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 F...

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 h...

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 th...

My tomatoes are late this year.  I think it's due to not starting them inside under the grow light that Cliff built me years ago.  We didn't set it up in the dining room in February so nothing got an early start.  Some seeds germinated and sprouted on south-facing window sills; others were put out on the open porch.  Usually by this time in August most garden tomato plants are worn out from expending all their energy into ripening their fruits and are ready to be pulled up.  My black vernissage tomatoes, which was a gift that came with my spring seed order, grow in clusters.  When fully ripened, this two-ounce tomato will be a rich red with deep green stripes.  I can hardly wait. I'm 5 foot 7 inches.   Cliff has been busy trying to keep this upright through wind and rain. At the lower end of the "beanstalk" he secured the cloth tie that's gently wrapped around the stalk with Gorilla tape. The pole is one of Cliff's ham radio masts...

We woke really early this morning with demolition and renovation on our brains.  We were up around 5 am getting ready for a jaunt to Lowe's.  Lots of coffee and a stop at McDonald's for Cliff to get his egg Mcmuffin before our list of next-step items.  It's a relaxed time of morning to wander the aisles with a list and associates in good moods and available to help you.  Now it's going to be Friday before the electrician can come.  Cliff moved the washer, hammered a hole, and made an entrance into the bathroom wall so the electrician can install the ground fault.  The tub has a panel but this seemed a better plan according to Charlie and Cliff.  This is my new toilet.  Years ago when we went to France, this is what we saw in the public restrooms.  Not the wires.  Just holes.  Cliff and Charlie scoring the purple "green" board. I told Charlie I liked the purple color and thought about just leaving the bathr...

The demolition has begun.................... Tub was chopped up with a reciprocating saw and removed.  I was back at the doctors while the destruction took place so couldn't get pics of the dust flying. Lucky for me it's warm enough during the night to use my commode out on the porch.  There will be no flowers planted in this.  The demolished tub and toilet will be taking a ride out to Andrews where we dispense of our big trash. Charlie and Cliff on the porch preparing the Jacuzzi tub for installment. Monday was tense.  The installment didn't go easily but after hours of rebuilding and moving pipes to fit and whatever else they had to do, the tub finally fit in. Foam supports the tub bottom making it more stable.  Charlie is our neighbor up the road and has done many renovations for people.  He's been a life saver. Next step is wallboard behind where the new toilet will go and green board, which is now actually purple, gets installed ...