After my early roll out an usual routines including a few quiet moments to give thanks and reflect on life's decisions and lift up several who are needing some special considerations I had a bowl of oatmeal laced with fresh honey, cinnamon and a peach, yeow, was that ever tasty. I headed outside to check on the gardens and noticed two more gorgeous blue Morning Glories in bloom. I must say I've yet to see a more vibrant blue flower. The gardens looked good and despite the wetness I only found a few slugs which I quickly dispatched with my walking stick. The skies were clearing and it looked as if it was going to be a non rain day with plenty of sunshine and it held true.
We decided to get a hike in before lunch and it was just beautiful on top and while the temps were in the low 70's the bright sunshine on top made it feel even warmer. We saw a couple of our neighbors there as they were packing up to head back to the Charlotte area but never saw the Browning's or Zeke. We headed back down the mountain to a lite lunch of leftover dogs and deli ham before getting ready to head out to Sparta.
Nancy had made a large yellow squash casserole to bring to the birthday supper so we loaded that into a cooler and I had dug up a Stevia plant and some Zinnias for Karin's garden and had them wrapped in wet newspaper. I sat outside the hair gallery in a swing and read for nearly 2 hours while Nancy had a transformation with her hair back to being a blonde. Yikes, did that ever look great. We met up with Karin off of Vox Rd. and she took us through the woods, up and down some slick leaf covered in the trees rutted driveway to a very neat cabin with an A frame design. Wow, is all I can say as this place was hidden in the woods with a very nice deck that looked over the steep mountain and a large lake down below.
It was very nice and one I would trade my place with occasionally for a hide away. The road into the cabin required us to back up once and gather some speed to make it up the steep drive between large trees as we left just before dark. It was rather tricky backing down a drive when the truck slid sideways between large trees in the darkness of the woods; but on a second try I maintained enough forward speed to get us out. Everyone else had all wheel drive vehicles but my truck only has a lock rear end and I would never have made it up the hill without it as the sun wasn't able to penetrate and dry out the roadway. It was slick as hot grease in some areas as we traveled up and down some steep areas with huge trees alongside.
There were 10 of us for a supper of grilled rib eye steaks, cauliflower and squash casserole, salad and cake with homemade vanilla ice cream. All of which was delicious as we sat on the outside deck mingling with Katelyn's and Curtis's folks. We felt very honored to be included within these two families and their relationship to each other. Katelyn is a very mature 20 and is such a entrepreneur as well as she loves the farm and outdoor life. Curtis is waiting to get a call from the sheriff's office for employment as he has already been certified. They will make a great couple and both have their families and friends support.
After the delicious meal some of us loaded up in the all wheel drive vehicles to visit a farm and abandoned cabin just a few minutes away. Well the old farm homestead has been sitting unattended for nearly 15 years that was once a beautiful place with fruit trees,vineyards and a view that was awesome as well. There are 20 plus acres with hay fields and out buildings just above the New River. The house was brick and while it needed some work it was in good shape for being left as it was when the pioneer type woman left it upon her death and just down the road(walking distance) from this farm there was a huge log cabin that has been abandoned for several years as well. This place was magnificent in size and its hard to describe what happened in the 20-30 years ago as the owners just walked away while it was being constructed. This place would have been a million dollar house or more that even had a walk in vault in the basement as we peered through the windows. What a waste of money and first class material as the appliances were sitting in the place and never hooked up and the several piles of stone just sitting around awaiting to be placed on the basement walls. There was huge stone fireplace that ran through the 3 floors and it was awesome in size and grandeur, yikes what a place and its just rotting away especially the porch and deck rails that are out from under cover in the weather. A nice lake was at the foot of the place was that looked like it was great for fishing.
We headed back to Karin's cabin to say our good-bye's and thank you's for allowing us to be a part of this joyous occasion. It was great to see Karin's folks Betty and Randall and Donald and Kim who are Curtis's folks and his sister Faith as well as Nancy who is Karin's step mom up from Florida. What a nice group of folks and very down to earth people.Well we got back to our cabin just before darkness set in and it wasn't long after a hot shower and few chapters with Lee Child that I was ready for the sand man, LATER
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