Mountain Musings

A Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, Thursday, May 31

Outside my window...the sun's not up yet, but it's promising to be a beautiful, sunny 80 degree day here in the Valley...the mountains are just beautiful in the distance. I love living here!

I am thinking...that today will be another good day to work outside pulling weeds and mulching the flowers. I have a deadline...company's coming next weekend!

I am thankful...for a good night's sleep after yesterday's yard work.

In the kitchen...Thursdays are bread-baking days for Hannah, so the kitchen will be smelling yummy.

I am wearing...a very paint-stained navy skirt and top...my usual work outside clothes.

I am creating...nothing at the moment. I'm waiting for this fabric to arrive next week. I have a deadline for this, too!
 
I am going...to pick Strawberries here this morning with Sarah. We haven't been all season, so we're looking forward to fresh berries...over pound cake and whipped cream.

I am reading...a free issue of Organic Gardening magazine.

I am hoping...this Saturday will be perfect weather for continuing to paint the fence. Severe thunderstorms are predicted Friday which may mean my main fence-painter will be getting power restored instead of painting--I hope not.

I am looking forward to...my sister coming to visit the end of June. She wants to go to Farmer's Market to check out the girls' booth while she's here.

Around the house...basket-making, bread-baking, bean planting, beekeeping, and hole digging for red hot pokers I received for Mother's Day.

A favorite quote for today...

“Hospitality fleshes out love in a uniquely personal and sacrificial way. Through the ministry of hospitality, we share our most prized possessions. We share our family, home, finances, food, privacy, and time. Indeed, we share our very lives. So, hospitality is always costly. Through the ministry of hospitality, we provide friendship, acceptance, fellowship, refreshment, comfort, and love in one of the richest and deepest ways possible for humans to understand. Unless we open the doors of our homes to one another, the reality of the local church as a close-knit family of loving brothers and sisters is only a theory.”—Alexander Strauch, The Hospitality Commands

One of my favorite things...going on a day-adventure!

Here's a picture thought I'm sharing...

Jonathan and Sarah finding a geo-cache ~ Memorial Day near Swoope.

See more Simple Woman Daybook entries here.

~Deb

Bloomin' Tuesday ~ Roses, Mint, Geraniums, & Verbena

Several folks have asked me lately how the Knockout Roses are doing that we planted last year for Granny's rose bed. I wrote about the roses here, here, and here.

Here's the one-year update photo for this week's Bloomin' Tuesday over at MsGreen Thumb Jean's blog:

Dozens of white butterflies flutter around the purple catmint all day, and they are so interesting to watch. You can see some of them in the picture.

I also wanted to show you the geraniums (below) that overwintered in our garage this past year. They were so pretty last summer that I wondered if they could be saved. Have you ever tried saving geraniums from year to year?

After keeping check on them and watering occasionally through the winter, now I know they will come back and bloom another year:

The small baker's rack that's in the background above was spotted recently at a yard sale for $3, and it made its way home with me--perfect for the front porch or for inside houseplants after the season.

Last year's yard sale purchase--an old mailbox for 50 cents--makes another comeback this year planted with red verbenas:

If you'd like to see what's blooming all across the country, check out other Bloomin' Tuesday participants here.

~ Deb

Happy Memorial Day!

My Country, 'Tis of Thee

My country, 'tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From ev'ry mountainside

Let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills,

Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees

Sweet freedom's song;

Let mortal tongues awake;

Let all that breathe partake;

Let rocks their silence break,

The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God to Thee,

Author of liberty,

To Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright,

With freedom's holy light,

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God our King.

Everyone have a wonderful Memorial Day remembering those who have given their lives for our freedom!

~Sarah

Friends at the Farmers' Market

Sarah and I were blessed by another good day of sales, turnout, and weather at the farmers' market today. We are getting the routine down now after our 7th week of arriving at 5:30 am. It's always nice to have help from Dad or Jonathan setting up and breaking down the heavy stuff (we need to get some pictures of them soon!).

The specialty Farmers' Market soap I created just for this season has been a hit so far. The tag above shows that this soap features fresh goat's milk.

We were especially glad to see some familiar faces this particular Saturday--2 different Virginia blog readers showed up! Family friends from Harrisonburg came by to see what our market was all about and to patronize our booth. I think Joelle's colorful outfit matches Sarah's cupcake quilt. :)

Our second visitors were Mr. and and Mrs. H, who drove an hour to surprise us while they were nearby on a getaway. Two "strangers" in sunglasses walked up and inquired how much a bar of soap was--and I was thinking "this looks like somebody we know...?" Wait, it was our friends! Thank you both for coming and brightening our morning!

We enjoy seeing our regulars (yes, we are beginning to recognize certain market-goers), but when someone we are acquainted with arrives, it makes it even more fun.

~Hannah

If We Twittered...

I'd tweet that I'm planting my annuals this afternoon:

Red and purple verbena are in the pots down the steps on the left, and begonias will be in the watering cans on the right. I still have geraniums and three red hot pokers (a Mother's Day gift) to plant tomorrow. 

Hopefully, my brain can get out of this blogging slump, and I can get back to posting...or some quick tweeting.

~Deb

Recent Visits

We enjoyed having some guests in our home over the past few weeks, so I'm finally getting around to sharing a few pictures of their visits.

Carolyn and Garnett, friends of Mom and Granny from many years ago, arrived to join us for the evening on their way home to South Boston. It had been awhile since we had seen them. Mom fixed a delicious meal, and our time with them included conversation around the table and singing some hymns to send them on their way.

One Sunday afternoon, we had a family from church follow us home for the rest of the day. We enjoyed chatting during the afternoon and learning more about each other.

The ladies talked around the table and pitched in to help with the meal preparations.

It was a beautiful evening, so we walked around viewing the gardens, and everyone got a chance to see Jonathan's new bee hives. Comb is busily being built!

After supper we got out a few instruments and then sang together for awhile in praise to the Lord.

Their family blessed us with several songs they had learned as they ministered at nursing homes. What a treat to hear them sing harmoniously as a family!

It has been a joy to get to know these fellow believers.

~Hannah

4 weeks down...

The first month of market has wrapped up, and Hannah and I are starting to get into a routine as the weeks go by. And they are passing fast! When almost every day has some sort of market prep planned, they fly by with Saturdays coming again very soon. :)

Last Saturday was our first experience with rain, and while it wasn't terrible, it's not something we really care to experience again! I always am keeping a close eye on the forecast, trying to make a decision on whether to start my baking on Friday or not. This week it's calling for a 40% chance of scattered t-storms....hmmm.

Today was supposed to be lower humidity than other days this week, so it was fudge making day! The candies can be made earlier than Friday, which helps out alot with my time in the kitchen. Butter Pecan (on the right) was a new recipe tested today, and I was pleased with how it turned out. Cleaning up my mess after fudge is always a yummy job. Anybody want to help me? :)

~Sarah