music memories

New record player!

We have stacks of vintage vinyl record albums and no place to play them. We pulled our old record player out of storage recently and it was beyond repair, rubber supports disintegrated, old springs sprung.

A quick internet search resulted in a surprising find - lots of new record players available out there! Interesting that these are readily available now, Melissa saw a display at Target with turntables and vinyl albums. Amazon has quite a selection also. Just the other day at the Grand Old Opry gift shop they were selling NEW vinyl albums. 

What is the deal? Since vinyl records there have been 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, music CDs, mp3, digital downloads, why now go backward to the old vinyl?  What is next - bell-bottom pants, rotary dial phones, horse and buggy, oil lamps?

I'll tell you why - the sound.

When Buddy hooked up the new turntable and the music came through the speakers from the vintage vinyl album, I couldn't believe my ears. Wow! It is so different from the CD version, the needle picks up so much more than a digital laser on a plastic disk.

John Denver's Back Home Again album circa 1974 - the record was played so much it is amazing that it still plays. Hearing it again after all these years, I was transported way back in time to our first apartment in Riverdale.

As always, John said it best:

Music makes pictures and often tells stories
All of it magic and all of it true
And all of the pictures and all of the stories
And all of the magic, the music is you

~words and music by John Denver

a good life all in all

Another birthay is here, I am now as old as the last two numbers in my birth year, see if you can do the math!

A time of reflection, looking back, looking ahead. As with most things, John Denver said it best...

I have to say it now
It's been a good life all in all
It's really fine
To have the chance to hang around
And lie there by the fire
And watch the evening tire
While all my friends and my old lady
Sit and watch the sun go down

And talk of poems and prayers and promises
And things that we believe in
How sweet it is to love someone
How right it is to care
How long its been since yesterday
What about tomorrow
What about our dreams
And all the memories we share

~lyrics Poems, Prayers, and Promises - music and lyrics by John Denver

perhaps love

Perhaps love is like a resting place
A shelter from the storm
It exists to give you comfort
It is there to keep you warm
And in those times of trouble
When you are most alone
The memory of love will bring you home

Perhaps love is like a window
Perhaps an open door
It invites you to come closer
It wants to show you more
And even if you lose yourself
And don't know what to do
The memory of love will see you through

Oh, love to some is like a cloud
To some as strong as steel
For some a way of living
For some a way to feel
And some say love is holding on
And some say letting go
And some say love is everything
And some say they don't know

Perhaps love is like the ocean
Full of conflict, full of pain
Like a fire when it's cold outside
Or thunder when it rains
If I should live forever
And all my dreams come true
My memories of love will be of you


Happy Valentines Day to my pal, my friend, my split-apart, my Buddy - if I should live forever, and all my dreams come true, my memories of love will be of you.

Happy Anniversary to our friends Sherry and Tim who married on this day 11 years ago, with just a little help from their friends!


~First Love print by Norman Rockwell found here
~Perhaps Love - words and music by John Denver

cold nights in Canada

Canoes on Moraine Lake
Banff National Park
Alberta, Canada

This year will mark 35 years of marriage, and we are looking into potential vacation destinations. The Canadian Rockies are at the top of the list right now, maybe a self driving tour on the Icefields Parkway, a ride on the Banff Gondola, and take a tour onto the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier.

Looking into dates, pricing, accomodations etc., if anyone out there has made this trip, all advice and suggestions are welcome!


Cold nights in Canada and icy blue winds
The man and the mountains are brothers again
Clear waters are laughing they sing to the sky
The Rockies are living they never will die

Up in a meadow in Jasper Alberta
Two men and four ponies on a long lonesome ride
Rocky Mountain Suite by John Denver

~photo of canoes on Lake Moraine by photographer Adam Jones (photo found at allposters.com)

More spectacular photos of the Banff area by Ron Niebrugge here.

friday collage

It was a one quilt night here, down to 41 - time to snuggle up! Speaking of snuggling up, for 37 years I have been sitting next to my husband in his truck, until now. Yesterday he traded trucks, this one has individual seats with a big console in the middle. After 37 years I am relegated to the window seat… it's the end of an era 'round here.


It is that time of year again, our town is gearing up for the annual Apple Festival. Signs are going up to direct traffic, crafters are coming into town from all over.

Locals are pulling out anything and everything they can sell - from homemade crafts to baked goods to yard sale stuff - and setting up on the side of the roads. Come on out and join us! (daughter Melissa's yard sale is next to Hudson's Apple house).


Where do these awards come from? Do bloggers just make them up? Sounds good to me! I received this Nice Matters award from Bonnie, thanks!

Since there is a cat pictured on the award, this one I am passing along to some blog friends with cats, all nice folks who take good care of their pets: Amy, Finn, Sandy, Holly, and Kerri.

So go and stick it on your blog and pay it forward because Nice Matters!



Has it been 10 years?

I've been lately thinking
About my life's time
All the things I've done
And how it's been
And I can't help believing
In my own mind
I know I'm gonna hate to see it end

lyrics from Poems, Prayers, and Promises by John Denver

~quilt photo from my yard in 2005

weekend senses

weekend in the smokies - too soon over - more pictures here

you fill up my senses
like a night in a forest
~john denver

back home again

Hey it’s good to be back home again
Sometimes this old house feels like a long-lost friend…


It sure is good to be back home again, this old house has been like a friend now for over 30 years.



I missed filling my flower boxes this year, and am considering getting some fall bloomers.


I missed sitting on the screened porch.



I missed my daily walk down the driveway to the mailbox.

It’s the sweetest thing I know of, just spending time with you
It’s the little things that make a house a home
Like a fire softly burnin’ supper on the stove
The light in your eyes that makes me warm

Hey it’s good to be back home again
Sometimes this old farm feels like a long-lost friend
Yes ’n’ hey, it’s good to be back home again


Back Home Again - words and music by John Denver

sunshine reflections

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you the day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way

If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine for all the while


~ in memory of John Denver, December 31, 1943 - October 12, 1997
~photo Mt. LeConte hike 26 September 2006

Country roads

Here is our driveway, looks like this is the peak of the leaf season. It is almost heaven here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, driving down our country roads. Of course, no one says it better than John Denver...

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains
Shenandoah River
Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Growin like a breeze

Country Roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

Sunday afternoon hike

Hiking through the local forest with the grandkids, down to the waterfalls. It is a beautiful fall day, one of the coolest days we have had this fall, in the 60s, but the kids want to play in the water. Sure, why not? It's just water. VERY cold water. Climbed on the rocks (whoa! that one is slippery!) Floated boats (sticks) down the stream. Looked for arrowheads. Found a salamander. Gathered firewood and Granpa Buddy built a campfire for us. Roasted marshmallows - mmm. Racheal reminded us to make sure the campfire is 'dead out,' as she just read about Smokey the Bear and the great forest fire. Hiked back up the hill, the kids went left toward their house, we went right up to ours. Later, we talked about how we never did stuff like that with our grandparents, hiking, camping, etc. We know we are lucky to have this time with them and still be young enough and able to enjoy it. Now the next generation may be another story...

If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you the day just like today

In memory of

For the children and the flowers
are my sisters and my brothers,
come and stand beside me,
we can find a better way.

I am a song,
I live to be sung,
I sing with all my heart.
JOHN DENVER
Composer, Musician, Father,
Son, Brother, Friend
December 31, 1943 - October 12, 1997

Sanctuary

Remembering a friend

And the wind will whisper your name to me
Little birds will sing along in time
Leaves will bow down when you walk by
And morning bells will chime
- John Denver

in our thoughts and in our hearts
sweet Joann

October 7, 2001

Our first album

Listening to John Denver tonight, still great after all these years. Our love for John Denver, his music, and his ideals began in the summer of '73, when we were given his album "Poems, Prayers, and Promises" as a wedding gift by Buddy's best friend, Chuck. That album is still here in the cabinet (with all the other old 33s). It's a wonder it is not worn out, as much as we played it. We were living at the time down at Tumblin' Waters in our little upstairs suite. No phone, a LONG way from town, just the two of us, with just the sound of the stream to live by. And John. Ah, those were the days . . . no worries, mate.

So I decided to include some of his thoughts here along with mine.

And talk of poems and prayers and promises
And things that we believe in
How sweet it is to love someone
How right it is to care
How long its been since yesterday
And what about tomorrow
And what about our dreams
And all the memories we share

Sunday Drive

Our trek today started out as it does often, to town for supplies, money, etc. A nice meal at a quiet eating place in a former apple house. Then off the beaten path on FS roads, lots of bumps, gravel, trees, sky. Why is it such a joy to ford a creek? The simple things that delight us. Four-wheel drive on a mountain road, is this a road? No, maybe not, just a mountain bike trail, but wait, there is a cabin! Finding our parking destination and hiking along with the only sound the creek nearby. Finding a hidden treasure placed years ago by a very personable gentleman who we were fortunate to meet earlier in the summer. More riding on deserted roads, finding another treasure placed in honor of a revered soldier in another peaceful place.

Back out into civilization, through the quaint town of Dahlonega, it has grown, but still seems small. Heading north up into the mountains. Discovering Boggs creek, new to us, a small campground, mostly deserted on this Sunday afternoon. Another creek crossing for the jeep! What fun that is. Following the clues to another treasure, an enjoyable way to pass the time and see new places. Camping is only $8 a day, maybe will quit the job and live here.

On up into the mountains a little further, finding Desoto falls. Was Hernando Desoto really here? Why not? He was probably drawn by the mountains then as many are today, trekking on the weekends to get away from their city lives and jobs to the beauty, quiet, coolness of the mountains. Lots of folks picnicking, cooking out steaks, ribs, mmm. Made our way up the trail toward the falls, again followed the clues and detoured off the beaten path to the stash. Out of site of the official trail, in the woods, no one knows we are there. Ah, back down to reality once again, to see the falls. Desoto Falls - not much water, but a nice presentation. The water makes its way down the levels of rock to the bottom, a cool breeze off the water greets us at the observation area. Crossed the creek on the way back to see the campground. Ate lunch (the traditional pbjs) at a campsite, pretended we were camping, just without all the 'stuff' it takes to do so. Picked out a nice spot to come back to with the motorhome and kids etc. Campground mostly deserted, peaceful except for the highway nearby.

Cachin is finished, afternoon is waning. Which way to go - back the way we came, or on deeper into the mountains and back a different way. Different prevails, more to see. Up, up the mountain to Neel's Gap. AT crossing ahead the sign says. The old CCC building on the right, many a hiker has passed through there. Lots of motorcycles out today, a popular road for them. On over the other side of the gap, passing Byron Herbert Reece parking area, for those so inclined to hike to Blood Mountain. Down, down now from the gap, signs promise a runaway truck lane ahead and puts that vision into our heads. On down past Vogel. Checked out the work going on at the Reece homestead. Folks work to preserve the past and history for the next generation. A noble cause. Into Choestoe valley, with Brasstown Bald tower shining in the sun in the distance, a clear day it is. Past the Booger Holler store, always a chuckle at the name. Past the cluster of stores at the Nottley River where Papaw used to feed the bread to the fish off the back deck. Enter Blairsville, around the old square, another quaint little town. Back down the highway toward home, mingling in with the others heading home at this hour on Sunday evening.

How lucky we are to live here in the mountains, just look at all those people in traffic on Sunday afternoon heading south, back to the city or burbs after spending the weekend here. And look at us, out of place in that traffic, but okay knowing we are just out getting some food before heading back to our little slice of heaven. It is always like that after spending a day away from home, upon returning all the reasons to get away are forgotten. Everything we need is here. Home.

Hey, it's good to be back home again
Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend
Yes, hey it's good to be back home again

Newest Addition

Little Jacob Kennon comes to visit the folks at Burnt Mountain. One month old, sweet and cuddly, checking out all these strange faces. He was quite content being passed around between all the cousins and aunts with Granny Kay beaming. We had the unexpected pleasure of viewing one of Sue's new home movies hot off the press (computer) of Justin, Jesse, and their cousin showing horses and winning ribbons at the local fair. The best part was the background music - John Denver's Thank God I'm A Country Boy!

My daddy taught me young how to hunt and how to whittle
He taught me how to work and play a tune on the fiddle
Taught me how to love and how to give just a little
Thank God I'm a country boy

Grandkids

Got to spend some time with the grandkids today, watched them get off the bus, looking for snacks! Oh, the flurry of papers to show and be signed and bring back tomorrow. Where is daddy and when is he coming back and where is melissa and when is she coming back and can we go to your house? Guess what happened today and can I help cook and can we have dessert and do you want to hear my lines for the play and oh goody we can have a spelling bee? A round of baths and showers and pjs and tv and reading and to bed, whew!

I'd sit and listen and watch the fire
Till the cobwebs filled my head
Next thing I'd know I'd wake up in the morning
In the middle of the old feather bed