Jason and Mama–Sadie & Ponies!

Yesterday was a mother/son day – and Sadie came along for the ride.

It’s not often that I get to spend a solo day with my son Jason, and since the weather was nice and cool (only about 63 degrees on top of the mountain as compared to 90 down in Columbia SC where he lives)  - we wandered on up the road a few scenic miles to Grayson Highlands State Park to hike a bit on the Appalachian Trail.

I would have to say we felt like slackers with our street clothes, no gear and simple water bottles for our day hike.

We met a man coming down the trail past us and stopped to chat.  He has been on the trail since April, starting in Georgia, with many many miles left to go to do the whole thing.

After hiking we stopped for lunch at Grayson Highlands General Store (more on that later) and met a gal who was restocking her backpack with necessities at the store.  As of yesterday they had reached their 500 mile mark, also working their way toward Maine.

Any long range views are in the clouds!

The mountain tops were all hidden by cloud cover thanks to the cool air coming in.  But there were other things to see besides far off vistas – and the low cloud cover has a beauty all its own.  You can sit and watch it roll on out just a bit, and with a swirl, it comes back in.

I love the delicate wildflowers on our way up the trail.

I was hoping beyond hope that we would run into the wild ponies I had seen the last time I was up here in April. Click HERE for that post.

Would we see how the baby foal I witnessed on wobbly legs was growing?

It was a nice enough day for a hike that several folks were out there.  As we passed each other going up or down the trail we’d ask – “How are things ahead?”  “Did you find the ponies?”

Sadie was intrigued with all the smells and I am so grateful that she is not a “Must Roll In It!!!” kind of dog.  She is friendly to other dogs who are also friendly to her, and thinks the entire dog world are there just to be her friends.

No, this not a pony!

And those horns are long!

But not as long as these:

Oh, crimany!

Definitely not a pony!

Just ahead on the trail..at the top of that rise…what’s that I see?

And who sees me and comes right on over!!

I was trying to take a pic from across the way, and I guess I needed to be sniffed as well.

There are signs everywhere – Keep the Wild in Wildlife – Don’t Pet the Ponies.  Don’t Feed the Ponies.

I understand the don’t feed part – but what are you supposed to do when a pony comes right on over and nuzzles you?  I admit it.  A few ear scratches happened.

And the baby is growing bigger!

Hello, sweet one!

Sadie however, is not so sure.  Check this out:

A post shared by Bonnie K Hunter (@quiltville_bonnie) on May 24, 2018 at 1:35pm PDT

Oh Mama, that baby has to be coming any day now!

Click to play:

A post shared by Bonnie K Hunter (@quiltville_bonnie) on May 24, 2018 at 1:49pm PDT

This was the commune with nature that I needed.

Oh, you are too cute!

So happy I got to share this with my son -

I need this framed!

And perhaps this one too.

Quit looking so tough son, and give your mama a smile!

While at Grayson Highlands General Store for lunch (and where we met the AT hikers) I had a good long chat with Dennis the owner who asked how things were going with “the Old Fields House.” 

"We are now the official owners of our own personal money pit!” I said with a laugh– and that was part of the reason we stopped there.  Having a business in this area means Dennis is a wealth of information as far as contractors, electricians, plumbers, road grating services, who to call for this or that, and he had told me before when we were ready for electrical he had just the guy for us.

Small town life – it’s so great!  He made a simple phone call and Chris (who lives maybe 2 miles just over the hill from the cabin) came to meet Jason and I at the store and we talked about the project – getting the sewing area enough power for 16 sewing machines and irons, installing overhead lighting sufficient for the Quilting Quarters.

He followed us a short but beautiful drive of 7 miles to the house, and we gave him the tour.  He’s got great ideas, and showed us some really interesting things as we followed him into the crawl space beneath the house.

1800’s foundation!

I was just amazed with this – this is what folks used for foundations before there was such a thing as cinderblock and concrete footings.  Oh my word…this is amazing.

From what we can gather, this is all river rock gathered from near by.  In my mind I’m thinking of the hands who laid these foundation stones, and thanking them for building a foundation that would stand the test of time.  Little did they know what this house would be up to 135 years later.

Another shot.

So very cool.

The good news is – there are breaker boxes a-plenty.  It won’t be a hard job to do to get the amps we need for the Quilting Quarters.  The ceiling fixtures will be simple – flush 6’’ LED spots, nice true color lighting to eliminate any cast of yellow. 

And of course quilters will have IKEA lights at every station.

My next job is also to head down to IKEA and get my first load of tables so we know where they are going to go and can mark them off on the floor with painters tape so we can place outlets where they are most easily accessible.

Once the Quilting Quarters is done – we move on to fixing the bathrooms with walk-in showers.  That can be a winter job.

What most folks don’t know is that “regular” bathtubs (likely from the 1950s!) were removed when the previous owners wanted to install the claw foot tubs to make it look “more authentic” – the tubs are not original to the house. They are reproductions. 

We are just taking it back a step, but with walk-in showers so that no one falls and breaks their neck while trying to step OUT of a claw foot tub shower.  

We have our reasons. 99% of our guests will be middle aged to older women who may have balance issues.  We've got to prevent slipping and falling possibilities. Stepping down with wet feet?  It is best to remove the tubs.  Our changes will not affect the historic value of the home.  It will protect the safety and well being of our guests.  If it were me, I never would have put those tubs in the bathrooms in the first place. 

In a private home? Yes.  In a place being fitted for this purpose?  No.

Today!  The fridge we took out of the kitchen at the cabin when the new one was brought in will be making a trip over to the Inn.  It’s going into the back entry as an extra fridge for guest use.  I’m now so glad that we held on to that extra fridge!

I think that the original owners of the house would LOVE the modern conveniences we enjoy now and would never look back.

Jason heads home this afternoon – and maybe I’ll get some sewing time in.  Maybe.

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

If not for my mistakes, I would not have learned a thing! Allowing yourself the privilege to make big, bold mistakes is one of the best ways of really finding yourself!

Imported quilt found in Georgia. I still liked the block design.

Have a lovely Friday, friends!