Down on Martha’s Farm!

Isn’t this Studebaker truck just so cool?!

**Note** This post was written yesterday, but I was unable to upload it due to something weird going on with Blogger and a 503 server error. Errors like this usually work themselves out over time - and voila - this morning things work just fine!

I’m off to Bedford, VA to pick up the remaining bed parts from Carol, and since this was already written – it means I can get out of here sooner rather than later.

Sometimes we just have to let things undo themselves on their own time so they work again the next day!

I spent some time Monday on the North Carolina side of the near-by state line, meeting up with my friend Martha and becoming acquainted with her farm, which was part of an original land grant back in the colony days. That’s before revolutionary war, folks!  Can you imagine?

The land changed hands into the previous owner’s family in the early 1900s when the farm house that Martha and her hubby Don live in was built.  It’s quite the story with original photographs of the family on the porch to boot!  And it has been lovingly fixed and restored to be as close to original as they can keep it with adding modern conveniences – when Martha bought the property the house had no electricity, no plumbing – and the last guy who owned it kept his horse in one bedroom while he slept across the hall in another.

Oh yes – this is Appalachia at it’s deepest roots!

As for the truck above, it comes with history too – it was originally a logging truck.  After two loggers rolled it into a creek and died the process, it became a wrecker truck, pulling OTHER cars and vehicles out of tough situations before finally coming to rest (or rust!) on Martha’s farm.

The chickens cackle a morning hello!

Martha and I sat and chatted while enjoying homemade banana muffins and hot earl grey tea in the living room that USED to be the bedroom of the former resident (not the horse!) and time just flew.  I enjoyed meeting her hubby Don – and he chatted a bit before he was off to run the log splitter getting wood ready for a cold mountain winter ahead.

Once the sun had warmed the yard a bit more – we wandered out to greet the critters.  This little brood is only producing about 4 eggs a day right now, but it is plenty to keep Martha and Don in fresh eggs.

“High on a hill was a lonely goatherd – “ *singing*

(No, can’t do the yodel part but my brother in law Kelly can!)

Well hello, there!

Hahahaha!

How can you not smile at these little goaty faces?  They are quite a bit larger than Stacey’s little pygmy goats I played with in Nebraska – but still they are curious, and we offered them up a special treat:

Animal crackers, of course!

Oh go on with you, you’ve already had your share!

(I just love their little slitty pupils! They remind me of sewn-on button eyes.)

Oh piggy snout!!

What do you name pigs destined to be “invited for dinner?”  Sausage and Tenderloin!  These guys were happy as the proverbial “pigs in mud” -

Spooning in the sunshine for a late morning nap.

Head to tail, tummy to tummy!

Mama in the front, baby in the pen -

And sirloin a bit farther a field!

And a creek runs through it!

There are two wide and deep swimming holes for wading on hot summer days, though time for swimming in those is long past for now.  I loved the sound of the creek burbling by as we walked along next to it.  These mountains – so steeped in history and beauty – is it any wonder that time slid by while we were just soaking it all in?

Every shed needs a barn quilt!

And a wispy, paint brush sky.

From Martha’s front porch – words to live and dream by!

I enjoyed my day – before I knew it it was 3:30 pm and I needed to get back to the cabin – I had work of my own to do!

It was all prep stuff – yesterday I recorded a video podcast and a cabin studio tour. It will air in November and I’ll clue you in on where you can find it.  But let’s just say that some serious cutting table clear off and sweeping off of other horizontal surfaces had to happen.

A heartfelt thank you – much over due.

When I returned from Arizona after my brother Mark's memorial service, I came home to a huge stack of sympathy cards that I am ashamed to admit I could not face opening.

It was a comfort to know they were there, that I could hold these envelopes in my hands and know that people or thinking of us, praying for us and keeping us close in their hearts. But I could not open them lest I also opened my grieving heart to the pain of missing my brother.

After a strange and sleepless night awaking somewhere around 4:00 a.m. yesterday morning, I sat with a hot cup of tea and one by one began to open them and read each word enclosed.

Yes, the pain reared its horrible head and the tears fell on written word - but I felt the love and let the feelings just flow.

It's just been over a month since we laid Mark to rest And each day has had its share of heart wrenching grief and smiles of sweet remembrance. Sometimes this doesn't feel real at all, and then at times it seems insurmountable.

The outpouring of love and support from this community has been a balm to my soul. Thank you so very much.

Quiltville Quote of the Day.

Vintage shoo fly quilt found in Nebraska.

Sometimes it feels like life is ganging up on you and too many things need to be done all at once.

Take a step back, and do things one at a time!

The rest will take care of itself.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!