As I write this, Cheri and michael are making chicken paprikas..the smells wafing from the kitchen are incredible,there are weird noises and yells, clanking and breaking sounds. So, we are excited, and are salivating with anticipation. We have eaten very well, since they have arrived last Sat, maybe too well, as my pants are alittle harder to button this week. Tomorrow, we will have a Low Country Boil here with our friends from the backwoods, and our new neighbors across the street, and their parents, Randy and Patricia from Boone. I think that Cheri will enjoy talking with Randy as he is an opera singer and has some of the past musical experiences she has had.
Cheri has brought her new 5 month old puppy with her, All in all he has been very good. lot's of new experiences here in the country for a big city dog, and he will survive it all. But I'm not sure he will survive Brandon !! yes , yesterday when Cheri and I were in Boone, Dudley and Michael were in charge of the Farm and Dogs. Brandon came over and I guess he 'acted like a 'boy and a dog', roughhousing and running crazy. When we came home, Csardas was unglued !! Cheri gave him 2 benadryl just to calm him down and when he did finally lie down she found a bleeding scrape on his front leg!!! of course , Brandon was just being Brandon, but Csardas was not use to that kind of play.. Brandon also was proud to tell us of his new truck. He is only 15, and does not have any kind of licence, but is proud of his wheels. Dudley informed him that he could not drive on out property with out a licence. so we'll see how that goes since he will be 16 IN dEC.
Dinner is about ready to be served, will continue with the Blogg after our Hungarian Experience. !!!
2 Hours later. We are all sitting in front of the 'boob tube' watching the Phantom of the Opera. Michael has seen it on stage, but we'll see what he thinks of the movie version. I LOVE IT !!! and watch it as much as I can..the story, the music, the costumes the history.
Well dinner did not disappoint, we had cucumbers and peppers in vinegar and sourcream, Chicken smothered in a rich spicy tomato sauce served over flour spretzle hand made by Michael as his mother taught him. As the Carter family has had Polish exchange students and have had many fine dishes made by them, this was similar, but different. And as a dessert, we have some Hungarian wine. OHHHHH we are living high on the Farm tonight!!!
That is all for tonight. Be happy, love Sandi
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
SWAN CLIPPING
Good evening my loves, WE DID IT !! pictures to follow! with the help of Cheri and Michael we herded them into a dead-end fence set-up and they didn't even know what was happening. It was alot easier than last year, and actually I think Dudley and I can handle this clipping by ourselves next year.Cheri and I went to an antique store in Foscoe to look for a match to her old dresser. Could not find a match. So we went to a Thrift store and she found alot of things and spent a total of $8.35...We came home just in time to catch swans .
Pictures are of DUKE and I, Cheri, Dudley, and me actually clipping wings, And Michael, with the first fish he ever caught in his life, This one not to big, but they got bigger as we went on.
Another gorgeous evening here in the Appalachian Mountains! We are sitting on the front porch and not only enjoying each other's company but the peace of the natural beauty here. Cheri and Michael walked to the top of 'The Highway to Heaven" and tomorrow we will go to Cone house and sightsee the Blueridge Parkway. Have a great week, will try to get more out between our fun .....Love Sandi
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Ok everybody >. we are having a wonderful vacation with Cheri and Michael !! wish you guys were here, because we are having a great time. Today, after a quick sightseeing trip around the area, we came home to have lunch and then we went fishing. Remember, that Michael has never been fishing, so he was in for a treat. we took chairs, buckets, nets, and poles to the big pond. Dudley had purchaced worms and we were ready. The swans are looking on as we practiced casting,,, Cheri and Michael are getting the feel for the reel. Cheri casts her unbaited hook and bobber into the pond and almost imediatedly has a hit !! shocked , We spring into action... there is a small brim on the hook.. unbeliveable !!! So, the race was on..... She got another one !! Then Michael got the next 6 fish. he was on a roll. I baited his hook and took the fish off his line, He was so happy, he loved fishing! Now remember, from my previous blogs, we are trying to get rid of the fish in the big pond, so we put all the fish we caught in a bucket, eventually, the few fish became many and the many became too many. by the time we were done, we had 50 in the buckets. YEAH !!!! So, Dudley and Michael take them to the nearest stream and let them go. All in all, it was great fun and we all felt really good about the experience that brought back memories of PAPA taking us fishing years ago,
The weather has been great here, cool and alittle overcast, the swans don't know that they are going to be clipped this week, so they are doing their swan things and we are enjoying them. Csardas got into a dead rabbit and freaked every one out, but that is what they do.and that is why we don't have a big dog that wants to run around.
no stars tonight, just black silence. so I leave you from the front porch of the Farm. Sandi
The weather has been great here, cool and alittle overcast, the swans don't know that they are going to be clipped this week, so they are doing their swan things and we are enjoying them. Csardas got into a dead rabbit and freaked every one out, but that is what they do.and that is why we don't have a big dog that wants to run around.
no stars tonight, just black silence. so I leave you from the front porch of the Farm. Sandi
Saturday, July 25, 2009
RACOONS and BEARS
Hey everybody !! Just a quick note today because Cheri is coming to the Farm !! And Michael. We will see if we can't turn him into country boy before he leaves. I just found out that he has NEVER been fishing !! Well hold on to your britches, can we fish or what ? Do you think he will worm his own hook ? We'll let you know.
So, the other morning we saw the swan feeders had been 'tampered' with . Humm? we looked for evidence and found what we thought might have been the rascal. there was a nice pile of Bear scat, ( poop) next to the one feeder...we removed that feeder and put it away so as not to encourage a return visit. But we kept the feeder in the small pond in front of the house. Anyway, last night I had a 'feeling' , and I always listen to my 'feelings', anyway I got up at 3am and looked out the dormer windows. Sure enough, Daisy was going crazy! swimming back and forth with her wings up..I got the spotlight we have just for these occasions and there were two eyes shinning up from the feeder. Dudley got up also,and we determined that it was a raccoon IN the feeder, he would eat a little, and then,pop his head up and look around and go back down to eat and pop his head up...cute, but not a good thing. So, Dudley has devised a way to lock the lid on so that that can't happen again. But first we had to retrieve the lid that was floating at the end of the pond...out come the waders and he finally got it. What a boat load of trouble these swans are ! whose idea was it to have swans anyway ? I plead the fifth.
So the bear is wandering around , but it seems he did not eat the swan food, the raccoon did. The camera will go up this week so we can get a shot of him hopefully. Did I tell you that a dead coyote was at the end of our driveway ? so they are here, we just have not seen them alive or even heard them howling.
We have eaten our first tomato! of course there is nothing like a fresh really ripe tomato., is there. The cucumbers are still producing and the lettuce abundant. We didn't have good luck with beans, maybe next year. Pears and grapes in a month. Brian do you want grape juice ?
Well, folks, I know all of you are busy, and I miss getting together more often. I hope you look forward to my blog, as you can see, our lives here on the farm are filled with the unexpected excitement and the mundane. everyday is different from the other. But I like surprises !! Love Sandi
PS We will clip swan wings on Monday..poor Michael..
So, the other morning we saw the swan feeders had been 'tampered' with . Humm? we looked for evidence and found what we thought might have been the rascal. there was a nice pile of Bear scat, ( poop) next to the one feeder...we removed that feeder and put it away so as not to encourage a return visit. But we kept the feeder in the small pond in front of the house. Anyway, last night I had a 'feeling' , and I always listen to my 'feelings', anyway I got up at 3am and looked out the dormer windows. Sure enough, Daisy was going crazy! swimming back and forth with her wings up..I got the spotlight we have just for these occasions and there were two eyes shinning up from the feeder. Dudley got up also,and we determined that it was a raccoon IN the feeder, he would eat a little, and then,pop his head up and look around and go back down to eat and pop his head up...cute, but not a good thing. So, Dudley has devised a way to lock the lid on so that that can't happen again. But first we had to retrieve the lid that was floating at the end of the pond...out come the waders and he finally got it. What a boat load of trouble these swans are ! whose idea was it to have swans anyway ? I plead the fifth.
So the bear is wandering around , but it seems he did not eat the swan food, the raccoon did. The camera will go up this week so we can get a shot of him hopefully. Did I tell you that a dead coyote was at the end of our driveway ? so they are here, we just have not seen them alive or even heard them howling.
We have eaten our first tomato! of course there is nothing like a fresh really ripe tomato., is there. The cucumbers are still producing and the lettuce abundant. We didn't have good luck with beans, maybe next year. Pears and grapes in a month. Brian do you want grape juice ?
Well, folks, I know all of you are busy, and I miss getting together more often. I hope you look forward to my blog, as you can see, our lives here on the farm are filled with the unexpected excitement and the mundane. everyday is different from the other. But I like surprises !! Love Sandi
PS We will clip swan wings on Monday..poor Michael..
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
ELECTRIC BARN !! YEAH !!
Dear everyone , another great day at the FARM !! The electricians were here !! Dudley has waited so long for the 'electrification of the barn, and we are one step closer to that reality. Maybe by the end of August he will be up and running, I know that seems like a long time, but this is Appalachia and things develop on their own time. But we all expect great things from him when this occurs and all of you will receive Christmas gifts made of wood...
Update on the Yorkshire Terrier I found tangled in a wire on Monday. I went by today on my way to Boone and the doghouse has been moved away from the highway the dog still tied to it and the people, or should i say, 'crackheads' were outside sifting thru their rubble. At least the dog was dry and i will inspect every time i go by and report as necessary.
What a beautiful view from the 'Highway to Heaven' on the last two evenings I have hiked with Charlie to the top and marveled at the beauty that was before me. I think of the Linkes and the Hicks families before us farming this beautiful land, did they too marvel at the majesty, and awe at the expanse? Or were they so focused on their everyday survival that they missed God's artwork? I think not, no one, even if they were picking apples or pulling weeds would be able to escape the oneness with the Mother. There is a time in each of our lives when we think that we are irreplaceable, unconquerable, and in control, Come and spend a little time on the 'Highway to Heaven ' and you will be changed.
The good news is that Cheri has has a GREAT interview with the powers to be and now is on vacation !! So, she and Michael will be here Sat evening to be completely spoiled with the Bed and Breakfast atmosphere of the Carter Farm.. The aim here is to relax, not worry, and leave those pesky DC worries behind. Come to the country, we'll cure you of all your problems. You won't want to leave, I promice. Talk to you later,, Sandi
Update on the Yorkshire Terrier I found tangled in a wire on Monday. I went by today on my way to Boone and the doghouse has been moved away from the highway the dog still tied to it and the people, or should i say, 'crackheads' were outside sifting thru their rubble. At least the dog was dry and i will inspect every time i go by and report as necessary.
What a beautiful view from the 'Highway to Heaven' on the last two evenings I have hiked with Charlie to the top and marveled at the beauty that was before me. I think of the Linkes and the Hicks families before us farming this beautiful land, did they too marvel at the majesty, and awe at the expanse? Or were they so focused on their everyday survival that they missed God's artwork? I think not, no one, even if they were picking apples or pulling weeds would be able to escape the oneness with the Mother. There is a time in each of our lives when we think that we are irreplaceable, unconquerable, and in control, Come and spend a little time on the 'Highway to Heaven ' and you will be changed.
The good news is that Cheri has has a GREAT interview with the powers to be and now is on vacation !! So, she and Michael will be here Sat evening to be completely spoiled with the Bed and Breakfast atmosphere of the Carter Farm.. The aim here is to relax, not worry, and leave those pesky DC worries behind. Come to the country, we'll cure you of all your problems. You won't want to leave, I promice. Talk to you later,, Sandi
Monday, July 20, 2009
Dogs and NEW NEIGHBORS
Good evening everyone ! hope everybody is home safe and sound tonight ! I had a great day today, after a quick trip to Boone I came back in a bad thunderstorm and just before I crossed the NC/TN line on 321 there is this 'Junk Dealer' house, it is very suspicious to me, and I hate to see it, lots of weird people and stuff coming and going there, anyway, I have always seen a small Yorkshire terrier tied to a pole outside next to the junk pile. I have wanted to stop and ask about it, but the inhabitants of the rundown place looked unfriendly at the least. So today it was pouring rain, There it was tied to the pole and unable to move because it had wound itself up with the line tight. I pulled into the drive, no one was there, it was so creepy, I think it is a meth lab, I really do, I could not free the dog, at all, it was so tangled in the line and drenched. I almost unhooked it and took it home, but I have a tendency to be alittle impulsive .. ? so decided to do the smart thing. went home and called animal control, They told me that they had had a number of complaints about the dog and that they were now going to seize it. I will keep you informed .
The afternoon progressed and then we got a call from are new neighbors. Those of you know Kim, that lived across the street from us, well, she has returned to Fla and has rented her place to a young couple with a 5 yr old boy. Well, tomorrow , while Dudley helps move them in, I get to take care of Kia. I think I get the best end of the deal, don't you ? Kia's grandparents are our new friends from Boone. she is a psychiatric nurse and he is a music professor at ASU. We really like them and hope that the fact that their daughter and grandson have moved across the street from us will enhance our friendship and we will see them more often.
Well it is 9:30 and past by bed time. I will write more tomorrow, or for sure on Wed. Love Sandi, Thanks for following and your comments Desiree and Cheri !!
The afternoon progressed and then we got a call from are new neighbors. Those of you know Kim, that lived across the street from us, well, she has returned to Fla and has rented her place to a young couple with a 5 yr old boy. Well, tomorrow , while Dudley helps move them in, I get to take care of Kia. I think I get the best end of the deal, don't you ? Kia's grandparents are our new friends from Boone. she is a psychiatric nurse and he is a music professor at ASU. We really like them and hope that the fact that their daughter and grandson have moved across the street from us will enhance our friendship and we will see them more often.
Well it is 9:30 and past by bed time. I will write more tomorrow, or for sure on Wed. Love Sandi, Thanks for following and your comments Desiree and Cheri !!
Friday, July 17, 2009
JUST AN AVERAGE DAY
Good evening to you !
Not alot of excitment here today, just that I went to a web site and brought back a Trojin Virus !! Yeah, Dudley was pleased. After some work, he found out that it was really a 'phishing' site that I found. Well good, is that all? I feel so much better, I am always screwing up the computor, deleting things I shouldn't etc.. so Brian suggested that I get a laptop of my own to play with..I will have to think about that one. He suggested a Mac so I can do my blogging and my geneology stuff easier than on a PC. And I need easy ! So, we'll see. Any ideas out there?
After I do some work around here in the morning, I usually spend alittle time in the afternoon on my sewing. I am now working on a 'postage stamp quilt. It is made up of 4,070 1 inch squares. Yes, I am crazy , or very bored. either way I LOVE it. it is so relaxing and I dont' have to really think about it so I can let my mind wander, uh oh ! and plan my next crazy project. All quilts have a name and a reason why they were made in a certain pattern. A 'Double Wedding Ring' quilt was made for a new bride and groom. Other patterns were used in the Underground railroad to lead the escaped slaves to safe houses The quilt was laid over a porch or fence to 'air out' and sent a non-verbal message as to when and where they might escape and be safe. 'Log Cabin' pattern indicated a safe house. 'Flying Geese' was to show them the way, and the 'Bear Paw' told them to go north to Canada. Neat Huh ? I haven't seen anything about the 'Postage Stamp', but do know that they were only made by upper-class women because they had the time for this labor intensive work. Working women made larger pieced quilts as quicky and utilitarian as possible. When I am finished with this work of art I will post a picture on my Blog. It will hang in the sunroom here at the Farm and not be touched !!
Dudley has just informed me that it will 55 degrees here in the Appalachian Mountains tomorrow night ... I better get that quilt done fast.
I love all of you. Sandi
Not alot of excitment here today, just that I went to a web site and brought back a Trojin Virus !! Yeah, Dudley was pleased. After some work, he found out that it was really a 'phishing' site that I found. Well good, is that all? I feel so much better, I am always screwing up the computor, deleting things I shouldn't etc.. so Brian suggested that I get a laptop of my own to play with..I will have to think about that one. He suggested a Mac so I can do my blogging and my geneology stuff easier than on a PC. And I need easy ! So, we'll see. Any ideas out there?
After I do some work around here in the morning, I usually spend alittle time in the afternoon on my sewing. I am now working on a 'postage stamp quilt. It is made up of 4,070 1 inch squares. Yes, I am crazy , or very bored. either way I LOVE it. it is so relaxing and I dont' have to really think about it so I can let my mind wander, uh oh ! and plan my next crazy project. All quilts have a name and a reason why they were made in a certain pattern. A 'Double Wedding Ring' quilt was made for a new bride and groom. Other patterns were used in the Underground railroad to lead the escaped slaves to safe houses The quilt was laid over a porch or fence to 'air out' and sent a non-verbal message as to when and where they might escape and be safe. 'Log Cabin' pattern indicated a safe house. 'Flying Geese' was to show them the way, and the 'Bear Paw' told them to go north to Canada. Neat Huh ? I haven't seen anything about the 'Postage Stamp', but do know that they were only made by upper-class women because they had the time for this labor intensive work. Working women made larger pieced quilts as quicky and utilitarian as possible. When I am finished with this work of art I will post a picture on my Blog. It will hang in the sunroom here at the Farm and not be touched !!
Dudley has just informed me that it will 55 degrees here in the Appalachian Mountains tomorrow night ... I better get that quilt done fast.
I love all of you. Sandi
Thursday, July 16, 2009
WORK DAY
Hi everybody !!! Sorry for the break in the blog, we have had computer problems this week after a power outage. even with the surge protectors it seems that when the electric went off, as it does frequently around here, the computer wasn't able to with stand the surge when it came back on. So, computer wizard Dudley has hooked up our lap top and I am now able to communicate with the outside world...
Today was a work day. I put on my DaisyDuke boots early this am and went out in the field. Dudley went grocery shopping in anticipation of Cheri and MIchael coming for a week. That visit however has been postponed until the next week, because Cheri got a call for an interview. We are all supportive of Cheri and her new job so we will see her when we see her. Also, mentioning Cheri, she sent me a link, Violinist.com that sighted her recent dissertation work.. she was very excited to see that her research has already been circulating on the WEB.. This is just the beginning for her and we all wish her the best. She certainly deserves it.
So, back to the work day. of course Brandon shows up at 10 with his cousin and his 11 yr old friend. Can we get fish from the pond ? Sure, so I have to supervise, to not, is asking for adolescent trouble. So I try to pull weeds and look as if I am not looking... They soon tire and leave. Brandon has a very short attention span, especially when he needs his next 'chaw' fix. I busy myself with inside jobs and then Dudley returns with the groceries.. enouf to feed an army! Which raises the new info we have to tell everyone, Dudley is going to take a cooking course starting Aug 9 for a month with a chef at a Banner Elk restaurant, !!! He will go every Sunday from 1-5 and learn different things and then the course will culminate with me being his guest at the restaurant for a gourmet meal !!! We are going to invite our backwoods friends Andre and Leesa to dine with me. I am so excited to have him do this, he is quite a chef and this is just the next step in his learning curve. and I benefit !! just have to walk more to burn the gourmet calories he will fix. of course I will let you know about our cuisine adventure ...
Yes, so back to the work day. after lunch and putting away all those groceries, I set out to spray all weeds and shit that I did not want growing on our property, my plan is that if I do this often enof, I will truly eliminate all the unwanted , weeds, scrub trees, rose bushes and blackberries from this property. I know that I have mentioned in my previous blogs or maybe my e-mail of my self proclaimed Jihad on these plant species. This said, they will not survive here and I will win...maybe, or least I will make a dent...or at least a small dent in the ever blooming unwanted weeds that crop up everywhere. I am trying Brian, I am trying.
While I was spraying, Dudley hooked up the BUSH-Hog to his ATV and polished off the field next to the house. The only problem was that the belt 'burned ' and he had to replace it, so called it a day at 5pm. tomorrow will be another work day and maybe Sunday we will relax. So much for being retired. But at least I got some long awaited exercise.
well, I have so much more I could tell you about, like the blue heron that wanted to have a place on the ponds but the swans wouldn't let him, he went back and forth to each pond trying to hide from the resident swans, but could not even score a small fish. And I want to tell you about the Barn Swallows. They have had their secondhatchings and are now biding their time to return to their southern winter homes. We have enjoyed their antics while swooping to eat the bugs and mosquitoes. While others complain of pests during the summer, we have none, My Swallows are always welcomed here, even tho their early morning squawks can wake the dead, I will never tire of their returning in the Spring. They are a part of our continuity to the past, the wind, the mist that rises from the river and the huge sky above. It is humbling to know that it will always be and it has always been the same, we are the visitor, we are but a whisper upon the land, Let's not forget that. Live each day to your fullest and let no stone be unturned. Love you. Sandi
Today was a work day. I put on my DaisyDuke boots early this am and went out in the field. Dudley went grocery shopping in anticipation of Cheri and MIchael coming for a week. That visit however has been postponed until the next week, because Cheri got a call for an interview. We are all supportive of Cheri and her new job so we will see her when we see her. Also, mentioning Cheri, she sent me a link, Violinist.com that sighted her recent dissertation work.. she was very excited to see that her research has already been circulating on the WEB.. This is just the beginning for her and we all wish her the best. She certainly deserves it.
So, back to the work day. of course Brandon shows up at 10 with his cousin and his 11 yr old friend. Can we get fish from the pond ? Sure, so I have to supervise, to not, is asking for adolescent trouble. So I try to pull weeds and look as if I am not looking... They soon tire and leave. Brandon has a very short attention span, especially when he needs his next 'chaw' fix. I busy myself with inside jobs and then Dudley returns with the groceries.. enouf to feed an army! Which raises the new info we have to tell everyone, Dudley is going to take a cooking course starting Aug 9 for a month with a chef at a Banner Elk restaurant, !!! He will go every Sunday from 1-5 and learn different things and then the course will culminate with me being his guest at the restaurant for a gourmet meal !!! We are going to invite our backwoods friends Andre and Leesa to dine with me. I am so excited to have him do this, he is quite a chef and this is just the next step in his learning curve. and I benefit !! just have to walk more to burn the gourmet calories he will fix. of course I will let you know about our cuisine adventure ...
Yes, so back to the work day. after lunch and putting away all those groceries, I set out to spray all weeds and shit that I did not want growing on our property, my plan is that if I do this often enof, I will truly eliminate all the unwanted , weeds, scrub trees, rose bushes and blackberries from this property. I know that I have mentioned in my previous blogs or maybe my e-mail of my self proclaimed Jihad on these plant species. This said, they will not survive here and I will win...maybe, or least I will make a dent...or at least a small dent in the ever blooming unwanted weeds that crop up everywhere. I am trying Brian, I am trying.
While I was spraying, Dudley hooked up the BUSH-Hog to his ATV and polished off the field next to the house. The only problem was that the belt 'burned ' and he had to replace it, so called it a day at 5pm. tomorrow will be another work day and maybe Sunday we will relax. So much for being retired. But at least I got some long awaited exercise.
well, I have so much more I could tell you about, like the blue heron that wanted to have a place on the ponds but the swans wouldn't let him, he went back and forth to each pond trying to hide from the resident swans, but could not even score a small fish. And I want to tell you about the Barn Swallows. They have had their secondhatchings and are now biding their time to return to their southern winter homes. We have enjoyed their antics while swooping to eat the bugs and mosquitoes. While others complain of pests during the summer, we have none, My Swallows are always welcomed here, even tho their early morning squawks can wake the dead, I will never tire of their returning in the Spring. They are a part of our continuity to the past, the wind, the mist that rises from the river and the huge sky above. It is humbling to know that it will always be and it has always been the same, we are the visitor, we are but a whisper upon the land, Let's not forget that. Live each day to your fullest and let no stone be unturned. Love you. Sandi
Monday, July 13, 2009
MICE !! SWANS and FISH
Hey There !
I had a great day planned I was going to Boone to get some sewing supplies so that I could finish up some of my never ending projects. But things around here just never quite go like expected....I was finishing up my hair, brushing my teeth etc, when I spilled a bottle of liguid make-up on the carpet. I was really annoyed at myself, but I had to clean it up, I went to the linen closet for a sponge and opened the door to find not only mouse droppings everywhere, but a foul odor ..Yuck. I decided this was a job for Dudley and left for Boone !! I can understand why mice come into a kitchen, food right ? but a linen closet with towels and sheets ? I have decided that mice are one of the most resourseful creatures on earth, or dumbest, this one chewed a hole in the sheetrock wall just to rub on my pillowcases and make a nest with the toilet paper...I hope he had fun, But Dudley didn't. patching the hole and removing stinky bodies kinda ruined his day... I guess some days are better than other's at the Farm ! Life Lesson: Into every life rain must fall. You have to take the bad with the good.
But today also had a good thing for Dudley. He met with the electrician to plan the start of his workshop in the big red barn. He has been patiently waiting until the house was done and we had more money to start on his workshop. We will have Mountain Electric drop two poles next week and get this show on the road. When it is all done, I really expect to be a "Workshop Widow" because he will spend so much time working out there. But whatever happens , we will now have electricity in the barn. PAPA always expected that barn to be used as a doomsday overflow for the family. 'We can all live here on this property and raise our own food and defend ourselves." He might not be that far off..
Brandon showed up after I came home from Boone, I had a special project for him. I left the mouse job to Dudley and got on my boots. See, every evening when I feed the swans in the big pond, the fish come right up to the them and jump out of the water to get the bread. Sometimes they actually bite at the swan's feet and feathers! They swarm around them and startle Penny and Duke that they back off and let the fish have the bread. Oh no, I'm not feeding fish too. So, my idea was to catch as many as possible in the net, and take them down to Watauga Lake and let them go. These are not large fish, baby brim mostly, 3-4 inches long. Our 'no fear' Brandon is the man for the job, (see how I direct men to do work for me..uhmmmmm. ) Anyway, we have buckets, we have nets, we have bread, we have the will........Do you know that after 2 hours , with a quick break in between, we only got 20 fish in the bucket ? I was hoping for 100. I doubt that I will see a decrease in the piranha next time I go feed, Duke and Penny will just have to get use to them!
Speaking of Duke and Penny, next week is 'wing clipping time " Yeah. Cheri and Michael will be here. Do you think that we could get them to help ? I will make sure that I get pictures and blog that one ! But as usual Dudley has come up with a plan on how to catch them..and we'll see how that goes. More next week on that !
Before Brandon left to go home he asked if he could please show his friend, a new kid 11 years old named Kevin, the garbage disposal in the sink, and the trash compactor operation. These are space -age devices to these country boys and Brandon is proud to show off that he knows how to use them. Not that he does, but it makes him feel special, Did anyone notice that the age difference between Brandon and his new friend Kevin is 4 years...? Most of his friends are alot younger than him, I think that Brandon likes the younger boys because he can act tough and they don't challenge him. He has not physically matured yet and is happier being with boys that don't remind him of this fact. If I don't see some 'peach fuzz' soon I am going to have a talk with his Grandmother, I know some of you might disagree with me on this, but I can't sit by , I'm not made that way.
Stay tuned for that saga..
Actually, I am going to end this blog early today. I'm sure my followers are glad that they have a break from reading so much. Thanks for your feedback, I really don't know if you are reading or not, but I am doing this for me. Love you Guys! Sandi
I had a great day planned I was going to Boone to get some sewing supplies so that I could finish up some of my never ending projects. But things around here just never quite go like expected....I was finishing up my hair, brushing my teeth etc, when I spilled a bottle of liguid make-up on the carpet. I was really annoyed at myself, but I had to clean it up, I went to the linen closet for a sponge and opened the door to find not only mouse droppings everywhere, but a foul odor ..Yuck. I decided this was a job for Dudley and left for Boone !! I can understand why mice come into a kitchen, food right ? but a linen closet with towels and sheets ? I have decided that mice are one of the most resourseful creatures on earth, or dumbest, this one chewed a hole in the sheetrock wall just to rub on my pillowcases and make a nest with the toilet paper...I hope he had fun, But Dudley didn't. patching the hole and removing stinky bodies kinda ruined his day... I guess some days are better than other's at the Farm ! Life Lesson: Into every life rain must fall. You have to take the bad with the good.
But today also had a good thing for Dudley. He met with the electrician to plan the start of his workshop in the big red barn. He has been patiently waiting until the house was done and we had more money to start on his workshop. We will have Mountain Electric drop two poles next week and get this show on the road. When it is all done, I really expect to be a "Workshop Widow" because he will spend so much time working out there. But whatever happens , we will now have electricity in the barn. PAPA always expected that barn to be used as a doomsday overflow for the family. 'We can all live here on this property and raise our own food and defend ourselves." He might not be that far off..
Brandon showed up after I came home from Boone, I had a special project for him. I left the mouse job to Dudley and got on my boots. See, every evening when I feed the swans in the big pond, the fish come right up to the them and jump out of the water to get the bread. Sometimes they actually bite at the swan's feet and feathers! They swarm around them and startle Penny and Duke that they back off and let the fish have the bread. Oh no, I'm not feeding fish too. So, my idea was to catch as many as possible in the net, and take them down to Watauga Lake and let them go. These are not large fish, baby brim mostly, 3-4 inches long. Our 'no fear' Brandon is the man for the job, (see how I direct men to do work for me..uhmmmmm. ) Anyway, we have buckets, we have nets, we have bread, we have the will........Do you know that after 2 hours , with a quick break in between, we only got 20 fish in the bucket ? I was hoping for 100. I doubt that I will see a decrease in the piranha next time I go feed, Duke and Penny will just have to get use to them!
Speaking of Duke and Penny, next week is 'wing clipping time " Yeah. Cheri and Michael will be here. Do you think that we could get them to help ? I will make sure that I get pictures and blog that one ! But as usual Dudley has come up with a plan on how to catch them..and we'll see how that goes. More next week on that !
Before Brandon left to go home he asked if he could please show his friend, a new kid 11 years old named Kevin, the garbage disposal in the sink, and the trash compactor operation. These are space -age devices to these country boys and Brandon is proud to show off that he knows how to use them. Not that he does, but it makes him feel special, Did anyone notice that the age difference between Brandon and his new friend Kevin is 4 years...? Most of his friends are alot younger than him, I think that Brandon likes the younger boys because he can act tough and they don't challenge him. He has not physically matured yet and is happier being with boys that don't remind him of this fact. If I don't see some 'peach fuzz' soon I am going to have a talk with his Grandmother, I know some of you might disagree with me on this, but I can't sit by , I'm not made that way.
Stay tuned for that saga..
Actually, I am going to end this blog early today. I'm sure my followers are glad that they have a break from reading so much. Thanks for your feedback, I really don't know if you are reading or not, but I am doing this for me. Love you Guys! Sandi
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Bears, Andre, and Brandon
Hello from the farm !!
So much to tell you, so I will just get started. But first there is a correction to be made. Dudley has pointed out to me that Mom and Dad Carter, died in 2005 not 2004. I'm not sure what role Dudley will play with this Blog other than editor, but I have encouraged him to write also.
I wanted to remind my readers of the recent Bear sightings we have had around here lately. In fact two months a go, our first proof that we had a large bear in the vicinity was our completely torn apart metal bird feeder. it was so destroyed that it could not be fixed, (and I am married to 'Mr Fixit')...The grill was tipped over and the rainbarrel had muddy prints 8" wide on the top....So we set up a camera and waited. We never got a great picture of him, but we saw him up close and personal as we were hiding behind the screen door later that night!! Only 25 feet away and with the spotlight in his eyes, he held still just long enough for us to marvel at the magnificent beauty of this powerful creature. He was easy 350- 400 lbs. and shiny black. I'm glad he was as afraid of us as we were of him. So we have a bear. I'm sure he will show up again around here and in my blogs.
This morning, while most of my readers were still sleeping,(9am) I went to the back of the garden and retrieved a bucket, that I was collecting rain water in. As I turned to go to the house, I heard a crashing sound on the ridge behind our house and realized that the noise was coming from a tree that we had just picked wild cherries from last month. The branches were rustling and breaking and down out of the tree came a medium size bear and scurrying down behind her was her cub. Of course they took off for the undergrowth, and I was slightly scared as I quickly made my way back to the safety of the house. So I guess that my favorite activity, walking the ridgeline will have to be postponed for awhile,or maybe I need to learn how to shoot a pistol.
Since the morning was cool, I decided to weed our mixed salad greens plot in the garden, it really had gotten out of control since I had been in DC the week before. Lettuce is a labor intensive crop, and needs constant attention to get the most out of it. If you have never tasted fresh torn lettuce that was growing in dirt minutes before, you have not lived. Add some blueberries, feta and walnuts and you have heaven on a plate! None of that fat and sugar laden salad dressing for me !!!
Later while making Dudley a sandwich, we had drop -in visitors, Usually that's the way here, neighbors just drop in, and you have to be ready with coffee or a cool drink. It was our backdoor neighbors( meaning that they live over the mountain that is directly to the west of us) We could actually hike to their house on the old unused farm trails and someday we plan to meet them half way. We'll have to be mindful of the bears tho !Andre and Leesa live 'off the grid" down a 2 mile dirt road that has switch backs that will have you seeing your tail lites. Andre built the cabin they are living in in the 80's and has lived there until recently with no running water, plumbing, or electric. if he needed to operate something electric, he ran his generator. He got water from the stream next to his house as he still does today. He has become a very important part of our lives because of his knowledge base of 'these here parts' This Spring he showed us how to tap a maple tree to make Maple syrup. it was alot of work and we probably won't do it again, but it was tasty ! He and his wife Lessa brought us a quart of blueberries and we gave them about 8 of our cucumbers. Trading is done a lot here, especially if one farmer does not have a good crop of something and you do. Of course, Dudley and I grow our vegetables and fruit for the fun of it, not to live on through the winter like most do around here. Andre will be mentioned alot more in my upcoming Blogs because of his unique life perspective and views, He says he lives in the middle of the woods because he doesn't like people, but he likes us, and I'm glad.
It is 3:30 in the afternoon and am waiting for my special friend and closest neighbor Brandon to show up. Brandon is a typical Appalachian boy with all the scars and dirty fingernails to show it. I first met Brandon just after we moved in and saw a kid and a dog walking up on our hill,. Trespassing is highly frowned on here and you must have permission from the land owner to walk their property, I of course, being the mother and teacher that I am, yelled at him asking what he was doing ?? He left, but told Dudley the next week that he would like to come and meet me but I had yelled at him and he was scared. I do that alot I guess, scare men. He doesn't go to school because of heaven knows what reason, I finally told him that if he was too sick to go to school , he was too sick to come to our house and visit. Brandon's father is a drug addict and lives in a trailer on their back property, while Brandon and his little sister's grandparents have custody of them.. Lots of late nights and people coming and going over there, lots of mangy animals and trash around. Once you get over the trashy look of the place, and get to know them as people, you see their down to earth goodness. This is how they and their families have lived for generations. It's not that they don't care or are lazy, it's that they don't know better.
Dudley has been a great influence on Brandon, He is the father that Brandon has needed and they are great buddies. Brandon will bring over broken things and Dudley will fix them, they talk guns and hunting, Dudley has had to correct him about his chewing tobacco, (not allowed at our house) his everyother word obscenities and Brandon's way of calling me 'the woman' But once we got past all that, (whew!) he has been a breath of fresh air in our lives and is eager to do projects with me, and talk of his girlfriends and other not so manly stuff. Again, this 15 year old will be showing up in my Blogs because I would rather befriend Brandon now, than have him grow up an angry stranger next door later, know what I mean ? I have some other interesting suspicions about Brandon, which will remain to be seen if they come to past or not..Just keep reading. The best is yet to come on Brandon I'm sure.
Well folks, I have really taken up enough of your time. Tomorrow is another day and I can't wait to share it with you. To those of you that have to go to work or school, have a great week, don't get discouraged. Unlike Brandon, your payoff time will come. Hang in there. Love, Sandi
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Good evening everyone !!!
I though I would spend a little time on my second official Blog entry to build a little history of the years before and immediately after Bobby and Shirley Carter gave us their beloved farm. You see, they came to our house in Augusta, GA. December 30th of 1999. Their reason for a visit then was two fold. 1. to celebrate the new millennium with us and 2. to ask us if we would take on the "Farm' after they were gone , if not before. We were very excited and the celebration of 2000 meant alot more to us than usual.
While the Folks still lived here during 200o-2004, we made plans to take on our new upcoming life style. We bought all -terrain weather-proof boots for each of us, and pond waders for Dudley, along with the 10 triploid grass carp (fish) to keep the weeds out of the pond. We dug a new large pond, we put up miles of barbed wire to keep the cows out of our "new" pond and plantings. We planted evergreens along the busy road and various other trees throughout the barren pastures. We sprayed to kill hundreds of wild rose bushes, thistles and blackberry thickets. We bought a DR Mower, a 4-wheeler, a 4 wheeler trailer, a bush-hog, a weed-eater, and a chain saw, only to name a few of the expensive equipment needed to really be 'FARMERS". Then tragedy struck.
March 2004 both Shirley and Bobby, our beloved parents, feel ill to the Flu. Because of livelong smoking and general poor health, they did not do well, with Papa dying immediately and Nana dying 4 months later.
We were torn between the shock of the sudden illness and the comfort that they were not apart for too long. They were cremated and sprinkled together, as to their wishes, on Cemetery Hill.
Now What ? Family pulls us together in time of need and we will never forget the help that Dale and Pat were to us in getting the house and affairs in order.
Dudley and I then took advantage of the time we had to redi the house and property for our upcoming retirement in 2006. We had trees, chicken coops and barns taken down, driveways re-positioned and hired an architect to look at what we could do with the house built by Adam and Vergie Hicks 100 years before.
With an emphasis on upgrading, insulating, heating and cooling efficiently, contractors put in a wood burning stove, a trash compactor, a whole house fan, replaced cloth wire and copper pipe, insulation was added to rooms with none, walls removed for expanding families,100 year old oak floors refurbished and porches enlarged. Every effort was made to sustain the original charm of the country farmhouse but bring it up to modern convenient standards. The grandchildren approved ..so we knew that we had done it.
So , with that past in mind I offer my daily notes of how it has been since we have moved in, much has happen before I started my Blog, but i will slowly interweave the past with the present. be patient and a whole new world will open up before you. I promice. Thankyou for reading. Sandi
I though I would spend a little time on my second official Blog entry to build a little history of the years before and immediately after Bobby and Shirley Carter gave us their beloved farm. You see, they came to our house in Augusta, GA. December 30th of 1999. Their reason for a visit then was two fold. 1. to celebrate the new millennium with us and 2. to ask us if we would take on the "Farm' after they were gone , if not before. We were very excited and the celebration of 2000 meant alot more to us than usual.
While the Folks still lived here during 200o-2004, we made plans to take on our new upcoming life style. We bought all -terrain weather-proof boots for each of us, and pond waders for Dudley, along with the 10 triploid grass carp (fish) to keep the weeds out of the pond. We dug a new large pond, we put up miles of barbed wire to keep the cows out of our "new" pond and plantings. We planted evergreens along the busy road and various other trees throughout the barren pastures. We sprayed to kill hundreds of wild rose bushes, thistles and blackberry thickets. We bought a DR Mower, a 4-wheeler, a 4 wheeler trailer, a bush-hog, a weed-eater, and a chain saw, only to name a few of the expensive equipment needed to really be 'FARMERS". Then tragedy struck.
March 2004 both Shirley and Bobby, our beloved parents, feel ill to the Flu. Because of livelong smoking and general poor health, they did not do well, with Papa dying immediately and Nana dying 4 months later.
We were torn between the shock of the sudden illness and the comfort that they were not apart for too long. They were cremated and sprinkled together, as to their wishes, on Cemetery Hill.
Now What ? Family pulls us together in time of need and we will never forget the help that Dale and Pat were to us in getting the house and affairs in order.
Dudley and I then took advantage of the time we had to redi the house and property for our upcoming retirement in 2006. We had trees, chicken coops and barns taken down, driveways re-positioned and hired an architect to look at what we could do with the house built by Adam and Vergie Hicks 100 years before.
With an emphasis on upgrading, insulating, heating and cooling efficiently, contractors put in a wood burning stove, a trash compactor, a whole house fan, replaced cloth wire and copper pipe, insulation was added to rooms with none, walls removed for expanding families,100 year old oak floors refurbished and porches enlarged. Every effort was made to sustain the original charm of the country farmhouse but bring it up to modern convenient standards. The grandchildren approved ..so we knew that we had done it.
So , with that past in mind I offer my daily notes of how it has been since we have moved in, much has happen before I started my Blog, but i will slowly interweave the past with the present. be patient and a whole new world will open up before you. I promice. Thankyou for reading. Sandi
Friday, July 10, 2009
Today is July 10, 2009. I am going to attempt to create a blog about our daily life here on a small farm in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of NE Tennessee. My chronicles will be that of a former 'city' girl who has come to love the country life and all of it's simple and pure ways. May I do justice to the memory of those who have walked this ground before me, and to all of those who will come after.
So. Where do I begin? At the beginning.
The Johnson County Tennessee Deed book with it's old fashion cursive writing, showed that our land was owned by a Col. Green Moore (civil war confederate) in 1836. He had 6 slaves, but it is not known if they lived on this property. In 1857 Col.Moore deeded the property to RH Donnelly who had married his daughter Eliza. That's when the trail of ownership is broken until1951 when it was deeded to the' Heirs of Adam and Virginia Hicks.' Somewhere between 1857 and 1951 , Virginia and Adam Hicks, who were 2nd cousins, built the barns, the house ,and lived here closeby to her parents, Gibson and Julia Linkes. Many members of the Linkes family are buried on top of our 'Cemetery Hill' The first grave in the cemetery is dated 1899 and is that of a 1 month old girl. At this time the property was covered with apple trees, most likely used for food , trade and 'spirits' In fact one of Gibson's son's, Zachariah, died an awful death at the age of 17 when his 'bowels locked up" after drinking bad cider. Much more information about the Hicks and the Linkes families can be found on line. Their lives are now intertwined with ours as we go through our days walking in their footsteps and hearing the trees sing their memory.
Dudley's parents Bobby and Shirley Carter bought this broken down tobacco farm in 1983. We thought they were CRAZY !! But they had a vision, a simpler life where they could garden and raise cows, and give their Grandchildren a sence of how the two of them had grown up. The kids all have wonderful memories of the rope swing, picking fruit and vegetables, fishing and eating the 18" long catfish that PAPA kept in the ponds.
So it is our turn. Dudley and I had a vision too. Not the same as his parent's did in 1983, but one of our own. So read with me each week and I'll let you know how we are doing. I look forward to your comments and suggestions, but don't tease me too much about my sentence structure and spelling okay? Love, Sandi
So. Where do I begin? At the beginning.
The Johnson County Tennessee Deed book with it's old fashion cursive writing, showed that our land was owned by a Col. Green Moore (civil war confederate) in 1836. He had 6 slaves, but it is not known if they lived on this property. In 1857 Col.Moore deeded the property to RH Donnelly who had married his daughter Eliza. That's when the trail of ownership is broken until1951 when it was deeded to the' Heirs of Adam and Virginia Hicks.' Somewhere between 1857 and 1951 , Virginia and Adam Hicks, who were 2nd cousins, built the barns, the house ,and lived here closeby to her parents, Gibson and Julia Linkes. Many members of the Linkes family are buried on top of our 'Cemetery Hill' The first grave in the cemetery is dated 1899 and is that of a 1 month old girl. At this time the property was covered with apple trees, most likely used for food , trade and 'spirits' In fact one of Gibson's son's, Zachariah, died an awful death at the age of 17 when his 'bowels locked up" after drinking bad cider. Much more information about the Hicks and the Linkes families can be found on line. Their lives are now intertwined with ours as we go through our days walking in their footsteps and hearing the trees sing their memory.
Dudley's parents Bobby and Shirley Carter bought this broken down tobacco farm in 1983. We thought they were CRAZY !! But they had a vision, a simpler life where they could garden and raise cows, and give their Grandchildren a sence of how the two of them had grown up. The kids all have wonderful memories of the rope swing, picking fruit and vegetables, fishing and eating the 18" long catfish that PAPA kept in the ponds.
So it is our turn. Dudley and I had a vision too. Not the same as his parent's did in 1983, but one of our own. So read with me each week and I'll let you know how we are doing. I look forward to your comments and suggestions, but don't tease me too much about my sentence structure and spelling okay? Love, Sandi
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