The Mountain Thymes

Over a month ago I visited our small library looking for something light and relaxing to get into.  I didn't know what I wanted but did know that I didn't want to read anything tense, like David Baldacci's government espionage series or murder/suspense novels.  Browsing novels to me can be compared to the way I choose a wine.  Wine labels have become quite artsy and I pick many a wine first by the label appeal, secondly by the description of the wine's fruity or oak flavors.  I choose novels  in the same way, by cover appeal followed by reading the back or the cover flap.  It was just by luck that I found my new reading series by Donna Ball. Three life-long friends make a life-altering decision to buy a run-down mansion in the Shenandoah Valley facing challenges and obstacles together.  I love these women for their strength and compassion in making their new journey together work.  I'm now on the second book of the series, At Home on Ladybug Farm. If you need a

The last couple of weeks have been lovely with crisp mornings in the mid-fifties, not reaching mid-eighties until late afternoon, but the last couple of days we've seen low nineties in the afternoon.  I've noticed that the leaves are slow to turn this year and the forest is still lush and green.  Fall colors are suppose to be a few weeks late with a brilliant show.  I've started pulling up some of the old tired plants from the dry garden soil I started three chocolate peppers from seeds in June and had a terrible time keeping some kind of pest from chewing the leaves.  This is the only plant that survived.  I faithfully sprayed leaves, top and underside, each evening and morning with a soapy solution but each day I found newly chewed leaves.  Then one week I noticed new blossoms and whole leaves with no chewed holes.  I got so excited!  Picked and sauteed the last of the Swiss chard. Starting to pick and dry herbs.  Fresh basil hanging to dry. Fresh basil pe

We're getting there................. Cliff took me to Kirkland's in Chattanooga this morning to buy this mirror.  Nikki, Charlie's wife, suggested I try Kirkland's because there's always some discount coupon available and prices are reasonable anyway.  It happened that today was the last day for 30% off your whole purchase.  The mirror looks like distressed barn wood and is perfect for the bathroom. I didn't buy a matching shower sprayer because we already had this one and it works fine.  Not putting a shower curtain back up until we have company.  I love the openness of the tub area.  We've decided to only use pure Epsom because the cheaper Walmart brand and other brands have clay fillers.  I never knew this but did research to ensure we don't ruin the Jacuzzi motor.  I'll still use the cheaper Epsom when soaking my hands in my basin. Cliff ripped the old door frame off and replaced with new wood.  We did a good job of matching the oak fl