had to learn who this new version of me was.

\n

I watch Daughter #1 with her kids. I watch her face some of the same issues I faced and she handles them so much better than I did because she has a wonderful, stable marriage she isn’t also struggling to fix. I love watching her with the girls. Big is learning to drive. She is tall and athletic…a swimmer. She is bright and accomplished and dedicated. Little is part mini-me…part mini-mom. She is petite and eclectic…artistic and sensitive…bright and compassionate. She is a little shooting star.

\n

Last night, I sat at swim practice with Daughter #1 and talked for a couple of hours. It was the first time in a long time that I felt like I didn’t have to hold my breath out of fear I’d say or do the wrong thing and not be the mom I should be. That is baggage I am happy to set down. I knitted while we chatted. There was a warm, easy acceptance that flowed between us and I realized I could relax now. We’re ok. It was a long storm, but we weathered it. We’re better with each other. My heart felt full.

\n

Her kids are older now. She’s had some experience with life that she hadn’t had back when I let them down. I think she gets me a little better these days. We’re all a little older, a little wiser, a little softer. I think now, our dance is sweeter.

\n

❤️

\n
“\"Behold, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb about you: 'Like mother, like daughter.'”    Ezekiel 16:44 ESV
\n", "date_published": "2019-07-02T01:30:51-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/07/02/the-motherdaughter-dance.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Forgiveness","Aging","Presence","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/06/10/van-life.html", "title": "Van Life", "content_html": "

\"Conversion “One of our Girl Campers brought her conversion van to camp in. We were sold!”

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

Anyway, someone asked to see the van…so here she is! Enjoy!

\n

❤️

\n
“It’s better to live in a hut in the wilderness than with a crabby, scolding spouse!”    Proverbs 21:19 TPT
\n", "date_published": "2019-06-10T01:30:34-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/06/10/van-life.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","New Ideas","Gratitude","Comfort","goRVing","Peace","Wisdom","Presence","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Widow"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/06/06/one-hour-thirtyfive-dollars-a.html", "title": "One Hour \u0026 Thirty-Five Dollars = A Haircut", "content_html": "

\"Woman “Before and After…what a difference a haircut makes!”

\n

I haven’t really felt like my perky self for a while. Nothing I could really put my finger on. Maybe a little tired. Maybe a little down about aging. I’ve been losing weight but avoiding the mirror. It didn’t really dawn on me till I saw pictures from the baptism a couple of weeks ago and I was up on the stage with my bonus granddaughter. Gasp! I looked SO old! I looked like my grandma. Not that that is a bad thing, but I’m talking in her 80’s. I was in desperate need of a haircut!

\n

I always celebrate birthday month…not just a week or a weekend or a day. Nope…I was born in June…I celebrate JUNE! This month I turn 66. It’s only a number. I have more energy than I did at half my age. I remember when I turned 26. I was SO depressed! It had been a WHOLE DECADE since I got my driver’s license. Give me a break! Now it’s been half a century since I got my driver’s license. insert eye roll here

\n

No, it wasn’t my actual calendar age that was getting to me. It was my hair. I got lazy. I got tired of going in every six weeks and getting it cut. I got tired of sometimes having the perfect cut and other times wondering what went wrong. I got tired of spending the money on something that you just have to do over and over and over. 

\n

It’s not my fault really. I saw beautiful older women on Pinterest…long flowing locks of silver hair caressing unnaturally perky breasts. Stylishly dressed. Leaning against brick buildings in downtown New York City….their jacket carelessly draped across their shoulders…their chunky boho jewelry and oversized sunglasses deflecting my gaze from anything that could barely be called crepe-y skin. No…Pinterest assured me I would look uber chic with long, silver hair.

\n

Then, I took a look at myself and wondered what on earth possessed me to do such a thing. Me…in my JCPenney sleeveless summer dress made from t-shirt material. Me…of the ample upper arms and comfortable tummy. Me…of the “I know I have makeup SOMEWHERE in this house!” Me…of the Chacos and farmer tan and clip-on sunglasses and floppy brimmed had and a riding mower. Yeah…it was time for a reality check.

\n

I called Michelle on Tuesday and cried uncle. I said, “You win! I’m coming in to cut it off!” I’m almost sure I heard an audible sigh of relief from the other end of the phone. “How’s tomorrow at 11:00?” She didn’t want to wait too long for fear I might change my mind.

\n

An hour. Thirty-five dollars. That’s all it took to bring back my sparkle. It’s really true…if you LOOK good, you FEEL good. I walked out of there feeling like a million bucks! It’s such a simple thing…getting a haircut. Oh, and a pedi. A MUCH needed pedi. I hadn’t had a “Me Day” for such a long time. It was way overdue and I feel so much better.

\n

I sent the before and after photos to Mr. FixIt with a note…”Here’s the girl you fell in love with!” And you wanna know what he said?

\n

“You’re beautiful…but, I didn’t fall in love with your hair.”

\n

My cheeks hurt from smiling.

\n

❤️

\n
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”    1 Peter 4:8 NIV
\n \n", "date_published": "2019-06-06T01:30:12-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/06/06/one-hour-thirtyfive-dollars-a.html", "tags": ["Health","Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Courage","Aging","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Widow","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/06/04/field-of-dreams.html", "title": "Field of Dreams", "content_html": "

\"Field “My Field of Dreams.”

\n

I know, I know…how many pictures of a field am I going to post here, right? Oh…however many times I am moved by the view, I suppose…which is daily. Every day, every hour, the view changes with the light. This was taken Sunday afternoon after the heavy rain and hail that swept through the surrounding area. I love the way the sky is slightly pink as the sun begins to set over the hill far to the left there. The air is soft with humidity and brushes the edges of the woods with a velvety glow.

\n

I have a lifelong sister/friend who asked me yesterday if there wasn’t family who could come and mow this for us. After all…I’m 65. I smiled at her love and concern for me. Then I told her what I tell everyone who asks why I still mow. First, 65…nay, 66 in nine days…is young, if you ask me. Second, this is my home, too. Of course I’m going to work on it. Also, seriously…all I do is sit on a riding mower and drive around and around with headphones on listening to rock and roll music. How hard is that?

\n

My biggest reason is this…I spent my entire life praying to have exactly what I have now. I have so much joy in my heart, a few hours driving around cutting grass is the smallest of prices to pay. I truly love it! That being said, my shoulders are tired and sore when I’m done. I wish for a hot shower and a masseuse…only one of which is readily available. But it’s a good sore…a good tired. And I sleep really soundly when I’ve worked hard.

\n

I mowed the big fields yesterday while Mr. FixIt was in town working. We have a lot to get done before we head out camping on Thursday. According to the weather report, we are in for a cool, cloudy weekend with the possibility of rain showers. That’s ok…we’ll have plenty to keep us busy under the canopies. I bought walls for the canopy that will hold heat in. Gail has her canopy, as well. Camping is fun, no matter what!

\n

❤️

\n
“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
\n", "date_published": "2019-06-04T01:30:23-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/06/04/field-of-dreams.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/06/03/weather-warnings.html", "title": "Weather Warnings", "content_html": "

\"WV “Clockwise from top left: Milkweed about to bloom, box turtle preparing to lay eggs, hail along the road, the field we were married in, hail from 10 miles down the road from the Ponderosa”

\n

When you live twenty miles from town and get a severe thunderstorm warning for home, you have to just hope for the best. I always send a quick prayer up when we get those alerts but this time it came while we were in the restaurant having breakfast and didn’t have our phones on us.

\n

As we were driving home, Mr. FixIt’s son called to see if we had hail. They saw a news report with quarter  sized hailstones from just a few miles away from the house. When we got closer to home, we started to see leaves on the road looking all the world like chopped salad. There were patches of white hail gathered along the roadside. The creeks were roaring. It didn’t look good.

\n

All we could think of was the campers, my truck, and water in the basement. But when we came around the last bend in the road, the damage just stopped. When we passed the house closest to us, I looked for her garden and it was pristine! No hail here! We rushed downstairs and there was no water in the basement either. God was watching out for us again!

\n

We walked around the fields in the early evening. We came across this box turtle. She had dug a hole and was preparing to lay her eggs. I’ve never seen that before. As we came around the end of the camper we are selling, a doe was standing in the field watching us. We talked quietly to her and she stood still for a long time listening before she moved on.

\n

We found a deer skull on the rocks by the creek…probably scavenged road kill from the two lane out front. The pears are getting bigger on the two trees out front. We got a couple tomato plants on clearance at Walmart so we’ll plant those this week. I also need to start getting the camper packed for the Girl Camper trip this week. And…the grass needs mowed…again.

\n

❤️

\n
“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
\n \n", "date_published": "2019-06-03T01:30:06-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/06/03/weather-warnings.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Prayer","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/06/02/resting.html", "title": "Resting", "content_html": "

\"Feet “Taking a breather after a long day.”

\n

Mr. FixIt and I have been like two ships passing in the night the last two weeks. He is still working on the porch he is building in town plus he is helping a friend move. In between, he has helped with the mowing and weed eating. He is a busy man and a very hard worker. I am very proud of him and love his work ethic. But…I’ll be really glad when the jobs that are taking him away from home are completed and we can do more things together…even if it’s more jobs that need doing around here.

\n

While my hubby has been off and running, I have been keeping busy here as well. I finished mowing at the Ponderosa yesterday. I had a run-in with some brambles and they dragged across my forehead, yanked my glasses off, and made me say some choice words. I went out when it cooled off, swept the grass off the sidewalks, and pruned some branches and old, dead rambling rose canes. Nasty buggers!

\n

I did escape yesterday morning and had coffee with my classmates. There were seven of us this time and we always miss the ones who don’t get to attend. When we were finished, I walked across the street to one of my favorite antique shops in the area. I’ve been on the prowl for old embroidered dresser scarves and the like to make something fun for the camper. I found several that were white with either blue embroidery or blue crocheted edging. Blue and white are my favorites. I also bought the coolest curved treadle sewing machine drawer that will be perfect on the dinette table to hold flowers or something.

\n

Afterwards I met Mr. FixIt for the summer picnic for the plant he worked at before he retired. He worked at Ames. My mom called it “the shovel plant” because she worked there during the war making shovels for soldiers. After the war, their specialty was all manner of garden tools. Mr. FixIt gave me one of the shovels he designed and made and there isn’t a finer one around. I actually knew two people at the picnic…a rare occurrence for me. Mr. FixIt knows EVERYBODY in town!

\n

When I was done for the day, I went in to make myself a sandwich. I glanced out the kitchen window. The luna moth is still there. And, there was a mama groundhog and three little babies out munching on the grass under the crab apple tree. I stood there for the longest time, just watching them. And thinking how blessed I am to have this slice of heaven in my life. I finally turned away, picked up my sandwich, and padded out to the camper to read for a while before Mr. FixIt came home. 

\n

What a beautiful world God has given us. Even in the midst of horrific things, there is beauty in the stillness.

\n

❤️

\n
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.””    Isaiah 40:8 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-06-02T01:30:05-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/06/02/resting.html", "tags": ["Family","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Peace","Humbled","Presence","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/30/severe-weather.html", "title": "Severe Weather", "content_html": "

\"Weather\" “Severe weather, volunteer pumpkins, a more mowing…another day on the Ponderosa.”

\n

As with most of you, I browsed the news yesterday morning and saw the destruction from the many severe storms throughout the Midwest. I know people there…I was praying for them all. I knew we were supposed to get some rain yesterday, but I didn’t know how severe the storm was going to be.

\n

I went to Schoolhouse Quilts around lunchtime to pick up my daughter’s wedding quilt. I need to sew the binding and then it will be finished. I was finishing my coffee while I visited with Carolyn, the owner. My phone rang. It was Mr. FixIt telling me to look at the radar…we were about to get hit hard.

\n

I wrapped it up quickly, paid for the quilting, and ran to the truck just as the rain started. We live in a really small town. A grocery store, a Dollar General, the quilt shop, a pizza place, a gas station, the thrift store, and a couple of churches. That’s about it. It didn’t take long to drive to “the other side of town”. 

\n

I was about to the Piggly Wiggly when the lightning started striking all around me. I could see it hitting the hillside in front of me. I saw the flashes out of my peripheral vision…on both sides. I quickly turned into the parking lot, but it was raining too hard and the lightening was coming hard and fast. I couldn’t even pull up close to the store. I think some other people had the same idea.

\n

I pulled my phone out and opened the Weather Channel app. It has a very reliable radar. When I saw it, I understood what a “Severe Thunderstorm Warning” looked like while it was happening. The notice at the top of the screen said “Lightning detected 0 miles north of you.” Yeah…no kidding!

\n

I sent the screen shot to Mr. FixIt and told him where I was and I was going to sit this one out. Then I thought of the leaky basement and really wanted to get home. I closed my eyes and prayed hard. I told Jesus I knew he had calmed the seas when the storm was raging and I trust that He gives us that same power. I told the storm, in Jesus’ name, to break away and part the sky so I could get home safely.

\n

Less that one minute later…the clouds parted. And even though the radar still showed lightning activity…there was nothing near me. I was home in less than two minutes. These are the things that amaze me. Not because I doubt they can be done. They can. I see it all the time. But it amazes me that I would never have done something like that just a few years ago. I was the scientist. The skeptic. The unbeliever.

\n

Coincidence? Maybe. But I’m telling you what I saw immediately after I prayed for it. It doesn’t make me special or important or better than anyone else. It just makes me believe more. The storms eventually moved out by afternoon. Mr. FixIt came home and I mowed the big field while he ran the weed eater and the push mower. We are due for more storms today so I am planning on sitting and working on my daughter’s quilt.

\n

As I was out mowing around the burn pile, I noticed a large amount of green growth. I looked closer and there was a volunteer pumpkin vine growing from the ashes. I smiled. We burned that brush pile the week before our wedding. When the wedding was over, we used the pumpkins for Halloween decorations. Then, after the first freeze and they got soggy, Mr. FixIt threw them on the brush pile. That’s what I love about WV. You can throw a seed out there and it can grow all on its own. 

\n

Same with love. 

\n

❤️

\n
““Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us.”    Mark 9:38-40 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-05-30T01:30:57-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/30/severe-weather.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","West Virginia","Gratitude","God","Wisdom","Courage","Humbled","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/27/memorial-day.html", "title": "Memorial Day 2019", "content_html": "

\"George “He was a soldier. He was a son.”

\n

They called him Sonny. He was their bright ray of sunshine. Smart, sensitive, talented, destined to go far. When Grandma and Pop-Pop got the telegram that their Sonny was gone, part of them died in that moment as well. People said they were never the same. I wouldn’t know what they were like before. I was not yet two when Sonny’s plane went down.

\n

Sometimes I think I remember him. But then I realize it’s his pictures and the loving stories told about him that made my Uncle Sonny alive for me. I was told he loved me. He told my mom he wanted a picture of me on a bearskin rug in my “all-together”…in other words, a chubby baby with a hundred fat rolls, buns up on a blanket. This was back in the days when something like that could be done without thinking the person admiring the photo is a pedophile.

\n

Mom complied and I was told he kept that photo in the cockpit of the plane. But, mom told me a lot of things that turned out to be untrue. For instance, she said he was shot down by Russians. In 1955. Over Landstuhl Air Base in Germany. She said grandma was comforted when she received his personal effects and his wallet didn’t smell like smoke. She was comforted that her boy didn’t burn.

\n

Many years later, when the internet was new and I was helping my mom with her beloved genealogy, I started digging into the crash that took Uncle Sonny’s life. I think the only thing I had to work with at the time was a dial up modem and CompuServe. After meticulously searching, I came up with an aviation archaeologist. He specialized in finding reports on old plane crashes. I believe I paid him $40 and a few weeks later, I received a thick packet in the mail. 

\n

The archaeologist came up with the official Air Force report of the crash and in the process of reading it and asking questions, I got a lot of answers. First, he definitely was not shot down by the Russians. Secondly, pilots do not fly with personal effects, meaning…neither his wallet nor my picture accompanied him in the cockpit that fateful day. That was information I didn’t share with the rest of the family. I don’t remember if my Grandma was still living at this time or not. There’s just some things you don’t need to discuss after some sense of resolution has been met.

\n

There was information that I found disturbing. Sonny needed to log some flight hours. The only plane available that day was an old fighter jet that was on it’s way to become a static display. In other words, it was past its usefulness. In the three days leading up to the crash, four separate engines had been installed. 

\n

The morning of the crash dawned gray and foggy. Uncle Sonny went through the usual preflight check. The ground crew walked around the plane and somehow, someone failed to notice the intake baffles were in the wrong position for the weather conditions. When he took off, he flew around the base a couple of times without incident. Then someone noticed a shift in the engine sound and looked up. The plane had slowed down considerably and was losing altitude.

\n

No one can know for certain what went on in the cockpit that day. The witness on the ground said he couldn’t understand why my uncle didn’t eject and let the plane go down. It wasn’t until the full investigation that it was determined the trajectory of the plane would have sent it into the barracks where countless airmen would still be preparing for their day. Instead, Uncle Sonny steered the plane toward an open potato field that had recently been plowed. I’m sure, with his farming experience, he knew that would be a fairly soft place to land.

\n

As he struggled to keep the engine going and the plane aloft, he noticed a gap between the trees surrounding the potato field. It was narrow, but if he tipped his right wing at the right moment, he could just squeak through. Unfortunately, the sudden dip in the right wing caused the engine to stall even further and the tip of the wing hit the ground. This caused the plane to cartwheel.

\n

Uncle Sonny was found still strapped in his ejector seat in an upright position…as though he were waiting for someone to come by and have a chat. His helmet was cracked from the impact and he died from blunt force trauma. And, even though his wallet wasn’t with him and neither was my bare butt photo…he didn’t burn. It was over quickly.

\n

In my opinion, my Uncle Sonny was a hero. I’m sure he saved countless lives that day. But there was no award, no medal, no call from a grateful President. Maybe that was best. Grandma was not one for making a fuss. “Fools names, like their faces, always seen in public places.” She was a private, unassuming woman with great dignity.

\n

Sonny was laid to rest on a hilltop cemetery fifteen or so miles from the farm. One by one, our loved ones joined him. First Pop-Pop, then Grandma, then my mom, then Uncle Bob. I go twice a year to see them and I always hang around him a little longer. I wish I could have known him. I am comforted knowing there was such a beautiful homecoming when the Lord came to take the others to join my Uncle Sonny and Jesus.

\n

This day is so much more than another day off, another reason for a party. This is the day when we honor the fallen…all who gave their lives in the line of duty. Not just military. We remember all who have gone before us and we decorate their graves. Thank you…for giving your all. My heart is with those who had to go on without you.

\n

❤️

\n
“For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends.”\n

John 15:13 TPT

\n", "date_published": "2019-05-27T01:30:40-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/27/memorial-day.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Grace","God","Fear","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/26/smoke.html", "title": "Smoke", "content_html": "

\"Smoke\" “Life has a certain synchronicity. It swirls round and round like wisps of smoke.”

\n

Mail delivery is different when you live on a rural route. When you drive out any two lane blacktop, there are dirt roads that go off up into hollers. There may be a dozen or more houses up there, but it wouldn’t be feasible to send a mail carrier up every little dirt track. So, you often see a whole row of mailboxes on the corner and everyone has to pick up their own mail. Our mailbox is across the two lane from the Ponderosa so we either walk up or stop on our way out when we go somewhere.

\n

When I first moved in with Mr. FixIt, I seldom got any mail here. I have a post office box that I use for my business so it was just easier for me to get all my mail there. Because the majority of the mail was his, I never really saw it unless I picked it up. Mr. FixIt was throwing away junk mail one day and casually remarked, for some reason he had received coupons for cigarettes. He couldn’t figure out how in the world he ever got on their mailing list.

\n

We went into town yesterday to decorate graves on Mr. FixIt’s side of the family. We stopped to get the mail and there was another cigarette advertisement. He handed me the mail and said, “See? We got it again!” I sat there, holding the mail in my hands. For a moment, my heart skipped a beat and I could barely breathe.

\n

“Is this the brand you got before?” I asked.

\n

“Yes. It’s always the same.”

\n

I ran my fingers over the familiar green box and smiled. Kools.

\n

“You know…this is Mr. Virgo’s brand.”

\n

“Whoa. That’s weird.”

\n

“No…not weird. It’s just a message. A sort of hello from beyond.”

\n

I don’t know how things work on the other side exactly. I know there is heaven. And I know the Bible says there is a veil between the worlds and those in heaven cannot see or connect with their loved ones on earth. I also know God loves us and wants to comfort our hearts when we lose loved ones so He sends us things that strike a chord with us. In my case…bluebirds. A particular song that’s out of place. Flickering lights. And, an ad. Of all the cigarette brands that are out there, the one that came was Mr. Virgo’s. It’s not even what I would consider a top brand. Why that one? On Memorial Day weekend?

\n

I reached over and took my husband’s hand. I smiled and looked out the window at the passing scenery. I marveled at this lovely life and all its synchronicity…curling round and round like wisps of smoke.

\n

“Hello, Mr. Virgo” I said softly. “Thanks for coming to see us.”

\n

❤️

\n
“Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.”\n

John 17:7 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-05-26T01:30:10-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/26/smoke.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Courage","Change","Widow","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/25/steaks-on-the-grill.html", "title": "Steaks on the Grill", "content_html": "

\"Yellow “Iris on the creekbank.”

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

❤️

\n
“I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees.”\n

Ecclesiastes 2:6 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-05-25T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/25/steaks-on-the-grill.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/24/thunderbolt-and-lightningbugs.html", "title": "Thunderbolt and Lightning(bugs)", "content_html": "

\"Dew “Dew on the grass. Lightning bugs. Whippoorwills. It’s springtime in West Virginia.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
“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
\n", "date_published": "2019-05-24T01:30:58-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/24/thunderbolt-and-lightningbugs.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Grace","Peace","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/23/wascally-wabbits.html", "title": "Wascally Wabbits!", "content_html": "

\"Man “Mr. FixIt…working in the garden.”

\n

Mr. FixIt came to me the other morning with a dejected sigh.

\n

“Something ate the beans.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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. 

\n

❤️

\n
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”    Psalm 133:1 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-05-23T01:30:35-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/23/wascally-wabbits.html", "tags": ["Health","Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Forgiveness","Humbled","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Widow","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/21/girl-camper-quilt.html", "title": "Girl Camper Quilt", "content_html": "

\"Cute “The Girl Camper Quilt is almost finished!”

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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! 

\n

❤️

\n
“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
\n", "date_published": "2019-05-21T01:30:55-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/21/girl-camper-quilt.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","goRVing","Love","Peace","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Be Joyful!","Art"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/20/a-lovely-summer-evening.html", "title": "A Lovely Summer Evening", "content_html": "

\"Peony\" “Spring? It’s more like summer here in West Virginia!”

\n

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.

\n

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!)

\n

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!

\n

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!

\n

❤️

\n
“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
\n", "date_published": "2019-05-20T01:30:50-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/20/a-lovely-summer-evening.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Uplifting Stories","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Humbled","Presence","Choices","Be Joyful!","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/19/another-quilt-top.html", "title": "Another Quilt Top", "content_html": "

\"Camper “Cute camper material for a raffle quilt”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
“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
\n", "date_published": "2019-05-19T01:30:27-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/19/another-quilt-top.html", "tags": ["Health","Family","TOW-Wanda!","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","goRVing","Love","Peace","Presence","Girl Camper","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/18/quilting-and-thunderstorms.html", "title": "Quilting and Thunderstorms", "content_html": "

\"Quilting\" “Sewing a quilt for my daughter’s wedding gift. The finished top below. Now it will be machine quilted.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

\n

❤️

\n
“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
\n", "date_published": "2019-05-18T01:30:21-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/18/quilting-and-thunderstorms.html", "tags": ["Family","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Be Joyful!","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/17/farm-life-is-a-good.html", "title": "Farm Life is a Good Life", "content_html": "

\"Flora “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”

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
“May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness— an abundance of grain and new wine.”    Genesis 27:28 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-05-17T01:30:58-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/17/farm-life-is-a-good.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Peace","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/16/wednesday-evening-walkabout.html", "title": "Wednesday Evening Walkabout", "content_html": "

\"Flora\" “Clockwise from Top Left: Abundant Blueberries, Honey Locust, Wild Grape Vine, Beautiful Peonies”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

“Well…hello there, Mr. Virgo. I’m doing just fine!”

\n

❤️

\n
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”    \n

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-05-16T01:30:23-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/16/wednesday-evening-walkabout.html", "tags": ["Health","Family","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","Peace","Humbled","Presence","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/15/a-quiet-place.html", "title": "A Quiet Place", "content_html": "

\"A “Living in a quiet place fills me with peace and gratitude.”

\n

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! 

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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? 

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

❤️

\n
“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”    Psalm 18:19 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-05-15T01:30:15-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/15/a-quiet-place.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","Peace","Humbled","Peaceful Moments","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/14/rainy-days-and-mondays.html", "title": "Rainy Days and Mondays", "content_html": "

\"Wet “Watching the softball game in the rain and cold.”

\n

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.” 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

Home, Sweet Home…it was so good to see Mr. FixIt and give him a big hug! 

\n

Thank you, God…for travel mercies, for such good friends, and for a precious homecoming.

\n

❤️

\n
“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
\n", "date_published": "2019-05-14T01:30:55-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/14/rainy-days-and-mondays.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","TOW-Wanda!","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Girl Camper","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/07/listen.html", "title": "Listen...", "content_html": "

\"Listen\" “Chasing down an annoying little beep”

\n

Do you hear that? That’s what I asked Mr. FixIt when I called him over to my camper. We were busy prepping her for her maiden voyage. (We leave today!) I was moving last minute things from the big camper to the little one. Mr. FixIt had just finished greasing the hubs. I was putting some things in a cabinet when I suddenly heard a faint beeping sound. It sounded like the alarm on a small electronic timer inside a suitcase. Faint…but discernible. I started my search.

\n

I looked in every cabinet. I cocked my head this way and that trying to figure out where it came from. It definitely sounded like it was coming from the driver’s side of the camper…kind of near the refrigerator. I opened the fridge. Nope…not in there. I moved on to the bathroom. I could hear it still, but couldn’t find the source. 

\n

I went outside and that’s when I cornered Mr. FixIt.

\n

“There’s a noise.”

\n

“What kind of noise?”

\n

“A beeping noise.”

\n

“Ok. Where’s it coming from?”

\n

“I don’t know! I’ve been looking everywhere and I can’t find it. Listen…do you hear that?”

\n

Just then, a big truck came down the road.

\n

“Nope.”

\n

“Wait…just listen.”

\n

Finally…he heard it, too!

\n

“What the heck IS that?”

\n

We walked all around the camper and determined it sounded like it was coming from the side where the refrigerator is. We went inside and checked the fuse box, the air conditioning, the refrigerator. I even got out the owner’s manual to see if there were some sort of alarm that had something to do with greasing the axles, since that’s the last thing we did before I heard it.

\n

Nothing.

\n

Then it stopped. Ten seconds later, it started again.

\n

“Oh, my gosh! You know me with noises. That will drive me crazy. I have to find it!”

\n

I went back outside and started walking around the camper in ever widening circles and suddenly, I could tell where it was coming from. It wasn’t the camper. It was something in the yard! I walked slowly, thinking maybe someone had dropped off a time bomb near our house. I got closer to the road and suddenly…a light bulb went off over my head.

\n

I walked straight to the trash can and started rummaging around for the bag I had dropped in there earlier and came up with the culprit. The old smoke detector was going off because the trash can was getting hot in the noonday sun! Whew…case solved.

\n

I moved on to the next job and brought some clothes out to the camper. Suddenly I heard Mr. FixIt. It sounded like a sneeze…but not quite. I stuck my head out of the camper and hollered. 

\n

“You ok?” 

\n

“Sneeze!”

\n

“You sneezed?”

\n

“Sneeze!!!!!”

\n

“Ok, already….you sneezed. Jeez-o-Pete!”

\n

“SNAKE!!!!!!!”

\n

“Holy cats! WHERE????”

\n

“It went under your smoker! Get the hoe.”

\n

I grabbed the hoe…aka snake killer tool in West Virginia.

\n

“What kind was it?”

\n

“I think it was a copperhead!”

\n

Ugh…poisonous.

\n

“Ok…tip up the smoker.”

\n

He did. And this two foot snake started squiggling around. We both jumped and the hoe came down before my brain could register it wasn’t a copperhead. I think it was a rat snake. I hated that I killed it. But, I did. Just like the turtle I ran over in the tall grass in the field later. I hated that, too. I tried to switch propane tank covers from one camper to the other. When I lifted up the cover, a bird flew out right in front of me and I about jumped out of my skin. A Jenny Wren had made a nest on top of the propane tank and there was a baby and a tiny egg in it so I quietly left it alone.

\n

Living in the country is NOT for sissies!

\n

❤️

\n
“I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.”    Psalm 50:11 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-05-07T01:30:31-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/07/listen.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Courage","Warning","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/05/rainy-days.html", "title": "Rainy Days", "content_html": "

\"Rhododendron “Grandma’s rhododendron is starting to bloom out at the farm. I think it might have gotten a little nipped by the polar vortex this winter, but it sure loves these rainy days!”

\n

It has been rainy in West Virginia the last couple of days. We’ve even had some thunderstorms, which I dearly love. I remember really missing them when I lived in Colorado. The thunder doesn’t roll there like it does here. The rain held off till Mr. FixIt and I were finished changing the oil in both trucks. I sat on the mechanic’s stool, looking up at the sky when it started to sprinkle and asked God to please hold off for an hour or so. He was so gracious to do so. Thank you.

\n

I was very disappointed. We had everything set up. I got the truck up on the ramps with Mr. FixIt’s guidance, and I got down under the engine and set to work. Try as I might, I simply could NOT loosen the plug in the oil pan. I couldn’t get in a good position to get leverage. The battery pack for the headlamp sat on the back of my head wrong and kept getting in my way. And for some reason, I didn’t like the feeling of that truck over my chest on the plastic ramps Mr. FixIt has. His metal ones were stolen and I just didn’t trust plastic to hold that truck up off me. It gave me the heeby-jeebies.

\n

Mr. FixIt took my place and, with some difficulty, finally got the plug out. I got BACK under the truck and tried to loosen the oil filter and it wouldn’t budge. I hated to admit defeat, but i just don’t have the arm, wrist, and hand strength I used to have. I climbed back out and sat on the stool handing Mr. FixIt what he needed, when he needed it. When he was finished, I held the funnel while he poured the oil in.

\n

“I’m sorry.” I said, dejectedly. “I just couldn’t do it.”

\n

Mr. FixIt looked at me with soft eyes and said, “That’s ok, baby. That’s what husbands are for.”

\n

For one second, the feminist reared up in my head…then I stopped. I looked at this kind, gentle, yet strong man and said…

\n

“Service. That’s your love language, isn’t it?”

\n

He smiled and went back to the task at hand. I didn’t even offer to try helping him when we got his truck up on the ramps. We just chatted as he told me stories or pointed out the differences between the two trucks and their filters. I sat on the stool, smiling and sending up a big “Thank You” for my many, many blessings.

\n

❤️?❤️

\n
“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
\n", "date_published": "2019-05-05T01:30:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/05/rainy-days.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","God","Wisdom","Humbled","Aging","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/04/unbeatable-laughterunbearable-tears.html", "title": "Unbeatable Laughter...Unbearable Tears", "content_html": "

\"Cake “Chocolate cake pops aren’t the most delectable looking things till they get their pretty candy coating.”

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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? 

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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! 

\n

❤️

\n
“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\n

“‘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

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-05-04T01:30:38-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/04/unbeatable-laughterunbearable-tears.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Wisdom","Forgiveness","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/05/02/a-trip-for-tomatoes.html", "title": "A Trip for Tomatoes", "content_html": "

\"\" “Shari Sims and her precious pooch greet customers at Sims Greenhouse in Palestine, WV”

\n

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.

\n

\"Succulents\" “I love the colors of succulents…so soft and soothing.”

\n

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.

\n

Sims Greenhouse, 7460 Palestine Road, Palestine, WV ( out Rt. 14 past Elizabeth)

\n

\"Greenhouse\" “Rows and rows of the most beautiful hanging baskets and the heady aroma of petunias…enough to make you swoon!”

\n

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.

\n

\"Moss “Moss baskets add a lovely texture”

\n

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.

\n

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”.

\n

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!

\n

❤️

\n
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;”    Proverbs 3:5 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-05-02T01:30:07-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/05/02/a-trip-for-tomatoes.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Peaceful Moments","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/04/29/the-weight-of-the-world.html", "title": "The Weight of the World", "content_html": "

\"Statue\" “Sometimes things seem too heavy. That’s when I need to stop and read my devotionals.”

\n

Don’t you sometimes feel like you’re carrying a whole lot of weight on your shoulders? One should come home from vacation feeling refreshed and relaxed. While we had a fabulous vacation and I enjoyed every single minute of it, I always come home with a mountain of work to do and if I’m not careful, I’ll forget the joy of the vacation altogether. 

\n

When we got home Saturday night, it was raining but we emptied the truck as best we could. This left containers laying around to be emptied. Before we could put anything away, we had to clean the kitchen counters from spraying for ants last week. Then all the stuff that had been moved to the island to get moved back to the counter. THEN the kitchen stuff could be put away. This after driving twelve hours…the majority of which was done by my sweet husband.

\n

We were up early and out the door for church with the grandkids then our usual breakfast. We had errands to run before we finally got back home. Mr. FixIt had the rest of the truck to empty while I cleaned the kitchen and put away more stuff. Then he got out the push mower and weed eater and I hopped on the riding mower. Three hours later, we gave up because it was cold and we were hungry.

\n

We have really felt our age this last year, it seems. Aches and pains that never slowed us down are starting to get in the way. We can’t work sunup to sundown like we once did and that is frustrating. Made more so by the post-vacation blues. The next couple of weeks are going to be super busy. We need to finish the mowing at the Ponderosa then we have to go mow at the farm, I have an MRI on my foot today to see what the problem is that’s causing pain, then I have to de-winterize and prepare the new camper for her maiden voyage. 

\n

We leave Thursday for Indiana to see my niece graduate from college. We get back on Sunday, I’ll have one day to clean up the camper, restock, and do laundry before I turn around and take her up north for a week with the Girl Campers. Then I’ll have some down time. Knitting and napping and sitting around the campfire will be the order of the day. Until then, every day is jam-packed with busy. It is during times like this I have to actually set an an alarm and force myself to sit down and do my bible study. Those are the moments that carry me through the rest of it.

\n

❤️

\n
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”   \n

Mark 1:35 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-04-29T01:30:15-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/04/29/the-weight-of-the-world.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","Humbled","Aging","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/04/28/home-sweet-home.html", "title": "Home, Sweet Home", "content_html": "

\"Welcome “Home, Sweet Home…West Virginia!”

\n

I keep forgetting what a long drive that is coming back from the beach in one day. Twelve hours. And that’s not dilly-dallying around, either. Potty breaks only. It rained the last hour and I-77 is under perpetual repair so that slowed us down a bit. It was in the low 50’s when we got home which was a darned sight cooler than the beach was, but we were so grateful for God’s travel mercies. We only saw a couple of minor accidents on the way home. It was such a wonderful trip.

\n

When you get home like that, the last thing you want to do is empty the truck, but we did anyway. It’s almost all put away.

\n

We sprayed for ants before we left and there were just a few sighted. Nothing like before we left. And there was NO WATER in the basement! I prayed hard for that one. TRULY the very last thing you want to do when you get home from a long trip is to suction water out of a soggy basement. Oh, and the grass is nearly a foot deep in places! We mowed the day before we left. Oy!

\n

\"Redbud\" “Redbud are still blooming on top of the mountains in West Virginia!”

\n

So…we are home safe, suntanned, and very tired. I’ll leave you early with some photos of the day. The dogwoods are in full bloom. The redbud are past their prime except for the top of the mountains. I caught this one at the West Virginia Welcome Center on I-64. The Welcome to West Virginia sign is always a beautiful sight, even though it signals there are still at least three and a half hours of driving left!

\n

\"Dogwood\" “The dogwood trees are in full bloom and are like little fairies in the woods.”

\n

I would like to take this opportunity and congratulate my dear friend Deneene on her marriage to her sweet Mark yesterday. It was an intimate family-only affair but I got to see it on FB Live. Unfortunately, we will be unable to attend their open house in South Carolina next weekend as we will be watching my niece graduate from college in Indiana. I had the honor of walking with Deneene in her early grief and have watched her heart heal and expand to include new love. Congratulations, my sweet friends! I love you and miss you so!

\n

Happy Sunday…can’t wait to get to church!

\n

❤️

\n
“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.”\n

Psalm 139:9-10 NIV

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-04-28T01:30:14-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/04/28/home-sweet-home.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","God","Peaceful Moments","Be Joyful!","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/04/18/the-beloved-eastern-redbud.html", "title": "The Beloved Eastern Redbud", "content_html": "

\"Redbud\" “I couldn’t get a good photo driving today, so I found this one through Google. This is what the redbud trees look like with the fresh, spring green of new growth. Stunning!”

\n

I think I would be hard-pressed to choose just one singular thing that I love the most about West Virginia. There are so many things to choose from…my grandparents’ farm, the lush green woods, the beautiful Ohio River, the sounds of peepers and the numerous birds including whip-poor-wills and owls and mockingbirds. They are all so incredibly beautiful. But, if I had to choose just one thing, it would be the redbud trees in the spring. 

\n

These purply-pink flowering trees burst forth in early April bringing breathtaking views around every bend. They tend to stick close to roadways and the stunning shock of pink against the bright spring green of the new growth makes me catch my breath and utter oohs and aahs like watching the Fourth of July Fireworks. They are at their peak this week and I am sure we will have quite the show on our drive south on Friday.

\n

We are both SO looking forward to getting away. We finished the first big mow of the season yesterday and we are so sore we can hardly move. By having the far field brush hogged, our mowed acreage has increased to six acres at the Ponderosa. For those who don’t know, a brush hog is a powerful mower you pull behind a tractor. It cuts down grass much like cutting hay and if you want to return the field to regular mowing, you have to keep after it. However, it isn’t easy mowing. The ground in uneven and choppy and you about lose the fillings in your teeth when you run over it with the riding mower. It will take a while for the grass that grows to look more like a lawn and less like a pasture.

\n

The roughness of mowing, as well as it being our first cutting of the season, has my shoulders, neck and arms screaming. Not even a hot bath could help. Hopefully sleep and NSAIDs will do the trick.

\n

My appointment at the orthopedist went well. He wants to do an MRI of my foot to check for stress fractures. That will be done as soon as we get back from the beach. Today will be spent packing during the day. This evening, I will be reading the Passover Haggadah to my small group from church. I love remembering the Jewish holidays.

\n

❤️

\n
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,”    Colossians 3:23 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-04-18T01:30:18-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/04/18/the-beloved-eastern-redbud.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/04/15/hummers.html", "title": "Hummers!", "content_html": "

\"Hummingbird\" “The hummingbirds are back!”

\n

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!

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

We got home and I fell asleep in the camper…I really LOVE having a window open right above my head! Beautiful, beautiful day! 

\n

❤️

\n
“I know every bird in the mountains...”    Psalm 50:11 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-04-15T01:30:16-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/04/15/hummers.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","Humbled","Peaceful Moments","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/04/11/memory-recall.html", "title": "Memory Recall", "content_html": "

\"Memories\" “Photos of childhood memories can bridge the miles between you and your children.”

\n

Sometimes it’s hard to reach my kids, both literally and figuratively. They have busy lives. Jobs, families, houses…they don’t have a lot of time to visit with their mom. I get that. I was in their shoes. So, instead of whining about it and pulling more than a nominal guilt trip, I have taken to sending them pictures of things I find on Pinterest. Not just any old thing. Things that will stir a memory of their childhoods and make them smile whether they have time to talk or not.

\n

One such photo was this one. It is identical to the kitchen we lived in when she was little and her daddy was in medical school. She remembered the sink, she said. But I know, if she remembered the sink, she thought of all the times I canned our food and baked our bread. She might have thought of the times we set up the tent in the backyard so she could have a sleepover. I’m sure she thought of the slumber party I let her have in the Vanagon camper with the pop top. We were still finding peanut M&M’s months later. Maybe she thought of the Christmas Eve Blizzard when we spent the day pushing people out of the ditch in front of the house. Or the time she rode her bike on the church parking lot down the street and almost put her eye out on a tree branch.

\n

I miss being close to my kids. Maybe by this time, if I hadn’t have found Mr. FixIt, I might have been back there…or at least spend more time in Colorado. But, just as my girls have lives…so do I. I just have to make the most of the time I do have with them when I am there.

\n

I spent yesterday at the farm again. I made great progress on the paperwork I’m doing. Tomorrow I can wrap it up and we can do our taxes and be done with it. I promise myself every year that I wont procrastinate next year…and here we are. Down to the wire yet again. Maybe next year!

\n

❤️

\n
“But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”    1 Corinthians 14:40 NIV
\n \n", "date_published": "2019-04-11T01:30:10-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/04/11/memory-recall.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","New Ideas","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Wisdom","Aging","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/04/09/a-mission-of-mercy.html", "title": "A Mission of Mercy", "content_html": "

\"Camper\" “On a road trip to pick up an old camper…the flowering trees were stunning!”

\n

Last week, my friend Barb was visiting from Alaska. A bunch of our classmates got together for coffee. Barb had the sniffles and said she thought she was allergic to the cat and the dust from having her house closed up for so many months. But, it turns out, our poor friend had Influenza A. So far, we are all fine. She is a nurse and was quite careful in how she interacted with people.

\n

At the coffee, she reminded me that she still has a big camper in her back yard and if I would just please come get it, I could have it. Well, who turns down a free camper, right? Mr. FixIt and I went on a little road trip yesterday that turned into an all day extravaganza. (The flowering trees were AMAZING!) First, we had to take the title to the State Police barracks to get a single use tow permit. The closest place was the next city over. 

\n

When we got back, we went around to see the camper and start figuring out how to get it out of her back yard. I would love to have been a fly on the wall and watch her husband back that thing in there. The back yard is accessible from the alley. On the other side of the alley is a parking lot for the Head Start on the next street over. It was so obvious we weren’t going anywhere till the employees at the school left for the day.

\n

We decided to go back over to the next town. As we were driving, I realized we were just a couple of streets away from my dad’s house so I asked Mr. FixIt to turn down his street. We drove down the street slowly and at first I was puzzled. I thought maybe I had the street wrong, so I looked at the sign. No…this was Mulberry. I turned around and it hit me….they had torn down his house!

\n

I have no idea why, but that hit me in the gut and I almost threw up. It was so unexpected. The only time anything like that has happened to me before was when I had been away from WV for quite some time and walked up on the top of the hill. I had not known my uncle had much of the land timbered up there and the starkness of change gripped me in the same way as my father’s missing house.

\n

It took me quite some time through the afternoon to process that. I brushed it off as my diet, or not having enough protein for breakfast. Later, when we got home, I went off by myself in my little camper and cogitated quietly. Change. Sometimes we sweep it under the rug. I can’t do that anymore. I have to chew on it for a while till I can swallow.

\n

But, back to the task at hand. We browsed an antique store then headed to Walmart. I’ve been wanting to buy Mr. FixIt a portable tire inflator for his truck for quite some time. Pulling a camper with older tires on it seemed like the perfect opportunity to have a little 12v air compressor handy. We also picked up some sandwich fixings and had a picnic in the truck as we watched it rain.

\n

We called the Head Start to find out when the employees would be gone and headed back to Barb’s house by 4:00. The camper was squeezed in between a chain link fence and a building with a foot on each side. Hooking up was easy and it only took three tries to get it out without damaging anything. We drove straight to a service station and pumped up the tires. We walked around and gave it a good safety check. I felt the hubs and they were not hot. The tires didn’t look dry rotted. The rear lights worked as did the flashers and the turn signals. We adjusted the brakes and the weight distribution hitch and headed home.

\n

We drove slowly and got home long before dark. Once we decided where to park the camper, we unhitched and gave the camper a good look inside. It is not in good shape. It has had a leak for quite some time and the ceiling sags in a couple of spots. It’s a 2002 and when it was new, it was a really high end camper. Unfortunately, she isn’t a candidate for really fixing up. We were hoping we could make her road worthy for someone to really use. We have decided to give her a good cleaning, inside and out, and then I’m sure she will make someone an excellent hunting cabin. All they’ll have to do is seal the leaks in the roof.

\n

So, we did our good deed. We helped my friend lighten her load and give her one less thing to worry about during her short visit home. It took nothing more than a little time and half a tank of gas. 

\n

Now…my dad’s house being gone? I’m still processing that.

\n

❤️

\n
“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.”    Titus 3:14 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-04-09T01:30:07-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/04/09/a-mission-of-mercy.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Camping","West Virginia","New Ideas","Gratitude","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/04/05/the-third-generation.html", "title": "The Third Generation", "content_html": "

\"Small “Introducing TOW-Wanda III”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

“Ginny, you don’t need a bigger truck. You need a smaller camper.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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”. 

\n

❤️

\n
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”    Proverbs 16:3 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-04-05T01:30:09-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/04/05/the-third-generation.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Courage","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/31/girl-campers.html", "title": "Girl Campers", "content_html": "

\"Campfire “Aren’t these the cutest little campfire cupcakes?”

\n

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. 

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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. 

\n

“Ginny, I overheard those two gals chatting. They are both widows.”

\n

I walked right over and sat with them. I could see they were emotional and wiping away tears.

\n

“What are we talking about, girls?”

\n

“Dead husbands, I’m afraid.”

\n

“Ahhhhh….yes. I have one of those. I’m Ginny McKinney. It’s so nice to meet you.”

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

Girl Camper

\n

❤️

\n
“...a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.”    Proverbs 27:9 MSG
\n", "date_published": "2019-03-31T01:30:57-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/31/girl-campers.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","goRVing","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/29/my-friends.html", "title": "My Friends", "content_html": "

\"Whitetail “The little whitetail deer of West Virginia are so delicate and fine boned compared to the larger mule deer of Colorado.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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!

\n

Happy Friday, everyone. I hope you are going to go out and enjoy this beautiful spring weather in your neck of the woods! 

\n

❤️

\n
““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
\n", "date_published": "2019-03-29T01:30:06-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/29/my-friends.html", "tags": ["Travel","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","goRVing","Grace","Peace","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/27/the-ponderosa.html", "title": "The Ponderosa", "content_html": "

\"Farm\" “The Ponderosa is the land I have dreamed of all my life.”

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

❤️

\n
“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,”    Psalm 23:2 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-03-27T01:30:52-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/27/the-ponderosa.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Presence","Choices","Change","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/25/into-the-woods.html", "title": "Into the Woods", "content_html": "

\"Satellite “A satellite view of The Farm….lots and lots of trees and hills.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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?

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

I love, love, love this time of year. Time to roll up our sleeves and get stuff done! 

\n

❤️

\n
“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
\n", "date_published": "2019-03-25T01:30:28-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/25/into-the-woods.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","God","Peace","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/24/sunday-memories.html", "title": "Sunday Memories", "content_html": "

\"Hanky\" “Grandma always carried a fresh hanky wherever she went.”

\n

I was looking through my picture albums on my iPad yesterday. I sometimes browse to find old memories that stir up a story for you. This one did just that. I’ve been writing about The Farm since early on in this blog. Grandma’s farm holds a king-sized piece of real estate in my heart so my stories often center around my memories there. And, since I am knee deep in editing my rough draft for the book, I have been writing and re-reading these stories.

\n

For as far back as I can remember, my grandma tied a shiny dime in the corner of a clean hanky and gave one to each of us kids to take to church. The hanky for our little noses…the shiny dime for the collection plate. Then Pop-Pop gave us each a stick of Beeman’s gum. Actually, we only got half a stick till we got older. I can remember when I ‘graduated’ to a full stick…I felt so grown up.

\n

\"Bethel “Bethel Chapel…the little church on the hill. I drew this picture June 28, 2001…sitting on the sidewalk out front.”

\n

The little church-house up on the hill has been there since June 9, 1914. It hasn’t had a lot done to it in all those years. Two rooms were built on the back for classrooms and an indoor bathroom…something we didn’t have the pleasure of when I was growing up. The windows have been replaced. The belfry was listing to one side so it’s been shored up. It has been painted countless times over the years. When my cousin Rick and his wife Charlotte got married, my Aunt Peeps painted that church all by herself so it would be fresh for the wedding. That woman loved to paint!

\n

I have some really wonderful memories of that little church. And I’ve had some of my most traumatic there. This was the church where the little circuit preacher literally scared the pee out of me and I headed off to find God some other way. That led me to eventually becoming Jewish for twenty-seven years, and now…here I am…full circle and back to my roots. This was also the church where my parents were married, where my Pop-Pop was one of the lay-ministers, and where his funeral was held. Many Sundays I sat in the hard wooden pews as a little girl with my feet dangling mid-air, clutching my little hanky and worrying out the knot to get my dime ready for the collection. Many Sundays, Aunt Idy played the rickety old piano…it’s keys sticking and horribly out of tune. 

\n

Aunt Idy lived in a crooked white house. She was a tiny, frail little thing…never married. She helped care for her invalid sister and brother and she was my grandma’s best friend. Once a week, Aunty Idy called to get the latest “news” for the Ritchie County Gazette. She wrote the column about the latest goings on up Dutchman road and Grandma always cringed when she saw something about herself in the paper. She abided by the rule “Fool’s names, like their faces, always seen in public places.” It was usually something like “so-and-so had a visit this week from such-and-such from somewhere” or “Mr. & Mrs. Somebody went to Parkersburg this week to see the doctor. All were given a clean bill of heath!” Thank God Grandma never told her about hemorrhoids!

\n

Grandma’s hankies. I have a couple of them somewhere in my things…the things I couldn’t part with. I don’t know that my kids will be interested…or even my grandkids. So, maybe when it’s my time to go, I’ll tie a shiny dime in the corner and go looking for Grandma. 

\n

❤️

\n
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.””    2 Corinthians 9:6-9 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-03-24T01:30:54-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/24/sunday-memories.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Prayer","West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Grace","God","Peace","Wisdom","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/23/the-bodega.html", "title": "The Bodega", "content_html": "

\"The “Coffee at The Bodega”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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. 

\n

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. 

\n

❤️

\n
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”    Mark 16:15 NIV
\n \n", "date_published": "2019-03-23T01:30:29-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/23/the-bodega.html", "tags": ["Faith","Health","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Peace","Peaceful Moments","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/18/a-night-out.html", "title": "A Night Out", "content_html": "

\"Embroidered “I love vintage embroidered linens.”

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!!! 

\n

❤️

\n
““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.””\n

Ephesians 6:2-3 NLT

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-18T01:30:21-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/18/a-night-out.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Peace","Peaceful Moments","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/16/fancy-meeting-jew-here.html", "title": "Fancy Meeting Jew Here", "content_html": "

\"Tzitzit\" “You don’t see tzitzit around these parts very often.”

\n

The other evening, I was home by myself and had a hankering for pizza. I’ll bet I have had one slice of pizza in the last six years and Giovanni’s was calling my name. Mr. FixIt doesn’t like this place so, since he wasn’t at home, I decided to go by myself. Ohhhhhh, I wasn’t sorry. Although the crust was just the slightest bit too soft on the bottom center, it was overall divine!

\n

I threw caution to the wind and had them paint the crust with garlic butter. What the heck…I’d already blown any semblance of health food out of the water with this endeavor, might as well take it all the way! A wonderful sauce, a little skimpy on the pepperoni, generous on the mushrooms and the cheese was that perfect cross between crispy brown and ooooey-gooooey perfection. Ah, yes…I thoroughly enjoyed that.

\n

I took my iPad with me so I could write in the restaurant and make an evening of it. As I was setting up, a man and his little girl walked in the door. I saw twenty people walk in the door that evening. None of them made an impression like this guy. The first thing I noticed was his tzitzit…the specially knotted tassels on his tallit katan…an undergarment traditionally worn under an observant Jew’s clothing. The second thing I noticed was his kippah, also known as a yarmulke…the skullcap Jewish men wear.

\n

I looked at him and smiled in amusement. This is not something you normally see in small town West Virginia…very, VERY small town. Having lived as a Jew for twenty-seven years, I am quite familiar with the trappings of Judaism and I just had to know more about this guy. He went to the counter and picked up his pizzas and filled his drink cups. I finally caught his eye.

\n

“You don’t see tzitzit around these parts very often.” I smiled.

\n

“You don’t see very many people around here who know what they are.” He smiled back and shook my hand. “Mike.” 

\n

I took his hand in mine. “Ginny. It’s very nice to meet you.”

\n

Turns out, Mike is originally from West Virginia but he lived in Israel for a long time. He met his Israeli wife there. Their oldest child was born in Israel. The baby was born here. We had a really interesting conversation about the reception he gets in small town America. He said in this little town, it’s fine…but in my hometown of Parkersburg, he has had some negative experiences. Hate is such an ugly thing. I truly believe the hate he (and I, myself) experienced is one of ignorance. It’s a family disease when you live your whole life without meeting anyone much different than yourself.

\n

There isn’t much of a Jewish Congregation in Parkersburg…and none to my knowledge in the surrounding countryside. There used to be a small synagogue in town, but I don’t believe it’s there anymore. To make matters worse, Mike is a Messianic Jew…meaning he is Jewish, but he has accepted Jesus. In all actuality, I could be considered a Messianic Jew because I still feel a special kinship to the Jewish people. Many of my family members are Jewish. 

\n

Jews don’t necessarily take kindly to Messianic Jews. They do not believe Jesus is the Messiah. So they don’t consider a Messianic Jew to be…well, Jewish. And Christians don’t quite get it either. Here you have someone who says he has accepted Jesus, but is wearing the traditional garb of the Jewish people. They get kind of stuck in the middle.

\n

I have a personal understanding of this position. When I came to West Virginia for Thanksgiving one year, I had a family member tell me to put my Star of David inside my sweater so I wouldn’t upset our Grandma. Let me tell you…I had a little quiet discussion with her and told her my Grandma loved me for who I was, and didn’t love me any less for my beliefs. I threatened to make the discussion a little louder right there in the dining room in front of the whole family and she backed off. I’ll stand up for the underdog any day of the week and I have to tell you…discrimination stings. I had never, ever experienced that before and it was terrible.

\n

I handed Mike my business card and asked him to have his wife contact me. I’d love to befriend them and normalize the Judeo-Christian experience for them here. I know there are those who are highly suspicious of Messianic Jews because of the “Jews for Jesus” movement, but I don’t categorize people…I just love them. I thought to myself, maybe others will come to be accepting of them as well. I waved to them as they headed out the door and I sat back and smiled. Nope, you just never know what you might find in small town America. I think I may have found a gem. 

\n

❤️

\n
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke God’s message to you. Reflect on the results of their way of life, and imitate their trust — Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever.”    Messianic Jews (Heb) 13:7-8 CJB
\n", "date_published": "2019-03-16T01:30:21-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/16/fancy-meeting-jew-here.html", "tags": ["Faith","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","West Virginia","Growth","Grace","Peace","Wisdom","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/15/heaven-sent.html", "title": "Heaven Sent", "content_html": "

\"Spring\" “I know it isn’t officially spring, but….this is good enough for me!”

\n

Beware the Ides of March, they say. March 15th hasn’t always been my favorite day. For instance, this was the day Hubby #2 told me he wanted a divorce. Not one of my better days. This was also the day of Mr. Virgo’s viewing and Rosary which knocked all previous bad days out of the bad day competition up to that point. I think the 16th nudged ahead of that one.

\n

Now though…now is different. Even though it’s not officially spring in West Virginia, you can’t tell Mother Nature that. Yesterday was stellar with a temp of 79 degrees at 4:00pm. After watching videos of the bomb cyclone that tore through Colorado on Wednesday, I was ever so grateful to sit in TOW-Wanda and write. The sounds of the peepers serenaded me as the stiff breezes rocked the camper gently. I even rubbed it in by video chatting with my favorite peeps in Denver and showed them the sunshine and open windows in my camper. Yeah…they don’t like me much right now….can’t understand why. insert eye-roll here

\n

We all have good times and bad times in life that cycle up and down. I don’t forget the bad times. In the throes of acute grief, you honestly don’t believe you will ever feel joy again so it comes as a surprise when you first feel it. You even feel guilty because, after all, how can you possibly laugh when your person died? Eventually, one smile brings two. Laughter slowly replaces tears. Warm memories eventually move the pain of loss a little further back in your mind till eventually, even one day after the angelversary, you can feel the sun on your face and appreciate a warm spring day with undeniable joy in your heart. 

\n

Life is good. God is great. Spring is here. Joy abounds. Breathe. If these things aren’t here for you yet…hang on. They’re coming. ❤️

\n
\n “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”    Proverbs 17:22 NLT
\n", "date_published": "2019-03-15T01:30:41-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/15/heaven-sent.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Presence","Peaceful Moments","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/14/friedas-new-shoes.html", "title": "Frieda’s New Shoes", "content_html": "

\"Tire “Frieda got a new pair of shoes!”

\n

West Virginia requires a yearly vehicle inspection. That’s a good thing. Without that, I can just imagine the kind of cars and trucks that would be out on these country roads. It’s a pretty rigorous inspection, too. You can fail if the tint on your windows is just a little too dark. Or if you have a hole in your muffler. Or, as was my case yesterday…Frieda needed a new pair of shoes.

\n

First off, I wouldn’t have gone to the garage I went to if it wasn’t for Mr. FixIt. He’s lived in this house since 1979. He knows ev-er-y-bo-dy. I have learned to take his word for it. He’s always gone to this place…so that’s where I went. I’m glad I did. The mechanic was great. He hoisted Frieda up on his lift and checked everything out. When he was done, he called me into the garage and showed me the front tires.

\n

I have been watching these tires pretty carefully. I knew I was going to need to replace them soon. But, I’m getting ready to trade her in and buy one that’s more powerful to pull TOW-Wanda up the mountains of Colorado. I hate to put money into a truck I’m going to trade. The thing is, the inspection came due before the check came in for the purchase. So I kept hoping I could slip by.

\n

Mr. Mechanic pointed out something I didn’t even look at. I’ve been paying attention to the outside edges of the tires. With the truck on the lift, I could clearly see when the inside edges were so worn, you could see the wire mesh…the tread was worn away completely. And that is not safe. The cards were on the table. New shoes or no sticker.

\n

When I was a kid, my parent used to go to this shop down by the river where they could buy good used tires…cheap. We called Walmart first and two suitable tires were around $250 total…mounted and balanced. We went to the shop that sells used tires and I got two perfectly fine tires, plenty of tread, same brand as what was on the truck, mounted and balanced for $83 and change. You bet I went with the used tires….especially since I had Mr. FixIt with me to make sure they were good.

\n

Sometimes people buy a car or truck and they don’t like the tires that are on it, so they go to a tire store and buy four new tires. I know they do this because I’ve done it myself…you know, back when money wasn’t as big an issue as it is now. I’m not destitute by any stretch of the imagination, but I want to keep what I can and make it work for me as much as possible. Mr. FixIt is teaching me many things. Being frugal is one of them. Now it’s like a game to see how good I can get for the least amount of money.

\n

When tires have been traded in and they are still perfectly good, they get sold to a shop like the one I went to yesterday. The savings gets passed to the consumer…me! Now, Frieda has a new pair of shoes and a brand new sticker till next year. And I’m not out a gazillion dollars.

\n

Oh, and I needed to refill the propane tanks for TOW-Wanda. When I lived up by the river, I was charged $58 to refill two 30# tanks. Mr. FixIt took me to his guy. You guessed it…$32 for the same thing. Makes me mad I got ripped off four years ago…but so grateful to have the input now. I guess I just never asked enough questions before. We are all a work in progress and it’s never too late to learn. 

\n

❤️

\n
“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.”    Proverbs 24:16 NLT
\n", "date_published": "2019-03-14T01:30:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/14/friedas-new-shoes.html", "tags": ["TOW-Wanda!","West Virginia","Growth","New Ideas","Wisdom","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/13/springtime-in-wv.html", "title": "Springtime in WV", "content_html": "

\"Daffodils\" “It’s getting to be springtime in West Virginia!”

\n

Ok, it isn’t officially Spring for another week, but this is one of the biggest reasons I love living in my home state. Spring comes early here. It wasn’t incredibly warm here yesterday…low 50’s…but the sun was shining and it was a perfect springlike day. As you know, yesterday was Mr. Virgo’s Angelversary and I came to the farm for a couple of days. I drank great coffee. I ate yummy chocolate hearts. And it essentially gave myself a day of rest and self-care.

\n

We need days like that sometimes. I woke up and did my Bible study. Read my devotional. My heart was warmed by your loving and supportive responses to my blog post yesterday. As the clock crept toward the hour of his demise, I thought of Mr. Virgo. I wondered how different my life would be now if he hadn’t died. While no one would choose for their loved one to die, I cannot imagine my life without Mr. FixIt now. 

\n

I can’t conjure up that pain anymore. It’s like childbirth…if you could actually imagine it, you’d never have a second child. I know it was terrible. I remember my reactions to it. I know how hard it was. But I cannot feel that pain anymore. My question yesterday that I kept circling around to was this…I wonder what yesterday would have been like if my path hadn’t crossed Mr. FixIt’s? I know having someone special in my life makes it easier to face the difficult moments. 

\n

The fact that yesterday was a beautiful day helped immensely. Colorado and the Midwest is preparing for a mega storm today. And I’ve got to tell you…other than missing my Colorado family immensely, I am not sorry I moved away when I see storm after storm pile snow up higher than most people are tall.

\n

If you’re out there and you are facing yet another winter storm today, I’ll send you some love and light. My daughter shared this footage from Ouray, CO. Red Mountain Pass is closed from dozens of avalanches with 60’ snow and debris fields on the highway. When we lived in Pagosa Springs in Southern Colorado in the winter of 2008-2009, we had 7’ of snow in two weeks. There were little mountain towns like Creede and Lake City that were totally cutoff from the outside world. They had to drop food and supplies via helicopter. At least Ouray still has the northern route in and out of town open so they have access.

\n

Be safe out there, people. Stay in if you can. ❤️

\n

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/snow-strands-people-in-ouray-colorado/5275384/

\n
“I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit.”    Leviticus 26:4 NLT
\n", "date_published": "2019-03-13T01:30:24-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/13/springtime-in-wv.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Gratitude","Warning","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/10/my-first-job.html", "title": "My First Job", "content_html": "

\"McCrory’s “McCrory’s Five & Dime in Downtown Parkersburg”

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. ❤️

\n
“Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.”    Proverbs 13:11 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2019-03-10T01:30:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/10/my-first-job.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Holiday","Wisdom","Humbled","Peaceful Moments","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/07/feed-me.html", "title": "Feed Me!", "content_html": "

\"Cardinal\" “A redbird just makes my day!”

\n

I fixed my coffee and sat down at Grandma’s window to read my morning devotions before I commenced editing the rough draft yesterday. A red flash caught my eye and I looked out to see a cardinal at the feeder. It didn’t take long for me to realize both feeders were empty. I set my coffee aside and dragged the big seed bin from the corner of the dining room out to the front door. I used to leave this bin out on the front porch till one day I noticed the lid was getting chewed up. I used a bungee cord to tie the lid down to keep the critters out but the raccoons were about to get in out of sheer persistence.

\n

I quickly filled the feeders and was happy to get back inside out of the 17 degree chill. It was snowing to beat the band five minutes earlier, but now the sun was out. It left little warmth, unfortunately, but my…it did look pretty on that new snow. I dragged the seed bin back into the dining room and tucked it behind my chair and sat back down. In moments, Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal swooped back in, their feathers puffed up to trap air and keep them warm. They looked pretty fat and sassy, but I knew they appreciated breakfast.

\n

I heated up my coffee.

\n

I found myself wishing I had done more for Grandma when she lived here all those years after Pop-Pop died. Oh, I bought her a new stove once and a refrigerator. I talked to her on the phone one day and she was remarking how hot it was and her fan stopped working. I went online and ordered a fan and she received it the next day. She thought I was some kind of miracle worker. I never could get her to understand internet shopping.

\n

In her later years, when she spent so much time sitting in her chair in front of this very window, her Bible lay open on her lap as she studied her Sunday School Lesson. She would have loved to have had these bird feeders out on her porch then. The birds would have been so close she could almost reach out and touch them. This made me chuckle at another memory.

\n

When grandma took pictures of the family when we gathered for visits, she stood way back so everyone fit in the frame. None of this “scooch together, guys”. Nope…she would have moved back as far as she needed to to get everyone in the picture. This is why, unless you were present on that particular occasion, you only have the vaguest idea WHO is actually IN the photo. You can’t make out any facial features. If you blew up the pictures a hundred times, you still couldn’t identify anyone simply because it was too far away to gain any kind of focus.

\n

But SHE knew who was there. She never forgot a thing. She was sharp clear up to within a year or two before her death. She never forgot a gathering…they were just that important to her. She always wanted us to all get together at her house, at the same time. She reveled in her family. I understand that more now than I ever have. I miss my Colorado family. I enjoy my West Virginia family. Couldn’t the two states be closer?

\n

I finished my devotion, in front of Grandma’s window and another thought came to me. I wish I would have accepted Jesus while she was still living. She would have loved that. ❤️

\n
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”\n

Psalm 133:1 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-07T02:30:52-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/07/feed-me.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Uplifting Stories","Prayer","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Wisdom","Peaceful Moments","Writing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/03/06/a-change-of-scenery.html", "title": "A Change of Scenery", "content_html": "

\"The “Running out of propane sent me running for the farm.”

\n

I had a lovely, slow start to my morning yesterday. I had a full day planned out in “the office”, reading and editing the rough draft. Went out and turned the furnace on ahead of time to warm it up since it was a frigid 17 degrees. I fixed my coffee, gathered my book bag, kissed Mr. FixIt goodbye, and headed out to TOW-Wanda.

\n

I wasn’t out there 20 minutes when it seemed to be getting colder instead of warmer. I got up and checked the air blowing out of the heater vents…barely warm. I lit the burner on the stove and even on high, there was barely a flame. I was very close to running out of propane. So, I shut it all down, packed everything back up, and headed back in the house.

\n

As I’ve shared before, we are in the midst of renovating the master bath, which usually has Mr. FixIt hopping. However, with it being 17 degrees, he wasn’t very motivated to go out to the building and cut drywall. I knew I would be tempted to blow off what I intended to do and just hang out with my buddy all day. Instead, I announced there was a change of plans.

\n

Since my book bag was already packed, I decided to come to the farm for a few days of intense editing time. After a snooze in the recliner, Mr. FixIt found the motivation to work on the bathroom…since his playmate wasn’t going to be there. It sounds like a win-win, I do believe. I arrived, fixed some lunch, and carried my coffee to the front window where Grandma always watched the world go by. My portable desk on my lap, my iPad open and at the ready, I found my gaze continually pulled to the view before me.

\n

There is the clock I bought Mr. Virgo for his last Christmas. There is the little birdhouse my dear friend Charlotte gave me. You can see the newel post my Uncle Bud made for Grandma when I was a very little girl. He had a penchant for all things cedar. Out front, the bird feeders were attracting the usual flock of chickadees, finches, and tufted titmice. The doves gathered around on the ground below, scavenging what had been knocked aside by the others as they looked for their favorite tidbits among the seeds.

\n

I kept hearing a banging sound I couldn’t identify. It sounded like the popping sound the old gas stove made before we switched out for the new one. I sat in the bathroom for twenty minutes waiting for it to kick off and back on but it never did. I sat in the bedroom and finally heard the sound again. It came from the front of the house. I walked around out front and couldn’t find anything and just as I was coming back inside, a gust of wind knocked something on the front porch and duplicated the sound. A little repositioning and the problem was solved.

\n

The deep gong of the only wind chime I can tolerate let me know the breeze is picking up. It’s cold and white outside, but in here, it’s warm and toasty. We have free gas at the farm. My Pop-Pop always said, the free gas was worth more than the farm itself. I believe he is correct, from a strictly monetary and convenience standpoint. But I would beg to differ in the real value of these 74 acres. This is…and will always be…the home of my heart. It’s old. It’s drafty. The roof leaks in a couple places, but not bad. The linoleum flooring is cracked and has holes here and there…it’s pattern worn and faded. 

\n

The original double hung windows are single paned in desperate need of a good washing. The nail heads show through on the old plaster and lathe walls. The boards creak in just the right areas to play the same tune I’ve heard all my life as I wander through the rooms. The pump kicks on out in the cellar house, reminding me our water doesn’t come through some treatment plant but is filtered through the sand and limestone far below my feet. It’s been briny ever since they capped off the wells on this property over 60 years ago.

\n

As I write this, propped up in Grandma and Pop-Pop’s bed, the window is cracked open just enough so I can hear the soft gurgle of the creek beneath the bedroom window. You don’t really have to have the window open to feel the wind blowing outside. All you need to do is stand near the front or back door and hold out your hand. The wind blows around the edges quite easily.

\n

A thought has been nagging me for a week till I finally figured it out. My grandma died 20 years ago March 2nd. It is so hard to believe she has been gone so long and I miss her every day. I think that’s one reason I love this farm so much. I know SHE loved it, and I loved her. This is where I feel closest to her.

\n

Ok, so…I didn’t get as much done yesterday as I would have liked. That’s ok…my heart is full and my spirit is warmed by the rich memories these walls hold for me. I’ll take getting recharged here over stressing about edits…any day of the week. Today will be another day and I can start refreshed…coffee in hand…warmth in my heart. ❤️

\n
““But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.”\n

Deuteronomy 4:9 NLT

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2019-03-06T02:30:11-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/03/06/a-change-of-scenery.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Wisdom","Presence","Peaceful Moments","Writing","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/02/25/power-outage.html", "title": "Power Outage", "content_html": "

\"Power “A power outage is not uncommon in the country.”

\n

One of the disadvantages of living way, WAY out in the country is the frequent power outages. I do have to say, I believe this is the first one I’ve experienced here at the Ponderosa. Mr. FixIt has told me stories of outages that have lasted over two weeks out here so I am sure praying this isn’t one of them.

\n

We’ve had tons of rain. That softened the ground. Then Sunday morning, the wind picked up and there are trees down everywhere. If they take down a power line, or snap power poles in half, or even make the wires move so much they cause a transformer to blow, then you’re out of luck. Last winter, in preparation for just such an event, Mr. FixIt pulled the generator out of the big building and set it up by the back door. He had a tarp over it to protect it from the elements. We are good Scouts!

\n

We went to church yesterday before the wind picked up. The power was on and we didn’t think anything of it. By the time church was over and we had our usual brunch afterwards, we still had a couple of errands to run before delivering our family to their house. We didn’t get home till about 4:00. We left the sump pumps running when we headed out for church. Mr. FixIt was up four or five times during the night checking the water level. Finally, at 5:00am, it was time to turn them on. When we came to the door, my husband cocked his head and said, “The power’s out.” The pumps weren’t running.

\n

He headed downstairs and the water was starting to seep in under the door. We had to get those pumps running ASAP. I said a prayer and the generator started right up. We WERE good Scouts….except for one thing. The gas can was empty! Mr. FixIt headed to our little town to fill the can however, the gas station was also without electricity. The only choice was to run to the next bigger town, which I did. I got back before he had to leave for bowling. We added oil to the generator and filled the tank and started it back up.

\n

My sweetie ran an extension cord into the house so I could have a lamp. We had water. We had natural gas for cooking and for the stove that heats the living room. I bundled up and cuddled under my fur blanket, and started writing. He asked if I would be ok when he left. I laughed because this isn’t roughing it. I’ve lived in a camper on the banks of the Ohio River with no running water, a foot of snow on the ground, and -15 wind chill. This is nothing….just a minor inconvenience. It’s life in the country. I have no idea how long the power was out before we got home. And, at the time I am writing this, I have no idea how long it will be off. I called the power company and they said it was a widespread outage. It is affected 3,800 - 4,000 customers in our county alone. It comes on when it comes on.

\n

I remain joyful and keep praying and I’m so thankful for a house and a generator, and a camper with heat should we continue without power into the night. I will remain thankful in all circumstances. ❤️

\n
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”\n

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

\n", "date_published": "2019-02-25T02:30:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/02/25/power-outage.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Peace","Courage","Presence","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/02/24/an-early-spring.html", "title": "An Early Spring?", "content_html": "

\"Forsythia “The forsythia have leaves already! Spring can’t be far away!”

\n

Sometimes Facebook memories are great. They remind us of what was happening a year…two years…five years ago. I have to admit, they were really awful when I was in the throes of active grief and some wonderful memory with Mr. Virgo popped up. They don’t hurt so much now and I enjoy seeing where we were.

\n

On February 15th of last year, the peepers were out. It was 65 degrees. Peepers are those little frogs we’ve talked about many times here and they are the harbinger of spring. Unfortunately, our climate is so messed up, the flora and fauna get confused when we have these waves of warm weather. So far, I haven’t heard the peepers yet.

\n

I was heading out to TOW-Wanda on Friday to write and saw the forsythia bush has leaves on it! I know our growing season is much longer here in West Virginia than it is in Colorado. But this kind of surprised me. Some of my friends have posted pictures of their crocus coming up already. We did have a pretty mild winter and other than that week of the Polar Vortex, things have been pretty mellow.

\n

I don’t mind that a bit. I am getting a little bit tired of all this rain though. I mean…it’s like build-an-ark rain. The ground is super saturated. Today is supposed to be really windy. The two combined will bring lots of trees down. The other night I had that tree fall in front of me on my way home from the farm. Last week, Mr. FixIt had to take a detour around a big tree that fell across both lanes. Then yesterday, I was coming home from town and another HUGE tree fell about twenty feet from that one. It wasn’t there when I drove in earlier. Fortunately, this one was old and fell apart when it hit the road. People were driving over the crumbled up bits.

\n

I’ve got to tell ya, I’ve never looked at the trees along the roads like I have in the last two weeks. A couple of summers ago, the highway crews cut the trees way back on the main road going out to the farm. They’re going to have to do that on this road before too long. There are trees literally hanging out over the two-lane and that’s scary.

\n

The writing continues…60,526. I wrote 8,000 words on Friday alone. If I could be this prolific all the time, I’d have a shelf full of best sellers! Here’s hoping! ❤️

\n
“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.”\n

Deuteronomy 11:14 NLT

\n", "date_published": "2019-02-24T02:30:34-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/02/24/an-early-spring.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Peace","Presence","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/02/17/another-peaceful-day.html", "title": "Another Peaceful Day", "content_html": "

\"Deer “Deer grazing outside my window in TOW-Wanda.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

30,560….encouraging words, painful words, funny words, sad words, terrifying words, loving words. This thing is happening! ❤️

\n
“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”\n

Proverbs 15:4 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-02-17T02:30:01-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/02/17/another-peaceful-day.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","goRVing","Grace","God","Wisdom","Courage","Humbled","Presence","Peaceful Moments","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Writing","Choices","Change","Art"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/02/13/words.html", "title": "13,318 Words!!!", "content_html": "

\"IPad “Making progress, writing in TOW-Wanda.”

\n

I have a perfectly good laptop I can use for writing. As a matter of fact, all of the writing I have ever done for this book has been on the laptop as Word documents. Over the years, I have become accustomed to using my iPad for all of my posts for my blog. I’ve also used my phone, much to my son-in-law’s surprise. He can’t imagine typing out an e-mail on an iPhone, let along an entire essay! I say, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

\n

This is my third generation iPad. I don’t know if I’ll ever buy another one. I suppose, if this one becomes obsolete, I’ll have to, but this one works just fine. When I bought it, I found a wonderful case that has a built in keyboard, It folds up exactly like a laptop so it’s perfect for me. It’s light and portable. All my photo editing apps are on it. It’s really all I use anymore.

\n

After taking Sunday off for Church and yesterday off to catch up with errands, I was looking forward to getting out there in TOW-Wanda and writing. I have Pandora radio on my iPad and I love to listen to Nature Sounds Radio. It runs through different scenarios, most often rain and thunderstorms, ocean sounds, and occasionally a campfire or crickets. In the evenings, if I write in the living room while Mr. FixIt watches TV, I wear my Bose sound cancelling headphones with the nature sounds and I can write uninterrupted. The same in the camper, unless it’s actually raining. Then I’ll just listen to the rain on the roof.

\n

It was in the mid-‘50s yesterday here at the Ponderosa. What a treat that was! This really hasn’t been a bad winter at all. An added benefit of listening to these summery nature sounds is how easy it is to fool my brain into thinking it’s not wintertime! Usually January literally c-r-a-w-l by in the slowest way, but this year that was not the case. I can’t believe tomorrow is Valentine’s Day.

\n

Speaking of Valentine’s Day, my sweetie brought me a dozen creamy white roses Monday evening. They are in my Mikasa vase on the living room table where I can see them as I write. What a sweet man! I bought him a watch for his birthday and told him it had to count for Valentine’s Day too since both occur in February.

\n

It feels good to be moving along on my book again. I’m doing something different this time…besides writing it on my iPad where I’m more comfortable. This time I’m taking the advice of some seasoned writers and just writing the whole story straight through without worrying about editing along the way. I am so accustomed to writing these essays every day and keeping a close eye on the editing. It is a bit of a challenge to just…write. It goes a lot faster, though. I’ll have to say that. 

\n

I like the app I write with. It’s called Pages and keeps track of your word count. This is something that’s useful in knowing when a chapter is long enough. It’s also helpful to know your total word count for publishing reasons. The average novel is 60-80,000 words. If that’s the case, I’m really making good progress. The person I am working with on this says to just get it written, then we’ll worry about who’s going to publish it.

\n

And here it is…hump day already. Hope you all have a really great day. I’ll be writing some more! ❤️

\n
“The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.”\n

Proverbs 18:4 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-02-13T02:30:53-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/02/13/words.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Peaceful Moments","Writing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/02/12/peace-be-still.html", "title": "Peace be Still", "content_html": "

\"Foggy, “I love the peaceful mornings at the Ponderosa.”

\n

It warmed up overnight and the snow became soaked with rain. This of course will bring more trees down, but my goodness…isn’t it lovely? This is the field Mr. FixIt and I got married in just four short months ago. I can’t believe that…it feels as though we’ve been together forever. I suppose, knowing each other for fifty years has something to do with that, doesn’t it? Oh, what I wouldn’t give to have fifty more with him…he is such a dear man.

\n

I had a meeting with my insurance agent yesterday so I went to town early. I love sitting in the library of the historic Blennerhassett Hotel to enjoy a cup of coffee. Unfortunately, I totally forgot they are renovating the restaurant across the lobby and it was pretty noisy so it wasn’t my typical relaxing respite.

\n

As the fog settled over the West Virginia hills yesterday, I felt reassured that I am indeed on the right path. There are new opportunities just lining up in front of me and it’s so exciting. I’m going to be doing what I do best…more writing. I am so glad I chose to ignore those who, many years ago, told me my writing wasn’t publishable…no one was going to read it or want to buy it. There was a time when I would have taken great satisfaction in feeling vindicated. But, I don’t have time nor energy for that anymore. My focus is forward, not backward. Those who did not support me no longer hurt me. It is liberating to let the Giant of Rejection fall away.

\n

There is a reason the windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror. It’s important to look forward, watch your step, and steer clear of those obstacles meant to block your path. It’s the direction we are going…forward. We need that rear view mirror, too. But only to keep watch on what might be trying to sneak up behind us to hurt us and steal our joy. As long as we don’t put it in reverse and try to drive backwards, we are on the right path.

\n

Keep your eyes on the road, my friends. Good things are coming, I promise. ❤️

\n
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.”\n

Psalms 57:2 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-02-12T02:30:57-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/02/12/peace-be-still.html", "tags": ["Faith","West Virginia","Gratitude","Peaceful Moments","Writing","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/02/10/saved-again.html", "title": "Saved Again", "content_html": "

\"Grace “Knowing who saves me over and over brings me peace beyond understanding.”

\n

I finished my laundry and packed up the car. I had a last minute conversation with a wonderful woman I met recently. Then I headed home from the farm right about dusk. This photo looks like it was pretty light out, but it was dark, dark, dark when I headed into the home stretch on the two-lane country road. It was so dark, you were right on top of deer before you saw them, even with the brights on. Something ahead of me caught my eye. Not three seconds ahead of me, a big tree fell and crossed both lanes. Fortunately, I was going slow and didn’t need to slam on my brakes. I am well aware I missed this falling on me by the skin of my teeth.

\n

I happened to be on the phone with Mr. FixIt when I saw the tree fall. There was no one else on the road. He reminded me to put on my emergency flashers. I sat there for a few minutes as we discussed my course of action. I could wait there for someone to come along and either pull the tree off the road or cut it up and haul it off. Or, I could turn around and go back where I came from. There were two routes available to me. One took me through a long area with no cell service. The other took me across a road that had a number of mudslides this week. Ultimately it would take me clear into town and then I’d have to take the interstate south and back out another two-lane. A long, long drive in the dark and still there were areas with no cell service. I decided the shortest route would be best and I headed back toward the farm, but…when I got there, I had already dodged umpteen deer and for the first time in a long, long time, I was worried about driving in the dark, alone.

\n

When I got to the farm, I called Mr. FixIt and told him I planned to stay another night and I would be home in plenty of time to go to church. He agreed that was a good plan. That’s when I confessed I was actually worried about driving out here in the dark and I couldn’t understand why. I mean…nothing scares me. Three years ago, I wouldn’t have given this a second thought and would have looked at it as an adventure. But now? Now is different. Now it’s not just me. Now I’m not so foggy, not so careless with my existence. Now there are not only my children and friends who love me. Now there is a man and a bonus family that look to me with love and acceptance. It’s not that my life had no value, but even three years ago, the depth of my grief made it difficult to appreciate the time I had ahead of me…the family I already had that were still here and needed me. I have been awakened in the last two years. Awakened and earnestly appreciative of every precious moment I am given on this side of the grass.

\n

Moments after my call to Mr. FixIt, a friend sent me a message that Rt. 5, the alternate route I was preparing to travel, was now closed with a large downed tree. It would be quite some time before that road was cleared. Heavy equipment was being brought in to move the tree off the phone lines. So, it seems my guardian angel was quite busy last evening keeping me from harm. I thanked God all the way to the farm for always caring for me and for the protection he afforded me last night.

\n

And…over the last three days, I have written six chapters and 10,831 words on my book. I’ve written this book three times, at least. And every time before, it was a struggle. I’d read it and re-read it till I was sick of it and it never really spoke to me. It always seemed to me to come out flat…like I just wasn’t reaching the sweet spot where the story flowed. I’d put it away for months at a time, pick it up, and find the same problems. It wasn’t working. I have finally figured out why.

\n

I was approached nearly three years ago by a literary agent who was interested in my writing. We signed a contract for a book. I remember when we were getting acquainted, I told her my writing was faith-based and she suggested perhaps I should use a Christian publisher. She didn’t have those connections. I thought about it for a few moments and said no, it might be good if the book was out in the general populous because it could reach many who perhaps struggle with faith. We moved forward with the contract. In the following three years, two things became apparent to me. One, my social media presence hasn’t grown as fast as I had hoped and two, my faith has deepened and now I know I want a Christian publisher. I think God waited for me to decide to include him in the book before he made it clear which direction to go. And before he opened the floodgates of words.

\n

I have struggled for over a year with the decision to part ways from my agent. That dark voice kept whispering, “A bird in the hand, you know.” I finally stopped listening to that voice and paid attention to my gut…my inner God-voice…and send her an e-mail last week expressing my desire to change directions and head for a Christian publisher. She totally understood and felt that was the direction I should go and wished me well. So, now I have no agent, but I have the freedom of knowing I did the right thing and the trust that God will get this book out of me and onto paper.

\n

This time, writing is different. The words are literally falling out of me. I’m typing as fast as I can. Nearly 11,000 words in three days is phenomenal! The biggest difference I notice is, this time it’s not slaying me to write it. I feel the healing of the past three years and I know this is the right time. I’m really excited about that! ❤️

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“‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’”\n

Jeremiah 33:3 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-02-10T02:30:54-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/02/10/saved-again.html", "tags": ["Faith","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","God","Wisdom","Fear","Courage","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/02/09/the-farm-and-me.html", "title": "The Farm and Me", "content_html": "

\"window\" “The Farm is my ultimate happy place!”

\n

If the weather hadn’t turned colder yesterday, I would have spent the night out in TOW-Wanda last night. But, with a low of 17 degrees forecast, I opted for the next best thing and headed to the farm! I made sure Mr. FixIt had everything he needed, filled him with more cold meds, propped him up in his recliner with a cover and a heating pad and made my escape. He still has some potato soup to warm up and I promised I’d be back sometime today. I could sit and watch him suffer and watch TV, or I could write. With his full support, I chose writing.

\n

And write I did! As of the time I am typing this post, I’ve written 7141 words since Thursday morning at 11:00. That’s a lot of words! The goal when you write is just to get the rough draft down. Write it all out…worry about editing later. That is the most difficult part for me. I want it perfect the first time so I don’t have to go back over it again. I don’t know anyone that works for.

\n

I stopped at my cousin’s barn on the way out here yesterday to leave 80 cans of cat food and a 40 pound bag of dry cat food. Yes, I was prepared for the winter and had just purchased all that a few days before the cats were moved to their new home in the big barn. So, they were gifted cat food aplenty! I was thrilled to learn the kitties are hanging out there and haven’t wandered off. I saw Kitty Boy, the young short hair. My cousin said they were both there last night when he fed them. There are six roosters down at the barn and they all get along fine. This makes me happy!

\n

The farm is my time machine. Every time I get to stay here, I am swept back to my childhood. I get to feel all those really great feelings again. This farm and TOW-Wanda are my happy places. Right now, as I write this, I am propped up in Grandma’s bed. I cracked the window open when I first got here so I can hear the water running in the creek. We’ve had a lot of rain this week so the runoff is pretty high. 

\n

I’ve been really surprised we haven’t lost more trees out here. There are mudslides all around these parts this time of year. The ground freezes hard and when it thaws, it’s aerated. Then the heavy rains come and the ground gets so saturated, all it takes is a good windstorm and trees get uprooted. Mud and rocks slip down, sometimes covering the road…sometimes taking the road along with it. 

\n

As Mr. FixIt came home from bowling Thursday night, he called me to say there was a huge tree lying across the road at the top of a hill less that two miles from the house. He managed to turn around and, knowing every backroad within fifty miles of here, made a quick shortcut that would bring him back out on the two lane just past the tree. We were asking on the phone as he drove when he said, “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” I asked what was wrong and he said he drove right into standing water on the road. He wasn’t driving too fast…it was just there before he knew it. It’s easy to see how people can get caught up and swept away in high water when you have little to no warning it’s ahead. Thank goodness, he got right through and was home in no time.

\n

I stopped at the Piggly Wiggly on the way to the farm and picked up a few things. I had a small steak and baked potato for dinner. Yummmm! I’ll spend today writing and doing laundry before I head home. I hope you all are planning a wonderful weekend! ❤️

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“My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”\n

Psalm 45:1 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-02-09T02:30:22-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/02/09/the-farm-and-me.html", "tags": ["Faith","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","God","Courage","Peaceful Moments","Writing","Choices","The Cats","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/02/07/time-to-visit-my-friend.html", "title": "Time to Visit my Friend", "content_html": "

\"Camper “TOW-Wanda in the fog at the Ponderosa.”

\n

I have a tendency to get antsy. I get bored pretty easily and being cooped up in the house drives me batty after a while. Poor Mr. FixIt was down for the third day in a row with a virus. I fixed him tea. I made him a pot of homemade potato soup. I gave him cold meds. I tucked him in his recliner with a heating pad. I even watched a movie with him. But, as much as I dearly love the man, I had to do something else for a little bit.

\n

I’ve been wanting to spend the night out in TOW-Wanda for some time now. Even though I camped with her up on the Ohio River this time of the year in 2015, doesn’t mean I am necessarily anxious to repeat the experience when the temperature hovers below freezing. This week is different. The temp today is supposed to get up to 70 degrees! Yesterday was a different story. Even though it was around 62 degrees out there, it was grey and foggy after a day of rain. When the rain cleared up a bit, I packed up my bag with knitting, books, my iPad, and my phone and headed out for a break in my little home on wheels.

\n

I really miss her in the winter. I took the covers off the bedroom windows, slipped out of my shoes, and snuggled in under a pile of blankets. Once the initial chill of the cold bed began to subside, I sighed and pulled the blankets up under my chin and rolled on my side. I could hear the creek out by the road…roaring and swollen from the rain. A lone crow cawed from the tree line out at the far end of the big field. As much as I would have loved to pull out my book, or pick up my knitting…I just sank down into the memory foam mattress and let TOW-Wanda cradle me with the safe, warm feelings I always get when I spend time with her.

\n

I thought about the cold, October rains that I drove through when I brought her to West Virginia for the first time. I remembered the sounds of the riverboats breaking through the crust of ice on the Ohio River as they carried theirs loads of coal and assorted cargo. I thought about the many times my fear and anxiety were eased when I escaped with her to the woods. She was my sanctuary. My safe haven. My diversion. My home when I really had no one in my self-appointed exile. She is where I did my best healing. Sometimes I just need to go spend some time with her.

\n

I drifted off for just a bit and roused when it was getting dusky out. I could see the fog settling in the back field as it rose from the roadway. I smiled and thanked her for being here where I can visit anytime. It’s much better than when I had to store her away from me for the winter. I’m at a place where I am ready to work on my book again. I have accountability partners in my friends Janine and Gail. Janine reminded me yesterday it was time to get to work. My goal is 500 words a day. That ought to be a piece of cake considering I already write to you lovely people that much quite easily. TOW-Wanda is my studio, my office, my writing space. Today, I will go out and prop all my pillows around the twin bed in my slide-out, which I call my “sunroom”, and write with the windows flung open to catch the warm air. Air with the promise of spring. It’s going to be a good day. ❤️

\n
“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; Selah”\n

Psalms 55:6-7 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-02-07T02:30:30-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/02/07/time-to-visit-my-friend.html", "tags": ["TOW-Wanda!","Camping","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Peace","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/02/05/happy-mind-happy-life.html", "title": "Happy Mind, Happy Life", "content_html": "

\"Meme\" “Making the little things count, because the little things add up to be the BIG thing!”

\n

Yesterday was a really great day! First of all…the sun was shining and we had a high of 68 degrees here in West Virginia. A difference of over seventy degrees in three days…and Mr. FixIt has a sore throat. sigh I’m hitting him with Zinc and Vitamin C. And prayers!

\n

I met a friend for coffee yesterday at the new Starbucks. Sue is a budding artist and she gifted me a watercolor of a little bluebird. She knows how much I love them. For Christmas, I gave her a pair of socks that I knitted and she wanted to give me something special. I’ve had it sitting near me all day and it’s so sweet.

\n

The other day, when I learned Mr. FixIt’s family was going to join us at church, I made us each a notebook. It has three sections…a planner, a place for prayers and praises, and a section for sermon notes. I’ve always said I was going to take notes during the service and this was the perfect time to prepare.

\n

Happy Mind, Happy Life…

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My bonus granddaughter and I were talking about that just the other day. We were talking about the images we look at. You can never “unsee” something. And the things we choose to put in front of us for visual consumption changes us. It changes our brains. It changes how we see the world and how we see ourselves. We have to be ever watchful with what we choose to feed our minds because “we are what we eat.” 

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When I came in from sitting in the sun yesterday afternoon, I asked Alexa to play Contemporary Christian music. As I picked up my knitting, I let the uplifting music wash over me and fill me with the Joy of the Lord. My heart rose with the swell of the music…my skin still warm from the sun…my spirit still stirred from Sunday’s service. It’s good that we carry that image with us into the week. The image of God and the Word and Love and Fellowship and Goodness and Family. These are the things I choose as my Daily Bread. These are the things that I will fill myself with. ❤️

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“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—”\n

1 Peter 2:2 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-02-05T02:30:06-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/02/05/happy-mind-happy-life.html", "tags": ["Health","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Growth","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Courage","Humbled","Warning","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/02/03/what-do-you-call-a.html", "title": "What Do You Call A Knit Cap?", "content_html": "

\"Toboggan\" “Toboggan. A knit cap, or a sled? Turns out…it’s both!”

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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What are some words that are pronounced differently where you live? ❤️

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“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”\n

Proverbs 16:24 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-02-03T02:30:52-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/02/03/what-do-you-call-a.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Fun","West Virginia","Wisdom","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/01/29/moving-day-for-the-felines.html", "title": "Moving Day for the Felines", "content_html": "

\"Long “Boy Cat…a beautiful, long haired farm cat…moved to my cousin’s barn yesterday.”

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I have been in a bit of a dilemma the last couple of months. We have had an inordinate amount of rain in West Virginia this year. We have a leaky stairwell with a very slow drain at the Ponderosa. So, when it rains…especially those long, soaking rains that last multiple days…the drain easily becomes overwhelmed and the basement floods. We have two sump pumps, but someone has to remain here to make sure they are operating correctly to keep the water level down. This is something we wanted to fix last summer, but Mr. FixIt really couldn’t use a jackhammer that soon after the reconstruction surgery he had on his hand last winter. It has to wait till this coming summer and that means we are tied here.

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Boy Cat and Kitty Boy, the two farm cats couldn’t come live at the Ponderosa. We live on a very busy highway and they know nothing about busy roads. I was too afraid they would be hit and killed here. I left them at the farm and traded off with my cousin and his wife, taking turns feeding them. The plan was to stay at the farm for long stretches which would give my cousin a break from feeding, but the weather hasn’t been cooperating and being newlyweds…we like to be together. As the weather has deteriorated into icy winter storms, my trips have become fewer and farther between.

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Last summer, Charlotte offered to take the cats to her farm, but then she got a new rabbit and we were afraid the kitties would hurt her bunny. When another bunny arrived, it was a definite now, as nature would have it, the bunnies died…one after the other. First, to a predator. The second to old age. The other day, Charlotte called and renewed her offer to take Boy Cat and Kitty Boy down the road to be the resident barn cats. I was so grateful because the barn has lots of hay to burrow down in, lots of mice to catch, and someone to love on them every day. AND…I can go visit anytime I want!

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I’ve grown to love these two boys, and this just seemed like the most loving and responsible thing to do. They have been neutered so they aren’t going to produce a bunch of new feral kitties. Charlotte really has a way with them. Boy Cat will rub on my legs but has never let me pick him up. Charlotte can pick him up and love on him whenever she is there. Kitty Boy is still too skittish, but I’ll bet she will have him in her lap one of these days. I just bought a huge bag of cat food and 80 cans of soft food so I’ll deliver that the next time I’m over there. I will also give them the feral cat boxes, the electric heated pads for inside, the cat carriers, as well as the heated water dish. These barn kitties are royals…I’m so happy they have someone to love on them! ❤️

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“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”\n

Proverbs 12:10 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-01-29T02:30:46-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/01/29/moving-day-for-the-felines.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Choices","Change","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/01/24/precious-memories.html", "title": "Precious Memories", "content_html": "

\"Mom\" “My precious mother…gone fifteen years now. I miss her so much.”

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Fifteen years ago today, my precious mom left us unexpectedly. She had been ill for only five days, refusing to go to the hospital as she had no one to watch my brother. He has cerebral palsy and always had lived at home with her. She was fiercely protective of him. She died of multiple pulmonary emboli…blood clots in the lungs. If she would have had proper medical care, I believe she would have lived longer. Then again, perhaps it was her time to go. Either way, as those of you know who have lost your mother, it is a dreadfully difficult thing to go through.

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I posted some pictures on my Instagram account (@GriefMaven) yesterday and the setting is such that they also posted here. I entered them in Apple’s photo contest for pictures shot with an iPhone. One of the pictures is of my grandma’s house, which was also my mom’s house growing up. I believe she was a teenager when they moved there. Before that, they lived in the old home place back on the hill.

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Mom and her siblings walked down off that hill every day and from the time they went to high school, rode the bus twenty-eight miles each way, then walked back up the hill when they got home. It was a hardscrabble life for Mom and her family as they lived off the land…six kids, Grandma and Pop-Pop, an old milk cow and a horse to plow. Pop-Pop worked in the shop down the road…welding, fixing things, delivering pop, working on trucks for the oil fields.

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We went to the farm yesterday. I sat quietly in the living room, listening to the old house speak to me in a language I have heard since my earliest days. My eyes ran over the old linoleum on the floor, its pattern looking like carpet, faded and worn through in places. The sheers on the windows let the pale light from late afternoon highlight the dust motes in the air. The familiar smell of wood and old cotton and gas stove comforting me as I remembered so many days shared with her there.

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My friend Sharon, who is also a newly discovered distant cousin, saw the picture of Grandma’s house here yesterday and said it brought tears to her eyes. She said it made her think of an oldtimey tune her mother used to sing as she did her household chores. She posted a link, but I’m going to share it here as well. In honor of Wanda Belle…my mom, my friend, my champion. I loved her so…I miss her still. 

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Precious Memories…how they linger…

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❤️

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youtu.be/JUiqncJE_…

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“\"Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.\"”\n

Proverbs 31:29 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-01-24T02:30:44-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/01/24/precious-memories.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Grief","Prayer","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Love","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/01/23/that-flash-of-red.html", "title": "That Flash of Red", "content_html": "

\"Male “Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal in the forsythia bush.”

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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. ❤️

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“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.\"”\n

Genesis 8:22 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-01-23T02:30:53-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/01/23/that-flash-of-red.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Peace","Presence","Be Joyful!","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/01/21/the-arctic-blast.html", "title": "The Arctic Blast", "content_html": "

\"Full “Full Moon on the New Fallen Snow, West Virginia”

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This is the time of year when we just get blasted with frigid air from the north. We’ve been fortunate (knock on wood) to have escaped the really bad snowstorms so far this year. They seem to all sweep north of us. And that’s were they can stay for all I care. Those of you who have been following this blog since it’s inception know I lived in Colorado for forty years. I’m just WAY over long, cold, snowy winters.

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I can’t help reminiscing about those severe snow storms I experienced over the four decades I lived in the Rockies. A few stand out…the Christmas Eve Blizzard of 1982…the year we moved from the log house in the country to the big house in town, Christmas 1990…the winter we spent in Pagosa Springs when it snowed 7’, and the really bad winter of 2013-14, the year Mr. Virgo died. At least here in West Virginia, things are starting to warm up and there are signs of spring in March. March and April are usually Colorado’s snowiest months.

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We awoke yesterday to very icy conditions…not a lot of snow, but ice here is quite the deterrent for me. We decided to stay home and that makes two weeks in a row that we didn’t make it to church. We don’t like that one bit. I was really happy they played the video of the service on the church’s YouTube channel so I still got to see it. I spent the entire day yesterday snuggled up under my fur blanket, knitting dishcloths and catching up with friends and family on Facebook. Sometimes you have to have a good self care day.

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I went out last night to capture the full moon on the new-fallen snow and absolutely loved the picture. I had every intention of going out to see the lunar eclipse but at 10:00 the wind chill was already -3 so I thought better of it. I’ve seen lunar eclipses before…they look the same in January as they do in the summer. Stay warm wherever you are! ❤️

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“Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.”\n

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-01-21T02:30:40-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/01/21/the-arctic-blast.html", "tags": ["Health","Family","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Peace","Presence","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/01/19/german-comfort-food.html", "title": "German Comfort Food", "content_html": "

\"Kielbasa “Kielbasa, kraut, and mashed potatoes…German comfort food.”

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When we were having coffee yesterday morning, Mr. FixIt asked if I wanted to go to the movies in the afternoon. My mind went over the list of things that needed to be done and I politely demurred. He turned on the weather report and they’re predicting a ton of rain turning to snow over the weekend so he wisely decided to go to town and rent a snake to clear the drain out back.

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We have a stairway that goes down into the basement. There is a four inch pipe in the bottom of that stairwell and it drains into a pipe that travels over a hundred yards out to the creek. About every two years, that drain needs to be snaked out so the water doesn’t back up and run into the basement. Also, there is a ditch out at the creek bank that always gets filled in when the spring runoff overflows. It’s an ugly, backbreaking job that no one likes, but it has to be done. With heavy rain in the forecast, it was best to get it over with.

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We headed to town and ran some errands before we picked up the snake at the rental place. I overheard the young man who was helping Mr. FixIt lift this monstrosity into the back of his truck.

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“Who’s going to help you unload this thing?”

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“That little lady sitting in the front seat up there.” Mr. FixIt sounded confident and proud.

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We stopped at the store on the way home and I don’t believe, even at Thanksgiving, I have ever seen so many people. The parking lot was filled. People were circling round and round. There were no carts. And the checkout lines were twenty deep. Mr. FixIt and I looked at each other like, “What the heck?”

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“They’re predicting snow!” I said. “Let the games begin.”

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I told him to just drive around and I’d be back out in a jiffy. As I headed into the store, the line from Hunger Games went through my mind.

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“May the odds be ever in your favor!” 

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I scooted to the back and bought the two items I needed. Non-alcohol beer and a chuck roast. I’m easy. I waited two minutes and hit the self-checkout and was out the door in a flash. There were people in there with multiple jugs of milk and loaves of bread…as if they were anticipating being stuck in their homes for weeks. When we stopped at the discount grocer earlier, I planned ahead by buying an extra bag of flour in case I got a hankerin’ to bake something. It’s crazy what a snow forecast does in West Virginia. It’s a good thing it’s the weekend. I’ve seen them cancel school based on a forecast.

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I used to kind of think these people were weenies when they cancelled school at the first sign of snow. After all, I lived in Colorado for forty years. If you don’t get out and go someplace when it snows, you’re going to be stuck in your house from October to May. But I’ve got to say, in these people’s defense, driving here in winter is NOTHING like Colorado. There, you can drive 55 in a whiteout blizzard, not that you SHOULD. Here, you don’t dare touch your brakes going 25 or you’ll be in a ditch in a heartbeat. The roads are twisty-turny and hilly. And they have this thing called black ice. It looks the same as wet pavement and it’s deadly. I get it now…people don’t want to go out in it. And school busses have no business hauling our babes through it if it can be prevented.

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When we got home, I had to help Mr. FixIt unload that drain snake. I am telling you what…that sucker was HEAVY. Fortunately it’s on wheels so when we got it out of the truck all we had to do was wheel it to the back stairwell. Then we had to walk it down the stairs. Oy! Once it was down there, I went on inside and Mr. FixIt got to work. After some time, I didn’t hear the machine anymore so I went to see how he was doing. I found him out at the creek bank digging out the ditch. Living on five acres without city sewer isn’t always easy. That was a lot of hard work. I helped him get the contraption back up the steps and into the bed of the truck. 

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“You’re a hard worker,” he said. 

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“Thanks for telling me that, but you’re the one who did the tough stuff. I’ll fix you some supper while you clean up.” I smiled as I patted his bum when I walked by.

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German comfort food seemed to be the perfect meal for the hard workers last night. I boiled kielbasa to leach out some of the salt then tossed it in a skillet with some melted butter. I drained the sauerkraut and added it to the skillet, stirring occasionally so it would brown but not burn. I made mashed potatoes and served the kielbasa/kraut mixture on top. Oh, it was heavenly! It was a good day’s work and that is so satisfying. ❤️

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“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!”\n

Psalms 90:17 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2019-01-19T02:30:11-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/01/19/german-comfort-food.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Wisdom","Courage","Humbled","Presence","Choices","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/01/13/the-kitchen-window.html", "title": "The Kitchen Window", "content_html": "

\"Kitchen “The view out my kitchen window at the Ponderosa allows me to watch the birds at the feeder.”

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When I was growing up, I spent as much time out at my grandma’s farm as I possibly could. I never minded washing dishes at Grandma’s because there was a big window over the kitchen sink. I’ve moved many times over the years and was always so pleased when the kitchen had a window over the sink. It didn’t really matter the view…as long as I could see out and open it for some fresh air, I was a happy camper.

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I was thrilled when I found out Mr. FixIt’s house has a window I can gaze out as I wash the dishes. He keeps a bird feeder full for me so I can watch the birds fly in and out of the surrounding trees and brush to light just beyond where I stand. Yesterday, there were several cardinals. There’s nothing prettier than the flash of a redbird swooping in and landing just in front of me. Their brilliant scarlet plumage against the new fallen snow is breathtaking. They say a cardinal is a sign a loved one is visiting from heaven. If that is true, our house was a busy place yesterday. There were also chickadees, tufted titmice, a pair of mourning doves, and the occasional downy woodpecker added to the mix.

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In the late summer, early fall, the deer gather under that tree you see out there in the yard and eat the fallen crabapples. In the late spring, Mr. FixIt puts up the hummingbird feeder and fills it for me. He loves the birds as much as I do.

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We didn’t get the snow that was predicted…as least not by the time of this writing last night. Mr. FixIt has half the bathroom subfloor put down in the master bath. He came in from checking the mail and handed me a package…a canvas print of Daughter #1 and her family. Now I need to plan a family portrait wall!

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If it’s slick this morning, we’ll stay home and watch church on TV. I must say, it was very nice to not leave the house at all. It was a beautiful day filled with knitting and love. It doesn’t get much better than that! ❤️

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“I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.”\n

Psalm 50:11 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-01-13T02:30:17-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/01/13/the-kitchen-window.html", "tags": ["Family","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Peace","Presence","Peaceful Moments","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2019/01/11/its-a-winter-tree-ok.html", "title": "It’s a Winter Tree, Ok?", "content_html": "

\"Winter “My Winter Tree reflecting in the window as the snow falls outside.”

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I went to small group last night and the leader apologized as we walked into the family room. The tree was still up.

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“It’s a Winter Tree. I like it.” 

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You don’t have to sell me, sister! I love my tree and I’m not planning to take it down any time soon. Kathy and one of her granddaughters took all the colored ornaments off her tree and put up all white ornaments. Yeah. No….I’m not that picky. As long as it has all white lights and it’s pretty, that puppy is staying right where it is…no apologies needed.

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I was the first to arrive at Bible study. A new gal, Michelle, joined us and arrived just after me. We sat near each other and chatted as I knitted, cozy under a comfy throw in front of the fire. When I told Michelle about the farm and where it was, she said she had family from out that way. I asked what the last name was and she rattled off my grandparents’ last name! Two questions later and I knew exactly where she fit in the family. What a treat to get caught up with that bunch. They were related through one of my Pop-Pop’s brothers. 

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I’d say it is a small world, but it’s the hills of West Virginia. If we aren’t related to you, hang on a little bit. There’s still single folks gettin’ married. This is what I always missed…what I always searched for in Colorado. I can’t tell you how many times I actually followed people with WV license plates just to hear their accents and see if I knew them. Oh, I missed home every day that I lived out west.

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When we stay at Mr. FixIt’s house, we are in the county between the one I grew up in and the one where grandma’s farm is located. I don’t know very many people here. Mr. FixIt, however, has lived in his house since 1979. He knows EV-RY-ONE! Seriously. He’ll run into town for a quick errand and come back three hours later because he ran into five people he hadn’t seen in a coon’s age. I can’t get frustrated about it either because it’s the life I’ve always wanted. 

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It was a good day. ❤️

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“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.”\n

Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2019-01-11T02:30:14-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2019/01/11/its-a-winter-tree-ok.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Hope","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Peace","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/12/29/looking-for-the-light.html", "title": "Looking for the Light", "content_html": "

\"Sunset\" “Looking for the Light”

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In the next week or two, one after the other…folks will be taking down their Christmas lights. My goodness, I know people who take their decorations down as soon as the last present is opened! Me? Well, if I didn’t have to dust the darned thing, I’d leave my tree up all year. Oh, I love my tree! Mr. FixIt picked out two or three trees and sent me pictures of them when I was in Colorado that first Christmas we were dating. I chose the one I wanted and he picked it up on sale after the holidays. He’s such a good man!

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Thankfully, we are past the winter solstice, and the days will incrementally reward us with more and more light. But it will be a while before we really notice it. Until then, I will hang on to my sweet, white lights on my tree. And my scented candles. And my battery operated candles that automatically turn on and off. And the little candles in each window that stay up all year. And the accent lamps. There are no curtains on the windows so I can squeeze out every moment of light every day. I crave light. 

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In the past, I have fallen victim to the habit of saying, “I hate winter!” “I hate the cold weather!” “I hate the snow!” Well, you know what? Whether I hate it or not, it is going to be here. Defeatist jargon steals joy. Either way, hate or joy, it’s still going to be dark and cold. So why not choose joy? Why not change the negative self chatter to something like…”There is joy in this moment.” There is joy in that sunbeam, no matter how briefly it shines. There is joy in the snow…no two snowflakes are alike. There is joy in the trees as they stretch their naked arms up into the sky, their roots settled in for a rest before they burst forth with their gift of green.

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This transformation of my thinking doesn’t come in a straight line. I’ve found myself being decidedly grumpy occasionally over the last couple of weeks. Then I remember my word…presence…and I come back. It may be a forever battle, but my war cry will always be “Joy!”

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That is my word for 2019. Joy!

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“These people who live in darkness will see a great light. They live in a place that is very dark. But a light will shine on them.” Isaiah 9:1-2”\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭ICB‬‬
\n", "date_published": "2018-12-29T02:30:33-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/12/29/looking-for-the-light.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Peace","Wisdom","Courage","Presence","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/12/26/my-hygge-christmas.html", "title": "My Hygge Christmas", "content_html": "

\"Comfort “Mr. FixIt is a good gift giver…exactly what I would have picked out for myself!”

\n

“Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment.” Wikipedia

\n

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. 

\n

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!

\n

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. ❤️

\n
“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.”\n

Psalm 116:1-9 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2018-12-26T02:30:40-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/12/26/my-hygge-christmas.html", "tags": ["Grief","Hope","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Peace","Presence","Marriage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/12/17/forgiveness-equals-freedom.html", "title": "Forgiveness Equals Freedom", "content_html": "

\"Meme\" “Forgiveness=Freedom”

\n

I’m not sure what I expected when I became a Christian in 2004. Lightning? The parting of the sea? Enlightenment? Thunder? I do know what I received was life altering. I received a healing to my very core. I felt like every cell in my body had been made new. It was remarkable. 

\n

When I was a baby Christian, I was like a sponge. I knew God, and loved Him. I knew Jesus, and finally embraced Him. But, when it came to the Holy Spirit, I was clueless. I had no idea exactly who He was, how He worked, what His function was. As the years have gone by, I’ve learned more and more and have developed my relationship with the Holy Trinity. And once in a while I get a big A-Ha moment that shines a light on some aspect I didn’t understand before.

\n

I’ve long known and understood when the Holy Spirit talks to me. Those “nudges” that move and steer me in a certain direction are an indication of His presence. When I worship or hear a particularly moving sermon or scripture and I get goose bumps…that’s the Holy Spirit. All those years when I felt a knock on the door of my heart to let Jesus into my life? That was the Holy Spirit. I get all that now. And sometimes when I call out to Him and get the answer in moments, it reiterates just how close the Holy Spirit is….He lives inside us. He is that aspect of God that touches our hearts and minds with an intimacy only God can provide. I had that experience this weekend.

\n

We had lunch with some of the local residents who live near the farm. Over lunch, my elderly aunt became a topic of discussion and I recounted how difficult that time had been. Then at church yesterday, Pastor Justin spoke on forgiveness. True forgiveness breaks the chains that are holding you prisoner. I thought back to my conversation of the day before and realized, I still had a spirit of unforgiveness as I was holding some resentment and hurt in my heart over some of the things my aunt said and did while I was trying to help her. In retrospect, I was quite filled with “You have no idea what she put me through!” That resentment, however small, is the poison I keep drinking yet she is totally unharmed.

\n

At the end of services, Pastor Justin did an alter call and asked those to come forward who wished to let go of resentments and hurts and embrace a spirit of forgiveness. He came to each of us and laid his hands on our heads and prayed over us. I left feeling completely changed…yet again.

\n

Do you have someone you are harboring a spirit of unforgiveness for? Is there someone who has hurt you that has left you saying, “I’ll show you!”? If so, this is a beautiful time to just let it go. Pray for those who have hurt you. Seek ways to praise them in public for the blessings they have given you…even if that blessing is the insight you gained from their unkindness. And, this is the season of giving. Send them a card. Stick a $5 gift card for coffee or to a restaurant. Tell them, “You know, I just wanted to let you know what a blessing you have been this year.” Or “I know you’ve gone through a rough patch and I just wanted to reach out and tell you I’m thinking of you.” Forgiveness goes a long way toward uniting us. I’m not saying send a gift card to your abuser. Or even reaching out for conversation with someone who physically or emotionally abused you. But you can still pray for them. The spirit of forgiveness in you just might bring you a new level of peace and healing of your own. ❤️

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“bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”\n

Colossians 3:13 ESV

\n", "date_published": "2018-12-17T02:30:42-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/12/17/forgiveness-equals-freedom.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Forgiveness","Courage","Humbled","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/12/16/the-pleasure-of-needlearts.html", "title": "The Pleasure of Needlearts", "content_html": "

\"Vintage “A lovely display of vintage hotpads and dishcloths.” Photo Credit: Pinterest

\n

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.

\n

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. ❤️

\n
“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.”\n

1 Samuel 18:1 ESV

\nhttps://www.allfreeknitting.com/Dish/Learn-How-To-Knit-With-a-Knit-Dishcloth-Pattern-Patterns-For-Beginners

\n", "date_published": "2018-12-16T02:30:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/12/16/the-pleasure-of-needlearts.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Love","Peace","Presence","Art"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/12/15/the-farm-sharing-my-happy.html", "title": "The Farm: Sharing My Happy Place", "content_html": "

\"Handknit “I knitted this little beaded evening bag many years ago.”

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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. ?

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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?

\n

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.

\n

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. ❤️

\n
“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.””\n

2 Corinthians 8:15 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2018-12-15T02:30:12-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/12/15/the-farm-sharing-my-happy.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Art"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/12/14/the-geminid-meteor-shower.html", "title": "The Geminid Meteor Shower", "content_html": "

\"Shooting “The night sky holds endless fascination for me.”

\n
”We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year old carbon, and we got to get ourselves back to the garden...”\n

Crosby, Stills & Nash

\nI 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.

\n

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.”

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

“There’s one!”

\n

“Wow…did you see THAT one?”

\n

“OMGosh! This is so cool!”

\n

God’s 4th of July…another memory made! ❤️

\n
“and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.”\n

Revelation 6:13 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2018-12-14T02:30:35-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/12/14/the-geminid-meteor-shower.html", "tags": ["Family","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Peace","Humbled","Presence","Peaceful Moments"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/12/12/feel-your-feels.html", "title": "Feel Your Feels", "content_html": "

\"Christmas “These are some of my favorite Christmas memories.”

\n

 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.

\n

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.

\n

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. 

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. ❤️

\n
“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”\n

Isaiah 32:18 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2018-12-12T02:30:17-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/12/12/feel-your-feels.html", "tags": ["Family","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Peace","Holiday","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/12/07/finding-a-friend.html", "title": "Finding a Friend", "content_html": "

\"Two “I met one of my readers last night for dinner when she came through town! So nice to meet you, Jo!”

\n

I often receive private messages from readers with comments, suggestions, questions, and sometimes seeking a little extra love and support if they are going through something particularly tough. This was the case when I heard from Jo. Her husband had been recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Like me, she knew she needed to put something joyful in front of her to get through what she knew was coming. She was experiencing anticipatory grief.

\n

Jo was intrigued by my camping escapades and how I used my little camper travels to help me navigate grief. She joined Sisters on the Fly and borrowed a Class C RV from a friend. While her husband was still well enough to go, she took him camping. They enjoyed that trip, but her husband made her promise not to buy that particular RV. It was older, and he knew repairs would be coming soon. He didn’t want her getting stranded somewhere or to be saddled with extra expenses so she promised.

\n

We talked about getting together in the spring, then spring turned to summer and Jo’s husband continued to worsen. Then, after 45 years of marriage and countless sessions of chemo and radiation, her sweet husband passed peacefully, November 17th, surrounded by his loving family at home. A wake was held in Virginia last weekend and Jo made arrangements to have a second wake in Indiana with her eight siblings and their families this coming weekend.

\n

While she could have flown to Indiana, Jo decided to drive, much to the dismay of her family. Not a week as a widow and she was already being told “You’re too old!” “You can’t do that alone!” Luckily, this tiny woman with the spiky white hair is feisty and put the kibosh on that. She informed them that, not only was she going to drive to Indiana…alone…she was going to start looking for an RV. They were aghast! She had another reason for wanting to drive. She knew she would be traveling through West Virginia and she wanted to meet me.

\n

Jo contacted me early this week and told me she would be heading through my area Wednesday and she wanted to take me to dinner. I jumped at the chance. We met at Texas Roadhouse and talked for FOUR hours! We talked with the ease you feel when you have a lot in common with someone. We told stories, asked questions, and laughed the evening away. One particular story tugged at my heart strings and made tears sting my eyes.

\n

When her husband was so ill, Jo’s friends and family kept asking what they could do to help. There were far too many casseroles and plates of cookies already so she decided to start “The Toothbrush Crusade”. You see, even though they had owned and operated a Christian school together for the last twenty years, Jo’s husband was not a believer. So, she asked everyone to pray for her husband’s salvation while they were brushing their teeth. That was around two minutes, at least twice per day that people would be praying for him. I’d love to say her husband was struck by the Holy Spirit and proclaimed his faith before he died, but that isn’t the case. He did tell her he would believe “for her”, but we know that isn’t how it works. 

\n

We do not know what goes through the mind in the moments before death. I reassured Jo that, even though we believe, we do not know the mind of God and we are not telepathic. People’s faith is personal and between them and God. She had done everything she could to bring him to Christ. She understands now she has to just wait till she gets there and finds out for herself. My hope is that, in those final moments, he saw a fork in the road and made a choice to move towards the light.

\n

As the evening drew to a close and we ate the last of the dessert we split between us, we proclaimed ourselves as friends for life. Jo and I posed for the obligatory photo to commemorate the occasion, gave a good long hug, and went our separate ways till we meet again. I so enjoyed our time together. The last thing Jo said when she turned to leave was, “Keep doing what you’re doing…you have no idea how much you are helping people.” I quickly replied, “I’m just the transcriptionist. It’s all God’s doing!”

\n

As I got in my truck to head home to Mr. FixIt, I said…”Lord, I always ask you to bring me the words to write and the people on the other side of the screen who need to read them. Thank you, Lord, for showing me they are there.” ❤️

\n
““Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ””\n

Matthew 19:17-19 NIV

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2018-12-07T02:30:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/12/07/finding-a-friend.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","Humbled","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/12/04/a-victorian-christmas.html", "title": "A Victorian Christmas", "content_html": "

\"Lynn “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!”

\n

It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does…it blows me away.

\n

Gasp! “It’s Ginny McKinney!” 

\n

I had just stepped into the door of Lynn Nicholson’s house when I caught her eye from across the room. 

\n

“OMGosh! It’s you!” Lynn said as she walked toward me. “Welcome to my home!”

\n

\"Christmas “Lovely Christmas Villages are all around the living room in Lynn’s lovely home.”

\n

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. 

\n

\"Belsnickel-like “Icy crystals are sprinkled over the Belsnickel-style Christmas decor Lynn is so fond of collecting.”

\n

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. 

\n

\"Belsnickel “More Belsnickel decor.”

\n

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. 

\n

\"Three “As I visited with Judy Smith in the Caswell-Smith House, who should walk in but…Hubby #1 and his lovely wife! How fun!”

\n

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. 

\n

\"Two “Charlotte and me…in the perpetual Christmas room at the Caswell-Smith House.”

\n

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. 

\n

\"Scale “The new train in the postage-stamp sized backyard at the Caswell-Smith House.”

\n

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. 

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\"Feather “Vintage feather tree with hand-blown Victorian glass ornaments.”

\n

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. 

\n

\"Group “The day started out having coffee with my home girls…the ‘71 Divas Do Coffee!”

\n

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. 

\n

Life is a huge quilt. We are all connected in some way, but love is the thread that holds us all together. ❤️

\n
“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.”\n

1 John 4:19-21 NIV

\n 

\n", "date_published": "2018-12-04T02:30:14-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/12/04/a-victorian-christmas.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","Holiday","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/11/30/buckwheat-flapjacks-bacon.html", "title": "Buckwheat Flapjacks \u0026 Bacon", "content_html": "

\"“Buckwheat “Buckwheat Flapjacks & Bacon”

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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.

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\"Old “The old mill at Beaver Creek State Park near Liverpool, Ohio”

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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.

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\"Refurbished “The refurbished Gaston’s Mill”

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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.

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\"Gaston’s “Gaston’s Mill at Christmas”

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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.

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\"Camper\" “Camping with TOW-Wanda and the Girl Campers at Beaver Creek State Park”

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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! ❤️

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https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/buckwheat_pancakes/

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“He gives food to every creature. His love endures forever.”\n

Psalm 136:25 NIV

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\n", "date_published": "2018-11-30T02:30:30-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/11/30/buckwheat-flapjacks-bacon.html", "tags": ["Family","TOW-Wanda!","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/11/27/its-beginning-to-look-a.html", "title": "It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas", "content_html": "

\"Vintage “My favorite ornament from childhood.”

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I heard a mother comforting her child once. The little one was crying about something that had happened earlier. The mother said, “Oh…are you remembering how you were sad earlier?” I loved that. She wasn’t dismissing the child’s feelings and at the same time, she was teaching her “It’s not happening to you now. It’s just a memory.”

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As we were decorating the tree yesterday, I was hanging the special ornaments Mr. Virgo and I purchased together. I felt a melancholy come over me. And, as this is what I do, I examined the feelings and let myself feel them. Then I remembered the mother comforting her child and I smiled. The melancholy I felt wasn’t sadness in the moment. It was holding the items we cherished and remembering how sad that first Christmas was after he died.

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Grief is quicksilver. It rolls around and shape shifts through time. And, once you get to a certain point, the weight shifts forward. It doesn’t drag you back so hard. When I first started to notice that pattern shift, I didn’t trust it. I’d had far too many instances of stepping on the rake in the tall grass. Once I experienced this new space where grief stays put…at least most of the time…I could start living again and looking forward.

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This ornament was my favorite as a little girl. I have several of my mom’s ornaments and I think of the little house on the corner where we lived. I think of the farmhouse where we spent Christmas morning with my grandparents just once or twice that I can remember. We’ll go out to the farm this week and decorate and stay a few days, I think. I don’t dread Christmas anymore. I never understood my great grandfather when he would say, “It’ll stop hurting when the pain goes away.” I always thought that was just a silly thing he said. But, in the context of grief, it makes perfect sense. It DOES stop hurting when the pain goes away. ❤️

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“...The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,” your love, GOD, took hold and held me fast. When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up.”\n

Psalm 94:16-19 MSG

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\n", "date_published": "2018-11-27T02:30:19-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/11/27/its-beginning-to-look-a.html", "tags": ["Faith","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Peace","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/11/25/a-tale-of-thanksgiving.html", "title": "A Tale of Thanksgiving", "content_html": "

\"Thanksgiving “Thanksgiving Turkey”

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Multiple trips to the store.

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Two turkeys because the frozen one refused to thaw.

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Two full days cooking.

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A fifteen minute feeding frenzy in which 90% of the food was devoured.

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Followed by three hours cleaning the kitchen.

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I am thankful for the following things.

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    \n
  1. Thanksgiving only comes once a year. 
    2. \n
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And…

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    \n
  1. Thanksgiving only comes once a year.
    2. \n
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❤️

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“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.”\n

Colossians 3:17 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2018-11-25T02:30:59-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/11/25/a-tale-of-thanksgiving.html", "tags": ["Family","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Holiday","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/11/23/flexible-is-my-middle-name.html", "title": "Flexible is My Middle Name", "content_html": "

\"WV “Thanksgiving Sunset on North Mountain”

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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. 

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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!

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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. 

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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. 

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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. ❤️

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“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.”\n

Romans 8:28 NIV

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\n", "date_published": "2018-11-23T02:30:42-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/11/23/flexible-is-my-middle-name.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Peace","Holiday","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/11/22/nothing-like-the-last-minute.html", "title": "Nothing Like the Last Minute", "content_html": "

\"Fresh “A fresh turkey takes the guesswork out of thawing.”

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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!

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\"Homemade “Homemade chocolate cake…Grandma Lois’ recipe.”

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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!

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\"Hydroponics “Butter crunch lettuce…one hour from harvest to table…in November! Hydroponics rule!”

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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.

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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!!! ❤️

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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”\n

1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2018-11-22T02:30:28-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/11/22/nothing-like-the-last-minute.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Holiday","Wisdom","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/11/20/driving-down-the-road.html", "title": "Driving Down the Road", "content_html": "

\"Country “Country roads…take me home!”

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Remember this summer when I shared the pictures of how terrible the road was out to the farm? The compressor station back behind the farm is finished. No more heavy trucks hauling super heavy loads out the road and back. It was a long year. They started building the road out to the station site this time last year.

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The road had gotten so bad I was really afraid I was going to blow a tire or break an axle or, at the very least, knock my truck out of alignment. I just had to drive really slow and try to dodge the worst parts or come to a complete stop if there was oncoming traffic.

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I was told by multiple sources that our road would not be fixed until the routine paving time came up on the schedule. I was also told the county did not negotiate road repairs into the contract with the company building the compressor station. Essentially, I figured good, hard working, lower income West Virginians would get screwed again.

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In late summer, a local company came in and cut out large rectangles of mangled asphalt and rebuilt the base. But, they didn’t put anything on top so it was no time before these big rocky rectangles became just as bad as the road was before. Pretty soon, someone else came in and blacktopped over those messy rocky rectangles and I thought, “Good! At least there aren’t deep holes anymore. I can live with this.”

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While we were gone on our honeymoon, my cousin’s wife, Charlotte called to give me an update on the kitties. Then she said, “Wait till you see what they’re doing to the road! You won’t believe it!” I rolled my eyes. What now? “They’re paving it!!!”

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Sure enough, each time I’ve gone out since the wedding, a little more and a little more was blacktopped and things were finally improving. I went out yesterday and they are not only finished…the lines have been painted and a very nice shoulder has been laid down. If I could have done a jig, I would have…but I was driving.

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I didn’t have to yell and scream at a meeting. I didn’t get upset other than grumble under my breath and complain to you all a little bit. I didn’t have to write letters or threaten law suits. I just talked to God whenever I drove over that wretched road and said, “Lord, please place it on the hearts of the people responsible for making this mess to come back here and make it right. This isn’t fair to all these people out this little old road. They work hard and most of them don’t have much. Please make this right.” I have no idea who actually ended up getting this job done, but I am grateful for a good, solid road going out to the farm now. 

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Prayer works. Even in the most ordinary things. ❤️

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“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.”  Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2018-11-20T02:30:21-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/11/20/driving-down-the-road.html", "tags": ["Faith","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Wisdom","Humbled","Presence","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/11/18/the-comforts-of-home.html", "title": "The Comforts of Home", "content_html": "

\"Knitting “Knitting, Football, and a Fire…it doesn’t get much better than that!”

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I rarely ever sit down and watch a football game with Mr. FixIt. Football never really held my interest till Mr. Virgo patiently explained the game to me. He and I used to watch football all the time. But TV hasn’t been very high on my list of things to do since he died so I usually find something else to occupy me while Mr. FixIt watches…especially his beloved Mountaineers. He’s a diehard WV fan. And, as I found out yesterday…he really is not an Ohio State fan. 

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Mr. FixIt gets verbal when he watches football. He doesn’t curse and throw things at the TV, but he gets pretty loud. I had a lot of fun knitting yesterday while he cheered. Having a day to stop doing all the fussy work around the house and sit down with a good cup of coffee, something fun to knit, and a warm fire while watching football is a perfect day in my book.

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We drove over to the store at halftime to get something to fix for dinner. I was walking through the produce section and thought to myself, “Taco salad sounds great for supper!” I turned to Mr. FixIt and before I could open my mouth and ask him what sounded good, he turned to me and said, “You know, taco salad sounds great for supper.” I had to think for a second. Did I say that out loud? Nope…we are just that attuned to each other. When we were first dating, he texted me one morning and said, “How does that bagel taste?” I nearly choked on said bagel as I read the text. 

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When we are apart, he texts me within two minutes of my waking up. I asked him one time how he knew I just woke up. He said he can feel it. I love that. I love that deep connection you only get when you truly know someone. When we have had that, and lost it, it’s so easy to tell yourself you will never have that again. I vowed I would never do this again. Not only because I didn’t think anyone would want me, but also because I wasn’t sure I could top Mr. Virgo. That was early on. Now I know better. It’s not a competition. It’s not ever a question of which love is better. Which husband is better. I know a man who was dating sometime after his wife had died. He and the new woman had gotten to “I love you” in their relationship. Then one day she asked him if he loved her more than his late wife. Holy cats!!! What a terrible thing to ask someone. As you may well imagine, that was the end of that.

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Lazy Saturdays…one of life’s little pleasures. And, it’s free! ❤️

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“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”  Ephesians 5:25 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2018-11-18T02:30:33-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/11/18/the-comforts-of-home.html", "tags": ["Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Wisdom","Humbled","Peaceful Moments","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/11/15/the-art-of-giving.html", "title": "The Art of Giving", "content_html": "

\"Shopping\" “Shopping for warm blankets with my small group.”

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I love this time of year. However, the first Christmas after Mr. Virgo died, I was so incredibly lost. I went to Denver to be with my family because I couldn’t bear to be alone. I think that’s pretty common among those who have lost a spouse.

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The holidays were so special to my late husband. He lived for Christmas especially. He planned all year. He paid attention to what I needed or wanted and he was incredibly generous with gifts…too much so, really. But it gave him such joy to see the look on my face when I opened something from him. He just wanted to keep seeing that look.

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That first lonely Christmas, one of the layers of the onion peeled back and revealed my days of receiving his well thought out gifts were over and it was just another beautiful thing torn from my life. I was bereft. I wanted something special from him, and since that was impossible, I decided to do something special for me. 

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I was driving down a busy Denver street the week before Christmas when I felt the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit.

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“There…go there.” 

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I looked to the right and it was Walmart. I dutifully turned in and parked. As I was walking in, I heard….

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“Pay it forward.”

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I went to the layaway desk and inquired how I could pay off someone’s layaway. Unfortunately, they had called in the layaways the week before so whatever hadn’t been paid for was returned to the shelves. Not to be deterred, I went to the ATM, withdrew some money, bought a card, and sat down to write a note in it. I told the recipient about this gentle man who loved Christmas and the joy of giving. I told whoever was going to receive this that I was giving them what he would have given me. Then I sat down on the bench at the front of the store and waited for the next instructions.

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“Go back there. To the left…you’ll find them there.”

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I headed for the back left and found the toy department. I wandered around and saw several shoppers but none stood out. I went around the corner of an aisle and there they were. A young mom and dad. They pulled a toy from the shelf, looking hopeful. Then they looked for the price, looked at each other, looked defeated, and put it back. They did this several times as they moved slowly down the aisle. There was very little in their cart.

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I roamed back and forth, acting like I was very interested in something, but all the while trying to listen without being too obvious. What I wanted was for the woman to wander away from her bag for a moment so I could slip the envelope in and be on my way with the young couple none the wiser. She was a smart girl…she never left her bag for a moment. Finally, I decided I just had to move forward or I was going to look like a crazy stalker.

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I walked up to the woman and said, “Here. I think this is yours.” I handed her the envelope with the bills stuffed inside. She was puzzled. She looked up from the envelope and our eyes met. I smiled warmly, pulled her to me in a mom hug, and whispered, “Merry Christmas.” Then, before she could let it register, I turned on my heel and walked away straight out of the store, without looking back.

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I got to the car and my knees were shaking. I would have loved to have seen her face. But then she would have wanted to thank me or maybe even refuse the gift. Neither of which I wanted. I put the car in gear and headed to meet my family knowing I had shared something special with someone who needed it. I remember when I was a poor, single mom…trying to do the best for my own little one with very, very little resources. It felt good to give.

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The church I attend is huge, so in order to have that sense of a “church family”, we have small groups that meet for several weeks per session. The group I belong to has such amazing, strong Christian women. We are in a chat group and we offer prayers and support to each other as we share and learn and grow in the Lord. 

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This year, our Pastor challenged the groups to find a service project and complete it by the end of the session. We couldn’t decide on just one so we supported two. The Women’s Care Center and the Mission for the homeless. Last night we met at a discount store in town and loaded three shopping carts full to overflowing. We bought children’s clothes, long john’s, hats, and 20 blankets and wheeled our purchases to the foyer. There, we stood around the carts and placed our hands on the bounty and prayed…out loud, in the store, in front of God and everybody. We asked for God to bless these items that they would doubly warm the recipients. We asked that they feel God’s love for them when they wrap themselves in the blankets. Then we headed for the mission.

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\"Bags “The bounty!”

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When we came in, laden with bag after bag of stuff, the man behind the desk said, “What have we here?”

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“Blankets! From The Warehouse Church!!!” We said, in unison.

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“Oh, my gosh…that’s exactly what we needed. I ran out of blankets this evening!”

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I smiled. I kinda felt Mr. Virgo grinning…poking me in the ribs.

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“See, babydoll! That’s what I’m talkin’ about. It’s better to give than to receive. Giving is an art form.”

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Yes…I do love this time of year. ❤️

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“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.””  2 Corinthians 9:7-9 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2018-11-15T02:30:37-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/11/15/the-art-of-giving.html", "tags": ["Faith","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","God","Wisdom","Humbled","Presence","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/11/14/cold-weather-comfort-food.html", "title": "Cold Weather Comfort Food", "content_html": "

\"Creamed “Creamed Tomato Gravy…one of my grandma’s specialties!”

\n

Grandma canned tomatoes like it was going out of style. The shelves in the cellar house were brimming with home canned goodies to savor over the winter. Tomatoes, green beans, corn, big chunks of tender beef, pickles, picalilly, pickled beets, peaches, applesauce, apple butter, preserves, jams and jellies shone like jewels and were EVER so welcome on the dark nights of January and February. Bins of potatoes and apples as well as braids of onions would be divvied up to last till the first harvest in late spring. 

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\"Biscuits\" “Light and Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits…my favorite!”

\n

One of my favorite meals Grandma fixed was Creamed Tomato Gravy over Buttermilk Biscuits. I’ve never replenished my canning supplies after they were stolen from my storage area in Colorado, so I haven’t canned anything in quite some time. I did take the last of the ripe tomatoes in late summer and stewed them then froze two batches in the freezer. I’ve been promising Mr. FixIt this yummy comfort food for weeks now, but this is the first chance I’ve had to slow down and bake some biscuits.

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Mr. FixIt had to leave his truck with the mechanic Monday, so we are down to one vehicle this week. This means we get to spend the week together uninterrupted! We threw ourselves into cleaning house yesterday in preparation for company coming for Thanksgiving Dinner. We are still catching up with laundry as well as pulling blankets out for winter. It was a lovely, relaxing day nesting, cooking, and watching it try to snow. This tomato gravy over hot biscuits fresh from the oven were just what the doctor ordered! For dessert, we buttered a couple more and slathered on a healthy portion of Mixed Berry Jelly by the gal at In a Jam. My lifelong family/friend, Judith, gifted us six jars as a late wedding gifts which she swears is not a gift….just a “thinking of you”. She had the Chief Jam Maker at In a Jam make labels with our wedding picture on it. Actually, the one I’m using as a profile picture. Such a thoughtful person she is!

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The peace of days like this is not lost on me. Relaxing, puttering, cooking, knitting, writing, throwing in a couple loads of laundry and hanging out at home with my new husband is so delicious. You never know how much something hurts till the pain goes away, do you? ❤️

\n
“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:”  Proverbs 31:27-28 NIV
\n", "date_published": "2018-11-14T02:30:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/11/14/cold-weather-comfort-food.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Presence","Peaceful Moments"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/11/11/the-gem-roller-organ.html", "title": "The Gem Roller Organ", "content_html": "

\"Gem “The Gem Roller Organ”

\n

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.

\n

Enjoy…and may you have a blessed Sunday! ❤️

\n

A Gem of a Roller Organ

\nby Bob Brooke\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

You can listen to The Gem Roller Organ here.

\n

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.

\n

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. ❤️

\n
“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
\n", "date_published": "2018-11-11T02:30:10-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/11/11/the-gem-roller-organ.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/11/07/election-day-and-the-bbc.html", "title": "Election Day and The BBC", "content_html": "
\n

\"Autumn “The colors at the farm were amazing!”

\n

Election Day

\nUnless you’ve been living under a rock somewhere, you all know yesterday was Election Day. Which makes today the best day of the year...no more political ads for the next 12-18 months. There is something to be said for NOT watching television!\n

I left after breakfast to head to the polling place. When I got there, the digital system to sign attesting your eligibility to vote was not functioning properly. It would not take my signature. We fiddled with it for over fifteen minutes till the gentleman finally held the connecting wire in exactly the right position. Once it accepted my signature, I turned and faced a sea of faces. Apparently, I was not the first to have difficulty signing in. There must have been 30 people sitting around waiting for their turn at the computer screen to vote.

\n

\"Farmhouse “I love this little red farmhouse and how it looks in the fall colors.”

\n

“Good ol’ Days”

\nThe woman in front of me remarked on the “good ol’ days” when she worked the polling place, she pushed for modernization. Now? Not so much. Colorado has a 100% mail-in ballot system. They said the costs of elections have gone down tremendously, the number of voters participating has got up, and the threat of election manipulation is zilch. They should do that everywhere and forget the electronic system which can be hacked by a ten-year-old in less than fifteen minutes. All was not lost, however. My neighbor came in a little bit after me and we had a wonderful time catching up.\n

Getting out to vote today had another distinct advantage. I got to meander about the countryside and enjoy the beautiful colors again. I loved watching the leaves rain down, filtering through the sunlight creating a dazzling display of red, gold, and yellow sparkles. Looking in the readies mirror, I could see the leaves kicked up by the truck and they spun around and around behind me.

\n

\"Camper “There is Joy…still under her tarp. I have to get her moved to the Ponderosa and try to get something done with her before it gets too cold.”

\n

Texts Can Offer BIG Surprises

\nAfter voting, I headed to the little town of Harrisville, home of Berdine’s Five & Dime where I purchased a few ounces of chocolate covered peanuts...my guilty pleasure. When I returned to the truck, I noticed a message had come in. Someone from BBC 5 Live radio was trying to reach me for an interview regarding coping after the loss of a spouse. It took well over an hour to connect because they were in England and I was in the boonies of Appalachia. I was asked some base questions and told the producers would contact me at 5:30pm. That gave me time to drive home to await their call.\n

\"Autumn “This looks like a painting, but it’s a photo I took on my way home from the farm last evening as the sun was setting.”

\n

Sure enough, the call came through. The producer connected me to the live line so I could hear the show as it progressed. The interviewer played a segment of an interview earlier in the day, then went live to the three of us being interviewed. Two men and myself. I truly enjoyed listening to their responses because I was amazed at how similar our experiences were. Our segment lasted about half an hour. I listened back and I think it went very well. You can listen to it here. Our segment begins a few seconds after 22:27. ❤️

\n

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000zxg

\n

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”  Psalm 126:5-6 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2018-11-07T02:30:46-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/11/07/election-day-and-the-bbc.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Hope","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Peace","Humbled","Presence","Peaceful Moments","Be Joyful!","Press"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/11/06/living-in-a-small-town.html", "title": "Living in a Small Town in the Hills", "content_html": "

\"WV “The colors are a bit past their prime, but still lovely.”

\n

I am from West Virginia originally. I was raised about 30 miles from where I’m standing at this moment. My grandparents’ farm is 22 miles away. Both much shorter “as the crow flies”. I left here when I was nineteen years old and lived first in England for two years then Colorado for forty. It wasn’t until Mr. Virgo died that I headed back to my roots in these beautiful hills.

\n

My first year was spent out at the farm on seventy-four acres. You talk about quiet and peaceful. Other than the oil and gas traffic on the road, it’s dead out there. The little store closed this summer. The only thing open now is the tiny post office. 

\n

\"Pumpkins\" “Fall decor lines the driveway.”

\n

I remember when I was married to Hubby #2, the doctor. I lived a different life then than anything my family could even approach experiencing in terms of finances and the ability to experience travel. I was talking with one of my high school sister/friends one night and apparently I was acting in a way which warranted a dressing down. She reminded me, in no uncertain terms, where I started out in life and not to be so snooty. She was absolutely right. I had gotten a tad big for my britches.

\n

Widowhood changed me in many ways…not the least of which was living a small, quiet life in a camper with only 5% of my belongings dragged with me. Moving to the farm was a continuation of the much simpler, more humble, and highly satisfying life I have come to know since my return to my roots. And now, I’ve married into this sweet little town I’ve come to love.

\n

I went to the Post Office yesterday to pick up the mail held for us. As I stood in line, the two women at the front wrapped up a conversation as the clerk called her name.

\n

“I hope we run into each other again real soon!” 

\n

“”Well, lets just plan on lunch so we don’t have to leave it to chance!”

\n

“That’s great!”

\n

Hugs.

\n

“You tell your mama hey for me, will ya’?”

\n

“Sure will!”

\n

My heart smiled. I picked up my mail and headed to the local mom and pop grocery store. I was standing at the meat counter waiting for the gal to weigh out my two pounds of fresh ground hamburger and slice the Colby Longhorn cheese I’m so fond of. An older woman came up to the counter, walking gingerly.

\n

“Whoooo-ooooo! Honey, it’s gonna rain tomorrow. I can guarantee it. My joints are hurtin’ me somthin’ awful today. I tell my son, I say…’Boy…don’t you go huntin’ tomorrow  ‘cause it’s gonna rain!’ He listens. He’s a good boy.”

\n

My heart smiled even bigger.

\n

The gentleman from behind the meat counter went up to run the second register during the “big rush” at 4:00. He’s one of two brothers who own the store.

\n

“How have you been doing today?” He reminds me of a preacher. Clean cut, kind to a fault.

\n

“Great! We just got home from our honeymoon last night!” I said.

\n

“Wonderful, wonderful! And where did you go?” His smile was warm and engaging.

\n

I told him we started out with the WVU - Baylor game then headed to Colonial Williamsburg and on to the beach.

\n

“Oh, I remember a trip to Williamsburg when I was in Junior High. What a beautiful place that is. And what beach did you go to?” 

\n

“We went to Salvo and got a beach house.”

\n

“Oh, that’s just fine. I’m so happy for you!” He didn’t miss a beat as he continued to check me out, take my payment, and sack up my purchase. The only thing missing was an apron and a garter on his sleeve….maybe sawdust on the floor, penny candy and pickles in barrels by the door.

\n

I do so love living in a small town. I am not lacking for anything. This is the life I’ve wanted for at least the last thirty-five years. I was telling Mr. FixIt last night what all I would have wanted to do had we married at 35 instead of 65. I would have had chickens…goats…rabbits…and a barn. Maybe a milk cow. There would have been barn cats and a trusty dog. 

\n

There are five beautiful, flat acres here…plenty of room to have that hobby farm I always dreamed of. I think I’m past all that now. Oh, I could still do most of that, but it doesn’t make a bit of sense to invest a bunch of money in fencing and structures at our age. We have different interests now…like, traveling, camping, and not being tied down by animals.

\n

\"Brush “The neighbor came and brush hogged the back acre.”

\n

No, this life is perfect just the way it is. Our tractor was delivered today after getting warranty repairs. They just don’t make things like they used to. The guy that brought it out to the Ponderosa showed us how cheaply the wheel sprockets are made. He says they have replaced a lot of them. I went out in the field and mulched most of the leaves that fell in that section. Mr. FixIt lined all the pumpkins and gourds from the wedding all along the driveway. The mums in the backyard are already well past their prime. The leaves are still brightly colored but we are rapidly hitting “past peak” status. 

\n

We are already making plans for Thanksgiving and before you know it, Christmas will be here, as well. Even though our lives have a tendency to get busy and hectic, especially in mowing season, there is plenty of downtime to reflect on our many blessings. I hope you all are having a wonderful day! ❤️

\n

“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

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-11-06T02:30:49-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/11/06/living-in-a-small-town.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Aging","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/11/05/home-again-home-again.html", "title": "Home Again, Home Again...", "content_html": "

\"Road “Riding shotgun gives me beautiful views as well as time to knit.”

\n

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.

\n

\"Hand “Knitting socks as we drove through the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!) ❤️

\n

““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

\n", "date_published": "2018-11-05T02:30:36-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/11/05/home-again-home-again.html", "tags": ["Travel","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Love","Peace","Presence","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/10/23/my-west-virginia-sisters.html", "title": "My West Virginia Sisters", "content_html": "

\"Girlfriends “My West Virginia sisters.”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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! ❤️

\n

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”  Proverbs 13:20 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2018-10-23T01:30:37-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/10/23/my-west-virginia-sisters.html", "tags": ["Family","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Aging","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/10/20/a-whirlwind-week.html", "title": "A Whirlwind Week", "content_html": "

\"Wedding “Our photographer know how to capture love and joy!”

\n

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. 

\n

\"Cross\" “Our cross.”

\n

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. 

\n

\"Happy “Happiness is dancing with your new husband!”

\n

So, in the meantime, here are some more wedding photos to enjoy! ❤️

\n

\"Cross “The lucky penny for my shoe, and something old/something new…the blue topaz earrings Daughter #2 gave me years ago.”

\n

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,”

\n

Colossians 3:23 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2018-10-20T01:30:05-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/10/20/a-whirlwind-week.html", "tags": ["Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/10/19/a-beautiful-day.html", "title": "A Beautiful Day", "content_html": "

\"Wind “On our way home yesterday, I caught a glimpse of the wind turbines atop a ridge near Elkins. It was an incredibly beautiful day.”

\n

The last two days were perfectly beautiful in the mountains of West Virginia. We left home around 11:00am Wednesday and got to our motel room an hour before the viewing. We hadn’t eaten since early so we went looking for something to eat after the viewing. You have three choices in the little, tiny town of Petersburg…Subway, Pizza Hut, and McDonald’s. We drove fifteen miles to Moorefield, hoping for a restaurant but found nothing we were willing to try. We we ended up buying some sandwich fixings at Food Lion and had a picnic back at the room. 

\n

There was no cell service and no WiFi at the motel which was fine by me. I wrote and scheduled Wednesday’s and Thursday’s posts Tuesday night in anticipation of being off the grid. It was really chilly when we got back to the room so I took a hot bath, bundled up, and got under the blankets and caught up with a week’s worth of devotionals. There were four channels on the TV so we turned it off and fell sound asleep by 9:30! Unheard of for us. 

\n

The funeral was yesterday at 11:00am. It was a very nice service. They played some songs…Elvis singing Amazing Grace…One Day at a Time. And one other I’ll share with you here. 

\n

Theirs was a love story, through and through. My uncle told me the first time he set eyes on my aunt, he was smitten. There was a lot going on in 1956. My Uncle Sonny was killed in a plane crash in 1955. Not long after, my Aunt Rosie got married. So, Uncle Dudley and Aunt Viv decided to elope to Oakland, Maryland and get married…in the same place my grandma and grandpa eloped to. Well, when they came home and told everyone…let’s just say, grandma wasn’t very happy about it. She loved Aunt Viv. She just wanted a wedding. 

\n

That was the start of 62 years of devotion. I remember their love as being full of fun and laughter and playfulness. I sat behind him at the funeral and when they played this song, he bowed his head. His shoulders shook slightly from his silent tears. The only other time I remember him crying was when I called to tell him Mr. Virgo died. It broke my heart. 

\n

As they played “Love, Me” by Colin Raye, I listened to the lyrics and realized the song was about their love. And I cried along with him. For broken hearts. For lost loves. 

\n

The funeral procession wound its way through the hills and countryside till the terrain opened into an expansive valley. We turned left and climbed the hill to the tent that was erected over her grave. My uncle had just purchased these plots last week. They had decided over the years they really didn’t like the cemetery where they had purchased plots years ago but they just hadn’t gotten around to getting the new ones. Oh, my! The view was absolutely stunning. My aunt rests high on a hillside overlooking magnificent farmland. Black angus cattle dot the landscape in the verdant green fields. The hardwoods of the forests surrounding the valley were just beginning to hint of the glorious burst of color coming in the next two weeks. 

\n

Afterwards, we gathered at the fellowship hall at the church and had one of those wonderful meals country church women fix after a funeral. Hearty, comfort food and lots of love flowed around those tables and we left reminded we are family. Our bonds run as deep as the cool springs in these Appalachian hills. The blood of our shared ancestors keep us connected far beyond the pages of Facebook. We promised to keep in touch with those we seldom see. We promised to bring something special to this year’s Thanksgiving dinner. 

\n

Mr. FixIt and I drove quietly through the hills, holding hands…our minds no doubt remembering we aren’t newlyweds at 25 and 26. We are newlyweds at 65 and 66. Our time together won’t be 62 years…but what time we DO have will be filled with fun and laughter and playfulness…just like my aunt and uncle’s marriage. I’m grateful for their example. I’m grateful for the opportunity to love like them. I’m just grateful for every day.

\n

youtu.be/arzlGTw8v…

\n

❤️

\n

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

\n

2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

\n", "date_published": "2018-10-19T01:30:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/10/19/a-beautiful-day.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Grief","Hope","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","God","Wisdom","Courage","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/10/17/here-comes-the-bride.html", "title": "Here Comes the Bride", "content_html": "

\"Bride\" “One of my favorite moments…locking eyes with a fellow widow whom I mentored…knowing we BOTH have found our second-chance loves.”

\n

It all went so fast. Here we are, just a few days after the wedding and I don’t remember all the details. That happens to every bride, I think. You throw so much into the planning, and so many last minute details happen the day of the wedding. Friends and family came at 2:00 to help me get ready. The ceremony was at 4:00. The girls were still messing with my hair when I asked the time. 3:20! I still hadn’t put on make up or dressed!

\n

I don’t wear a lot of make up ordinarily…and when I do, it’s not much. Throwing that on was no big deal. I slipped on my boots and my new daughter and granddaughter helped me into my dress. In no time at all, I was ready. The music wasn’t. I told them I didn’t care…I’d walk out singing “Here Comes the Bride” if I had to…I was ready….REALLY ready!

\n

They helped me out to the tent…one carrying my train…the other hoping for the music to start. And, it did! Just as I got to the tent, I looked up and there was my sweet friend, Deneene. She was one of what looked like a whole sea of smiles and cell phones pointed at me. I looked at her with a knowing smile. You see, Deneene was referred to me when she was a relatively new widow herself. I was a couple of years ahead of her. I mentored her for the next couple of years. I was for her what I wished I’d had. Someone who had recently walked the path and could relate. Someone who could say this is perfectly normal. Someone to hold out a hand…not to pat it, but to offer a lift up. Then, Deneene met HER new love. And we walked this new territory together. She caught that knowing look in this picture. I think it is one of my favorites. Because I’m looking at another widow in love. I’m looking at my friend that helped me as much as I helped her. I’m looking at hope and joy and strength and perseverance and courage and reflecting it all back.

\n

We all are nothing more than the sum of our life experiences. I was ready to marry…every time I married. But I didn’t know then what I know now. Now I know what love is. I know how fragile life is. I know how to face the unimaginable and still live. I know how to live alone when it’s impossible to breathe. I know how rare it is to find someone so incredibly compatible. I know SO much more than I knew when I married Mr. Virgo. This man, this love, this marriage will reap the benefits of that knowledge and experience. I am so grateful to be where I am today. It is only through God’s grace and love that I found my way through the darkness. There may still be darkness ahead…but now there is hope. ❤️

\n

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

\n

1 Peter 5:10-11 NIV

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-10-17T01:30:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/10/17/here-comes-the-bride.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Wisdom","Courage","Peaceful Moments","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/10/14/introducingmr-mrs-fixit.html", "title": "Introducing....Mr. \u0026 Mrs. FixIt", "content_html": "

\"Wedding “Introducing Mr. and Mrs. FixIt!”

\n

Oh my, what a perfect day!!! I prayed it wouldn’t be too hot. It didn’t break 50 degrees even though the last two weeks have been in the high eighties. I prayed there wouldn’t be bugs. It was cool to the point of being downright brisk so…no bugs!!! I prayed the pulled pork would be moist. It was succulent and juicy. There was a small hiccup with the music but just when I decided to walk in unaccompanied, it kicked in. It didn’t rain…or snow. My hair cooperated. It truly was a perfect day!

\n

When I asked Mr. FixIt what his favorite part of the wedding was, he said “When I saw you walking toward me.” I know this is true because when I got up to him he just looked and me and said, “Whoa!” Everyone laughed and I knew…this was as close to the perfect moment we may ever get when we are on this earth. And now, as I’m writing this, I realize how exhausted I am. I have a kitchen full of things needing cleaned. But, I have really great cake and pulled pork leftovers. 

\n

Really. Perfect. Day. ❤️

\n

“Even more than all this, clothe yourself in love. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity.”

\n

Colossians 3:14 NCV

\n", "date_published": "2018-10-14T01:30:41-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/10/14/introducingmr-mrs-fixit.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Fear","Forgiveness","Courage","Peaceful Moments","Downsizing","Change","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/10/13/sparkles-and-sunshine.html", "title": "Sparkles and Sunshine", "content_html": "

\"Sparkly “My fancy earrings from Daughter #2…perfect for the wedding!”

\n
“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
\nOur 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.\n

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. 

\n

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. 

\n

Today! TODAY!!! I’m marrying my best friend today. The sweetest man on the planet. I’ve never been more ready, more prepared. 

\n

“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!

\n

And, as always…To God be the Glory.

\n

Amen”

\n

❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-10-13T01:30:02-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/10/13/sparkles-and-sunshine.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Starting Over","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/10/12/the-side-effects-of-obedience.html", "title": "The Side Effects of Obedience", "content_html": "

\"Sunset\" “Sunset over the Ponderosa.”

\n
“And love means living the way God commanded us to live. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is this: Live a life of love.”  2 John 1:6 NCV
\nI went to small group from church last night. We have a fall series and a spring series of meetings. There are different groups to fill different needs and we are all encouraged to join a small group. In a huge church, it’s difficult to feel a bond with individual members of the church family. Small group gives us the chance to make friends, learn from God’s Word, and experience fellowship. I love the gals in my small group. We always have great discussions and we always share praises and prayers at the end.\n

It’s been four weeks since Mr. FixIt and I decided to get married and set the date. Four weeks since I made the decision to live separately from him till the wedding. Even though I came back to the Ponderosa last week, I’ve been staying in TOW-Wanda. I was chatting with the gals at small group about it and got to thinking on the drive home about how this exercise has changed me.

\n

First…I just FEEL different. It’s hard to describe. I feel honorable. Obedient. Peaceful. Good…in that good way you feel when you have done the right thing. It wasn’t easy. And it wasn’t necessarily comfortable. Some didn’t understand why I was doing this. That offered me the opportunity to share. I’ve had the opportunity to pray with others over this. I have even been an example to one woman who had a thought then heard my testimony and realized God was answering her question.

\n

Sometimes the decision to be obedient to God has as much to do with the people in your path as it does to you yourself. God orchestrates our lives and places us where He needs us. We miss the opportunity to experience the blessings from that if we choose to ignore the prodding, the poking, the whispering of the Holy Spirit. I’m really glad I’ve done this. It has given our wedding a new depth and meaning. 

\n

The whole time I lived here before this, Mr. FixIt always talked about this being “our house”. And, while we did make some changes and redecorated, try as I might…I couldn’t get past considering it HIS house. Now, one of the side effects of my obedience is seeing this place as our home. Not HIS house…our HOME. Big difference. 

\n

Yesterday was rainy and we just did some things around the house. I picked up my wedding band from the jeweler. It is purposefully different. When I tried it on, my mind flashed back to my last wedding band. I smiled. 

\n

Mr. FixIt shampooed carpets. I took the pulled pork out of the freezer and put it into the fridge in the garage to thaw. We sat down and made some lists. We have friends coming today to help decorate the tent and whatever else we need to do. Mr. FixIt will go to town and pick up some food items we need for the reception. I have to run to the farm because we left his white dinner jacket out there. 

\n

We are organized. We are (fairly) rested and relaxed. And, we are SO excited!

\n

OMGosh! You guys….TOMORROW!!!!! ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-10-12T01:30:03-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/10/12/the-side-effects-of-obedience.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Choices","Change","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/10/11/thanking-god.html", "title": "Thanking God", "content_html": "

\"Wedding “The wedding tent!”

\n
“Everything God made is waiting with excitement for God to show his children’s glory completely.”  Romans 8:19 NCV
\nI hadn’t even had my coffee yesterday morning when I heard the diesel dually pull into the driveway just beyond TOW-Wanda’s door. I felt a thrill in my veins. \n

“They’re here!” I thought. “The tent men are here.”

\n

Sure enough, two guys in a pickup with a great big tent rolled up in the back were waiting for directions as to where to erect said structure. I walked out in the field and showed him the site Mr. FixIt and I had chosen the night before. I want the tent positioned so people turning in from the main road will have a straight on view. 

\n

It wasn’t 30 minutes and they had the tent up. They forgot to bring the sides to protect from the rain, so the owner of the tent company brought them later. I was thrilled to see him. You see, Andy grew up two houses from me. I am ten years older than him but I remember him as a little boy. His dad used to have a little carnival and concession business that turned into a tent rental enterprise. When I was a little girl, Andy’s dad used to store his carnival rides in the yard behind their house. He had a cotton candy machine on the back porch. Sometimes he would start it up and give all the neighborhood kids free cotton candy. It was a pleasure to visit with Andy and talk about the old days in the neighborhood. 

\n

The tent hadn’t been up two hours when it started raining. We were going to decorate the tent but it was too wet. I went to town for my final fitting and brought the dress home with me! It’s hanging here in TOW-Wanda. It’s supposed to rain all day today. I’m looking forward to a lay low day of doing nothing. Mr. FixIt and I are exhausted. We need to rest up for the two days ahead!

\n

Thursday…Friday….SATURDAY!!! ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-10-11T01:30:34-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/10/11/thanking-god.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Presence","Be Joyful!","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/10/10/rustic-wedding.html", "title": "Rustic Wedding", "content_html": "
\n\"Quilt\n\n
\n
“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
\nThe first rustic wedding I ever attended was my cousin’s oldest daughter’s. It was lovely. I stole the idea of using hay bales for seating from her, with her blessing. I’ve been on the hunt for quilts the last couple of weeks to lay over the hay bales and I’ve found enough, I think. I was rummaging around in some tubs and found some quilts I’d forgotten I even had. This one has a story. \n

There was once a time in my life when I was downright agoraphobic. I could go to work and I could go shopping, with some discomfort. But to go “out”…to stretch my boundaries and go someplace alone was way too much for me. I would be sick for three days before I traveled anywhere just fretting about it. I’m not sure why or how I got that way but it took quite a while to get over it. 

\n

I started by taking off by myself in WV when I went home in the summers for a visit. I knew WV. I was comfortable there. One summer, my older daughter was visiting her father in Kentucky and Hubby #2 was in medical school. I had saved up all year to go see my family and while I was there, I went on a little three day road trip. I was driving in the southern part of the state when I saw a sign for Hinton, WV. There was a railroad museum and a few antique stores so I took the exit and meandered on the backroads of WV till I found myself in a dusty little town on the banks of the New River. Most of downtown Hinton was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It reached its peak population in 1930 with 6,654, according to the census. The population has steadily dwindled over the years till the year 2016 recorded 2,469 living souls inhabiting this bucolic little burg. 

\n

I stopped at the only shop open that rainy summer afternoon. The old railroad station was a thrift and antique store. My collecting passion at that time was quilts and there was a lovely wedding ring baby quilt hanging on the wall. It was done in soft pastels and the stitching was really rough. But something about it spoke to me. It had a little hand-printed tag with a woman’s name and the price. I can’t remember now how much I paid for it but I’d be surprised if it was over fifty dollars, given that Hubby #2 was in medical school and money was scarce. 

\n

I asked the sales clerk if she could take down the quilt so I could get a closer look. What I thought was just “rough” quilting looked more like a young child had done it. I nearly told the clerk to put it back but that quilt kept speaking to me. I asked her if she knew the woman whose name was on the tag. Was she the quilter?

\n

“Oh, that would be Miss Nellie,” she said. “She’s an old, black woman that lives in a cabin back up the holler yonder.” She pointed in a general direction off somewhere to the south. “She’s blind, don’t you know!”

\n

“Really? And she made this quilt?” I asked. I ran my fingers over the rough stitches, the pieces all puckered. “How does she do that?”

\n

“Well, her granddaughter cuts the pattern and sets the pieces out on the dining room table. Then Miss Nellie sews them by hand, one by one, feeling for the next shape to fit in. She’s been quilting all her life so it’s her fingers that ‘see’ the work,” the clerk explained. 

\n

It was such a piece of American Folk Art, I had to have it. That quilt hung over our bed for a very long time. Over the years, it’s been toted and packed and moved and somehow it got wet. There are stains I can’t remove, but that just seems to add to its charm. This will be one of the quilts that graces a seat at our wedding on Saturday. I’ll picture Miss Nellie in her best Sunday-go-Meetin’ dress, her cracked patent leather handbag resting on her lap…a hanky clasped in one hand. I’m sure weddings made her cry. She is surely long gone now. She was ninety one when she made this quilt. 

\n

They are delivering the tent today. Our longtime friends, Dianne and Bobby are coming over to help us decorate. The hay will be under cover for the hard rain we are expecting tomorrow. My final fitting for my dress is this afternoon. I am meeting a friend for coffee and a little visit first. She has some quilts for me to use. 

\n

The grandkids were over yesterday and while I worked inside and visited with our granddaughter and great granddaughter, her husband was out with Mr. FixIt moving the woodpile that refused to burn. They hauled it down to the end of the field along the fence line in the woods near the old apple tree. They loaded the trailer up with more junk to take to the scrap yard today. They cut down trees around the building and piled the second brush pile a little more compactly and set it ablaze. It’s almost gone now. We had burgers and sat out by the pool as the sunset cast shades from hot pink to salmon to yellow-gold in the sky above us. A day well-worked is a day well-lived. 

\n

The place looks SO much better. I told Mr. FixIt there comes a point when he has to say enough is enough. And you know what? It’s going to rain tomorrow so God is going to force him inside to take a day of rest before things get exciting Friday! Wednesday-Thursday-Friday….

\n

SATURDAY!!! 

\n

It’s almost here!!! ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-10-10T01:30:24-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/10/10/rustic-wedding.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/10/07/the-glory-of-love.html", "title": "The Glory of Love", "content_html": "

\"Sunset\" “Sunset over the Ponderosa.”

\n
“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
\nWhat 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.\n

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.

\n

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

\n

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. 

\n

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? 

\n

Six days!!!!! ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-10-07T01:30:18-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/10/07/the-glory-of-love.html", "tags": ["Faith","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Wisdom","Courage","Choices","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/10/06/man-make-fire.html", "title": "Man Make Fire", "content_html": "

\"Bonfire\" “Mr. FixIt stirring the fire.”

\n
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”  Psalm 4:8 NIV
\nYesterday was a long, l-o-n-g day. I put 44 pounds of pork butt in the smoker at noon and finally sat down at 9:00 with the pork off the bone and in the freezer and the dishes only half washed.\n

Mr. FixIt tried starting the brushfire at 5:00 and it didn’t start burning till 7:00. When I came out at 9:00, he had quite the blaze going so we pulled up a couple of chairs and relaxed. We haven’t had a fire all summer so this was really nice. 

\n

I’m telling you, there’s nothing like planning a wedding to get long-neglected chores finished on the ol’ homestead. I told him last night we should get married more often! He took a load of junk to the scrap yard and has the trailer ready to load up more today. The fellow who was supposed to get our hay bales for seating called last night to say he couldn’t find any. So…now to Plan B. 

\n

The one thing I used to tell the brides when I was helping them plan their weddings…go into the day knowing that it will not look exactly like you have pictured it every day since you were ten. You have to go with the flow. In that vein…I’ll just take a deep breath and remember it’s going to be beautiful. I’ll find hay somewhere! Or not. ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-10-06T01:30:27-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/10/06/man-make-fire.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Presence","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/10/03/instant-gratification.html", "title": "Instant Gratification", "content_html": "

\"Monarch “The only monarch butterfly I have seen in WV in the four years I’ve been back, and it was lying dead in the field. I was to harvest milkweed pods this year and try to bring some monarchs back.”

\n
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”\n

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV

\nSo, yesterday I told you I’m a “risk-taking storyteller”. I’m sure it’s no surprise to any of you who have been following me for some time if I tell you…I am also “Instant Gratification Girl”! If I can’t get it done yesterday, I’ve been known to pitch a hissy fit. Patience has never been my forte. 

\n

I stopped praying for patience a long time ago when I figured out God was sending me MANY situations in which to practice. I know I’m not fooling Him one bit, but I do thank Him for what little patience I DO have. 

\n

I may have told you this story before. I’ve told so many, it’s hard to remember. When I was a little girl, I desperately wanted a pair of black, patent leather Mary Janes. Mom took me to the shoe store and the only pair they had left was a half size too small. When my mom told the man we’d keep looking. I had a major meltdown. To my little overdramatic self, that meant I would NEVER, EVER get them! Mom caved and bought them for me and forced me to wear them for a month till I was broken of that behavior. 

\n

Well, maybe. 

\n

Monday evening, I went over to Mr. FixIt’s and mowed till it got too dark to do it safely. I went in to get a cold drink and was sitting on the sofa when I saw them. An army of stink bugs! Do you think either of us could have possibly remembered what arrives in WV on the 1st of October? Nooooooo. Hot on their stinky little heels will be the Asian Lady Bugs. Oy! Both of these little boogers swarm en masse and I can just imagine myself walking down the aisle looking like a Ninja as they swarm and land in my hair! 

\n

Breathe. 

\n

OmmmmmmmMyGosh!!!!

\n

I put an urgent message out on FB. “Is there anything to keep these things at bay for a few hours?” I got lots of suggestions, including changing the wedding date. No! Absolutely not! I want my “patent leather shoes”, darn it!

\n

Here’s how I’m going to deal with this. We’ve managed to pull together a beautiful wedding in less than a month. The average cost of a wedding in the US today is $27,000. Ours is going to be gorgeous for far less than 10% of that. (Did I tell you I used to do this for a living? Mr. Virgo taught me well!) Everything is ordered. The tent comes the 10th giving us plenty of time to decorate it. I’m going to smoke the pork butts this weekend for the pulled pork, bag it and pop it in the freezer till Wednesday. Then late Saturday morning it goes in a slow oven to finish off. I have plenty of helpers coming that Friday and Saturday. I have a final fitting on the dress next Wednesday and it will be ready to pick up Friday. We can get the coleslaw and buns that afternoon. The sodas go in the fridge Friday and on ice in the galvanized tubs Saturday. The photographer arrives at 2:00. The cake gets delivered at 3:00. 

\n

See? Everything that I CAN control is under control. The rest of it I can do nothing about. Weather OR bugs. And…it will be perfect. I was thinking about this “instant gratification” thing and my word for the year….presence…popped into my head. This is my last wedding. Seriously. I’m never doing this again. I want to stay in the moment and memorize it all. We want to enjoy this, not stress out about it.  So, that’s just what I’m going to do. 

\n

I really didn’t like those patent leather Mary Janes anyway. ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-10-03T01:30:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/10/03/instant-gratification.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Presence","Peaceful Moments","Choices","Change","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/09/29/he-who-lives-in-me.html", "title": "He Who Lives in Me...", "content_html": "

\"Rustic “A rustic cross is just what we need to turn our tent into a House of God.”

\n
“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”  1 John 4:4 ESV
\nI ran a million errands yesterday. Ok...it just FELT like a million. I needed thread and some sewing scissors to sew the lace extension on my wedding dress. (It’s not quite as long as I want.) I had to take all the stuff I bought yesterday over to Mr. FixIt’s and pick up the sewing machine and my wedding dress. Then I noticed a package I was expecting wasn’t delivered because I wasn’t there. I picked up the pink slip out of the mailbox and headed to the post office. On and on and on.\n

My last stop was at Pat Catan’s…the craft store in town. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for. I have an idea for a banner or something but I just can’t quite make up my mind. Then I saw this rustic cross. I thought it would be perfect to hang over the spot we stand with the pastor. (We have a pastor!) We aren’t getting married in a church, but we can sure bring God into the tent! As I was checking out, the clerk said, “Wow. You just bought this cross and, I don’t quite know how to tell you…you saved $6.66!” Without missing a beat, I smiled and said…”He who lives in me is greater than he who lives in the world. He doesn’t scare me!” 

\n

I didn’t take the receipt, though.

\n

What I did do this week was disconnect from the media for awhile. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I found way too many triggers everywhere I turned. Instead…I threw all my focus on this gentle man I am about to marry. Avoidance oF the media surrounding the event does not mean I am uninformed or uncaring. It just means I know my limits and I had reached mine by the end of the Cosby sentencing. This world breaks my heart sometimes. Will there ever be a time when we are less…divided, angry, hateful?

\n

I may be weary of all this, but I am not fearful. Fear is from the enemy. He will whisper and tell you all is lost. Don’t believe him! WALK STRONG! ❤️

\n
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalms‬ ‭23:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬
\n", "date_published": "2018-09-29T01:30:28-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/09/29/he-who-lives-in-me.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","God","Wisdom","Humbled","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/09/27/not-today-devil.html", "title": "Not Today, Devil!", "content_html": "

\"Sunset\" “I think Mr. Virgo was smiling at me today!”

\n
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, \"This is the way, walk in it,\" when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”  Isaiah 30:21 ESV
\nFor those of you who have been reading this blog from the beginning, you will remember my reticence to mention God in my posts. I was very, very busy trying to make sure I didn’t offend anyone. And, of course, that is still very much my focus. But as time has passed, I have let God into my writing more and more. I always SAID I was a faith-based writer, but I really wasn’t walking the talk. That all changed one day when I got a text from God in church. That was a great story. Anyway, I’m all about Jesus anymore and I just let out what needs to come out and I don’t worry so much about it anymore.\n

Our Pastor frequently talks about what happens when you are truly a Christ follower. What happens when you make God the center of your life. He always says, “If you put God at the center of your life…are truly following him with all your heart…watch out! Because there’s nothing the enemy hates more than someone putting God before anything else. He attacks and causes all kinds of destruction and whispers lies 24/7 trying to convince you if God REALLY loved you…these bad things wouldn’t be happening. And, of course, it isn’t true. Nothing the enemy says is true.

\n

Mr. FixIt’s truck had a recall and when they started tearing it apart, they found all kinds of other things wrong. He’s going up today to have a look at it with the mechanics and make a decision. Then, after I helped Mr. FixIt with some things around The Ponderosa yesterday, I drove to the farm. By the time I got there, my wheels were squealing really loud. I had hit a pot hole on this wretched road just before, so I have no idea what’s going on.

\n

I know exactly what is happening here. I was led by God to do the right thing and moved back to the farm till after the wedding. I can feel it to my bones that it’s the right thing to do. And then…the enemy strikes! First, Mr. FixIt’s truck then mine. In the week after we put God first. It is so clear. However, I’ll tell you like my friend, DaShara says…”Not today, Devil…I am a Child of God!” 

\n

I know we’re on the right path. And the enemy can throw roadblocks up every step of the way, but we will persevere. We will not be deterred by the likes of him! He who lives within me is greater than he who lives in the world. Everything will work out with an even greater outcome than previously imagined. Amen! ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-09-27T01:30:57-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/09/27/not-today-devil.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Wisdom","Courage","Choices","Change","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/09/23/what-a-day.html", "title": "What a Day!", "content_html": "

\"Fall “The last of the flowers at the farm.”

\n
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”  Proverbs 16:3 NIV
\nWow...I don’t know how I could possibly top yesterday’s wonderful response to the news of our upcoming wedding. Thank you all so, so much for your kind words, your genuine joy, and certainly for all the prayers you offer me. They worked! All day long, my phone would send me a notification saying someone else had responded to my post and it really made my day. \n

As I sat down to organize my day over coffee on the front porch, my calendar reminded me the wedding is three weeks away. Two weeks and six days now, to be precise! I started gathering addresses for invitations, but I was worried people would be making plans. So, I texted a lot of people with a picture of the invite and prefaced it with…”Well…THIS is happening!” I have almost all the invitations addressed…all but Mr. FixIt’s list. Moving right along! 

\n

We want a very simple, country wedding. Low key, comfortable yet still a little classy. I really wanted to do this at the farm. This farmhouse would be such a beautiful backdrop. We discussed it and decided there’s really only room for cars…or people. Not both. We decided to have the wedding in the big field over at Mr. FixIt’s house. The trees should be at their peak that weekend. We’ll have a tent down by the creek and it will be lovely. 

\n

In keeping with my “Stories, not Stuff” theme, we are keeping this low cost. I mean, really…the whole thing is supposed to be about our love for each other, not a bunch of fussy foo-foo stuff. I’m not going to share all the details beforehand because there has to be an element of surprise. I will tell you this. I went online to print our invitations and when I saw how much it cost, I thought I could do much better using a local printer. I’m pretty good with graphics, so I got the invitation set up, sent it of to Mr. FixIt to get his opinion, then sent it via email to Office Depot. Fifty invitations with envelopes and rush delivery was over $100 online. Office Depot? Less than $20…including envelopes…and I was out the door in twenty minutes. Score!

\n

After sitting scrunched over the desk all afternoon…pen in hand, I went on a walkabout and took a picture of those flowers I was telling you about the other day. They have faded out to more of a pink color now. Anyone have any idea what this is? They’re one of the last flowers here at the farm. It’s gotten cool and we are due for rain for a few days. Fall is officially here! ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-09-23T01:30:27-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/09/23/what-a-day.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Wedding"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/09/22/a-change-is-gonna-come.html", "title": "A Change is Gonna Come...", "content_html": "

\"Changing “A change is coming. Can you feel it?”

\n
“Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find? The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.”  Proverbs 20:6-7 NIV
\nYesterday, I told you there were some big decisions I’ve been working on the last few months. Today, I want to talk with you about one of them. The most important one. This is a REALLY long post...but hang in there with me. You won’t be sorry.\n

Not long after Mr. FixIt and I became a serious item, God started working on me. For a long time, whenever I walk into church, I say a little prayer. I always say, “Lord, if there is a personal message you have for me today, please anoint the Pastor’s words so he can deliver it to me.” Countless times, God answers my plea and the Pastor will literally come to the front of the stage, stand right in front of me, look me straight in the eye, and say something that is unmistakably personal. Something exactly about what I’ve been working on, or worrying over. I would say it’s uncanny, but what it really is…is supernatural. Our God is a supernatural God. He listens, and He communicates…through the Holy Spirit. Through a total stranger. Through your Guardian Angel. If He has a message, and you ask Him to tell you loud and clear, He doesn’t need a megaphone. He’ll beat you over the head with it if it’s something you truly need.

\n

From the time Mr. FixIt and I got serious, I’ve been getting messages from God that we shouldn’t be living together without being married. I have to be honest…this has never bothered me before. I’m a product of the ‘60s and I never had a problem living with someone before we got married. But this time is different. It’s been wearing on me. And I think I’ve figured out why.

\n

The biggest reason is my faith has grown exponentially since Mr. Virgo died. I had to make God the center of my life in order to survive that loss. In order to not feel so alone. And God has drawn me ever so close to Him. He has guarded me and protected me. He has led me through some terribly difficult times. He has been my rock…my anchor. In the past, that has not been the case. My relationship with my husband was my focus. My relationship with God suffered and therefore I suffered. And I wasn’t even aware of it.

\n

Mr. FixIt and I keep God at the center of our relationship. Or…so I would love for everyone to believe. See, here’s the thing. You’re either all in with God. Or, you’re not. That’s why I’ve been feeling off about cohabitation. Now, there is the issue of widow’s benefits. I had been told when I first went to Social Security after Mr. Virgo died, that if I remarried I would lose my widow’s benefits. I’ve kept that information in my mind all this time without questioning. Until last weekend.

\n

Mr. FixIt and I have spent a great deal of time apart in the last month between being sick and in the hospital, camping with the Girl Campers, and going to Country Living Fair. The reason I took my camper up with me and camped alone instead of bunking with my gal pals was…I needed some alone time with God. These wonderful women I was with are two of my strongest Christian friends. They mentor me. They are sounding boards for me when I have questions. They are my fellow prayer warriors when I need them. I confessed how I was feeling and they talked with me about it.

\n

While camping alone, I prayed deeply. I told God my worries. I told him I totally trust in Him and that I know without question that He will provide for me. But I’ve been so worried about losing my widow’s benefits because my own Social Security is paltry. I was a stay-at-home mom, so I didn’t make a lot of money in my lifetime. Mr. Virgo, however, worked in 5-Star resorts and restaurants all his career. He died before touching his Social Security. My benefits through him are far more than my own. Not enough to live in the lap of luxury, mind you. But enough to live on if I were extremely frugal. I asked God to give me a sign that I wouldn’t lose my benefits if I remarried.

\n

Then, I listened. “Google. What happens to widow’s benefits if you remarry?” Simple enough, right? I mean, why didn’t I think to Google that a long time ago? Because….it wasn’t the right time. Mr. FixIt asked me to marry him just a month after we started dating. It was too soon. We needed to get to know each other more. We needed to grow together in our faith. And, I needed more time to work through my grief. This was God’s perfect timing. I Googled the question and page after page of answers came back. “If you remarry after the age of 60, you will NOT lose your widow’s benefits.” Wow! The reason it stuck in my head so long ago was, I was only 59 when Mr. Virgo died. They told me if I remarried, I would lose my benefits. But that was THEN. Grief brain didn’t allow the rest of it to soak in. 

\n

I sat back…stunned by this revelation. I looked up and said, “Thank you, God. That’s all I needed to know!” Then I texted Mr. FixIt.

\n

“I miss you. Let’s get married.”

\n

Without missing a beat, he wrote back. “OK! We’ll set a date when you get home! What prompted this?”

\n

“God.” I said.

\n

So, we set a date! Yes, my lovely Ranchers…we’re getting MARRIED!!!

\n

Ohhhhh….Emmmmmm…..Geeeeeeeee!!!

\n

I’m all in. I can’t, in good conscience, profess my faith AND live in a way that I feel, for me, is counter to that. So I’m following my conscience and God’s clear instructions to marry this very wonderful man that He sent me. We chose October 13th as our wedding day. When I was looking through the calendar, the 13th jumped out at me. I seemed to remember it being a family anniversary. I looked up on my family tree and indeed…it was my Grandma and PopPop’s anniversary! Those two in whose bedroom I am currently propped up, writing to you! PopPop died on my mom’s birthday…August 26th. Just seven weeks before their 50th Wedding Anniversary. I know how terribly sad I was when Mr. Virgo died just three weeks shy of our 6th anniversary. I can’t imagine what my grandma went through losing her forever sweetheart so close to such a monumental event. I am thrilled we can celebrate our wedding on their special day!

\n

So, there it is, my friends. A change is gonna come. Will I still be a widow? Yes, I will always and forever be a widow. AND, I will be a wife again. Never in my wildest dreams would I have anticipated something so precious happening again. I know Mr. Virgo had a hand in this. He and God stopped at the 9th or 10th hole one day when they were playing a round of golf. 

\n

“Hey, look down there at that beautiful woman. Do you think we can send her someone to love who will love her back with the white-hot heat of the sun?”

\n

And God said…”Ha! Watch this!” ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-09-22T01:30:36-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/09/22/a-change-is-gonna-come.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Wisdom","Courage","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/09/20/the-velvet-blue-of-dusk.html", "title": "The Velvet Blue of Dusk", "content_html": "\"\"\n
“\"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
\nThis is the time of year where the days are noticeably shorter, yet the weather still screams “summer”. After a lovely day at the farm, Mr. FixIt and I had to drive back over to his house to get my truck. He has a job to do in town the next few days and we didn’t even think of having two vehicles till yesterday afternoon. I love having him around. I also love some alone time at the farm. I have the best of all worlds. \n

I threw some old carrots out on the lawn where the deer were gathered the other night. I sat out on the front porch at sunset to watch for them to come get their treat. As I sat there waiting, I tuned my ears to the sounds around me. There was a cardinal darting in the underbrush along the creek….chattering at the cats who must be nearby. Tree frogs, katydids, and locusts provided a chorus for free. I haven’t heard crickets here like I usually do. They didn’t show up at the Ponderosa till earlier this month. I thought that was odd. 

\n

I heard a passenger jet flying high overhead as we are on a flight path to somewhere. The occasional vehicle passes. Thankfully the traffic has slowed considerably due to the stage of construction on the pipeline and compressor station. And, of course, the condition of the road warrants slowing down. 

\n

There are very few flowers in bloom now. There is some sort of small purple flower in the ditch along the driveway. Some leaves are changing already. The dogwood have hints of pink and crimson. The berries on them aren’t red yet. There are little flashes of yellow at the tips of some branches on the hillside across the road. The incessant humming of the refrigerator is in the background. 

\n

This is the time of year when I am called out to the front porch to soak in every moment I can before Jack Frost sends me indoors. There wasn’t a breath of a breeze. The humidity was nearly 60%. It was still 84 degrees at 7:00pm. A Jenny Wren scolded the neighbor as he took his dog for a walk around the perimeter of his property. The wild turkeys in the woods across the way have gone to roost. 

\n

Another day is done. I’ve avoided the news. I’ve embraced the peaceful surroundings at the farm. I’ve seen pictures loved ones have shared. This little one had her first day of Girl Scouts. That one is recovering from surgery. Another one was out feeding the chickens. I am filled with grace and a peace beyond understanding. It is well. It is well…with my soul. ❤️

\n

 

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-09-20T01:30:40-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/09/20/the-velvet-blue-of-dusk.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Presence","Change","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/09/19/strawberry-jam-and-biscuits.html", "title": "Strawberry Jam and Biscuits", "content_html": "

\"Berry “Berry Baskets bring back special memories of my grandparents’ farm.”

\n
“For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.”  Hebrews‬ ‭3:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\nOne of the things I stumbled upon at the Country Living Fair over the weekend were these sweet little berry baskets. Oh, my...did they bring back memories! When I was a little girl, my uncle was going to college at WVU majoring in Vocational Agriculture. He was always doing something around the farm to help my grandparents. He added the cinder block building with a cistern to collect the rainwater from the roof for drinking water. There was a well here on the property and it had wonderful, sweet water...until they capped the old oil and gas wells on the property. Something they did caused the aquifer to fracture and the water became briny and undrinkable. For a long time, we had to drive several miles with two big milk cans and haul water from a local spring. Then Uncle Bud helped my grandparents build the cistern and we finally got good drinking water on the farm again.\n

My uncle also put in a septic system, built a basement, rolled the house on top, build a cinderblock bathroom and we joined the civilized folks with indoor plumbing. I was about six years old when all this occurred. After the barn, the cow shed, and the pig stye were built, the next thing on the agenda was to try to make this land not only support us, but pay us. Uncle Bud planned out and planted a huge strawberry patch up on the hill. He and my great grandfather built a nice structure with a long window down one side. The window was hinged and opened outward to make an overhanging awning with a counter. The pickers would bring flats of strawberries to this shed to be sorted and cleaned to take to the Farmer’s Market in town. At the corner of the building was a huge water tank that collected water from the roof of the strawberry shed to be used to clean the berries.

\n

These little berry baskets took me right back to those long summer days spent out at the farm…the very farmhouse I am sitting in as I write this. Oh, those berries were the sweetest things I had ever tasted. You didn’t even need sugar. They were deep red all the way through. And they were huge! One filled my little hand. Grandma wouldn’t let me pick them because I had a tendency to eat the berries and step on the runners. Runners are what makes more plants and more plants means more berries which translates to direct profit. I was relegated to the kitchen to cook for the pickers…which served me well as I got older. I learned to cook at grandma’s elbow…standing on the red kitchen stool.

\n

Grandma made big, fluffy buttermilk biscuits and would slice them open, slather them with fresh churned butter and sugar, then add a good portion of sliced strawberries. She always had a jar of top cream in the fridge and would whip that with a hand cranked egg beater and add a little sugar and vanilla. Then she would spoon out this soft whipped cream on the top of our little biscuit “shortcakes” for a dessert fit for a queen. What I would give to have one of those…made by her loving hands and served with a peck on the cheek. I miss my grandma so much and feel closest to her here in the home of her heart.

\n

We were planning to come to the farm today to mow anyway, but last evening my cousin called to say someone had been seen sleeping on the porch of the community building down the road. I started to ask if we could just come on out last night, but I stopped mid-sentence. It was almost dark and we’d already had a busy day. Mr. FixIt picked up on it though. He asked if I wanted to come out right then and I really did. We packed up the truck and off we came. It is worrisome to drive these country roads after dark. There are so many deer out at dusk and the early night hours. When we pulled into the driveway, the only company we had at the farm were four deer out on the front lawn. I was a little worried because the front porch light was burned out, but that was quickly fixed and nothing had been disturbed.

\n

We stay here often enough to let people know the place is occupied. There’s someone here every day between us and my cousins. We were going to go camping this weekend, but staying here at the farm is as good as any vacation for me. The memories are as thick as buttermilk here and there is truly no place like home for this hungry heart of mine. ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-09-19T01:30:20-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/09/19/strawberry-jam-and-biscuits.html", "tags": ["Family","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Grace","Wisdom","Presence","Peaceful Moments"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/09/18/holding-things.html", "title": "Holding Things", "content_html": "

\"Crocks\" “Crocks waiting for a new home.”

\n
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 NIV
\nI’ve been thinking a lot about my grandma lately. I’ve been so busy the last three weeks that I haven’t had a chance to spend much time at the farm. Mr. FixIt and I were thinking of going camping this weekend, but for a number of reasons...not the least of which is being just plain tired of running around...we’ve decided to head to the farm for a much needed respite.\n

The change of seasons are especially beautiful there. As things come to life in the spring and the dark grays of winter turn to buds of green, my heart soars because I’m heading into my favorite season. I’ve always had a little more difficulty accepting the changes of fall because that mean the dark days of winter are close on its heels. Mr. Virgo always told me, “It’s all in your head. It’s just a matter of what you tell yourself. If you say you hate winter, then guess what? You’re going to hate it!” He was right, of course. So, this fall, I am planning some really special things that will make the season joyful and beautiful. I’m going to do some heavy fall decorating this year. I want to get pumpkins and bittersweet, corn shocks and straw bales, Indian corn and maybe even some clear twinkly lights and dress up the farm. Won’t that be pretty?

\n

I’ll take you along with me as I pick and choose. Maybe we’ll go to a pumpkin patch. Maybe we’ll find a cider press. Whatever we do, we’re going to make this season extra special so I won’t dread winter. Just like grandma’s old crocks that used to hold things, I’m going to use my heart as a vessel to hold beautiful things and make new memories! ?

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-09-18T01:30:53-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/09/18/holding-things.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","New Ideas","Gratitude","Peaceful Moments","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/09/11/listening-to-the-still-small.html", "title": "Listening to the Still Small Voice", "content_html": "

\"Sternwheeler\" “Sternwheelers left the festival early this weekend due to threat of flooding.”

\n
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.””  Joshua 1:9 NIV
\nThis time last year, I had just wrapped up my first Sisters on the Fly event that I hosted here in West Virginia...WV Riverboat Rendezvous. It was timed to coincide with the Sternwheel Festival in Marietta. There were twenty-three women in attendance and we had a blast! Lots of activities from riding a stern wheeler over to Blennerhassett Island to touring a Victorian Mansion to learning how to clog while listening to WV’s Number 1 Fiddle Player. We churned homemade ice cream and had an old fashioned weenie roast. We took a tour of an abandoned oil and gas town. The weather that weekend was fabulous. No rain, reasonably cool weather, and a wonderful campground made for a really fun weekend. \n

All year, I toyed with the idea of doing it again. While it was indeed a lot of fun, it was a tremendous amount of work. Every time I thought about getting started organizing it, that still small voice said, “No, not this year.” I was afraid I was disappointing others who might want to gather again this fall, but I just couldn’t shake the thought that it wasn’t meant to be this year. If I would have forged ahead and not listened, the event would have come, not only on the heels of my hospitalization last week, but also a wicked bad storm hit over the weekend. Our rain gauges, both at the Ponderosa and at the farm, were topped out at six inches and overflowing, so who knows what we actually received? The point being…I listened. I was told no. And I abided by that. 

\n

Everyone who camped with me this weekend with the Girl Campers got home safely with no weather problems. I was so grateful to have had that time with my friends without all the stress a large event causes. I went to the farm yesterday and did laundry in preparation for this week’s trip to the Country Living Fair. Mr. FixIt and his daughter came out to join me. We went through some of the boxes of my treasures and had so much fun looking at things my dad brought back from the war and some old family photographs. We played cards and told stories of growing up. It was such a pleasure to feel the farmhouse warm with the love of family. 

\n

There was one point where I opened one of the boxes and laying right on the top was the bill from the ambulance company that took Mr. Virgo to the hospital the day he died. I looked up at Mr. FixIt’s daughter and sighed. She, too, is a widow. She looked at me questioningly. 

\n

I closed the lid to the box and smiled. “There are still some things that bother me,” I said. “This is the ambulance bill. Today would have been his 68th birthday. I don’t need to go through this box today.” She gets it.

\n

Still…it was a good day, all in all. I just had to leave well enough alone.

\n

And today…we remember the fallen. 9/11. We will never forget. ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-09-11T01:30:57-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/09/11/listening-to-the-still-small.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Wisdom","Downsizing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/09/03/feeling-stronger-every-day.html", "title": "Feeling Stronger Every Day", "content_html": "

\"Psalms “I love Psalms.”

\n
“Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you,”  Exodus 23:25 NIV
\nRemember that song? You never realize how sick you were till you feel better. My medication list just got longer...for the next twelve days, at least. But it’s a small price to pay at this point. \n

I went to the farm yesterday to look for something and do some laundry. When I walked up on the back porch, I noticed the cats had left a Ritual Sacrifice to the Food God. This one was of the rodent variety. Not sure of the significance, but it is their way of showing love…however icky. At least it wasn’t one of my pretty songbirds. As I was feeding Boy Cat, he shot past me and made a bee line for the driveway. I knew he was after something and soon he came back proudly carrying a frog to present to me. Of course, as soon as he set down the frog in front of me, it took off. I managed to shoo that cat enough to give the frog a chance to make his escape and soon Boy Cat was happily munching on his real supper.

\n

As I walked into the house, I saw all the boxes. I have to tell you, my heart sank for a moment. I was so sick last week that I actually forgot for a moment they were out there. They’ll have to wait for a while though. Winter is coming fast enough and I’m not going to miss out on a moment of this gorgeous weather coming up. We are to have a very hot week, then things should cool off. There are already a lot of leaves changing around here. Spots of gold are everywhere and leaves are falling on some varieties of trees. I won’t mind cool nights. They make sleeping so much better.

\n

The grass desperately needs cut out at the farm and I was actually smart enough to refrain from trying to mow it myself. I consider that a major accomplishment. I am not always to responsible. Unfortunately, I have shared this virus with Mr. FixIt and he’s feeling pretty miserable this evening. I certainly hope I can get him through this quickly. I don’t think he will have the same lung issue with it because he doesn’t have asthma like me. Thank goodness! I’m sterilizing everything because these respiratory viruses can live on surfaces for ten days. That’s how people keep getting reinfected. 

\n

Well, it’s Monday. Go out there and make it a good week and be good to each other. A smile can be such a blessing to someone that it bounces right back on you! ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-09-03T01:30:27-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/09/03/feeling-stronger-every-day.html", "tags": ["Faith","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","God","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/08/31/here-i-go-again.html", "title": "Here I Go Again...", "content_html": "

\"Storage “All that’s left of forty year’s accumulation.”

\n
“a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,”  Ecclesiastes 3:6 NIV
\nThis stuff was out of sight, out of mind for much of the last three years. My very sweet friend, Steve, let me store this in his basement. He seldom went down there, it was clean and dry, and it was safe and secure. On occasion, I would go over and gather a few boxes and bring them to the farm. Winter clothes, camping gear, important papers, pictures...little by little, things were sorted and either saved or sent on to live with someone else via a charitable organization.\n

Steve was never in a hurry to reclaim the space I was using because, as a widower, he didn’t have any more enthusiasm for going through things than I did. Over the years, his kids have brought things to store and the basement became more and more crowded and cluttered. Last Christmas was the straw that broke the camel’s back when he had to crawl over things to get to his outdoor decorations. We agreed I would have everything out this summer. As you know, summers are so hot and sticky in West Virginia. And I traveled a lot. And I had surgery. And Steve works weird hours. One thing led to another and I didn’t get it done. I promised everything would be out by the end of August. 

\n

So, there it is. Other than a few things at the Ponderosa, my two campers, and my pickup…everything I own is sitting right here. This is all that’s left after the purging of forty years of accumulation and selling my house. It’s been a full four years since I downsized and I’ve learned a lot about myself and what I need to be happy. I thought I’d share a few observations here today.

\n
    \n
  1. \n

    I’ve learned downsizing is not for everyone. That’s ok. People love their stuff. They worked hard for it. They find comfort in it. I get that. I was really on a bandwagon when I faced downsizing, not only as a lifestyle choice, but as a necessity. I preached “Live with less!” Vehemently. My fervor hasn’t died for me personally, but I now realize I came across as perhaps a little insensitive to those who cherish their personal belongings. If that is you, I apologize. 

    \n
    2. \n
  2. \n

    I have a few…but very few…regrets. First, if I had known my stint at the farm helping out my elderly aunt was only going to last 10 weeks, I very likely wouldn’t have purchased such a big travel trailer. I really miss Little TOW-Wanda. At 16’, she was easy to pick up and go with at a moment’s notice. Not so much with the big behemoth that is TOW-Wanda Grande. Second, there are a few pieces of furniture I parted with that I would love to have now. But, I never would have dreamed I would fall in love again and live the life I am living now. Besides, I really do have everything I need.

    \n
    3. \n
  3. \n

    And, speaking of falling in love again, I have a significant other who hasn’t fallen in love with the idea of simplifying…yet. We are in the early stages of discussing the merits of downsizing, and he is beginning to understand that means you don’t get to keep everything. I totally understand where he is with that. I held onto my stuff for a long, long time…even when my spouse(s) hated the clutter. Mr. FixIt is coming around. It has to be at his pace, at his comfort level, or I’ll come across as trying to make him get rid of everything. I remember what that feels like and it’s isn’t nice.

    \n
    4. \n
  4. \n

    When you have less stuff to take care of, you have more money and time to get out and enjoy the fun things in life. That is the best lesson I’ve learned from my own experience downsizing.

    \n
    5. \n
  5. \n

    Remembering to be grateful for what I DO have keeps me from missing what I don’t. It keeps me thinking in terms of abundance rather than deprivation.

    \n
    6. \n
\n

Now I face these boxes. Part of me says if I haven’t opened them in four years, what possible use do I have for their contents? I could just take them to a shelter…or to the dump. But, of course, I cannot do that. I have to go through them. I can, and will, be ruthless as I pick and choose what must be kept, what can be given to family members who would appreciate the memories, and what can go to someone else who will love them as much as I did. This is now my cold weather project. I’ll have it done as soon as possible because, I had the farmhouse clean and neat and tidy. I want it back that way quickly.

\n

I find an uncluttered environment equates to an uncluttered life for me. It eases my mind and will certainly make things easier for whoever will be in charge of going through my stuff when I’m dead and gone. I promised myself, and my kids, that I would never leave them with a mess like I was left with when my mom died. As wonderful as she was, she was a pack rat of the highest order and it was such a chore to clean out her house AND deal with the grief of losing her. I don’t want to do that to anyone. So, here I go again! ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-08-31T01:30:38-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/08/31/here-i-go-again.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","TOW-Wanda!","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Wisdom","Presence","Downsizing","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/08/30/and-the-thunder-rolls.html", "title": "And the Thunder Rolls", "content_html": "

\"Lightning “Lightning over West Virginia”

\n
““My heart pounds as I think of this. It trembles within me. Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice as it rolls from his mouth. It rolls across the heavens, and his lightning flashes in every direction. Then comes the roaring of the thunder— the tremendous voice of his majesty. He does not restrain it when he speaks. God’s voice is glorious in the thunder. We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.”  Job 37:1-5 NLT
\nThe heat and humidity in West Virginia raises the heat index and brings us these amazing thunderstorms. It’s one of the things I always missed in Colorado. Oh, you get storms there...sure. But they don’t sound the same as storms in the rolling hills. There is an echo you just don’t get out west. And I love it!\n

The last couple of days we have been moving some boxes of my “stuff” from my friend Steve’s basement. We got the last load moved yesterday. Good thing, because it rained last night and we would have had to carry these heavy boxes up a hill instead of driving the truck down to the back of Steve’s house. That’s one thing about lawns here. If they’re wet, you sink down in them.

\n

\"Lightning “Lightning over West Virginia.”

\n

On the way back from picking up the last load, Mr. FixIt saw a house on fire a little over a mile from the Ponderosa. As often happens in outlying rural areas, the house burned to the ground and was a total loss. Fortunately, no one was at home when it burned so there were no injuries.

\n

We took he last load out to the farm and no sooner carried the last box in when the electric went out. No wind. No storm. Just off. This, unfortunately, is NOT uncommon. We waited a while and when it hadn’t come back on after thirty minutes or so, we headed home. We stopped and visited neighbors along the way. That’s something I miss from my childhood. Someone was always stopping by to talk. Now, there are whole neighborhoods who don’t know anyone’s name. That’s sad.

\n

As we were nearing home, I caught a glimpse of lightning in the far off distance. As we got closer, it was obvious a great lightning storm was coming. We stopped on top of the hill so I could video tape the light show. In all my years of photographing nature, I have never caught lightning in a still shot, so I just captured stills from the video and called it good.

\n

My summer cold is easing up a bit, I think. This thick, humid air doesn’t really help that. The rain is supposed to usher in some cooler weather for the next couple of days, and I’m all for that. ❤️

\n

\"Lightning “Lightning over West Virginia.”

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-08-30T01:30:26-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/08/30/and-the-thunder-rolls.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Peaceful Moments","Downsizing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/08/21/organizationally-challenged.html", "title": "Organizationally Challenged", "content_html": "

\"Clutter\" “Ironic…Oprah’s De-Clutter issue on top of one of my piles. Oy!”

\n
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”  2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV
\nI am a well rounded individual. I know how to do a lot of different things. I know my way around a tool box, I can do just about any crafty thing, I can tow a camper across the country and back...several times. But, I’ve got to tell you...organization is NOT in my skill set. This is an old photo, taken in the “junk room” at the house I shared with Mr. Virgo when we lived in Denver. A lot of what you see here are art supplies and various papers...records, receipts, ephemera. Some of it was my mother’s and grandmother’s. But the biggest majority was my crap that I hauled around from house to house, paying perfectly good money to have it moved rather than bite the bullet and downsize. \n

In those days, downsizing was inconceivable to me. This was my STUFF! And, just like my first two husbands, Mr. Virgo hated it. Why do you think I call him Mr. Virgo? He and my second husband both were Virgos. Highly organized. Highly intolerant of piles. I, however, was all about the sparklies. I have the attention span of a toddler. 

\n

Downsizing was a really great step for me. I got rid of 95% of my personal belongings, but I still own too much stuff. At least that part is manageable now. My biggest challenge now is keeping track of papers I need. I have probably six tote bags in the bottom of the guest room closet filled with papers. That is a real problem when you need to find something specific. I bought a plastic tub and a box of hanging file folders and spent yesterday morning filing papers. I still have a long way to go. I’ll probably need a second box but progress is progress. 

\n

After it cooled down some, I mowed the four acres at the Ponderosa while Mr. FixIt worked on his camper that he’s selling. One of the jacks was bent and it took him over two hours to get the old one off and put the new one on. The new one was “universal”, meaning it should fit any camper. Nope. Poor guy had to lay under the camper and drill new holes to fit the mounting brackets. We finished working at the same time…just before dark. It made for a long, but satisfying day. It feels good when you accomplish things. ?

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-08-21T01:30:23-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/08/21/organizationally-challenged.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Growth","Downsizing","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/08/19/im-hearing-voices.html", "title": "I’m Hearing Voices!", "content_html": "

\"Brer “Brer Rabbit better stay out of my tomatoes!”

\n
“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
\nThe 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.\n

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. 

\n

\"Work “Work truck on the two-lane.”

\n

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.”

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

\"Cool “Very cool tree out the road from the Ponderosa.”

\n

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.” ?

\n

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!

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-08-19T01:30:59-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/08/19/im-hearing-voices.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Peace"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/08/18/round-two.html", "title": "Round Two", "content_html": "

\"Goldfinch\" “Goldfinch on the thistle sock. Life on a farm is full of wonder!”

\n
“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
\nSince the power went off in the middle of doing laundry Thursday, I went back out to the farm yesterday to finish up. The weather is tropical rainforest sticky and more rain is in the forecast. I set up my iPad on my little red café table on the front porch to write while the clothes were in the wash. \n

One thing I have noticed the last few weeks is the drastic reduction in heavy equipment traffic. It’s a darned good thing because there isn’t much left of the blacktop on this old country road. Depending who you talk to, they may or may not repave. They are currently digging up the worst spots and filling the large rectangular spaces with base and gravel. This has eliminated the deepest holes, however it has left the entire road a washboard of gravel and old asphalt. I’m hoping we will get a new road by winter but I’m not holding my breath. I’m just grateful the heavy trucks have pretty much stopped. 

\n

As I sat on the porch writing this, again I was struck by how deeply I love this old farm. My uncle owns it and I take care of it for him. When I tell him how much I dearly love being here, he just shakes his head and says, “Well, I don’t know why…but I sure am grateful you’re there to take care of the old place.”

\n

I sat with my coffee and let my eyes run over the landscape. The Jenny Wren in the shrubbery along the creek scolded Boy Cat who was napping beneath the branches. The little Goldfinches flitted in and out to eat from the thistle socks. A Hummingbird buzzed in front of me then zipped out to the feeder hanging on the shepherd’s crook. Mourning Doves balanced on the power line, waiting their turn to scour the ground below the feeders for the seeds the other birds didn’t want. A Buzzard circled silently above, scanning the area for some unfortunate, yet tasty, road kill. The Cicadas and Katydids whirred constantly in the background, reminding me of some terrible case of tinnitus.

\n

The mail was delivered by the nice lady in the Subaru with the yellow flashing light on top. The air was so thick and heavy with humidity, it felt like velvet. The only saving grace was a breeze…an indication of the coming rain. The incessant drone of a weed eater came from down the road. So many of the neighbors here are aging and can’t take care of their properties like they used to. They die or move away and a newer, less “industrious”, population takes over. Houses decline into disrepair. Weeds take over the previously manicured lawns and gardens. 

\n

A flash of red caught my eye as a pair of Cardinals swooped in to browse the ground in front of me. A Downy Woodpecker tapped a staccato beat on the dead elm out by the road. It reminded me to see about getting someone in to cut it down before winter. The dryer buzzed and shook me from my reverie. My chores continue. This old farm continues. Life continues to enthrall me here on this journey. And I am grateful for this peaceful moment. ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-08-18T01:30:26-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/08/18/round-two.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Peace"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/08/17/summer-freshness.html", "title": "Summer Freshness", "content_html": "

\"Summer-fresh “A summer-fresh supper…Silver Queen sweet corn, fried green tomatoes, and Amish potato salad.”

\n
“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.”  Jeremiah 29:5 NIV
\nYesterday we went to the farm to mow and do laundry. Mr. FixIt outside, me inside. We have one of those fancy schmancy washer dryers at the Ponderosa. You know, with the water savings and a gazillion buttons...setting for things I don’t even understand. And, there’s no agitator. Just this little flat, bumpy circle on the bottom. The first time I did laundry here, everything black had white soap residue all over it. It didn’t matter how many times I rinsed, I couldn’t get rid of it. Then, it takes forever to dry a load of clothes. When one load takes a total of three hours, I don’t understand the savings.\n

Mr. FixIt has tried to show me how this thing works, but I just don’t get it. And, since I have to go out to the farm a few times a week anyway, I just take the laundry out there. There’s a regular old Kenmore washer and dryer out there. The water and the gas are free and I can get four loads done in the same time it takes to do one at home, and no white residue on the black clothing. Win-Win.

\n

Mr. FixIt had finished mowing and was sitting on the porch cooling off while I filled the bird feeders. We walked back in the house. I had just put the last load of laundry in when the power went off, immediately followed by a clap of thunder. It thundered like nobody’s business for an hour and a half. It never rained much but the electric didn’t come back on, so we headed home.

\n

I’ve been promising Mr. FixIt fried green tomatoes all week. As soon as we got home, he went out to the garden and picked some tomatoes, including some green ones. He shucked the corn while I sliced and batter dipped the tomatoes and slipped them into the electric skillet with hot oil. Dinner was wonderful…one of those quintessential summer meals. Fried green tomatoes, Silver Queen corn on the cob, and Amish potato salad. Another beautiful day in paradise…West Virginia! ❤️

\n

 

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-08-17T01:30:54-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/08/17/summer-freshness.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/08/14/sunshine-in-a-bowl.html", "title": "Sunshine in a Bowl", "content_html": "
\n\"Sunny\n\n
\n
“This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: a basket of ripe fruit.”\n‭‭Amos‬ ‭8:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\nWe went to the class picnic on Saturday and took a whole bowlful of vine-ripened yellow tomatoes...still warm from the summer sun. I gathered them carefully in a bucket, rinsed them to get off the garden dirt and bugs, and sliced them thick. As I held these golden orbs of sweet juicy perfection, I lifted them to my nose to breathe in the smell of summer. I took out the cutting board shaped like an aspen leaf that was a gift from Brooke Allen and staff...my last real job before I took off in my camper for two years or so.\n

I placed the warm tomato on the cutting board and reached for the presentation box where I still keep the cutlery set Mr. Virgo was given by the Ritz Carlton as a reward for his hard work and dedication. I held the handle of the chef’s knife in my right hand, feeling the heft and the balance. I admired the beautiful colors of the inlayed handle…reds, browns, yellows. I remembered his sense of awe and pride when he showed them to me. The blade is sharp and made quick work of the task at hand. I carefully rinsed the knife, dried it, and put it back in its presentation case and placed it in the middle utensil drawer.

\n

Yellow tomatoes are pure sunshine. They have less acid, it seems. And they were so pretty in the bowl with the red lid. Everyone oohed and ahhhed over them. The salt and pepper shaker was strategically placed next to the slotted serving spoon.

\n

I stopped at Witten’s Produce Stand Sunday afternoon and picked up four Silver Queen and four bi-color ears of corn as well as four plums and four peaches. I’ll pick up something for the smoker tomorrow so I can try it out before our first big barbecue. There are still lots of tomatoes on so I am going to take advantage of some of the unrepentant ones and make Fried Green Tomatoes. Those are the BEST!

\n

This is my favorite time of year and I am taking full advantage of the many culinary delights this season brings. I hope you are enjoying summer’s bountiful goodness right now. It will be gone all too soon! ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-08-14T01:30:15-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/08/14/sunshine-in-a-bowl.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Peace"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/08/10/the-dog-days-of-summer.html", "title": "The Dog Days of Summer", "content_html": "

\"Hydrangea\" “Gigantic Hydrangea in the backyard at the farm. One of my favorites!”

\n
““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
\nAfter meeting a group of friends for lunch yesterday, I was leaving the restaurant when a gentleman seated with his wife in a nearby booth stopped me. He said he couldn’t help but overhear me talking about the storm I heard during the night. He wanted to tell me they had been driving home to Ravenswood and got caught in the storm. He claimed it was the worst storm he had ever driven in but in ten miles, it was gone. Storms here are either small, isolated pockets...or weeks-long, grey deluges, it seems. There is no in between. Anyway, I told him my dad was from Ravenswood. His wife kept saying “You look SO familiar to me!” I sat down with them and we connected the dots until, indeed...we found the common denominator. They thought my dad’s name was familiar but couldn’t quite place him until I showed them his photo on my phone. Then they remembered him quite well. This guy’s grandfather’s property bordered that of my Aunt Marge. My cousin Donna was his nurse when he had surgery a couple of years ago. It is a teeny, tiny little world here and you have to be darned careful what you say about folks. We’re all related!\n

After lunch, Mr. FixIt and I went to the farm to mow. We are in the last bit of the Dog Days of Summer…a period of 40 days from July 3rd to August 11th. This period coincides with the rising of the Dog Star…Sirius…at dawn. The Dog Star doesn’t determine our weather, but the Ancient Egyptians used this celestial event to predict the annual flooding of the Nile River. It does coincide with some of the hottest, most sultry weather of the summer. 

\n

\"\" “The beautiful Rose of Sharon at the back corner of the farmhouse. This and the Hydrangea have been here as long as I can remember.”

\n

When I was growing up, my grandma used to warn us that dogs “go rabid” at this time of year and you’d best avoid any contact. I was scared to death of dogs growing up. We had a little beagle for a short while when I was quite young…3 or 4 maybe. We called her Honey. One day she was gone and I never knew what happened. I expect my Mom, who was NOT an animal lover, made short work of finding Honey a better place to live.

\n

My aunt had an Irish Setter. A beautiful dog with long, silky red hair and a brain the size of a golf ball. I remember running up the sidewalk to see my aunt and this monster dashed out from behind her and jumped up on me…knocking me down. I’m not sure who screamed louder…me or my mom. After that, I kept my distance from dogs. This was only further cemented when Atticus shot and killed that rabid dog in “To Kill a Mockingbird”…no doubt during the Dog Days of Summer. I was firmly convinced I would be mangled by some rabid beast and have to get a million shots in my belly button. No, thank you.

\n

Even though we have many hot and sultry days ahead of us after the official end of Dog Days, it marks an end of something. The long, lazy days of summer are coming to a close with the start of a new school year. The trees and bushes have that tired, yellowish green tone now. Leaves are already falling here and there. The big cherry tree behind the farmhouse is bare, save for a few hangers on…yellow leaves with black spots. I thought the grass was going to go dormant, but we have had a good deal of rain the last two weeks and we’ve mowed like crazy at both the farm and the Ponderosa. I was just telling Mr. FixIt as we drove out to the farm yesterday, we have so many things we need to do and can’t till the mowing is done. We are working so hard now, there’s no way to add much else.

\n

\"Elderberries\" “Elderberries ripen and are gone just as quickly, picked off by the various birds that frequent the yard at the farm.”

\n

When the grass was cut at the farm, I walked around and caught some pictures. The elderberries are ripening and the birds are clearly after them. The pinkish-purple Rose of Sharon are in full bloom, as are the ginormous Hydrangeas. I’ve never seenu Hydrangea bush as big as the one is in the backyard at the farm. It’s a good 12-15 feet high and just as wide across.

\n

It was another beautiful, hot, sultry summer day. They will be gone all too soon and we’ll be back to the gray, wet, cold West Virginia winter. I’ll take these sticky hot days any day of the week if it means I have green to look at. I hope you have a happy Friday and you are looking forward to a fun weekend full of love and laughter and sunshine. ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-08-10T01:30:17-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/08/10/the-dog-days-of-summer.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/08/05/playing-dress-up.html", "title": "Playing Dress Up", "content_html": "

\"Couple “Playing dress up is fun. Mr. FixIt and me…at a wedding.”

\n
“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.”\n‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭8:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\nOne 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.\n

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.

\n

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!”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-08-05T01:30:22-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/08/05/playing-dress-up.html", "tags": ["Family","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/08/03/afternoon-walkabout.html", "title": "Afternoon Walkabout", "content_html": "

\"Hooded “Hooded Warbler”

\n
“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
\nMr. 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. \n

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.

\n

The photos, in order:

\n

\"Cicada\" “Cicada”

\n

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! ? 

\n

\"Flat “Flat Backed Millipede”

\n

This is the most I’ve revealed of Mr. FixIt. Six-foot-one and sweet as can be. I love this guy! ❤

\n

\"Man “Mr. FixIt…ooooh, I love this guy!”

\n

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. 

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\"Old “Jack-in-tha-Pulpit Inn”…an old log cabin down the road from the farm.”

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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.

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\"Goldenrod\" “Goldenrod”

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Queen Anne’s Lace is one of my favorite wildflowers. If you look closely, you can see the “Queen’s Heart” in the center.

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\"Queen “Queen Anne’s Lace”

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I have no idea what this little butterfly is. I spend about ten minutes trying to find out and gave up. Anyone know? 

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\"Butterfly\" “Little Brown and Orange Butterfly”

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This one I know…it’s a Tiger Swallowtail.

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\"Tiger “Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly”

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Ahhhh, sweet Honeysuckle vines. When its hot in June, you can smell this from a mile away on a warm summer night.

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\"Honeysuckle\" “Honeysuckle”

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This little guy is a Red-Spotted Purple. People often mistake these for swallowtails, but as you can see…no “tail”.

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\"Red-Spotted “Red-Spotted Purple”

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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.

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\"“Road “Road damage from gas pipeline equipment,”

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\"Road “Deep grooves in the asphalt from six-axle loads of rock.”

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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. ❤

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-08-03T01:30:25-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/08/03/afternoon-walkabout.html", "tags": ["Family","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Peace","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/08/02/all-things-green.html", "title": "All Things Green", "content_html": "

\"Green “West Virginians cook their green beans for hours with bacon or salt pork and onion, salt, and pepper. The house smells divine!”

\n
“For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.”\n‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\nOne of my fondest memories is sitting as a little girl on the front porch of the farm house, my grandma in the chair to my left. She had the beat up lid of an old roasting pan turned over in her lap and it was filled with washed green beans fresh from the garden. These were old fashioned string beans, not the stringless bush bean variety you find nowadays. They were a bit more work to prepare. You took a paring knife and cut the tip of one end almost all the way through and pulled. This removed the long, stringy piece from down one side. Then you turned the bean over and did the same thing from the other end. Then you snapped the bean in half, or thirds, with one hand and dropped them in a cooking pot.\n

When you were done, you rinsed the beans again, and filled the pot with clean water to barely cover the beans. You cut up an onion or two and threw that in along with a few pieces of ham, salt pork, or fried bacon and the grease they were fried in. You might add a little black pepper and salt if the bacon wasn’t too salty. You covered the pot and set it to simmer midmorning, adding water when necessary. Come suppertime, the house smelled wonderful and the beans were nice and tender. Here in West Virginia, we COOK our green beans. None of this crispy “al denté” stuff! Oh, there’s nothing like green beans cooked Grandma style.

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We have had rain every day this week and are expected to have more for the next ten days. The yards and fields have all been mowed, and while there are a thousand things we could have done over at the Ponderosa yesterday, I awoke with one thing in mind…rain on the tin roof of my favorite farmhouse in the world. I asked Mr. FixIt if he’d like to spend a couple days over here and he is such an accommodating guy. He knows how much I love it here. And, while I certainly don’t need his permission and could come here anytime I want, I do so enjoy it when he is with me. So, we packed up a cooler with some chicken I cooked the day before and some other sundries, grabbed our usually-always-packed overnight bags, and headed for the farm.

\n

Mr. FixIt had stopped at the produce stand Sunday afternoon and bought some fresh green beans. Ours didn’t grow in our garden this spring and we’ve been hungry for them. Unfortunately, when we opened the bag to cook them, they were all moldy. We were so disappointed. Then I remembered the neighbor across the road saying he had canned all the beans he was going to can out of his garden and I was welcome to come pick some whenever I wanted. It was pouring the rain down when I donned my boots, grabbed a big golf umbrella and a bowl and headed across the road. My neighbor’s garden is surrounded with electric fencing to keep the critters out of his garden. He said the other day he made the mistake of touching it when he was mowing and the new, higher power charger really packs a punch so I was extra careful. I unplugged the charger and tried to open the circuited gate wire, but I wasn’t strong enough and there wasn’t enough slack. I remember him telling me he had a solar charger and I wasn’t completely certain I wasn’t dealing with “hot” wires. The gated wire was low enough that I could step over it so I did so, gingerly. I set to picking and had to sort through older, woody beans to find younger, more tender ones and soon had a bowl full.

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I retraced my steps, being careful not to brush the wires, in case they were live, and plugged everything back in. I cleaned the beans like Grandma taught me, remembering her old, knotty fingers working over them, and soon had a whole “mess” of beans to cook up. Mr. FixIt had fried up the bacon for me while I was picking so I dumped that, and the bacon grease for good measure, into the pot. I forgot to bring an onion so I added onion powder, a little salt, and some black pepper and set the pot on the back burner to simmer. Before long, the familiar smells of my youth began to waft through the house. I had stretched out on Grandma’s bed for a little snooze, which came easily to the tune of the steady drumming of rain on the tin roof and the fans that circulated cool air through the house. It was heavenly!

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Supper consisted of the pre-cooked chicken heated up in a skillet with a little butter, a couple ears of corn, a fresh tomato from the Ponderosa garden cut in chunks, and the divine green beans with bacon. Top that off with a cold beverage while sitting on the front porch watching the rain and you have a meal worth more to me than any Five Star restaurant in the world! After supper, Mr. FixIt and I played Uno with his new set of cards that my brother sent him from Colorado. I am telling you what…that was a perfect day right there.

\n

As I wrote this last night, I was propped up with all the pillows on my Grandma’s bed, watching the rain and the evening birds at the feeder outside the bedroom window. Mr. FixIt was watching the evening news then Big Bang reruns. After the terrible news of the past couple of days, this was a welcome respite. My friend Jea is still very much on my mind and every time I think of her, I send up prayers for peace and whatever comfort she could possible attain in all of this. My comfort is knowing she has a relationship with God and that He will never leave her and her family.

\n

❤

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-08-02T01:30:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/08/02/all-things-green.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Peace","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/07/29/feeling-peaceful.html", "title": "Feeling Peaceful", "content_html": "

\"Ohio “Finding peace after losing Mr. Virgo is deeper and sweeter than anything I could have imagined.”

\n
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”\n‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\nAs I sat thinking over what I would write about for today’s post, the word “peaceful” kept playing over and over in my mind. It made me think of this photograph that I took when I was living on high ground overlooking the Ohio River three years ago. I was blessed with the opportunity to park my camper up there and would often sit on the deck overlooking this amazing, peaceful scene. On this particular evening, the light was perfect, the sky was stunning, and everything took on a soft glow as the sun was setting. I will never forget my time spent in this beauty as I healed from the grief of losing Mr. Virgo. It was a time of testing my mettle, as well. I found inner strength I never knew I had as I lived in that camper through a particularly rough winter with no running water and up to a foot-and-a-half of snow at times.\n

I look back on that period of my life and compare it to where I am today and it never ceases to amaze me how different things are now. I have the privilege of caretaking for the family farm. I have this wonderful man in my life who brings me joy every day. I have the ability to travel to see my Colorado family. I have my campers. I still own too much “stuff” but I’m happy with my life as it is.

\n

The other evening, Mr. FixIt and I were floating around in the pool, holding hands, watching the clouds in the evening sky, listening to the sounds as the night birds and insects began their chorus. He turned to me and said, “This. This right here is perfect.” I knew what he meant. We’ve both longed for this peaceful life and love. We both feel like we’ve won the lottery.

\n

I could have written about grief last night. I could have written about camping or travel or gardening. I could have written about Colorado or West Virginia or any of the numerous places I’ve been. But, for some reason, all those things seemed to pale against this overwhelming love and peace I’ve been feeling since I got home from my trip out west. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Being away from Mr. FixIt for three weeks brought into sharp focus just how wonderful our life is together. I love my children and grandchildren and the rest of my Colorado family and friends. But, oh my…there really is no place like “home”. ❤

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-07-29T01:30:15-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/07/29/feeling-peaceful.html", "tags": ["Family","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/07/27/summers-bounty.html", "title": "Summer’s Bounty", "content_html": "

\"Garden “One day’s harvest of fresh tomatoes! I couldn’t grow this many in a whole season in Colorado!”

\n
“Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”\n‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:29‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\nThis is one of the very best things about West Virginia. You can grow just about anything here. The growing season is long, there’s plenty of rain, and the soil is rich. Our tomato plants are producing faster than we can eat these tasty morsels from God. I sent this picture to my son-in-law’s dad yesterday. Ben struggles over his garden, tending his plants with loving care, only to see them be destroyed by drought, hail, and vermin over and over. Sue said the picture would just make him sad.\n

I remember gardening in Colorado. I lost a 2,000 square foot garden to frost on June 23rd one year. I’ve stood inside and watched hail turn my garden into something akin to chopped salad in minutes, leaving nothing but sticks behind. I’ve watch as deer, squirrels, and raccoons snack on my veggies like it’s the salad bar at Shoney’s. It’s terribly disheartening. That’s why I started frequenting farmer’s markets and produce stands. I get the fruits and veggies I want and the farmer gets the money in his/her pocket.

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For as long as I can remember, I tried to make my way back home to live. I envisioned living on a farm, having a big garden, canning and putting up jams, jellies, pickles, and the like. I finally made it, and now I’m 65. Don’t get me wrong…that’s NOT old. Not really. But, oh…I sure wish I could have lived here when I was in my 30’s. When I had the energy to have animals. When I had the strength to build outbuildings and a barn. I could probably have chickens now if I wanted them, but I travel so often, it isn’t practical.

\n

I love living here. I love how green it is. I love the smell of rain on the air and the wonderful aroma of new mown grass. I love the sounds of the many varieties of birds that live in the woods surrounding the house. I love the crickets and cicadas that fill the night with their high pitched sounds. I love how the hills around you hug you close. I love the sounds of the water rushing down the creek outside the bedroom window after a hard rain. And the rain on the tin roof of the farmhouse. I love what humidity does to my skin…making it soft and supple. Oh, yes…I do so love it here. I love Colorado…I really do. I lived there for 40 years and did learn to love it. And I love and miss my Colorado family. But here? Here, I have come home…to myself. ❤️

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\n", "date_published": "2018-07-27T01:30:49-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/07/27/summers-bounty.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/07/26/from-sunup-to-sunseti-travel.html", "title": "From Sunup to Sunset...I Travel", "content_html": "

\"Sunrise “Sunrise in Colorado”

\n
“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.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭121:7-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\nSeriously, could someone tell me how it takes twelve hours to get from Point A to Point B when it’s only a two hour and sixteen minute flight???\n

First off, I didn’t sleep much. You know how it is when you KNOW you have to get up for something really important and you just CAN’T oversleep so you set your alarm and then wake up every thirty minutes to make SURE the alarm is set and you haven’t overslept? Yeah…that was me. I finally gave up at 3:30 and read my devotional till the alarm went off at 4:30. It’s already going to be a long day.

\n

My son-in-law’s dad was gracious enough to get up at the crack of dawn, literally, to schlep me out to Denver International Airport, which…by the way…appears to be somewhere in KANSAS! Have you ever flown into there? Seriously, they show a feature length film to make the taxiing into the terminal seem somewhat less…LONG. Anyway, they always tell you to be at the airport two hours ahead of your flight. We left the house at a little after 5:00am for an 8:40am flight. I was a Girl Scout…what can I say?

\n

When I arrived at the airport and Ben had my little suitcase out on the curb, we said our goodbyes and I promised to let them all know when I arrived safely home. I wandered in to find there were about 150 people in line for the Frontier desk. I was worried. If these agents were anything like the agents in Columbus when I was flying out to Colorado, I was in deep trouble. As it turned out, there were about eight agents and they were making VERY quick work of that line and I was off to security in a flash.

\n

There are two security checkpoints at DIA…one downstairs and one out the bridge toward Terminal A. A nice TSA agent stood at the confluence and told us the bridge was quicker so off to the bridge I went. Even though I had a TSA Pre Check, and they didn’t do that on the bridge, I chose speed over any concern about taking off my sandals. Of course, you have to take all of your electronics out of your carry on. And, you have to lay them out in a single layer along with your shoes and anything in your pockets and the said carry on so I had three of those plastic bins full of stuff and set them on the conveyor belt.

\n

A female TSA Agent directed me into the x-ray machine. I really don’t like doing that even though I know the dosage is terribly small. I get more radiation going for a 20 minute walk outside. Still, x-ray was my business for a while, and I’ve had numerous radiologic studies done over the years and I know there is such a thing as a maximum lifetime dose. Anyway, I dutifully walked in, placed my feet on the little yellow shoe prints and raised my hands over my head. She pushed the button, the machine whirred, and she invited me to “stand over there for a second”.

\n

Ms. TSA turned to me and rattled off a long spiel she had obviously recited a few thousand times and was talking so fast, I had a hard time keeping up with her. Add the ambient noises of a crowded security checkpoint and I only caught one thing. “Pat down.” She wanted to know if I had any problem doing it right there or if I preferred a more private location. This was all happening so fast and I was trying to visualize what she was describing. I looked back at the long line of faces eagerly waiting their turn. I don’t know if they got to the airport three hours early like I did and I didn’t want anyone to be late on my account. Besides, I’m enough of an exhibitionist that I’m really not bothered by much of anything.

\n

“Here’s fine,“ I said…perhaps a tad too enthusiastically.

\n

The screen readout with the humanoid shape was glowing yellow just to my right. Ms. TSA noticed I was studying it, trying to figure out what set off the machine. She pointed to the highlighted area and said, “Here…see? You set off the “groin alarm”. I need to check you there.” Suddenly, a giggle started to well up in me and I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying, “Well, I haven’t seen my paramour for three weeks. Do you think that could have set it off?” But…one does NOT mess with a TSA Agent. Period. So, I stifled the giggle.

\n

Wow. She wasn’t kidding about the “pat down”. She was…um…..thorough. When she was done, without even offering me a cigarette, she said, “Now we need to wipe down your hands then I’ll wipe down MY hands and we’ll put this swab in the machine and see if anything comes out.” OK. Here’s where I started to sweat a little. Remember the Plantar Palmar Psoriasis I had on my hands a couple of years ago? Remember what cured it? Cannabis ointment. And where was I visiting? Colorado. And what did I buy to put on my hands while I was there? Yeah, right. Turns out I didn’t need to worry. They were looking for gunpowder residue and I haven’t shot a gun in months. And, no…I didn’t try to smuggle my Colorado brand of ointment home on the plane. It is illegal here in West Virginia and if I’m anything, I’m a weenie about going to prison.

\n

Ms. TSA turned to me and gave me a thumbs up and said, “Hey! I love your hair! Did you braid it yourself?”

\n

“Ummmmm, nope. I had it done at a salon yesterday.”

\n

“And it still looks like that today? Did you sleep on it?”

\n

“Ummmmm, yes. I did. I didn’t have to do a thing to it this morning!”

\n

Feeling like I’d dodged a bullet, she sent me off with a wave to go find my gate.

\n

I arrived at A42 in time to hear an announcement that our flight to Columbus was going to be delayed by at least an hour. sigh I headed to find some breakfast and coffee. And, to thank God that I hadn’t done any target practice while I was in Colorado!

\n

I ate breakfast and took a Dramamine. I know from experience that flying in the summer can get pretty bumpy and I didn’t want any surprises in the first row. I popped the second one just as we boarded, then I put in my earplugs and prepared to nap for the next two hours. Have you ever tried to nap in a vehicle going 500 miles an hour over a really rocky road? It wasn’t happening for me either. Fortunately, two hours and sixteen minutes pass pretty quickly when you are fairly stoned out of your gourd on Dramamine and we landed in Columbus before we knew it.

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Next up was waiting for the Pony Express to deliver our luggage to Carrousel 6 and the long awaited reunion with Mr. FixIt outside Door A7. Yeah, not a lot of smooching time with the security personnel blowing their whistles to keep you moving along. We stopped for a quick bite to eat because I had the munchies from the Dramamine. Honestly, I don’t need to do heavy duty street drugs. Dramamine does it for me.

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\"The “The littlest church in Ohio.”

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By the time we got back on the road, we had hit 5:00 gridlock in the greater metropolis of Columbus, Ohio. What normally takes around two and half hours took nearly four pushing my total travel time to twelve hours for a 2.25 hour flight. However, there was one happy dude meeting me at the airport when I got there. And that made every minute of travel well worth the time spent. It is SO good to be home and to know how loved and blessed we are to have this great love affair going. I had a wonderful trip visiting my Colorado family. And, I had a wonderful homecoming back with my West Virginia family. Life is SO good! ❤

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\"Sunset “Sunset in West Virginia.”

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\n", "date_published": "2018-07-26T01:30:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/07/26/from-sunup-to-sunseti-travel.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/07/25/vaya-con-dios-colorado.html", "title": "Vaya con Dios, Colorado!", "content_html": "

\"woman “Goodbyes are always bittersweet.”

\n
“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.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37:23-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\nIt 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.\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

Vaya con Dios, Colorado…I’ll be back as soon as I can! ❤

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-07-25T01:30:24-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/07/25/vaya-con-dios-colorado.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Wisdom","Courage","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/06/27/its-popsicle-time.html", "title": "It’s Popsicle Time!", "content_html": "

\"Popsicle\" “There’s nothing more soothing than a Popsicle when you are recovering from surgery!”

\n
“For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord...'”\n‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭30:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬
\nI cannot remember a time in my life that didn’t include Popsicles. One of my earliest memories is my mom breaking a twin pop to share with my brother on a hot summer day. Orange was always my favorite, but grape runs a close second. Or is it cherry? I never liked banana. Other than that, it was fair game.\n

As I was recuperating from this surgery, some things became apparent to me. The last time I had surgery was in 1999 when I had my sinuses done. Not a pleasant surgery with nasal splints and sleeping sitting up in a recliner. But still, I was 46. It was a relative walk in the park. As we…ummmm, “ripen”…we don’t bounce back quite as fast as we used to. Anesthesia and 3-4 Vicodin over a 24 hour period and I was toast. The pain was well-controlled, but I just hate the feeling narcotics gives me so I switched to Tylenol. Everything was going along pretty well, except I was really tired. Then, Monday night the pain hit. A burning, stabbing pain deep in the area where the tumor was removed kept me awake all night. I finally drifted off around 5:00am and slept a couple of hours.

\n

As I lay there awake, I read the Bible, did my devotionals, caught up with everyone on Facebook, chatted with my son-in-law’s mom in the middle of the night, and Googled “pain after excisional biopsy of the breast”. It seems to be pretty normal to get to the fourth or fifth day and start feeling some pretty significant twinges in the surgical area. For one thing, all the numbing and anesthesia is completely gone. Things are starting to knit back together and that means some nerve pain as you heal. The area where my tumor was is directly behind the nipple and that is some pretty tender territory. Remember nursing? That little baby latching on with jaws of steel could send you through the roof. Imagine getting sliced and diced in that general area and no sweet baby to distract you.

\n

I gave up trying to sleep and headed to town with Mr. FixIt for several errands. When we were finished, we went to the farm so he could finish mowing. I spoke with my uncle on Monday and he and my aunt (his and my mom’s sister) are coming Thursday for an overnight visit. I needed to get the house in tip top shape for company so I spent the afternoon fixing up the three beds with fresh sheets, airing out the house, and sweeping up a winter’s worth of dead Asian Lady Bugs in the upstairs bedrooms. I washed bedding and fluffed and primped everything to perfection. I’m really looking forward to them coming and staying the night. It’s my first family company since I took over the caretaking duties at the farm. This is the aunt who lived at the farm for years and it is her first visit back since she went to live with her brother. I want her to enjoy it and feel pampered.

\n

I’ll make them some yummy treats for Thursday. His favorite is yellow cake with penuche frosting. Hers is butterscotch pie. I’m so excited to see them! We’ll drive up the new road behind the farm that goes out to the compressor station they are building. That might be bittersweet for them. I know it is for me.

\n

And now, the news we have all been waiting for. I received my biopsy report yesterday. The tumor was indeed a fibroadenoma. It is the most common benign breast mass. Benign = NOT CANCER! The other day I was talking about when I was prayed over and anointed. And it turns out to be benign. I want to point out something. Yes, God can still heal. He can perform miracles. AND…there are plenty of wonderful, GOOD Christians who pray faithfully and they still get cancer. Cancer doesn’t play favorites. It doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, black or white or any other color of the rainbow. It doesn’t care if you’re a Christian or a Jew or a Muslim or an atheist. It doesn’t care. Something triggers cells to multiply abnormally. It’s as simple as that. My faith tells me God can answer prayers. And sometimes…unfortunately…the answer is no and a bad diagnosis comes. It is one of the horrible thieves that rob us of life and health. I am very grateful that my (and your) prayers were answered in a positive way. Thank you so much for caring. Now I don’t have to worry about that anymore. Just rest and heal and head to Colorado in a week!!! ❤

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-06-27T01:30:05-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/06/27/its-popsicle-time.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/06/23/the-empty-nest.html", "title": "The Empty Nest", "content_html": "

\"Empty “The empty nest can be painful, no matter which of you leaves first.”

\n
“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 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, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.”\n‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬
\nI got married young the first time. I was nineteen. I thought I knew everything! I was just about finished with x-ray training. Hubby #1 and I literally grew up together. Our families have known each other since long before we were born. The day after graduation, I hopped on a plane and flew to England to join him. He was stationed there in the Air Force. I had never been on a plane before. I cannot imagine what that must have been like for my mom. She still had my brother at home. He has a developmental disability and always lived at home with her, so she never did have that “empty nest”. But I know she missed me terribly and it had to have been so worrisome for her to have me so far away the very first time I left home.\n

My older daughter got married when she was twenty-one. It wasn’t too long after that when she and her new husband moved to Long Island. I thought THAT was way too far and it just about killed me. I was having trouble in my marriage. Her younger sister was only five years old. I hated having them so far away. I visited as often as I could, but it was a really hard time for both of us. We had always been very close. A half-empty nest is just as painful.

\n

I’ve watched my friends go through letting their children go. When my younger daughter left home for college, it was a different story. First, I had had children at home for thirty-three years. I was in a new marriage and in a much happier space. And, she was only going to be a couple of hours away. It was an entirely different story when the nest emptied out completely.

\n

But what happens when it’s the opposite and it’s your MOM that pulls up roots and leaves? That’s what’s happening to one of my friends in my small group from church. She is young…younger than my Daughter #2. Her brother, her two sisters, her nephew, and her mom are moving several states away and she is left here. In addition to that, they are selling the only home she has ever known. Her nest is being taken away. That has to be really hard. You just never think of it happening like this. It’s usually the other way around.

\n

I always made it a point to go visit my West Virginia family at least once a year. I took my kids with me so they could feel that bond of family. I never dreamed I would up and leave my Colorado family like I have. Colorado was never really the home of my heart. West Virginia is. I usually visit my family twice a year but Mr. FixIt’s surgery in December kept me here this past winter. The grandchildren have grown so much in the past year since I’ve seen them. It seems like a lifetime ago. And my girls have aged…as have I. I remember there was a stretch of time when Hubby #2 was in medical school that I didn’t see my mom for over two years. I never want to do that with my family! I can’t imagine. She had to have been so sad.

\n

Keeping those family bonds alive is so important. I’ll be there in a couple of weeks and stay for three weeks. I can’t wait to see them! Do you live far from your family? Do you get to see them very often? How long do you get to visit? I’d love to hear the things you do that make your visits extra special. I am always looking for new ideas to create lasting memories! ❤

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-06-23T01:30:46-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/06/23/the-empty-nest.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","West Virginia","Growth","Grace","Wisdom","Courage","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/06/20/the-infamous-blueberry-harvest.html", "title": "The Infamous Blueberry Harvest", "content_html": "

\"Blueberry “The blueberry bush on The Ponderosa.”

\n
“Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you’ll harvest.”\n‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:7‬ ‭GW‬‬
\nMr. 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.\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

\"Blueberries\" “Fat blueberries, ready to harvest!”

\n

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.

\n

\"Blueberries\" “The Great Blueberry Harvest of 2018!”

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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! ❤

\n

\"Blueberries “What it lacked in volume, it made up for in flavor!”

\n", "date_published": "2018-06-20T01:30:44-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/06/20/the-infamous-blueberry-harvest.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/06/19/knee-deep-in-june-my.html", "title": "Knee Deep in June, My Favorite Summer Things...", "content_html": "

\"Watermelon\" “My all time favorite summer thing…watermelon!”

\n
“The LORD is responsible for this, and it is amazing for us to see. This is the day the LORD has made. Let’s rejoice and be glad today!”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:23-24‬ ‭GW‬‬
\n#1. Watermelon! OMGosh! When I was pregnant with Daughter #2, I craved watermelon....in January. It’s hard to find good watermelon in the winter but when I did...it was heavenly. I keep looking for the sweetest, juiciest watermelon every year and I have to say, I only get it about two or three times all season. So much of the food I love doesn’t taste like it used to. Partially due to aging taste buds. But I think all this genetic engineering and hybrids have ruined the flavor of so many foods.\n

#2. Hard rains in the late afternoon leaving the evenings cool and breezy. The added bonus of fog clinging to the hillsides is divine. This was Sunday evening. A perfect ending to Father’s Day…playing in the field with Mr. FixIt’s son and one of his grandchildren.

\n

#3. Camping. I really love being able to just pull up stakes and head for the hills. I’m hoping to get my little ‘67 Franklin fixed up by next summer so those quick getaways are easier.

\n

#4. Visiting my Colorado family. I miss the kids so much. The bigs and the littles. And my brother and friends. It’s hard to be away from them. I’ve never gone this long without seeing them that I can remember. I’ll head west on the Fourth of July!

\n

#5. Floating in the pool. I’ve never had a pool. I’ve had a couple of hot tubs, but that’s totally different. Mr. FixIt has a pool and on days when the heat index has been particularly high, going out there with a cold beverage just after the sun goes over the far ridge is truly divine. We stay out till dark, floating and talking and solving the world’s problems. I will miss this when the snow flies. (The water was 89 degrees. It felt like a bathtub, but it was wet!)

\n

#6. Sitting on the front porch. Mr. FixIt bought me a rocking chair for my birthday. We went back and got a second one so we can set up the front porch now. The porch is covered and there’s nothing like sitting out on a porch while it’s raining in the summertime.

\n

#7. Cookouts. We have only had a couple of cookouts this summer and I am hoping to have more soon. We both love to entertain.

\n

#8. Sleeping with the window open. I sleep with the window open year round, even if it’s just cracked a little bit. I need the air. I love hearing the night sounds…crickets, frogs, the whippoorwill, the occasional fox barking or deer snorting.

\n

#9. The lush, lush green of summer foliage. West Virginia looks like a jungle about now. My grandma used to say every summer at this time…”We are knee deep in June!” And we are. The garden, the flowers, the shade trees, the thick grass…all heavenly to me.

\n

#10. Sun-dried sheets. If you have never had the joy of sleeping on sun-dried sheets, you are honestly missing one of the best things about summer. Nothing smells as good as sheets that have dried in the wind. The summer sun seems to kill any latent bacteria that may be lingering in the fibers and bleaches white sheets till they shine.

\n

The earth holds you close this time of year. The heat, the humidity, the lush green, the smell of freshly cut grass and hay fields, the sweet smell of honeysuckle on a cool evening breeze, the crisp sweetness of summer’s freshest fruit, the feel of clean sheets on dewy skin, the kiss of sun on your face, the splash of freckles across your nose, the wind in your hair driving with the window open, the shock of walking from sweltering heat into air conditioning, the taste of a cold beverage after mowing, the feel of the ground on your bare feet, the sense of adventure when you travel, the crackle of a campfire, the hoot of an owl in the woods nearby. Grief takes all these things away from you. And…one by one…they ease back into your life with an intensity you never noticed before. You never take them for granted again once they return. Summer is truly deep and rich and good. ❤️

\n

\"Fog “I love how the fog clings to the hills after a hard rain cools us down.”

\n

 

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-06-19T01:30:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/06/19/knee-deep-in-june-my.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/06/18/sunday-wanderings.html", "title": "Sunday Wanderings", "content_html": "

\"Bedding “Zucchini and straightneck yellow squash for the garden.”

\n

 

\n
“Whatever has happened before will happen ⌊again⌋. Whatever has been done before will be done ⌊again⌋. There is nothing new under the sun.”\n‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭GW‬‬
\nAfter church and our weekly breakfast out yesterday, we headed to Rural King to look for some more zucchini and yellow squash seeds. For some reason, ours did not germinate. We looked all over that store and couldn’t find any seeds. It was impossible for their vast selection to have been sold so we asked the manager. Turns out, they keep their seed displays only to a certain date, then they donate them to FFA (Future Farmers of America), FHA (Future Homemakers of America), and 4H. I think that’s wonderful, but it left me without zucchini and squash. I have these really great pickles I make with them. You know when you let zucchini and squash get ahead of you and you end up with some really BIG squash that could be mistaken for the Goodyear Blimp? Those squash. You cut them in half, scoop out the pithy, seedy part, and cut the rest into half-inch cubes. Cut onions the same way. Using any typical recipe for bread and butter pickles, mix the green zucchini, yellow squash, and onions with the pickling mixture and process them the same way. OMGosh! I could eat a whole jar of those with a fork!\n

\"Tomato “The tomatoes are growing like crazy!”

\n

As we left Rural King, Mr. FixIt noticed the bedding plants were on sale. We bought some zucchini and straightneck squash plants…score! Now we will have our pickles.

\n

\"Rain “Comparing rain gauges.”

\n

The tomatoes are doing really well in the garden, but only half of the beans germinated. It makes me wonder if there is something in the soil that is doing that. I’ll have to investigate that further. Every week we are having to tie up more of the tomato vines and we are getting a good crop of tomatoes setting on with lots of blooms.

\n

\"Rabbits\" “A herd of bunnies in the side yard.”

\n

Our big mystery yesterday was trying to figure out the size difference in rain gauges. The one out at the farm measures five inches of rain. It is slightly smaller that the one on the right in this picture. We bought one for The Ponderosa a couple of weeks ago that is more like the one on the left, except…the one we bought only measures 1.5” while this one measures 5”…the same as the big one. We puzzled over this for quite some time when Mr. FixIt’s son came over to visit his dad for Father’s Day. Turns out, the measurement corresponds to the size of the funnel at the top. The one on the right is probably around 5” while the one on the left has none. The one at the house is only 3”. I have no idea the formula that is used to determine exactly how much rain is in the gauge. I could Google it. And, maybe I will…one of these days when it’s winter and I have nothing more pressing to do.

\n

As I was writing this, I could hear the red fox out in the far field at the edge of the woods. Maybe he will have rabbit for dinner. Country living is not for the faint of heart. I love seeing the bunnies but they eat my garden and I hate the idea of the fox getting them. But this is nature here. ❤️

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-06-18T01:30:39-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/06/18/sunday-wanderings.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/06/17/drink-coffeepray-boldly.html", "title": "Drink Coffee...Pray Boldly", "content_html": "

\"Prayer “Pray BOLDLY at every opportunity…even at coffee with the girls.”

\n
“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.”\n‭‭James‬ ‭1:5-8‬ ‭MSG‬‬
\nYesterday was coffee day with the girls...those magnificent ‘71 Divas from my high school class. We didn’t all know each other in high school. We really became most acquainted through Facebook and efforts to gather as many classmates as possible for class reunions, dinners, picnics, and the like. We are, all to often it seems, meeting at funeral homes anymore. I decided four years ago us gals need to get together and form a tribe...a sense of community of the feminine...when I came back to West Virginia to live. Now, we look at our monthly meetings as caffeine fueled talk therapy and I’ve seldom missed it.\n

There weren’t as many gals gathered yesterday. Illness, hospitalization, vacations, and general summer business kept many of our regulars away. There were also a few who came that don’t get to attend very often. It’s always a different group but the dynamic is the same. We are there to have fun, let our hair down, laugh a lot, and offer support to one another as we learn what’s new in each other’s lives.

\n

My friend Diane came and brought me one-third of my birthday present. She called the other day and wanted to meet up with me. We had a miscommunication and she ended up waiting for 45 minutes out at the farm and when it got too hot and I didn’t show up, she went home. She had to take my gifts with her…two-thirds of which were perishable. Yesterday, she gave me my card. Imagine my dismay when I learned of the flowers and chocolate covered strawberries she had brought me Wednesday! I felt so awful about that…she went to so much trouble. But, we laughed it off. She gave the flowers to a friend she had dinner with that night and ate the strawberries on the way home so all was not lost!

\n

When the majority of the gals had left for the day, my friend Lisa and I sat and talked to one of our friends who hung behind. She confided that we looked like someone who could help her. She had a prayer request. We talked about it a while, offering advice and comfort. When she asked for prayers, Lisa (you remember her from a previous post a month or two ago) took our friend’s hand and said, “Well, let’s just pray now.” The three of us sat in a very public area of the historic hotel where we gather, held hands and prayed together. Boldly. Unashamed. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even think about it until later.

\n

There was a time in my life when I looked at people praying over their meal in a restaurant or holding hands together in public, praying, and I felt…I don’t know…uncomfortable, self-conscious, embarrassed for them? I was decidedly unenlightened in those days yet I thought I was SO evolved. In the last several years, I have become much bolder with prayer. There is no reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed to offer prayer anytime the Spirit moves you or you are asked. I was really happy to be able to pray with my friends. I always ask God to bring me more prayer opportunities and the bravery to carry them out. It is an honor and a privilege.

\n

Today is Father’s Day. For some of you, it is the first without your loved one and the firsts are hard…and sometimes the third and the tenth and….. Please know that I will pray boldly for you today that you know God is with you to offer comfort and solace in your broken places. You are so loved! ❤

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-06-17T01:30:55-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/06/17/drink-coffeepray-boldly.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Prayer","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","God","Wisdom","Courage","Humbled","Presence","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/06/16/world-wide-knit-in-public.html", "title": "World Wide Knit in Public Day", "content_html": "

\"Knit It’s World Wide Knit in Public Day!”

\n
“It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭74:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\nWow...there’s a day for everything, isn’t there? I’m going to take my knitting with me and knit in the historic hotel lounge where we meet once a month. Maybe I’ll get my friends interested in knitting!\n

I was sitting on the front porch knitting yesterday when I heard a loud noise in the driveway. A flat, wet sound I was unfamiliar with. I looked over and Kitty Boy seemed to be really interested in something there. I went over to inspect his find and here was this tree frog. I’m not at all sure if this was what we call a “peeper”, because he sounded more like he was making objectionable gassy sounds to me. Anyway, I chased off the kitty and scooted that fat boy up into the woods where he belonged. Hopefully Kitty Boy will forget where he left him.

\n

There is so much work that needs to be done at the farm this summer. Mr. FixIt mowed the back half of the yard for me yesterday morning before he headed home. I stayed and cleaned and did laundry and knitted and saved frogs. I should go out and clear brush and trim prickly vines, but that didn’t sound at all appealing to me so I took a nap instead.

\n

I bought my ticket for Colorado yesterday, as well. You’ll be traveling with me again soon! The price of gas is outrageous so I decided to fly this year. I’ve been shopping for a good deal and I was getting kind of worried that it was getting too close to the trip to find one. But, lo and behold, I went on Kayak and found a fare on Frontier for $204!!! Of course, that’s without luggage or seat selection. I did buy the trip insurance, which I always do. That brought it up to $223. It would cost $90 to choose my seat. It’s a non stop flight. I don’t need to choose a seat…I’ll sit anywhere. As far as luggage goes, for the amount of money they charge to take bags, I’ll just go to Walmart and buy some shorts and shirts and leave them there. All I need to carry is my medicine, my wallet, and my knitting. Light weight travel. I’ve never done this. It ought to be interesting! I’ll let you know how it works. ❤

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-06-16T01:30:04-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/06/16/world-wide-knit-in-public.html", "tags": ["Travel","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Peace","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/06/15/walking-the-farm.html", "title": "Walking the Farm", "content_html": "

\"Wildflowers\" “Wildflowers along the back road of the farm.”

\n
“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.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭96:11-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\nWhen Mr. FixIt asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, I immediately answered...\n

“I want to stay at the farm for a couple of days!”

\n

We came out Wednesday evening and set to cleaning. It’s amazing how an old house gets itself dirty all on its own. We had a light supper, played a few hands of cards, and I enjoyed several phone calls for my birthday. Yesterday morning, I cooked a big breakfast and we headed up the hill for a good hike to burn it off.

\n

\"Crane “Building the compressor station on that far ridge.”

\n

It was noon before we got on our way so by the time we got to the top of the hill, the sunny stretch without trees, it was HOT! We carried enough water with us to get us back. We stopped at Mount Zion Church and signed the guest book as we always do. The hickory tree just next to the cemetery is loaded with nuts. I wanted to go on up the hill to see the compressor station, but I couldn’t believe the amount of traffic coming and going. We sat at the church for a while to catch our breath, then headed back.

\n

\"Hickory “Hickory nuts.”

\n

At this point, I was getting blisters from my hiking boots. A woman came by in one of the company trucks and I asked if she was going back down our road. She was…and we had a delightful conversation as I ogled the changes this construction has done to the landscape. Turns out, she is also a widow…her husband died of suicide nearly twenty years ago. She spoke of the breakdown she had afterwards and how she has no problem speaking about it as it raises awareness and calms the stigma surrounding mental health issues. I was very taken with her sunny, straight-forward disposition and she said she will look up Marshmallow Ranch and toot her horn when she passes by. I love that I can be five miles from nowhere and still reach people with a commonality.

\n

\"New “The new road past the old Mt. Zion Church, est. 1893.”

\n

When we got home (and checked for ticks) we went for a drive and circled around a favorite backroad of mine looking for blackberries and wine berries. We found them, but they are a little ways from being fully ripe. Hopefully the critters (two-legged and four-legged) will not get to them before I do…it’s always a race. We stopped and watched the Painted Lady butterflies swarming on the milkweed flowers that have recently bloomed. I didn’t see any monarchs, unfortunately. Maybe next year I will order some from the internet and plant them out there. There’s such a huge concentration of milkweed in the area…it would be a great place to cultivate some beautiful butterflies.

\n

\"Milkweed “Milkweed and Butterflies”

\n

We returned to the farm and checked our own patch of blackberries. Unfortunately, they are totally unreachable as they are tucked behind the burn pile that hasn’t been burned yet. My cousin’s wife Charlotte came to feed the kitties and got a surprise that we were there. We ended the day with a lovely dinner on the porch, another sunset, and more cards. When I’ve been at the farm for even a couple of days, I feel as though I’ve been on vacation for a week. But today it’s back to the Ponderosa and the chores.

\n

\"Wine “Wine berries growing alongside a country road.”

\n

How can it be Friday already? Hope you have big plans for Father’s Day Weekend! ❤

\n

\"Curvy “Curvy layers of sandstone.”

\n

 

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-06-15T01:30:02-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/06/15/walking-the-farm.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/06/12/the-long-way-round.html", "title": "The Long Way ‘Round", "content_html": "

\"Church “This is how we party…lifting up the name of Jesus!”

\n
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”\n‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\nI was so tired Sunday night and didn’t write a post because I went to church twice and spent the afternoon with family. Sunday night, our church celebrated it’s third birthday. They started out with a little over a hundred people and met in an area restaurant. Now there are four services every Sunday and well over 2,000 people who attend. That kind of growth in a church today is unusual. The forward-thinking pastors of our church were given a vision of creating a different kind of church. One where everyone would be welcome. A come-as-you-are kind of place. A church home that greets you at the door with high-fives and holding up signs in the parking lot with messages like “You made it!” and “Come sit with us!”\n

The Sunday evening service was a true celebration and the volunteers were honored for all their hard work. There was an extended worship and the praise team plays this one song that really gets people up and excited. “This is How We Party” by Equippers Revolution is upbeat and fun and lifts up the name of Jesus. Everyone in the place was up on their feet dancing and joyous, arms stretched up, praising. We ended by taking Communion. I get chill-bumps when I go there.

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I had never been to a church like this before. Most of the sermons I ever sat through as a kid had me counting the moments before it was time to get the heck out of there. Therefore, as an adult, I went as far away from Christianity as I could get. I started going to a contemporary church service with my dear friends Bob and Ellie when I became a Christian. There is a particular church in Denver I love as well. But I was concerned when I moved to West Virginia. I wasn’t sure I would find the kind of church I had become accustomed to. And it took a while. I church shopped for over a year before I found this one. I literally stumbled upon it. Or was I led? More likely the latter.

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I jumped and danced so much Sunday, I was exhausted. But exhilarated. Too many churches are dying because they do not appeal to the younger generations. This church has a vibrant, well-attended youth ministry. A large portion of the building is dedicated to children’s classes. This is the first time in my life that I have looked forward to going to church every Sunday. I really, really miss it if we can’t get there. I love that church is fun. That I can celebrate my relationship with Jesus surrounded by a loving, supportive church family. I love that every single weekend, the message speaks to me personally. I feel the Holy Spirit move there.

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I think of my grandparents and the little white church on the hill. These services aren’t anything like theirs. They truly wouldn’t understand what was happening. You never danced and shouted in church back then save for the occasional well-placed “Amen!” Even with all that, I think my grandma would be so happy that I have become a Christian. I came to Jesus the long way ‘round. I wish she could see the woman I’ve become. My mom, too. I’ll see them someday and tell them all about it. ❤

\n", "date_published": "2018-06-12T01:30:07-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/06/12/the-long-way-round.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Grace","God"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/06/08/big-a-steak-day.html", "title": "Big A** Steak Day!", "content_html": "

\"Big “That is one BIG steak!”

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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!

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\"Big “I could only eat a third of it!”

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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!”

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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!

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\"Yurt “What fun it would be to glamp this thing up!”

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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.

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\"Buck\" “A young buck out on the lawn.”

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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.

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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.

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Enjoy your Friday! Anyone going on a road trip or camping??? I’d love to get out there and camp somewhere soon! ❤️

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“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.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭96:11-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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#steak, #glamping, #nature

\n", "date_published": "2018-06-08T01:30:43-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/06/08/big-a-steak-day.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/06/07/the-ponderosa.html", "title": "The Ponderosa", "content_html": "

\"Sunshine “The Ponderosa in the afternoon.”

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This little slice of heaven right here is The Ponderosa…that beautiful home place that came with Mr. FixIt. When I tell you I’ve been out mowing, it’s here. A flat four acres, this job takes about two to three hours to complete. I put on a radio headset and ride around and around. It’s not even like work. And this week has been perfect for mowing. With highs in the 60’s and low 70’s, even I can mow with the push mower out at my family’s farm without stopping more than two or three times. It’s been lovely.

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\"Husqvarna “My new ride!”

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Mr. FixIt’s riding mower has seen it’s better days so we picked up one at a real bargain yesterday and I got to mow with it. It was the difference between night and day. It cuts a wider swath and doesn’t hit every bump with a teeth-jarring rattle. I love that I can help him out around the yard. He does SO much for me, it is my pleasure to help him whenever I can.

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\"Antheraea “Antheraea Polyphemus…one of the Giant Silk Moths, male.”

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I was working around the building out back and saw this beautiful moth. It’s wingspan was about 3.5-4”. This is a male Antheraea Polyphemus…one of the Giant Silk Moths. His antennae are large and feathery…all the better for sniffing out pheromones for a little “moth l’amore”. He took off after I shot this photo and flew up over TOW-Wanda. What a lovely thing to see!

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\"Starcraft “TOW-Wanda…waiting patiently to GO somewhere!”

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Speaking of the big girl…here she is, parked out by the big building. She will get moved in a couple of days so we can mow there and not kill the grass. But I have truly enjoyed having her closer to the house and have spent a few afternoons writing and snoozing out there in the last couple of weeks. I’m a little less inclined when she’s out in the field and not hooked up to electric. I like my fans. I need to get Joy moved over here so I can start working on her. I also need to jack up TOW-Wanda and check out one of her wheel bearings. It was too hot when I brought her home from the last camping trip. I’ll do that when I get her out on the flat driveway where there is a more stable surface.

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It seems there is a never ending list of things to do, isn’t there? Keeping busy keeps you fit, keeps your mind flexible, and helps stabilize your mood. That’s a win-win-win for me! And, it’s so much easier to accomplish more in this cooler weather. It motivates me to get more done. ❤

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“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”\n‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2018-06-07T01:30:40-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/06/07/the-ponderosa.html", "tags": ["Family","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Humbled","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/06/03/a-typical-saturday-in-june.html", "title": "A Typical Saturday in June", "content_html": "\"\"\n

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!

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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!

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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!

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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! ❤

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“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.”\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:2-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-06-03T01:30:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/06/03/a-typical-saturday-in-june.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/27/on-the-other-side-of.html", "title": "On the Other Side of Midlife", "content_html": "

\"\" “Spending the weekend at home by the pool. Then visited more family at a local cemetery.”

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A friend sent me a link yesterday to an article written by Brené Brown. She discusses the truth of what is commonly referred to as a midlife crisis. Her preferred terminology is “midlife unraveling”…a term I can totally relate to. Her premise is, while there are many tactics one can take when facing the existential questions like “Is this all there is?”, her approach was a head-on collision with the universe. And, as is always the case, the universe won and brought her to her knees.

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I distinctly remember the moment I first had an inkling something was amiss. I went through a divorce young and I did really well raising my older daughter. I put my second husband through medical school, residency, and setting up a practice. I worked hard, stayed engaged, and did my Earth Mother thing. I created unique job positions for myself, I wrote a children’s book, I co-authored a book for the National Institutes of Health, I invented a piece of x-ray equipment to x-ray disabled patients while seated in a wheelchair, I illustrated an exercise book. I kept my daughter busy with scouts and bikes and the like so her step-father could have a quiet house to study in. I was busy. Then, several things happened that brought my world to a dizzying tailspin.

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When my husband started his practice, I stopped working outside of the home. Hindsight being 20/20, that probably wasn’t the best choice for me. While I continued to stay busy being a full time mom, my daughter was in junior high and she really didn’t need me during the days. I filled my time volunteering for the hospital auxiliary. I took hospice training. I lunged horses and mucked stalls in exchange for riding lessons for my daughter and me. I was a DJ for the local public radio station. I baked competitively and grew a huge garden. I entered the county fairs. And I was becoming lost..first to myself, then to my family.

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I clearly hung my identity on a hook by the front door and became Mrs. Dr. So-and-So. I felt insecure. My husband was surrounded by intelligent women all day, every day. I was easily threatened by the medical staff he worked with so closely. In an attempt to refocus my life, and fulfill our desire to expand our family before it got too late, we decided to have another child, which was a distinct blessing, don’t get me wrong. The problem was, with every passing day, I was losing more of myself. And now, the physical toll of having a baby later in life threw me into a vicious cycle of yo-yo dieting and exhaustion.

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I was distinctly unhealthy…mentally and physically. And finally, like Brené, I dared the universe to make me face the changes that were coming and she was far more up for the challenge than I was. I unraveled…hard and fast. It took a lot of hard work and therapy for me to put myself back together again. But eventually I found myself. I began to love who I was. Brené says, loving yourself is the most challenging thing you will ever have to do. And once you start that task, you continue to work it till the day you die. I beg to differ with her. Losing Mr. Virgo was decidedly the most challenging thing I have ever faced in my life.

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As my grief has eased, I find myself sometimes disengaging from the conversation. “Grief talk” isn’t always at the forefront of my mind. Megan Devine from refugeingrief.com has a “Do This, Don’t Do That” chart that helps people support others who are grieving. I was appalled when I found I do far too many of the Don’t Do Thats…even here on my blog. I know for a fact I have hurt people’s feelings when I haven’t stayed present and remembered there are grievers out there I am writing for. If I ever have hurt you, I am profoundly sorry.

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My mission here has evolved. It started out as a way to navigate my grief, and help others know they aren’t alone. It morphed into travel, faith, crafts, life lessons, and new love. Sometimes it reads like a sermon. Sometimes a novel. Sometimes it’s not much different than reading any other typical Facebook post from one of your friends, and that might get boring. But sometimes, hopefully often, I bring a message you need to hear. Something that helps you and makes you think. Something that cheers you and gives you hope. Something that helps you see my vulnerability and how we really aren’t very different. Something that stirs your heart. Something that brings you closer to God’s Word.

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I am truly grateful to be on the far side of that existential midlife unraveling. I’m happy to have survived fairly intact. I am also grateful that, after five years on this grief journey, my heart has healed a great deal. I am forever changed by both of these monumental life events. I love myself a lot more…partially due to aging, partially due to the increased compassion grief brings. We are all works in progress, clear to our dying day. I’m glad I don’t try to push “feeling things” onto the back burner anymore. I face things head on, because God has my back. He is with me every step of the way. I still pray every time I write and ask Him to bring the right words and the people who need to hear them. ❤

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“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”\n‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:1-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2018-05-27T01:30:41-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/27/on-the-other-side-of.html", "tags": ["Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","West Virginia","Growth","Presence","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/26/memorial-day-weekend.html", "title": "Memorial Day Weekend", "content_html": "\"Cemetery\n\nIt’s not just about barbecues and family get togethers. It’s not about opening up the pool for the season or heading to the hills with the camper. It’s about remembering those who have gone before us. Flags are placed on the graves of veterans. Graves are spruced up and flowers are laid. And we remember.\n

My mom is buried on the far end there. She has purple flowers. Purple was her favorite color. Just ask anyone who knew her. It went so well with her perfectly white hair. Her headstone has my brother’s name engraved beside hers. The next headstone is my Uncle Bob’s. He lived at home all his life. He had a bad stutter and the kids at school made fun of him so Grandma kept him home to work the farm. He was strong as an ox and had the gentle heart of a lamb. His job every week was to ring the church bell to gather the worshipers at the little white church house on the hill. His headstone is engraved with “Mgr. of the Bell”. He was an angel unawares.

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Grandma then Pop-Pop come next. Then Uncle Sonny who was killed in a plane crash in Germany in 1955. He was an Air Force Pilot. He was the light of everyone’s life and the light dimmed greatly for this family when he left us. Even though I don’t remember him, the stories I’ve heard all my life make me feel like I knew him.

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Tucked between the two far headstones is a small tuft of Mr. Virgo’s silver hair that I buried when I moved here. Even though he is buried overlooking the house we shared in Colorado, I wanted a piece of him here in the family cemetery where I could visit him. One of my friends lives just a stone’s throw from Mr. Virgo’s final resting place overlooking the golf course we used to play. I texted her yesterday and asked her, yet again, if she could leave a handful of wildflowers on his grave for me this weekend. I know he will get his flag, but I wanted him to have flowers, too. Jeanne told me that even though she never met him when he was living, she feels a kinship with him. She speaks to him every day when she walks through the graves on her way to the hiking trail in the hills beyond. She is always happy to lay a lilac or a peony with a whispered hello from me. She told me she found a glow in the dark golf ball and set it on her kitchen sink. She’s going to take that along as well. He’ll love that!

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Here’s a salute to all the men and women who gave of themselves to serve our country. Here’s to those who soldiered on at home while their loved ones were gone. And here’s to the Gold Star parents whose child gave their all, most often on foreign soil, far removed from any comfort they may have provided. That loss weighed so heavy on my grandma. She always pictured that maybe, if she were there, she could have at least been there in his final moments, even though he was killed instantly. A mother thinks these things.

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As you celebrate the first grand weekend of summer…please, remember. ??❤??

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“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. 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.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27:3-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2018-05-26T01:30:32-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/26/memorial-day-weekend.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","Prayer","West Virginia","Love","Holiday","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/25/things-that-make-me-go.html", "title": "Things That Make Me Go Ahhhhhhh", "content_html": "

\"Country “There’s nothing like a freshly mown lawn!”

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After getting through the initial stage of acute grief, I soon discovered there were two things that eased my broken heart. One was camping with the Girl Campers and sisters on the Fly. The other was working outdoors.. Oh, when I first sold my house, I was absolutely convinced I would never mow another lawn, but that is certainly NOT the case! This farm house has about the same amount of back yard as you see here in the front. And there isn’t a

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\"Rain “Rain gauge reads 4.25 inches!”

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riding mower here like there is at Mr. FixIt’s five acres. It was hovering around eighty degrees yesterday when we headed to the farm. I knew it was going to really need mowing. It’s been nine days since it was mowed last. In those nine days, it rained 4.25 inches. That grass was high…and wet! We took turns mowing and cooling off. It went a lot faster with two of us. Between laundry and the mowing, we were still there over four hours.

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\"Rhododendron\" “Rhododendron”

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\"Peonies\" “My favorite…peonies!”

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When we were finished at the farm, we took the weed eater to the cemetery and cleaned up the graves and decorated them for Memorial Day. They looked so nice when we were done. We brought the weed eater back to the farm and I went for a walk about to take pictures for you. I almost missed the rhododendron this year. They only last a few days and they are just a bit past their prime but still lovely. The ferns are vibrant green, carpeting the forest floor and hillsides. The peonies were Grandma’s pride and joy. I remember her walking me around the yard and cupping each delicate flower in her well-worn hands and smiling. She knew they were gifts from God, each and every one. She never had bird feeders when she lived here. I think she would have loved them. Mr. FixIt filled them for me. We fed the farm cats and I called them in. Boy Cat came on a run to see me. That always makes me smile.

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\"Peonies “Grandma’s peonies.”

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\"Fern\" “Fern”

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When we got back to the Ponderosa, I hopped on the riding mower and finished the last half of the lawn while Mr. FixIt made supper. We had a water main break a mile or so down the road yesterday morning so we are on a boil advisory. I told Mr. FixIt it would be a cold day in you know where before I would ever drink that water…it was muddy and boiling doesn’t fix that. That’s what we have bottled water for.

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\"Clematis\" “Clematis”

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These are the days that warm my heart and heal it even more. These are the days I long for in the depths of January. These days are treasures and I cherish them. I am so deeply grateful for every gift God has given me. ❤

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“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.”\n‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-05-25T01:30:25-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/25/things-that-make-me-go.html", "tags": ["Grief","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/24/home-again.html", "title": "Home Again", "content_html": "

\"Beaver “Beaver Creek State Park, East Liverpool, Ohio”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. ❤️

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“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.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭90:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-05-24T01:30:52-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/24/home-again.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","goRVing","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/16/im-walkin-on-sunshine.html", "title": "I’m Walkin’ on Sunshine", "content_html": "

\"Coffee “Sitting in the morning sun, coffee in hand, Country Living Magazine…birds and roosters entertaining me. It’s a beautiful life!”

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One of summer’s delights in the east…a warm morning spent outside reading and sipping my morning coffee. We’ve hit the summer thunderboomer circuit early this year here in West Virginia. The skies are brilliantly clear in the morning. The humidity is high from the rain the afternoon before. The temperature soars by noon and the thunderclouds begin to build till they boil over. Thunder, lightning, hail, high winds all can play havoc with your plans.

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Mowing seems to be the big thing around here in the summer. I have to say, I did not miss lawn care and home maintenance in the years I traveled and lived in TOW-Wanda. It was a welcome break. But now that I have the chance to dive into the great outdoors and get dirty and sweaty, I have to admit, it beats going to a gym any day of the week.

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I mowed with the self-propelled push mower at the farm yesterday. What a workout! The yard is well over an acre, the temperature in the high eighties, the humidity sticky and thick. With my propensity towards heat exhaustion, I only mowed 15-20 minutes at a time, then took a break to rehydrate and lay in front of the fan. At that rate, it took me five hours to complete. It’s so beautiful when it’s finished. I took a few moments to just wander around and enjoy the surroundings. The rhododendron is just about to burst into bloom, as are the irises and peonies. The farm cats lazed around beneath the Rose of Sharon and the huge hydrangea bush along the creek. While the flowering quince is fading, the spice bush is in full bloom. I love this time of year.

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We are getting things geared up here at the Ponderosa to prepare for a summer of entertaining. Mr. FixIt has been working in the pool to get it open. We still need to pressure wash the deck but will wait for a dry spell. I’m heading out today for another road trip. This time I’ll be camping with the Girl Campers at a State Park in Ohio for a week. It’s a Mister Sister event so my mister will be joining me this weekend. I love camping with the girls! This year, our hostess…my dear friend Gail…is going to teach me to spin wool for sock yarn. I’ll have time to sit and knit on my socks and finally read my friend Michelle Cummins’ new book, The Reel Sisters. Peace and quiet in the beautiful woods surrounding one of my favorite campgrounds.

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As I sit here on the deck in the warm sunshine, a nice breeze blowing, listening to the rooster down the road, reading Country Living Magazine…my heart is overflowing with the blessings of my life. I’m such a far cry from the early days of my grief. The contrast is startling. The heart can mend itself…scarred, certainly. But infinitely full of hope. ❤️

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“So I rejoice, and I am glad. Even my body has hope.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16:9‬ ‭INternational Children’s Bible

\n", "date_published": "2018-05-16T06:39:50-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/16/im-walkin-on-sunshine.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled","Presence","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/14/sharing.html", "title": "Sharing", "content_html": "

\"Tilling “Tilling in his garden.”

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The other day I told you Mr. FixIt put in a garden for “me”. I was so excited. I haven’t had a garden in ages and I was really looking forward to going out and getting my hands in the dirt. Then, before I knew it, Mr. FixIt had the plants and the seeds in the ground. sigh

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I was really disappointed. Then I looked at it a different way. Why should I get to have all the fun things? Riding the big lawn mower is a whole lot more fun than pushing the smaller one…but, Mr. FixIt pushes it for me. Hooking up, towing, and unhooking my camper is a lot more fun for me than sitting and watching someone else do it. The same is true for Mr. FixIt.

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He has always had a garden. It gives him great joy to do that. Who am I to take his joy away from him? He brings me joy every day in some way. Like, the roses and the sweet card he gave me for Mother’s Day. Like, standing in church holding my hand…the other hand raised. Like, a million little things. I can let him have his garden…and the resulting bragging rights. I don’t have to do everything. I don’t have to control everything. I can just…be. Sometimes, less is more. ❤️

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“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”\n‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2018-05-14T01:30:34-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/14/sharing.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Wisdom","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/13/still-praying-together.html", "title": "Still Praying Together", "content_html": "

\"Good “My good friend, Lisa and me.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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“Are you praying?” she asked.

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I silently nodded my head and cast my eyes downward…ashamed to be in such a dire circumstance.

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“What are you praying about?”

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“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.

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“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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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Sending you love and light and prayers for continued good health, my friend. ❤

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“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."”\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:19-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-05-13T01:30:50-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/13/still-praying-together.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","God","Courage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/12/mothers-day-weekend.html", "title": "Mother’s Day Weekend", "content_html": "

\"Mother’s “My mother’s love is with me always.”

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I went to the farm yesterday. I wanted to spend some time in my mother’s childhood home…the home of my heart. I miss my mom and I feel closer to her when I’m in the house she loved so much. Grandma’s house was the epicenter of our universe. She was happiest when she had all her kids and grandkids surrounding her. I can relate to that.

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My mom was special…as are all moms, right? She had a heart of gold. She had a laugh that I craved. She was simple. She was stubborn. She was pretty. She was generous. She loved with every ounce of her being. She took care of my brother till the Lord called her home. She was…good.

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We butted heads a lot when I was growing up…like most of us do. She insisted on doing things the l-o-n-g way and it made me crazy. She was an excellent seamstress. She basted everything together and was meticulous. I threw things together as fast as I could. That made HER crazy!

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She was a terrible cook. But she made a pineapple upside down cake that made you cry it was so good. When microwaves came out, she decided she had to have one to heat up her coffee. That’s when she switched to Folgers Instant. She bought the biggest microwave I have ever seen in my life…to heat up a coffee cup full of water. Oy. Did I mention she made me crazy?

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My mother taught me many things but most importantly, she taught me about God. It didn’t stick for a long, long time for me. As a matter of fact, I became a Christian after she passed away, so she never experienced that particular joy. I think the one thing I regret most as a mother is not teaching my children the love of God. They are grown, and they are lovely women. I try to live my life as an example. I love them and miss them very much.

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This is my 14th Mother’s Day without my mom. My kids are in Colorado so I won’t see them until I head there this summer. So, when I came back from the farm yesterday, Mr. FixIt had two dozen roses and a beautiful card with a handwritten note in it resting on the kitchen counter. What a sweet, thoughtful man this is. He just makes me smile!!

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If you are missing your mom today, my heart is with you, dear one. Losing your mom is such a sad, sad affair. If you are missing your babies, whether they live far away or further…in heaven…my heart breaks for you. I cannot imagine that loss. You are all in my prayers this Mother’s Day Weekend. ❤️

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“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2018-05-12T01:30:41-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/12/mothers-day-weekend.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Grief","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/10/gardening.html", "title": "Gardening", "content_html": "

\"Hibiscus\" “Beautiful hibiscus in the West Virginia sunshine.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. ❤️

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“Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.”\n‭‭Genesis‬ ‭9:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2018-05-10T01:30:57-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/10/gardening.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/09/like-a-boss.html", "title": "Like a Boss", "content_html": "

\"Brakes\" “Be prepared when you speak to a mechanic. Do your homework and walk in like a boss.”

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When you are on your own, you need to be proactive and assertive when you are dealing with people in service related businesses. I recently had to have brakes and rotors on all four wheels. While I did get advice from my trusted inner circle, I always do these things on my own. When Mr. FixIt wants to help me do things like this, I gently remind him that…while I appreciate it tremendously…I need to do these things because he may not be around someday when I need something done. This has been quite an adjustment for him, but I love when he brags on my capabilities to his guy friends.

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I have noticed a squeak in the new brakes the last few days so I took the truck back in yesterday to have it checked. It still was squeaking afterwards, so I’ll watch it for a couple of days then take it back again if need be. I don’t apologize to them. They need to make it right. That’s what I’m paying for. I know the small metal pin that squeaks when you need to have brakes replaced can sometimes be bent. Hopefully, it’s something that easy.

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Yesterday was jam packed. Errands all morning. Then Mr. FixIt and I walked the Quincy Hill steps. I mowed at the farm. And when I got over to his house, he was tilling in a garden for me. We bought some tomato plants Monday. I’m so excited! I haven’t had a garden in decades. The only down side is, there are a couple of sweet little bunnies who hang out in the area where the garden is so we’ll have to figure a way to keep them out. Do bunnies eat tomato plants? They are pretty aromatic. I’ve never gardened where rabbits were a problem. Ours was always deer lined up like they’re heading into a buffet!

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I love days like this! ❤️

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“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”\n‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2018-05-09T01:30:23-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/09/like-a-boss.html", "tags": ["Strong Women","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/08/my-favorite-wildflower.html", "title": "My Favorite Wildflower", "content_html": "
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    \n\"Trillium\"“Trillium - My Favorite Wildflower”
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\nIt’s a toss-up...trillium or Jack-in-the-Pulpit. I love them both, but since Jack-in-the-Pulpit doesn’t grow on the farm (at least, not that I have found) I’ll have to go with trillium. The pristine white, three-petalled blossoms come out in early May every year. The dogwood have bloomed, finally. Mayapple is up, but no blooms yet. I still haven’t ventured over to the ditch by the old garden to see if I can catch some sprigs of asparagus. The redbud is just about gone. It was amazing to watch trees leaf out in a matter of a couple of days this last week.\n

This is by far my favorite time of the year here in West Virginia. The world is coming back to life after a long, dull-grey winter with a vibrant spring-green not easily duplicated. The temps have dropped quite a bit from last week’s. I took the electric blanket off the bed last week when the night time temperatures weren’t going below the low 70’s. So, last night I had to dig around in the guest bedroom for something extra to throw on the bed. I came across an old “Bow Tie” quilt I bought at an antique store years ago. Some of the fabrics have become quite fragile, but these things are meant to be uses as far as I’m concerned. I love old quilts. I can always figure out a way to justify the expense.

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The other day, I was out cleaning up the camper preparing for the upcoming travel season. Remember how I told you Mr. Virgo sends me birds? Well, I came out the door to empty the dustpan and here was this little guy sitting there watching me. He didn’t seem afraid at all. I spoke to him gently and he stayed for a while then was gone. I didn’t see him coming or going. It was odd.

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I spent much of the day yesterday helping my friend Deneene begin the daunting task of downsizing and preparing to sell her house. It really brought up a lot of memories for me. Seems like forever ago. I came home and helped Mr. FixIt mow the Ponderosa. Then we grilled steaks for dinner. I added creamed new potatoes with peas, sliced tomatoes, and collard greens with peppered bacon, Vidalia Onions, and a splash of cider vinegar. It was a great day!

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I saw this little story on the Sisters on the Fly Facebook page yesterday. At some of our events, we hold a little “garage sale” by our tents and donate the proceeds to a charity, usually chosen by the event hostess. It seems this happened recently and a Sister brought a bagful of yarn and a half finished potholder. She explained to a lady looking over her wares that the yarn had belonged to her mother and she doesn’t crochet. The Sister bought the whole bag of yarn. Yesterday, she received a lovely note in the mail from her….with several finished potholders. The note read, “Now you can think of your mother. I hope you enjoy them!” I literally cried…what a sweet and loving gesture. This is why I love my girl camping friends. They have big hearts! ❤

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“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.”\n‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2018-05-08T01:30:07-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/08/my-favorite-wildflower.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Courage","Downsizing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/05/06/sold-to-the-highest-bidder.html", "title": "Sold to the Highest Bidder", "content_html": "

\"Gas “Mat boards form a bridge to carry pipeline equipment across creeks and up steep slopes.”

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On September 13, 2000, David Case wrote an article in Mother Jones Magazine about West Virginia’s Mountain (Party) Mama…Denise Giardina. Ms. Giardina is an author and was sick of seeing the politicians of West Virginia selling off the soul of this beautiful land. She even tried to run for governor by forming her own political party…the Mountain Party. She was born in West Virginia, raised in a coal camp, and has written books on the failing coal industry.

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David Case writes, “West Virginia often seems like America’s very own slice of Third World. A powerful clique of good-ole-boys rape the earth for natural resource wealth, while the masses contend with shabby schools and inadequate public services.” West Virginia has always been in the lowest numbers of any economic chart. Yet she is (or WAS) among the richest in natural resources. She was siphoned of these resources with very little in the way of financial or social remuneration in the past.

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\"Mat “Closeup of mat board bridge.”

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First it was timber. Then coal, oil and gas. Coal has seen a decided downturn in production with the pledges to reduce carbon emissions in an effort to protect the environment. Gas saw a resurgence when drilling began in the Marcellus Shale of North Central West Virginia. Look, I’m not going to get into a whole political rant here…this isn’t the place. There are so many sides to every story. There are people in this state who would not eat or clothe their families if it weren’t for the Oil and Gas Industry. I get that. And, there are people starving who cannot provide for their families because of reduced coal production. I get that, too. People have to eat

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News broke in November that China came in with a 20-year, $83.7 billion investment in West Virginia’s natural gas industry, yet very few details have emerged as to what, exactly, that will look like. What kinds of pipelines, cracker plants, processing plants, compressors? What about regulation? What about protecting the residents? The environment? Long term climate effects? Will this knock the struggling coal industry completely out of the game?

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\"Gas “Equipment operators work on steep slopes high above a roadway.”

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Oh, the praises and political jockeying to take credit for this enormous financial coup has been a sight to see. The sight that disturbs me most is the destruction of thousands of acres of forest, some of which are a stone’s throw from my back porch. I hate to see the land of my people, the home of my heart, being raped, pillaged, and plundered to send the gas beneath our feet from West Virginia to Louisiana and then shipped to China. Yes…they’re paying for it. But, for how long? Twenty years? You know…$83.7 billion doesn’t go as far as it used to, especially when you take into account each section of pipe costs around $25,000 to place. There’s an enormously expensive infrastructure to build.

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I hate what’s happening to the land. At the same time, my mechanically inclined mind is intrigued by the industrial process, I hate to admit. The other day, Mr. FixIt and I went for a drive and saw where the pipeline will be coming off the hill behind the farm, crossing the road, and heading up the far ridge. It is crazy to see the steep slopes these men and their ‘dozers are working on. There are places where bulldozers are chained together and a working ‘dozer gets lowered on a cable down the hill. Workers are literally on their backs with their feet sticking straight up as they try to clear away the trees, underbrush, boulders, and earth as they dangle from steel cables. It’s dangerous work…as dangerous as any coal mine.

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\"Gas “Closeup of gas pipeline workers high up a steep slope clearing land behind the farm.”

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Anyone with any land at all has put in mini campgrounds in their fields and pastures and even lawns in order to cash in on the economic windfall created by a lack of housing for the oil and gas workers. Restaurants, hotels, food trucks, convenience stores have all sprung up to accommodate the extra mouths to feed. Again, I ask…what happens in 20 years when it all goes away and we are left with a scarred landscape that can be seen from outer space? I know…it’s an influx of money to a struggling, poor state. Maybe people can put a little money away for the future. Maybe they can send their kids to school for better educations. Maybe West Virginia will invest that money wisely and not just line the pockets of the powers that be so our children can look forward to a better life. Maybe. In the meantime, the trucks going up and down our road have literally torn it to bits, hundreds of years of forest growth is gone, and everything is a muddy mess…all in the name of the almighty dollar. ❤️

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“You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel."”\n‭‭Numbers‬ ‭35:33-34‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-05-06T01:30:42-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/05/06/sold-to-the-highest-bidder.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Fear","Warning","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/04/15/new-things.html", "title": "New Things", "content_html": "
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    \n\"Lawnmower\"“It’s that time of year!”
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\nI love doing new things. Yesterday, it was mowing about four acres with a riding lawn mower. I’ve never used a riding mower before. I’ve never really had a lawn big enough that would justify the expense. The yard at the farm is about an acre so I guess if I were planning on living there forever, I might buy one, but really, the self-propelled Toro mower I have out there is just fine.\n

Mr. FixIt has five acres. He used to mow all of it but in the last few years, he’s left that back acre or so to be brush hogged a couple of times a year. Still, four acres is a pretty impressive amount of mowing. I filled up my water bottle, put on my wide brimmed hat and radio headphones and cranked up the tunes. I rock and rolled out there for a good two hours and it wasn’t bad at all. Then I used the push mower to get some of the places I couldn’t reach with the rider and that about did me in. It was probably ninety degrees out there and I really should have known better. I don’t tolerate heat very well at all anymore. Fortunately, I do know to quit at the very first symptoms of overheating. I came in and took a cool shower, drank some fluids with electrolytes, ate a banana, and laid down under the ceiling fan. I soon felt much better, although I’m going to be pretty sore today.

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Mr. FixIt was very proud of my accomplishments. He asked if that was the first time I’d ever mowed on a riding mower. I grinned ear to ear. He laughed and said, “It just might get old after a while!” Yeah, probably…but it sure was fun yesterday. He was thrilled to have the extra help and that made me feel good. He changed his oil and got a lot of work done while I mowed. If I hadn’t have helped, he’d have been out there hours longer. The Bible says two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If one falls down, one can help the other up. Mr. FixIt and I make a good team. ❤

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“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147:3-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-04-15T01:30:01-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/04/15/new-things.html", "tags": ["Family","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/04/13/country-life-is-not-for.html", "title": "Country Life is Not for Sissies!", "content_html": "

\"Squirrel\" “There was a little squirrel…”

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Yesterday was the most beautiful so far this year. The temperature got up to 82…truly hot on the front porch at 5:00. I think this “cold” might be allergies. I was listening to the news and they said with the late spring rains and cool temperatures, the pollen counts have been held down. That is, until the last couple of days. It warmed up dramatically and the wind whipped the pollen count into a veritable poison soup for those of us allergic to everything outdoors. I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t already been taking antihistamines.

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I was sitting in the front window sipping my morning coffee and trying to decide if I was going to live or not when something outside caught my eye. A dark shadow passed by the window. When I looked closer, it was a vulture…sitting on my lawn. I swear he was looking at me. Dang…I knew I didn’t feel great, but…vultures? I was worried. So I went back to bed.

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With enough Benadryl on board to knock out a line backer, I snoozed half the afternoon away but woke up feeling much better. My cousin Charlotte stopped by to visit…my first “front porch company” of the season! She brought me a cute little camper birdhouse I can’t wait to hang up. New birds are showing up every day here at the farm. The brown headed cowbirds are back. And some really big blue jays. And, of course…vultures! Oy.

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I was wandering around last evening, checking out the flowers when I noticed Boy Cat chasing something…bigger than the usual mouse he’s after…definitely not a bird. I got closer and it was a….baby squirrel. I screamed. The cat froze, and for a moment, the little squirrel managed to get a couple of feet away. The cat and I stared each other down. I was praying for a little time for the baby to get to a safe place. The cat read my mind as I lunged for the little fur-ball and he took off like a shot. I grabbed a flower pot as the cat and I closed in but try as I might, I couldn’t get the pot over the baby! He scampered under the trailer with a blur of orange and white fur hot on his tail. The little squirrel wedged itself between the tire and the chock and I tried to shoo away the cat. He stood his ground like a Sherman tank. I made one last attempt by grabbing the baby squirrel’s tail but that spooked him and he took off under the camper. I scrambled around but I couldn’t get to him. I couldn’t help it. I really tried. But I had to get up and run in the house and close the door. I couldn’t watch. That was one determined cat. I can only pray the little squirrel got away.

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These are the norms of nature. Farm cats kill little wild things. And sometimes bigger wild things kill farm cats. The only thing that I am grateful for is Boy Cat didn’t leave a dead baby squirrel on my doorstep as a gift for his Food God. That would have done me in. ❤

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“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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#Animals, #kindness, #farmlife

\n", "date_published": "2018-04-13T01:30:40-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/04/13/country-life-is-not-for.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","The Farm","Fear","Change","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/04/11/farming.html", "title": "Farming", "content_html": "

\"Burning “Burning an Old Tree Stump”

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With the onslaught of spring comes the inevitable chores. Yard work, cleaning out ditches. Picking up downed branches. Mr. FixIt is one of those guys who can’t be still…he has to be doing something. So, I asked him if he thought he could do something about that unsightly rotting tree trunk down at the end of the driveway. He did me one better. He got the lawnmower out of the barn and mulched up the leaves and got the first mowing of the season done. Then he went after the tree trunk. I am so grateful to have this man in my life. Not just for his Mr. FixIt capabilities…but for, everything!

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I remember when this tree was in its prime. My uncle says it died with the emerald ash borer infestation. Lots of trees around here did. Over the last decade or so, the trunk has very slowly rotted but not fast enough for me. I don’t have a chain saw. I didn’t feel like getting the hand saw after it. I have kicked chunks off of it, but that wood is still pretty hard down in there. Mr. FixIt decided we’d just burn it out. It was a sunny day, no wind to speak of. I must say…it was pretty impressive once it got going! It will take it a while to smolder down and be gone. Then later on I can plant a flowering shrub there like Hydrangea or Rose of Sharon. We have plenty of Quince and Forsythia so I don’t want to plant that. And I really don’t want to plant another tree. We bring campers in and out of this driveway so I don’t want branches blocking the way.

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Today is errand day and meeting my cousin’s wife for a big hug and a much needed visit. Every day brings us closer to warm summer evenings sitting on the porch drinking sweet tea. And every day brings us closer to saying goodbye to him whom we adore. This will be a bittersweet year. ❤️

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“The earth is the Lord ’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭24:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-04-11T01:30:11-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/04/11/farming.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/04/07/coveting-spring.html", "title": "Coveting Spring", "content_html": "

\"Daffodils “Daffodils by the Cistern”

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I set to work yesterday, determined to finish the taxes. I sorted through every bag of papers I brought to the farm with me, only to come up two papers short. By the time I discovered this, it was mid-afternoon so I texted Mr. FixIt. He was due to arrive in a few hours.

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“Change of plans.” I texted. “I’m coming home.”

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He is a patient and flexible man, thank goodness.

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\"Quince\" “Quince on the Creek Bank”

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I did a quick walkabout and caught some pictures of the flowers at the farm before I packed up the important stuff and headed to The Ponderosa. As I drove through the countryside, I marveled at the earth waking up all around me. I came around a bend and the pasture near an old, broken down farmhouse was dotted with daffodils. Great splashes of yellow spread out before me and I smiled. Someone…long ago…planted all these little bulbs in this field. I knew. There was once a woman who coveted spring as much as me. I could imagine her living in what may have seemed a hovel…or perhaps, a castle to her. She worked hard to keep her family fed and her farm in order. Maybe she bought a bag of little daffodil bulbs at the feed store with her egg money…an impulse purchase meant to bring joy in the springs to come. And, long after she was dead and gone, I swung around that bend in the road and thought of the nameless, faceless woman with a love for all things fresh and new.

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\"Daffodils “Grandma’s Daffodils “

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I whispered my thanks to her and drove on. ❤

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““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! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”\n‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:27-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-04-07T01:30:31-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/04/07/coveting-spring.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Grace","Peace","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/04/03/springtime-on-the-farm.html", "title": "Springtime on the Farm", "content_html": "

\"Daffodils\" “Grandma’s Daffodils”

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This is my ultimate favorite time to be on the farm. While there isn’t a chorus of “peepers” here like there is at the Ponderosa (Mr. FixIt’s land), there is a chorus of songbirds, owls, and the creek running outside the bedroom window to lull you to sleep at night. Not to mention the sounds of the rain on the tin roof here in this old farmhouse.

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The lay of this land is different than Mr. FixIt’s. His is a flat five acres with the house, pool and outbuilding tucked over towards one corner. He has a couple of creeks, but they aren’t close enough to hear at night. I believe there is more usable land at his place than there is in the whole of seventy-four acres at the farm. The farmhouse sits on a long, narrow strip of land nestled between two steep hillsides comprising what is colloquially referred to as a “holler”. The driveway runs up one side of the house to the barn and outbuildings and the creek runs down the other side. The hillsides are heavily forested with deciduous and evergreen trees. There are walnut, hickory nut, flowering dogwood, sycamore, poplar, oak, maple, cherry, and redbud all up and down through here.

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Grandma treasured her flowers and the first of them…the daffodils…have bloomed. Now that Mr. FixIt’s hand is healed from his surgery and he doesn’t have PT three times a week, we can spend more time here.

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I’m looking forward to our annual road trip to the beach in three weeks so I’m trying to get things caught up at both houses. Hopefully we will get a side trip in to visit my cousin and his family in Bristol, Tennessee. Not too long after that is the first Girl Camping event that I’m attending. Camping season is soon upon us. My big summer project is to finish reworking my ‘67 Franklin camper and I can finally have that vintage trailer to dress up and play in! Today is supposed to be in the low 70’s with some up and down temps until next week when we get some really warm weather coming in. I am so much happier when I can get out in the sunshine and leave the coat behind. ❤️

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“For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.”\n‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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#spring, #flowers, #growth

\n", "date_published": "2018-04-03T01:30:38-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/04/03/springtime-on-the-farm.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/03/28/rain-on-a-tin-roof.html", "title": "Rain on a Tin Roof", "content_html": "

\"Fluffy “Boy Cat”

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Mr. FixIt and I both have a stack of things to do so we’re hunkered down in our respective houses working away. There’s taxes and banking, a new computer to set up, bills to pay, and writing deadlines. Every day I get a greater sense of urgency to copy my Facebook posts over to my website and it stuns me how much content is there. I know there is an end, but it’s nowhere in sight at the moment. I have been copying each post to the website for the last sixteen months. The backlog is entered up to September 2014, with a few blank spots I have to fill in.

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If you have to be stuck inside doing paperwork, at least the weather isn’t sunny and warm outside. It rained off and on all day yesterday and as I typed this post last night, a gentle rain pattered on the tin roof of the farm house. I cannot hear that sound without smiling. I know every sound, every creak, every settling whisper of this old house. When I am here, I am wrapped in the arms of family memories as comforting as one of grandma’s quilts. The weather forecast shows a prolonged rain pattern which is typical for this time of year in West Virginia. It’s mud season. So there will be a few more nights of rain song here at “Marshmallow Ranch.”

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The daffodils are almost open here on the farm. This little holler stays a good bit cooler than some of the surrounding area because we don’t get a lot of sun. Our flowers are always just a little bit behind. When I was copying posts over yesterday, there were several pictures of the farm in all its verdant splendor. I want time to slow down from now to October. I want to pay very close attention to the buds and flowers and leaves and not miss a thing. I want to stay present and mindful. We are heading into my very favorite time of the year and I am going to enjoy every second of it! ❤️

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“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.”\n‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭10:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-03-28T01:30:17-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/03/28/rain-on-a-tin-roof.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/03/27/peace.html", "title": "Peace", "content_html": "

\"Relaxing “Peace on the Porch”

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I don’t think you can see in this picture, but there are some forsythia starting to bloom on the far side of the bank and some quince on this side. Another day or two and you’ll really be able to see them. Not much green on the hillsides yet, but the fields and lawns are greening up nicely here in West Virginia.

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I came out to the farm for a little retreat because I have some writing deadlines. Yesterday, I worked on copying posts over to the website again. I have to spend some time on it every day and get it done before Facebook implodes. I’m up to the point in the blog where I am downsizing. Selling the house, getting rid of 95% of my personal belongings. Getting the house staged. I am not taking the time to read these posts as a rule, but a couple of the headlines caught my attention and I skimmed through two or three of the posts. OMGosh! I had totally forgotten how horrendous that whole process was! I am SO happy to be on the other side of it now.

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As I was writing yesterday afternoon, I had the doors open to let the breeze through and air out the house. All of a sudden, I heard the screen door in the kitchen open and close. I jumped up like I was shot and looked in and there was Boy Cat on his way into the house. He took one look at me and thought better of it and backed out slowly. I went in and shut the door because I don’t have a hook on that screen. Tricky boy!

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Then last night I was propped up writing this when I heard a mighty crash on the back porch and knew right away what it was. I had left the lid off the cat food can. I ran out and sure enough, there was a little possum in the can, munching away. I shooed him off and locked the lid on. Just a little while later, I had to break up a cat fight just outside the back door. Then not too long after that, I heard what I assume was the neighbor’s dog trotting up the creek past my bedroom window to see if there were any treats to be had. Sorry Mr. Doggy…Mr. Possum got here first!

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Such is life back on the farm. I love it here and especially miss it in the spring. We need to stay here more now that the spring flowers will be in bloom before long. Life is good…no matter where we are. ❤️

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

\n", "date_published": "2018-03-27T01:30:52-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/03/27/peace.html", "tags": ["Faith","Grief","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/03/11/god-always-knows.html", "title": "God Always Knows", "content_html": "

\"Lewis “Lewis Cemetery”

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As I’m sure you can tell, I’ve been dreading the fifth angelversary of Mr. Virgo’s death tomorrow. I’ve been really struggling the last week…to the point one of my dear friends contacted me yesterday to see how I was doing. Actually, by yesterday morning I was feeling much better, but I still felt something was missing. I couldn’t put my finger on it. Then a chain of events happened that directed my day and by last night I was lifted back up and set on solid ground. Here’s how it went down.

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First, I slept a solid ten hours and awoke feeling refreshed. I’m not a terrific sleeper as a rule, but I slept like a stone. Mr. FixIt informed me a neighbor passed away and he needed to go to the funeral home. I assumed he would go without me, and quite frankly I didn’t think going to a funeral home when I was feeling down about my own loss was such a terrific idea. Then, he asked me if I wanted to go. We were at a funeral last weekend. Here, we were just going to the viewing. I didn’t know anyone, but something told me I should just go…so I dressed and went along.

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I was introduced around to the family. I hugged the widow and spoke quietly with her for a bit, offering what comfort a stranger (yet a fellow widow) could give. I stood at the coffin, thinking the horrible memories of five years ago would come crashing on my head at any moment…but they did not. Instead of seeing Mr. Virgo in his casket, I saw a man who was very much missed by his best friend and my heart went out to her. I felt honored to be there and not sick or devastated. My dread started to dissipate.

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We ran home to change and Mr. FixIt asked what I wanted to do. I told him I wanted to run over to the cemetery where my great grandfather is buried. I hadn’t been there since I was a teenager and I wanted to see if there were any other family members from my tree buried there. So, from the funeral home to a cemetery. What could go wrong?

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The day was brisk but sunny. As we drove out the two lane blacktop, we passed a field and I did a double take. There, standing in the middle of a pasture, was a young man…high school age, perhaps…with a music stand playing a trombone! The sight was so incongruous Mr. FixIt and I both burst out laughing. The cemetery was around the next bend and as we walked among the tombstones, the timbre of the trombone wafted gently on the breeze over the far ridge. I could not help but smile, feeling God was sending me a sweet gift.

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The cemetery was a sight when we arrived. All of the flower containers had been knocked over, flowers strewn among the graves, flags honoring fallen soldiers laying on the ground…some half covered with leaves. We were preparing to leave when I turned and said, “I can’t leave them like this.” So, we walked around, straightening up, calling the dead ones by name. I remember so often going to visit Mr. Virgo’s grave across the road from our house in Colorado. I laid stones around the perimeter…one stone from every trip I took. I realized one of the things I was missing…and hurting over…was not being able to visit Mr. Virgo’s grave tomorrow. Instead, God lead me to visit an ancestor I never knew. Again…the feeling of dread lifted more.

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We were so close to the farm, we decided to go on out. Whenever I am feeling down, that farm is my panacea. I fed the kitties and walked through the rooms…touching the furniture, the doors, my grandparents bed. I walked around the house and checked on my ‘67 Franklin camper…”Joy”. I turned to Mr. FixIt.

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“Can we take her over to your place soon and start working on her?” I asked hopefully.

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“You bet we can.” Mr. FixIt smiled and gave me a big hug.

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Lift, lift, lift.

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We stopped and visited my cousin’s wife at her barn. She was feeding the chickens and the big white rabbit named Isabella.

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Lift, lift, lift.

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We drove to town and had supper at my favorite diner.

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Lift, lift, lift.

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We came home and I sat down to write. My dear friend who had been so concerned about me yesterday morning called and asked if I felt better after my drive. I really did! You know…every year is going to be another year since Mr. Virgo died. There will be times of sorrow. There will be reminders and waves of grief. I know I have the added blessing of having Mr. FixIt in my life. His heart is big enough to hold me AND Mr. Virgo. Such a good, good man. Letting go and letting God lift me up was the solution all along. There’s nothing God and a little sunshine can’t fix! ❤

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“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.”\n‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭60:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-03-11T01:30:21-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/03/11/god-always-knows.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Grace","Wisdom","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/03/01/morning-walkabout.html", "title": "Morning Walkabout", "content_html": "

\"“Rhododendron “Rhododendron and the gas light”

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What an absolute treat it was to wake up out at the farm yesterday morning. Grandma’s bedroom is right along the creek’s edge and with all the rain we have been having, the sound of the water riffling along was like a lullaby. I slept so well and awoke refreshed and ready to face a busy day.

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Mr. FixIt and I did a morning walkabout on the property to check things out. He moved some fallen limbs from the ditch along the road and placed them on the burn pile. The daffodils are up about 8” high already and the grass is greening up nicely. I’ll need to mow before too long to mulch up the leaves that fell over the fall and winter. The rhododendron gets huge buds on them in the fall. They winter over and won’t bloom till late May or early June. They are still beautiful as they awaken from winter with a freshened shine to their leaves. They don’t drop their leaves like so many other plants. They just droop down all winter then stand up with their arms stretched wide in the spring.

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I am leaving today for a long camping weekend with the Girl Campers. We’ll be staying in cabins this trip. We try to get together in the late winter when the roads aren’t too bad. We work on whatever craft projects we have going. We make soups to share. These are some of the nicest women I have ever known and I look forward to these trips with great anticipation. I’ll share projects and recipes with you along the way but my writing may be a bit sparse this weekend as I take the time to kick back with my friends and relax.

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I do have some prayer requests for some wonderful people who are touched by illness. Please pray for healing, comfort, and God’s will. He knows who the prayers are for. Thank you all for your wonderful prayer support. There are many stars in your crowns. ❤️

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“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”\n‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-03-01T02:30:16-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/03/01/morning-walkabout.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","Camping","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Wisdom","Presence","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/02/28/west-virginia-wanderings.html", "title": "West Virginia Wanderings", "content_html": "

\"Woman At the WVU Basketball Game

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After having breakfast with a granddaughter who is a student at WVU, we headed off to explore the area further south where my ancestors were from. I have this thing for cemeteries. I am always curious as to who these people were. Do they still have visitors? Do they have people who remember them and tell their stories? Or has it been so long that all of their loved ones are dead and gone and no one knows to even look for them. Or…worse yet…no one cares.

\n

We drove through three counties before we finally found the cemetery I was originally looking for. But we found surprises along the way. First, when I was looking for my step-great grandmother…the only one I knew…I found she was buried beside her first husband, under his name. No mention of her last husband, my great grandfather. I am not surprised. He was a bit of a scoundrel and that is probably one bit of family history her kids would like to forget.

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The next place we stumbled upon was the West Virginia National Cemetery. I did not realize there are 135 national cemeteries under the auspices of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration in 40 states (and Puerto Rico) as well as 33 soldier’s lots and monument sites. The West Virginia cemetery is vastly smaller than the most famous…Arlington National Cemetery. And still…the identical small white headstones stretched in meticulous formation across the rolling hills of green in a sobering reminder of those who have served our country, many giving their lives for the privilege. I was humbled by that.

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\"WV WV National Cemetery

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The last stop was Harmony Grove Cemetery near Grafton, West Virginia. I was looking for one set of great grandparents and had read the death certificate incorrectly. They weren’t buried there after all. As we were driving through on our way out, a name jumped out at me and I called out…”Stop the truck!” I jumped out and ran down a lane of old headstones. Somewhere I had caught a glimpse of the name Mauller, but it got lost in the rows and blended in. I retraced my steps from the original vantage point and there they were! I was so excited to find the graves of two of my 3rd great grandparents along with a couple of their many children. I talked to them and told them who I was and how I came to be. I even have a picture of “Tillie” in my family tree. I was really excited to get this surprise piece of the puzzle.

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\"Mauller My 3rd Great Grandparents

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I often use Find-a-Grave to research where my ancestors are buried. Most of the time, someone has snapped a picture of the headstone and I can add it to my tree. I’ve had a picture of these headstones for years but never saw them. But here’s the bummer part of the story. When I got home, I looked Harmony Grove up on Find-a-Grave and…would you believe…there’s about twenty more of my family buried there and I didn’t see them!!! It was getting late and Mr. FixIt and I were both getting pretty hungry and tired and I just didn’t do my due diligence. It’s ok, though. This allows for another nice drive in the country. AND…we had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants…Olivierio’s in Clarksburg. The BEST Italian food!

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To top the day off, we stopped at the farm to feed the kitties and decided to stay the night so I am snuggled in grandma’s bed as I write this, listening to the water in the creek, and feeling so rich and complete. We remarked at dinner that we feel like we’ve been on vacation for a week and it cost just a little over $100! What a wonderful break. And…this weekend is a Girl Camper trip so stay tuned for some camping (ok, cabin-ing) fun!!! ❤️

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“I thank my God every time I remember you.”\n‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-02-28T02:30:18-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/02/28/west-virginia-wanderings.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Love","Humbled","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/02/27/date-night.html", "title": "Date Night", "content_html": "

\"Budding “Budding Branches”

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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. ❤️

\n

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-02-27T02:30:01-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/02/27/date-night.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","New Ideas","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Wisdom","Humbled","Presence","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/02/25/grandmother-faces.html", "title": "Grandmother Faces", "content_html": "

\"Grandma “Grandma and me at about the same age.”

\n

I met my gal pals for coffee yesterday…these magnificent ‘71 Divas Do Coffee. We started meeting once a month about four years ago to gather at a coffee shop and participate in a little “caffeine therapy”. I had a coffee group in Colorado that met once a week for 35 years and I really missed the camaraderie. I gathered up my friends and invited them out and now we can’t imagine not getting to see each other at least that once a month visit. There are now offshoots of the group that meet for lunch almost every week. Some of them meet to take care of a flower garden in the City Park. A few of them are going to drive down Monday to see a sick friend in Huntington. They are a grand group of gals with many common bonds…predominantly graduating high school together.

\n

Some of us were talking yesterday about how different our grandmas were when they were our age. And how we looked at them then as SO old. We are just heading into our Medicare years. We are active, healthy, and youthful compared to our counterparts when they were 65.

\n

Now, don’t get me wrong. My grandma was a hard worker. She could work circles around women half her age. But there were differences. Some grandmas in the ‘60s worked at home. They had raised their kids and their gardens…they washed clothes in a wringer washer and hung them outside to dry. They washed their kitchen floors on their hands and knees. They rarely went to the doctor. They baked their own bread, canned and preserved food from their land. They killed rattlesnakes and copperheads in the outhouse. They cut down trees and hauled brush. They wore sensible shoes and modest cotton house dresses with a belt and a pocket for their hankies. They may not have had much formal education yet they were smart in every way necessary. They knew their neighbors and they knew their bibles. They more than likely didn’t drink or smoke. They were a different breed.

\n

Our generation had many more opportunities than our grandparents’ did. We moved from the farm and worked a 9-5 at an office or nursing at a hospital. We worked hard, to be sure…but not necessarily at hard labor. We got better educations, better healthcare. We voted and protested and worked for women’s rights. We bought our food in a grocery store. We had modern conveniences like automatic washing machines and dryers and dishwashers and microwaves. We bought ourselves some time. We had clubs and entertainment. We had television and news of world events. And we inched ever closer to that glass ceiling.

\n

Fashion aside, 65 year old grandmothers now are vastly different than most grandmothers of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Did my grandma FEEL old when she was my age? Do our grandchildren SEE us as ancient like we saw our grandparents. It boils down to how WE feel and I feel younger in most ways than I did thirty years ago. I know that won’t last forever. I’m feeling the pain of arthritis in my hands and knees and hips. I don’t remember quite as well as I used to. I have to take a handful of pills at night. But, I’m telling you this right now…I won’t go down without a fight! Because…today is the BEST day…the ONLY day that matters. I’m looking forward to many more.  ❤

\n

“Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-02-25T02:30:23-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/02/25/grandmother-faces.html", "tags": ["Strong Women","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Aging","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/02/23/blurred-lines.html", "title": "Blurred Lines", "content_html": "\"\"\n

We were driving out to the farm the other day and saw a for sale sign on a property just down the road. I went on the real estate sales website to look it up. I was curious to see if the property shared a boundary with the farm. There is an old homestead up there that I remember going to when I was a very young child. Grandma and Mom had taken me to an auction they were having. I was given a hot dog and placed in a little blue wagon and pulled all around. Grandma bought the jelly cupboard that’s in the kitchen. It was painted with several coats of white enamel and Pop-Pop let me “help” him scrape the paint off. That cupboard is the only piece of furniture I will inherit from the farm and I cherish it.

\n

I scrolled through the pictures in the real estate listing and it’s a beautiful property. The old home place is pretty dilapidated but it sits up on the hill in a huge meadow surrounded by trees. There’s about 150 acres, mostly treed hillsides. It has a steep price tag considering its location. But what interested me was that little “dog leg” piece you see out front.

\n

I remember my grandparents telling the story of how they bought a four acre strip of land out front that would give their farm direct access to the road. They bought that strip from their neighbor and friend for the grand sum of $1.00. I imagine Pop-Pop did some work for the man as payment. That was often the case back in the day. As I looked at this tax map of the property that was on the website, I got to thinking about that story and not knowing if our properties are adjacent, I made a trip to the County Courthouse yesterday afternoon.

\n

I started in the Tax Assessors office and was quickly referred to the County Clerk’s Office. After going back and forth at least three more times, I finally had enough information to answer my question. First of all, the long axis of the properties do not touch, save for the narrow strips in the front. That “dog leg” of theirs is 12.5 acres and I know ours is only four. I’m glad I got the information I needed but I also got an interesting lesson in the history of the area and how incredibly convoluted land lines are in West Virginia.

\n

The only land purchases I have had experience with were in Colorado. Being a much newer state, the land tracts started out much bigger. And everything is surveyed. West Virginia? Not so much. I could not find a survey or land plat for our farm or either of the adjoining properties. As I was searching through the deeds in the County Clerk’s Office, one of the county surveyors came in to do some research. The clerk and I were discussing how much a land survey costs and she asked him. He laughed. It could be anywhere from $500 to $10,000 depending on the size of the property and whether you can ride a 4-wheeler around the perimeter. That’s when I laughed. Most of the property out there is steep, heavily forested hillsides dipping down into narrow “hollers”. There’s no way a 4-wheeler could make it through that.

\n

The most fascinating thing I found was the description of the property lines on the deeds. This deed for the four acre piece out front was made on April 17, 1946 and reads like this:

\n

“Beginning at a stone pine in an original line, and a corner of _________’s lands, thence with said original line and using old call S. 9 E. 45.5 poles to a stone pile original corner; thence with another original line and using old call S. 83 W. 9. poles to a point in road; thence with said road N. 3 degrees 50’ W. 25 poles; thence N. 19 degrees 20’ W. 16 poles and 3.5 links; thence leaving said road N. 71 degrees 20’ E. 16.5 poles to place of beginning, containing 4 acres, more or less.”

\n

What?

\n

The surveyor explained it to me like this. He can decide he’s going to sell five acres of his place. He can go out, set four stakes, call it five acres and if the buyer agrees, you’re done. That’s because most property like that is bought and sold for cash. If the property is financed, it needs to be surveyed. And who can afford that?

\n

It’s a pretty crazy system and led to a really fun afternoon of research. When I was done at the Assessor’s office, I drove back out past the farm to where they are building the road out to the new gas compressor. I wanted to find out exactly where it was on this new map I had in hand. The flaggers couldn’t pick it out on the map, so I asked for landmarks. When they told me it was on the ridge above the old church, I knew exactly where it was and my work was done.

\n

Four acres for a dollar. We’ll never see that again. ❤️

\n

“The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.”\n‭‭Genesis‬ ‭13:14-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-02-23T02:30:17-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/02/23/blurred-lines.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/02/21/a-taste-of-spring.html", "title": "A Taste of Spring", "content_html": "

\"Burger “Burger al Fresco”

\n

One of the upsides of Facebook memories is documented progress. One of my readers shared a post yesterday that I wrote a year ago. I was declaring how gorgeous spring is in West Virginia. I observed the earth coming back to life, the shoots of spring bulbs exploding from the moist soil, the greening up of the world. I spoke of all the new babies being born in the fields surrounding the farm. And I talked about budding romances and how I was ready to try again. And here I am…a year later and in a relationship with a wonderful man. He is a constant reminder of how good God is to me.

\n

We awoke yesterday to the most gorgeous of early spring days. I had a dream. I don’t remember my dreams like I used to before Mr. Virgo died. And I seldom dream of him. I dreamt I was supposed to send Mr. Virgo a text every day with a scripture in it. Suddenly, he stopped responding to my texts. I looked everywhere for him. I asked everyone if they had seen him and they just stared blankly back at me. Six months went by and then a year, then three. No word. Then, out of the blue, someone told me he had “moved on”. I felt confused. Did he move on as in, he left me for someone else? When I was fully awake, I realized what “moved on” really meant. I had an instant wave of the creepy crawlies on the backs of my arms, then it went away and I was fine. Grief visits fleetingly sometimes…like a sparrow flitting in the brush just out of view.

\n

The temperature got up over 80 degrees. We had coffee by the pool and then headed to the farm. We cleaned inside and out. Mr. FixIt filled the bird feeders. I changed the spotlight on the three story barn. We stopped at the neighborhood grocer and bought a pound of fresh ground hamburger and sliced longhorn cheese. When we got home, we took the grill from the garage and put it on the deck by the pool and grilled burgers outside. It was sheer heaven to sit out in shorts and enjoy the evening.

\n

Some days get burned in your memory to keep for all time. That was yesterday. There were a lot of trees down from the saturated soil and the brisk winds earlier in the day. Baby calves lay in the muddy fields by their mamas. A cardinal sang in the forsythia bush by the side gate. Mr. FixIt took the drone he got for Christmas and went outside to “play” after supper. I heard a tree fall in the woods beyond the field. A rooster crowed in the distance. Neighbors waved as they passed by. My heart felt full and ached with the beauty of it all. Jesus promised he would make all things new one day. Spring is his way of giving us a taste of things to come.

\n

I am all too aware of how fragile this life is. It could be gone tomorrow. So I practice my word of the year and stay present. And I thank God for every moment. ❤️

\n

“He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.””\n‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-02-21T02:30:19-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/02/21/a-taste-of-spring.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/02/17/airing-out.html", "title": "Airing Out", "content_html": "

\"Kicking Kicking Back by the Pool

\n

We have had a few really warm days here in West Virginia, even though it’s been rainy and grey. I’ve been staying put a lot this year. Last year was crazy busy for me and I traveled a lot. There was also the car accident a year ago. Mr. FixIt had his hand surgery the first week of December and now he’s having pretty intense hand therapy, and I am taking advantage of the down time to just be still. We have some fun things scheduled, but for now, I’m kind of liking this homebody stuff.

\n

We have a lot of meals together and I have found a new joy in cooking. I also enjoy those two or three hours three times a week he’s at PT and I can be alone with my thoughts and my keyboard. It’s been good for me. The other day the temperature got up to the low 70’s. It felt so good to go outside and put my feet up and breathe the clean country air at Mr. FixIt’s place.

\n

There’s water everywhere right now. The ground is saturated and the rain keeps coming. We got a little water in the basement yesterday morning, but nothing like last month. Mr. FixIt built a dam to keep the water out and it would have worked perfectly except the sump pump didn’t turn on like it was supposed to. We’ll do a permanent fix this summer. The Ohio River is supposed to crest on Sunday three feet above flood stage. It’s that time of year. We are likely to still have some snow in the coming two or three weeks, but there is an end in sight now and that makes me breathe easier.

\n

I think we will spend some time in the coming week going through some boxes marked “garage sale” and get rid of some stuff. I had a request in the last couple of weeks to revisit the topic of downsizing so we’ll get into that, too. Have a wonderful Saturday, everyone! ❤️

\n

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”\n‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-02-17T02:30:09-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/02/17/airing-out.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Presence","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/02/13/craving-the-sun.html", "title": "Craving the Sun", "content_html": "

\"Woman “Late Winter Sun”

\n

We are having a warming trend here in West Virginia. The monsoonal rains are beginning and we will have long stretches of grey, rainy days in the next few weeks. Still, the night time temperatures drop and we awoke to a skiff of snow and icy roads yesterday. After totaling my truck this time last year, I am really skittish about driving on dicey roads so I’ve been hanging out at Mr. FixIt’s place while he goes to town for physical therapy on his hand.

\n

Yesterday was really sunny but with a high of only 41 degrees. The back door faces west and the sun was streaming in so I pulled my recliner over and soaked up some rays. OMGosh! It felt divine. An hour sitting in the warm sunshine did wonders to boost my mood and got me thinking about getting outside camping, hiking, fishing. This is the week of the Sisters on the Fly Great Winter Camp In. We are supposed to capture pictures of ourselves doing anything camping related. I’m going to get out in the camper this week…even if it’s just for a few hours to write. I really miss TOW-Wanda by this time of the year.

\n

It’s almost time to start working on fixing up my 1967 Franklin Camper. I would love to have it ready this year to camp in. As I sit here writing this, a pair of cardinals are at the feeder in the back yard. I’m hearing more birds in the mornings. The pile of firewood is stacked by the fire ring ready for coming evening gatherings. The pool is still iced over. But the days are getting longer and with warmer weather and rain comes the promise of spring. I can hardly wait! ❤️

\n

“Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”\n‭‭Hosea‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-02-13T02:30:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/02/13/craving-the-sun.html", "tags": ["Hope","Sisters on the Fly","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","West Virginia","Gratitude","Wisdom","Presence","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/02/03/digging-in-the-past.html", "title": "Digging in the Past", "content_html": "

\"My My Ancestors

\n

I received an e-mail from my cousin’s son the other day through the ancestry.com website. He was asking for permission to look at my family tree. He’s been doing a little research to give to his niece when she’s old enough to take interest and since I have ten times the number of names in my tree over his, he wanted a peek. I said yes, of course.

\n

I mentioned in my post yesterday that I had discovered a long lost cousin in my long time friend and in the process, I downloaded the Ancestry app again. It had been quite some time since I had delved into genealogy because, quite frankly, I have a tendency to dive in and stay there for months at a time. Seriously, I’ve needed an intervention before this. I have nearly 6,000 names in my tree, if that tells you anything about the time I spend (waste?) on this stuff.

\n

Sometime in the last couple of years, I sent in a DNA sample to Ancestry. Nothing much came of it for a while. I got my readout with no real surprises save for <1% Finnish. Then, as more and more people did the test, more and more connections have been made. I downloaded the AncestryDNA app and there’s an amazing interactive map that shows the ancestors I have been genetically linked to, where they were from, when they came to the United States, and where they settled. There are thousands of connections….from 2nd cousins to far distant relatives.

\n

Along with these new connections come the items in their corresponding trees. Certificates of birth, marriage, and death. Deeds and wills. Censuses. City directories. Obituaries. Cemetery locations. All interesting and they fill in a lot of blanks. But the BEST sunken treasures are the photographs of ancestors you’ve never met…you’ve never seen. Like this picture, for instance. That dapper man in the hat standing in the center is my second great grandfather…Daniel. His wife, Lydia, is seated in front and slightly to his left. They had thirteen children. He lived a long life of seventy-five years and died in 1897 in his hometown. His grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War. One of his sons…my great grandfather, Benjamin…is the gentleman standing on the far left.

\n

I’ve never felt more connected to my ancestry as I do living here in West Virginia. The very ground cries out their names, the hills echo their stories. I have a lot on my plate right now, but I can’t help diving in just a bit and see what’s new out there. My tree has leaves everywhere meaning there’s a boatload of hints to follow up on. If I go too far down the rabbit hole, send in the troops! ❤️

\n

“And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today.”\n‭‭Acts‬ ‭26:6‬ ‭NIV11‬‬

\n

#ancestry, #knowledge, #family

\n", "date_published": "2018-02-03T02:30:31-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/02/03/digging-in-the-past.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/02/02/the-smallest-of-worlds.html", "title": "The Smallest of Worlds", "content_html": "
\n\"Charley\n
    “Charley Chadock - My Great Grandfather”
\n
\nSharon 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.\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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! ❤️

\n

“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

#genealogy, #family, #cousins

\n", "date_published": "2018-02-02T02:30:10-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/02/02/the-smallest-of-worlds.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/02/01/the-gift-that-keeps-on.html", "title": "The Gift That Keeps on Giving", "content_html": "

\"Christmas “The Winter Tree”

\n

I sat in the family room yesterday, working on my laptop. As I was installing my tax software, I looked over and caught the sun gleaming through the branches of the tree that still stands in front of the picture window. Do I still call it a Christmas tree now that it’s February? I don’t know. Maybe I’ll call it a Valentine tree.

\n

I contemplated taking it down…for about two minutes. Then I said…”Nah, we love it!” So there it stands. It serves many purposes. It brings a lovely ambient light to the room in the evenings as we sit and enjoy this comfortable space we created. The blue-grey walls take on a deeper, muted tone in the pale white light. The mechanical angel on top continues her slow dance. I have the lights set on a timer to come on at 5:30. This is where I notice another benefit to leaving the tree up. When I first decorated it and set the timer, it had already been dark outside for quite some time when the lights came on. Now it’s still daylight, giving me a visual sign that the days are indeed getting longer and spring will be here before we know it.

\n

I do whatever it takes to keep happy in the winter. Having gone through a clinical depression in the ‘90s, I am very careful about my mental hygiene when the days are so short. It is easy to become bored when you are stuck inside too much and it’s not a long walk from boredom to depression. They are one and the same…just different points on a continuum. I heard of a suicide yesterday. It made my heart hurt. With boredom, escape can come in sleep. With depression, escape can tragically become final.

\n

Winters are long and dark enough. If leaving my tree up makes me happy, so be it. It very likely will become an Easter tree before I give in and take it down. At least the Christmas carols are gone! I am always glad to put those away. Six weeks of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” is enough to drive anyone batty! ❤️

\n

“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭36:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-02-01T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/02/01/the-gift-that-keeps-on.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","West Virginia","Grace","Peace","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/01/26/do-you-hear-that.html", "title": "Do You Hear That?", "content_html": "\"Earth\"\n

When I first moved to West Virginia in October 2014, I was living in my camper out on the farm. Shortly after my arrival, I began to notice a low humming sound every night when I went to bed. At first, I thought perhaps something was wrong with some mechanism in the camper itself. Then I thought perhaps the furnace in the house was so loud I was hearing it. I ruled both theories out when I discovered it was continuous, not cyclical.

\n

The sound was similar to a prop plane running its engines about a half mile away. Or a diesel tractor trailer idling down the road. I asked my aunt and she gave me that “you’re kooky” look I always got when I said something…ok, well, pretty much whenever I spoke to her. She didn’t hear anything, she said. “It’s all in your head.”

\n

I may have believed that because I do have tinnitus…that high pitched whine I have from too many rock concerts and running machinery without hearing protection. This wasn’t high pitched though. It was low, droning, monotonous, maddening. When I learned they were doing deep drilling on the hill about two ridges over from the farm, I thought that was my answer. But I heard it other places as well. So that wasn’t it.

\n

I didn’t notice it so much when I lived up at the river. There was river and train traffic and highways on both the West Virginia and the Ohio side. And, I didn’t hear it in Colorado. Just here. In the country. I don’t remember ever hearing it growing up. After a while, I became pretty accustomed to it. If I did notice it bothering me, there is an app on my iPad that plays white noise or nature sounds and I just turned it on and drowned it out. I do sleep with earplugs but that’s really only good for higher frequency sound. They only served to dampen the ambient noise and accentuate the low pitched frequencies.

\n

A few months ago, Mr. FixIt was reading beside me and I put my iPad down and said, “Do you hear that???” He said, “Yeah…that low pitched humming noise? What IS that???” Finally!!! Corroboration! We searched the house. We went outside. We could not identify a source. It bugged us to no end. It seems to be louder on some nights than on others. Sometimes I don’t notice it. Last night it sounded like a plane getting ready for takeoff on the pool deck out back. Oy!

\n

I finally turned to the internet for an answer and came up with this article.

\n

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/have-you-heard-the-hum-mystery-of-earths-low-droning-noise-could-now-be-solved-10182111.html

\n

Apparently, this is a phenomenon that has plagued certain people who can hear this low droning noise and others can’t. I’m glad to know there is some explanation for it. We are hearing the earth…vibrating. It gives me some comfort to know I am not alone and I’m not crazy, but it’s still pretty maddening. How about you all? Do you hear “the hum” where you are? ❤️

\n

“when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint;”\n‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-01-26T02:30:24-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/01/26/do-you-hear-that.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","New Ideas","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/01/23/january-walkabout.html", "title": "January Walkabout", "content_html": "\"Old\n

Although I am at the farm quite often, I only do a real walkabout once every month or two. I check the outbuildings for damage, do a quick inventory of the chores that need doing, watch for trees than need felled before they come down where I don’t want them, and get a feel for the land in every season. That way I am more aware when things look out of the ordinary and I can fix them right away. I’ve noticed the old tool shed has tipped more toward the barn so this summer I’m going to have to get down under the back corner with a hydraulic jack to even it up. The yard is yet again full of mole hills. I need to spread something to kill the cutworms they feed on and that will send them on to greener pastures. I need to get ahead of the poison ivy in the spring. It’s easy to spot the vines when the leaves are off. The vines are “hairy” and often grow up the sides of buildings and other trees.

\n\"Boy\n

Yesterday, Boy Cat accompanied me as I meandered about the lower land around the farmhouse. His soft mewing and purring let me know he was glad to see me, even though he rarely comes close to me. I am nothing more than his Food God…”The One Who Opens the Can”. He is very sweet and I’m always grateful nothing has gotten him in the surrounding woods where he hunts. I still mourn for Old Mama Kitty. The sad thing about losing farm cats…there is seldom “closure”. Kitty Boy, the youngster, has grown into a sturdy, sleek, shorthaired version of Boy Cat. He is as aloof as ever and will not be on the porch at the same time as me. He will sit still and look at me if I stand in the kitchen and look out the back door. Nothing I have ever done has won him over…he is truly a wild boy.

\n\"Winter\n

The hydrangea is heavy with dried flower clusters…some as big as luncheon plates. The tubs that caught rain at the corners of the house got caught in the freeze and unfortunately have burst their seams. I want to get a couple plastic fifty-five gallon drums to catch the rainwater. Here in West Virginia, you can have cisterns to filter and store rainwater for washing, cooking, and drinking if you boil it. In Colorado, it is against the law to catch rain because we do not own that water. It has been sold to drier climates downstream. They are dead serious about it, too. I noticed several honeybees in my bird feeder yesterday. The weather is warming up and they are browsing for something to eat. I’ll look up what to put out for them and do that the next time I’m at the farm.

\n

 

\n\"Deadfall\n

Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can spend the weekend out there. Mr. Fixit built a dam in the stairwell going to the basement to keep the water from flooding in like it did week before last. We are due for some heavy rains in the next few days and we need to make sure that protects the basement before we leave for any length of time. Ahhh, the downside of country living…there is always something needing built, rebuilt, repaired or torn down.

\n\"Moss\n

Oh….and an update on the snowy owl. The rescue folks got his weight up and his wing healed nicely. They took him north to the south shore of Lake Erie over the weekend and released him back into the wild. They posted a slow motion video of him taking flight and heading off into the distance. It was a beautiful thing. He was a magnificent creature and there is every hope he will thrive as they released him in the southernmost region of his winter territory. Several other snowy owls were reported in the region so he should do well.

\n\"Boy\n

That’s all from West Virginia today. I hope you all are well and maybe enjoying a little “spring-like weather” before the next cold snap. It was in the mid-60’s yesterday. I’ll take that any day of the week over the frigid temps we faced at the first of the year. ❤️

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“Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.””\n‭‭Genesis‬ ‭13:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2018-01-23T02:30:47-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/01/23/january-walkabout.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Peace","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/01/20/savor-the-sweet.html", "title": "Savor the Sweet", "content_html": "\"Woman\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n\"\"\n

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.

\n

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. ❤️

\n

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”\n‭‭James‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-01-20T02:30:14-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/01/20/savor-the-sweet.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Presence","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/01/19/catching-up.html", "title": "Catching Up", "content_html": "\"Coffee\n

One of the best ways to catch up with paperwork is to have peaceful surroundings. Mr. FixIt had a day of errands to do. I think he kinda wanted me to tag along with him yesterday, but I know us well…I would have ended up coming in at 9:30 last night and none of this work would have gotten done.

\n

As soon as he left (with a big hug and kiss) I turned on praise music and cranked it up. I always need a little extra dose of Jesus when I am heading into a formidable task. Wading through many bags and boxes of papers and sorting them into some sort of organization that allows me to actually put my finger on things was the order of the day. With praise, and good coffee and French Truffles…I waded in with both feet and started making the first cuts. What was trash. What needed to be kept in which pile. I really, really hate paperwork! “Jesus is calling…” I can do this. “Do you thirst for a drink from the well…” I can do this. “The Father’s arms are open wide…” Oh, yes…I can definitely do this! “Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy…” YES…let’s DO this!!!

\n

As I often do, I talk out loud to Jesus when I’m working. The conversation is never one-sided. He always speaks to me through the Holy Spirit and tells me everything I need to hear. First, he smacks my hand a little…”Keep up with this stuff better.” He chides gently. “You know what an ordeal it is when you put it off till the end of the year. It seems overwhelming. If it’s difficult to slog through…remember to talk with me while you’re working. It makes the time pass faster. And, I can help. I can help you put things into perspective. I can help you find lost papers. I can help you remember who you need to talk to about this and that. I can help you make important decisions. Just remember to include me…even in the most mundane of your daily activities.”

\n

Then He goes on with his daily teaching. “Thank your Father for the gifts you receive. See all these papers? They are all articles of provision. That bank account? I gave you that gift to provide for your every need. Respect that. Balance every month…not because it’s a drudge, but because it’s an honor to see the abundance you have been provided with. The same goes for that insurance policy you have been complaining about because the price went up. Be grateful you HAVE insurance…and so far, you haven’t run out of money to pay for it. What about that accident last February? I know you have been dreading searching for all the papers you need to have in order to finish out that claim. Yes, that’s a pain…but, I made sure you weren’t terribly injured. And you received a much newer truck when yours was totaled. It was “a miracle” when you got that check that just almost covered the new truck, wasn’t it? It was Me…I made sure you have a safe, affordable vehicle. A little gratitude goes a long way, dear one.”

\n

What blessings I have. I have a Father that provides for me. I have a loving family that supports and loves me. I have this tremendous man in my life who loves me and shares his home with me as if it has always been mine…he’s just been waiting for me to come along. I have my health. I have the farm. I have TOW-Wanda. I have a retirement. I have Social Security and health insurance and soon, I’ll have Medicare…that carrot at the end of the race that will help provide for me in my golden years. I have a house…TWO houses…THREE if you count TOW-Wanda…to shelter me from the storms of life. I have food and clean water and clothes. I am wealthy….beyond my wildest dreams. I am LOVED. What a lovely way to look at the mundane, dreary chore of sorting through paperwork. What a lovely way to look at the world. Thank you, God! “You’re a good, good Father…it’s who you are, it’s who you are…” ❤️

\n

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”\n‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2018-01-19T02:30:51-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/01/19/catching-up.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/01/13/the-umbrella-incident-or-how.html", "title": "“The Umbrella Incident” or “How to Feed Your Man”", "content_html": "

\"Winter “Winter Flooding in West Virginia” by Ginny McKinney

\n

It all started innocently enough. It was going to rain and I was heading to town soon. As I jumped in the shower, I called out to Mr. FixIt.

\n

“Honey…would you mind grabbing my umbrella out of the truck?”

\n

When I got dressed and was heading out the door, I looked around. My umbrella wasn’t there. I asked if he had gotten it for me and Mr. FixIt said no. There was an umbrella there by the door. Now, it was a perfectly good umbrella. One that, you know, keeps rain off of you. But I wanted MY umbrella and I felt Mr. FixIt had made a decision for me. I didn’t like it.

\n

Silly…that was just plain silly of me. But, I am my mother’s daughter and stubborn is my middle name. I hopped out the door and into the rain…sans umbrella.

\n

“I’ll show YOU!” I thought as I made a mad dash for the truck. “I don’t need your stinky old boy umbrella!”

\n

Ridiculous. I got wet because I got my nose out of joint. And why? Because, somewhere in the far recesses of my mind I equated “Please get my umbrella.” with “Please tell me you love me.” That is old school thinking right there…something I thought I left behind like…two relationships ago.

\n

It’s been a couple of weeks now. And ever since, I’ve been criticizing Mr. FixIt’s every move. Mostly because he’s a man and he had surgery and he’s SUPPOSED to be taking care of that hand so it will heal properly and he’s as stubborn as me and he does things his way and….did I say he was stubborn? I have spent the better part of two weeks with “Don’t pick that up!” And “Here…let ME do it!” I think there were eye-rolls involved. All of this was done in an effort to punish him for a perceived slight that was nothing more than something made up in my head. Some unpacked baggage from seasons past that has absolutely nothing to do with him.

\n

Then…the rain started.

\n

It rained…hard. Yesterday morning I awoke to the sounds of the carpet cleaner sucking water up from the rug downstairs. The basement flooded! I jumped up and ran downstairs. And there was my man…emptying one gallon containers of dirty water into the sink…carrying them with two hands, one of which he isn’t supposed to lift anything heavier than popcorn.

\n

“Breathe…breathe…don’t scold him. He’s not a child.” My inner voice reasoned with me.

\n

“Did you plug in the sump pump?” I asked.

\n

“No.” Shoulders slumped. Voice dejected.

\n

“Are you kidding me?” I asked.

\n

Shoulders slumped more. “Stupid. It was stupid.”

\n

I took the carpet cleaner and started that part myself so he wouldn’t have to carry the bucket to the sink. Mr. FixIt went about sweeping up water in the room without carpet. He ran the vacuum. We didn’t talk much. Then I sent him off on an errand to town.

\n

After he left, I went upstairs and fixed myself a cup of coffee. I sipped it as I ran the carpet cleaner back and forth over the soggy carpet. And I fumed. Then I could see the dejected slump of my sweetheart’s shoulders and my heart softened.

\n

“Lord,” I said out loud. “I haven’t been loving this wonderful man you gave me the way I should. I haven’t been loving him the way you love me. And all because he didn’t get my umbrella for me!”

\n

I sucked up more water, emptied the bucket, and began again.

\n

“Lord, please give me the heart of a cheerful servant. Let me see all of his good qualities and none of the annoying traits that make us human. Can you do that for me, please?” I asked with sincere earnestness in my voice.

\n

Suddenly, the old hymn “Farther Along” started up in my mind and I began to sing out loud as I vacuumed up bucket after bucket of water.

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“Tempted and tried we’re oft made to wonder\nWhy it should be thus all the day long\nWhile there are others living about us\nNever molested though in the wrong.

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Farther along we’ll know all about it\nFarther along well understand why\nCheer up my brother, live in the sunshine\nWe’ll understand it all by and by.

\n

When death has come and taken our loved ones\nIt leaves our home so lonely and drear\nThen do we wonder why others prosper\nLiving so wicked year after year.

\n

When we see Jesus coming in glory\nWhen he comes down from his home in the sky\nThen we shall meet him in that bright mansion\nWe’ll understand it all by and by.

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Farther along we’ll know all about it\nFarther along we’ll understand why\nCheer up my brother, live in the sunshine\nWe’ll understand it all by and by.

\n

Yes, we’ll understand it…all by and by.”

\n

I sang and sang and in two verses…maybe three…something happened. Any negative thoughts I had been having dissolved. My heart was soft and open. God had indeed given me the heart of a cheerful servant, just as I had asked.

\n

I went on and worked, happily singing and emptying bucket after bucket of dirty flood water. I worked for about three hours when Mr. FixIt walked in carrying breakfast for me. I went upstairs and gave him a great big hug and an even bigger smile. I thanked him profusely for bringing me a warm breakfast. I hadn’t taken time to eat. I patted the seat beside me. He shook his head and said no…he needed to get back to it.

\n

“Please?” I begged. “Just for a minute.”

\n

He smiled and sat down.

\n

“Sweetheart, listen…I know you feel stupid for not plugging in the sump pump. But, I could have thought of it, too. And I didn’t. We unplugged it to put up the snowman for Christmas and just forgot. We make mistakes…it happens. It wasn’t your fault.” I put my hand on his knee and looked at him intently. I wanted to make sure he heard me.

\n

Mr. FixIt turned those baby blues to mine and gave me his sweetest smile. And, I felt I’d made it right. This is how you feed a man. You feed his spirit. You feed his soul. You breathe life into him. When you start looking for the bad in your love…that’s all you will see. I really, REALLY don’t want to go there. Do I get it right all the time? Oh, heck no! I’m human, too. I stumble and forget and let my lower self talk WAY too often. But sometimes I get it right. Sometimes I remember to ask God for help. Yesterday was one of those days. ❤️

\n

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”\n‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2018-01-13T02:30:33-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/01/13/the-umbrella-incident-or-how.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/01/12/here-comes-the-rain.html", "title": "Here Comes the Rain", "content_html": "

\"The “Belpre Bridge” by Ginny McKinney

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Yesterday morning was sunny and warm. By warm, I mean 47. As in…above freezing! And by afternoon it was 72 degrees according to the thermometer on my truck. swoon I haven’t felt this warm since sometime back in September. It was downright balmy out there!

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Mr. FixIt and I had errands to run yesterday and he asked me mid-day what I’d like for lunch. My go to favorite? The Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad with Fat Free Honey Mustard Dressing from Chik-fil-A! And my go to favorite place to eat it? Point Park in Parkersburg. I wanted to watch the ice floes out on the Ohio River. Yesterday, there were three Blue Herons and a bunch of Seagulls sitting out on the ice. I believe two gents were trying to woo the same lady heron because one kept shooing off the interloper. Said lady was having none of it and kept flying away from Mr. Romance.

\n

It had just started raining when we parked in our favorite spot. We really wanted to see a tug pushing barges through the ice but unfortunately, none came along. As an update, Mr. FixIt started working with a hand therapist yesterday. He’s doing really well. He did strain it a little last Sunday night when he pushed up off the floor, but it’s much better now. The therapist made a custom splint for his wrist and thumb that is much sturdier than the one he was given at the surgeon’s office and I am relieved. I was very worried he would slip on the ice and snow last week and really do some damage. We sure don’t want to have to go through this again!

\n

One of my friends and his wife lost their faithful companion, Blue, yesterday. When I was so lonely and hurting, so many of my readers encouraged me to adopt a dog, but this is exactly why I couldn’t. I simply couldn’t put myself through that loss. Mr. Virgo and I put our seventeen-year-old Yorkie-Maltese mix down just three months before Mr. Virgo himself died suddenly. We had had Cricket cremated and were going to spread her ashes in the flower garden in the spring. When Mr. Virgo died, I just put that little box of ashes in the casket with him and swore I’d never have another dog. My heart aches for those who lose their beloved fur babies.

\n

With the nature of grief being so unpredictable, sometimes you literally feel as though you are just one crisis away from losing it entirely. I cannot tell you how many times I have been in the throes of grief, and the accompanying anxiety, and I have felt like I just couldn’t handle one more thing. As a matter of fact, the FEAR of having one more thing happen actually escalated everything. I have an arsenal of coping strategies at my disposal, but sometimes the slope is too steep and the boulder gains too much momentum too fast. There were so many nights when it all got away from me and all I could do was cling to God and pray for morning. If I can get a hold of the wave early enough, the best thing I can do is get out of the situation I’m in. It usually hits me when I’m in bed, so I get up and do something…scrub the kitchen floor, clean out the fridge, run the vacuum.

\n

Another thing that will stop things from spinning out of control for me is writing. There have been countless times I’ve sat down to write my post while I’m feeling the waves of grief and anxiety come over me. As I write, I can literally feel the stress, fear, and anxiety fade…sometimes melting away entirely. I can’t stress enough how much writing can help you through grief. You don’t have to have a blog. Get a journal and write in it every night. I not only wrote this blog, but I filled several personal journals through the first two or three years after Mr. Virgo died. Writing saved me. TOW-Wanda saved me. God saved me. ❤️

\n

““This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.”\n‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭30:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2018-01-12T02:30:57-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/01/12/here-comes-the-rain.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","God","Peace","Wisdom","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/01/10/a-welcome-sight.html", "title": "A Welcome Sight", "content_html": "\"Winter\n

The sun! Ok, it was out for less than fifteen minutes at the farm today…but, oh! What a divine fifteen minutes that was!!! Ok, that is what is the hardest thing about living in the Mid-Ohio Valley as opposed to the Roaring Fork Valley. There is far less sunshine here. The sky stays grey for weeks at a time. When the snow finally comes, it stays till we can get a welcome respite of sunshine and warmth like yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Tomorrow is predicted to get up to 63 degrees! I will take that any day over the bitter, frigid weather we’ve had for the last few weeks.

\n

I know…you’ve heard me state before that I would never spend another winter in the cold and snow. Well, never say never, right? A year ago, I didn’t know I would be where I am in this wonderful relationship. I had a fair idea which direction it was going, but a year is a year and one never knows for sure what might happen. I’ve learned not to look too far into the future since losing Mr. Virgo. Other than…this is where I want to be and who I want to be with. That’s enough for me.

\n

This winter isn’t going like we thought it would when we made our travel plans last summer. First, Mr. FixIt had surgery on his hand and it turned out to be a much bigger deal than we thought it would be so that nixed not only the trip to Colorado at Christmas, but also the two month camping trip we had planned in Florida for February and March. He has hand therapy to go through now and there is still much he cannot do for himself. We’ve decided this is an excellent time to go through closets and boxes of stuff at his house and do a little downsizing. I have a great deal of experience in that department and I am happy as a clam to help out.

\n

In my effort to stay present this year, I’m going to go out today and tomorrow and enjoy every moment of warmth I can possible soak up. I hope you are getting a respite from winter in your neck of the woods. I am also keeping the people of Southern California in my prayers as they struggle with the inevitable mudslides that follow devastating fires. I’ve personally seen the effects of that in Glenwood Springs after the Storm King and Coal Seam fires. I saw on the news last night where they rescued a teenager from the basement of her home. She was nearly encased in mud. It was unbelievable. She had to have been terrified. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this disaster. ❤️

\n

“…Get up and pray…”\n‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-01-10T02:30:03-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/01/10/a-welcome-sight.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Hope","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Peace","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/01/09/intermissiona-brief-thaw.html", "title": "Intermission...a Brief Thaw", "content_html": "\"winter\n

I am so grateful for the little breaks we get in the winter. After what seems like weeks, the thermometer crept up above freezing yesterday! It was amazing. There was an ice/snow storm that swept through before dawn so schools were closed here…again. I have been talking with friends my age lately and we remember the “good old days” when girls were NOT allowed to wear pants to school. I rode the school bus. We couldn’t afford snow boots. We were lucky to have a semi-decent coat and a scarf and mittens. I remember walking to the bus stop in penny loafers and knee socks, my feet wet and freezing, the skin on my knees white and hard. My face hurt. I couldn’t talk. My nostrils would freeze shut. And that was just getting TO the bus stop. Once we got there, we would huddle together in a circle facing inward, trying to ward off the icy wind blowing in off the Ohio River. Now? Now if there is a remote chance there will be any snow on the road, school is closed for the following day. Kids miss a ton of school and have to make it up at the end of the school year.

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I can see both sides of this issue. Safety first, right? However, my kids didn’t have snow days either. They grew up in Colorado. If you closed schools every time it was too cold or it snowed, you would have about three months of school a year. Daughter #1 had one snow day…it was -35 wind chill and the busses wouldn’t start. Are we raising weaker kids? I don’t know. All I know is, we were tough. And my kids’ generation is tough.

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I remember driving to Pagosa Springs in a white out blizzard once. The visibility was SO bad, I could barely see tracks in the snow in front of me. We were going over a mountain pass and had no idea where the edge was or if there was a 600 foot drop off and no guard rail. So, Mr. Virgo held the GPS in his hands and told me when a turn was coming up and in which direction to turn. If the vehicle in front of me had gone over the hill, we were going over right after them!

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When we arrived in Pagosa, we went to the service station to get gas…and we couldn’t open the doors! There was about an inch of ice encasing the entire car. No matter how hard we threw our shoulders into the doors, they would not budge. We noticed a man bundled up against the wind heading across the parking lot and honked the horn till we got his attention. We beckoned him over and managed to make him understand what was wrong. We asked him if he would follow us next door to the car wash and spray our doors to melt the ice. It wasn’t nearly as cold in town as it had been up on the mountain so the car wash wasn’t frozen. We finally made it out of the car but that was a trip I will never forget.

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Mr. FixIt and I went for a drive the other day and the roads were white. It looked like snow…but it was salt residue. They have laid down salt so heavily and there’s been no thawing and melting to wash the salt away. When you drive, the salt billows up in clouds and settles all over everything. Every car is coated with it and you know what salt will do if left on a vehicle too long. It finally warmed up enough we could go through a car wash and get some of this stuff rinsed off.

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By midweek, we are supposed to be up to 60 degrees! I am thrilled for the respite. I know it will be short-lived so I’ll enjoy it while I can. I hope you are also enjoying a small break in the bitter cold where you are as well. ❤️

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“The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.”\n‭‭Job‬ ‭37:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-01-09T02:30:46-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/01/09/intermissiona-brief-thaw.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/01/04/on-being-brave.html", "title": "On Being Brave", "content_html": "\"Drawing\n

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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! ❤️

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““Now get up, Ezra. Take charge—we’re behind you. Don’t back down.””\n‭‭Ezra‬ ‭10:4‬ ‭MSG‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-01-04T02:30:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/01/04/on-being-brave.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Wisdom","Humbled","Presence","Writing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/01/02/ramona-and-her-pet-burro.html", "title": "“Ramona and Her Pet Burro, Bob” or “How My Memory Has Changed Since Mr. Virgo Died”", "content_html": "\"Country\n

We went to the farm yesterday. On our way there, Mr. Fixit pointed out the two little burros huddling in a shed, trying to keep warm in the frigid 9 degree air. Seeing the little burros, my mind immediately went soaring back forty years to one of the favorite periods of my life. When I met Hubby #2, he was a Physical Therapist who worked across the hall from me. I was the X-Ray Tech for a small rehabilitation hospital in downtown Denver. He was also finishing some pre-med classes at CU Boulder in preparation for applying to medical school. We were young and in love and poor as church mice. Daughter #1 was three years old. We had no money so we were adept at finding activities that were free, or nearly so. It was cool to be poor struggling students.

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It was the late ‘70s. Trivial Pursuit was HOT and we played it a lot. H#2 told me about the Trivia Bowl that was held annually at UC Boulder. It was free, it was close, and it was fun. It was held in a large room. Two teams sat at tables on a makeshift stage and the audience stood shoulder to shoulder around a packed room…a rowdy crowd. I don’t remember a lot about that night. After all, it was forty years ago. But I do remember one team was called “Ramona and Her Pet Burro, Bob”. How could you forget that, right? I also remember one of the questions was,…”What were the tail numbers on Sky King’s plane?” What??? I knew I was witnessing trivia royalty when one young student slammed his hand down on the buzzer in a fraction of a second and shouted out…”N5348A!” You’re kidding! Ok, I Googled it just now…but I was in awe back then. Who remembers stuff like that?

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My memory isn’t what it used to be. You don’t get to Medicare age without losing a little something. It’s been made worse by grief and the head injury I suffered in February didn’t help matters. I’ll bet memory loss…or, “grief brain”…is the subject I address most often with those who have recently lost a loved one. I remember I thought I was going crazy or something was wrong with me when I couldn’t keep track of anything in the first couple of years after losing Mr. Virgo. I made lists and then couldn’t remember where I put them. Or my notes seemed cryptic and made no sense when I revisited them. It was a scary time. Will my memory come back? Will it get worse? What is wrong with me?

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I don’t remember who told me about grief brain (see???) but I do very much recall the overwhelming sense of relief I felt knowing it wasn’t just me. That’s when I knew for sure I needed to write this blog. Because not everyone has someone to mentor them and while I wasn’t far enough along to actually BE a mentor, I could share what I was learning and feeling along the way. One of the greatest gifts you are given from grief comes when you turn around and offer a hand to someone who is further back the road than you are. It is the price we pay for the grace we receive during our own grief journey.

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Memory…its a slippery sucker. I still will get a brilliant flash of an idea for a post that I just know will resonate with someone…and if I don’t write it down, or make some sort of correlation in my mind to remember it later, it’s gone. That is probably the single most frustrating thing I face when I write. I still have a hard time making myself write down ideas because I swear I’ll be able to remember. It’s aggravating. The tool that helps me most is the “Note” app on my phone. I can jot ideas down and when I hit a lean period and have trouble coming up with a topic, I go into my list and find something that is currently applicable. It’s not like it used to be. It never will be. But it works for the most part.

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Just knowing you aren’t alone in this is often all you need to relax into the flow and be present with your feelings. No matter how difficult your struggle, God is always there with you whether you feel Him or not. Knowing that can bring enormous comfort. ❤️

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“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.””\n‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2018-01-02T02:30:57-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/01/02/ramona-and-her-pet-burro.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Hope","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","God","Peace","Wisdom","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2018/01/01/out-with-the-oldin-with.html", "title": "Out With the Old...In With the New!!!", "content_html": "\"Happy\n

I love when the calendar turns to a new year. The slate is wiped clean and you can start fresh…a great big do over. Never was this more impactful to me personally than January 1, 2014. It was the first New Year’s Day after losing Mr. Virgo. Somehow, I had it in my head that if I could just say “My husband died last year” it would somehow make the loss easier. It didn’t. Not by a long shot.

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I had, in my crazed grief-stricken brain, thought it would be a good idea to start dating someone…just five months after my sweet husband died. Holy Mother of God…what was I thinking??? In my defense…I wasn’t thinking. That first year…well, really the first two years…I wasn’t sane. Not in a conventional definition of the word anyway. I did some things right, but my thinking was just off. My decision making skills were lacking. Thank God time and lots of prayer and introspection have brought me to this new place…this new life.

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Now when I look at the New Year, I contemplate where I’ve been, what I’ve done, and formulate new goals. I don’t make resolutions. I’ve never kept a resolution in my life. But I do come up with a focus word. The word for 2017 was “Reach”. I think I lived up to that. I launched a new website. I spoke to several groups. I was interviewed on several podcasts and publications. I had a branded series developed for me called “Getting Bolder” on the Sisters on the Fly website. I continued to write an essay every day here. I traveled to Florida twice, the Outer Banks, Tennessee, and Colorado. I camped and/or had outings with the Girl Campers and Sisters on the Fly several times. I continued working on my social media platform to improve my chances of selling this book I’ve got basically written. And…I introduced you to Mr. FixIt. It’s been a really big year and I reached about as far as I could!

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So, now I need a new word for the new year. There are so many things I want to practice in the coming year. Patience. I am not a patient person. Compassion. I try, but I am not always successful practicing compassion with people who try my patience. Love. I want to feel my Heavenly Father’s love and involvement in everything I do so that I might feel that same love toward everyone…including those to whom I want to show compassion because they have tried my patience. You see where I’m going with this? You might think I’m going to choose the word “Patience” to meditate on this year, but you’d be wrong. I learned a long time ago not to pray for patience because when I do, God gives me every single little opportunity to practice it and I just don’t have it in me to be that challenged anymore. No, I have a different word in mind.

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My choice? Presence.

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If I am present in all I do, I am here to show up and do what is needed. If I am present…I feel God’s love. If I am present…I can actively choose to love others as Jesus loves me. If I feel God’s love, and actively choose to love others the way Jesus loves me, in every interaction I have…everything gets better. My relationships with family and friends are bound to improve. My interactions with others…even complete strangers…can only improve when I exemplify the kind of love Jesus has for me.

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How do you remain present in today’s hectic world? To achieve the kind of presence I am looking for, I need to start every day with a connection to the Source. I need to reach for His Word first…before Facebook. Before the news and weather. Even before Mr. FixIt. It doesn’t take much. Five minutes. Five minutes first thing every morning, before anything else, I will seek His face and feel His love for me. I will invite Him to come into my day…into my world…and walk with me. It’s no different than asking any other loved one to go for a walk with me. But the benefits are undeniably higher.

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That’s my word. Presence. Feel every moment. Focus on God’s love. Bring His Love and Light into every aspect of my life. I can’t help but shine! ❤️

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“After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It’s useless to brood over how long we might live.”\n‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭5:18-20‬ ‭MSG‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2018-01-01T02:30:47-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2018/01/01/out-with-the-oldin-with.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Holiday","Wisdom","Presence"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/31/true-love-has-no-end.html", "title": "True Love Has No End", "content_html": "\"Couple\n

They weren’t much more than kids when they met. I remember the first time I met my cousin Tommy’s girlfriend, Suzy. I had such a crush on Tommy in his Navy whites. And Suzy was as sweet as they come. She’s been around as long as I can remember.

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I’ve told you about Tommy. He has mesothelioma. There is no cure. And up until the last few years, there really wasn’t much to even offer people in the way of treatment. But they did their homework and took Tommy to the doc who wrote the book on Meso and as a result, he has had two really good years he may not have had before.

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The treatments Tom has received are not without side effects. The toxic meds have all but killed his kidneys. They have exhausted treatment after treatment yet, thanks to generous donations and scientific breakthroughs, more and more treatments become available. Maybe someday, they will find a cure. Because…you know. Cancer sucks.

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Tommy faces his illness and death with a positive attitude and a great deal of courage. They haven’t been afraid to “start the conversation”. They talk about death and his design…how does he want his story to end when he gets to the last chapter. Suzy is brave and strong. Their love knows no bounds as they recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary.

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This year, Tommy wanted to give his “best girl” a gift that would knock her socks off. He wanted something so deeply meaningful that she would cherish it forever. Their daughter videotaped the moment for posterity. Suzy opened her gift ever so slowly. Indoor/outdoor slippers. (laughter) Then someone points out there’s something inside. Suzy looks closer and there it is…a small box tucked into one slipper.

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“You stinker,” she gently chided this man she’s known forever.

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She goes on to open the second gift when a puzzled look comes across her face. She turns to Tom and says, “For us?” She thought they were a matching set of rings. She looks again and finally can see…they are earrings. Someone off camera says…”Look at the ring.”

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Suzy is still puzzled then Tommy holds up his left hand and she can see he is no longer wearing his wedding band.

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“No!” she cried. “No! Not your ring!” You can see she is instantly devastated. Until Tommy bends toward her and shows her that he has had the date of their wedding engraved on the back. At this point, The enormity of this selfless gift suddenly hits Suzy and she puts her face in her hand and cries.

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This is a sweet, personal moment between two wonderful people who love each other without limits. No disease…no cancer…not even death will truly separate these two. I asked for permission to share their story here. For one reason, I love them both so much. Second, I wanted to stress the importance of having “the conversation”, and three…I wanted to give you an idea what to do with his/her ring. Earrings made from a ring that has been cut in half would make a wonderful remembrance.

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We don’t know the future. It’s not a matter of if, you know. It’s…when. We pray for a cure. We pray for new medicines. We pray for good quality of life. Time. We pray for time. Lots and lots. Oodles of time. We will love our loved ones like it’s our last day on earth…or theirs. And we will hold fast to the tokens of love like there’s no tomorrow. ❤️

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www.facebook.com/melissa.a…

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“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”\n‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-12-31T02:30:44-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/31/true-love-has-no-end.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled","Aging"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/30/let-me-entertain-you.html", "title": "Let Me Entertain You", "content_html": "\"Gluten\n

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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.)

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Dessert was homemade Gluten Free Bread Pudding with a dollop of French Vanilla Ice Cream. It was pretty heavenly!

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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.

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Here’s the recipe for the dessert. Bon Appetit!

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Gluten Free Bread Pudding

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6-8 slices of stale gluten free bread, cubed\n4 eggs\n2 cups milk\n3 tablespoons Splenda blend brown sugar\n1/2 c. Stevia for baking\n1/2 tsp. Cinnamon\n1/4 tsp. Apple Pie Spice\n1 tsp Vanilla\n1/2 tsp salt\n3-4 big handfuls of raisins\nAbout 2/3 c. chopped pecan4 T. butter, melted

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Cube bread and place in prepared baking dish. In this case, I used an 8” iron skillet sprayed with Baker’s Joy.

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Add raisins and pecans.

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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.

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❤️

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“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.”\n‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-12-30T02:30:39-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/30/let-me-entertain-you.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/28/hygge-comfort.html", "title": "Hygge = Comfort", "content_html": "\"\"\n

Yesterday was a much better day. It still amazes me how quickly things shift for me since losing Mr. Virgo. Yes, it’s been nearly five years since he died. Yes, I am in a wonderful, fulfilling relationship. But am I the same as I was before the loss? No…not by a long shot. Is every aspect of that a bad thing? The loss…yes. The grief has been incredibly difficult. But the peace and personal growth I have grasped between the waves is nothing short of miraculous.

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I spent some time at the farm, soaking in the quiet winter sounds. Then came here to a quiet house. Mr. FixIt was off running errands so I curled up on the sofa, wrapped in the warmth of my fur throw made from the coat Mr. Virgo gave me our first married Christmas. The fire was going. The tree was lit. The soft scented candle I got for Christmas filled the air with the sweetness of apples and cinnamon. I asked Alexa to play the Zen Garden station on Amazon Music. The sun outside the window glittered on the new fallen snow. A cardinal sang in the brush next to the house. A cup of tea sat at my side. The freedom and peace was palpable.

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Again, in my ever hopeful way, I stared out the window…searching the barren landscape for the beauty of winter. It’s difficult for me. I’m a summer girl. I let my eyes move across the the hill to the road and over to the meadow. I love it here. There’s five acres of flat land out there. I let my mind wander to past dreams. I’ve always wanted a place where I could hold retreats for artists, writers, craftspeople. A place where my Sisters and Girl Camper friends could bring their trailers and circle around a campfire. The big pole building out back is the perfect size for barn sales and dances. I let my eyes move on. There’s a pool between the building and the house. I smiled. Pool parties, family gatherings, barbecues. I have plenty of things to look forward to in the coming months.

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I am also reminded of the term “hygge”. Originating in Scandinavia, the term means “simple, cozy pleasures, gratefulness, focusing on a better quality of life, taking pleasure in the presence in the gentle, an appreciation of the simple things in life, soothing things, a practical way of creating sanctuary, a place to restore and revive in the middle of very real life, evoking feelings of comfort” according to a recent article by Jan Zimmer, (Port Huron, Mich.) of the Times Herald. This will be my focus for the coming months. I will embrace the sunshine when it comes. I will listen for the song of the winter birds. I will sample teas and read and commune with my love. And, I will enjoy this end of the pendulum’s swing while I have it. ❤️

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“…his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭30:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-12-28T02:30:42-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/28/hygge-comfort.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Grief","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/23/update-snowy-owl-rescued.html", "title": "UPDATE: Snowy Owl Rescued", "content_html": "\"Injured\n

If you look at the photo on the left, you see a healthy young owl. You also see a bird from the Arctic that knows nothing about roads. Here it sits in the middle of Emerson Avenue…a busy two lane blacktop north of Parkersburg.

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The photo on the right shows the same bird but notice his right wing. It’s now much lower and the bird is remarkably thinner. My birder friend, Julie Zickefoose, surmised it had been injured in some way in the two weeks between pictures and could no longer hunt properly. It turns out, she was correct. Someone came forward this week to say he had hit this snowy owl up on Emerson Avenue when it swooped down in front of him. Mystery solved.

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People continued to encroach on the owl’s personal space, interrupting its sleep and stressing it out with their closeup selfies even after being warned away. A decision was made and the owl was rescued by the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia for rehab.

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I’m glad the bird has half a chance to survive. I have no idea what the future will be for this magnificent creature, but at least uninformed locals aren’t trying to throw a coat over it and stuff it in a box. ❤️

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UPDATE: Injured owl in Vienna rescued by Avian Conservation Center http://www.thenewscenter.tv/content/news/Arctic-Snowy-Owl-visits-Vienna-465065953.html

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“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:10‬ NIV

\n", "date_published": "2017-12-23T02:30:03-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/23/update-snowy-owl-rescued.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","West Virginia","Gratitude","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/22/here-we-go-awassailing.html", "title": "Here We Go a’Wassailing", "content_html": "\"Cider\n

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. ❤️

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“Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.”\n‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-12-22T02:30:51-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/22/here-we-go-awassailing.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Holiday","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/20/the-great-snowy-owl.html", "title": "The Great Snowy Owl", "content_html": "\"Snowy\n

I love how Facebook can bring folks together that may never meet otherwise. That’s the case of Julie Zickefoose and me. When I was writing posts about the spring bird migration at the farm, a mutual friend “introduced” me to Julie. She is an artist and recently came out with a lovely book called Baby Birds. An artist’s view into the nests of birds in the Appalachian foothills of Ohio.

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I was especially intrigued this spring when Julie took in a baby blue jay that had ended up on the ground below the nest and whose parents never showed up. She named her Jemima and taught us all how difficult it is to hand raise a wild baby bird. We watched with fascination as she fed her baby chopped up chicken and meal worms. We held our breath as Jemima learned to fly. We watched with mixed emotions as the fledgling was released into the wild, only to return to the safety of “her tree and feeder” time and again. Jemima is fully grown now but her pin feathers didn’t developed correctly because she was hours away from death by starvation when she arrived so she can’t fly very far till she molts next spring and grows new feathers.

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Julie recently returned from a long awaited birding trip to Ecuador. On her way to the airport, she heard about a juvenile Snowy Owl that had made its way from the Arctic to the Mid-Ohio Valley, taking up residence along a creek near the mall in our little burg. Upon her return, she spent all day Monday observing the magnificent bird…and all the people who wanted to get close enough to take pictures. She was interviewed on the evening news and cautioned the public to give the bird space to rest. Here is the link to her story that was on her blog yesterday. It’s very well written and gives you the up close view you crave, but with a telephoto lens. I’ve seen a snowy owl once before. I haven’t gone to see this bird. For one thing, I’ve been under the weather all week. But, more importantly, this bird needs its space and it doesn’t need more people disturbing it. I’ll “see” it the same way you do…through Julie’s eyes. ❤️

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http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/2017/12/parkersburgs-snowy-owl.html

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“You may eat any clean bird. But these you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon, any kind of raven, the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.”\n‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭14:11-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-12-20T02:30:27-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/20/the-great-snowy-owl.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","West Virginia","Growth","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/16/things-that-make-me-smile.html", "title": "Things That Make Me Smile", "content_html": "\"Retro\n

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.

\n\"Retro\n\"Mother’s\n

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.

\n\"Retro\n

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.

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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. ❤️

\n\"Retro\n

““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.”\n‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-12-16T02:30:58-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/16/things-that-make-me-smile.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Peace"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/15/the-happy-accident.html", "title": "The Happy Accident", "content_html": "\"Alice\n

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!”

\n\"Gingerbread\n

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.

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“Ummmm, we’re here for the junior high choir concert.”, I said.

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Now it was the gentleman’s turn to look puzzled. “This is the First Bank Christmas Party.”

\n\"Gingerbread\n

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.

\n\"Gingerbread\n

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.

\n\"Choir\n

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. ❤️

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“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.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭33:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-12-15T02:30:04-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/15/the-happy-accident.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Fun","West Virginia","Love","Peace","Holiday","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/14/lets-take-a-ride-on.html", "title": "Let’s Take a Ride on the Brain Train", "content_html": "\"The\n

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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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. ❤️

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“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-12-14T02:30:54-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/14/lets-take-a-ride-on.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","New Ideas","Love","Peace","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/13/just-one-more-day-with.html", "title": "Just One More Day With Wanda", "content_html": "\"Aqua\n

Yesterday’s post struck a sad place within my heart so I wanted to take today in a different direction, though in the end…I’m not sure I have. I’ve really loved all the reminiscing we’ve been doing this month. There were certainly Christmases that were difficult for me growing up and I don’t have good memories of them. But most of my holiday memories are all warm and fuzzy.

\n\"Blonde\n

I ran across this photo the other day on Pinterest. Remember aqua? Mom let me “redecorate” the living room when I was in high school. Man…that woman must have loved me to the core to let me do what I did to her house! First, we bought the aqua sofa. Then I painted the walls a lighter shade of aqua. We found a room sized remnant of a dark aqua shag rug that I put down. I found shiny drapes in the same dark aqua. We bought these blonde wood end tables, probably at Sid’s Furniture. The lamps had odd angles and big shades. The piece de resistance was a big wall clock with an atomic sunburst pattern. OMGosh! It was like living in an aquarium! Too bad we didn’t have this aqua Christmas tree. That would have been a hoot. My poor mom kept that color in her living room till the day she died some 44 years later.

\n\"Grey\n

Our kitchen was so small. The walls were pale yellow. We had this same grey Formica table and chairs. The countertop was green with metal trim around the edges. Mom put up sunny yellow curtains with ruffles and it looked so cheery. The bathroom had pink fixtures. Mom let me paint and wallpaper in there sometime in the ‘80s. Remember when peach was a color you painted walls? Turquoise, peach with pink, yellow with green and grey. Lord have mercy. Mom loved it…because I did it. She wouldn’t let me change a thing. Partially because it meant she might have to get rid of stuff and I can absolutely relate to how daunting a chore that is.

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It took months to fix it all up after she passed so I could sell her house. She would have loved the changes. I think. Maybe. I loved the new look. It was hard to sell that house when I was done and I’ve regretted the decision ever since.

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I miss my mom. I miss our talks every Sunday. I miss her cool hands on my brow. I miss her calling me “Sis”. Or, Virginia Lynne if she was mad at me. I miss her naïveté to the ways of the world. I miss her big, loving heart. I miss making her laugh till she couldn’t catch her breath. I miss her spirit and her attempts at cussing. She couldn’t spit the words out. I miss her loyalty and her generosity. I miss her especially at Christmas. She used to frustrate the heck out of me, which is what moms sometimes do to their daughters, I think. But….oh my. What I wouldn’t give to spend just one more day with Wanda. ❤️

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“So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”\n‭‭John‬ ‭16:22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-12-13T02:30:25-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/13/just-one-more-day-with.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Holiday"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/12/change.html", "title": "Change", "content_html": "\"WV\n

One of the hardest things to deal with since losing Mr. Virgo is…change. And of course, that is the one thing you can absolutely count on in this life. Change. Things change. People change. Situations change. And, unfortunately…places change.

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I have to tell you, sometimes you have no way of knowing what God has up His sleeve when He leads you down a certain path. Why this way and not that? Sometimes we never figure it out. Other times, it becomes crystal clear. I love those times. Even when they break my heart.

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When I first came to West Virginia, it was just a year and a half after losing Mr. Virgo. I lived on the family farm but only for a few weeks. When my aunt decided she really didn’t want help, I went off on my own for a couple years. I never dreamed I’d have the opportunity to come back and be the caretaker of the home of my heart. When my uncle asked me to take care of the place for him, I jumped at the chance.

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I know God has a reason behind every move. There was a plan before I was born. I hadn’t really thought about why I got to live at the farm again. Until yesterday. Mr. FixIt and I have noticed a lot of heavy dump trucks going up the road lately. We heard this summer that they’re putting in a compressor station back beyond the farm so we surmised the work had begun. When we got there yesterday, I drove past the farm and went up the back road. It wasn’t long till we saw the signs. “Road Work Ahead” and “Flagger: Prepare to Stop”.

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It’s funny. You hear change is coming. You see what other places look like when they change. Yet, you’re completely unprepared when the change comes and it affects your world. I’m a go-with-the-flow kinda gal, but when I saw them cutting into MY earth, MY world, my HEART…it crushed me. I motioned for the flagger to come over. I asked for details. “What are they doing there?” “How far back are they going?” “How long will this take?” He was a young man. Respectful. He seemed to understand this was hurtful to me. He explained carefully what steps they were taking. I sat and stared till the tears stung my eyes then I had to go.

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I remember when they clear cut the back of the farm. I felt like this. But, trees grow back. This is a permanent scar that will never heal. As I sat and watched the big dump trucks back out the ridge to be filled with MY earth, the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart.

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“This is why you were given this time on the farm. You are here to memorize every inch of the place. You are here to document the passage. You are here to be a witness.”

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Change is inevitable. I know that. I’m doing better with change. I don’t like it. And I especially don’t like them messing with the home of my heart. But, I’m also a realist. I’m pragmatic. There is now going to be a paved road out to the back of this ridge. There will be easier access to the workable land and that will improve the value of the farm. That’s the upside. There’s going to be a lot of sound pollution, increased traffic, as well as some environmental risks. That’s the downside.

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I’ve always known my time on the farm is limited. I’ll still be taking care of it for the foreseeable future. And I’ll be saying goodbye to what it once was…one truckload of dirt at a time. ❤️

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

\n", "date_published": "2017-12-12T02:30:30-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/12/change.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","New Ideas","Grace","God","Wisdom","Humbled","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/11/a-new-old-tradition.html", "title": "A New Old Tradition", "content_html": "\"Dr.\n

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.

\n\"Snowy\n

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.

\n\"Parkersburg,\n

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.

\n\"Market\n

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. ❤️

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“I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,”\n‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-12-11T02:30:29-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/11/a-new-old-tradition.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Holiday","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/07/a-lost-art.html", "title": "A Lost Art", "content_html": "\"Vintage\n

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”.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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Next, we’ll make one that is “ours”. ❤️

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“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.”\n‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:2-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-12-07T02:30:32-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/07/a-lost-art.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Holiday","Wisdom","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/06/the-hedge-apple.html", "title": "The Hedge Apple", "content_html": "\"Hedge\n

The night before Thanksgiving, I hit a deer in Mr. FixIt’s truck. Yesterday, we went to get the estimate for repairs. Gulp! All I can say is, thank goodness for comprehensive insurance! I was waiting in the truck while the guy was assessing the damage when I saw them. Hedge Apples! They’re really the fruit of the Osage Orange. They were planted in the ‘30s in rows as windbreaks in the Midwest. The trees have thorns and are often planted at fencing around pastures to keep animals in and predators out.

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Grandma showed them to me when I was a kid. She said they keep bugs out of your house. That hasn’t been scientifically proven…but I’ll trust my grandma! Some people gather them and use them for decoration. I love the color and they do look lovely piled in crocks and baskets. They smell pretty bad, though. I guess that’s why they supposedly repel insects.

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Today is the appointment with the surgeon. He’ll give us all the details for tomorrow. Thank you all for your positive thoughts and prayers. They help more than you can know! ❤️

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“Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.”\n‭‭Job‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-12-06T02:30:40-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/06/the-hedge-apple.html", "tags": ["West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/04/making-progress.html", "title": "Making Progress", "content_html": "\"Interior\n

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?

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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. ❤️

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“…I found the one my heart loves.”\n‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭3:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-12-04T02:30:04-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/04/making-progress.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/02/more-christmas-memories.html", "title": "MORE Christmas Memories", "content_html": "\"Ceramic\n

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!

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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.

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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.

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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???

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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\nFront 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!

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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. ❤️

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““Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”\n‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-12-02T02:30:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/02/more-christmas-memories.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Holiday","Wisdom","Forgiveness","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/12/01/johnny-and-punkin-spice.html", "title": "Johnny and Punkin Spice", "content_html": "\"Dog\n

I have this friend. She’s one of those wonderful shining stars that God places on this earth to be a guardian of animals. I am convinced she is an “angel unawares”. I met Aimee through a high school friend. They were talking at a conference once and Aimee told her about this great group of women campers she belonged to called…Sisters on the Fly. Diane couldn’t wait to hook us up. And I am so glad she did. I don’t get to spend nearly enough time with Aimee. As a matter of fact, I believe we have only seen each other in person two or three times. But it’s always “old home week” when we greet each other like long lost friends.

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Not only are Aimee and I “Sisters”…we are also fellow West Virginians. And darned proud of it, I might say. Aimee works for the state and created the COOLEST soil trailer. It’s a cargo trailer that she converted on the inside to give you a “worm’s eye view” of what it looks like in the ground. So, she’s an animal activist, she hauls a soil trailer all over the state to teach kids about the earth, she’s a Sister on the Fly, and a farmer, and she creates beautiful art pieces that she sells at some of the big decorator barn sales. On top of that, she’s beautiful, funny, and I just love her to pieces. Because she saved Johnny’s life.

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Johnny was a rescue. Terribly ill, he was essentially a lost cause. The vet didn’t think he could possibly live. But Aimee found out about him (I think she’s on speed dial at the animal rescue) and scooped him up. She sat up with Johnny for days, snuggling him in blankets, taking him in for infusions and tests practically every day. He kept getting sicker and sicker. He was a rescue…but he had wriggled into her heart and she couldn’t give up on him. One night, they made a desperate trip to see the vets at the university in Columbus. It took a while, but they finally diagnosed Johnny with a rare disease that affects his joints. If they could just get him through, things would get better for him and he would live a pretty normal life. But there were no guarantees. They pleaded and prayed and now…look at him! He’s so beautiful. All of us fell madly in love with him and Aimee is great at recording his life for his fan base.

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This fall, Aimee was driving down the street in her truck when she saw something very tiny in the road. It was a kitten! And there was a man in a truck alongside the road. The kitten was trying desperately to get in the truck but the man just sat and stared at it. Without thinking, Aimee jumped out, stopped traffic, scooped up the kitten, and ran back across the busy highway. She yelled at the man. “Didn’t you see that kitten?” He just shrugged. “I don’t know anything about that.” Oh, he knew alright! He had more than likely dumped that baby right before Aimee drove by. God puts angels right where he needs them, doesn’t He?

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This little kitten went to work with Aimee every day as she fostered it. She socialized her and made sure she had all her shots and took extra special care of her in hopes she would forget all about the bad man in the truck. What sent us over the moon was how much Johnny loved his kitty. HIS kitty. Oh…how Johnny LOVES kitties! He would cry and cry until Aimee gave him the kitten. Then she had to sit with him and tell him over and over…”Easy, Johnny. You have to be gentle. Easy. Easy.” Johnny knew, the only way he could have his baby was if he laid down very still…then Aimee would place this tiny little fur ball under this big boxer boy. He laid so still…but his tail pounded the bed like a drum.

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Eventually, the kitty found her way to a forever home with a boy to play with. We were all SO worried about Johnny. How would he handle losing his baby? Aimee posted pictures of Johnny with his other kitties. His mommy knows when she has reached the number of animals she can responsibly care for. She did the right thing. And she knows Johnny better than any of us. She knew he would be fine. It’s as if Johnny knew he was only a temporary caregiver for this little baby.

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We can learn so much from Johnny. Patience, kindness, caring…unconditional love. He doesn’t care that the kitten isn’t like him. All he knows is…here is someone who needs love and he has love to give.

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You never know what kind of stray Aimee will attract next. Right now she is fostering a dog with cancer who is legitimately psychotic. They are trying to figure out how to help her. If anyone can, it’s our divine farm girl…the Dirt Queen. Thank you, Aimee…for having such a huge heart. You are so loved and there are many stars in your crown. ❤️

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““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. Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”\n‭‭Job‬ ‭12:7-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-12-01T02:30:37-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/12/01/johnny-and-punkin-spice.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/29/the-shift.html", "title": "The Shift", "content_html": "\"Christmas\n

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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. ❤️

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“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain…”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭127:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-29T02:30:12-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/29/the-shift.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/28/the-stick-tree.html", "title": "The Stick Tree", "content_html": "\"Christmas\n

You’ve all seen that spindly little Christmas tree Charlie Brown had, right? Basically a stick with some twigs branching off. As far back as I can remember, that was the tree out at the farm. My Uncle Bob was a simple man. When he was told to go cut down a pine tree for Christmas, he did just that. And being a practical man, he brought back one that was easy to carry and would not take long to decorate. He was the smartest of the bunch, turns out.

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Grandma didn’t have a lot of ornaments. I remember some of those made by Shiny Bright. There was a very old hand blown Santa that my fat baby fingers accidentally broke one year. sigh And, there was an angel that went on the top of the tree. Her dress was made of vinyl with a net skirt over it. Her upper torso, arms, and head were like a doll made of hard plastic. Her hair was spun glass. And her wings were silver pressed cardboard. Somehow, I managed to acquire that angel. I suppose because I’m the oldest grand daughter and got married first, I don’t know. But that angel has been with me forever. She is too fragile to put on top of a tree…I’m afraid the cardboard tube that slips over a branch might break. So, she gets tucked in a place of prominence on the front of the tree…up high enough to avoid any encounters with two or four-legged children.

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We always had a big, fat tree at home that my dad bought at a lot. I remember the excitement of driving around looking at Christmas lights then stopping at the lot to pick out our tree. I wore a woolen coat buttoned up to my neck, someone’s hand-me-down, I’m sure. I had a blue velvet hat that tied under my chin with blue satin ties. And, hanging on one side we’re two white balls made of real rabbit fur. I remember shaking my head back and forth to feel them bounce around. I wore that hat till it literally disintegrated. I wore rubber boots that fit over my shoes and buckles with an elastic string over a button.

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Dad would walk us up and down the aisles to choose the perfect tree…i.e. the cheapest without too many holes in it. Once the price was negotiated, an attendant would help Dad carry the tree to the Oldsmobile and strap it to the top with sisal rope. Once we got it home, there was trimming to be done before we could take it in the house. We had strings of lights with big reflectors that went on before screwing the big bulb in. This was a safety feature that kept the needles from touching the hot bulb and catching fire. And many of the ornaments hanging on my tree that I so carefully preserve were placed on those big, fat trees at the house on 55th Street.

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I remember feeling so sorry for Grandma and her skinny little Charlie Brown tree. Now I look back and appreciate the simplicity with a fervor. I use an artificial tree now. The first one I’ve had since Mr. Virgo died. I opted for a slender one. I thought I’d be putting it in front of the window at the farm. Instead, it’s over here at Mr. FixIt’s. I never would have dreamed. This is the fifth Christmas without Mr. Virgo. To have found this new love and new joy and renewed zest for life is something I am profoundly grateful for.

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It’s the simple things I crave now. Things held by loved ones long gone. Gentle, loving companionship. Soft music. A warm fire. Good food. And a loving God that made all this possible for me. I am richly blessed. ❤️

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“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.”\n‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-28T02:30:45-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/28/the-stick-tree.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Holiday","Wisdom","Humbled","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/27/the-ghosts-of-christmas-past.html", "title": "The Ghosts of Christmas Past", "content_html": "\"Antique\n

I think this is my all-time favorite Christmas ornament. It’s been in my family as long as I can remember. I have a dozen or so of the smaller ones of the same era but this is the only big one that survived. I can still remember the box it came in. I am always extremely careful with all my ornaments when I store them, but this one especially so. It is so fragile and the paint has been flaking away for years.

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There are so many ornaments on this tree that have a story. Baby’s First Christmas. The angel topper from Grandma’s tree. Hand blown glass Santas. A sterling silver tree that was a gift to Mr. Virgo from The Ritz Carlton in 2011. An Old World Santa with the tip of his Christmas tree broken off that Mr. Virgo rescued from the trash at the Hotel Jerome in Aspen. Dozens of coveted hand made ornaments gathered from my friend Judy’s famous Christmas Ornament Exchange Parties. And, the seven Ne’Qua ornaments Mr. Virgo and I bought together on our trips…one for every Christmas we shared.

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Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I found an e-mail the other day where Mr. Virgo had asked me to get our Christmas decorations and stage them in the living room so we could put up our tree that weekend. We always put on White Christmas and decorated the tree together. The first Christmas after he died, I followed the tradition. I did fine until I got up the next morning and saw what I had done. I can’t tell you how close I came to taking the whole thing down and putting it away. I cried for days. It was brutal. The next Christmas was spent in my friend’s apartment, sitting in the dark, staring out the window as the snow slowly drifted down through the circles of light around the old fashioned street lamps of Marietta, Ohio. It was still brutal.

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The next two Christmases were spent with my Colorado family. That was much better. We decorated the tree together and baked a million cookies. It was fun.

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Each holiday season is a little easier. Last year, even though we weren’t together, Mr. FixIt and I had started dating and had fallen in love. Holidays were again filled with light and love and joy. Mr. Virgo was still there with us in spirit but the sadness of his absence had abated somewhat. This year, Mr. FixIt and I did the majority of the tree trimming before he left for Florida. I finished up last night. I’m actually glad I had those few hours decorating alone. I turned on Christmas carols. (I can’t figure out how to turn on Mr. FixIt’s DVD player. ?) I held each special ornament in my hands and thought of the person who made it, or where I got it, or who was there when it was used year after year. The Ghosts of Christmas Past paraded through the room and through my mind and heart as I smiled through the tears that stung the back of my eyes as Tony Bennett crooned The Christmas Song.

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This is a new life…a different life. Another chance at love. Another gift of making memories. My heart is full to overflowing with the beauty of it all. God has been so good to me…us. ❤️

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“A cheerful heart is good medicine…”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17:22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-27T02:30:52-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/27/the-ghosts-of-christmas-past.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Family","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Holiday","Wisdom","Humbled","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/26/o-christmas-tree.html", "title": "O Christmas Tree", "content_html": "\"Christmas\n

Last Christmas, Mr. FixIt and I had just been dating a few weeks and December found us traveling in opposite directions. He went to Florida with his buddy and a few days later, I went to Colorado for a month with my kids. That’s the longest we’ve been apart since our first date and we neither one liked it. That’s when I figured things were pretty serious between us.

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Right around Christmas, I was talking to him on the phone, lamenting that I didn’t get to put up a tree and have a Country Christmas at the farm. When I pulled in the driveway upon my return, I stopped in my tracks. While I was gone, this sweet man had decorated the farmhouse for me to come home to. Not only that, but he was standing there in his grey wool trousers, black dress shoes, a white shirt, and a red sweater vest. He looked so sharp and my heart nearly exploded! What a sweet and generous thing for him to do. He also bought me an indoor lighted Christmas tree, but we didn’t put it up because it was almost New Year’s when I got back from my trip. So, this is the first year we have a tree together.

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Someone mentioned they wanted to see a picture and someone else wanted to know about the mechanical angel, so I decided to post a video for you this morning. I still have ornaments to put on but didn’t get home till late last night so I’ll decorate more today.

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I went to the funeral yesterday. As it turns out, Sis wasn’t just my grandma’s friend and neighbor. We were related…through marriage. I’ve told you before, you can’t throw a stick up this holler without hitting someone I’m related to. I got to see several cousins and met Sis’s son. He’s been my Facebook friend for ages. It’s such a small, small world.

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I am so relieved that I can attend a funeral service now without wigging out. My friend’s son was killed in an accident a year or so ago. Another friend took one look at me during the visitation and said, “Let’s go.” She got me out in the air and my heart started beating again. You certainly don’t LIKE going to funerals, but you have to be able to express condolences without flipping out and it took me a while to get there. For the longest time, I seriously felt like I was just one crisis away from losing it altogether. That “one crisis theory” hung over my head like Damocles’ sword which increased my anxiety exponentially. Full blown grief is about as close to flat out crazy as you can get. I didn’t know if “I” would ever come back. Thank God I did. I couldn’t live like that forever.

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My sweetie is gone for his annual Florida guy’s trip so I’m spending the week catching up with “back burner” things…stuff I put off because it’s much more fun to go play with my bestest buddy. I need to be pretty productive this week! ❤️

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“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”\n‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-26T02:30:10-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/26/o-christmas-tree.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Holiday","Wisdom","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/25/its-small-business-saturday.html", "title": "It’s Small Business Saturday", "content_html": "\"Shop\n

I avoid Black Friday like the plague. There is nothing in this whole wide world I…or anyone I know…need bad enough to risk life and limb for. I know there are great deals. I know the color glossies and TV commercials have been pumping everyone with the next great thing they can’t live without. I’m fortunate in that my kids were raised Jewish. They got a little present every night, then one big one on the last night of Hanukkah. They also had Santa but there was only one really extravagant year that I can remember. My kids and grandkids are frugal. They would much rather have money and go shopping at the after Christmas sales. More bang for their buck!

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I have everything I need. I buy myself a plane ticket every year and go see my Colorado family. I don’t want anything I have to take care of or dust. This year, Mr. FixIt and I have decided instead of getting each other presents for Christmas, we’re going to carpet the family room. We’ll get much more enjoyment out of that than any appliance or sweater. And, it’s the gift that keeps on giving! I encourage you to shop small, hometown, mom & pop businesses this year. Big box stores may have better deals on cheaper goods…but they don’t have the vested interest in you personally that a small business owner has. I’ve owned my own business before…I know. This month makes or breaks a small business. Do your best to keep your money local.

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I have a funeral to go to today. Sis Strickling passed away. That’s not her first name, nor is this her last name…my family always just called her Sis “Stricklin’”. She was born and raised on the country road a couple miles from the farm. Always sweet and with a smile on her face, my favorite memories of her were at the little one room church house where Grandma went. Sometimes she would come over to the farm for a visit while I was there. She kept her house neat and tidy. After her husband passed away, she went to Ohio to be with her kids. Her memory went at the end and I know it was so hard for her family. I praise God that he gives us an eternal home with no pain, no tears, and no illness. I know her husband and loved ones who went before her met her with open arms.

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It took the longest time for me to be able to go to a funeral after Mr. Virgo died. I wasn’t sure I would ever go to another one, but surprisingly…it’s BECAUSE he died that I can go easily now. If I begin to get anxious, I remind myself I am doing this for the loved ones. This has nothing to do with me…it’s all about them. I was so touched by everyone who came to my husband’s funeral. Their presence meant more to me than they will ever know. I remember so few individuals, but I do remember a sea of faces and that equates to a boatload of love. That love helped me through, so that’s why I go to funerals now.

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Mr. FixIt and I put up the Christmas tree last night. It’s our first one together. Blending traditions gave us ample opportunities to discuss and compromise. He wanted the tree in the dining room where you could see it from the road. I wanted it in the family room where WE could see it. We compromised by moving furniture around so we could put the tree in front of the picture window in the family room. This way we can see it from the side road coming in AND while we’re sitting in the family room. I’ll put lights in the dining room window so he can see it from the big road. Even through the top branches of the tree were pretty tippy, the mechanical angel HAD to go on top. I managed to wedge the branches around enough to support her and she is beautiful. Melding…it’s what you do when you keep adding to your family. At this point, if we got everyone I’m related to through marriages together, that would be one huge family portrait. I am so, so blessed to add so many branches to my family tree. ❤️

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“May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us.”\n‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭8:57‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-25T02:30:30-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/25/its-small-business-saturday.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled","Aging"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/24/and-soit-begins.html", "title": "And So...It Begins", "content_html": "\"Christmas\n

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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I ate a lot, loved on my family, and took a nap!!! ❤️

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“You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry, you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:24 ‭MSG‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-24T02:30:07-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/24/and-soit-begins.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Holiday","Wisdom","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/23/with-gratitude.html", "title": "With Gratitude", "content_html": "\"Ginny\n

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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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Happy Thanksgiving! ❤️

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“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.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-23T10:36:49-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/23/with-gratitude.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Holiday","Wisdom","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/21/my-accidental-love.html", "title": "My Accidental Love", "content_html": "\"Old\n

Old Mama Kitty is gone. I haven’t seen her in six days. She’s always at the back door, right at supper time. There were a couple of times this summer when she was gone for a day or two, but never six. She’s old. I know that. Just this fall, she seemed to be telling me she was tired. She has one leg that trembles sometimes…and not necessarily because of a chill in the air.

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Being a farm cat, Mama is tough. She doesn’t take any guff from the younger boy cats. If they get too close to her feeding dish, she has no problem swatting them away…claws and fangs bared. They give her a wide berth on the front porch, arcing around her, well out of kitty reach with sly glances from the corner of their eyes. She has probably been to the vet once in her life and that was when she was spayed. She’s never been sick that I know of. She will act like she wants you to pet her, then she swats you if you linger too long. She’s one tough kitty.

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I thought we’d lost her back in 2014 when I first came to the farm. I walked down to the road to get the mail and coming back, there…by the end of the driveway…was a yellow cat that had been hit by a car. I came up to the house to get my work gloves and a shovel. My aunt was still living on the farm at the time. I went to her and told her I was sorry, but Old Mama Kitty was hit by a car and was gone. I went back down and picked up the cat to take it up by the barn to bury it when…I saw the evidence. This was definitely NOT Old Mama Kitty. This was a boy! I wish I would have had the wherewithal to check that out before I told my aunt.

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I had only had one cat in my life before coming to the farm. Ginger was yellow with deep gold stripes. I didn’t seem to be allergic to her as a teenager but the older I got, the more indoor cats bothered me. Ginger went to another home when I moved to England after I was married. Mom hadn’t wanted a cat in the first place. She just tolerated her for me.

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I’ve always been more of a dog person. Dogs are easy to understand. Feed them. Throw the ball. Scratch the good places. Go for walks. They will worship the ground you walk on. Dogs have owners. Cats have staff. You are extra special if a cat loves you. It means you’ve met the criteria.

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The problem with pets is, unless you own a large bird or a turtle, they are going to die before you. And every time a pet dies, they take more of your heart away. I’ve had to put four dogs down in my lifetime. It kills me.

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I don’t want to think of Mama Kitty as “gone”. But, this is what happens with farm animals sometimes. They seem to know when it is their time, I think. I feel a little guilty though. I’ve been away a lot the last couple of weeks helping Mr. FixIt clean and paint his house. I was at the farm every day to feed the cats and spend time with them. Then, six days ago, she just wasn’t there. I called and called and called. It’s sad because I really came to love her. She’s been around forever. She was my Uncle Bob’s cat. He died in 2005. It’s like losing a family member. I know there is still a slim chance she could come back, but I really think it’s time to let her go.

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Pope John Paul II stated that animals have souls and are important beings in God’s creation. And, since souls can go to heaven, it isn’t a stretch to picture our pets running and jumping on us when we get there. I hope to see all my fur babies when I get there!

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I inherited Old Mama Kitty with the farm. She was my accidental love. And…I’ll really miss her. ❤️

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“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-11-21T02:30:28-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/21/my-accidental-love.html", "tags": ["Faith","Family","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Wisdom","Aging","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/20/you-never-know.html", "title": "You Never Know", "content_html": "

 

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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. ❤️

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“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.””\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:27-29‬ ‭NIV

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-20T02:30:47-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/20/you-never-know.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Holiday","Wisdom","Humbled","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/19/almost-heavenhomemade-apple-pies.html", "title": "Almost Heaven...Homemade Apple Pies!", "content_html": "\"Homemade\n

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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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. ❤️

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“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.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:15-17‬ ‭NIV

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-19T02:30:46-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/19/almost-heavenhomemade-apple-pies.html", "tags": ["Family","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Holiday","Wisdom","Humbled","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/16/things-that-make-me-smile.html", "title": "Things That Make Me Smile", "content_html": "\"Antique\n

I was rummaging around in the basement out at the farm the other day, looking for painting supplies, when I saw the old stove in this great light and had to stop and capture it. I’m not sure why my Grandma did most of her canning down in the basement.  I know this past summer the basement was so humid mold was growing on everything. I had to buy a dehumidifier to put down there to keep the humidity below 50%. When she got this baby cranked up with a canner full of boiling water (not to mention the wringer washer) the condensation literally ran down the walls.

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There is a good-sized triangular patch of ground across the creek from the house that was the truck garden. This was where most of the vegetables for the table were grown. The canning vegetables, as well as the strawberries for the farmer’s market, were grown back up on the hill. There was a footbridge that crossed the creek to the garden. My uncle ran an electric fence around the garden to keep the deer out. Grandma grew a ton of green beans, corn, cabbage, cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes in that little patch of ground. The potatoes were grown on a similar, though much smaller, triangular patch along the end of the driveway. I spent many hours stringing beans and shucking corn, scalding and peeling tomatoes, and helping any way I could on canning days.

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One year we drove all the way to Virginia to buy peaches.  I remember they were as big as softballs. Mom was helping Grandma can them and neither one knew the other had stirred sugar into the syrup to pour over them in the jars. When they opened the first jar later on, they were sickeningly sweet. Mom felt so bad…she thought she had ruined Grandma’s beautiful peaches. But Grandma said, “Sis, don’t you worry about a thing. We’ll just make us some peach butter and not have to add any sugar.” They cooked them down and that was the best peach butter ever!

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Now, this old stove stands silently in a back corner of the basement…rusted and resting on cinder blocks for legs. This appliance was from a time of resourceful ingenuity… a time when you never threw anything away. You made do. You “recycled” by reusing. You reduced waste simply by being too poor to buy something better. The Baby Boomers were on the tail end of that generation. Ours was a disposable generation. Cheaply made plastic and paper products have filled countless landfills. Grandma didn’t even have trash service till very late in life. You burned what little paper you threw away. You fed table scraps to the cats or hogs. You reused the glass jars that you canned your food in. I’m glad this stove is still here…even though it doesn’t work…it would never be safe enough to use. But it’s like going into the museum of my youth when I go downstairs. And it’s one of the the things that makes me smile. ❤️

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“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.”\n‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-11-16T02:30:12-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/16/things-that-make-me-smile.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/13/when-things-get-messy.html", "title": "When Things Get Messy", "content_html": "\"Painting\n

This is the part I hate about home improvement projects…living through the mess till it gets finished. I have done this countless times in my life. You can’t avoid it if you are a homeowner. I did this and then some when my mom died and I prepared to sell her house. She wouldn’t let me do anything to her house when she was living because it meant she would have to throw something away. I completely redid the kitchen and bathroom, painted the whole house, and refinished the hardwood floors…all by myself. It’s ever so much more fun to do a project with someone…especially if you work well together as a team. We took yesterday off, went to church, then out to the farm to feed cats. And today we are back at it.

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As I sat down to write this post, a notification came through on my phone. There are nearly a hundred women from Sisters on the Fly down in Port Aransas doing hurricane relief. The very day the hurricane hit, the call went out on the Sisters on the Fly Facebook page. Someone picked up the ball and started The Sister Corps. They immediately started recruiting women to go south to help with the cleanup efforts as they knew help would be needed beyond the immediacy of the storm. The Sister Corps has been posting pictures of the mounds of trash out in front of the houses where they are working. Homes are bare to the studs where drywall must be replaced because of flooding. Bathrooms and kitchens are being replaced. Carpeting and ruined flooring has been ripped out. It makes me look at this room with a whole new vision.

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We are freshening this room…not salvaging it. We are making a choice to change outdated colors and carpeting, not replacing everything because of a natural disaster. Again, God humbles me when I get too “uppity” for my own good. This is a joy…a blessing. We are wealthy beyond our wildest dreams. We are rich in love and the bountiful blessings of not one, but two homes to live in. We have the money to buy a few gallons of paint without having to go through insurance adjusters and contractors and estimates to do so. I will look at this project with new eyes today when I am privileged to pick up a paint brush and know I have a comfortable bed to sleep in tonight. I know where my family is sleeping tonight. I know we have food in the pantry and a little money in the bank.

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I want to share with you another way God works in my life. The other day, I received notice I needed to make a change in my insurance. I’ve been on the healthcare.gov website and on the phone a few times choosing New coverage. It’s an affordable policy, but still…money I wasn’t necessarily planning on spending. As I looked through the choices, I prayed. “God, show me what I need. I’ll worry about filling out the paperwork…you worry about how I’ll afford what I need.” God always, always provides. You want to know how I know this? Because, yesterday after church, Mr. Fixit and I went to the post office to pick up the mail and there were, not one but…TWO checks in there. Not enough to pay for a full month of insurance. But enough to cover my tithe for the next three months.

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This is how God works. He has countless, countless blessings for YOU. They have your name on them…specifically. And he so wants to give them to you. But…he waits for you to ask for them. Don’t come out of the chute asking for those blessings directly, either. Come into the conversation thanking Him for the blessings he has already showered on you. An attitude of gratitude is a fair way to start a prayer when you are asking for more.

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Thank you, God…for the unexpected bounty you have blessed me with. I am so grateful. ❤️

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“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”\n‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-13T02:30:22-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/13/when-things-get-messy.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/12/the-sentinels.html", "title": "The Sentinels", "content_html": "\"\"\n

We survived the first day of painting…barely! It wasn’t a problem working together. That part was awesome! We put on ‘70s music and be-bopped around the living room, dancing and singing and having a grand time making each other laugh. Till we had to move the treadmill out of the corner and into the middle of the room to paint around it. The part you walk on folds up and you pull back on the entire thing to make it stand on two wheels. This allegedly makes it move easier. Well, not so on carpet. I bent down and grabbed the front legs and helped Mr. FixIt move this thing several feet. I’m not sure what happened, but when we set the front end down, it came down like a shot and the handles slammed me in the side of the head so hard it literally knocked me off my feet and sent me flying about six feet. It didn’t hurt as bad as it surprised me. And of course, scared Mr. FixIt to death. I laid there on the floor for a couple minutes to let the bells stop ringing in my head and got up. I’m fine, thank God!

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We finished painting the ceiling in time for the kickoff of the WVU game so I left Mr. FixIt to his own devices and headed to the farm to feed the cats. The last couple of years, I’ve been trying to embrace fall and not hate it as the harbinger of winter. I’m trying to embrace winter, too…but, one thing at a time. As I drove across the two-lane, I made myself look at the landscape. In the past I would just feel sadness that the leaves were gone. This time, I asked myself to name something lovely. Suddenly…I saw texture. Where leaves were densely packed in the summer months, bare trees now stand and you can see the ridges and waterways that they line. “Name one thing that’s lovely.” The sycamore. They stand like ghostly sentinels, guardians of the creek banks, their white arms stretched toward the sky. Their limbs are crooked like a gnarly witch’s hand, the last of their dinner-plate sized leaves clinging curled and crispy to the uppermost limbs. Their round, light mustard-brown seed pods dangle like ornaments silhouetted against the sky.

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Once I noticed them, I saw sycamores everywhere. They were so beautiful. As I drove back from the farm, the sun was setting and the light turned rose-gold. The trees on the hillside looked like the tips of paintbrushes dipped in yellow and gold, orange and red…only the tippy-top leaves were left. Soon the winter winds will strip all but the most hardy leaves and the twigs and branches will create a mosaic against a thin blue sky. There was a hard freeze last night…a hoar frost still clinging to the frozen grass. As I pulled into the driveway at Mr. FixIt’s house, ten deer were out grazing in the field. I sat there for a while, contemplating. It was a good day. This is a good life. I am healthy, loved, secure…happy. I smiled and went inside to start supper. ❤️

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“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”\n‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-12T02:30:11-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/12/the-sentinels.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Grace","Peace","Wisdom","The Cats","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/09/what-have-i-done.html", "title": "What Have I Done???", "content_html": "\"Computer\n

OMGosh! I broke my absolute cardinal rule yesterday and…gasp…bought a piece of furniture! I know, I know…you all were with me when I downsized and I absolutely SWORE I would never accumulate “stuff” again. BUT…things are different now. A lot different. I’m not living in a camper, for one thing. For the last three years, my desktop computer has been riding in my camper, under the bed, in an airtight plastic storage tub. There have been numerous times I’ve needed to use it and I have to go out, prop up the bed, haul it out, and put it away when I’m done. Ok, ok…I’m rationalizing. Here’s what happened.

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I had to run to town yesterday for an appointment and on my way back to the house, I saw a sign that said “Grand Opening!” It was a consignment store. Who can pass up a good consignment store, right? My truck pulled in, all on its own. I had no choice but to follow. I browsed around and they had some beautiful pieces of furniture. I was first attracted to an old rolltop desk. It was small, and a little beat up. Mr. FixIt has a nice rolltop desk…much nicer than this one. I went on and looked at other things. When I came back around, I asked the clerk about the desk. He said, “You know, if it were me and I had the room, I’d be looking at this one. Much better piece of furniture.” He opened the doors and the drawers and showed me the solid oak construction. The top opens and there’s a place for the monitor, a drawer for the keyboard, and a separate cabinet for the CPU. It is in two pieces to make it easier to transport. The selling point for me was the price. The piece originally sold for $1800. It had been priced for sale in the consignment shop for $500…a decent price for a sold piece of furniture of this quality. However, it was marked down to $250. So, I own a piece of furniture.

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That’s two pieces, actually. I also own the jelly cupboard in the kitchen at the farm. Oh, and a recliner. Hmmmmm….I am accumulating. Not excessively, but still. It doesn’t feel as scary to put down some roots as it did in the first few years after Mr. Virgo died. I didn’t want to feel a sense of permanence then. Permanence meant real loss when things headed south. I needed to feel untethered…free. I didn’t have the strength to be needed…even by inanimate objects. As long as it fit in my truck and my camper, I was just fine. And like I said, things are different now. A lot of healing has occurred. Time has passed. A relationship has been established. A home is being created. Two homes, actually.

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Mr. FixIt lives exactly twenty-two miles from the farm. He lives on five acres out in the country. He generously shares his space with me. Mi casa es su casa. My house is your house. He is just as comfortable at the farm as I am at his place. And neither of us are giving up our space. We stay a little here, a little there, and then have our own space to retreat to when we need to recharge. It’s the perfect arrangement for the time being. I became very independent after losing Mr. Virgo. While I missed him, certainly…I also came to appreciate the stillness of my own breath. Mr. FixIt and I both like our alone time. Although…truth be told…whenever we are apart, we miss each other terribly. This whole relationship thing is growing on both of us. I suppose, for me, there is still an element of fear deep down inside. That “What if something happened to him” thing. I know I can’t live my life in fear. I won’t. But, there’s something to be said for taking your time in any given situation. After all, there’s no biological time clock ticking here. There’s absolutely nothing to be in a hurry over.

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Mr. FixIt and I have been together for a year now. I was thinking about this yesterday. I’m in a really good place now, emotionally. I haven’t had a “bad night” in a really long time. My anxiety level is at an all time low. I’m comfortable in my own skin. I’m happy. I am blessed. And…I am grateful. God has answered so many prayers. I think I’m just going to go along for the ride and enjoy…everything. Life is so sweet! ❤️

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“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.”\n‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-09T02:30:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/09/what-have-i-done.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/05/sweetness.html", "title": "Sweetness", "content_html": "\"Sweet\n

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!

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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.

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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.

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In case you forgot, daylight saving time is over. Turn your clocks back an hour. Have a blessed Sunday, dear ones. ❤️

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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.”\n‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-05T02:30:40-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/05/sweetness.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","Hope","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Forgiveness"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/11/01/twinkle-twinkle-little-star.html", "title": "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", "content_html": "\"\"\n

I think the first time I remember really looking at the stars was when Sputnik was orbiting overhead. My dad came and woke me up and said, “Come with me…I want to show you something.” He helped me into my coat and we stepped outside into the cool, night air. I was instantly alert, fully understanding this was unusual and an adventure. I shivered with the thrill of my dad sharing something special with me. That didn’t happen very often.

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I remember he held my hand and pointed into the night sky and said, “See the stars?”

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“Yes, daddy.”

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“I want you to watch for a special star…it’s going to move across the sky. Not fast, like a shooting star. But pretty fast.” He pointed straight up above us and said, “There! See it?!”

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It took me a few seconds of searching but there it was…a moving star!!! “I see it! I see it!” I shouted. It was, come to find out, the newly launched satellite…Sputnik. The Russians had beat us into space. I was only four years old when this little round ball went around and around our world. It was up there for twenty-one days…then it was done.

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I’ve been in love with the night sky ever since that night at Grandma’s farm, holding my dad’s hand in the dark. There was a reverence about it, a sense of awe at the magnitude of it all. One summer after Grandma died, I came to WV for my high school reunion. It must have been in 2012…the August before Mr. Virgo died. I was staying at the farm, even though it was a good hour’s drive after the party let out at midnight. It was a hot August night and when I stepped out of the car into the inky blackness of the night, I looked up and stopped in my tracks. The stars looked like a million diamonds thrown on a black velvet cloth. The distinct stripe of the Milky Way slashing across the sky fascinated me. I laid down on the wheelchair ramp my uncle had built two decades before and placed my hands across my belly and stared for the longest time. Shooting stars streaked across the sky at irregular intervals. Crickets and katydids sang their love songs deep into the night. An owl hooted far up the holler behind the barn. And there…there was a satellite. Then another. And soon, another. The night sky is littered with space junk and communication satellites and spies anymore.

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Now I have an app on my iPhone that identifies whatever star or constellation I point it at. It’s a lot of fun, especially when you’re out camping. There are several apps but the one I use is the free version of SkyView. The sky will never again be like that night in 1957 when I first shared an adventure with my dad. ❤️

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“who made the great lights— His love endures forever. the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭136:7-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-11-01T01:30:17-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/11/01/twinkle-twinkle-little-star.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Peace","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/30/the-fire-is-overthe-battle.html", "title": "The Fire is Over...The Battle Rages On", "content_html": "

\"IEI IEI Plastics Fire, Parkersburg, WV

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Two hundred and four hours. That’s how long it took to put out the fire at the old Ames shovel plant, now owned by IEI Plastics. As of 11:30 Sunday morning, the fire was declared “extinguished”. Now there is a 36 to 48 hour cooling off period before anything further can be done. Firefighters and assorted agencies will remain on site for another couple of days to monitor the scene. What you see left here is now the responsibility of the site owner to clean up.

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A lot of disturbing information has surfaced since this fire began. As far back as 2012, two area fire chiefs have written letters that this facility, and its sister site a couple of blocks away, were a disaster waiting to happen. They expressed concern that a fire of epic proportions could easily break out and it would have significant impact on the area due to the nature of the items being stored there. This business identified itself as a plastics recycling facility. Some of the plastics being stored were leftovers from processes at the DuPont plant south of town. Waste plastics were shredded on site, packed in huge cardboard containers, and stacked floor to ceiling. Violations and resulting fines of $80,000 were not corrected, nor paid in full. There are at least four other such storage sites in the surrounding area. And what’s being done about it? Time will tell.

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The EPA and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has told us there was nothing alarming in the air quality. The next town south on the Ohio River with city water intake is Huntington. I have not heard what their monitoring has discovered but you know with at least 10,000,000 gallons of water poured on this thing, there had to be significant runoff. The earth below this thing has been permanently altered. Who knows what else lurks in the future.

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I remember when I was a kid, my uncle worked at Marbon…a plastics plant in the area. He brought us large samples of the plastics that had come out of the extruder. They looked like a huge pile of toothpaste squeezed out of a giant’s toothpaste tube. I was fascinated. There were also dollops resembling Hershey’s kisses that were soft and springy. We played with these things. Who knows what kind is chemicals we were exposed to as kids? Remember playing with mercury when you were a kid? We rolled it around in the palms of our hands!!! Nowadays, whole buildings are closed in the event of a spill. The world has changed. The world has stayed the same. The world has gotten worse. Depends on your perspective.

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Whatever your take is on this, these kinds of fires are catastrophic and preventable. It just takes monitoring and we cannot do that by deregulating and dismantling the agencies that were developed for just that purpose. We’ve become overcome with data, information, sensationalized news as entertainment. It’s hard to know where to start when everything seems so overwhelming. It’s easy to get numb. But…we can’t afford the luxury of that numbness. If you see things that aren’t right…ask questions. Tell the authorities. Make some phone calls. Get involved. Be proactive. Don’t assume the other guy is going to do it for you. ❤️

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“Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornate robe she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went.”\n‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭13:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-10-30T01:30:29-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/30/the-fire-is-overthe-battle.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/28/soupnatures-tranquilizer.html", "title": "Soup...Nature’s Tranquilizer", "content_html": "\"Homemade\n

It was twenty-seven degrees here at the farm yesterday morning when I sent Mr. FixIt off on a guys trip to North Carolina. This leaves me on my own till Sunday night. I love this man…I truly do. AND, I love my alone time on occasion, so I’m sitting here in the dining room, in front of Grandma’s favorite window, classical music playing softly in the background. It is lovely outside…nearly sixty degrees, sunny, the last of the autumn leaves clinging desperately to the branches like quivering field mice bracing for winter’s chill. It is warm and cozy in this little, old farmhouse and I’m snug as a bug in a rug.

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The other day I told you I was making pot roast in the pressure cooker. That night after dinner, I added a can of green beans, a small can of sliced carrots, a can of diced tomatoes, and the leftover potatoes from dinner to the crock pot. When I say “‘crock pot” and “pressure cooker”, I am talking about the same appliance that also is a steamer. When I got rid of most of my belongings and moved into the camper, I didn’t want to be without the conveniences of my kitchen appliances and there wasn’t room for everything. That’s when I ran across this wonderful gizmo that does it all. It’s not very big, but its big enough for two and leftovers aplenty.

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I put the soup on and frankly…I forgot all about it till I was heading to bed. I came into the kitchen to lock the back door and noticed it was still cooking. Too hot to put in the fridge, I took the soup…pot and all…out to my truck and set it inside for the night as the temperature got down into the thirties. The next morning, I skimmed off the fat and plugged it back in to have ready for lunch. It was wonderful!

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Mr. FixIt was heading into town after lunch to help his ex with something. I sent him off with a container of soup and some crackers for her. Why cater to the needs of an ex-wife? Because…divorce may change a relationship status, but you can still be family. There is Christian loving-kindness to be considered. She is moving this week into her first home of her own. I remember what that was like after my divorce. I wanted her to know she is loved and cared for. It is the same love and kindness extended toward me from my exes’ wives. You can be bitter and angry and full of resentment with a divorce. Or, you can embrace the new member into the family circle. I know that doesn’t work for everyone, but I choose love. I always choose love. ❤️

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“We love because he first loved us.”\n‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-10-28T01:30:02-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/28/soupnatures-tranquilizer.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Forgiveness","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/27/how-far-have-we-really.html", "title": "How Far Have We Really Come?", "content_html": "\"Ad\n

I have really been getting into nostalgia lately. The other day I shared my Pinterest page of Childhood Memories. When I have a few minutes, I go on and add a few more. It’s interesting how Pinterest works. When you click on something, you soon see more and more pins in that category and it’s been a fun walk down Memory Lane. Some of the memories I could do without, though.

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Eventually, I started seeing ads…legitimate ads…that reminded me of a time before “political correctness” became de rigueur. Ads about keeping women in their “place”. Ads about making little girls feel less unacceptable by dressing them in Chubettes. Ads about keeping slim for your man by taking amphetamines or gaining weight if you’re too skinny in order to be more attractive to the opposite sex. It makes my blood boil that generations of women…including my own…were made to feel “less than”. To be objectified…categorized…scrutinized. Ads like this one. I mean, seriously…what is this even about? What are they saying? “Wear these stylin’ kicks and your woman will worship the ground you walk on. As an added bonus, she’ll do it fabric free!”

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Finally…finally, finally, finally…these kinds of ads fell out of fashion. It became considered to be in poor taste to openly objectify women. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t still happen…it most certainly does as is evidenced by current events being reported. People of power often take advantage of those seen to be beneath them or weaker than they. Hopefully, this is a gut check and might strike a more even balance of power in the future.

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I was visiting one of the “widow pages” I frequent on Facebook the other day. The topic of one post was regarding the Hollywood actresses who went back to their abuser in order to get another part. She couldn’t understand how a woman could do that. This smacked dangerously close to blaming the victim so I had to step into the fray and offer my two cents. It IS difficult to understand how a woman could go back to the same circumstances and risk abuse again. That is, until you try to look through her lens. She’s an actress. It’s what she does. She depends on the power brokers of Hollywood to promote her, hire her, give her a break. The power broker knows this. He is emboldened…drunk with his position to make or break the careers of nubile young coeds. She (or he, as the case may be…actors are not exempt to abuse) knows what will happen if she is blackballed in Hollywood. She might as well go back to the Midwest or wherever she came from and get a job, because she or he will never work in Hollywood again. Everyone knows this. They just didn’t talk about it. And, finally…somebody told. The hoopla over it all will die down with the next news cycle but maybe some meaningful change will occur.

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We’ve come a long way, to be sure and there’s so much further to go. I understand people’s frustration with “political correctness”…sometimes even I think it can be excessive. But, when I was growing up, it was called being polite, doing the right thing, showing respect. The Golden Rule. Good manners. And there’s nothing wrong with exercising plenty more of that. ❤️

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“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”\n‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-10-27T01:30:06-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/27/how-far-have-we-really.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Peace","Wisdom","Forgiveness","Humbled","Aging"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/26/farmhouse-obsession.html", "title": "Farmhouse Obsession", "content_html": "\"Farmhouse\n

In 1982, Hubby #2 and I moved into an old brick bungalow that had been the farmhouse before the area around it was developed. It was drafty and poorly insulated. Three quarters of the basement was bare dirt floor. The brick support pillars down there were crumbling and frankly, it was a pretty scary place. But the rest of the house was charming. Dark hardwood floors and built-in storage, tall ceilings and a sun porch, large windows you could fling wide open to catch the cool evening breeze…it was the closest I had come to living in an actual farmhouse since I’d left home at the tender age of twenty.

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Hubby #2 was in medical school when we moved into this rental. Even though it was a farmhouse, it was on a very busy street in east Denver. I had a big garden and flower beds everywhere. We grew as much of our own food as we could and I was very much into Mother Earth News. I made our bread, yogurt, granola and tofu. What I couldn’t grow, I bought at the neighborhood farmer’s market. I canned dozens of jars of green beans, pickles, tomatoes, jams and jellies in my huge country kitchen which looked very similar to this one.

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I have a total obsession with these porcelain farmhouse sinks. There’s nothing better for canning than one of these babies. The sink was huge and deep…perfect for washing large quantities of fruits and vegetables. A water bath canner could sit right down into the sink for easy filling. And two dishpans fit perfectly side by side for washing and rinsing dishes. My grandma’s farmhouse doesn’t have one of these sinks but I imagine the first one I ever saw was in West Virginia. I run across them every so often here but haven’t found just the right one. The laminate on the countertops in the farm kitchen is lifting and needs to be replaced. I’m thinking if I ever do that, this kind of sink is going in. The plumbing under the sink is getting pretty fragile so when it goes, it’ll be a perfect opportunity to do a little updating. It is, to be sure, just an earthly tent…but the home of my earthly heart.

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Speaking of plumbing, remember when I told you about leaving the bath water running and getting distracted by a phone call? I actually ran the well dry and this terrible, black water started coming out of the faucet. I spoke with one of the locals here and he said this hard water gunks up the insides of the pipes just like cholesterol in your arteries. When I let the well run dry, the “spurting” of air and water essentially roto-rootered the plumbing. Before that, the water smelled and tasted awful. Now, while I don’t think I’d drink a glass of it, I can stand to brush my teeth with it…but only after I tested the water. It’s hard, and slightly alkaline, but there’s no lead, pesticides, or bacteria. It’s really amazing the difference in the quality, before and after.

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The pot roast from yesterday was wonderful and is in a crockpot for vegetable soup today. It’s cold and rainy and we were expecting our first hard freeze last night. It’s time to get out the jeans and sweaters and boots and jackets. The only thing missing is a fireplace but this old house is all wood and I wouldn’t dare have one. We did change out the stove in the bathroom yesterday with one that has a thermostat. Now it shuts off and on rather than being way too hot or freezing with the manual shutoff.

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The fire in Parkersburg is dying down but still has smoldering hotspots. More information is being released about the owners and what they were doing in there. And, more importantly, what they WEREN’T doing…like correcting past environmental and safety violations. The owner, who has at least four other of these warehouses in the area packed with God knows what, is conveniently out of the country at the moment. Fines had been levied against them for these violations to the tune of $80,000…$60,000 of which remains unpaid. They’re still evaluating the air quality results. The first class action lawsuit was filed Monday. And the circus begins. I pray for the first responders and the folks who live nearby and in the path of the smoke cloud, which shifted continually with the direction of the wind. I pray this gets sorted out quickly. I hear Erin Brokovich has been alerted. I hope that helps. ❤️

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“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.”\n‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-10-26T01:30:48-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/26/farmhouse-obsession.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/25/comfort-food.html", "title": "Comfort Food", "content_html": "\"Pot\n

Today’s the day…time for the first “comfort food” meal of fall. Mr. FixIt and I have been working at our respective homes a lot the last week or so and haven’t had a day at home for a while. Today is trash day. It’s “install the new bathroom heater because we bought one without a thermostat, oh my gosh, what were we thinking” day. It’s a day to reconnect and play cards and visit. Today is “Pot Roast Day”. I’m pretty sure it’s a national holiday.

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I love pot roast. I love a good bone-in pot roast but haven’t seen one of them in a grocery store for years. Mr. Virgo always said the flavor of meat comes from the bone, but everything seems to be boneless anymore. My grandma used to can beef. On Sundays, she’d go get a couple quarts of canned beef, drain it, dredge the chunks of tender meat in seasoned flour and fry it in butter. Makes my swoon to think of it. You could cut it with a knife and it literally melted in your mouth. A nice brown gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, and buttered bread made the BEST Sunday supper ever!

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It’s cold today. It was supposed to get down to 32 last night with a high today of only 47. It rained like crazy yesterday and there was graupel associated with it. Graupel occurs when supercooled water droplets freeze onto snowflakes. It looks like tiny hail, but it’s soft. It’s common in Colorado but this is the first time I’ve seen it here in West Virginia. We’ll have snow before we know it. I’m getting there, but I’m not ready yet. The mower and the summer garden tools have been put away and the porches are cleared off. Progress is being made!

\n

I heard a great horned owl last night. Can Halloween be far behind? Have a happy Wednesday, dear ones! ❤️

\n

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

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-25T01:30:26-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/25/comfort-food.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Grace","Love"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/24/fire-update.html", "title": "Fire Update", "content_html": "\"Ames\n

Here’s an update on the fire in Parkersburg, WV. The site of the old Ames Plant is still burning. It started just after midnight Saturday night. The cause of the blaze is still unknown. The old plant housed an operation that ground up plastic that was stored in huge cardboard containers as raw materials to be shipped to DuPont for making whatever product they are currently working on. The Mid-Ohio Valley is home to many chemical plants and Parkersburg formed the Polymer Alliance in the late 1980’s to draw more business to the area. In just one day, over 1,000,000 gallons of city water had been pumped onto the blaze and the last two days saw tankers filling up with river water to give the city water a break. So far, costs of battling this devastating fire has been nearly $200,000 with an estimated cost of $60,000 daily. They are hoping to extinguish the fire by the end of the week.

\n

While the actual ash fallout has been declared non-hazardous, the air quality hasn’t been cleared and people are being urged to stay indoors. Schools, businesses, and government offices were closed yesterday. A storm front came in early yesterday and rain began to fall. I was so happy to see that because I am familiar with forest fires out west. When it rains out there, the particulates get washed out of the air, the fires die down, and soon it’s just a cleanup operation. Not so in this case. I was in town for coffee with friends yesterday morning. I got there before it started raining and, while you could detect an odor of burning plastic, it really wasn’t that bad. The smoke was dying down and no longer billowing black. I covered my face and dashed the short distance to the hotel. It wasn’t long till the sky opened up. The rain and the low pressure of the storm front push the smoke flat down and the wind dispersed it in a line drive toward downtown. The air was heavy with it. It rained hard the entire time we were in the building and when we left, the wind had shifted again and sent the smoke across the river into Ohio.

\n

The governor has declared a state of emergency for Wood County. We are still awaiting news as to air quality, water runoff contamination, and what exactly was in the smoke. The firefighters actually had to back off for a while yesterday afternoon because the smoke was too low and thick to work. Miraculously, there have been no injuries reported due to the fire. There has been a slow uptick in ER visits for complaints of coughing, breathing difficulties, and dizziness. That’s all I know at this point. I’ll let you know as more news becomes available.

\n

As is typical of every disaster, Facebook is rife with stories, complaints, arguments between citizens. They’re frightened of what may be in the air and water…and rightfully so. After all, they were told for years that the C8 released by DuPont that has contaminated the aquifers beneath the Mid-Ohio Valley was harmless. There have been numerous trials in the class action suit brought by countless cancer sufferers…all related to C8 exposure. This is the stuff of legend…like, Erin Brokovich kind of stuff. The citizens don’t trust when they’re told the ash is non-toxic. It’s hard to wait for more news about the air and water. In the meantime, I’m staying away from downtown for the time being. One quick trip was all it took to convince me to stay out of there.

\n

In the meantime, businesses and citizens are stepping up to the plate and delivering food and water to the firefighters. I just read of a business owner providing particulate respirator masks to the public for free. People are good. As Mr. Rogers’ mom told him…“Look for the helpers.” ❤️

\n

““Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand, and in his disaster cry for help?”\n‭‭Job‬ ‭30:24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-24T01:30:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/24/fire-update.html", "tags": ["Prayer","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/23/turning-back-time.html", "title": "Turning Back Time", "content_html": "\"Childhood\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

If you’re interested, you can check out my Pinterest boards at https://pin.it/h0vDp2x\nI 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!

\n

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! ❤️

\n

“And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”\n‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭8:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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#childhood, #memories, #soapboxderby

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-23T01:30:31-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/23/turning-back-time.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","Aging"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/22/the-chemical-valley.html", "title": "The Chemical Valley", "content_html": "\"Fire\n

The Ohio River is busy with boat traffic delivering supplies to various plants up and down river. Barges are filled with coal, gravel, gasoline, and who knows what else. Many of the big manufacturing plants are located on the banks of the various rivers in this valley for the convenient shipping. The Ohio River has been cleaned up a lot since I was a kid, yet I was told tonight it is not recommended you actually EAT the fish you might catch out of there. Who knows what is still in that water any given day?

\n

As a child, my bare feet would turn black from the carbon fallout from Union Carbide, just up the river. Johns Mansville was located right in town just a block from a grade school. American Cyanamid, DuPont, Marbon, GE, Viscose, Ames…all plants that deal with toxic chemicals and known carcinogens. DuPont has been in litigation for quite sometime over polluting the ground water with C8…a known carcinogen. They don’t call it cancer alley for nothing.

\n

Mr. FixIt has degrees in drafting, mechanical engineering, and business law as well as real estate. He worked for a short time at Viscose then moved to Ames. We awoke yesterday with messages and phone calls from friends and family announcing the old Ames plant #1 was burning. Apparently some pretty toxic stuff has been being stored in there and the unthinkable happened…it caught fire. It has burned well over twenty-four hours sending a huge plume of dark black, foul-smelling smoke into the air that has spread for miles. Large chunks of debris are raining down on the surrounding neighborhoods. Soot and ash are falling on cars miles away. So far, the EPA is stating the ash is nontoxic to humans. The smoke, however, is a different story and Wood County has declared the area around the Ames plant as disaster area, along with a list of known toxic chemicals that were in the building.

\n

How many abandoned factory and plants are in your town? Do you know what’s inside? Has someone been storing stuff in there that you wouldn’t want to be living with, let alone have it burn up next to your house or your kid’s school? Start a conversation. Go for a drive. Jot down the address of the place of concern and ask someone…several someones. Maintaining the status quo and just looking the other way might get you into a mess one of these days. It may be months, years maybe, before the people of Parkersburg know what they were breathing yesterday. The EPA isn’t there for decoration. They keep us safe. Be mindful of legislation. Be involved in helping clean up this planet. We don’t get another one. And pray for Parkersburg. So far, there have been no injuries, thank God. Let’s hope it stays that way! ❤️

\n

““Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand, and in his disaster cry for help?”\n‭‭Job‬ ‭30:24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-22T01:30:34-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/22/the-chemical-valley.html", "tags": ["Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Hope","West Virginia","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/21/the-ice-cream-truckfor-adults.html", "title": "The Ice Cream Truck...for Adults", "content_html": "\"UPS\n

I finally broke down and got Amazon Prime. Living out here in the boonies makes shopping difficult sometimes…especially in winter. And, while I try to buy local at every opportunity, there are things that I’m not willing to compromise on like saving money. Prime gives you free two day shipping. It pays for itself quickly. Also, I love the music channel. I can ask Alexis to play “Kari Jobe” or “Contemporary Christian Rock” and she gets right to it.

\n

I’ve told you before but, since downsizing, I’m very careful about what I accumulate. It would be very easy to let things get out of control. If I run across something I think I might need, I jot it down on a list in my iPhone. If I haven’t thought of it in a couple of weeks, I figure I don’t need it and take it off the list. When I get four or five items on the list, I go on Amazon and put them in my cart but I don’t actually buy them. If I haven’t bought them in a week or two, I re-evaluate whether I really need that particular item. Often, my fascination with it wanes or I figure out how to use something I already have.

\n

I placed an order this week and the UPS man backed up my driveway this afternoon. Four boxes arrived and it felt like Christmas! I ordered some probiotics for the best price around. I bought Lisa Mora’s book called Vintage Trailer Style. (I’ve been eyeing it for months. Cute camper ideas.) I ordered a microwaveable corn bag to warm my feet up at night. I have a barley one but cannot find it anywhere. And I bought a small gas stove for the bathroom. You may remember I replaced the stove in there in the spring, but we got the thing hooked up before we realized the stove had no thermostat. I thought we’d get by, but a stove that runs all the time soon has this little house WAY too hot! This new stove is exactly like the other one but with a thermostat. We’ll get that installed this weekend…another winter prep job.

\n

I mowed the yard yesterday. I put the mower away in the barn so hopefully I won’t have to drag it out again this fall. I mulched the leaves into the lawn for extra fertilizer. I covered the air conditioner with heavy plastic for winter. I got the lawn chairs put away in the basement and worked on the back porch. It has become a catch all this summer and it was getting out of control. Still didn’t get the cat beds fixed yet. As I was writing this last night, Old Mama Kitty knocked one of the beds off the table and onto the cement porch floor. It sounded like a bear was getting into a trash can. I jumped and looked out the back door. When I went out, poor Mama came running like she needed me to save her from that big, bad plastic tub. ?

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We’re supposed to have good weather this weekend and rain comes Monday. There’s a meteor shower this weekend. Get away from the city lights to someplace dark and enjoy Morher Nature’s fireworks. ❤️

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“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”\n‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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#UPS, #cleanhouse, #farmlife

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-21T01:30:23-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/21/the-ice-cream-truckfor-adults.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","The Cats","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/20/tea-time.html", "title": "Tea Time", "content_html": "\"A\n

I’m a coffee drinker but I can’t have it after about noon or I’ll be counting the spots on the ceiling all night. I can drink tea at night without a problem. Now that the weather is getting cooler, I share tea time with Mr. FixIt every evening. He catches up with the news on his phone. I sit here on the sofa, write my post and schedule it for 4:00 in the morning so you can read it when you have YOUR cuppa.

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I always liked tea, even as a young girl. But, I really got into it when I lived in England. I learned to drink it with cream and a side of “digestive biscuits”…England’s counterpart for graham crackers. I bought a Brown Betty while I was there…a sturdy, brown, earthenware teapot that keeps your tea at a proper temperature for quite some time. I was taught to put in a teaspoon of loose leaf tea per cup and add one for the pot. I poured my cream into the pot then fresh, boiling water. I let it steep till it was the color I like and poured it through a strainer to removed the leaves.

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I had my first child in the Royal Berkshire Maternity Hospital. My physician was Mr. Stalabrass (certain physicians are referred to as Mr. in Britain, or at least that’s the way it was forty-three years ago.) I had pre-eclampsia and had to be in the hospital for a week before I had the baby. Every afternoon, an aide would take your lunch tray, close the curtains and the door, and settle you in for a nap. Two hours later, she would come back with a warm face cloth and a tea tray…a lovely pot of tea, finger sandwiches, and sweets. It was divine! They should do that everywhere.

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I am working double time trying to give this house a deep cleaning before winter sets in. The water here at the farm is hard and has a lot of iron in it. It turns the porcelain dark brown and takes a great deal of elbow grease to get clean. I discovered a wonderful product called Zap. The tub hasn’t been this white since I was a kid and they installed running water in this house. Seriously…it’s probably some horrid chemical, but the bathroom looks great!

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I have to tackle the outside next, scrub the porches, and get the kitty beds ready for cold weather. But, first…another spot of tea! ❤️

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“Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6:6-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-10-20T01:30:02-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/20/tea-time.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/18/a-birds-eye-view.html", "title": "A Bird's Eye View", "content_html": "\"Satellite\n

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.

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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! ?

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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.

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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. ❤️

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“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-18T01:30:29-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/18/a-birds-eye-view.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","goRVing","Wisdom","Girl Camper","Girl Campers","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/17/getting-bolder-stories-not-stuff.html", "title": "Getting Bolder: Stories, Not Stuff", "content_html": "

\"Stories,Today’s post is a link to my most recent installment of “Getting Bolder” on the Sisters on the Fly blog. ❤️

\n

www.sistersonthefly.com/getting-b…

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“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,”\n‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-10-17T01:30:09-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/17/getting-bolder-stories-not-stuff.html", "tags": ["Faith","Colorado","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Wisdom","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/15/a-perfect-fall-day.html", "title": "A Perfect Fall Day!", "content_html": "\"WVU\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

www.jessicagavin.com/grandmas-…

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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.

\n

❤️

\n

“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”\n‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

", "date_published": "2017-10-15T01:30:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/15/a-perfect-fall-day.html", "tags": ["Family","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/14/lets-go-mountaineers.html", "title": "Let's Go, Mountaineers!", "content_html": "\"Mountaineer\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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! ?

\n

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!

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I’ll have pictures for you tomorrow along with a game day recipe for Italian Meatball Sliders.

\n

? Go, ’eers!!! ?

\n

❤️

\n

“He has blocked my way so I cannot pass…”\n‭‭Job‬ ‭19:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-14T01:30:04-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/14/lets-go-mountaineers.html", "tags": ["Family","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Hope","Fun","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/11/free-spirit.html", "title": "Free Spirit", "content_html": "\"Woman\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

God’s timing is so perfect. ❤️

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“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.”\n‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:6-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-10-11T01:30:38-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/11/free-spirit.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled","Aging","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/09/a-little-rr.html", "title": "A Little R\u0026R", "content_html": "

 

\n\"Ol'\n

We awoke to the sound of rain gently falling on the tin roof yesterday. What a welcome sound. Something else grabbed my attention. It was stuffy and still in the bedroom. I picked up my phone to check the temperature. No wifi. The power was out so the fan was off. This happens frequently here at the farm. I keep thinking I’ll get a generator but haven’t yet.

\n

Old Mama Kitty curled up at my feet while I sat on the porch, watching the rain. Every time we have this moment, I wonder how much longer we’ll have her. She’s about twenty-four years old now. I love this sweet little kitty.

\n

The persistent rain made me sleepy and I couldn’t get motivated to do much. I did put about half the stuff away in the kitchen that I had brought in from TOW-Wanda. The rest of the day was literally spent doing as little as possible. Sometimes you just need a day like that. Mr. FixIt is like the Energizer bunny. He never stops. I like to do a lot of stuff but when I need down time, I NEED down time. I sent him off to deliver a chair to his granddaughter and go bowling and I spent the afternoon/evening laying low. Just what the doctor ordered!

\n

The only downside of having a lay low, shut in kind of day was not going to church. The only upside to that is the Warehouse Church where we attend goes live on their Facebook page every Sunday night at 7:00 so if I can’t go for some reason, I can watch the sermon from home.

\n

Last night, Pastor Justin spoke on getting past your past. I dragged my past behind me like a sack of rotting garbage for years. I played and replayed every mistake, every misstep, every wrongdoing I ever did and berated myself for being a bad daughter, sister, wife, mother. It turns out, those were all lies…whispered into my life by the enemy. He has no power over the future, but man…does he know how to play the past. There are ways you can use the past. Learning from your mistakes and moving forward, letting the past “push” you into the person God has always intended you to be…THAT’S the only useful thing the past can give you. God uses those mistakes you made in the past to allow you to minister to others, to speak life over them, to demonstrate that you do not have to let your past define who you are. You can get past it. Powerful message. So, I got my lay low day, I had a nap under the sounds of a gentle rain on a tin roof, AND I heard a great message from God. What’s not to love about that? ❤️

\n

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”\n‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-10-09T01:30:27-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/09/a-little-rr.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","The Cats","Monday Morning Motivation"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/08/from-long-horns-to-long.html", "title": "From Long Horns to Long Rifles", "content_html": "\"Longhorns\n

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.

\n\"Civil\n

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.

\n\"Confederate\n

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.

\n\"Civil\n

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.

\n\"Civil\n\"Civil\n

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. ❤️

\n

“a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”\n‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-10-08T01:30:01-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/08/from-long-horns-to-long.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Peace","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/07/country-livin.html", "title": "Country Livin'", "content_html": "\"Porch\n

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!

\n\"General\n

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.

\n\"Schoolhouse\"\n

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.

\n\"Country\n

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.

\n\"Heritage\n

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.

\n\"Church\n

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. ❤️

\n

“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.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭126:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-10-07T01:30:50-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/07/country-livin.html", "tags": ["Travel","Fun","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/10/04/my-lovehate-relationship.html", "title": "My Love-Hate Relationship", "content_html": "\"\"\n

“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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. ❤️

\n

“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.”\n‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:28-29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-10-04T01:30:45-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/10/04/my-lovehate-relationship.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","goRVing","Love","Girl Camper","Girl Campers"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/09/28/grandmas-spoon.html", "title": "Grandma's Spoon", "content_html": "\"Grandma's\n

Some time after Grandma died, I was visiting the farm. I was cooking and rummaged around in the utensil drawer for a wooden spoon to stir something with. I grew up using wooden spoons and have owned many over the course of my life. I love them. I love the feel of the wood in my hand. I love the way they gently rub the bottom of the pan as you stir. I’ve learned how to gauge the proper thickness of a sauce or gravy by how the liquid coats the spoon. Placed across the top of a pan, a wooden spoon will keep pasta or potatoes from boiling over. Drape a wet dishcloth over the end and you can scrub the inside of a jar or bottle. They’re very handy.

\n

When I looked in the drawer in Grandma’s kitchen, there was a packet in the back wrapped in a flour sack dishcloth. Curious, I opened it up to find treasures. Grandma’s paring knife, potato peeler, and favorite wooden spoon had been wrapped and carefully put away. The paring knife was so thin and the blade was curved in an unnatural shape from the many times it had been run over a whetstone. The potato peeler showed wear from years and years of use. Potatoes were a staple in that house for at least two meals a day. But, it was the wooden spoon that got me. Stained red from a lifetime of making blackcap jelly, I held it in my hands as if it were fragile crystal. The end is worn flat from all the years of stirring back and forth, back and forth…making sure the sugar and pectin dissolved and the mixture didn’t scorch on the bottom of the pan. I could still see my grandma’s arthritic finger run over the jelly coating on the back of her wooden spoon. She pushed it along to see if it had reached the jell stage. Then she popped her finger in her mouth, licked it clean, and gave me a wink as she wiped her hand on her ever present calico apron over her ever present belted house dress with the hankie in the pocket. I never, ever saw her wear pants. Always a dress, with stockings, and sturdy black lace-up shoes with a sensible heel. My breath caught with the memory. I missed her so. I miss her still.

\n

My aunt noticed my reverie and asked if I’d like to keep the spoon. I was so touched…and thrilled. It occupied a place of honor for several years on the windowsill of my Colorado kitchen. It got tucked away when I downsized and sold my house. It made its way back to that same farmhouse kitchen in West Virginia when I finally settled back here. I remember unpacking that box of special kitchen items, taking extra care that the spoon didn’t get thrown away with the packing materials.

\n

The spoon now hangs on a pegboard over the kitchen sink. I see it every time I wash dishes and I think of my grandma and how hard she worked standing in that very spot. It’s like that wink comes all the way from heaven and I know she smiles that I am here. ❤️

\n

“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.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:14-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-09-28T01:30:53-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/09/28/grandmas-spoon.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/09/27/twolane-blacktop.html", "title": "Two-Lane Blacktop", "content_html": "\"WV\n

Yesterday was errand day. Up at dawn, I ran through my list of very important things that needed to be done for the camping trip I’m leaving on today. And, not surprisingly, there were a couple of things I forgot. Mr. FixIt to the rescue! Yet another of the many wonderful advantages of dating this good man! He stopped on his way to my place and picked my items up at the market.

\n

Driving back home on the two-lane blacktop, I always let my mind run through the points of note along the route. There’s the State Police barracks where I took (and failed) my first driving exam. (Not my fault, mind you…there was a hole in the muffler.) There’s the county line where I got carsick when I was seven. (I have no idea why that sticks with me, but it does.) There’s the last bridge of its kind between town and the farm. (It’s a lot like the old bridge that used to be where you turn onto the country lane to drive the last few miles to the house.) There’s the old country store where we stopped for ice cream on Sunday afternoons on our way back to town. There’s the turn where I had my wreck in February. My mind takes me through every turn and hill, reliving days long gone.

\n

One of my favorite turns brings me to a straight stretch that passes the old Nutter Farm. There’s a family cemetery on the hill across the road. Every time I drive through that stretch, I get the strangest feeling. It’s akin to the feeling you get when someone hugs you. I didn’t get to meet the particular set of great-grandparents that are buried there, but somehow I feel them when I drive by. It’s a little eerie, but comforting at the same time. My great-grandfather died in his early 30’s of a ruptured appendix and left my great-grandmother with four little boys to raise. Charlie and Sabina. I have always loved her name. Folks called her “Binie”, with a long “i”. I never knew her proper name till after my last child was born or I might have named her Sabina Rose.

\n

I know every turn, every pothole, every hill on that road. It stretches for miles all the way back as far as I can remember. I really get John Denver’s lyrics. “Country Roads, take me home to the place I belong…West Virginia!” I love coming home when I’ve been gone a while. When you’re there every day, you don’t notice how the house smells. But when you return from a long trip, it’s truly like stepping back in time to my childhood. It smells like old wood…damp and rich. It smells like old books and worn leather…slightly stale, dusty, and tired. It smells like iron skillets and well water. But it smells like family. It smells like home. I bought a scented candle when I first moved in last year and was decidedly dismayed when all you could smell when you walked in the back door was cinnamon apples. I stopped burning it right away and was ever so relieved when the familiar aromas returned a week or two later.

\n

I count every day here as a blessing…a gift that God has brought me. This place almost seems like my reward for having lost my sweet husband. As though God said, “You’ve suffered enough. Let the memories in these walls comfort you for a time.” I know it’s not forever…one day the house will pass from one to another and I’ll need to move on. Or, more likely, there will be that point in my life when I choose to live elsewhere. But for now…for this brief time…I will live and love and laugh in the home of my heart. And I’ll remember every nook and cranny, every squeak in the floor, every line in the worn linoleum. I’ll remember every bend in the road. ❤️

\n

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

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-09-27T01:30:54-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/09/27/twolane-blacktop.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Hope","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled","Peaceful Moments"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/09/26/i-need-this-mug.html", "title": "I Need This Mug!", "content_html": "\"Possum\n

I think I finally got a handle on my possum problem here at the farm. I have been fiddling around with the cats’ feeding schedule and did some research online. I started feeding them once a day and unless they search me out asking for something in the evening, that’s all they get. By noon they aren’t eating anything anyway so I pick up their dishes and set them inside a galvanized bucket with a locking lid. Bingo! No more late night visits from a passel of possums!

\n

I think this is the week to bring in the hummingbird feeders. We need to encourage them to move along before it gets too cold. We have two really hot days coming then the weather turns cool. We have so many leaves falling. This year they seem to have just turned brown and fallen off. Not a lot of color in my woods.

\n

The grass is still growing. The lawn will need mowing again soon. The days are getting shorter and there is less and less light in this old holler. I changed the light up high on the barn yesterday in preparation for long, dark winter evenings. The dogwoods are full of red berries. It’s a beautiful time of year.

\n

My talk last night was well received. They gave me a mum for my yard. I’ll cherish that. Today is prep day for tomorrow’s trip up to the campground. I think this is the last hurrah for the camping season. Always a sad thing.

\n

Tell me about the leaves where you are! ❤️

\n

“And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years,”\n‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭NIV‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-09-26T02:55:32-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/09/26/i-need-this-mug.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Wisdom","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/09/23/back-in-the-saddle.html", "title": "Back in the Saddle!", "content_html": "\"Toy\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

Thank you all for your kindness when I was feeling under the weather! You really helped! ❤️

\n

“Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.”\n‭‭3 John‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-09-23T01:55:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/09/23/back-in-the-saddle.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/09/13/mountain-music.html", "title": "Mountain Music", "content_html": "\"Jake\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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! ❤️

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“I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭101:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-09-13T01:55:41-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/09/13/mountain-music.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Peace"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/09/12/the-jersey-girls.html", "title": "The Jersey Girls", "content_html": "\"The\n

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!

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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?

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I named them “Honorary Hillbillies”…those wonderful Italian women from New Jersey!

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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. ❤️

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“She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-09-12T01:55:31-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/09/12/the-jersey-girls.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","New Ideas","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/09/07/the-beckett-brothers.html", "title": "The Beckett Brothers", "content_html": "\"The\n

I never met them. I didn’t know them. But, I knew who they were. Everyone knew who they were. When I was a little girl, you didn’t drive anywhere in town without seeing them together…walking. They walked everywhere. They loved to travel. One would always walk about ten feet behind the other. Their determined stride would take them cross town and cross country. I’ve heard stories. “They were very wealthy…they just chose to live this way.” I don’t know the truth. I do know they called them names. “Pete and Repeat”. “Mutt and Jeff”.

\n

In truth…they were Gerald and John. They were inseparable. They were not twins but they dressed alike. Always. One time one of them was injured and they got a wheelchair. The well one wheeled the sick one. When he finally got well, an argument ensued. The well one felt it was his turn to be pushed around but the sick one refused to give up his cushy gig. There were lots of stories. But not a lot of people coming forward with open arm to help these guys. Finally, a girl named Heather was driving buy and saw them with the wheelchair stuck in the snow and said a prayer. “Lord! Why don’t you DO something for these men.” And God answered her…“I did. I made you!” So Heather turned around, drove back, and helped the men out of the snowbank in her high heels. Thus began a loving friendship between the most unlikely of people. Heather taught her children to love the way Christ loved.

\n\"The\n

This week, Gerald died in his sleep. Heather and her family was at his side. So was John. We’ll just have to wait and see how John fairs without his brother. I pray for his comfort. I pray for Heather and her family as they make this journey with only John. Parkersburg has lost a legend, an icon. It will never be the same without them walking the streets together. ❤️

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“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭133:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-09-07T01:55:18-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/09/07/the-beckett-brothers.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","Prayer","Hope","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Humbled","Aging"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/09/06/sisters-on-the-fly.html", "title": "Sisters on the Fly", "content_html": "

\"Sisters \"\" \"\"

\n

What is Sisters on the Fly?

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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.

\n

What do the Sisters do at their gatherings?

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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!

\n

How can I be a Sister?

\n

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.

\n

What kind of women become Sisters on the Fly?

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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.

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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! ❤️

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“Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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(Photos from older Sisters on the Fly gatherings.)

\n", "date_published": "2017-09-06T01:55:09-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/09/06/sisters-on-the-fly.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","New Ideas","Gratitude","Love","Peace"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/09/04/flatfootin-to-the-fiddle.html", "title": "Flatfootin' to the Fiddle", "content_html": "\"Appalachian\n

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.

\n

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.

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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.

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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!”

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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. ❤️

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youtu.be/xyqcHMPa1…

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“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭30:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-09-04T01:55:32-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/09/04/flatfootin-to-the-fiddle.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Love"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/09/03/the-good-ol-days.html", "title": "The Good Ol' Days", "content_html": "\"Wooden\n

We were taking a break yesterday when Mr. FixIt started reading a story in Goldenseal Magazine. The Goldenseal has been around since 1975 and is published four times a year. It has wonderful stories about traditional life in West Virginia. And, since I’m living a pretty traditional life, I really love that magazine. The story that caught Mr. FixIt’s attention was about a clothespin factory in Richwood, WV. That got me thinking about all the clotheslines of my life.

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We always had clotheslines. The metal T-shaped poles were anchored in the ground with cement and lasted till they rusted through. We’d have to go out with a wire brush and a can of Rustoleum and paint them every other summer or so. Ours were always silver but the last time I painted them at the farm, I used black. I remember as a child, the clotheslines themselves were woven…a kind of rope-like material. Another was a thick aluminum wire that created a wiggly clothesline that never straightened out. Then, as we got older and the plastic generation set in, the lines were white, hollow tubes that pinched shut with the spring-hinged clothespins. Later came the plastic covered cable lines. Once we got away from the rope lines, you had to take a wet rag out and run it up and down the clothesline to clean them or else you got black stuff on your clean clothes. At least you did in the chemical-laden Mid-Ohio Valley where I grew up. (Our bare feet would be black with the fallout from Union Carbide!)

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The early clothespins were the peg ones then came the clip on kind with the spring hinge. I liked the peg ones because I would pretend they were dolls. I’d dress them up with pieces of material from Grandma’s scrap bag. I’d draw faces on them and, if we had any glue around, I might even give them some yarn hair. We always had a clothespin bag that hung out on the clothesline. It had a hole in the side where you reached in and grabbed a few pins and stuck them in your mouth to use as you needed them. You had to watch because sometimes wasps, or even birds, would make nests in the bags.

\n\"Grandma's\n

When you finished hanging your laundry, the wet clothes often made the lines so heavy, they stretched down and the clothes brushed the ground. In order to keep your clothes clean, you used a long pole with a nail in the side near one end and hooked up you clothesline, propping it up high. Hanging clothes in Colorado was awesome because it’s so dry there, a load would be ready to bring in, fold, and put away in an hour or two. Not so in West Virginia. The humidity of summer would make laundry turn into an all-day affair. And you’d better not get distracted and let the rain get on them or leave them out too late till they gathered the dew or you’d be doing the same clothes over the next day.

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Clothes that are hung dry aren’t nice and soft like the ones that come out of a dryer. They are stiff and scratchy. I hated to use towels that dried on the line. But sheets dried in the sun are heavenly! They smell so wonderful…like sunshine and Ivory Snow. Men wore work clothes when I grew up. Khaki, green, or blue…heavy cotton twill. They had to be put on wire pants stretchers to put a crease in them. That made ironing easier because most of the wrinkles were flattened out. Yes…I said ironing. Most of you have done exactly what I’m talking about. But some may not have, so I’ll continue.

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Ironing. The BANE of my existence as a child. My mom worked outside of the home once I was in school, so as soon as we were old enough to stay home alone, laundry and cooking and cleaning house became my daily routine. We didn’t have the luxury of using a dryer routinely. It was only used during the winter or very rainy days. All other times, Dad’s work clothes, our dresses, and my brother’s shirts and trousers had to be ironed. We had a “sprinkler”…a water bottle with a small perforated head on it that we would sprinkle the clothes if they were very dry and stiff. Then we would fold them, put them in a bushel basket with an oilcloth liner to hold in the moisture, cover them with a towel and come back to them an hour or so later. Before I came along, starch had to be cooked and added to the rinse water to give clothes a really crisp finish and nice, sharp creases. Once I was old enough to iron, we had spray starch in cans.

\n

Who remembers the load you forgot in the washer for a day or two? Oh, that smelled SO bad and you would often get mildew stains that never came out, no matter how hard you scrubbed. You were in big trouble if you forgot a load and ruined clothes.

\n\"Old\n

Grandma had wringer washers. I loved them, but I was not allowed to use them when I was little. They were dangerous because you could get your hand caught in them and get hurt. I remember how excited grandma was when my uncle brought her a good wringer washer…long after she had an automatic set in the bathroom. She missed the old way. She thought it cleaned better. I’d love to have a good wringer washer but the water in the basement doesn’t work like it used too. Too many years of hard water corroding those old pipes. I’d be afraid the spigot would break off in my hand.

\n

I still have my mom’s clothespins. They are in a copper bucket I bought many years ago. I put it on top of the jelly cupboard here at the farm. Mom’s pins got mixed up with my own, but I can pretty much tell which ones I used as a child. I found Grandma’s clothespin bag hanging in the stairwell going down into the basement so I hung it in the kitchen on a child’s wooden coat hanger I found in an antique store last year. I think this is why I love Rural King so much. They carry so many things that we used “back in the day”. It reminds me of “simpler times”, even though we worked harder. Not nearly as hard as my grandparents, but certainly harder than the average kids of today.

\n

The last picture is the clothesline in the backyard in front of the hydrangea bush. You can see a couple old clothespins…weathered and nearly deteriorated to slivers. I won’t remove them. Maybe my grandma left them there when she brought in a dish towel or two…or something she rinsed out by hand. Surely my Uncle Bob had cleaned the line with an old rag. I’m sentimental about things. There are clotheslines along the side of the house. There’s one on the front porch and one on the back for hanging things when it’s raining. Then there’s this one that runs from the back porch to the cherry tree. That one I don’t use. That one reminds me…of my loved ones long since gone. Of the halcyon days of summer when I thought life was SO hard because I had to hang clothes and iron and cook supper for my family. Of the “Good Ol’ Days”. ❤️

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“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-09-03T01:55:44-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/09/03/the-good-ol-days.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Love","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/09/02/an-unlikey-pair.html", "title": "An Unlikey Pair", "content_html": "\"Turkey\n

I’ve been living on the farm a little over a year now. It went so fast, yet…as with many things…it seems so much longer. Not long after I got settled in, I began to notice an odd pair of friends at the house down the road. You never see one without the other and I cannot help but smile when I see them. They never leave the yard, wandering about nibbling up bugs and grass.

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I don’t know the story behind these two. The family who lives there lost their mom several years ago so it’s just the guys on their own. They all work a lot and the house and grounds seem to be well cared for, but I rarely see anyone….just the turkey and the duck.

\n

As Mr. FixIt and I drove to town yesterday, I asked him to stop in the rain so I could take their picture. As soon as the car stopped, the turkey laid down. The duck never moved from the turkey’s side, but he set to squawking like crazy to let me know he didn’t like the intrusion. We sat by the road and talked to them for a bit then moved on. We forgot something and had to go back to the house and when we came back down the road, the fowl confab had moved behind the house to eat uninterrupted.

\n

I thought about this pair all the way to town and wondered…Why can’t we ALL just get along like that? Those two don’t know they’re different. They just like each other’s company. Now, I’m not going to get into a political discussion. I’m not “choosing sides”. I just think we could take a lesson or two from this turkey and duck. We only have one race…the human race. We only have one life…this one. We are being divided and I’m not sure by whom. Media? Politicians? Special interest groups? Who know…who cares? I just want to love my fellow man like this duck loves this turkey.

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God created us all. He gave us the rule book. We can’t do this divided. The enemy wants us to fail. And if he can get us to do his dirty work for him and make us destroy each other…well, that’s just icing on the cake. Shine your light, people. Walk out in faith and fight for truth and justice….for all! ❤️

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“Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?”\n‭‭Malachi‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-09-02T01:55:28-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/09/02/an-unlikey-pair.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","Forgiveness","Humbled"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/31/the-gift.html", "title": "The Gift", "content_html": "\"Parkersburg\n

I went to the best high school on the planet. You might say the same thing about yours. I hope you do. Parkersburg High School itself is older than 100 years, but the current building opened its doors on August 29, 1917. It is a gorgeous building that looks much more like a college campus than that of a high school. When the old school became woefully inadequate, the person charged with purchasing land for the new building ruffled a lot of feathers when he bought nearly thirty acres of swamp, cattails, and quicksand. The swamp was filled in and the building went up, without the wings. They were added later.

\n

I was given many gifts at my alma mater. I was exposed to such sports as fencing, handball, and gymnastics. I enjoyed art and actually met Mr. FixIt when I was painting the backdrops for a play and he was on the stage crew. I took all the typical college prep classes even though I didn’t go to college. I went to x-ray school after I graduated. I was offered Home Economics and Latin and Typing. I had a well-rounded education. But the greatest gift I received from my high school years was the gift of music. While I was not selected for the elite A Capella Choir, I did participate in the Girl’s Choir and loved it very much. Some of my sweetest memories involve performing in front of the large crowds in the auditorium or the field house (pictured here).

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We were the Big Red Indians…Big Reds for short. When the Centennial Celebration was being planned a year ago, the call went out for former A Capella Choir members to join in a combined Alumni Choir to perform with the current choir members. Tuesday night, I had the pleasure of attending this performance and it was wonderful. I saw friends I hadn’t seen since we graduated. The music was amazing. When I went to high school, the band took pride in being an All Male Military Marching Band. I graduated in 1971…girls were not allowed to wear pants to school until my senior year. It’s a different world now, and the changes are much for the better. The band was top notch. The Drum Major led them with precision and a practiced professionalism far beyond her years. My favorite part of the program was the final two songs…The Hallelujah Chorus and The Alma Mater. I cried and my heart burst with Big Red Pride.

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Is it odd to feel such intense loyalty to a high school? I didn’t have the college experience so I don’t have that to compare it with. But I do know, a great sense of pride was instilled in us when we first stepped foot on that campus. The first day of our sophomore year, when we finally got to be a Big Red student, we were ushered into the stadium and learned about this revered school. It was an honor and a privilege to attend this school. We were informed we were “sophomores”…that’s pronounced with three syllables, not two. We were taught The Alma Mater by Mrs. Jean Singer…The A Capella Choir Director (who joined another former director and the current director in last night’s performance). We were taught how to enunciate the words and not slide them together. This was heady stuff to a teenage girl full of wide eyed innocence.

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Yes, we are proud of our school. She’s the “Grande Dame” of Dudley Avenue. And one thing every graduate will tell you…

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“Once a Big Red, Always a Big Red”! ❤️

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“Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-31T01:55:32-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/31/the-gift.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","West Virginia","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/30/a-surprising-find.html", "title": "A Surprising Find", "content_html": "\"Greiner's\n

Yesterday’s post about the old Lily Pond in City Park sparked a debate as to which pond was actually the one with all the lilies on it…the big one that is still there or the smaller one that was taken out many years ago. I set out to do some research on Roger Mackey’s page. Roger is a fine historian on West Virginia, and Parkersburg in particular. He has pages and pages of historic photos of everything from the old movie theaters to natural disasters…from the society elite to skid row…and all things in between. I can get lost for hours looking through his old photos. It’s like going into an antique store for me.

\n

As I browsed through the titles of the different pages, looking for City Park, I saw the page for Greiner’s Bakery and clicked on it. My paternal grandmother decorated cakes for Greiner’s for many, many years. The Bakery sat near the corner of my high school campus and every afternoon the smell of fresh baked bread wafted in through the open windows of my classroom, drawing my attention quickly away from the dry lectures my chemistry teacher gave.

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I could hardly wait till school was out each afternoon. I would meet my cousin Mike and walk up the alley to Grandmother’s house. She always had a dozen raised glazed donuts and a galling of ice cold milk waiting for us. We made quick work of those delicious treats. She called them “seconds”, which meant they were accidentally dropped in the glaze twice! Their loss was definitely our gain!

\n\"Greiner's\n

As I scrolled down the old photos and read the descriptions, I stumbled across two special ones that caused a rush of memories and a great big smile. First, there was this photo of the company Christmas Party. I scanned the faces, and there…to the left…is my grandmother, smiling broadly into the camera! My relationship with my dad’s mother was complicated by her dislike for my father. I never quite understood my standing in her world, but I do have many fond memories of her. She baked and decorated wonderful cakes. She instilled her loved of seeing and crafting in me. She made the best chicken and dumplings I ever ate. She also forced me to drink unsweetened sage tea as she believed my pale skin was secondary to intestinal parasites. To this day, I cannot stomach sage.

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I remember the house she lived in on Avery Street. Avery was one of the old brick streets in town. Grandmother’s house was a half block from a huge cemetery and just two blocks from my high school. She rented the lower level of a two story house. The landlady lived upstairs with her cocker spaniel, Honey. Honey would cry and howl every time her mama would leave the house and it made me so sad. The front porch was large and covered. There was a swing and room for several chairs.

\n\"Toni\n

The interior of the house was dark and quiet. The mahogany hardwood floors were covered with thick oriental rugs. The mantel in the front room had a clock that chimed the hour. The dining room was set up as her sewing room…an old, low, armless rocker sat in the corner. The bedroom was comfortable. A silver ladies dresser set was on the top with a brush, a comb, a mirror, a small cup for bobby pins, and a covered powder container filled with the pale grey webbing of hair nets. The tines of the comb were blue from the rinse my grandmother religiously put on her hair. The bathroom had doors to the bedroom and the kitchen. I loved the claw foot tub. I received many Toni home perms in that bathroom. The kitchen had tall, white painted cabinets and a long, deep farm sink. It was the brightest room in the house. The counters were covered with African violets growing in every possible container…including teacups. The backdoor let out to a postage stamp yard with a huge holly tree. A dogwood graced the front yard. Bits of slate tiles lay here and there around the perimeter of the house. I was lucky and found a whole one once that crash landed in the flower bed. I used it as a blackboard when I played school.

\n\"Greiner's\n

As I scrolled past the picture with my grandmother in it, I came to a shot of the display windows in one of the newer stores. There in the left is a doll cake. Oh, my…I coveted that cake every year, begging my grandmother for one for my birthday. When I finally got one, I was elated…especially when I found out the doll’s legs were embedded in rich, buttercream frosting! The “dress” was decorated with loops and swags and flowers and I thought it was the prettiest thing I had ever seen.

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Complicated family relationships can lead to a lifetime of resentment and hurt feelings. The other day, my post was all about forgiveness setting you free. Forgiveness hasn’t rewritten history, per se. But it has allowed me to focus on the good memories I have of my father and his family. And as an adult, I have had the utmost good fortune of getting to know my cousins from that side of the family and I have been greatly blessed by that. It is never too late to change your focus and see the good parts of your past. Yesterday’s treasured finds have reminded me of that. ❤️

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“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”\n‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-08-30T01:55:43-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/30/a-surprising-find.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","Wisdom","Forgiveness"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/29/a-walk-in-the-park.html", "title": "A Walk in the Park", "content_html": "\"City\n

Yesterday was a super busy day with appointments and errands and helping Mr. FixIt do some stuff. We got a salad from Chik-fil-A and went down by the Ohio and ate an early picnic supper. The weather was cool and overcast which made the day’s chores less bothersome. I was getting ready to head back home when a friend posted a clearance sale for tabletop ice makers. I’ve been looking at those for a couple of years and finally found one I liked with a price I could live with so I ran to the store to get it. As I was leaving, Mr. FixIt called to see if I wanted to meet him at the park and walk. Man, did I ever!!! I’ve been working hard but haven’t really been exercising so I was quick to say “Yes, please!!!”

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The City Park in Parkersburg is beautiful. When I was growing up, there was a huge lily pond in the park. As a matter of fact, it has been billed as the largest lily pond in the country, if not the world. Mr. FixIt and I have a running disagreement as to where said pond was located. I say it is where the current pond stands. He says it was over by the band shelter. He’s probably right because he tells a story about how he and his brother ran away from home when they were seven and nine and hid out in the park to evade the search efforts. He remembers losing a shoe in the pond. We think it was sometime in the ’60s when they tore the old lily pond out for some reason. I don’t recall why, but I remember clearly how beautiful it was when the water lilies were in bloom. My dad would drive us around the pond when we were little and sometimes we would stop for a picnic.

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One loop around the paved outer road in the park is one mile exactly so I walked two miles and headed home. I fed the cats which means my finicky eaters delicately nibbled some kibble and left the rest for the possums. They will sit right there and watch the possums come up and eat from their dishes. I mean, really? I don’t get it. Mr. FixIt scared off the brazen little devil and tucked the dishes in a covered container to keep the yard rats out of them. I hate feeding varmints and I don’t know what else to do. I’ve taken to feeding the cats once a day. That way they are hungry, eat well, and there aren’t the leftovers at the end of the evening like there is when I feed them at night. Last night I fell for their sad-eyed looks and slinking around the back porch as though they hadn’t eaten in a month. Sneaky stinkers!

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Today is a home day then I’m going to town tonight to hear the Alumni Acapella Choir perform at my Alma Mater for the Centennial Celebration. I’m really looking forward to that! Then Wednesday I’m not going anywhere. First time in weeks. I think I’m looking forward to that even more! ❤️

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“I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,”\n‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭NIV‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-29T01:55:48-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/29/a-walk-in-the-park.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","West Virginia","Gratitude","Peace"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/27/a-familyof-sorts.html", "title": "A Family...of Sorts", "content_html": "\"Parkersburg\n

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.

\n

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.

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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! ❤️

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“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”\n‭‭John‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-27T01:55:05-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/27/a-familyof-sorts.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/26/back-on-the-farm.html", "title": "Back on the Farm", "content_html": "\"Grandma's\n

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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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! ❤️

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“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.”\n‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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", "date_published": "2017-08-26T01:55:41-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/26/back-on-the-farm.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Girl Camper","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/23/the-sky-really-is-fallingsorta.html", "title": "The Sky Really IS Falling...Sorta!", "content_html": "\"Squirrel\n

The other evening, I was sitting out on the front porch and hear something fall in the woods on the other side of the driveway. I looked up in time to see a green ball come shooting out of the woods onto the lawn. Curious. I sat, scanning the trees, and pretty soon another came down. I noticed a quick movement out of the corner of my eye and saw a squirrel darting from branch to branch. Now, I’m pretty good with identifying the fauna on the farm, but I’m not as astute with the flora. I watched to see what tree the squirrel settled in then got up to inspect the green ball. As it turns out, there’s a hickory tree on the bank, and a nice sized one at that. I gathered up a bucket full before I mowed the lawn yesterday and I’ll set them out to dry then take the husks off when they’re dry.

\n

Hickory nuts are really good in cookies. My grandma used to make raisin-filled cookies. I’m not home as I write this but I’ll try to remember to post the recipe one of these days. She would use hickory nuts sometimes. Or black walnuts. We would sit around the table and crack nuts and pick the nut meats out of the shells. You’d have to be pretty careful when you ate those cookies because sometimes you’d bite down on a piece of the shell. Grandma broke her dentures like that once. Scared the bejeebers out of me because I didn’t know about false teeth at the time!

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As more and more of the hickory nuts are maturing, the squirrels have gathered in the hickory tree and it actually sounds like rain with all the little bits of hull they are dropping as they denude the nut. Fortunately for me, these little critters lose their grip fairly easily and they drop the whole shebang. I need to get my coveralls and boots on and wade up that hill in the woods and see if I can gather more. Hickory nuts are a precious commodity in these parts. There’s a hickory tree back on the hill near the old Mount Zion Church. It’s alongside the cemetery so I don’t know that the tree actually belongs to someone. But I have seen a sign on it warning folks from picking up those hickory nuts. Testy. This brought me to do a little research. Will there be animals in Heaven? The Bible says there are horses in Heaven to equip the armies so if there are horses, then surely there are others. Dogs MUST got to Heaven…there are humans in those eyes. But what about the squirrel and the possum and the raccoon? I think if horses are in Heaven, and surely dogs are, then others must be as well. I think God made animals for our use and enjoyment. And Heaven is a place for joy!

\n

I saw another oddity yesterday. I came in from mowing and went to the kitchen to get a cold drink. I heard something really loud buzzing on the back porch. It turned out to be a locust that was getting attacked and stung by what looked to be a sand hornet. They were rolling over and over all over the back porch and every time they landed up against my metal cabinet, the sound was amplified tenfold. It was pretty impressive.

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We’re off on a road trip again today! TOW-Wanda is fixed so we’re running over to pick her up and camp for a couple of nights. Someone told Mr. FixIt the repair could cost $4,000 but it’s about a fourth of that. I have to tell you, Camping World in Richmond, Indiana is AWESOME! I would highly recommend their service department. Tell Matt Green I sent you! See you on the road! ❤️

\n

“For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?”\n‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:19-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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Photo Credit: Pinterest

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-23T01:55:11-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/23/the-sky-really-is-fallingsorta.html", "tags": ["TOW-Wanda!","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/22/back-to-business-as-usual.html", "title": "Back to Business as Usual? Not so Fast!", "content_html": "\"Boxer\n

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!

\n

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.

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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! ❤️

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“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”\n‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭ESV‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-22T01:55:18-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/22/back-to-business-as-usual.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Growth","Grace","Love","Peace"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/21/the-sky-is-falling.html", "title": "The Sky is Falling!", "content_html": "\"Eclipse\n

Well, no…it’s not. I read a tweet yesterday. Teachers announced to the children there was going to be a total solar eclipse and the entire student body looked up and yelled, in unison….“NOOOOOOO!!!!!” I had dinner with a dear friend last night. He said one of his granddaughters is scared to death about the eclipse. She is convinced something horrible is going to happen because all she has heard is the urgent warnings not to go outside and look up.

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In keeping with all things eclipse-ish, here are three odd images that only occur during a total eclipse. The first two demonstrate a phenomena that occurs immediately following totality. It’s called “shadow bands” and looks like the ripple effect on the bottom of a pool. It is a sort of glittery effect cause by the atmosphere very close to earth. The third picture is the sunlight passing through the leaves of trees. The spaces between the leaves acts like a pinhole camera. I thought it was one of the pretty cool things about the eclipse.

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This eclipse has taken over “the path”…that sixty mile wide swath of land that cuts the US diagonally into two pieces…sort of like a grilled cheese sandwich. I read that for the few seconds that the moon totally covers the sun, you can actually look at it with the naked eye and see the rays radiating out from the side like a halo. That’s only in the area of totality. I’m not risking looking at anything that can turn my retina into Swiss cheese. I’ll use the pinhole projector method.

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The world will be back to its regularly scheduled programming tomorrow so until then…It’s Monday. It’s Eclipse Day. Be safe out there!

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❤️

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“I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.””\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭91:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-08-21T01:55:12-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/21/the-sky-is-falling.html", "tags": ["Strong Women","West Virginia","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/17/my-hometown.html", "title": "My Hometown", "content_html": "\"Sunset\n

There was a time in my life when I didn’t think much of my home town. I considered it terribly backwoods in comparison to the metropolis of Denver. To my chagrin, I recall making disparaging comments about Parkersburg, and West Virginia in general to anyone and everyone. It’s a wonder they didn’t revoke my home state status and mark me down as “hatched from under a rock”. What can I say? I never rebelled as an adolescent. I saved it all for long after I should have known better.

\n\"Parkersburg\n

I remember making such comments to one of my oldest, dearest friends. We went to high school together and we’re “sisters of different parentage”. As a matter of fact, when I went off to live outside London for two years then settled in Denver, it was my high school friend who kept a close, personal friendship with my mom. She was a much better daughter to her in those days than I was. When I spoke ill of my fellow Mountaineers and this Wild and Wonderful state, she had some pretty stern words to say to me.

\n\"Woman\n

“You just remember where you came from, missy. I knew you when you had nothing, just like me!”

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Oh, she was so right. I was feeling pretty full of myself…a doctor’s wife and all. Like…small town girl does good. I was an ass. Plain and simple. And I’ve done my best to make up for it. As Maya Angelou said…“We do what we know. And when we know better, we do better.” These last three years, I’ve spent more time in West Virginia than I had in all of the forty years prior. I’ve grown to love and appreciate this rugged state filled with can-do, sturdy individuals. I still get frustrated sometimes when I see progress thwarted at every turn. But maybe staying a little backward is ok. Yeah, we have been hit hard with drug problems. Poverty, obesity, poor education run rampant. Plants and mines closing down. Towns with nothing for kids to do but make more kids that do nothing. But, at the base, there is this amazing depth of pride for coming up through the hard times and standing tall when they play the National Anthem at the Friday night football games at every high school in every county. The mountains run through our veins like the coal beneath our feet and we are a fiercely proud, fiercely independent, fiercely loyal group of people.

\n\"Barges\n

Last night, as Mr. FixIt and I sat and watched the sun set over the Ohio River at Fort Boreman Park, we looked out over this town we grew up in. You could see where the houses sat on Quincy Hill where Mr. FixIt grew up. You could see Ohio across the river. I snapped photo after photo, trying to capture for you the essence of West Virginia…of Parkersburg…of my home town. In the end, it is in the peaceful colors of the setting sun that I see the famous blue and gold…West Virginia’s colors. And I realized that we are the river and the sky, the mountains and the valleys, the wooded hillsides and the amber fields. We will always be here. Montani Semper Liberi…Mountaineers are always free. ❤️

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“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”\n‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-08-17T01:55:11-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/17/my-hometown.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Humbled","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/16/curiosity.html", "title": "Curiosity", "content_html": "\"Curious\n

You know what they say about curiosity…it killed the cat! I don’t know what Kitty Boy was after, but something sure had his attention yesterday. This old stump is what’s left of a poplar tree my Pop-Pop planted when I was a teenager. Poplars grow fast, tall, and straight as an arrow but they are pretty fragile in a storm. Long after Grandma died, my aunt was living here alone and a bad storm blew up. She said that poplar tree was twisting in a circle and she was just sure it was going to come down on the house so the next time her brother came, she had him cut it down. I understand why, but it broke my heart to see it gone. Thoughtfully, they left a tall stump and we use it for the rain gauge…and occasional cat perch. I noticed as I sat and wrote this last night, the rain gauge needs emptying. It’s at five inches. It hasn’t been emptied since before I left for Colorado in early July. I’m sure there has been some evaporation, but I know we had a lot of rain while I was gone.

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I noticed when I was mowing yesterday that the creek banks are eroding a lot this year. I pointed it out to Mr. FixIt last night. We’re going to have to line the banks with heavy stones to keep the creek from eating out into the yard and into the foundation of the house. The new dehumidifier is doing a great job and has reduced the humidity in the basement from 75% to 45-50%. That makes the whole house feel more comfortable. This house was built in the early 1930’s. And it was a cheaply made one, at that. The rough sawn timber siding has shrunk over the years and there are now gaps of nearly an inch between them. It has the original tin roof. The walls in the upstairs bedrooms are made of what looks like a stiff corrugated cardboard with several layers of wallpaper accumulated over the years. The basement is unfinished and damp and could use a good coating of a waterproofing product. There’s just a boatload of work that should be done, but here it sits…held together with spit and love.

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I was blessed that my friend Charlotte mowed for me while I was gone. It rained the last several days though so I couldn’t mow till yesterday. I swear I could have used a bailer on it! It was still pretty wet and the grass clumped up bad as I mowed. It kept clogging up the grass chute and I’d have to stop, turn off the mower, clear it out, and start up again. It was in the 90’s yesterday and I had to keep taking breaks. It took five attempts to get the yard done and I didn’t even attempt the area up by the barn. I don’t have a rake here. Well, there may be one up in the barn somewhere but this is snake and spider season so if it’s up there, there it’s staying for now. Mr. FixIt called before he headed to the farm yesterday and I asked if he could bring me a rake. He had to kind of piece one together from parts but it’ll do. As I am writing this, he is out in the yard, raking up those ugly clumps of wet grass so they don’t kill spots in my yard. What a good man!

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It sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it? This farm…this old house…this home of my heart. It is. Things are always breaking or fumbling but I fix them and move on. Yesterday it was the water. I was running a bath and it was sputtering and sent bits of black sediment from the hot water heater. It’s old and fragile. I flushed it out for a while, checked the pump, and checked the heater itself. I think it was from sitting dormant for a month. After I flushed it out it seemed fine. Yes, there’s a lot to do, and it is hard work. But, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. Farm living suits me. It’s brought a pride into my life I felt lacking most of my adulthood. The kind of pride that comes with working hard and going to bed tired, and happy. ❤️

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“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-08-16T01:05:28-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/16/curiosity.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Prayer","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Wisdom","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/15/a-change-in-the-air.html", "title": "A Change in the Air", "content_html": "\"Early\n

Even though it is only the middle of August, there is a definite change in the air. There are leaves changing already and the woods have taken on the “tired green” of late summer, having spent their glorious stores of chlorophyll in the peak of summer. Yesterday dawned cloudy and relatively cool and soon the sky gifted us with a gentle rain that lasted most of the day. So much for mowing the lawn.

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I’m sitting on the front porch at the farm as I write this, watching the goldfinches fight over the socks of thistle seeds. Boy Cat and Old Mama Kitty are keeping me company as I listen to the rain pattering on the leaves in the nearby woods. The sun is trying to break through and make its first appearance of the day, just shy of 5:00. Since I couldn’t mow, I drove to town and ran errands. I am hosting a Sisters on the Fly event September 7-10 and I needed to make arrangements. I have 23 women signed up so far and registration is still open if you would like to attend.

\n

I felt much better today…stronger, better rested. I have been thinking about triggers and how they stimulate the grief response. At first, everything is a trigger. When you are in the acute stages of grief, your feelings are like a frayed electric cord, ready to shock you at the slightest touch. After some time, things even out a bit but it is still amazing how the tiniest thing can trigger grief. When you’ve had a long stretch without a meltdown, you can get a little complacent, thinking maybe you’re through all that. So  it kind of takes you by surprise when a new wave comes. That was what I felt over the weekend.

\n

As I was driving through town yesterday, I was coming up to a stoplight when I heard an ambulance approaching. I stopped and waited for it to come through from my left and make the turn towards the hospital. There was an elderly man seated in the front passenger seat and I suddenly flashed back to the ambulance ride taking Mr. Virgo to the ER from the RV dealership where he had his heart attack. I hadn’t thought about that drive for quite some time. For a brief moment, my eyes met those of the man in the front seat and I recognized that panicked and confused look on his face. There was a slight set of the jaw that was familiar. “Ok, ok, ok….let’s get this done. Be strong. Just breathe.” At least, that’s what went through my mind when I was in his shoes.

\n

I didn’t have a reaction to this trigger. I was prepared. It’ll be a while before I have another grief response, I imagine. I’m a bit more on guard now. That’s a relief of sorts. I hate when the wave comes unexpectedly. For now, I’ll sit on the porch and watch the rain as the light changes and the hummingbirds fight over the feeder…and wait for Mr. FixIt to call so I can start supper. History repeats itself and life goes on. ❤️

\n

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”\n‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-15T01:55:29-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/15/a-change-in-the-air.html", "tags": ["Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Grace","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/13/west-virginia-date-night.html", "title": "West Virginia Date Night", "content_html": "

 

\n\"Rural\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. ❤️

\n

“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.”\n‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:19-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-13T01:55:16-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/13/west-virginia-date-night.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Love","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/12/hand-in-glove.html", "title": "Hand in Glove", "content_html": "\"Summer\n

I fit here. West Virginia is just the right size and shape to accommodate all that is…me! We were sitting on the porch last night contemplating the “traffic” up this little country lane. Maybe a dozen or so cars and trucks have come and gone. The light turned that beautiful golden of August, giving the tired green of the trees a gilding that brings a little life back in their weary veins. Old Mama Kitty munched out on that bit of pork chop I surreptitiously dropped for her to try to keep her from climbing Mr. FixIt’s leg like a young sapling, disturbing our Friday “date night” dinner.

\n

I love to cook. I didn’t for a long time, but cooking for an appreciative audience is delightful. Last night’s fare was pork chops, sauerkraut fried a golden brown, mashed potatoes, fresh corn on the cob, and home grown tomatoes. Oh my…be still my heart. Mr. FixIt rose to clear the table and rid up the dishes while I settled in to write this post. Norah Jones is crooning softly in the background. The air is still. A jet flies overhead, whisking happy travelers off to another place. Crickets, katydids, locusts, and tree frogs serenade us as we each settle in for our own interests for a bit.

\n

We are a perfect fit. A hand in glove relationship. Mr. FixIt comes out from cleaning my kitchen (seriously, is there anything sexier than a man cleaning a kitchen???) and taps me on the shoulder. He hands me a cherry flavored Tootsie Roll pop. I give him my brightest smile. He knows. He knows what I love. He listens. He cares.

\n

He got here about fifteen minutes before I woke up from my nap. He came in quietly, picked up the paper and settled into the rocker to read and wait for me to wake up. He would have waited much longer than fifteen minutes. He would never have disturbed my rest. When I got up and saw him in my dining room, I smiled and gave him a big kiss. I padded into the kitchen for a cold drink, and there…sitting in a jug of water…we’re two dozen beautiful copper-colored roses. Hand in glove. This man gets me.

\n

Learning to love and appreciate this man has not taken anything away from my feelings for Mr. Virgo. If anything, it has kept that love alive and in the forefront in many ways. When Mr. FixIt does or says something sweet and loving, I smile knowing how Mr. Virgo would love the way this man treats “his best girl”. Not by way of comparison. Mr. FixIt is his own man and I love him for his own merits. But, two dozen roses? Letting me wake on my own? Doing the dishes? Bringing me a cherry flavored lollipop? Oh yes…this man fits me and I am ever so grateful for the honor of loving, and being loved, again.

\n

I am home…and it isn’t all about the house, the land, the state, or even the man, really. No…it’s all about living comfortably in my skin and choosing the right guy to share it with. Hand in glove. Peace. ❤️

\n

“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.”\n‭‭John‬ ‭13:34‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-12T01:55:47-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/12/hand-in-glove.html", "tags": ["Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Love","Peace","Wisdom","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/11/welcome-home.html", "title": "Welcome Home!", "content_html": "\"Gas\n

Is there anything more wonderful than the glow of the gas light in the yard to welcome you home? This light has burned continuously since I was a little girl. It’s had many mates replaced and several panes of glass. It’s had a coat or two of flat black paint and it can no longer be adjusted for the rust, but it’s the beacon that greets me when I come up the driveway here at the farm

\n

I ran errands this morning…mail, groceries, produce stand, coffee. Then made a beeline home. All the kitties came to greet me. Old Mama Kitty trembled at the sound of my voice. Boy cat sat a respectable distance and gave me his best throaty hello. Kitty Boy skirted me and settled at the barn with a mouse or some such critter.

\n

I called the neighbors to let them know I was home. They had informed me several days ago not to be too surprised when I come home and find four new kittens. What??? It seems they hitch-hiked up in the car and stayed. I think the mama took one back because it was back at their house down the road. That left three. I managed to catch two of them and delivered them back to their mama. I just didn’t have it in me to try to catch the last one. I’ll try today.

\n

It rained an extraordinary amount here this summer and many of the surfaces in the house are covered in a light mold and mildew. I need to get after it with bleach water. I also need a dehumidifier. I put the groceries away, fed the cats, sorted the mail, cleaned the fridge, and just about emptied the truck. I am spent. I don’t know if it’s age, or if it’s after effects of the concussion, or all the trouble with the camper, but this trip was a rough one for me…even with the help of Mr. FixIt. Thank God he was along. It was fun. I loved seeing the kids and I miss everyone already. But I swear…I’m going to sleep for a week!

\n

If you don’t hear from me for a bit, I’m laying low and catching my breath. I just wanted you to know I’m home…really home! God protected us and kept us safe and we are so grateful! ❤️

\n

““Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.”\n‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-11T01:55:35-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/11/welcome-home.html", "tags": ["Family","Prayer","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Grace","Love","God","Peace","Humbled","The Cats","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/08/10/road-trip-day-thirtysomethinghome-kinda.html", "title": "Road Trip: Day Thirty-Something...\"Home! Kinda.\"", "content_html": "\"Burned\n

Yesterday was lovely. We went out for breakfast then headed to Camping World to check on the trailer. They were still working on locating an axle. We elected to take the wheel with the nearly shredded tire to Walmart and get a new one. Easy peasy. Then, to kill some time, we went to New Paris and browsed the antique stores. By 4:00 we decided it was best to go check in on the trailer again. Bad news. The replacement axle isn’t sitting on a shelf someplace. They don’t make them until they’re ordered. And, they take ten days to make. So the camper won’t be ready for at least two weeks!

\n

Ok. Change of plans. It was already 4:30. We swung around back and emptied everything we would need out of the camper. We threw away any food that wouldn’t stay fresh in the fridge, even though they assured us they would keep the trailer plugged in. We stuffed as much as we could in the truck and headed to dinner at a dive along the highway. Then we left Richmond, Indiana and headed for Cleveland to pick up Mr. FixIt’s truck. He left it parked there when he flew to Colorado. We picked it up, filled both trucks with gas, stopped at McDonald’s for coffee and headed for home. It was 1:15 by the time we got to Parkersburg and it would have been another hour to the farm. I called Mr. FixIt behind me and said I’d had enough…so we stopped at his place and I’ll head on in the morning.

\n

We’ll go on another road trip in a couple of weeks and pick up TOW-Wanda. We’ll talk more tomorrow about how this fiasco happened and what to do to avoid it in the future. In the meantime, I’m done. Thank you, God…for protecting us and keeping us safe during our travels. ❤️

\n

“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.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37:23-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-08-10T01:55:03-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/08/10/road-trip-day-thirtysomethinghome-kinda.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","West Virginia","Gratitude","Grace","God"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/05/a-room-with-a-view.html", "title": "A Room With A View", "content_html": "

\n\"Greenery\n

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?

\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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! ❤️

\n

“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.”\n‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4:9-12‬ ‭NIV

\n", "date_published": "2017-07-05T01:55:46-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/05/a-room-with-a-view.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Love","God","Wisdom","Peaceful Moments","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/02/towwanda-is-home.html", "title": "TOW-Wanda is Home!", "content_html": "\"Starcraft\n

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.

\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

Back off girls…I saw him first! ❤️

\n

“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.”\n‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-07-02T01:55:39-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/02/towwanda-is-home.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","goRVing","Love","God","Wisdom","Girl Camper"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/07/01/when-i-becomes-we.html", "title": "When \"I\" Becomes \"We\"", "content_html": "\"Two\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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. ❤️

\n

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?”\n‭‭Amos‬ ‭3:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-07-01T01:55:15-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/07/01/when-i-becomes-we.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love","God","Wisdom","Aging","Starting Over"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/26/that-one-day-in-june.html", "title": "That One Day in June", "content_html": "\"Collage\n

There’s one day in June. It’s perfect. The temp hovers at 80 with a nice breeze. The puffy clouds float in a clear, blue sky. The green is ever so slightly past the bright apple green of spring but not nearly the darker green that come with July’s heat. A green that is so intense and so pervasive you feel EVERYTHING is chock full of chlorophyll. From the moment you rise to the time to rest your head on the pillow again, the day is chock-a-block full of fun summer activities. Yesterday was just such a day!

\n

It began, of course, with church. Pastor Justin was away so the team leaders each came forward and spoke about the mission statement and the various guidelines our church works toward. It was informative and encouraging. Afterward, I changed into shorts (I still cannot force myself to wear shorts to church!) and headed to the park to walk. When I got out of the truck I saw a huge crowd and realized there was a car show going on. What a treat to walk around and talk to these auto enthusiasts and run into folks I know! Once I had seen all the cars and trucks, I walked two miles. As I did my laps and passed the baseball field, two teams started to warm up for an afternoon game. I stopped and watched a bit. Then I went to Marietta for a late lunch of Mexican food. I drove my friend home and headed out to the parsonage at the Methodist Church in Smithville for the going-away party being held in honor of Pastor Matthew and his fiancé, Felicia. It was bittersweet telling them goodbye. I have grown quite fond of them both but I know I will see them in Ohio. It was wonderful to share stories of how God is working in all of our lives and to spend a couple of hours win fellowship with some wonderful people that I have met through the local Revivals.

\n

I drove home in a soft rain then watched the sky turn scarlet as the sun set. It was a day to remember. I love those best. ❤️

\n

“He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”\n‭‭Luke‬ ‭21:29-33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-26T01:55:06-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/26/that-one-day-in-june.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","God","Wisdom","Peaceful Moments"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/23/further-inspection.html", "title": "Further Inspection", "content_html": "\"Vintage\n

The more I pry into this camper, the more work there is to be done. Oy! Good thing I’m not in any hurry!

\n\"Vintage\n

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.

\n\"Old\n

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.

\n\"Old\n

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.

\n\"Water\n

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!!! ❤️

\n

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”\n‭‭John‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-23T01:55:32-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/23/further-inspection.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/17/and-sothe-camper-addiction-begins.html", "title": "And So...The Camper Addiction Begins!", "content_html": "\nThe 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.\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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! ❤️

\n

“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-17T01:55:55-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/17/and-sothe-camper-addiction-begins.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Camping","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/16/she-followed-me-home.html", "title": "She Followed Me Home!", "content_html": "\"1967\n

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!!!

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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! ❤️

\n

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”\n‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-16T01:55:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/16/she-followed-me-home.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","Camping","The Grand Adventure","Fun","West Virginia","goRVing","Girl Camper"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/14/let-your-light-shine.html", "title": "Let Your Light Shine", "content_html": "\"Meme:\n

Yesterday was a perfectly wonderful birthday! I was heading to town and kept getting delayed. As I finally set out, the thought came to mind, “It’s a dangerous road…take your time.” I don’t rush when I drive this little country road to town. I just kept getting his message…go easy, go easy. I’ve learned to listen. As I rounded a bend, there was an ice truck lying on its side nearly blocking both lanes. No one was injured, and because it had just happened and the police and rescue weren’t there yet, I got around it and made it to town for my appointment. My lesson is this…listen for that still, small voice. It guides you and protects you!

\n

First stop was the chiropractor. I love her! She is such a hoot. Today she was full of stories about her Harley. After my adjustment, I went to brunch with a friend then ran errands in a hellacious thunderstorm. Finally headed home to feed the cats, plant some bushes, and clean the oven from the cherry pie juice that burned on the bottom.

\n

I had a zillion friends and relatives and readers send birthday greetings. I honestly tried to answer each one personally but it was never ending. I finally had to resort to the old standard general message thanking everyone for their kindness. Such an amazing blessing and outpouring of love. I used up all my writing time and now I’m saying to all of you…thank you so much for your kind greetings for my birthday. I had the BEST day! You all are awesome!!! ❤️

\n

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”\n‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭46:4‬ ‭NIV

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-14T01:55:17-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/14/let-your-light-shine.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia","Gratitude","God"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/12/motivation-monday-a-whole-lotta.html", "title": "Motivation Monday: A Whole Lotta Happy", "content_html": "\"Three\n

Yesterday was a really great day! I went to church with a friend and heard an amazing sermon about bridging the gap between churches. I attend a young church. The pastor said when he first got started, the other pastors around town were calling him and offering words of encouragement. The other pastors prayed for our success, which is how it should be. Then, we started to grow. Word got around town that the Warehouse Church was a place where miracles were happening and people flocked in droves. All of a sudden, those same pastors who had been “praying for our success” started talking negatively about our pastor. The thing about denominations is this…Jesus isn’t Baptist, he isn’t Methodist, he isn’t Church of Christ, he isn’t Protestant. He’s just Jesus. We should all be encouraging each other. There is a gap between churches. And there is a gap between Christians who are judgmental of other Christians. We need to bridge the gap. It was a wonderful service.

\n

I’m reminded of Rodney King when he was arrested in the middle of the violence taking place in LA in 1992. “People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along? Can we get along?” There have been episodes in the past that are as bad as, if not worse than, those we are dealing with now. Like grief, violence and anger and hatred seem to come along in waves. I’m desperately waiting for peace again because violence hurts my spirit. Look at these kitties. The two younger, orange and white ones, always make a wide berth around Ol’ Mama Kitty, and for good reason. She’d just as soon swat you as look at you, although she’s almost always sweet with me. After all, I am the Goddess of Food. But for some reason, last night these three were chummy. Kitty Boy, the youngest, was so happy and purring so loud he was actually making little mewling sounds. It was so sweet. What made this night different than all other nights? I don’t have any idea. But I’d like to bottle happiness and spread it around.

\n

We are to be lights in the world. Let’s go out there and keep shining, no matter what the climate is, ok? ❤️

\n

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”\n‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-12T01:55:03-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/12/motivation-monday-a-whole-lotta.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/11/what-lies-beneath.html", "title": "What Lies Beneath", "content_html": "\"Old\n

I was awake bright and early yesterday. I love staying at my cousin’s house up on North Mountain. They have a pavilion overlooking a pond. We had a cookout Friday night and a lovely visit. I went to sleep to the sound of whip-poor-wills and awoke to the lowing of cattle at dawn. I left around 8:00 and headed to visit my uncle and two aunts. I took my uncle for a ride in my new truck and ran errands. We had a nice lunch and I picked some sour pie cherries before heading home.

\n\"Sites\n

The drive back to the farm takes you through an area called Seneca Rocks. There are some really amazing rock formations. A climbing school teaches people to take advantage of the sheer, vertical rock walls. For the less adventurous, horseback rides are available that take you the long way around and very close to the top. You can hike the rest of the way up. I’ve done that before…it was amazing! There are two old timey stores and a restaurant. One of my favorite things is the old Sites Homestead…especially when they are holding a special event like yesterday’s quilt show. Women were sitting around quilting or preparing long rag strips to make rag rugs out of. I had a lovely conversation with the Heritage Gardener. I was going to quiz her to see if she knew what that awesome “hairy berry” plant was that I found this week and when I turned to her…there was a huge Wine Berry bush right there. Go figure!

\n\"The\n

As my new friend showed me around the homestead, she gave me a tour of the historic quilts. Most of the quilters were identified as well as where they lived, when the quilt was made, and the name of the quilt pattern. She made a point to show me this one particular quilt. It was hung so that the sun could shine through it. She pointed out the quilt within the quilt…a Double Wedding Band covered by a Dresden Plate when the old quilt got too worn. When I saw that, it reminded me of the resiliency of the Spirit. When we are tattered and worn, broken seemingly beyond repair…the Spirit cleanses us and makes us new again when we ask. It’s so simple…so remarkable…such a miracle. I loved the frugal nature of the quilter…nothing was wasted.

\n\"Sour\n

I arrived home as the sun was setting. I sat in the backyard and listened to my own whip-poor-wills. The mama robin swooping in to feed her nestlings. The kitty rubbing my legs, welcoming me home. The deer foraging on the hillside. The possum ambling out from behind the barn hoping to get a bite or two of cat food. I sighed…a contented smile on my face. Another day in Paradise! ❤️

\n

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”\n‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-11T01:55:02-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/11/what-lies-beneath.html", "tags": ["Family","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","God","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/10/something-about-the-light.html", "title": "Something About the Light", "content_html": "\"Hydrangea\n

There’s something special about the evening light of June in West Virginia. It takes on the soft green of the abundant foliage and spreads it through the air molecules…or, so it seems. As I sat on the porch Thursday evening, eating a late supper of salad with baked chicken, I couldn’t help but jump up and snap this shot of what Grandma called her snowball bush. I seem to remember the clumps of flowers being more rounded than this when I was a child. Do you suppose the plant has changed over the years and morphed into what we see here? It’s possible. Or, more likely, my memory has.

\n

It’s been quite cool here the last week. I even turned the furnace on the other evening. Once I start wearing shorts and flip-flops, it’s hard to go back so I suffer through it with frozen feet. It’s funny how 52° feels balmy in February but frigid in June. It’s all a matter of perspective, isn’t it?

\n

The new gas heater is installed and it occurred to me this morning as I was admiring the handy work…this stove doesn’t have a thermostat on it, just Off, Low, and High. I wish I would have noticed that before but it’s too late now. I’ll just have to leave it on low in the winter months. It’ll heat the bathroom and that end of the house just fine. Thank goodness this farm has free gas…one of the few perks to having gas wells on your property.

\n

I’m on an overnight road trip. I needed to come see my family before I head to Colorado in a few weeks. I love my Uncle Bud. He taught me to weld when I was ten years old. He knows how to do everything and I always learn so much from him. I’ll deliver my aunt’s mail to her. Not much still comes to the farm. They asked me to bring Grandma’s Bible but I think my mom had it and it’s in my stuff that’s in storage. I’ll have to bring it another time.

\n

I hope you all are having a great weekend! ❤️

\n

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-10T01:55:52-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/10/something-about-the-light.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/09/yes-siri-live-in-the.html", "title": "Yes, Sir...I Live in the Country", "content_html": "\"Coon\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

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.

\n

I love country living…it brings me such joy! ❤️

\n

“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.”\n‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n

 

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-09T01:55:47-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/09/yes-siri-live-in-the.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/08/the-walkabout.html", "title": "The Walkabout", "content_html": "\"Roosters\"\nI've been walking a lot the last three days and wanted to share some photographs I've taken along the way. Hopefully, you can get a flavor of June on the farm.\n\"Turtle\n

Yesterday was really chilly. So chilly, in fact, I had to draw the bedroom window nearly closed and drink hot tea. This has been one of those weeks where I either sleep like a stone or I’m awake all night. I hate those nights. It gives me too much time to think. In the past, my mind often led me down paths where I really had no business going and anxiety would rear it’s ugly head at me.

\n\"\"\n

One thing I have come to know through these Revivals is I have power over darkness. I can send Satan packing with my words. I am a scientist. I worked in medicine for decades. I was married to a doctor for 21 years. And…this I know…doctors do not know everything. When I went through that severe depression as my second marriage was failing, I saw a psychiatrist who spoke death into my life at every visit. He kept saying to me, “This is just the way you are. You have a chemical imbalance in your brain and you have to take all of these medicines every day for the rest of your life, just like a diabetic takes insulin.” It’s no wonder I couldn’t pull out of depression. Those words alone were depressing, let alone the circumstances in my life that were contributing to it. Once I got with a competent doctor, it took him an entire year to convince me I really didn’t have a chemical imbalance and I could safely go off all that medication. It took another two years…two years of withdrawal symptoms with this electrical “zapping” feeling behind my eyes…before I was safely off the medications. All told, I lost a decade of my life unnecessarily. It was wicked darkness.

\n

We get what we order into our lives. We can speak depression and anxiety into our lives and we can speak it out. I am not advising you stop any medications your healthcare provider prescribes. I am not giving medical advice. My spiritual path has set me free from the chains that held me captive for so long.

\n

Living a simplified life has opened my heart, expanded my mind, eased my spirit, and strengthened my body. I can walk freely these days and forge through the challenges life throws at me much more quickly because I know God is there with me always. I am filled with awe and wonder at this amazing life I’ve been blessed with. ❤️

\n

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”\n‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-08T01:55:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/08/the-walkabout.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","West Virginia","The Farm","God"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/06/medicine-for-my-soul.html", "title": "Medicine for my Soul", "content_html": "\"White-breasted\n

The air was thick with the promise of rain. The breeze was cool enough to wear a light sweater. I sipped my coffee as I watched a little White Breasted Nuthatch zip back and forth between the feeders. My new addition of a dried wax worm cake is a big hit with some of my avian friends. I tucked suet balls in the old, rotting poplar stump where my rain gauge is perched. My morning walk was finished an hour before, my hair nearly dry from the brief rain shower on the second half.

\n

I sent a link for yesterday’s post to Daughter #2. She remembered the original story of Marshmallow Ranch. At least, she remembered the retelling over the years. She loved the picture of me sitting on the white-wrapped hay bale. She read the post and told me it was well written. As self-confident as I have become in these last few years, I still love that bit of validation I get when someone I love enjoys my writing. She was quick to tell me she was sorry I still feel like I’m living down the effects my illness caused my family when she was a child. She has long since forgiven all that. She is my baby. It is what it is. There is no such thing as yesterday and tomorrow. They are merely reflection or anticipation…both functions of the brain, but not real in the tangible sense. Really, the only thing we can experience is this moment…and, in this moment, I am not that person I was in the past nor am I the person I will become. That is liberating.

\n

As the day waned, my lack of sleep from the night before lured me to stretch out and let the birdsong lull me to rest. Afterward, I had a bite to eat then went to another Revival…this one in a neighboring community led by the same young evangelist from the Revival at Grandma’s church. So, we’ll be shouting some praises again this week…Hallelujah! ❤️

\n

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-06T01:55:50-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/06/medicine-for-my-soul.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","God"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/05/in-my-own-voice.html", "title": "In My Own Voice", "content_html": "\"Woman\n

For those of you who are fairly new here, the whole thing started with this field. Twenty-two years ago, I brought the kids to West Virginia to introduce my future son-in-law to the family. Daughter #1 was about 19 and #2 was about 4. We went for a drive in the country, came around a bend, and here was this field filled with what looked all the world to be giant marshmallows. #1 told #2 that this was a Marshmallow Ranch. “This is where they grow the marshmallows really big then they cut them up in little pieces, put them in bags, and sell them at the stores.” she said.

\n

Years later, I owned a little needlework shop called Needles & Pins. When I made items to sell in the shop, I created an art division of the company and called it Marshmallow Ranch because it was cute and catchy. Three months before Mr. Virgo died, I revived the name and began making handcrafted jewelry and art out of antique silverware and maps. I opened an Etsy shop and started this page. When I became a widow, I really wished I had a grief mentor to walk me through the painful journey ahead of me. Since I didn’t, I decided to BE that mentor for others and began blogging about what I was going through, with an honest and open heart…no matter how ugly it got. I already had around 400 followers at this point so I just kept the name and that started four years of daily blog posts. It’s been an interesting, painful, challenging journey. It has also been filled with hope, love, and joy…something I certainly couldn’t see starting out.

\n

I didn’t really start speaking in my own voice until death whipped every ounce of pretense out of me. I had spent two decades as a Jewish doctor’s wife and never really felt “authentic” in that space. When you are raised in the home of an unpredictable alcoholic, you learn to tap dance for your supper. When you are born into a family with a child with a developmental disability, you learn to not give your mom any more trouble than what she is already facing. You learn to be the clown, to not rock the boat, to make everyone laugh. Above all else, I wanted to make my mom laugh. In so doing, I became a chameleon. I “changed colors” with my environment in order to fit in.

\n

When I couldn’t keep all the balls in the air anymore, I dropped into a deep depression and spent seven years in what has come to be known in my family as “The Prozac Years.” I cannot be held entirely responsible for my behaviors from 1993 through 2000. Prozac altered my personality and I didn’t care about anything or anyone…a fact I’m still making up for. I was much more genuine the seven years I was with Mr. Virgo, but still, I hid parts of who I was…from him, from my family, from everyone. Grief has a way of stripping you bare. Your heart breaks open wide and shatters to the floor in a million shards. At some point you realize you have come to a crossroads. Stay where you are with your heart at your feet, or pick up the pieces and put yourself back together as best you can. What better time to drop all pretenses and become the genuine “you” you were born to be? I would stand in front of the mirror and ask God to show me who He wanted me to be…who He had MADE me to be. And bit by bit, piece by piece, I discovered my genuine voice. It’s much easier to just BE than it is to try to fit in.

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That’s the peace you see on my face when you send me such lovely messages about my pictures. That is the genuine, real me…relaxed in my own skin for perhaps the first time in my life. What you see is God’s love shining through me. I’m merely a conduit, passing on the Light I have been graced with. My cup is full to overflowing. ❤️

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“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”\n‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:3-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-05T01:55:48-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/05/in-my-own-voice.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","God","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/03/learning-new-things.html", "title": "Learning New Things", "content_html": "\"Nesting\n

My dryer hasn’t been drying my clothes lately. They toss and turn and tumble and take forever to dry. I just couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I cleaned the lint out of the lint trap and that didn’t help. I looked down the dryer vent and saw the beginnings of a nest and cleared it out and it worked fine. But, by the time I left for Florida, I noticed it wasn’t drying at all. I didn’t really have time to mess with it before I left and the whole time down there I kept thinking I was going to have to buy a new dryer. Well, remember I told you how nice it is to have guy friends that you can run things by when you have questions? I asked one of my handy fix-it dudes what could be wrong. He said to go look in the dryer vent tube again. I assured him I had already done that and it was fine. He said, “Humor me.” So, I went back and….look what I found!!! That bird had completely filled the driver vent with leaves, moss, grass plus the lint it had managed to catch. OMGosh! It’s a miracle the house didn’t catch fire. The dryer did what it was supposed to do…when it didn’t flow right, the heat shut off. Thank God! I cannot express enough how important it is to check these things often. I am going to the hardware store and buy one of those vent covers that will keep this bird out of there. I think she must have abandoned her efforts because there were no eggs in this mess.

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You have to learn how things work when you’re on your own. You might be able to have a family member or a guy friend or neighbor fix things, or you can hire them done, but you have to have some sort of basic knowledge about how the stuff works in your house in order to know when things need fixing. I happen to love fixing things and I am constantly learning how much I don’t know! When I called my friend back, I sent him these pictures and he was suitably impressed. I thanked him for making me take a second look. Then I said, “Hey…I need to get the oil changed on my truck. Is that hard to do?” He said he does his all the time. So, guess what I’M going to learn how to do today??? Pictures to follow!!! ❤️

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“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭32:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-03T01:55:03-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/03/learning-new-things.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/02/taste-treats.html", "title": "Taste Treats", "content_html": "\"Tasty\n

When I was a little girl, this farm produced strawberries for the local Farmer’s Market. The berries my grandparents grew were known far and wide as some of the best available. They were huge, juicy, red ripe clear to the center and as sweet as sugar. Oh, my mouth waters thinking about them. Sometimes you couldn’t get more than five or six in the quart berry baskets. I wasn’t allowed in the berry patch. My hands stuffed those berries in my mouth much faster than they should have and I kept stepping on the runners because I didn’t understand their importance. But I watched every step of the production and took great pride in driving to town with my Pop-Pop and a pickup load of berries every afternoon.

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Another childhood memory from these parts is Ward’s Market, a fresh produce stand that also carries a good variety of Amish made and local delicacies. I had to make a run to town yesterday so I stopped on my way home to see what the market had available. I was thrilled to see home grown strawberries there! As you can see, this isn’t one of your mass produced, farm-factory grown berries. This baby is red straight through, and while the taste is not as sweet as Grandma’s berries, these have excellent flavor. Aromatic, succulent, still warm from the sun. Oh, my…what’s not to love about that?

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I found several items to add to my larder. Amish roll butter is my favorite. As little butter as I use, I choose the real deal over the plastic stuff you get in tubs at the grocery stores. Margarine was invented to feed cattle and they wouldn’t eat it so they added food coloring and feed it to us. Delightful. No thanks. I got a jar of sweet heat pickles and black raspberry jam, also made in Amish Country. Then there’s my favorite…Oliverio Hot Peppers in Sauce and Oliverio Spaghetti Sauce….made in Clarksburg, WV. Clarksburg has a high concentration of Italians and there are some wonderful Italian restaurants there. I like to mix these two jars when I’m making spaghetti sauce and add my own touches like black olives, capers, garlic, oregano, onions, hot Italian sausage, mushrooms, red pepper flakes, and three or four mashed anchovies filets. This makes a lovely Putanesca Sauce…a peasant style Sauce from Northern Italy. I’m planning to have a dinner party before I leave for Colorado next month and I think this will be perfect on the menu.

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After my foray into town, I mowed the lawn. I had arranged with a young man to mow while I was gone and he didn’t show up so I’ll need to make other plans for when I’m in Colorado. I hate mowing when it’s so deep because you can’t avoid getting clumps of grass everywhere. I ran over a snake with the mower and cut it in half. I really felt bad because it was a black snake and they help keep the rodent population down. I am, however, very glad it wasn’t a copperhead or a rattlesnake! I bought a couple suet feeders in town and set them up. I replenished my thistle supply so I fed the finches. I think everyone is going to be pretty happy out there today.

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As I was mowing yesterday, I got to thinking about how much my writing has changed through my grief journey. I go back sometimes and read my early stuff to see how far I’ve come. It’s pretty remarkable actually. There has been an improvement in my writing in general. I think that is to be expected when you write an essay every single day for four years. It’s like skiing. If you don’t improve after skiing every day for four years, you weren’t cut out to be a skier. I also notice my subject matter is much more diverse now. The blinders are off and I can see the world again. And I can interact with it. The reason I’m saying this is, there are new readers who find this page every day. Many of them are fairly new in this widowed life and they may just pass on thinking there is nothing here for them. I would encourage you, if you are new here, to scroll back through the blog to the earlier stuff. I’m sure you will find something to relate to. I guess what I’m getting at is…if you are hurting tonight, if you heart has been broken wide open, if the life you have known and hoped to live forever has fallen in pieces at your feet, please know my heart is with you. We have some really amazing people who frequent this blog. Wonderful, supportive, loving people who understand where you are. If you’re new, please find encouragement in the fact that, four years…three years…two years ago, I was desperately in pain. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t sleep, I ate my pain and put on drastic amounts of weight, and I really didn’t care much what happened to me. Sure, I had joy. I had insights. I had hope. But I certainly had pain. Please take encouragement in the fact that I can take great joy in planning a dinner party and filling the bird feeders and mowing the lawn. The life you want will not come to you. You must walk to it…kinda like an elaborate treasure hunt where the gift you find at the end is…YOU!

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Keep searching. Leap moving. Keep coming back. You’re going to make it, dear one. ❤️

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“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-02T01:55:57-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/02/taste-treats.html", "tags": ["Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/06/01/the-deer-and-the-cat.html", "title": "The Deer and the Cat", "content_html": "\"Green\n

Well, I saw something I’ve never seen before. I sure wish I would have had my camera ready fast enough. I was sitting out on the porch yesterday, enjoying the cool of the evening when I heard a ruckus on the hill you see here. The lawn goes to the edge of the creek there and then the hill goes up the other side. I heard something running through the underbrush over there and could just make out an orange streak barreling down the hill. Kitty Boy! He doesn’t show up but maybe three nights a week or so these days. Fixing him and feeding him and the companionship of Boy Cat doesn’t seem to be enough for this adolescent and he’s off galavanting the farms and hills. As I watched this fairly small cat making a bee line down through the woods, it occurred to me he was making a whale of a lot of noise. I looked on up behind him and hot on his trail was a doe! She almost got him but he jumped on down into the creek and the doe stopped just short of coming out of the cover of the thicket. She proceeded to stomp her front hooves on the ground and snort for a good five minutes before she was convinced the big bad kitty was gone. My guess is she has a baby hidden up in those trees and Kitty Boy got a little too curious.

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The hummingbirds were causing quite a ruckus of their own…buzzing back and forth in front of me as I sat and wrote my daily post. The evening birds were calling. I could see across to the old garden area…the birds have totally cleaned out the cherry trees. Grandma’s snowball bush was blooming and the purple and white clematis were making a show of themselves on the metal lawn bracket my uncle built for them years ago. Sumac with broad heads of yellow-green blossoms were sweet on the evening air. The sparrows and chickadees and titmice were darting back and forth from the shrubs to the feeders. Three pairs of mourning doves foraged on the ground below the feeders, picking up the excess seed discarded by the more aggressive birds above. The brown headed cowbirds were there, but they’ve stopped their watery plunking calls and the dancing on the phone line meant to entice the ladies. The wildlife are settling into the summer child rearing season quite nicely and there seems to be a different rhythm on the farm these days.

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The clouds came rolling over the far ridge in time to catch the evening sun, sending a golden light over everything. Two turkeys called back and forth to one another from opposite hilltops. Rain was coming. The air thickened with the dampness that gathers just before the shower begins. By 8:00 last night, as I was writing this, I still hadn’t managed to sleep more than an hour out of the previous thirty-six. I took a walk. A hot bath. I wrote. I meditated. I prayed. And, I am quite sure…I’ll sleep afterwards. Because…here comes the rain. ❤️

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“When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.”\n‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭51:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-06-01T01:55:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/06/01/the-deer-and-the-cat.html", "tags": ["Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Peaceful Moments","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/20/ick-a-tick.html", "title": "Ick! A Tick!", "content_html": "\"Tick\"\n

They say ticks are going to be really bad this year. A mild winter allowed more hosts to survive thus giving the tick population a head start. I’m out in the woods a lot so I try to be particularly careful. I have extended family members who have suffered from Lyme Disease for years after being told “It can’t be Lyme Disease…we don’t have that in Colorado.” Excuse me…they are cattle ranchers. They get cattle from all over the country. Are you telling me the ticks carrying Lyme Disease all jump ship when they see the “Welcome to Colorful Colorado” sign on the interstate? Not likely. It’s fairly widespread. And, sometimes it is of a variety that is not caught in the usual tests. Educate yourselves to the signs and symptoms of tick-borne illnesses and check yourself carefully when you come in from traipsing around in the woods and underbrush. That is one of the frustrating things about widowhood…no partner to help you check things out that need an extra set of eyes.

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I found this bad boy on my living room curtain. This is the first one I have seen this year and it was in…my…house. Go figure. I remember as a kid we’d pull them off the dog at my Aunt Marge’s house. They would light a match, blow it out and place the hot end on the fat body of the tick and it would back out in a hurry. You never want to pull them out. The head is imbedded under the skin and it can stay there and get infected. Another way to get them to release is to coat them in a blob of petroleum jelly. They can’t breathe and back out, but it takes longer. I don’t know about you, but if I have one of these little suckers on me, I don’t think I can hang around too long waiting for it to release itself.

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Mosquitoes are out, too. They can also carry diseases. There are sprays of course, but I prefer a deterrent without pesticides. I bought a big citronella candle the other day and that helps. I have found, though…like sunscreen…it doesn’t work if you don’t use it!

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I’m amazed I haven’t run across any snakes since I’ve lived here. A guy driving up the road killed a copperhead out front last fall, but I’ve never seen anything else. Of course, I don’t go rummaging around in the brush pile and the creek either. So, maybe that’s why I haven’t seen any. I’d just as soon not. I’m not really afraid of snakes, per se. I’ve never ever seen a poisonous snake (alive) out on the farm, but I know they’re there and I’d just as soon not make their acquaintance.

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Be safe out there, dear ones. There’s lots of fun to be had but exercising a bit of caution is a good thing. ❤️

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“He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105:31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-05-20T01:55:25-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/20/ick-a-tick.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/19/fire-in-the-sky.html", "title": "Fire in the Sky", "content_html": "\"Sunset\"\n

With a big hill across the road, I don’t get to see spectacular sunsets very often. I was sitting on the porch Wednesday evening reading when I noticed the light changed. I looked up and caught this beauty! The temperatures have cranked up here in West Virginia, along with the humidity. When I mowed yesterday morning, even though it was only 70 degrees when I was done, I was whupped. I have discovered stuffing an ice pack in your sports bra does wonders for keeping your core body temperature down. I learned from a back country rescue member not to just drink water when you are overheated. The body will keep working to move the fluids into your bloodstream, further depleting your electrolytes. It’s best to drink some sort of sports drink as you exercise in the heat…and mowing is exercise, trust me! I like to use powdered Spark from AdvoCare in my bottle of water. I have had fewer problems with it than say, Powerade. I like Powerade but the last time I used it there was just too much salt and it made me sick. Little safety tip for the summer.

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As I was poking around in the old garden area last week, I found several asparagus stalks…tall, lanky, and leafed out. Somewhere back in the furthest recesses of my mind, I seem to remember grandma talking about asparagus that she had planted not doing well. There are probably only half a dozen plants out there along the ditch alongside the garden so my guess is, this was a particular delicacy that would not have been wasted on the unsophisticated palate of a 6 year old girl. I am going to place dowels or something alongside these plants to mark them for spring next year so I too can enjoy those first spring veggies. My favorite way to cook asparagus is to break off the woody bottoms, lay the spears on a plate, squeeze half a lemon and a drizzle of EVO over it then sprinkle with garlic. I cover that with plastic wrap and pop it in the microwave for two minutes. Then I test it to see if it’s done enough. If not, I add time in fifteen to thirty-second increments. Divine with grilled salmon or served cold on a salad.

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My neighbor across the road is planting his garden this week…last night was tomatoes and peppers. When I first arrived at the farm three years ago, I was really looking forward to the following spring when I could put in a garden. Since things changed with my aunt and I headed back out on the road in a different direction, I find I spend the majority of the summer in Colorado with my family so it wouldn’t work to have a garden right now anyway. I do believe I will try canning again this fall, though. I love seeing the rows of jars put away for the winter and there are some wonderful farmer’s markets and produce stands here. I’d love to take advantage of that.

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I was going to write a Friday Fitness post today, but my fitness routine isn’t as established as it was last year. I love climbing those stairs in town, but that is a forty-minute drive from here and you don’t drive 60 miles round trip every day just to exercise. I am getting plenty of exercise here on the farm…mowing and hiking. And I get at least three or four good walks in a week between the country road and the parks in town. I have maintained my 40 pound weight loss, even though my tone is not quite what it was with stair climbing. My diet has always been my downfall because I do love sweets and salty things, but as long as I stay away from fast food and gluten, I do pretty well.

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This is graduation weekend for many. Gas went up just in time. Camping season is upon us. I visited TOW-Wanda this week to retrieve some items I needed. It really made me itch to get out on the road with her! I’m taking her to Colorado with me right after the 4th of July. I’m not taking her on this Florida trip. I’m watching my Sister and Girl Camper friends posting pictures of their adventures. I’m seriously thinking of getting a little, tiny trailer so I am more inclined to pack up quick and go camping on the spur of the moment. If the right thing comes along, I will know it. Enjoy your weekend…get out there and have some fun! ❤️

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“It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.”\n‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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Seriously, could it get any greener than this??? This is my all-time favorite time of the year. The freshness of spring hasn’t left us yet. I’ve identified a new sound. Tree frogs! These aren’t peepers like you hear in the spring. And they aren’t the deep-throated bullfrogs. These frogs have a two second croak that reminds me of that musical instrument that draws a wooden dowel over a serrated edge. I love when it’s warm enough to go out first thing in the morning with coffee and last thing at night with something cold and refreshing. I can hear the neighbor’s TV down the road. Who would want to sit inside and watch television when you can live inside the “nature station”?

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The cherries are turning red across the creek in the old garden area. The birds are lined up in great anticipation for the taste treat of the year and I can guarantee you, if I were going to be home when they ripen fully, I’d be hard pressed to get enough for a pie before they’re gone. The clematis is blooming as are grandma’s peonies. I did not realize peonies have a scent. In the midday sun they give off a soft, sweet aroma that is quite lovely.

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I caught so many carpenter bees in the trap that I actually had to empty it tonight. I got a plastic container and added water and a generous squirt of dish soap and dumped them in. They cannot escape the soapy water. Now there’s room for more.

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As I write this, my “tribe” has gathered around me for my evening writing session. Kitty Boy has returned from his sojourns well and hardy. He doesn’t stick around house like Boy Cat. It’s rare for Old Mama Kitty to be gone long. She snoozes in the chair beside me whenever I come outside. I’ve never been much of a cat person although I had one as a teenager. These kitties have stolen my heart. Go figure!

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After my day of surfing the mattress Tuesday, I slept eleven hours straight that night. I woke up feeling much better physically. There is still sadness at the periphery…not for me, but for others. One of my fellow Sisters on the Fly lost her son Tuesday after being hit by a car as he crossed the road. He was to be married this Saturday. A high school friend lost a family member in a freak accident Monday when the tractor rolled over on him as they were cutting down a tree. People are getting out and doing things after being cooped up all winter. There seem to be a lot of outdoor accidents this time of year. Please, everyone…be safe out there. And say some prayers for the families of these beautiful people. Hold your loved ones close. ❤️

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“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-05-18T01:55:46-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/18/the-color-green.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","West Virginia","The Farm","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/17/my-resting-place.html", "title": "My Resting Place", "content_html": "\"Peony\"\n

Last week there were two mornings where the temperature hovered just a tad above freezing. I was so happy that my flowers and the cherry trees didn’t get nipped by Old Jack Frost. And just like that, the temps soared up to the 80’s yesterday. When it gets like that, it’s too hot to sit on the front porch after the sun crosses the house and starts its decent over the far ridge. It doesn’t go behind that ridge till just before 7:00, but after that…the porch is my domain again.

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I struggled a little yesterday. Loss encroached into the periphery of my life over the weekend and even though it didn’t affect my inner circle, sometimes other people’s loss stirs my own feelings. I so seldom have a bad day anymore. Really. I can certainly tell when I wake up, which way the winds will blow, and yesterday was a little stormy. Not bad. Not nearly like I’ve had in the past. My grief has always gone out through the pit of my stomach and I have learned to just let it pass. I’ve learned to listen to my body and give myself permission to have a mattress-surfing day. I had my “Emergency Down-Day Kit” at the ready. I rode the wave back into shore and as the house cooled, so did I.

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Riding that wave and finding my resting place reminded me of those long, dark early nights of grief when I would have what I referred to as…bad nights. There were nights when the only way I made it through was to visualize sitting at the feet of Jesus, resting my head on his knee, and letting him stroke my hair the way my mother did when I was a child. I knew that I was God’s child, and that my resting place was in that place in my heart where Christ lives. There was a woman who came to sing at the Revival last week. She sang a song she wrote about finding her resting place in Jesus. It is comforting to me when I learn I am not alone in this journey…that there are others who have struggled, who struggle still, and that I’m really ok.

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My grief is different now. It’s fleeting. It’s temperate. It’s diffuse. It’s not even filled with Mr. Virgo like it was. It’s more like a cloud of sadness that settles for a little bit then lifts and moves on. If I let myself delve too deep, I could stir up too many things and I’ve learned that doesn’t serve me well. I’ve also learned it doesn’t hurt me to indulge myself in this bit of reverie. It’s a giant emotional yardstick that illustrates how far I’ve come since March 12, 2013. It will always be there. I don’t know what stirred it this time…probably the loss I’ve seen in others lately. Today is a new day…I have tools…I have hope…I have love…I have God. What more could I need? ❤️

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““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭NIV

\n", "date_published": "2017-05-17T01:55:55-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/17/my-resting-place.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","God","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/16/oh-fireflywherefore-art-thou.html", "title": "Oh, Firefly...Wherefore Art Thou?", "content_html": "\"Fireflies\n

Fireflies are disappearing, apparently. As with many species, human encroachment and the loss of habitat as well as light pollution have disrupted the reproductive cycle of the Lampyridae. Mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile and Zika, among others, has prompted more communities to spray pesticides in the evening hours right when the “lightning bugs” take flight in their mating ritual dance, thus decreasing their numbers dramatically. Fireflies like longer grass so cutting your lawn too short might decrease their numbers. There are natural influences on this entertaining insect, as well. Moist, temperate climates are preferred over hot and dry. The increasing warmth of the earth is causing a shift in the populations of many species. Even earthworms (which, by the way, are not native to North America) have had an effect on the decline of firefly numbers.

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I have been waiting for the dance of the firefly with great anticipation. The familiar rising glow symbolizes summer to those of us who grew up catching them in jars or in chubby, little-girl hands. They are synonymous with watermelon and moon baths and bare feet in the grass. I always brought my girls home in the summer so they could experience those time-honored traditions that I enjoyed as a child. They still remember those trips.

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I sat on the porch yesterday with my coffee, writing this post, and was struck with the cacophony of sound that met me. From the neighbor down the road mowing to the carpenter bees trying to make their way to my trap to the raucous calls and tapping of the woodpeckers in the dead tree out by the road, summer is fast encroaching on the farm. There are so many layers of sound now. The recent addition of flying insects has added to the complex symphony I enjoy with my morning reverie. The sudden appearance of a red tailed hawk or a crow being chased by robins adds to the entertainment. Old Mama Kitty lays at my feet, occasionally jumping at a curious hummingbird or passing butterfly. I saw my first grasshopper of the season as I typed this. This isn’t a bad life.

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I’m preparing for another adventure this week. A really BIG road trip! I’m leaving for Florida this weekend. I’m not taking TOW-Wanda on this trip. I have another opportunity to use a condo on the beach. I am so grateful! I am available for speaking engagements as I travel so if you have a church or civic group that would like to host me, let me know. I will be speaking at a church in Crescent City, Florida on June 1st.

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I think I’ll wash the sheets and dry them in the sunshine today. Won’t that be lovely? ❤️

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““ ‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be regarded as unclean by you. There are, however, some flying insects that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper. But all other flying insects that have four legs you are to regard as unclean.”\n‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭11:20-23‬ ‭NIV

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Photo Credit: stevendavidjohnson.com

\n", "date_published": "2017-05-16T01:55:24-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/16/oh-fireflywherefore-art-thou.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/13/caught-in-a-trap.html", "title": "Caught in a Trap", "content_html": "\"Wasp\n

This has turned out to be a really intense and power-filled week for me. I have been attending an old-time Gospel, Spirit-filled Revival this week at the little white church on the hill and I’m telling you what…it’s been both exhilarating and exhausting. I don’t even feel like myself. I’m sure you’ve noticed my fired-up posts this week. I don’t usually go all preachy like that, but I’ve been just feeling so inspired all week and I’ve learned to listen. With that in mind, today’s post is toned down a bit but still faith-based, as all my essays are. I noticed my numbers dropped off a little after yesterday’s post. I know…not everyone wants to have religion with their coffee. I get that. There will be plenty of travel stories and farm stories and memories to share down the road. This is Revival week, and since I write about what I’m experiencing every day, this is what you get this week.

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I went out for my morning walkabout yesterday. Out of nowhere, Boy Cat made a beeline for me and started rubbing all over my legs. He has never, ever done that (see the video from yesterday) and he tagged along with me for most of my walk. I took a bunch of pictures of all the wildflowers that are currently blooming. I walked down the road to visit a neighbor. As I was strolling along, I noticed this wasp trap hanging in a tree. If you look inside the trap, there…hanging at the top…is a wasp on a nest. Inside the trap. It reminded me of something young Pastor Matt preached about this week. God v. Satan, Light v. Dark, Good v. Evil…whatever you call it, light banishes darkness, not the other way around. I know in my journey, I ran as far away from a relationship with Jesus as I possibly could. For some reason, God was ok…but Jesus scared me. Probably because of that hellfire and brimstone preacher of my youth. I mean, I felt Jesus knocking at the door of my heart…politely waiting to be invited in. But, I would get so anxious and worked up about it, I could only go in the other direction to avoid the whole thing. Little did I know at the time, surrender would have been the ticket to freedom from all that.

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As my journey took me further and further away from God, I became more and more blind, more and more deceived by the darkness. Once I got so far out to sea and turned around to look for my saving Grace, I realized how far from shore I really was. I was in a trap of my own making…believing the lies, living my life, building my nest there…much like this unsuspecting wasp is. Living in that trap wasn’t all that bad on the surface. I had a nice house. I had a new car every couple of years. I had an essentially unmonitored bank account. On the surface, I had everything. But on the inside, I was a barren wasteland. I was living in the Sahara Desert with no water…no food…no spiritual sustenance. The Darkness can lure you in with comforts then it closes the door and locks it and you can never get out. I am blessed to have found my way back before It was too late.

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The path I’m walking hasn’t been one I’d necessarily have chosen for myself. I never wanted to be a widow. I gave up a lot to get to where I am. Aside from Mr. Virgo’s death, I wouldn’t change a thing because I’m in a good space right now. I’m not living in a trap anymore. I have shed the chains that bound me. And I’m living free…standing on the promises of God.

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I missed Revival last night and will again tonight because of a prior  commitment. I’ll go back Sunday night for the grand finale, though. I’m going to my church with a friend tonight to avoid the Sunday crowds and then out for dinner to celebrate Mother’s Day early. It’s still cool and cloudy and raining here. May is like that. I hope you have a grand start to your weekend, dear ones! ❤️

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“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭145:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-05-13T01:55:58-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/13/caught-in-a-trap.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","God","Wisdom"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/12/stepping-out-in-faith.html", "title": "Stepping Out in Faith", "content_html": "\"Laying\n

This is a clip from Night 3 of the Revival I have been attending. I thought I would share it with you in case you are interested. Pastor Matt preaches in much the same style as the circuit preacher who, quite literally, scared the pee out of me when I was seven years old, sitting in this very church. My 64-year-old eyes can see past the style and dogmatic differences now to see the same love behind the delivery. That circuit preacher of old sent me fleeing in the opposite direction of the church and I spent the better part of my adulthood feeling like something huge was missing in my life. It wasn’t until my mom died that I began to explore a relationship with God like I had never known. More specifically, I had always loved God. It was this Jesus guy that I was afraid of. I was led on a spiritual quest with so many supernatural twists and turns that I finally had no other alternative left but to believe. Interestingly, that was what my grandma told me when I asked her, after the scary preacher incident, “How do you KNOW Jesus walked on water?” At the time, her answer, “You just have to believe” made absolutely no sense to me. Eventually, it did. I almost died before I got there. Thank God, I did not.

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I began this walk of faith when my mom died in 2004. I stood at her casket and wondered where she went. Where did Grandma and Pop-Pop and Uncle Sonny go? The thoughts of never seeing them again was too much to bear so I went on a spiritual journey. I asked God to bring me the people to pray for me. I asked him to bring me the materials I needed to read. I read the New Testament for the first time in my life. I walked into the local Christian bookstore looking all the world like the Unibomber in my hoodie and sunglasses, trying not to be conspicuous as one of the Jewish pillars in our small mountain town. I grabbed the first book I found, paid for it, and hurried back to my car. It was Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life. You can’t get much more fundamental than that. I started reading.

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Shortly after Mom’s funeral, I returned to Colorado. My brother wanted to come live near me. He has cerebral palsy and there is a wonderful program in the small town where I lived. They assist and support people with developmental disabilities to live as independent a life as possible. I went to them to sign my brother up. Imagine my dismay when they told me there was a ten year waiting list for residential services. I told God if it was his will that I care for my brother, I certainly would. But here was this amazing program that could give him a life. I asked him to open doors and pave the way for my brother to be accepted into this life-giving program. Three days later…THREE DAYS…I got a call from the people in Colorado. They had received emergency funding for my brother, there was a rare opening, and they had called everyone on the waiting list. No one could move in by the end of the month. If I could have him there, the spot was his. I got off the phone, looked up, and said, “Ok. NOW you’ve got my attention!” My quest was cranked up several notches.

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A Purpose Driven Life is a 40-day read. Mom had promised my brother a trip to Florida so we headed to Colorado via Disney World. On about Day 21 of my reading, we were near Jacksonville in a hotel. I opened the curtains that morning and saw the great expanse of ocean and the long, sandy beach. It suddenly struck me…I truly was nothing more than one of those grains of sand in the grand scheme of things. I felt something come over me, and I was suddenly so tired. Tired of flying a kite but hanging onto the tail for dear life. Tired of always searching for something to fill that hole in my heart. Tired of aching for something I did not know and could not find. So…I gave in. I gave up control…or the idea of having had it in the first place. I surrendered and asked Jesus into my life. If you have been raised in faith, you may never have felt what happens in a moment like that. I literally felt every cell in my body be made new. It was the most remarkable experience of my life. When you make a bold step into the Light, the darkness wakes up and takes notice and starts trying to chase you down. It whispers darkness in your ear and tries to steal your joy. Blow after blow, I suffered one thing after another, till I learned my power over the situation. The key to claiming your power is stepping out in faith. And that’s what I’m doing here.

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On the night this video clip was filmed, I was anointed by Pastor Matt and he prayed over me. This blog has become my ministry…my way of walking the talk. He prayed that the doors be opened, the path be made straight and smooth, and that God would continue to bring me the words to say and the people who need to hear them. If I have gained anything from this Revival, it is to be BOLD. So I am stepping out in faith. I have always feared that to do so would drive you all away. I have recently realized, I have little to no control over the number of people who read my writing. God delivered a literary agent a year and a half ago. She is excited about my writing, about my story, and about the work I do here. But in the black and white world of publishing, numbers mean everything. If you do not have a large social media platform, you do not get noticed and you are likely never going to sell your book. I truly believe this is what I am supposed to be doing. I truly believe this is what I was placed here on earth to do…to write, to share, to speak. To support those who suffer grief, pain, and loss. To bring hope into the world. In my boldness, I am claiming that even as you are reading these words, the Holy Spirit is moving amongst you all. That somewhere, someone is going to read this and say, “We need more of this. We want more of your writing.” I believe it and I have the audacity to trust it as truth.

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When I was called two and a half years ago to place a Scripture at the bottom of each post, I promised you I would never get preachy. I’ll never tell you my way is better than your way. I’ll never tell you you’ll go to hell if you don’t do what I’m doing. My ministry is to spread love and light and peace and hope and joy into the world. Lord knows, we need as much of that as we can get. If I have ever touched your heart…if you have ever felt anything stir in you…if you have ever thought of someone specific when you read my posts…if you have ever felt lifted by my words, please share them on any social media platforms you may have access to. Someone out there knows someone who knows someone who can help me boost these numbers. I am available to speak at conferences, meetings, churches, civic groups…anywhere that might need an uplifting word. I can write guest posts on other blogs. I can write articles for magazines. I can write columns in newspapers and newsletters. I write. I tell stories. This is what I have to give the world. I know it will come in God’s time…not mine.

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And…that, my friends, is about as preachy as I will ever get with you all. I am so grateful you are here. I am so grateful I have a God that loves me. I thank him for all he has done for me and I praise him. This has been an interesting and surprising week for me. I appreciate your indulgence as I share the experience. ❤️

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“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:10-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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https://www.facebook.com/PastorMatt777/videos/774277599449864/

\n", "date_published": "2017-05-12T01:55:40-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/12/stepping-out-in-faith.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","West Virginia","God"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/11/weeding-my-garden.html", "title": "Weeding My Garden", "content_html": "\"Two\n

Well, I went to Revival again last night. I do not believe I have ever in my life felt the energy in that little church that I have felt this week. I’m talking fire. Whew! You do come away with a spring in your step after a big dose of the toe-tappin’ spirit. I tried to imagine my Grandma and Pop-Pop, my mom, Aunt Idy, Uncle Red, Aunt Myrt…sitting in their seats, listening. They were all so…reserved. Let me tell you…these beautiful people were anything but reserved.

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Pastor Matthew opens with song and prayer, then invites anyone who would like to speak to please do so. Last night, a lovely couple were there and the gentleman rose to say something. He’s a hobby farmer. He raises cattle so he can see them, not eat them. He names them. His first cow he called “Blessings”. Two more came along and he named them “Shirley Goodness” and “Mercy”. There are more…all named with Biblical phrases. And, when he goes out to call in his cows, neighbors from far and wide hear him calling…“Surely Goodness and Mercy, Blessings” and so forth. It is his form of testimony within earshot of his neighbors.

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The man’s wife then stood to talk about her land. She helps her husband outside as she can. There is some Floribunda growing out in the pasture. It’s a kind of wild rose…its brambles used as a hedge row instead of fencing. It seemed like a good idea to our forefathers to plant such a thing, but they didn’t realize it would soon take over. And, it’s not good for anything…the cows can’t eat it. Something so seemingly innocent ended up needing to be rooted out. The wise woman with her gentle demeanor and her long silver hair reminded us that there are things we let into our lives…things that didn’t seem like such a bad idea till they turned into a pasture full of briars. Then you have to start plucking it out and getting rid of it. Once bad things get a foothold, it isn’t long till you have a mess in your life.

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I distinctly remember a particular day in my life when I made an unsavory life choice. That still small voice told me, “Don’t do this. You do this and nothing will ever be the same.” Oh, we’re a stubborn people, aren’t we? “You can handle it.” “It’s just this once.” “Nobody will know.” Lies. Lies whispered into our lives. Light and Dark. Up and Down. Good and Evil. It’s a balancing act. It’s a constant battle. I fall down sometimes. I wimp out because it’s not always easy. If there’s anything I’ve learned this week in the most unlikely of places for me to be, it’s this…I have far more strength and power than I ever dreamed of. We all have access to that power. It’s a gift. For me, that gift is the Holy Spirit and I’m grateful to have had this experience this week. It’s been empowering. ❤️

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“Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭66:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-05-11T01:55:50-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/11/weeding-my-garden.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Prayer","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","God"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/10/busy-as-a-bee.html", "title": "Busy as a Bee", "content_html": "\"Carpenter\n

Yesterday was a mowing marathon. I no sooner finished till the rains came. I barely finished before it was time to head to church again. Revival. Who knew I’d enjoy it so much. I have to say, I truly have never experienced anything quite like this. Last night’s sermon was about the Holy Ghost. I never really understood the Holy Spirit till just the last few years. There’s a contingent of women attending this Revival who have a more Pentecostal background and I mean to tell ya, it got downright lively last night. I felt exhilarated when I came out of there.

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As I was mowing yesterday, I was mulling over the events of the past couple of years. I’ve suffered from anxiety issues for much of my life. I remember my first panic attack in second grade. I was thinking while I mowed about the anointing I had the first night of the Revival and I wondered if I could have Pastor Matt pray over me about those anxieties. Then I just had this really clear vision that I have the power to keep that at bay by simply speaking it into truth. I have experienced the dark come at me when I step strongly into the Light. I turned and looked around me and made a decision. I walked the boundary of the yard and declared my borders. I declared out loud that no evil thing can cross this boundary. I turned to the house and raised my hands and asked God to bless this house and all who enter…their coming and their going. I must have looked like a crazy woman standing out there in the yard, hands up, talking out loud. But, you know what? I didn’t care! I’m tired of those dark things chasing me and nipping at my heels. So, I rebuked them. And it felt good. I felt so peaceful afterwards.

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Then I finished mowing.

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I discovered something very cool at Lowe’s the other day. Wood borer bee traps. And, they work! I have one on the front porch. I put it up after I filled the borer bee hole with silicone caulk. I have another for the back porch. In the meantime, I had to prepare my notes for today. I’m being interviewed for another podcast episode on Janine Pettit’s show…Girl Camper. We’re going to be talking about camping in Colorado. I’ll let you know when it goes live. In the meantime, Happy Wednesday! ❤️

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“Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ””\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-05-10T01:55:02-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/10/busy-as-a-bee.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","West Virginia","The Farm","God"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/08/old-time-religion.html", "title": "Old Time Religion", "content_html": "\"Old-fashioned\n

Some of my earliest memories surround the little white church on the hill a couple miles from the farm. We only had a handful of people come every Sunday. We had a circuit preacher who came every six weeks or so. You dressed for church back then. And you dressed extra special on preaching Sunday. We got a stick of Beeman’s gum, or maybe Juicy Fruit, to keep our little mouths fresh…and busy. Grandma tied a shiny dime in the corner of a hanky and gave it to us for the collection plate. We were threatened within an inch of our lives to be good. You never, ever wanted to cross Grandma.

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We were never made to go to a Revival. Maybe Grandma knew that was too much to ask from a little girl as fidgety as me, I don’t know. But that was one experience I never had. Since the hellfire and brimstone style of Preacher Simon scared me away from church at the ripe old age of seven, it was pretty much a moot point. I remember feeling intrigued by those tent revivals I saw popping up in rural areas, though. The big tents had no sides and bare light bulbs were strung above rows of white folding chairs. Earnest people crowded into standing-room-only tents and churches to do…something. Sing? Shout? Handle snakes and drink poison? What did I know? I heard stories. I didn’t want to have anything to do with it. Till last night. I’m using the word “want” loosely. I was certainly curious.

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I got the call yesterday from my cousin/friend asking me to come to the Revival with the added caveat that Johnnie Staats was playing. I’d walk ten miles to see Johnny Staats play so since I had no other plans and I can always use a good dose of Jesus, I agreed to go. I arrived at 6:30 and visited with some old familiar faces till the music started at 7:00. Johnny didn’t disappoint and it’s true…good Gospel music brings on the familiar goosebumps I attribute to faith experiences. The young pastor and the lead singer encouraged anyone who wanted to say something to speak up. After “Go Rest High on That Mountain”, I could not hold back the tears. I could literally feel the spirits of my ancestry joining in and rose to say so. I spoke of being born into that little church sixty-four years ago, how my Grandpa and his brother, Red, were the lay ministers when it wasn’t preaching Sunday, how my Uncle Bob rang the church bell without fail. Mine were not the only tears as others remembered those who have gone on before.

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Finally, the young pastor got down to delivering a right sprightly sermon on the many names of God that was really quite interesting. It was fascinating to see the same jumping up and down, yelling style of that pastor of old through sixty-four year old eyes instead of that frightened little girl who peed her pants out of fear. I could look past some of the dogma differences in our particular denominations to enjoy the fellowship of kith and kin. At the end of three hours…yes, three hours…the altar call came. I’m a Christian. I have no problem with a good alter call. But I knew before the first notes of the song began that I was going to be called forward by the pastor. And that’s when things got really interesting.

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I have never, ever been anointed. The pastor looked at me and smiled and said, “You knew you were coming up here the minute you walked in this door didn’t you? Girl, you got God all over you!” I looked in his kind eyes and felt my shoulders relax. I smiled wanly and nodded. The pastor took out a vial of oil and anointed the sign of the cross on my forehead. He got serious and said, “You’ve gone through some pretty rough stuff…hard stuff…stuff that you didn’t think you would live through, haven’t you? As a matter of fact, you almost died, didn’t you?” I swallowed hard and nodded again. “And you’re going through something really hard now…something that has a weight on you and your smile doesn’t always meet your eyes. You have a mission and sometimes you’re not feeling worthy. Well, let me tell you…you are! You are going to walk out of here renewed and refreshed with a smile the likes of which you haven’t felt for a long, long time. Are you ready to receive that?” At this point I was smiling through my tears with my hands raised and a dozen or more people were standing around me with their hands on me…all praying fervent prayers individually as the pastor grasped my head in both his hands and beseeched God to shower blessings on me and the ministry I have been placed here to do and that I be anointed from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. I am not lying…it was an exhilarating experience and I indeed felt refreshed and renewed in spirit. I felt twenty pounds lighter.

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I can see how people can be whipped to a frenzy in churches of that style. Enough to handle snakes and drink strychnine? Perhaps. I am not passing judgement in any way. What I felt was love and light. The world needs more love and light. This isn’t my style…I love the contemporary church I attend. But, last night let me see my grandparents’ church through a new lens and let me release some of the bad memories I have always associated with it. Healing is a beautiful thing. ❤️

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“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭85:6‬ ‭NIV

\n", "date_published": "2017-05-08T01:55:05-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/08/old-time-religion.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Hope","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/06/mistakes-or-lessons-learned.html", "title": "Mistakes? Or, Lessons Learned?", "content_html": "\"Faucet\"\n

Farm life. For this mostly city girl, there’s been quite a lot of learning going on the last nine months. I’ve learned to recognize the call of several different birds by sound. I’ve learned to pick up the cat dishes at dusk to keep the strays and other nocturnal critters off the back porch at night. I’ve learned who to call for pest extermination. Who NOT to call for handyman services. I’ve learned how to turn off the gas to the house, reset the regulator, and relight everything. I’ve learned how to mix the gas and oil for a two-stroke engine and how to change the reels on a gas trimmer. I’ve learned about numerous bugs, snakes, and varmints and how to keep them at bay. I can identify quite a number of trees, plants, and flowers. I’m feeling pretty accomplished over here.

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This house had a sweet water well dug before I was born. That all changed when they capped three wells up the holler behind the barn in the late ’50s. Somehow the aquifer was fractured and the water has been briny ever since. In the early ’60s, a cistern was built with an elaborate filtration system to catch the rainwater off the roof of the cellar house and that was the source of drinking water here on the farm. That is, up until my return last August. I discovered the water flow from the cistern was reduced to barely a trickle. My aunt had been boiling it and drinking it anyway, just as it’s been done for years. I have no idea when the filter was cleaned nor have I any idea when some bleach was poured into the reservoir. When I got here, there was cistern water in the fridge that was actually moldy so that was the last of that. I bought bottled water until I gathered about ten gallon jugs and now I fill up at a friend’s house when I’m in town. You learn to adjust when you live alone.

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One thing I was always told was to protect our well with everything I had. While we don’t drink from it, we do bathe, wash clothes, and do dishes with it. It is vitally important. The other day, I was doing some deep cleaning. The water here has a lot of iron in it so the tub and toilet turn red after a while. There is a powdered product called iron out that I use in the tub and toilet to remove the rust stains every six months or so. It was time. I turned on the hot water in the tub, put in the plug, and walked away to answer the phone. I promptly forgot the water was running. About 45 minutes later I went into the bathroom and was facing a tub full of black water. Air was coming out of the faucet with spurts of equally black water. OMGosh! My heart sank. I ran out to the cellar house and, thankfully, the pump was still running and not seized or burned up. I pulled the plug from the wall to give the pump a rest. I went to the porch and sat down to collect my thoughts.

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What had just happened? I ran the well dry, that’s what happened. For the first time that I knew of, the hot water tank emptied and the water dipped below the foot valve down in the well. So, what do you do when something happens that has never happened before? Why, you Google it, of course! Between Google and YouTube, I’m becoming quite a farm girl! I was somewhat reassured by what I read online. As long as I hadn’t burned up the pump, and we aren’t in a drought (it was raining buckets when I wrote this last night), the cavity where the foot valve sits deep in the well should refill. How long that takes depends on the well’s production rate.

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Thankfully, right about then I heard the crunch of tires on the gravel driveway and a much more knowledgeable friend pulled up. I told him what I had done. He assured me I did everything right (thank you, Google) and we decided to give it a couple hours to refill and see where we were. He wasn’t sure if we might have to prime the well. Turns out, we did not. We plugged in the pump, it whirred to life, and within a very short time, I could hear the timbre of the sound change indicating it was indeed pumping water. Once the dark water that represented the sediment in the bottom of the hot water heater and some air came through the pipes, the system was good to go and I breathed an audible sigh of relief.

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Another crisis averted. Another lesson learned. Don’t walk away with the water running or the tea kettle on (ok, I bought a whistling one so that would never happen!) Growing old is not for sissies. Turns out, neither is farm life! Even with mistakes and do overs, I feel pretty good about all I’ve learned while living here. ❤️

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“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”\n‭‭John‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭NIV‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-05-06T01:55:30-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/06/mistakes-or-lessons-learned.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/05/01/gods-armor.html", "title": "God's Armor", "content_html": "

\"FallenComing home late at night means you don’t get to survey the grounds till morning. And, since the next morning was yesterday and I wanted to go to church, I didn’t get a chance to look around till afternoon. As I pulled up the driveway, I could see the top of this tree peeking around the end of the barn. There was a heavy storm here Friday night and it broke this dead tree off about four feet from the bottom and it came down right between the barn and the old pigpen. As you can see, somewhere along the line, some old furniture got dumped up behind the barn. And I put the straw bales from the kitties’ winter home up there after the thaw. Now I have a tree to cut up. It’s never a dull moment here on the farm.

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The grass grew a good 6-8" while I was gone and we are due to have thunderstorms the next couple of days so I mowed late yesterday afternoon…in 94° heat! This after I walked an hour and climbed the Quincy Hill Steps three times. I packed my sports bra with ice packs, drank a liter of Powerade and went for it. I should have raised the mower a bit because now there are clumps of grass everywhere. Sigh.

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The big excitement was driving home yesterday. I was coming around a curve when a guy flashed his lights at me so I slowed down. Up ahead, a state trooper was pulling people over. Everyone. I was confused and pull off the edge of the road when he drove down the line of cars yelling, “Get off on the grass! There’s a high speed pursuit coming!” I no sooner pulled into these people’s yard till an older model pickup came screaming around the curve up ahead with two state troopers in full on pursuit. The trooper who pulled us over swung around and joined in. I found out later it was a stolen truck and the guy had an outstanding warrant. He ran into a ditch and thankfully no one received serious injuries.

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Like I said, never a dull moment in my life. And, God was watching over me, yet again. Giving praise where praise is due. ❤️

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“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”\n‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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\n", "date_published": "2017-05-01T01:55:57-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/05/01/gods-armor.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","God","Uncategorized"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/30/home-sweet-home.html", "title": "Home Sweet Home", "content_html": "\"Painted\n

The trip home was far less eventful than the trip last weekend. Thank God, there were no accidents along the way. I stopped for one last incredible latte at Sweet T’s in Duck and left behind the painted rock that I had found in Wytheville on the way down. I hope someone finds it and hides it somewhere else. I loved the sentiment on many levels…“Believe”.

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Even though the trip was uneventful, it was long and exhausting. Eleven hours with three or four stops along the way to stretch my legs. I saw things I’d never seen before. I drove through the tunnel under the Chesapeake Bay. That was pretty neat. A tad disconcerting to think of all that water above me, I have to admit. I saw the big aircraft carriers in Newport News. I loved all the bridges going across the expanses of water in the south. It’s so open and free. This week is “Bike Week” on the Outer Banks. I’ll bet I passed, at the very least, a thousand motorcycles on their way down to the beach and I counted my lucky stars they weren’t there during my quiet getaway.

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As I drove home yesterday, I was particularly struck by the beauty of Western Virginia and Eastern West Virginia. The hills are solid and green, green, green. That brilliant spring green that hurts the eyes. The redbud and dogwood were all but gone save for the highest hills. There’s still some in my little holler. And, I was greeted by blooms on the rhododendron!!! I can’t wait to see it in the light of day. There was a lot of rain while I was gone and the lawn needs to be mowed soon.

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Th truck was emptied and the items in the cooler were stowed away by 10:00 last night. Kitties had been fed and came to say hello. And, another adventure is in the books! I am grateful for the opportunity to go to the beach. I am equally grateful to be safely ensconced in my humble surroundings here on the farm. I find peace and joy wherever I go. ❤️

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“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-30T01:55:13-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/30/home-sweet-home.html", "tags": ["Travel","Uplifting Stories","Hope","Positive Energy","The Grand Adventure","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/22/rock-on.html", "title": "Rock On!", "content_html": "\"Painted\n

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.\nI 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.

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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!

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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! ❤️

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“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.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:23-25 MSG‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-22T01:55:54-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/22/rock-on.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/21/life-on-the-farm.html", "title": "Life on the Farm", "content_html": "\"Dogwood\"\n

It’s been a heck of a time the last couple of weeks. A friend had a health scare, my houseguest fell last week and had to go the the ER (she’s great, camping this weekend with the Sisters on the Fly and has a great new campfire story!), another friend fell this week with another trip to the ER, then there was yesterday. Oy.

\n\"Trillium\"\n

I went for my followup visit with the neurosurgeon. My subdural hematoma is all healed up but I’m still getting wicked headaches. As I sat in the office talking to her, I had something weird happen to my vision in my right eye. Suddenly I started getting this weird flicker then floaters that swirled around like black tendrils of smoke in my field of vision. Freaked me out a bit, I have to tell ya. I stopped mid-sentence and said “Wait a minute…something’s wrong here.” I told her what I was seeing and she looked in my eye and said I had to see my eye doctor before the end of the day. I got in at around 3:00 and they did a thorough exam. The good news is, it was not a detached retina! It turned out I have a “posterior vitreous detachment”. It sounds a whole lot worse than it is. It’s not dangerous and there’s nothing that can be done for it. It doesn’t affect your vision except as it separates at which time you get floaters and flashes. Over 75% of people over 65 get PVD. I got it a little early. She doesn’t think it is related to my accident since it has been two months. I still was seeing one floater late last night but my brain will soon adjust to that and it shouldn’t bother me. I am at a greater risk of having a detached retina in the next month or two so I have to be a princess for a while and take it easy. The really good news is, it will not interrupt my beach time! I’m leaving today to drive halfway down and the rest of the way on Saturday.

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I wanted to share some more of the beautiful spring flowers that are doing their best to outdo each other. I sat on the porch last night and talked to Old Mama Kitty for a while. I heard a couple of very loud screams of a feline nature up behind the barn. It was definitely bigger than one of my farm cats. I’m thinking bobcat but there are mountain lions here as well. I don’t walk around the farm alone at night. I heard a whippoorwill across the road in the woods some time after dark. Hadn’t heard one since around 2013 so that made me really happy!

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Happy Friday…Happy Spring…

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…Happy Road Trip!!! ❤️

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

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\n", "date_published": "2017-04-21T01:55:42-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/21/life-on-the-farm.html", "tags": ["Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Peaceful Moments"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/19/lord-take-me-home-in.html", "title": "Lord, Take Me Home in the Springtime", "content_html": "\"Cherry\n

I hated burying my mom on the coldest day of the year. It was late January and while the sky was blue, there was a bitter wind blowing on that hilltop. My Aunt Rosie and I were the only ones at the cemetery. It was just too cold for any kind of formal gathering. I could not let them put her in the ground alone though. So, I stood with a borrowed coat wrapped tight beneath my chin, shivering in the thin, January light.

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In contrast, Mr. Virgo died in the middle of March, which is a lot different in Colorado than it is here in West Virginia. Still, the day we laid him to rest, the sun was shining and it was warm enough for a light jacket. It’s funny the way your brain works when your beloved dies. I distinctly remember thinking if he had to die, at least he died in the spring when the earth was coming back to life. I didn’t have to lay him in the frozen ground. And I didn’t have to go into my grief and compound it with seasonal affective disorder. These are the things I think about while I’m driving.

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A couple of nights ago, I slept out back in TOW-Wanda. While it was wonderful to be in the camper, it stormed all night long and the only thing I could think of was that huge, old cherry tree just outside the camper. Just like the message about the rockslide a couple weeks ago, I kept getting this feeling like I had to get TOW-Wanda out of there. I need to get this tree taken out before it falls on anything…or anyone…and they can’t get any equipment back up in there with my camper parked in the driveway. I have friends who have offered to let me park TOW-Wanda at their place, but I don’t want to impose, or ruin their grass, or disturb them with coming and going as I want to camp this spring and early summer. I found a place where I can store her securely and anytime I want to take her out to camp, they’ll pull her out for me and all I have to do is hook her up and go. Then, I drop her off, and they take her around back to park her. All for $35 a month. Perfect!

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I decided I needed to get this done yesterday as we are supposed to get severe storms the next few days and I’m running out of time before I leave for the beach. Getting this huge trailer in and out of this long, narrow driveway is tricky. One of the biggest obstacles is the electric lines going up to the top of the cellar house. They hang low over the driveway. In the past, I’ve had someone hold them up with a broom while I backed under them. I didn’t have any helper yesterday and being the EVER resourceful woman that I am, I had to figure out how to do it myself. I took a long 1x2 that I found in the cellar, taped a walking stick to it, then taped the broom handle to that and…voila! It worked like a charm! The electric line nestled in the bristles of the broom and stayed right where I put it.

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Now, backing up out of the driveway was interesting. I got down to the road but I was worried about hitting the pole on the other side of the driveway. It’s a pretty busy road for being so far out in the country and the only thing I could do was slowly back out onto the blacktop. I was almost all the way out when a guy in a pickup stopped and guided me those last few feet. Easy peasy! The new truck towed fine…just doesn’t have the torque like the old one had, which I expected.

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I needed to get back to mow. As I drove through the hills, I rolled down the windows and the smell of the honeysuckle, lilac, dogwood, redbud, apple, peach, apricot, pear, and crabapple trees was so incredibly sweet. It was then that I sent up my plea to God. “When it is my time to go, please take me in the springtime so my last day will be filled with beauty such as this perfect West Virginia day.” That is all I ask. ❤️

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“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. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."”\n‭‭James‬ ‭4:14-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-19T01:55:43-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/19/lord-take-me-home-in.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Prayer","Hope","TOW-Wanda!","West Virginia","The Farm","God"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/18/the-moon-bath.html", "title": "The Moon Bath", "content_html": "\"The\n

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.

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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.

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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.

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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”! ❤️

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“Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,”\n‭‭Genesis‬ ‭18:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-18T01:55:10-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/18/the-moon-bath.html", "tags": ["Family","Strong Women","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/15/life-and-death.html", "title": "Life and Death", "content_html": "\"Old\n

Ok…I said I wasn’t going to post till Monday. I tried not to. I really did. But I can’t NOT WRITE! Writing is like breathing. Brushing my teeth. Making my bed. It’s what I do. Every…single…day. I can’t help it…it’s just so much a part of me now, so here I am.

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Yesterday was the perfect spring day here in West Virginia! I slept in, had my French pressed coffee and breakfast al fresco on the front porch, then headed to the local state park to hike. I did three and a quarter miles. It was warm and slightly overcast so it was very comfortable. And the wildflowers were amazing! There were several people out on the trail and a guy fishing nearby caught a good sized trout. Afterward, I had a very affordable (and yummy) dinner in the lodge. I came home and sat on the porch and watched as day turned to night. It was truly a perfect day.

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This old house was a half mile down the Rails to Trails system in what was once a booming oil town called Cornwallis…named in honor of Lord Cornwallis. Now, it’s a ghost town with a population of maybe 5. I look at this skeleton of someone’s home and the new growth of spring stands out in sharp contrast. It’s like life and death in one photo. The earth is reclaiming what was once a prized possession yet it’s returning with fresh, green treasures…a prize in its own right. West Virginia is full of the dichotomies of life. It is a poor state monetarily, yet it is rich in resources and natural beauty. I love my home state and I’m proud to be a country girl from the hills.

\n\"Old\n\"Old\n

Enjoy your Saturday! It’s SPRING!!! ❤️

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““Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:19-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-15T01:55:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/15/life-and-death.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/12/days-gone-by.html", "title": "Days Gone By", "content_html": "\"Outhouse\"\n

My friend V is an artist. We were going to paint yesterday but one thing led to another and we didn’t get to. I hope we can another time. When we explored the farm, V snapped several photos that I just love. This will bring back memories to many of you. When I was growing up in town, we had all the modern conveniences. But grandma’s house didn’t have indoor plumbing till I was six or seven. Up until then, this was the toilet. The bath was in a galvanized tub on the kitchen floor. Laundry was done in a gas-powered wringer washer on the back porch after many years of scrubbing on a washboard. The laundry hung on the line. I still remember how stiff and scratchy the towels were when they air dried but oh…the sheets were divine.

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When we were rummaging around in the barn, we found pants stretchers. Who remembers using those? We always used them on the men’s work pants. They are a metal frame that you slipped into each pants leg, then stretched it out tight till the pants were smooth and had a crease in the front and back. That was before permanent press.

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We also found an old telephone that was pretty cool. I do not recall seeing that in this house, but I wouldn’t swear it wasn’t from here. Those weren’t easier times and I will bet my grandma wouldn’t have called them simpler either. But it was an honest time where you went to bed tired, you burned your calories working, and you sure as heck didn’t have GMO’s on your plate. You were frugal and fixed things. You mended sheets, darned socks, took the buttons and zippers off worn out clothing before they went in the rag bag or the quilting stack. You didn’t sass back or you found yourself on the receiving end of a hickory switch. If you wanted something, you earned it. If you lied or cursed, you got your mouth washed out with soap. If you were good, you got to lick the beaters or ride to town to farmer’s market.

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Those may not have been easy times, but in many ways, they were the best of times. In others, they were not. Discrimination, inequality….I’d love to say they’re gone, but I’m afraid they’re not. Hopefully things will become more peaceful and loving again. It hurts my heart to see some of the things in the world. I have wonderful memories here and I get to live them all over again. Days Gone By are here again. ❤️

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“I remember the days gone by; I think about all that you have done, I bring to mind all your deeds.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭143:5‬ ‭GNT‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-12T01:55:31-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/12/days-gone-by.html", "tags": ["Family","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/11/fun-on-the-farm.html", "title": "Fun on the Farm", "content_html": "\"Red\n

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!

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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?

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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! ❤️

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“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.”\n‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-11T01:55:06-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/11/fun-on-the-farm.html", "tags": ["Sisters on the Fly","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/10/the-easter-parade.html", "title": "The Easter Parade", "content_html": "\"Tractor\n

This is what an Easter Parade looks like out in the country. Normally, I would be in town at church on any given Sunday. But yesterday I just didn’t feel good…wicked headache. I have company coming today and had lots to do, so I stayed home. A friend brought me some ginger ale and medicine for my tummy and I just fiddled around the yard and the house all day. It felt good to just lay low. I even missed a concert last night that I had been looking forward to. But sometimes self care wins.

\n

As I was pulling the overgrown grape vine out of the spirea bush out front, I heard a tractor coming up the road. I could see there was a wagon and horses and lots of people so I went back up to the house for my phone. I couldn’t miss an opportunity like this!

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The gentleman on the tractor there is a relative of mine…second cousin twice removed or some such thing. These are good country folk. Hard working, God fearing, fun loving people. They gathered after church and came up the road in a community outreach to invite people to the Revival in May. They stopped for a visit and gave me a potted petunia. It warmed my heart.

\n

I’ve changed a lot since I’ve moved back to West Virginia. I grew up here so I’m no stranger to the simple life. But I lived in Colorado for 40 years…well over half of that as a doctor’s wife. I got used to a different lifestyle. I drove a Mercedes. I wore a fur. I had a big house and didn’t have to work. I was a spoiled princess. After Mr. Virgo died, I didn’t want that anymore. I didn’t want the big house and all the stuff. I got rid of just about all of it. And bought a truck. And a camper. And drove and drove and drove in search of the real me. God knew I needed to “come home to WV”. When the opportunity to farm-sit came by, I didn’t miss a beat and gladly jumped at the chance to live in my Grandma’s house.

\n

I’ve come to appreciate simplicity. Country folk are good folk. I knew something had changed in me when my fur coat made me uncomfortable. It wasn’t me anymore. I feel more real than I have in most of my adult life. I’m so much softer and genuine. And happy. I couldn’t understand the allure of West Virginia before. I used to get so angry with my mother when I’d try to get her to come to Colorado to live. She insisted she live here. Now I get it. There will probably come a time when I’ll move back to Colorado to be near my kids. But not just yet. There is much more growing…much more healing…much more love to be shared here first. For now, I am home. ❤️

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“A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life. The rich can be sued for everything they have, but the poor are free of such threats.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13:7-8‬ ‭MSG‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-10T01:55:25-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/10/the-easter-parade.html", "tags": ["Family","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/09/spring-tonic.html", "title": "Spring Tonic", "content_html": "\"Girl\n

When I was a very young child, both of my grandmothers decided I was far too pale. There must be something wrong with me. So, they set to work with their home remedies to fix what ailed me.

\n

My paternal grandmother decided I had worms. She went to the spice cabinet and pulled out the powdered sage, dumped a heaping tablespoon into a teacup and stirred in boiling water. No sugar. No honey. No cream. Just sage, sage, sage. Sage tea. It was “good fer what ails ye”. I have no words to describe how horrible it was. And, I had to sit there till I drank the whole thing. Which I did. It isn’t polite to discuss the gastric ramifications of said elixir in mixed company. Suffice it to say, the physical response was proof to my grandmother that she was correct and now I would be fine. I don’t know about worms, but I can assure you I hate sage dressing, sage sausage…anything that’s been sitting in the same cabinet as sage. Horrid stuff.

\n

My maternal grandmother had an entirely different bit of magic in her arsenal. On the first good, warm spring day, grandma would take me hiking up into the woods behind the house. She would browse along, looking at young saplings, and before long, she’d reach down and yank one up, roots and all. Instantly the air was filled with a tangy sweetness that reminded me of root beer. She pulled two or three of these and we headed back to the house. After washing away the dirt, grandma took her trusty potato peeler and stripped away thin slices of the bark from the roots. She told me this was sassafras and it would clean my blood after the stagnant air of the winter.

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Grandma placed several of the slips of bark into an old coffee cup, put some sugar on top, and poured piping hot water fresh from the rainwater cistern over it and stirred the concoction. After steeping a bit, she fished out the roots and poured in a little cream to soften and cool the tea. It was deep pink and gave off the most delightful aroma. I happily sat on the kitchen stool, “whoooo-ing” off the heat, and sipping this nectar of the gods. I was in heaven!

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Needless to say, sassafras tea wins in the “good for what ails ya” category. Yes, if you Google it, there is scientific evidence if you take one of the components in sassafras and make a concentration a gazillion times stronger than you could ingest in a lifetime and inject into the abdomens of lab rats, they can get cancer. One cup in the springtime has never caused me ill effect and it’s a rite of spring for me so I’ll take my chances. There may be no proven benefits of sassafras tea, other than it can take me back to my grandma’s kitchen in one sip, no matter where I may be in the world. Sipping it here on the farm was a real treat yesterday as I sat in the sunshine and worked the crossword.

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And, hey…it tasted even better in my Girl Camper mug (although, in this picture, it looks all the world like “God Camper” which I suppose is even more accurate!) that I got from the Girl Camper herself…Janine Pettit!!!

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Spring…a time for renewal and growth, indeed. ❤️

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“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-09T01:55:22-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/09/spring-tonic.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Wisdom","Girl Camper"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/07/anniversaries-and-stuff.html", "title": "Anniversaries and Stuff", "content_html": "\"Daffodils\"\n

As is typical in the spring, yesterday was vastly different than the day before. Wednesday was a brilliant, sunny, warm spring day. After mowing the lawn, I sat in the sunshine on the porch and it got downright hot out there…80 degrees! Yesterday? Not so much. As the south braced for another day of severe weather, we received the aftereffects of the storm front as it came through. It was wet, grey and cold. The thermometer on the front porch hovered at 40° all afternoon and I was chilled through and through.

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I hit the taxes hard yesterday, determined I was going to struggle through them and finish so I wouldn’t have that hanging over my head all weekend. Thank goodness for TurboTax. It’s almost foolproof because there’s no way I can make heads or tails of the old way of doing them. Grief brain has changed the way my brain functions. That, and age. I just don’t have the patience. As it was, it took me a week and a half to get everything done. I swear every year I’ll be more organized but there I was again…searching through my newly updated and balanced check register, recording all my deductions.

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I always sit in my rocking chair in front of the dining room window when I write my blog post. As I sat gazing out at the ever greening countryside, listening to the steady hiss of a gentle rain on the tin roof, I sipped my afternoon tea and contemplated how different my life is now. Ten years ago today, I married Mr. Virgo. Ten years. A decade has gone by in the blink of an eye. Well, no…not really. It seems absolutely forever ago since that day, yet I remember it so well. We had been having daily snow storms leading up to the wedding and it was planned for outdoors. I was thrilled when it turned into a lovely, warm spring day.

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It’s supposed to be very cold here today…weather that doesn’t match my psyche these days. I’m in a good space. I have much to look forward to. I have people to love and to love me back. I have purpose and peace. I could sit here and feel sorry for myself. I could let my mind wander down a rabbit hole. But that does me no good. Today I take my truck in to get it worked on. Today I have things to do. Today I have a beautiful life and my cup is full. I’ll still think of that handsome man from time to time on this momentous day. But I’ll do it with a smile. ❤️

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“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”\n‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-07T01:55:24-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/07/anniversaries-and-stuff.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","Strong Women","Hope","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/04/02/spring-has-sprunga-leak.html", "title": "Spring has Sprung...a Leak!", "content_html": "\"Redbud\n

West Virginia gets SO much rain! It just pours for days at a time here and while I love the sunshine, the lush green foliage and the rush of the creek outside my bedroom window is delightful.

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Yesterday morning, I drove to town to meet my high school girlfriends for coffee. On the way in there was a sign warning “One Lane Road Ahead”. In West Virginia, that means one of three things…a downed tree, a rockslide, or half the road has washed away and you’re left to cross what’s left, holding your breath that the rest doesn’t give way with the weight of your car. Fun times! Fortunately, yesterday was just another rockslide. This one was right where the other one was that I received the warning about. But…this one was HUGE. I’m not sure you can tell, but that rock is about the size of two pickup trucks! Wowza! Ever since “the warning”, I’ve been hyper-vigilant about rocks in the road.\"Rockslide\"

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There were fifteen of us at coffee on this spring day. It’s always such a good time visiting with the girls. Some had never gathered like this till I came along and organized it. They always worked and it just took someone making the suggestion to get together. Now we all feel like it’s cheaper than therapy and a whole lot more fun!!!

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I drove up to Marietta afterwards and browsed and had a late lunch at Boathouse BBQ…a great place right on the river. There were a lot of trees, branches, and other stuff washing downstream with the high water. Someone’s dock even floated by. You never know what you’ll see this time of year out there.

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On the way home, I caught glimpse of the first redbud trees beginning to send their whisper of purply-pink in the woods. The true, true harbinger of spring. Next will be dogwood and star magnolia. The forsythia and flowering quince are still lush. Yellow daffodils mark the sites of old homesteads, long after the houses have returned to the earth.

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I priced lawnmowers yesterday. Shhhh, listen. That’s the sound of the grass growing! ❤️

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“Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.”\n‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭10:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-04-02T01:55:29-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/04/02/spring-has-sprunga-leak.html", "tags": ["Strong Women","Positive Energy","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/03/28/the-promise-of-spring.html", "title": "The Promise of Spring", "content_html": "\"Coffee\n

I have lived every moment of the last five months with this image in my mind. Not that I didn’t try to stay mindful and present this winter…I did. But, this…this is what my brain screams for from the moment the first frost withers the life from the foliage in the fall. My body yearns to sit here in the sunshine, listening to the deep tones of the wind chime in the gentle breeze, watching the birds zip in to the feeders. My soul remembers this. Sixty-three times I have experienced early spring mornings. Some I haven’t paid a bit of attention to. Sad to waste even one, really. They are God’s gift to us. His promise of growth, of provision, of new life.

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As I sat at my grandma’s old dining room table yesterday doing taxes, the view out the window kept calling me to come outside and enjoy this. The coffee was hot. I wore a sweater to ward off any chill that remained of the morning. As I sat there, enjoying the gurgling creek alongside the house, a beautiful black butterfly flitted around the porch. The pink of the flowering quince, the yellow of the fading forsythia, the vibrant green of new grass gave my winter-weary spirit room to breathe. I smiled at the many gifts I’ve been given in this life. The many opportunities to love, to learn, to grow.

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Sunday was an emotionally draining day. The worship experience at church was powerful and stretched my soul wide open. Then I sat in quiet contemplation as the rest of my family buried my father-in-law in Colorado. I wish I could have been there, but I will visit the cemetery when I go there this summer. A Sunday afternoon nap is always in order. Sunday night was spent in fellowship at Pub Church discussing forgiveness. There was a larger crown than usual. Forgiveness is a topic that touches us all in one way or another.

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As I sat on the porch with my coffee, I thought of Little and Pop and within seconds she sent me a text with a picture of him. I hadn’t seen it before. If he knew you were taking his picture, he would go expressionless. This one made him look so old and tired. It made me sad. I have a wonderful picture that I took at our last Christmas dinner with him. He is listening to the conversation with his new cochlear implant and has such a serene, peaceful look on his face. That’s how I want to remember Pop…enjoying the love of his extended family. I sent that picture to Little. I hope she’ll remember him that way, too.

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So, the break time came to a close and I went back in to tackle the taxes like a boss. I had to upgrade to Quicken 2017 then couldn’t get it to connect with my bank. In the process of walking it through with tech support, I accidentally deleted my checking account with 15 years of transactions. ? I have a backup, but after messing with it for a total of ten hours, I could not make Quicken set up a new account. So, since I do not drink, and there was no chocolate in the house, I shut the computer off and I’ll work on it Wednesday. There was a time in my life when I couldn’t walk away like that. Call it personal growth or self preservation, it was my best option. That and a bubble bath. Tomorrow’s another day! ❤️

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“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”\n‭‭James‬ ‭1:19-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-03-28T01:55:37-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/03/28/the-promise-of-spring.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Prayer","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/03/23/almost-heaven.html", "title": "Almost Heaven", "content_html": "\"Red\n

This picture was taken when we were “knee deep in June”, as Grandma called it. That perfect time of the year where it’s not too hot yet and the trees are all leafed out. Right now, there is just a hint of green here and there but today was the last of the really cold days, I think. The weather is supposed to really warm up in the coming days. I can’t wait to see the dogwood and redbud in bloom! Those are my favorites.

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Right now there is a mattress and box springs on the front porch. I got the new one and before I good drag the old one out to the road, I had my wreck and haven’t been able to lift anything that heavy. I did take a truckload of trash to the dump yesterday but I didn’t have any rope to tie down anything that big. So, here I sit looking all the world like the Clampett’s! Hopefully I can get that out to the road next week and the trash man can take it.

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I love this old farmhouse. You can feel the love in every room. During the Depression, my Grandma lived in a place where she had a tiny little stove on the landing of a staircase. This was Shangri-La to her. The only sounds come from the creek, the wall clock, and my new wind chime that resonates with deep, meditative tones….the occasional car or truck going by.

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I’m getting my first stay-over company in a couple of weeks so I’m really excited about that. I love sharing the place and the stories. I remember when I came home for a visit one summer and my uncle had painted the house red. I was so upset. He had messed with my memories. Now I love the red. It has weathered to a great patina.

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I remember when they built the basement, jacked the house up, and rolled it on pipes down onto the new foundation. It used to sit another forty feet or so back. That was when they had an oil well derrick in the backyard and no indoor plumbing. It was a big day when they finished the bathroom, I can tell you.

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Enjoy this spring day, dear ones! ❤️

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“Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard.”\n‭‭Genesis‬ ‭9:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-03-23T01:55:05-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/03/23/almost-heaven.html", "tags": ["Hope","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/03/19/the-legacy.html", "title": "The Legacy", "content_html": "\"Meme\"\n

It’s funny. When you are in a car accident, they tell you, “Go home and rest.” If any of you have been in a significant wreck, you know how difficult it is to actually do. There’s a million errands, doctor’s visits, insurance appointments, rental car, and then the shopping for a replacement vehicle. The last thing that gets done is rest and that’s when everything else is taken care of.

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I’ve finally had the chance to turn down the dial and relax at the end of this last week. Laundry, read a magazine, listen to the Norah Jones channel on Pandora, nap, and catch up with friends and family on the phone. I even watched a movie…Silver Linings Playbook. I made a wonderful quiche and shared half with my neighbors.

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As I sat last night in the living room of this sweet little farmhouse, listening to the rain on the tin roof, I could hear the low, Zen tones of the new wind chime I put on the front porch. It reminds me of the background music you hear in a spa when you get a massage. My heart was suddenly full and I felt such peace it made tears sting the back of my eyes.

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I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my legacy. The one I’ve been given…the one I will leave. Having the opportunity to live within the home of my heart on the family farm has brought me a deep sense of peace. It has healed a place in my heart. I remember the day I walked back into this house with my grandma when she had to leave Pop-Pop at the hospital for the very last time. I remember her great love and her profound heartbreak. And I witnessed her strength. Her faith. And how she made peace with her loss. Something turned over in my own heart last night. It felt like opening my hand and letting a small bird fly away. A healing occurred in just that moment. That’s the nature of grief. Waves of grief are often met with periods of profound healing and insight. It was a beautiful thing.

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The legacy I was given was love and compassion. Living here during this time of healing is a gift from others who received that same love and compassion. My legacy is in my words…in my actions…in my heart that I readily share with others. I hope my grandchildren and their grandchildren and theirs after that will someday read what I have written and get to know my heart…get to know who I was long, long after I’m gone.

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Movies do this to me. Music does this. Rain on a tin roof does it. My heart melts and fills with love. And my life is full and rich and warm. I just wanted to share a little of it with you today and wish you love. ❤️

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“We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭78:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-03-19T01:55:46-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/03/19/the-legacy.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/03/13/how-the-girls-help-with.html", "title": "How the Girls Help With My Grief", "content_html": "\"West\n

I belong to a couple of camping groups that I’m active with. Sisters on the Fly came first. Lying in my bed four years ago, I clutched my iPad to my chest and  searched through my photo albums for every picture of Mr. Virgo. I was bereft. My heart was shattered and I wasn’t sure I could survive such a loss. Instinct…sixth sense…Holy Spirit…I was led to seek out other women to walk with me on my path.

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I found a letter to the Reverend Billy Graham the other night. In it, a widow of just a few months explains how her husband died unexpectedly in his sleep and she didn’t get a proper goodbye. She asked Rev. Graham to help her. I was heartened when I read his response. He told the new widow to put her faith in God and find other widows she could help. In the helping, she would find help herself. That is exactly what Marshmallow Ranch has done for me. And Sisters on the Fly was the springboard that got me started.

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A couple of years ago, I went to the Country Living Fair in Nashville with the Sisters. It was there I met Janine Pettit. Janine was a breath of fresh air and sunshine in her signature red plaid. She was working the show with goRVing.com and spoke with knowledge and eloquence about all things camper related. Janine is a huge promoter of women getting out there and “Going Places…Doing Things”. I was drawn to her immediately. I’ve been a guest several times on her Girl Camper podcast. She’s developed quite a following as she encourages women to take the plunge and join any of the girl-camping groups.

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This past weekend, I joined Janine and eighteen or so Girl Campers for a crafting weekend in a cabin at Blackwater Falls State Park. I took my friend Deneene with me because soon she will be observing the second Angelversary of her husband’s passing. We met Cindy there. Cindy’s husband died one year ago today. Damn. Women supporting women through the good times and the bad times while reaching beyond our boundaries…that’s why I joined these groups. The comfort and support I give is returned to me 100-fold. I love my camping sisters. As I observed the passing of the fourth Angelversary, I was reminded how incredibly blessed I am. To have God and to have love.

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And now….the fifth year begins. ❤️

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2017-03-13T01:55:06-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/03/13/how-the-girls-help-with.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Hope","Sisters on the Fly","Camping","West Virginia","goRVing","Girl Camper"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2017/03/02/in-like-a-lion.html", "title": "In Like a Lion...", "content_html": "
    \n \t
  1. \"In
    2. \n
\nYesterday was some crazy weather here in West Virginia. You know they mean business when there's a tornado warning here. I had just gone out to the rental car to check it over for damages when the storm hit. Within seconds, the time it took me to walk 10 feet to my friend's car, I was soaked to the skin so we went to Bob Evans and drank coffee till the storm calmed down and we warmed up and dried off a little bit.\n

After picking up the car and making a quick stop for groceries, I headed out to the farm. I haven’t been here for more than a few minutes since I left a week ago and was in the accident. I have the best neighbors who stop in to check on the cats and feed them, pick up the mail, and generally make their presence known. Driving home yesterday, there were a few places where the road was down to one lane as they cleared trees downed by the storm and unplugged culverts. When I got out near the farm, the river was only a few feet from crossing the highway. I’ve never seen it so high my entire life. It was pretty impressive. The creek by the house on the farm is flowing smoothly now so the debris has washed out of the culvert by the road.

\n

Spring is bringing out the animals on the farm. There are a lot more raccoons and possums as well as skunks. The ground is riddled with mole tunnels. The bird population has increased as they begin to migrate north. There are flowering trees poking out here and there as the daffodils and other bulbs are beginning to poke their pretty little heads up. The world is coming back to life. This is the perfect time to kick back and relax. There’s nothing more I can do as far as errands for the truck and insurance. A trip every other day to the chiropractor is helping immensely.

\n

March came in like a lion. Let’s hope it goes out like a lamb!!! ❤️

\n

“I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.””\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭55:8‬ ‭NIV

\n", "date_published": "2017-03-02T02:55:38-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2017/03/02/in-like-a-lion.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/12/19/the-redbirds.html", "title": "THE REDBIRDS", "content_html": "\"Ne'Qua\n

The cardinal is West Virginia’s state bird. I love watching the flash of red when a male cardinal comes in to the feeders or flits among the branches of the shrubbery along the creek on the farm. There is nothing more beautiful than a radiance of cardinals resting amongst the red berries on a dogwood branch in the snow. The mama cardinal is a little duller color than her mate, but still shows a lovely dusty red.

\n

The other day I showed you the Christmas ornament I found for the farm. It was a bottle brush tree under a glass cloche. It is special and will have a place of honor on my tree to remember my trip to Colorado. However, I went shopping Saturday afternoon and found THE perfect ornament for this year. Ne’Qua ornaments are so special and this is the first I’ve seen this year. There were only three left at the Hallmark store. On one side is a beautiful poinsettia and on the other…a pair of cardinals. I knew this one was mine. Someday my grandchildren will divide up these special ornaments but for now, I will cherish them, and the memories I make in the places where I buy them.

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So, now I have two ornaments. It’s only fitting as my life seems to be at a crossroads of late. This way. That way. Old things. New things. Experiences. People. Out. In. It’s like a handful of glitter has been tossed up and I’m watching the dance as it floats through the air. Life is very rich right now. So rich I can feel it like the velvet tongue of a kitten. There’s beauty at every turn. Beauty in my memories of times past. Beauty in my everyday experiences. Beauty in my interactions with people. Even a poignant beauty in my love for Mr. Virgo.

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I will never stop loving that man. He is a part of me as much as the marrow in my bones. But, he’s like the lovely red bird. He flits through my peripheral vision and lights on a branch for a moment…then off he goes again. He isn’t front and center every waking moment these days. While I had a terrible fear this day would come, I’m finding a release of the pent up tension that trying to hold onto him created. Now I can let him fly free….free to come in and out of my periphery, of my heart, of my life. And this is good.

\n

This is as it should be.

\n

In researching the meaning of the cardinal, I came across a lovely little blog called The Cardinal Experience. It is written by a young widow who sees a cardinal repeatedly after her husband died. He was a pilot and promised her he was going to fly to heaven on red wings. She thought he meant the red wings of his beloved plane. But maybe it was this little redbird that cried incessantly “Cheer! Cheer!” forcing her to leave her house and get back into life. You can read her blog post here:

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http://www.thecardinalexperience.com/journey/index.php?page=pages&amp;id=1

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““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”\n‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:25-27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2016-12-19T03:00:25-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/12/19/the-redbirds.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Holiday"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/12/01/namaste-from-the-palace-of.html", "title": "NAMASTE FROM THE \"PALACE OF GOLD' - MOUNDSVILLE, WV", "content_html": "\"Hindu\n

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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? ❤️

\n

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”\n‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2016-12-01T03:00:35-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/12/01/namaste-from-the-palace-of.html", "tags": ["Travel","Fun","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/11/30/doing-new-activities-keeps-your.html", "title": "DOING NEW ACTIVITIES KEEPS YOUR MIND FRESH AND BOOSTS YOUR MOOD", "content_html": "\"Glass\n

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!

\n

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.

\n

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. ❤️

\n

“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.”\n‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2016-11-30T03:00:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/11/30/doing-new-activities-keeps-your.html", "tags": ["Travel","Fun","West Virginia","Holiday"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/11/29/widowhood-is-a-solitary-affair.html", "title": "WIDOWHOOD IS A SOLITARY AFFAIR", "content_html": "\"Prisma\n

I did something the other day that I absolutely SWORE I would never do again. I bought a television. I was at Sam’s Club picking up some things and there was an incredible deal on a 40" Samsung Smart TV. I’ve been wanting to watch some of my collection of movies and this seemed like a good deal. Besides the movies, it’s not a bad idea to stay connected when there is a tragedy…like yesterday’s emergency on the OSU campus. I have to say, I felt ill after watching the news for a short time so I checked back in occasionally for updates instead of staying glued to it.

\n

As I flipped through channels, I paused to watch a few minutes of ET: The Extraterrestrial. I remember watching that when it first came out and the cinematography seemed SO advanced. Now it is terribly dated. The scene I came in on has a TV playing the background while ET is raiding the fridge. There is a commercial playing where a young woman answers the phone and calls out to the rest of the family that it’s their uncle calling long distance from California. She tells him she’ll talk fast since she knows how expensive long distance is. He assures her it won’t be now that he can use the new “weekend rates”. That made me smile with memories.

\n

When I was about four or five years old, we had a big black phone with no dial on it. You picked up the handset and an operator immediately responded with “Number please.” I still remember one of my favorite aunt’s number started with HU for Hudson. One day my mom left me in the house while she went out to hang the wash. Even though I was little, I could read and soon found my Aunt Rosie’s number in Minnesota in the address book. When the operator came on, I “disguised” my voice and read the number off to her. My plan nearly worked but my mom came back inside and caught me just before what would have been an expensive phone call was connected. Lucky for me, I suppose.

\n

Here at the farm, there was a party line. I would sneak and pick up the phone to eavesdrop on Mrs. Clark talking to someone. Grandma would whup me if she caught me doing that. We lived in town just 30 miles away and it was a rare occurrence to talk to Grandma on the phone in those early years. We got a letter from her at least once a week. I still have some of them, written in her scrawling cursive. She would give us the news of the day, what was going on up and down the road. She’d let us know if she got a letter from any of the family. She’d tell us what was coming on in the garden and how many jars of this or that she had canned that week. Treasures that are lost in the era of the quick calls and texts of today.

\n

I sat down the week before Thanksgiving and wrote some notes out to some of my fellow Sisters on the Fly. I love handwritten letters. I bought some cards the other day and will try to get Christmas notes out this week. I may have a TV now, but it’s my last thought to turn it on. I’ll still live the slower life this farm affords me. It makes my heart more peaceful. ❤️

\n

“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”\n‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2016-11-29T03:00:32-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/11/29/widowhood-is-a-solitary-affair.html", "tags": ["Grief","Hope","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/11/26/and-so-it-beginschristmas.html", "title": "AND SO, IT BEGINS...CHRISTMAS", "content_html": "\"Christmas\n

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.

\n

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. ❤️

\n

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”\n‭‭John‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2016-11-26T03:00:02-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/11/26/and-so-it-beginschristmas.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Holiday"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/11/24/give-thanks.html", "title": "Give Thanks", "content_html": "

\"Give “Give Thanks”

\n

I have more to be grateful for than I could possibly recount here, but I’ll list a few.

\n

LOVE - I am grateful for the deep love I have in my life. Those closest to me are my rocks and I can never adequately thank them for all they do for me. To give love is divine. To be given love in return is a precious gift I will never take for granted.

\n

SHELTER - While I have my camper TOW-Wanda that I’ve lived in most of the last two years, I am especially grateful to be given the opportunity to live on and take care of the family farm. The home of my heart…my uncle understands this is my healing place. A place where I am closer to those who have gone on before me. Another generous gift I’ll not take for granted.

\n

WORDS - I have the joy of writing an essay every single day. Even though now it is more like an obsession, really. I cannot imagine not writing…even for a day. It’s as automatic as breathing and brushing my teeth. And, as a result of my writing, I have all you good people to interact with on a daily basis and I love you all. Your support far outweighs any efforts I put into this and I am deeply grateful for this blog.

\n

MR. VIRGO - Three weeks before he died, we actually had a discussion about death and what we would want when the time comes. I remember telling him that if he died the next day, it would be a tragedy…but if I would have had him for one day, my life was surely richer for it. I am grateful we told each other often how much we loved each other. There are no regrets…only warm memories of having had a wonderful man in my life.

\n

MUSIC - My world started getting color and sound back in it about two years after losing Mr. Virgo. I am grateful for the opportunities to go listen to live music with my friends. I am grateful for a Bluetooth speaker so I can fill my house with music.

\n

And, last but certainly not least…

\n

GOD and my CHURCH - I wouldn’t even HAVE a life if it wasn’t for the Grace of God. And my life is enriched by Pastor Justin and my Church family at The Warehouse Church. They bless me every day and help guide me through my spiritual journey.

\n

I am thankful for so many things. My life is beautiful and sweet and peaceful. I am spending this holiday with my West Virginia family…those wonderful people who hold such special places in my heart. May you all celebrate Thanksgiving with loving kindness and gratitude. ❤️

\n

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭9:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2016-11-24T02:30:52-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/11/24/give-thanks.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","God","Wisdom","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/11/21/the-nest.html", "title": "The Nest", "content_html": "

\"Bird’s “A bird’s nest from the farm.”

\n

One late fall day, I was walking down the long drive to get the mail and paper when I noticed an abandoned nest in the ditch. I’m not familiar enough to know what kind of bird made it although it is lined with mud. I know swallows do that. I picked up the little nest and sat it on the end of the old wooden ironing board I use as a perch for the cats and there it sat. That is, until I “decorated” for the holidays. I thought it looked better sitting beside the old hunting boots I found in a barrel downstairs.

\n
\n

One of the joys of living out on the farm is the vast number and variety of birds here. I could hardly wait to put out bird feeders. I have them situated so I can see them from the rocking chair in the front window. They remind me of a verse in the Bible that tells us not to worry about getting the things we need because if God provides for the sparrow, he will certainly provide for us. Everything a bird needs is found in nature. Our added efforts to draw them in with extra food only baits them for our viewing pleasure. But, even though God gives the worm, he doesn’t provide room service. The birds still have to get out every day and forage for sustenance. They have to work for their blessings…they just don’t worry about it. Good advice.

\n

God has buckets of blessings with our name on them. They are the blessings HE wants for us…not our selfish requests. HE wants to prosper us, but on HIS terms…not ours. I can’t just sit here in the rocking chair and wait for UPS to hand deliver my blessings. I have to suit up and show up. I have to prepare myself through prayer and meditation. I have to treat my body like the temple it is with proper food and activity. I have to maintain my health. For me, personally…I have to be in the Word every day. I have to practice all three parts of Matthew 7:7…ask, seek, and knock. The action words. When I “ask”, I ask for the blessings HE wants to give me. When I “seek”, I ask how I can best serve HIM, not the other way around. And when I “knock”, I beg God to open the door to His heart and shower me with the abundance HE has in mind. That is how I “work for my supper”. He feeds my spirit AND my life.

\n

So, just as the bird must work for the blessing of food, so do I. I am grateful for the beauty…and the bounty…in my life. ❤️

\n
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”    ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:26‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\n
\n", "date_published": "2016-11-21T02:30:02-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/11/21/the-nest.html", "tags": ["Faith","Uplifting Stories","Prayer","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","God","Peace","Wisdom","Presence","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/11/20/first-snow.html", "title": "First Snow", "content_html": "

\"Snowflake\" “Snowflake”

\n

This is a big turning point in the year…the first snowflakes. They excite us. The holidays are coming. The turkey is probably thawing in your fridge. You are making your menu. You’ve shopped for the food. You’ve pulled out the recipes. You’ve invited family and friends. The games are scheduled. The marching bands will be descending on New York City any day. The workers are preparing the floats and the giant balloons. Deer season is starting. And here they are…the first flakes of snow.

\n
\n

I was standing in the Cook’s Store in Marietta after lunch yesterday when I overheard a couple talking about a bundt pan. The man admitted he used his as a water bowl for his dog. I tried not to show them I had overheard, but I was shaking as I laughed silently. I couldn’t help it. The look of horror on the face of the woman with him was classic! They noticed me and suddenly we were all having a grand, knee-slapping laugh. It was fun. It released a lot of stress to interact with total strangers with abandon. No agenda. We chatted a while then went on our way.

\n

I moved to the la Cruset display in the front window and saw a beautiful red tea pot. I look out the window and caught the first snowflakes of the season. I could hear the tea kettle whistle in my imagination so I brought that little red teapot to the little red farmhouse. We will have many lovely moments together.

\n

I lay in bed in the pale flickering candlelight and heard the icy snow hit the dry leaves with the same sound of sizzling bacon and wondered if it will amount to much. How will it affect my drive to church tomorrow? The first flakes of snow. The harbinger of change.

\n

Winter.

\n

May she come in peace. ❤️

\n
“He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.”    Job‬ ‭37:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬
\n
\n", "date_published": "2016-11-20T02:30:10-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/11/20/first-snow.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Comfort","Grace","Peace","Wisdom","Presence","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/11/19/taking-a-moment.html", "title": "Taking a Moment", "content_html": "

\"Kicking “Kicking back on the porch at the farm.”

\n

I’m not slowing down till spring! I looked at my calendar yesterday and realized I have no down time till mid-January but that’s when I sit down with my web developer and work on my new website. That’ll take at least two weeks then I’m thinking of heading south for a little fun in the sun and avoid the incessant shades of a grey winter in the Mid Ohio Valley. Today is coffee with the girls and lunch out, tomorrow is church and live music with a gal pal. Next week is travel to visit family for Thanksgiving. The next week I travel to Colorado till the end of the month. So, today I’m chilling out on the front porch. “Chilling” is a misnomer as it is over 60° and the sun is shining. I’m sitting with my feet up and doing the crossword. I’ve set up the bird feeders so I can see them from my front window and I am definitely enjoying their chatter as they jockey for position. They flit back and forth from the feeders to the safety of the nearby snowball bush. Yellow finches, house wrens, chickadees, and tufted titmouse. The occasional cardinal or blue jay for color. The young farm cat sits on the creek bank scowling in frustration at the missed opportunities to grab a snack. I’ve placed the feeders high enough he can’t get to my birds. Asian Lady Beetles drop in as they are attracted to the warmth of the wood on the front of the house as the sun sets. They are especially draw to places of contrast…light next to dark…like you find around windows and doors. I believe the flea spray kills them. They light on the floor of the porch and are dead in short order. It feels good to just stop and sit for a little bit and soak up the sun and the sounds of nature. Before you know it, the world will be blanketed in white and we will wish for a day like this. ❤️

\n
\n
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”    Philippians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NIV
\n
\n", "date_published": "2016-11-19T02:30:45-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/11/19/taking-a-moment.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Peaceful Moments","Choices","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/11/18/nesting.html", "title": "Nesting 2.0", "content_html": "

\"Jelly “My favorite piece of my childhood.”

\n

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.

\n

\"Folkart\" “I bought this in an antique store in Carbondale, CO years ago. Perfect for my farmhouse kitchen.”

\n

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.

\n

\"Red “My favorite little red rocking chair…found in an old barn in West Virginia.”

\n
\n

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!)

\n

\"Old “Old hunting boots from the basement.”

\n

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. ❤️

\n

\"Antiques\" “Treasures!”

\n
“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
\n\"Antique “I made a wreath from an antique horn.”\n

\"Apron\" “Reproduction apron hanging from the light over the sink. Loving my farmhouse look.”

\n
\n", "date_published": "2016-11-18T02:30:12-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/11/18/nesting.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort","Peace","Presence","Downsizing","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/11/16/the-list.html", "title": "The List", "content_html": "

\"Ohio “Digital painting of the Ohio River at sunset.”

\n

I still suffer from “grief brain” to some extent. Or maybe it’s just the natural progression of aging. Or a combination of the two. I don’t know. What I DO know is, I have a whole list of things in my head at night when I lay down. I think of a dozen things I should have done during the day. And a dozen more that come to mind as my brain notices I want to go to sleep so it pops up and says “Here’s twenty-four things to remember in the morning. No fair getting up and writing it down!” So, it takes forever to go to sleep and…I wake up knowing there were twenty-four things and I remember, like…two. SO frustrating!

\n

I thought I was done with lists when I quit working and things got done at my leisure. Then Mr. Virgo died. My brain felt like I dropped a hair dryer in the bathtub while I was in it. I couldn’t remember anything to save my soul. It has gotten much, much better…but I think I will always have this lingering need to make lists now. And maybe write down where I park my car…and put my keys, etc. Now, I have to write lists, set alarms, send myself texts. If not, things get missed.

\n

The thing about lists now that I’m living 45 minutes from town is, I don’t shop as frequently so the lists get really long. And I end up spending all day running around from place to place. That was my day yesterday. I ended the day on a bright note, however. I met a friend for dinner and took time to watch the sunset over the beautiful Ohio River. And still, the moon is super. Thirteen deer on the road coming home last night. Today is trash day…and the beat goes on. ❤️

\n
“The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.”\n

Psalm‬ ‭65:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

\n", "date_published": "2016-11-16T02:30:53-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/11/16/the-list.html", "tags": ["Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Wisdom","Courage","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/10/26/first-frost.html", "title": "First Frost", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
\n\n\n

I scraped frost off the windshield yesterday for the first time this season. I had to have the truck in the shop bright and early and the sun was just peeking over the horizon when I headed into town...sipping my coffee and watching for late browsing deer. Everywhere you turn these days you catch the bright orange flash of pumpkins tucked here and there. Porches, storefronts, and garden centers are ablaze like a sunset and it reminds me my favorite color is \"October\"!

\n\n\n

The frost and the pumpkins reminded me of this poem so I thought I would share this little piece of autumnal Americana with you for hump day. It seems divinely appropriate for my newfound farm life.

\n\n\n

Have a beautiful day!

\n\n\n

When the Frost is on the Punkin by James Whitcomb Riley

\n\n\n
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock, \nAnd you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin’ turkey-cock, \nAnd the clackin’ of the guineys, and the cluckin’ of the hens, \nAnd the rooster’s hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence; \nO, it’s then’s the times a feller is a-feelin’ at his best, \nWith the risin’ sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest, \nAs he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock, When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.\nThey’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere \nWhen the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here— \nOf course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees, \nAnd the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees; \nBut the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze \nOf a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days \nIs a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock—\nWhen the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.\nThe husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn, \nAnd the raspin’ of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn; \nThe stubble in the furries—kindo’ lonesome-like, but still \nA-preachin’ sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill; \nThe strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed; \nThe hosses in theyr stalls below—the clover over-head!— \nO, it sets my hart a-clickin’ like the tickin’ of a clock, \nWhen the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!\nThen your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps \nIs poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps; \nAnd your cider-makin’ ’s over, and your wimmern-folks is through With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too! \nI don’t know how to tell it—but ef sich a thing could be \nAs the Angels wantin’ boardin’, and they’d call around on me— \nI’d want to ’commodate ’em—all the whole-indurin’ flock— \nWhen the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!
\n\n\n

❤️

\n\n\n
\n

“The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.”

\n‭‭Job‬ ‭37:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2016-10-26T01:30:50-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/10/26/first-frost.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Peaceful Moments","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/10/21/full-circle.html", "title": "Full Circle", "content_html": "\n
\"\"
\n\n\n

I'm on my last camping trip of the year, I believe. While yesterday's high was 82, the next few days will be in the 50's with rain. Not a problem for me...I see naps in my future. I love listening to the sound of the rain on the roof. I'm camping in very dense woods. I can hear the katydids skritching at each other over the steady drum of tree frogs and crickets. Soon, these night sounds will be put to bed until spring.

\n\n\n

I drove through the New River Gorge yesterday and decided to go to Babcock State Park to see the grist mill. I went into the gift shop to buy some fresh ground corn meal or flour, but unfortunately the terrible floods they had in southern WV this summer damaged the sluice box. There has been so little rain since then that even if the mill were operable, they couldn't grind.

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As I sat on a bench across the way from the grist mill, I thought of all the circles within the confines of that building...from the large waterwheel to the gears at the elbow to the millstone...each circle has a purpose. Each is built for a certain outcome. They take in rough, coarse grain and work it between heavy stones to wear down the tough outer covering. They continue to work...round and round till the final product is usable. With very little effort, that product can be turned into a variety of healthy, nutritious foods that feeds us and keeps us alive. We are like the grain in God's gristmills. He can turn hard winter wheat into the softest cake flour. He can also turn the hardest of hearts loving and soft. He turns the stone and works on us all of our lives.

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As I sat there, I said a prayer for my cousin, Margie. She lost her fairly brief fight with cancer when she was released from her pain Wednesday in the early morning hours. Her trip through life's grist mill was a rough one, but she was a strong woman and fought hard. Her wish, in lieu of a funeral, was for the family to come together for a meal. I love that. She was always at the family dinners that I attended. I will think of her in the changing leaves, the crisp air, the rush of water over the flywheel of the mill. I will remember her when I rub soft flour between my fingers. She is the sweetness of the cake...the texture of the bread. God rest your sweet soul, Margie. You are free to fly.

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❤️

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“Grain for bread is easily crushed, so he doesn’t keep on pounding it. He threshes it under the wheels of a cart, but he doesn’t pulverize it.”‭‭

\nIsaiah‬ ‭28:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2016-10-21T01:30:24-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/10/21/full-circle.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/10/03/autumn.html", "title": "Autumn", "content_html": "\n
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The wind is carrying a chill these days. Leaves fly and spin on the breeze and soon they will blanket the floor of our woods like a dark, damp carpet. There is a constant rustling noise in the background and the sound of the dew dropping is a higher pitch than when the leaves were green. The hummingbirds are gone, headed south for warmer climes. Clouds roll over the ridge across the road as chickadees fight over who gets to sit at the feeder.

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I love autumn. This year it isn't filling me with the dread of the oncoming winter for some reason. As I sit on the front porch, I still hear crickets. Birds are calling far up in the woods...their songs ringing down through the holler. The rain that woke me at 6:00 has created a small trickle through the creek running alongside the house...the tiny waterfalls plunking out a staccato beat. The farm cats are wandering the hillside above the house looking for a gift to present at my door. If I'm not quick enough to feed them in the mornings, they jump on the screen door to the front porch with a bang!

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I'm used to the rapid drop of leaves in Colorado. Like most everything here, fall lingers...meandering it's way through October. Time...sweet time. Nothing is rushed. I seasoned a skillet yesterday morning as I listened to classical music. I drank my coffee on the porch. I read. I wrote. I listened. I prayed...

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Thank you, Lord...for your bounty.

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❤️

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“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

\n‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:24‬ ‭ESV‬‬\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2016-10-03T01:30:50-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/10/03/autumn.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Gratitude","Peaceful Moments","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/09/13/road-trip.html", "title": "Road Trip!!!", "content_html": "\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2016-09-13T01:30:56-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/09/13/road-trip.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/09/04/sunset.html", "title": "Sunset", "content_html": "\n
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There is something special about sunsets. For me, they are a gift from God. A reward after a good day. A gift of comfort after a bad one, with the reassurance there is still beauty in the world. I've been getting a lot of gifts from God lately. A beautiful bouquet of white flowers, dinner with a friend, Old Mama Kitty rubbing on my legs and purring her heart out when I feed her, quiet mornings on the farm sipping my coffee and watching wild turkeys running up the road. Yesterday morning, I looked up in time to catch a bald eagle flying overhead. It was a fleeting glimpse, but I'm sure that's what it was. Such beauty in the world.

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The yard needs mowed out at the farm. The thing about West Virginia, more rain equals more grass. The neighbor down the way mows for my aunt but only once a month. By that time, the place really needs a brush hog run over it. I bought a gas powered trimmer yesterday to run around my camper and to use at the farm. There's a mower up in the barn that I'm going to check out and see if I can get running. Mowing is good exercise and it will look nicer. And, it feels good to work hard and see the results of your efforts. Hard work never hurt anybody, or so said my grandma.

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❤️

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“The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.”

\n‭‭Psalm‬ ‭65:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2016-09-04T01:30:10-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/09/04/sunset.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Be Joyful!","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/09/01/farm-critters.html", "title": "Farm Critters", "content_html": "\n
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\n\n", "date_published": "2016-09-01T01:30:32-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/09/01/farm-critters.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/08/19/painting.html", "title": "Painting", "content_html": "\n
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This house is old. Really old. And there hasn't been regular maintenance done in quite some time, as you can see. In addition to ridding the basement of fleas, I am cleaning, clearing, and freshening the place up with a coat of paint. I'm not sure what kind of paint was on this wall before, but it's soaking the primer (the white paint) up like a sponge. It's going to look so much better when it's done! I'm trying to wrap this up before I head to Washington, DC next week for my talk at the International Conference on Positive Aging. I'm getting really excited for that!

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It takes an hour round trip to get to cell service and I need to get back to my painting before the afternoon rains. This weekend is Homecoming in my hometown so I'm heading back to TOW-Wanda tomorrow.

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❤️

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““My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

\nJohn 4:34 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2016-08-19T01:30:47-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/08/19/painting.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/08/19/flea-update.html", "title": "Flea Update", "content_html": "\n
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I went downstairs and vacuumed the basement today and took the bag out behind to barn to dispose of it. When I peeked inside, I saw NO live fleas!!! Monday will be a week since they sprayed so I'll check again then. If there is even ONE live flea, they're coming back out to spray! OMGosh! What an ordeal!

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I finished painting the living room yesterday. I need to do a little touch up then I can put it all back together and head to DC! Oh, the roof has a leak so I'll need to get up there before winter and do something about that. There's lots of work to do, without a doubt. But, it's a labor of love.

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I wish I could convey how incredibly peaceful it is out at the farm. It's wonderful!

\n\n", "date_published": "2016-08-19T01:30:24-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/08/19/flea-update.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/08/18/ginny-lynne.html", "title": "Ginny Lynne", "content_html": "\n
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That is me on my first birthday. Grandma called me \"Pet\". I think she called all little ones \"Pet\", but I'm going to pretend it was just for me. I'm painting the living room while I wait for the toxic waste to nuke the fleas. It may be working. Of course, I'm probably going to grow a third arm out of my forehead!

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As I was painting I noticed it was getting really black outside. I'm beginning to be able to read the skies better out there now. I'm used to the wide open sky of Colorado where you see a storm coming from miles off. This one looked bad so I quit painting and quickly cleaned up. The pump on the well runs on electric and service can get dicey in the country. Good thing I did because I no sooner turned off the water till the skies opened up and we got a torrential downpour. We had a big crash of thunder, the electric flickered a couple of times, then went off at 6:00. It was still off at 9:45 in the morning when I headed to the nearest place for coffee and Wi-Fi. Yes...Wi-Fi! There's a little town east of me with a gas station, convenience store, restaurant and tire center. Good country breakfast, coffee and Wi-Fi. And they said I can stay as long as I want to! Wahoo!!!

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So, with a full tummy, hope for a flea-free house, and deadlines to meet, I leave you for another day.

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❤️

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“You say, “I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge with equity.”

\nPsalm 75:2 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2016-08-18T01:30:11-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/08/18/ginny-lynne.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/03/28/retro.html", "title": "Retro", "content_html": "\n
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This picture crossed my FB page not too long ago and it threw me back in time. My parents bought their first, and only home in December 1960. My Grandmother bought me a bedroom set when we moved in. She made curtains with a poodle border. We had an old console cabinet around from a TV and Grandmother used the leftover fabric and covered that cabinet to create a vanity for me. I can see it in my mind. When it was done, mom took me to the Plaid Stamp Store and we got this same trash can by trading in books of stamps. I still remember where that stamp store was.

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I was so proud of my room. It was the nicest thing I ever had my entire childhood. One summer night, my dad tapped on the door of my room and stuck his head in.

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\"Sis, you got any trash? I'm burnin'.\"

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I dutifully handed him my beautiful trash can. That's the last time I saw that perky poodle. Dad came in a couple hours later, looking sheepish as he handed me this gunship gray trash can. Seems he had dropped it in the fire and it burned the paint right off it. I was so sad.

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Grandmother was a talented seamstress. She made quilts. She also made round pillows out of narrow wale corduroy. The edges were smocked and there was a large fabric covered button the the center of both sides covering where the fabric was gathered. I think she used to sell them to folks.

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She rented the bottom level of a great big old house. It was always dark and cool in there and smelled of incense and mothballs. She had a small ladies sewing rocker. There was a rollaway bed in the spare closet for my sleepovers. She used to make Easter Bunny cakes every year. She worked as a cake decorator at the local bakery. She hid a bottle of whiskey behind the vacuum cleaner. She used Parkay in sticks. She made me drink sage tea as a \"tonic\". I thought she was trying to kill me. She didn't drive, but she was thrilled when mom got her driver's license when I turned six and started to school. She went with us to our first drive-in movie. Gunfight at the OK Corral. She made the very best chicken and dumplings....EVER!

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Isn't it funny how one little thing can fill you with memories? I never felt particularly close to her. But sweet memories can make sour ones fade to insignificance. I was talking with a friend Saturday night about sending love and light when we remember past hurts. This allows the good memories (when there are any) to well up in their place. I am grateful for that tool. It helps you rewrite history.

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❤️

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“Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.”

\nNahum 2:9 KJV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2016-03-28T01:30:33-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/03/28/retro.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Memories"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/02/28/our-rights.html", "title": "Our Rights", "content_html": "\n
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The late author, David Foster Wallace, said \"In reality, there is no such thing as not voting: You either vote by voting, or you vote by staying home and tacitly doubling the value of some diehard's vote.\" Each passing generation gets further and further away from the days of the suffragette. They struggled for the right to vote, often being beaten and thrown in jail.
This election is critically important. Whatever you do, get out and vote!

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❤️

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“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

\nRomans 13:1 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2016-02-28T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/02/28/our-rights.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","West Virginia","Wisdom","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2016/01/16/saying-goodbye.html", "title": "Saying Goodbye...", "content_html": "\n
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At least for a little while. It's so hard to leave them! But they understand I have some important work to do in the next few months so it's all good.
God watched out for me yesterday especially well. I got to the airport too early to check my bags in so I sat at a little restaurant and let time flow over me as I watch the travelers going to and fro. To say I \"enjoyed lunch\" would be a nod to the experience it provided, not the food itself. Afterward, I went to the Post Office in the airport and shipped a box of clothes. It was half what the charge is for a heavy bag and I had the time.

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I wandered to C Concourse where I found Xpres Spa. I got my hair cut and took advantage of the massage chairs for an hour. That was delightful. I grabbed a snack and headed to the gate. We boarded, got comfortable, and the captain came on and apologized saying there was a mechanical difficulty and we needed to change planes. I didn't get to my hotel room till nearly 2:00am. I only slept 2.5 hours Thursday night so I was asleep before we were airborne and didn't wake up till the plane was nearly empty!

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I parked my truck at a place near the Dayton Airport call Westwind Airport Valet. They were super nice, delivered me to the airport in a stretch limo, washed my truck for me, picked me back up in the limo and delivered me back to my nice clean truck. They answered a ton of questions and took exceptional care of me. I was parked there from December 13th to January 15th for $253. I felt that was quite reasonable for long term parking with exceptional service.

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I'm speaking today to a private group...many of whom are Marshmallow Ranch readers like yourselves. I really enjoy doing these. It gives me a chance to meet you, and it helps to give you a face when I'm \"talking to you\" via my blog posts. It's a beautiful life!

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❤️

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“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

\nIsaiah 41:10 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2016-01-16T02:30:45-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2016/01/16/saying-goodbye.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/09/07/algae-bloom.html", "title": "Algae Bloom", "content_html": "\n
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It's still the dog days of summer, even though we are a quarter of the way through September already. Along with the slow, lazy days comes a slow, lazy river and that creates the ideal environment for an overgrowth of algae. I took this photo yesterday morning as I sat out on the deck with my coffee. I ran it through a filter to enhance the color so it doesn't look like this to the naked eye. The enhancement clearly brings out the glow of the blue green algae that is hanging around. While it's kinda cool looking, unfortunately it gives off a toxin that is harmful to pets and livestock and can make humans really sick. They are cautioning people to stay out and avoid drinking the river water. I mean, seriously...are there a bunch of people out there actually drinking water straight from the Ohio River??? Blech!

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It's too bad this is happening because I've really been looking forward to getting out in my kayak...and skinny dipping in the dark of night. Sigh....guess I'll have to wait on both till it either dies off or we get some good rains to flush out the river. In the meantime, it makes for some cool photography!

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❤️

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\n

\"“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”

\nGenesis 8:22\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-09-07T01:30:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/09/07/algae-bloom.html", "tags": ["Health","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/09/04/magic.html", "title": "Magic", "content_html": "\n
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After a 12 hour drive, I finally reached my perch overlooking the Ohio River. I would never have driven that long if it hadn't been for my traveling companion driving behind me and pushing me along. I think I played every song on my playlist! The river is so peaceful and beautiful...it makes me want to cry. Or maybe I'm just too tired. Either way, I am happy to be here and certainly happy to be out of that truck.

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Thank you God for travel mercies.

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❤️

\n\n", "date_published": "2015-09-04T01:30:25-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/09/04/magic.html", "tags": ["Faith","West Virginia","Gratitude","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/06/04/stormy-weather.html", "title": "Stormy Weather", "content_html": "\n
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Wouldn't you know it? I drove through the worst rain of my life when I moved to West Virginia in October. Up till yesterday, the roads were dry. I left Columbia around 10:00am and I didn't go five miles before the skies opened up and it was shades of October all over again. It rained hard till I got to the west of Kansas City. Then I started getting notices on my cell phone of severe storms hitting Denver and heading east. When I got to Hays, Kansas they were under a tornado watch till 2:00 this morning. There were no campsites till Goodland, KS (which is closer to the storms) so I decided to stay last night in a motel. Better to be safe than sorry. As it turned out, the storms turned north.

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I should be cruising into Denver by mid afternoon. I can't wait to see my kids and grandkids!!! And, at the same time, I'm missing my West Virginia friends and family already. I'm missing the river. My heart is in two places.

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❤

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\n

\"Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.”

\nGenesis 48:11\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-06-04T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/06/04/stormy-weather.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/05/16/cruisin-on-a-friday-night.html", "title": "Cruisin' on a Friday Night", "content_html": "\n
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Remember back in the day when you got in your car on a hot summer night and cruised? Last night I met my high school classmates for dinner and had a blast. One gal was there that I hadn't seen since graduation. It was a really big crowd and it was hard to get to talk to everyone more than just a quick catch up. But that's what we have Facebook for.

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After everyone left, I found myself sitting in the parking lot, posting and tagging photos of the evening so everyone could enjoy them. When I was done, I just didn't feel like going home. I felt like cruisin'. I started up the truck, turned on the music, and what started playing? Why, Mr. Smoky Robinson…\"Cruisin\"! I rolled down the windows and drove down memory lane. First stop was City Park. Then up Washington Avenue to the High School. THE High School. Parkersburg High School. We are the Big Reds and…once a Big Red…always a Big Red! This is one of the prettiest high schools I've ever seen. There was a track meet going on so the stadium was lit up. I sat there remembering those warm spring nights forty-four years ago leading up to high school graduation. We were filled with such promise. We were so excited to get this part of our lives over with and move on. Now we want to reach back and grab those days and feel them again.

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Afterward, I just meandered about, feeling the warm air on my skin as I rested my arm out the window. Breathing in the sweet smells of lilac mixed with the heavy aroma of pizza from the local hangout. Such memories. Eventually, I made my way home. What a beautiful evening.

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❤

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\"“I thought, ‘I will die in my own house, my days as numerous as the grains of sand. My roots will reach to the water, and the dew will lie all night on my branches. My glory will not fade; the bow will be ever new in my hand.’\"

\nJob 29:18-20\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-05-16T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/05/16/cruisin-on-a-friday-night.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/05/05/mountain-stage.html", "title": "Mountain Stage", "content_html": "\n
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One of my favorite West Virginia treasures is Mountain Stage. Held at the West Virginia Cultural Center in Charleston, Mountain Stage is recorded before a live audience then broadcast on NPR the following evening. A lot of great entertainment...a big bang for your buck!

\n\n\n
\"\"
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-05-05T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/05/05/mountain-stage.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/05/02/views-of-my-day-rivers.html", "title": "Views of My Day: Rivers, Hills, \u0026 Candy", "content_html": "\n
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Big tugboat pushing 15 barges upriver.

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This has been a busy and really FAST couple of weeks! The trip to Tennessee and bookend stayovers in Kentucky took me to Tuesday. Thursday was a quick overnight to the other side of the state. I no sooner got back into town late yesterday afternoon when the phone started ringing. Drinks and apps with one friend, several phone calls when I got home, then a later dinner with another group of friends. I have never socialized as much in my life as I have here in WV. I have met some of the nicest people and reconnected with friends from high school that I hadn't seen in years.

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One of the most difficult things a widow often faces is loneliness. So often, our spouse is our best friend and we don't kindle new friendships or nurture old ones because our time is taken up by our relationship. I always had this deep, nearly unrecognized feeling that I wouldn't have Mr. Virgo very long so I spent every moment with him. Consequently, I found myself having to build a social network when he was gone by reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones. Fortunately, I have no trouble making friends. My youngest says I could talk to a tree.

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If you have trouble finding friends, think of something you enjoy doing...riding bikes, kayaking, walking, gardening, to name just a few...and join a club. Ask at church. Take a class. Don't be afraid to start a conversation. I met the gal I had dinner with last night at a vendor/craft show last November when I was visiting my cousin. We just hit it off right away and bonded. I've made great friends through Facebook. One of my friends grew up a block from me but I never met her till last year when I was driving cross country. She was following my journey through a mutual friend. Patti and Carol and Vicky were either Sisters on the Fly or Marshmallow Ranch followers. I can't stress enough the importance of finding your tribe. I don't want to grow old alone. I want lots of people in my world. It makes life interesting.

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❤

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\"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.\"

\nProverbs 14:1\n
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Stern wheeler - Valley Gem out on a party cruise.

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River traffic.

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Germany Valley, WV

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The Elusive Potato Fondant. Found in the general store at Seneca Rocks on Thursday.

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One of the many faces of the river.

\n\n", "date_published": "2015-05-02T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/05/02/views-of-my-day-rivers.html", "tags": ["Travel","Fun","West Virginia","Road Trip"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/04/17/camping-season.html", "title": "Camping Season", "content_html": "\n
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During the long, dark, freezing weeks of January and February, all I wanted to do was go back to Colorado to the arms of those who love me most. Now it's spring and all I want to do is go explore WV and camp in the mountains, attend music festivals, and ride my bike along rivers. I put up with the worst WV winter in decades only to leave when the fun starts. What's up with that? However, I need to have summer in Colorado. I want to play with my grandkids and take them camping before they get too old for Nana. I want to have long, leisurely conversations with my daughters. I want to hug my brother around the neck. I want to go out and play with my friends there. Summers in Colorado are divine! Beautiful blueblaster skies and so many fun things to do! I wish I had two trailers and a time machine…I'd keep a home in both places and time travel between them. Why is life so short???

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\"Just wait till you have kids of your own and you'll see how fast time flies!\" Show of hands…whose mom told them that? And, didn't we think she was crazy? Oh, yes….the summer vacation stretched before us and it seemed like forever till school started again. For-EV-er! Now, here it is…April half gone already. That's why I'm thinking of heading south next winter. Maybe I won't waste so much time hibernating. I feel like half my life (ok…10 weeks) are spent in a hole. I'll just have to make up for it by playing extra hard while I can. Seriously…I want to be one of those badass old ladies that go on wild and crazy adventures! Wait…I already DO that, don't I? But I'm NOT old. I'll never be OLD! My friend Vicky told me yesterday that 60 is the new middle age. I'll go for that!

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Oh, and by the way…remember me telling you about my friend whose son told her, via text, that he was getting married the next day? Well, he called her the next morning and told her they just couldn't get married without her there. So, the wedding is THIS weekend. So happy she gets to witness this monumental event! Millenials…they just aren't into tradition.

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Happy Friday, fellow Ranchers!

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❤

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He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.\"

\nPsalms 23:2\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-04-17T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/04/17/camping-season.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Camping","West Virginia","Aging","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/03/18/theres-a-mouse-in-the.html", "title": "There's a Mouse in the House!", "content_html": "\n
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No, not in TOW-Wanda, thank you, God! My friend Janet and I were sorting through boxes upstairs in the cellar house out at the farm on Monday. I had invested in a really powerful ultrasonic rodent repellant last fall. I was certain it would keep mice out of my boxes but there was evidence I was mistaken. I opened a dish pack and was about one third through it when a very large mouse jumped out straight at me! I almost wet my pants. Now, I am not afraid of mice per se but their erratic movements startle me.

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I had made sure there was no food stored in these boxes because that would just ensure an infestation. I did find a bar of soap and some candles that had been nibbled on. Now, I can appreciate a good fur coat and that mouse was a fine example. Apparently soap and wax are good fur conditioners.

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I was jumping all around trying to find something to trap this mouse. A saucepan certainly didn't work even though my attempts had Janet in stitches. Eventually, I told her to move out of the way, I tipped the box over, and the mouse made his escape. Unfortunately, he did not go through the open door so there is a chance our paths may cross again in the coming weeks.

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❤

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\n

\"Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.\"

\nProverbs 10:4\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-03-18T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/03/18/theres-a-mouse-in-the.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Downsizing","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/03/09/mountain-stage.html", "title": "Mountain Stage", "content_html": "\n
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The West Virginia Cultural Center rests on the campus opposite from the state Capital in Charleston. They are celebrating their 32nd year of wonderful Americana music. I went last night with one of my high school friends. It was the best $15 I have ever spent! Five bands plied us with their tunes and it was divine. And, as much as I would love to write a brilliant, articulate blog post, I am way beyond too tired to do so. Suffice it to say…a good time was had by all!

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❤

\n\n", "date_published": "2015-03-09T01:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/03/09/mountain-stage.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Peaceful Moments","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/03/07/progress.html", "title": "Progress!", "content_html": "\n

Progress is being made. Another step closer to getting my friend's bathroom done. Yesterday we set the vanity and countertop. And the marble backsplash. We had an extra set of hands when Carol showed up so we hung the medicine chest. We had to mount the medicine chest lower than the standard because my friend is vertically challenged. Unfortunately, that means her faucet is too tall for the space between the vanity and the mirrors so she'll have to take it back. We set the countertop with adhesive to the top of the vanity. We affixed the backsplash to the wall behind the sink. Then we ran a tight bead of silicone caulk on the seam where they meet. We put in the doors and the drawers. A little plumbing and we're finished with the sink. We work by committee, always reminding each other of important details. It's really looking great!

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❤

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\"Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe…..\"

\nExodus 2:5\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-03-07T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/03/07/progress.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","Strong Women","Fun","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2015/02/16/patience.html", "title": "Patience", "content_html": "\n
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Joyce Meyer wrote \"Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting.\" Oh, dear! If that is true, I am behaving badly. I have very little patience. It must be a Gemini thing because a friend of mine is the same way. I am an instant gratification girl. I want winter to be over…now, thank you very kindly. My polite artist friend Linda said this yesterday. \"Your house is on wheels. If you don't like the snow and cold, go somewhere else!\" She's right, of course. But…I've been waiting for weeks for my topper to come in for my truck. (It came once and they made it wrong so they had to order another one.) The topper is in and I'm scheduled to have it installed today at 2:00. However, we are under a winter storm warning. And I'm not taking this big gal out on the road if there is ANY chance of snow. So I'm kinda stuck. Really, it's not so bad. I have lots of friends to hang out with. I have reading material out the wazoo. I have plenty of propane, electric, food, and water. I even have a yoga DVD. Maybe that'll calm me down. Ommmmmmm…

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I have a sister/friend. You may have one. She's the one who's been with me the longest. She may not be my biological sister, but she's still my sister, you know? We don't talk as much as we should. We haven't visited each other in eleven years. It's been too long. I've been so wrapped up in my stuff, I haven't been there for her like I should have been. She's good. If she hears my \"Chamber of Commerce\" voice, she cuts me off and makes me tell her what's really going on. She's right, you know. There's a lot of times I put on the strong face, square my shoulders, and say \"I'm fine\" and while it's not a lie, maybe it's not quite the whole truth either. The truth is, I'm fine, and this sucks. I'm strong, and this is such a struggle. I'm competent, and I get afraid. I'm not \"over it\". I'll never be \"over it\". But I'm replenishing myself. I'm filling my bucket. I'm rebuilding my foundation…one tiny little brick at a time. And I'M doing it. No one else can do it for me. It's hard work, it's exhausting, but I'm getting it done. And…here's the bad part. Because she was asking about me, I prattled on and on about me. I've been so focused on me, I've become egocentric. She lost one of her beloved fur babies this week. And I didn't even ask about him. She's had health issues and I didn't ask her about them. I love this girl as my own flesh and blood and I failed to be the support she needed from me. And I feel small for that. I promise…I'll be a better sister.

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❤

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\"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.\"

\nPhilippians 4:11 NIV\n
\n\n", "date_published": "2015-02-16T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2015/02/16/patience.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Presence","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/12/28/sunset-on-christmas.html", "title": "Sunset on Christmas", "content_html": "\n
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What a perfect day yesterday was. It was nearly 60 degrees with beautiful sunny skies and I was free in my way-cool pickup truck, flying through the mountains of West Virginia…the warm support and love of my extended family tucked safely in my heart to pull out when needed. Sometimes you have to go to your people and draw from the well to fill yourself back up. My heart feels so much better now.

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There will be difficult conversations ahead. I'm not good at those. I'm not good at confrontation. I don't think fast on my feet. All reasons God has put me in this situation, I am sure. He gives us opportunities to learn and grow and practice the necessary skills we need to get through life. These are skills most people have in place by this time. I don't know how I got to the age of 61 without them…other than it's just not my nature.

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I'm heading into town today to visit with a friend who is here for the holidays. I'll be checking out options for moving my camper. I also got my social security card in the mail while I was gone so now I can get my driver's license on Monday. Yay…another trip to the DMV!!! Plus, a trip to the social security office and my insurance agent. Then I can settle in and start going through these boxes of pictures and get them scanned into my external hard drive. Life is busy, that's for sure!

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❤

\n\n", "date_published": "2014-12-28T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/12/28/sunset-on-christmas.html", "tags": ["Grief","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Choices","Change","Be Joyful!"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/12/16/itchy-feet.html", "title": "Itchy Feet", "content_html": "\n
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It's time to head back to the farm. I've been in Colorado the last 12 days. I had a wonderful trip and crammed a lot into a short period of time. I checked into staying longer but the change fee and increase in tickets cost as much as the original ticket did. I would prefer to save my money and come back on a separate trip.

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I'm getting itchy feet…cabin fever. Not about leaving my kids and grandkids again but more about wanting to get back out on the road and go camping. I'm really looking forward to exploring West Virginia. It's such a beautiful state. But I have so much to do when I get back to the farm so I must curb the urge to run.

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Please keep my friend, Debbie, in your prayers. She lost her beloved mother yesterday on what would have been her dad's 85th birthday. Loss is never easy, even when it's expected. You're never ready.

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❤

\n\n", "date_published": "2014-12-16T14:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/12/16/itchy-feet.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/11/26/ahhhhfamily.html", "title": "Ahhhh…..Family!", "content_html": "\n
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I love my family….every single one of them. We are each as different as is humanly possible. We're like a jigsaw puzzle. One piece makes no sense but you put us all together and a bystander can easily see how we turned out the way we did!

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My aunt and I came over the mountains on Tuesday to my cousin's house. I love, love, love coming here! There are few places in the world where I am so open, silly, happy, and completely comfortable in my own skin. This is one of those places. What you see is what you get and you always know where you stand in this house. These are some of the hardest working, unpretentious people you would ever want to meet. They lived in a tiny little trailer home with three kids while they built this house so they could do it without owing a soul a thing. They cut and sawed their own logs and built it all by hand and it is a sight to behold. It's built on a hillside overlooking a longview over the state line into Virginia. They are big and loud and saucy and full of fun and life. I am so proud to be their family!

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When my older daughter was engaged, we made a trip back home to introduce her fiancé to her great grandma. We were driving way back up Cabin Creek to pick up a quilt. I had pieced the top but didn't have the time to hand quilt it. Jeff Foxworthy was talking about US when he defined rednecks as having a \"glorious lack of sophistication\". We were listening to one of his tapes when he remarked that \"If your trailer home is propped up on one end by more than ten cinder blocks, you might be a redneck.\" We came around a curve and right there in front of us was a trailer…one end resting on the ground and the other on at least 15 cinder blocks! How that thing kept from falling off the hill I'll never know. The look on my future son-in-law's face? Priceless!

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So, now that I've spent Thanksgiving with my wonderful WV family, I'm going to have to submit a joke to ol' Jeff….

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\"If your gas goes out while you're cooking a turkey and you finish it off with a blowtorch…you might be a redneck!\"

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True story. I love my family!!! <3

\n\n", "date_published": "2014-11-26T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/11/26/ahhhhfamily.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/11/25/over-the-river.html", "title": "Over the River…", "content_html": "\n
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I spent the day yesterday baking. I made a yellow cake with penuche frosting. Have any of you had that? My grandma always had a yellow cake with penuche frosting at family dinners. It was baked in a sheet cake pan and I dearly loved that frosting. It's made with butter and brown sugar and confectioners sugar. Ok….it's just sugar…spreadable, caramelized, burry sugar! Then I baked a double batch of corn bread. This was for the Hunter's Chili/Soup Bean Supper at the community building last night. Yes, my friends…I'm sure if you have never spent time in our neck of the woods, you are not aware that yesterday started a national holiday. It was the opening day of rifle deer season! Schools actually SHUT DOWN for the first week. Grown men quit their jobs if they think their boss won't let them off for hunting season. People dressed in camo, rifles in their gun racks, muddy four wheelers in the backs of their muddy trucks, shots ringing out from every hilltop and holler. Man oh man…it's Carhartt Heaven here! So, we had our supper last night and the fellers sat around to chew the fat fer a while. The old guys telling these young whipper snappers how it was done in their day…each tale bigger than the last. What a hoot!

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Y'all are gonna think that's all I do…bake and cook. Well, I sure have been enjoying it and this farm brings it out in me since this is where I learned to cook in the first place. Tomorrow we head to the cousin's for Thanksgiving. I'm bringing all my ingredients with me to bake there. We were going to leave Wednesday but there's six inches of snow predicted so we'll go early. It was 70 degrees here yesterday…what an absolute treat!

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What is your favorite food memory of Thanksgiving?

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<3

\n\n", "date_published": "2014-11-25T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/11/25/over-the-river.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Baking"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/11/23/keeping-young-while-growing-old.html", "title": "Keeping Young while Growing Old", "content_html": "\n
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I spent yesterday morning helping my aunt make pies for last night's \"Sing\". She used prepared pie crust for the very first time. She insisted she bake a scrap of it ahead of time because if it wasn't \"fit to eat\" she was going to throw it out and make her own. Her tremor is so bad now, it is painful to watch her try to do the things we take for granted…beating egg whites, stirring filling as it cooks, rolling out crust. As I held the pan for her and she scraped the hot lemon filling into her crusts, she said \"Well, this is my Waterloo. I may make pies for family, but these are the last for the Sings.\" It hurt my heart a little to hear her recognize her limitations. She is such a proud woman. I told her that was just fine…she had done a good job all these years. Folks will understand. Still…passages. The endings that inevitably come. Those little steps…admissions…confessing the infirmities of age tug at your heart strings…whether they are from those you love or from your own lips. She is happy I am here. She was staring down the abyss…alone…as was I. We are two peas now, this wonderful, graceful, beautiful woman and I.

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We lead a simple life here. I practice mindfulness…something I am convinced my aunt has done all her life as did her mother and her mother before her. When I do dishes, sweep floors, haul brush, I focus on the moment. When I do dishes, I am doing dishes. I am feeling the texture of the scrubber beneath my fingers, the warmth of the water, the lemony scent of the bubbles. When I sweep the floors, my focus is on the sound the broom makes as it crosses over linoleum. As I haul brush, I feel the weight of the branches in my hands, the crunch of the leaves as I cross to the brush pile, the chill of the wind as it brushes my cheeks. This makes work a meditation. It keeps life simple. How can we be here if we are there? There is a rhythm here that it has taken me awhile to feel. I had to slow down and be still. The rhythm is deep, quiet, redolent with the smell of the leaves and the whispers of souls passed. It is a source of wealth no bank account could ever fill. It is the essence of love. <3

\n\n", "date_published": "2014-11-23T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/11/23/keeping-young-while-growing-old.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Comfort","Aging","Choices","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/11/22/another-installment-ofits-a-small.html", "title": "Another installment of…It's a Small, Small World!", "content_html": "\n
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One of the first women campers that I met in Colorado was Michelle. Fun, funny, intelligent, and one heck of an event coordinator. Love her to pieces!

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I become friends with a gal that graduated from my high school the year before me. We grew up less than two blocks apart but she seemed so much older than me because she rode a horse. I know…go figure. We connected on FB and I talked her into joining Sisters on the Fly.

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Sister #1 sent out an e-mail a couple of weeks ago to sign up for a Christmas Sister. Well, guess who got matched? Michelle and my friend here! You can't make this up!

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I met another friend for lunch yesterday and came across this WV traffic jam. I love my new life in the country!

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<3

\n\n", "date_published": "2014-11-22T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/11/22/another-installment-ofits-a-small.html", "tags": ["Camping","Fun","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/11/19/dmv.html", "title": "DMV", "content_html": "\n
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I was washing dishes the other day and noticed I have one more week before my temporary plates expire on the camper. They expire a week later on the truck. So, not being one to wait till the last minute, I headed off to the county seat where I live. Tiny town. No luck. You can renew tags and licenses there, but if it's a new vehicle, you have to go to the \"big city\". Ok, no problem. I drove through the snow. (What? Why didn't I go last week when it was 70 degrees? Ummmmm….I give up. Why didn't I?) I stood in line. I got out my license, my insurance cards, and my titles.

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\"Next!\"

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\"Hi there! I just moved here from Colorado and I need to get my WV plates.\" Big smile.

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\"Ok, let me see the titles.\"

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Hand over the appropriate paperwork.

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\"Ok, these are exactly what you need. You'll have to fill out this application form…one for each. Now, let's see. Is this the only name you've had?\"

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\"Ummmm, no.\"

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\"How many times have you been married?\"

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\"Ummmm, three?\"

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Stare. \"Uh-huh…ok then. I need to see all of your marriage licenses and divorce decrees. I need your birth certificate, your Social Security card, and your proof of insurance.\"

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\"Say what?\"

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Repeats previous statement.

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\"Well, here's my proof of insurance card.\"

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\"Ma'am, that's a Colorado card. I need a WV insurance card.\"

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\"But, it's a national company!\"

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Repeats previous statement.

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\"Ok…how do I get that?\"

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\"You go to a local insurance agent and GET one.\"

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\"But, I have a Colorado license. I HAVE to be who I say I am or they wouldn't have given me one.\"

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\"Ma'am, we have no IDEA what the laws are in Colorado!\" (Translation: You all are a bunch of pot smoking hippies out there in Colorado! Who knows WHAT kind of laws you're gonna pass now!)

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\"But, we live in the same country! Colorado and West Virginia are both in America!\"

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Stare.

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\"Is that all I need?\"

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\"No. You need two items that have your name and your WV address on them. Like your utility bill.\"

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\"I don't have a utility bill. I live in a camper.\"

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\"Well, a rental agreement.\"

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\"Ummmmm, I live in my camper on my uncle's farm so I can take care of his sister…my aunt. I don't own a house, I don't rent, and I don't have utilities.\"

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Condescending stare. \"Oh. Well, you can have your aunt fill this out and it says you live there.\"

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Cool.

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\"Ok, so…let me get this straight. I need a WV insurance card, my birth certificate, my first marriage license, my first divorce decree, my second marriage license, my second divorce decree, my third marriage license, my old driver's license, my Social Security card, and an affidavit from my aunt that says I am who I say I am and that I live where I say I live. Is that right?\"

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\"Yes.\"

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\"Honey, you know? I think you might have misunderstood me. I want a new license and new plates. I'm not applying to run for governor!\"

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\"Oh, it's much easier to run for governor. FAR less paperwork. You can apply over at the court house.\"

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I pause, staring at the forms…frowning.

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\"Did you need anything else?\"

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\"Yes. I'm looking for the place where it says you will be wanting my left kidney and my first born child!\"

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Stare.

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\"Next!\"

\n\n", "date_published": "2014-11-19T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/11/19/dmv.html", "tags": ["Overcoming Obstacles","West Virginia","Widow"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/11/18/culinary-nightmares.html", "title": "Culinary Nightmares!", "content_html": "\n
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Ok, true confession? I ate a squirrel and I liked it! Actually, I've eaten lots of squirrels. When I was growing up, shooting a squirrel and eating it was no different than catching a fish and eating it. Squirrel season is one of the longest game seasons and the one where many aspiring hunters get their start as a youth. I SO wanted to go squirrel hunting when I was a kid but I wasn't allowed because…I was a girl! Girls didn't hunt. It meant they'd have to handle a G-U-N and God forbid…that wasn't acceptable in my family. I did get to shoot a .22 at tin cans as a teenager but no hunting.

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I am not sure I could eat a squirrel now after living in Denver for so many years. They're like rats there. But I have such fond memories of my grandma's fried squirrel and squirrel gravy. There's not a ton of meat on a squirrel so you might have to freeze them till you get a mess of them. (For those of you who don't know, \"a mess\" means a bunch. As in \"She cooked up a mess a' beans.\" I know…you need a passport to come here.) My daddy taught me how to skin them and clean them. They have a very dark, fine grained, low fat, sweet meat. You quarter them, dredge them in flour with salt and pepper and fry them like you would fry chicken. Ok, now I'll TOTALLY gross you out…my mom would kill for the brain. (Ok, that totally grossed ME out!)

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There are old timey recipe books with other awful offal. Possum, coon, goat, rattlesnake…to name a few. Now, those I have not eaten. I have my limits! What are some odd things you eat or have eaten in your life?

\n\n", "date_published": "2014-11-18T02:30:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/11/18/culinary-nightmares.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","The Farm","Farm Life"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/11/14/kitties.html", "title": "Kitties", "content_html": "

\"little “Me with a little barn kitten.”

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We had our first flakes of snow yesterday. I have been here nearly a month and have spent a good deal of time winterizing the farm but I can’t say I’m excited about snow coming. Last night gave me a taste of what winter might hold. The power started going off and on at dusk. Finally at around 6:00, my second cousin up the road called to say the power company was at her farm and were preparing to go back up on the hill to fix the line and were preparing to turn off the electric. She wanted to make sure we had our flashlights at hand. The thing about losing electric in the country is…it could be an hour or all night or next week before power is restored. It’s just part of rural living.

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We made coffee and toasted honey buns by flashlight. I got out grandma’s oil lamp and put it on the dining room table. We sat around and talked way past what we thought we would. We discussed love and longevity. Loss and recovery. Assisted suicide and faith. Heavy, dark subjects approached honestly with a woman on her way to 83 who has buried two husbands. She is from a different time, a different generation, and offers me insight I may not find on my own. We lost a family member a couple of days ago and that prompted the “heaviosity”. My uncle in Chicago passed away on Wednesday after a couple of strokes and a no-win battle with dementia. God rest his soul and be with his family.

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One of my jobs yesterday was preparing winter beds for our two barn cats. I had made a trip to town Wednesday to buy two electric “pet pads” (outdoor “heating pads” for under the cat’s bedding). That evening I watched a video on Facebook about making beds for feral cats out of plastic tubs, styrofoam coolers and straw….items we already had in the basement. I had two cat beds put together in half an hour so I took the heating pads back yesterday. I bought a bale of straw and a French pie pumpkin, half price. I got a little cap to put on the valve on the line to the new gas wall heater. I got new work gloves and working girl’s heavy duty hand cream to battle the painful cracks in my skin. Ahhhh, the life of a farm girl. The work may never be done but the days are always interesting! <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-11-14T02:30:28-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/11/14/kitties.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/11/12/god-bless-this-trailer-home.html", "title": "God Bless This Trailer Home", "content_html": "

Look what came in the mail! Oh, my gosh…is this the cutest thing or what? Thank you, thank you, thank you Miss Vicky. You are the awesomest. Yesterday was the “Remembrance Day” for Vicky’s husband. He died 11/11 at 11am. She is a dear friend and my heart was so sad for her. RIP Rob… <3

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I’m another step closer to making my jewelry again. Some of you may not know my storage unit in Colorado was robbed before I moved here and my entire art studio and two footlockers full of power tools were stolen. I still have to settle with the insurance company but I needed to replace the main items so I could get some jewelry made. So, I went to Lowe’s to get what I need. I taught myself to make jewelry out of old silverware by trial and error. I came to find out there were easier ways of doing some things, but I couldn’t justify buying different tools. Since this is “starting out fresh”, I bought the perfect tools that will make my life easier. Can’t wait to get a studio set up and get to work!

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I stayed with a friend in town last night because we are going out to lunch today. As I write this at midnight, it has just begun to rain. Yesterday was glorious in the 70’s. The weather will start changing now and we could see snow by the weekend. Ick!

\n", "date_published": "2014-11-12T02:30:05-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/11/12/god-bless-this-trailer-home.html", "tags": ["TOW-Wanda!","Camping","West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Downsizing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/11/11/the-country-kitchen.html", "title": "The Country Kitchen", "content_html": "

\"american “I love this American Folk Art piece I bought years ago in Colorado.”

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As I stand in my grandma’s kitchen, memories flood around me as thick as flies at a picnic. I stood at this counter on the old red kitchen stool, a feedsack apron, just my size, wrapped around my waste as I helped Grandma cook lunch for the field hands when the strawberries came on. She wouldn’t let me pick because I stepped on the runners and more got in my mouth than in my basket. She cooked lots of wonderful, wholesome foods fresh from the garden. We canned, pickled, dried, and preserved everything we could get our hands on or glean from the garden. When I’m washing dishes at the sink, I can hear the laughter filter down through the years when everyone gathered at Grandma’s table to break bread and count blessings. When I cook at her stove, I remember the way she took a couple of quarts of roast beef out of the cellar, dredged the chunks in flour, salt, and pepper and fried them in whatever fat was available. She never could make a gravy without lumps. That and pie crusts were the bane of her existence. She bragged about my pies and bread when I came home for visits. That was her way of asking me to bake for her.

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She always made me a special apple pie when I came home. A single crust, folded over like a turnover with very little apple filling because she understood my love for the crispy, slightly salty pastry. One year she walked slower to the kitchen. Her bent and worn hands slowly worked over the dough and she painfully pared the apples. It was the first time I really noticed her aging. She finished the pie, set it out to cool and watched with delight as I dug in. She caught my eye and I put my fork down, waiting for what I knew in my heart would come some day.

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“Eat that slow, pet…and enjoy it. It’s the last one I can make. Grandma’s old hands just don’t work like they used to.”

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We sat in silence for a bit, each contemplating the weight of her words. Me in my prime. She in her final years. I ate my pie slowly, savoring each wonderful bite, knowing it would be my last. Understanding the gift…the many gifts she gave me. Loving her for being mine. Hating Father Time.

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She would have loved this sign that I brought from my own kitchen in Colorado. The privilege of living on her farm is not lost on me and I will relish every moment I can be here. <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-11-11T02:30:19-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/11/11/the-country-kitchen.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/11/05/lovin-life.html", "title": "Lovin' Life", "content_html": "

\"little “Little Free Library at a Country Store”

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Ok, you know when you are living in the country. I stopped at the gas station on my way into town for a cup of coffee. (She says, fondly remembering a place called Starbucks. It seems so long ago. Sigh.) I was greeted by a man who appeared to have come into town for his monthly shopping. His arms heavy laden, he still managed to reach into his bag of pork rinds. He stopped and looked into the bag, took a whiff, frowned and said, “Oh my goodness. Just bought me a fresh bag of pork rinds from in the store and they smell like road kill. Here…smell this!” Ummmm, no thanks. I smiled politely and dodged a little to the right. Bless his heart. It would be my luck that was Jesus and I wasn’t extraordinarily kind. Sigh.

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I love this place! Where else can you buy pepperoni rolls, pickled eggs, a deer stand, and camo printed burlap by the yard? AND…they have this uber cool book trade stand on the front porch! This is the heart of America and I’m proud to call it “home”. This is West Virginia!

\n", "date_published": "2014-11-05T02:30:12-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/11/05/lovin-life.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/11/03/settling-in.html", "title": "Settling In", "content_html": "

\"west “West Virginia…Home of My Heart!”

\n

I had such a fun weekend! I went to town Saturday night and stayed over at my cousin’s house. I just adore him and his wife. Mike graduated from high school with me and we hadn’t seen each other in years yet we picked up right where we left off like no time had passed. I got up yesterday morning a went to a new church. They are at the kickoff of a major fundraising three year campaign and I had to laugh because Sunday’s service was much like tuning in to PBS expecting to watch a really great show only to discover it’s telethon time. :-) I’ll try them another time though. Nice people, good music, big church.

\n

After church I ran up to Marietta to an auction. I was disappointed there weren’t any quilts and not much else that I was interested in. Later I went to my old high school to buy tickets for Friday’s big game against our arch rivals. That ought to be fun! Then I went to visit friends in the afternoon and evening.

\n

My aunt wants to shop today so it’s off to town bright and early! Not a whole lot of exciting news for a Monday morning. Oh, my good friend Vicky put up her Christmas tree this weekend. Crazy girl! Mr. Virgo LOVED Christmas but even HE made me wait till the day after Thanksgiving to put up the tree. One year he kept it up till the 4th of July just because “the needles would NOT fall off that tree!” That was pre-Ginny. In Vicky’s defense, she got the tree at Goodwill for $10. She gets the most amazing deals! I used to love the thrift shops in Aspen. You could get incredible things for nothing. Haven’t had the time nor the inclination to thrift here…I still have stuff to donate! <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-11-03T02:30:48-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/11/03/settling-in.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/31/brush.html", "title": "Brush", "content_html": "

\"brush “The Brush Pile”

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This is my project this week. My uncle was here on Monday and he made quick work with a chain saw and cut this all down along the creek banks. However, I couldn’t leave it there to clog up the culvert and provide a haven for critters too close to the house. I’ve been hauling brush every day since and I have a couple more hours worth of work to do and I’ll be done. I’ll burn it in the spring when the woods are wet and the brush has had a chance to age a bit.

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We have a couple of trees that need to come down. One is quite small but situated so that it would fall across the electric line should it come down on its own. The other is quite large and down by the road. I’m going to see if I can get a state road crew to come take it out of there. I have a picture of this place taken about 55 years ago. The hillsides were clear quite a ways up to keep trees from crashing into the house, buildings, and barn. Over the years, the place has really grown up and needs some serious pruning. I’m just getting the bare necessities done at this point and will worry about the rest come spring. Just have to batten down the hatches for winter at this point.

\n

I have a wonderful book that I read many years ago and recently purchased a newer edition. The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery is a wonderful resource manual for living off the land. It shows you how to do everything you can possibly imagine on a homestead. I bought my first copy of it in the ’90s. I’ve dreamed of this lifestyle since the ’80s when I started buying Mother Earth News magazine. I’m falling into a rhythm now. I get my work done by 3:00 in the afternoon then I sit down and read this amazing book and learn and plan and dream. Then I write my post for the next day and schedule it to go live at 4:00am. Then it’s time to rustle up some supper. The 5:00 news is the next item on the agenda, not that I enjoy TV or the news but it’s something my aunt does, so I will adjust to the ritual. Sometimes I stay in the house and watch Jeopardy with her, but usually I go out to my camper and read, chat online with friends and family, or make phone calls. I’ve discovered an app on my iPad that plays ambient noises to cover the annoying sounds coming from the drilling over the hill. I can blend sounds so I have chosen crickets, rain, and distant thunder. I slept much better last night.

\n

Today is a trip to town to meet some of my high school friends for coffee. “The Wild Wonderful Wacky Women of ‘71” are incredible and I’m really looking forward to seeing them. We “talk” to each other every day on Facebook offering laughs, encouragement, prayers, support. It will be fun to get together for some live facetime!

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Today is also Halloween. Nine years ago today, my handsome Mr. Virgo called me at my little needlework shop and said he was in town doing his shopping and he was going to come into my shop to meet me. We had been talking for three months and so it was time to meet in person. He walked in and we took one look at each other and fell in love. I miss him so much. I truly do. <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-31T01:30:07-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/31/brush.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Courage","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/30/the-wellseasoned-skillet.html", "title": "The Well-Seasoned Skillet", "content_html": "

\"iron “A well-seasoned skillet is a joy to behold!”

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When I was growing up, my grandma filled her skillets with soapy water and set them to simmer on the stove while we did the dishes so that’s how I thought you were supposed to wash them. I gave up on cast iron cooking a long time ago because my pans were always rusty and pitted. Then Mr. Virgo, the trained chef, came along and taught me how to turn an old rusty iron skillet into a thing of beauty. There are two rules….season the pan correctly and NEVER let it anywhere near water!

\n

This skillet is one I bought at a second hand or antique store…I can’t remember where or when. Mr. Virgo loved fried chicken and this was nice and deep…perfect for frying. It was a gosh-awful mess when I brought it home. I followed his directions. First, I had to get the rust out. Using fine steel wool, I rubbed the pan till it was clean, bare metal. (If it’s more rust than this can handle, you might have to take it to a machine shop and have it sandblasted.) Now, this is the only time it’s ok to get this thing wet. Wash the skillet thoroughly with warm water and mild dish soap and scrub it really well with a bristle brush or a plastic scrubby. Dry the skillet immediately and swipe it all over with a thin coating of vegetable oil. Don’t use too much or your coating will be sticky. Pop your skillet upside down on the top rack of your oven. (You can put a cookie sheet or foil on the rack below in case you get any oil drips.) Heat the skillet for an hour at 350 degrees. At the end of the hour, turn off your oven, leave it closed, and take your skillet out in the morning when it’s cool.

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This skillet has a perfect season on it. I never, ever wash it. I baked corn bread in it yesterday to go with the soup beans and smoked ham hocks. While I was mixing up my batter, I had the skillet in a 400 degree oven with a couple tablespoons of bacon grease. By the time the batter was made, and rested for a few minutes to raise a bit, the skillet was hot. I poured the batter in. It should sizzle slightly but not put up a huge fuss. Bake as per directions watching closely because dark pans cook a bit faster. You do need to run a spatula under your cornbread before you tip it out on a plate or cake rack because the center will want to stick. Don’t cut your cornbread while it’s in the skillet unless you use Teflon utensils. You don’t want to scratch that pretty surface. Before you take your crispy crusted, golden cornbread to the table, use a nonstick spatula and scrape anything adhering to the surface. Remember, NO WATER. Once supper is over, use a paper towel to scrub the inside of your skillet. If it doesn’t want to come clean, use oil on the paper towel. If you’ve seasoned it right, it should come clean with just a wipe down. Store your skillets with paper towels or newspaper between them if you have to stack them. Store them in a clean, DRY cupboard. And, don’t worry…if rust shows up, you can always season it again.

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Iron cookware is often handed down through the generations. I have my mom’s, one of my grandma’s, and some of my own I have collected along the way. This one is by far my favorite. Oh, a word of caution…some people say it’s ok to cook acidic foods like spaghetti sauce in a very well seasoned skillet, but my rule of thumb is to never let tomatoes anywhere near my cast iron. The acid can strip the seasoning and give the food a funky, metallic taste.

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So, there you have the tutorial on the well-seasoned skillet. Treat your cast iron well and it will serve for generations to come. Old cast iron is collectible, but only if it has been well cared for. Now, I’ll tell you a story. (You knew THAT was coming, didn’t you?)

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My mom came home to the farm for the weekend when she was a young, single, working woman. My Uncle Sonny had been out “frog giggin’” the night before and was about to fry himself up a big pan of frog legs. Mom had never seen the process, and while she was revolted by the idea of devouring amphibian appendages, her curiosity got the better of her. She came into the kitchen just as my uncle dropped said frog legs into the iron skillet. Well, the legs started jumping and jerking with the heat and my Mom screamed, grabbed the skillet, ran out the door, and threw the whole mess in the creek…then sat down and cried. Uncle Sonny was mad at first to lose his hard earned delicacies, but he couldn’t help laughing at my poor mom, which upset her even further. Finally, Grandma came outside to see what all the ruckus was about. Uncle Sonny told her what Mom did and Grandma made her go down over the creek bank and fetch back her good iron skillet, which made Uncle Sonny laugh harder, and made Mom mad. But she went and got it, and as far as I know, refused to ever, knowingly, eat anything from that skillet…ever again! <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-30T01:30:29-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/30/the-wellseasoned-skillet.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","West Virginia","The Farm","Comfort","Downsizing","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/29/country-roads.html", "title": "Country Roads", "content_html": "

\"autumn “I love the way the trees change in West Virginia!”

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I hauled the brush from the cherry tree today. Then I gathered up my aunt and headed back on the hill. I wanted to see the old home place and to see if there’s any cell service on the farm. There is not, by the way, but it was a delightful drive. I love my new pickup truck! I put it in 4 low to get through some mud holes and “Free-da” went through it like butter! The colors are still beautiful, however we are predicted to get quite cold this weekend and the leaves will soon be gone. We may even get some of the “S” word in the form of flurries!

\n

When I got back from our little junket, I drove to “town”. When I say “town”, picture Mayberry. It is so fun! First stop was the bank then across the street to Berdine’s Five & Dime for a handful of Maple Nut Goodies….my late mother’s favorite candy. I love how tastes and smells can transport you across the ages. Next stop was the car wash to clean off the WV red clay mud off my beautiful white truck. Dollar General got some business as I stopped for kitty food and honey buns. Livin’ large here in the country! lol

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I stopped at the cemetery briefly on the way home to check messages. Today was the first time since I arrived here that I yearned to stop and visit with Mr. Virgo and drop off a rock for him. I still have the lock of hair that the funeral director gave me so I am going to find a quiet spot here on the farm where I can bury some of it and place a marker of sorts. Then I’ll have a place to go visit here as well. It is interesting that just a few weeks before he passed, we had a conversation about death and what we would want done. I asked if he wanted to be buried or cremated and he quickly answered “Buried!” I asked him why and he told me he wanted me to have a place to go visit him. I thought that was ridiculous at the time…such a waste of resources and space here on earth. However, once he was gone, I cannot tell you what comfort it has afforded me to go visit him where his body lies. I never dreamed it would be so. That’s why I think if I have a place here as well, it will offer me that same comfort. Funny what rituals do for us in our healing process.

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It’s my early day today…trash day! Pick up is at 6:15 and I’m going to put on a pot of soup beans and smoked ham hocks to simmer all day. Maybe I’ll make some hot rolls. I forgot to buy corn meal or I would make corn bread. I hope you enjoy your Autumn day! How is the weather where you are today? <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-29T01:30:59-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/29/country-roads.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/28/my-great-grandpa.html", "title": "My Great Grandpa", "content_html": "

\"grandpa “My Great Grandpa”

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This picture hangs in the bedroom to the right at the top of the steps…the “Boy’s Room”. The other bedroom of course is the “Girl’s Room”. This is my great grandpa. He was one heck of a colorful guy. My uncle regaled me with stories of his escapades…some of which I’ve heard, some I haven’t.

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Grandpa Richardson used to be a Deputy Sheriff in Harrison County, WV. On his rounds across the county one afternoon, he was talking to this old feller who was complaining about a dog that had decided his farm was as good as any to take up residence. He told Grandpa he was gonna get rid of that dog and let it eat someone else’s chickens. (I apologize for the remark “get rid of” but that’s a colloquialism for “Find it another home.” Or “Take it to the opposite end of the county.” There were no rescues or shelters in those days.) The next week, Grandpa was down in the southern part of the county when he came alongside this very same dog and recognized it. So he opened the car door, called the dog, and it happily jumped in for a ride. Grandpa took the dog back over to the old feller’s house and let him out and went on. The next week, Grandpa stopped at this man’s place and was shooting the breeze when he looked over and said to the guy, “I thought you was gonna get rid a’ that there dog.” The old feller said, “Ya know, that’s the durnedest thing. I took that dog down to the farthest end of the county and let him go last week and you know what? I’ll be durned if that dang dog didn’t beat me home!”

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I had a really great day yesterday working alongside my favorite uncle. I’ve called him Uncle Dudley most of my life, even though he goes by Bud. I got up early and made sausage gravy and bicuits for breakfast and as soon as I had my work boots laced up, he and I were off and running. First thing we did was turn off the gas and take out an old heat stove in the dining room and mount a new one on the wall. With free gas (due to gas wells on the property) we have a couple of these stoves in the house. I grew up this way and we never gave a second thought to carbon monoxide. These are ventless stoves, however, there are so many cracks in the house there’s nothing to worry about. After we finished that up, my uncle went out with the chain saw and cut the trees and brush out of the creek and I hauled brush for about 4 hours. While I was hauling brush, my uncle went on to paint the roof with aluminumized paint/asphalt. Then I started emptying the boxes that were on the back porch. One of those boxes held the large painting that was in our living room in Colorado. I’ve hung it over the dining room table and it makes me smile. The pictures of various family members here in the farmhouse have always been hung haphazardly and my OCD tendencies got the better of me. I created a “Rogue’s Gallery” on one wall and we can rotate our photos with the seasons. The last gift I gave Mr. Virgo was a beautiful wall clock. I took down the old plastic Walmart clock in the dining room and hung the clock in a prominent place so that you see it first thing when you walk in the back door. And that was the day. Exhausting yet productive, invigorating…satisfying in a way that is only felt with accomplishing a goal and hard work.

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Yesterday was the perfect, perfect fall day. Warm, sunshine, and family working side by side. Life is so good! <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-28T01:30:38-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/28/my-great-grandpa.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/26/the-sunll-come-out-tomorrow.html", "title": "\"The Sun'll Come Out, Tomorrow...\"", "content_html": "

\"october “October Sunshine in West Virginia”

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It did yesterday, it will today, and the next few days as well! Wahoo! I didn’t get to the apples yesterday. I did do my laundry and emptied a couple more boxes then went to town to the pharmacy, grocery, and out to dinner with a friend. It was a lovely day…except for the arrival of the dreaded Asian Lady Beetles. As soon as the sun hit the house and the temp hit around 60, those suckers swarmed out of the woods! I had hung a sweater out to dry. (Yes, we have a clothes line on the front porch. We’ve got one on the back porch, the back yard, and the side yard. We are big on solar and wind energy here.) Well, in 15 minutes the front porch looked like the fly scene from Amityville Horror! I couldn’t get out there fast enough and my sweater was covered. Ewwww! I shook the beetles off the sweater and their hooky little claw feet stuck to the fibers and when I shook harder they put out their nasty stink alarm and started flying all around and landing in my hair and I’m dancing all over the porch with the heebie jeebies! Ok, lesson learned. Screw solar and wind…use the dryer during the dreaded lady beetle season. (shiver) At least there’s a bug spray you can use now to keep them from coming in the house. Of course, I’ll probably grow a third arm in the middle of my forehead from it but that’s a small price to pay to keep those nasty little creatures outside.

\n

Ten years ago, I was here in January for my mom’s funeral. My mom’s other sister was living in Las Vegas at the time and met me in Charlotte. We came the rest of the way together and there was one double bed left at the farm. We had no problem sharing. The problem was, with nothing to create a chemical barrier, the house was literally infested with these rabid little ninja beetles that spent all night (and I mean ALL night) tip tapping on the ceiling and windows and walls and…us. We didn’t sleep at all because we were afraid our mouths would open and we’d breathe in one of those objectionable beasts! The next night we slept in town.

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I have been told they aren’t nearly as bad as they used to be…that there’s less of them and the spray at least keeps their numbers down in houses. Back in the day, folks would have to use shop vacs to clean them up…every day. And you’re thinking…why on earth did this crazy woman move there? Eh, in the end…they’re only bugs. They’re a stinky nuisance and they bring out a childhood fear of hard shelled beetles tip tapping on the ceiling at night, but it takes a lot more than this to rattle me much. Like say…that big barn spider in the toilet the other day…but that’s a story for another day! <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-26T01:30:41-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/26/the-sunll-come-out-tomorrow.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Peace","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/24/old-mama-kitty.html", "title": "Old Mama Kitty", "content_html": "

\"old “Old Mama Kitty”

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This little gal has been the resident mouser around here for about 23 years. She spends her days on the front porch now, leaving the capture (and eventual presentation at our doorstep of many mice, moles, snakes, and bird)s to the younger generation. This summer there were three feral kittens and their mama who showed up and caused Old Mama Kitty all kinds of grief. We had to send the mother and two of the babies elsewhere and kept one little orange and white kitten to take over the mousing duties, leaving the old gal to take her much deserved naps on the lounge chair. We named her Little Bit because she was so tiny and dainty with such a quiet little voice. She was the one her mama brought from the barn and placed at my aunt’s feet. My grandma always said that the mama will give you the best kitten and she was right. While the feline matriarch will let my aunt scratch her back with her foot, Little Bit will climb up into your lap and purr like crazy. I’ve never been much of a cat person, but these two farm cats have captured my heart. Old Mama Kitty won’t be with us too much longer, but hopefully Little Bit will provide us with years of devotion.

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The neighbor’s golden retriever, Willy, is traipsing around my trailer as I write this. He’s young and sleek…a gorgeous deep reddish gold. His paws rustle through the leaves and I can hear him panting at the door, hoping I’ll come scratch him behind the ears. Thankfully, our road isn’t terribly busy. I’d hate it if something happened to him.

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Yesterday was really fun. I called up my younger daughter on FaceTime on my iPad and my nearly 83 year old aunt was mesmerized. We didn’t get a paper today so I pulled it up online and showed it to her. I chatted with my cousin’s daughter in the evening and found out she can FaceTime as well so we’ll get to see her baby. That must seem amazing to one who has never operated a computer. Not that my aunt is uneducated, mind you. She reads the top news and financial magazines every week. She was one of the first Head Start teachers in Washington, DC. She’s been around and is quite interesting to talk with.

\n

I had a totally indulgent day of rest yesterday. I believe I will get a few boxes emptied today. I have a barrel of apples in the cellar and I need to make some applesauce for winter days. Maybe I’ll bake a couple of apple pies. I also need to get out for a walk and enjoy the nice weather predicted for the next few days. I have the new Lehman’s catalog to look at and I’m going to order a seed catalog or two for planning the garden for spring.

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Today marks the end of my first week as a farm girl! I think I’m settling in just fine. <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-24T01:30:45-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/24/old-mama-kitty.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Peace","Choices","Change","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/23/tough.html", "title": "Tough", "content_html": "

\"wildness “May the angel of wildness disturb the places where your life is domesticated and safe.” John O’Donohue

\n

When the truck was delivered yesterday, the driver really didn’t want to leave the trailer and come all the way back out on Monday to get it. He peeked in and asked how many feet I had reserved. When he saw it was only five linear feet and it was all boxes he asked if we couldn’t just go ahead and empty it. I got that “Let’s see what she’s made of” look and I jumped right in. I was lugging boxes up those stairs and going back for more. NOT the way I had that scenario played out in my mind, but here we were. I did call in reinforcements who showed up when we were down to the last ten boxes. (Definitely not their fault…they were originally scheduled for tomorrow.) When we were done, there were four men and me standing around admiring my new trailer and truck. I said something about being tough and the boss turned around and said “Little girl, you dragged that thing clear across the country! I’D say you’re pretty dang tough!” (me = big smile)

\n

I’m so proud.

\n

Today, I rest. <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-23T01:30:42-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/23/tough.html", "tags": ["Faith","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Courage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/10/17/wild-wonderful-west-virginia.html", "title": "Wild, Wonderful West Virginia!!!", "content_html": "

\"west “Welcome to Wild, Wonderful West Virginia!”

\n

I crossed the Ohio River before dark singing “Almost Heaven….”!!! I went to a rest area and cleaned out the tanks. Headed straight to Outback to have a great big, juicy burger and fries, called my cousin and my aunt to let them know I’m here, texted the kids, and called a friend where I was invited to stay the night. I’ll head out to the farm today so I don’t have to drive in the dark on twisty, curvy roads!

\n

Now, here’s the deal…there’s no WiFi at the farm yet. Also, no cell service…so I’m going to be unplugged for awhile. There’s much to be done to settle in. My belongings will be delivered on Wednesday so I need to prepare a space to store it all. I need to figure out the best place for the trailer to be parked and get power to it. Much work to be done and I need to decompress. While I certainly didn’t push myself, the last few months have been fairly stressful. I’m going to enjoy some downtime with family and friends and I’ll catch up with you as I can!

\n

Thanks for traveling along with me. You all really kept me company during this amazing journey! I love you all!!! <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-10-17T01:30:27-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/10/17/wild-wonderful-west-virginia.html", "tags": ["Travel","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","TOW-Wanda!","Camping","The Grand Adventure","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","goRVing","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/08/14/my-tribe.html", "title": "My Tribe", "content_html": "

\"tribe “My Tribe…My Family”

\n

I have a group of high school friends that have sort of found our way into a group chat discussion on my private page. We aren’t discussing anything we don’t want anyone else to see. We just want to be able to reach each other faster with the same information. Much like we did when several of us hung out together when we were in the same high school. We “get” each other. We KNOW where we’ve all been…at least in our formative years. We share tears over lost loved ones as freely as we share recipes for hot dog sauce and pics of our grandkids. We are a tribe…a zany crew of grand and glorious women from the class of ‘71.

\n

I’m a rabble rouser. I rouse rabbles. I will help these women become girls again because I have seen firsthand how that can transform us. When I get settled at the farm, before the frost is on the pumpkin, I am having a glamping party for my gal pals. We will dance in the moonlight! We will eat decadent foods. We will bond and swear oaths to always be there for one another and that none of us will die alone. We will laugh and cry and sing old songs with memories of driving with the windows open, hair flying, cherry lips laughing with abandon.

\n

Yes, I am going home to my tribe…wild, wacky, wise, wonderful women whose love I cherish deep within my soul. I’m a step closer. I got an offer on the house yesterday. (I am almost afraid to say anything for fear of jinxing it!) It was low, as first offers usually are. I countered. They expressed interest in buying my furniture. That would solve a big problem. Everything is happening as it should. One block at a time. One step after another. Very spiritual. Very Zen. Then I took my St. Joseph statue out of the ground, looked at his little dirty face and yelled…“Come on…we’re burning daylight here! Sell this house, will ya?!?!” Mother Theresa I am not. <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-08-14T01:30:40-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/08/14/my-tribe.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Aging","Choices"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/08/14/summer.html", "title": "Summer", "content_html": "

\"summer “I love summer!”

\n

I live for summer! That’s one of the reasons I’m moving back home. Colorado has 3 seasons…July, August, and winter. And August is iffy. Someone remarked the other day that there are terrible winters back east. Yeah…in January and February when they’re supposed to be. I can take 8-10 weeks of winter. I want to be on the other side of the weather report. I want to watch the snowfall from afar seeing pictures of adventurous mountain folk pushing their cars out of ditches while I’m out on the porch admiring the redbud and dogwood trees with my morning coffee. I want to see a zillion brilliant colors spread over the hillsides in the fall and know what each tree is. I want that feeling of endless summer stretched out before me. Yep, I’m a summer girl and I don’t care if it’s hot and humid and sticky and rainy with mosquitos. Give me a full rain barrel and a saucepan for dipping and I can cool off right quick with a moon bath. Yessss…I love summer!!! <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-08-14T01:30:07-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/08/14/summer.html", "tags": ["Colorado","Positive Energy","Fun","West Virginia","Courage"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/08/04/a-simple-life.html", "title": "A Simple Life", "content_html": "

\"simple “A Simple Life”

\n

I’m back! Here it is, August 4th already…can you believe it? Those three weeks literally flew by. I’ve missed you all even though I did peek in from time to time. And I am rested, refreshed and rearing to go!

\n

I’m still snuggled up in bed, preparing my mind for the onslaught of civilization. I’m listening to the morning call of a whip-poor-will knowing full well in a few hours I’ll be hustling through busy international airports. I’m not looking forward to it…and I LOVE to fly. I want to pour a cup of coffee and go out on the front porch, the familiar stretchy squeak of the screen door spring the only sound louder than the morning birdsong. I want to see old Mama Kitty curled up in the corner, one eye opened slightly in protest over the crude interruption of her peaceful slumber. I want to listen to whip-poor-wills every day for the rest of my life.

\n

I need to head to Colorado. I need to settle some business. I need to snuggle my babies and spoil them a little bit. I need to do the really big purge and get rid of the things in life that weigh me down. I am so grateful to my son-in-law’s mom for sitting me down and telling me to look at what I want my life to look like and make it that. I will miss my kids and grandkids and my Colorado family like crazy, and I will travel to see them as often as I can. But I also know I need to live where my heart sings…where I can stretch out and be free…where I can own a piece of God’s country. It’s time to go home.

\n

Money will only stretch so far. When you have x-amount of dollars to spend on housing and you have a choice of a repossessed HUD home in a dicey neighborhood or a hundred acre farm, tell me…where would you go? What are you willing to let go of in order to set your heart free and give it wings? How far are you willing to fly?

\n", "date_published": "2014-08-04T01:30:07-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/08/04/a-simple-life.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm","Growth","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Love","Peace","Presence","Downsizing","Choices","The Cats"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/08/01/mister-bee-potato-chips.html", "title": "Mister Bee Potato Chips", "content_html": "

\"mr. “Mr. Bee Potato Chips”

\n

You know those special foods you can only get at “home”? Well, ours are pepperoni rolls, Ruben’s Deli Hot Italian Hoagies, and Mister Bee Potato Chips. My sister/friend Patty in Florida has put in a special request for some Mister Bee’s so off they went in the mail today. While I was at it, I just went ahead and shipped some back to Colorado for the kids…and my brother/friend Greg…and my brother Gary…and, ummmmmmm…ME! :-) I’m going to be somebody’s best friend come Monday!

\n

I can’t believe I fly back to Colorado on Monday. :-( This has gone all too quickly. The only consolation is….I get to see my girls AND it won’t be long till that house sells and I can come back!

\n

Here are some more WV photos!

\n

\"west “West Virginia Cousins!”

\n

\"\" \"\" \"\"

\n", "date_published": "2014-08-01T01:30:45-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/08/01/mister-bee-potato-chips.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","West Virginia","The Farm","Gratitude","Comfort","Grace","Peace","Downsizing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/07/28/west-virginia-sunset.html", "title": "West Virginia Sunset", "content_html": "

\"wv “West Virginia Sunset”

\n

I had such a wonderful day today! I went to my cousin’s and worked all day on the computer. I had printed out the book then went over it with a fine toothed comb and a red pen over the weekend. I put the corrections in today and sent the finished product to Dropbox. My friend Sue will pick it up and convert it to the software program publishers like and then put it back in Dropbox. I’m sure there will be lots of reading and re-reading in the coming weeks but it felt grand to get this far!

\n

I bought paint today for the upstairs room of the cellar house. I will take before and after photos to show you the project! I want to get it painted this week so when I come back, I can just put my stuff in there. This is getting pretty exciting!!!

\n", "date_published": "2014-07-28T01:30:03-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/07/28/west-virginia-sunset.html", "tags": ["Faith","Travel","West Virginia","Courage","Writing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/07/27/cruise-in-at-the-mall.html", "title": "Cruise In at the Mall", "content_html": "

\"vintage “Cruise In at the Mall”

\n

Gosh, I love small town living! I met up with my cousin and friends Friday night and checked out the car show. That was so fun! One of my friends does square dancing so I bought a couple petticoats from her for Sisters on the Fly events. I was telling them how wonderful being here is. I have PEOPLE here! Everywhere I go there’s someone I know. I’m just thrilled to start planning this next adventure!

\n

Out on the farm, there is a cellar house. It’s a two story, cinder block building with a tin roof. The second floor is one large room with three windows, a door, and a gas stove for heat. I’m going to fix it up not a little efficiency apartment/studio so my aunt and I won’t be under each other’s feet. I plotted out the garden today and I’m trying to figure out where I want the chicken coop.

\n

I went to church today in the little white church on the hill where I used to go as a kid. We are awaiting very severe weather. I am up on the hill at the cemetery (the only place where I can get cell reception) and I can hear the thunder rumbling in the distance. It sounds like a battle. They are actually predicting tornadoes for our area so I’m going to cut this short and head back down to the farm.

\n

Pray for the offer on my house to come in tomorrow! <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-07-27T01:30:19-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/07/27/cruise-in-at-the-mall.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/07/25/weenie-roast.html", "title": "Weenie Roast!", "content_html": "

\"campfire “Weenie Roast!”

\n

I went to my cousin’s house yesterday and pulled the last of the Marshmallow Ranch posts off Facebook that I want to include in my book. I spent all day today editing, tweaking, fine tuning and then printed out the book. When I was done, I sat there and looked at what 589 pages and eight years of work looked like. And then I shed a few tears of relief, joy, and pride. Those sheets of paper hold my blood, sweat, and tears. My memories. My heart and soul. I am going to buy a red pen and sit down to read it cover to cover and make any changes I feel it needs. Then I’ll edit the electronic copy and send it in.

\n

Holy cats! What am I going to do with my time??? Oh yeah….get that house sold, emptied, get moved and settled, prepare a garden for spring, get a chicken coop put together for next year, fix up a studio for Marshmallow Ranch, get internet, winterize the farm…. I’m tired just thinking about it!!!

\n

Thank you, God….for blessing my life and giving me clarity, and clearing the way for me to come home. <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-07-25T01:30:34-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/07/25/weenie-roast.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/07/24/west-virginian.html", "title": "West Virginian...", "content_html": "

\"find “Find yourself, and be that.”

\n

It is amazing how quickly things can change. A few weeks ago, I was convinced I was going to move to the Denver area yet deep inside, my heart just wasn’t in it. I kept feeling I was missing an important opportunity, and I was.

\n

I left WV when I was a fresh-faced 20 year old bride. I moved to England to be with my soldier husband. When that tour was over, the next station was Denver. I hated Colorado then. It was hot and dry and without the lush, green landscape I was used to. I stuck it out because I was at that age when I wanted to be ANYTHING but what my parents were.

\n

When my husband and I parted company, I stayed on in Denver alone…scared to death but determined to give my daughter something different than what I had grown up with. And it was ok. My kids are Colorado kids but they are good people and independent thinkers. I did right by them. But did I do right by me?

\n

I’ve yearned to live back in West Virginia for the last 30 years but couldn’t move. My ex-husband didn’t want to live there and I had kids at home for 33 years. Mr. Virgo would have moved with me, but he worked so hard to get out to Colorado, I didn’t have the heart to take him back east.

\n

Now, I’m alone. My beloved man is gone, my brother has the life he so richly deserved and my girls are 40 and 24. My grandchildren are 10 and 7 and I have never lived near them so our time together is precious.

\n

After being here a week, I have decided to move back home. My elderly aunt lives alone on the family farm and can’t take care of herself anymore. When my son-in-law’s mom told me a couple weeks ago that I need to picture what I want my life to look like, then make it that…my answer was that I want it to look like WV, not Colorado. So, I am close to getting an offer on my house and I will have 5 weeks to close then I’m coming home!

\n

I cannot tell you the total sense of peace that has come over me with this decision. I have a huge support system here and I’m going to live here for as long as I can. I will visit Colorado and my babies as often as I can. So, another adventure at Marshmallow Ranch begins!

\n", "date_published": "2014-07-24T01:30:16-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/07/24/west-virginian.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","The Farm","Courage","Choices","Change"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/07/23/more-photos-from-west-virginia.html", "title": "More Photos from West Virginia", "content_html": "

\"\"Germany Valley, West Virginia

\n

\"\"Hibiscus

\n

\"\"Seneca Rocks, West Virginia

\n", "date_published": "2014-07-23T01:30:15-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/07/23/more-photos-from-west-virginia.html", "tags": ["West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/07/21/pendleton-county.html", "title": "Pendleton County", "content_html": "

\"pendleton “My Morning View of Pendleton County, WV”

\n

My view with coffee this morning. What an amazing place. I’m over in Pendleton County, WV with my cousin and her family. I had a passel of dogs and grandbabies and family and friends in and out all day and it’s just a hoot and a half! There’s never a dull moment here and I love it! <3

\n", "date_published": "2014-07-21T01:30:52-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/07/21/pendleton-county.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Gratitude","Comfort"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/07/19/rain.html", "title": "Rain", "content_html": "

\"rain “Rain on the Screen”

\n

I spent the night in town at my cousin’s house and I have internet access so I thought I’d leave a line or two. We are in the midst of a polar vortex and it is unseasonably cool here which is perfect for me. Today there are a couple of class picnics I’m going to and I’m really looking forward to them. Unfortunately, it is raining but there are shelters so we should be good. Since Facebook, so many of my classmates have reconnected and it makes my heart sing!

\n

\"my “My Classmates”

\n

We went out for dinner last night and ran into two of my classmates and it was so special. These two will be out of town this weekend so I was really blessed to get to see them. Mel and Linda…it was great to see you.

\n

\"Falls near Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston, WV\" “Falls near Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston, WV”

\n

I graduated with my cousin, Mike…the one I am visiting. He’s from my dad’s side of the family. While we always thought a lot of each other, in the 41 years I’ve been away from home, we have seen each other maybe 3 or 4 times. I just wasn’t close with my dad’s family. I have to tell you, this has been a great loss. I have missed out on years of fun with Mike and his lovely wife, Regina. I am really, really enjoying my time with them and hope we get the opportunity for many more visits!

\n

\"Marshmallow Ranch\" “Marshmallow Ranch”

\n

We went out for real WV hot dogs last night. If you don’t know, they serve their dogs with “sauce” here. It’s similar to spaghetti sauce or sloppy joes except you can taste a little touch of vinegar. Yummmmm! I take mine with sauce, mustard and onions.

\n

Regina’s brother-in-law joined us last night. He lost his wife around the same time I lost Mr. Virgo. It was good to compare notes as to where we are in the grief process. There were many similarities. My focus is more on Regina losing her sister who was her best friend. I’m looking forward to spending more time with her and becoming good friends.

\n

I am at a point with the book where I’m either going to have to edit the dickens out of it or split it into two books. Like my lifelong friend, Sharon, says…I am long winded I’m afraid. I mean, at this point, I’m well over 500 pages. Soon, they will be using my book as a door stop or an anchor! lol

\n

Have a fabulous weekend, my lovelies!!! I miss you and just couldn’t resist connecting a little bit. :-D

\n", "date_published": "2014-07-19T01:30:31-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/07/19/rain.html", "tags": ["Fun","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/07/16/greetings-from-wild-wonderful-west.html", "title": "Greetings from Wild, Wonderful West Virginia!!!", "content_html": "

\"writing “Writing with a View!”

\n

Just popping in to say hello and PROVE to you all that I am writing my book! I have a goal set before me to have the rough draft sent by the first of next week. 74,000 words at this point. My daughter always said I could talk to a tree!

\n", "date_published": "2014-07-16T01:30:41-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/07/16/greetings-from-wild-wonderful-west.html", "tags": ["West Virginia","Comfort","Writing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/07/14/home.html", "title": "Home!", "content_html": "

\"my “Home”

\n

I came in to town to go to the grocery for my aunt so I’m checking in. This is “home”….my heart and soul lives here. Just wanted you all to know I arrived safely! Thank you for all your love, support and encouragement. \"\"<3

\n", "date_published": "2014-07-14T01:30:41-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/07/14/home.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Comfort"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/07/13/todays-the-day.html", "title": "Today's the Day!", "content_html": "

\"today “Today’s the Day!”

\n

I’m heading out into the wild blue yonder to see my kin in WV. I’m going to fill my well at the source. I’m going to see great old friends and make some new ones. I’m going to sit in the shade underneath a tree and write for hours. I’m going to hug babies and octogenarians. I’m going on a picnic, a party, a concert and out for dinner. I’m unplugging. Three weeks with only intermittent cell service and internet access. My body, mind, and spirit are looking forward to slowing down to the pace called “country”. To sitting by the barn my great-grandpa built. To listening for that elusive whip-poor-will. To sweet tea and pepperoni rolls and Mr. Bee potato chips. To taking a moon bath at the rain barrel after dark. To lightning bugs and peepers. To the sound of a far distant dog’s bark echoing up the holler. To hay bales wrapped in white looking like huge marshmallows in fields so green it hurts your eyes. To ice cream by the Ohio River, watching the river traffic and the lights shimmer on the surface like glass. To fresh coffee and bacon and biscuits with jam. To summer corn and fried green tomatoes.

\n

Today I am heading to West Virginia…the closest thing to Heaven here on earth. Yes….today I am going home.

\n", "date_published": "2014-07-13T01:30:17-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/07/13/todays-the-day.html", "tags": ["Family","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude","Love"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/06/24/remembering.html", "title": "Remembering", "content_html": "

\"teenager “When I was young…”

\n

I remember when this picture was taken. My senior portrait was taken in the summer of 1970. I had had my first date about six weeks before. My boyfriend (later, my first husband) bought me that pearl ring for my birthday. Pearl is my birthstone. I was fresh, young, athletic. I didn’t know anything about anything, but I had the world by the tail!

\n

I spent yesterday afternoon going through an upstairs closet that hadn’t been touched yet. I found a box of papers and sat for an hour or so shredding what I didn’t need. I gathered a bag of clothes for donation. I took what very few pieces of clothing that I wanted to keep and put them in the bedroom closet. I found a box of photo albums that I brought back from mom’s after she died. That was ten years ago. I’ve paid to have them moved three times! They were in those awful, sticky albums they can out with in the ’70s. It took me four hours to convert a large box of albums into a small stack of pictures that easily fit in three one-gallon ziplock baggies. Two for me and one to take to WV this summer. I also took my brother’s stack and put them into the best album I had emptied. Progress!

\n

I finished up at 7:30 and headed back out to the lake to spend the night. Every day spent purging, cleaning, clearing the clutter from my life makes me feel 10 pounds lighter. Sort of fresh, young, athletic…like this girl in the picture.

\n", "date_published": "2014-06-24T01:30:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/06/24/remembering.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Growth","Gratitude","Downsizing"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/06/23/memories-of-old.html", "title": "Memories of Old", "content_html": "

I ran across a catalogue with pictures of some of the old toys I had growing up. Who remembers these?

\n

\"golden “Golden Book Encyclopedia”

\n

I read every volume of this encyclopedia set cover-to-cover multiple times. I have always had a thirst for knowledge and a love for words.

\n

\"firebird “Firebird ‘99 Dashboard”

\n

My brother and I took lots of “drives” in our little “car”! Beep, Beep!

\n

\"kissy “Kissy Doll”

\n

I never had the Kissy Doll. You pressed her hands together and she made a kissing sound. I had friends who had one though. I did have that doll down in the right hand corner.

\n

\"bride “Bride Doll”

\n

I had two of these bride dolls. One with reddish hair and the other brunette like in this picture. Why is it the first thing a little girl does with a doll is take all their clothes off? I still have these dolls…but no clothes!

\n", "date_published": "2014-06-23T01:30:59-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/06/23/memories-of-old.html", "tags": ["Uplifting Stories","Fun","West Virginia","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2014/04/14/roots.html", "title": "Roots", "content_html": "

\"old “My Family Roots”

\n

It is at this time of year that I begin longing to see my home place. The older I get, the more I miss my roots in West Virginia. I long to hear the peepers up the holler. Those of you who know what that is, know what I’m missing. The dogwood and redbud trees are blooming. Ramp Festivals are in full swing. A short trip up the hill and you can find some sassafras root to brew up your spring tonic tea. Good for what ails ya, my grandma used to say. Rain on the tin roof. Water in the “crick”. Warm days, cool nights. Family. Friends.

\n

Oh, I miss how green smells.

\n

This is a picture of my ancestors…my roots. My grandma is the young girl in the center. My great-great-grandparents on the far sides. I love the feeling I get when I see the continuity of the gene pool…knowing the curve of my daughter’s face came from this one, and the hair color of my brother came from that one. We are in there, tucked inside this picture…carried along the same as my unborn great grandchildren are. I love this.

\n

West Virginia is calling…and I must go. Soon.

\n", "date_published": "2014-04-14T01:30:48-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2014/04/14/roots.html", "tags": ["Family","West Virginia","Gratitude"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/10/14/ohio-river-point-park-parkersburg.html", "title": "Ohio River - Point Park, Parkersburg, West Virginia.", "content_html": "

\"ohio “Ohio River - Point Park, Parkersburg, WV”

\n

What a beautiful day! A friend of mine took this the other evening. Great camera and good eye. I love the colors on the water!

\n", "date_published": "2013-10-14T01:30:53-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/10/14/ohio-river-point-park-parkersburg.html", "tags": ["Travel","West Virginia","Peace"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/10/10/point-park-parkersburg-wv.html", "title": "Point Park, Parkersburg, WV", "content_html": "

\"point “Point Park at Sunset”

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I love the Ohio River! When I was a little girl, I would lie in bed at night and listen to the tugboats and the lock masters communicate for passage. I used to dream I was on a raft like Huck Finn and head down the river on grand adventures.

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Mr. B and I stopped this evening at Rubin’s Deli and got my FAVORITE sandwich (Hot Italian Hoagie, sauce ON of course). We came down here to eat and talk and watch the sunset. What a beautiful evening!

\n", "date_published": "2013-10-10T01:30:08-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/10/10/point-park-parkersburg-wv.html", "tags": ["Travel","Fun","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/10/07/valley-hall-school-dutchman-run.html", "title": "Valley Hall School. Dutchman Run, Macfarlan, WV", "content_html": "

\"Valley “Valley Hall School”

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It may be difficult to read, but this is the sign over the entry to the school yard for Valley Hall School. It was a little one room school house that my mom and her siblings attended a mile or so from home. The building is standing, however it’s been converted to a weekend cabin of sorts. The swing is still at the back of the yard.

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I have been very busy relaxing! I have enjoyed my aunt’s company and listening to stories of times past. I’ve been walking every day down the country roads of West Virginia. I’ve been cooking country meals of fried potatoes and ham. I’m enjoying getting together with friends. I went to the little white church on the hill yesterday that I have attended since before memory. It was Communion Sunday and we had 14 in attendance…a banner day! It rained all night and I didn’t sleep because I wanted to hear every drop on the tin roof. I’m sitting in the cemetery on top of the hill as that is the only place I can get cell service! The sun is setting through the leaves of gold, the breeze moving our flag so slightly. Those who rest here have no knowledge of government shutdowns, politics, or war. The days are all the same. I find that immensely comforting.

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Tomorrow I head to Charleston to pick up my friend. Mr. B will be here till Monday and we are really looking forward to traipsing around the WV hills together, meeting each others’ families, seeing old friends, and revisiting a little of those glory days of our high school years. I feel so full of love, joy, and peace!

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I hope you all have a fabulous week!

\n", "date_published": "2013-10-07T01:30:35-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/10/07/valley-hall-school-dutchman-run.html", "tags": ["Family","Travel","Uplifting Stories","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/09/27/misty-mountain-morning.html", "title": "Misty Mountain Morning", "content_html": "

\"misty “Misty Mountain Morning”

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Love, love, LOVE misty Fall mornings! I arrived in Denver last night after a very LONG day. I could have gone home and started the trip this morning, but I am such a child at heart. When I’m going on a trip, I want to go n-o-w! I’m heading out on another nearly month long adventure, this time without TOW-Wanda. (I miss that li’l gal!) I got up this morning to the most beautiful misty rain. Reminds me of England. I’m hanging out at a very cool coffee shop in Cherry Creek. Ink! Great spicy green chili vegetarian burrito and really good coffee. Smoky undertones to it. I like it. Lots of folks out doing the same thing I am doing today. Conversation abounds! I’m heading to the medical office I used to work at on the off chance my doc can get away for lunch. Haven’t seen her in way too long!

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I leave in the morning for West Virginia. I have a long stretch there this time and lots to do. I’m getting together with some cousins for another get-to-know-you-better picnic. I’m helping my aunt get prepared for winter after breaking her hip a few weeks ago. I get to hang out with friends whom I LOVE! We have a new baby in the family that I want to cuddle.

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I’m really looking forward to seeing the colors change back home. I miss the myriad reds, yellows, and oranges of a deciduous forest as it graces us with a show like none other. The camera is charged and so am I! I’ll get back to Colorado in the middle of October, spend a few days with family, and head home for a week.

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Have a wonderful weekend and I will post beautiful pictures as I can. Internet and cell service is practically non-existent where I’m going. Not necessarily a bad thing!

\n", "date_published": "2013-09-27T01:30:02-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/09/27/misty-mountain-morning.html", "tags": ["Hope","West Virginia","Growth"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/07/24/clematis-on-the-farm.html", "title": "CLEMATIS ON THE FARM", "content_html": "\"White\n

I have been running around like a chicken today. Trying to get everything done before the next round of travel. This was taken in the front yard at my family farm. My grandma loved flowers. My aunt told me that all the flowers on the hillside beside the house had been lovingly transplanted from the old home place back on the hill. Grandma was a wonderful woman and was a perfect role model for her family.

\n", "date_published": "2013-07-24T02:00:29-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/07/24/clematis-on-the-farm.html", "tags": ["Family","Grief","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/07/19/smokehouse-on-the-farm.html", "title": "SMOKEHOUSE ON THE FARM", "content_html": "\"Old\n

Oh, my gosh! I passed 600 likes!!! Thank you all SO much for joining me on this amazing journey. I’m taking a little break here at home doing some deep cleaning that didn’t get done in the spring. I’m enjoying practicing mindfulness as I do each chore. Very Zen, cleaning the stove!

\n", "date_published": "2013-07-19T02:00:07-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/07/19/smokehouse-on-the-farm.html", "tags": ["Grief","Positive Energy","West Virginia","The Farm"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/07/09/home-sweet-home.html", "title": "HOME SWEET HOME", "content_html": "\"Old\n

Home. Home, sweet home. Home is where the heart is. There’s no place like home. West Virginia.

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After an incredibly long delay in Cleveland, my brother and I finally fell in our beds at 1:30 this morning which was 3:30 Eastern Time. Then up early and another 4 hours’ drive with stops along the way before I got Gary to his place. He is a wonderful traveling companion. He reads the road signs, has interesting thoughts for conversation, and is so easily pleased he made traveling a joy. As most of you know, Gary has a developmental disability which he has really been able to work around and learn to live as independent a life as possible. He came to live near me 9 years ago after our mom died. I asked him if he accomplished all he wanted to do in his trip and his answer really surprised me. He said he felt he finally “got WV out of his system”. After many attempts at trying to explain what he meant, I eventually understood that Colorado is the home of his heart now and he is certain he would not be happy living in West Virginia again. I can understand that. He has a life here that he most certainly would not have achieved had he remained in Parkersburg. As a matter of fact, he told me today that if he would have stayed there after mom died, he more than likely would be living in a nursing home now. The reality of that wrenched my heart because it is true.

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We drove along in silence for awhile and I told him, while he had discovered the home of his heart is truly Colorado, I had solidified that the home of my heart is West Virginia. I cried when the plane crossed the Ohio River and I touched the ground of “home”. I slept the deep sleep of contentment in my grandma’s bed, listening to the creek out the window and the rain on the tin roof. I photographed everything that I wanted to etch in my memory, as if these things weren’t already permanently embedded in my DNA. I started crying three days before we left just at the thought that I might not be at the farm again, or at least, the clock is ticking. My beautiful, eloquent, erudite aunt is 80 now. She lives at the family farm. She is the last sibling to live there. The others have their own places. Even though I LIVED in Parkersburg, I was RAISED on this farm and it is my home. I have lived in Colorado for 38 years. Doesn’t matter. When I think of “home”, it is this farm. It is my heart. I know every turn in the road, every contour of the land, every sound in the hollow. Just the smell of the earth, the rain, the trees, the flowers, are enough to send my heart soaring. This is my home. My earliest memory is at the table on my grandma’s knee. I shut my eyes and I can see the little girl I was, running to catch lightning bugs in a jar, setting up the moss and the acorns on “Tea Table Rock” with my cousins and our dolls, smushing over-ripe strawberries into my mouth with fat little-girl hands…juices dripping from my fingers and chin. This is my home. This is the place where my beloved Pop-Pop lay in his coffin for three days, resting under the living room window, with my grandma ever vigilant beside him. This is where I learned to cook, to quilt, to can. This is where I learned about God, learned to pray, to go to church, to be a good person. This is where I brought my babies to be rocked and loved on and spoiled as only grandmas can do, where they combed their “Big Grandma’s” hair, and took moon baths by the rain barrel on hot August nights. This is my home, it flows through my veins as surely as my lifeblood.

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I am certain that these things hit me more deeply this trip because my heart is still tender, my feelings still raw and open after losing the other part of my heart in March. I have already lost so much, must I also lose my “home”? It happens to almost everyone, I suppose. There comes a time when things of the past are just that…the past. I have my children, my grandchildren, my brother, my friends here in Colorado. I have built a life here. But forever, and for always, this farm will be my home.

\n", "date_published": "2013-07-09T02:00:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/07/09/home-sweet-home.html", "tags": ["Family","Uplifting Stories","Grief","Overcoming Obstacles","Hope","West Virginia"] }, { "id": "http://mashmallowranch.micro.blog/2013/07/08/the-grand-adventure-continues.html", "title": "THE GRAND ADVENTURE CONTINUES", "content_html": "\"Woman\n

Sitting in Cleveland Airport. Flight is WAY delayed but brother and I will munch on these yummy oatmeal raisin cookies that my sweet aunt made for us this morning. We had a wonderful time in West Virginia. I’m looking forward to editing all my pics and sharing my adventures with you all. We drive home from Denver tomorrow, I see patients on Thursday then back to Denver afterwards. Oldest daughter’s birthday! Friday is an event with Sisters on the Fly…drive-in movie. Fun! Camping with the Grandkids on Saturday, home for a couple of days then off to meet a friend for camping the following weekend. Whew! I’ve missed you all as I have been without Internet and cell service for 12 days….GASP! Talk to you soon!

\n", "date_published": "2013-07-08T02:00:00-06:00", "url": "https://marshmallowranch.com/2013/07/08/the-grand-adventure-continues.html", "tags": ["Travel","Grief","Hope","West Virginia"] } ] }