Johnson's Home & Garden

08/14/2026

Happy Friday morning.

It’s 70 degrees this morning and we’re going to warm up into the lower 90s today.

I did encounter some lightning this morning while driving to work on US @23 between Prestonsburg and Pikeville. There weren’t any storms in the immediate area, but there were some lightning strikes, so keep that in mind if you’re going to be out and about today.

We’re still under a flood watch until 11 p.m. tonight, and we have more storms heading our way. With the ground already saturated, please use caution and keep an eye on the weather, especially if you’re traveling.

Have a great, blessed, and safe Friday.

08/14/2026

Looks like our area has once again been hit with some severe storms. This was the lightning over Coal Run around 9:45 tonight, about an hour ago.

We are still under flash flood warnings and alerts, with some of those warnings lasting into tomorrow morning. Hopefully everyone stays safe tonight.

Please remember, if you come across standing water on the roads, do not drive through it. You never know how deep the water may be or what may be underneath it.

I hope everyone is safe and that there has been little to no property damage. If you have family or friends in the area, check on them and make sure they are okay.

Stay safe tonight.

08/13/2026

Kentucky State Police on Monday at Coal Run trying to find the fall harvest

08/13/2026

Well, if I’ve learned anything today, it’s that apparently the stores around Whitesburg don’t sell Florida Broadleaf Mustard seeds.

I’ve had two customers drive all the way from Letcher County to my little hole in the wall store here in Coal Run just to get Florida Broadleaf Mustard seeds. And I greatly appreciate that.

But what I appreciate even more is getting the opportunity to actually talk with my customers.

This morning, one gentleman told me they lived at Shelby Gap, right there on the Letcher County line. We started talking, and I mentioned that my family came from Burdine. He asked where, and before long, we were talking about family and people we both knew. Turns out he knew my family because he had worked at Jenkins Hospital years ago. It was just a really good conversation with a super nice guy.

That’s one of the things I’m privileged to have with my customers. I get to interact with people. I get to hear their stories, talk about family, talk about where they’re from and, sometimes, find out that we have more connections than we ever realized.

You’re not going to get that at a self-checkout unless you’re talking to yourself. And you certainly aren’t going to get it ordering online.

Even at some stores with regular checkout lanes, employees are so busy that there’s barely time for anything more than a nod and, “Cash or credit?”

So today, I just want to say how much I appreciate my customers. Whether you’re from right here in Pike County or you’re driving in from Martin County, Floyd County, Letcher County or somewhere else, I appreciate you making the trip and giving me the opportunity to serve you.

And if you know somebody up around the Whitesburg area looking for Florida Broadleaf Mustard seeds, you know where to send them.

I’ll have the seeds, and I’ll even have time to talk.

08/13/2026

I guess all the storms we’ve had the last couple of days have caused quite a few problems with power outages.

I’m seeing some out of state contractors pulling in down here, staging up to get their assignments and hopefully get out there and start getting the power restored.

So, if you’re still without power, have a little patience. They’re on their way. Sometime.

Seriously, a big thank you to all the linemen and contractors who are away from their homes and families working to get everybody’s power back on.

If you have family or friends who are still without power, let them know that contractors are in the area and more are arriving to help with restoration.

Feel free to share this so others can see it.

08/13/2026

Happy Thursday morning!

It is 70 degrees this morning and we’re going to warm up into the upper 80s today.

When I left Prestonsburg, the roads were dry, but as I got closer to Pikeville, the roads became a little wet and it is starting to sprinkle in Pikeville.

If you’re traveling southbound on US 23 near Pop's Chevrolet, there is some roadkill between lanes one and two, so use a little extra caution through that area.

Other than that, everything is clear. Be safe out there and have a blessed and great Thursday!

08/12/2026

Yesterday I had an irate customer come in who had just left one of the big box stores.

She had gone in to pay her electric bill, and they wanted to see her driver’s license. She didn’t want to show it, so they refused to take her payment.

Now, I’m trying to figure this one out.

You’re paying your electric bill. You’re not trying to rent a car, buy a house, cross the border, or get into a bar. You’re just trying to give somebody money to keep the lights on.

Here at Johnson’s Home and Garden, I don’t discriminate based on driver’s licenses.

You don’t have a driver’s license? That’s fine with me.

Maybe you’re too young to drive, but you’re already living on your own. Maybe your license is suspended or revoked. Maybe you’ve never learned to drive. Maybe you took an Uber up here. Maybe you walked. Maybe you rode a bicycle.

I don’t need to know your life story. If you’ve got a bill to pay and we can process it, come on in.

We take payments for over 100 different companies. You can pay your MasterCard, Home Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight, Victoria’s Secret, major bank credit cards, certain insurance policies including Allstate and some State Farm policies, gas bills, and even some car payments.

We don’t take local water, garbage or sewer bills, but there’s still a pretty good chance we can help you with what you’re trying to pay.

And here’s my philosophy on the whole thing:

If somebody wants to pay my electric bill, by golly, I’m not going to ask them for their driver’s license. I’m going to thank them and tell them to have a great day.

And if they want to remain anonymous?

That’s perfectly fine, too.

I’m not turning down somebody who wants to pay my power bill. That’s just more money in my pocket.

So if you’ve got a bill to pay and don’t feel like handing over your driver’s license just to prove you’re the person standing there with money in your hand, come see me.

At Johnson’s Home and Garden, we’ll take your payment, not your autobiography.

08/12/2026

Don’t Give Up on That Storm-Damaged Garden Yet

Here in Eastern Kentucky, August is harvest time. You planted that garden months ago, watched it grow through the heat and humidity, and now the tomatoes are turning, cucumbers are coming on, beans are ready, corn is filling out, and you’re finally getting to enjoy the work you put into it.

Then a summer storm rolls through with heavy rain and strong winds. You walk outside the next morning and your garden looks like it got run over.

Before you pull everything up and call it a loss, take a good look.

Tomatoes that are leaning or blown over can often be saved. Carefully stand them back up, secure them to stakes or cages, and remove branches that are completely broken. If the main stem is still attached and the roots are intact, give it a chance.

Cucumbers, beans and other vining crops can usually be worked back onto their trellises. Don’t be too rough with them. The vines can be brittle after a storm.

Corn that has been blown over may still straighten back up, especially while the roots are still holding. Carefully mound soil around the base to help support it. If stalks are completely broken, those are probably finished.

Lettuce and other greens may look battered from the rain, but if they’re still rooted, remove the damaged leaves and let them continue growing.

And in Eastern Kentucky’s August heat and humidity, there’s one thing you really need to watch after a storm: disease. Get damaged leaves and fruit out of the garden, improve air circulation where you can, and keep an eye out for fungal problems. Don’t leave broken plant material laying around.

Also, don’t overreact with fertilizer. Your plants have just been through a lot. Give them a little time to recover, make sure excess water can drain away, and then see what starts putting on new growth.

At this point in August, you may not have time to replace everything and start over. But that doesn’t mean your garden is finished.

If the roots are alive and the plant has healthy growth left, you’ve still got something to work with.

So before you write off that Eastern Kentucky garden after a storm, grab your stakes, some garden ties and your pruning shears. Straighten up what you can, clean out what’s damaged, and give those plants a chance to finish the harvest.

Sometimes after a storm, the garden looks a whole lot worse than it really is.

08/12/2026

08/12/2026

Happy Wednesday morning!

You’re definitely going to feel a difference when you walk outside this morning. It’s 68 degrees, the humidity is down, and we’re going to warm up into the upper 80s. There is a chance of rain this morning.

After all the wind and weather last night, US-23 between Prestonsburg and Pikeville was clear this morning with no wind debris on the highway. I’m not sure about some of the side roads, though, so use a little extra care and caution when traveling.

Be safe, and have a blessed Wednesday!