A Holiday From Normal

~ “Where y’all been?” asks Sam P. Spade, Secret Angel ~

By now it’s no surprise I’m a low tech anything technical. When I began doing this post hours and hours ago, I realized there were comments to which I’d never responded so began, an hour several hours ago (sensing a theme?) by answering. Heck, it’s been so long since that last post, I’d forgotten how to log on to my account and had to drag out the cheat sheet combined with finding and resizing photos…is it any wonder I post so infrequently?! sheesh.

Re the title, A Holiday From Normal, nope, not talking about all the nonsense going on in the USA or the world but rather what’s (not) happening on the Farm. Social distancing and self isolation is a way of life for farm folks; we tend to stay on the farm, doing what needs doing and having a to-do list to go to town on errands. Those errands usually included feed store, grocery store, post office, bank, library and, when feeling a tot flush, the thrift store and, on Sunday’s, church. Over the course of the last few months, with the exception of church and library, nothing has changed.

~ Daddy and his first truck, a 1969 Chevrolet ~

Daddy and I added five more apple trees to my orchard, here, and I’m readying to add two Damson plum trees. I have an incredible recipe for Blueberry Damson Conserve that I have to wait 3 years to make but at least I found the trees! Last year I ordered some from a reputable orchardist and they arrived…DOA…dead on arrival. I was annoyed but they did refund my money.

Happy Daddy’s Day to these three VIP men in my life…Dustin and his two girls, JW and his son and Daddy, the grand of the boys and great-grand of the little’s.

The most recent farm project was the dock on the 2.5 acre pond. The Deck-Tech men accomplished this in less than one week and it’s proven to be a dandy place to hold court in the mornings as well as early evenings. I was dragging chairs to and from the dock; it took about twice for that to get old but I bought a plastic two-seater bench at Ollies (Good Stuff Cheap! – my favorite non-thrift store!), brought it home, put it together (yeah, I surprised myself!) and it’s been on the dock ever since. The dock is 20 feet long and the square end is 10×10. At shoreline the water depth is about 3.5 feet while at end of dock it’s about 20 feet and yes, I’ve been fishing and rowing, using the 12 foot John boat belonging to my nephew.

The green plastic chairs have been replaced by a plastic, 2-seater bench that’s heavy enough to, hopefully, stay in place during a storm. The table (rescued from the dumpster) has to be tied down or taken off the dock and the metal lanterns, with citronella candles, also are removed or placed under the bench when beside the railing. Since this photo was taken, there have been added 3 hangers off the water side of the rail and lanterns hang from those.

It’s a nice place to end the day, boots off, glass of something cold and the only sound is of bull frogs, crickets, cats, dogs and the wind soughing through the trees. I do love to sit out there and sing hymns!

Thank you all for entering the soap book giveaway…not the basket giveaway as that’s a family heirloom. I’ve got more books to give away and will soon but, you need to know, soon is a relative term around here; btw, Angela was mailed the book, it was returned due to postal operator error no matter WHAT they say! and it’s going to be mailed again when my body will cooperate by going to town.

Speaking of my body…as the older folks say, “I’ve been stove up with my back going out.” Dr. Myers asked, “What happened?” My reply, “25 years of farming and 67+ years of living.” He tells me he’ll have me “back to normal” by month’s end and some days I believe him; other days I’m glad I keep nothing much stronger than Guinness and aspirin around the place. According to the Book of Sandra, I’ve done nothing much for more than a month and nothing much is getting tiresome. Beloved Sistah asked earlier today, “What have you been doing?” and I said, “Not much, only have four loads of laundry on the line plus the usual chores this morning.” Believe you me, around here that borders on sloth!

~ sparkling cider on the dock ~

One of my four goals today was to write a blog post and I cringed when the to-do list had only four things but all this is no surprise to God. He has His reasons for setting me in place but I surely wished He’d done it when I’d accomplished more in the first place.  At least I’m surrounded by those things that bring me quiet happiness and cozy comfort.

K at A Woman Running Amok gave me a list and it’s a dandy. Some were already on the horizon while others are new…thought I’d answer here and now with my responses in italics:

One, short, uplifting poem: I wrote because I don’t want to wait for life to happen to me, I want to grab life by the coat tails and hold on for the ride! Daily, I want to dance to the silence that is the ultimate white noise, to bend my ear to Mother Earth and listen to her heart beat while reveling in the stories of Father Time. Every day I read God’s Love Letter to me (us) just to remind myself He is God, He knows everything and He loves me unconditionally. There’s nothing in my quotidian life that’s a surprise to Him. I cast my cares on Him because He cares…He LOVES me! 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote: ”  Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries”.

My boots are off!

Time is Fleeting, Wear Purple Now, here 

joke – isn’t life funny enough?

quick recipe: candy, beverage, bread – your choice: this post has a really funny story about when I first met my future mother-in-law…I still chuckle! peach cobbler, here

past the time project/craft: There’s always knitting on the needles (somewhere on the TCF facebook page there’s a photo of “knitting with telephone poles”), a quilt on the rack, hand stitching being done. Idle hands are the devil’s workshop, doncha know?

good riddle my head’s too soft for riddles, they cornfuse me as the ole feller said.
*****************
what to do with tail ends of: bar soap, candles, soda pop: don’t drink soda but I use candle stubs to make fire starters and soap ends…there aren’t any soap ends. I use it all up!

Good use for Altoid tins or big tin cans: big popcorn tins contain wool yarn while Altoid tins are used for watercolors or little encouragement tins. On small slips of paper (handmade or otherwise special), write little notes of encouragement. Tie each note with ribbon, decorate the tin and give as a secret gift. This is especially nice for children, secret sisters, etc. Also, check out Pinterest ideas…kazillions of them there!

making a olive oil lamp: So funny! Just last week I was gathering materials to make a rustic olive oil lamp a la Mary Jane Butters and her Glamping book!

what is the best part of your day? Mornings…when I arise (will show some wall stuff in another post) but my days begins when it gets light, a bit before sunrise. Animals go in or out, treats are given to all of them, I drink a big glass of water while coffee is being made and then I settle in and spend a while with God. Generally, I read 5 chapters of NKJV Bible, out loud, daily, plus some Chambers and Cowen all of which are held together with glue, tape and binders. I’ve always written in my Bible but have begun journaling as well and am finding it a nourishing past time.

where is your most favorite place? The UK is where I feel most at home…Scotland and Ireland in particular. I’ve yet to visit Wales but it’s on the to-go list.

what plans do you have for Autumn? I’ll probably take Daddy to his cabin in WV; we’ll spend a week doing a lot of nothing much but enjoying it greatly. We’ll visit the old cemeteries, especially where Benjamin Hamrick, our umpty ump Grandfather is buried. He fought with George Washington so the history of our family runs deep in this New World. While we’re at the cabin, we’ll get up with my brother and make apple cider from the apples in his orchard.

what is your favorite color, why? Do you know that yellowish green color in Spring time when the earth is beginning to wake and her blood is freshly running? That’s the color of life to me; it’s my favorite color.

how do you deal with loneliness, if any? Oh yes, I have a great deal of loneliness but it’s become an old friend, a boon companion and we’re well acquainted with each other. Many decades ago I decided to become the friend I’ve always wanted so set out to develop interesting interests, hobbies that would keep me occupied, read books that make me think really hard. There are times I’d like some Jesus with skin on but I’ve chosen to trust God, His timing and not worry about what I don’t have. I have so many blessings, how could I possibly be churlish in the desire for more?

what is your favorite tea blend, and why? Without a doubt, Lady Gray with sugar and cream. It’s my comfort food.

what are your words of wisdom (use 5 sentences)? Make peace with Jesus, trust God, ask for His wisdom daily, treat yourself and others with kindness, live so you can meet God at the end of today.

what is your favorite rock and roll song and why? It’s not rock and roll but it is my favorite song, Be Thou My Vision, here, and was sung at my farm dedication in Sept 2018. If you do listen to the song, be sure and continue to listen…all are favorites!

what is your favorite fairy tale? oops. I was never a fan of fairy tales or dolls or mimes. Frankly, they all frighten me for whatever reason so I stay away from all of them.

what is your favorite movie? The Three Lives of Thomasina – when I was ten years old I wanted to be that woman in the wood and, one day, I looked around and that’s exactly who’d I become. At least, living on a farm, having animals, a beloved husband (who didn’t live long enough to suit me), spinning wheels, looms… it is me. Of course, the influence of farming women in my life put my feet on the same path, and I am grateful.

what is your favorite herb and why? Rosemary…for remembrance. It’s what I place in the caskets of those whom I love.

how do you take care of your feet? Excellent quality boots and shoes

Now K…are you sorry you asked?

~ a blue heron morning visitor ~

You’ll find Thistle Cove Farm on FaceBook where I try to post something at least once a week. Let’s face it; there’s always farm work, house work, studio work going on and it takes me hours and hours to do a blog post. There must surely be a faster way to git ‘er done but dang if I know how! So, like or friend or whatever TCF on FB if you’ve a mind to.

Thanks for visiting and blessing me with the gift of your time.