Tuesday Morning Sept 30th

 Well September is all most gone and we will soon be in our last full month here in the mountains. Sure wish the rain would ease up for a couple of days as we are now starting to mold and mildew, but thankfully those named storms are moving away from land and the destruction they brought last year will hopefully be negated by this move. So give me the rain in place of the storms and the havoc they did last year or any year for that fact.

I started the day with my usual 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All are holding with this post but some in severe need of a miracle for healing. I did go out and stretch on the back porch before walking around the property, checking on the gardens. The deer ate down the parsley after forgoing it for months as they did the Swiss chard. They have eaten off all of the greenery on the tomato plants that are still producing some small 'maters but they will be gone in another couple days as there are no more blooms, oh well. All I have left on the porch are some small tomato's, but since Nancy can't eat them they will last a couple more weeks for salads and with my eggs when I have them for breakfast.

I piddled around outside in the yards and gardens for a couple hours before the fog and heavy mist set in and then the lite rain plus the temps dropped so I had to put on long pants and an extra shirt, wow does the temps change here very quickly and it stayed wet and cool the rest of the day. I headed in to read the afternoon and finished another non fiction WWII event that happened in Belgian with the German's deporting the Jews to the concentration camps. The event was noted because of the resistance by these Belgians and their help for these folks and then a train escape taking over a thousand folks to the ovens. The main folks did escape, some were shot and some totally escaped and lived to tell about and some were recaptured but it sent a message to the Nazi's and the world as they were trying to keep this a secret from the world which they could no longer do. It was a great read but sad one with pics of some involved to share their stories of their escape. What a sad commentary on the German people who allowed this genocide to occur and their hatred by these Nazi's of a race of folks and how they were treated in a modern civilization.

Well we headed out a little before 6 to shop at Food Lion before meeting with our Monday night Bible study groups at church. We had 10 men there and were missing a couple and the gals had as many as well. It rained all evening and then again all night and still rain is dripping off the roof this morning. Its not looking great for any outdoor activities this morning or during the day, LATER

Monday Morning Sept 29th

 Well Sunday started out with no rain but by the early afternoon it poured buckets once gain and we did see the sun from time to time in between rain showers. We did get in a hike towards evening but just down the steep driveway and around the property. So far it rained every day for the past 5 days and we are all caught up on any drought possibilities for awhile. Lets just hope these storms in the Atlantic pass us by.

I started the day with my usual 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing, all seem to be holding with this post. We worshiped first here at the cabin on line with Gary Hamrick from Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Va. and heard a great message on one of my main stay scriptures from Galatian about "reaping what you sow" and then we headed out to our local Cornerstone Fellowship in Sparta where Pastor B did a message on the resurrection of Jesus and how its validity is proven in history before the gospels where ever written including scientific evidence when Jesus died upon the cross with the eclipse and earthquake the moment HE gave it up to death. Afterwards we headed home as Jake wasn't at church but Katelyn was so we skipped eating out and came home.

I tuned into the NFL and saw where our Bucs came up short on the score board against the Super Bowl Champs, Eagles in a hard fought game with too many errors by the home town team, oh well. It was football until bedtime for me around 10'ish except for some small breaks in the action. We did get in a small hike during one of the periods of sunshine and I did read for a spell after my shower. Not much else going on except we are watching that storm or storms that are building and about this time last year one devastated western N.C. so much so its still being cleaned up in some areas, LATER

Sunday Morning Sept 28th

 Well Saturday started out with rain for most of the early morning until mid morning then the sun appeared and it stayed dry mostly until late afternoon. We received another inch of rain over night so we are definitely out of the drought and if these storms hit here we will have more trees up rooted like last fall. Speaking of Fall the color in the trees are evident as we travelled last week down the parkway and now as we hike up the back trail the yellows, browns and even a few red's are showing their colors. Many trees around the yards are also shedding their leaves with all this rain, oh well. I will soon need to take the leaf blower and put it to use.

I started the day with a 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing, all seem to be holding but I read where an old friend from our church in Seminole passed away last week. We were deacons together for years and Ron was good family man.

I head out to check on the gardens after stretching on the back porch and noticed where the deer had been in the gardens over night but since since they had eaten every thing to their taste I didn't notice a whole lot of damage. Their hoof prints were every where. I did pull some weeds after the rain stopped in the one flower garden which made it easy for pulling them as the ground was soaked. After a breakfast of oatmeal, cinnamon, honey, pecans and some blue berries I headed out to pick green beans and jalapeno's from the upper garden and got a nice mess of both. We decided to hike out to the mailbox so I took a sack of jalapeno's for Shirley on the way out. It was a different hike at just about a mile each way but with some good hills.

Well I skipped lunch except for some peanuts as I'm trying to lose a little of this spare tire and I've been taking metamucil once a day in hopes that will curb my appetite and I truly believe it has. Nancy even mentioned I looked slimmer, oh well. We used up the left over steaks from the other night for fajitas as I sauteed peppers and onions outside on the grill, delicious with sour cream and some jalapeno's on top for our supper. It was college football most of the afternoon and evening until shower time and then some reading until lights out around 10:30.

Today is corporate worship day both here at the cabin on line and then off to our local church in Sparta. We will probably eat out for lunch with the Frankis Family and then come back for some NFL during the afternoon and evening, LATER

Saturday Morning Sept 27th

Well Friday was an overcast day after a rainy night and then rain again last evening and its raining rather steady as I make this post. We were in a drought a couple days ago, but no longer as it rained for the past couple of days and nights, oh well. I sure hope this tropical depression/hurricane stays away from land as we do not want a repeat of last years event when we had trees down and no power, oh well.

I started the day with my usual 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All are holding with this post, but some with more severe health issues than others. I headed out after stretching on the back porch to check on whats left of the gardens. I do have half runner beans to harvest as well as kale and some herbs. I did cut off some dead flower heads and put them out to dry on the work table under the back porch. I did cut up some small branches and limbs around the yards and hauled them down to my new burn pile.

Nancy washed some sheets and we put them out to dry on the clothesline when we did get some sunshine for about an hour. The rain held off until late evening, despite dark rain clouds so we hiked the mountains and then it was read the rest of the afternoon on the porch. I'm reading another great non fiction story on the torpedoing of the Lusitania that took nearly1200 lives by the Germans in 1915 which brought the USA into WWI. Its titled DEAD WAKE by Eric Larson. Awesome read.

I had started the gastric juices flowing with eggs, grits and a cut up jalapeno pepper with tomato in a bowl and a slice of sourdough bread with homemade black raspberry jelly we had made in June when the grands were here, delicious and that held me until 1'ish when I snacked with some grapes and peanuts. We were heading to the Frankis Family farm for supper at 5:30 so Nancy had made a bowl of tatter salad to share.

We had baked chicken thighs, butternut squash and sweet tatters baked and mixed together as well as wax beans from their garden and Nancy's tatter salad, delicious and afterwards we played hand, knee and foot. The guys were dominate last evening for a change but first we checked out how the new house was coming along. Jake is a great builder and is doing most all the work himself. Its really coming to life with the siding on now and painted a dark gray. It was after 9 when we finished the game and headed home in the rain and it hasn't stopped, oh well. Natalia their 9 month baby is walking with a toy and is quite the smiley baby, LATER

Friday Morning Sept 25th

Well we are no longer in a drought as its been raining off and on for over an inch of rain yesterday and then again last evening and over night. At times it has poured like a gully washer. I did notice yesterday lots more leaves have donned the yards and the roads as we made a trip to Sparta for some groceries for shut ins and I made a library stop for some new reads.

I started the day with a before 6 roll out to my usual routines since we are company free once again, that begin with some quiet moments to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All are holding that we know of, but a couple are in serious need for a miracle of healing. We bought some extras for a couple families who are hurting; one Nancy cooked and we delivered it hot yesterday afternoon and for the other family it is frozen until we take it with us Sunday to church.

I piddled around in the gardens checking on the deer damage from overnight and they got a taste of Swiss chard for the first time this summer and ate it down to the roots, so I added a couple extra ropes across the fence in hopes to thwart them from jumping into the patch and if they do maybe they will get tangled up and fall and break a leg(only hoping that will happen), oh well. There is so much browse in the woods and now acorns everywhere, but no, they have to eat my gardens. Anyhow I'm still getting blooms on the zucchini's and even gave away a couple and have a couple more that need eating. 

We ate a mountain breakfast of eggs, sausage and buckwheat pancakes for a change. We haven't been able to find that flour anywhere and saw it the other day at the cheese factory in W. Jefferson and bought a sack. The meal held me all day long until supper when we cleaned up the salmon, pasta and broccoli leftovers. Its starting to get dark much earlier now as the sun moves down behind the trees surrounding the cabin. Its definitely Fall but the temps have stayed rather mild for a change. The tropical storms heading this way may bring us some severe weather once again next week, so I'll get some extra gas for the generator just in case we lose power like last year. At least we will be ready in case it comes this far west to the mountains, oh well. 

The Ray's lost again and I tuned into the first half of the NFL before hitting the shower and reading until lights out for me at 10:30, LATER

Thursday Morning Sept 25th

 Well Wednesday was say good bye to sister Dee and Mike as they left after a morning hike to the top of the mountain. It sure was lonely and quiet around here after they left, so we put the cabin back in order. I did some small honey do's and then we headed out to visit and take some veggies to our shut in neighbor Grant who recovering from major surgery and isn't healing as fast as he hoped. He is so weak and they have him on a fat free diet and its hard to eat without any flavor.

I started the morning with a 6'ish rollout and skipped my usual post after arising but did make a later post after they left. We ate lite with just a banana for breakfast before hiking and then some Metamucil as Mike after using it, has lost a few pounds as well as lowering his blood sugar and its supposed to be good for you, so I will give it a try. It sure helped cure my appetite for a day so I'll continue with it. I have no problem with BM's and so far it hasn't made any difference with that event.

I did harvest some tomato's from the back woods last 4 plants which are just about done since the deer now are eating the greenery and they ate the dill patch and still eating the beet tops and the leaves off the half runner beans as well as the potato plants. I'll be glad when they leave whats left in the garden alone, oh well. I go through this every year with them and despite the deer devices they still eat everything once they get use to the lights flashing and the noise, oh well.

I dropped Nancy off for a visit with Shirley and I visited Grant for a few, we took them some 'maters from the garden and then I worked on the hill that has some pot holes, trying to smooth them out. We got a lite rain a couple times during the day and evening but early this morning a storm woke me up with heavy rain and lightning, wow what a storm that was and Nancy snored right through it, oh well.

We cleaned up the tortilla soup for supper with a a garden fresh salad and she had bought a frozen chocolate pie and had thawed it out a day ago, so I had a piece after the soup. We watched our home church's 7 PM service called Living Room which is very laid back and Pastor Derek spoke about the influence of idols and mainly about AI(artificial intelligence). It can be another tool for information but it also can become another bad influence with regard to making it first and foremost for your thinking which essentially is an idol. Be on guard for how you let it influence your thinking and actions.

I tuned into the Ray's game against the Orioles on the lap top and they were winning but sadly they didn't make the cut for any wild card place in the playoffs which start in a week or so. The Orioles was another team that didn't make the cut either. I watched some Charlie Kirk's campus events and he was really very sharpe and smart answering questions and debating with college students and even professors until it was 10'ish, then I hit the shower and read until 10:30 when it was lights out for me, LATER

Wednesday Morning Sept 24th

 Well its close to 11 and our company just left for their trip back to Woodstock, Va., It was a grand time as is always with baby sister Dee and Mike and their cute pup Sophie. She is a hoot and they love her dearly and she got to run, leash free the whole time here. We got in a 1mile and half hike two mornings in a row and she chased rabbits and the sound of a deer in the woods. Yesterday we headed over or down to West Jefferson for a visit;  first on the BR Parkway and then back up the twisty road on 221. We had a delicious lunch in town at the place we ate 3 years ago called the New River Brewery and I had the smoked brisket plate with tatter salad and Cole slaw and a nice portion of the meat. Nancy brought some of her pulled pork plate home and I finished it off this morning as I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday at lunch time.

We made a stop at the cheese place in town and brought back several items as well. We all played hand, knee and foot after getting home and the guys won the rubber match despite the gals winning all the Euchre matches; 2-1 each time. On a sad note Nancy's sisters husband Gus was taken to the hospital during the night with stroke symptoms and he was given the shot to save him and is recouping in the hospital at this time.

Well we are company free for about a week and a half so its time to get ready for Sheri and Steve to come up in a few days and then Dan and Carol for about 10 days and then after they leave we will start locking up the place for the winter and leave here on Nov 2nd, a Sunday morning. We did see lots of Fall colors in the trees along the parkway and got a little rain last evening to settle the dust, LATER

Tuesday Morning Dept 23rd

Well Monday was another very nice day with warm temps and near perfect weather as we headed off to Galax for some shopping and me a haircut which I failed to get a week ago. Mike and Dee are here until tomorrow when they head back to Woodstock so we will head down to West Jefferson today. We did take a few different roads yesterday on our way back from town and then a hike to the top of the mountain before settling in to some domino's outside on the deck until late afternoon then it was delicious supper of salmon, pasta and broccoli and then the last of the banana pudding and then some Euchre before hitting the shower at 10'ish. The gals won again 2-1 in the card game and the also the domino's game. It was a fun day to celebrate 46 years of together with family, LATER

Monday Morning Sept 22nd..46 years married this day

Well Sunday was a day we will remember as we celebrated or cried our way through a memorial service for Charlie Kirk and a day of worship all here at the cabin on line first with Gary Hamrick, then Dee and Mike's church in Woodstock and finally with our local church in Florida with Derek Parker. We did get in a hike to the top of the mountain which was awesome as the temps stayed down in the low 70's with plenty of sunshine. We ate well also and played Euchre after supper and the gals won 2-1 in games and then I hit the shower and read until nearly 11. We caught up on some NFL scores and the Bucs pulled out another win late in the game and then we called Tyler, son in law who celebrated his birthday this day. We all sang to him over the phone.

The girls go to Galax to shop today and Mike with assist me as I want to saw up that down tree laying in neighbor Gerald's drive way that came down during the ice storm last winter. Its a good size tree, LATER

Sunday Morning Sept 21st

Well I'll cut this ramble short as we have company and they are already up at 6:30. I wanted to sleep in for a change but no, Nancy set the alarm so now everyone is up, oh well. We got ready for them starting early Saturday morning then we headed to Sparta for a memorial service for an old friend who died too young. The church was packed for up here with lots of folks and family members. It was a great service with lots of tears and laughs as Chris was remembered in stories and his dad reflected on his life.

Well we had a delicious steak supper with oven tatters and garden green beans and a garden salad I put together earlier this morning and then we played hand knee and foot until after 10'ish, LATER

Saturday Morning Sept 20th

 Well Friday was another rather warm and dry day, warm enough Nancy had the a/c on during the evening after we got back from a hike to the top of the mountain. It was a stay around the cabin kind of day as we get ready for company later this afternoon for the next several days. I started the day with my usual 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet time to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and then to lift up several by name for comfort and healing after posting this ramble. All are holding but this afternoon we head to our local church for a memorial service for an old friend who passed at a young age from a missed diagnosis that caused him to lose his life from stomach cancer, so sad. Everyone seems to be holding and recovering from major surgery. We took a pot of tatter soup and a mess of half runner beans I picked earlier in the morning down to Grant and Shirley's place as he had a kidney removed that was cancerous and he can not eat any fat, so Nancy found some fat free milk which she made the soup from.

I piddled around in the gardens hand watering once again as we are dry here in the mountains for a change. We sure could use a good steady rain as I'm watering by hand every other day. Not sure how much longer the gardens will survive as the harvesting isn't what it was like a month go. The cucumbers are dried up and the main tomato plants are dying as well and what the deer haven't eaten off is also about gone, anyhow it has been a banner year as I supplied tons of fruits(berries) and veggies to our friends and neighbors.

We visited with the Heglar's mainly Shirley as Grant was in bed and so did Anne and Elaine as we are all here to help with Grant's recovery. Elaine is an LPN and a big help and is always ready to pitch in, in everything especially after get togethers in helping to clean up and do dishes. She is a dream neighbor. We took a hike around 4'ish and it was quite pleasant as the main road on top of the mountain was in the shade and despite it being close to 80 was comfortable, of course Nancy had the a/c on for the first time in several weeks as she has been having the heat on both morning and evenings, but a change this week with much drier and warmer temps.

I skipped any supper as I had a bowl of the Brunswick stew with a slice of homemade bread for a late lunch and just had a handful of peanuts around 7'ish. I did watch the Ray's lose again after being ahead and it looks as if their season will soon be over as there are no chances now to make the playoffs. I tuned into Fox News and watched all of the snippets being shown on Charlie Kirks messages to college kids during his visits to college campus. He was brilliant with his recall of facts especially about the Bible and the history of America. Its no wonder the Left hated him because he use facts over fiction to tell the truth about what was happening to our beautiful country that was founded on the Judeo-Christian ideology and principles.

We will skip football on Sunday and watch the tribute to him in the memorial service in Arizona at 2 PM, and will skip the service at our church as well as our pastor is gone and a guest speaker is in his place. We will watch Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Va and then our home church in Florida all on line afterwards. Its amazing the technology today that allows such real time visits, LATER

Friday Morning Sept 19th

Well Thursday was a busy day that had us going into Sparta to run some errands as well as a stop at the library and then the grocery store as we are expecting company this weekend for about the next 5 days. Sister Dee and Mike with their new pup Sophie will be here, so I would expect some good card playing over these next nights and then neighbors Dan and Carol arrive on the 3rd of October for 10 days, plus Sheri and Steve should be here for a couple weeks as well. The next 6 weeks which is about all we have before heading back to Florida should be filled with friends, good eatin' and lots of games.

I started the day with my usual 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All are holding albeit some with more severe health issues than others. Nancy and I are blessed as we both are holding on to decent health at this point as we both hike the mountain usually daily, but skipped yesterday due to the shopping trip to Sparta. Neighbor Anne and Frank came by at supper time and brought us supper which was a stew called Brunswick along with a loaf of fresh baked bread she made herself, delicious. I use to order this stew when we would get barbecue in Seminole at Willy G's as a side dish. Tasty and loaded with veggies. I added a fresh jalapeno to mine which really spiced it up.

I did check on the gardens after stretching on the back porch and noticed the deer were once gain in the back yard patch so I added another post and strung a rope across the top to maybe thwart them from jumping the fence an eating whats left. Thankfully they have not developed a taste for the actual bean as it just the leaves they like. I did harvest another gallon or more of the beans from the two patches and gave away about 2/3 of them to neighbors including Anne and Frank as well as a pint of blue berries I picked. My bushes are still producing although not nearly as much as a couple weeks ago and we are blue berried out. I still eat them at least twice a week with my oatmeal for breakfast, but I've given away tons this summer to all the neighbors out here on the mountain.

I did do some porch setting and reading and finished the true story titled SPEARHEAD about a WWII tank devision that helped capture the German cities that brought and end to the war. It is a great read, but with lots of pics from the era and event that claimed the lives of so many who operated those Sherman tanks. This read puts you right there in the battles and engagements including the horrible injuries and deaths to so many who operated them. It's a well worth reading story and horrific at times on what these men went through during the war and their associations with the native folks. Some  folks welcomed US(A) as a blessings to those who were under authority to the Reich which was brutal and these folks welcomed Americans and their actions to relief them from these radicals, especially the German SS troops.

Well after supper and the clean up I headed out to set the deer devices and once again one decided not to even turn on. I'll never buy anything from this company again as this is the fourth device that just quit turning on, oh well. I watched a little of the Ray's game before turning on the TNF game and it was tied at half time. Not sure how the Dolphins managed that score after getting blown out in their first two games and the Bills were two big wins to start the season. Just maybe the Bills were over confident and or the Dolphins got it together. Not sure what the final score was as I hit the shower at half time and read until after 10, LATER

Thursday Morning Sept 18th

Well Wednesday started out on the chilly side but quickly warmed to the 70's and stayed that way until late evening when the skies became overcast; still no rain so I hand watered all of the gardens including the flower beds. I did mow the yards except for the very back woods area which I usually mow every other time as it grows the slowest, anyhow it got rather warm on our mid morning hike and while I mowed during the mid afternoon.

I started the day with my usual 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding and we got word that Grant is now out of the hospital and back here on the mountain after having a kidney removed that was cancerous, hopefully they caught it in time and that it hasn't spread to other organs.

I piddled around outside in the gardens after breakfast and after stretching on the back porch before heading out. Whats left of the gardens were very dry despite heavy dews at night so I drug out the hoses and gave every thing a good drink. Many of the transplanted perennial flowers seedlings are doing quite well and now today I'll harvest some of the many flower heads that have dried up for next years sowing. I did head down the drive way to cut away some vines and limbs that were starting to protrude into the driveway as well as raked some of the loose gravel that make it slippery coming up the steep hill. The ground underneath is so dry and hard and the loose gravel makes for spinning your tires so I raked some of gravel into the center of the drive so the tires could get traction.

We took off on our lunch time hike as we had eaten a late breakfast and while it was nice in the shade of the woods it was hot on top as we walked across which was totally in the sunshine. We finally did the whole hike whereas we have been cutting it short on the walk across the top, usually skipping the last couple of houses by cutting through the woods. It was hazy down below and Pilot Mountain was barely visible as it was really hot off the mountain. We didn't see any wild life today on our hike but tons of acorns littered the trail in the woods. The deer and turkeys should have plenty of feed this winter and it may be a sign the winter will be rough with all the acorns in abundant.

Well I grilled pork chops and pulled a couple beet from the garden and I found a white beet in the mix. I didn't know they came in white in color and thus no bleeding when peelings. The beets were awesome in flavor and along with a baked sweet tater doctored up with cinnamon and honey were delicious. I added some fresh Rosemary to the chops while they were baking on the grill and they were just great and flavorful. After the cleanup, since Nancy was on the phone I ventured out to put the golf cart away and activate the deer devices which I think are useless as they have become accustom to them and seem to use their lights to graze in my gardens, oh well.

We tuned into our Wednesday gathering at our home church, Starkey Road Baptist in Seminole for an hour then I watched the Ray's finally win another game at home on the laptop. Their chances of making the wild card are slim but still there, if they start winning out their last few games, oh well. I did get in some great reading on the porch after mowing and its another WWII read titled SPEARHEAD. Its an awesome read about the US tank division in Germany during the war and their story involving lots of photos and events to those who drove those tanks and who lived and died in them as well. Its another page turner as well as it get personal about them and their journey and the many who never made it home from the war, LATER

Wednesday Morning Sept 17th

 Well Tuesday started out nippy with temps in the 50's and warmed up to the middle 70's, a very nice day with a gentle breeze. It was a work morning for me and then a set on the deck and read the afternoon away after a hike around lunch time to the top of the mountain.

I started the day with my usual 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet time to honor Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing, all seem to be holding with this post. I headed out to check on the gardens after stretching on the back porch. Well the deer once again was in the back yard and backwoods patches eating down any and everything they could reach, anyhow I did harvest a zucchini squash and have a couple small coming on with more big orange blooms. The deer don't seem to like squash plants. The gardens are on their way out for this season here in the  mountains except for the beans which the deer love, oh well.

I took the shrub clippers and worked on the wine berry bushes and took them down to the ground as they looked bad plus they will soon send up new shoots. That sure cleaned up that area along the bank and makes that area so much nicer to look at. After working up a sweat we took off on our hike to the top of the mountains and we saw no one out and about there, except some Mexican yard workers mowing and weed  eating. We did jump up a large buck with a nice rack on the way down the mountain on the back road.

We came back and had a lite lunch before heading out to set on the deck in the shade to read the afternoon away until we decided to eat an early supper., We were having our couples class in Sparta on this evening instead of Thursdays due to a schedule change for the leaders, which worked out for us as well. Seems we are gone from the cabin almost every evening this week as we are supposed to visit the Frankis Family for supper on Thursday and then gone again on Saturday and of course on Sunday. We are getting excited about Dee and Mike visiting this Saturday and staying until sometime later in the week as well.

Nancy prepared a delicious pasta with shrimp and mushrooms for our early supper and then off to the couples class. Beth baked a delicious blueberry pound cake and shared, as we were celebrating another couples birthdays, but they didn't come because of a health issue, anyhow we need to get off desserts for a few days before we get company again. We got back to the cabin around 9'ish and I checked the Rays game and they were losing again. I think their chances of making a wild card slot are fading away this season. The Bucs won in a nail biter on Monday night which is unusual as they use to always seem to find a way to lose in a close game. Today we stay home in the evening I think as Nancy has us going some place almost every evening this week, oh well, LATER

Tuesday Morning Sept 16th

 Well Monday started out chilly to us flat landers from Florida with temps in the middle 50's but eventually warmed up to the upper 70's with tons of sunshine and blue skies. I had started the day with my usual 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several for comfort and healing. Our neighbor Grant was under going a kidney removal that was cancerous and we got word it was successful and was in recovery in a hospital in Charlotte and may even be able to come home in a day or two. We are still mourning the loss of Charlie Kirk and for his family as the FBI investigates his killers radicalization, so sad for this nation and for those who celebrate his death, but mainly his movement that has now taken over this nation with his love for Jesus, family and patriotic love of country will live on. His legacy and message will only get stronger as his wife will stay the course with is organization called Turning Point America. His association with MAGA is strong and sincere and has resonated with all patriots. Only those who have been brainwashed by the socialist/communists and who are Woke with DEI democrat leanings will remain as enemies like his killer.

After my morning posts and quiet times I headed out to stretch on the back porch before walking around checking on the gardens for any and all deer damage. Well they jumped the fence around the back yard patch and ate off all the beet greens and lots more of the half runner bean vines as well as all the green pepper tops. I haven't got any bell peppers this year as it's one of their favorite foods along with the potato tops. They have eaten them down to just stems as well as eaten the tips of the tomato's plants that are still producing some blooms in the back woods patch, oh well. I did harvest several small tomato's from that patch as the tomato plants in the other two patch's are dead and have been removed. I have several 'maters along the porch railing ready for the plate and we had a couple yesterday for our BLT's at lunch. I try to eat at least one a day while they are still available and then of course I'll plant more when we get back to my Florida garden in November. We have 6 more Sundays here before leaving for the flat land.

I fired up the weed eater and did the property which kept me busy for a couple hours and then rested the rest of the day reading a WWI book titled FORTY-SEVEN DAYS. It's a first hand account on Gerald Pershing and the beginnings of the first regular US Army and their commitment to the war against Germany. There are lots of pictures as well from that event. Its a page turner and I have found it hard to put down once I started. Lots of history about that time period and how the USA got involved and their role in ending that war with the fighting vigor of the "Doughboys". Many generals in WWII were just minor officers in that war with "Black Jack Pershing" as the commander and his leadership. Very interesting to say the least.

Well we were having a cook out at church at 7 as we ended the mens Bible study in the book of Roman's which when we do, we usually invited any from the church and all from the women's class which meets at the same time weekly. We had grilled burgers, dogs and the fixin's as well plenty of desserts and then we mingled until 8'ish. Lots of kids and babies attended and then we headed home as the Bucs were on TV. Its seldom I get to watch them here in the mountains and while they won it wasn't pretty as they were looking like the Bucs of old; missing field goals, blocked punts and QB sacks, but they managed to pull it out in the final seconds by one point. They were slated to win it all by some sports casters as the team to beat this season, but I bet a FSU could beat them like they did Alabama to start the NCAA season, oh well, LATER

Monday Morning Sept 15th

Well Sunday started out with a 6'ish rollout to my usual morning routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing, especially Charlie Kirk's wife and family. So sad to see his life taken so soon, he truly was a hero in my book for his stand on faith, family and country and so knowledgeable about America's history. All others seem to be holding except for Clarence Crouse who has been in bad shape for years and is now in the hospitable in Sparta.

We watched Gary Hamrick at Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Va. and then headed out to our Cornerstone Fellowship in Sparta for a good message by Pastor B on the resurrection and what it means to christians in their faith. He did a great job with lots of history of that age with the Romans and their manner of punishment as well as the tomb. Its a two part sermon and that second part will be two Sundays from now as we have a guest speaker from Rumania next week on the Samaritans Purse Christmas Shoe Boxes. 

After church we met up with the Frankis Family for lunch out at the Pizzeria and it was as usual delicious. Nancy brought part of hers home  which we had later for our supper along with some leftover pop corn from Saturday nights game night. I basically vegetated on the couch watching the NFL and some Rays baseball on the laptop. The Rays lost in the last innings and the Bucs play tonight Monday in Houston but I watched some close games and there were some surprises in the outcomes. The late game looked like the Vikings were losers to the Falcons when I turned the TV off and hit the sack around 10'ish.

This evening we have a cook out from the mens Bible class at church as we finished Roman's and after finishing a book we have a get together with the women's class. Hopefully it will be a good turnout. That was about it for the day as we are still in shock for the loss of one of America's hero, LATER

Sunday Morning Sept 14th

Well Saturday saw us with awesome temps as the morning started out on the cool side and by the afternoon it was very nice with temps in the middle 70's right up to dark. It was a great day especially the morning for some work with chain saws, tractor work and then some wood splitting as neighbor Gerald and I worked up those downed trees limbs along side our driveway from the severe ice storm in winter.  The rest of the afternoon was porch sitting, an reading until 6'ish when neighbors Mary, Kathy, Elaine and Bob (who came late), visited for dominos and snacks until 10'ish. What a fun evening and of course none of them had ever played "chicken foot" domino's.

I started the day with my usual 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing, all are holding but the nation is in mourning for the murdering of Charlie Kirk, but his widow is vowing to continue his work with sharing his faith and mission to make America great again. I headed out after posting this ramble to stretch on the back porch before walking the property and checking on the gardens. I didn't see a whole lot of new damage but they are there every night eating on either flowers or veggies or just walking through letting me know they are there, oh well. Hunting season will soon have them hiding and neighbors are putting out corn so just maybe they will leave the gardens alone.

Well Gerald and I worked for a couple hours dragging out these huge broken off tree tops and branches from the ditch with chains pulled by his tractor which made it so much easier to saw up than in the ditch. We accumulated quite a large pile of wood chucks and then decided to use his wood/log splitter to break them down for his wood stove which he uses when he comes up during the winter. We had a nice pile and now the ditch looks a lot better and opened once again for the water to run off.

I sat on the deck for a couple hours and finished a great true story about the Berlin Wall which was eventually tunneled under after several attempts that were thwarted by the communist gov't. This book titled TUNNEL 29 is a page turner and really a must read for all freedom loving folks who many lost their lives to get away from East Berlin that was controlled by the communists and their police who killed and terrorized anyone attempting escape from the East to the West. Many photos are included of those hero's and their enemies whose attempts to stop them were eventually defeated, this is a great read and a reminder to anyone who thinks or subscribes to this political ideology of socialism/communism and a wake up to that way of life. Freedom isn't free and there are those who want absolute control of your lives and will use any means even family members against family members to remain in power and control even unto death. All of America should be reminded of this and the insidious wall that not only divided a city, but the world at one time.

Well the domino's game was fun and I the score keeper came back in the last two rounds to edge out Mary who led all the way. It was a fun time and Bob got here for 3 rounds before we called it a night after the last round and everyone left for home. I loaded them all up with beans, tomato's and blueberries from my gardens and berry patch as well. I still have to pick beans from the upper patch today or tomorrow as they are still producing. Today its worship day first here on line with Gary Hamrick and then at our local church in Sparta before lunch out with the Frankis Family and then some NFL in the afternoon, LATER

Saturday Morning Sept 13th

Well Friday started out with a 6'ish rollout to chilly temps but warmed up by mid morning to t shirt and shorts weather with tons of bright sunshine. I did my usual morning routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. I did learn that a fellow associate I knew from our old church who had a daughter in my grand daughter's class at Keswick had a hear attack and passed away. He was in his 40's at best and looked the picture of health last time I saw him at a school function in the spring. All others except for America's hero Charlie Kirk's family who is suffering greatly are holding. The evil monster who did this in custody.

Nancy wanted to shop at Hobby Lobby in Galax, Va. so we headed out around 10:30 after I did my morning walk around the property checking on the gardens after a stretch on the back porch. It was nippy so I donned an extra shirt, to due the check. I did load up the truck with some garbage to be dropped off at one of the three dumpsters on the parkway heading into Galax. We made a stop at the post office there as grandson Gabriel has a 15 th birthday in a couple days. While Nancy shopped I started a new read about a tunnel that went under the Berlin Wall and the history surrounding the division of Germany after the war ended in the 40's and the history of Russia's influence in Eastern Germany vs USA's influence in western Germany. I remember the Berlin airlift that saved the folks there and then the murders by the Soviets influenced gov't that forced folks to be divided for years by the wall. Interesting read and how our news media at the time wanted to show case this operation during the digging of the tunnel to allow folks to escape.

After Hobby Lobby it was Walmart for some shopping and then back home by 1:30 for a late lunch. I picked half runner beans from the back yard garden and harvested at least a gallon or more and now I need to pick the beans in the upper garden patch as well. They had been blown down in the storm last week but managed to stay alive and producing despite losing a couple vines and poles. I did harvest more tomato's in the back woods garden patch and there are still green ones forming as well. I still have leafy greens maturing as well despite no rain for over a week now. The weather has been ideal with cool mornings and warm afternoons. Nancy still has the heat on during the early mornings and the windows and doors open in  the afternoons.

Today Saturday neighbor Gerald is up for the weekend and while I couldn't get a foursome for pickle ball we decided to work on the driveway ditch which is clogged with downed huge tree limbs from the ice storm last winter. We will use his tractor and chains to drag the limbs out so we can saw them up for fire wood. That should keep us busy for most of the day as there are several limbs down and its a mess, oh well.

We settled into some reading in the warm afternoon on the deck before heading to Sparta to the library and then to meet Mechelle and Billy at the Muddy Creek for supper. It was a good visit with them and the food was good. I had the shrimp taco's and fries and Nancy a burger. Its a little pricey for Sparta but reasonable. We saw several old friends who came in as well as some neighbors from the top of our mountain. We visited for an hour or more and then headed home a scenic drive that took us down a one lane road which was at one time the main route to town. We got back and settled in to the internet and then some NCAA football before a hot shower around 9'ish and then some reading in bed for me until lights out at 10'ish, LATER

Friday Morning Sept 12th

 Well Thursday started out on the chilly side with temps in the upper 40's but eventually warmed to the low 70's with tons of sunshine and blue skies, oh how we enjoy this weather and no rain. I did give the gardens a hand held drink from the hose during the morning. I rolled out around 6'ish to my routines that begin with some quiet moments to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and then to lift up several by name for comfort especially Charlie Kirk's wife and two little ones as well several who are hurting with severe health issues. All are holding with this post and the authorities have still not found the killer of Charlie, so sad and just a plain evil act.

I headed out after posting this ramble and checking on the world news and social media updates to stretch on the back porch before walking the property, checking on deer damage. This weekend doe season starts and I sure hope they take out a few that are here in our woods as they have been a nuisance this year and ruined several veggie and flower beds, oh well. It gives me something to complain about, but I love the fact we are living in their home area and should expect them to visit from time to time, whereas I could be in an area where they are not seen, but criminals exist.

We didn't get in a hike as we were waiting on a shipment from Wayfair which is a leather chair and once it arrived and we put it together it was too late, plus we had to leave around 6 for our couples class at 7. Nancy did make pancakes with a banana and blue berries in the batter along with some sausage patties for breakfast around 9:30, which held me for most of the day and evening except for an apple for lunch and then a tomato and piece of corn bread for supper before we headed out. I'm trying to eat less and lose an ounce or two, but eat healthy. I did some piddly chores around the gardens and some honey do's and then sat out on the deck in the warm sunshine under the umbrella finishing a Spark's book which had me in tears at the end. I went from a WWII book to a chick book, oh well.

We made a stop at the Walgreens for a couple scripts for Nancy and then headed over to the house of one of our couples who has a finished basement and its perfect for a group. We had 8 in attendance and mainly talked about the senseless murder of Charlie Kirk whom we all loved and his messages to this college generation and the impact that killing will have on us and christianity in todays world. We are in a war folks with the radicals not only foreign but here in our gov't with the democrat party who Charlie was exposing their complicity with liberalism and their hate for Trump and Jesus. I will not be surprised to find they are involved with this assassination of Charlie and already the vile MSM is applauding this evil deed.

Well today Friday we head to Galax,Va. for some shopping as well as a hair cut for me and then this evening for supper we meet Mechelle and Billy at the Muddy Creek in Sparta for supper, LATER

Thursday Morning Sep 11th..A day of infamy .less we never forget

 Well Wednesday started out rather chilly but eventually warmed up to t shirt and shorts weather which made for nice reading out on the porches and decks after a work morning and a hike to the top of the mountain. I rolled out around 6'ish to my routines that begin with some quiet times after posting the ramble to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All seem to be holding with this post.

I headed out to walk the property after stretching on the back porch to check on deer damage and despite seeing several in the back woods yard late last night I didn't notice any more damage. We did scare them off with the spot light and just maybe they didn't come back. Anyhow I fixed myself a couple eggs with grits and then cut up in a couple tomato's and jalapeno's for a delicious breakfast which held me until suppertime except for a cucumber and a tomato around 1'ish. I'm trying to eat healthy and not as much. For supper I grilled a couple marinated chicken breast plus a baked sweet tater and the last of the yellow squash cooked and buttered. Nancy had made some short bread cookies with a pecan on top to take to our couples class tonight but of course there were tons of extras, so I broke down down and ruined by diet for the day.

Speaking of ruining your day a fellow Believer and  hero to this new generation was murdered in cold blood by a sniper in Utah in the afternoon. We are heart broken for him and especially for his young family. Charlie Kirk was a true lover and follower of JESUS, plus a very knowledgable young patriot helping to bring truth to these college kids who have been brainwashed by the Left on our campus's. This is the work of the Left, satan and nothing but pure evil to take this man's life because he spoke out for whats right and the use of our freedom's to do so publicly. We are heart broken as are millions of patriots and Believers in the Truth of this nation and what it stands for.

After the clean up we watched our local church in Florida at 7 to hear from a missionary from Africa and then Grant and Shirley came back for a 2 hour visit as we got to talking about this horrible event today in Utah. We cried together about this terrible event and wondered about the loss of freedoms and life in the past few weeks by the evil's in this world and in what at one time America stood for. Such an awful stain on this nation by those who hate America, hate Trump and hate life itself. I believe without a doubt the Left and the Dem's are behind this evil event and the destruction of our nation and individual rights.

It was going on 10 before they headed out so I hit the shower and then read for a few before lights out around 10:30...Such a sad day for America and humanity, LATER

Wednesday Morning Sept 10th

 Well Tuesday started out chilly but quickly warmed up by lunch time to shorts and T shirt especially down off the mountain in Elkin as Nancy had a doctor's appointment to determine if she had an UTI, which turned out she didn't. Just a flare up of her IBS with other issues. Anyhow I started the day with my usual 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing, all are holding but barely due to some severe health issues which I think is a result of those covid vaccines, oh well.

I fixed a semi mountain breakfast of eggs, grits, tomato and a jalapeno which held me the rest of the day until suppertime except for an apple around 1'ish. Nancy fixed half runners green beans from the garden with smoked hickory bacon in chicken broth with potatoes and some smoked ham mixed in for our supper which we ate it almost like a soup, along with some corn bread and wow. I could eat this meal weekly or more, it was delicious to say the least.

I headed out after my morning routines to stretch on the back porch before doing my usual walk around, checking on whats left of the gardens as the deer having been back in almost every night. The night before they ate down my potato plants and last night Nancy saw several in the back yards before she came to bed as the deer devices were flashing their lights, so she took the powerful spot light and saw several. I got up to see what the noise was as she had opened the back door and I too spotted a couple who were still lingering after she scared them off. These were large bucks and does. They are fattening up now for the winter and they love my "whats left" gardens.

I took down the fence around the black raspberry patch to clean out all the dead and dying stalks and pulled the weeds and loaded up a golf cart load. I next need to add new posts around the patch or the deer will have them eaten down when we get here next summer. The patch is doing great and I'm hoping for another banner year next summer as the jelly is the best along with the berries fresh off the vine. That kept me busy until lunch time which was an apple before we left to go down off the mountain to Elkin. After the doctors appointment we made a stop at Walmart again and then the bank before heading back up. We did walk around the property instead of hiking to the top of the mountain. I find doing several laps around the hilly yards is as good as the hike to the top just maybe not as scenic, anyhow we did several laps then called it a day outside, except I sat in the sun on the deck reading until supper time a Bill O'Reilly book titled KILLING THE RISING SUN. It a WWII history on the war in the Pacific against Japan and the dropping of the bomb's on that nation to get them to surrender unconditionally which they never would have done, except for the two bombs. Which saved thousands of not only American lives but their lives as well in the long run. Its a great read and very profound with the outcome to bring that war to and end.

The supper was excellent and I can't wait until we have the leftovers on Thursday before we head out to our couples class which seems to have been great on Nancy's tummy. We have to eat accordingly to where and when we are leaving the cabin for any extended period and what might trigger a flare up. She was prescribed a medicine which is supposed to help with what she probably has is another ulcer. She treated that several months ago but has been lax in what she eats and drinks and its an issue once again, oh well.

I tuned into the Rays game they were winning in Chicago when I called it a night in the late innings. I hit the shower and read until lights out around 10'ish, LATER

Tuesday Morning Sept 9th

Well Monday started out with temps in the 40's and overcast skies but by mid morning the sun was shining with blue skies and it did eventually warm up to the 60's, but long sleeve shirt and pants were needed through out the day. I started the day with my usual 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet moments to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. The lists get longer and now we add little Seth to the list as he is having some issues at the age of 2 and is having some procedures on Wednesday morning. Nancy is also having more tummy issues so its off to see a doctor this morning in Elkin if she can get an appointment.

I headed out after posting the ramble and catching up on the world news as well as the war in Israel to stretch on the back porch before walking the property and checking on the garden and flower beds. The deer have been in the gardens each night, but there isn't a whole lot except for a couple areas they can destroy. I have a temporary fence around a couple patches which has helped and of course their appetite changes almost daily. Some flowers they love when young, especially the hollyhocks and black eyed Susan's but now they are getting some age they must be bitter as they are now leaving them alone, oh well.

I worked outside in the gardens after the sun started to warm up trying to straighten up the pole beans in the upper garden which I believe a small tornado like cell came through last week and blew them over as well as breaking off two very large sun flowers. I took out the dead plum tomato plants and picked off what few were still hanging on.They were very productive this year and must have produced several hundred fruits which we ate and gave away almost daily to several neighbors. They weren't large but tasty and I still have 50 or more on the porch railing ripening. I took a bag of half runner green beans to a neighbor as well as the last large zucchini after lunch then worked on a couple pot holes on the hill coming in on our road. Seem some folks spin their wheels causing pot holes in the gravel instead of getting up to speed coming up the hill and it makes for a very bump ride for those who know how to drive up a hill, oh well.

We had leftover zucchini boats with pasta for our supper and then headed out to Sparta with a stop at the Food Lion before heading on over to Cornerstone for our respective weekly Bible get togethers. We had a new man join our group and had 9 men in attendance for the class whereas Nancy's group was down now that mom's are back into their kids school routines. It was close to 9 before we broke up and headed back to the cabin. The "blood" moon was evident tonight and so beautiful. Nancy tried to take a picture but for some reason this new I phone doesn't take good pics after dark or she just doesn't know how to work it. She is stubborn when I suggest on checking the internet for such issues, oh well. I tuned into the NFL game and the Bears were beating the Vikings at half time so it was soon shower time and then some horizontal lab for me. I almost forgot we did get in a hike to the top of the mountain which was good especially for Nancy and myself. The building in down town Winston -Salem were evident as well. We saw no one on top during our hike,  LATER

Monday Morning Sept 8th

Well its turns cooler here on the mountain with temps down once again into the low 50's and highs of the upper 60's but a steady breeze makes it feel even colder. At least we have some sunshine and blue skies. Sunday started out with my usual 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to homnor my lord, Jesus, give thanks and to lift up several by name for comfort and healings, all are holding with this post but several have severe health issues and we are praying for a miracle for healing.

I headed out to stretch on the back porch after posting this ramble and to check on the gardens which are starting to dry up what the deer haven't eaten and many of the veggies are showing the end is near especially the yellow squash vines and plum tomato's and a couple of the tall half runner bean plants were ripped right out of the ground from the storm that came through and blew down the poles holding them up. The egg plants never produced after the deer ate the tops off but did produce a couple blooms but now the cold has stopped any maturing, oh well. The cucumbers are producing some small nub's as the vines are drying up despite watering and feeding them. I can't as its really been a banner year for most every thing and I have given away tons of veggies as well as blue berries and raspberry jellies from our small patch.

We headed out to church in Sparta after watching our church service on line and heard great messages from both pastors Gary and Brian. Afterwards we headed to the local Mexican eatery with the Frankis Family for a delicious lunch that held me the rest of the day and evening except for some popcorn, popped the old fashion way around 7'ish in a kettle with some olive oil, delicious. It was the first Sunday for the NFL and I spend the afternoon and evening watching these over paid mostly inept and poor excuse as role models play the game. As much as I love the game these players today are almost as bad as Hollywood liberals with their contempt for those who pay their salaries and give them a salary they are less than deserving in my way of thinking. Anyhow my local team the Bucs, barely beat a division team and are the only team in the division to win any games, so thats good for us fans but the level of play as a whole is dismal when they are paid millions a season to play a game, oh well.

At the half time of the late game I hit the shower and then read until 10:30 when it was lights out for me, LATER

Sunday Morning Sept 7th

 Well Saturday was a fun day as I finally got to play some pickle ball for 2 hours on the new courts in Sparta with old friends and really good players and then I finished the read titled LONESOME DOVE which was over 800 pages of small print and I loved every minute except where Gus dies which is a tear jerker part for me. I vicariously see myself in many of his situations and adventures and just love to read this story every 10 years or so and do love the mini series produced for TV, as well. Robert Duvall plays Gus and who I've always enjoyed his character parts. There aren't many actors in Hollywood I care about.

I had started out the day with a before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing, all seem to be holding with this post. I did stretch on the back porch before walking the property and checking on the gardens and having a bowl of cereal before heading to Sparta around 8:30 and meeting 3 other players. The courts were empty except one couple was playing on one court so we had no problems on finding a court as there are three banded together.

Well it was good play and I left after two hours with a wet head and shirt and won with everyone through out the morning as we played several sets together. It was a great morning of getting back to playing the game and we made plans to do it again when their schedules are free. Rick and I are free next Saturday and I'm hoping to get two other old players( younger than me) to join in who wanted to play today but were out of town, anyhow the game is back on the menu for Saturday morning for now.

I came home and gave away lots of veggies as one neighbor brought us a loaf of sour dough bread and was visiting with another neighbor in the 'hood(on our road). She came back and took veggies to our neighbors on her way home. I unloaded blue berries, jalapeno's, tomato's and half runner green beans. Nancy was having  zucchini boats for our supper which is a favorite of mine with pasta, so I saved those for us but still have some of them to give away as well or she can make zucchini bread. I'm still getting a few yellow squash but they are about gone and not nearly as beautiful. 

I was a little stiff during the evening from the pickle ball play and didn't do much except some honey do's and then I read until I finished the book. I did watch a little college football later in the evening and checked on the Ray's game on the internet. It wasn't long after 9'ish I hit shower and started a new read by Bill O'Reilly before lights out at 10'ish, LATER

Saturday Morning Sept 6th

Well Friday started out rather nice with bright sunshine but eventually it rained and then once again the sunshine appeared, but it was quite pleasant with warm temps. It was also a sad day as we attended the funeral for an old friend who passed away, it wasn't unexpected as his health had gone south a few years back. The last time we saw him and to visit he couldn't get off the couch. It was a time of some sharing with his grandson Carson who we knew a a small kid, speaking about his Pa, that brought laughter and tears. Pa(Ray) came from a large family and many were there and a couple had passed on before him who were younger. We headed home after the service as Nancy's tummy was acting up.

I had started the day with my usual routines after a some what sleep in which is unusual for me. I did my quiet time giving thanks for another day after honoring my lord, Jesus and lifting up several by name for comfort and healing, especially to the Todd Family who we were so close to for so many years. Carson first lost his dad, David a few months back and now his grand dad this week. He has turned out to be the pillar of that family and is now married and expecting their first child, a girl.

I headed out after my quiet times and social media posts and checking on the world news to first stretch on the back porch and then check on the gardens for any deer damage. Everything looked good and nothing much was eaten overnight. After a breakfast of ham and egg biscuits which held us until suppertime, I headed back out to harvest some tomato's and half runner green beans. Well once again I added several to the porch rail as well as a couple quarts of beans and today when I get back from pickle ball with three other old players in Sparta at 9, Nancy and I will give most of these harvests away to neighbors. We can only eat so much and now tomato's have become a no no for her, due to the acid. I still eat at least one a day and have plenty to give away. I did set and read for a couple hours before we got ready to head to the service around 1'ish.

After getting back from Sparta we both sat and read until supper time. She was having severe tummy issues once again and we forgo out original plans for supper and just did something on our own. I had cleaned a ton of lettuce from the garden and had it stored in the fridge so I made a fresh salad with cucumbers, onion and tomatoes with some salami that needed eating and some pita sticks Nancy didn't like, which held me for the evening. I headed out after supper to set the deer devices and then retired to the outside deck to read until dusk. The bugs were back out with this warm temps which made for heading in early despite still sunlight on the porches.

I tuned into the YOU TUBE channel on the internet and watched the first half of the NFL game with the Chiefs down a point at half time against the Chargers in Brazil of all places. I had the Ray's game on in the back ground and they were getting blasted by the Cleveland team after winning 7 straight games. Not sure if they can make up these losses and get a wild card berth. 

This morning for the first time since we left Florida in May I'll get to play some pickle ball with some old buddies who we use to play with for several years, before covid hit us. I'm the oldest in the group but probably still play the most during the year, mainly inside in Florida. Sparta built 3 nice outside courts and its usually busy or had someone on them every time I go to the library which is close by, LATER

Friday Morning Sept 5th

 Well Thursday saw us with some odd weather after a chilly start, not real cold but long sleeve and and pants were needed at first and then a storm came up with severe gusts of wind that blew down my pole beans and several tomato's lined up along the porch railing as well as dropped a half inch of rain in about 30 minutes, wow what a storm and how suddenly it came up. I sure thought for a moment it was a tornado and might well have been as several buildings in its path lost roofs near our area.

I had started the day with my usual 6'ish rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort snd healing, all seem to be holding with this post. On a sad note we will attend and old friends funeral today in Sparta who built this cabin we so enjoy and share with family and friends. He and his family were once a big part of our lives when they lived just across the woods from us, but eventually had to move away and we didn't see him or his wife very often.

I was still recovering from my bout of diarrhea the evening before and did not feel a 100% even though I didn't have any more issues just not up to par and so I did very little during the day except some minor gardening chores and honey do's but mainly read on my 800+page book I picked up Wednesday from the library. I'm now over half way finished and I'm enjoying every word for a change as I'm normally a speed reader some where around 1500 words a minute, but I so enjoy this story and take in every word and the settings which are thrilling to say the least, especially for me. I would have loved to live during that time period and take that cattle drive north to Montana, one state I never visited, oh well.

We ate lite for the day with some cereal and a banana and blueberries for breakfast for me and then some banana nut bread around 2'ish which held us until supper at 6, which was some fried smoked ham and a sweet tater doctored up with some cinnamon and honey for me and a sliced tomato and cucumber. I had no tummy issues with any of those during the day or evening. I think it was the chicken sandwich during the afternoon on Wednesday that was the issue, but curious as to why it took about 7 hours to hit me with throwing up and diarrhea so violently.

The sudden storm did a number on the gardens knocking over my 9 foot tall bean poles which in turn broke off three of the 10-11 foot sun flowers that edged the upper gardens as well as blew over the squash plants and jalapeno plants. I'm hoping to salvage some of the beans which were about really to harvest if the vines die, so far they are still green but their support poles are being held up with a rope to a post. After supper I headed out to activate the deer devices and then settled into reading until 8 when I hit the shower as I wanted to watch half of the first NFL game of the season. The Eagles were winning at half time in a close game. I soon hit the sack and read until 10'ish then it was lights out for me, LATER

Thursday Morning Sept 4th

 Well Wednesday started out with a chill in the air but eventually warmed up to T-shirt and shorts by the afternoon. We went down off the mountain to see about furniture stores in Elkin but spoke with a couple "walkers" who informed us all of the furniture stores moved out of the area and the nearest best places were 45 miles away in Lenoir, oh well. We did get to know the "walkers" who turned out to be new associates and they knew many of the same folks and places here in Sparta that we know. We exchanged phone numbers and they were in Nancy's age group and the one gal Patty texted Nancy in the afternoon and wants us to meet her husband and them next Saturday in Independence, Va. for a festival, small world.

I started the day must the usual with my before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing and now myself as I developed a bug last night throwing up with some major diarrhea around 9'ish. Not sure what brought that on but we ate out for lunch at Chick-filet in Elkin for lunch, after shopping at Walmart, oh well. Everyone else as far as we know is holding with this post.

When we got back from Elkin it was going on 2'ish and it had been drizzling rain all the way up the mountain it wasn't soaking wet, but wet with dark cloudy skies and I thought it would be a good time to burn the huge pile of limbs down in the gully plus another huge pile of cut up limbs from down in the wineberry patch. The brush pile fired right up and in no time had a huge bon fire and by 5'ish it had burned down to just a few large limbs that were still smoking. Nancy wanted to get supper out of the way so I fried the crappie filets that we had frozen and had them thawing while we were gone, outside on the grille burner and she had a pot of half runner beans from the garden cooking, all of which was delicious and so good for you. After the clean up I ventured outside to set the deer devices and walked around the property several times to get in some exercise since most of the day was in the truck driving around Elkin looking for furniture stores, until we saw these two ladies walking in work out clothes. Well we stopped and asked them about where all the stores were because the internet still had several listed in town. That started our getting to know them and then it progressed for several minutes and would have lasted longer but it started to rain lightly.

I read off and on during the afternoon sitting in the golf cart watching the brush pile burn and then again picked up my book LONESOME DOVE after supper and had the Ray's game on in the back ground with no sound to continue reading when suddenly I got the urge to throw up. Well that never happens to me and then the feeling of some tummy issues and diarrhea, so it was off to the pot and the trash can for both ends, yikes it was ugly for an hour or so then I hit the shower. Nancy decided to sleep on the couch and I don't blame her for not wanting to catch my germs. I slept off and on getting several times to urinate but no more diarrhea thus far as I make this post. 

I think I will opt out on the couples class this evening and stay around the cabin in case it flares up again and of course it its a bug I do not want to infect anyone else. That's first time I've thrown up in years and quite awhile since the tummy issues as well, LATER

Wednesday Morning Sept 3rd

Well Tuesday started out quite chilly with temps in the upper 40's but tons of sunshine and blue skies, the faux fireplace was on for a couple hours before we headed out to run some errands off the mountain for several hours. I had started the morning with my usual before 6 roll out to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healings. On a sad note our  builder for the cabin here who has been in horrible health for the past couple of years passed away last night from a heart attack. Ray Todd had been in a nursing home for many months and wasn't doing well and just a couple weeks ago we planned with some other friends who he had built their place, to visit him in Independence, Va. His funeral is scheduled for Friday and we will attend along with many folks out here on our mountain where he at one time lived. All others are holding with this post except our dear sweet friend and neighbor in Florida and Nancy's best friend, Carol has some terrible news about the pain in her jaw and will need constructive surgery to replace the jaw bone, wow. Very expensive to say the least.

I headed out to check on the gardens after stretching on the back porch and didn't notice any real new deer damage as they have been so destructive to several beds this summer. I did harvest several more tomato's mostly plum ones along with a few small numbin cucumbers. I now have more zucchini's to harvest as well. After a lite breakfast of fresh baked blueberry pound cake we headed out, first to Sparta and the library and I picked up several books as well as my old favorite LONESOME DOVE which came from another library. It it a huge read with over 800 pages and small print but I managed to knock out close to a 100  pages since we got home. I love this story despite some salacious parts which were real to the history of the time and areas of the old west. I just finished TOMBSTONE a true read on the old west which confirmed many of those women characters were into that profession to stay alive, anyhow the cattle drive is the main action theme of the book with all that goes on with those characters in their pursuit to achieve that end.

We next headed to Independence to visit a furniture store where we bought our great leather couches 20+ years ago to see about new couches for more space for when all of the family comes at one time next summer to celebrate my 80th. Nancy insists we need more sitting areas in the cabin so we can all sit together at one time and the best we came up with is to gain 1 seat at 4 grand with 2 new couches. I'm not in favor because the living space just doesn't have that much area for additional couches and chairs, plus we seldom all sit together and we have 8 seats at the table in addition to the couches and love seat we already have, oh well. When she makes up her mind its useless to change it. 

Today we go to Elkin to check out furniture stores there and see if their prices are any better, one quote was for 8 K for 2 couches, but that was just too much to spend for the project, oh well. I like the store called Guynn's as those couches and love seat we bought years ago are still in good shape, because we only use them for 5 months out of the year, so we will check the stores below the mountain today and then do some shopping at Walmart and Lowes.

We came back and had a late lunch around 2'ish which really held us the rest of the day and evening except for a hand full of nuts with my glass of vino around 6'ish. After lunch I loaded up some tools and headed out to the road to fill in some pot holes in the gravel road which has become terrible on the hill, folks just don't know how to drive on this hill and cause their tires to spin out shallow holes which are so bumpy, oh well. After clearing out some loose gravel on our steep driveway I picked a quart of blueberries from our bushes and then piddled around in the gardens hand watering a couple areas which I'm trying to preserve.

We both are back to reading and Nancy sat on the deck reading in the sun light. Seems she is either too cold or too hot all of the time and I'm wondering if her meds is the cause, plus her tummy isn't right most of the time. We have to adjust our meals according to if we are leaving the cabin because of tummy issues and what combination of foods sent her to the pot, anyhow I'm thinking she should see a doctor about those issues when we get back to Florida this winter, oh well, LATER

Tuesday Morning Sept 2nd

Well Monday started out on the chilly side with temps in the upper 40's but eventually it got warmer to the upper 60's with bright sunshine and blue skies. Almost a near perfect day weather wise. I donned long pants and sweat shirt, but as the morning progressed I stripped down to a t-shirt and shorts. It was basically a work morning around the cabin and then a visit to friends and then some reading time on the deck in the afternoon. We did get in a hike to the top of the mountain and the haze had cleared enough from the cold to see the buildings in Winston Salem for only the second time this summer. That is about 70 miles away. Pilot Mountain was a clear stand out as well.

I started the day with a before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus, give thanks for another day and to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. All are holding with this post with some with more severe health issues than others. I headed out to stretch on the back porch after my morning news watch and social media posts to walk around the property and check for deer damage. I didn't notice a whole lot eaten over night and I did harvest more tomato's and squashes later in the day. I did hand water a few of the patches, especially now that the October bean vines are making once again, since the deer ate them down to nearly nothing. Since I put a fence around them and a device in front they are doing better and have even set bean pods. Maybe I'll get a mess of them as they are my favorite beans both dried and fresh from the hull.

I unloaded the apple wood a friend gave me then took my new mini chainsaw and cut them up into small blocks for the smoker and stored them under neath the front porch in my storage area to dry out. I have enough to last quite awhile as we don't use the smoker as much. We decided to have a large breakfast as we each fixed our own menu. I had a couple eggs over grits and a tomato with a chopped up jalapeno pepper, delicious and that held me until 1'ish when we got back from our mountain top hike and sliced up a cucumber and a tomato. The cukes are on their way out for this season as the vines are dying, oh well.

We loaded up some garlic bulbs and tomato's and headed up to the Cardon household where I planted the garlic for Mary and Bob and then they blessed us with a piece of blueberry pound cake their daughter Christine had made for us from the blueberries we gave them last week. So sweet of her and it was delicious to say the least. We came back and I piddled around in the yards and driveway raking out some heavy piles of gravel and then harvesting some Swiss chard for supper which was a pan fried boneless rib eye steak we shared along with some tatter cakes and the chard, all were delicious, especially the left over mashed tatters fried as cakes, yeow. After the clean up I headed out to activate the deer devices and pull some grasses coming up with seed heads from one of the flower beds before calling it a night outside as evening was coming on. 

We decided to play a game of hand, knee and foot and I just barely beat Nancy by a couple hundred points when the scores were in the 40 some thousand points. Luckily I was ahead by 10K points going into the final phase but I could not get one of my required books so she gained those points and nearly beat me, oh well. I turned on the college football game and N.C. was losing to TCU at the half. I hit the shower then and was soon in the horizontal position for the night, LATER

Monday Morning Sept 1st Labor Day

 Well August went out with summer as we have the heat on here in the mountains of N.C. It's supposed to be only in the 60's for highs this next week with lows in the 40's, which I'm sure folks in Florida would love to see for a few days as its still blazing hot there. We had some lite rain and fog to start the day which made it feel even colder than it actually was temperature wise, but by the time we left church just before noon the skies had cleared with bright sunshine and blue skies. I awakened with a funky tummy and we aren't sure why so we decided to skip eating out and brought some chicken already fried from Food Lion home as we also had some leftovers we ate with it.

I started the day with my usual before 6 rollout to my routines that begin with some quiet times to honor my lord, Jesus after posting this ramble to lift up several by name for comfort and healing. The list just gets longer daily but all are holding with this post. Since is was raining lightly I didn't head out to check on the gardens but did that later after getting getting home from church and eating lunch. We did make a stop at an old friends house for some apple wood he saved for me for the smoker. I love using apple wood when smoking any kind of meat which we seldom do any longer when its just the two of us, but we are expecting some company this month and then again in October, so I'll have plenty of cured apple wood.

We did listen first to Gary Hamrick at Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Va. before heading out to our Cornerstone Fellowship in Sparta and heard two really good messages first on the Galatian's and then on the whole story of Jonah who was swallowed by the big fish/whale. The archaeology of the city of Nineveh bears fruit of how Jonah was able to convince the barbarians there to repent and change their wicked ways, very interesting. A whole story I've never heard before backed up with evidence saved in stone.

Well after eating a delicious tasty lunch of fried chicken, mashed tatters with chicken gravy and some mixed veggies which held me the rest of the day, I headed out to check on the gardens and to harvest several tomato's as well as zucchini's and a cucumber whose vines are just about gone. I sat outside on the deck and read until 3'ish when the first of two college games came on the TV which I wanted to watch. Virginia Tech lost to S.Carolina in a hard fought game until the last quarter and then Notre Dame vs Miami was a real close game with the Hurricanes prevailing by 3 points, after being up by 10 points in the last quarter. It was after 11 before I hit the sack after showering at half time.

Well today we have nothing planned with any neighbors so we will eat alone and probably watch another college game later in the day and catch up on some small honey-do's around the cabin and hopefully take a hike as well as read. Nancy is into a Nickolas Sparks book and I'm into a true story on the town called Tombstone which is the name of the book by Tom Glavin. Tomorrow we head back to Sparta and the library as they have LONESOME DOVE waiting for me to check out and read once again. I love the book and the story and visualize myself living that adventure once every 5 years or so, LATER