Finally May.

This is the old Halsey place.

I took this photo on Wednesday’s walkabout – during that one nice hour we had before the weather turned upside down and the rains came.  And came. And came.

I really love seeing how even the opening of tree leaves and sprouting up of wildflowers happens in the matter of days.  Extended time home.

We are beginning to wonder if we ever WILL get warm, really warm here.  At this elevation we are easily a couple of weeks behind the spring spectrum as compared to those the folks down near Winston Salem.  Being a I’m not a huge fan of extreme heat and humidity, I don’t mind the slower crawl to summer – but it would be awfully nice just to reach 70 and stay there for a while.

I am itching to get Zoey back to the land of the wild ponies for more exploring but the weather has just not cooperated.

But she didn’t seem to mind!

We’ve joked that her ears remind us of Sally Field in the Flying Nun.

A bit over a mile uphill to the top.

But worth it!

The New River on the way back to the car.

Some exciting things are happening here!

As I was passing the Old Round House on Round House Road (I posted about my first discovery HERE.) Zoey and I had to wait for a panel van that was attempting a 16-point Y turn, trying to reverse direction on a narrow dirt road.

The driver thanked us for our patience though his open car window, and I said “No problem – where have I got to go?” He asked “Do you live on this road?” and I said "No, just up the highway but we walk here because it is along the river, safely away from traffic, a dirt road and no one is out here.”

He said that he has purchased the old round house and is going to fix it up as some kind of social club or something – putting in canoe docks, etc – for those who float the New River in the summer.

(In my mind I am screaming “Don’t  you know how many times this thing has flooded?!” but it’s none of my business at this point.)

At any route – if they are going to serve food there it may be of interest to my retreaters in the future. I told him about Quiltville Inn,  mentioning the “Big white house on the corner of 58 & 16” And he said “Oh, YOU’RE the Quilter Lady!”  LOL!

So much for making introductions when you find that you are already notorious in these parts.  It turns out that he also knew the previous owners we purchased the inn from - small town. Word gets around.

It was a fun conversation standing the length of Zoey's leash away as she has no idea of social distancing and was quickly making friends with the guy who introduced himself as John from Winston Salem.  He has no idea how long it will take him to get things set up – but just working on it little by little.  I am looking forward to checking the progress each time we walk!

And while this was going on, Zoey Jo was also getting familiar with his 16 month old toddler who was eating snacks in the car seat in the van…and quickly ate up any fall out of cheese that hit the van floor.  LOL.

Small Improvements -

This has also been going on.  The upstairs baths at the inn really needed new faucets.  The ones that were in the house when we bought it were fairly corroded, the drain releases weren’t working that great, and it has been on our mind to switch them out.

the easiest way to get back there to where all of the business went through the counter top was to un-clip the sink first so you could see what you were doing, and then remount the sinks.

It wasn’t a big deal, it just takes time, and let’s face it – when you are crawling up to this age it isn’t as easy to wiggle yourself upside down into a cabinet cavity to get this job done.  We aren’t as young as we used to be.

I like the brushed nickel finish.

All put back together -

And the drain closure now works like it should.

It’s the little things that make us feel big accomplishments these days, right?

There is a bit of a break in the rain this morning that fell most of the night.  Things are muddy so I don’t think there will be a walk today – but as it is Friday I’ve really got to cram on Part 6 of our Unity Quilt Along. 

Is it just me, or are the weeks getting shorter?!

And then into the weekend we go.  I understand there is a deck bench project soon to be commencing which may mean a run for some lumber to get it together -

And then someone had the hair brained idea that we need to remove some brush and a couple of trees at a higher ground flat spot at the back of our yard to put some Adirondack chairs and a fire pit.

As long as the man has something to keep him busy – I’m saying GO FOR IT!  It gives me more time to sew!

Oh – Yesterday’s zoom meeting with Lyric Kinard was fun!  She will let me know when it has gone live on YouTube and then I’ll be able to embed it here. So keep watching.

What’s up for your Friday and the weekend ahead?

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Today I'm grateful for friends and family who have stood by me, often uplifting me when my own strength failed me.

My life is far happier with you in it! I'm also thinking of family and friends who have passed beyond this life.

I am indeed stronger because of their examples. They are greatly missed!

Have a wonderful Friday -