Category Archives: April

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Spring 2025

June 2, 2025 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

Spring officially began on March 20th. It’s absolutely amazing to see the changes that surround our world each and everyday during the Spring season. If you blink, you could absolutely miss it! From the tiny, first buds, early flowers, greening of grass, to trees achieving full leaf maturity once again. The Earth is vibrant with the colors of Spring.

The days become longer in this season, bringing us closer to nature as we spend more time outdoors. The entire Spring process is a gradual progression of warming our outer environment all the while, warming and feeding our souls for renewal. Spring… a time of rebirth in nature and also for me. I hope you will enjoy the evolution of Spring of 2025 through my camera lens.

Floral Spring, A Peak Inside The Garden

From the earliest of blooms to the heartiest flowers beginning to emerge as the warmth begins to encompass the outdoors…

I’m personally experimenting with growing **Microgreens** for the first time!!! These gems offer a BIG nutritional boost!!!

When ready to harvest… Cut, rinse, and dry … store in refrigerator after drying thoroughly

Landscape Captures of Spring

As the early days of Spring begins… the leaves were noticeably absent, but as Spring temperatures rise, the changes begin to slowly emerge. How many slight variations can you find from beginning to end of this sequence???

Light Frost… the greening of grass begins

Spring Mountain Time…

A Spring trip back to Buck Mountain to watch these beautiful mountains grow into Spring, and oh my goodness… I’m in awe…

Cicadas…

The arrival of Cicadas in our neighborhood this year is a first. My initial, first memories of these bugs dates back to my childhood playing in my grandparents front yard listening to the consistent, noisy music of these creatures in Elkin, oblivious to their impact on the surrounding landscape.

Now, in present day, each time I go out my back door, those childhood memories come flooding back to the forefront, of those past, playful days, and now, in the process of adding new memories of cicadas in my garden.

I completed a of research about how cicadas life cycle to learn more about the impact of these creatures. My poor little dog, Cookie is so intent on hunting these critters each trip outside that it has become almost impossible for her to accomplish her “natural business”because she gets so distracted by them.

Finding Bigfoot

The legend is strong, about the wandering Sasquatch, in our foothills… Can you believe that he has been spotted at our local grocery store this Spring??? I simply couldn’t resist taking a moment to grab a quick peek for myself and a couple of pics.

Happy Springtime everyone!!! Hope it has been an adventure filled season for you as well!

April, August, Autumn, blogging, Blue Ridge Mountains, December, End of Year Reflection, Fall, Fall photography, February, finding inspiration, Hardware Store Life, January, journey in life, July, June, Life experiences, Life In Wilkes, March, May, memories, Natural World, NC Mountains, November, October, photography favorites, southern living, Spring, Spring photography, Summer, Summer Photography, sunrise photography, Western North Carolina, winter, Winter Photography, Works in Progress

2024 Photography Favorites

January 24, 2025 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

Beginning in early 2024, I wrote these opening lines: “I have decided to take this year and document and capture memories… from our everyday life activities. Everything isn’t glamorous, we work long hours, 6 days a week, but Richard and I find time to share and unwind. I hope you enjoy a few of my favorite collected moments via photography.”

What a journey it has been! Here’s a look at a few of my photo favorites from each month in 2024. Below each photograph, I will include the original link to each month from 2024, in case you missed it or would like to see more photos from each month.

Time passes like clouds in the sky…

Winter Gives away to Spring…

Bringing forth the Hues of Summer…

Summer fades into Fall…

Different minutes of the same hour it seems in 2024. Thanks for the memories!

April, blogging, flowers, garden, gardening, hardware store, Hardware Store Life, Home, hummingbirds, Natural World, seaonal change, Shop Local, southern living, Spring, Spring Gardening

Hummingbird Season

April 23, 2024 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

Excitement and anticipation… emotions from a few weeks ago upon the first spotting of a tiny hummingbird! My first little hummingbird zipped right by me as I sat on my back porch. It signaled my brain that it was time to get busy and get my feeder out ASAP! I busily hurried along to find my feeder, throughly cleaned it, and began my first batch of clear nectar.

Are y’all ready for hummingbird season? Here in North Carolina our season officially begins each year around Late March – mid April. Ideally, it’s a good time to place your hummingbird feeder out around tax season, April 15th as they are warm season birds.

If you haven’t prepared for your tiny visitors yet, you can visit us at Wilkes County Hardware for a great hummingbird season. We have already had a few questions regarding hummingbirds… feeders, etc.

Did you know that hummingbirds tend to return to the same areas as the previous year? Hummingbirds are migratory birds and they will be eager to find a full feeder. Hummingbirds will return to the same source of food each and every year, if it is readily available. Be ready with a clean, full feeder for your favorite little hummers.

Stained glass hummingbird now available inside Wilkes County Hardware

Creating A Hummingbird Habitat in your own backyard

1. Hummingbird feeders ideally should be placed 15-20 feet from a window. Shrubs and trees nearby for resting areas for hummingbirds as they feed, and a have water source close by like a bird bath or a fountain.

2. Hummingbird Feeders should be cleaned out every few days as the temperature begins to warm up and feeder should not be placed into full sun.

3. Hummingbirds will be attracted to all the beautiful colors in your yard/garden. Bright and vibrant flowers that can attract hummingbirds like Vines, and tubular flowers and some perennials are welcome sources of nectar.

Plant a variety of flowers to keep hummers, bees and butterflies happy all season long!

4. Your Hummingbird feeder should be easily visible for your enjoyment and easy to spot by the hungry little hummingbird.

A Shepherd’s hook is a great way to showcase your new hummingbird feeder from Wilkes County Hardware

5. Be patient, it may take several weeks before you notice any little hummers at your feeder. Leave your feeder in place for a least two weeks before moving it to a different location.

6. Lastly, use CLEAR nectar in your feeder only. Yes, hummingbirds love the color red, but nectar is clear in its most natural form like the beautiful red, tubular flowers that hummingbirds love to feed from in nature. If you wish to attract more hummers, then go for a red hummingbird feeder and clear nectar.

April, blogging, Crockpot Cooking, Hardware Store Life, Home, recipe, soup, southern cooking, Southern food, southern living, Spring, stew, supper

Pork Stew

April 21, 2024 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

My grandparents grew up during the Great Depression. The one thing I learned from them was never to be wasteful with food. Granny always saved the smallest portion of food and they used leftovers at the next meal often as a new side dish. It wasn’t always a “reheat and eat” type of side dish… They also used leftovers as a soup or even made a casserole. Waste wasn’t part of growing up during the Great Depression. Everything was used to the fullest extent.

I must admit, leftovers do get away from me sometimes, and they end up not being eaten before the expiration. I created this recipe out of necessity, using what I had on hand in the refrigerator and using up my leftovers.

Leftovers are a great opportunity to experiment with pantry staples and mixing in your leftovers. Challenge accepted!

As you review my recipe, please feel free to add your leftover veggies, pantry staples, and spice blends into this recipe to make it your own. This would be similar to a Taco Soup flavor profile or Mexican Chicken Soup as far tasting and key ingredients. Enjoy!

Pork Stew Ingredients:

-Leftover pork chops or chopped pork (2 grilled pork chops cubed )

-Chili powder, red pepper, black pepper, salt (1/2 tsp each ) I used these to make a blend of spices to sprinkle over pork chops

– Canned salsa or Rotel (I had 1/2 can salsa left so I used it)

– 3/4 c Button Mushrooms diced (sauté in soup pot with dried onion and dash of Italian seasoning)

– Shredded carrots (1/4 c)

– Beef bullion cube- see note below

– Water 2 cups ( Note: 2 cups of beef stock can replace water and beef bullion)

– 1 can dark red kidney beans (drained)

– 1 can White beans (drained)

– Tomato sauce (1 small can)

– Handful of Frozen corn (leftover roasted or grilled corn would definitely add to the dimension of flavor)

Prep and Make: Easy Stove top recipe or even Crockpot

1. Sauté mushrooms in spices (dried onion and Italian seasoning) in your large soup pot.

2. Add shredded carrots and sauté for a few minutes. Add the diced leftover pork chops, add black pepper/chili powder spice blend. This spice blend will give it a nice kick. Reduce the red pepper flakes to 1/4 tsp to reduce spice.

3. Pour in salsa or Rotel. Stir well. Add water and beef bouillon cube or beef stock (see note above)

4. Add tomato sauce, all drained beans and a handful of frozen corn. Stir well. Simmer on low until vegetables are cooked.

5. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese and cornbread.

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Earth Day 2024

April 21, 2024 hardwarelifewife 2 Comments

Everyday is Earth Day! April 22nd is the Day we officially designate as Earth Day. The first Earth Day was celebrated back in 1970. Fast forward into 2024, our Earth is still as beautiful as ever! Sharing a few photos of all Earthly things that make our Earthly home just a little bit sweeter… All Things Bright and Beautiful. Remember to take care of our Earth. Enjoy!