Mountain Musings

To My Sis...

"Thank You, A Charming Visit"

"I had so charming a visit at your house that I have about made up my mind to reside with you permanently... I am easy to get along with. I have few unreasonable wants and never complain when they are constantly supplied. I think I could depend on you."

This text is from a letter that Thomas Bailey Aldrich wrote to William Dean Howells in 1875, thanking him for a charming visit. Thomas Bailey Aldrich wrote this thank you when William Dean Howells lived on Concord Avenue in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Howells entertained many literary figures, including Henry James, Mark Twain, and Aldrich who succeeded Howells as editor of The Atlantic Monthly.

I found this calligraphed on a card by artist Susan Loy when walking through a craft show earlier this spring. Perfect sentiments for the neat visit I had with my sister this past week.

But...I think my family is ready to have me come home :)

~Deb

Sunday Hymn

Before The Throne of God Above

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

by: Charitie L. Bancroft (1863)

These words are powerful and filled with Scripture. I've listed one of the verses referenced in the hymn under "From the Word" in the left sidebar. Are there other passages that you can find in this hymn? Feel free to list in the comments any that you see in the lyrics.

~Deb

Get-Everything-In-Before-I-Leave-Day

Lots of excursions on my final day in Greenville. But, out of 74 yard sales, we didn't find a single one that sounded interesting enough to get up early for. But here's where we're going the rest of the day:

• Hamrick's (discount shopping)
• Scrapbook Attic (my absolute favorite scrapbook store here)
• Monterrey's (it's not a visit to Greenville without a Mexican lunch)
• Rack Room shoes (maybe new sandals for the anniversary trip)
• Circuit City and/or Best Buy (camera accessories)
• Mast General Store
• Falls River Bridge and park
• Country Boys Garden Center
• Dillard Farms peach ice cream

That may be all I can fit in today, but if I think of something else, we'll squeeze it in somehow. What's happening over your place?

~Deb

Charleston Day Two

We're back in Greenville tonight after a full day in Charleston, Sullivan's Island, and Isle of Palms--beautiful drive and unbelievable beach houses and landscaping--how some people live is amazing! My sister and I enjoyed walking an almost empty beach with the waves rolling in (and I'm not even a beach person). I loved seeing the sea oats waving alongside the shore; I'm wondering if a lot of other folks like them, too, as we saw a sign indicating no one was allowed to take them off the island. The nice ocean breezes cooled off the humid day.

Our morning began with a carriage ride through the historic area of Charleston--don't you love it when you get a super tour guide? We toured the Market area (saw women weaving and displaying sea grass baskets, talked with an artist who had painted pictures on "hurricane brick" which we found was the tradition after gathering debris left from major hurricanes, and observed many other local vendors selling their wares); Rainbow Row (interesting colorful houses--some built sideways to catch the ocean breezes); and took scads of pictures. After perusing an antique store and greenhouse, the rest of the afternoon consisted of driving four hours back to Greenville in a terrific rainstorm.

We arrived in time to catch a couple shops here before they closed. One more day in Greenville to help my sister enjoy her vacation :)

~Deb

Hot Time in Charleston

This morning we left early for Charleston and arrived by lunchtime--in the heat of the day. The first signs that we were in a new area were the palmetto trees; they were everywhere! I have never seen these trees before--very interesting!

We took the harbor cruise over to Fort Sumter and also saw the U.S.S. Yorktown dockside. The haze mid-afternoon was quite thick, and it was hard to actually see the Charleston shoreline. The brand new Cooper River Bridge just opened on July 16--an unbelievable structure costing half a billion dollars. I'll try to post some pictures next week when I get home.

We were able to drive around the historic area downtown tonight and walked along the Battery area by the river. Tomorrow we are planning a carriage ride to tour the area, and we're hoping the temps are a little cooler although the weatherman doesn't promise much.

But we're having a very nice trip so far!

~Deb

Prayer Request

Just wanted to share a prayer request concerning some friends of ours. Tuesday evening their grandfather had an accident while working at their family farm. He was riding on a load of crates on a skidloader bucket. The bar that he was supporting himself with broke loose and he fell 8-9 feet, hitting the machine on the way down before landing on the back of his head on concrete. As he was having a lot of pain in his back and chest as well as trouble breathing, they called the ambulance. After later being transported to UVA, he was found out yesterday to have 6 broken ribs and a punctured lung. I know their family would greatly appreciate your prayers for his healing.

~Hannah

"14,000 Things To Be Happy About"

That's the title of the little nightstand book by Barbara Ann Kipfer in the guest room here at my sister's place. As I was reading through it last evening, I agreed with many of the author's thoughts. Here are some samples:

Air conditioning on a hot day; bee-drone days and firefly nights; a baseball game going into extra innings; sugarless gum; recipes from old books; a facial mask; a bird feeder hanging outside the guest room window; rediscovering croquet; hearing church bells; snacks in the pantry; hiking...and the author's list goes on with too many good things to name here.

Lots of things have made me happy this week: vacationing with my sister; air conditioning on a 100+ degree day; squash casserole (too too good! Hannah will have to make it when I get home); browsing antique shops; buying my first Christmas present at a cute little shop; Mexican food at 9:30 at night; using a computer with a cable modem (f-a-s-t!); talking to the family each night I've been away; Bath & Body Works soaps in the guest room; a new adventure in store each day...and my list goes on with too many good things to name here.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. ~ Psalm 103:2

What are some things that make you happy?

~Deb

Pampered Guest

I'm not often an overnight guest at someone's home, but my sister is treating me royally. And I love it. :)

This morning we're off to Dillard's (the humongous eating place I spoke of in a previous post). We'll drive 2 1/2 hours to tour shops and have lunch. It's only 80+ miles, but...there's no way to get there from here except roundabout.

Should be neat if we can survive the heat!

~Deb

Off for Adventure!

Today it's off to South Carolina to visit my sister for the week. She has planned an exciting itinerary for us. I've heard her talk about Dillard House for some time now, and that's where we're heading tomorrow via the country route. The squash casserole on their menu will be one of my choices. (I promise to watch my "points.")

Then on to the coastal town of Charleston on Thursday and Friday. She's mentioned Rainbow Row, Slave Market, and a boat ride to Fort Sumter. On our drive back to Greenville, there's the possibility of this place if there's time. And I'm sure we'll stop by a scrapbook store on Saturday before I leave for home on Sunday. I'm looking forward to a fun trip!

"Her house was perfect, whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or story-telling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking, best, or a pleasant mixture of them all."    ~ The Hobbit

~Deb

All in a Day's Travels

Here are a few neat scenes I wanted to share from Saturday's excursion to Patchwork Plus and Dayton Farmers' Market. Sarah found some material for the skirt she's planning to sew, and both girls enjoyed seeing friends while there and browsing the Farmers' Market.

The sign says, "Reserved for Horses." Tom circled the lot so I could get a picture of three buggies lined up at the old hitching posts located on one side of the parking lot. I've brought my shovel and bucket here in the past to take some items home to my compost pile. :)

These two girls were pedaling as fast as they could along Route 42 heading toward the shops. We always have a good day when we travel this direction; we enjoy the quieter pace.

~Deb