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March Photo Favorites

March 3, 2024 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

Scripture for March :

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

I took a series of photos on the morning of March 1st during this spectacular sunrise. I posted a few of these directly on my Facebook page without edits. My mom and dad noticed the eagle in the background in a few of the pictures from the series of shots. She had texted me about the pictures I had posted and told me to go look for it… A few other Facebook friends commented on the eagle as well… It was a very sweet surprise for me and maybe a message that It’s Time to Soar in the Month of March.

A HUGE thank you to all who continue to support my blog by reading and sharing. An even bigger blessing, my family and friends who are consistently the wind beneath my wings offering endless support, love and encouragement. Thank you.

I hope you enjoy the photos from my day to day activities in the month of March.

**Searching for Signs of Spring**… Piper and I always use this Willow tree as a reference for the arrival of spring along the Greenway. The first tiny leaves are forming as we walked on March 2nd.

March 5th! What a difference a few days make!

**All Damned Up…** a huge pile of brush and tree limbs are pushed up against this tree, beaver 🦫 busy at work or excessive rain????

**“Leafing Up**” By March 30th some trees have a good base of leaves

**Green Acres… well probably not like the tv show** 😂**. Planting in progress on the fields along the Greenway Trails**

**Hiding In the Mist**… a foggy Sunday morning March 3rd

**Drop In**… Rain has been fairly abundant in the month of March.

**Awakening**… March mornings often bring a crisp, cool feeling that brings you awake immediately after walking outdoors.

On the Home Front…

**Hello Buttercup…** My mother-in-law always called these yellow daffodils buttercups. These mini daffodils are in full bloom in early March in my front flower garden.

**Forcing branches of Forsythia bloomed almost immediately! Will definitely do this again next year!**

**In case you missed this earlier blog post…** https://hardwarelifewife.com/2024/03/06/forsythia-spring-is-here/

**Tomato, lentil and vegetable soup** (keeper recipe)

**First attempt at making a Burnt Cheesecake, no crust on bottom! Delicious and easy. Will definitely make again!**

**Reinventing the BLT… Bacon, spinach, avocado, tomatoes and ranch(out of mayo** 🤪**) I asked Benjamin if he wanted me to make him a sandwich, he said no… it had too many vegetables on it**😂

**Pineapple Casserole for Easter… Thank you Ashley Frazier for sharing your recipe for Pineapple Casserole! It was simply delicious!**

**Hey Bud! I**t’s a beautiful sight to see the our trees beginning to bud out

**Time to plant**… getting my hands dirty again and putting these in my planters in March

**Finding Clover** https://hardwarelifewife.com/2024/03/17/finding-clover/

**Spring has replaced the winter gloom, with abundant blooms… Bradford Pears in full bloom everywhere!**

**The Pick of the Crop… Annual Tulip picking trip** 🌷

**Opening** **and closing act… once tulips fully bloom and open, the flower petals don’t last much longer**

**Cookie and Joy: These two always enjoy #Nationalpuppyday March 23rd**

**Bunny building…, it has been fun creating new Easter pieces for this Easter season**

What’s have we been streaming in March???

1. Apple TV: Finished Masters of Air, began Manhunt, and Palm Royale.

2. Max- The Great Pottery Throw Down, you don’t have to be a lover of all things pottery to enjoy this show, it’s a fantastic competition based show with amazing art in progress

3. Hulu Live: March Madness… basketball games! 🏀, The Food That Built America, Lady Bird Diaries, and also streaming our favorite weekly shows.

4. Netflix: The Gentlemen

At the Hardware Store…

**Chopping Wood still a necessity on the cooler days of March**

**Beautiful afternoons in March… front door open to let the fresh air and sunshine inside**

**Adding a bit of color to the ladder wall**

**Stacking out new merchandise for Spring and Summer**

**Count Me In! The jellybeans are counted and ready for your guess! Congrats to Jane Will for winning the hummingbird feeder!**

**Did you know that you can shop our shelves at Carolina Treasures on Main??? You can find me there checking on the shelves regularly**

**Who’s ready to dig into the dirt????**

Wayne announced his retirement on March 25, 2024.

Wayne Matherly has been an amazing asset to our business as well as a mentor to both of us for the last 8 1/2 years. It’s simply hard to imagine life without him at Wilkes County Hardware.

Richard and I have been blessed with Wayne’s leadership and presence, as he shared and we received a small part of his knowledge. He taught us both so much about various areas of the hardware store. His vast experience with locks and keys, plumbing,and Wayne’s knowledge of lawn and garden has not been wasted… we have soaked up all the time and experience we could with Wayne.

They say that “Age is a just number”but, I know when the numbers begin to grow in size, our bodies often tell us to slow down a bit. Wayne, we definitely honor your wishes to slow down.

So what do you do when a piece of your heart goes home??? I’m not sure… but we plan to celebrate this new milestone of retirement with Wayne soon, honoring his wishes on how he chooses to do so.

Congratulations to Wayne, on a long career in the hardware industry. You will surely be missed dearly by all of us and hoping that you know that you have left a legacy of hardware excellence behind. We love you always! 💕

**Wayne at work through the years… 2015-2024**

As our month of March concludes, Wayne is soaring into retirement and I’m drawn back to the scripture that I began the month with for strength and courage as we begin a new chapter in our business.

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

blogging, February, Fighting The Winter Blues, Hand washing dishes, Hardware Store Life, heart health, Home, memories, Natural World, photography favorites, southern living, Spring photography, sunrise photography, TV streaming, winter, Winter Photography

February Photos

February 27, 2024 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

February… the shortest month of the year, and this year in 2024, Leap Year! February acts as a bridge month between the end of the winter season to the coming of Spring and time change.

I hope that your month of February was filled with sunshine, joy, love, and kindness. Onward to March and Spring! Here’s a few of my February favorites from 2024.

Favorite February Photo Captures

**Blue Skies**… dotted our path along the Greenway, the water was remarkably still in several places along our path.

**Trailing Behind**… Contrails marked the morning skies February 5th

**Between Two Trees** … Sunrise February 8th

**Touchdown!** Clouds reaching down towards the mountains on a rainy February Monday

**A New Beginning**… Fantastic Friday morning sunrise in February!

**Sunday Reset…**The weekend offers a chance to recharge, refresh and reset your energy levels. This Sunday evening sunset didn’t disappoint. I’m definitely enjoying the later sunset times… Spring will be coming soon!

**Pushing Up…** I almost walked right over this blooming beauty! This tiny little flower has found its space inside the concrete sidewalk.

**Blue Skies…** Late February has brought warmer temperatures in the afternoon and bright blue skies.

**Cat Walk …** as we walk on the Greenway we often spot the feral cats 🐈‍⬛. Here’s one enjoying the morning sunshine after trees have been cut down along the border of the Greenway near Smoot Park.

**Simply “Purrfect”** … this kitty found the perfect place to enjoy a bit of morning sunshine

Creating in February

**Making bread…** tackling another challenge and it was fun, and tasty!

**Glazing Success!!!** I created/made this acorn last fall. It was one of the first pieces that I made on my own at home. I had lots of help with the finishing touches from Kim Reid. After much discussion it went into the kiln for last firing in February. Thanks Kim!

**Bunny Building**… learning to create something new with one of my besties!

The Hardware Store… Favorite Photos from February

**All Keyed Up**… Key Contest fun inside Wilkes County Hardware this month… 353 keys inside the jar and yes, I counted them 🤪

Finding flowers inside the hardware store!

End cap switch out… right side was winter set

End cap switch out… getting ready for spring

Spring Refresh continues by adding a touch of green to the front.

I love this one with the bunny on top! What a great way to welcome Spring into your home!

Meanwhile back at the ranch…

My dishwasher died this month and hand washing the dishes has become a daily task until a replacement is found… here’s a few thoughts on the blog about hand washing dishes in case you missed it this monthhttps://hardwarelifewife.com/2024/02/12/all-washed-uphand-washing-dishes-a-chore-or-a-pleasant-dish-traction/

New dishwasher ordered and installed by my boys February 25th.

I make up the bed everyday and these two enjoy putting the pillows and blankets where they want them 🙄. It’s a “ruff 🐶 life.”

Framing up a few favorite photos this February

Bingo! Well, not this time, but we had fun playing with friends!

I’ve been reading and researching about the 5 pockets of Centenarians found across the globe… called the Blue Zones. Each of these groups share similar characteristics that have increased their longevity. Netflix also has a documentary on the subject. Fascinating topic!!!

Find the link to my last blog post which ties in nicely with the subject of Longevity and Heart Health… https://hardwarelifewife.com/2024/02/19/the-heart-of-the-matter/

Spending time back on the regular big three networks as some of our favorite shows are back on air!!! Yah!!!
Streaming in February… Apple TV Masters of Air, Netflix Sweet Magnolias, The Pacific, Living to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, Super Bowl Sunday and much more!

I have spotted the first blooms on one of my overgrown Forsythia… spring beckons as we approach March. Bring it on Spring!!!

blogging, Creating Cozy in Winter Months, Fighting The Winter Blues, finding inspiration, Hardware Store Life, Home, January, memories, Natural World, old hardware stores, southern living, winter, Winter Photography

January Photographed

January 31, 2024 hardwarelifewife 4 Comments

January can be a long month… maybe verging on what seems like the month of never ending Mondays. So why not make the best of January???

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 from January 2024 via photography.

It’s been a very cold and wet month to begin 2024. The wood stove has been going strong all month long inside the hardware store.

January Saturday visits at the hardware store are the best! Bandit, and Tella stop by for a visit with Eric and Chelsea.

Early morning frost… crunching underfoot as we take our pups out in the early morning hours.

The frost has been heavy several mornings in the month of January 2024.

The frost was hanging heavy on the trees during this sunrise capture on January 12th.

The bare trees showing their beauty on this cold, foggy morning of January 16th.

A rainbow of colors during this January sunrise

This little frosty friend made his way home in January after weeks of work in pottery class. He’s a cutie pie! And yes, we are still wishing for some snow!

Adding the green… after all the Christmas lights and decorations are gone, the house feels bare. This year I decided to add to my mantle with green garlands and a small lamp to bring some additional light. The sun sets earlier in winter months and lamp lights help keep the homey warmth feeling alive during the coldest months. Learn more about adding greenery, and more in the latest blog post https://hardwarelifewife.com/2024/01/13/fighting-the-winter-blues/

This old wooden bowl is usually filled with my cloth napkins that we use each day. I do not think I have bought paper napkins in years! I wash and reuse my cloth napkins all the time… (many have been thrift finds). I decided to use this old bowl as a centerpiece for my mantle this January… bringing warmth and a different feel into our main living space. A nice change after the holiday season. Need a nice new wooden bowl??? Stop by to pick up a locally made one by Keegan Watson!

Things I find in my washer… January edition

Morning Cloud Study: A favorite January capture 💕

**Courage…** I took a chance and enter 5 photos this year in the Blue Ridge Photography Overview … 2 were accepted. This one, which I titled, ***Walking On Water***, won first place in the category of *Everyday Life Photography*. I am Honored and grateful to be included! If y’all remember, I had NEVER printed anything until last year… this was a huge step for me. A special deep thanks to everyone who continues to support and encourage me.

Here’s my other photo that made the cut into the Juried Show… stop by Wilkes Art Gallery to view all the amazing work of local photographers between now and February 15th .

Our son now travels a lot for his work. Little did we know, that the “empty nesters” syndrome would find us quickly. It was unexpected and sudden when he began this job last spring. These two cute pups keep us entertained and the house busy with their playful activities.

Hello Mom… please pet me… love you, Cookie

White Amaryllis – January blooms!!! Always a great blessing to see these bloom during the month of January, and thankful for sweet friends who send these!

Here’s my photo favorite for January y’all

**The Promise**…. January has been a wet, rainy month. Friday January 26th sunrise offered a glimpse of the beautiful day that was on the horizon.

Friday January 26th… the **only day** in January that the front doors were open and at the hardware store… the weather was absolutely perfect. What a beautiful day!

Staying warm in January and indoors, under a blanket… lots of tv 📺 watching this month due to the cold, rainy weather. Netflix: Fool Me Once, Sweet Magnolias, Apple TV: Masters of the Air, Criminal Record Hulu: How I Met Your Father just a few shows we streamed this month.

Baking… I have been on a long extended break but with the arrival of my new cookbook over Christmas, I decided to try a small batch recipe. Marble cake with peanut butter buttercream was a definite hit.

This January… Working a bit on my own doing some studio time… glazing and trying to learn how to make things myself.. I like the rustic look this piece has using red iron oxide. Can’t wait to see it all finished after the kiln.

January 31st… Evidence that Spring will arrive soon! 🌷Who’s ready for February???

blogging, Christmas, Christmas Memories, family, hardware store, Hardware Store Life, Home, memories, Natural World, southern living

A Sprinkling of Christmas Memories

December 1, 2023 hardwarelifewife 3 Comments

When my son was much younger, he loved sprinkles. We literally put sprinkles on everything… cookies, ice cream, cupcakes… anything he deemed sprinkle worthy. I had a specific kitchen cabinet where the bounty of sprinkles were stashed away, ready for a quick, special treat. We had multiple flavors and colors to select from and it was such a joyful experience for him.

One of my favorites… B in front of the tree. Christmas memories in picture form from so many years ago… the sweetest treat of all

Christmas memories are very much the same way, a sprinkle of sweetness in our hearts and minds of a very special Christmas moment. Luckily for us, these moments can be recreated and fondly remembered by establishing traditions that are repeated year after year during the Christmas season… like the sprinkles of sweetness on top of a very special treat. Memories are simply timeless treasures of the heart.

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service… some of the best Christmas memories

Sometimes as I am working inside the hardware store, I often remember glimpses of these special Christmas memories from interactions and conversations with our customers, or even stocking the shelves with products. Yes, even the endless search for new product offerings we might bring to you, can create a sense of nostalgia of Christmases past. So here’s a small sprinkling of Christmas memories through my eyes as I wander through the hardware store. I hope you will enjoy this mini series of blog posts centered around one of the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas.

Wishing y’all a wonderful Christmas season in 2023, make some lasting memories with family and friends

The Tree

Let’s get right into this one. Typically, each Christmas season begins with the decision of the Christmas tree. The joy of the holiday season launches once your tree is up, leaving you to find splendor in the glow of the Christmas lights and glistening ornaments.

Picking out the perfect Christmas tree … my boys 💕

I have so many wonderful memories of Christmas tree shopping with my boys, and decorating the tree each year… like the Christmas tree full of ornaments that B made in preschool, ornaments handed down from family members, all of these memories are sprinkled into my heart each year as we begin with the tree and the decorations.

But, one memorable tradition from my childhood was the search for the kid-sized Christmas tree that was put in our bedroom each Christmas when my sister and I were younger.

Dad would grab his hand saw, and axe… no chain saw was needed for this small task… He would tell my sister and I to find our coats and off to our woods we would go seeking the perfect small-sized Christmas tree.

Stop by Wilkes County Hardware for your hand tool needs and repairs.

I think we probably skipped all the way into the woods. Dad handled all that endless child energy bubbling over… always smiling and redirecting our silliness towards our purpose, finding the best Christmas tree.

Often times, my sister and I would select a small 3 foot cedar tree that was abundant in our woods.

I must admit, as I reflect back, my sister and I were always so excited about our own special Christmas tree that we selected ourselves and decorated with our own ornaments. These ornaments never went on the family tree. Mom made these especially for our kid-sized tree. The love and care modeled by both of our parents in creating a bit of extra special Christmas magic with this wonderful gift of the tree each year probably wasn’t fully appreciated until reaching adulthood.

Our trek in the woods often brought us to a patch of tiny sized cedar trees. The aromatic scent of the cedars was pleasant and the size was appealing to our “smallish” eyes. As a result, the cedar tree was our typical “go to” little Christmas tree that we selected each year. The cedar tree was cut down, giddy girls in tow, and we carried the tree back to the house from our journey into the woods.

A walk in the woods always brings back memories of the treks I took with my parents into our woods behind our house… looking for the best sticks, or even wading in the creek.

That cedar tree might not have been great for hanging our ornaments, as cedar branches are not as sturdy as a Fraser Fir, but we didn’t care. Mom, of course always helped us in decorating the “pint sized tree” so that our ornaments had the sturdier branches.

Battery operated trees are available in “pint size” versions at Wilkes County Hardware

The delight of spending time with our dad, and hanging the ornaments that our mom made especially for us are memory sprinkles of joy from past Christmases. My sister and I enjoyed the beauty of the Cedar Christmas tree lights every night…providing us the opportunity to experience the Christmas season in our little corner of the house.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

Autumn, Fall, Fall photography, finding inspiration, Hardware Store Life, memories, Natural World, seaonal change, southern living

Fall 2023 Photography Favorites

November 7, 2023 hardwarelifewife 8 Comments

Photography has enabled me to capture a moment in time via the camera lens. I don’t have a sophisticated camera. I use my camera from my phone. I have it wherever I go, and it’s easy to use. If you’re an avid reader of my blog, you may recall, that Photography is a goal for my personal growth this year.

Most of my photos that I share on my blog or in other social media sites are purely everyday places that I have been blessed to see and share with you as my readers. I hope you enjoy the season of Fall through my everyday life “camera lens” in “the hardware life”.

The Fall Leaves

Fall Leaves are dropping everywhere! Here’s a few favorites featuring leaves as the centerpiece of the autumn season.

Vibrant Fall Colors

Vibrant Fall Colors are simply abundant this Autumn. We are so blessed to live in an area with such amazing color everywhere we look.

A Day at the Lake

This year I decided to look for Fall colors in unusual places. The Blue Ridge Mountains are an amazing place to find beautiful views and fall colors. Instead of trekking up the mountain, I wanted to check out some local areas to see how the Fall colors were coming and I wasn’t disappointed! These photos were captured a week or so before peak in our area at W Kerr Scott Lake.

Unusual Finds in the Fall

Sometimes a walk around the neighborhood or just being outside brings us face to face to with the unusual and unexpected. When I find those things, I often take a snapshot of my findings.

Acorns.. finding an abundance of acorns according to old weather folklore, forecasts a colder winter. Animals will need the acorns to survive the long, cold winter🥶.

Moving bales of cotton, that’s just ONE!

Persimmon Tree… old winter folklore tells us that the shape of the persimmon seed can predict the type of winter that is coming. A fork shaped seed inside the persimmon means a milder winter, a spoon shaped persimmon foretells a snowy winter, and a knife shaped seed means a cold, wind biting winter 🥶!

The Pines

This pine is dropping its needles beneath the tree, Pines drop their needles heavily during the Fall months .

Pine cones nestled in the fallen pine needles

Sunrises

As you may already know, I love a good sunrise or a beautiful sunset. I’m often up to see the sunrise. Sun chasers, here you go… my 2023 Fall sunrise captures.

The Fall Moon

There is simply nothing more intriguing than a full moon. As an educator, teaching during a full moon cycle brought unique challenges. Medical professionals and others have also attested to the Full moon impact upon human behavior. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to capture the moon behind all those clouds after Spooktacular.

“The night walked down the sky and brought the moon to the forefront “.

Foggy Morning Breakdown

The fog was so thick you could cut it with a knife!

Seeking Warmth…

First fire in the wood stove the morning of October 16th inside Wilkes County Hardware.

I hope you enjoyed a small sample of my Fall favorites. Look for your everyday moments and capture them through your life lens, whether you use your camera or not. Happy Fall Y’all! 🍂🍂🍂🍂

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