“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”  Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We had to mow at the farm yesterday. The growth of the grass has slowed down a bit here in West Virginia. We’re back to once a week now instead of every four days. I stripped the bed and did laundry between my turns on the mower. If we tag team, neither one of us get overheated.

When we arrived, they were working on the road right in front of the house. What a mess. Now when the traffic goes by, huge white clouds of dust rise up and billow over everything. It was so bad you could taste it. The only upside…and it is a stretch to find any upside in this situation…the only upside is, the cars and 4-wheelers can no longer fly up the straight stretch in front of the house. I’m always afraid one of those 4-wheelers is going to roll and kill the rider. No helmet at fifty miles per hour. Oy!

We ate the last of the ribs for supper last night. What a treat they were! I did figure something out though. When I smoke ribs, I’m going to have to smoke a BUNCH of them at once and freeze some because…it took three hours to clean that smoker yesterday. That’s a lot of work to have it gone so quickly. I recently purchased some products from Norwex. They have special cloths that you can clean without using cleaning chemicals. They also have a sponge with a metallic scrubby surface. I used their cleaning paste and that scrubby sponge and the smoker looked brand new when I finished. I used the polishing cloth on the glass and there is no smoke film or baked on grease splatters at all.

When the yard was done and the laundry folded, we packed up and headed back over to the Ponderosa. As we were leaving, I couldn’t resist snapping a photo of the boys hanging out on my picnic table. They are obviously from the same lineage. They are two years apart. The longhair is Boy Cat…he’s the elder. The shorthair is Kitty Boy…he’s the feral one who won’t let you near him. He was being uncharacteristically chill yesterday and didn’t bat an eyelash when I scooted closer to catch this photo. These two are inseparable.

When we got home, the great grand baby was there with her entourage. We hadn’t seen her in nearly a month. She’s just now going through separation anxiety so she didn’t want to have anything to do with anyone but her mommy. It was wonderful to see everyone and wrap up a productive day with some relaxing family time. 

Simple days like this seemed impossible after losing Mr. Virgo. He was estranged from his family and mine lived nearly three hours away. We didn’t get to have these impromptu family gatherings. After Mr. Virgo’s death, I wasn’t sure I would ever have another relationship. I know it’s different for everyone after loss. I didn’t expect this, but I am grateful to have this life. It is rich and full. 

❤️ ***Little Khloe got to go home from the hospital yesterday. She will be home a week then return for outpatient chemotherapy. So, I can go back to using my signature red heart. ❤️