Welcome to our family blog to keep you updated on all the happenings around the Walker cottage and "farm". Even though we live in a rural section of the Tennessee Mountains life is far from boring as you will see.

Monday, July 11, 2022

JUNE and JULY WALKER NEWSLETTER

 

Hello!

The hot and humid weather has arrived here in the TN Mountains with a vengeance.

 The lightening bugs are blinking again like mini flashlights all around in the evening dusk and darkness.  I remember as kids we loved to catch them and put them in mason jars, intrigued with seeing one of nature mysteries so close up, only to discover the next day that they looked like brown ordinary bugs.

The roses and lilies have been so gorgeous this year spreading their bright colors and perfume all around.  Most of the peas and lettuce have wilted and dried up in the summer heat while the green beans are flourishing.  There is nothing so tasty as fresh beans from the garden while waiting for the baby tomatoes to grow bigger and ripen. I've also been picking raspberries and now the blackberries are ready too.  Soon canning and freezing will begin in earnest to fill up the empty shelves in the pantry.

I had such an enjoyable visit with my sister, Lois, traveling with my granddaughter, Annette, and her husband, Curtis up to PA.  The week simply flew by too fast. While there, I got her herb garden- that Lois started- filled and organized, weeded out her front shade beds, began a cutting flower garden, and planted the garden spot. Lois isn't an outdoors person like me, so I was happy to whip her place into shape.  I even got the fellows working too. We also visited several greenhouses in the area. What joy!  I took a five-gallon bucket plant starts up and brought back more flowers and herbs with me.

Once back home, I got the rest of my flower seeds planted and began working on trimming my hedges. I do it all by hand so it is slow work that I do first thing in the morning, so I don't get too over heated- one day I did and landed in the recliner for the rest of the day. My left hand keeps wanting to swell up and hurt (that I've had problems with bleeding in the past) so I wrap it up in one of Dwight's old elastic bands to help support and protect my hand.. I finished the long hedge in front of the woods and almost all of my front yard- that spans the entire front of the property, but still have the smaller formal and enclosed garden hedges to do. I love all my hedges, but they do take a lot of work. Needless to say, I get plenty of exercise. Once trimmed they look so neat and tidy.

Then in the afternoon, I've been painting in the kitchen thankful for air conditioning.  The headboard and all the top cabinets are finished inside and out, and everything put back in place. It's amazing how bright the kitchen looks. I was planning on finishing the bottom cabinets last week, but a youth group of volunteers came and painted my enclosed garden fence so I was busy trimming the huge overgrown bushes back so they could get to the fence.  The white fence now looks lovely and brand new.

A couple weeks ago my pastor asked me if I would begin a youth class again at church.

 It's been years since I did VBS, youth and children's camps, and taught Sunday school. But now that I am free to get to church each week, I agreed.  So, this grandma is entering back into the teen world and re-catching up on how the youth think today. What fun! You might need to say a prayer for me and the teens both. Years ago, we had the teens paint the youth room as a project. It seems like home going back and teaching there again.  The folding metal chairs though hadn't aged well over the years, so I got some spray paint and painted seven chairs last week- an all-day project. One never knows what doors the Lord might open up, so I always want to be willing to do and help wherever I can.  Shaping young lives is such an awesome and important task, especially at this vital stage of life.

I kept planning on getting a newsletter out all during the month of June but would end up tired and exhausted by the end of the day trying to finish the tasks I had set, that before I knew it the month had already passed. I’m not complaining, as I’m very thankful and feel blessed to be able to accomplish the things needing done- even if it takes me twice as long now-a-days. I hope when in my 90’s that I will still be able to be outside working and puttering around. Thanks for your patience waiting on me.

I hope you have a wonderful summer. Stay cool on your end!

Hugs~

Dorcas

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