Oh my where have the last two months gone!!!  It is the end of September all ready!!! Its been a busy couple of months for me. 

I started my fall garden a little early this year; there was soooo much rain this year that the summer tomatoes and potatoes did not do all that well.  So far the fall garden is doing very well.  That could change if we get an early freeze.    I have some company coming in October and I am hoping we can eat from the garden!! Right now I am cooking up a nice batch of collard greens for dinner.

the fall garden

Collards on the stove yummmmm

In August some friends and I did some camping at Foster Falls.  We had a really good time.  It was a little cool so there was no swimming but we did some hiking and eating so all was good.  The nice thing about foster falls was that friends that did not want to camp could come by for a few hours or the day.  We rented two camp sites so there was plenty of room.  We are planning on doing it again next year!!

Foster Falls camp site

I just got back from the Big Easy, New Orleans.  I went there to visit my brother and his wife.  Since it was not my first nor my forth visit I just wanted to hang around their house and chill by the pool, a hard thing to do with the temps in the 90’s but for the most part we accomplished that mission; we did visit the French Quarter and the Zoo so we weren’t strictly at home.  I think I saw more movies this past week than I had in over a year.  Of course they have a 70 something inch TV and a nice surround sound, so it was almost like being at the movie theater.  I can’t wait for my analog TV to break down, it has to sooner or later, it’s over 10 years old!!! I want a big TV!!!

My brother and his wife at the zoo

My brother and I a the zoo 

I will be getting back into the work grove starting early in the morning; seeing as how I once again have a vehicle payment I have to get back on the stick!!! I traded in the Wrangler for a Jeep Patriot.  I think it was a good choice, The Wrangler only got around 17 MPG around here, I seldom went off road, I haven’t taken the top down in years and I used it primarily for getting to and from work.  The Wrangler was not a very practical vehicle for what I needed.  I do need a 4 wheel drive and I have to be able to pull my trailer so with an MPG of 23-28 (right now I’m getting 28+) the Patriot seemed to be the right choice for me.  We will see how well the MPG’s hold up over the long run.

The new wheels

It’s raining again in paradise; for the month of July we had almost 8 inches of rain, normal rain fall is 3.21 inches.  It rained 21 of 31 days.  Today is August 1^st and it’s raining……  To make the day even better I am getting a root canal..... nuff said 

Floydfest 2013 day 4

FF is over for me, I'm not even going to think about trying to get there today,  I do hope they get things back to smooth running soon.  I was not going to be able to attend next year anyway but now I'm kinda glad....

We have had soooo much rain this summer that no fields would have been able to take  the rain we got Saturday.  Mud is to be expected with that much traffic.  I don't know what the big answer to this mess is but mine is to make bread today.

Floydfest 2013 day 3

When I awoke this a.m. in my nice dry bed I was thankful that my friend had insisted that we not camp at FloydFest this year.  Of course we did intend to go back and enjoy some music but after checking FB and learning how less than pleasant parking had become we decided not to go today.  I’m thinking things aren't going to be any better tomorrow…… Bummer………

View from my deck looking south, thinking no FF this am

So took to canning some beans... that's my FF schedule for today in the back ground

This is the parking lot I had been parking in..... glad I was not there because Blue Ridge Muse posted a photo of a jeep just like mine stuck up to the hub caps in mud.

The above photos thanks to a photo posted by Ami Reist on the FF FB page and the Roanoke Times.

 I was not there thank goodness!!!!!!

Floyd Fest 2013 day 2

Parked the Jeep

Walked to the bus

View from the bus

Enjoyed some music

Buses what a change from day 1.  

Day 1 took us more than an hour to get back to the car there were not enough buses to get people where they needed to go....  Different story today!!!!!

Back to the parking lot and home....

Floyd Fest 2013 day one

Floyd Fest 2013 day one.......

Had a great time but coming and going was a challenge.  We decided not to camp this year so we are commuting back and forth that made for a very long day.  As always the music was great and the people even better.  Gotta go to bed FF day 2 is here. 

Good morning

What a bitter sweet day in paradise, the temperature has been mild, the birds have been singing and the big puffy clouds kept the sun from being too intense; what a wonderful day for working in the garden but it is also the 1 year anniversary of my mom’s death.  365 days ago my mom passed from this existence and entered into another that none of us mortals can know. 

I woke this morning with her on my mind, my heart was heavy and as if to accentuate this feeling in me the sky was full of clouds and it was raining.  But a heavy heart and rainy skies would not do, the clouds thinned allowing the sun to shine and a gentle breeze caressed my face.  My mom was not a person to allow unpleasantries slow her down, she would not sit by a window and cry, she would get up and live her day.  I would like to think she gave me this beautiful day to remember her by.  Thanks mom!!!

simple things in life

It turned into a nice day here in paradise and the boys and girls and I took a walk around the home stead

We walked down to the garden 

Where the old man said good by and went back to lounge on the deck

The girl dog led the way to the path along the fence

We hung around the apple tree for a while

where the cat decided to join us.

Bear in the tall grass

Past the old barn and then up the hill to the house. 

I love the simple things in life.......

What is that shining on the hay field???

Guess who has to work today!!!

It’s another cloudy day in paradise

It’s another cloudy day in paradise, the sun tries to peak out every now and then but cant seem to break through the seemingly unending gray sky.  The air is very humid but there is a cool feel to it, that is until one tries to do anything then the humidity refuses to allow the sweat that comes with activity to evaporate causing it to feel muggy.  With all the rain lately, so far in the first 7 days of this month we have had over 3 inches of rain which is our monthly average…….. , one would think my house would be immaculately clean, its not, my little indoor projects would be done, there not  or I would have at least finished reading a good book, no again.  I have put a dent in the dip and chips and rediscovered that vanilla ice-cream taste real good with coke pored over it.  I hate to think what I could do right now to a chocolate cake or bag of candy!!!

I NEED TO MOW THE GRASS!!!!!!!!

Any way, I guess I will head out to the shed and put some tools away……. sigh……sigh…..sigh….. maybe clean it up a little…….sigh……sigh……sigh…..it really needs to be done I can hardly move around in there…….augggggg…OK here I go… to the shed……..

For the past few days I have been working on a project that I was a little hesitant to start.  A friend gave me a dishwasher for free, it was white and I wanted to try and match it to the rest of the kitchen.  I went on line and found some stainless steal paint and a few examples of what could be done.  I figured the worst I could do was mess up a paint job and for that there is always more paint or a curtain so I ordered the paint and this is the result of my endeavor.

 

I like it

I posted how I did it on Youtube

Painting a dishwasher - YouTube

 

Stuff I bought

 

Range & Dishwasher Kit (Thomas Paint)

Paint and clear coat

FG-RDKIT
$24.95

Save a Trip Kit (Thomas Paint)

Rollers and brushes

FG-LFRPH
$3.99

Shipping $9.75

Plastic paint $6 (Lowes)

Window film $13 (Lowes)

 Total $57.69

Stuff I had

Drop cloth

Paint tape

Paper

last nights super moon

I will say it has been a long time, I guess this blog has become a periodical....

Summer is in full force here in paradise; the summer solstice and super moon have hit us this week but the temperatures have been very mild so it really does not feel like summer.  I am sure that will change in the next few weeks.

Now lets see, what has happened in the last few months, nothing really, I live a very pleasant quiet but busy life.  Now if someone lives in the city or has a bunch of kids they may not think my life is all that busy but to me it seems very busy indeed.  Between work, home, volunteering and friends I have what feels like very little extra time. 

So what is extra time to me? Extra time is time to read, listen to Ted Talks, my new fav show, or just fart around and to do so with out guilt.  The “with out guilt” is the hard part.  I seldom turn the TV on just to watch something; usually I am just too tired to do anything except lie on the couch an “watch” TV of course that turns into a nap which gives me a bit more energy, which gets me thinking of the floor that needs to be swept, laundry that needs to be done, ect, ect….

Speaking of things that need done or taken care of, the garden is in.  It’s a little slow this year but I think it is going to do well; the tomatoes are looking good the potatoes are up and the beans are coming along.  I will have squash in another week or so.  Someone told me that his wife makes a sort of sauce with the extra zucchini and squash and then cans it, she then uses it to put into soup’s and such.  I always have too much zucchini and squash so I am going to try canning it this year.

I am still working on the camper…… I am not going to put any more money into it so I have been looking for scrap bead board or paneling to use for the “walls”.  I will be buying new trailer lights, I cant figure out how to fix the present set, they have been “fixed” before so I feel it will be better to just to replace them.  The canvas is a problem but I think I will just clean it as best I can and deal with it. 

I have purchased a solar panel kit and am in the process of making a solar generator…..

The barn still needs work and always will…..

The grass needs cutting and always will…..

The cabin needs maintenance and always will….. 

Augggggggg 

I really love my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

31 years ago this week I moved to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  My X came to Charlotte and helped me move my things to his “house” at the beach. To get to his house we had to get to the Outer Banks which back then was all 2 way roads, then go a few miles down Nags Head Wood Rd which was and still is a dirt road, then down the drive way to his house which was a dirt road about a ¼ mile or so long and not that well maintained.  My poor pinto was not accustomed to this kinda driving. After more than 8 hours on the road I got my first glimpse of the house I was going to live in. needless to say the X had not Filled me in on the rustic nature of his abode.

It is hard to describe what I saw when we pulled up to the place but I will try.  Looking from the drive way the first thing I saw was a big house to the left with a breezeway connecting the big house to a smaller house.  To the right was a small building with chickens all around it.  The yard was wet from an earlier rain and there was cow poo all over the place and ducks and chickens were eating it. They say that what a person sees from the curb will influence all future opinions well my opinion at that time was “oh boy” 

 The “house” was an L shaped summer guest house. The living room was a screened in porch in which the “walls” had been covered in clear plastic.  From that porch extending from 1 side was a bedroom area with 2 bedrooms one approximately 7 foot by 10foot and the other about 8 feet by 16 and then a little bathroom.  The other part of the L shape house had a small dining room and kitchen.  My X and I were to have the 7 by 10 room. His water bed was all ready in the room and it was literally wall to wall bed. “Oh boy”

When I first met his land lady I saw an older woman dressed in faded jeans with a floral top that was way too big for her, she had her graying hair braded in the back I am telling you she looked like a female Willy Nelson, as far as I can remember her first words to me were “how long are you going to be staying?” and my reply was “I’m moving in” she just walked away.  It seems the X did not say anything to her about me moving in.  Believe it or not that was the beginning of a wonderful friendship that lasted 32 years.  The land lady was Mary and Mary was my friend.  She died on the 18^th of March; she would have been 82 years old tomorrow.

Thanks in no small part to Mary I have learned a lot, she told the best stories, I have a wonderful home and I am very happy. 

I love you and I miss you Mary Montfort Piron

Ice on the mountain 12-26-12

I took this photo of the day of the ice storm (actually its a composite of 3 photos), Wednesday the 26th.  The ice started late Christmas night and by the next morning I was getting calls from friends advising me to fill my water jugs.  I heeded their advice but by that night (Wednesday) I felt that once again I had dodged the no power bullet.  I have not been with out power for more than a few hours since I came up here, from what I understand that is an unusual occurrence around here.  Any way I got up at 5am Thursday morning and by 05:10 I had no power.  Just that fast, turn bed side light on, bed side light goes off!! 

My sister had been visiting but when the power went off and AEP said it could be a few days till it came back on she bailed on me!!!!! So the dogs and I “suffered” for 55 hours of no lights and, horrors of horrors, no internet!!!

I can say that I was quite comfortable; I have a wood stove, gas cook stove and kerosene lamps.  I also have a battery powered/hand powered weather/am-fm radio, battery powered Coleman lamp and flash lights.  It was very cold outside so I did not lose any thing in the freezer or the fridge.  I did not sleep all that well because my wood stove is small and needs to be fed at least every 4 hours, the new puppy is not helping in the sleep department either!! Lack of sleep was a small thing, I was off from work for most of the time so not being able get a good night sleep or to take shower was not too bad.  The first thing I did when the power came back on was refill my water buckets and turn the water heater back on.  A shower came on shortly after that.

Any way I survived and it was nice to have peace and quiet and true darkness for a little while.  

Since I wrote last I have been a little busy, some friends and I went to the Renaissance Fair out side of Charlotte in November,  we again had a really good time.  This guy was one of the characters that strolled around the grounds. 

I along with some friends have completed all but 5 miles of the New River Trail.  We started that little adventure in January.  It’s a 57 mile trail that is absolutely beautiful.  We started it in January and have walked what I call the the strait part of the trail, we still need to complete the Fries (pronounced Freeze) to Fries Junction section. It was nice to see the change in seasons.  We ended the walk with a nice brunch at The Draper Mercantile.

I went to the OBX for the first time since my mom died.  It rained the whole time but I will say I had a great time.  I spent the rainy days visiting my boys and some friends. While at one of my friends place I discovered a really good easy to make recipe for Brunswick Stew. My sister came up here to the mountains for a visit and after a busy day we were hungry but neither of us was in a mood to cook so this little concoction came in very handy.  It’s not the least bit gourmet but is quick, good and hot.  While on the OBX I also found a nice camp ground on Colington Island.  I plan on going to the beach twice a year and it will be nice to have my own place. 

Brunswick Stew

2 cans corn (14 oz)

2 cans of tomatoes (14 oz)

1 can of BBQ beef (10 oz)

1 can of BBQ pork (10 oz)

1 small can of chicken

Throw in a pot, cook on low, keep stirred.

Tabasco or Texas Pete (a little on the side)

I have been working on my camper.  I have replaced all the wood on the (L) driver side and am now working on the lift system.  I call this my equivalent to a boat with a hole in it.  I will say that I am enjoying working on the thing.  If nothing else I will have learned a lot about campers.  I am still looking for a better one.  The canvas for this thing is over $900.  If I can find a camper in good shape for less than that I will buy it.  I can break the one I have down into a trailer and sell that and the lift system and get just about what I have in it back.  It’s a lot of work but I don’t mind.

I have a new addition to my family. His name is Beriothien (Bear-ee-oh for short).  He is a black retriever mix, he is now 10 weeks old and is weighing in at 26lb.  I anticipate he will reach the 80-100lb range when he is full grown.  He is a very nice smart puppy.  He is already house broken I just need to teach him to leave my shoes alone.  He has not chewed any YET but I have come home a few times and found my shoes spread all over the house.  I have made the shoes less accessible to the puppy, hopefully he will forget about them.  As a bit of insurance I went to pet smart and bought a bunch of chew toys for the little bear.  The big boy and girl are tolerating the little one, the cat has started to come down from the loft, I am hoping for peace to return to the house in another week or so. 

It is hard to believe that tomorrow it will be 2013.  This year has gone by so fast.  I am already looking at seed catalogs (left over from last year) and planning my garden.  I want 2 crops of potatoes this year so I am researching them and collecting large containers to grow them in.  I have wood to cut for next year, house maintenance that will need to be done.  I am looking forward to some movies that are coming out, I saw “The Hobbit” and “Les Miserables” recently and they were both very good.  My man John McClain will be back this year as well as Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Jack the giant slayer looks good also.

I am looking forward to the new year.  I am optimistic and hopeful. I am hopeful the fiscal cliff is really just a hill.  I am hopeful that children will be safe. I am hopeful that the new year will be an uneventful one.  I feel that people are basically good and that given the opportunity they will be good.  I hope there is a lot of opportunity for good.  

It has been a long day for me.  I spent election day at work and it was a good day.  I very much like that the news folks decided to hold off on posting the exit polls until later in the day.  I am also as of this time  happy with the results, Obama seems to have won and Tim Kaine (Virginia) has also won.  I will go to bed and hope that things are not a total mess when I get up in the morning.  I had hoped that the win, which ever way it went, would be decisive and it seems at this time that it was, so lets hope that we can all move forward.

I am in the pink area

I woke up this morning to….. snow….. When I went to bed last night I expected to wake up to rain and wind, after all the weather gurus around here were saying we might get a few snow showers this evening.  Now in all honesty there is just a dusting of snow.  It looks a lot like what powered sugar would look like on a donut.  There is now a chance of 1-4 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow.  Not that bad but still messy.  I guess I will have to go down to the barn and get the snow shovel.  I don’t know why I did not think of that yesterday when I was getting ready for the “Frankenstorm” other wise known as Sandy.

I talked to my boys on the Outer Banks.  As of yesterday they had faired well.  It was just another storm to them. 

I will be glad when this storm is gone; it has been non stop news for the past week.  One good thing about it, the storm knocked the presidential election off the front “page” of the news for a while!!!

I am sitting here in my mountain home at 7:30 pm the end of October with my windows and doors open.  It was in the upper 70’s today as it has been for nearly the whole month.  I thought earlier this month that the cool weather was here but it seemed to just be a blip on the weather map.  Tomorrow is forecast to be even warmer.  If the weather gurus are correct we should be back to more seasonal temperatures by the first of next week. 

I moved to the mountains to live in the summer of 2008 and with the exception of the first part of the winter 2009-2010 the winters have been pretty warm and the summers almost hot.  The old timers around here comment on how unusual the weather has been.  A lot has been said to play down the effects of climate change but from my point of view it is real and we as a society need to accept that like it or not things are changing and we need to prepare for that change. Sticking your head in the sand doesn’t do a whole lot of good when that new house you built on the North Carolina coast gets flooded or you don’t have water in that new house you built in Nevada. 

this is a link to the Frontline program on the climate debate

 Climate of Doubt | FRONTLINE | PBS

I have been wanting to point this out all day; today is

10-11-12

Few people alive now will ever see these numbers in a date again.
Some folks are looking forward to the next sequence this year 12-12-12.
Just think after 12-12-12 there will not be any sequential dates until the next century.  There will be the date 11-12-13 but no 13-13-13.  After 12-12-12 dates will be just dates on a calendar again that is until the next century opens up a new opportunity for folks to plan special events on dates like 01-01-01