The Annual Herb Trail is May 28th

The years have gone by so quickly that I almost lose count how many years we have done The Herb Trail. It is at least 6 or 7 now. This year we are adding two more businesses on Route 467, Gibbs Perennial Gardens and The Cheese Factory. Remember to stop and get a potted herb with any purchase. Get your herb garden going.

The Cabin's herb garden is starting to look green and full. I have added a new Basil, a bush basil. Also planted cinnamon and purple opal basil. Come on by on the 28th of May and check it out.

Spring Open House

This week will go fast. It always does when a special Saturday is ahead. The list is long, the will is strong, but somehow something interferes and the list is cut short, actually tossed away! Thank goodness our friends and customers don't expect perfection.

I have enjoy working in the gardens. The herb garden has a lot of growth coming. My winter savory made it through another winter. Alas , I forgot to dig up the rosemary so I'll have to replace it. The fish are swimming slow still but the water is warming up. We did start to feed a little. Remember not to feed with water temps under 50 degrees.

We look forward to Saturday. Hope to see you there. Come and sit a spell and enjoy the sounds of water and the warmth of fire with our new flame pots. Coffee will be on.

A Mother's Day Celebration

A Mother's Day Celebration

Life's an Adventure

I'm not sure where the month of April has gone. It certainly was an adventurous month for our family. We rejoiced at the birth of our 13th grandchild - Mya Elizabeth King. All 7 lbs. 4 oz. of her. Her big sister, Ava, who is 18 months old is learning to share Mommy and Daddy's attention. Three days prior to delivery, our daughter learned the cause of her short of breathness- a partially collapsed left lung. Despite this, the delivery went beautifully.

Then 10 days after the delivery, we learned what was causing the collapsed lung- a tumor. So off we go on another family adventure. Tim has been  holding the Cabin together while I have been back and forth from Montoursville, watching the little ones while Ruth goes through testing. She goes to Sloan-Kettering on May 16th to see the surgeon. We are so grateful to God there is no other tumors anywhere else.

So if you come and visit The Cabin you may see me with a baby pack on and an 18 month old helper while Mom recuperates from surgery. As long as we can keep Ava from swimming with the fish in the pond out front, we'll be doing great!

The Massarelli fountains are moving well. Don't wait too long to check them out. I have been enjoying rose-breasted grosbeaks- male and female, indigo buntings, gold finches, and a white throated sparrows. They love the black oil sunflower seeds and the nyjer seeds I throw out on the porch roof. We'll have seeds all year long. Mother's Day is Sunday the 8th. We have some great gift ideas. See you soon.

Fountains

                                                            It takes muscles to lift these!

Setting the base

Setting the second tier and plumbing at same time

Setting the final tier

A 76 inch Pavasa Fountain

Putting up the fountains

We are so blessed to have such great family and friends. Thanks to our son, Jeremiah, who came around the back way due to a bridge being repaired, and the Meglish Family, we were able to put together the big fountain. I did bribe them with cheese cake and coffee. Not only did we have the man power for the 76 inch high Pavasa Fountain, but we moved the sleigh, moved the stone cow statue, and put up the 3 tiered sea shell fountain.

You can see the pictures and a video I did on Facebook. I'll be posting some pictures here, too. Come on by and check out the beautiful sounds of water!

View from The Cabin

In between the raindrops and the snowflakes today, I have seen my first pair of common merganser ducks. There were actually three pairs! The male had the white body and greenish, black head and the female was grayish with a brown crested head. The Wyalusing Creek is running higher and is a muddy brown. I saw a large tree branch floating down the middle at a pretty fast clip.

The phoebes are back. I love their call. The birds are still looking for a handout. We still fill the feeders. We will be carrying bird seed all year long for those who like to continue feeding.

Yesterday, Tim and I opened the last two pallets of stone fountains, birdbaths and adorable statuary. Thursday we will be putting in place the largest of the fountains. A 76" Pavasa, three tiered and gorgeous. Be sure to stop by and take a look. The fairy garden doors are moving along. Don't wait too long to get yours!

New Garden and Home Decor

One of the creative areas of retailing is in the display process. I really enjoy redesigning the displays every few weeks. It brings out my artistic nature. The Cabin is now blooming with colors. Since spring wants to wait to arrive, I have endeavored to produce a "spring-like" atmosphere inside the Cabin. We have a small replica of a fairy garden in one area, complete with a log and "door" to their kingdom. Straw flowers line the path. Here's a picture of some of the characters waiting for you.

                                             I promised a picture of a nest building wire cage.

A Nest Building Helper Cage

Are you watching the birds? It seems their singing is louder now. Maybe it's my imagination, but I really think I hear more of them. I have learned what a tufted tit mouse sounds like from one singing right outside the upstairs window. He has been very vocal today, even with the gray, cloudy skies. Maybe he is trying to "sing" in Spring!

I am making a nest building helper cage. Take a small wire cage you would use for hanging suet. Fill it with bits of string, ribbon, yarn, and even hair from a hair cut. Hang it from a tree branch and watch the birds help themselves. We carry the wire cages here if you are interested in trying it out. I'll get a picture posted as soon as I get my camera down here. Great idea to do with the kids.

Don't forget our Cabin Fever Day is this Saturday, the 26th. We will have some of the craftspeople here to ask questions about the items. Come and enjoy refreshments, flowers, and balloons.

Massarelli time at the Cabin

Today, Friday, is a beautiful day. The Wyalusing Creek is gorgeous with the sun shining on the water. I can hear it calling me to get out my kayak and go for a ride. Caleb and Clare, two of my 12 grandchildren, helped me pick up the many, many sticks and limbs in the yard blown down through the winter. Seems like we had more high winds this winter then in previous years.

Daffodils are coming up. Buds are starting on the forsythia and my new Dogwood tree I planted last fall. Tim says the bees are looking good. Hasn't lost any yet that he's checked. He has 2 more bee yards to go to. The bee keeping classes started with 7 people in the class. Nice group of individuals.


With yesterday's sunshine, Tim and I opened one of the Massarelli pallets. As you can see we have 3 of them to do. The stone statues, wall plaques, fountains, etc. all come packed in cocoa bean burlap bags. Talk about developing a craving for chocolate!








 This is what we found in the bottom of the pallet. Isn't she adorable? Beautifully stone casted. Heavy little thing.

It took 2 of us to pull her out. Reminded me of our dairy days. Come check her out, along with our great garden and home decor.

Our Garden and home decor order arrived yesterday afternoon. 18 boxes with more boxes in them. We finally have all the many boxes unloaded. It is Christmas getting to see everything we ordered.

We are putting in a fairy garden this year, so we ordered a lot of really cool "fairy items." We have doors that go on the base of trees, fairy picks, fairy secret key holders, and this beautiful polystone figure.

The Seed Saver Organic, Heirloom seeds are here ready for you. Some great new varieties to try. Come check out all the new merchandise.

Flooding behind the Cabin

This is Wyalusing Creek behind the Cabin Country Store. Fortunately, we are high enough on the bank that we have never flooded. The power of water is pretty impressive.

Spring floods must mean Spring is coming. Another sign is having Seed Saver Organic- Heirloom Seeds arrive.They came yesterday. So come and in and check out what you might want to plant this year. We have a some new varieties for you to try.

New Technology

The last two days I have been glued to the computer, endeavoring to produce my first QR code for my "Save the Date" card. Success has finally been achieved. A QR code you ask? Yes, a new technology for me and probably most of you. QR stands for quick response. You are familiar with store's barcodes, right? Well, a QR code works the same. It is a black and white square with geometric shapes with encoded text, URL, or other data. It is read by a smart phone.

Imagine the ways one can give out information with these codes. You will be seeing mine on the next "Save the Date" card. It will take you to my web site. I will also be putting one on my new business card with all the contact information. So the information automatically can be added to one's contact list on their phone.

No, I do not own a smart phone. I have trouble with a simple tracfone let alone a smart phone. But they are becoming more popular and I have always liked being on the cutting edge. This summer you will be seeing me in a t-shirt with a QR code on the back. The reason for wearing it on the back? The codes don't scan well on curvatures. Get it?

I answered the phone today, "Cabin Country Store, can I help you?"  "Receiving, please." There was a definite pause on my side as I was contemplating how to answer. "I'm receiving, " I said, "actually I'm everything." The lady quickly responded with,"chief cook and bottle washer, eh?" "Yes," I said,"I do everything, even windows."

We had a good laugh at the fact that she doesn't do windows and that I am it. I've thought a lot about what is required to run a retail shop. How one really does have to be a little of everything- a planner, an organizer, a financial genius ( haven't got that one down yet), graphic artist, decorator, computer wizard (still working on that, too), a visionary, a people person, house keeper, sales person, human resources, and the complaint department. It's amazing I'm still sane.

Fortunately, I really am not the only one to do everything. I have had so much help over the last nine years we have been in business. So many family members and friends have often bailed me out and stepped in to cover as I needed them. I am very grateful. That's why we are still here. Still in business. Waiting for you to come and sit a spell and share some special time with us here at The Cabin.

                                                       Be sure to check us out on facebook.

I hope everyone has a best friend for whom you would do just about anything. I have such a one, my friend, Lisa. She moved in down the road from me quite a few years ago. Possibly more than 20 years ago. We live on a deserted dirt road in amongst the trees. Never had neighbors until she came. I really liked my isolation, wasn't sure how having a neighbor was going to fit in with my lifestyle. I heard she had two boys around the ages of my youngest two girls. We finally met.

The first real meeting took place with Lisa falling out of a tree. My kids had already made friends with her boys. They were playing down at their house and got a toy plane caught in a tree. That's when I discovered Lisa has no fear of anything. She didn't quite make it down the tree as gracefully as she evidently went up the tree. I was naturally prevailed upon by my kids, to come and administer first aid because I am a nurse. I had to take her to the ER. That was the beginning of our adventures together.

We have had many a merry time together. There were times when her husband would ask, " who is going with you?" There would be silence after she said my name. But through the years I have won him over and now he's not quite so scared when we are together. We actually had a little trip today and John was pleased I had asked to go along. We just came back from Quakertown, delivering a side of beef to her niece. I kept her company. It only took us 6 hours in the old truck.

Tim, my husband, opened the store. I called at 10:10 and there was no answer. I called at 10:30 and still no answer. That's when I left the message,"you're fired." Lisa quickly reminded me that I might not want to do that, since there was no one else to take over for me when I needed last minute coverage, and who else would be the maintenance man? I called back and rehired him. It's great to have a sensible friend.

This is our grandson, Issaiah Allen, feeding the bees last spring. This was the picture in the Rocket -Courier this past Thursday, Feb 24th

Today is real

Tim and I do a lot reading in the mornings together. We call it our devotional time. We have been reading about thinking on what is true and real. This means not thinking in what if terms - the future, or if only terms - the past, or this isn't the way it's supposed to be terms - present. Think only on what you know to be true today. This gives us more energy to handle the situations that will arise. I was surprised how many times I have caught myself saying  if only and what if during the day.

This will take some time to change. The results will be worth the time, I know. So come and sit a spell and we'll talk about what is true today.

Have you ever had ones of those mornings? I did today. I was even up early to get a jump on all I had to get done. When I finally got down to The Cabin, late, I might add, I discovered I had no key. I had taken it out of my purse when we went to SC. Oh, and did I mention that when I got in my car this morning, the empty light came on. So what to do? Go home on empty and get the key? Go get gas and wait for Tim to show up with his key?

Well, that's what I did. I went for the gas.Tim was pulling in as I arrived back at The Cabin. Only he is driving his mother's car and not the truck which has the extra Cabin key on the keyring. OhhhhKayyy. At least now I have gas to run home and get my key. There is purpose in all things. That's what I keep telling myself.

One good thing about today. Our Massarelli fountain and birdbath order is on its way. That means so is Spring.

It is so hard to wake up to snow when you've woken up the last 7 days to sunshine. Oh well, Spring is supposed to be right around the corner. I felt better today taking everything red down from the displays and putting up greens and pastels. Starting Monday, February 21st, I am putting on sale all the pretty white snowflake pottery. There are teapots, mugs, bowls, and plates. All 20 % off.

Everyone did such a great job keeping things in order here at The Cabin and at home. No disasters! When we were dairy farming we went on vacation only twice. Both times a cow died while we were gone. Makes one want to stay home. This vacation was very, very nice. Great times with great friends. Come sit a spell and I'll tell you all about it!

Vacation

Woke up to our last full day here at the beach. Renewed, refreshed, and rejuvenated. Wonderful feelings! Tim has lasted the whole week without being totally homesick. I only heard once at the beginning of the sixth day," I'm ready to go home." You see, this is our first time being gone together for more than 5 days. We would do it again if given the chance.

We are looking forward to getting back and putting into place all our great ideas for Spring at The Cabin. Massarelli's called and our Spring order has started to be put together. They make each item as we ordered and the items go through the factory as one order. We have been to the factory and were so impressed with their workmanship. Masserelli's make our fountains and birdbaths. We can still add to the Spring order, so now is the time if you have been thinking of a fountain or birdbath. Check our huge catalogue at The Cabin and place your order before the end of February.

See Saturday, February 19th!

Vacation

We have arrived! We took two days to get here to North Myrtle Beach. Went to several Antique shops on the way down. Bought some interesting items. You'll have to come check them out when we get back. Only one incident so far. Poor Tim, thought he was in a fight while dreaming and ended up on the floor, hitting the bedside table on the way down. Has a nice gash above his eye and a very sore left face. Does that mean he lost the fight?

The condo is beautiful, right on the beach. We plan on learning about metal detecting this week, courtesy of Mike. There are lots of antique places to check out here. I did see the same Ruby Red glassware we have in the Cabin. Mine is a lot cheaper!

Remember, we are closed Feb.14th to Feb 18th. See you later!

Hurray! The truck is fixed, the tractor is fixed , and the parking lot is plowed in time for more snow. I am so thankful I live in a region that has changing seasons. The snow is beautiful but I am looking forward now to a change. As I watch the birds outside and see their puffed up feathers, giving them warmth, I have a feeling they are anxious for a change, too.

Harold Smith just stopped by. He makes our Log Cabin Bird Feeders and Oak Lighthouse lamps. He is an amazing craftsman. He is almost 90 years old. A very young 90 year old, he plays in a band. I can count on a visit from Harold at least twice a week. He's not one to sit at home being bored. He told me they had their gig canceled tonight up in New York state due to ice. He seemed disappointed. If you don't like to constantly fill your bird feeders, you should check out Harold's log cabin feeders. Very well designed, large capacity, and very durable.

Well, I've gotten chilled sitting here at the computer. I'm going to go make myself a hot cup of Organic Davidson's African Red tea. Harold says the roads aren't icy, come on over and sit a spell with me and I'll make you a cup, too!

I thought I would finally be able to open the Cabin today. Unfortunately, my husband is unable to clone himself. Why would he need to do that? Well, picture this- your are dependent on wood as your only source of heat at your house. As I'm sure most people do, you cut wood as you need it during the winter. At least that's what my husband tells me most people do. We have plenty of wood in the woods behind our home. We have a tractor to go get the wood and bring it down to cut. We even have a boatload of wood cut and piled up there, ready to be loaded and brought down. Unfortunately, the tractor breaks down. Tim, being an excellent mechanic works diligently on the John Deere to get it fixed, as snow storm after snow storm arrives.

Now fast forward to The Cabin Country Store. We bought a snowplow last year and put it on our old farm truck to be able to plow here at the Cabin. Tim put on the plow and started plowing after that first snowfall and suddenly, halfway through the job, the truck breaks down. Tim, being an excellent mechanic, now starts working on the truck in order to plow before any more snow arrives.

So the problem becomes this. Which do you concentrate on first? We are running out of wood; we need to clear the parking lot for customers to get here. See why Tim needs to clone himself? Tim rightly chose wood and fixed the tractor, got it running, only to have the hydraulics go. But at least he can get wood, which he is doing today. But now, after this last big snow and ice storm, I have an unplowed parking lot. So after he gets wood, he'll be working on the truck. He promises me he will have The Cabin ready to open tomorrow, Friday. So bare with us. We miss you. Come soon and sit a spell.

What a gorgeous, sun shining day! There's a "snow island" in the middle of the Wyalusing Creek out back. The water is rushing past on all sides. Wish I had waders, I think I would try to walk out on it. Probably it is just as well I don't. Knowing me, I'd end up in the water, face down!

The first month of 2011 is coming to a close. Two weeks from today is that special day made to make us feel great or miserable. Why do we put such great expectations on a day? That is one reason my husband and I started many years ago a habit of surprising each other ( and our children) with "just because" gifts. Just because I love you. No other reason but that. It could be an Almond Joy candy bar for me that Tim would pick up when filling the truck with gas. Or several hand warmers I'd happen to see at a check out counter for him to take to the warehouse when driving the fork truck. "why did you buy me this?" "just because."

Just because you are important to me
Just because I could tell you were having a bad day
Just because I thought of you when I saw this
Just because I like seeing you smile when I surprise you with a "just because" gift

That's what makes a local gift shop nice and handy. Stop by The Cabin and get him/her a "just because" gift. It will make you feel good.

Well, the mystery has been solved. My snowman has been returned. Actually, I discovered he was never truly missing. Remember how I mentioned some of my family members did not love my snowman as much as I did? My husband, Timothy, decided yesterday, on his own, that the talking snowman had "talked" long enough this season. He put him away- upstairs- behind the fake Christmas trees. No wonder I still have pellets.

I'm trying to analyze the motivators behind stealing. No, I haven't had any shop lifters. No one has robbed me for money. But I am missing something of sentimental value. When I take down the two open signs at night, I usually take in my talking snowman. Last night I forgot the little guy. It is no longer on my front porch.

As many of you know, I do leave some low value stuff on the porch for the sake of convenience. My husband had just unloaded some 5 bags of pellets for our stove here inside and left them also on the porch til we could get them put away. Not one bag was gone. It's the middle of winter, heat can be expensive. So why a talking snowman and not pellets?

I know many in my family who come regularly, hate my snowman. In fact, my one daughter stated after I sadly told her of his disappearance,"That was an annoying thing anyway." No words of condolences, no empathy, just an honest evaluation of the situation from her viewpoint. sigh....

I am going to miss the little guy. Can't replace him. I bought him from Avon 7 years ago ...at least I'm warm.

I never realized how much I talk out loud to myself. Isn't that a sign of impending old age? I hope not. Today I said good morning to the Cabin as I walked in. "Are you ready for another day?" I asked. Then I apologized to a Bearington Valentine's Bear when I inadvertently knocked it off the table. I actually introduced the plush bee Valentine to the Bearington Bear dressed as a squirrel. I told them to play nice.

I have decided this is only a sign of cabin fever. I did get out yesterday and walked around outside the Cabin. I wandered down the back lane to the Wyalusing Creek and saw it has iced over and the water is running underneath. Beautiful. I have been noting and keeping track of the bird's nests I see in the trees around the Cabin. They are hard to see with the leaves on. I now have a fourth pair of cardinals feeding.

For those who are on the Cabin's email list, I sent out the week's specials. Come sit a spell so I don't have to talk to myself!

As I sit here at my computer, I can't believe the privilege I have to enjoy such beauty right outside my window. I can see a bend in the Wyalusing Creek as it makes its way to the Susquehanna River.The edges are frozen with ice and snow and the sun (what little there is today) is reflecting off the water as it flows past.

I see tracks of the deer that walk up the path behind the Cabin every evening around 5. There are tracks of some kind I have not been able to identify. If snowshoe rabbits lived around here, I swear that's what they are. I need to get my son, Jeremiah, the mountain man, here to look at them. Probably even my 6 year old granddaughter would be able to tell me. His children have been raised outdoors and are excellent foragers.

I love the birds that are coming to the different feeders around the Cabin. This Scarlett Wild birdseed we're selling brings quite a variety. I threw some of the Basic out on top of the porch roof by my computer window and have enjoyed seeing, 3 pairs of cardinals, up to 5 pairs of mourning doves, titmouse, carolina wrens, juncos, and of course, chickadees, and woodpeckers. I tempted to try Scarlett's Woodpecker blend to see if more would come.

Don't forget to come and sit a spell.

National Popcorn Day - who would have thought? But it's a great excuse to celebrate! So come on in and sit a spell and enjoy a free bag of popcorn. Wednesday, January 19Th.Anything to combat Cabin Fever at this time of the year! All Amish Popcorn will be 10% off.

We also have some cute and cuddly Bearington Valentine Bears. February 14Th is fast approaching. Don't be caught off guard. Remember, we will be closed Feb 14th to the18th.