Your Deer Stand Or Mine?

Take a good look......yep! it was up on the Blue Ridge Trail....yep...it is a barrel with a seat in it....I am NOT kidding!!!... Have a good week!!

Baby Black Bear

We got out today to do some hiking. We have 20 some trails near Lexington, along with the Blue Ridge Hwy Trails and overlooks and the Appalachian Trail is also nearby. We are blessed. I do need good hiking shoes though I found out today. Our golden Shiloh blazed the trail for us. Gary would hear the planes going over and would say, next year we will fly over the Blue Ridge! He can not wait!! For today though, we started with Whetstone Ridge Trail...the old pioneers actually used the stone there to sharpen their knives and axes, is the story. It is a 8 mile hike up and back; we knew we would only hike an hour up and an hour back today. Just to get started,maybe a total of 6-8 miles today. We met a family on the way. She raved over Shiloh, saying that she had a Golden just her color and size growing up...going by the name of Bridget. So, her kids wanted to pet Shiloh and then we offered to take their family picture with the Vista in the back...they almost had Shi join them in the picture. We talked a bit and her friend had just moved back to Carmel, Indiana and she was wanting to take her kids to see them there. We laughed and said, we had just moved from 2 hours north of that area. Small World. We did enjoy our hike to the Utmost! Seeing Gods' creation and enjoying the views along the way. Driving back to Waynesboro to check out our old neighborhood, we stopped and had a huge meal of Haddock and trimmings at Cracker Barrel (hey!! we worked up an appetite on those mountain trails!)....a baby Black Bear!!lumped across the road in front of our VW; all by himself!! A first for us. Of course, I did not have my camera out to grab the moment! But it was pretty cool!! That was our Sunday. Orienting again tomorrow, so I better get our scrubs ready and head for bed soon; 5:30am comes early. Great sunrises though. So, we did have a great day.... exploring. Quilted Blessings!!! Kari

Catching Up!

Just a few pictures from our Cabin in Indiana. We had wonderful sunsets and sunrises as we got the cabin finished. Just the little touches here and there. The family that God provided to rent the cabin were a God-sent. They are now making plans to purchsase the property in the future, depending on the banks; as is everyone's delemia these days. We have moved to Virginia and really love the area. We were busy unpacking and such when we first got here along with our new jobs at the local hospital. So, today we actually got to go hiking. It was amazing. Enjoy the pictures. They speak for themselves. Quitled Blessings! Kari

Where oh where did the summer months go...oh where oh where could they be?.....

Where did the summer go? I bet there are alot of families wondering that right now....running to get school supplies after spending time finding clothes on sale for their kids first days at school. There is always a bit of anticipation in their pitter-pattering hearts before that fist eventful day of school. But, alas, it does not last long and soon the haggard looks of over-crammed minds for tests and essays to complete take over their little souls...the older ones focusing on their favorite sports or past times with friends along with school.
Even for us, we ask...Where did all the time go?...this summer....sweet Gary and I ask each other...ours went again into working on our cabin, finding work as nurses in Virginia, a rental in Virginia, and then having God give us renters for the Indiana cabin....then MOVING to Virginia in a tremendously HOT heat wave...but since it is called a heatwave I guess we can conclude it would be Hot....ok, it is late. I just thought I would catch our journey up a bit.
We did start our work at the local small hospital. It will be great to work in a community where people care about each other, and caring for those that are hurting right now with medical needs at the free clinic or nourishment at the food pantry. I will share pictures later, the upload is not working .......

God bless and Quilted Blessings, Kari

This Is The Cabin That Gary Built

This is truly the cabin that Gary built. Being Fathers' Day I wanted to honor his work that he accomplished here. We are soon to be moving on in our journey to the state of Virginia. God has opened doors for both of us to work together in a small hospital in the town of Lexington. We had no knowledge of what the town was all about. Gary was drawn to it as we entered and passed by VMI; what an impressing place to see, a few weeks ago. He then went in search of the hospital,walked in and spoke to a few people to get a "feel" of the place. He then later called someone within the staff and was asked to put his resume' in....a week later he got a phone call, an interview and I also did. She assured us that there is little turn over, just a couple young nurses that wanted to go work in Roanoke for a change. The supervisor turns out to be a Buckeye from Newark and her hub is from Mt Vernon, Ohio; it is always great to meet fellow Buckeye Family members. That brings you up to date in our present curve in the road. Our journey is not for everyone...we are hoping to retire here, to serve God here and to have family come and enjoy the rich history and culture and gorgeous Blue Ridge with us..



The cabin?...well, it is amazing work and we love it. I am so proud of what Gary did here. A legacy. Was it easy, no. Building a cabin is NOT for the faint at heart. We did hit a few walls in the building of it; you can imagine as we started in 2003 and had it "mostly" done a couple years ago. Again, let us be honest, every home always has something that needs to be done or improved or addressed.
I remember the family coming to help at different parts of the "building"; helping with the log "sorting" and fitting and the puzzle of putting the logs together of the main floor; Kevin knows all about that process! Pulling up the gable ends into place, cross timbers...close to December and new snows coming...ask Steve and Kevin....miter saw proficiency in one day, Lori?...staining, painting, staining, staining....um...Mindy, Steves' growing kids....Leah helping me decide on colors and what would "fit" well...Hooks for my wall... I just want to thank you all for all your support and loving us through this big process.

Gary; his inventive spirit, patience and tenacity of getting this cabin built, what a testimony of him. He would work 12 hours in the ER, come home, sleep and then devote 4 hours to the cabin before going back into this weekend shift work. Amazing! Then we would work work work on our days off too...we sigh now.:)

We also saw our Moms' pass while we were building...a sister...we had the humbling honor of being with our Moms' passing and hearing their last heart beat as they entered Heaven.
Changes. If we live, we are guaranteed that life will change. We were blessed with three grandgals being born during this "building years"..giving us a total of 8 grandgals and One grandson.

God does not change and we serve an Awesome God, even when circumstances aren't.

The cabin?..Oh, it will stand for decades and already has during extreme storms that pass our way there in northwest Indiana. It is like a lodge or a big barn inside. He built it with a B&B in mind, so we have huge bathrooms and each area of the cabin has a different interest or personality. The huge porches that welcome frequent visits on the swing. The Mote that holds gold fish and in the past held gorgeous and large Koi. I could go on and on about this cabin that Gary built. He is an awesome husband, father and grandfather. A true man of God that I am so blessed to have shared this journey of life with and the unexpected and new adventures.
If you are in the area in the next month or so, stop by before we head south. We list it in a week and are praying a family comes to continue the journey here....we have filled the walls already with family laughter and memories. To be totally honest, we had NO idea what we were saying when we said...So, do you want to build a cabin?...
Happy Fathers' Day.. my Gary...my love... Quilted Cabin Love, Kari

Snowballs in May

It is a Wonderful Life! Shiloh is sure enjoying her ride in our journey! Quilted Love, Kari

Found It!

Today is my good and "lucky" day. I really want to pursue making reenactment clothing in the future. It would also be cool to actually get involved in them as a vendor....clothes, quilts, and Papas' talents with wood. Anyways, I found this great blog to read and keep up with. Thought I would pass it on! Quilted Love today, Kari