Greetings from the Tennessee Farm !!

Well,I have lots of news..today i saw 100 years in the past. yes . Brandon our 16 yr old neighbor that has been mentioned in previous blogs, was over just to visit. Lately i have been helping him with his driver's licence book, and some homework that he has from school. Actually he is doing fairly well, and likes the attention and praise he gets from us. So, today was just a visit day and he mainly wanted to talk to Dudley about guns and machines. I took it that this was man's talk and just sat quietly and observed them. Brandon was telling wild tales of his adventures riding a bulldozer up a steep hill, and how every one else, "even grown men" were 'fraid' to do it...how he dug this hole with a bobcat, and how he fixed that , and how he shot that and what a big gun it was , etc...you get the picture. Anyway, as I watched this skinny little kid, hard as dry tack, and dirty as a pig, with a combination smell of gasoline, sweat, and old clothes. And hearing him brag and laugh on himself, with that decidedly most mutilated application of the English language, Appalachian hillbilly talk, I couldn't help but think of a boy long ago, that lived on this property and most likely sat in this very living room, bragging about his adventures,how he stole his girlfriend and got married in the woods, and how he was the best 'team(horse) driver in these here parts'. ( That story we got from the Johnson County Book of Early Settlers) Zachariah Linkes probably rode a horse like Brandon rides his dirt bike, fearless, and probably had all the same scars and broke teeth that Brandon has, But, ironically Zachariah was dead at 17, from bad cider. As I looked on in curious wonder as if I had a glimpse into the past I hoped that we would have the joy of that unfettered enthusiasm for life in our lives longer than the Linkes's family did . Life was and is hard here in the Mountains, There are no guarantees.

More news, I have made myself available to the neighborhood school, Little Milligan, it has a population of 150 students from pre school to 8th grade. I was almost rushed when I said i was there to volunteer if they needed....So, I will start Monday and work with the new kindergarten teacher, She has 25 students and no $ for an aide of course. Brian was quick to remind me that this age kid, crys, wants lots of hugs, and then poops on themselves, and not necessarily in that order. I was really thinking about 4th grade, but I guess they saw the motherly type and knew that at least I couldn't do much harm in Kindergarten. I won't be wearing my designer clothes to work to say the least. Why does Kindergarten Cop come to mind ?

Have a nice weekend everyone. I' ll be thinking and wishing you all the best !! Love much Sandi

Good evening everyone !

Another wonderful day here on the farm, since it did not rain today, I decided to mow the fields. We have to mow often because the grass gets so high I can almost not get through it on my John Deere. I figure another month of mowing and weed-eating and then that will be all until April.

I am including a picture of the beautiful Northern Hibiscus that blooms in August. Every year these huge, dinner-plate size fuchsia flowers show off. They always remind me of NANA because she planted them years ago, and I'm so glad she did. When we had the remodeling done on the house, I dug each one of them up to protect them from the construction. Then I placed them in and around the house and even by the old barn and ponds. They are quite spectacular and can be seen from the road.

Dudley has completed his cooking course, and has out done himself !! He came home with left overs of the main courses that he will fix next weekend for us. There was Sea Bass with butternut squash gnoche and sauteed Swiss chard, Kobi flank steak with tempera vegetables and risotto, A pork chop stuffed with prosciutto, sage and swiss cheese, served over stone ground grits and molasses collards. and last but not least, Roasted Herbed Pheasant with whipped potatoes and sweet apple cranberry relish. I think we need to start a B&B don't you ? anyway, next Sunday evening will be fun with our friends at the resort as Dudley will cook for us.

The bear is back ! The grapes have been decimated by him, large bites taken out of our ripening butternut squash and the apple tree plundered. And then to add insult to injury...he leaves a big 'calling card' claiming the garden as his own. Nana and Papa used white twinkle lights around the garden to keep animals out, we may have to resort to that . Then we would really look the part, Christmas lights up all year round. We'd fit right in around here.

Cudos to Allison, Tom, Brian, and Desiree....Keep up the good work. your hard work now will pay off later-- we promice. LOVE YOU MUCH!!! Sandi

Return to the Farm

Hi everyone !! I have returned from the BIG CITY (D.C.) unharmed and in full control of my mid- America country values !! Whew, it is hard to do in the current atmosphere of Liberal change. I went to DC to help Cheri after her cornea transplant. What a wonderful world we live in to allow us to have this current medical treatment, it is my hope that all people can access this kind of miracle regardless of their social status, isn't that what we are asking for? Anyway, thank you to the cornea donor. please check your driver's license to be an organ donor as you will continue to live thru the the person you helped.

Yes ! Had a great time!, Cheri is now in full winter preperation mode and has enough split wood to get her thru the DC winters. A true GREEN citizen, Cheri heats her house with free discarded tree wood that she collects from around the DC area. it is then split and stacked and ready to heat her house thru out the winter. Yes, this takes some work and forthought, but if more of us did this we could help with Gobal Warming, at least that's what Al Gore says'. So get with it !!

Arrived at the Farm in time to feed the 'Brats' as we affectionately call our three swans. they were very glad to see me and i enjoyed winding down from the long trip with them. very centering when you have the life of a dependent animal, or person, for that matter, in your control.

Fall is soon to come, it is apparent with the leaves losing their color, and the cooler breezes that start in the evening, Summer has been short here, but not unimportant , just a foreshadowing of the seasons to come ? maybe Dudley and i should start with our wood stack..I'll write more later, love Sandi

Chef Dudley

A few days late... but I am here, and writing, so i am alive.

What a wonderful weekend we had. The weather was great and we enjoyed the dryness after a long summer of rain, but the good news is that I may be able to 'can' another batch of tomato soup !!! YEAH !!

Sunday was like any other day, it was very cool when I awoke at 6:30am and went with Charlie to the front porch. If you sit very still, you can hear the collision between the night and the light happening, so, because it was a Sunday and no one was traveling on 321 early going to work, i heard what I knew was there. First, it was a long distance crying, then a yelping, then a greeting , not so much different than Charlie does when we come home, then the unmistakeably howl. yes, the rumors were true, we had coyotes in the neighborhood. I was fascinated as I listened to the centuries old sounds of the young pack greeting the provider of the night's catch, I wondered if it was one of our own previously abundant rabbits. Finally, the dawn was quiet, all was as it should be. I sipped my coffee in the comfort and safety of my borrowed human space.

This was the day that Dudley was to go to his first 'cooking class ' at the Crestview Resort in Blowing Rock. Debbie , his sister, had informed him of the class and he immediately signed up. So for the next month he will be instructed in the ways of a Top Chef and then his 'bestest' friends will be invited to a dinner that he will prepare for us at the Crestview. La Te Da !!!! So, Andre, Leesa, Randy, Patricia, Debbie and me will go on the 30th to a fantastic dinner, no wonder i have problems losing weight !! but it is worth it.

Around noon on Sunday, we received a call from Patricia, she wanted to get together for a impromptu supper . So we all got what ever we had,which was mostly fresh, and canned vegetables from our gardens and had the most wonderful dinner with paper plates and wine filled mason jars. The 500 mile view from the deck was the dessert and none of us complained of being too full.

An update on neighbor Brandon. He did bring his driver's test book over for me to look at, it is far over his head, i fear he will never be able to pass . but we had a lesson and i am encouraged that he at least wanted me to be involved. One day at a time. He may be a life long project, but I will not mind. He is enrolled in the local auto mechanics school , so we will see how that goes.

Our best goes out to Brian tonight, he got a job at the American Cancer Society at Emory Univ in Atlanta. He will be analyzing data for them. This is in conjunction with his Master's degree in Public Health. Maybe this will lead to a further degree for him. All things come to those who wait... but you have to pedal real fast while you wait....

I will blog one more time this week, I am traveling to my sister's in DC to help her during her eye surgery. I have no doubt she would be there for me if I needed her. Blood is thicker......and that comes real clear as we get older. So I will update when I return from the big city...Love, Sandi

MIKE AND GARBO

Dear Ones, how are you today? I have had requests for a blog every day, but sometimes i cannot come up with enough exciting stuff to tell you....There are times on the Farm that are routine, downright boring. Alot depends on the weather...but today was different.

I usually wake around 6-6:30 am..the sounds of the mountains awakening are enough to get you on your way, and what a treat you have before you when you do force yourself out of the warm bed to the cool new day. This morning, as usual, Charlie and the chorus of bird songs calling me to leave my dreams,... now downstairs , start the coffee , a spoon of food for the most important male in my life, sorry Brian and Dudley.., We go into the quiet dawn, and see the deer stealing blackberries from the row, and the rabbits running from the sudden human noise. The deer, use to us , (the intruders, )keep grazing on our planted fruit as if it was there for them. Later , we find that they also enjoyed the ripening tomatoes along the fence line. Good thing I made my tomato soup earlier this week..

After a quick reality check on FOX news, and a protein bar, I am ready for the day. Then the unusual noise, Now, in the mountains, it is not uncommon to hear neighbor's muffled yelling from far, gunshots, cattle mooing and dogs barking. But a beep, beep , beep,?? sounded like we were in downtown Atlanta with a garbage truck backing up..disgusting !! on investigation, we found that our new neighbors, across the way had their house alarm going off, and they could not turn it off.. Eventually, after many phone calls , there was silence again. and this was only 8:30am !!Whew.. Then in comes the truck..

Some of the people that have been important in our lives here have not yet been mentioned, and this is the day that Mike and Garbo will be officially entered into the blog.

If you were walking down the street in any town in America, and you saw Mike and Garbo walking towards you, you would discreetly cross to the other side of the street. They are scary looking dudes!! But as we have learned here in Appalachia, looks can be deceiving, especially if you count teeth and tattoos. It seems that Garbo, don't know his last name, was a security guard for 'biker rallies' (so that gives you some idea on his size). but anyway he tells us, that when it was slow at the biker's convention, he would let the tattoo artists 'practice' on him. Now those of you out there that think you are a man..think again. He is a women's dream with his spider forms covering every inch of his 'exposed' skin.. with his toothless grin and slow drawl I'd trade Dudley and Charlie for him.....gulp. maybe not Charlie, a lucky girl for sure would see the beauty within. I guess it takes all kinds, but you could not get a better worker and a more honest man. although he does spend his Winters in the Carter County jail,.. When the work gets slow and the temp gets low, he violates his parole and has a nice warm bed for the the winter, It seems like Garbo has it all figured out..OBama should get him as one of his Czars !!

Now , Mike on the other hand is the brains of the operation, he is 52 years old and has the body of a 35 year old. That's what working hard everyday will get you, none of these gyms and aerobics classes for him, he is hard as nails and can out work most 20 year olds. One of the things I like about Mike is that he isn't impressed with himself, he will do any labor job, no matter how demeaning, and he will do it well. he does like his rolled cigarettes and will only talk to me if necessary, after all I am only a 'woman' ,but he loves Charlie and spoils him with his lunch leftovers. You see, every time we have them do work for us, we buy them a cheeseburger and onion rings from out local 'MOM and POP' store. it is the only time Dudley and i partake in the local fast food and i have to admit it is good ! After many evictions and girlfriends he is now living alone in a camper trailer down by the lake. Times are hard for his social and job skill level , but he keeps smiling.

Mike and Garbo were here to cut down yet more of our dying 'Locust' trees. the trees are cluttering our beautiful property with their leafless limbs and brown leaves. But before they die, in a last ditch effort to re populate themselves,they are sending out massive amounts of seeds that quickly grow into small 'Locusts' !! so, my quest, is to remove all LOCUSTs from this property...a daunting task which will not be done in my lifetime. hear that Brian, But.. I can try. The place already looks better,and every tree that is down will not produce more babies.. The guys accidentally broke Dudley's chain saw , but it is still all good.......

Then Brandon, our neighbor boy, He has been given a truck to drive. it does not matter much that he does not have a licence, or a learner's permit, they let him drive it up in the 'holler' anyway, after a lot of prompting on my part he did admit that he couldn't read the driver's licence book so he couldn't study to get his licence., I offered to help, so we will see if he comes around. All of his friends are in school now, so i expect when Brandon is bored he will come over here, I think I will have to call someone at the school board soon.


It has been raining so much here that the grass is knee high. so tonight after dinner, supper, as it is called in the mountains. I mowed the fields. what a lovely time to do that. it was cool and breezy and as the sun went down,the barn swallows followed the mower in hopes to catch a few disturbed insects, and the swans preened before they were forced into the water by the nightfall, traffic was low on 321 and stillness slowly took effect as I parked the John Deer in the barn. Only an hour later, I marvelled at the bright full moon above the fields that i had just mowed, a reassurance that all is right with the world, even tho we on Earth try very hard to make it not. May you find the peace you seek. Love, Sandi

TOMATO or TOMATOE ???? SOUP

Well it's been a few days since I have blogged. our company has gone back to Metropolis and we are left missing them already, but a grand time was had by all. As we get older, the times we spend with the people we love are so important, My sister Cheri and I have lived apart for most of the last 35 years and i do not intend to do that the next 35, We have made a pact. Siblings don't always get along, and Cheri and I have certainly had our differences and travelled down different life paths. But lately, the paths are converging and I am glad of it. Of all the people reading this blog she is the one that I have known the longest , and she has known me. What a gift to have each other in our lives.

Well, today started with the sound of raindrops on the roof, it has been a familiar sound this summer, but not unwelcomed. After a dry few years, everything is growing as if it had been waiting for the moisture. I have never seen the grass so green and the trees so healthy. The creek is flowing and the ponds are cleaner than ever before. Papa would be happy to see them in this state, maybe not with swans on them, but he would be proud of the ponds he dug.

So, what does one do on a rainy day in the summer on a farm ? We can! No, this is not an Obama campaign rhetoric. In this reference the word 'can' is a verb, it means, in Appalachia jargon, to 'put up', to" preserve",to take the fruit and vegetables of nature and put them in mason jars to preserve them for the upcoming winter months. People have been doing this thru various methods since early times. just remember your history. So, we took our fresh picked tomatoes and the left over 'canned ' tomatoes from last year, and made the most delicious, without a doubt, the best, tomato soup in the world. We ended up with 19 pints, and I intend to make more with the upcoming new growth. There is nothing like a toasted cheese and a bowl of tomato soup in the middle of January. Pure comfort food. Farm 'fast food', and by the way, the health experts say that you should have a tomato product everyday, especially for men, but that does not include the catsup on your french fries !!!!

Cheri and Michael thought it would be a good idea for me to start a blog or a website on domesticated swans. After searching the web, Cheri could not find very much information on the care and raising of swans. So, what do you think ? We have learned soooo much in the last year about these incredible creatures. they are not just wild, they are highly intelligent, respond to their names, and mate for life, grieving for their lost partners. The information we have learned from the everyday care of them far exceeds what is published. So maybe that will be in the future. Your thoughts please ..


Well everyone. I close tonight with my thoughts of those of you that are preparing for interviews, exams, and presentations. My advice : just be yourself, because that is good enough. Love, Sandi