The Mountain Thymes

 Mark arrived safely Thursday evening at 6:30.  Rain changing to snow was predicted but thankfully it never happened and he didn't run into any weather problems.  Friday we ran to Ingles for snacking foods and whatever else he needed while visiting us.  I made a warm red lentil soup with a little chopped kale.  Delicious with a crusty bread.  I'm taking care of the neighbors chickens while they are visiting family in Ohio.  This has been the worst cold spell we've ever been through in December.  Mark helped me thaw out the chickens' water container and collect eggs.  We bundles in layers and moved as quickly as we could Our temperature one morning was 1 degree! without the windchill........ Fingers were burning by the time we got back to the house.  Needless to say, we spent the weekend inside. We made pumpkin pie, brownies, slow-cooker turkey on Christmas day, butternut squash and mashed potatoes.  He was a great help in the kitchen.   There is a piece of pumpkin pie u

 Fourteen years ago today our mother passed away.  I can't believe it has passed so quickly. Someday our children will say the same things.  I was going through the many boxes of "love letters" she wrote to me when I lived in Florida and came across one with a check dated Dec. 7, 1989.  I never cashed it.  Don't remember ever seeing it. In her letters, my mother included samples of cloth from things she was sewing, and articles she read that she wanted to share with me.  My life was so full with teaching and energy being put into I don't remember what that some days I would open her letters, set them aside but neglected to read them.  She was a sage........................... I can't go back but I can appreciate our mother for who she was and how much she loved her children and our father. 

 Fifty-nine degrees with  very thick overcast 2pm........................ This morning was the Kris Kringle open air market in Blairsville, GA.  It had been a mild 54 degree rainy night.  Cliff didn't have the energy to go to the market with me so he stayed wrapped up like an enchilada in his comfy blanket .  Tomorrow is his last day on the two harsh antibiotics which are just causing so much gut distress.  It was still raining when I left for the market at 9:30 and raining when I arrived. I hoped so much, for the vendors, that the turnout would be profitable. At 10 the only parking available was out in the open field. Such a festive atmosphere. There were a few farmers with winter greens like collard and root vegetables.  I bought fresh beets, sweet potatoes, and a bunch of collards.  I bought fig and rosemary chevre from my goat lady and an assortment of goodies from my gluten-free baker.  The various crafts were beautiful but I didn't buy any.. I just walked by admiring the