Tuesday Morning..last day of July 2018

Well Monday was one of those days that's not easily forgotten as we(Nancy, Dan, Carol and Kathryn) rode with me to first Blowing Rock and then up to Boone to meet with Patrick. We left early in the morning and was gone for 10 + hours. I had a 2:30 date with a very professional endodontist gal who was very through and accommodated my desire to have this expensive root canal all in one sitting since we were 150 miles round trip away. She did the job which cost me plenty.

I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my usual cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator in thanksgiving for my blessings in this life and for lifting up several by name for healing and comfort during their time of need. All is well but I did lose another 1964 classmate as well as a fellow trooper I worked with years back this past week; all who have passed on. Wow, does the closeness of those dying not make you appreciate life a little more, but if we are saved then its a big celebration for eternity.

We headed south on the Blue Ridge Parkway around 9 and reached the city limits of Blowing Rock around 10:30 where we all headed for the bathroom. I looked in at the INN where our daughter in laws grand parents where staying a few weeks ago but they had gone back to Florida a day before. I decided instead of shopping with the rest of the gang to do some sightseeing and found a beautiful old church building built in 1921 and on the historical registry on main street. Such beautiful architecture is the Old Episcopal Church and across the the street is a museum with an artist painting a portrait of the man who was affiliated with the rebel John Brown who took control of the arsenal at Harpers Ferry during the Civil War.

The curator looked like the actress Diane Keaton and her husband was the artist plus a couple of other folks who were artist as well who made felt into clothing. We were all about the same age and of course I mentioned growing up on a farm in Va. in a house without running water for many years and no bathroom plus butchering our meat and preserving our food through canning, freezing and curing in a smoke house. I also mentioned my great grand father was a bodyguard of Gen. Robert E. Lee and they too were buffs of the Civil War. We shared stories from our pasts until it was time to head over to Boone and meet Patrick for lunch at the Peddling Pig eatery. The food was decent but not the best barbecue and reasonably priced but the fried dill pickles were the best ever. Most everyone had the brisket but me who had pulled pork which was dry and the brisket was plentiful but fatty and over smoked as well. Anyhow Due South in Blacksburg is still the best ever barbecue out next to out homemade pulled pork which I must say using our son Bobby's recipe is delicious and moist.

They dropped me off at the dentist office a little before 2 and then picked me up again around 5:30 and then we headed back north towards the cabin. We took a different route which eventually put us back on the parkway as it runs near the cabin and it was going on 8 when we pulled up the driveway. Neighbor Billy on top of the mountain had delivered 2 large railroad ties that he was getting rid of as he is building a garage next to his cabin. I have a couple which are rotting out around my raised planters in the back yard garden bed and these will help hold the earth on the hill. Many thanks to Billy as I casually mentioned if and when he got rid of them I would help him move them.

Well with a sore tooth and gum and the large lunch we skipped any supper except for a few pretzels and a glass of wine for me which helped somewhat. I took a couple of naproxen after my shower and decided to hit the sack around 9:30 as everyone else was into a show on T.V. and decided against a card game, oh well, LATER

Monday Morning..Root Canal Day in Boone

Well Sunday was another gorgeous day here in the mountains. It was so nice we turned the ac off all day long until bedtime as we ate outside on the deck as well as played cards and a game of Sequence. It was just really cool temps with little humidity. Worship with Bridgepoint here at the cabin was fantastic at 8 AM live from St.Pete, Fl. and then again at Cornerstone with lots of folks from Sparta. Our gang of six were represented and afterwards we met at the Bistro for brunch where we ate well.

The day started much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my routines that I won't bore you with except to say all is well for those I lift up daily to my Creator by name while I enjoy my cup of hot green tea and the posting of this ramble. After the church service in Sparta we decided to give the brunch a visit in Sparta with an old friend from Cornerstone who is a young man and has now made culinary his profession after graduating from App. State in Boone. He now owns and runs the Bistro as well as is the executive chef at one of the local country clubs. He is also a very talented musician and singer.

After a brunch of biscuits and sausage gravy, bacon and egg with the 6 of us ordering different entree's we headed out of town while the Tracy's headed back to their cabin. We decided to visited some cabins and homes for sale out near the parkway and so we showed the Botbyl's two places we  had visited with the Tracy's; both are on the side of the mountain with awesome views but little or no yards and the gravel road getting into them is very steep and almost 4 wheel drive accessible. The truck did well but did break loose a couple times; neither of these were to my liking for the price. We visited another older brick place near there but on top of the mountain with a nice usable piece of property and a really nice enclose chicken run and a good place for a garden. It was reasonably price as well an on a hard surface road; of the 3 this would be my favorite, of course I loved the chicken run.

We got back to the cabin around 3'ish and while they all settled on the porch I took off on a hike to the top of the mountain where I visited with Shawnee who is up for the week from Raleigh along with her semi-retired doctor husband who came just as I was leaving. She offered the use of her bikes when I need extra ones as I will need one later in the week for a ride on the New River Trail in Galax, Va. The girls are planning a shopping trip to Jefferson and we guys will do the trail along the New River. I headed on across and ran into Eddie a mountain top owner who comes up from Sate Road to work on his beautiful small house he bought a couple years ago. We chatted for a few and all is well with him and his awesome business down off the mountain.

I got back just before the Tracy's came for the evening for a card game and then a game of Sequence all of which the guys won for a change; both hotly contested games. We are a competitive group when it comes to games. We decided to clean up some leftovers around 7'ish and we did from the night before as well as a fresh salad from the garden. The food is so tasty here in the fresh air of the mountains and we chowed down. After the cleanup the Tray's headed out for their place across the county which takes about a 30 minute drive. Everyone here was glued to the tube so I listened to some music via Youtube and then hit the shower and read until the sand man calleth. I was awakened by a terrific thunder storm some time after midnight with torrential down pours for some time. The forecast was for rain this week which we could use a little but not a monsoon.

Well we are all heading to Boone this morning for touristy actions plus a dental appointment for me at 2:30 for a root canal on a very sensitive molar. Hopefully they will complete this today as I'm not happy about driving 150 miles round trip, although we do like the area of Blowing Rock and Boone, LATER

Sunday Morning

Well Saturday was a day off from any work except a little gardening as we entertained in the early afternoon an into the late evening with the Tracy's and Botbyl's. Nancy and I did get in a good hike to the top of the mountain where we visited with several along the way. The weather was perfect with low 60's to start and it stayed around 75 for the high with tons of sunshine; but the forecast has that changing late today(Sun) and into next week with high chances of wet weather, oh well. The past couple of days have been perfect.

I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my morning routines. I know it get boring so I won't bother except to say they were consistent with my usual morning pattern. After my quiet time with my Creator and the lifting up of several by name I headed out to check on the gardens and eventually harvested three kinds of lettuces, Swiss chard, kale and beet greens for a huge salad which should last a couple of days. I did dig up my radishes but once again I proved I did not sow them in the right cycle of the moon and all I got were beautiful radish greens. Out of 50-75 plants I managed a handful of bulbs and the rest were just tops. I didn't sow when the moon was a sliver or the "dark of the moon" so I got no bulbs, strange isn't it but that is one plant that has to be sowed at the right time according to the almanac.

The Botbyl's took off to Sparta to workout at the Wellness Center and got back someday after 1'ish. We got a couple loads of laundry out on the line to dry then took off to the top of the mountain. We visited with the Butzbacks who are selling their awesome cabin with fantastic views and cabin that belongs in Better Homes and Gardens. They finally had a realtor come out and she informed them 349 K was the proper selling price up from the 320 K they were offering it to me and my friends. They have several lots that go along with the cabin which is just gorgeous and would make an awesome AirBNB and pay for itself in a couple of years. Oh well. I love the cabin and the workmanship and Yvonne is just in tears over having to sell;  but their age and health are bringing them to this decision. We sat and visited with our dear friends the Browning's for a few before heading back down the mountain to a sandwich for lunch.

I piddled around in the gardens hoeing, weeding and transplanting a few Zinnias in the circle drive bed. I'm thrilled they are starting to head and the marigolds are really getting large as well. The black eyed Susans are gorgeous as well as are all the other flowers. What an awesome year for flowers as well as the garden. The morning glories are climbing the arbor but no blooms yet and the honey suckle vines are climbing the rail fences near the outhouse. Hopefully they will be back next year as I love their smell. I sat on the back porch and read then took a power nap until the Tracy's arrived around 3:30. We were pulling a Mexican style supper with chicken enchiladas, refried beans, yellow rice, guacamole, salsa, etc, yeow what a feed but before chowing down we got into our new favorite card game of Spades for 6 people. Everyone loves this game and its played like Spades for four except you use two decks and no 2 of clubs. Well what a game and the gals won the first two games we have ever played last week but today it was a hot and heavy game with several misdeals but the guys finally won and we set two records of two players at one time going Nil in one hand and we pulled out the win on the last hand, yikes what a hard fought victory but we will forever remember those two hands. The gals are brutal in their play and they too went Nil a couple of times but with only one player at a time, oh well.

Well after a delicious supper outside on the deck and the guys washing the dishes I started a nice campfire and we stayed outside until nearly 9:30 doing smores for some but just enjoying the wood fire, smoke and sparks as well as listening to some awesome songs from Patrick car stereo which he pulled up near the fire circle especially a beautiful song titled "I hear voices singing". Wow what a beautiful inspiring melody and words. They headed home as darkness enveloped the area and I headed for the shower and was soon really for some horizontal lab, LATER

Don't forget to take a few minutes today out of your week and worship with others our Lord and He  promised He would be with us in our midst when two or more gathered to worship. Pray for healing for our nation as we are in a crisis brought on by the last administration that left out nation vulnerable to both our foreign adversaries and those within the nation for civil unrest. 

Saturday Morning..last one in July

Well Friday was a fun day all day except for a little piddling around in the gardens which occurs almost daily. Dan and I did a New River float and we stopped and attached our "mountain mom's' mirror on her golf cart for her before heading back to the cabin around 2. We met up with the girls and Patrick at 4:30 in Sparta at a new eatery called Grave for supper.

The day started much the usual with my 6 ish roll out to a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and a slice of fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble and spent some quiet time with my Creator in humble thanksgiving and lifting up several by name for healing and comfort. I checked all of the social medias and gave them my 2 cents worth of input and I must say our potus is doing a fantastic job of turning this sinking ship called America around.

I have lots of liberal friends who hate the man and for whatever reason but when you look at the mess the last inept potus did to the social mores of the nation this potus is a saint. He has his administration working for the nation and now we see the economy booming, the world respects US(A) again and folks are working which helps with some esteem for their life. We have found out just how corrupt the past potus and his administration have helped with those who want to destroy this culture and this nation by abetting the enemy and attempting to destroy our way of life. I'm excited we have a real American in charge and hopefully those who have committed acts of treason will be adjudicated and held accountable.

Dan and I met up with Patrick around 10'ish about half way to the river where he rode with us to leave his car where we end the float. He then went with us to the starting point where we left off my 2 kayaks then he drove my truck back to get his car and left my truck so he could take his car and go home. He wasn't into a float for some reason but assisted us with ours. The river float was magnificent with beautiful skies and the hills above the river where filled with birds and beautiful foliage of some giant trees growing out of the mountain of rocks, unbelievable. The water was just a bit murky because of the past couple of days of rain so that did help with some of the white water over the rocks. We never got hung up once on the float whereas when the river is down we occasionally scrape bottom and have to navigate to deeper water. Basically we just let the kayak drift lazily down the river which took us almost two hours from the put in to the take out.

We loaded up and headed home with a stop at our "mountain moms" place to fix her rear view mirror which keeps falling off of her golf cart. I purchased the right bolts and we reattached it through the roof and secured it for her. She was tickled we fixed her problem as she has trouble turning when backing at her ripe age of 90 plus. She amazes us with her ability to work and live alone and drive her brother around. She came home while we were there and her weekly hair done up which made her look much younger. We couldn't get her to go out to supper with us as she begged off until another time. I don't think she liked the large crowd of us.

Well the eatery served decent reasonable American/Italian food and the place has been so many things over the years and it was decorated nice. We gave it a thumbs up so we may eat there again in the future as Sparta is limited to the number of different eateries in town. We are going to try a brunch on Sunday after church at the Bistro which is under new management. We had supper there a couple weeks ago and had a sandwich which was a thumbs down for us; we should of had the entree on the marquee but choose the sandwich menu.

Well after supper the Tracy's headed to their cabin and we made a stop at the veggie stand for fresh produce before getting home. It had sprinkled a little so a campfire was out of the question with dark clouds looming. I settled into the Rays game which was rain delayed in Baltimore and they all were watching the tube which doesn't interest me any longer. I would rather listen to music with my ear phones or read. It wasn't long after dark the Botbyl's headed up to their room and called it a night as the river and the sunshine made both Dan and I sleepy. I hit the shower and was in the horizontal lab position before 10. I have no idea what time Nancy came to bed but she awakened me around 3 with her chainsaw running wide open. I'm looking into a zyppah for her noise at night. I just love the commercial for it as it so funny, LATER

Friday Morning

Well Thursday found me in the dentist office with this sensitive molar and now I'm heading to Boone on Monday for a root canal, yikes; but at least it hasn't started to get infected and its not throbbing, just a dull ache. This will be probably my 5th or 6th root canal and the dentist must go through and already crown, oh well.

I started the day much the usual with a 6ish roll out to start the day with my usual regiment of Nutrilite vitamins and supplements washed down with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger while I posted this ramble and then some quiet time with my Creator while I humbly gave thanks for my many blessings and then lifted several up by name. All is well thus far as I've heard nothing to the contrary. I did learn where a grade school friend lost her husband this week in the Winchester, Va. area at a young age.

My friend and neighbor Dan who is with his wife Carol and who are visiting for a couple weeks rode to Sparta with me and who I dropped off at the Wellness Center for a workout while I visited the dentist at 10:30. We got back to the cabin after a quick stop at a local building supple for a couple of items then headed home to a delicious lunch of broccoli salad and a deli meat wrap. Afterwards we made a trip to the top of the mountain on the golf cart to pick up a loaf of fresh baked bread by our dear friend Jetta as well as a couple items she was getting rid of that we could use around the campfire. I picked her a bag of fresh lettuces, kale and Swiss chard for a salad for her and Joe in return. We fixed the seat on my kayak which the fastener has pulled loose from the wall and then we settled down on the front porch and read until it was time to head out to Sparta.

 The Botbyl's wanted to look at some property and cabins that were listed for sale and we saw two very nice places and one that has great potential with several acres.  We took a couple back roads to the Tracy's rental cabin where we were anticipating a Thanksgiving Dinner prepared by a marvelous cook Kathryn. All of our gals are awesome cooks and love doing it. We taught them a new way of playing 6 person spades which we all find to be very exciting and much more enjoyable than Euchre by a few of us; Carol especially. We started a game and then around 5:30 quit for supper which we ate while sitting on their outside deck. Wow the food was so delicious with roasted turkey breast, smashed taters and gravy, French green beans, yams and dressing with cranberry sauce. We skipped any type of dessert as we snacked on cheese and crackers, salami, black and green olives and pickled cauliflower which was one of Nancy's dad favorites.

We finished the first game after cleaning up the dishes and the gals won albeit with some less than honest moves and then they won the second game as well, dang it. We are a raucous group of 6 know as the Cool Peoples Club. Everyone loves this new game and I'm sure it will become a stable with this bunch. We left around 8'ish and headed back to the cabin where we played one game of Kings on the Corner before the other three watched the tube. I watched the Ray's beat the Orioles in their stadium on line then hit the shower and was soon in the horizontal position as the sandman calleth a little 10.

Today Dan and I are floating the New River in our kayaks and the girls are heading to West Jefferson for shopping, browsing or whatever and lunch out with some friends we've known since childhood who own a small cafe called Harvest Cafe in W. Jefferson. After the float we will fix our "mountain moms" golf cart mirror and then meet the gals at a new Italian eatery called Grave which has received some good reviews from neighbors and friends, LATER

Thursday Morning

Well Wednesday was a pretty nice day except by suppertime we got some rain once again which I was hoping it would hold off as I had a pickle ball match at the Roaring Gap Club. We did get in the match which lasted a couple hours as I took my neighbor Dan with me while the gals headed into Galax to shop. At least the overcast skies and wet conditions kept the temps down but we left around 8:30 with a soaked shirt with sweat.

I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my usual routines that started with my cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time with my Creator. All is well with those I lift up daily but suddenly I may need some prayer for a sensitive tooth which suddenly began to pain me. I think I have all caps on this side of the mouth that is hurting, so I maybe off to see a local dentist I saw a couple weeks back when I chipped a front tooth. The achey tooth seems to be a molar which I think had a root canal a few years back, oh well.

I headed out side to check on the gardens while everyone else was getting their coffee's. We had another tenth of an inch of rain overnight and the ground is soaked and with the fog and over cast skies the ground needs some sunshine and warmth. It hasn't got out of the 70's for the past few days which is awesome but with the humidity its just seems to be constantly wet. Thankfully the new a/c unit is taking the wetness out of the cabin and keeping it pleasant and at times cold. Our guests took off for Sparta to work out at the Wellness Center for a couple hours so Nancy and I took off on a hike to the top of the mountain. Carol is having some reoccurring pain in her hamstring she injured a couple years ago and isn't thrilled with hiking the mountain. We got back after a short visit with Jetta and I staked my tomato plants again as they are really growing tall. I did give everything a small dose of Miracle Grow as the rains have leached many of the nutrients from the soil on the runoff. Anyhow I did manage to loosen the soil around most everything to get some air to the roots. The cucumber plants while holding several blooms have not set any fruit and I'm disappointed as the plants are climbing on the fence. The bush beans have sent out runners which is also somewhat troubling as they are not supposed to be climbers.

After a lunch of leftover soup we sat on the front porch and read in between naps. We were having the Tracy's again for supper along with our guests and they were coming early because Dan and I were playing pickle ball at 6. I grilled fresh squash, mushrooms, red & yellow peppers and onions in a grill basket and then grilled bone in pork chops. After the cleanup all the gals headed out to Galax to shop and Dan and I headed to the club where we played several matches with three other players. Dan plays with us in Seminole at the Rec. and is a good player despite his one arm serve while he does very well. It seems his left arm has some nerve damage from working on vehicles over the years and limits his ability to grasp things like a ball. We had some great points and then both of us who were 30 years or more older than the guys we played with called it a night.

We saw lots of deer out getting their grazing in just before dusk on the way home. The hot shower was awesome as our muscle stiffen up on the ride back to the cabin. It's tough getting old. The gals got home just before we got in as well. I checked the scores and the Ray's beat the Yankees after a loss the night before at the Trop in St. Pete. Well it wasn't long after 10 that we all but Nancy decided to call it a day and headed for the sack. I never heard her come in but did awakened around 3'ish to see the bright moon light night, yeow at first I thought she left all the outside lights on but it was the moon shining.

Well today Dan and I have a New River float scheduled with our kayaks and I will see how the tooth is feeling as of right now it isn't too bad. I'm not sure why it's became suddenly sensitive as it comes and goes but while eating hot soup yesterday it pained me but did eventually dissipate, oh well, LATER

Wednesday Morning

Well after a soggy morning with fog and an overnight rain the day turned out to be a rather typical summer day and the temps stayed very nice despite the humidity. Dan went with me over to our "mountain moms" place and did a few "honey do" chores for her for the morning. The rest of the day was basically playtime with the exception of me throwing down the huge oak tree that had a limb break off and was hung up in another tree along our hiking path. We entertained the Tracy's for games and a delicious supper eaten out on the deck.

Well the day started much the usual for me with a 6'ish roll out to my routines that always start with my handful of best vitamins and supplements manufactured in the USA. Nothing comes from overseas or produced there but only in our land on organic farms are the Nutrilite Products produced and they only be purchased or distributed through the Amway Corporation of which I'm an IBO. This corp has been revamped from the bad leadership at the top which is a multi level business to one with their bearing based on the Christian ethic of doing business with the best products and not selling membership.

I did my usual cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and a slice of fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble then spent some time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. All of those are doing as well as can be expected considering their situations. On a sad note the mother of an old friend and fellow trooper passed away in her sleep at the age of 90+ overnight. I had got to meet her several times back in the 70's when she and her husband had visited their son who I "broke in" on the patrol. She was a classy southern lady and set the mark high for women of integrity and class. It was a privilege to have known both her and her husband.

I fired up the grill and fried thick cut bacon outside on the deck and then we had W.Va. eggs(fried in the grease) along with grits for me and some hot sauce, toast and homemade black raspberry jam our neighbor blessed us with. After a semi mountain breakfast(no buckwheat cakes) Dan and I rode over to Helens on the golf cart to take off her outside door which sticks. That kept us busy as we had to remove it twice for the sanding and planeing. That was one heavy door and a two man job. After we fixed that so she could open and close it without sticking we trimmed her bushes and cut limbs and piled the clipping. It was after noon before we got back to the cabin and Nancy had a pot of Zuppa toscano on the stove, yeow did that ever smell and taste wonderful.

After lunch I managed to get a rope over the broken limb of the tall oak which was cowering over our hiking trail but was unable to pull it loose from the tree it was caught up in; so I fired up the chain saw and brought down the big red oak and then sawed up the limbs blocking the trail. I will work up the rest of the tree after company leaves and get it ready for our neighbor Joe on top of the mountain as he burns wood during the winter. That will give me some work to look forward to doing as I love to run the chainsaw and split wood with the aul and steel wedges. I'm a sucker for hard work but find it relaxing.

After cleaning up from the sweat and saw dust Nancy and I got in an abbreviated hike to the top of the mountain as we were expecting the Tracy's around 4. We did most of the hike and got back in a half hour before they arrived. I harvested our first real mess of Swiss chard for sauteing and it was delicious in just a little water. It accompanied the grilled marinated chicken breasts, baked sweet taters and corn on the cob and it is so good for you. I have another row of the chard that I pick just for salads as they are grown quite close together and I mix them in with the lettuces, beet greens and kale all of which are so good for the body. We guys did get into several games of corn toss on the side deck for an hour or so and again today I threw a 4 bagger for only the second time ever.

Well afterward the cleanup we got into a game of Kings on the Corner which we taught the Tracy's. It took a while but they caught on and then left before dark. Everyone here wanted to watch the tube so I listened to some music while watching the Ray's lose to the Yanks then hit the shower and was soon in the horizontal position around 10'ish awaiting the sandman with soon came calling. It was a fun filled day of working, playing and eating, LATER

Tuesday Morning...rainy and foggy

Well Monday wasn't a bad day with the weather as we did get some rain during the night on both Sunday and again Monday night but this morning(Tues) its so wet and foggy even the birds are grounded. I was awakened several times in the night with down pours onto the tin roof.

I started the day on Monday with a 7'ish roll out for a change as we had stayed up playing card games past my bedtime. Everyone else was still in the sack so I did my usual morning routines that always start with a handful of Nutrilite vitamins and supplements washed down with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and a slice of fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble and spend some quiet with the Almighty in humble thanksgiving for my many blessings and then lifting several up by name for comfort and healing. All is well with those I specifically mention as I've heard nothing to the contrary.

Our guests awakened and we had a light breakfast as we knew we would be eating out with the Tracy's who are just back from 2 weeks in Nova Scotia at their rental cabin on the other side of Sparta. Nancy had a Dr.'s appointment in Independence, Va with our Dr. K who is retiring but still our family Dr. here in the mountains and fills in at the clinic where he worked. She had a small precancerous place on her nose and he froze it off as well as talked for ages. He is the Dr. who I credit with savings me when I developed a blood clot in my leg many years ago and we became friends and pickle ball player buddies, anyhow we headed over to Galax, Va to meet with Tracy's for a late lunch of some fine Mexican eatin'.

Afterwards we transfer some of their stored items while they were gone into their Prius from the truck and then I dropped my riders off at the super Wal-Mart to shop while I headed to Lowes just up the road for some stain to finish painting the cabin next week when we are guests free. We loaded up after an hour of shopping and I filled up again at 2.38 which is 35 cents a gallon cheaper than N.C and headed to the cabin. Just as we came over the mountain on the parkway we could still see our mountain with lots of fog and clouds so goes the name Foggy Mountain Road which we drive on to get to the cabin. The sun did break through from time to time and three of us took a hike around 5'ish to the top. Carol was still nursing a hamstring injury from a year ago and the hike the day before left her with some stiffness and pain. She did some of her artist work while sitting on the front porch while we were gone.

I harvested three types of lettuces, beet greens, kale and Swiss chard for a huge fresh garden salad. The cucumber plants are loaded with blooms but no fruit yet and the tomato's have tons of new small green ones which I'm afraid to say look as it they will be cherry ones, oh well. The plants were volunteers in the compost pile so I transplanted them on a whim. I did manage to loosen up the soaked soil around all of the gardens and knock back the small weeds which seem to appear over night. That's a good sign when you have lots of weeds that the soil is rich and fertile and I had lots of them it seemed overnight with the rain and sunshine.

After the supper cleanup we got into a game of Kings on the Corner and finished at 8 as the Botbyl's watch this show Ninja Warrior or something to the effect. I washed up the supper dishes then tuned into the Ray's game on the internet and listened to Patsy Cline on the ear phones while the three of them watched the tube. I hit the shower at 10 and then read until until the sandman calleth, LATER

Monday Morning

Well Sunday was an awesome day of worship both here at the cabin with Bridgepoint Church on line and then again at 10 in Sparta with our mountain church family at Cornerstone Fellowship. The weather was a mixture of rain late in the evening and some clouds but the temps were nice in the middle 70's with mostly sunshine despite the 90% rain chance according to the weatherman.

I started the day much the usual with 6'ish roll out to a quiet cabin as our guests stayed in bed until nearly 8. I did my usual morning routines that started with the cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and now once again a slice of fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble then spent a few quiet moments with my Creator in thanksgiving and intercessory prayer for several. Afterwards the guests started getting up and hitting the showers and a light breakfast before we started getting ready for church while listening to Bridgepoint on line. We all attend the Seminole campus at home and both Dan and I are part of the 6 AM load in team that transforms the college each and every Sunday into a worship center.

Pastor B at Cornerstone had a good message and we got out somewhere around 11:30 and headed to the local Pizzeria for a filling lunch that starts with their salad bar, all the pizza you want and then some dessert for 8 bucks a person. We met up with our dear friends Mechelle and Caleb who attend church with us and have become one of our very best friends here in the mountains. Afterwards we headed back towards the cabin taking a scenic route that took us near our "mountain moms" cabin so we rang her up and she invited by for a visit. She is such a spry gal at 90 + and we so enjoy her wisdom and sense of humor as well as her energy and work ethic. She had driven her 91+ brother to church and then down off the mountain for breakfast after church to Cracker Barrel. I sometimes wonder why they drive so far when good eatin' is found so close to home and not travel 40 miles to eat an egg and pancakes; but her brother loves Cracker barrel, oh well.

We lounged around the cabin some where reading and on their devices. I noticed neighbor Gerald was up from Blacksburg so I headed down to visit with him and learned he had a 2 day pass for the cabin. He was building a platform bed for one of the upstairs bed rooms for when he has his hunting buddies down in the fall for the deer hunt. He is talking about opening his place up as an AirBNB for a couple months in the Spring and Summer and I think that would be a great idea. I can't convince Nancy to do that when we have no friends here and could make a little cash in between family and friends as we basically run one now but without any compensation, oh well she isn't in favor of that proposition.

We did take off on a hike to the top of the mountain around 5'ish and while there was a threat of rain we never where rained on. Dan and I got in several games of corn hole or toss which ever you prefer to call it on the side deck which is the perfect distance for the game. We decided since we had such a large lunch to eat leftover salads and soup for our supper round 7'ish. I almost forgot to mention when we got back to the cabin after lunch we taught the Botbyl's the game of Spades and played one game with the guys winning(we are competitive) when it comes to games especially Sequence which we will probably play when we get together with the Tracy's who are back from their Canada tour and will be here in the mountains at their rental cabin until October. Everyone wanted to just do their own thing after supper so I listened with ear phones country music for a couple hours while everyone else was on their devices and they finally watched TV around 9'ish. It wasn't long after 10'ish I headed for the showers and then some horizontal lab reading until the sandman calleth, LATER

Sunday Morning

Well Saturday was supposed to be a total rain day which turned out to be another awesome day with an occasional cloud but temps stayed down into the 70's with plenty of sunshine. It did pour up to a half inch in a couple of short bursts during the night but then it was a bit foggy and cloudy in the first hours of the morning but that was it.

I started the day with a little later roll out as we stayed up past my bedtime to play games. Everyone was up by 7:30 and doing their early morning catching up on their electronic devices as I was doing this ramble and then some quiet moments. We decided on a semi mountain breakfast with sausage, eggs, fresh fruit salad and toast for us while the Botbyl's are off bread. That held us until we had a late lunch at the Muddy Creek Cafe in Sparta around 2'ish. I had the "mountain caviar" which is a delicious pimento cheese  along with fresh celery and carrot sticks and pita bread. It was a generous serving and very tasty at 6 bucks. Nancy had a small salad and an order of sweet tater fries all of which was delicious.

We framed around in town visiting a couple shops which aren't many then met up with a realtor near the parkway to see a house that was having an open house with an in ground pool which is very unusual for the mountains. This house was a steal at 172 K but needed a little cosmetic work as its been empty for year. Just around the corner we saw another house which was 8 thousand sq ft. in size and the owner showed us around. All of which was quite an adventure in itself. The place was very huge almost to huge but there were dogs and cats in the house and the place was filthy and almost unsanitary. Needless to stay we did take the tour and learned it was for sale for 700 K on 3 acres.

Early in the morning we looked and a had a great visit with Joe and Evonne on top of the mountain so Dan and Carol could take a tour of their magnificent real log home. What a beauty it is and they are asking tax value at 320 thousand which is a steal in my opinion. There is a couple drawn back as the huge loft area(upstairs) is all open and would need to be divided into rooms but the completed basement is another apartment and the main floor is just beautiful and well maintained. They are teary in their decision to sell and hope whoever has as much love for the place as they do. Their views are awesome out both sides of the cabin and the ground are precisely maintained. They are in their 80's with a few health issues and only come up to mow and check on the cabin a couple times a month. It has always been my favorite cabin on top of the mountain and would make a great investment as well for an air BNB, oh well.

Well we got back to the cabin around 5'ish and rested a few either on the porches reading on on devices catching up. Bobby and Katie got home the day before and Amy and Family got home around 10:30 last evening. Thanks to all who kept them in your thoughts for safe travel. We heated up a huge pot of veggie beef soup Nancy made for the occasion and had a fresh garden salad to accompany. We got into a game of 12 rounds of dominos and then into a game of Kings on the Corner until after 10. We decided since it was church morning today we would hit the sack early so they headed upstairs and I took shower and was soon in the horizontal lab position. I did get in an early hike to the top while they road up to see the cabin on top so I did get in some exercise, LATER

Saturday Morning

Well Friday was another work day until 5'ish when our neighbors and good friends Dan and Carol arrived from Seminole, Fl. I mowed and weed whacked the first thing after my usual morning routines and then puttered or piddled around the cabin helping Nancy to tidy up the last minute vacuuming, hanging laundry and getting ready for our guests. It was such a perfect day for being outside as it was rather chilly at 60 degrees to start the day and at first limited sunshine.

I did with my usual routines with a before 6 roll out to the proverbial cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble and spent a few quiet moments with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. Bobby our son and Family got back home after a week of vacation split between here with us and Katie's folks in Blowing Rock, N.C. Amy our daughter and Family were safely in a motel for the night in Mississippi after leaving western Kansas where they spent almost 2 weeks with Tyler Family. They will head on home today to Seminole and will need some prayers for traveling as well. All is well with those we lift up everyday for comfort, healing and blessings.

There was very little dew on the grass so after a lite breakfast I headed out to fire up the riding lawn mower and commenced to mowing which took me a good couple hours. Nancy wanted to get a hike in before lunch so we took off up the steep back trail to the top of the mountain. The air despite the sun now shinning brightly was cool and perfect with temps reaching almost to 70. We made it half way across the top when one of the folks who owns the most beautiful real log cabin inside and out stopped us to remind us about our friends coming up to look at their place as they are going to sell. Their age and health has led them to this decision but this is the Rolls Royce of a cabin whereas our is compared by a VW Beetle, oh well. They had never been down to our place so we invited them down for a visit and to show them how the folks live below the mountain top. Their views are awesome with vistas from both sides of the mountain and we finally learned they are asking the tax value for the cabin which is much less than I anticipated, oh well.

We hurried back down the mountain and had a quick lunch as we awaited their arrival. They stayed for at least an hour and thought our place was neat but they loved the lay of the land and our veggie and flower gardens and were impressed with our decorations that were homemade. They are a few years older than me and he had some major health issues a few years ago. They had a huge farm about an hour away and sold the land for big bucks but their cabin is the real deal and should be showcased in magazines. We would like for our friends to purchase it or someone we know as it's just that gorgeous and so well made as they did most of the work and they keep it manicured and maintained to the nines, oh well we will see; personally I would like to buy it and turn it into an airbnb and let that pay for the purchase price in a couple years as you could get top dollar for nightly stays but Nancy is opposed to going in debt, oh well.

Our friends arrived around 5:30 so we took them to the top of the mountain in the golf cart to give them a view of this cabin from the outside and today we have an 11 AM time to see the inside. The golf cart ride was uneventful and we came back to some orderves before I grilled rare rib eye steaks, corn on the cob and a fresh garden salad. The lettuces were ready for picking along with some kale, beet greens and baby Swiss chard leaves which all made for a very tasty salad. We sat out on the deck and had our supper in the almost perfect temps. After the cleanup we taught them a new card game called 'Kings in the Corner" and then a game of Golf another card game. I supplied some great music in the background from the lab top which featured Allan Jackson and various other oldies but goodies. It was going on 11 when we decided to call it a day and I hit the shower as they headed upstairs for the night.

We were awakened to heavy down pour on the tin roof sometime in the night and it sounded like hail it was that loud. We were in need of some rain but just not this type of gully washer. I will need to check the driveway to see if it washed out from the run off. Well today promises to have more much needed rain for the mountains and of course my gardens and yards were most thrilled as I had been hand watering now for over a week. We will visit another house on the market his afternoon as we have befriended a realtor friend on FB, LATER

Friday Morning..company left and now awaiting new ones

Well Thursday was a busy fun day that also saw us saying goodbye to kin folk from Miami and getting ready for neighbors from Seminole. Wow, we run a b&b at no charge but it's worth it and so much fun. The kin folks are husband and 5 sons of niece Erica who is the oldest child of Nancy's brother Eric. She has a total of 10 youngun's and one on the way and this gang was here for the first time ever. They wanted to camp outside in tents which they brought which made it so much easier for Nancy with little or no extra laundry, house cleaning as we get ready for house guest for the next week. We did cook extra and these 5 boys are growing and can put away the chow and we even ate outside on the picnic table on the deck which also helped with keeping the cabin clean.

I started the day with a 6'ish roll out and the boys were already anticipating my wake up. I had some warm coals from the night before camp fire so I got that going for them and they played with sticks they burned in the fire until breakfast. I did manage my usual routines that started with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric on this cool chilly morning with temps a little less than 60. These boys were not fazed by the chill in the air and I don't think they wore shoes the whole time here and even on a hike later in the day at Stone Mountain Park.

I fried up nearly 5 pounds of sausage patties and a skillet of left over taters as well as a couple eggs each and a couple of biscuits each along with a gallon of juice. They cleaned it all up and then again for lunch we had a dozen or more of hand paddy burgers along with all the fixin's as well as several kinds of chips and and once again the platter was empty. Wow can these boys put away the chow and the night before was an even bigger supper, oh well they are growing boys and very mannered and quite helpful. We enjoyed their stay and invited them back next year for a camping experience. This was their first time camping in the mountains.

Nancy took off to town to grocery up and I showed the gang Doughton Park just south of us on the BRParkway as they were thinking of camping there two more nights. We did a small hike up to the scenic over look and then looked at the camp sites that were somewhat primitive with no electric or water on the camp site but a community one. They really liked the area and we saw a large doe in the area but I wanted to show them Stone Mountain Park last which I thought was so much better with more to do than just camp. Well we ventured down off of our mountain to the 2300 ft level of the top of the Stone Mountain and they fell in love with the area. I showed them the sliding rock waterfall which I once slid down several times a couple years ago and Max the second oldest slipped and got wet which was par for the course for him as he is somewhat clumsy. Anyhow we took an hour or more hike back part ways to the huge waterfall and stopped at the old 19th century Hutchinson Farm in the valley at the base of the mountain. Most of the old real log buildings have been restored and lot of the old horse drawn farm machinery is still present and available to peruse. What a tough way of life in those days and then to think you had to travel in through the mountain to get to the farm land.

We saw several well marked trails and I showed them where to further explore the area. This state park is well maintained and free except for in expensive camping sites which were half the cost of the one they stayed in S.C. They choose a site and reserved it for one night thus far and we came back and had lunch and they packed up their belongings and headed out around 3'ish. We went to work to get the cabin ready once again with vacuuming, washing windows and cleaning house as well as I worked in the yard picking up and putting away. The boys did a good job of leaving the yard in good shape but they are somewhat messy eaters with food on the deck; we are so glad the weather was great for eating outside so I just swept the deck off, oh well. What a fun time.

After a light supper of left over green beans Nancy made a vegetable soup so we could have on hand light lunches as the Botbyl's are on another fad diet and eating little or no starches which doesn't bother me. I have tons of lettuces coming in and ready for harvesting so the fresh veggies is right up my alley. I piddled around in the circle driveway flower beds weeding and then I transplanted a couple dozen Zinnias that were growing close together and then hand watered all the flower beds and gardens. We surely could use some rain but the cool temps have saved the gardens and yard. I'm looking forward to some rain in the forecast for this weekend and thrilled the boys had good weather for tent camping the last couple of nights.

Nancy wanted a campfire so we sat and watched that until nearly 9'ish as it was so peaceful and quiet with just the two of us for a change. I headed in and hit the showers then got ready for some horizontal lab around 10'ish, LATER 

Thursday Morning

Well Thursday was a work day until early afternoon when nephew Tom and 5 cousins came for an overnight camping visit from Miami , Fl. I worked on the ditch in our driveway collecting and hauling a couple more loads of rocks gathered from the ditches and paths as well as cut away some of the low hanging bushes in the ditches. That kept me busy for most of the morning until lunch time when we finished the last of the ribs and salad. We welcomed the Shuster's around 3 ish after their GPS tried to bring them down the back way from the top of the mountain that only a 4 wheeler could travel on; any how we got them here and the boys had a grand time running up and down the hill.

I did my usual morning routines that started with a 6 ish rollout and a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric while I posted this ramble then spent some quiet time honoring my Creator as well as lifting up several by name. All is well with those as I've heard no difference in their status. I ventured out to check on the gardens when I had to return and put on a flannel shirt as it had cooled down considerably plus it had dried out with no humidity. Wow what a change from just a day ago. I hand watered the gardens and found my first set of green tomato's. The plants were volunteers in my compost pile so I'm not sure what these will be but they look as if they could be small cherry ones, oh well.

We took the Shuster's on a hike to the top of the mountain to wear out these young lads and the hike was uneventful. We didn't see anyone on top of the mountain and headed on back down sometime around 5'ish. I got the corn hole boards out and showed them how the game was played and then young Peter I think who is a marvelous checker player and who whupped me good while we were visiting in Miami decided to get in a game before supper. Well I caught him quickly on one of his worst games. The boys flew balsam wood airplanes and then we got ready for a supper of marinated chicken breasts on the grill, green beans and parsley taters as well as a fresh garden salad. These young fellers know how to put away the chow and then Nancy had a pan of brownies for dessert.

We had their tents set up which helped a lot as she didn't have to wash sheets again as the Botbyl's arrive tomorrow. I started a camp fire and then they all played with fire sticks as most all young boys do. The lightning bugs were out and we sat under the stars until after 9 when it finally started to get dark. It wasn't long after a shower I hit the sack as these boys too head down to their tents, LATER

Wednesday Morning

Well Tuesday was another work day as we washed clothes, beddings and Nancy cleaned the cabin from top to bottom as we had entertained son Bobby and family and now a new group is coming in for just a couple days who have never been here before so around 4 we headed to Galax to shop once again and after they leave we have another couple, neighbors from Seminole coming for a week or so. Wow, we run an airbnb but it free, oh well. It fun to share this beautiful part of the Creation and we have been blessed in so many ways.

I started the day much the usual a little after 6 rollout due to getting to bed much later than normal. I had my vitamins and supplements washed down with a cup of hot green tea laced turmeric(I'm out of ginger root) while I posted this ramble and then some quiet time with my Creator in humble thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. Afterwards I headed out to check on my gardens and found where the deer had once again made a salad out of my new growth on the black raspberry plants, dadgum it. I'm hoping these bushes will spread and give us some of the best of berry's but the deer keep them trimmed, oh well such is part of living some what in the wild.

I hoed around the plants and fertilized with some liquid plant food and now I have two cucumber blooms on one plant which is a great start to growing these. One summer I grew so many I couldn't eat or give them away from just a couple plants. The bush beans are sending out runners which they aren't supposed to do so I strung a twine rope across them so they could climb and now I will need to add poles to keep them off the other plants in the small upper garden. Lettuces are ready for harvesting but so far that hasn't been done as Nancy continues with buying it in the store. A major point of contention along with a few others, oh well such is life.

I headed down the driveway to address an erosion of the bank. I notice where a large stump in the ditch( and its anyone's guess how it got there) has diverted the water during heavy rain runoff's into the bank next to the road causing a sharp drop off for 4-5 feet into the ditch. I loaded up rocks from around the roads and hauled 6 golf cart loads of rocks into the ditch to divert the water and preserve the bank of the driveway. That kept me busy for a couple of hours. I dug the huge block of wood out as well as cut some of the low hanging limbs also protruding into the ditch. Hopefully this will allow the runoff water to easy flow down and away from the driveway.

The trip to Galax was uneventful and I filled up again at 2.38 whereas in Boone it was 2.80 a gallon, yeow someone is gouging the consumer, oh well. We made a couple of stops in Galax before getting back to the cabin sometime after 6. We ate leftover ribs for our supper and then I headed out to piddle around the yards and I even took a mini hike up the steep back trail to get my hiking legs back in order. There haven't been many hikes this summer for one reason or another and the spare tire is growing with all of the good eatin'. I stayed outside until a little after 9 as it's still somewhat light out. I notice what appears to be a feral black cat watching me on two different occasions. I've had something getting into the garbage a couple nights ago as well into the compost pile almost daily. It wasn't long after checking the internet I hit the showers and then some horizontal lab, LATER

Tuesday Morning

Well Monday found us with a play day in the Blowing Rock-Boone area of N.C. with Bobby and his family then out to dinner with Katie's family. Wow what a busy day and on a sad note we said good-bye to Bobby, Katie, Annsley and Gabe as they will be with Katie's folks for the next couple of days before heading back to Brandon later this week. We had a whirlwind visit while here at the cabin.

I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out. I knew we had to leave somewhere before 9 to make the trip down the BRP to Blowing Rock where we were to chaperone the grans while they did a kid's version of zip lining while Bobby and Katie flew overhead at times hundreds of feet in the air. They left early to make their date and we were bringing the grans with us. Luckily the rain stayed away until the very end when it clouded up for the rest of the day and rain showers were in the area off and on through the evening and up until we left the Outback Grille at 9'ish.

The trip down was a piece of cake compared to the trip home last night. The parkway was at time fogged in with nearly zero visibility and the going was slow along with deer in the headlights at times which made the trip very stressful. At one point we thought about leaving the parkway because of the fog but had no where to go but to watch the yellow center lines at creep speed. It took us two hours to make the trip which is usually only hour and a few minutes.

After the zip line adventure everyone was pumped so we headed out to a Mexican eatery in Boone which was very good; it being a small family run place. The enchilada I had was especially tasty and so reminded me of THE HUT in Fairfield, Ca. we use to eat at while I was in the USAF. Afterwards it was going on 3'ish so we caravan out to the Mast general Store in Valle Crucis where we shopped for an hour or more. I sat on the porch and took a power nap behind my sun glasses while rocking on the porch. It was going on 5 before we headed back to Blowing Rock to meet up with all of Katie's family who were arriving from Charleston, Savannah and Tampa. They will be staying at their usual place for a couple of weeks with the grandparents who are footing the bill. All 24 of us went out to eat and he took care of the bill as well. He and his wife are not in the best of health and need care from both of their daughters one of which is Katie's mom. They have been very generous as well as making us feel like family and accepted Annsley and Gabe as grand kiddos despite Katie being their step mother.

While waiting for our dinner reservation which was at 7 we ventured over to the park in the city as the kiddos played on the neat playground. Bobby and I got into a horse shoe throwing match but got rained out as we walked back to the Inn where everyone was staying. It's a beautiful place in the heart of the city and the family have rooms and suites all on the ground floor together. I introduced several of the sons in laws to pickle ball and learned the Rec and parks dept. will featured that daily at the tennis courts. Seems that sport too is becoming popular here in the mountains.

Well it was a fun time and we had a great time entertaining Bobby and Katie and the grand kids and now I think we are expecting another group of 6 for a couple days or at least that is what we last heard. So far no confirmation on their arrival date and time. We have Dan and Carol coming this Friday for a week. Never a dull moment around here, LATER

Monday Morning...heading down to Boone/Blowing Rock

Well Sunday found us once again with mainly a play date with a nephew and his family visiting after lunch until 7'ish. Wow what a great time with them and their two boys riding in the golf cart, playing in a small creek, hiking, picking berries and eating. We skipped our regular Sunday meeting at Cornerstone but listen to our Florida church service on line where we worshipped while Bobby and family slept in.

I started the day much the usual with a close to a 7' ish roll out. The late nights playing card and domino's after 10'ish had me sleeping in a little later than the before 6 roll out. We learned a new card game which is rather fun and we will have to teach it to our friends later this summer. I did my usual routines after my feet hit the floor that is a handful of vitamins and supplements washed down with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and a fresh ginger while I posted this ramble and honored my Creator with a few quiet moments. All is well with those I lift up daily as I've heard nothing any different. We tuned into Bridgepoint Church on line and heard an awesome message from our lead pastor Tim while on this "Road Trip" series. His messages are archived if anyone wants to listen at a later time and date.

We were expecting Austin and Megan and their two boys sometime after noon as they live near Charlotte and it usually takes us close to two hours or a little less depending or the traffic. They came around 1'ish and we had a gran reunion with them and Tyler and met Wesley for the first time. Immediately they took off up into the woods as it was their first time to explore in the mountains. We all took off on a hike to the top but had to turn back after reaching the top to view off in the distance as a light rain began to fall which didn't last long but enough to make us turn back. By the time we got down to the cabin the sun was shining again but it had cooled down a little.

I took the kiddos on a cardboard sled ride behind the golf cart until the wet grass caused the cardboard to fall apart. They all were having a great time with this ride around the yards. Austin and I took the kiddos on a ride down to the creek where we all took off our shoes and playing in the cold water until once again it clouded up and we could hear thunder in the distance. We had a fun time but the rocky creek was tough on the feet. We got back and the kiddos played together outside with water pistols then it was time to play some wiffle ball until it was time to prepared a supper of fresh ground lamb burgers that Bobby doctored up as well as grilled zucchini squash and oven taters and a fresh garden salad, yeow what a delicious meal. We had snacked on lots of cheeses, dips and orderves along with some very nice vino while waiting for the grill to get ready.

After eating we sat around and talked on the porches and then had a delicious fresh peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream, oh my what a feed. Luckily we had skipped lunch after a mountain breakfast around 10 with had us chowing down on thick cut hickory smoked bacon, eggs and toast with homemade black raspberry jam. Well for sure we know how to put on the feed bag. After Austin and family left we settled into some cleanup chores, washing clothes and since it only rained lightly I hand watered the gardens because I knew we were going to be gone all day on Monday(today). Well that was about it for Sunday except be got the kiddos all ready for bed and I popped them some corn while we played a new card game called Kings On the Corner. It was different but fast and much like solitere which I never learned but this was interesting and much the luck of the draw, Bobby was the big winner for the first time ever playing the game along with me but which both Nancy and Katie had played before.

Well it was going on 11 when I hit the shower and then some horizontal lab soon after. Today promises to be another busy fun filled day with the family as we chaperone the grans on a zip line made for kiddos in the Blowing Rock area while Bobby and Katie do the adult zip line and then we will meet up with Katie's family who come to the area every year for a couple of weeks and eat supper with them. Should be a fun day as we renew family friendship and putting on the feed bag, LATER   

Sunday Morning

Well Saturday was really another fun filled day which required some patience while driving through the twisty winding road over to Damascus to ride the 17 mile down the mountain Creeper Trail along with lots of others who visit this small mountain town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southern Virginia. It was almost a perfect day weather wise as the temps held in the 70's with mostly overcast skies until the afternoon. It's a 60+ mile ride from the cabin but takes a good hour and half travel time.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out. The temps at the cabin were in the low 60's so we opened the windows for the fresh mountain air. I managed to do my usual morning routines before the kiddos came down stairs. The cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger were such friends on the morning while I posted this ramble and then spent some quiet time with my Creator. All seem well with those I lift up daily as we've heard nothing to the contrary. Paw Paw doesn't answer his phones or seldom ever calls back after I leave a message but the girls haven't mentioned a status change with him lately. Nancy's mom GG is doing well in Michigan and we will head up that way in August for a visit before stopping by to see Paw Paw on the way back.

We made it to our reservation which is needed especially on a Saturday to the Sundog Outfitter's where we catch a shuttle to the the top of the mountain. We brought our own bikes so we just pay for the ride up in a van with at least a dozen other bikers at a time. I met and made friends with a family from Shelby ,N.C. who graduated Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs. We shared some stories and became instant friends and made a date in September to meet in Shelby for an equestrian national event. Scott and Lisa Alfino have one daughter Emily who heads off to N.C. State for her freshman year. They were very warm and cordial.

The ride down the mountain was mostly uneventful except for Gabe losing the chain on his bike a couple of time. I had brought a couple wrenches with me which met the issue and except for one spill by Gabe who was showing a move the trip down was most pleasurable. There were ton's of others on the trail and most were very courteous except for a few of the bikers who like to ride up the mountain which sometimes makes it dangerous while your coasting down. We met some really nice considerate folks and saw lots of small kids on bikes. This was Gabe's first time riding alone and he did it very well. We made several stops to visit the creek which runs along the trail as well as rested our behinds as you do get some TB(tired butt). We stopped along the way at a small cafe which had lots of bikers outside enjoying some dogs and burgers on picnic tables. I passed on the food as I had brought some nuts which held me until supper time.

We made a couple stops in Sparta after the trip which saw everyone tired and nodding off. I drove my truck as the middle console makes into a 6th seat. After a stop at both groceries in town and a meat market we finally got back home around 5:30. Bobby and Nancy got the fresh yellow squash Kay blessed us with ready for the frying pan, yeow was that ever delicious to get the gastric juices flowing and I got the fresh caught bass ready for the grill side burner. We added a couple Swaii fillets to the mix and along with some leftover spaghetti noodles with butter and garlic added to them and a fresh salad so we had a feast sitting outside on the deck. Nancy made chocolate chip cookies for the dessert. After supper I pulled the kiddos behind the golf cart on a cardboard sled and then taught Annsley how to drive the cart. The kiddos ran and played outside then got their showers and it was soon dark out and going on 10, yeow where did that time go.

After the kiddos were put to bed we taught Bobby and Katie the game of Euchre and gals whupped us guys in the one and only game. It was shower time and then some horizontal lab, LATER

Saturday morning

Well Friday was another fun filled day with son Bobby and the grans as we ventured to a new area of the county; the South Fork of the New River for a good 2 plus hour float. It was the first ever on this section and it was absolutely without a doubt the most scenic of any of our floats and there have been quite a few over the years.

I started the day with my usual before 6 roll out to my routines that start with the cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger. The kiddos all rolled out around 8'ish so I was able to get my blog and quiet time in before the action started. Annsley remembered about seeing the wild wine berries growing on our last evening hike and she wanted some in her pancakes so I take her and Gabe on the golf cart to the the top of the mountain to pick berries . We gathered nearly a whole plastic cup of the sweet berries and Nancy put them in her pancake batter. They were delicious along with eggs, sausage and bacon to start the gastric juices flowing.

I called around and found this outfitter which was in the Piney Creek, Crumpler area called Dusty Trails and while its one of the smaller one man operations he fixed us up with a three seat canoe for Bobby and the grands and I brought my kayak. His prices were almost half what the big outfitters wanted in Va. and come to find out he attends church in Sparta where several of our friends attend. He is a graduate of App. State in Boone and a really nice young man, plus the area we floated was just so much more picturesque than our usual floats. The homes along the river were just well maintained and the beauty of the surrounding hills was awesome plus it didn't seem to have as many rapids but we did encounter some huge rocks in the river which the grands climbed and played on as well as swimming in the water with their PFD's.

We got back in the truck some where close to 2:30 and made a stop in Sparta for Nancy's scripts then headed home to have a late sandwich before heading over to our "mountain mom's" pond and later to visit with her for a few. We have pictures of her and her late husband Roy holding both Bobby and Amy when they were infants. They were as close to family as you can get without being related ever since before Nancy and I  were even married. We managed to catch 4 bass large enough to fillet for our supper tonight(Sat) but we left several in the pond as we lost them at the bank. The pond is alive with perch and blue gill as well as we fed them a bucket of worms.

Nancy had the St.Louis ribs on the smoker and when we got back from the pond we fired up the oven for some tater tots for the kiddo's and fresh broccoli along with salad, yeow what a feed. After the cleanup we loaded up in the truck and headed over to the Luffman Farm where Mechelle breeds Gypsy Varner Horses. They are such mild mannered stout animals and even the stallion is like a puppy dog. We had the grands sitting on one of the brood mares and a two month old colt allowed Gabe to pet him like a dog and followed him around out in the pasture. The kiddos had a grand time and Kay blessed us one again with yellow squash, cucumbers, lettuce and fresh dug red taters from her garden which is along side the pasture. We got back just as dust settled in the area and the fire flies were out showing their colors. The grands had a fun time catching them them I started a camp fire and of course every kid likes to play with fire.

Nancy has all the fixin's for smores so we sat by the fire enjoying a dessert and Gabe singing GOD Bless America until nearly 10. The grands all bathed and got ready for bed as did the adults and finally ourselves. The river, fishing and fun times had us worn out. I heard a hoot owl outside the bedroom window at 5 'ish which awakened me so it wasn't long until it was time to roll out just before 6. Today we head over to Damascus, Va. to ride bicycles down a 17 mile old railroad train bed called the Creeper Trail. Should be fun as the weather is near perfect as was it yesterday. No rain in the forecast, LATER 

Friday Morning

Well Thursday was basically a work day until 5'ish when the Triplett Family arrived from Brandon, Fl. which is a suburb of Tampa. From then on it was play time even beyond my normal bed time. They were thrilled with the moderate temps and even more so now that we have the cabin with a/c especially those sleeping upstairs as it does get a bit warm there in the evenings with only the one window per room.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my routines which always has me ingesting a handful of Nutrilite vitamins and supplements washed down with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble then spend a few quiet moments with my Creator in prayer for several I lift up daily by name. All is well with those and I want to thank all who kept Bobby and Family in their thoughts and prayers for safe travel on this nearly 12 hour trip. Everyone was travel weary after an early start around 5; but soon the mountain fresh air revived them and the time to spend some energy happened with Annsley running around with her butterfly cap and Gabe running and chasing hand tossed airplanes down the hill. They are not use to hills and they soon wore out.

I headed out to weed whack the driveway and the surrounding couple of curves leading in on the gravel road which hadn't been mowed this year. I hand watered the gardens then fired up the riding mower to mow all of the yards including the backwoods yard which I only mow a couple times a year. That kept me busy for the next 2 hours then we had a light lunch and I headed back out to work in the circle driveway pulling and hoeing weeds. I'm starting to get that to look good.

I still had some work to do in the basement as initially Bobby wanted to stay down there but with his last ear infection and because the basement is cool and damp despite the dehumidifier he thought it best to stay upstairs and not take a chance. So I will take apart that set up as we had it ready for him, oh well. The kiddos and I got in a water pistol fight and then we flew balsam airplanes off the deck. Gabe wanted to play me in chess as he has developed into a player like his dad and he gave me an early birthday present of a magnetic chess set. They had skipped lunch except for snacks and were famished as Nancy had the aroma of spaghetti filling the cabin. We decided to go on a hike to the top of the mountain after eating a delicious supper of some guacamole to start then spaghetti and meatballs with a nice fresh garden salad and garlic bread, yeow very good as Nancy had prepared it the day before and tomato based dishes seem to me to be always better the next day.

After the cleanup we took off on a hike to the top and stopped and visited with the Brownings who had company down from Cleveland, Ohio. We visited for a spell then headed down the mountain. The kiddos all showered then we got into a game of dominoes until 10'ish when everyone decided to call it a night. Katie has to work today so she will be on the internet with her job and Nancy isn't crazy about doing the River so it looks as if Bobby and myself will take the kiddos on a canoe trip and then we have a visit with the horses at the Luffman Farm this evening. We will be busy the next 4 days as we have a lot to get in, LATER

Thursday Morning

Well Wednesday was a total work day after taking the day off on Tuesday. I helped out our "mountain mom" first thing after my morning routines then came back to work outside for most of the day except for the hottest part of the afternoon when I worked in the basement where it was nice and cool until supper time, then it was outside to work in the yards and and gardens until dark. I think I sat down once during the day and that was when I sat holding the air hose into the blow up bed in the basement.

The day started much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my usual routines that start with the Nutrilite vitamins and supplements. I think I swallow 12 at one time of various ones which nearly gags Nancy; she drinks with each vitamin a bucket of water, oh well. I had my green tea bag and a slice of fresh ginger root in the cup while it was being microwaved then I add 4-5 shakes of ground turmeric into the mix while I sit and make this post. Afterwards I spend a few quiet moments with reading a small scripture on e-bread.com and then I lift up several by name for comfort, healing and for resolve in their lives as well as humbly give thanks for my many blessings. Afterwards I spoke with our "mountain mom" and headed over to her place about 2-3 miles away to discharge some algae solution into her pond which which not only change the color but eat away some of the algae as we wanted to get the pond ready for the grands to fish in this coming weekend.

I was back home by 9'ish after eating my usual breakfast of an apple. I remember the old saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" and I surely believe that to an extent. We do however eat our" mountain breakfasts" from time to time and now with Bobby and family arriving sometime later this evening(Thurs) we will have bacon outside on the grill along with W.Va. eggs(that's where you fry the eggs in the bacon grease) blueberry pancakes, etc. I hand watered the gardens again as the rain showers passed us by last evening despite the black clouds which threaten at times. Once again I gave them a little boost with some liquid fertilizer as well as some of the flowers. I worked in the circle drive weeding which is back breaking work as well as tossing lots of small rocks into the driveway. We should have named the piece of the earth rock hill as we sure have plenty of them in the soil. It seems every time I rotor till I bring up bunches of them.

Nancy had clothes on the line drying in the sun and light breeze and since it was still rather nice in the low 70's she wanted to hike so off we went to the top of the mountain. We had a grand hike and saw only Jetta at our last stop before heading down the back trail through the woods. The temp's were so hot on top in the bright sunshine and as soon as you reached the shade of the trees it dropped remarkably. It was like going from the oven to the fridge it was that noticeable. We got back with it going on noon so it was sandwich time with the last of the salsa as we have finally cleaned out the leftovers. We will get ready to put on the "feedbag" with Bobby and family coming.

I had to move the heavy ladder off of the deck as I decided to wait until all of the company leaves to finish the high eves and fascia boards on the cabin sides. It really doesn't need staining since the bleach killed the black mildew but it's been a couple years or more since it was last stained. I'll wait until August but the sides of the cabin under the porches look awesome with new stain. I decided to harvest my garlic which for some reason was a bit disappointing. I loaded the bed last fall with lots of horse manure but this year the pickings were slim. I did get maybe a couple dozen bulbs but they were rather small and enough to replant; I'm thinking maybe I should order some planters from Burpee instead of using my own seeds(kernels) to replant for next years crop, oh well. While I was digging up the garlic I did notice some earthworms and saved the biggest ones for the bass fishing and then headed down in the woods to dig for more under the leaves. I found enough to keep the grands busy at the pond and hopefully to attract those tasty bass.

It was starting to warm up and Nancy had the a/c running in the house and was busy making spaghetti and meat ball sauce using some of my fresh oregano from the garden. The smell drifted down in the basement where I was cleaning it for Bobby and Katie. They like to stay down there as there is a full bathroom plus before we had a/c it was always the coolest on even the hottest days. So I fired up the air compressor and blew up the queen size inflatable mattress which took nearly an hour. I think I dozed a little while holding the nozzle into the air chamber. I got the basement ready for them but still think they would be more comfortable upstairs in a real bed now that we have a/c. He likes tradition and thats where he has stayed the last several years.

Nancy had some half runner green beans cooking with hickory smoked bacon which is awesome in taste when cooked with chicken broth, yeow and along with a skillet fried rare rib eye steak. Pan frying rib eyes are the best ever at just a minute or so on each side. I read that is the best way to prepare rib eyes because of the marbling and they were so right. I even eat the marblings which drives Nancy crazy, oh well. Fat turns to energy and I need plenty of it. After the cleanup I fired up the weed whacker and did all of the yards, trees and cleared areas of the yards until dark. I headed for the shower and checked on the baseball scores afterwards and headed for the sack to read until the sandman calleth. He called quick as I read two pages in a good book but could not keep the eyes open. I last looked at the clock and it was 9:39, yikes, LATER 

Wednesday Morning

Well Tuesday was strictly a play day except for some hand watering of the gardens. It seems we are dry again and the heat is back as well as the a/c is on. We were in the town of Sparta until nearly 2 after an early morning start for me which had me getting the truck loaded with trash for the dump and books for the library and then lunch out after Nancy had her hair cut and colored. I had 2 plus hours of pickle ball in the evening after a short nap on the porch during the afternoon.

I started the day much the usual with a before 6 roll out to my usual morning routines that start with the cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger after my handful of Nutrilite vitamins and supplements while I posted this ramble then honored my Creator with a few quiet moments of gratitude and lifted up several by name for comfort and healing. Afterwards I did the social media updates and was thrilled with hearing that Ava is doing so much better with her surgery results while out in Kansas with her other aunts, uncles and Ross grandparents. We are eagerly awaiting the Triplett grand kiddos on Thursday along with their parents.

I checked all of the gardens after venturing outside and those cold mornings have warmed up to a pleasant 60's but did get a bit warm into the low 80's by the time I left for pickle ball around 5'ish. When I got back a little after 8 Nancy had the a/c on again despite the evening air starting to cool down, oh well. She just can not take the heat any longer. We headed to Sparta around 10 for her appointment with the hair gal who does such a great job and I headed to the dump to unload the garbage and then down town to renew our paper subscription for another two years and then to the library. Debbie the librarian wants Bobby's second book in his trilogy autographed and will purchase one. His first book in the Epic of Haven trilogy titled THE GREAT DARKENING was checked out so that was a good sign for her to purchase the second book.

I met Nancy for lunch at JB'S eatery which puts out the best pizza ever and we shared a large pepperoni and mushroom bringing a couple slices home which I ate after pickle ball. Delicious to say the least. We made another stop at the Food Lion for goodies for the up and coming Triplett Family visit as well as now Nancy's nephews are coming from Miami for a couple days next week after Bobby leaves. Their dad and 5 of the boys are coming up for a first time visit over night. They are camping in S.C. and then will come here for a camp out as well. The day after they leave our neighbors the Botbyl's will be here for a week so it will be a busy next couple of weeks until the end of the month, oh well. I'm hoping to get the other two sides of the cabin stained before heading up to Michigan the middle of August but we are having family down from Woodstock over the Fiddlers Convention starting the first week in August. That month is shaping up to be a busy one as well with lots of family and friends visiting.

Well that was about it for the day as I watched the Ray's win again against the Tigers on the internet. They are playing good baseball and are still in third place. I learned that they will be playing in down town Tampa in the near future as land has been procured for a state of the art stadium in the Ybor district. Seems like a waste to me as the Trop is an awesome facility which is a/c and away from rain and bugs at night, oh well, LATER

Tuesday Morning

Well Monday was totally a never set down work day that found me on a step ladder painting the stain on the hemlock boards that I washed with bleach on Sunday and then the black insert boards that give the cabin the look we have grown use to. The weather was unbelievable great for working outside after a chilly 49 degree start.

I started the day around 6'ish only to find a couple of the windows open and the cabin was very chilly. After closing them and donning a long sleeve flannel shirt I started my morning routines which is washing down a handful of those awesome Nutrilite vitamins and supplements with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and a slice of fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble and lifted up several by name to my Creator while spending some quiet time in thanksgiving for the many blessings. I got word of losing another JWHS classmate yesterday from lung cancer. She was a cheerleader and came from one of the elite families in the county with always having the best of everything. You just never know when but we all know we will eventually pass on and must be ready to answer for our life.

After a lite breakfast of leftover peach cobbler and a huckleberry pancake also leftover I headed out to check on the gardens. It was down right cold out so I headed in to don another shirt while checking the gardens. All seem well and I gave everything a boost of liquid plant food much like Miracle Grow with my bean sprayer.  I'm totally thrilled with how the garden is growing and hope to start harvesting some lettuces, Swiss chard and beet greens in the next week for our salads of which we just love.

 I had a couple of open cans of water base stain and where I touched up the cabin walls a couple years ago and that stain looked all most fresh when compared to the oil base stain so I decided even after bleaching the walls to go ahead and use up this stain. I started on the front porch and worked my way around to the back porch before running out of the first gallon. I went back and touched up the black spacer boards where I got sloppy as the brown stain was highlighted on the black. That kept me busy for the next 7 hours and I finally finished for the day around 4'ish. I never sat down except for a sandwich at lunch and my legs ached for a spell after hitting the sack. I now have to do each of the sides of the cabin which will require me to stand on a 28 ft ladder which will require some extra effort not only in the painting but setting this heavy ladder and maintaining some balance. 28 feet is a long way up especially when on the side deck which is roughly 12 feet above ground. I did get up on the ladder and spray bleach on the dormer which had a few wasps flying about when I doused the side boards with bleach but the mildew quickly vanished with the spray.

We ate a garden salad with a leftover chicken breast for our supper so now we have used up all of the leftovers. We over prepare all the time but I grew up on leftovers and some things taste better the next day. Today Tuesday I will take part of the day off as Nancy has a cut and color hair day in Sparta so I will run errands after dropping her off and set a spell in the library which is very nice. I am playing pickle ball at 6'ish so I need to take it easy somewhat. We took a golf cart ride to the top as both of us were too tired to hike and dropped off some jelly jars for Jetta who is always giving us some jelly from her black raspberry bushes which are huge. She gave me some cuttings last years and they are growing and would produce if only the deer wouldn't eat the new growth in the spring.

Well I watched out duly elected POTUS nominate who I found to be totally refreshing, a family man and a Believer despite the fact he is Catholic which I have some minor issues with but a constitutionalist which we need on the SCOTUS. We don't need another activist judge to make law but one that will interpret the law as its written in this founding document that gives everyone equal protection. Hopefully our POTUS will get to appoint another justice after Ginsburg retires or passes away. She is old and an activist for the libs which have ruined the nation especially with the law allowing the killing of the unborn and we the tax payers have to support that abomination, LATER

Monday Morning July 9th

Well Sunday was an awesome day of worship at both on line at the Bridgepoint Church and then again at Cornerstone where we heard a message through a musical group called Summit Trace who gave a nearly 2 hour concert. Afterwards we met up with Mechelle and Caleb at the Pines Eatery for a delicious buffet that included some foods we seldom eat at home; fried chicken, pinto beans, mustard greens, smashed taters & gravy plus a salad bar, needless to say that held us until nearly 7'ish when we ate a sandwich. I spent the afternoon working as we had some catch up things to do since our guests left right before we headed out for Cornerstone.

I started the day much the usual then we heard the Tracy's up and about as they got ready to vacate the cabin for their northern trip to Nova Scotia for two weeks with a couple nights stops on the way. We so enjoyed their short visit but will see them again towards the end of the month when they return and then they will be having all of their family join them over the course of the summer and fall for visits. We will entertain them at times but they will rent a cabin about 12 miles from us and we will share some great fun times with them as they love to entertain as well.

The service at Bridgepoint on line was awesome as Pastor Tim delivers an awesome message his road trip series. We listened in its entirety then headed out for a real treat of christian music for the entire service at Cornerstone then had lunch at one of the favorite eateries in town. I stopped off at the Luffman Farm to borrow a 28 ft. aluminum ladder from Gerald so I could easily reach the peak of the cabin roof. I headed over to our "mountain moms" pond to weed whack the pond bank and area as the grand kiddos want to fish there this coming weekend. They always have such a grand time visiting and catching bass and blue gills and then if we are real lucky I filet them for the skillet. Such memories we make each year.

I decided since I had the big ladder and lots of day light hours that I would fill the bean sprayer with bleach and start spraying the black mildew that accumulates each year on the hemlock boards which gives the cabin the look similar to a log look. Well that job went so fast that I wound up doing the whole cabin in a couple hours except for the dormer which I will do later on Monday. We still had a couple hours of sunlight so we took off on a hike to the top now that Nancy's poison Ivy is starting to dry up and the itch has subsided some what. We had a grand hike together as this was the first in several days for us together. We got back rather quickly as we saw no one on the trail.

I still had an hour or so of sunlight so I hoed and weeded the gardens plus sprayed the plants with some epsom salts which all plants love especially tomato's and pepper. It's magnesium sulfate and the land has become deficient in this mineral. Anyhow I worked outside loosening the packed clay soil in the circle beds until dark and pulling some weeds. It was a perfect day for being outside and catching up on some work. I had use Saturday as a day of rest with our guests.

Well we hit the showers around 9'ish then got ready for some horizontal lab as I usually find the sand man calling around 10 and Nancy usually comes to bed some time afterwards. We got word our daughter Amy and Family made it safely to Kansas after a two trip by car, yikes that is a long time to be bottled up with three kiddos but they will enjoy two weeks with Tyler's family. Our son Bobby is coming this Thursday for a few days before they head down to Blowing Rock and spend a couple days with Katie's family, LATER

Sunday Morning

Well Saturday found us running around for most of the day visiting and then looking for a barber so Patrick could get a haircut before heading north this Sunday morning. We did get into looking at a couple of cabins off the Blue Ridge Parkway that were for sale. While they were rather modern they were built on a ridge over looking the deep valley near Fox Hunters Paradise they had no or very little yard and the inside living space was small as well. I must say the views were awesome for distance and beauty. One is actually seen as you travel south on the parkway.

I started the day much the usual with a 6'ish roll out to my routines of a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and fresh ginger while I posted this ramble then spent some time with my Creator in thanksgiving and lifting up several by name. Since we had over night company Nancy decided on starting the day with a huge "mountain breakfast" that started once everyone came down from upstairs. The outside temps had dropped overnight due to the rain last evening and later in the day we opened the down stairs windows after getting home from our travels. This morning the temps are in the 50's yeow so we closed the windows as the cold air enveloped the down stairs to start the morning.

We visited the cabin owners where our guests will be renting starting the end of July for a couple of months, actually they will be renting both of the cabins on this property as they have family coming from different areas of the country for extended visits. They have rented this same cabin every summer for the past 4-5 years and they only stayed with us for a few days as they journey around the country before settling down for sometimes months at a time. They are looking to buy something in this area but time will tell as each year we look at places. They just love out place and ambiance but ours is very unique and it will be hard to find one like ours because of all the work we have done to make it different, anyhow they will be gone to Canada for a couple weeks before coming back to the area until October.

We headed to Galax as the local barber closed at noon and we missed him by 15 minutes. We dropped the gals off in the old town section before heading to Walmart where Patrick had his ears lowered after a 30 minute wait. We did a little shopping as they needed a few small things for their trip. We called the gals and they met us outside the dropping off point and we headed back up the parkway to stop and visit these cabins that were for sale before heading home around 4'ish. Since the big breakfast of sausage, eggs and huckleberry pancakes had held us all day long our tummy's were growling so we cut some cheese, olives, cucumbers and crackers before we put together our supper. We had a little vino in the waiting and I decided to teach them the game of Spades. They were really interested to learn the game and the guys prevailed in the first game. We had planned on a second game after supper but Kathryn was tired and hit the sack around 8:30.

I grilled cut up veggies; zucchini, yellow squash, onions, mushrooms and red and yellow peppers in a grill basket with olive oil and then marinated chicken breast along with fresh corn on the cob for our supper. We sat outside on the deck which was a perfect evening for dining outside. The temps had really dropped so we open the windows and doors to let in the fresh air. Nancy made a delicious peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream on top for our dessert, yeow what a feast. The Tracy's were still recovering from the all night drive so they hit the showers then the bed. We ventured outside checking on the gardens and flower beds until dark then we too hit the showers and I was ready to read until 10'ish. Nancy came to bed sometime later in the evening after watching Dr. Pol on the tube, LATER

Saturday Morning July 7th

Well Friday found us getting in the final touches as we eagerly awaited the arrival of the Tracy's from Florida around 9'ish. They left the night before and drove all night taking turns with the drive. They mentioned the traffic was very light and they maintained a good speed. They did catch a few winks while the other drove which allowed them be some what in good shape despite being up all night. They will stay two nights with us then travel up to Nova Scotia for a couple of weeks before coming back on the 20th or thereabouts of this month when the Botbyl's come up from Seminole for a week or so. It will be a big reunion of the the Cool Peoples Club.

I rolled out about 6 which is some what normal for me and did my usual morning routines that start with the Nutrilite vitamins and supplements washed down with a cup of hot green tea laced with turmeric and a slice of fresh ginger root while I posted this ramble and then a few quiet moments with my Creator. All is well with those I lift up daily as I've heard nothing to the contrary. We texted the Tracy's about breakfast and they has stopped at a Cracker Barrel for breakfast so we ate our usual light fare which meant an apple for me and cereal for Nancy. Tomorrow(today Sat.) we will do a mountain breakfast of sausage, eggs and grits.

I headed out to check on the gardens and decided since the last several days the high heat had dried out the garden to hand water early in the morning. I gave all of the gardens a huge drink as well as the flower beds but little did I know that sometime around 4 ish we had a thunder storm with some heavy gully washer down pours. We were appreciative of the needed rain but was hoping it would clear off as this was the first Friday of the month and the down town street in Sparta would be closed for Music On The Main which features several different genre of bands; some local and some from throughout the state who perform on the street in different locations and some within venues featuring food and drink.

We ate at the recently opened Muddy Water Cafe and saw numerous folks we hadn't seen since last year. The venue is basically an appetizer, sandwich and salad menu with a full liquor bar. The food was tasty and a bit on the steep side with Nancy having a fresh salad and grilled chicken on the top and I had a hamburger with fries and with tip it was 30 bucks. The food was tasty and the venue has been remodeled nicely. We wondered around town as the main street was closed to traffic and met up with several folks we have come to know over the years. We listen to some awesome Blue Grass and a one man vocalist with guitar who was very loud and played all stuff that was very contemporary. The featured band started at 8 and storm clouds were filling up the skies but the turn out was big with hundreds of folks lining at the courthouse steps to listen to their rather modern version of swing music which I thought was not for this mountain crowd. There were Mexican singers in full garb with a guitar an accordion who played and sung in their native language. They were very good as well.

We stayed until 8:30 then decided to beat the storm which according to the radar was at any moment going to rain on this festive occasion. The temps were very comfortable in the low 70's and the shops and most all of the stores were open as well as the eateries. It was a fun time in the mountain community as many brought their dogs on leashes, lawn chairs and lots of babies and young kids. Well we got back just before dark and everyone started on the hot showers as we took turns with the night travelers first and then they were off to bed. I soon to was ready for some horizontal lab after a hot shower in this oh so soft water from the well and read a few minutes past 10'ish, LATER