Mistakes Were Made
I had a lovely post writing for today. Then, the Sunday evening phone calls started coming in and I had to leave the page to answer. And when I got back to the post…it had disappeared into thin air. So, this morning, I’ll leave you with this close up of the dew on a fall chrysanthemum, decorated with a tiny moth wing.
See you tomorrow, dear ones…
Ginny
#flowers #fallseason #fallvibes
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The Last Good Tomato
When the fellow ran his truck into our yard a dug ruts in it, he promised he’d be back the next day. We’ve heard that a lot over the years as this property has seen its fair share of errant “drive ins.” I’m happy to report that “Bub” did return with some dirt and filled in the ruts. Mr. FixIt went out to thank him and came back in with fresh tomatoes! Now, y’all saw those huge yellow tomatoes my uncle gave us a couple of weeks ago? They were really good…but these? These were over the moon good. Hokey Smokes! They were a real treat this late in the season.
I did a little walkabout yesterday and found some jewel weed growing amongst the native asters in the ditch. There has always been a big patch along the back porch at the farm so I’m tickled to find them here.
If you’ve been reading my block for by length of time, you may remember me telling you about my friend’s son and girlfriend who were murdered in Tadzhikistan a few years ago as they biked through the countryside. They were targeted along with some Canadians. I can’t imagine anything close to what my friend Jea has gone through. There are no words to soothe that kind of grief but no one can understand anything bout grief until they’ve been faced with it. And all grief is different.
I’ve kept up with Jea over the years and check in periodically…especially around the angelversary of Austin and Lauren. I know how important that is to receive.
Jea is on her first big adventure since her so. Died…driving and camping all around the northeast. She has been in Maine recently and stumbled upon a luminaria lighting in memory of loved ones lost and those who grieve them. She asked if I would like for her to put a message on one for Mr. Virgo. So, somewhere in Maine a candle was lit for a kind man whose light will never dim in the hearts of those who love him.
It was a cool night here in the Appalachias last night. The owls were really active and I heard both a Barred Owl and an Eastern Screech Owl. I always see and hear a lot more wildlife when I’m remembering him. Mr. Virgo attracted wildlife like moths to a flame! It made me smile in remembrance of him.
Till tomorrow, dear ones…
Ginny
“You may eat any clean bird. But these you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon, any kind of raven, the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.”
Deuteronomy 14:11-18 NIV
#luminaria #memorial #autumn #jewelweed #Aster #barredowl #easternscreechowls #owls
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The Courting Candle
Remember the other day, we had lunch with Judy and Norm. Judy is my “convoluted cousin” twice removed. They’re finally retiring from the Victorian Mansion that has owned them for decades. They’ll be moving to Florida for good and our city will lose two of its greatest treasures. The Caswell-Smith House lives and breathes today through the hard work and incredible generosity of these lovely people I’m proud to call family.
When we parted ways after lunch a couple of weeks ago, I realized we didn’t get a picture. And in my family, that’s an egregious act! We were blessed with another visit in their beautiful home to take some pictures and tell some stories.
Judy, a retired teacher, showed us more things that we hadn’t seen. One of the best period pieces in the Caswell-House is the courting chair. When a young suitor came over to court a young lady of the house, the chaperone joined them in the parlor and the three of them sat in this unusual chair. Initial visits lasted just a few minutes. The chaperone sat facing the “courting candle.” The candlestick is adjustable. The shortest adjustment allowed the candle to burn for 10 minutes and when the candle burned down, the date was over and the young man was escorted from the home. As time went on, if the young man met the father’s approval, the candle was adjusted to twenty minutes, and eventually to thirty…all with the chaperone present.
The other lesson yesterday was the newel post. When a wealthy Victorian man built a home, the bottom of the grand staircase was a centerpiece that set the tone for the rest of the house. Victorians took great pride in elaborately carved fixtures on top of the newel post. It expressed the wealth and stature of the man of the house. When the gentleman of the house had worked and paid off the mortgage or construction costs, a “mortgage button” was added to show guests that this was a house bought and paid for…major accomplishment that held the owner in great regard by their visitors. If you zoom in, you can see how elaborate the newel post is in this mansion.
The last photo are the Cottrills… “Uncle” Ken and “Aunt” Lucy. They were my grandparents’ best friends, Hubby #1’s maternal Uncle and Aunt…and Judy’s parents. You can’t throw a stick around here without hitting someone you’re either related to or has been a friend of the family for generations!
We ended yesterday’s visit sitting in the conservatory, admiring the glass bells and eggs, kaleidoscopes, bonsai, and the delicate tea set with the shadow of a geisha in the bottom of a paper thin porcelain teacups.
Every place you look there is delightful eye candy…from the glass-fronted, ceiling-high cabinets housing several sets of dishes for all occasions to the case on the hallway containing Mrs. Caswell’s treasured silver coffee server with their surname engraved that she received for winning a tennis tournament to the exquisite genuine Tiffany glass windows over the front door and along the grand staircase.
I will miss this lovely couple, but as Judy says, we treasure the memories of our family’s intertwined history that brought us together in the first place…and the times we have spent together. They will always hold a special place in my heart. I’ll be able to tour the home again as the new buyers will continue including the house on the Victorian Christmas and Summer Garden tours…hopefully as a Docent.
The weather has turned cool and drizzly again…good sleeping weather. Fall is definitely here.
Till tomorrow, dear ones…
Ginny
“We love because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:19 NIV
#victorian #victorianhouse #victorianhome #victoriana #victorianarchitecture #caswellsmith #julianasquare #JULIANASQUARE #courtingchair #courtingcandle #courtingcandles #courtingcandleholder #courtingcandlestick
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SMH
I was reading early yesterday while I was still stretched out in the camper when I heard a truck. Backing up…pulling forward…spinning wheels. People often turn around in our driveway when they realize they’ve turned up the wrong road. But this was taking too long. I jumped up and looked out the window and there was a hefty pickup with a long utility trailer…trying to back that thing down our drive way.
Gasp! Our new truck!!!
I threw some clothes on and ran out there. I caught his attention before he got any closer to the truck, but…OMGosh! He tore the heck out of our yard!
I cannot tell you how many times this has happened over the years but this was at least the third or fourth time this year alone.
Sometimes they aren’t very nice about it. To them it’s just a field, but to us it’s our yard that I carefully mow to look nice.
The fellow was apologetic and kept telling me how sorry he was. I asked him to wait right there…and I called Mr. FixIt.
“Get out here…now!”
Ok, I was perturbed.
He came out and they inspected the damages and exchanged names. Wouldn’t you know it…they have the same last name. Then we had to go through the whole thing…comparing family trees, former work places, and how long they’ve lived in these parts.
🤦♀️
It’s always the same. That’s the joy…and curse…of living in these parts surrounding a small rural town. The man’s daughter and I exchanged pleasantries and tried to figure out who she was looking for in the first place.
We got his phone number and assurance that he would bring down some dirt and fill in the ruts. Hey, everyone knows everybody around here. I guess we just expanded our circle of acquaintances, huh?
Judge not lest we be judged.
Turn the other cheek.
Treat others as we would have others treat us.
Forgive those who have trespassed against us.
These things we do as Christ has done for us.
It’s another trip-to-town day! I’m so glad that’s slowing down a little. We’re actually getting a little time for us…I made reservations for next week at one of our favorite campgrounds. I can’t wait to sit in the rocking chairs and go fishing with my sweetie!
Till tomorrow, dear ones…
Ginny
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
#damages #yard #repair #YardRepair #camping #fall #fallcampout
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Fog in the Holler
Hello, October!!! I’m loving these warm days and cool nights. I also love to sleep in the camper and listen to the last strains of night music that we’ll hear till spring.
I woke up yesterday to a foggy bottom. My iPhone corrected the exposure on its own so you cants see the same fog I saw. It always lays a damper over the meadow and the morning come on sleep cat paws.
Fog is nothing more than low hanging clouds…they both consist of micro droplets of water suspended in midair. That moisture collects on every tiny thread of a spider’s web and looks like fairy nests everywhere. These webs are created by a tiny spider of the Sheet Web variety. I’ve documented two architectural styles from the same species of spiders. The first is the “cup and doily.” You can definitely distinguish the two parts. It’s a clever mechanism for confusing and trapping prey. The little spider either hangs below or hides within the structure, just waiting to catch and preserve their meal for later.
The third photo is a different design. It’s is much more haphazard…looking all the world like a ball of fluff or cotton candy. The fog accentuates these and you can see how many more webs there are out there than you don’t normally see with the naked eye. I took the fourth photo of the hillside beyond the dirt road we live on. You can see numerous “cup and saucers” tucked into the foliage.
The last picture is a patch of wild asters and goldenrod…two symbiotic plants that bloom together in late summer through fall. They give bees and butterflies a huge burst of energy for either migrating or hibernating, depending on their nature.
As I sat curled up in the recliner in the camper at night, a barred owl serenaded me. I did catch a recording but she was far enough away that the katydids and crickets drowned her beautiful calls. Unfortunately, the neighbor’s dog started barking at some point and she flew on down the creek. We take these songs when we can get them and carry them with us into the depths of winter.
I received the oxygen packets I ordered so now I can finish packing up the beans and grains for longterm storage. I’ll get some pictures of my process to show you tomorrow.
Till then, dear ones…
Ginny
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 NIV
#foggymorning #foggy #HollerLife #barredowl #barredowls
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An Audience of Two
I follow BMack Writes. She sends out these short videos with the conviction she wakes up with.
In a recent video, she talks about healing your hurt. She talked about trying for 20-some years to fit in with a certain group only to discover she was seeking the wrong audience. I think we can all confidently say we’ve done the same thing at some point, right?
I’ve written here about seek to have an audience of one because the only person whose approval you should seek is that of God. But, BMack made me think. I also need to seek that approval of self from MYSELF, too. I don’t need earthly approval and if I am keeping on the straight and narrow, I should also be gaining my own approval.
Self-confidence was never my strong suit. I was a chameleon…becoming who I felt my “audience” wanted me to be. I can’t tell you how many dead ends that led me down.
Honestly, it wasn’t till I became a widow that I was stripped bare of that need to be something I’m not. Being alone in the wilderness and backroads of Colorado for three months changed me. It was only me and God. When I came out, I felt I had been forged by a new fire.
This new, stripped down version of myself was the only way I could move forward and navigate a new, stripped down version of life. This is the first earthly relationship I have ever been in where I could just be…ME. It’s been such a relief and doesn’t take half as much energy as people pleasing did.
What you see is what you get!
We didn’t have a single appointment yesterday so we had a “day off!” What a treat! Today we’re heading back to town but I’m meeting friends for lunch and Mr. FixIt is getting a haircut. The weather is gorgeous right now…warm days and cool nights! We really need to go camping before the leaves fall.
Till tomorrow, dear ones…
Ginny
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.””
Isaiah 40:8 NIV
#griefandloss #griefjourney #grief #griefsupport #ComfortFood #autumn #fall #camping #fallcamping
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Jug For A Day
We are “of a certain age.” Y’all know what I’m talking about. We’re ALL doing it.
Bowel prep.
Fasting blood tests.
Twenty-four hour urines.
Oy!
How could peeing in a jug for a day be so complicated?
Doctor: Ok, the lab will be sending you a kit with the instructions, then you ship the urine back to them.
Me: Huh? We have to mail urine? Is this a thing?
(I’m picturing a fire in the post office and they’re like, “Hey Bob…give me that last batch of urine! We can put the fire out with that!”)
I’m so confused.
After the second request and a month goes by, the said box arrived. I read the directions. Seems pretty straightforward. As it turns out, you fill a small tube from the total collection. You do NOT ship a large gallon container full of pee through the mail.
Whew…I don’t have to smell my mail or look for stains on all those political contribution requests.
(Hey, wait……hmmmmm. Nah.)
Patient: I didn’t do it today. I’ll do it tomorrow.
Spouse: Hey, let me read those instructions. You can’t do it tomorrow. We won’t be home on Wednesday. Oh, that won’t work either…you have to be off Vitamin C for three days.
Patient: I know, I’ll do it Saturday and they can pick up the package on Sunday.
Spouse: Nope…they don’t do pickups on Sunday. Do it Sunday with a pickup on Monday.
Patient: I gotta bowl on Sunday night! I don’t want the guys to see me carrying a pee bucket! How about Monday with the pickup on Tuesday?
Spouse: (whining) I wanted to go camping next week! (looks at calendar) Ok, fine…Monday it is. But now we have to figure out a different camping date!
Patient: How’s two weeks from yesterday?
Spouse: Can’t. Bowel prep.
Sigh.
Till tomorrow, dear ones…
Ginny
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.”
Proverbs 18:22 NIV
#medical #tests #MedicalTests
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Bread and Grains
Me. Fixit went to the bowling alley to congregate with his buddies last evening so I tackled the grains. I still need two or three five gallon buckets then I should have my staples in storage. One of our WV granddaughters is coming this week to help me clear out the back bedroom so I can use that for our bulk food storage. I also baked a couple of loaves of bread. The only thing I do t like about my countertop oven is how dark the loaves get on top. I need to lower the rack I bake them on because, when they raise nice and high, they get too close to the elements. They’ll still taste great! As my grandma used to say “It’ll be ‘et!”
I put a quart of sliced red onions in some pickle juice I’ve been saving and tucked them in the fridge yesterday. They should be pretty tasty in a week or two!
I heard an Eastern Screech Owl when I was going out to the camper last night. I would have loved to sit outside and listen to them, but it was getting late and I want to go to knitting group today. I’ll be back tomorrow with more stories from our little corner of the Appalachias.
Till then, dear ones…
Ginny
“The owl will nest there and lay eggs, she will hatch them, and care for her young under the shadow of her wings; there also the falcons will gather, each with its mate.”
Isaiah 34:15 NIV
#bread #whole #grains #wholegrains #freshmilledflour #freshmilledwholegrain #easternscreechowl #owl
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Remember 9?
I never had a birthday party with friends till I was 13 years old. Man…I thought I was something else! People singing to me and giving me presents? SO out of my wheelhouse but I felt like a princess.
Nowadays, parents give these huge parties from the time the kids are one year old and have no idea what is going on. But now? This darling girl is a pro at this birthday thing. This year they rented a retreat with a pool for four hours. Now, I thought this was pretty extravagant until I found out it only cost $150 for the whole four hours and that was WITH the use of the pool and those kids were in hog heaven But, wow…these old ears are still ringing! Those high pitch voices yelling and screaming for four hours straight made me feel old. I used to be the one right in the middle of it but I stuck it out so we could watch this sweet little girl. She is confident and kind. She came around to every person after the gifts were opened and thanked us all with a warm hug and a smile. Her parents are doing a great job.
I got all the bulk food in the house in the afternoon and put them in the dining room. I left them folded like little tents so they could get air circulating around them. I’ll get the dehumidifier up from the basement today to make sure they are very dry then I can package them up.
We’re having some lovely, cool weather so I’m going to bake bread today. I haven’t baked in a couple of weeks because we’ve just been so busy. I really miss that whole grain bread. Our WV granddaughter is going to come out this week and help me do some deep cleaning and organizing so I can get on top of stuff around here. I’ll feel so much more relaxed when the house is in better shape.
Till tomorrow, dear ones…
Ginny
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”
Proverbs 17:6 NIV
#birthdaycelebration #greatgranddaughter #family #fun #familyfun #whole #grains #wholegrains
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