WOW!

Well folks, watch for the new Fall issue of Mercantile Gatherings. One of Giles' log cabin birdhouses is on the cover! WOW!
Sharon Blanton bought it from us at a show last year in Kentucky. Sure is exciting to see one
of his special creations out there for lots of folks to see.

If you like the birdhouse, let us know and Giles will be happy to make one for you. It probably won't be exact, but it will be special!

Blessings...

HELP!

HELP!
See that big ole braided rug? See where it is? After a minor 'flood' in our basement, the rug got
a little wet...Giles spread the rug out on the grass yesterday to let it get some sunshine and dry
better...Well, I didn't think anymore about the rug since it's too heavy for me to lift...I figured Giles would put it back in the basement when he came back up to the cabin. NOT! Imagine my horror this morning when I looked outside and there was my rug...WET... again. Because it rained last night, and this morning! Now the rug is soooo wet and has a few mildew spots on it.
Please, if anyone knows how I can clean the mildew on a big, wool braided rug, give me a holler!

Walk down 'Memory Lane'

What a special day! Not a big, fancy celebration...just a quiet day spent talking about the day we became Mr & Mrs, 44 years ago. We started down 'memory lane' with a simple breakfast, then puttered around town checking out local antique spots, drove up a few little roads to explore the countryside, visited our son, and then back home. Off & on during the day, we would look at the time and recall what we were doing at a particular time all those years ago. I will admit that today was a much more relaxing day than our actual wedding day... This evening, I requested that we have dinner at home...so, as we ate a scrumptious steak dinner we continued our recollections of our wedding and agreed that these 44 years have been awesome...a few bumps here & there, but not enough to consider. These years have strengthened our bond, given us two wonderful children, a sweet son-in-law and three special grandboys! We have spent countless hours talking and laughing and agree that those are traits everyone should adopt to make their marriage a lasting, loving journey. I think sometimes, we need to celebrate the anniversary of events with simple tasks in order to have the time to focus on the actual reason we're celebrating...We cherish each other and the specialness of our union 44 years ago...we pray for many more years together, talking and laughing and loving one another...And we give Thanks for years past...AMEN

Mountain Memories Show

We're getting ready for our next show and hope you will join us in Kentucky on Saturday, May 29th...you can get more info by clicking on the link under our listed shows. Hope we see you
there! Blessings...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Three years ago, I made a choice I will regret forever... We had the chance to do a show on Mother's Day weekend that would put us too far away to get back to visit my mother on her special day. For the first time in my life, I was not with my mother on Mother's Day. It was the last time I would have the chance to take her for lunch, give her the card and flowers I usually gave, and to hug her and tell her how much I loved her. The phone call I made wasn't enough...I was filled with guilt and sadness. I don't think I will ever be rid of that guilt and every Mother's Day I will deal with that sadness. I'm sorry mama! I miss you and love you!

Please don't miss the opportunity to spend this Sunday with your mother...It may be her last. It may be your last. GIVE MOM A HUG FOR ME!

To my family, friends, customers, and all those who have the honor of knowing the place children have in our hearts...BLESS YOU AND HAVE A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

A bronze beauty!

Now, the bottom pics are a sample of the Iris we have throughout the yard...BUT the bronze beauty at top just appeared out of nowhere. We moved a few iris plants last year, but they

were all purple/blue ones. Today, I looked out from the porch and asked Giles if that was an

Iris that had turned brown or if it was one with a bronze/brown look. Low & behold, it was BRONZE....Beautiful...and it's right there among those that we moved...among the blues and purples...the pic doesn't do it justice at all, but take my word that this is a BRONZE BEAUTY! (by the way...I found one similar that's called Born Again...I think that's what happened to our purple Iris..LOL)