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Seasons of Change

December 22, 2025 hardwarelifewife 3 Comments

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens.” —Ecclesiastes

The four seasons… Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter are all marked a significant changes in how we interact with the Earth. Each season is uniquely beautiful and transformative. The never ending cycle of nature adjusting to each distinctive season.

Daffodils are one of the first to bloom in Spring, bringing our landscape back into full color.

When the seasons begin to change, so do the needs of our loyal shoppers… each of the four seasons can bring a small shift of seasonal sales. Spring begins the lawn and garden season. Summer shopping is marked by a large demand of pool chemicals, and lawn and garden products.

Flowers are in abundance during the Summer season

Fall hardware store shopping centers around the demands of preparing for cooler weather, our customers are looking for stove pipe, wood stove maintenance products, rakes, and more!

Winter, the cold months, our customers need kerosene heater maintenance, heating essentials, and Christmas gifts!!! Each of the four seasons keeps us busy with ongoing orders, and resets of seasonal supplies. We shift with each unique season.

Winter can bring cold temperatures and snow!

This reflection on the four unique seasons brought to mind the different “Seasons of Life”. We shift from season to season. I believe AGE is not necessarily a factor in these shifts in the different seasons of life.

I began to dwell on the changing of the seasons as we head into a new season, Winter.

Don’t we go through each of the four seasons as we age, possibly over and over again depending on the circumstances of your personal situation?? Hmmm… our lives are seasonal??? Can you imagine which season you are currently living through right now?

Spring as a living season is full of renewal, change, new growth, and planting. This season is marked with new beginnings… like purchasing a new home, getting married, falling in love again, beginning a family, a new career, the list is long!!! Feeling of hope abounds in the Spring season.

Summer is a time of warmer days, time feels endless. The phase can bring more growth opportunities, whereas, harvesting your hard work from the Spring season. Taking risks becomes easier, pushing harder outside comfort zone. Motivation is key.

Fall is a time to reflect. Reflection brings the opportunity to learn from mistakes, making plans for next phase, adjusting goals, noticing change, and simply enjoying the beauty around you, practicing gratitude for all things in your life.

Winter brings rest. Winter is a time to recharge your batteries. If you are in the winter season, you might be experiencing sickness, or grief. With the “stillness” of the winter season, it can often bring clarity or wisdom (looking back and having peace) from earlier seasons previously journeyed through.

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” —Ecclesiastes

Whatever season you find yourself in life’s journey, relish it. If you are currently feeling the depths of the winter season, spring will come.

Footnote: I often begin writing pieces for my blog months prior to publication.

This specific blog piece I began writing and processing prior to finding out about my diagnosis of Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer.

After reflecting on this blog piece, I’m currently in “winter”, looking forward to seeing “spring”.

Whatever season you find yourself in right now, please know that seasons change and each will not last forever. “When your heart is tired, and your spirit is worn, remember God is your rest. He will renew your strength and carry you through the storm.” Isaiah 40:29

A new journey begins, aging, blogging, breast cancer, Cancer, caregiving, challenges, change, Christmas, classic movies, community, December, family, Hardware Store Life, Home, Hometown Holidays, journey in life, Life experiences, Life In Wilkes, Resilence, The Grinch, Transitions in Life

The Grinch That Didn’t Steal My Christmas

December 15, 2025 hardwarelifewife 14 Comments

Often the Christmas Classics have an unscrupulous or “misfit”character that is central in the story. As the Christmas story unfolds, that unruly character evolves and begins to change over time, reaching a new level of understanding and empathy. The Grinch is no stranger to this scenario. The Grinch has a unique meaning for me this 2025 holiday season.

The Grinch… the neighbor North of Whoville who hated the entire Christmas season.

The Grinch…hated the thought of the people of Whoville experiencing joy on Christmas Day. He stole all of the Christmas presents, stockings, Christmas trees, feasting food and even the firewood logs!!!

The Grinch…hoped the joy of Christmas would be spoiled, every home had been emptied by him as he taken all of their possessions. But, it didn’t happen. The people of Whoville celebrated Christmas anyway.

The Grinch… eventually realized that Christmas had come without all the excitement of Christmas presents, toys, wrapping paper, and all the other components of how we often celebrate Christmas Day. Christmas was about something so much more.

The Grinch… Experiencing Cancer, sickness OR even the loss of a loved one during the holiday season. These life altering events can definitely steal the Joy of the Holiday Season and leave you feeling sad, stressed or “Grinchy”.

The Grinch…personally present for me this holiday season, but NOT stealing the hope for healing, or the joy of celebrating the holiday season with family and friends. Will the holiday look potentially different? Yes. But, so will the next few months. Meeting my care team, Surgery, radiation, and ❤️‍🩹 begin the process of healing and recovery.

The Grinch… learned that the Whoville community gathered together to celebrate what was wonderfully good about Christmas, ultimately making his heart grow bigger.

The Grinch… has nothing our own hardware community….We are blessed. I always look forward to your smiles, laughter, and conversations as you have continued to shop with us for the last 10 years. You have become a part of our family.

The Grinch… The arrival of Cancer within my own life has made me very thankful and grateful for my community of family and friends who are supporting me daily as I embark upon a journey to find wellness once again. My heart is full of strength, hope, and courage as I continue to live ONE day at a time.

The Grinch… Unable to steal Christmas away, because Christmas is so much more than the day itself. Christmas is more about tiny acts of kindness, compassion, community spirit, and finding Grace in second chance opportunities.

The Grinch… Often when sickness or grief comes, we don’t allow ourselves the opportunity to live in full grace. The daily mantra should be for us all, not just cancer patients to live ONE DAY AT A TIME. When experiencing grief, anxiety, sickness, or cancer, every single day can be challenge with ever changing health conditions, or emotions. Through God’s grace, tomorrow is a uniquely different day. Celebrate the positive days and allow ourselves to rest when we need to.

Foot Note: Earlier this month, I was officially diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer, my Grinch. This cancer was found after my regularly scheduled mammogram. I strongly encourage everyone to keep all medical screening appointments. It’s so easy to get “busy” in the moment and forget about or delay them months down the line.

My initial prognosis is good and surgery will be scheduled soon. I have two appointments this week in Winston Salem. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers over the next few months. I covet your prayers.

I know many of you that might be reading this today, have faced similar health challenges whether it was long term sickness, loss of a dear loved one, or a personal battle with cancer and can empathize with my personal situation.

Moving forward, we may find it necessary to alter our store hours to accommodate my appointments. Please be patient with us as we try to navigate this new “un-normal” phase of life for us.

Please also consider that if you reach out to our social media pages that a response might be delayed due to this new phase “unwellness” I am experiencing. That being said, If you need an immediate response to a specific product question, please call the hardware store for further assistance. We thank you for your support and understanding.

Wishing y’all a very Merry Christmas season! 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

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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!

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November

December 3, 2024 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

This November has been a month of contrasts. Warm weather marked the beginning of the month and ended the month with colder than normal temperatures.

I think you will see some definite contrast in some of the photos captured this month. The leaves are beginning to fade away as compared to the glorious autumn colors of last month’s photo gallery. November brings us a time to reflect on our blessings.

My joy this year has been found in finding Blessings in the simple things we have in our lives, like capturing a sunrise moment. Each day brings unique moments and experiences.

May you be blessed this holiday season with Thanksgiving in your heart each & every day. Happy Holidays!

First Fire of the season! About month later than usual.

**Glorious Beauty**: this old, majestic and mature tree is one of the last ones to lose leaves in our neighborhood.

**Golden Hour:** I must admit I’m not a fan of the time change but the Sunsets have been glorious at Wilkes County Hardware this month.

**Blooming Beauties** Hard to believe that flowers were still blooming in early November

**Jack Frost:** Heavy frosts set in finally in later November, the sun quickly melts it away

**Sunshine Seeker:** Joy enjoys a nap in the morning sun

**Hometown Holidays:** November kicks off the holiday season with Light Up Downtown.

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“Fall Back” Maintenance

November 1, 2024 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

Acorns are in abundance this year, according to experts were having a Mast year.

Daylight Saving Time has come to a close for the year. Our clocks turned back one hour this weekend. With this shift in time, we gain an extra hour of sleep, and gradually see those beautiful evening sunsets around 6pm. Darkness will find us earlier and the shift is often hard if you’re not prepared for it.

The “Fall Back” sunsets at Wilkes County Hardware are often spectacular!

That being said, It’s time to think about a few things that should be done around the time change of “Falling Back”, making the shift much more manageable. Sharing a few maintenance tips on the blog today for the “Fall Back” time change.

Around the House (Interior Maintenance)

Check and Change all of your batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detectors. Time changes are the best time to check these devices to make sure they are functioning properly.

It’s also good to Note: Smoke Detectors should be replaced EVERY 10 years!!!

2. Review your house and car key inventory. Make sure you have extra keys for yourself and those who need them. This is a simple one BUT, no one ever wants to be locked out of the house on a cold and wet wintry day. 😬

All types of keys are made daily inside Wilkes County Hardware… house, car, motorcycle, boat, RV, ATV keys and more!

3. Evaluate all of your light fixtures and replace any light bulbs that need replacing (indoor and outdoor) Nightfall comes much more quickly with the Fall time shift.

These are a wonderful addition to your emergency prep list!!!

**Add** **timers** to your lamps for extra safety if you arrive home after darkness has settled in for the day

4. Find your flashlights and replace batteries as needed. Prep your winter emergency kit.

Great selection of flashlights and emergency lighting at WCH

5. Replace furnace filter. Ask us to help you find your size.

An abundant supply of furnace filter sizes are available at Wilkes County Hardware.

6. Do a quick maintenance walk around your windows. Look for visual signs that windows have gaps or cracks that could impact your heating system this winter. Use caulk, gap/crack filler as a barrier to prevent cold air from penetrating into your home. Replace any broken windows or screens.

Brr!!! No one wants to be caught in the cold! 🥶

7. Fall is a good time to tackle the dryer venting system. A clean out is in order! If you haven’t cleaned out your dryer vent system in a while, now is the time to do it!

8. As cooler weather approaches, don’t forget to reverse the direction of your ceiling fans and replace batteries in your fan remote if needed. Clean fan blades.

Need a new pull chain for your ceiling fan??? We have those too!!

9. As the holidays will be approaching soon, your stove and refrigerator will appreciate a good cleaning. A total clean out of your refrigerator BEFORE the holiday season begins, the easiest way to begin the holiday cooking season! Check water filter systems on your refrigerator and replace if necessary.

Large variety of cleaning products in stock at Wilkes County Hardware

Only $3.99 for the pack!!! Great for cleaning 🧽

Works great as a stove cleaner…without heating up your oven

10. Check the function of every toilet in your home. Do you need to replace a handle, flapper or do a complete overhaul of the “guts” of the toilet???? Now is the perfect time to replace these ahead the holidays… no one wants to be plunging into that messy job with company in house.

Our plumbing area is always busy at WCH!

11. Do a quick assessment on your heating system. Do you need a supplemental heating unit? What maintenance is necessary??? Many of our customers use this time of year to prepare for cooler temperatures. Kerosene heaters are brought in for repairs/new wicks. Replace aging stove pipe, and more!

Cold weather essentials available year round at WCH

Now’s let get outside the home and enjoy the beautiful Fall weather and check out a few other things around the exterior of the property of your home.

Hope y’all can find time to unwind and relax and enjoy the beautiful Fall season!!

Around the House (Exterior Maintenance)

Add a faucet cover to your outdoor faucets. Water hoses should be stored for the winter.

A necessity before the freeze 🥶 sits in!!!

Throw away old leaky water hoses. Plan ahead… Replace them at WCH and be ready for the next season!

2. Clean Gutters of all leaves and debris

3. Complete any remaining Fall Lawn Maintenance tasks… clear leaves, other debris, etc.

4. Put away and clean lawn hand tools for the winter months.

WD-40 works great after **HAND** tools are cleaned and dirt/grime removed , spray WD-40 onto surface, let sit for a few seconds, wipe again to clean. If you need to remove rust, let it sit for a while, and then use steel wool to clean surface. It is not recommended to use this cleaning method for power tools.

5. Clean the Grill- As the grilling season begins to come to an end, for some, Fall is a great time to get your hands dirty and get that grill clean before your store it away for the winter if you don’t grill much in the colder months.

6. Be mindful of Pests! As the cooler months begin, rodents, spiders, stink bugs, and a host of others will look for ways to make way indoors. Keep debris away from house, seal gaps and cracks and be ready with pest control options if you see or hear them.

Bugs will look for places to come inside as the weather turns cold!

Car Maintenance

Tire pressure sensors often go off during the cooler months. Be ready, for those mornings to check your tire pressure with a new tire pressure gauge.

2. Be prepared and go ahead and do a Fluids check… oil, windshield wiper fluid, antifreeze, etc

3. Frosty mornings will be here to stay! Check your car for a ice/snow scraper

4. Do you have a battery charger or charger cables in your vehicle? No one wants to be out in the cold with a nonfunctional car. 😬

Air compressor and battery charger in one!!!

5. Check and replace old windshield wiper blades!

I hope that you find these tips useful as the next phase of time change occurs. What other things do you do to prepare for yourself for the time shift???

Please stop by Wilkes County Hardware for all of your hardware needs or questions. We will be glad to assist.

The Hardware Life – A wife's journey into the hardware business