Marshmallow Ranch

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 02:45:24 -0600

The Last Good Tomato

When the fellow ran his truck into our yard a dug ruts in it, he promised he’d be back the next day. We’ve heard that a lot over the years as this property has seen its fair share of errant “drive ins.” I’m happy to report that “Bub” did return with some dirt and filled in the ruts. Mr. FixIt went out to thank him and came back in with fresh tomatoes! Now, y’all saw those huge yellow tomatoes my uncle gave us a couple of weeks ago? They were really good…but these? These were over the moon good. Hokey Smokes! They were a real treat this late in the season.

I did a little walkabout yesterday and found some jewel weed growing amongst the native asters in the ditch. There has always been a big patch along the back porch at the farm so I’m tickled to find them here.

If you’ve been reading my block for by length of time, you may remember me telling you about my friend’s son and girlfriend who were murdered in Tadzhikistan a few years ago as they biked through the countryside. They were targeted along with some Canadians. I can’t imagine anything close to what my friend Jea has gone through. There are no words to soothe that kind of grief but no one can understand anything bout grief until they’ve been faced with it. And all grief is different.

I’ve kept up with Jea over the years and check in periodically…especially around the angelversary of Austin and Lauren. I know how important that is to receive.

Jea is on her first big adventure since her so. Died…driving and camping all around the northeast. She has been in Maine recently and stumbled upon a luminaria lighting in memory of loved ones lost and those who grieve them. She asked if I would like for her to put a message on one for Mr. Virgo. So, somewhere in Maine a candle was lit for a kind man whose light will never dim in the hearts of those who love him.

It was a cool night here in the Appalachias last night. The owls were really active and I heard both a Barred Owl and an Eastern Screech Owl. I always see and hear a lot more wildlife when I’m remembering him. Mr. Virgo attracted wildlife like moths to a flame! It made me smile in remembrance of him.

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“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.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭14‬:‭11‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#luminaria #memorial #autumn #jewelweed #Aster #barredowl #easternscreechowls #owls

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Sat, 03 Oct 2026 02:45:22 -0600

The Courting Candle

Remember the other day, we had lunch with Judy and Norm. Judy is my “convoluted cousin” twice removed. They’re finally retiring from the Victorian Mansion that has owned them for decades. They’ll be moving to Florida for good and our city will lose two of its greatest treasures. The Caswell-Smith House lives and breathes today through the hard work and incredible generosity of these lovely people I’m proud to call family.

When we parted ways after lunch a couple of weeks ago, I realized we didn’t get a picture. And in my family, that’s an egregious act! We were blessed with another visit in their beautiful home to take some pictures and tell some stories.

Judy, a retired teacher, showed us more things that we hadn’t seen. One of the best period pieces in the Caswell-House is the courting chair. When a young suitor came over to court a young lady of the house, the chaperone joined them in the parlor and the three of them sat in this unusual chair. Initial visits lasted just a few minutes. The chaperone sat facing the “courting candle.” The candlestick is adjustable. The shortest adjustment allowed the candle to burn for 10 minutes and when the candle burned down, the date was over and the young man was escorted from the home. As time went on, if the young man met the father’s approval, the candle was adjusted to twenty minutes, and eventually to thirty…all with the chaperone present.

The other lesson yesterday was the newel post. When a wealthy Victorian man built a home, the bottom of the grand staircase was a centerpiece that set the tone for the rest of the house. Victorians took great pride in elaborately carved fixtures on top of the newel post. It expressed the wealth and stature of the man of the house. When the gentleman of the house had worked and paid off the mortgage or construction costs, a “mortgage button” was added to show guests that this was a house bought and paid for…major accomplishment that held the owner in great regard by their visitors. If you zoom in, you can see how elaborate the newel post is in this mansion.

The last photo are the Cottrills… “Uncle” Ken and “Aunt” Lucy. They were my grandparents’ best friends, Hubby #1’s maternal Uncle and Aunt…and Judy’s parents. You can’t throw a stick around here without hitting someone you’re either related to or has been a friend of the family for generations!

We ended yesterday’s visit sitting in the conservatory, admiring the glass bells and eggs, kaleidoscopes, bonsai, and the delicate tea set with the shadow of a geisha in the bottom of a paper thin porcelain teacups.

Every place you look there is delightful eye candy…from the glass-fronted, ceiling-high cabinets housing several sets of dishes for all occasions to the case on the hallway containing Mrs. Caswell’s treasured silver coffee server with their surname engraved that she received for winning a tennis tournament to the exquisite genuine Tiffany glass windows over the front door and along the grand staircase.

I will miss this lovely couple, but as Judy says, we treasure the memories of our family’s intertwined history that brought us together in the first place…and the times we have spent together. They will always hold a special place in my heart. I’ll be able to tour the home again as the new buyers will continue including the house on the Victorian Christmas and Summer Garden tours…hopefully as a Docent.

The weather has turned cool and drizzly again…good sleeping weather. Fall is definitely here.

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“We love because he first loved us.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#victorian #victorianhouse #victorianhome #victoriana #victorianarchitecture #caswellsmith #julianasquare #JULIANASQUARE #courtingchair #courtingcandle #courtingcandles #courtingcandleholder #courtingcandlestick

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Fri, 02 Oct 2026 02:45:33 -0600

SMH

I was reading early yesterday while I was still stretched out in the camper when I heard a truck. Backing up…pulling forward…spinning wheels. People often turn around in our driveway when they realize they’ve turned up the wrong road. But this was taking too long. I jumped up and looked out the window and there was a hefty pickup with a long utility trailer…trying to back that thing down our drive way.

Gasp! Our new truck!!!

I threw some clothes on and ran out there. I caught his attention before he got any closer to the truck, but…OMGosh! He tore the heck out of our yard!

I cannot tell you how many times this has happened over the years but this was at least the third or fourth time this year alone.

Sometimes they aren’t very nice about it. To them it’s just a field, but to us it’s our yard that I carefully mow to look nice.

The fellow was apologetic and kept telling me how sorry he was. I asked him to wait right there…and I called Mr. FixIt.

“Get out here…now!”

Ok, I was perturbed.

He came out and they inspected the damages and exchanged names. Wouldn’t you know it…they have the same last name. Then we had to go through the whole thing…comparing family trees, former work places, and how long they’ve lived in these parts.

🤦‍♀️

It’s always the same. That’s the joy…and curse…of living in these parts surrounding a small rural town. The man’s daughter and I exchanged pleasantries and tried to figure out who she was looking for in the first place.

We got his phone number and assurance that he would bring down some dirt and fill in the ruts. Hey, everyone knows everybody around here. I guess we just expanded our circle of acquaintances, huh?

Judge not lest we be judged.

Turn the other cheek.

Treat others as we would have others treat us.

Forgive those who have trespassed against us.

These things we do as Christ has done for us.

It’s another trip-to-town day! I’m so glad that’s slowing down a little. We’re actually getting a little time for us…I made reservations for next week at one of our favorite campgrounds. I can’t wait to sit in the rocking chairs and go fishing with my sweetie!

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#damages #yard #repair #YardRepair #camping #fall #fallcampout

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Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:29:43 -0600

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Thu, 01 Oct 2026 02:45:59 -0600

Fog in the Holler

Hello, October!!! I’m loving these warm days and cool nights. I also love to sleep in the camper and listen to the last strains of night music that we’ll hear till spring.

I woke up yesterday to a foggy bottom. My iPhone corrected the exposure on its own so you cants see the same fog I saw. It always lays a damper over the meadow and the morning come on sleep cat paws.

Fog is nothing more than low hanging clouds…they both consist of micro droplets of water suspended in midair. That moisture collects on every tiny thread of a spider’s web and looks like fairy nests everywhere. These webs are created by a tiny spider of the Sheet Web variety. I’ve documented two architectural styles from the same species of spiders. The first is the “cup and doily.” You can definitely distinguish the two parts. It’s a clever mechanism for confusing and trapping prey. The little spider either hangs below or hides within the structure, just waiting to catch and preserve their meal for later.

The third photo is a different design. It’s is much more haphazard…looking all the world like a ball of fluff or cotton candy. The fog accentuates these and you can see how many more webs there are out there than you don’t normally see with the naked eye. I took the fourth photo of the hillside beyond the dirt road we live on. You can see numerous “cup and saucers” tucked into the foliage.

The last picture is a patch of wild asters and goldenrod…two symbiotic plants that bloom together in late summer through fall. They give bees and butterflies a huge burst of energy for either migrating or hibernating, depending on their nature.

As I sat curled up in the recliner in the camper at night, a barred owl serenaded me. I did catch a recording but she was far enough away that the katydids and crickets drowned her beautiful calls. Unfortunately, the neighbor’s dog started barking at some point and she flew on down the creek. We take these songs when we can get them and carry them with us into the depths of winter.

I received the oxygen packets I ordered so now I can finish packing up the beans and grains for longterm storage. I’ll get some pictures of my process to show you tomorrow.

Till then, dear ones…

Ginny

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#foggymorning #foggy #HollerLife #barredowl #barredowls

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Wed, 30 Sep 2026 02:45:12 -0600

An Audience of Two

I follow BMack Writes. She sends out these short videos with the conviction she wakes up with.

In a recent video, she talks about healing your hurt. She talked about trying for 20-some years to fit in with a certain group only to discover she was seeking the wrong audience. I think we can all confidently say we’ve done the same thing at some point, right?

I’ve written here about seek to have an audience of one because the only person whose approval you should seek is that of God. But, BMack made me think. I also need to seek that approval of self from MYSELF, too. I don’t need earthly approval and if I am keeping on the straight and narrow, I should also be gaining my own approval.

Self-confidence was never my strong suit. I was a chameleon…becoming who I felt my “audience” wanted me to be. I can’t tell you how many dead ends that led me down.

Honestly, it wasn’t till I became a widow that I was stripped bare of that need to be something I’m not. Being alone in the wilderness and backroads of Colorado for three months changed me. It was only me and God. When I came out, I felt I had been forged by a new fire.

This new, stripped down version of myself was the only way I could move forward and navigate a new, stripped down version of life. This is the first earthly relationship I have ever been in where I could just be…ME. It’s been such a relief and doesn’t take half as much energy as people pleasing did.

What you see is what you get!

We didn’t have a single appointment yesterday so we had a “day off!” What a treat! Today we’re heading back to town but I’m meeting friends for lunch and Mr. FixIt is getting a haircut. The weather is gorgeous right now…warm days and cool nights! We really need to go camping before the leaves fall.

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.””
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#griefandloss #griefjourney #grief #griefsupport #ComfortFood #autumn #fall #camping #fallcamping

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Tue, 29 Sep 2026 02:45:26 -0600

Jug For A Day

We are “of a certain age.” Y’all know what I’m talking about. We’re ALL doing it.

Bowel prep.

Fasting blood tests.

Twenty-four hour urines.

Oy!

How could peeing in a jug for a day be so complicated?

Doctor: Ok, the lab will be sending you a kit with the instructions, then you ship the urine back to them.

Me: Huh? We have to mail urine? Is this a thing?

(I’m picturing a fire in the post office and they’re like, “Hey Bob…give me that last batch of urine! We can put the fire out with that!”)

I’m so confused.

After the second request and a month goes by, the said box arrived. I read the directions. Seems pretty straightforward. As it turns out, you fill a small tube from the total collection. You do NOT ship a large gallon container full of pee through the mail.

Whew…I don’t have to smell my mail or look for stains on all those political contribution requests.

(Hey, wait……hmmmmm. Nah.)

Patient: I didn’t do it today. I’ll do it tomorrow.

Spouse: Hey, let me read those instructions. You can’t do it tomorrow. We won’t be home on Wednesday. Oh, that won’t work either…you have to be off Vitamin C for three days.

Patient: I know, I’ll do it Saturday and they can pick up the package on Sunday.

Spouse: Nope…they don’t do pickups on Sunday. Do it Sunday with a pickup on Monday.

Patient: I gotta bowl on Sunday night! I don’t want the guys to see me carrying a pee bucket! How about Monday with the pickup on Tuesday?

Spouse: (whining) I wanted to go camping next week! (looks at calendar) Ok, fine…Monday it is. But now we have to figure out a different camping date!

Patient: How’s two weeks from yesterday?

Spouse: Can’t. Bowel prep.

Sigh.

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#medical #tests #MedicalTests

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Mon, 28 Sep 2026 02:45:43 -0600

Bread and Grains

Me. Fixit went to the bowling alley to congregate with his buddies last evening so I tackled the grains. I still need two or three five gallon buckets then I should have my staples in storage. One of our WV granddaughters is coming this week to help me clear out the back bedroom so I can use that for our bulk food storage. I also baked a couple of loaves of bread. The only thing I do t like about my countertop oven is how dark the loaves get on top. I need to lower the rack I bake them on because, when they raise nice and high, they get too close to the elements. They’ll still taste great! As my grandma used to say “It’ll be ‘et!”

I put a quart of sliced red onions in some pickle juice I’ve been saving and tucked them in the fridge yesterday. They should be pretty tasty in a week or two!

I heard an Eastern Screech Owl when I was going out to the camper last night. I would have loved to sit outside and listen to them, but it was getting late and I want to go to knitting group today. I’ll be back tomorrow with more stories from our little corner of the Appalachias.

Till then, dear ones…

Ginny

“The owl will nest there and lay eggs, she will hatch them, and care for her young under the shadow of her wings; there also the falcons will gather, each with its mate.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭34‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#bread #whole #grains #wholegrains #freshmilledflour #freshmilledwholegrain #easternscreechowl #owl

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Sun, 27 Sep 2026 02:45:40 -0600

Remember 9?

I never had a birthday party with friends till I was 13 years old. Man…I thought I was something else! People singing to me and giving me presents? SO out of my wheelhouse but I felt like a princess.

Nowadays, parents give these huge parties from the time the kids are one year old and have no idea what is going on. But now? This darling girl is a pro at this birthday thing. This year they rented a retreat with a pool for four hours. Now, I thought this was pretty extravagant until I found out it only cost $150 for the whole four hours and that was WITH the use of the pool and those kids were in hog heaven But, wow…these old ears are still ringing! Those high pitch voices yelling and screaming for four hours straight made me feel old. I used to be the one right in the middle of it but I stuck it out so we could watch this sweet little girl. She is confident and kind. She came around to every person after the gifts were opened and thanked us all with a warm hug and a smile. Her parents are doing a great job.

I got all the bulk food in the house in the afternoon and put them in the dining room. I left them folded like little tents so they could get air circulating around them. I’ll get the dehumidifier up from the basement today to make sure they are very dry then I can package them up.

We’re having some lovely, cool weather so I’m going to bake bread today. I haven’t baked in a couple of weeks because we’ve just been so busy. I really miss that whole grain bread. Our WV granddaughter is going to come out this week and help me do some deep cleaning and organizing so I can get on top of stuff around here. I’ll feel so much more relaxed when the house is in better shape.

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#birthdaycelebration #greatgranddaughter #family #fun #familyfun #whole #grains #wholegrains

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Sat, 26 Sep 2026 02:45:20 -0600

Planning for Spring

There is a corner of the yard out by the creek that captures and holds water when we have a long stretch of gently rain then a few thunderstorms. It turns into a pond pretty quickly. We’ve fought with it for a few years and I’ve been doing some research on how to rectify the situation. A bio-swale and rain garden will work perfectly over there. Native plants like Joe Pye Weed, Buttonbush, Blue Flag Iris, and Cardinal flowers are great pollinator magnets and love semishade and drink up all that water that occasionally overwhelms that little corner of the yard. The area is just begging to turn into another haven for hummers, bees and butterflies.

This area is shaded by huge sycamore trees in the mornings and dappled to direct sun in the afternoons. Our hummingbird feeders are nearby and I could stick some birdhouses around the perimeter of the property to add places to nest. There are even bee houses you can put up to encourage bees to stay around. Some people make the mistake of creating places for birds and bees and butterflies to eat…but don’t provide places for them to stay for their spring through fall mating season.

Ahhh, yes…I’ll add this to my long list of things I wish to accomplish before I’m too old to accomplish much!

I bought a few more food grade 5-gallon buckets with lids yesterday so today I need to get the grains in from the truck. I’ll leave them in a room with the dehydrator running for a few days to make sure they are perfectly dry before I package them up for long term storage. Then I can get to work putting the gardens to bed for the winter.

The work is never done, is it? Well, as my grandma used to say… “There’ll be plenty of time to rest when we’re dead. We’re burning daylight!”

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#garden #planning #autumn #raingarden #bioswale

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Fri, 25 Sep 2026 02:45:23 -0600

Busy Bees

We were thrilled when the sun came out yesterday! It’s still going to be coolish, but…it finally feels like fall.

We really had no choice but to start mowing right after breakfast. There are places in the yard that pools water so I couldn’t get into them. Although I did get into one wet spot and the water went flying! Mr. FixIt did some mowing before the rains kicked in while I was camping. The worst was the backyard. Mr. FixIt uses the lawnmower in the fenced area around the pool. So much has been going on, we haven’t had a chance to really finish that area and it is now over my knees in the back corner. (He calls it his “weed garden.”)

Although we’re getting to the end of the growing season, the bees are still at work. Here is a lady bumble bee with her sacs of pollen collected to help feed her colony. It won’t be long till they’re bedded down for the winter.

When I first moved to the mountains of Colorado, we lived in a log house on a couple of acres. I was exploring the property one cold and snowy day. I was stepping over the small creek at the bottom of the pasture when I lost my balance. I reached out to grab something to steady me and the only thing there were cattails. I had a whole handful of the fuzzy part when it started vibrating. I looked down and to see several sleepy bumblebees who were tucked in to a nicely insulated “bee & bee.” I did my best to put them somewhere safe, hoping they would crawl into someplace sheltered.

I have the camper hooked up behind the pole building now. It’s much quieter there than the usual camping spot closer to the road. I’m going to enjoy the last few days (weeks?) camping by the pollinator fields. The goldenrod are blooming like crazy and they’re so beautiful!

I hope you have the chance to get out into nature this weekend to hug a tree. Winter will be here before you know it. I was thinking of taking Mr. FixIt for a little camping trip to see the leaves change, but man…these gas prices are taking their toll. Between that and everything going up, we have to be selective with our trips. I know I just went camping, but I used the points I’ve accumulated. And…I needed to pick up the bulk stuff. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. 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.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118‬:‭8‬, ‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#campinglife #camping #mowing #autumn #moonlight

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Thu, 24 Sep 2026 02:45:13 -0600

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning…

You know those nights when you just can’t seem to fall asleep…no matter what? Add in a terrifying nightmare where you’re trying to scream and nothing is coming out. Needless to say, I only slept about two hours then had to break camp and tow the camper home.

The new truck is nice, but that lower horsepower really makes a difference. Granted, I had about 425 pounds of grain, beans, rice, and oats in the cab with me so that truck’s engine was really working. When I realized that I was also carrying about 217 pounds of water in the fresh tank. I stopped and opened the drain valve and let that fresh water drain as I drove. I could feel the truck handle better as it emptied.

Gail and I took a walk at dawn yesterday and paid close attention to the myriad mushrooms poking up from the leaf litter in the woods. One caught my eye and I took this photo. I Googled the picture and asked for an identification and this is what I got!

“These appear to be white mushrooms from the genus Amanita, which includes species often commonly referred to as “Destroying Angels” (such as Amanita bisporigera, Amanita virosa, or Amanita phalloides var. alba).

⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING: Do not touch, harvest, or consume these mushrooms. White Amanita species are among the most deadly toxic mushrooms in the world. Ingesting even a small piece can cause irreversible liver and kidney damage, leading to organ failure or death.

Visual Key Features Seen Here:

Cap: Smooth, stark white to off-white, egg-shaped to convex cap.
Stem (Stipe): Thick, textured white stem emerging directly from leaf litter/soil.
Habitat: Growing directly on the forest floor near broadleaf/deciduous trees (frequently oak), where they form mycorrhizal relationships with tree roots.
Volva & Ring: Members of this group typically emerge from a cup-like sac at the base (volva) buried beneath the leaf litter and often feature a delicate skirt-like ring (annulus) high up on the stem under the cap.
Because many toxic white mushrooms closely resemble harmless edible ones to the untrained eye, always strictly avoid consuming any wild white mushroom.” Yikes! Something so innocuous can be that deadly! I’m glad I didn’t touch it! When I was raising my kids, I never even thought to mention staying away from mushrooms. Then again, I raised little hothouse plant/children who weren’t huge fans of the great outdoors unless there was a place to plug in the blow dryer.

There is a spot in the campground where you get a lovely view of the sunrise so I captured this beauty. It was a perfect way to end the camping trip.

It was all I could do to keep myself from pulling into a rest area and taking a nap. That want of the lures of a camper…that comfy, cozy bed is always right there behind you!

Mr. FixIt was so happy I was home. And the feelings were mutual. I decided to fix him a nice comfort meal. I had a filet mignon I picked up out of the clearance bin at the grocery store. Gail and I didn’t really eat a lot this trip so I brought it home. I fixed open faced hot sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. It really hit the spot in this cold, wet weather. Poor Mr. FixIt didn’t have electricity all day because the electric company was upgrading the facilities. He didn’t know what to do with himself! Poor guy!

I hope your lights are on and you are comfy cozy in a warm house with a full belly. If you are, you’re better off than 90% of the world.

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#comfort #food #ComfortFood #camping #travel #day #travelday #roadtrip #camper #rain

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Wed, 23 Sep 2026 02:45:15 -0600

Heading Home

It’s been such a lovely, relaxing trip. It’s always so much fun to visit with Gail. Get a little knitting done…eat some yummy food…take naps in the afternoon. Perfection!

It rained the entire time we were here, but hey…yesterday WAS the first day of fall, after all. It was chilly but I have a small electric heater that I run when I’m up doing stuff in the camper, and an electric blanket on the bed so I was comfy cozy. The only thing I noticed was the humidity in the camper. We had 100% humidity all three days. The floor was cold so there was condensation everywhere…even with the window open. I’ll have to run a dehumidifier in it when I get home.

Gail and I drove up to Columbiana to The Dutch Cupboard to pick up my bulk order. With the price of gas and diesel going up, it is only a matter of time when there will be shortages and the prices will go even higher. I bought bulk staples like rice, pinto and navy beans, oats and four kinds of wheat. We’ll have plenty to eat and make bread with for the next year, at least. Bethany was so helpful and accommodating and nice, to boot!

I’ll get stuff gathered up here, give Gail a hug, and head back home to my sweetheart today. I’m so much more a homebody these days…I’ll be tickled to get back to our routine.

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“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.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#fall #camping #fallcamping #dutchcupboard #staples #bulk #bulkorders #fresh #mill #freshmilledflour #fmf #whole #grains #wholegrains

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Tue, 22 Sep 2026 02:45:37 -0600

Camp of the Flies

I was awakened yesterday by a loud thud that shook the camper. I removed my ear plugs and listened. There was big machinery nearby. Gail told me they were going to tear out the old pit toilets and install a new facility with showers and flush toilets. Wowza!

I walked to the trash bins last evening and there was yellow caution tape wrapped around the old pit toilet building. I thought I should take a picture but I didn’t have my camera then I forgot about it.

So, they tore out the pit toilet and now there are little phorid flies everywhere! And it smells kinda bad, too. Gail bought some fly spray for inside the cabin. I only have a couple because I’m farther away.

Gail made a lovely soup that really hit the spot. She used fresh green beans and crumbled breakfast sausage in a creamy base. It tasted wonderful!

It has been raining since I left home on Friday and it’s around 52°! I hope you’re staying warm and dry.

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#phoridflies #camping #rain

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Mon, 21 Sep 2026 02:45:28 -0600

LONG Day

Note: I know many of you recognize where I am but please don’t reveal it here while I’m camping. Girls gotta be safe! Thanks!

I was up at 3:00 yesterday morning. I woke up and there was no more going to sleep. I gathered the last of my camping things and sat down with Mr. FixIt for a cup of coffee. We carried everything but the kitchen sink out there. Well actually, it wasn’t NEARLY what we normally take. I stopped at Walmart for my prescriptions then hit the road. I am still learning the sounds and feel of this newer truck. I am used to a more powerful engine. Freda had a 3.6L engine. Scooter only has a 2.7L and man, can you tell the difference on the hills.

After a couple of hours driving, I was feeling much more confident in her capabilities. She stops well and there are different settings on the transmission according to what you’re doing with the truck. It has a Tow/Haul setting that gives more torque and gears you down on hills. That way you aren’t riding your brake and overheating them.

It was not at all hot yesterday. As a matter of fact, it was on the chilly side. But by the time I got Scooter backed into her spot and unhooked, I was definitely feeling it. I stopped at Walmart when I arrived at my destination and bought some refrigerated items. They were also having a sale on t-shirts so I chose a selection in pretty colors. When I got overheated setting up camp, I went inside to change into something cooler and…wouldn’t you know it? Every single one of those shirts were LONG sleeved! They had them marked wrong and I was in a hurry. Ahhh, well…now I have some nice shirts to wear this fall and winter! I scrounged around in the storage cubes in the camper and found a black tank top so I guess I’ll wear that. Actually, it’s going to be downright chilly this week with rain so I may get to wear those shirts after all!

My bestie is coming this afternoon and staying in a cabin so it’s knit, nosh, and nap time!

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#campinglife #camping #bestiestime #camplikeagirl

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Sun, 20 Sep 2026 02:45:35 -0600

Changes

I never dreamed I’d become attached to a spider. “Charlotte” was beautiful! Yellow and black with a belly full of eggs. Every time I went in and out of the house for the last few weeks, I check on her progress. I watched her grow and I carefully protected her web. She continually preened and cleaned…both herself and her web. She kept building onto that web till it was truly a work of art.

When I went out yesterday morning, something caught my I eye. I looked over and Charlotte was gone! Her web was tired and had bits of grass and leaves from the wind. My eyes were drawn upwards because sometimes she went clear to the eves when she was startled.

And…there it was.

Charlotte wove a large silk sac in which to lay hundreds and hundreds of tiny little eggs. They will overwinter in the protection of the home their mother provided. They never know her. She’ll be long dead by the time the spiderlings emerge with the warmth of spring. They’ll scatter and through a process called ballooning, they will throw a strand of silk up into the air and drift away to parts unknown.

I’m really happy to have the egg sac nearby, but it may be a little bit too close to the door for my liking. I’ve studied and found you can carefully move it to another protected place in the yard. We have a grove of trees on the other side of the building. I may move the nest over there. I says that you can use a needle and thread and sew through the compact “stem” the nest hangs on. I’ll wait till I am absolutely sure that Charlotte isn’t coming back before I do that.

I’ll miss her presence in my life but what a privilege to watch her beautiful life with only one purpose…to make more spiders!

I have the camper just about packed the way I want it. I cleaned organized in the couple of hours before the storm. The air was so thick with humidity and so hot that I was wet from head to toe. If it wasn’t for the lightning and thunder from the oncoming storm, I would have stood out there in the rain to cool off!

I’m really looking forward to spending time with Gail…knitting, noshing, and napping in our little home on wheels. Heading out with Scooter and Grace…just like old times!

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

#Camping #campinglife #fall #fallcamping #autumn

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Sat, 19 Sep 2026 02:45:37 -0600

Zzzzzz…

We had an appointment in town yesterday then met my “convoluted cousin” and her husband for lunch. It was a lovely visit. They are moving to Florida permanently in November so we have very few opportunities to visit again and once they move, we may not see them again this side of heaven. It will be the end of an era.

After the busy night we had on Thursday, we were really whipped when we got home. I stretched out “for a minute” and woke up six hours later. We’re both running on empty, so we went to bed early last night. I’ll see you all tomorrow!

Till then, dear ones…

Ginny

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Fri, 18 Sep 2026 02:45:53 -0600

Running on Empty

Y’all…we had such an adventure last night. We hooked the camper up to the new truck and took it to town to empty the tanks. I’m towing Grace up to visit a friend for a few days. Scooter did pretty well towing the camper out our two-lane blacktop with all the hills and twisty turns.

The dump station wasn’t working at the two rest areas closest to us so we had to go north on the interstate to the big WV Welcome Center. I was really upset at first because I pulled the chain for the water and nothing came out. I asked the rest area attendant what was wrong and he said sometimes the water is delayed but keep holding the chain down.

I went back out and tried again and this time it worked. Mr. FixIt was pretty hungry so we ate at the iHop in the middle of all this. We didn’t get back home till midnight.

We both have an appointment this morning then we’re meeting some lifelong friends for lunch. I am bound and determined to rest tomorrow!

Till then, dear ones…

Ginny

“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family…”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#camper #fordf150 #camping #girlstrip

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Thu, 17 Sep 2026 02:45:33 -0600

How Times Have Changed

We had another day of challenges, so we stopped for ice cream on the way home. There’s not much that ice cream can’t fix! We pulled up and parked next to this beauty…a 1965 Ford F-100 Flareside when they introduced the Twin I-Beam front suspension. She’s Scooter’s grandma!

We went to town yesterday to have the electric trailer brakes installed. It turned into a more complicated job than any of us anticipated. A forty-five minute job turned into nearly two hours because apparently, Ford cuts corners by only installing the tow package but they don’t hook it up. I sat watching the clock and their sign… “Labor Charge $165 per hour.” But when we settled up, we were surprised at the bill. He only charged thirty minutes labor because the issue was Ford’s fault, not ours. We’ll definitely use this guy again as well as give him a good recommendation. (The Hitchman in Belpre, Ohio.)

On the way through town, we stopped at Mr. FixIt’s buddy’s house to make sure everything was ok. As he walked around the edge of the front porch, he stepped in a hole and went down like a sack of potatoes. On the way down, he smashed his thigh on the pointed corner of the cement and within thirty minutes, he had a lump the size of a softball. We stopped at quick care and had them look at it. I was afraid there could be an intramuscular hemorrhage. They did an x-ray and didn’t think there was so they gave us some things to look for, keep it iced, and check for pulses regularly.

Bless his heart. The older we get, the more easily we fall…the easier we bruise. Every fall is a blow to your confidence and self-image.

So, that’s why we stopped for ice cream and met Scooter’s grandma! We love this truck. And I wouldn’t mind having that other one, either!

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#fordf150 #fordf100 #QuickCare #fall #down #falldown

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Wed, 16 Sep 2026 02:45:46 -0600

The Poky Little Turtle

I love living in the country! You never know what you’ll see from day to day…a flock of turkeys, a vole frantically outrunning the mower, or a poky little turtle taking her sweet time basking in the sun. She’ll be buried in the mud before long to wait out winter.

I slept in the camper Monday night and it got down to 52°! Wowza…I had to turn on the electric blanket! It’s faux fall. It’ll get hot again but I do love those breaks in the heat. I’m going camping next week and visit with my bestie, Gail. It’s going to rain every day but it’ll make for good sleeping weather!

I drove to town yesterday in the new truck. As you know, I name our campers and trucks. This camper is Grace so I think I’ll name the truck Frankie. Frankie the Ford. Frankie and Grace. I love it!

It’s funny…we were driving home yesterday and realized neither one of us had looked under the hood before we bought it. When we got home, we checked it all out. We also realized, it doesn’t have backup sensors. It does have a great backup camera so I can watch where I’m going. Surprisingly, it doesn’t have electric trailer brakes. It does have a tow package and it even has backup assist, but not backup sensors. We’re taking it to the hitch guy today to put electric trailer brakes on.

We really need to mow before the next wave of rain comes! The kids are coming out soon to brush hog the fields for winter.

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

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

#camping #tow #vehicle #towvehicle #camper

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Tue, 15 Sep 2026 02:45:50 -0600

Good Night, Little Moon

We’ve had a hard year, but things are turning around! I haven’t shared a lot about this, but we finally sold the rental house. Honestly, my poor husband lost money on this one due to a set of circumstances we needn’t get into. But, it’s not in our possession AND it was a gift from God. Both of our vehicles bombed on the same day two weeks ago. Out of the kindness of a friend, we were able to borrow a truck till we could get Mr. FixIt recuperated from his surgery and strong enough to work on the old trucks.

My poor Freeda the Ford has been towed to the shop at least four times in the last two years. She’s just become too unreliable to pull our little camper long distance. We want to camp as long as we are able and we are NOT ready to quit yet. Mr. Virgo’s truck is older than mine and has a gazillion miles on it. So, we decided to see if we could find a reliable truck that wouldn’t break the bank or put us in debt.

Voila! My savvy husband put feelers out and one of his bowling buddies happens to be a GOOD used car salesman. He found one for us and it fit the bill perfectly. At first, we weren’t quite sure because it had a “vibration” at 62-66mph. My guess was it had something to do with those big, aggressive tires they had on it. So, they switched the tires out to something smoother and…no more vibration! So, when we got back to town yesterday, we test drove it one more time and it was perfect. We bought it with some of our windfall from the rental house and praised God all the way home!

God not only answered our prayers for a reliable vehicle, He answered another fervent prayer we both had. There was a terrible storm while we were gone over the weekend with flooding all around. Sometimes we get a little water in the basement and we were afraid we’d come back to that. Prayers answered and praises given…the worst of the storm went around us and our basement was dry as a bone! Thank you, Jesus!

We were up at 5:00 yesterday morning so we hit the hay early last night. My uncle was thrilled with the pictures I brought to him, we have a reliable truck, and a dry basement! Now I can focus on getting the house straightened up.

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#fordf150 #astorgautoparkersburg #blessings #praises

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Mon, 14 Sep 2026 02:45:26 -0600

All Good Things…

Wow…what a great weekend! We went over to see our cousins and sat on their beautiful front porch. They live on the side of a mountain and the view down below is beautiful. We sat on the front porch…spread out on the swing or the old wood rocking chairs that my cousin has refurbished with new webbing. It rained off and on all day with the sun making an appearance from time to time. I love their place. It’s so peaceful and you always feel welcome…no matter who you are. The coffee pot is hot all the time and you just might be offered a little sweet to go with it. Three hours on that porch in my cousin’s company and I feel as though I’ve been on a week’s vacation.

When we finally had to tear ourselves away, we went up to see my uncle again before we head home today. On our way to the truck, he filled three bags with those amazing tomatoes for us to take home. He even gave me some green tomatoes to fry for Mr. FixIt.

What an incredible privilege it is to spend time with him. He’s the last of my mother’s siblings and when he’s gone, that literally is the end of an era. There were no male children to carry the family name so it ends when he steps into Heaven. I truly hope he’s around for some time to come.

While we were visiting, I took the opportunity photograph more of the pictures in his scrapbook. There was one picture in particular I needed a clear copy of. It is the oldest picture I’ve ever seen of my PopPop taken as a young man working at a war plant in Cleveland. I had never seen it before and it’s a treasure.

We head home today through the mountains. Oh, it surely looks like fall in these hills and it’s been the best weekend we could have asked for.

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭18‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#family #gathering #familygathering #comfortable #homeawayfromhome #homestead

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Sun, 13 Sep 2026 18:01:15 -0600

Sunday Evening Prayer Circle

Please pray for:

My family as they travel home from a wonderful family gathering for my beloved Uncle Bud.

Everyone in the path of severe weather.

The people of Nepal who suffered the tragic flash flood.

The people of Ukraine as they prepare to enter a bitter winter.

Pray for all the helpers who run to these tragedies and help wherever they can.

Also, please pray for:

Debbie in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

P.B.S. for her recent eye surgery and glaucoma.

GB’s continued recovery from her elbow injury.

DM and BM for his broken ankle and her broken leg.

BB’s cancer treatments to be effective.

SL’s loss of her sister-in-law.

Pray these wicked storms slow down.

Pray for peace, wisdom, strength and courage for us all. You all are loved!

Please feel free to add your own prayers in the comments so we can pray for you, as well.

🙏

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

#prayer #prayers #prayer #circle #prayercircle

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Sun, 13 Sep 2026 02:45:04 -0600

What a Perfect Day!

Celebrating my uncle’s 90th birthday was so much fun. There must have been a hundred people there to wish him the very best. We took pictures all day because there’s no time like the present.

It was a long day but I wanted to share some photos with you before I turned in.

My uncle grows some of the biggest tomatoes I have ever seen in my life! He bought some fertilizer last year and asked his helper if he would put it on his tomatoes. Well, come to find out…he dumped that whole bag on them. It just fried his tomato plants. But this year is a different story. Those tomatoes went to town! I put a phone receiver beside them so you could get some idea how big they are. We’re going to get some of those tomatoes and save the seed for future plantings. Maybe we better dump a bunch of fertilizer in the garden first!

There are Angel Trumpets growing in front of the motel where we’re staying. My dad used to plant them behind our house. They stink like crazy but they’re pretty. They have a big spiked seed ball and when they dry, they pop open and the seed get thrown everywhere. I’m going to take some seed pods home and see if I can get them to grow at our place.

Yesterday was my brother’s 75th birthday so I got him on a video chat and I carried the phone all around so he and the family could see each other. That was the highlight of the day!

Well, I know this is short but we’re going to visit cousins again today. We haven’t all been in the same place since about 1995 or so.

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#reunion #birthdaycelebration #90th #90thbirthday

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Sat, 12 Sep 2026 02:45:08 -0600

A Quick Story

I may have told you this one before but humor me if I have.

When my uncle received his pilot wings, Grandma and PopPop went with an entourage to attend the ceremony. Along with my aunt, my great grandfather and his love interest…they all enjoyed a cross country automobile excursion. That was the first time they had been west of the Mississippi. It was a big deal!

The first night, they stopped at a motel to get some sleep. As they were checking in, my great grandpa asked for one room. My grandma hoisted herself up and glared at him.

“You are NOT going to share a hotel room unless you’re married!”

Well, the story goes that Grandpa took Pearl down to the Justice of the Peace and married her! My grandma was satisfied and the trip went off WITH a hitch! Hence the only great-grandma I ever knew came into my world. I adored her!

Well, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Today is my brother’s birthday so there is much to celebrate!

Till tomorrow, dear ones…

Ginny

“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

(The picture was taken after the “wedding.”)

#family #stories #FamilyStories #grandmapearl #greatgrandmother

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