Well I'm back at this laptop after a very uneventful trip to the cabin. We left at 4 Am and got within about 10 miles of where we take the exit to Sparta when traffic came to a complete stand still. It seem the road department is doing some major construction both north and southbound on I- 77. We did see one message board about prepare to stop a couple miles up ahead but nothing like what we encountered for 3 or 4 miles of total back up. Two lanes were merging into one lane and that set us back a good 30-40 minutes. Anyone coming this way should take exit 79 and then get on Rt 21 towards Sparta. Its out of the way but at least your moving.
We made several stops for fuel, food and walking around every half hour or so.. We gassed up in Columbia S.C.at Sam's Club for 2.51 which was 30 to 40 cheaper than any where else. We ate at Mikey d's for breakfast and their bacon, egg and cheese biscuit was delicious and filling. I noticed they now have apple fritters and wow it was also delicious. That held us until around 3'ish when we ate a chicken sandwich at Zaxby's which is next door to the super Wal Mart in Elkin where we shopped for groceries. It was also very tasty and their fries were very good and plentiful. We got back at the cabin right at 12 hours from the time we left Florida.
The yards were grown high with grasses and weeds. I did have the tomato seedlings get burnt in the back of the truck from the high heat which was 92 off the mountain, but very comfortable 79 here at the cabin. Every thing looked good inside the cabin but when I turned on the water pump water stared poring down from the upstairs through the ceiling. It seems the innards of the commode upstairs must have frozen an cracked which let the incoming water flood the cabin. Luckily it a small problem now after getting the shutoff valve to the upstairs commode turned off. It seems when we left the cabin in January a hard freeze despite me adding anti freeze to the commode caused the valve to break away from the supply line. We were kept busy mopping both the floors and then we turned on the dehumidifier which quickly helped with getting rid of the dampness.
Nancy was busy inside with putting away all the stuff we packed as well as the groceries and getting the bed ready for night time. I worked outside until dark as I wanted to put the seedlings in the ground and try to save the burnt ones. They may make it. I was up before 6 AM with a cup of green tea and outside doing my quiet times while walking around the cabin grounds. It was a perfect morning with the birds singing and the fresh cool air all before the sunshine ever reached our cabin. I didn't sleep all that well and usually never do as I had all of the projects being played out in my mind despite not sleeping very well the night before we left. I can tell my muscles are sore from all the digging, weed pulling and walking up and down these stairs and these hilly yards .
I had to cut up a large oak tree top that had fallen from the strong winds this winter which was blocking an area behind the deck. I did mow some last evening for a couple hours and then again today for a couple hours. Neighbor Gerald came by and invited us down to meet his new female other later this evening. Its just so peaceful here as we look out on everything GOD made. We have made a big difference already inside the cabin and I'm continuing to work on the yards and gardens. I did sow several difference seeds this morning in the back yard garden after completely weeding it along with the upper garden. I'm sitting here digesting a burger and chips before getting back on the mower, LATER
