Friday

Brrr was the norm for most of Thursday with temps down into the high 40's to start the day, yikes this is the middle of August and we had no hot summer days here. Summer is gone and not once did I go and sit in the basement where it's in the 60's most all year round to cool off. I should be thrilled as we had 2 sets of company for a week at a time during what is usually the hottest part of the summer and no one complained about being uncomfortable. It did reach 61 for the high on Thursday and we actually did see some periods of the sun and blue skies; but for the most part it was overcast. I had on long pants all day for the first time we have been here since leaving Florida in early June where the heat index is in the 100's and above. It was 105 in Seminole yesterday.

The morning started with a somewhat sleep in under the extra blanket which made for warm, snuggy stay in bed conditions until around 7:30. I rolled out and checked the thermometer on the back porch and it was 49. I spoke with our "mountain mom" who lives just a couple miles from us and at 6AM it was 46. I have a feeling its going to be a cold wet winter for the mountains this year. We are fore casted for the next 4 days to have rain and unseasonably cool temps.

We got ready after our quiet times and a lite breakfast of fruit and cereal to head out to Sparta for Nancy's hair appointment. It was time to make her a blonde once again after the grey began to show at the roots. I sat outside in the truck and read for nearly an hour while she was transformed in the beauty shoppe. We headed out to drop off a prescription refill for her at Kerr Drugs then headed to the post office for stamps then headed to the Pines Restaurant for lunch. We saw Clarence Crouse along with Clara and the Brady couple there as well. We spent a few minutes speaking with them as we all once went together to Boone for the Merle fest concert a few years back. We had a delightful time with them and they have all been friends since high school.

We decided on the unlimited trips to the salad bar of which we made 2 and no bread; just wheat crackers. After eating we headed to Blevins across the street to purchase a new overhead light and fan for the bathroom as the old one while still working doesn't allow you to have a bright enough light bulb. That is my next rainy day job to change that out. We made a stop at the grocery for some salad fixins as we are invited out with the Dalton Gang on Saturday for supper and games.

After getting back from town I headed out to the back woods for some fill dirt as I had dug some huge boulders out of the yard that had been exposed from all the rain run off. I dumped two 5 gallon buckets of dirt in one hole it was so big. I rolled the boulder down the hill as it was too big to lift. It took a couple loads of dirt to fill in a few other low places as well and I'm thinking about adding some of this fine dirt to a couple of my herb beds before we close up for the winter. Here, I'm talking about winter and its still August. It's strange what cooler weather does to your psyche.

We took off for our daily hike to the top of the mountain and saw Dean once again spreading mulch at one of the cabins. We headed on across the top and visited with Jetta and Zeke for a few moments before heading on back down to the cabin. Nancy was chilled despite wearing a sweat shirt and jeans. I thought it was perfect for working and that's just what I did. I cut back the wine berry bushes, loosened up some of the still damp and clumpy soil around the few garden plants still alive, rebuilt some of my rock wall around my compost pile and moved some piles of moss with a pitch fork and then checked on the chickens next door where I found 3 eggs in the nests. Wow they are finally on track with their laying as that was the first day of 3 eggs.

It was after 5 and cooling off once again despite the sunshine so I fired up the grille for some salmon and she had broccoli and garlic pasta on the stove a cooking. Yikes that was some great eatin' and definitely one of my favorite meals. I substituted fresh thyme for fresh dill(the rain washed my dill out) and it worked for flavor as well. Thyme is much hardier in the garden and can stand dry as well as wet conditions better than dill and cilantro. After the cleanup I wondered around outside gathering a few beetles and just walking around admiring the beauty of the flowers until it was time for Shepard Smith at Fox News. I can't believe it was getting dark all of a sudden at 8'ish whereas just a couple weeks ago I was outside after 9'ish messing around in the yards.

The Ray's have come back and won 2 in a row and got one of their starting pitchers back after being struck in the head with a baseball. Lets hope they continue on their winning road. It soon became hot shower time and then off to bed with a good read, LATER