The Green Spring Kitchen & Thrift

05/29/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18oaEbh31v/ Good Friday

Diary of a Crazy Old Lady in a Little Appalachian Town, Green Spring, WV

Good Morning, diary…

I hope life is treating you well. Oh, diary — yesterday in Green Spring was a day of pure sunshine. The temperature hung around 70 degrees, and by late afternoon a gentle wind picked up. It was the kind of day you just had to get out and do, and honey, I did exactly that. It is May 29th, a Friday, 2026 at 5:30 a.m.

You know we’ve had at least a week of steady rain, and yesterday was literally the day after. And yes — if you were curious — the water finally did go over the bridge. Most rivers around here were low anyway, so it took a couple days of steady rain… which sweet Jesus, we got.

Compared to what other communities got from this bizarre weather, we were blessed. We had five days of gentle, steady rain. No crazy winds. No golf‑ball hail. No pounding storms to beat crops down. Just soft, soaking rain. Sure, a few thunderstorms rolled through, but they were mild compared to what these mountains can throw.

The Amish were grateful — we talked about it a couple of times. With the ground so dry and two late frosts this year, this growing season was looking rough. Then God delivered one of the nicest five‑day rains I’ve ever seen. For our spring to be so messed up, this whole rain event was a miracle — a blessing our farms desperately needed. We all feel it.

You know, diary… the more I work with these Amish farms, the more respect I have for what they manage to do. Farming will make you crazy. Depending on a temperamental Mother Nature is no easy way to live. Pray for all our farmers — so many across the U.S. are struggling right now. The world is richer when they’re thriving. It takes a strong back, a hard will, and pure determination to keep going with so much working against you. But when you get a good growing season… honey, there’s no better feeling. Maybe Christmas. Maybe your birthday. 😊

Did I tell you I had an issue with the new ice maker? Tuesday evening, while making ice, it started spraying water everywhere. I shut it down, hoping something had frozen up and would melt overnight. Oh diary… that didn’t happen.

Wednesday morning, I went to make ice — still spraying water all over the place. So much for my “it’ll melt and fix itself” idea. I went to Levi, my Amish friend. Levi and Joseph installed the ice maker last year, so I asked if he could come look at it. Levi came up and did what I call his Amish Magic.

All the Amish men I know can fix anything — and they’ll think outside the box to do it. I love watching them work. It amazes me how they do without electricity and still fix any machine you put in front of them. Running a sawmill and wood shop without electric takes real ingenuity. They’re clever people — they have to be, living the way they do. If you can think it, the Amish can build it or fix it.

Turns out the holes that let water drip over the ice molds were clogged with calcium deposits. That blockage caused the water to spray. We cleaned the tube, and Levi showed me how to take it apart and clean it. He said a few times, “This will happen again, Sue.” Yes — he calls me Sue.

It fascinated me how he taught me step by step. He was kind and gentle, and I wondered if he’d teach his wife the same way. Probably not — Amish women have their place, and I’m far from Amish. I didn’t ask. I was just grateful he shared his knowledge. I can do a lot on my own if someone takes the time to teach me. Knowing his culture, he could’ve just fixed it and left me out of it. The fact that he taught me how to fix it next time… that shows real friendship.

Much of Amish culture is strange to me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect it. I never know when I’m going to stick my "English " foot in my "English" mouth. One time — my first year working with them — I wanted to get them a Christmas gift for the whole community. We always talk about the weather, so I thought a crank radio with emergency weather alerts would be perfect. That way, if serious weather came, they’d know firsthand and not rely on community gossip.

I thought I picked the best gift. Oh diary… I didn’t. They gave it back. Levi sat me down, kindly, and explained they couldn’t accept it. I understood, but part of me wanted to show him how useful it was. Still, I left it alone.

Now, six years later, I get it. I’m still learning their ways. Watching how they live is humbling. I don’t understand their ways, and they don’t understand mine — but it’s not for either of us to change the other. It’s about helping each other grow through kindness.

I explained why I got the radio. Levi smiled. “Sue, that’s how the community communicates with the locals. Talking about the weather brings us together.” And then I understood. Something as simple as talking about the weather is a shared language. Giving him a radio took away the pleasure of communing with neighbors. With so many people glued to electronics, no one talks anymore. His point was clear — and he was right. I never offered a radio again. Lol.

Well diary, the sun is pushing through the morning haze. Looks like another beautiful day in Green Spring. It’s starting at a crisp 49 degrees, with a high of 80. I’ve got a full day ahead. Taking Buttercup for a spin down at the Rest Area is at the top of my list. :) Think Levi be proud.. I am sharing and talking weather.

I checked the place after delivering Food Pantry boxes last evening — still pretty wet. If it gets warm today, maybe it’ll dry enough to mow. I might wait until Saturday… but I don’t like mowing on weekends. I’ll play it by ear. With all this water and sunshine, you can practically watch the grass grow. Anyways I have no idea what this Friday will bring.

I’ve got plenty more grass to cut around my home too. Yesterday I got some mowing done before I hit the point of “no more.” By 7:30, I was in bed. The ice chest is full and ready for delivery. I’m halfway through pantry deliveries. And there’s a dozen other tasks waiting. Sometimes it feels like the list never ends.

Have a good day, diary… the dogs are staring me down.

05/26/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14eJLTKYd48/ The weekly Green Spring Chatter.

05/23/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E9EHbNpvm/

05/21/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BBpGpvnM7/ Happy Day?

Diary of a Crazy Old Lady in a Little Appalachia Town, Green Spring, WV
Good Morning, Diary…

Well, do I have an earful for you today. It is May 21, 2026, a Thursday morning at 6 a.m., 60 degrees, and raining. From the looks of things, it’s been raining long before daylight. It’s one of those mountain rains where the clouds hang low, cuddling everything in a wet fog that settles over the whole hollow like a blanket of moisture. The air is the most noticeable. Mountain air gets a unique smell when it rains.

For years, I’ve tried to describe what a mountain rain smells like, and for the life of me, I can’t. You have to experience it. Once you do, it stays with you, and every time it rains, you go looking for that smell like someone hunting for a piece of candy. There’s pleasure in it… a joy that makes you fall in love with this place even more — like that was possible.

With all the new spring growth, the sweet smell of flowers, and the rain itself, it creates a combination of aromas you can only find in one place: the Appalachian Mountains. These thick forests and ridges have a fragrance all their own, and when it rains, it’s amplified into a maze of scents that force you to take a deep breath whether you want to or not. I know — crazy, huh?

With the temperature hovering at 60 degrees, there’s an unmistakable coolness that adds to the whole experience. The last few days pushed us into the 90s, so this cool, moist air is more than welcome after the sweltering heat. Add the morning birds singing and a rooster crowing in the background… It’s a very enjoyable morning here.

Weather reports say we could get steady rain with temperatures staying in the 50s and 60s until well into Sunday. Honestly, Diary, we need the rain badly. And after the heat we just had — yeah, bring on the cooler temperatures. I suspect it won’t last long. You remember we had 90 degrees in April… I took that as a bad omen. I don’t even want to imagine how hot August will get. For now, I’m grateful for this weather.

Diary… I have some bad news. The other night, the alarm on my security system at the Rest and Welcome Area went off well after dark. I was already in bed and barely heard it. I thought nothing of it and went back to sleep — figured it was a deer or someone grabbing food late. No reason to think anything serious.

Well… when I went down to check why the camera read offline, I found out someone took a piece of wood, knocked the camera down, and unhooked it. They had to come up behind it, walk right up, and bust it. From the evidence, a blind man could see they came with a direct agenda to rob the free food box.

I couldn’t find the camera — but I didn’t look hard. Everything was already on my phone and online. I figured they took it for the SIM card, but the joke’s on them — it was all stored on the internet. I canceled the service, and now there’s a nice chain and lock on the food box door.

At first, I was furious. I wanted to go straight to their doors and press charges. But honestly? I laughed at the stupidity. The food they took was free. I can replace it easily. It’s the same food the pantry gives out — nothing fancy. But I do buy extra things we don’t normally get, and my pantry patrons get so much more in their monthly boxes. The food box at the rest area was for people who couldn’t get to the pantry. It’s sad people would rob a free community food box. That says a lot about Green Spring. I know, embarrassing... right?

The food box is used by many who truly benefit from it. That’s why the camera was there — to make sure the service was helping. It’s been almost a year since I opened it. Truth is, I expected this. I know this town. And what they don’t know is that I had already planned for this kind of behavior. I am from Green Spring. Stealing here is a pastime for some. Add alcohol and drugs, and it gets even more brazen. And the Amish were right across the street…

The whole purpose of the food box was to solve a problem of scarcity, which is huge here. But we also have a lot of mental illness and addiction, and you can’t expect people to act normally. Then give them any reason to act stupid and without regard you get this kind of activity. When we share, we are all blessed. But some don’t get it. They think they’re hurting me, but they’re hurting the town more. I could so easily just give up on this place.

Like everything in Green Spring, they keep taking and no one gives back. When I took this problem on, I knew the ones making money off our downfall wouldn’t appreciate the changes I wanted to bring. It shines a light on Green Spring, and after seven years, people do want better. That threatens some folks. No one likes change, and when you make people accountable, you get this kind of stuff. It’s common in dying WV towns where there is a power struggle.

The food box was a test to see how the town would act, and I won’t let a few ruin it for everyone. The box will work — it is working — just not for the selfish ones who think they’re above me. The joke is on them anyway. I didn’t like that camera spot. All this did was make me hide the camera better. If this keeps up, I’ll take it to the law. Right now, the law just laughs at us in Green Spring. Many would love to see this town buried in shame.

A few months ago, I caught someone taking far more than they needed and corrected the behavior — even made them return some of it. I knew there’d be retaliation. That’s how they shake around here. I can’t tell you how many threats I’ve gotten since starting my nonprofit. “Shut up or move” was the message. Really? I had to laugh.

There was a time when we shared and worked together. I know people think those times are gone... But if we are to have any future here...I want people to share again. And when I looked past the message they wanted me to see — “I’ll take what I want when I want, and your camera won’t stop me” — I saw the last moments of the footage, and only then did I feel pity. That was my sign this was God’s task to handle.

I didn’t sleep well last night trying to come to terms with the vandalism and the message behind it. Levi called early this morning to check on me. He was upset it happened so close to his place. We talked about what I was thinking, and he agrees — I need to move forward and let God take it. God’s presence is in everything I do here. He has handled every adversity in His own way, clearing my path so I could do what I’ve done. Levi’s right — let it go and let God handle it.

The food box will stay chained until I get a new camera up. I need to monitor the Rest Area for visitors and hikers. Some people would visit more if I didn’t have a camera, but without one, folks will take as much as they want, and I can’t keep filling it endlessly. Some still think I’m that little stupid girl who grew up here — but I’m not. I know this town, what it’s capable of, and what it isn’t. What’s happened here is sad, but things are changing. This incident won’t stop anything — it’ll just make me more observant.

Today I need to deliver eggs to Romney, and tomorrow I meet with a new market donor for the pantry. Most pantries have groups sponsoring them. We survive entirely on private donations and what we make selling ice to the Amish. This new donor will take a lot of stress off us. Looks like there will be enough to help other small pantries I work with, too. If not for the Fort Ashby pantry, I can’t tell you how hard things would’ve gotten. But like I said — God always shines through.

I need to get started.
Have a blessed day.

05/19/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Jo1T4DJtk/ Happy Tuesday

05/17/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bq6ch4ccr/ Happy Sunday.

Diary of a Crazy Old Lady in a Little Appalachia Town, Green Spring, WV

Good morning, Diary,

I hope you’re well. It is May 17th, 2026 – Sunday, 5:30 AM It’s been a productive couple of days, and I kicked some major butt on Friday. Where the energy came from, I have no idea, but by the time I hit the bed that evening, I had pushed myself right to the limit.

Friday started out beautiful in Green Spring, mild low‑70s, bright sun, and that fresh mountain air that makes you breathe a little deeper. I took Buttercup to the Rest and Welcome Area so she could do her thing, and then I weed‑ate. I’d tried all week to get down there, but between weather and everything else, suddenly it was Friday and the whole weekend was staring me in the face. I was glad to get it done before the weekend rush. If I don’t mow by Friday, it waits a whole week, and that just means more work for me. Weekends are crazy… crazier than normal, if I’m honest.

Saturday is always spent close to home because of the Farmer’s Market. I like being available if they need something. My morning starts at 5 a.m. — get dressed, get coffee, load the truck with 18 bags of ice. By 6 a.m., Levi is making ice cream. While the market is going on, I stay close in case they need anything. That’s my time to try to catch up on the old home place… which always takes second place to everything else. Saturdays are my best chance to do household chores, and because of last weekend’s event, I had twice as much to do.

Living alone means everything is on you — every dish, every load of laundry, every mess. I’m forever playing catch‑up. And wouldn’t you know it, Saturday morning was cold — upper forties — so I went to grab warmer clothes and realized every last thing was dirty. Even my underwear. And diary, for someone who owns enough underwear to survive the apocalypse, that’s saying something. No clean underwear? Absolutely not.

The weather has been so flip‑floppy. Before the Farmer’s Market started a couple of weeks ago, I put most of my winter clothes away. I kept a few warm things out, but washing is always the last thing to get done. So yes, I dug dirty clothes out of the basket. I was not happy.

By 6:30 I was back home and started washing. I was still doing laundry later that afternoon. How one old woman can go through so many clothes is beyond me. I had a week’s worth of dishes, too, and food to prep for the animals. I never know how I’ll feel from one day to the next, so when I have a good day, I do as much as I can. What doesn’t get done waits until next weekend... and then it’s twice as much. And when I get too far behind, that’s when I go down for a few days. Not good... So it is important I try to stay on top of stuff.

God, diary… I pray all week that no one comes to visit or sends a welfare check. They’d take one look and put me in an old folks’ home, thinking I can’t take care of myself. Thank God I don’t get much company. I can’t remember the last time the family came by. Mostly because it takes me two days to clean for a visit. Two days! Who has two days? Not me.

Can I tell you a secret, diary? My Christmas tree is still up. Yes, in May. A little tree sitting on my living room table, collecting dust from last year. And every time I see it, I grin. It reminds me how crazy my life has become — and I love every minute of it.

Saturday was full of food truck calls, emails, picking up coolers, and getting things into the freezer after the Farmer’s Market. Then the volunteer working on the postcards, pins, and magnets came down with proofs to review. Did I get my wash done? Well, I was still putting clothes in the dryer at 7:30 before I finally crawled into bed and said, “Enough.”

People ask how I get so much done. The truth? Lower your expectations, do what you can when you can, let go of the guilt when you can’t, and go to bed praying for tomorrow. Begin again with fresh hope. That is how I live each day... On hope.

My life isn’t all work. I get joy too — especially when I take Buttercup for a ride. The moment I get on her, my whole demeanor changes. I get happy like a kid at Christmas. Or like a kid riding their bike for the first time. I’m getting better at mowing with her, and now I can do the whole Rest Area in a couple of hours.

There are lots of things to mow around, and I love doing donuts around the trees. Hell, I love doing donuts anywhere I can. If you drive by, you’ll catch me doing dounts all over the rest area. I’m 68, but on Buttercup, I’m sixteen again. And the whole time, I’m thinking about the fun I had in Green Spring as a kid. That hour on Buttercup is worth a year of therapy — and a vacation.

Today I need to go to Romney for a donation pickup. I got my yard mowed on Friday, so today I need to chill. I did more than expected on Friday, and Saturday was full too. I’m feeling sluggish as I write this. So I am going to try to keep it to a minimum today.

Oh diary.... We got a nice spring shower last evening. We need a lot more. Things are really dry for our Spring this year. After it passed, just before dark, the sun came out and gave everything that strange golden glow we get after a spring shower. I didn't see, but I suspect there was a rainbow somewhere. The air had that fresh, earthy smell that makes you want to breathe deep. A lovely way to end a Saturday, don't you think...? I so love these mountains. I slept soundly.

Well, diary, the dogs are getting restless and staring at me. Let’s continue this another day. Let's get this day moving forward, shall we?

Have a blessed day.

05/15/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C8oDYg2yk/

We have Community Announcement!!! Check it out folks...
Tickets are still on sale. Bring a bag a candy for the Paw Paw

Memorial Day Parade and receive a free quickie card. Hope to see everyone there. Thank you for your Support

05/15/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JHZ91zCTo/

Diary of a Crazy Old Lady in a Little Appalachia Town, Green Spring, WV

Dear Diary,

Hasn’t it been an odd couple of days? I swear since the last time we chatted, the world has been tilted just a little off-center. Today is May 15th, 2026 – Friday, 5:30 AM

Wednesday, I had to run to Romney to pick up our monthly allotment from Mountaineer Food Bank. And for the third or fourth time in a row, it rained — which is normal enough. But the odd part? The truck was already there when I pulled in, and I was at least twenty minutes early. I’ve been doing this two or three years, and that was the first time the truck beat me. Now diary, don’t get me wrong, we need the rain, and I won’t melt.....but that truck being early? That was strange.

And Romney at noon on a this Wednesday? Lord have mercy. Traffic everywhere, all of it moving like molasses. Two state troopers out in force, road torn up between Sheetz and past Southern States, big yellow cones everywhere, and construction at the Deaf and Blind School just adding to the circus.

I wanted to stop at Helping Hands, but I must’ve circled a dozen times looking for parking. Finally gave up, parked in the old drug store lot, ate my McD’s double cheese and small fry, and watched the chaos like it was my favorite TV show. A friend told me there was a spot behind the store, so after I ate, I squeezed into one of those tight little spaces and prayed I’d get back out. If you know, diary… you know.

And you can’t go to Romney without mentioning Food Lion. Was there a holiday coming? A storm? A sale on gold bars? Because for a Wednesday, mid‑week, mid‑month, at noon — that place was packed. I like Food Lion when it’s calm. But that day, folks looked more dazed and confused than usual. The whole store felt off. I grabbed what I needed and got out. Whatever was coming, I wanted no part of it. I couldn’t get back to Green Spring fast enough.

Then the day ended with the strangest storm I’ve seen in years. Black clouds rolled in like a wall. The thunder didn’t just clap — it rolled, and rolled, and rolled, shaking the whole house. It drowned out my TV. With the train tracks right beside me, I thought a train was coming through the yard. I stepped outside and the wind hit in big cold gusts, the temperature dropped twenty degrees, and the rain blew sideways. I tried to record it, but that cold rain... I said “nope,” and I went back inside. Wild doesn’t even cover it.

It reminded me of Kansas City storms — rolling thunder, the kind that rattles your bones. I didn’t like Kansas, but they sure know how to throw a storm. This was the first time I’ve heard thunder like that in these mountains.

Thursday stayed strange — cold, cloudy, windy, barely hitting 55. I stayed in and tried to catch up on the kitchen and bathroom, both needing attention for weeks. But I had to run to Springfield Dollar General, and that place was as quiet as a grave. Noon at DG is never quiet. Usually, the parking lot is full from morning to night. But I walked the whole store alone except for the manager, and she was as confused as I was. We laughed. And again, I was glad to get back to Green Spring.

Then I got two emergency food pantry calls, odd for the same day... and Levi called needing ice. It was Ascension Day, a major Amish holy day, and he’d forgotten to get with me beforehand. So out I went with a bag of ice. He said he hoped to have his refrigeration going by day’s end. They’ve been struggling with it, but if anyone can figure something out without electricity, it’s the Amish. Their wood shop is a master class in ingenuity.

Oh diary....I did manage to get two fresh strawberries from my garden, and diary, I savored them like a delicacy. I love fresh strawberries almost as much as garden tomatoes.

Appalachian Pride Prints is doing well — the magnets are a big hit with the Amish, I’ve sold a couple shirts, and postcards are coming soon. I’m excited about this project. Another one of those ideas I hope to do well for Green Spring.

And diary… we got a food truck coming to the Green Spring Rest & Welcome Area as early as next week. They’ve agreed to help through the summer. I hope folks greet them well. It’s a different cuisine from our simple country cooking, so who knows how it’ll go. But I’m willing to try. If it doesn’t float, we’ll try something else. I’m not afraid of failing — I just keep trying. One way may not work, but another might. The idea is good, and it’ll be interesting either way.

Today is supposed to warm up a bit. I hope so — I need to take Buttercup for a ride down to the rest area so she can do her thing.

Another day in the life of a crazy old lady.
Have a blessed day.

05/14/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18bexotmAC/ OMG

OMG Green Spring Community!!!! Grab your seat, you will want to sit down for this announcement. God Bless our Community...

Big News for Green Spring!
We’re bringing amazing flavor to town, starting next week, the Open Kitchen Food Truck will roll into Green Spring and set up at the Green Spring Rest and Welcome Area in Green Spring, WV In our little hometown...starting as early as next week. This was one of those things I was shooting for when we created the rest area last year.... but we weren't ready yet. Things came together perfectly this year.

Days and times are being worked out now... as soon as my old fingers get a hold of it, I will pass the news. I have asked for a menu, too. Can you believe this? I did it. They have agreed to do biweekly for the rest of the summer.

Authentic international cuisine, fresh ingredients, and friendly faces — right here in our own community.

This is a big step toward making Green Spring a gathering spot again.
Stay tuned — we’ll share the menu soon, and trust me, it’s worth the wait!

Let’s show them some hometown love when they arrive.
Tag your friends, plan your lunch, and get ready to welcome Open Kitchen to Green Spring!