Reflecting 2001

Ah, the gentle breeze that drifts across this front porch in the early morning.  It’s so easy to get lost in thoughts in this setting and remember how it used to be. At this time of year some sixty or seventy years ago, vegetable gardens were reaching their peak and canning was in full swing. …

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Ah, Biscuits June 2007

It’s universal knowledge that “bread is the staff of life” and here on SandMountain biscuits may be the number one choice of bread.  Anyway biscuits are an important part of the traditional Southern breakfast.  In my growing up years, everybody had biscuits for breakfast – every morning!  During the years of the Great Depression many farmers…

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New You Tube Channel

Hey — want to tell you to click on my new You Tube channel to see the strawberry jam making video.  Go to www.youtube.com  and search for Billie Crumly or use the links below.  As you already know I’m an octogenarian and am new at all this.  The video starts at the bottom and works…

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Fancy Stitches and Ribbon Embroidery

Needlework is as much a part of me as breathing.  Maybe it’s in my blood since I’m from a long line of needlework people.  My mother had several sisters and each one of them did some type of needlework.  For a time I owned a crazy quilt top made by my grandmother, but I had…

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A Windy Knoll Report

Remember twenty days ago I started feeding the brandied fruit in preparation of baking a Friendship Cake?  Well, today is the 20th day and feeding day, as well.  The brew starts with starter, peaches and sugar and after ten days we added more sugar and pineapple chunks.  Today we added two small cans of cherries and…

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“Well Bless Your Heart” May 2000

It was very early morning as I arrived at my friend’s house to pick up some cucumbers for pickle making (we now have eight gallons in the making), and “Well bless your heart” was the greeting I received.  How long has it been since I heard that phrase, I thought to myself.  It’s just another…

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Non-gardeners Have Not a Clue July 2001

As I stand here and deadhead the old-fashioned rose (the Japanese beetles have just devastated it).  I can’t help but remember  our recent visitor. We were expecting our youngest that morning; however, she never gets here ’til about noon so we opted to work in the shade garden for a while.  I left lunch simmering on…

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Quilting and Kay’s Delight

For a number of years I taught quilting in the Metro Atlanta area and this recipe came from a lady in one of the classes — I can’t even remember her name.  She had connections — family or good friends – in Spain and as a result I made three Dresden Plant quilts that were shipped…

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Cattle Farming Somewhat Woeful Oct. 2008

    Although the cattle on this farm no longer belong to John (and have not belonged to him for several years) one could not tell that by his actions.  He tends the fences, checks the herd daily and reports problems – or corrects them himself. Recently we had a cattle roundup — it was selling…

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A Windy Knoll Report

It’s my intention to keep this blog positive, but today is different.  First off last week John took the tiller to the repair shop.  The bill was $68.00 and he picked it up yesterday.  In unloading it it feel off the ramps breaking the carburetor — well he tried to patch that up with baling wire (just…

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