Mindy

Yesterday, I wrote about a bike rider killed not too far from here. I just assumed it one of the many bike riders that ride down out road all the time. I found out later last night it was my friend Mindy. She was my bike riding partner when I first got my bike last Spring. She lives up the road from me about a mile. My husband was sitting outside yesterday about 3 when he saw 2 people riding side by side heading North. He said it looked like 1 bike, they were pedaling just alike together. Talking and laughing.

Mindy had gone to Bible study and it had just let out. So her and her daughter Jessie headed out for a bike ride. I do not know why they went all the way down W. Cove Rd. and got on 193 heading North. They were right at Prospect Rd. when a guy turned into the road and hit Mindy. Knocked her so hard she was airborne. Said he never saw her. Jessie saw the whole thing. If they had just been 10 seconds sooner or later, it would not have happened.

So there is an investigation. They are doing an autopsy and her body will be released Saturday. Funeral will be Sunday.

I am still in shock. She is the sweetest lady. Just so gentle and nice and patient. A little younger than me. Such a good friend. And neighbor. Her and her husband Bobby came a few years back when my husband was so bad off and brought us some fresh deer meat he'd just killed. Mindy had just sent me a text a few days ago asking us to come to their place for a Sunday afternoon church get together.

I just don't understand this. We are not promised our next breath. Or hour. Or day. I know she was prepared. Her heart was right. I know where she is right now. But I still don't understand how something so horrible could happen. Just like that. Here one minute. Gone the next. This world has lost an angel.

I'm going to plant some forsythia bushes along my driveway for her. They were her favorite spring flowers. She called them "ForMindya" bushes.

And I am going to sell my bike.

Circle of sheep.

This morning, I had to go with my mom for her eye appointment. Then we ate lunch at the Acropolis restaurant over by the mall. I have lived here for 37 years and have never been there. It was SO good! I had a corn chowder first. Then leg of lamb with roasted red potatoes and spinach with feta cheese. It was good! I ate it all. Mom had grouper, roasted squash and rice and a chicken gumbo soup. We will be going there again for sure.

Then we went to the mall. I really hate the mall. But I am looking for some clothes for winter. Like warm clothes. Well, I couldn't find anything I liked. Of course, my mom finds all kinds of nice clothes for her. She's only like a size 4 so it's easy for her to find nice clothes. I will keep looking.

Took mom home, then went the back roads home. It's getting to where I really hate driving. Especially in Ft. Oglethorpe. It's awful. And people are crazy. Most people there think they are the only ones on the road. So I went back roads home.

I was going to Lafayette to the co-op for elastrator bands so I can get Inga's horns banded. I went down Straight Gut Rd. I saw a sign at this really pretty house with an amazing yard and gardens. The sign said eggs for sale. And I need eggs! So I turned around and went back. This nice older man was in his flower garden planting mums. He had eggs! I bought 3 dozen. Then I said something about his nice patch of turnip greens in the garden. He told me to go pick a mess. I did.  Then his wife came out and asked him if he'd told me they have sweet potatoes for sale. So I bought about 20 pounds of good looking sweet potatoes for $5. They were the nicest people. Roy and Sue. Roy even invited me to their church. I love people like this! Makes me happy to know there are good people in this world.

I went to the co-op and got the sheep and alpacas a mineral block. That's what they are all over in these pictures. They love this stuff. It's 25 lbs. and won't last long. Less than a week.

Got all the animals fed and moved the goats back to the back pasture with the little girls. I wasn't going to put the does in with the buck this morning, but I saw Freja jumping on Olga. So I put them both in the back yard with Oden. He jumped right on Olga. She was in standing heat! I think he got her! So I'll try again in 21 days. But I think it might have worked. I was getting worried that Olga might not get bred because she's so flighty. But she just wasn't in heat yet.

We got the wood stove working and fired up yesterday! My husband tried to get a fire going Saturday evening but it wouldn't draw the smoke up the chimney. The house was full of smoke. So we had to turn the electric money pit on. I could hardly sleep listening to it come on all night long. He tried again Sunday. He cleaned out the wood stove real good. But it still wouldn't draw. So yesterday, we took it all apart. Took the pipe outside and got the chimney brush and cleaned them real good. They were full of soot and creosote. So was the chimney. Got it all cleaned up and back together and built a fire. And it works just fine now! It was toasty warm last night. So we are ready for winter and all the cold now. Well, not really. I am not liking winter anymore at all. It's just too cold.

Anyway, tomorrow, we go back to the wound care center. My husband's foot is looking great! Almost all healed! We are hoping he won't have to go back anymore after tomorrow. And we hope the doctor will get him fitted for new shoes.  And I will be checking his feet every night from now on.

Oh, when I got home, my husband heard on the news that a bike rider was hit and killed about 6 miles from us. Probably one of the bike people that ride out here all the time. So sad. Also very scary. The roads out here are very hilly and curvy. I am really surprised it hasn't happened before. So I don't know if I want to ride my bike on the main road again.

Headin' home...

 This is going back to the house. This barn is a the bottom of the biggest hill after Mt. Cove Farm. I have always loved this barn. I've never seen any animals near it though.

                                                         Some more barns along the way.

This is on the Cross Farm. Used to be a dairy farm. The little dairy barn is in front of the red barn. I like this cattle crossing sign.

           This is the old house where Water For Elephants was filmed. Such a beautiful old house.

Can you see the cow with the huge horns laying down near the trees? Either Zeeboo or Watusi. There is another cow but different, past my house. So one is a Watusi and the other a Zeeboo. Both beautiful animals. I just can't see how they walk around with those huge horns. Looks like they'd be so heavy.

                                      This is the Cedar Grove Methodist church. It's really old.

                                                                    I just love this sign!

                                                   Farmers do have a sense of humor!

This is our new community center. It's supposed to be done by Christmas. They have a lot to do if that's right.

This is the old house next to us. It's for sale. 26 acres for just $139,500.00. Really cheap. Considering land out here goes for over &10,000 an acre. This is just a little over $5,000. an acre. With a creek and woods and pasture. Wish we could get it. The house will probably have to be torn down, which breaks my heart. I love this house. It's actually my dream house. It's been here over a hundred years. They built houses to last back then. It's just been abandoned for over 50 years or so. So really not much hope for it. My friend who comes to milk for me when I  need to get away, is trying to buy it along with her brother. I so hope they can get it. I want good neighbors and they would be really good to have here.

And this reminds me of the Bible verse that talks about God owning the cattle on a thousand hills. I think of it every time I see cows on hills. So pretty. It also reminds me of how big God really is. And how amazing.

So that's the tour of my bike trip. I sure need to go back every day.