My Knees Are Crying Like Babies

This morning, my knees are crying like babies and at first, with an idiot's wisdom, I thought "It must be going to rain." Then I checked the weather and find it's not supposed to rain until Wednesday and reconsidered the knee situation. Oh. Right. The wood stack on the back porch went from the above to 

which meant one step up on the porch, carrying wood, one step down on the ground, repeat until wood off ground and onto rack. The large piece, left, will be used as a back porch table; a sweet reminder of the gift of the sugar maple. In the interest of full disclosure, the back side is what I did before leaving to do errands. The front is what Faith did when she came to help yesterday. Still, immodesty bids me also tell you, Faith is 2/3 my age; she's 21 to my 62 so your adulation and praise should not be withheld on my behalf (HAHAHAHAHA).

There's one more wood rack to fill and, in the next few days, the boys will be along with black locust. I've got a couple of things to finish in the house and then let Ole Man Winter come! But, not until then please and thanks.

Coming home yesterday, of course I stopped to take photos.

A beautiful white tailed deer.

The Cove from another direction. This taken from about where the "Half Mile Tree" stood until it succumbed to Father Time and Mother Nature. The tiny white spot, about center left is the Cove church, no longer used for services. Thistle Cove Farm cannot be seen due to the rolling nature of the landscape and much of the land in this photo belongs to the estate of Smiley Ratliff, a local southwest VA (Grundy, Buchanan County) boy "who done good"...very, very, very good. Dave and I were welcomed into the Cove by Smiley, long before we knew who Smiley was. To us he was simply a kind man, a good neighbor who invited us to his home for cook-outs and a good time. If you click on his name, you'll read a Washington Post article that describes Smiley and our part of Appalachia to a T. In the 1950's Smiley was on the cover of Time magazine. Like I said, a southwest VA boy who done good...very, very, very good for himself and a lot of others.

As an aside, when we first moved to the farm, a young lad who helped us told me he used to play junior varsity football. I asked him why he'd quit and he replied, "Waelll, we'un's 'uld play agin Grundy and I'd be on the line and look up and that thar feller 'n front of me 'uld have a mustash. Heck, Miss Sandra, that just ain't right...them Grundy boys go back to school in September so they'uns could play football and they'd quit by Christmas. Some of them had been in the 8th grade 3 and 4 times!"

Smiley coached Buchanan High School football and was once asked what was the best pass defense. He replied, "A quarterback lying in a pool of blood, dyin'."

They don' grow 'em as tuff as they us'd tuh.

Blessings ~ Smiley Ratliff ~ firewood ~ the Cove ~ black locust ~ sugar maple ~ 

My Precious, Amazing Cove Life

  This is my view, every single day...I am blessed.

Bald eagles live here

and sometimes I'm able to get photos.

This bald eagle was eating carrion while the crow dared dance too close.

Milkweed, Monarch butterfly food.

 Amazing, how a fawn this little can jump a fence.

 Difficult to see but three fawns on other side of fence.

 Milk time!

 Several twins and even triplets have been seen this year.

Nice six point buck; hope he lives to an old age.

 It was great, watching these two young folks work cattle.

The bald eagle, going home.

My pace is slow and steady due, in large part, to the beauty surrounding me. When I see a doe and her fawns or a bald eagle or young folks working cattle, I slow down and appreciate what I'm seeing. My life is slow, by choice and necessity and I don't miss fast...not one little bit.

Blessings ~ bald eagles ~ fawns ~ young folks ~ milkweed ~

The Best Marigold Hotel...now playing

As I don't have marigolds, day lilies will have to do as I'm watching The Best Marigold Hotel and recognize so many actors from other venues. Penelope Wilton, played Isobel Crowley in Downton Abbey, again playing a crotchety, disagreeable old woman who does not deserve the wonderful husband she abuses. Eventually, she figures it out and makes changes to propel both she and her husband forward even if separately. No, this isn't a recommendation for divorce...it's a movie...

Then there's Maggie Smith, aka Dowager Violet Crawley, another very, very crotchety old woman who is also disturbingly vocal in her dislike of Indians. Yet, as the movie plays on, we finds out she's been "let go" with no ceremony, after years, perhaps decades of being in service. A younger woman has taken her place and she's been put out to pasture, unwanted, unloved, un-cared for and totally at sixes and sevens. It's sad and I weep for her because I know her. I know many such women and men and sometimes, sometimes, they figure out a way to go on and go on successfully.

Judy Dench is someone who makes the best of a bad situation and, in this movie, does it beautifully ending her part in the movie "happily ever after". I do like her clothes though...all cotton and linen and she's about the only one who dresses for the city and the weather. Smart woman.

If you've seen this movie, no doubt your mileage differs; please tell me how.

~ Dandy Man, he's my boy ~

I've always wanted to visit India, particularly Jaipur where the movie takes place, but there are so many other places I want to see first...Wales, Scotland, Ireland (again), Mongolia, then, maybe India. But OH the textiles...that would make India totally worthwhile...yes? The Kantha quilts are lovely and the next quilt I make, I want to do it in the Kantha style.

Mom and Dad wanted to go to Niagara Falls so a camper was purchased. It's a 19 foot something or other that's no longer being made but is extremely suitable.

 The flag is to remind me to be me. Silly, eh?

 Table seats four and the Mikassa dinnerwear is vintage.

Banquet seating that breaks down into a double bed. The kitchen area has a rooster theme...cute, eh?

Seats four. 

 

Four burner stove, double sink, enamel cook wear. Pretty much, it's all vintage and thrift store finds. 

 Twin beds in the bedroom, the fabric on the bed will be used to make quilts for each bed.

The mattresses were in good shape but I purchased five inches of foam to put underneath them...which will make a wonderful nights sleep.

 I've sailed a 36 foot yacht with a shower about this size.

 Nice sized sink and

toilet with lots of storage.

A refrigerator a tad larger than a college dorm size.

Now, all this lovely, fun stuff and my parents can't go due to Dad's surgery. He's had complications and a trip to Niagara isn't happening this year. Still, I've had a lot of fun simply sitting in the sun, outside the camper, planning trips to come. And, should those trips not happen, I'm thinking this might be a nice farm stay camper. What do you think?

Recently, I was at Gina and Steve's house and we were visited by babies...twin bears! I'm not sure where Mom was but, to be sure, she wasn't far. I think it's a bit like humans...one child will stay put and do what they are told whereas two children will get into mischief so the babies ran off.

They were wandering around the front yard and when I stepped onto the front porch, began scrambling up a tree before scrambling down and running across the road.

which way...which way??? Cute as all get out and just more of God's creation we see in this lovely valley.

And, almost lastly, this is what one of the cats left in the sun room for me. Daddy John said he thinks it's a copper head; I know for sure it's a dead copper head. whew!

In more than twenty years, this is the second snake I've seen on this farm; the first was a green garden snake.

The first photo in this post was taken the same time as this photo...beautiful, simply beautiful. A storm blew through on Friday and Saturday, leaving crystal clear weather, mid 50's temperatures feeling like early September...break your heart beautiful!

As they said in the movie, "Everything will be all right in the end, and if it's not all right, it isn't the end" or as I like to say...God has a plan and that's a good thing because these are trying times. Tempers are running high, emotions are out of kilter, people are being mean, neither side seem to be very tolerant. People, listen up...it's okay to have differing opinions about, well...everything but what's not okay is to turn nasty. Please don't show hatred or even unkindness; if necessary, remove yourself from the situation and walk the other way. If you're a Christian, turn the other cheek and show Christian love.

Blessings ~ on all God's people, saints and sinners alike ~ 

Welcome to Thistle Cove Farm; Thanks for Stopping By...

~ Welcome! ~

Some folks go to the florist or grocery store; I drive down the road, Mason jar and scissors in hand and pick a bouquet for the gate.

As Susan Branch says, here's a little musica to set the mood. This week has been grand; lots of sunshine, lots of warm weather, 

~ do you see the sheet of rain in the middle? ~ 

some rain to help things grow,

~ double rainbows, ending in my pasture! ~

animals (domestic and wild) and friends FRIENDS!

~ deer and two red wing blackbirds ~

Early in the week, a deer was spotted in the side pasture. Apparently, s/he was a little too close to someone's nest because they started dive bombing. First one, then the other, would swoop in about the ears and, eventually, the deer scampered.

~ so graceful ~

~ Do you know these women? ~

One of the best gifts I've ever received was a visit this week from Vicki of 2 Bags Full. Vicki and I have known each other for years and it was at her Florida property Dave and I had a respite just days before he unexpectedly died. This week, Vicki and I met for the first time and, truly, it was like being, again, with a friend of decades whom I'd not seen in a long while. Vicki is everything one could ask for in a house guest; she loves cats, loves the dogs, loves the horses, loves me, smile

AND SHE AND MARSHA WEEDED THE VEG GARDEN!!!! No one was threatened or harmed, it was an act of LOVE and words fail me at saying how greatly appreciated. Now I can get in a few more tomato plants, herbs and maybe a squash or three. In true Vicki fashion, "no big deal" but, yes, it was, and is, a Big Deal. It would have taken me all day if not two and they did it in a couple of hours. THANK YOU!

They left, all too soon, and missed the black bear heading home this morning.

They also missed learning how to drive the tractor; several times a week, early morning after dew is off the ground, I mow thistles in an attempt to keep them under control. I dislike using chemicals and weed control is by tractor and old fashioned swing blade.

Walking on sunshine...another beautiful day on Thistle Cove Farm and tomorrow is sure to be perfect.

Mercy! My cup overflows!

Blessings ~ Vicki ~ Marsha ~ wildlife ~ beautiful weather ~ Thistle Cove Farm where I've spent the BEST one-third of my entire life! ~

Three Days of Absolutely Beautiful!

~ home sweet home ~

I'm participating in Vicki's Grow Your Blog Party here and have giveaways.

Just yesterday, the weather report said three days of absolutely beautiful! Today, tomorrow and Wednesday are supposed to be warm, sunny, bright and, totally, un-February. 

Wrong.

Today is rainy, chilly and absolutely not clothes hanging outside to dry weather so no laundry today and not even thinking about it. January and February have been bone crushing exhausting and mostly spent on the road, tending to business which, for the most part, is almost caught up. The South Carolina Cherry Grove condo was made ready for Canadian snowbirds (hi John and Rosie) and then for the season ahead.  The website has yet to be updated but VRBO is, mostly, updated.

In between trips, it's been farm work with time taken for drinking in the beauty. I never want to allow myself to be so busy that I forget to take time to enjoy this moment. Recently, my brother asked if I remember something and was surprised when I said, "No, I've got maybe half dozen memories of the last three years. For the most part, it's a blur." That's what grief can do to a person's mind and body; it can wrack you with such emotional pain that you simply lose huge swaths of time. Never let someone force you into how you should respond, what you should do after the death of a loved one. Thankfully, due to God's mercy and grace and the positive actions and prayers of many, I was able to come through to this side mostly whole. It takes as long as it takes...

The dogs and I did a pasture walk to clear out the water trough, pick up trash and take photos. Please note, all the work was done by the one with actual working thumbs as the dogs are moral and love support only. ahem. 

This photo was taken from the far corner fence line, in the alfalfa field and the house is seen, barely, in the distance, to the left of Morris Knob (at about 3400 feet, the tallest point in Tazewell County), where the copse of trees stand. 

On the upper hill, hay needed to be set but I have to wait until the afternoon sun has come 'round and heated up the stable door lock so it can be unlocked. (Ain't nothing ever easy, is it?) It's difficult to tell but the tractor is on a slight hill, facing downward, so I always raise the front end bucket to offset the weight of the 1100 pound round bale being picked up behind; the tractor is in 4-wheel drive for added security. I spend a lot of time thinking things through in an attempt to do my part at preventing accidents but pray and rely on God to do the actual preventing. Although, as Daddy says, "There's no such thing as "preventing an accident". I believe he's right, basically, it's just an oxymoron. So, I spent a lot of time thinking about safety and then following through.

With the tractor in reverse, I floor it, just a tad, to shove the rear spear into the hay bale. For me, this is a tricky part...the three prong spear has to be in the right places in order to pick up the bale and you can see snow on the ground so it's a trifle slick. The three prongs are one on top and two side by side below, somewhat forming a triangle. 

Usually the round metal hay ring is frozen to the ground and I'm beyond the point in time where I could physically break the ground hold then move the feeder. The round feeder weighs close to 250 pounds so the tractor is put to good use by using the front bucket to lift the feeder and break the ground hold.

Before putting the ring around the hay bale, I remove all the twine that was used in baling the hay. Others have told me they don't remove the twine but all I see is a vet bill should the horses eat the twine and it gets wrapped around their intestines. It takes all of a minute to accomplish this step, lessens my anxiety and is safer and healthier for the horses. 

Once the ring is broken from the ground I, physically, lift it from the ground

then walk it so the flat side is toward the hay bale

and drop it over the hay bale.

The last step is positioning the ring so it's even all around making it easier for the five horses to eat. 

The dogs help by providing entertainment...Daisy on the left, Sadie in the middle and Sam on the right...chase, jump, bark and generally have a high ole time. Sometimes I join in and then we all take a toes up on the pasture to enjoy heavenly scenery. 

And in the "whoever said God doesn't have a sense of humor department"...you might remember when, first of January, I was bemoaning the fact my wood supply was, dangerously, low. To some folks I mentioned I wanted a supply of black locust because it has the best BTU's of any wood around here, burns cleanly and leaves few ashes. I also mentioned that to God but on the next to last day in January, I figured He had other plans for me. ... Until I remembered Charlie's son had a small business selling wood. In nasty weather, on the last day of January, B. and his friend, delivered a load of wood, directly to my back porch! The wood rack had three pieces of spongy, sorry looking wood.

While the young men were working, I asked, "I'm not good with wood but that looks like oak, is it?" B. stopped working, turned to me, looked me in the eye and said, "No ma'm, it's black locust we cut out of a fence line about four years ago so it should be plenty dry. We really appreciate you buying wood from us." 

I started laughing, raised my hands to the ski and said, "Thank you, God!" The young man grinned and looked at me. I said, "First of January, I asked God for a load of black locust and, honestly, figured He'd forgotten but this proves me wrong! I bet there's laughter in heaven right about now." (Truly, I know God doesn't forget but sometimes it's easy to confuse myself.) 

I ordered three more loads and will, probably, order more before summer. I like having wood stored in the barn; makes me feel like I've got a hold on winter before it gets here next year. This young man is impressive! He shows respect by stopping his work, looking me in the eye, listening and responding with beautiful manners. Several times he said, "Thank you for buying wood; we really appreciate it." Pick me up off the floor! Charlie, you and K. have done a fabulous job; I love this boy...may I have him, please?

Using the Polaris Ranger and an old metal bed spring, I drug the yard to distribute horse manure. Lightly has been allowed to graze the yard and her manure means I don't have to spend money on chemical fertilizers (as if!). Next time, I'll use the tractor as this job was a bit too hard on the Ranger. (Daddy John did warn me...)

What's on your back porch? 

If you've surmised my computer woes are over...they are, at least for the here and now but who knows how long that will last? For a lot of years, there have been no computer problems but, since October, that's changed. Hopefully, I'll have a spell where I'm able to visit around so act surprised when I show up on your blog, although, it'll be slow going for a while. Yesterday, I dropped a ladder on my right hand and the pain level is such I'm forced to go slow; thank God my hand isn't broken.

Blessings ~ days of beauty ~ safety ~ round bales of hay ~ dogs ~ black locust wood ~ another day above ground ~ I'm ready to go but I'm not homesick ~