JUNE/JULY WALKER NEWSLETTER

 

Hello!

Just to let you know that I am still breathing on my end and hope you are on yours.

We are definitely having the hot and humid heat waves of summer- what I call the Philippine weather. If a week goes by without some rain (thankfully, we are still getting some rain showers) I have to water the garden tomatoes & peppers, my roses, all the transplanted flowers, and the redbud trees Dwight helped to plant along the driveway in May. The roses have been so beautiful this summer. Now the Rose of Sharon's, tall phlox, the lilies ranging from soft yellow- mixed with burgundy to dark burgundy to orange all along the outside of my picket fence, daisies, lavender, and mints are all blooming and giving color everywhere.

The raspberries have been covered in berries and have kept me busy picking them as they ripen along with the cherries, green beans and peppers. I've also been harvesting ripened tomatoes. What bliss! There is nothing like the taste of a picked warm tomato and fresh garden stuff.

With it too hot to work outside, except first thing in the early morning hours, I focused on the inside. Dwight sanded my China hutch so I could paint it a medium blue (it was stained dark cherry) to help lighten up that corner of my dining room. You know how I dearly love color. Even though the paint was an expensive brand- I can't believe the price of things now-a-days, the paint was thin like water and hard to work with even with a sponge roller as it was so runny. I complained to Dwight, who took over, telling me that I was making a horrible mess and that the paint was the way it was supposed to be. Now I've been painting walls and stuff around the house for years.  All I've got to say, is that when one coat of paint won't completely cover something and has to take two coats, it's not very good pain from my point of view. So much for modern advancement. Now that the China hutch is painted, it looks lovely.

Towards the end of May, after finishing planting all my sunflower, marigold, and pumpkin seeds, I ended up with a right-hand bleed for the first time- most likely from overworking it. Of course, my left-hand thumb joint flared up too. So, there I was trading ice packs back and forth between both hands. Dwight had to end up braiding my hair again as well. That Sun, with ice packs, I was only able to play the piano with one finger on each hand. I felt like I had regressed to the level of my young piano students.  It was quite humbling as normally I play chords and do runs.

Once my hands got back to normal, I began another inside project, this time the pantry. I moved all my canned stuff- that now is covering the back bedroom floor and half of my dining room floor. I want to get the shelves painted before the canning season hits big time. I got the ceiling painted and the wall between the shelves. Last week, I first kiltzed, and then painting all the shelves along the wall.  They are one foot apart so there isn't much space between when you paint underneath. I had to crouch, paint up-side-down, kneel, and lay on my back and side. It was slow going.  I was so happy when I finally got the first complete coat on. Now I need to caulk and give it another coat.

Wouldn't you know it, if my left hip didn't decide to act up? I've had problems with arthritis in my right hip, but my left one has always been OK. I guess all the stress put on it painting those selves caused it to bleed internally. As if to sympathized, my left hand has swollen up too, so I'm unable to use a cane to help me walk. I'm back to living with ice packs day and night, extra pain meds, and spending most of the day in the recliner. Needless to say, my painting project has come to a halt.  It's quite frustrating but I have to behave myself until my hip gets better. I wasn't able to make to church Sun.

I had also begun a couple mini-quilt projects to put on the back of my living room chairs, couch, and recliner for the summer. It is an ideal way to try out new quilt patterns.

Annette and Curtis, with little Ellie, had a safe trip back home from the Philippines.  They were quite happy to get back to air conditioning. It was a special time with Annette getting to spend her first Mother’s Day with Dawn. They also brought Katie along back with them for her to go to a youth camp. Katie was here for about a month. Dawn flew over for a week to fly back with Katie. They all came up for a visit before Dawn and Katie had to leave. It was so nice to have them all here again.  Dawn and Katie had a safe flight back. Thank the Lord; they have been getting rain again in the Philippines, so their well is slowly filling back up where they don’t have to carry as much water each day.  They had a very dry six months.

Dwight got slowed down on his pocketknife making when he got an elbow bleed. It is finally about back to normal after a month. It takes time and patience for a bleed to stop and the joint to heal, and then not to overdo it and get it bleeding again.  Dwight has never advertised his pocketknives- it’s all by word of mouth and from his FB page. He has orders for over three years and with some waiting to get on his waiting list. At first it was stressing Dwight out trying to push himself into going faster as everything is handmade. He now does it as he can.  All his pocketknives are a work of art. I am quite proud of my artsy talented boy.

I need to hush up and get this out in the mail. Already the 4^th of July is over.  For all that is wrong with our country, I’m still very thankful to live in a free land.

Until next time~

Dorcas

APRIL/MAY WALKER NEWSLETTER

Hello!

The hummingbirds are back, and everything is green once again here in the TN Mountains. The irises, mock orange bushes, lilacs, wisteria, and roses are blooming as the spring flowers fade away. I planted green beans in the garden and put in tomato and pepper plants while the lettuce is ready to be picked. The peas haven't done this year as well- I think due to all the rain we've gotten. I cleared out in front of the picket fence and transplanted starts of bushes that had wandered through the fence and transplanted other flowers needing thinned out.

Remember me telling you about the huge birches that got cut down along the driveway?  Well, my front yard looked like a tornado had passed by. Despite trees lying everywhere flowers still came up and bloomed between and around them. One day sitting on the porch pondering the situation, knowing that it would be a long time until I saw my lawn again (as each time Dwight cut up some branches with, he ended up down with an elbow bleed) the Lord showed me how even in the storms of life we can find blessings around us. Then lo and behold a miracle happened. One evening after giving one of my girls a piano lesson, her mother asked if her husband, who works cutting trees and has a big chain saw, could come and help cut up some wood. The next night, she, her husband, and some other family member came and began sawing logs and stacking wood. I made a huge pot of spaghetti and two apple pies that we ate after it got dark. Between Fri evening and then half a day Sat, when they came back with more of their family, all the trees were cut up and stacked neatly in my woodshed!!! Sat afternoon, I sat on my front porch in a daze looking at my lawn now totally cleared of branches and trees.

Of course, life isn't always smooth sailing. The next week, despite me checking and trying to keep an eye on the bees, didn't a bunch of them swarm on me again that I was wanting to start another hive with.  Thankfully, there still were lots of bees left. To my surprise, when I checked the hive the next week, I found a couple more queen cells, so transferred them plus some capped frames filled with bees into the other hive. I shall get a second hive going yet.

I made it through the colonoscopy, which turned out to be a nightmare as my sugar went wacky, I threw up, and ended up quite dehydrated by the time Dwight took me to Cookeville to get it done. I ended having to have a whole bag of IV fluid- which had the nurses quite concerned- before getting the procedure done. My hematologist had ordered meds to help with any bleeding. Thankfully, they didn’t have to do any cutting. When discharged and told I could wait for five years before having another colonoscopy, I informed them that it was my one and only. Hopefully, my iron is behaving and coming down where it should be. This past week, the rheumatologist called and wants me to come back in three months and have some more x-rays done on my spine and hip to determine exactly what is going on. He suggested taking shots for my joints that flare up, but I only plan on doing that as a last-ditch measure. As long as I can keep the pain down, move, I shall get by.

I was feeling quite good with myself, until watering my tomatoes one evening on the hill my feet slipped out from under me and I fell. I landed on my left hand, which I already have problems with flaring up, causing it to bleed internally. So, I was back to living with icepacks again. I ended up playing the piano with only one finger with my left hand while keeping an icepack handy for a couple of Sundays- quite the experience I assure you. Dwight was down for over a month with his elbow, so we kept trading icepacks back and forth. Such a crazy time!

Annette, Curtis, and five-month-old Ellie are over in the Philippines right now with Dawn and the family, so Randy could finally meet his granddaughter as they won’t be coming back for another year. I told Annette that she takes too much after this grandmother whizzing around the world with a baby. Thankfully, she has a lot of past strong women in her genes. It is quite the experience for them as it is quite hot and dry in the Philippines right now. I will feel relieved when they are back on American soil. They are planning on bringing Katie back with them.

Towards the end of March, I agreed to give thirteen-year-old girl piano lessons which makes four girl’s total. I’m making that my limit as it keeps my brain cells busy. I do enjoy seeing these girls learn to play songs and see the pride on their mother/grandmother’s faces. Meanwhile, I have been keeping in touch with Katie and how she is doing with the piano lessons I sent her over in the Philippines. I plan to see Katie while she is here and have her play the piano for me to see how she is progressing. We never know what life brings, but one thing for sure is that I don’t have to worry about getting bored.

Take care on your end until next time~

Dorcas

 

 

 

MARCH WALKER NEWSLETTER

Hello!

Easter is coming early this year.  Personally, I wish they would just put Easter on one Sun in April (like Thanksgiving and Christmas) when it's warmer and more flowers are blooming, but since I wasn't consulted about the matter, we will have to celebrate it when the powers-that-be decide. No matter when it is designated on the calendar, Easter is my favorite holiday.

He is Risen; He is Risen Indeed!!!

Meanwhile, the month of March is acting like spring with temperatures warm and sunny one day and then cold and rainy the next. The earth is coming alive once more. First tiny crocus and snowdrops appear out of the barren earth then the hardy daffodils bloom flaunting bright colors of pale to bright yellow- even in freezing temperatures and snow- lining my picket fence, driveway, and the paths in my woods. I love my two-toned daffodils and even have some miniature daffodils that are totally adorable. My cherry, button, primrose bushes, and pear trees are in full bloom all pink and white while the peach tree buds are ready to open any day. Tiny new green leaves are appearing on my rosebushes along with the tulips and iris growing taller each day. Migrating birds are showing up at my feeders to my delight. I finally saw my first robin and Eastern Bluebirds at the bluebird boxes to hopefully stay and build nests. When I checked my goldfish pond, I was excited to see froggy eggs floating in the water. Even the bees in the hive are buzzing around. I've been hanging wash out on the clothesline and opening my windows on warmer days to feel the spring air. What bliss!

I finally got my sewing room closet painted and organized.

My granddaughter, Annette, her husband, and baby Ellie came up for a couple of days. What fun getting to cuddle the little Miss that is growing like a weed.  While here, the guys cut down the huge remaining birch trees along the driveway that I had planted years ago as 2-ft twigs. Now they were over 60 ft tall and dropping large dead branches.  The electric company cut the one side of the driveway that was at the electric wire. It was quite the job landing the trees just right. Due to the rain, Curtis wasn't able to cut up as many of the trees as planned until they had to leave, but he was able to clear the one side so Dwight can get his truck through. Meanwhile, the front of my property looks like a tornado came through with large trees lying everywhere. Annette and Curtis want to come back to do more, but it will probably be later as big news: they are planning on flying over to the Philippines towards the last of April for two weeks to be with Dawn and Randy.  Randy has yet to see his granddaughter and William his niece, so it will be a special time for them getting to meet and spend time with tiny Ellie.

The Philippines are in a very dry spell right now that began in January.  Their well went dry so they are toting water and having to do the wash by hand. Everything is brown and quite dusty. The other morning when I was having my devotions, I thought about what Dawn said how they can see rain clouds coming towards them every week over the ocean, but the clouds always go around them.  It reminded me years ago when Dana came home all excited because of answered prayer. The construction crew was working on a roof that was all torn off on a hot sunny day when a sudden rainstorm appeared heading right towards them. Dana stood up and prayed, “Lord you know how in the Bible Joshua prayed and the sun stood still. I don’t need the sun to stand still, but please let the rain go around us so we can finish the roof.”  The guys laughed, shaking their heads at the “crazy preacher”. Lo and behold if the rain didn’t part and go on either side while they finished the roof in the dry. So, I told the Lord that if He could do it then, He still could do it now, and asked that He’d send some rain around the world to my daughter.  When I talked to Dawn again, it had rained all day that Sunday!

Since the last newsletter, I have been to the rheumatologist at Vanderbilt, another doctor to schedule my colonoscopy in April, and this past week I was at the imaging center to get a complete abdominal ultrasound and mammogram to rule out any cancer and pinpoint what is causing my iron level to be so high. Thankfully, my RA level is still down, and the mammogram was normal. I told Dwight by the time I get done poked and prodded and tested from head to foot, I should be good for at least another forty years or more. Such a crazy time!

Every chance I get, I have been outside transplanting small bushes and planting bulbs- you know me, putting the last of the leaves on the garden plots before planting, and clearing out some other  garden areas. I am so thankful to be feeling like myself and am trying to behave.

Our pastor retired so, now instead of playing the organ, I have to play the piano.  It’s been years since I’ve had to play the piano for church. It certainly has been keeping my brain cells busy. I did have a senior moment the other Sunday when I was playing the offertory, and my mind went totally blank as I was playing by ear. I hit a chord, it was the wrong one, still blank, so thought I’d just hit the main chord and run up for a “quick” ending. Thankfully, when I hit the main chord, it was the right one and I was able to finish the song. Such is life on the piano bench!

Have a Blessed Easter Season~

Dorcas 

2024 JANUARY & FEBRUARY WALKER NEWSLETTER

 

Hello!

The New Year has come and gone already, and we finally got some snow here on the mountain. Now it is halfway through February and the temperature continues to fluctuate up and down.  I noticed some of my daffodils poking their heads out of the ground already.  Spring is coming- joys- but winter is not finished yet.

Our place has a new look. The local electric company came and cut down all the birch trees on the one side of our driveway. The little two-foot twigs I had planted years ago now were over 60 feet tall. A lot of huge branches were falling and in danger of landing on the main electrical wire to our house. It was quite the job and took most of the day. We want to cut down the birch trees on the other side as well.  Right now, there are huge logs and branches covering up my formal garden needing to be cut up before spring gets here.  There is never a shortage of things needing to get done.

Towards the end of January, my granddaughter, Annette, her husband, Curtis, and my great granddaughter, Ellie, came up to visit.  It was a joy to hold the little Miss again. She's growing, cooing, and looking all around at her new world.

I have kept busy keeping water in the duck and hen houses, breaking ice in the buckets outside, making sure there is plenty of feed, and spreading more straw to keep the animals warm and comfy during cold days.

Dwight has kept the woodstove going and stocking wood. We are grateful for the wood fires on frigid days to warm our bones and keep the house cozy. I love baking and making large pots of soup on cold winter days.

I unloaded the back closet and plan to get painting it this week. As usual I am behind of where I'd like to be, but thankful for each day I can be up and get around.  One week, my hip acted up and I had to use a cane to get around. You would think I was an old lady, huh? The cold temperatures are hard on Dwight's ankles and joints as well. One day when we both were limping around, I said a body would think we were old folk in a nursing home.

Dwight took me this week to the hematologist for my high iron. She did a bunch of blood work, wants me to get an ultrasound of my liver, and other tests to try and pinpoint exactly what is going on. I've got an appointment for a rheumatologist as well. I tried to donate blood to the Red Cross when they were in town but when my finger stick kept bleeding and they found out about hemophilia, they wouldn't touch me. After all the tests come back and if nothing else shows up, the hematologist wants me to come in and have them draw off blood each month and see if my iron will get down to normal.  Meanwhile, I shall continue eating beans which helps and work up a sweat as much as possible under Dwight’s watchful eye. I am praying for a healing touch as I don’t want to have to go on another medication. Won’t it be grand when we get a glorified body and don’t have to worry about these earthly bodies acting up every time you turn around?

Keep praying for my daughter, Dawn, and her family in the Philippines.  They have been battling sickness that is going around.  Also due to the dry weather their well has run dry so they are toting water and having to do the wash by hand again.  We thank the Lord for all the doors He has opened for them in spreading the gospel on their island.

Take care on your end!

Dorcas

OCTOBER and NOVEMBER WALKER NEWSLETTER

 

Hello!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I have lots to be thankful for.

The biggest thanks this year is for the safe delivery of my great granddaughter, Ellen Joy, who was born by c-section on the 7th of this month weighing 8 lbs and 8 oz, almost two weeks early.  Miss Ellie was breech so the doctor decided to try and turn her only to discover that her heart rate was off.  When the c-section, was done, they discovered the cord wrapped around her tiny neck three times! God certainly worked everything out.  Next week, Dwight and I are going down to Nashville to see the little Miss. I can't wait.

Another thing I'm grateful for is the safe travels for Dawn and Katie during the two days of flying back from the Philippines. It's hard to wrap my head around the idea of my daughter, Dawn, being a grandmother. Meanwhile Randy- who a couple weeks ago was in the hospital on antibiotic IVs for a problem that suddenly flared up but is now doing OK- and William are holding down the fort doing all the services back in the Philippines while Dawn and Katie are over here for two weeks.

I've never been one to worry about getting older, but this year in the beginning I dreaded the thought turning 65 this month after Thanksgiving because that was how old my mother was when she died.  Also, I would now be older than Dana, who died at 64- something I never imagined happening as he was two years older than me- as well as being older than my brother, who died a year ago at 64 too.  Then lo and behold, I was told the news of Annette expecting a couple weeks before my birthday and suddenly, where the Bible talks about God turning our mourning into joy, it became a reality for me. What is more joyful than a newborn baby girl?  And to get to be with Dawn and Katie this Thanksgiving is icing on the cake. This birthday will always be a reminder of how God works miracles in our lives- even through dark times.

The last two months have been up and down physically for me again. I finished sewing the beige summer chair covers in my living room the end of Sept, harvested mint and raspberry leaves, collected flower seeds, and harvested all the green tomatoes left on the vines before the temp dropped to freezing. I also have worked on my shade gardens transplanting ferns and planting spring bulbs. Between begin down with the cold/flu for a miserable couple of weeks, along with some down days when my pain levels rose due to the cold weather, I winterized the duck and henhouses with straw and leaves, put leaves in the duck pen as well, filled buckets with sticks for kindling, mulched all my roses for winter, and cleaned out the back end of the woodshed, which was quite the project that had been needing done for a couple of years now.

I still need to winterize the beehive and my garden plots yet before it gets too cold to be working outside. For some reason work always manages to stick around.

You know me, and how my mind is always buzzing with ideas, well after Dawn and her family went back to the Philippines, Katie was on my mind. I had hoped to get her started with piano lessons when they were back here this summer, but it didn’t work out. Every week, when I’d give piano lessons to my two girls, I always thought of Katie, wishing I could sit her on my piano bench too. One evening, when I was talking to Dawn (it’s her morning) and she was telling me about Katie beginning her next school year, I got a brainstorm. Dawn doesn’t have time or the patience to give Katie piano lessons- she had someone else give piano lessons to Annette and William. Now that Katie is older, she is able to do most of her home-school work by herself.  I thought, why not somehow mail piano lessons to Katie where she could learn how to play the piano by herself too?  If Katie didn’t understand something in a lesson, Dawn could always explain or show her on their keyboard.

So, for a couple of months, I spent hours on my computer every week typing, photocopying examples, and explaining piano lessons- the way I do with my piano students in person.  Then I wrote songs to play.  I put three lessons in one envelope and sent out four batches by the end of Aug for a total of twelve lessons.  So far six piano lessons have made it to the Philippines. Say a prayer that the rest will make it too. Next, I got a notebook and plastic sheet covers for the copied hymns out of the piano course that I began with Dawn and always use. I punched holes in the first twelve piano lessons so that Katie can put in the notebook too. Originally, I was going to copy from the old piano course that I thought Dawn had given me back, but instead had ended up somewhere with their things in storage.

I told my two piano students how I was making and sending piano lessons to my granddaughter in the Philippines and asked if they (my first girl is in the second piano book and the second girl is in the first book) would be willing to let me copy some of the songs out of their piano books. They both said “yes” thrilled at the idea of copies of their piano songs going around the world.  In fact, my youngest student’s grandmother offered and copied off her granddaughter’s songs for me.  Then I took a picture of both of the girls at the piano with their piano books and put it on the first page in the notebook telling Katie about my two piano students and how they let me copy piano songs for her. I got the notebook ready with the Christmas gifts to go in the box that is to arrive in the Philippines for Dawn and her family in time for Christmas.  That way Katie can keep doing piano lessons until they come back home next summer.  Like they say, where there is a will, there is a way, and this grandma wants to make sure that Katie has the chance to learn to play the piano like her great grandma, grandma, mother, and older sister does.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving season on your end!

Dorcas

 

AUGUST & SEPTEMBER WALKER NEWSLETTER 2023

 

Hello!

Another month and a half have passed since I sent out the last newsletter.

The ground is dry and dusty from the dog days of summer as we head into autumn.  We are still picking a few green beans, peppers, and tomatoes from the garden. Not only did the crazy hard freezes from this spring kill the azalea, most of the lilacs, and wisteria blooms this year, but it also killed the young grapes beginning to form on the vines. For the first time that I can remember there are no grapes.  Thankfully, the last summer roses continue to bloom as the autumn clematis perfumes the air.

I finished drying the rest of the apples that turned into quite a chore.

We traveled to Annette's baby shower in Nashville on a stormy day.  The rain pounded down so hard it was hard to see. I was glad that Dwight was the one behind the wheel.  Twice we had to go into the other lane where the road was flooded over to get through. Then as the baby shower was coming to an end, everyone began getting alerts on their phones about a tornado heading to Nashville.  So, everyone stayed later than planned due to the bad storm.  Annette got a lot of lovely baby gifts, and we had a great time together, but it is one baby shower that I don't think anyone will forget about soon. The next day I went shopping with Dawn and Annette as she finished getting the rest of the stuff on her list for the baby.

It was hard to say good-bye to Dawn and her family not knowing how long it will be until we see them again. Dawn, Randy, William, and Katie flew out Tues from Nashville and I was quite relieved when the news came that they had safely made it to their Philippine Island Thursday morning. Thankfully, they have adjusted a lot better with the complete change in time and days going back than they did coming here. The folk were so excited to see Dawn and her family again and their church and children attendance has increased. Meanwhile, Katie has begun her school year of home-schooling.

As I said last time, I was doing great and able to do things like before my shoulder acted up when I fell the first of the year. Well don't you know it, the very week Dawn left, I fell. I was carrying two potted plants out to my back yard as we had turned the air conditioning on. I ended up tripping over some ivy that I love growing along the ground and up some of the trees that unfortunately has spread into the path. One minute I was on my feet and the next, before I could catch my balance or flip my body, I was flying through the air landing on my right shoulder and hip with the plants flying everywhere. Talk about a mess!

I ended up in the recliner again with ice packs on my hip and right shoulder, but after two days my rotator cuff muscle- that I had previously damaged- was doing OK.  I gave a huge sigh of relief.

Two weeks later, one morning, I picked green beans- like I had been doing the previous weeks- and weeded some areas really pushing myself in the heat.  Everything would have been OK, but the very next day I went grocery shopping, and it was pouring rain. In my defense, it had been three months since I was down with my right shoulder bleeding internally, so I thought I was completely out of the woods. I held my umbrella in my left hand while I loaded gallon jugs of milk, vinegar, etc. along with bags of cans with my right hand into the trunk hurrying to get out of the rain as quickly as possible. That night, my shoulder started hurting with the pain intensifying unlike when the rotator cuff muscle hurts. I immediately got ice packs, took pain meds, and settled myself back in the recliner. The next day and the next it was no better- waking up a couple of times in the night due to the pain. After eleven days my pain decreased enough where I cut back half on the pain meds, and I was able to be up and around more with my sling.  Then, wouldn’t you know it, my shoulder pain shot up again after carrying gallon jugs of water for the animals until I woke up in agony where nothing helped.

Dwight called the hemophilia clinic and he drove me down two-and-one-half hours the next day to see the hematologist. To make the trip, I propped myself on pillows, lying down in the back seat, dozing off and on from being up the night before. At the clinic, blood was taken for more tests and x-rays done to make sure that my rotator cuff wasn’t torn, my shoulder fractured, or a bone chipped. The hematologist wanted me to come back the next week, but I stayed home as my clotting time was up enough that I wouldn’t be given factor, and I was already doing everything they recommended. Dwight agreed as traveling only aggravates an internal bleed.

So went the month of August. Meanwhile, dear Dwight has filled in the slack.  He not only cooked, washed dishes, baked, cleaned, hung up wash, folded clothes, went to town, paid bills, picked up prescriptions, and braided my hair, but I had- before all this happened- bought a bushel of tomatoes, ordered beans to can, and more tomatoes. Although Dwight doesn’t even like tomato juice, he manfully chopped up what I needed and helped me make and can tomato juice twice and along with green beans. I told him he would definitely get an extra star in his crown for helping me with the tomato juice.  Dwight has though, I have to confess, become quite bossy and particular about me using my right hand even in a sling. Every time I turn around, Dwight is telling me no, I can’t do that- acting like I am some decrepit person living in a nursing home. My pastor and daughter both told me that I needed to listen to Dwight- nothing like everyone ganging up on me. Dawn was so impressed with how well her brother was turning out to be a housewife that she said instead of the “pioneer woman” line; Dwight could start a “pioneer man” brand instead.

Thankfully, to save my sanity and Dwight’s, the beginning of this month I was able to cut my pain meds in half and finally could sleep through the night. What a blessing!  I am trying to be good; I promise. I am so tired of living in the recliner and popping pills.  My fingers itch to get out in the garden and into the dirt. Meanwhile, I am able to wash dishes and cook more. I have taken walks in the woods to help regain strength and snuck out to the garden- don’t tell Dwight- to collect and save flower seeds.  I enjoy rocking in my chair on the front porch, observing, and taking care of the birds.  I am blessed to have such a wonderful son that helps and watches over me- even to the point of spying on me when I am innocently rocking on the porch enjoying the hens and ducks in the yard to make sure that I am not doing something I’m not supposed to be.  I feel like I have turned into quite the lazy person, but the year isn’t over yet.

Until next time~ Dorcas

NOVEMBER WALKER NEWSLETTER 2022

 

Hello!

Winter has arrived here on the mountain with a few snow flurries and lots of cold weather- some days barely getting out of the 30's and down in the low 20's at night. For a couple of weeks we had some warm 70 degree weather days when suddenly the temperature nosedived one afternoon.  Now having 50 degrees would seem like a heat wave. So, we are staying busy keeping our wood-stoves going. There is nothing like a crackling fire to warm one's bones on frigid days. Outside the world looks bleak with barren trees and the last of the hardy blooming flowers gone.  It makes one very thankful to have a warm cozy house.

The last few weeks, we raced around gathering buckets of branches for kindling and helping to stack pickup loads of wood with Dwight under the carport. Every sunny warm day found me with a paint brush or spray can of paint.  I painted the back step railing, bluebird houses on the fence, and trellis seats Dana made years ago in the enclosed garden.  I sprayed pinecones for wreaths and anything else I had forgotten that needed a touch of paint. I was hoping to get the arches and inside fence painted in the enclosed garden but ran out of time as I am much slower than I'd like.

I've also been collecting seeds from the garden to save for next year. There is always something fascinating to me about saving seeds to store back. It's amazing how one tiny seed can produce gorgeous flowers and veggies that in return make oodles of other seeds.  I also planted more bulbs to come up in the spring- one never can have too many flowers- and transplanted and divided other plants. I trimmed around the trees in the yard for a finishing touch and put up chicken wire around the spots where I am trying to get some shade gardens going where the trees are too close for Dwight to mow.  For some reason the ducks and chickens seem to think that the hostas, ferns, and other shade plants are a ducky and chicky salad bar grown for them and just when my shade gardens begin to take off they eat everything down to the ground. So, I am duck and chicken proofing my shade gardens for next year.

I also put out heating water bowls and buckets in the duck and henhouse and for Tex. Dwight rigged up a heating pad in the doghouse for Tex as for some reason he is allergic to straw like we always did before to keep him warm through the winter. I've closed up the beehive for the winter as well.  During the last warm days they were really going through the sugar water to finish filling up the last of the frames with honey to live on this winter.  The Canadian geese are arriving from up North for the winter and the birds that haven't migrated South are keeping me busy filling up the bird feeders.

Sending lots of Thanksgiving wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving season from my house to yours~

Dorcas