Featuring Linda of Life on a Colorado Farm

Today, I'm excited to share an interview with one of my longtime readers, Linda, of Life on a Colorado Farm. If you haven't read Linda's blog, you are missing out on a treat. Filled with beautiful photos of her working farm, Linda's blog and writings are a joy to read.

Linda also has a heart of gold. One day, a package arrived in the mail for me. It was the largest box of flower essences I have ever seen. Linda had picked each one just for me to thank me for my blog. Linda is amazing, generous of heart and spirit, kind and hard working and a true friend. So, sit back and enjoy learning more about Linda.

Linda, can you tell us a little bit about why you started to blog.

I live on a farm in Colorado, the western side of Colorado, called Delta. When I started my blog the Housing Boom was on, causing farm land to disappear into the vast reaches of subdivisions.

I wanted to share what farm life is/was like in my lifetime. Although the bust has occurred, I still like sharing. I have made many friends and had the windows of the world opened to me. I have learned to love goats, and sheep, cats and dogs, poultry of all kinds. I get to visit areas of this world I will never get to visit, except through blogging. And I get to see what life really is like in these places, not just what a post card says.

I’ve met people I have grown close to in surprising ways, and have even had the pleasure of promises to come see us. Even if I never get to meet in ‘real’ life, I have been invited into lives in ways that not very many people ever get to have, even with their neighbors.

What is it like to live on a working farm?

Work begins long before sunrise and often times ends long after sunset. It really doesn’t matter what the clock says, but what is happening ‘outside’. In the spring through harvest there is always the worry about water, moving it, making sure it stays where it is suppose to stay, is it getting from the beginning of the field to the end of the field. That sort of thing. The harvest is fun, but long hours. Animals are like children, they always need something, even if it is your loving attention. Then there is the daily things that make a household work-cleaning, cooking, etc. BUT one thing that does exist on a working farm, is the fact you get to set your own hours, it really is what you make of it. (the weather, is another story). And if you want to you can go to town, or take a little day trip you can, if you have someone to ‘watch the water’ or you can travel in-between sets. You are your own boss, and that is a huge gift.

I know you actually met a fellow blogger. What was that experience like?

I did. Kath and Daryl of Haf Doz'n Reasons came through our part of Colorado on their way to their farm in Wyoming. We met them early in the day, had breakfast, the drove them to a couple of cool sites near our farm. After which, they came to the farm and saw where we live.

Can you share some pictures from your meeting?

Kath asked me to not take photos so I didn’t. I’m rather camera shy myself. But one of the neat things about this visit is we have been invited up to see their new cabin house and visit the farm. We are leaving in a week or so to do just that!

What is one of your favorite quotes?

I really don’t have one, but my Mother did and it sticks with me always, so I suppose it is now mine. “Everything works out for the best…if you will just let it”! How true that is, but oh, how hard to do sometimes.

Is there anyone who has been an inspiration to you in your life. Who is it and why?

I suppose my Grandfather Thomas. In many ways the things he did, the stories he told me and the way he lived his life, makes me stop and reflect on myself. And makes me ask myself if I have done enough. Have I cared enough, have I helped enough, have I been there for those who need me enough.

Could you please share one of your favorite photos with us and tell us why it is so special to you.

These two people are my parents. I love the promise that is portrays. I had this in my room, by my own choice, since I was around 5 years old. I lost both of them just months apart from each other, 9 years ago. I have other great photos of animals, and the farm, and scenery, but I think if I had to really pick one this is the one.

Thank you Linda. You are an amazing woman and an inspiration to us all.

Sunset on Red Pine Mountain; Share the Magic

I don't usually post so quickly after Mountain Man Mondays but last night I saw the most fantastic sunset and all I could think about was sharing it with you. From every direction, I was surrounded by beautiful clouds. Clouds so magnificent I felt I could reach out and touch them. Varied in shape, in color, ever changing, these clouds made my spirits soar. Each cloud was an art form, special to itself and I couldn't bear to crop the pictures so you are seeing them exactly as my lens captured them.

Mountain Man Mondays; BMW And AMW

Mountain Man is still away. We don't talk much. "Can You Hear Me Now" is about all we can say.

Our most recent conversation:

MM: "Hi....."

Silence. I can hear the cell phone minutes ticking away.

MW: "What?"

MM: "I...."

MW: "I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

MM: "Whaaaaa?"

MW: "I SAID I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

MM: "Rrrrrr...."

MW: "I CAN'T HEAR YOU. LOVE YOU. BYE."

Mountain Man does call me when he goes into the big city. Civilization in the form of Walmart,Lowe's and cell phone reception can be found there. Only one problem: it's a two hour drive.

But, he has been hard at work. In less than a week, he's done the following :

Designed and installed all the fixtures for the new bathroom. Hung the sheet rock so the bathroom actually has walls. I have an issue about having privacy in the bathroom. I just don't like the open living concept when it comes to pottys.

Hooked up the plumbing for the new bathroom, including digging the sewer line. Our toilet will no longer run into an open ditch.

Installed an electric hot water heater (there was no water heater before.)

Redid all the vent work for our new heat system.

Now, he's ripping off the roof. All this with no air conditioning and at night, no television to entertain him, no phone, no computer nor the sound of gently snoring dogs around the bed or the loudly snoring Mountain Woman by his side. No, he has to be content with the scratching of an occasional rat trying to find it's way in.

I was told while he's away, I tend to get sentimental and today is no exception. Missing my Mountain Man, I decided to root through old pictures to see what I could find. The following are BMW (Before Mountain Woman).

Sorry to say they are pictures of pictures but in chronological order, here they are:

Baby Mountain Man
Mountain Man on a horse for the first and very last time.
Mountain Man in the 70s channeling Robert Redford in "Jeremiah Johnson."
Achieving fame when his back was prominently featured in a newspaper article.
Pensive Mountain Man wondering if he'll ever find his Mountain Woman.
Relaxing in the snow with his beloved mastiff, Claire Bear, who lived a wonderful 11 years.

And here are the photos AMW (After Mountain Woman).

Still spending time with his beloved dogs:
Hay burners have invaded his space once again.
And, he's a little bit grayer and a little less shaggy.
But best of all he has a big smile. And so do I!

I love you Mountain Man. We miss you. Red Pine Mountain is not the same without you here.

I Hope They Found the Answer

Just a couple of housekeeping notes first. Thanks for all the input on my new logo. I'm still in the process of deciding and your comments really helped.

For those of you who asked, there will still be lots of pictures of Red Pine Mountain.

I had to remove the "Blogs I follow" widget a while back because my page wouldn't load but I wanted to pay tribute to all of those who stop by so starting today, I'm going to feature a "Blog of the Week" on my sidebar.

Now, on to the good stuff.

A few weeks ago, Julia of Our Simple Life had a post on searches that had brought people to her blog. To say they were unusual would be an understatement. I don't want to give away her secrets and all I can say is you have to read the post by clicking here.

I was so intrigued, I decided to add Google Analytics and track the search terms that were bringing people to Red Pine Mountain. (Spellings and phrases were left exactly as they were in the search.)

Some of them were mundane:

Rv Renovation

Men in Aprons

Some were confusing:

Canada Insurance Site

Red State Bakesales Health Care Transplants

New York Times Opinon Page

Thanks for Giving Me the Opportunity to Have an Interview

Some were amusing:

Can Guys Wear Aprons

Ladys with Great Pine Photos

Hay Aprons

Paotie Cactus

Do Women Get Tired of Cooking

Flabulous Undergarments

Funny pictures with ducks in diaper tape

Great Red Pine Horse (I know they mean the one and only Khrysta!)

Mountain Man had his own searches:

Ladybug Turn Mountain Man Head Red

Old Mountain Man Picture with Pipe

I'm in Love with Mountain Man (No, that wasn't me.)

What would Mountain Man use for Candles

Photos of Mountain Man's big equipment (Clean thoughts ladies!)

One was from a thinker of deep thoughts:

What is that thing that Man Makes that he Cannot Use.

One was from a proud parent:

Sharing Happiness of Son's Wedding

And the last one was disturbing. I hope they found the answer they needed:

How not to care about your thoughts


In just a few weeks, I had over 108 searches that led people to Red Pine Mountain blog. If you don't have Google Analytics, why not try it and share your results.

My New Logo, Which One Do You Prefer?

First, I'd like to thank everyone for all their wonderful comments. I've appreciated all of them so much. I know I've been slow getting back to you and my only excuse is with Mountain Man away I've been swamped taking care of the farm.

Anyway, I've been really fortunate to have Heather Sanders of Oh My Stinkin Heck creating my new blog design. One of the things she suggested was having an illustrator do the Red Pine Mountain logo. When I actually saw them, I was so excited I wanted them all so I'm asking you to please help me make a decision by leaving a comment on which one is your favorite. And, if you're in the market for a fantastic illustrator, please visit Secret Agent Josephine by clicking HERE.

Here they are:

Mountain Man Mondays; How Do You Define Soul Mate?

Morning always follows a routine here on Red Pine Mountain. Mountain Man awakens slowly, stumbles to the kitchen, pours a cup of coffee and returns to bed to watch the Weather Channel until he feels his blood start moving again. I'm an annoying morning person. I spring to life, filled with enthusiasm and head outside with multiple dogs at my heels and say my prayer of thanks.

Afterward, I sit down at the computer to catch up on emails while Mountain Man is slowly getting ready for his busy day. I chatter away about news items and other trivialities but I know he's not really listening. It doesn't matter. It's his reassuring presence I care about and the occasional grunt and "yes dear" are all the response I really require.

Not so this morning. When I turned on the computer, I discovered a major problem with my blog. I could tell I would have to devote hours to rectify the situation. I turned around to tell Mountain Man all about it and that was when the realization really hit me. He was gone to the Ozarks. There was no Mountain Man to say, "Everything will be okay" or "Don't worry about it, just let it go."

I didn't let it go. I stayed online until I fixed the problem and with each hour the clock ticked away, my frustration rose. Done at last, I headed outside to spend time playing with the dogs. As I sat in my chair, a cloud floated by. Not just any cloud but a cloud filled with colors of the rainbow. Green, blue, pink, it was the most amazing cloud I've ever seen. And, with that unique cloud, I started to think about relationships and the essence of love.

I dated some wonderful men after my husband died but it wasn't until I met Mountain Man that I knew I'd found someone who spoke to my soul as well as my heart.

It's his respect for the land. Before he cuts any tree, he thinks through his decision and prays for guidance. He never just takes.

It's how he spent an entire day last week when he should have been doing other projects working on fences in Khrysta's pasture after they had been knocked down. Not one "hay burner" comment did I hear.

It's the tenderness with which he greets our elderly goldens each morning. It's the smile on his face as our newfie throws back his head and "woo woos" for his breakfast.

It's the caring and love he has for his elderly Father.

It's because he doesn't really understand why I spend all this time blogging but as I follow him around every day sticking a camera in his face, he never gets annoyed.

It's the way we spend our evenings together, no interruptions at all, no phone, no computer, just us.

It's how his eyes light up when he talks about this farm, when he sees a deer or a beautiful sunset. Nothing is taken for granted.

It's because he has left for the Ozarks to ensure when I arrive, I'll find a house with running water and a bathroom.

It's the time he spent in the kitchen before he left preparing dinners for me for each night because he was worried I wouldn't eat while he was gone.

I knew I'd found my soul mate not because my heart beat faster but because it was still.

Morning Fog On Red Pine Mountain

There was a heavy fog this morning obliterating the landscape but soon enough the sun started to peek through causing the most amazing contrasts of light and shadows. Here's some photos:
That small building houses our garbage and thanks to Mountain Man, you'd never know. There's no garbage pickup in the country but that's a story for another day.

The cleared area and the mound of dirt are for my expanded garden next year.
To the East, not much is visible yet.


My 13 year old golden, Faeden, enjoys the cool of the morning.

Farm Photos; Pasture Care

Pastures need care but when you have a large pasture, it takes a long time. Here's some photos of Mountain Man hard at work.

That's him in the distance.

It's been raining here almost every day and the skies are beautiful.
Khrysta finally got tired of watching.

News Flash and The Winners

News Flash: Khrysta and I are going to be the Featured Member next month in Ryan Gingerich's Connection Club newsletter. We've been using Ryan's methods and making great progress with our problems. I'm finally starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Now, on to the important stuff. I know I said there were only going to be 4 winners of the latest Share Your Hearts Giveaway but Kiva.org is such a good cause, I decided everyone who entered is a winner. So here in no particular order is the list:

1. Oz Girl

2. Misha

3. Libby from Neas Nuttiness

4. NFM Girl

5. Sharkbytes

6. Lucky Girl

7. Lisette

8. Martha

Please contact me at RedPineMountain at Gmail dot com so I can forward your gift certificate to you.

In Which I Attempt To Garden

Gardening is complicated in the Northeast Kingdom. Seeds must be started indoors and then either moved to a greenhouse or put outdoors when there hopefully won't be another frost around the 1st of June.

I've never seriously gardened before and I definitely do not have a green thumb but when Mountain Man decided he wasn't going to plant a garden this spring due to other commitments, I knew I'd have to step up to the plate.

I didn't want my Mountain Man feeling obligated to help me so I quietly ordered seeds from Vermont's own High Mowing Seeds and started them in a sunny room Mountain Man never uses. As warmer days approached, Mountain Man began to regret his decision not to have a garden.

"Don't worry, I have a surprise for you."

"It better not be another dog."

"Not this time." I brought out one of my tiny tomato plants. "I didn't tell you because I wanted to learn how to garden. I can use your advice but the only way I'm going learn is if I do it myself."

Mountain Man did a great job of handing the garden over to me. He gave me pointers but he never said "I told you so" or "you shouldn't have done that" even when I transplanted the tomatoes too early and sent them into shock.

I expanded my garden to include sunflowers, broccoli, cucumbers and peppers. I decided to grow giant pumpkins as well.

I'm happy to report my garden is doing very well. The broccoli survived being munched down by critters. I've become so interested in raising veggies and growing flowers, Mountain Man is clearing away more land for my endeavors next year. And, although not skilled and knowledgeable as Mountain Man, I think he's proud of my efforts.

Here's the pictorial:

Mountain Man digs up a sunny spot along the fence for my sunflowers. That second shovel in the picture is mine. I was a full participant in the process.
Showing me how to separate the dirt from the wads of weeds.
Bringing in more soil with the tractor.
Katie-the-Whippet watches.

Next, we cleared a patch for my pumpkins and laid down black plastic to help warm the soil and inhibit weed growth.


I put the broccoli in their spot.
Then, I moved into the greenhouse. Here's the tomatoes.
And the peppers.
And here's what my plant children look like today.
The pumpkins in blossom.
The broccoli survived their animal attack.

The peppers are flourishing.
The cucumbers are climbing.
The tomatoes are growing.
And producing tomatoes!
And the sunflowers are reaching for the sky.
Here's Mountain Man working on the site for my expanded garden next spring. Corn is definitely on my list and I'm hoping I'll be able to grow enough fresh produce to help the local food bank. But most importantly, don't ever be scared to try something new because if I can do it, then anyone can.

Mountain Man Mondays; "What's That In Your Hand?"

This morning, we found Khrysta happily ensconced by our porch munching away on the tender grass. Mountain Man asked me if I'd left the barn door open again. (I've done that twice recently but she's stayed put.) I told him no, she probably just jumped over the fence. I put her away and 10 minutes later she was back out again. We decided to walk the fence line and discovered in the far part of the pasture, some creature had torn away the entire fence. Mountain Man set aside his other plans and spent the entire day making sure my mare would no longer be loose. Supporting my horse habit is not the only way Mountain Man shows his love which leads me to Mountain Man Mondays.

The other day, Mountain Man saw me walk by with something in my hand. He made the mistake of asking me what it was.

"Worms. What else would it be?"

"What are you doing carrying worms around?"

"Feeding the robin. What else would I be doing?"

"I know I'm going to be sorry I asked but why are you feeding the robin worms?"

"You know she sitting on that nest and I don't want her to have to go looking for food. It's hard enough work just raising babies. She doesn't need to be hunting for food too."

"I should have known." Mountain Man replied.

For the first time in my life, I started feeding wild birds this year and what started out as a simple plan to put out some seed has turned into a full blown obsession.

As my interest in birds developed, Mountain Man was right there helping me as best he could.

It started out with a simple platform feeder and metal stake he built for me.
One day, I noticed woodpeckers on the feeder. I started doing research and found out woodpeckers are really happiest hanging upside down while eating.

"No problem." Mountain Man told me when I asked him if he could help me make a feeding station for the woodpeckers.

So, he came up with this ingenious device.
It's a woodpecker feeder. The top opens and I can insert suet, the woodpeckers hang upside down to eat and there's a perch there if the birds need it plus it's attached to our deck so it doesn't swing around in the wind.

Here's the woodpecker using it.
And a picture of it with the top open so I can put in the suet bars:
It also comes in handy if you have curious newfies.
After we got the woodpeckers settled in, I wanted to start feeding the hummingbirds. I tried using a window feeder but we were afraid the birds would get hurt because of all the glass in our house.

Mountain Man built a feeder holder which attached to our deck. The actual feeder slides right down on the bar keeping it stable.
I then discovered birds love grape jelly. Not raspberry nor boysenberry. It has to be grape. So, I sent Mountain Man to the store and home he came with the biggest bottle of grape jelly I've ever seen. As soon as I filled the blue feeder below with grape jelly, the birds flocked to it.
I became a little bit more serious about my hobby and started feeding the birds fresh worms. They come in a net bag, wrapped up in newspaper and I purchase 10,000 of them at a time.
But fresh worms and plentiful food means baby robins all around the farm.
Thank you Mountain Man for indulging my hobbies and making Red Pine Mountain a sanctuary for dogs, cranky horses and now beautiful wild birds. My world is filled with joyful song.

Looking Back to What Lies Ahead

I was going through the posts on my photo blog today and I found this one from February 23 of last year. I hope it will remind you to cherish each summer day because winter is no longer so far away.

Yesterday, it snowed the entire day. Horses stayed in stalls.

And, there was no light outside as the snow obliterated everything.

This morning, when I tried to get out the door, this is what I found.
And, here is what it looks like with the 18" inches of new snow.
We're buried under snow and it's still snowing. But it sure is beautiful!

Ten Honest Things and Awards

Homestay Mama, who authors the blog, Home to the World, presented me with the Honest Scrap Award. I was intrigued by this award because it requires the recipient to state 10 honest things about themselves. Here's my list:

1. I start every morning with a silent prayer of thanksgiving and I always do it outside no matter the weather.

2. I love being in my 50s. I'm healthier, more fit and more focused than I've ever been.

3. I keep a daily journal and have done so for years.

4. I can't imagine living without animals in my life.

5. I struggle with my relationship with food every day. As a former heavyweight, I am always one binge away from gaining weight and losing control.

6. I never weigh myself and I don't believe in scales. I can tell by the way my clothes fit and how easy it is for me to exercise whether or not I'm in shape.

7. I need lots of space in my relationship. I require lots of alone time to focus my thoughts, to pursue my hobbies and to write.

8. I live in the moment and enjoy each day.

9. I don't like to argue or bring any negativity into our home. Home is our refuge and a place of joy.

10. My mantra is to never give up, to never quit and to try to live my dreams. One way I decide if a goal is important to me is how hard I am willing to work to achieve the end result. Horseback riding is an example.

This award is open to any and all who desire to take the challenge of listing 10 Honest Things. And it would be interesting to see how people of different ages respond to this because I know my "10 things" would be so very different if I were 20.

And my dear friend Dori, the author of "From a Yellow House in England" also presented me with an award entitled "The Neno Award." The award represents "those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging, and to help others seek the reasons why we all love blogging." I encourage every one who visits this blog to take the award, post it on your blog and encourage your readers to take it as well as we honor those we may never meet but know as friends.

An Interview With One of My Readers

First, Homestay Mama had a question about whether or not we have oak around here. The answer is not much. There is oak along the Connecticut River Valley and over towards the Champlain Valley and points further south but not here.

Lin asked if Mountain Man really came up with the answer to Robynn's question and the answer is yes, he did.

On to today's post. A while back I asked for suggestions to help me improve my blog and make you, my readers, feel more included. Everyone had fantastic suggestions. I wanted to implement one before we moved to our own domain. Lady Fi had the idea to interview my readers so we can all learn more about each other.

I decided to start with Chris, who is the author of two wonderful blogs, The cat/dog log and Living Well. I have know Chris for a long time now and she has been helpful to me in so many different ways as I've learned to blog.

The Interview:

Mountain Woman: Chris, could you tell my readers a little bit about you?

Chris: My husband and I own a business, and share our home with 2 dogs, Abby and Rosie, and 3 cats, Angel, Gidget and Lola. All of our pets were rescues except for Abby.

I started my first blog, The cat/dog log in August of 2007 after my disgust with the pet food industry's petfood recall and tragic pet deaths that year, as well as the dramatic improvement in Abby's severe skin and ear allergies after changing her diet.

In the early days my blog was totally dedicated to pet allergies, but has since evolved into all areas of pet ownership as well as pet rescue.

I eventually started another blog "Living Well Naturally" because my husband and I believe so strongly in the effect chemicals have on all of our lives, and to pass along what we've learned over the years as far as diet, alternative personal care products, home cleaners, garden products, etc.

Mountain Woman: Chris, is there any advice you can give to those of us who are new to blogging?

Chris: I'm by no means an expert, but my best advice to a beginner blogger is not to give up. I read somewhere when I first started that most bloggers fail because they give up after a few months. It takes a lot of time and dedication, approximately 10% actual blog posting and 90% marketing to get readers to your blog.

Secondly, pick a niche you have some knowledge or interest in, and post frequently at first, at least 3 to 5 times a week to build up your blog posts so the search engines find you.

Third, join social networking sites like Blog Catalog, MyBlogLog, Entrecard, Blog Explosion, etc. to get readers to your blog.

Fourth, do a Google search for forums in your niche, join them and become an active member.

Fifth, read all you can find by successful bloggers. You may find a lot of it is duplication, but every so often you'll run across a new nugget of information you didn't read about before.

Sixth, if you feel yourself getting burned out, and you will, take a break. Do the bare minimum to keep your blog updated, but get out and do something you enjoy away from the computer for a week or even two or three if needed. You'll come back refreshed and ready to get back into the swing of things with your blog.

And last, don't be afraid to experiment. If something isn't working for your particular blog, move the widget or remove it entirely and try something else. It's your blog and let it represent who you are.

Mountain Woman: Chris, thanks for the great advice. Can you tell us your most unusual experience blogging?

Chris: Shortly after I started blogging, I encountered a lady who also had a pet blog. I began leaving comments on her blog, and she in turn commented back. I eventually donated a small amount through Paypal to help care for rescued animals that she was promoting. We were also both members of MyBloglog etc and interacted there.

I suppose she wanted to thank me in her own way for the pet donation, so she began leaving messages on the social sites asking people to click on her ads, and she included my site along with hers. As soon as I saw it, I asked her to stop doing so because it was in violation of Google's Adsense terms of service.

Well, soon after that I got "Google Smacked" as they say - I lost my Adsense account. I contacted them to see why and all they would say is "illegal click activity." Since I had never clicked on my own ads, the only explanation I could think of was the lady asking people to click on my ads. And once you've been "smacked" there's no recourse. It was unfortunate that I lost my Adsense account so early in my blogging.

I tried some Adsense alternatives like Adbrite and WidgitBucks, but wasn't happy with the type of ads from Adbrite, and the widgit for WidgitBucks seemed to really slow my blog's load time. I eventually discovered Chitika as an alternative - the ads are matched to your content and it works well for me, especially on my pet blog.

Mountain Woman: Chris, can you share your favorite photo?

Chris: I have a lot of "favorites" but this one of Abby tearing up a tissue makes me smile every time I look at it. Since she was a puppy and got tall enough to reach the toilet paper roll, we've had to keep the roll up high. If we put it on the roller, within hours she'll spot it and grab the end and run through the house with it, head held high just daring us to play. Waste baskets have to be kept inside the cupboard out of her reach or she has a field day. If someone leaves their purse on the floor, she'll go snooping through to see if there's a tissue in there somewhere.

I know, she doesn't sound very well trained. But cockers love their tissues - my vet explained that it has something to do with them being soft-mouthed dogs and bred to retrieve game without puncturing the bird's skin so they just can't resist tissues and toilet paper.

And it doesn't stop at tissues - she also loves cardboard. When she was a puppy and cutting teeth, my husband gave her a cardboard box to chew on and expend some of her energy. Instead of chewing on it, she held the box down with her paws, bit into the loose edge of the box and pulled with all her might straight up, working on it until it was all in nice small pieces. She broke down a lot of boxes for us that first year.

At 11 1/2 years old, those days are pretty much behind her, but she still loves a good paper shredding opportunity when it presents itself. The day when we can put the toilet paper back on the roll will be when Abby's no longer with us, and I dread that day.

Mountain Man Speaks to Robynn

Robynn of the wonderful Robynn's Ravings had a question for Mountain Man. From my survey, I know most people don't come back to read the comments so for the benefit of all who might be having similar problems, here is Robynn's question:

I got yeller wood and red wood. It's ready to be installed on my floor. It's in the guh-raj.

Here's my question: You seem to know a lot about wood, Mountain Man. So, exactly how is it you get a feller, like say a husband, just for instance, to get that wood outta the guh-raj and onto the floor? No matter WHAT color or kind the wood is? If you can solve this problem you are TRULY a jeen-yus. Your Friend, Robynn

Mountain Man's response:

Dear Robynn,

To get that wood out of the guh-raj and onto the floor, there is only one way. Now you might think I would say employ those feminine wiles and coerce him with your abundant charms but no, that won't work at all. Once he is out of your dazzling presence, his mind will turn right back to sports.

Here's the answer:

Pick up the yellow pages and head to the section on flooring contractors. Pick the one with the biggest, most obnoxious ad and then call said office and ask them out for an estimate. Have them look at the job, describe the intricacies of it in great detail and then have him present you with an estimate.

Take that estimate which will run well into the 4 figures if you've done your job correctly, head to your husband with a loving smile and present it to him. Have a calendar handy too with a date circled. Tell him you don't want to do it, you really don't but if he doesn't get out of that chair and into the guh-raj by the specified date, you will be calling said contractor and writing him a check in order to finish the job. Never mind if you have to raid the college fund or the retirement savings. The trick here is to be serious in a friendly, loving way. Do not nag. Just put a copy of that estimate on the calendar with the days marked with a countdown to when YOU ARE MAKING THE CALL. I'd wager a guess if your man is a typical thrifty male, the thought of spending all that money will propel him into action.

And, if that fails, please contact me for a tutorial on how to install wood flooring.

Mountain Man

Mountain Man Mondays; A Wood Primer

Do you know your hardwoods? I sure didn't. I thought it might be interesting to have a wood tutorial today so if you're in the market for new cabinets or flooring, you'll know just a little bit more about what you're seeing.

I caught up with Mountain Man as he finished sawing various hardwood boards and was putting them on sticks to dry.

Even though the boards were random width, he cut them at 1 and 1/8th" which is a standard thickness for flooring and cabinetry. Then, he prepared to stack them on sticks to put them away to dry to remove the moisture. He is using drying sheds but he could also use a drying kiln.

Here he is preparing to assemble the drying pile.

The first wood is "Spalted Maple. This log had actually sat around for a year and was deteriorating and it is the deterioration that causes the "spalting." You can see the lines of spalting in the picture below.

A closer look at the spalting.
Within the same tree, there can be variations in the color of the logs. This color variation is due to the growth of the tree and its age. The rings you see in a cross section of a tree are called "annular growth rings." The oldest wood is the darkest and is also known as "heart wood." The wood nearer the outside and the newest annular growth ring is "sap wood" and will be lighter in color. The boards below are all maple illustrating the differing shades from heart wood to sap wood. The board on the far left shows the spalting.
Here's an example of an uncut red pine log showing the dark heart wood at the center and the sap wood at the outside. Although present, the annular growth rings didn't photograph.The maple I showed you with the spalting will make beautiful, interesting cabinets or flooring but it is not considered prime maple. Prime maple would be clear and almost white.

Here is an example of ash. These boards are select quality with no defects at all.
Next is beech. Beech is not heavily used as a typical cabinet or flooring wood. Here in the Northeast Kingdom, beech is usually diseased with "Beech Bark Disease" and it's difficult to get high quality wood. It's most often used as firewood or hardwood pulp. But Mountain Man was fortunate to saw some beautiful logs which he plans to use for flooring.
Here's an example of beech sitting next to ash. Notice how different the beech is from the pale almost colorless ash.
Another photo of beech.
On to cherry. Cherry, along with walnut, is one of the most expensive hardwoods. Quality cherry wood is hard to find in the Northeast Kingdom. Yes, we have lots of cherry trees but because of our harsh, long winters, the trees don't produce the same quality boards as other parts of the country. Cherry boards here are also smaller than the other boards I've showed you.
On the left are the cherry boards sitting next to the significantly larger maple boards.
A knot in the cherry wood. This knot shows where a limb used to be and is considered a defect.
That's it for now but next week, Mountain Man has promised I can follow him into the woods to learn more about his philosophy of land conservation and logging and the duty we owe to the land and the generations to come.

And, if you ever have any questions, Mountain Man would be happy to answer them.

For Those Ladies Who Are Tired of Cooking

Thanks everyone for the well wishes for the 4th. I hope your holiday was filled with festivities, family and fun.

Here, on Red Pine Mountain, we had a lazy day. Thunderstorms rolled through, rain teemed down upon the roof, my internet connection was sporadic and it was chilly and damp necessitating a fire in the wood stove. And, while I sat reading a book, lazily reaching down to pet the dogs sleeping by the couch, I listened to the hum of activity in the kitchen. Mountain Man was preparing our holiday feast; homemade potato salad, barbecued chicken, fresh asparagus and apple tart. As I turned the pages of my novel, I was enchanted by wonderful aromas and the promise of a full, satisfied belly. Yes, there are actually those of us women like to eat too.

We have all heard the phrase "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" but what about us women who can't wield the mighty saucepan, who look at a cookbook and have our eyes glaze over? Does that mean we are to remain loveless forever? Doomed to days of loneliness because our flambes don't flame and our souffles don't rise? No, ladies, I'm here to tell you for those of us who are less than adept in the kitchen, there is still hope.

You have to have a strategy though. First, search for a man who had a wonderful relationship with his Mother. He spent time with her in the kitchen munching on cookies fresh from the oven, licking cake batter spoons and being the first to sample delectables cooked by his Mother's loving hands. His appreciation for all things culinary will have been inculcated over the years.

Next, search for a bachelor who has been on his own for a number of years and is used to cooking for himself. Not a bachelor who runs to the local eatery for his meals but one who loves to entertain and delight his friends with his newest creation. He knows the difference between a microwave and a pressure cooker, has his personal preference in cookware and spices adorn his shelves.

Okay, you've found that perfect bachelor. What next? How do you keep him from relinquishing the cooking duties to you?

Well, here's my story. I didn't set out to have it happen this way, really I didn't but when it comes to cooking, everything I touch goes up in flames. Luckily, we have a fire extinguisher close at hand.

My attempts to surprise Mountain Man with grilled chicken.


Attempting to cook lasagna in the oven.
Surveying one of my burned meals. "You expect me to eat this?"
Mountain Man, smiling and happy again, after banning me from the kitchen. And me, well, I'm content to be reading my book sitting by the fire which is nicely contained within the wood stove.
Ladies, sometimes the way to a man's heart is to stay away the kitchen and let him take charge.

Running Errands; Photos from The Car

We headed out yesterday to run errands on a rainy day. Here's photos all taken from the car because my Mountain Man will never stop. Okay, he did promise me if we ever see a moose, he'd stop but apart from that forget it.

A typical scene from our interstate, I-93. We never have any traffic even on this holiday weekend. No billboards permitted either.
The Moore Reservoir and Dam on the Connecticut River. In the winter, it's a sheet of ice.

Are your interstates this deserted?
Almost to town, leaving the interstate. No traffic.
In town. Now there's traffic. Our gas prices. Are yours more expensive? Cheaper?
Even when we go shopping, our trip leads us through beautiful countryside. It's one of the things I love about living in Vermont.

Rerun Time/Absolutely Flabulous

Storms are rolling through this week making my satellite internet connection hit or miss. My mouse is broken and needs to be replaced and everyone is getting ready to celebrate the holiday so what better time than to dig into the archives and do some reruns.

"Absolutely Flabulous"

As I was visiting Chris' blog, Living Well Naturally, I stopped to read her entry today which was a list of how to tell if you are getting older. I related to all of them but one of them in particular:

You know you're old when:
* Going bra-less pulls all the wrinkles out of your face"

It reminded me of an incident which happened to me recently so here is one of my most embarrassing moments for your enjoyment.

Before my MRSA infection and subsequent RSDS diagnosis, I was for a brief moment in time a Size Zero. But after a year off my feet, I managed to pack on some pounds and I no longer am a member of the skeleton crew. I'm a nicely rounded Size 6 but because I spend every day in blue jeans and sweatshirts, I haven't bothered to update the rest of my wardrobe in my larger size. And, as with all women, hope springs eternal that maybe, just maybe, I'll be a size zero again.

Recently, I had to attend a party which required wearing an evening dress. I looked in my closet and there was no way I was going to get those tiny evening gowns over my expanded body and I wasn't about to buy a dress I would never use again. I had seen many ads for undergarments that promise to shrink you two sizes so I decided if I bought one of those contraptions, I could use it to get into my old clothes.

When I put my new slim suit on, it did the trick. Yes, I felt like a sausage encased in a tight binding but my size zero dress went right on. Never mind the fact I was barely breathing and I was sure I'd never be able to sit down. The dress was on and I looked totally glamorous, an old lady 10 if there ever was one.

We headed out the door, Mountain Man right behind me.

"What are those things on your back?"

I instantly thought of bugs and started swatting at some unseen insect.

"No, it's not a bug. What are those lumps back there? It looks like you have your bra on backward. What is it?" Mountain Man started to approach me, hand outstretched to feel the protruding objects.

I had a sinking feeling I knew what had happened and before he could thump the offending objects, I dashed into the bathroom, looked into the mirror and there they were, just as Mountain Man so eloquently described, two huge new lumps on my back. My beautiful spandex undergarment had taken all that excess from my stomach and hips and turned me into a 4 breasted woman.

So impressed was I with the way my dress had gone over my newly lithe body and with the miracle of spandex, I had forgotten to check the rear view.

The moral of this story is that if you take an undergarment that promises to shrink you two sizes, remember all that extra body fat doesn't disappear, no, it disperses somewhere and chances are you are not going to be happy with its new location so be sure to look in the mirror and check the rear view.

As for me, I grabbed a shawl and wrapped it around my upper body and hid the lumps.

And, Mountain Man, well he was curious as to what those lumps were and I made some mumbling response but there are just some things you don't want to share with the significant other in your life.