Murray's Home

• Day:  44-45
• Start:  544.0
• End:  544.0
• Miles:  0
• Hours:  0
• High temp:  45
• Low temp:  37
• People met:  6

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Pastor Murray's home

This morning during breakfast at The Barn I met Blood Mountain, we chatted a while enjoying our meals. A little later Blood came over and said he had contacted a trail angel and she would accept up to four hikers at her home, he wanted to know if I would like to join him and his friends. Yes!  The trail angel is callrd Murray, she is a retired pastor of the local church.  She happily picked us up at the Barn and drove us to her splendid farm house about 20 miles away. 

 

Murray's Kitchen and dining room 

We enjoyed, "build em yourself" turkey sandwiches followed by cake cups.  No I didn't say it backwards that is what she calls them. Murray takes regular cake batter pouring about a third into a cup which is then microwaved, instant cake cup. I am amazed at the fluffiness of the cake as well as the tastiness with whipped cream.  

 

Cake cup with delicious whipped cream

Following lunch we moved some books and two bookcases for her from upstairs to downstairs. Nice feeling to be able to give something in return that is meaningful. 

 Eccles Cakes are delicious 

For another snack, Murray offered a British treat she had read about in a novel. She found them at Anazon and was excited to share. They are a buttery rich pastry filled with a delicious current concoction. 

Outside Murray's kitchen window is a bird feeder. She has two cardinals among other interesting birds that frequent the feeder. I'm pleased to see these special birds. I am also very thankful to be here instead of the lost corner of the world. 

 

A northern cardinal I believe 

Second day

This morning Murray let us know that she didn't want to push us out into the storm. She said if we wanted we could stay. Both Blood and I decided to stay while the two younger men wanted to hike. 

Murray decided she wanted the book shelves we moved yesterday dismantled. After breakfast we took apart the book cases. Our attention was then directed to another bookcase upstairs. We moved all the books downstairs the proceeded to tear down the last bookcase. These cases were homemade many years age. They were constructed of pine and hastily stained without a durable finish. Murray said she wanted something nicer now, plus she planned on reducing the amount of books. 

Murray prepared some delicious tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch, the perfect food on a rainy day.  

In the evening we went to town to get some dinner and pickup two new hikers. Craig and Eno joined us for dinner. Later that evening Murray made a blackberry crumble from frozen berry she had picked last summer. The crumble was perfectly matched with vanilla ice cream for a scrumptious desert.  We anxiously check the weather watching for the storms end. Possibly tomorrow will see me back on the trail. 

 

So Marion is where I am. Right from Knoxville and up from Charlotte. 

 

AT river crossing underwater just 12 miles up the trail from Mel

Seems like I am meant to stay put until this storm system  abates.