First day of summer 2015

Today is the first day of summer I have the windows and doors open as I sit here at my computer with a cup of instant coffee, yes instant coffee I LOVE IT, enjoying the sounds of morning.  I have to work today but that’s not all bad, the weather guru’s say it’s going to be hot and muggy so I might as well be at work.  Tomorrow on the second day of summer I can cut the grass and weed the garden and when rest demands its place in my day I can enjoy my book.  Life is simple for me and I love it.

Its been a long time since my last post, what can I say life is good and I have been busy.  This is going to be an interesting return to blogging but heck hear goes!!!

Replacing the toilet fill valve

All I wanted to do was replace the toilet fill valve.  The old one had been broken for months.  How hard can it be to replace a fill valve?  WELL let me tell you…..

 First my toilet is in a little “cubby” so things are very tight that really should not have been a problem; just unscrew the old fill valve and screw in a new one.

 NO, NO that is not how things rolled, I could not get the old one off it was stuck and I could not get a plumbers wrench back there to unscrew it so I had to move the whole toilet.  A 30 minute job became a 2 hour job.   But it is done and I was able to paint behind the toilet and all is good.

I love fixing things; I get such a good feeling inside when I accomplish these simple little tasks.

View from Buffalo Mt

 the Buffalo from my house;

 my house from the Buffalo

 friends on top of the Buffalo

selfie of me on the Buffalo

Well I am still here, it was another busy summer and fall is here big time.  Some friends and I hiked the Buffalo today, most likely for the last time this year, and the colors were very nice. We had some bad weather come through last week so the colors were not a good as they could have been but none the less it was worth the hike.  

Where has the summer gone?  It is August already… what have I done this summer?  To tell the truth not much;  I have gardened, done a little camping and when ever possible enjoyed the company of friends.  I have spent much of my summer mulling around at home, avoiding the tumultuous news outside my little piece of paradise.  And the world news has been most disconcerting; emboli, the middle east, and Russian/Ukraine conflict   are just a few disturbances in the world “force”.  Political discord, drought and fracking related disturbances in the USA “force”.  Talk of pipelines in my local “force” aughhhhh  give me my little piece of land with grass to cut weeds to pull and bees to avoid.  I love to walk this small spot of land with the dogs every morning just to clear my brain.

 the garden in mid July

I very much enjoyed planting flowers this year

The view from the Buffalo 5-18-2014

I took another hike up the buffalo with some friends yesterday; the weather had cooled this past week so it was a very pleasant hike.  As you can see from these two photos things have changed quite a bit over the past 3 weeks.

I had hoped for a sunny day today but it is mostly cloudy with a bit of a breeze; no matter I still have to get the garden in.  I want that good food next winter!!

Buffalo Mountain, April 2014

What a beautiful day in the neighborhood!!  I spent the day scraping and priming the out side French doors, then a friend and I took a hike up the Buffalo.  We then came back to my place had a nice dinner and now its just me and its movie time.  I love spring!!!

 Its a little rocky on top of the Buffalo

Rock to the left, rock to the right

Things on the mountain are still in winter mode but from time to time we did see little touches of spring,

the end of March

First touch of spring

Today is the last day in March and what a nice day it seems to want to be. It’s a bit nippy outside but the air is crisp and has a clean morning smell.  It the weather gurus are correct it will be a nice day to work outside.

What can I say about March except that it was a long one.  It was turbulent month weather wise.  We were lucky in paradise we only had cold and rain with the occasional light snow unlike some of our northern neighbors who had record snow with the cold temps. The west with its warm temps and drought and as this month came to an end the mud slide in Washington State.  Politically it was no walk in the park either with the Russian conflict in the Ukraine setting the rest of the year up to be….. interesting.  Oh and lets not forget the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines MH370 right now that is turning into an X-File.   God I need to do some yard work!!!

How did I make it through this month of bad weather and bad news?  I enjoyed a good book, spent time with my friends and did a lot of mandatory over time at work.  I filled the space around me with as much good as I could.  I cant ignore the world outside in fact I believe it is important to be informed but to allow the negative in the world to rule my life would make me very unhappy and cynical.  I would rather look at the good and be happy and hopeful.   

Aww… April I have such hopes for you.

I need spring

When I was younger time seemed to take forever.  Days, weeks and months often passed at a snails pace until something came along that was enjoyable then time sped by.  Now that I am older time is flying.  There is no real difference in my perception of time a bad day passes just a fast as a slow day; as with every thing out there, there is an exception to my time passing thing, this winter.  This has been the longest winter I can remember. It has been wet and cold here in paradise.  There has been little sun; for the most part if the sun is out I am at work. 

Ohhh anyway spring has to get here sooner or later.   I have dreams of seeds and dirt.  I have dreams of fresh vegetables and fruit.  I have dreams of walks in the warm sun, mowing grass and bonfires.  I have dreams of being outside for hours and hours.  This cabin is so claustrophobic to me now.  I need sky and field,  I need fresh air, I need spring.

February 2014, a quick review

February in review;

What can I say about February other than the weather was cold, we had one really big snow and I had to work a lot; Oh and I was a bad girl in November and I had to spend a looooong 8 hours and 40 minutes in drivers school this past weekend.

I will say that I am looking forward to spring.  This has been a cold winter.  We have not had that many significant snow days here but we have had a lot of rain followed by very cold days.  The 60 + inches of snow that fell outside Philadelphia was rain for us.  California would gladly accept all the extra wet stuff we are getting.  In mid February we did get what can’t be called anything else but a record snow; there was over 20 inches of the white stuff on my deck.  We had been warned of snow levels around 8-12 inches and I had prepared for that by parking my car a ½ mile from home near the hard top road (VDOT tends to clear the hard top road fairly quick) I knew that my road was going to be one of the last to be cleared so my plan was park near the hard top and walk to the car when the road was clear and hence not miss any work.  As they say “the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray” I missed 2 days of work.  The snow started on Wednesday and I did not get out until Saturday afternoon.  I was not able to park up at my house until Tuesday.  I am looking forward to spring….just saying.

Other than work I have been keeping busy cutting and splitting wood.  Inside the house should be nice and warm again next winter.  It has been too cold and wet to get much done outside, and I do have a lot of projects that need to be done.  We had a big rain and wind event last week that loosened a piece of fascias covering and that has to be fixed.  The garden needs to be cleaned out, I need to clean out the shed, check the fences (I have a few that need to be tightened) you know; just a lot of stuff that is best done in better weather. When one owns a home there is maintenance to do. 

I’m off to walk the big boy, he is a young dog and even though he has almost 4 ½ acres to roam he still want me to walk with him and throw the ball.  He does not care what the temperature is out side. He keeps me moving; good dog!!

Winter weather in Floyd and the Outer Banks

The morning after the snow we weren't suppose to get.

and sunset on that same day.

January is almost gone spring will be here before I know it.  It has been a bit of a cold January.  We have had below zero nights and days that barely got out of the single digits.  The cold weather will hopefully be a good thing.  Maybe some of the bugs that are such a pain Japaneses beetles stink bugs and ticks to name just a few will be cut back this next summer.  Tonight is going to be a cold one down to about 8 or so if the weather guru's are right.  

I do feel a bit sorry for my kids at the beach.  They got a bit of snow yesterday also as can be seen by this photo.  Well maybe I don't feel too sorry for them that looks like fun......

A winter day in paradise

Winter is passing quietly here in paradise.  It seems like this winter has been wet compared to last year. We have had rain followed by cold temperatures.  It’s like old man winter has been just a little off, not sending the cold temperatures in time to meet the rain and thus rain and no snow.  Of course the ground just a few inches below the surface is frozen so all the rain is just running down to the branches and streams and out of the county. 

We need snow to refill our water table. Snow melts slowly and is able to soak into the ground; this then slowly makes its way to the cracks and crevices that we put our wells into so that we can draw out the good clean mountain water we enjoy.   I have been told that around here the water cycle is only about 20 years so what I am drinking now started its journey as rain or snow 20 or more years ago. 

It’s snowing right now; a little clipper is passing through and is promising to drop a ½ inch or so of the white stuff.  Spring is weeks and weeks away so any change to the dark silhouette of barren trees and brown fields that Mother Nature can give me is a welcome gift.

Its cold out there

It’s January 6^th and it is getting very cold out side.  This morning I went out side expecting frigid temperatures but I was surprised to find that I was not cold at all.  When I checked out the temp on line I found that is was 34 degrees, not bad at all.  Well let me tell you things have changed in the last 10 hours.  Right now it is 12 degrees and the wind has picked up.  I had hoped that the weather guru’s might be off a bit but I am putting that hope aside, it’s cold out side……

I was on the couch reading a book when I noticed the sky darken, I looked up at the Buffalo and saw a white haze crossing it, at first I thought it was fog but it wasn’t it was snow.  When I lived at the beach some times it would rain across the street but my house would be dry.  That is what happened with the snow.  It was snowing on the Buffalo but not at my house.

If the weather guru’s predictions continue to be true tomorrow will be very cold but starting Wednesday we should be back to normal temps so all should be good.  I am hoping the power stays on and that the pipes don’t freeze.  

I am hoping for a good Wednesday and Friday to come, some friends and I need to split some wood.  I have a good wood supply right now but too many days like this one and I might find myself needing more sooner rather than later; Burrrrrrr

Happy New Year

I should be at work today but I called in sick…. As I sit here and sip on my nice hot cup of coffee I am thinking of last year, 2013.  I can truly say it was uneventful.  I went to work, gardened and hung out with friends and family.  Nothing special… Well for me living here is special; I enjoy the “simple” life.  I like having an ideal of what it’s going to be like tomorrow.  I can amp life up from time to time with a short trip here or there knowing that I can retreat back to my little piece of paradise and the simple life at any time.

At this time in my life its nice to know that life is going to flow with the seasons.  Right now I am getting the inside of the house in order; going through closets, drawers, under beds and anywhere else I have stuck things getting rid of what ever I don’t use or need in an effort to de-clutter.  On warm winter days I will attempt to get the green house finished and cut wood this done in preparation for the seasons to come.  When spring comes I will plant my garden.  Summer I will tend the garden and fight the un-winnable grass wars.  In the fall I will harvest my summer toil in anticipation of the cold winter months.  Throughout the seasons I will enjoy time with friends my dogs and yes the cat.  I like the simple life.  I am comfortable with this; I am hoping to continue in this manner for many years to come.

Happy New Year

Rain

Rain rain don’t go away

I don’t want to go out and play.

Watch a movie, read a book,

Put a pot of soup on the stove to cook.

Rain rain don’t go away

I don’t want to go out and play

Cindy Lee

Today is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and first day of winter.  Its 9:50 in the evening and it is 59 degrees out; that’s not right…… 

Quick trip to KDH

I made spaghetti sauce at home and brought it to the beach so my boys could have a home cooked meal

Walk way to the beach

View from my hotel room balcony 

Selfie of me on the balcony.

I just got back from a short trip to see the boys.  The weather on the Banks was less than pleasant but it was great to see the boys.  My work schedule will keep me from seeing them over the holidays so I wanted to get there while I can so to hell with the weather. 

I stayed at Shutters on the Banks, the old Colony IV, and it was nice enough, nothing special, but it was clean and the staff was very nice and while the breakfast was a simple continental style it was good and I did not leave hungry.

I did not get to shop like I wanted to.  I only had a day and a half there and I wanted to spend all the time I could with the boys.  I am planning on going back the end of March, just before rates go up and stay for 3 full days so I should be able to get together with folks I missed this trip and do some shopping

Reusable bags

I try very hard to “conserve, reuse, re-purpose or recycle” one of the ways I do this is to use reusable shopping bags.  I found this article on bacteria in reusable shopping bags very interesting.  Lucky for me I already wash my bags, not as often as I should I am sure but…..

What's in your reusable shopping bag? Bacteria. - chicagotribune.com

I have been using the same bags for more than 6 years they are ChicoBags and I can just clip them on my purse.  I have tried the folding reusable bags but I never remember to take them to the store, I don’t forget my ChicoBags because they are attached to my purse and I take my purse with me to the store.

I have ordered some new ones because the ones I have are starting to show their age.  They are a few dollars more than when I bought them the first time, $9 for 3 as opposed to $20 for 4, but they have held up well and for me are worth it.

Reusable Shopping Tote / Grocery Bag by ChicoBag - 4 Pack - Assortment (1 Blue, 1 Green, 1 Purple, 1 Red) : Amazon.com : Kitchen & Dining

I have a few days off so I was straitening up the house this morning, I am always amazed at how sloppy I am on work days, and noticed this pile of white shoes.  I seem to have a lot of white shoes…

I defense of my self, the shoes start out as work shoes, then become around town shoes, then they become yard shoes.  The yard shoes are lasting longer now that I have discovered foot ball cleats for mowing the yard. The cleats give me a much better grip when cutting the grass.       

Of course with winter on its way I don't think I will be cutting much more grass this year.  I do have to cut the hill one more time but I can do that when ever. 

         

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