Friday Morning

Well Thursday turned out to be a big shopping day as we headed to Galax, Va. for the first time in 7 months. Galax is really a nice small town with some big city shopping stores in both a super Wal-Mart and a super Lowes. These stores are located away from the smallness of the original down town area on the outskirts of the city. We always like to shop there as we travel the Blue Ridge Parkway for about 15 miles through some beautiful scenery. The overlook at Fox Hunters Paradise has such a magnificent view of the area we are in and of the elevation.  I will enclose a picture of the view as we headed to town this morning at the end of this ramble.

My morning started much the usual with a 6'ish rollout to a hot cup of green tea. There were chill bumps with the temps in the low 50's and the extra blanket was welcomed through out the night as I had left a window cracked open a couple inches. After a few quiet moments to reflect and give thanks and lift up those we know who need some extra considerations due to health concerns as well as for the health of our nation. We have such poor leadership in this administration. I dread to think what will become of America over the next couple years with this lack of leadership. Oh well!!

We shopped at Lowes for flowers, screening material and then the big one a new flat top stove for Nancy as she abhors our regular burner stove. Me I could make do with what we have but she complains constantly and is always purchasing new burner pans; so I gave in and we ordered what she wanted(isn't it always that way). We then headed to Wal-Mart for more shopping and we purchased a new trac phone that texts; once again Nancy is in her glory with this new gadget, as for me I couldn't care less as I grew up on a party telephone line. After being on call for 30 years I don't want to be easily found. This phone even takes pictures like the high price cell phones and the sales gal was most helpful as she helped me transfer my minutes and number to the new phone. She got quite a laugh when she saw our old phone by Nokia which still worked fine anywhere we traveled using this antique of some 10 or more years. (That reminds me I must write her up with a good letter for her assistance as we are challenged in that area)

We stopped at Subway on the way out of town for lunch before heading back to the cabin. There were rain clouds all around but we looked as if we may have received a sprinkling to say the most. The dust was still evident as we traveled in the lane to the cabin. After putting up our goodies I headed out to hand water the new seedlings and to once more knock down a persistent barn swallow who wants to built in the eve of the roof. Every day I'm tearing down while up on a ladder with a long pole as she builds this nest on just about 2 inches of ledge. We saw where one built on the other side of the cabin and we found when we arrived 4 dead baby birds on the deck with the nest so she moved to the other side of the cabin. Well I don't want anymore dead babies so I'm not going to let her build as they are quite messy and dirty as well; but this bird is persistent as we battle daily.

We stopped off at the local library for a couple reads before we met up with the Dalton Gang for supper minus their beautiful graduating daughter Kallie who was working at the local Lowes grocery. It was good to see them and Caleb has added several inches in height. Andy seemed to be in great spirits as well as did Mechelle with her new job managing a local business mans farms and enterprises. We so enjoy their company and family and always have some great venison barbeque when Andy is in town as well.

 He has a great job traveling around the country installing artificial turf for football and soccer stadiums. Mechelle is in her glory with wheeling and dealing horses on the side and of course Nancy is a horse aficionado from way back before she met me.

We headed home after a quick stop to drop off some paint our "mountain mom" needed to finish her deck before heading home. (Just an update as I'm making this post I looked out from my keyboard and there are 3 huge wild turkeys meandering around in my yard near the upper garden. I tried to get a picture and I'm not sue it they turned out). We took a nice hike to the top of the mountains as we worked off the delicious supper at Brown's restaurant in Sparta. The hike to the top felt good as we did very little physical activity except for walking around shopping. It was kind of nice to walk on a flat surface after working outside around the cabin which is anything but flat or level, Oh well!!

Well we tuned into the FOX News channel to O'Reilly and Megan Kelly for the real insight into what is happening in the world news that tells the truth; our main stream media is anything but that. After a hot shower and reading about 3 pages I turned out the light around 10:30, LATER  The view pictures are of Fox Hunters Paradise and the little feller with me is Mr. Galyean. I buy my propane from him and he is such a nice joy to talk to.