Well Wednesday was another busy day that started with a 6'ish roll out for me after hitting the sack somewhere before 10 the night before, wow this mountain air sure makes for some good working but also for good sleeping as well. After my usual routine(s) upon awakening; the cup of hot green tea after my handful of vitamins and supplements, a few quiet moments and then the posting of this ramble about what happened yesterday I ventured outside to walk around the property. I check for the growth of my recently transplanted seedlings and for slug damage as well as for any deer damage. Yesterday I put up my unsightly deer fence which is a long line of bailing twine strung around the lower garden with plastic grocery bags hanging down that flutter in the breeze; ghastly looking but somewhat effective.
Nancy made the other half of our mountain breakfast; buckwheat cakes with a banana and blueberries in the batter. I ate 3 of those with real butter and homemade apple butter. Wow did that take me back to some older memories. I piddled around waiting for Nancy to get ready so we could head over to our "mountain mom's" place and do a few odd jobs. There was a nice neighbor Steve who was helping her paint her deck so Nancy and I both pitched in to assist as well. We didn't get quite finished as we ran out of paint and we will get more paint today as we head to Galax for some shopping. I put up a chicken wire fence around her garden to help with keeping the rabbits from eating everything then I replaced a molding strip around the front of a sheds which was falling off.
Just as we pulled up in the driveway at the cabin we noticed a car pulling in behind us and it was our old friend DJ Carlson. He was in the area on business so he stayed and had lunch with us. It was great to see him and hear all about what his 3 beautiful daughters are doing now that the youngest has graduated from high school. They were such cute curly headed gals when they were just tykes as each year they would come to the cabin for a visit along with his sweet wife Jenny. We were all friends and attended the same church in Seminole where he was our kids youth pastor for years.
After DJ left we settled into our chores and one was to finish spreading lime, fertilizer and grass seed on the half I missed yesterday due to my spreader breaking. Well Helen had what appeared to be a very little used spreader she no longer could push so she blessed me with it as well as a couple cilantro seedling she had springing up in her garden. Her little garden looks great with potato's, onions, lettuce, cabbage, okra and tomato's looking quite well except for where the rabbits have munched away on her cabbage. The fence should keep them out for now.
We hand watered the seedlings and the new flower transplants and then I decided to saw off the lower branches around the trees in the back woods yard with a long extended pole saw. Boy does that ever work a few back and neck muscles. It sure gives the yard a park setting look plus now I can see well into the woods surrounding the property. I love to beautify this piece of property and such a small chore makes all the difference.
I grilled a couple chicken breasts and Nancy made her scrumptious fried rice using home grown carrots and onions we brought from our Florida garden for supper. After the cleanup we headed out for our first hike to the top of the mountain. The backwoods trail is a steep one but we took our time and made it to the top. It was rather hazy down off the mountain and we could barely see Pilot Mountain but the smells were awesome with the fragrance of the wild roses and other blooming plants in the air. We saw no one on top but did notice a car at one residence that are week enders from the Charlotte area. The big Fuller House was sold but the place looked just as if they were gone to Florida for a vacation as no change was evident by the new owners. The old Benny place which is now resided in by his son Rex had all of the trees taken down and looks somewhat out of place for the top of the mountain. I think it looks yucky as he is not one to do any landscaping or beautifing of the place. The old Shally Place is for sale along with Ann and Sandy's and our friends the Browning's have their place listed again with a different realtor.
Well we hiked on home and the way down was much easier than on the way up. We hope to get in our daily hike despite all of the outside work that's been going on. We have the place looking good after it has been setting empty and closed up for 7 months. I have a few small repairs yet to be made as well as some brush to be burned on a wet day. We are off to Galax, Va. today for some items, refill some propane tanks and to get fresh gas for the equipment and of course some goodies in the grocery department.
Just an update on Eddie as Kimberly called last evening to say the operation to relief the pressure on the spinal cord was successful and he maintained good body functions throughout the 6 hour operation. Rods and screws were inserted in the vertebra and now we just have to hope and pray he will be able to have some normal use of his extremities once again. She was most thankful for all who kept them in your prayers and thoughts and was encouraged by the doctors who operated on Eddie. They should know something of his progress in the next few days. I will keep you informed and updated as we plan on visiting him in Winston-Salem on Sunday after church, LATER
