It’s a beautiful Saturday. I could be outside working; helping Mike and Gerald with breaking down our bee hives (see more about that here), or helping my girlfriend with her move to her new business location.
I’m not doing any of those things. Instead…you know how much I love this girl, right?
I’m babysitting her closely. She’s got a terrible “hot spot” on her leg. It was shaved and she’s being treated with antibiotics and medication.
She does not want to wear a silly Cone of Shame to keep her from licking, and I do not want to ask her to wear it. At 15 in dog years, she deserves her dignity. So, on this Saturday, I’m sitting with her making sure she doesn’t forget and lick her leg. She’s deaf so she cannot hear me tell her “no” if she attempts to lick. Instead, I touch her lightly and raise my index finger…she’ll be just about to lick but when she sees me, she turns away.
I know it itches even though I’ve slathered on the antiobiotic/antifungal/anti-itch ointment, but she is such a good dog, she’s trying hard to make my job easy.
If you’re reading this, why don’t you comment and tell Miss Gracie hello. I’ll tickle her and yell in her ear!!
Not too long ago…just a few months ago…it was this.
Tonight, there are nine hives near our house that have not one single bee that is alive.
Depressed? You bet. There is a great deal of money and heart in our bees. However, we’re on the search for new bees. We’re hoping to get bees that have wintered in Virginia.
While we’ve talked to people in Roanoke whose bees survived, we’ve been told that our story is not uncommon throughout the entire Commonwealth of Virginia.
I’ll keep you posted on our progress. We need our bees. When we get them, we’re moving them closer to the house in a spot that we think will be better with morning sun, evening shade and a wind barrier. If this doesn’t work….I don’t even want to think about that.
I have been a little depressed. My bees are all dead. I can’t talk about it but it’s been on my mind for three days. I’ll do that later. Let’s talk about something else.
Well, here’s the news in Mendota, Virginia. See the white smoke…
Did you really think that the Pope was selected at the Vatican?
In addition to our Papal activities, we moved the new entertainment center storage unit into the den. The reason we wanted the entertainment center/table was to hide wires, but we haven’t finished the re-wiring behind the table to actually accomplish this. Still, here it is…made out of reclaimed barn wood. Mike did a nice job.
Excuse those stars. They will be taking a vacation this summer.
I got the three baskets at Target over 7 months ago for this entertainment center. We don’t move very fast around here. When the entertainment center was finished, I could not find them!! One was being used for bread. One had toilet paper in it. And one holding just junk. Now, however, they are all in place and ready to hold television remotes, DVD’s and magazines that are in the den.
I like the look of the baskets but they needed a little something to make them feel fancy. I added the burlap numbers. This was very easy and cost almost nothing. Here’s my tools for this little task…
I did have to make a stencil with the Cricut since I didn’t want to buy one. Stencils that are used frequently require that mylar or something similar be used. However, in my case, I just used construction paper since I was only using it once. I dipped the paint brush in black acrylic paint and blotted it on a paper plate until it was almost dry. Then, I blotted the stencil placed on the burlap. I let the stenciled burlap dry about one minute and then pressed it into the canning jar lid.
Something funny here…I did this on the table top that Mike, Jenna and Ashley refinished this week. All three of them would have cringed if they’d been watching. No worries! Here’s the table top AFTER I finished my project. Still lookin’ good!
Back in the den….If you look on the new entertainment center/table, you’ll see some books…they belonged to my Uncle Johnny and my father.
Here’s a close up…
The book that says Robert Lee on it was Daddy’s…look at his handwriting. I loved him even though he gave me his ugly feet!
Every time I see these books, I have a good feeling.
We went over to the Goodson Kinderhook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Fun Night this evening. Actually, Mike didn’t go. He meant to go but it was nice weather and he was still working outside. He has some surgery scheduled in a few weeks which means he has to get everything done that he can do in the next three weeks. So…I went alone. There was a good crowd, and I knew lots of the people.
Here’s Helene and Jenna…
And here’s Ashley with her smokin’ hot bingo card. The bingo is still going on as I write this and Ashley has already won a country ham. Helene and I had to turn over our bingo cards to Jenna and Ashley because Helene’s horse was outside and we needed to run home and put him in the barn for the evening.
This is the first time I’ve seen this cow. It was so cute. I loved it and knocked a few little kids out of the way to get my picture taken with him.
I look forward to going to the Fun Night, but tonight I really wanted to go because it was quilt raffle night. I sold about 185 tickets, and since I bought only about 30 of those, you bought the remainder. Thank you so much for supporting the Goodson Kinderhook Volunteer Fire & Rescue.
I zipped right over to the quilt raffle to investigate. I asked how many quilt tickets were sold so that I could figure out our chances. When I asked, there were about 750 sold, but I believe that a lot more were sold as the night progressed.
All of your names were dropped in the big bucket…I was so excited when I looked at that bucket! All of our names rumbling around in that bucket…surely one of us will win!!
And here is one last look at this beautiful quilt…when I took this picture, I was literally sweating with anticipation!!
Someone named Savannah won it. Tonight was not our night.
Our Dale Jett and Hello Stranger 2013 Cemetery Benefit is going to be held on Friday, April 26, in Mendota. If you are reading this, I hope you plan to come. It’s a really great show. The accoustics in the old Hamilton School Building (now called the Mendota Community Center) are good.
We ran out of food last year but this year, we are planning better. We expected about 200 last year and we had closer to 400. Tonight I’m working on the publicity for this year’s event. I like doing this sort of thing. It’s a creative endeavor. I enjoy working on these types of things at night. Tonight’s project for our benefit is a postcard which will be mailed to the 24270 (Mendota) zip code. I’ve been picking out four pictures to include on the card…here’s what I’ve got so far. If you don’t live in Mendota but would like to receive one of the postcards, please comment back on this blog. I’ll make sure you get one.
Guess you know who these three are? What good friends they are to this area.
Even if I didn’t like the way they sound, I’d still like Dale Jett & Hello Stranger. They are doggy people. Hot Rod Harris was a large part of the inspiration for a special song they wrote and perform about strays. It speaks to me.
Here’s Hot Rod. Honestly, Hot Rod was pitiful when Oscar and Katie first adopted him, but now…he’s a little on the chubby side. May have to change his name to Bubba Harris.
Because the performance benefits two cemeteries, I’m including pictures representing each cemetery.
Here’s the Mendota Cemetery. It’s located near the Mendota Post Office and the Mendota United Methodist Church. It is where my parents and grandparents are buried.
Here’s Mt. Vernon’s Cemetery which is located by Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church. Although I’ve walked by this sign well over 100 times, I did not notice that it had “and cemetery” on the bottom.
I was actually at this church this morning with Mike, Dale, Oscar, Jenna, Ashley and Daryl. Daryl fixed some breakfast. We’re talking about a variety show we may have in Mendota in October, and something I’ve always wanted to be in — an old fashioned jug band — I want to play the spoons!
Plans and more plans. Life is good out here in Mendota.
It was snowy in Southwest Virginia today. We won’t get the “big un” this year. This is most likely our last opportunity. It’s just as well since our power would be off and I do not enjoy paying the $200 or so for propane we use to generate our own power during the three-or-four day outages. Spring is close, and I’m ready for it. Maybe next year, however, we’ll get that big snow that we’ve all been dreading or anticipating since the 1990’s.
I walked down to the shop this morning with the dogs. Mike was already down there. Just looking at this picture makes me want to draw a deep breath of that cold, fresh air. Gracie stopped and rested for a minute. All she wants to do is get down to the shop and get in that white truck and go somewhere.
First thing I saw when I walked in the door — Vicky and Mark’s table — it’s done! Check that off the list.
My table, while “tacky” to the touch is also done. This table is meant for my den. Once it’s in place, I’ll take a picture and show you. For now…
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Here’s a little different angle…remember…this was all on someone’s barn.
In the back and side of the unit, you can see the rougher barn siding…
This reclaimed wood might have looked like this at some point. This is the barn that the Barn Rock Road project required be torn down. It hurts me to look at it in rubble.
Anyway…when you’re using reclaimed wood, there is quite a bit of work to do. A lot of inspecting for old nails and then there’s the actual “planing” that has to occur. Here’s Mike at the planer.
In its roughest state, it might look like this…
After I met Mike in the shop, we headed to the Rally Mart Gas Station for lunch. Want to see something sinful but delicious? We split this.
Let me introduce you to three ladies who work at the Rally Mart and provide some of THE BEST food you can imagine.
Here’s Rosie…She is always so nice. She has to call the house from time to time to remind Mike to pay for his gas! He forgets!
Here’s Barbara…on Barbara’s baked bean day…the gas station is full. She has a secret recipe.
And here’s Brenda and Barbara. Can you believe Brenda is a grandmother? (And a very good one!)
I found a few old pictures the other day…all of these people or places are tied to Mendota, Virginia. Can you guess who any of them are? Naturally, some are of me but not all. If you wish, leave a comment and guess on some of them. I’ll number them so you can identify who you think Number 1 or Number 2 is.
Here we go….
Picture #1…here’s a hint…her dress was orange and white stripes. Her mother made that dress.
Picture #2…she’s related to Picture #1, but she’s not a sister.
Picture #3…Check out the rollers of this pretty lady sitting on the steps of the Mendota Baptist Church. Who is she?
Picture #4….Here’s a hint…the same Mother who lovingly made the orange and stripe dress in Picture #1 made this sweet little shirtwaist dress. That mother had little money but her girls always were well dressed.
Picture #5…the girl in Picture #1 is a little older here. Where was this picture taken? How has the landscape changed?
Picture #6…this is the rooftop of a little house in Mendota. Where is that house?
Picture #7…This one is a hard one as I have not seen him for years. He is the same age as the girl in Picture #1.
Picture #8…Here’s the girl in Picture #1 with one of her lifetime friends (people we never met…we just always knew). Who is the boy and where was the picture made? Here’s a little hint. They are leaning against Kinnith Riner’s red Charger car. Where was the picture made? The landscape has changed since this picture was taken.
Picture #9…Oh this is just too bad. A pin-up girl in Mendota.
Picture #10…This sweet lady still lives here on Appaloosa.
Picture #11…Look at that sweet dress. It was probably sewn for this little girl the night before her picture was made. Her mother had such talent with taking very little and making it special.
Picture #12: Here a hint. “Blue.”
Picture #13…This sweet little girl didn’t live in Mendota but lived in nearby Rich Valley. She liked to sing.
Picture #14…This handsome fella lives on Barn Rock. Who is he?
Picture #15…I don’t know if any of this little girl’s family is on the web to see this picture. Do you know who she is? She’s a Nurse Practitioner today.
Picture #16…She got on the bus up above where Carson and Vicky Roark live today? Do you know her?
Picture #17…Her mother cut her hair, and this was her very favorite red cordurouy jumper. She loved that jumper. Her mother made it and the blouse with the peter pan collar witih lace.
Picture #18…She related to the girl in Picture #1 but is not her sister.
Picture #19…Finally, here’s another…who are the three in the picture?
When a flower would make things just so much better?
But you live 17 miles from a grocery store…and besides your husband already brought you flowers this week. Perhaps your quota has been met…is there ever a quota for things like this? I don’t know!
And then…you realize that those flowers that are on the table..can just be rearranged a bit, so that if just one of those flowers left its friends on the table…
And suppose that it decided to sit in the living room beside you…
And just maybe you’ll share your prized RC Cola with that flower friend..
You know what is one fun thing about blogging? When I read back on things…I forget that I might have had a bad day and just didn’t write about it. It all looks good. Happy Happy Happy…just like Duck Dynasty. We swing both ways in my house — both Downton Abbey (Oh Poor Mary) and Duck Dynasty.
Not every day is great for me but many are. Yesterday was a good day.
I had a good day at work at my part-time job at About Face. I worked in Abingdon yesterday, and it’s not as face-paced as our Bristol location so it’s easier to get to know the clients. It’s fun to see people leaving with their plans to look and feel better or to see the results of their efforts and our products. So, that was a good thing.
However, I was ready to leave about 6:50 pm. I called Mike so he could estimate when I’d be home. Calling from a cell phone as I approach my home gets dicey — no signal. Anyway, when I spoke with him, more good news. He said, “do you remember what you liked to eat in New England?” Well, I drew a duh. But the long and the short of this is that I like New England style creamy white clam chowder, and he had some Legal Seafood Clam Chowder for my dinner. I was so happy!! True New Englanders make fun of Legal Seafood, but not me. I live in Mendota — not exactly the seafood capital of the south. Maybe a small mouth bass once in a while, but…
He had the clam chowder on the table as I walked throughthe door. And flowers! Today, I love this man!
I ate the chowder. The bowl was clean but I’m still enjoying the flowers.
Apparently, Mike is not holding onto his cash as well as me. He bought these flowers…they were just $20 at Sam’s Club. A bargain, but, still, I would have thought “I’ll spray paint some sticks and just use them with a few branches from a shrub.” I’m glad he didn’t think like me. I really like the bright color of these flowers on this cold winter’s day.
I breathed in their crisp smell…fresh! Actually probably full of pesticides from a foreign country picked by underage children, but hey…these were a surprise and I’m enjoying them. How perfect is a flower?
Another picture..they are really brightening my kitchen table. Look at that scrubbed table. I like the way the scrubbed pine table and the Mason jar with flowers look. I like that Did I say that twice?
Can you tell who arranged the flowers? Just dropped then in the jar. There’s yellow on one side and purple on the other.
I went down to the Luckie Dog Woodshop today to see how my entertainment console table was progressing.I was down there last week and found this. It was the top. That was all that was there. What is this about????
But I think things have turned around. Here’s what I found today. It’s a little hard to figure out since the table is upside down. The legs are up in the air. Basically, there will be a shelf area for the Wii game, Direct tv console and DVD player. Then there will be another shelf where I’ll put a basket or two or some magazines.
This picture shows the barn siding that is on the sides. While the table will have a finish on it, the barn siding will remain rough.
Here’s the rough barn siding for the opposite side of the table…
These boards will be on the back of the table. While one side of the boards will face the wall, the other side will be visible. I’ll make sure the baskets or whatever I put on the bottom shelf leave space for the eye to see the barnsiding in the back of the table.
This should be done next week. This should inspire me to clean the den and get ready for the new arrival!
