Fair Night

66 this morning and cloudy. The promised rain did not materialize. We had about 4 drops. Watering the gardens continues. The day turned sunny and nice. But no rain.

It's a quiet night on the ridge.

No neighbors' trucks, no cars, only one lonely four-wheeler venturing across all evening.

Why?

Because this is county fair week, and Friday and Saturday nights are the big nights--truck pulls, tractor pulls, who-knows-what-else-pulls. Biggish named bands performing. Big nights for livestock auctions. The carnival will be in full swing too, and the food vendors will be doing big business.

Which is why it's so quiet on Railey Ridge. Some local kids are in 4-H or FFA and have their animals and other projects on exhibit. For older people it's the bet opportunity to meet up with people they haven't seen in a while, especially during the pandemic.

For us, well, it's a time to enjoy the peace. The ridge is the way I remember from my earlier days here. No noise. Just us and our dogs and the quiet, quiet sky.

There are of course the night creatures' evening chorus. Tree frogs, bullfrogs, some kind of insect that's not a cicada--not our turn this year--and far off a lonesome whippoorwill. In the sky a jet blinks tiny lights, way up high, and a satellite makes it solitary way across the blackness. The moon is not up so the stars hold dominion and it's quite a show they're making of it. 

We, on the porch, sip our wine, pet the dogs, clear off the porch swing so the cat can get up there in "his" swing, and listen to the night sounds. No bands, no revving engines, no roar of carnival and equipment. 

I understand those who enjoy the fair. We used to be there every year, and every night of the fair's run, when our sons were young. We visited and cheered the pulls and exclaimed over the prices at the livestock sales and ate corn on the cob and barbecued chicken and ice cream. The boys were all over the fairgrounds, stopping now and again to ask for a few dollars and disappearing into the crowds. It was fine, back then, to let them run because it was a safe place. Or so we thought. I wonder now if it was really as safe as we thought but fortunately no harm befell our boys and they have fond memories of their days and nights during fair week.

Now, it's okay to not be there, but to be here instead. It's not that we're getting old, although we certainly are. It's more that we are more deeply appreciative of all that is right here, and that's okay too.

Although I do miss that barbecued chicken and cherry nut ice cream.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Too. Hot. Too. Dry.

66 this morning, clear and cool. It heated up as the day went on and was already 82 by 10am. 

All I can say is, at least it's not humid. 

Yesterday it reached 96 here at home, and 100 or more in town. So maybe I shouldn't complain, but it feels like 100 out there right now, this late in the day. 

I have been noticing signs of an early fall. Perhaps it's the heat and lack of rain--no significant rain now for the past 2 weeks--that's causing some leaves to begin turning yellow and brown. Our old wild apple has been dropping leaves and fruit for the past week; first we noticed it was dropping unripe apples, and now it's lost a good many of its leaves. 

Another apple tree has few leaves but a lot of fruit, all of it very small. The other three trees look okay but the apples are much smaller than they should be this time of year.

There is a noticeable tinge of yellow to the woods and fields now; normally I don't see this until the beginning of August. I remember, actually, the first time I was struck by the first signs of fall. I was just home from the hospital after having my last baby. It was August 2nd, very hot still, but when I got home I realized that Nature had shifted from full-on summer to the first glimmer of autumn during my 3-day absence. 

The lack of rain and the heat is wearing on people too. Town was very quiet today, Larry reported when he returned from getting the van license renewed. Gardens are being left to their own devices as plants dry up and people are weary of the fight to keep things going and growing. We are fortunate that our gardens are still doing very well, but it's been a struggle to get enough water to everything. 

Today I did not heat the house up with canning again, thank goodness. Instead I did a lot of eBay listings, something I've been neglecting during these busy summer days, and did some painting. I finished up this little guy, 

a rough little thing, painted bright glossy highway-department yellow but now a bit tamer, and got the top of this dresser sanded and ready for paint. 

Would you believe we found this on the side of the road, in the trash? One back leg was broken, but Larry soon had that fixed. The only remaining problem is that one drawer that won't come out. I'll work on that this evening. Other than that, it's a real beauty. The last owners removed all the drawer pulls, so I bought these to replace them. A bit of a splurge but since the dresser was free, why not?

Well, I'm off to water gardens again. See you tomorrow. 

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Berries and Beef

73 this morning, with light showers tapering off. Not enough rain to even wet the ground but every bit helps. Now it's hot and so humid and hazy. Three H's and none of them welcome.

We started today early, getting out to pick blackberries at a pick-your-own farm about 45 minutes away. I knew it would get hot later, so arranged a 9am picking time, and I am so glad I did. 

This farm stretched along a ridgetop in nearby Mason county, and offers a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, some pick-your-own and others for sale at the house, farmer's market or, for one group of people in Huntington, WV, by weekly delivery of whatever the farm has available. Blueberry season had just ended, but we had blueberries already, Blackberries were our goal since the wild ones around here have all shriveled away before they ripened due to the extreme heat in June. I admit, it's hard for me to buy them when we could have picked them in the wild--and some years ago we even had a strong patch of domestic blackberries ourselves. But this year, we had to bite the bullet and buy berries if we wanted any.

The farm we visited is an interesting place. There are miniature  goats, pot-belly pigs and regular ole pigs, geese, ducks, peacocks, guineas, and all kinds of other birds. Chickens were somewhere, and out in a distant ridgetop field we could see greenhouses and an apple orchard. The place is wildly overgrown with weeds, and yet there are crops galore, from herbs to horseradish, tomatoes to muscadine grapes, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, chokeberries and probably more we didn't see. There are rich raised beds, piles of mulch and manure, hutches and pens and who knows what else. It's a happy mishmash that all looked fertile and productive. Talk about a diverse eco-system.

The blackberries were growing in rows between peach trees. I was puzzled by the peaches. There were brown, mummified fruit hanging on most of the trees, with a few healthy trees bowed down with fruit. I asked Martin, the farm owner, what was wrong with the trees, and he said sadly, "brown rot." This is a disease, he said, that can only be contained with heavy chemical sprays and since he refuses to spray anything, he is letting the trees go. It seemed so sad, and yet, I understood his point. 

I came home and put up some of the berries in the freezer, made a batch of jam and have a panful left to make a cobbler this evening. 

Good food for a little work, and we had a nice visit with Martin in the bargain. We'll be back out to his farm, for sure, to see what else he might be offering.

Yesterday while we were away our good neighbors brought over some beef bones, and packs of steak, beef liver, and ground beef from the steer they had butchered. Bless them, they put all this goodness into our freezer. So today I am cooking down beef bone broth and we'll be having liver for dinner. Everyone should have such kind neighbors. We're bringing them some of our corn, and some honey from Martin's farm this evening, a fair exchange I hope.

Back to the kitchen I go to make that cobbler, and figure out what to do with the liver. 

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Little Things, Little Kids, and Big Stuff Too

66 this morning, a little hazy and humid. Got up to 86. We need rain, and soon.

The randomness of our life is sometimes funny, sometimes hectic, sometimes frustrating, but never boring. Take the past couple days.

We've been on this dryer merry-go-round. [No, that's not a dryer in the photo, that's a tractor. More about that later.] The first used dryer didn't work, but the seller, a really nice guy, said he'd take it back and refund us. The only downside was the hour drive to return it. 

Then we found another dryer, guaranteed to work, also an hour away--in the other direction. 

So yesterday we loaded up the van for the booth, taking the beautiful vanity and stool I just finished and forgot to take pictures of, a few totes of small things, and an animal trap. The trap was actually for 2 chickens. A lady who sometimes volunteers at the antique mall had these two young chickens she needed to re-home. We could use some more hens, so we took the trap with us to carry the young pullets home. We'd already told the man with the second dryer we'd pick it up in the late afternoon, so we finished at the booth, caught the chickens, and headed up the road.

The dryer man, it turned out, had 3 cute little daughters. They were entranced with the chickens, which Larry had set out in the grass--in the trap of course--while we loaded the dryer. The girls decided the chickens needed names, so we now have a red pullet named Charlie, and a black one named Chicken Cherry. The littlest girl, who was about 3, was afraid to come near the chickens by herself, so her Dad took her by the hand and led her to them. The delight in her eyes, oh my. We smiled all the way home.

Chicken Cherry and Charlie are now in the coop in a separate pen from the bigger hens, to give everyone time to adjust.

This morning we unloaded the second dryer and loaded up the first one to return. We are getting to be expert at this, I think. Another long drive, and the dryer was back with its owner and our money was back in our pockets. Since we were down there, we also found a couple small tables to paint. I am having a time keeping small occasional tables and sofa tables in stock. They sell in a week or two usually. 

On the way to return the dryer, we saw a line of tractors heading into a local park. 

Of course we had to check that out. Apparently there was a tractor parade as part of an event in the small town of Point Pleasant, WV, and the parade ended at Crodell Park, where we stopped to see them. While we were looking, a boy of about 7 walked up to Larry and said, "That old Ford is a pretty nice tractor, isn't it?" 

The boy was wearing a straw hat, boots, a sleeveless t-shirt, some pretty grubby jeans with a wide leather belt. He looked like a miniature old-time farmer. "I rode here on the Farm Museum's Farmall 1020," he added. " My Dad says it's a 1010m but I think he's wrong." Then he strolled away, thumbs hooked in his back pockets. What a little man. 

I might have got those numbers wrong, but that's the gist of his comments. I'm still smiling, remembering him. I think this boy will be a farmer one day for sure.

I'm not sure if  the Farmall above is the one he was referring to, but it's a nice one. I liked this Massey Harris too--it's actually an English tractor, I believe. I wonder how it ended up in Ohio?

This bit of what we might call make-do engineering made me smile. I bet it works just fine too.

Which reminds me of another story that popped up in my Facebook memories yesterday. This one happened in 2014. We were standing in line to get our license plate renewed, behind an older man and his grandson who was about 7. A lady came in wearing a very short, tight dress. The little boy looked at his grandpa and asked, "Grandpa, why do you keep staring at that lady?" All Grandpa could say, with a red face, was "Be quiet, boy." Grandpa might have been old, but he could still see.

We spent a little time in Gallipolis after picking up the tables. It's one of my favorite small towns, with a beautiful downtown and park. Flowers are everywhere.

I checked out a local antique and craft mall in the town. The "craft" area was mainly new, farmhouse-style decor items, although there were some nice handmade crafts there too. The antiques were, to my view, over-priced, and I came away empty-handed. I know, I'm cheap. And maybe I price too low? I don't know, but I like to see things move along to new homes, and to be affordable for the average budget.

Tomorrow we'll be up and out early to pick blackberries at a local pick-your-own place. We haven't been able to spot any wild ones, and I want berries. So off we'll go. The "local" isn't all that close, about 45 minutes away, but that's how it is here. Pretty much an hour to anywhere. It reminds me of the line in the movie Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, when Everett says, "Well ain't this place a geographical oddity. Two weeks from everywhere!" We're not quite that bad, but maybe kinda  close. By the way, if you haven't seen that movie, do try to find it. It's a rare treat.

Our Arizona visitors are finally heading home, after a full month here in West Virginia. They worked on their cabin, spent a lot of money fixing the road, and got many tick and bug bites. The woods in high summer are a challenge, and I avoid going into the deep woods this time of year as much as possible. I'd like to have seen their cabin but caution kept me away. They spent a good bit of time at our house, getting showers, doing laundry etc. I am hoping none of the tick bites gives them any adverse effects. There are so many strange diseases carried by ticks these days. Now they have the long, long drive back to their home, a trip I do not envy them at all. 

So, to quote Garrison Keillor, that's all the news that isn't from this small corner of the globe.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Summer Musings

62 this morning, so cool and pleasant. Yesterday only reach the upper 70's, a nice day despite the smoke from the fires out west that made the air very hazy. Most haze was gone today and it was another really comfortable day.

It's that time of year. Yesterday I made sweet pickle relish and yellow squash pickles; 

today we put corn in the freezer. Dinner last night was corn and a few of our first ripe cherry tomatoes. Tonight, tomatoes, squash and cucumbers were the sides. Lunch was cucumber sandwiches. Yum. 

The gardens are still doing well, although we are really in need of rain. My flowerbeds are suffering, and we've had to start watering again. But all in all, it's been a nice July. So far.

I had to turn down two more storytelling enquiries. It doesn't bother me, as I have really enjoyed this second "retirement". But I got to wondering how many other people have changed course as a result of the pandemic, or perhaps because the lull in activity seems like a good time to make life changes.

A man who called today about storytelling runs a bus tour company. He said he and his wife are glad to be back to work, but several of his drivers decided not to come back, or are considering stepping down from driving. Several teacher friends retired this year, earlier than planned. Another friend retired from his physical therapy work. I don't think anyone in my immediate family has made any changes in their careers or jobs because of the pandemic, but I haven't really asked either.

I suppose this forced slowdown has made many of us stop and consider what we're doing, and if we actually want to continue the same pace. For me, the answer was no. It was time to slow down permanently, although it sure doesn't feel like it as we are busier than ever with our booths and gardens. But certainly the pressure of preparing for performances and travel is gone. Other people now work from home as a regular thing, and a lot of them don't want to go back to commuting to their jobs. 

How about you? Has the pandemic made you reconsider any major activity in your life, and have you made changes since the pandemic began?

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Water, Dryers, Covered Bridges and Friends

67 this morning and light overcast. Stayed hazy and humid all day, repeat of yesterday. High of about 85.

It's been a busy few days.

Staats Mill Covered Bridge, Cedar Lakes, Ripley, WV

Saturday I went with Leah, the owner of Riverbend Antique mall where I have several booths, to hunt up some furniture and other things to sell. We had a great time, ran through several strong rainstorms, and came home with her box truck loaded. It's still full; that will be tomorrow's work, unloading and sorting it all out.

Larry stayed home to work on a water line leak. After a frustrating day, he gave up. So Sunday morning we just went out to breakfast. The other frustrating thing was our dryer quit working, so we had to find another ASAP. I hunted one up that was over in Ohio, so after Sunday breakfast we went to pick it up. He came home to work on the water and thankfully got it fixed. This morning we swapped out the dryers, me still in my nightgown as we lugged them in and out. Ah me.

As soon as we were done I got ready for a lunch date with my friend Suzy who had a knee replacement 3 weeks ago, and Nancy, the friend visiting from Arizona. Surprisingly, they discovered that they shared the same September birthday. What are the odds of that?

After lunch we decided to take Nancy to see the two covered bridges in our county. At the first one, which was relocated to a local park from its original location, band camp was in full swing. The bass drums and cymbals were practicing near the bridge, so we had a pretty cool cadence to walk to while we were exploring the bridge.

At the second bridge, on a small country road, we were taking our time looking at the bridge but apparently we disturbed a local resident--a skunk. He made his displeasure known to our noses, so we took our pictures and left his territory.

Sarvis Fork Covered Bridge, Sandyville, WV

It was a fun day, even though it was hot. I've been to both bridges many times--one of them was on a mail route I used to run back in the early 80's and was my lunch stop most days that I subbed on that route. But seeing them with friends is like seeing them with new eyes. Now I'm home and tired, and it's time to catch up on some house work so I'll sign off here and get to it.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

In Bloom

71 this morning, rain and storms off and on all day. Very humid, but cooler this evening.

I took my camera for a walk through the flower gardens this evening. There is so much color right now. In winter, it will be hard to believe that these colors were real.

I wish I was one of those people who keep track of the names of the varieties they plant. All I know about this rose is that it's beautiful, fading pink to yellow/orange in the center.

Fuzzy pic of feverfew, which is about finished now, but hopefully self-seeding again for next year.

I do enjoy the simple modesty of begonias. They seem to thrive so easily in pots, and I put them in my gardens like that sometimes to fill empty spaces.

Bee balm, gazing at itself in the gazing ball. Also a self-seeder.

Old-fashioned tall phlox and double orange daylilies come up here every year.

Mandevilla, which I think is supposed to be a vining plant. I nip off any bits that want to vine and it seems happy enough. Such bright flowers.

Ye olde standby for planters, petunias/ These have been exceptionally pretty this year.

I believe this hydrangea is Hydrangea macrophylla serrata.I am so in love with it. After years of trying, I finally have a good plant. Now to keep the deer away. This bush is covered with bloom this year.

I call this stevia--I believe it is a variety of stevia anyway, but not, I think, the one that makes sweetener. I like this plant for its hardiness, it's wide range of colors, and for its constant bloom clear up to and sometimes after frost. 

A climbing red rose that was a marked-down buy several years ago. I believe I'm getting my 5.00 worth.

Drift roses planted last year. They've grown fast.

These lilies are 5 feet tall. I don't know the variety. They seem pretty happy to hobnob with the coneflowers.

Sweet little lemon lilies have a hard time here. I think this flowerbed is too dry for them. But they solider on regardless.

Here they co-exist with coreopsis and coneflower.

A new rose this year--and did I keep the tag? No, daggone it. the deer have been mowing this one off until last week when Larry put a piece of chicken wire over it. Not the best solution but it will do for now. The grateful plant immediately sent up a flower in thanks.

I am not sure how this little vine got into this pot. Maybe a leftover from last year? I don't know, but I like it.

Autumn sedum getting ready to bloom--if the deer don't get it first, as they do almost every year.

Coneflowers are so dependable in my dry ridgetop gardens. They seed themselves and I leave them to it.

Mingling with tall salvia leucophylla that has self-seeded here every year for the past 30 years, ever since I brought some seeds home from some plantings at work.

Self-seeded calendula mixes it up with the potato onions in the overgrown herb garden.

Can there be any leaves prettier than this coleus?

Color everywhere, even my golden yellow dog.

Come winter, I will look back at these photos and not believe that things were truly this green, this colorful.

Ad lastly, my long-awaited white phlox. About 40 years ago, I was working as a substitute mail carrier on a rural route. At one home, a patch of white phlox grew in deep green shade, and every time I delivered mail there, I would stop for a few minutes and just take in the cool beauty of it. I wanted some for my gardens so bad, but until 3 years ago never bought a plant. This year I have my first blooms, and I am so very grateful for them. They take me right back to those young days when I was so hungry for beauty, and my place was still so rough and raw. It took a long time to get them to where they are now and they're far from perfect, but they make me happy, and I can feel myself relax whenever I am in them. It's been worth the wait and the work.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.