Anticipating 'the best days'

Before

Done with Christmas Past...and 2018...

After

Looking forward to 2019----“What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't even happened yet.” (Anne Frank)
Isn't it ironic that this young lady penned these words of hope in the desperate times in which she lived.
Likewise, we have a sure hope despite what some would call desperate times today...or tomorrow...

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

"waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13)

Happy New Year!

Contradistinction: Fall in the South

Early November, 2018, mid North Carolina:

VS

He has made everything beautiful in its time.            (Ecclesiastes 3:11) 

Granny's Pantry #51: Autumn of '18

"How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days."
(John Burrows)

October at the Cow Palace

"From its headwaters near Blowing Rock, the Yadkin River flows east and then south across North Carolina’s densely populated midsection. It travels 203 miles — passing farmland [the High Rock Cole farm]; draining the urban landscapes of Winston-Salem, Statesville, Lexington and Salisbury; and fanning through seven man-made reservoirs...High Rock is the first and largest of the Yadkin chain lakes" [http://www.yadkinriverkeeper.org]

After Hurricane Michael

Looking north toward High Rock Dam. Crossing the bridge above the boiling river was a daunting task.

Looking south toward Tuckertown.
The aftermath of two fully open gates and two partially opened.
This water was rushing right by Granny and Granddaddy Cole's farm.

But mightier than the sound of much water, mightier than the sea's waves, mighty on high is the LORD!
Psalm 93:4 (CEB)

Granny's Pantry #50 Turkey Home?

She's feeling much better, but she walks with a limp.

She's been released to the wild.  But...
It doesn't look like she wants to leave the comforts of the farm at High Rock.
There is food...

and there are friends...

In 1972, researchers began a turkey reintroduction project in Massachusetts. Ten years later, the researchers found that, " The turkeys that figured out how to thrive in tandem with human activity were dramatically more likely to survive tough winters than those who stuck to the woods" (Y. Appelbaum,  The Atlantic, 11/25/2015).

I think the High Rock turkey read the article. I think she may have found a new home.

In My Father's house are many dwelling places;
if it were not so, I would have told you;
for I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

Update 8.4.18
Apparently, the call of the wild was just too strong. She has been gone about a month. Happy Trails, Turkey Lady!

Granny's Pantry #49 Turkey Hunt?

According to realtree.com, "the traditional way to hunt spring turkeys is with a shotgun and because of that, many serious turkey hunters have a dedicated "turkey gun.." 
At least that's what most folks think of when they think of a turkey hunt.
According to outdoorlife.com, "Sometimes turkey hunting is like magic..."
Just like this story.
Once upon a time, during turkey season, there was a turkey lady with a hurt foot. A brave hunter came along who was fair and had a soft heart. He and his lovely daughter rescued the turkey lady with the hurt foot. Not wanting to sidestep any regulations of the kingdom concerning hurt turkeys, they called the wildlife office. But alas, the turkey failed to qualify for turkey rehabilitation, and so the brave hunter took matters into his own hands.     

Not wanting the turkey lady to become coyote dessert, the hunter took the turkey lady to High Rock and checked her into a turkey hotel for rest and recuperation. 
But the story gets better. One day the hunter discovered the turkey lady had laid 2 large turkey sized eggs. And then, while walking in the yard of High Rock, the hunter found another large egg lying on the ground....this time a peacock egg. 
And so he slipped the peacock egg underneath the turkey along with her own eggs. And there she sits today...waiting for her diverse family to hatch. 
Will this be another Ugly Duckling-like happy ending?   Stay tuned.

Update:  We have baby turkeys...6-8 (not sure of exact count yet). Don't think the peacock egg hatched. The pics are not good, as she is a vigilant mother! Look closely at the red arrows.

Update to the update. Unfortunately, the baby turkeys didn't make it. The fell prey as so many small things do on the farm. And when mama turkey recovered, one day she just disappeared. We like to think she's back in the wild with another family to enjoy.

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, 
and when he saw him,
he had compassion. (Luke 10:33)

Granny's Pantry #48 Spring at High Rock 2018

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. [H. Borland]

And so it is true of High Rock.

Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” (Hosea 6:3)

Carolina Waves

God is our refuge and strength,
  a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
  though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
 though its waters roar and foam,
  though the mountains tremble at its swelling. (Psa. 46:1-3)

O Lord God of hosts,
    who is mighty as you are, O Lord,
    with your faithfulness all around you?
You rule the raging of the sea;

    when its waves rise, you still them. (Psa. 89:8-9)

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

    I awake, and I am still with you. (Psa. 139: 17-18)

Your way was through the sea,
    your path through the great waters;
 yet your footprints were unseen. (Psa. 77:19)
   

Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
    mightier than the waves of the sea, 
 the Lord on high is mighty! (Psa. 93:4)

[Carolina Beach FBC Women's Retreat, 2018--ESV]

Granny's Pantry # 47 Life at High Rock in 1941

A letter from Freda Cole to her daughter, nicknamed Biddie, on May 15, 2941. Freda (Granny Cole) was at High Rock and Biddie was at Pfeiffer College. 

A small window into life at High Rock in 1941.

                                                           Thursday Morn.

Dearest Biddie¹,

       






Just a few lines this morning, we are so rushed, The roomers have gone for good² and we are trying to get the house back to normal. Ruth³ says she has no bee material here, its all stored at Odell,⁴ so sorry. Dady said he would like for you to come home but since you hafto go back Sat, perhaps you better stay,⁵ you know it wont be long any more. Any way we haven’t anything good to eat yet  The strawberries all went to grass last summer but Brooks⁶ is starting some new  I will  have plenty of fried chickens by the time you come home. We will come to see you as soon as possible and I will send you some money soon. I haven’t got to buy my chix⁷ yet, put my money all in bed, springs etc. ha

       Be real sweet and Ruth and I will try and have the house cleaned when you come

       Love & kisses

                    Freda⁸                  

¹Martha Virginia—Freda Cole’s youngest child

²Not sure why Freda and Albert took in boarders in the early 40's---maybe related to persons who guarded the High Rock Dam, as Albert did, or possibly railroad workers maybe for income—Freda was very industrious

³Ruth Elizabeth Cole—Freda and Albert’s oldest child

⁴The place in NC where Ruth had her first teaching job

⁵“Biddie” is in college at Pfeiffer Jr. College, Meisenheimer, NC (about 15 miles from High Rock)

⁶Albert Brooks—Freda and Albert’s middle child

⁷Baby chickens

⁸Freda Mae Morgan Cole (Granny Cole)—married to Albert Milton Cole (Granddaddy Cole) of High Rock

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, 

so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
(Colossians 4:6)

Winter White

I'm stuck in colder weather...maybe tomorrow will better 

[Zac Brown et al]

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Home

Old Kitchen

snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago [C. Rossetti]

Necessary

The Pit

 Smokehouse

  The very fact of snow is such an amazement. [R. Ebert]     

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"Come now let us reason together, says the LORD; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool."
[Isaiah 1:18]