Kissed by Frost

~ the last of the cosmos, kissed by frost ~

Autumn is my favorite time of year, although, it's also the most difficult to make an adjustment to the changes in light and time. I know DST doesn't change until November 1, Sunday, 2 a.m. but the already shortened days confuse my cicadian rhythms and both body and mind suffer. Most folks I know who tend to land and/or animals are acclimated to the natural rhythms of the earth, sun and moon. We tend to sleep when it's dark; work when it's light and when those rhythms, cicadian rhythms, are disrupted, I tend to do stupid things. As soon as we turn the clocks back, this Sunday, those stupid things are sure to escalate. Unfortunately.

~ sheep weather! ~

 For example, this morning I hurried through chores so I could rush to town and take Zumba and  yoga. No problem there except the yoga instructor has family illness so that class was canceled and I came home to clean. Again, no problem except I detoured and ended up cleaning the space where we keep linens and also did a boat load of laundry. I hate going into the winter with drapes and curtains that are dusty but with more than thirty windows, most sized nine feet by three feet but some larger, in this farmhouse, that chore takes the better part of a week...and that's if I keep at it like there's a paycheck at the end.

~ Frosted Zinnia ~

At 5:00 I stopped everything, took a shower and got ready to head to town to see Justin Lookadoo. I've really been looking forward to hearing him; he comes highly recommended and some kind person or persons, unknown to me, paid to have him come to Tazewell and speak. When I arrived at the fairground the parking lot was empty, not a good sign. Long story, short: he's scheduled for next Wednesday, November 4th. Oh well. I head home and then remember...something else was scheduled for tonight and I missed that too.

~ Frosted, feathery cosmos ~

~ Frosted sedum ~

Off and on, these past couple/few weeks have been just like that...a day late and a dollar short. It's always this way in Autumn; it's always me playing catch up, body trying to adjust to the shortened day light, chasing the sun and getting my D's, vitamins, that is. I'm sleeping like it's a sickness and still can't manage to get caught up; anyone else having these problems?

~ Frost on the gate ~

We've had a couple of hard frosts and they've been beautiful! An occupational hazard of working outdoors is a frosted metal gate; there's no better way to lose some skin than to grab hold of a frozen metal gate. Remember the scene from The Christmas Story when the boy licked the street lamp? YEEWOUCH! I felt his pain; still do for that matter.

~ Maple, in front yard ~

One of the lovely things about "silence" is there's room enough to hear things that, otherwise, go unnoticed. Things like leaves falling through the branches of the maple tree. There was no wind, it was just Autumn and time for the leaves to fall. They made a rustling noise, reminding me of an old man, sitting beside the fire, work boots to the side, sighing the sighs of someone who has accomplished something that day. Something worthwhile, something to put food on the table or in the manger. Those falling leaves reminded me of someone who has done what they could to take care of what they should; to prepare for winter and the deep, silent sleep. They reminded me of my Granddaddy Bennett and how he would sit beside the fire, work boots to the side, toes wiggling in dirty socks, hand made wooden chair tilted against the wall, waiting to be called for supper.

He died when I was six but I remember him well. He was a giant, in my eyes then and now, as I remember him. He wasn't a big man; I'm probably about his size but he was a man's man and one of the richest men in West Virginia owes his start to Granddaddy and Granddaddy's hard saved money. He was that kind of man; always willing to lend a hand or a dollar, always seeing to it that folks ate or had a roof over their head or blankets on their bed. He was one of the biggest men I'll ever know and to make it even better, he was a man after God's own heart.

~ Across the road, a corn field ~

October is Harvest Moon and this month is the last possible time to gather in food for man and beast. Gardens are limping along with the occasional winter squash, the Granny Smith apple tree still has a few apples clinging to the upper branches and the corn silage has been cut. Corn silage is high in protein and easy to digest; it has a nice, yeasty smell like corn mash...now, how could I possibly know that, you wonder??? Dave thinks it stinks but I like to smell it and the cattle love eating it. The field across the house was cut last week, much to the dismay of the black bear living in the field. It was easy pickings for him, for a while, but now he's had to go back to the mountain to eat and prepare for his winter sleep.

~ Cutting corn for silage ~

Farming is risky business and ranks right up there with any other dangerous job. I've known men to be caught in farm equipment and the fortunate ones are walking around, perhaps without an arm, but they are walking around. Driving farm equipment takes skill and most men started driving when they were old enough to see over the steering wheel, with or without a stack of books under their bottoms, and with or without, a stick to poke the gas or brake pedals.

About half the time the tractor driver is looking forward, gauging the row, and about half the time, he's looking backwards to make sure the equipment is in alignment with the corn rows.

~ corn silage ~

This field took three days to cut and that was with two trucks working full time to catch, hold and carry the silage to a nearby field for storage. In the photo to the right you can see the little red volunteer fire house in the distant left and, to the distant right, the old Cove elementary school, now Community Center and where the school shots were filmed for the movie, Lassie: Best Friends Are Forever. If you've seen the video cover, that's Thistle Cove Farm in the distant background behind the boy and Lassie, although there's absolutely NO credit given to anything or anyone in Tazewell County. Perhaps you remember Clinton Bell, my shearer? He and Bullet, his Border Collie, were the behind the scenes stars because they worked the sheep. Lassie is a looker, I'll give him that...yes, Lassie is a HE, always has been...but the boy is all looks and no brains.

Wait. That's not exactly true. Lassie can act but he's not the kinda working man that gets his hands...er, paws dirty. Lassie let ole Bullet do the heavy lifting while Lassie did the styling and profiling for the camera and kiddies. Likewise, Clinton did the heavy lifting as he directed ole Bullet when the sheep were rounded up, moved, etc.

We bought this farm the year after the movie was made and people were still tiptoeing into the yard, peering in the windows. I'm not quite sure what they expected to see: Lassie seated at the table, dish of vittles in front of him...? Or, Lassie in the bed, snug as a bug in a rug...? Or, one of us in our altogethers as we stepped out of the shower...? The mind reels!

 Anyway, back to the corn silage. Cattle love it, it's inexpensive... meaning it doesn't have to be purchased like grain but it does cost in labor, equipment and fuel, and it's high in protein. But, you know most of that if you've been paying attention -smile-.

~ Someone's dream house, once upon a time ~

 This house sits behind the corn field and is where quite a few folks have set up housekeeping in days gone past. Now, it's a shadow of its former self, slowly going the way of all flesh and, probably, as full of snakes as a Christmas goose is full of...er... you know. Still and all, it's a purty sight and I love to sit and make up stories about the folks that once lived there.

Remember the old Bill Monroe song, "Gotta Travel On"? It goes

"Done laid around, done stayed around this old town too long
Summers almost gone, winters coming on..."

He's right, summer has gone and autumn is close behind; winter is hurrying right along and soon it will be time for flannel sheets. It's almost too cold to go to the barn in my nightgown, boots flopping on bare feet, scarf wrapped 'round my head and too large jacket on my back. The dogs and I can see our breath in the mornings, the sheep and horses have little beards of frost and the mist rises off the water trough as warmer mountain river meets colder mountain air.

 ~ mist rising off water trough as frost glistens on the ground ~

It's a great time here on the farm even if I'm struggling to keep up; struggling to stay awake. There's never enough time to do all that needs doing on the farm but now it's especially difficult. Even so, there's no place on God's beautiful earth I'd rather be than here, home at Thistle Cove Farm.

Until next time,

Blessings ~ this piece of heaven on earth ~ corn silage ~ work to keep us busy and strong ~ frost ~ the last of the flowers ~ Autumn ~

Sabbath Keeping

~ Sunrise at Thistle Cove Farm ~

"At this time our Lord showed me an inward sight of his homely loving. I saw that he is everything that is good and comforting to us. He is our clothing. In his love he wraps and holds us. He enfolds us in love, and he will never let us go.
And then he showed me a little thing the size of a hazelnut in the palm of my hand-and it was as round as a ball. I looked at it with my mind's eye and I thought: "What can this be?" and answer came: "It is all that is made." I marveled that it could last, for I thought it might have crumbled to nothing, it ws so small. And the answer came into my mind: "It lasts, and ever shall be, because God loves it." And so all things have being through the love of God.
In this little thing I saw three truths. The first is that God made it. The second is that God loves it. And the third is that God looks after it."
~ Julian of Norwich ~

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."
~ Peter 1:22 ~

"God loves you with an intensity beyond anything that I could describe to you. He loves you, and He loves you so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ to die on that cross, and the thing that kept Christ on that cross was love, not the nail."
~ Billy Graham ~

"Death is given power over everything finite, especially in our period of history. But death is given no power over love. Love is stronger."
~Paul Tillich ~

~ Morning has broken at Thistle Cove Farm ~

"Would you know your Lord's meaning in this? Learn it well. Love was his meaning. Who showed it you? Love. What did he show you? Love. Why did he show you? For love. Hold fast to this and you shall never know nor learn about anything except love forever." So I was taught that love was our Lord's meaning. And I saw full surely that before ever God made us, he loved us. And this love was never quenched, nor ever shall be. And in this love he has done all his works. And in this love he has made all things profitable to us. And in this love our life is everlasting. In our making we had beginning but the love in which he made us was in him from without beginning. In which love we have our beginning. And all this shall we see in God without end-which Jesus grant us."
~Julian of Norwich ~

"Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
~ Hebrew 10:24 ~

~ Sedum, blooming ~

Blessings ~ love ~ Jesus Christ ~ wise words from wise men and women ~ Bible, King James version ~ ~ sunrise ~ beautiful flowers ~ God's creation ~ love ~

Catch-up Friday

~ Double sunflowers by the sunroom ~

Goodness! This week has flown by and while my feet have barely touched the ground, I'm a bit unsure what I've done. Ever have weeks like that? Probably each and every one, eh? -smile-

~ Two fawns in our alfalfa field ~

Our alfalfa field provides forage not only for our horses and sheep but also deer. These two fawns have been grazing each morning and evening, providing loads of pleasure while we watch from a distance. I keep a camera handy, usually in my pocket or on the table; I just never know what delights God will send our way.

It's almost hunting season and there have been plenty of 'rubberneckers' driving down the road watching them as well. I try to be viligent as in times past, folks have shot from the road...a major illegal activity...and immoral...to my mind, at least...because we have our land posted "No Hunting". So, what part of "No Hunting" do you think they don't understand? I'm not against hunting, nor hunters, As Long As They Obey The Law. I believe deer populations need to be thinned and I believe in putting meat on the table. My problem lies with those who hunt for sport, killing to be killing; that's beyond my kin, meaning understanding but I enjoy the old words and tend to use them whenever possible.

~ If you look closely, you can see their spots, indicative of very young deer. ~

~ Wild flowers at the studio ~

Beauty abounds as evidenced by these wildflowers picked by the side of the road. There's a small table, painted green, placed at the entrance to the studio door that holds a blue enamel pitcher and it gives me joy to keep it full of found wildflowers. The cosmos are light, airy and planted in the small studio flower beds.

~ September full moon ~

Last week was the full moon called the Full Corn moon because corn is, generally, harvested this month. At least, that's the way it is around here; across the road, farmers began harvesting corn for cattle silage this week. The Harvest Moon is in October.

If you look closely at the full moon photo, it appears two hands are, gently, cupping the full moon, guiding its path across the night sky. I love to go outside, in the dark, early morning hours and watch the moon as it glides from left to right. The dogs love to go outside as well as it gives them an opportunity to chase down night smells and it gives me the opportunity to hear the night bird sing her beautiful song.

~Blessed rain! ~

We had a gift of rain this week and a most appreciated gift it was. You can see the sheets of rain, coming across the valley, right to left, almost following the cows as they head for the huddle. Animals tend to group during harsh weather, it gives them some shelter and protects the young as the calves are sheltered amongst the cows. If lighting should strike, it will probably kill a cow and not a calf. Surely that's nature's way...iow, God's way...of seeing to it life continues.

~Falcon ~

It's been a wonderful week for bird viewing. Do you think this handsome bird is a Peregrine Falcon? The Peregrine Fund has beautiful videos and great information on this bird of prey as well as other raptors.

~ Canada geese in our upper pasture ~

Isn't it amazing how the geese will have a sentry watch? I've read Canada geese have a purpose to the point when they fly in that amazing V. The purpose of the lead bird is to break the wind barrier, making it easier for other geese to fly. Each bird flies point thus ensuring each bird works hard as well as earns a rest while in the air. On the ground, birds alternate between eating and sentry duty, again, ensuring each individual has an opportunity to both work and eat. Some people refer to them as Canadian geese but that's incorrect; the name is Canada geese.

~ An American Bald Eagle ~

Early this morning Dave and I watched an American Bald Eagle fly by our sunroom window, across our pasture and land atop a tree. The eagle stayed for a couple of hours, surveying his kingdom and gave me plenty of time to try and take his photograph. This is one of the better photos and, while not very good, you can at least see his white head and tail. Magnificent!

~ Cove sunset ~

Until next time,

Blessings ~ flowers ~ birds ~ rain ~ sunset ~ deer ~ freedom and those willing to pay the price so the rest of us may enjoy our liberties ~

Good Morning, Tuesday!

~ Sam P. Spade, getting bolder as he wanders amongst the sheep ~

Cooler morning weather has arrived, until Indian Summer that is, and puppies are responding by being more energetic than ever. They play like the world is going to end this afternoon, perhaps we should live our lives the same way, eh? Coming home from exercise classes yesterday, I picked up this intact male by the side of the road. As you can see, he's starved but we've given him three meals, water and some bones so he is now a happy camper. He's part hound and we discussed keeping him but I just can't take on the added responsibility. Larry N., our Animal Control Specialist, is supposed to retrieve him today and, usually, Larry is able to find homes especially in the northeast where, I'm told, it's against the law to have an intact male or un-spayed female unless one has a breeder's license. Hello Big Brother! I don't believe indiscriminate breeding is a good thing but I think government intrusion into our lives is a Very Bad Thing. I tend to be a Libertarian when it comes to government...the less, the better and, almost, none is best. Frankly, I think politicians should, by law, not accept "campaign contributions"...I've heard some call it "bribes" and who is really right or wrong as isn't this a matter of opinion based upon perspective? If politicians can't be moral and legal because they are gentlemen and ladies then it should be forced upon them. Just like they force upon us such stupid laws as "you can't hang an elephant", a law still on the books in Tennessee. Please don't think I'm picking on Tennessee as each state has their own share of stupid laws and ejiits in office.

~ He's a Sweet Ole Hound ~

Did you hear about the Nevada Senator who told a newspaper, "I hope you go out of business!" And why, you may very well ask, did a person elected by the people, supposedly serving the people, say such a thing? Because said newspaper dared to call into question the Senator's politics. Although the Senator is no gentlemen, he is the Senate Majority Leader; God have mercy! Elections are coming up in 2010, perhaps the good people of Nevada will prove to be smarter, Much Smarter, than their elected Senator. Let us hope so. In the meantime, Sherman Frederick has dressed down the Senator, rightfully so, but, like so many in the 'inner circle'...also known here as 'inside the beltway' he appears to believe he's a law unto himself. Sir, I say to you, "it's time to exchange your short breeches for big boy trousers and, if you can't act as a gentleman, then try to act in a manner that reflects well upon the Honorable position of Senate Majority Leader. Please stave off sullying the position. If you want to act like a boor, then please do so in private. Remember the old adage, "it's best to keep one's mouth shut and have people think you're a fool than open it and remove all doubt!"

~ Peaches looks like she's called a meeting -smile-. ~

The horses and sheep live together in peace...most of the time. The only time things get tense is when the horses get on a rampage and race across the pastures and the sheep scatter like raindrops on a windshield. In all our years of having both, I've never had one injure the other; indeed, I've never had a farm animal injure another farm animal, no matter the species. I believe this is due to two things with the first being God's grace and mercy overshadowing Thistle Cove Farm. The second is due to everyone knowing they will be fed and fed well. No one has to worry about ending up on the dinner plate, everyone has a job, no matter folks think it's silly of me to keep sheep until they die of old age. The sheep give beautiful fleeces and I truly believe, "Happy Sheep Make Beautiful Wool"; even unto old age the sheep fleeces are beautiful, strong and healthy.

~ Black face Shetland whethers find shade inside the old water reservoir. ~

Mama Cat moved her kittens which is an Amazing Feat! She had born them at the bottom of a fifty gallon barrel littered with straw. She waited until they were about four weeks old and then, picking each one up by the scruff of the neck, she jumped to the top of said barrel and then carried them to a new location, again on straw. I don't know if she moved the straw or if it was already there...another mystery. I am in awe at God's creation and the abilities He gave them. Mama Cat is a smallish cat and the kittens each weigh about half a pound so to jump that distance, carrying a goodly portion of your own weight in your mouth...defies anything I can do!

~ New kittens, moved out of the barrel and onto floor ~

I'd love to keep all four kittens as barn cats and take all but two of the barn cats I now have to the animal shelter. A year or two ago, a woman moved in down the road, stayed a few weeks and moved out. That wasn't the end of the story however. When she moved in, the story is she brought many, many, Many cats with her as well as dogs and horses. One dog was so wild, his collar was choking him because the dog couldn't be caught so the collar could be adjusted. I think animal control finally was able to pop it with a tranquilizer, adjusted the collar and then put the dog in a kennel until it could be gentled. Anyway, when the woman moved out, she left the cats; some say upwards of fifty but I don't really know. I do know some of those cats ended up in my barn, feral as feral can be, diseased with God alone knows what. I've been trying to gentle them and have two I can actually get my hands on; the rest are whisps of imagination whenever I'm around. As an aside, the Feral Tribune used to be a newspaper in Split, Croatia which is one country I'd love to visit. I'm afraid I'll have to not feed the barn cats for a few days...which I hate to do because that means the just as well as the unjust suffer...but it's, more than likely, the only way I can catch them. I'll wait until colder weather when they are hungrier and need more calories. I'd rather have them put down humanely than starved to death or die of disease. So, full circle here, that's why I picked up the stray dog. If he does die at the shelter, he'll die a much easier death than how he was headed when I found him.

I'm burning daylight, so, until next time ~

Blessings ~ an empty dog kennel ready to be used for strays ~ healthy animals ~ Mama Cat, who takes better care of her kittens than some women do of their babies ~ daylight ~ a kind, ole hound who came along peacefully ~ elections, vote intelligently! ~

Life at Thistle Cove Farm

~ Zinnia, one of God's happy flowers ~

I've been absent for a few days so this entry will be long, a catch-up post, if you will. I'm in need of a seated rest period and updating my blog is one guaranteed way to grab some chair rest.

It seems like the more I get done, the more there is to do. Anyone out there experiencing the same? I'm sure most of you. There have been some fabulous blessings, orchestrated as only God can do; specifically I'm thinking of Kathy's family. It's been a frustrating, anxious few months for her i-friends and many angst filled years for her family. So many others are in need of prayer - Suzy as she leaves her home and moves to another state to tends to her aged Uncle's needs. Her uncle's bank in Nevada failed last week...the first of many, if the signs are to be correctly read...and he, rightfully so, is panicked. Uncle is a new, very new, Christian in his mid 80's. Sharon's aunt has advanced cancer as well as Ahzheimer's and their family is caught up in care and concern. Betty, my cousin, is caring for her step-father in his last days. Betty's mother, my mother's sister, passed away last November, and her step-father has Alzheimer's. These but a few and so many people needing prayer, needing the whisper of God's voice in their ear.

I have a journal where I keep names of folks who have requested prayer and it seems the list grows at a much faster rate than it used to grow. One of my favorite hymns is "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and one of my favorite lines of that hymn is "take it to the Lord in prayer". Irish born author, Joseph Scriven, was to be married but on the eve of his marriage, his betrothed drowned. Grief stricken, he re-located to Canada where he devoted himself to serving the poor but if one could afford his services, he would not work for them. Some years after moving to Canada and serving the poor, he also died in an accidental drowning.

In three short verses he testify's to the promises, peace, grace and mercy of Christ. Perhaps most of all, the peace.

"What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sings and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our Refuge; Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He'll take and shield thee; Thou wilt find a solace there."

I don't listen much to popular music save Celtic, jazz, blues and female artists who are gifted song writers. Other than the aforementioned music, I listen to hymns, Gospel...but not Southern Gospel as I find it too too...if you know what I'm saying not very well -smile- and I listen to preaching. Also, I listen to audio books and enjoy them a lot as well. When I say I listen, in the main, to preaching and religious music what I'm really saying is I'm a pretty poor representative of Christ. If I don't fill my head with the Good Stuff then the bad stuff tends to surface...more than it already does, I'm sorry to say. I'm not one of those "good people" people talk about. I need to fill my head with hymns, preaching, the whisper of God on the wind or in the lowing of the cattle, bird song, puppies and dogs, cats and kittens, horses and, in general, nature as served up by God. Yes, I do listen to popular music when I take Zumba but the words just aren't as important as me as being busy trying not to stumble and die -smile-. After I take a Zumba class, yoga class is next and the instructor plays Celtic Women, Enya and the like so my head is filled with goodness when I leave the YMCA.

I've never understood folks who say, "I'm bored"; I think it shows a lack of imagination on their part. Thanks to Mama and Daddy, we were taught to entertain ourselves and if we couldn't entertain ourselves, there were always chores to be done. Time was not to be wasted on "nothingness" as "idle hands were the devil's plaything" as Mama always said. I still believe it although now I realize that restful periods aren't the same as idle hands. I've also learned to "keep the Sabbath" apart from the rest of the week. Keeping the Sabbath holy is a mini-vacation, a gift from God at the end/beginning of the week that restores, renews, refreshes and lets me end one week and enter the next with a calmness that gives reflection on what has passed and focus on what is to come.

~ Sadie, looking out of the dining room window. ~

We've been working on the house, getting that portion readied that was destroyed by the flood damage December past. I'm hopeful...always hopeful...we'll be finished Soon. The dining room walls have been replaced, the floor has been refinished and we still have to hang a ceiling fan and clean before moving furniture into this room. The parlor is crammed almost to the ceiling with dining room furniture and "stuff" so neither room can be used for the time being.~ The dining room had to be re-painted and floors re-finished. ~

The front porch is filled with tools that are going to be moved off the table today so we can go back to eating on the porch. What is it with construction folks? They just lay their stuff down any ole place, never considering if it's in my way and this has been going on for a couple of months now. We only get to use the front porch in nice weather and frost is little more than two weeks hence; time is a-wasting for front porch sittin' and eatin'!

~ Mama Cat ~

Mama Cat, four weeks ago today, had four kittens in the bottom of a fifty gallon barrel and it's going to be hard getting them out of that barrel! I want to catch some of the feral barn cats and relocate them to the "animal shelter" so the tame kittens and Mama Cat can live in the barn. On a farm, it's necessary to have cats to help keep down the rats and mice and it's best if those cats are tame. Much easier to catch and vaccinate, etc. Mama Cat isn't the prettiest cat but she does have one of the best personalities I've ever seen in a cat. No matter what life has thrown at her, she responds by being placid, quiet, accepting and looking for the good. I can learn from her. A lot.

~ Mama Cat's four kittens at the bottom of a fifty gallon barrel! ~

~ A wagon load, 363 bales of lovely, dry hay! ~

~ Beautiful, dry hay, stored in our ancient barn ~

We cut, raked, baled and stored hay this week...363 square bales of alfalfa clover timothy mix and six round bales of same. Thank You, God...it's dry from start to finish and animals now have plenty of hay for this winter. I've even some to sell!

I've nattered on with nary a word about puppies and dogs; will remedy that, hopefully, by Saturday.

Until then...

Blessings ~ dry hay, winter fodder for the animals ~ Mama Cat and her four week old kittens ~ house restoration ~ beloved hymns ~ prayer, people needing prayer and people praying ~ a Sabbath, day of rest, coming up ~

Quilts, Hand Work, A Give-Away

~ A beautiful hand quilted Crazy Quilt ~

Neither Dave nor I have any clue from whose family this quilt came; could be his, could be mine, we just don't know. This quilt has some wear and tear, mainly because there's such a mix of textiles. The quilter used wools, cottons and silks and, needless to say, the silks haven't stood the test of time as well as the sturdier wools and cottons.

It's a beauty though...a crazy quilt but not dated nor signed, that I can find, so the maker is lost to all but God. I've not been signing my quilts but that's wrong of me. It's not pride talking, it's so that people who come after me will know the date and the maker of the quilt. Even if they never know who I am, it still means something to some people. Some people care about those things; I know I care and I bet you do as well. To do all that work, by hand, so material won't be wasted and someone will sleep warmly during cold winter months. Amazing!

Central heating is a recent invention. My Daddy grew up in an old Appalachian farmhouse that had a fireplace in the living room and a wood burning cook stove in the kitchen. That was their sole source of heat...a fireplace and cook stove for a two story farmhouse! That and lots and lots of quilts. Grandmother and Granddaddy had double beds in the living room, alongside the walls with rocking chairs in the center of the room and Granddaddy's chair beside the fireplace. He'd sit in his chair each evening and take off his work boots, putting them where they could warm up and dry out overnight. When we'd visit, I'd sleep with Grandmother, my brother would sleep with Granddaddy and Mama and Daddy would sleep upstairs. If it was winter, Mama and Daddy would wake to snow covering the bed covers. They would shore up their courage and, having placed their clothes where they could be easily and quickly reached in the morning, grab them and dash downstairs to dress beside the fireplace. BTW, the stairs to reach the second floor were outside so that mad dash included a quick exit onto the front porch and then a quick turn into the house and living room.

I well remember being held up in Daddy's arms so I could speak on the hand crank wall mounted telephone and using a water pump at the kitchen sink as opposed to a faucet. The bathroom was a Very Long Walk...out back. Various Aunts and Uncles lived down the valley, some miles hence, and every neighbor on the telephone line would race to listen in when they heard "3 longs and a short ring". Everyone knew everyone's ring and everyone also knew you didn't tell anything during a telephone call you didn't want the entire valley to know. Have you ever heard, "telegraph, telephone, tell a woman"? -smile-

It's just been since Dave and I have lived at Thistle Cove Farm that Aunt Esther has gotten her own private telephone line and the folks up the river from her have gotten electricity. City people don't realize this country is still, basically, a rural country with the population majority centered on the East Coast and then on the West Coast. Virginia is within a day's drive of fifty percent of the country's population but even where we live, there are folks without central heating and indoor plumbing. Count your blessings, folks; count your many blessings.

~ Aunt Esther's 1930's hand made quilt ~

Aunt Esther made this quilt sometime in the 1930's and it shows a lot of love and wear. She gave it to me many years ago and I know there are some who would cut it up and use it for craft projects. I'm not one of them. I tend to be fiercely loyal...some would say I have "loyalty issues" -smile- and I Hang On to things. When someone would ask Aunt Bonnie if she would sell something they hankered after, Aunt Bonnie would say, "It's not eating nor drinking a thing so I guess I'll hang on to it." That's me. I hang on to things and it pains me to think of this quilt being cut up for craft. It hangs on a wall in a bedroom and that's where it will stay, at least while I'm living here. Hopefully, one of the nephews will want it when I'm gone.

~ Beginning of a hand work project ~

This little project is a small quilt hanging about 12 x 12 inches. The front and back is the same 100% cotton fabric and the middle is polyester batting.

~ Sewing the quilt on my Singer Featherweight, circa 1953 ~

My brother gave me a Lot of coned thread so I guess if I live to be three hundred and seventy-two it should last. You can see a cone of bright yellow thread behind the Featherweight and it's so much fun to be willy nilly in the use of the thread. Thread is so expensive, I've always been a bit judicious in my use but no longer! -smile-

~ Coming together nicely, I think. ~

The page is torn from a devotional and says, "You must have long-range goals to keep you from being frustrated by short-range failures."

Ain't that just the truth?! Unfortunately, most of us plan our vacations with more care and precision than we plan our lives. Yet, we're all headed somewhere and most of us are going there fast! Recently, I heard a preacher say if a person was 55, they had a bit more than 19,000 days left to live. That's according to the Bible verse that says a person has "three score and ten" which is 70 years. That gets MY attention as I'm a tad older than fifty-five.

So, what am I going to do with my 19,000, more or less, days? I'm going to live them with wild and reckless abandon...I'm going to live them...one day at a time. I'm going to focus on breathing, just for today. I'm going to play with the kittens, snuggle with the puppies, drink wine with my husband, read my Bible, talk to God, pray for folks, travel, work in the studio, hang wet laundry in the hot sun, make short bread for my neighbors, carry my spinning wheel to the pasture and spin amongst the sheep, make snow ice cream, brush the horses, wake up at 3 a.m. and listen to the nightingale song, save as many animals as I can, bury the ones who have lived here long enough to die of old age, pray for our country, quilt, knit, make rag rugs, take photos of the full moon...in short, I'm going to LIVE as if today is the last day of my life. Because, you know, one day it will be the last day of my life and I want to live ready.

~ Some silk, ribbons, threads, buttons, smell good stuff, lace, bits and pieces. ~

So, if you're still with me, this is the finished small quilt. It hangs by a twig sewn on the back...nothing much fancy but made with love and prayers. If you want a chance to win it, leave me a note and I'll do one of those random generator deals and send it off next week. Sunday, 8 p.m. is when I'll stop taking names and by the time I find a box to fit it, I can probably get it mailed Tuesday. Nope, you don't have to blog about it nor follow me...although it would please me mightily if you did -smile-...all you have to do is leave me a note and say you'd like to win this little quilted, inspirational wall hanging. In my mind, you're already a winner.

Blessings ~ hand work ~ quilts, no matter the size ~ thread ~ my studio ~ folks who read this blog ~ folks who leave a kind word or three ~ life ~