Ashwood Farmhouse

I Am Your Witness

I had a long time client pass away suddenly and this past weekend we drove three hours one way to attend his funeral. While waiting in line to pay our respects to his widow, I was reminded of a phrase I’d read years ago:

“We need a witness to our lives. There’s a billion people on the planet, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you’re promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things, all of it, all of the time, every day. You’re saying ‘Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed because I will be your witness’.”
From the movie Shall We Dance

We each go through our lives, trying to make it ‘BIG’ as independent people and that’s just not how it works. We are meant to help each other and to not only witness but to participate in each other’s lives. I now understand why, when one mate dies, the other follows not long after. They have lost their witness and we, as a people, have lost our ability to help others through a crisis.

When out this week, be present in every moment; don’t worry about what’s coming next, be present now. Be a witness.

Knitting For Dishes

Knitting and crochet have been part of my life for a long time and making items that can be used in the home is paramount. One of my favorite patterns is a simply knit dish cloth.

How To Get A Fresh Egg To Peel Beautifully!

Those of you with chickens and those of you who buy fresh eggs from those with chickens already know that fresh eggs do not peel well. I think I can help.

Rhubarb Yum Yum

I was gifted with two rhubarb plants a few years ago and, until this year, has gone relatively unused. A crime, I know. Now these lovelies are ready to feed and nourish and I have just the recipes to share:

How to make apple cider vinegar

. . .while processing these golden green orbs into applesauce, I realized that the peel/core palooza could be made into apple cider vinegar.

Rendering Lard

First of all, let’s dispel with some false information. Lard is not a saturated fat; it is a monounsaturated fat and one of the best dietary sources of Vitamin D while containing no trans-fats.

Welcome

Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, The Ashwood Farmhouse is a private residence located in picturesque Bath County, Virginia. In the 40’s and 50’s, the previous owners would house area visitors that came to golf, ski, take to the waters, or as ‘lowlanders’ trying to escape the heat of the city. The only advertisement was word of mouth and a single sign on the porch that read “Guests”.

Through Airbnb, we have continued this tradition by offering a unique experience: live with a local family while visiting the Hot and Warm Springs communities.

Come experience the joy of simple living, relaxing on the front porch, and watching the grass grow.