Author Archives: mdjlrnc

Pennsylvania and Back

Posted on October 3, 2023 by mdjlrnc

Dana and I spent part of last week in Lancaster, PA at a small town pastors’ conference put on by Rural Home Missionary Association. We had gone a couple of years ago and enjoyed it so much we had to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cat, Food, Friends, hiking, Nature, State Parks, Travel | Leave a comment

Aliens and Artwork

Posted on September 12, 2023 by mdjlrnc

Jenna had a little visitor on her car today. That is a hag moth caterpillar. Cute and creepy. And also known as a monkey slug. And supposedly toxic. Or maybe it’s an alien after all. As I’ve spent some time … Continue reading →

Posted in Baking, Cooking, Family, Nature | Leave a comment

Turnovers

Posted on August 25, 2023 by mdjlrnc

I tried my hand at fruit turnovers today. Jenna and I both think the dough could have a little more flavor: More salt? Real butter vs. vegetable butter? But the texture, i.e. flakiness, was just about right. The other issue … Continue reading →

Posted in Baking, Cat, Food, School | Leave a comment

What Goes Up Must Come Down

Posted on August 12, 2023 by mdjlrnc

We (myself, Jenna, Jacob, Lauren, Garrett, Rebekah, and Micah) completed our third annual “Second Weekend in August” hike today. We stuck closer to home and started our hike in the Fires Creek Wilderness Area, not too far from where we … Continue reading →

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Those Brief Moments

Posted on August 6, 2023 by mdjlrnc

It’s August. And August reminds me of those brief moments now that the kids are grown when schedules align to allow all of us to be in western North Carolina at the same time. Camp is over. School has not … Continue reading →

Posted in Baking, Camp, Car, Cat, Celebration, Family, Seasons, Swimming | Leave a comment

Gorges State Park

Posted on July 28, 2023 by mdjlrnc

Dana had a Friday off, so we drove over to Brevard last night. Other than driving through a hail storm going over Franklin Mountain, it was an enjoyable drive. Looking for something very local, we ate at Brevard Diner last … Continue reading →

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Cars, Small Towns, and The Tow Truck Guy

Posted on July 24, 2023 by mdjlrnc

The black car wouldn’t start. It wasn’t the battery. Starter? Clutch? Rat chewed through the wires? I’ve never been very handy with cars, so a tow truck it is. The two truck guy has been here before when the minivan … Continue reading →

Posted in Car, Community, Garden | 1 Comment

Flowers

Posted on July 20, 2023 by mdjlrnc

Our zinnias and sunflowers have started blooming. And the cherry tomato plant really needs to get a little bigger. 🙂

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Baking

Posted on July 15, 2023 by mdjlrnc

I have been trying my hand at a little baking. We have a new couple at church from Germany, and he and I have been talking about baking. He sent me a video of a fairly easy method to make … Continue reading →

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Texas Trip

Posted on July 5, 2023 by mdjlrnc

We have returned from our annual pilgrimage to Texas. We had a great time seeing family—and a few friends. We put 3000+ miles on the new car and unlike after last year’s trip in the little black car, we were … Continue reading →

Posted in Camp, Cooking, Family, Food, Friends, Garden, Golf, mushrooms, Travel, Vacation | Leave a comment