Fabulous Fall, Alluring Autumn, so many ways to love this pending season!
September 23, 2022, is the official arrival of autumn, just around that bend in that muddy country road!
Sage Hill was greeted with an early morning rain-thinking it was past, I’m off for a long walk only to be proven wrong!
However, I was in the right place at the right time for the right reason.
Nothing is more impressive than to be caught in the rain and just like that an old abandoned church.
The message I came away with, no matter how harsh the outside world may be, our Heavenly Father always provides shelter from the storms.
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The world, our country, our own backyards, the gardens at Sage Hill….all in transition!
In my world, I will embrace the lessons, and use the gifts of nature to inspire…..
Denounce the evil that lurks to take it all away, Never, forget, we must live in this world, we don’t have to conform to the wrongs.
~~ Tablescapes to compliment the season—why not?
Fig and Peach Jam for the holidays and maybe a Santa gift in a stocking!
While I was catching up on chores I slow-cooked a beef brisket/new potatoes/carrots/onions
An arrowroot gravy—- and for the leftover brisket after a couple of days…a tangy/sweet fig sauce/drizzle and warm under the broil setting for a few minutes and serve on a French bread/roll.
My day is done—-Joe Biden is still the worst president in all of history~
God is still in charge—it ain’t over!!
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When one plays on Wednesday, one doubles up on chores come Thursday!
I am allowing for a lunch break…Frozen Yogurt with chopped figs and Jalapeno and Lime syrup!!
(take a lesson Nancy-yogurt doesn’t make you fat!)
I did start my day with an excellent Italian breakfast.
Fresh eggs, chopped Roma tomato, pepper and onion, fresh ground oregano, sea salt, peppercorns, and a pinch of cayenne and basil.
I sprinkled with fresh grated Parmesan, just a sprinkle!
An Omelette or Frittata to envy! (roughly translates to “fried!” in Italian)
For all my Italian and Italian-loving friends. Gloria D’Eliso Mount!
The grounds and gardens at Sage Hill are busy preparing for the celebration!
As much as I love the summer gardens, the sun, the fresh foods, and the easy day-to-day journey of barefeet, shorts, and tacky tee shirts! I have no trouble letting go. (well, maybe the tomatoes and cucumbers!!)
I planted and was looking forward to watching my pumpkins grow, however, those pumpkin seeds turned out to be squash, all of them??
Another infiltration into disrupting and discouraging small farmers? The manipulation of our seed industry has been heavy and mighty over the last few years!
(that’s for another post!)
As for now, the little things demand the spotlight.
When one is a Road Blogger and travel gets hijacked, one goes in search of local gems we so often take for granted.
This weekend is Blackberry Festival time in a quaint little town about 40 minutes from Sage Hill.
Lynnville, Tn., is a very small community/town with a lot to blog about.
The Blackberry Festival is filled with street vendors, farmers’ markets, live music, food trucks, and blackberries everywhere in everything!
Oh…and my favorite…Porsche Car Club from Alabama!
Soda Pop Junction is another favorite, best food in all the land! (except in the Sage Hill Kitchen of course!)
~
Some of the photo credits go to the Lynnville Blackberry Festival committee.
Some are my own.
Clydesdales to Traci Gawlik.
Nursing Students from UT were on hand!
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Meanwhile, I was busy back at Sage Hill with my own berry project…Blueberry Syrup!
Oh yeah, baby!!
There are times when we just have to take the day and make it AWESOME!
My day in pictures.
It was 8 AM and the blueberry bushes were calling for help! ( I did apply my lipstick…it brightens my day!)
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1/2 gallon of berries and a few other things followed me inside!
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New blooms scattered around the grounds, mostly in the perennial bed designed to feed the butterflies.
Zinnias were supposed to be Giants??
All it needs is a party! bring gloves and workboots!
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Cucumbers have gone mad! ~~~ Serves no purpose except to share its gorgeous colors.
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12:30 PM, let’s have lunch!
When you have to make a trip out of town, why not make it an interesting one.
Breakfast and coffee of course at home, early morning pickings from the gardens.
AND…
a call to Washington, DC., to voice my displeasure and expectations today on the latest Gun Grab from the left and the traitorous RHINOs!
U.S Representative Dr. Scott DesJarlais
2301 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6831
Fax: (202) 226-5172
e-mail
http://desjarlais.house.gov
As you can see, still no cabinet doors…much closer than we were!
Finally got the estimate for the backsplash and installation.
Back to Lowes, signed the contract, paid the tab and it should be in by next Thursday, hopefully, the install goes as quickly! They don’t foresee a long wait time…
Speaking of waiting, if Lowes expects me to sit and wait, they really must change the decor, that umbrella is depressing, and who needs that!
I do find them very good to work with. Pleasant, helpful, and timely.
All things considered, the cost has not been too far out!
Thanks to Joe Biden/the fake president from hell….life is a challenge like none we’ve ever faced!
After a quick tour of the grounds and finding no major upsets-it was time for a stable breakfast, grounding thoughts, and Good Coffee!
It’s June, it’s hot, and it’s imperative we keep tabs on our health status.
Stay hydrated and eat strong immune-supporting foods. (no, donuts do not qualify!)
Eggs? Oh yeah…fruits? please…fresh veggies from the garden? In my kitchen for sure.
Picky on grains and grain-based foods, pancakes, biscuits, waffles, etc. (check out ancient grains and honey over refined sugar)
(once a week on these foods and we are good)
Keep tabs on the Recipe section of this website…some new ones coming.
Today my errands took me to another county, Lawrenceburg, the county seat of Lawrence County and the largest city on the state’s southern border between Chattanooga and Memphis. It lies on the banks of the Shoal Creek and the beautiful Natchez Parkway is close by, about 17 miles east of the city. It is also home to Laurel Hill Lake.
A lot of interesting history if one is inclined to track and read.
One of the best restaurants in the state…if you should ask my opinion!
“The Brass Lantern”, is the mother restaurant of all the Legend restaurants.
The Brass Lantern has a gorgeous new makeover, really very nice…and the food is always gourmet style on a down-home level!
Steaks are divine!
Cheesecakes are sinful! (I have since asked forgiveness!
If you are nearby, you probably know the goodness…if you are new to the area, make sure you check-in and get to know the awesome folks and their food!
Summer is hanging out in the Sage Hill Gardens!
Stop in if you are in the neighborhood!
Backroads, Offroads, Sideroads, or Country roads, are known by many names.
If you appreciate the many unique and totally wonderful things, landscapes, and people to be encountered-
it takes day trips and long journeys to another level!
Time to travel!
From Sage Hill to Guntersville Lake (Guntersville, Al.,( near Gadsen) for those unfamiliar with the area, is 2 hours by backroads.
About an hour and a half on the straight route.
Cool and pretty!
The climb is short but sweet! SAND MOUNTAIN is a sandstone plateau in northeastern Alabama and (to a far lesser extent) northwestern Georgia and southeastern Tennessee where the plateau is known as Raccoon Mountain and Elder Mountain. It is part of the southern tip of the Appalachian mountain chain and it is the largest plateau in the chain. Geologically a continuation of Walden Ridge, Sand Mountain is part of the Cumberland Plateau, separated from the main portion of the plateau by the Tennessee River and Sequatchie Valley. The average elevation on Sand Mountain is around 1,500 feet (460 m) above sea level, compared to about 650 feet (200 m) in the surrounding area. This elevation leads to its having the coolest climate in the state of Alabama. The largest city on Sand Mountain is Albertville, in Marshall County.
My trip started early, was beautiful, green, and had little traffic to contend with…works for me!
Guntersville Lake and the lake area is exquisite but rather simple in regards to (fluff and pomp)
It has all the elements of ease, beauty, fresh and gourmet fringes.
Big, big lake!
(Top Of The River) restaurant is A+ all the way, two levels of wide-open spacious dining, overlooking the lake front.
Super neat, clean, unadorned, great service and delicious food…no greasy residue anywhere.
Fried Catfish, (clean and crispy) Hushpuppies (they rival New Orleans finest) my kind of slaw and great coffee! This little plate soon had a small serving of coleslaw and black-iron skillet cornbread!
There are lake homes in the $$$$$$$$$-millions, but my favorites are the smaller, Craftsman style -built with a Row House feel…still pricey but doable, if we sold the farm and pawned the kids! Mercy!!
I did some fun shopping, ate fruit pops and remembered my dear friend Shirley Mitchelle, her home is near-by.
(wherever you are, I love and miss you!)
Time to head home….hope you enjoy my day as much as I did!
This little plate soon had a small serving of coleslaw and black-iron skillet cornbread!
