Allfurrycritters

Parking lot eggs

2012-01-01T12:46:00.006-05:00

It is now 2012.
We are back from our Christmas in the Keys, and I am happy to come home and so are the dogs. Bob would rather be in the Keys IF the winds would stay down so he could fish! I love the Keys, love my wonderful friends and the fast paced life and get together's that are almost daily. People in the Keys are living life to the fullest, and although I do love that, I have to say I missed my nest. Lonny is our good friend who graciously allowed us and the dogs to feel very comfortable and at home in his cozy Big Pine Key house that has an awesome view of the Key Deer refuge and a canal in the back yard.Thank you so much Lon.
The water and sky seem bluer( is that a word?) in the Keys...

Belle rode very well, but was awfully nosy, and although the wind would make her head-out-the-window time short, she was frequently testing the air for familiar scents.

Penny sleeps very nicely in the truck. She is a great rider...just feed her and give her water and a walk occasionally, and shes a happy pup.

The scenery is so different that I have to keep looking...no books for me, I might miss something like this bougainvillea tree...so pretty !

Bahia Honda State Park is so beautiful and picturesque, we always take the time to go there and this time it was only once. We were married at the beach there in 1998...wow, time flies.

The winds blew the whole time we were there, about 15-25 knots, enough to keep a small craft warning up and keep Bob from going out in the boat to fish. This hawk was on a speed limit sign, facing the 15 knot winds. Seemed appropriate to me.

I did get to the pool almost every day for water aerobics with my friends, here's Diane our illustrious leader setting up the boom box to get started. The pool water was 87 degrees.

The beach was very busy,as is normal for what the locals call 'hell week' due to the traffic and over crowded hotels,restaurants and areas like this beach at Bahia Honda. Even with the jelly fish alert, people crowded the sand and beach houses.

Our friend Jim and his lady Carol are cooking up Christmas night snacks and dinner.Jim was our best man at our wedding and was Bob's partner in tile in the Keys early on. Still good friends .

We played our first Bacchi games at friends Linda and Glenn Cummins on Big Pine. They have a get together every Thursday for Bacchi, food and drinks. Here is Bob(R) and Jim middle and one of the Bacchi crew.

Here's Glenn on his usual perch at his bar under their stilt house. Notice the sign in back of him? Full-fledged BAH...yes they are transplanted Yankees!

This is Lonny alias Santa Lon taken on the Conch Train tour of the Christmas lights in Key West.Us Northerners think Christmas would be dull and spiritless in the Keys, but the absolute opposite is the truth.

We arrived home on Friday afternoon, and started the opening of mail, and the usual stuff going along with any vacation return. We were hungry for dinner, but lacked the energy to do anything, so our neighbors Melissa and daughter Sam joined us for a quick dinner at Carl's, a local spot, and then we stopped at the little market for eggs, bread and milk..staples we were out of... Now on the way home at various stops, we found 3 cents and a dime and I found a silver fairy charm, smooshed from a tire, but still cute. I took it all as lucky signs, after all we needed money and luck is always helpful when traveling.I figured the fairy would help us get what we need, and sure enough...at the local market after buying our bread, milk and a dozen eggs, we stopped in the parking lot to keep from hitting a grocery bag like the one we just got our groceries in. Bob stopped and picked it up and guess what it held. A dozen eggs! We weren't sure if they were whole or not, although the egg box seemed pretty good, and when we got home, I salvaged 10 of those large brown fresh eggs, and put them up for tomorrows breakfast. The fairy was working.

At home on New Years Day after a great evening at the neighbors playing games, polka for the guys, dominoes(Mexican train style) for others, I awoke to sunshine and 50+ degrees, Guinea fowl in the yard as well as bees working the Camellia tree!

A dandelion is blooming!

Then I noticed that there are clumps of daffodils exploding from the ground everywhere!

Are you sure it's the first of January???

This bottle tree of mine is going to grow in 2012.

It's going to be a great New Year. I am an optimist. I haven't made New Years resolutions, I have decided on actions for 2012. I plan to exercise more and eat healthy which should result in weight loss, that will ease the pain I have in my back, hips, and knees.

I will hug more people and tell them how much I love them.(is that possible? I am a hugger)

I will reward myself with simple pleasures, and love my wonderful husband more.

I will make more time for my grandson, and the kids and my family and friends. I will be gentler with my little guy at school, and be positive in all my actions with the kids, letting them know how great they are.

In 2012 I wish for all my family, co-workers and friends.....

Parking Lot Eggs!

Giving Thanks

2011-11-26T10:44:00.003-05:00

The day begins with breakfast, and then running the dogs. Belle blends beautifully with the leaves, and the creek is running with all the rain we have had.But today is sunny and the mercury is creeping up to the mid 60's. Perfect.

Hard to believe that I still have flowers on Thanksgiving day. This is a winter blooming Camellia

and it is loaded with honey bees.
The roses have such pretty new growth..to trim or not to trim...

We headed to the Lake, Smith Mountain Lake, to our friends Ruth and Bob Eaken. They were instrumental in our coming here in the first place, as they are also Keys residents. They have a lovely place right on the water, and the day was picture perfect and so was the food. We were joined by Candy and Tony LaPerna, some other lake friends and long time friends of the Eakens.

Candy broke her foot, and has been hobbling about on cast and crutches, so Ruth opted to host although technically it was Candy's year.

Some Lake 'effects' from the back porch of the Eaken's.

The loons made their appearance and a few fish leaped out and gave the fisherman the raspberry.

You can tell the shadows are long, and the winter sun is low and thick.

The little titmice are quite tame and weren't put off by my presence.

The living room has this awesome view framed by a bank of windows from peak to floor.

The weeping willow holds its golden leaves.

Last minute warming, wine and early Christmas gifts..Candy rests her wounded paw.

Annie, the Eaken's yellow Lab, loved the attention and the company and showed off her toy. Shes very well mannered and a real social girl.

Cheers!

Thank you Ruth and Bob, and Candy and Tony for a lovely Thanksgiving !

Time is flying by,actually.

2011-11-18T14:42:00.003-05:00

The frost has come. Mornings are cold and windshields need scraping.

The last of my roses have bloomed and been cut.

The last of the tomatoes are picked and the vines pulled for mulch. Miss them already.

Caines visit last weekend was fun and tiring. He is easily amused at 3 1/2, and he still loves his wonder horse 'Tex'.

Bath time with nice fragrant bubbles and lots of cups and things to pour and repour. He was in bed at about 7:30 and asleep by 8 pm. Worn out from all the fresh air, belly full, warm bath and a sippy cup of milk. Life is good.

Granpa helps get him dressed in the morning..

Riding with Grandma..one of his favorite things to do..

Caine and Pop-pop watching the dogs swim in the little pond...

Helping to get hay down for the horses...could take a long time doing it this way..

Ok, this works much better..pretty heavy for a little guy, but his heart is in it!

A busy weekend, and it sure sped by...

He is growing so fast, and talks so plainly now. Actually is one of his new words he seems to use alot. He picks me flowers and tells me stories and loves his books. Love the little guy.

No Mow

2011-11-06T21:27:00.003-05:00

Today Bob mowed for about 5 hours to get the grass laid down for winter. We hope... Not for winter, but for the end of mowing, which is endless!
Caine will be coming to visit this weekend, and although he does love the tractor, he isn't much help with mowing. Its too hard to hold him and mow. He will pick up sticks with Pop-Pop and make more rabbitat..(habitat for the rabbits)
He really loves his tv shows, and thats always a good thing for Grandma, because I'm pooped after a week in Kindergarten, and now with Kris in a wheel chair, things are 3 times harder, and I'm getting older daily!

What we need is Adam, our

great-nephew. He loves to mow and he's old enough now to do it by himself! Actually he has his own business up in Massachusetts, called,"Adam's Lawn Enforcement...In pursuit of keeping your Lawn in Line."

His Great -Grandfather would have been particularly proud of him...I know I am.

But that will have to wait til spring when Adam gets to come visit Auntie and Uncle, and run the 4-wheelers and the tractor. I think Bob will save a few weeks mowing for him when he comes.

Right now I know Bobs' hoping to ,

Mow no mow!!!

An ice storm cometh

2011-10-29T21:11:00.004-04:00

Today is October 29th. We awoke today to rain and cold, but by the time breakfast was over we found it had started to clear. We loaded up into Sandy and Drupeys van, and headed for a ride on the Parkway. We traveled our usual route through Ferrum, and over Shooting Creek road and hit the Parkway. In the distance I saw what I thought was snow on the far mountain peaks. As we travelled south...yes south, and climbed up to Rocky Knob, we found ourselves in an icy wonderland !
The sky was brilliant, and it was melting fast with chunks of ice coming down in sporadic spots as we travelled along thinking that the windshield might crack!

Some spots would cloud over and dark freaky clouds would roll over us and then there would come splashes of sun. Very wierd !

The distant mountains were frosted looking, with fields of green in the foreground, then areas of browned grass followed by spurts of color on the trees.

What an odd sight... this went on for miles.

At one point we stopped and used the wayside facilities, and it was blowing and cold. Bob posed in this ice pile that was like huge ice rigatoni pasta. It was loud and we didn't stay out near the trees long for fear of getting impaled!

Sandy was back in the van waving...smart lady.

We had wanted to travel North on the Parkway, but decided to go south and go to Meadows of Dan to the Poor Farmers market to have lunch, but THEY ARE NOT HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE. I was never aware of the places we love to go that I hadn't noticed that Sandy could never go and enjoy with us. Very dissappointed with Meadows of Dan stores. We went past to Nancys Candys, and THEY ARE HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE. Kudos to Nancys Candys, and they got a chunk of our money. We also learned at Rocky Knob ranger station that the Parkway was closed above Roanoke, so we did the right thing by going south.

We headed down 58 until we got to the first place that was accessible to Sandy and that was Wendys. Kudos to all the Wendys and shame on so many places for not making their businesses available to the handicapped people who love to travel and sightsee. For some, vehicle trips are their only way to get to do and see what we take for granted.

The icestorm commeth and its not just weather related. I plan to check every place I go to frequently and make sure that they are handicapped accessible, and if they are not, my business will go elsewhere...after I let them know...and a blog will show which ones you are...

the power of the pen, or computer can be very icy...

In the shadows

2011-10-07T08:48:00.003-04:00

This morning I arose early, for whatever reason. Probably because Bob is off fishing, and I am home alone, or maybe because I am still sick. I let the dogs out the back way and walked across the back deck to check on Belle and make sure she didn't 'chase' the horses. She just followed Penny towards the fruit trees out back to do her business, and as my eyes adjusted to the early light I saw my horses lying together under their favorite cedar tree. I looked up toward the rising light and saw the shadowy figure of a deer. They are hard to spot in the shadows, and they know they are. This deer just watched me, and didn't seem put off by the dogs or my presence. In a bit it bent its head to eat more of the sunflower seed that are dropped by birds shaking the feeders. I wished once more that I had a camera capable of taking those type of pictures, but since I don't, I went to the Internet to find something comparable to show just how lovely it was, but nothing compared. I did find these photos, and thought they might be of interest to some readers..
This first one was captured on a wildlife camera at about 1 am, according to the person who posted it. What is hard to explain is the child's image in the photo...
Do you believe in... shadows?

This image is so typical of this area and reminds me of what I see almost daily, although this one was clearly shot in Autumn, if you changed the foliage to the different seasons, I see them all.

This is what you see if you have 'Critter eyes'...that's what I have...I see deer and turkey and coyotes in bits and pieces through the woods and grasses. It's a big asset for hunters to be able to see animals like that, but I don't want to shoot them, except with a camera..

As the sun comes up or goes down, the deer will head to the hollows and then the woods for cover. Bob and I have ridden through our trails with the dogs running ahead of us, and we have seen deer lying down or standing just a few feet from where we pass by. The trick is being able to spot them. They will stay if they are secure in the shadows, knowing that they are hidden, not seen by the intruders.

We all hide in the shadows, watching the world and hoping the intruders will pass on by. My cousin Laura passed away last week. She had cancer. She was only 68. She was a wife/mother/friend and writer. There are so many who will miss her, and think of her as I did this morning while watching that graceful deer in the morning shadows.

But remember, there are also dangers hiding in the shadows. Cancers hide in shadows. Belle,my Aussie dog had a tumor removed last week. The vet called and said it was not malignant.Quarrie,our big grey cat-who-thinks-he's-a-dog,had a tooth removed and the swelling was questionable. It's gone, and he seems fine.

Exhale.

I have a breast exam every year, and I am overdue for one. Today I will make the appointment for my mammogram, and hope that the shadowy images will hide no cancer.

Are you in the clear?

Why did you do that, Penny?

2011-09-28T20:10:00.002-04:00

We were really careful for the last week before Belle's surgery, because the tumor had grown so large we were afraid she might tear the transparent ugly thing open when she ran. So she sported a tee shirt and I added these glasses, they went so well with the purple shirt.
She loved them as you can tell.

Today Belle had her tumor removed, and while Penny was "home alone", she redecorated Belle's sleeping kennel !

She tore the bedding to shreds! What was going through that dogs mind? Ok, I made up some answers I think might have come out of her smiling(toothy grin) she had when I exclaimed,

"Penny, what have you done to Belle's kennel???"

"Mom, I was scared and alone so I went searching for Belle where I smelled her, and I dug and dug, but I couldn't find her!"

"That bitch went for a ride with Dad and I couldn't go, so I trashed her kennel".
or

"Those cats made an awful mess even though I tryed to stop them."

Belle is home and the D.r removed the large tumor and a small one that had started on her left shoulder. They are sending the mass in for a biopsy. The Dr. suggested this saying it was very 'funky' looking...his words. Apparently there was alot of blood going to it, so he suggested I keep a tee shirt on her tonight and possibly tomorrow...

Poor Belle, she is drugged to the max, and doesn't seem to want to eat, although she drank half a bowl of water down and had a couple of treats.

She's pathetic. I promised her no more t-shirts, and now she has to wear one again. She's such a good girl..

Meanwhile Quarrie, our cat that had surgery last week for swelling and an infected tooth, seems to be doing really great. He eats well and looks like his old self and is fighting more when he is given his 2x daily antibiotic pill.

Belle will have 2 weeks of antibiotics, 3 days of pain pills and then another vet visit to remove the stitches, which I have not even looked at yet...maybe tomorrow I can stand to peek...makes my stomach flip just thinking about it...

Hope these 2 furry critters will heal and that there is no cancer in either one...only time will tell.

Best friends can be costly

2011-09-24T15:23:00.004-04:00

Belle's tumor has grown to the point where her Vet is uncomfortable with it, as she must be. It is right between her front legs, so it does not rub when she runs, but we and the Vet are concerned that she may rupture it while running through the woods chasing things. Today I put a t-shirt on her for her run. I just don't want to take a chance since she will be operated on next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, this week has been a bear. I have pink-eye (conjunctivitis) and have to put drops in my eye every 4 hours. I am allergic to sulphur drugs, so the drops aren't what the Dr. wanted to give me, and aren't as strong, hence the longevity of the cure. My little school mate also has it, and I am sure shared with me...
Quarrie had to have surgery this past week..brought him in because his face was swollen and it wasn't getting better after a couple of days...so Tuesday we brought him in, and Wednesday the took his left canine tooth out, and sent him home with 2 weeks of antibiotics and the question of "is it cancer,or infection?" still unsolved. Only time will tell, and of course we are hoping and praying for it not to be cancer, because that would mean the end for our little 'dog/cat' Quarrie. The only thing to do would be to put him through a lot of radiation down somewhere in N.C., and we not only could not afford that, but also, would not put a 10 year old cat through that hell.
So, we wait and hope. ..He does seem much better, and the swelling is down, and he's eating well and happy since he can now go out doors again!

So now we bring Belle in to go under the knife, and hope and pray that goes well...
I put in eye drops, we both get a pill into Quarrie 2 times a day, and I don't know what the surgery for Belle will bring for at home treatment...
I do know one thing, the Vet bills are tough to take right now, but you do what you have to for your best friends....
Will let you all know what happens ...later.

Paw-Paw fruit

2011-09-12T17:06:00.004-04:00

Paw-paw...yum...
Becky brought by a few to melissa and she passed a few on to me...
whats a paw-paw you ask?
here's the link....
Check it out Adam...
Asimina...thats the name of it here,technically.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asimina

When traveling through the forests...especially by a creek, you can smell the sweet smell of the fallen and ripe paw-paw fruit...the critters love them...
Bob doesn't.
more for me

Lack of blogs

2011-09-08T19:50:00.004-04:00

This is Sam and Izzy..

I just haven't been good about blogging and reading all my friends blogs. Sorry about that. Life seems to get in the way sometimes. Bob had to go south to work and that left me to fend for myself and all the furry critters, and do my full time job as a paraprofessional, a word I am having a tough time getting used to. I am what I would have called a Teachers assistant a while back...but I actually work one on one with a handicapped child plus work with a class of Kindergarten kids. At any rate, this old Gal gets pretty pooped out, and I like to sit and play mindless computer games as a release. Mind numbing. I like it. So , lack of blogs.

We finally got a few days of rain, so our grass is greening up, and softening. It was crunchy. But, that means now we have to mow. Ya just can't win....The creek is up enough so the girls can get wet in several spots, so they are very happy again.

Bob and I are settling back into the work week/weekend routine, so this evening we loaded up the pickup with the trash in the bed of it, and the dogs in the back seat and rode to the trash dumpsters and then had a DQ, and took the'scenic' route home..(back roads)...it amounts to about a 5 -8 mile journey, and we counted 23 deer enroute. I just love that! Deer hunting with only our eyes !

Our neighbors went to Hillsville last weekend, but Bob was expected home and I really had no desire to drive down to where they camped (about 1 1/2 hours one way) so I watered and fed their critters along with mine and stayed home for the Labor Day weekend. When they returned their little girl, whos growing up quick, stopped by to get their mail I had collected for them. There's a couple of pictures of her in her get-up in the start of this blog..She's redneck to the bone... with her ever-present-dog...Izzy.I didn't get the picture of how she came down to get the mail dressed like this. She drove her bicycle, with a childs seat ( a real childs seat) the type that is set behind the bicycle seat above the back wheel... and strapped into it , safety harness and all was Izzy, her little dog...That dog lets Sam do anything to her...she even rides on her pony with Sam. Too much !

She is a hoot!

I will try to be better and blog a little more, and check in on all my blog friends who are so creative and well written...I've been missing hearing from all of you!

Visiting New England

2011-08-04T12:30:00.007-04:00

~
The trip North started with Clay and Jan, and jumped around from there. Stayed in Massachusetts, NH and Maine visiting friends and family...I wish I had more time to spend with each one of them, but at least I did get to see them this year.

Mom and I at Wolfboro Bay in N.H., where she lives now.

Mom loved Kim's little poodle Roxie, who is also quite elderly. They hit it off!

My nephew and godson Matt is holding his youngst son,Remington. He's a pistol..(punny)

Mark (baby brother), nephew Matt and niece Katie are tubbing it with an adult libation...good time.

Brother John and sis-in-law Bette's pool with Kate's guy Rob ( back of head), Kate with green bottle, Bette with bottle, Laura(Matts wife) and papa John in background with Remington...Kate and Rob's dog 'Clifford' stalks a floating ball..

John and his favorite blonde(his dog Missy)..

Mom loved the large family visit, and Remington kept her entertained..

Matt's son Luke( with cap) has gotten so tall! Going left is John,Clay,Mom,Matt and Jan's legs and arms..

Another pool day is with Adam, my grandnephew in front,left is Emily and in the green tube her twin Ryan(grand niece and nephews), and cousins in their pool.

While staying with John, Keri and Adam some ferral cats took up residence on their porch..here's the Mom nursing one of her brood.

Back with the twins..

This is Ryan Bemis, my grand nephew. His twin Emily , his Mom Donna and I all went to a state park in Stoughton Mass...hiking and enjoying the day.

Here's a rare shot of Donna and the twins..Donna is the photographer and she is usually taking the pictures!!

Back in NH, we took a little time(brother Mark, sis-in-law Michelle and I) to swim in W. Alton at the town beach.. The Mount Washington cruised by..

Brother Clay and I before getting ready to go see Mom again...

Back at the Moore Farm in Alton, some of the 'ladies' are dining in...

Looking down..

Took a 4-wheel ride up top of the Moore farm with Kim's boyfriend Harry and his grandson, Hayden. This is looking down on Kim's place and the farm.

I'm jumping around picture wise..this is Beaver Falls in Colebrook NH, taken while visiting Elsie and Fred with Mark's wife Michelle.

This is Elsie and her hubby Fred, who still enjoy each other after 53 years of marriage! They are playing the 'Wii", bowling which they do every morning and evening to keep active..not bad for 83 and 81 years young!!

Here's Elsie and I...we are old hunting and fishing buddies...

This is the White Mts. in NH, taken on the way up to Colebrook NH with Michelle.

Another visit day with family and Mom...here Kate sits with Mom..she sang to her, and the other 'inmates' as Mom calls them. Mom's still a hoot..

This is my niece Alanna, taken at Clay and Jan's house in Bridgewater Mass.

Here's Jans birthday present ! A gator to bring down to their Virginia house!!

Here are my niece Alyssa and her friend Mandy with Mandy's Dad teaching them to dive in the pool...The tanks were so big and heavy, Alyssa fell right over !

Two divers...on the steps..they had a blast!

Mandy's Dad and Grandma Jan watch intently as the two swim around like minnows...

I had a great visit..spent time with Kim( no pictures of her or my friend Sandy whom I spent an overnight with, nor Brian,nor John and Keri, or Heather! DUH..)

Saw most of my family and some friends and enjoyed the summer weather in NH, Maine and Massachusetts.

I hope I can do it again soon, but this time I wish my hubby could go as well..

missed him alot.

How does your garden grow?

2011-07-12T16:27:00.005-04:00

Peaches !Over run with 'em..why must they all ripen at once?

Belle always helps water the plants...

This hummingbird vine is taking over the porch again..Bob will be fussing about it climbing the roof!

My new gazing ball..Bob was working with the tractor taking away weeds, and he hit the old one with the bucket. The ball shattered and I'm still finding slices!

Another peachy picture..

Love these purple/bluish balloon flowers..amid the cone flowers and the pink bee balm clouds..

The wee horses are wishing for a treat..not getting these apples!

My tiny hay bale garden...2 cucumbers,2tomato's a zucchini and a summer squash..I had to do it, even though I don't have the time this year a few plants are a must.

The roses are doing pretty well since the move from the front of the house..Coneflowers ! So sunny and cheerful..

Thats a quick tour of the front yard and the hay bale garden, oh and some of the fruit trees..

My gardens grow very well, how 'bout yours?

Key's backcountry

2011-07-06T17:34:00.002-04:00

I have posted some of these pictures on facebook, but for those who do not do facebook, I will put them here. This was taken from No Name Bridge. Talk about sunsets, there are none I have seen like these.

Lonny took us out snorkeling in the Content Keys in the Gulf of Mexico, which is just one side of the bridge on US 1....the other side would be the Atlantic ocean. Bob and Lonny don't enjoy just floating along looking at the bottom. There has to be a purpose...hence the spear gun.

This is a heron, I think a green heron, standing in the shallows of Bahai Honda State Park. I love that place..you can walk for miles it seems, and not go ovr your head.

I also love it because that's where Bob and I got married..right here at the campfire circle after a day of snorkling and a cookout...then the partying began. Great wedding.

You should visit the Keys at some point in your life and if you do, be sure to slide off US 1, and see the State Parks(John Pennekamp in the upper keys, and Bahai Honda lower) as well as the beautiful spots hidden back off the main road. Explore. You'll be glad you did!

Key West Flora

2011-06-28T20:29:00.004-04:00

These are some shots taken while driving about in Key West. This is a banyon tree, and those hanging roots will touch down and become another tree connected to the mother tree.

The red flowers are the Royal Poincianna tree, another common Keys tree.

Bougainvilla spills over a wall, the tall palm is a royal palm and the corner tree is a Norfolk pine, planted for masts.

Different colors of bougainvilla, and some other tropical flowering plants.

This is so typical, and colorful. The square things are crab traps. The floats hang from almost everything. I had them hanging in my silver buttonwood tree when I lived in Little Torch Key, as well as orchids.

Just thought you might like to check out the flora as I usually go for the fauna.

I love the foliage in the Keys...Colorful like the people who live there.

Keys Critters

2011-06-27T11:31:00.002-04:00

Keys critters are not all 'furry'. I have so many pictures and less time to blog, but I thought I would start this set of blogs with a few pictures of some of what I saw while back 'home' in the Florida Keys.

To the left is a white crane, this taken on a bridge in Bahia Honda State Park.

This is a very common sight in the Big Pine area, it's an iguana, and they get really huge, 4 or 5 feet but this guy is little. They swim and climb trees and the hot weather is perfect for them.

The Key deer are also common on Big Pine, and they are tiny. This one was grazing on scrubby plants and grass at the Blue Hole, and that is where the alligator is..its a fresh water hole that attracts the deer and lots of birds and yes, gators.

This doe was resting in the mangroves in my friends back yard. They are very friendly and have no fear of humans, which causes a problem, because everyone wants to feed them and that isn't a good idea for the deer in that it keeps them staying in one spot,defecating and reinfesting themselves with parasites instead of the norm for deer, which is grazing while travelling about a larger area. Another problem is them getting killed by cars. The speed limit of 30 mph is strictly enforced on the island interior, and God help you if you hit one !

The keys are a unique set of islands and the scenery and the flowering shrubs and trees are so beautiful year round...but that's another blog.

Fishin',Floatin' and Flyin'.

2011-06-05T08:54:00.007-04:00

On Memorial Day weekend, we took a 4 wheel trip to the Pigg River.

Caine loved sitting in the chair, but the current was a tad strong for his size, so he sat and sipped his juice and then took a turn at fishing. After losing his worm,twice, I was again re-worming the hook when he said,"Just put a fish on it Grandma." Can't argue with that logic.

On Monday, the neighbors and I floated the Pigg. Bob had to work, but his knees don't do well in a kayak nor a canoe for a 6 hour float. We had my red kayak, Clays green one, Melissa's flat bottom boat and my canoe. It was a good float for Melissa,Troy and Samantha;Lauralee and her guy;Sissy and Burger and me.
The hummingbirds are back big-time! I think they have brought all their offspring for years back! I can't keep up with the sugar water,once again.I tried to capture some of them this morning while having coffee. Here's the results:

The noise from so many birds is incredible.Buzzing and screeching. It is fascinating.
The still pictures don't do them justice, but you get the idea by all the blurred blobs around the feeders. (Of course you know if you click on the picture it will come up full screen size...)
Kind of like watching an aquarium, the blood pressure just slows.

Country is good.

Signs of things to come

2011-05-27T21:28:00.005-04:00

Did I mention the hummers are back? They are only not in numbers yet..

Did I mention we finally got the sign to put up?? We are official. We are a tree farm Grow little seedlings, grow! (they are doing well)

This is where I like to spend time after school. Lately the weather hasn't cooperated. Stormy and rainy, but I am hoping it will turn off nice for the long weekend.

Bob takes his 'dog' Quarrie for a ride on the 4-wheeler...not often you will see a cat riding on one, but I think he is getting tired of the dogs getting all the attention..

Today I got home to find the kitchen cabinet open. Hmmmmm. Didn't leave it that way.

But, there on the floor near the cats dish was a tiny present. Dead mouse. Good boy Mac. He's the mouser and has been diligently checking in and out of the cabinets in the kitchen lately. Apparently he can hear the little devils when I have no clue...other than the torn paper lining the silverware drawer! I have had to put all the silver in the dishwasher twice..but Mac has also gotten 2 mice!
Good boy Mac.

May ramblings

2011-05-19T16:53:00.003-04:00

These are stolen moments from my hectic schedule...Bob is mowing, the dogs are fed and run, but dinner still awaits the end of todays mow. The grass is growing too fast to keep up with, and so are all the wildflowers, some of which I captured on the run, today. I had to start with Penny cooling off in her favorite creek spot.

The Mountain Laurel is in full bloom. It scatters its lovely shapes and color all throughout the fast greening landscape...

This wild grapevine has found a good stake atop this semi-dead cedar..

My porch plants are also loving this humid weather...this 'Shrimp cactus' is loving its new place outside. Some say it's a confused 'Christmas Cactus'...

This is my 'Chocolate' orchid, and it does smell like chocolate! Its blooms are tiny, about an inch.

This crazy, stormy one minute, sunny the next weather has made for some really cool late afternoon skies, when the sun drops low enough to shine under the storm clouds..eerie.

The wet weather is also producing some wild looking fungi growing in the crevice of the wheel chair ramp out back...

This is the only turtle I have seen to date on the property, and beleive me, I have been looking!

...just some May ramblings down here on the farm in Virginia.

Grandsons

2011-03-26T20:23:00.002-04:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Caine and I had a little rest after eating shrimp and "O-gurt". Well, thats what he ate.
Bob cooked his famous 'Baltimore style' steamed shrimp and I made a big potatoe salad. We had a rest, Mommy and Daddy fell asleep, and then Caine and I and Pop-pop went out to play.

Caine helped Pop-pop feed the birds. He filled the cup while Bob poured the feed into the feeders. He would only fill the cup with a small amount of seed so it took along time, plus he had Bobs gloves on so it was harder for him. Bob is so patient with him.
.

Carrying his sippy cup full of apple juice to join me on the swing...

He is such a happy little guy and he sure loves it here. We have to drag all his toys and things from the shed and play in the dirt.

These cowboy boots were his Dad John's when he was a boy. Michele said they found them in the attic and Caine won't take them off...

my little cowboy on his wonder-horse Tex. I used to have to wrap the hard plastic mane with padding so he wouldn't bump his face.

Not anymore, he runs full tilt on his Tex....My Mom said I wore out 2 sets of springs on my horse, Jim Jump.

Another great afternoon with Caine. I'm renewed. He is such a joy, and Pop-pop- has alot more fun with him now that he's mobile!

Too much of a good thing...

2011-03-13T17:18:00.004-04:00

The creek is very high during the rains...chocolate milk or light coffee and really wild.

Penny isn't put off by the speed or the color, it's still the creek.

Even the side runs that normally trickle are fast and dangerous.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next morning brings a sky that you have to photograph...so colorful, a spiritual thing.

The creek has subsided...it has rushed to Pigg River and returned to a lighter shade.
Belle likes this taste better.

Debris litters the banks and rocky ledges that rise like dinosaur backs.

Penny has her favorite holes to soak in along the run route.

The sun has shone for several days now.The flowers are up and the tree buds are popping.
More rain is forecast for tomorrow and the next day, however I don't think that they will be the torrential rains of last week.
Gentle rain is good, the fields will green up nicely. Those downpours wreak havoc with the driveway,the fields and the streams.
The old adage applies:
Too much of a good thing, isn't good.

Summer Camp?

2011-02-27T19:36:00.004-05:00

Here is the new pasture of Akila (now known as 'Little Belle') and Red, (possibly known as 'Clyde' now). It's 4 acres. I recommended that they put another horse or 2 with them or cut it down, because come Spring, these little guys will blow up like the Goodyear Blimp!

Akila had her nicest halter on for her new place, and alas, she has a terrible time with her hairdo, but she had had her 'hoof-i-cure' recently and I brushed her a bit. Pretty little girl.

Red was mostly interested in the treats I had. He was sporting his blue halter for the trip, had had his feet done and got brushed up a tad. Winter fur is messy though.

Full of treats, dressed and waiting, although ...man, they really need a good stylist! Akila is giving me a raspberry...
Loading them was frightful, and I was a mess worrying about them riding in the trailer, but all went well. When we arrived, Akila had gotten loose and was happily munching some hay she found, and Red was mad because he stayed tied and couldn't reach it!

Sarah, their new 'young' human, takes them down to the creek/pond on warm days and Red splashes with his feet, while Akila rolls in it! They have a new pasture mate,now, a really old well mannered Gent named Poncho who is enjoying these little fur-balls. Sarah also took Akila into the house ! (well, the mud-room part). Sarah's Mom has a very good nature and just laughed at that. Red jumped up (a good 2-3 ft) into the tack room to visit Sarah when she was busy in there. She takes them for walks on their leads and they are an amusement to their new humans. There are 5 dogs that chase them around and vice-versa...They are happy and that makes me VERY glad!
I believe they might think they are at summer camp!

Winter Creek

2011-01-15T13:28:00.003-05:00

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was 45 degrees at noon, and the girls were antsy. Penny was verbally complaining. Belle just looks at you with that look. You know the one if you have animals. So I bundled up, fired up my 4-wheeler to loud barks and yelps and dances of great approval, and pocketed my camera.Here is the view from my place .

Bob has been running the girls for a long while now, as I find the cold makes the sinus infection I have had worse. I try masks, but the cold on my face really hurts. He has been talking about "tracks through the creek the whole way, in slush that has hardened." I said what kind? He thought raccoon. I think he's right. But the odd thing is the tracks go back and forth. Wonder what that little critter was up to?

Maybe this coon is old, like me. Maybe it goes one way, then forgets what it was after and then turns back again. One thing is sure, he's making tracks!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Twenty Eleven and the lottery

2011-01-01T20:28:00.003-05:00

So we've made it to another year.

When the promise of a new year fresh and clean stretches before us, it feels like a storm has passed. The sun comes out and there are rainbows and bluebirds...

It rained today. Ah, well. It held off this morning long enough for me to wash the bird poop off the truck. Bluebirds?

Monday I go back to work, and I did enjoy my time off. I feel better, and finally took the last of the antibiotics today. I have read a few books, the one I am currently reading I am passing on to my brother, and my nephew if they haven't already read it. Charles Kuralt's AMERICA. He spends a year going back to the places he loved while traveling the country for CBS.
January was New Orleans, but February was Key West. Nostalgia set in. March was Charleston, S.C., and April , New York and Virginia combined. But, May was Grandfather Mountain, N.C. I have been there as well and could see what he wrote in my minds eye. He said, " I have always felt at home in the mountains. I don't know why."
I get that. I love the sea and the Keys, but the mountains settle me.
He proceeds to talk about the things my brother and I always talk about in the woods. The flowers and the trees, a woodpecker a raven, or a deer. Which bird was that, or did you hear that? Thats an owl. Kuralt says, "I can't identify many birds by their calls, one of the gaps in my knowledge I want to correct someday. I'd rather know bird songs than French."
I get that too. I spent months tracking and marking turtles here on my property. Each time I would spot one was like finding treasure.
The next chapter will be Alaska, a place I have always thought I would like to see. My 'bucket' list has visiting all the National Parks as my #1 to do in the still 'long' list. Riding in a hot air balloon is another. I figure I have plenty of time...
Bob and I play the Mega Millions, and one thing we love to do is talk about what we would do if we won. Our first thought is always family. My siblings and his would all benefit as would our neices and nephews. There would be no worry about houses and vehicles, for they all would be able to afford both, as well as college for the children. It's a lovely mind game we play, and as Bob says, 'someone's got to win, why not us?'
What a different world 2011 would be if we were to win the lottery, although beleive it or not, I would finish the year at school because of the little guy I am responsible for, and Bob would finish the jobs he has set. Then he starts designing a fishing boat, but I want a deck boat.Ok, both !
And so the game goes. If you can't dream, why have a mind?
I have already won the lottery of life in so many ways, and I am thankful and grateful for each new day and for all my family and friends.
But seriously, Mega Millions would be a blast !
~~~~~~~~~~

And so this was Christmas...

2010-12-26T20:01:00.005-05:00

and in the end.....

and in the beginning of the unwrap...

This is Tessa standing then Trisha, her Mom, and Michele's hubby, John being entertained by 'Oreo', Michele and John's dog with his new squeeky bone from Belle and Penny.

Michele, Bob in his chair and Caines head...Wayne, Michele's X is to the right..

True was trying to be patient while Caine worked with his train from his Gi-Gi...True is Trisha's youngest daughter...Confused yet?

The dogs all got squeek toys...Belle and Penny de-squeeked theirs in seconds, and they got chew bones, which they went out with. They go out the magic hole. Oreo isn't savvy to it yet and gets awfully confused when the girls "walk right through the door an disappear".

This is Trisha on the right and Tessa, her oldest daughter in the middle with Michele on the right. Beleive it or not , Trisha and Michele are not related. Michele was married to Wayne, they divorced and Wayne hooked up with Trisha when she was alone and pregnant with True..The girls call Wayne Daddy..Now Michele is married to John and their son is Caine...

Got that straight now??.....neither do I.

Caine and True are playing the piano...Wayne is conducting in background..

Michele is winding down...

The kids should be back soon from Bedford. They went visiting friends and family and are picking Caine up from his other Grandma's house.They were headed home tongiht but the weather is so bad, they will wait until tomorrow..smart.

I am full, but somehow I seem to keep eating more when the appropriate hour comes around !

This has got to cease...New Year's is a 4 letter word...

DIET !

...another year over...

~~~~

Christmas in Virginia with Love

2010-12-20T20:17:00.003-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~
The decorations are scattered about the house. The fireplace has the traditional angels, on top and at the base on either side. The large corn husk and paper angel was given to me by a friend, Janine, and I set it over a light. I like angels about me.

Above the piano is the picture of my guardian angel, my Dad. The piano is so old, but itstill sounds good to me when my grandson and I sit at it and he 'plays'. It was in John and Michele's house when they bought it, and they nor anyone else wanted it...but me. My husband and 2 neighbors moved it from Bedford to here with much effort.

Even the outside of the house is festive. Besides the wreathes and the white candles in the windows, there are birds that decorate the shrubs, the ground and the feeders. The cardinals look so pretty in the snow.

The tree is a Frasier fir we cut the week after Thanksgiving. Naturally it has an angel on top. Red bows have long been the final touch on our trees. The blue stars in the window were given to me by a friend, Karen, and they go up every year.

This year my grandson Caine and his Mom and Dad will be here for Christmas. Christmas Eve will be the traditional dinner with turkey and all the trimmings and a ham with mac and cheese. Wayne and Trisha and their two girls will be with us for dinner and the gift exchange. Having the kids here will make Christmas more like when I was a child with all my relatives gathering at a different familie's house each year. My Dad always played 'Santa' and handed out gifts. What a magical time it was, and I didn't even know how lucky we were. For me it was tradition, something I expected and took for granted. What great memories I have of my family and all the cousins; the women all sharing the kitchen work and then the big games of penny-anti poker played by the adults after desserts.We were blessed.

Today my brothers are in three different states in New England, and I am here in Virginia. Most all of the adult relatives are long since passed, as is my Dad. I have one Aunt left from my Dads five siblings, Aunt Ruth in Florida and none from my Mom's side. My Mom is still very much alive at eighty-seven, and she is in N.H. with my youngest brother. The cousins are scattered, as are most families today, not like when I was a kid and everyone stayed close by.

This Christmas I send my love to all my family and friends wherever you may be, no matter how far away, you are always right here in my heart.

Merry Christmas with love from Virginia.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Move over Iris...

2010-12-11T10:53:00.003-05:00

Iris has only one eye. She rests it quite often.
Here she is tucked into the blankies on 'Daddies' side of the bed.
Tell me she isn't spoiled rotten.

Moochie is disgusted with the tucking and coddling of her sister, Iris. Quarrie is melted down into the comforter. He almost looks flat.

Here are the other two that make up our Quintet of fuzzy felines'. On the left is Mac and posing oh so handsomely is Beau. They are nestled atop their cat tower which is at the end of our bed against the window... so they can watch the birds in the feeders placed strategically for their best amusement . But they're not spoiled.

I am sick...again, or still, I can't decide. Since going to work for the school system I have been ill in such a continuing manner that I really don't know if I ever am 'well' in between bouts of sinus infections and colds. This time I can't stop coughing and I'm concerned its walking pneumonia...I have had it 3 or 4 times throughout my adult life and this sure feels like it again.

Bob has taken over for me and is doing laundry that is piled really high, and bringing me food when I can eat. He actually has a bad cold, but he won't let it stop him. I try not to, and didn't miss work, nor last's night faculty Christmas Party, but I should have stayed home. Damn Scott's blood..!! I had already paid for the tickets and was going to get my money's worth !

Two weeks 'til Christmas now and no time to get things done..

like shopping and decorating..and Christmas card writing...things I always looked forward to when I had the time to do them. Now, alas, it seems a chore.

Maybe its just cause I feel so crappy...maybe if I get through this sick time, I'll get the spirit. We are in for more bitterly cold weather this week, and that isn't helping. This time its warming enough to rain, then turn to sleet and drop into the 2o's again.

Move over Iris, I'm getting in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Sun.The Moon.Cats don't care.

2010-11-20T22:23:00.005-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is the sun the first thing we see in a day, or the moon ?

Like a beginning to an end, here is our old cat door being cut away to make room for the new 'dog' door. In the beginning there were cats. Dogs ,once they came, had to ask to go out or in, and cats being what they are, could do whatever they chose..in or out at whim. Then Belle, one of our Australian Shepherds, decided not to be out, and fit her 45 lb. body through the cat door...(after tearing out the plastic flap closure.) We couldn't beleive she did it, so Bob fixed the flap and we left her out the next day. When I came home, Belle was in and Penny was out...the flap was gone again.
So now the cats have a HUGE cat door that the dogs can fit through, and won't unless we are there to tell them to go through the hole....Hence the difference between cats and dogs.

Days end today showed a great sunset with a big orange sun and pink sky over our neighbors new 'shed'. Note the dogs running ahead. We jumped 5 deer so I turned right and went towards the old wooden barn...
...and took another sunset shot of Turkeycock Mountain in the background of what I call the 'flying nun' shed on my neighbors land..come on pine trees...grow back quickly!

Looking in the other direction at our house, was the moon through the branches of the old oaks.

So I went to the 3 acre field for a clearer shot...And I realized the sky was pink around the edges and the moon was rising up full...Looks like it could be a sunrise, with the moon going down. But it's not, and therein lies my origional question...

Do we see the sun or the moon first in a day?

Quarrie, one of our 5 cats, could care less. If it's daylight he catches birds..

if it's moonlight he catches mice and other small furry rodent-type critters..with luck he won't bring them in the dog...I mean , cat door.

And the garden is at its end...

Or is this the beginning of the spring garden ?

The circle has no beginning and no end...

and cats still don't care.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

November Promise

2010-11-07T15:11:00.004-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~
Can they get any fatter ? My minis look like furry kegs with legs ! They are eagerly awaiting the re-fencing of the greener pasture, the last of the fields.

November is a funny month here in Southern Virginia. Some things are still in bloom, and some are just starting to bloom, like this winter camelia. The flowers remind me of wild roses.

This giant sunflower made it through last nights frost, it was 25 on the porch this morning, but the sun warmed quickly and the sky was a brilliant shade of blue.

This is a picture of the new power lines that are running near our property. This view is from West Vaco looking toward Penhook. It is amazing how quickly the cut went through. No lines are visible yet.

The creek is low now, and some spots looks like a stream of leaves. This big Beech is hanging on to the ever decreasing bank. Each spring the creek swells up and debrie tears down the bank and washes away the soil that the trees hold to. Every year another big tree lays down its fight for footing. I'm afraid this guy isn't too long for the upright world.

November and all the Fall months are the best for me. Some say its morbid, everything is dying. I say its a preparation for life. The leaves come down and supply the soil with cover and food. The flowers die off leaving seeds for the animals and beginnings for new growth in the Spring. The snow will blanket and provide for a rich new start.

I love fall, it's colorful and it smells earthy and rich, and it has promise for a new beginning.
How can promise be morbid ?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bright and Sunny

2010-10-31T16:27:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow is November 1st, which makes this Halloween...the folliage here is hanging on, although the colors are nowhere near what New England has. Below is a picture of Merry Meeting lake in New Durham N.H. , framed in sugar maples.

Below is a picture I took on the Parkway last weekend, pretty and the sky was that azure blue I remember from the North.There is still quite a bit of green, but today that color is draining away fast. Bob and I just ran the dogs, and it is 70 degrees, sunny and very bright, but that winter sun is starting to thicken, and look more like butterscotch than the summer dazzling white heat. The woods were soft and fragrant with all the downed leaves, and the visibility in the woods is better daily. Today there were several nuthatches playing in the trees. Bob had just come back from getting the tank filled with gas that serves the fireplace, and I have moved my computer to my desk in the fireplce room anticipating a nice warm fire while I play on my computer. The room it was in gets quite cold, which suits Bob well while he watches tv. Now he can turn up the sound, and I won't have to use ear-phones trying not to hear the terrible noises that come from the movies he likes to watch. You know, the ones filled with sounds of moans and beatings and sirens and screams. I hate those movies, but he eats 'em up, so my love....have at it ! Iris will be stretched on the rug near the fire and I will be near enough to feel its warmth.

Here is a picture of the darlings in our classroom, that take up my life now.

They are holding up a picture of my friend, Brian Duffy, who is an astronaut. So nice of him to send these for the kids, they were tickled..

Life is very different now that I am back to work full time. The weekends are packed with all I can stuff into them...cleaning and laundry and shopping and such. Saturday Bob and I went to breakfast, then shopped around in Martinsville...Goodwill, the JC Penney outlet, Walmart and a shoe store to get Bob some much needed sneaks.
Saturday night I tackled my closet, getting out the summer and putting in the winter, started laundry and we made a trash run. Today I vacumned and moved the computer, washed some throw rugs and got all my plants in and cut back and hung around various spots. Bob has been busy mowing and fixing things for me..( the honey-do list).

Now its dinner and then clean-up, getting clothes and lunches ready for tomorrow.

A fresh start for a new month..

We are invited to friends Ruth and Bob Eaken at the lake for Thanksgiving, and I think Bob's Mom will come for the week as she usually does. Bob's brother is at loose ends again, and may show up as well.
The kids are due here for a long weekend of the 12th, but they may be moving back in this area, so thats not a given...

The weeks fly by when you work a schedule all week long, and it is getting a rythmn worked out so the machine runs smoothly. As soon as you think that is accomplished, something happens to throw it all off!

There's one bright spot coming up...elections will be done and the ads and phone calls will stop !!!

Now that's a sunny thought !!

Surprises!

2010-10-17T12:22:00.003-04:00

I haven't blogged in an age...but I have been busy !

Started back to work in August as a Para-professional working with a 4 year old who's physically challenged...he has CP.

Bob and I went to Baltimore the end of September for his Moms 75th surprise birthday on this paddle boat. Good time...and yes she was really surprised!

We also went to Bobs 24th annual surfishing tournament in Ocean City M.D., and this year we took the dogs with us.They were awesome ! Behaved really well ! Surprised me, for country dogs to adapt well to hotels and elevators !

The weather was beautiful and they caught a ton of fish, ended up 7th in the tournament!

I wouldn't hesitate to brings the dogs on any trip now.
I think they still like the creek better for drinking and swimming!

Thankful for...

2010-08-02T15:50:00.003-04:00

~~~~~~~~~
Belle should be a rat dog, or rather a 'mole' dog. She sneaks up into a pile of leaves where nothing is visible to me, and starts digging, tearing at roots and burying her whole snout into the ground.Sometimes you cannot see her head at all !

Since we have had a little rain the pond is back up. Belle is sticking her tongue out at me. The pond lily that Jan gave me has bloomed at the side, but I can't get a picture of it because of the high weeds surrounding it. As the lily's spread out, they will be more visible. Meanwhile, the girls are enjoying their little swim hole again.

This is Bob's "dog", Quarrie. He waits at the back porch for Bob to come home every day. The routine carry in to the food dish can happen each time Bob re-enters the sliding door, no matter how often it is, Quarrie expects to be carried in. He just lays in Bobs hand, so trusting.Funny critters.

Here's my guy when he's not 'working'. He is putting in a new faucet for me...actually the one that was at my brothers house. Jan got a new sink and faucet to match, so this one was hardly used. Finally a faucet I can get a pot under ! And, the sprayer works ! Yippee ! He also fixed my vacumn today and is up Clay and Jans painting. That's what he does when he's not 'working'. You just gotta love a guy that can do things...

And here's my new old sink ! The plus is I had to clear out the under cabinet so he could work on it...( get into it). So newish sink and clean and organized under-sink!

...everyday theres something to be thankful for...Thanks, honey!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Where has summer gone?

2010-07-25T21:18:00.003-04:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's been a month since I last blogged.
Seems any extra time at the end of my long summer day has been spent job searching and all that it entails. It used to be really easy to apply for work. Now that all is done online, it seems much more difficult to me! Meanwhile, the garden keeps spewing forth its bounty...
These are the last of the peaches, and I had to fight the deer for them!

Tomatos are coming fast,but I've found a new way to deal with so many at once. Wash them,core them and freeze them whole with skin on by placing on a cookie sheet in the freezer ! When frozen, put them in freezer bags...when ready to use, you can run them under warm water and the skin will come off easily...of course then you must cook them, but it saves work up front !

Bob loves the yellow tomatos and eats them up before I need to can or freeze them..

To date..( I just did 4 more quarts and a pint today)...I have pickled 27 quarts and 6 pints of pickles, mostly sweet, but some polish dills, and the cucumbers are still going strong! I think it may be due to the new fertilizer I have found...Epsom Salts ! yes, thats what I said.try it!

Bob hasn't had to cut the grass very often due to the incredible heat and drought we have had for this whole month, so he has been getting to the creek and bringing back large stones for stepping. He also has had work (thank you lord!), but naturally it is porches! Figures with the sun and heat he'd be working outdoors! But, its work!

Tomorrow I continue on my journey to find a job, and that alone has taken up a considerable amount of time doing resumes and putting in applications. I had to have a TB test, be fingerprinted and a background check done, just to have my application for substitute teaching put in for Franklin County schools...

I do have an interview tomorrow at Head Start. I will let you all know the outcome.

Somehow the days are flying by me and August is at hand. I'm praying for some rain and cooler temperatures. Hard to believe the kids go back to school August 18th...

Where has summer gone?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Summer dirt brings bounty and baths

2010-06-19T19:59:00.005-04:00

~~~~~~~~~~~

I am missing Caine, now that I have recovered from chasing after him. He's such a love, so happy. He would sit with me on the porch for coffee in the morning. Okay, he didn't stay long and I had to chase after him before he got in his pool , or the dirt.. or both in that order! I would at least get him dressed before he started the dirt thing...

Playing in the dirt with his toys and cars... his favorite..such a boy !

I saw this pay phone on our road/fishing trip to Floyd today. I took a picture of it, because I haven't seen one in ages! They are still out there !

Penny had a side swim in the pond...side swim because she can 'touch' bottom on the sides..

Belle prefers the full immersion.

The lily pads are multiplying, but no flowers yet! I think last count was ten pads.. in the picture , middle-ish to the left side near the fluffy green reeds...

The summer is in full swing,its so hot and humid, although it really isn't summer officially..and the veggies are really starting to come fast!

I know what I will be doing in a few short weeks....Canning !!!! Tomatos galore!

We really need to get a freezer soon! Can't wait for the first tomato sandwich! The cucumbers are great, so crisp and fresh....

love the garden bounty!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

fireflies

2010-06-10T11:09:00.003-04:00

Clematis..and hummingbirds..
fireflies in the gloaming...do you see them?
They are like tiny fairies with flashlights...blinking so quickly ..

And a garden..it doesn't take much room...
everything is usable..
old chairs, and horse fencing that has snapped off..
twigs that were cut from my Harry Lauder's walking stick plant last spring..whimsical and fun..

But, fireflies in the late evening..when the bats start coming, and the hummingbirds rest...
Do you see them?
Have you gone out and checked?
Can you take the time to see the night sky?
.....
see the big dipper?
and there's the little one, too...
come on buddy, lets rest in Grandma's hammock...
listen to the tree toads,
hear the whipporwhill calling?
...
Important times for a child...
take the time, let your inner child come out...catch a firefly in a jar...
amaze your kids and grandkids with what is all around..free to enjoy...
make some lasting memories...

Adam's swing is still hanging waiting for him to return...
meanwhile, Caine can use it...a board on the end of a rope hung on the oak's branch...
such joy and laughter...so simple..
such memories....
I'm smiling, aren't you?

Dam fun

2010-05-23T20:18:00.003-04:00

****************************

The dams' in the creek that were built when Adam and his Mom and Dad visited are holding nicely, even through all the rain we've had. This one below Adam built himself. Nice job, Bud !
The dogs have a deep pool for cooling off thanks to his hard work...

The one that we all built collectively is also holding...

Jiggs loves to run with a toy in his mouth. This particular time it was the stuffed squirrel, and that seems to be a sore topic with Belle. She lives to chase down the elusive squirrel, and Jiggs running with one in his mouth was too much. A 'tug-of-squirrel' ensued. Penny backed off when the growling began...

My brother Clay and I have been running the dogs every day, and most days twice. We have seen a few turtles, and that makes me happy. I was sure the logging killed them all, but not so.

Notice the abandoned squirrel on the front of Clay's machine. The dogs must have been distracted by the real deal...

We have been having dinners with Clay and Jan at their house, or having them here. The trade off is fun, and a nice break for each of us as no one has all the work. Today we did breakfast, and they did dinner. Lunch was at the river, actually in the river on the 4-wheelers. We met the neighbors down there and had a nice visit. A snake showed up, a Northern Water snake ...according to Clay...and it was amazing how fast Melissa, her neice Jenn and son Logan and Samantha all piled into the Rhino ! Troy held his ground, but only because he had to seem macho with me, Clay and Bob all being interested in the snake and not afraid. Melissa said if we were not there he would have been standing on the seat!!!

Another nice day with family...

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Coy Dog citing

2010-05-14T20:49:00.003-04:00

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Today my neighbor and writer friend, Becky, picked me up for the bi-monthly Lake Writers meeting. While traveling down my road we spotted what appeared to be a coyote or a coy dog. The animal was trotting quickly through a neighboring field where cows and their young graze.
It was a fast sighting, but we were both certain what we saw was either a black coyote or a coy dog. I went to the internet and Googled coyote.
Below is one image of a coyote that looked exactly like the animal we saw earlier, except that the one we saw was black.

After Googling 'coy dog' there were several images of different colored animals with varying sizes, but most had the distinct coyote look. Below is a similar likeness of the black coy dog we saw , but this coy dog has been killed. Actually there weren't any images of live coy dog. Evidentally they are a menace and are hunted down.

That would explain the nervous look on the animal we saw...

I feel lucky to have seen it, and then again, I hope it stays away from my cats, dogs and mini horses !

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Ground control

2010-05-08T21:26:00.004-04:00

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My gardens have exploded once again...I give up trying to keep order..mother nature, you win!
I relinquish ground control...

Bleeding hearts and ferns...

This wigelia was cut back so far a year ago, I thought it might not survive...HAH!

Peonies...can you smell their sweet fragrance?

Below are the new fruit trees added to replace ones lost through the years...a nectarine, a granny smith apple and a macintosh..

These little strawberries come up everywhere...I wonder if they were planted, or just came up as the ones in my front garden did because of me throwing old fruit to the birds...

Flag iris' of yellow and some the darkest blue, almost purple..
large iris', of wierd browns and light purple..

pink rhodies...

...... bottle tree...needs no water!

The rhodedendron survived the cutting back, and the roses ( around the corner) are starting to bloom after their move..

As I said, I have given up trying to control what blooms, it seems that the violets and daffodils start out, replaced by the coneflowers and black-eyed susans and paper flowers and phlox...and so on, each layering over the other. It's wild and fragrant and the birds and butterflys love it and so do I.

Grow crazy garden, be wild and free...no ground control here...

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Cherokee NC and Blue Ridge Parkway

2010-05-03T11:31:00.006-04:00

We just returned from a trip to Cherokee N.C.
We have now travelled the Parkway end to end, from Virginia where the Skyline Drive connects, to the end in Cherokee N.C.
http://cherokeenorthcarolina.com
It was our 12th anniversary so we took a couple days to travel the Parkway and stay in Cherokee, where we honey-mooned. My sister-in-law Jan was here and took care of the critters for us. Thanks Jan!
Cherokee is a spiritual place. The hills that surround the flowing waters were hide outs for the Cherokee people. Those who escaped the government's removal of Indians to reservations, are the very people who now live in the area. The Indian people and the land both pull at my heart strings.
The whole atmosphere of Cherokee, is calming and stirring for me, odd for both as they are opposites. I am a Gemini. Maybe that explains that. I also have some Indian blood, although not Cherokee. Maybe it is that, but I beleive it is the spiritual nature of all native Americans that moves me.
This board explains the statue that comes next in the photo's.

The Cherokee Veteran's Park is a tribute to all Cherokee people who have served in the military. The Bears are everywhere throughout Cherokee. I know there are seven clans, but I am not sure if that has something to do with these bears. I think they are symbolic of other things, as there were more than seven.

This is the 'Fair' bear...they are all painted back, front and sides.

The pottery bear....

Eagle Dance bear...

This is a shot of the river just outside our hotel patio door.

A glass of wine and some cheese and crackers started our unwind process...

We travel the Parkway as much as possible, and as always the tunnels cut through the mountains, awe me.

My thoughts...

We sailed a sea of mountains, skimmed the crests, dipped into the hollows.

The shades of blues and greens and browns, the colors of the earth, sea, sky and mountains.

The sunlight played tag with our truck as we wound our way through the endless miles of forests and sky held in place by this man made trail.

The winds nears the peaks, bent the stubby, lichen covered evergreens.

The clouds scudding up and over looked like smoke and felt as wet as rain.

The descending rock walls spewed the top-gathered water, and sent it cascading down around us, delighting our senses and making us eager for the next waterfall.

The forests were decorated in spring..magnolia, dogwood and azealia lit up the pale green of the new leaves, and the brown forest floor was littered with trillium and violets.

A partridge in the road slowed us to a crawl as it took its time to the edge, slow enough to study but too fast to get the camera. The deer popped their heads up as we rode past...we felt like the animals in the zoo, and they the people lookers.

If you have the chance, travel the Blue Ridge Parkway. Each season is spectacular.

http://BlueRidgeParkway.org

It is well worth the time it takes to meander the miles. If you are in a hurry, however, don't bother. You will get annoyed by the lookie-lou's like me !

If you are paying attention, you might recognize the mistake I made with this picture...

Any idea???

Back on Blog..

2010-04-29T09:27:00.004-04:00

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The visit from my nephew and his family was so short and packed full of fun. Adam, my grand-nephew, is such a good kid and he loves being here with us. We always look forward to his Spring break, and his 'birthday' visit. He's nine now and I wonder how long his joy for visiting with his old Auntie and Uncle will last...for now, though, I will savor the time together.

"Adam's dam...still standing by the way.."

Running through the mud on one of the trips to West VaCo was a thrill for Adam. He is getting quite good on his 4 wheeler, and is saving money to buy a bigger machine ! Such a boy...

"Dad lending a push through the mud.."

Wheels off the ground as he pops out of a small creek...This is not his Mom's favorite picture I am sure..but she is trying her best not to be too 'motherly' with him!

This is our neighbor Sam in her go cart, which she added a cover to...by herself...so it looked alot like a 'Flintstone mobile'. She took Adam for a ride, and he did his best to keep his leg from touching hers...that will change as he grows up! Jigg's, his Grandparents dog, is checking out the ride.

They left here last Friday, and had good weather to return home by. Adam was very sad, as was his Grandma Jan, and I ..all my critters miss his attention, and I miss my helper.

Looking forward to next years visit!

To all my blogger friends, Kaz, Amy, Becky, Di, Debi(by the way Debi, my condolences on the loss of your Mom) and those not mentioned, I have missed reading your blogs and missed sharing my life, and now have my independence back and promise to do a weekly blog..at least.!

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Family and old friends

2010-04-16T21:55:00.007-04:00

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I am back from my trip north.

For some reason, the blogsite won't allow me to upload pictures of the trip.

I really enjoyed seeing my old highschool friends, we seemed to take up just where we left off.

Kind of unnerving actually.I really hope I will see them again before so many years go by.

Seeing family is always a joy for me !

I returned home by car with my sister-in-law and their dog Jiggs, and found Bobs Mom and her cat already here.Sunday my nephew John, his wife Keri and son Adam will arrive in their big 5th wheel toy hauler for a visit...Adam loves to ride his 4-wheeler here...child after my own heart. This was last years visit..

Uncle Bob will let him drive the tractor and cut some grass for him...he loves that too.

I can't thank all my wonderful family and friends enough for the love they showed me on my visit. You all know how much you mean to me...

much love, always..

Pileated woodpecker rescue

2010-03-21T21:37:00.002-04:00

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Today I rescued a pileated woodpecker. This is not it. This is Mac, one of our 5 cats, napping on what I call the 'mother' blanket. There is a beige blanket under him on this couch. He kneads it and then falls asleep like a kitten finished nursing. Just thought he may be having 'pileated' dreams...

I found the bird down near the creek at ice bottom. I spotted it on the edge of the creek on the ground, and went past it on my 4-wheeler , got off, and walked back to it. Belle was crouched trying to figure out what it was, and I shooed her and Penny away. The bird was hurt and it flopped its way into the creek and across the small expanse into the roots of a tree and hid up under it. Naturally I had no gloves and no camera. I left it alone and took the dogs home, got my boots on, got Bob, gloves, a tablecloth and a box and went back. It was still half in the creek and it looked like it was sleeping.Probably really cold. I pulled it out and we wrapped it up, boxed it and came home and called the wildlife rescue number I got from the internet by Googling bird rescue. Next thing I knew, we were in the H with a woody woodpecker inside a kitty litter box, heading for the hours ride to Roanoke. Good thing Jill could come stay with Mom.

Poor Woody looks bad.

Sabrina, the rescue lady, took him right out bare handed and stretched his wing...she said it was broken, she wasn't sure if it was a 'joint break' or not, so prognosis wasn't available yet. He was strong enough to try to peck her and he hung on to her fingers with his talons.She took him in and gave him some medecine for swelling, then came back out to have us fill out an information sheet. She said I did all the right things; wrapped him loosely, put him in a box with air holes, kept him warm and gave it no food or water.

Sabrina said these birds sometimes forage on the ground and he may have been grabbed then, or he could have been fighting with another woodpecker and hit a branch that knocked him down or it could have been a hawk or owl, she just couldn't tell.

Bob and I are hoping he will make it so they can release it back here on our land. We have seen a pair of Pileated's that we believe are nesting here, in past years, and we always enjoy seeing these big beautiful birds.

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Moderation,elusive as a mole

2010-03-16T13:02:00.005-04:00

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The crocus are up, and so are the daffodils. Seems like Spring just came right out one day and slapped me in the head. Actually it slammed me to my knees, when I put my back out raking and weeding like a demonic fool. What is moderation, and why is our family not capable of it?

The weeping cherry should start to show its color soon.

A good day of sun and these guys will burst into buttery smiles.

The creek has deposited new sandy beaches along its banks.

The waterfalls are loud, and the depth of the pools are increasing..penny will enjoy that this summer.

Belle is very interested in the moles that have been making topographic map-like lines all around the creek bed..

Most times on a run she is neck deep in a hole, ripping up roots and digging furiously after the elusive little things. I don't know how she can smeel them, her nostrils get clogged with dirt!

I saw a forsythia in bloom on the way to Rocky Mount to the chiropractors office yesterday, and some of the Bartlett Pear trees look real close to popping. I could also see the red of the Red Bud trees, but I prefer when they turn purple!

The grass is greening up, and my little horses are getting to pasture for several hours a day now...( I am careful not to put them straight on green too fast.)I am headed North on the 3rd of April to bring Mom home...hope the weather will behave for our flight!

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A few of my favorite things...

2010-03-04T21:55:00.002-05:00

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Caine is a rider..he loves to ride his pony "Tex". He gets a little exuberant and after hitting his little face on "tex's " plastic mane, Grandma got out the padding and duct tape and fixed that problem! Behind Caine is my old english saddle, sitting atop an antique washing machine. The only way that will ever be used by me again is if I put it on "Tex".

The cats are quite happy to stay indoors during these cold months. This is 'Iris', our one-eyed cat. Her preference is napping on this sheepskin rug in the 3rd bedroom..

'Moochie' has taken over Emily's heated 'muffin' bed. Emily has passed on to the big heated muffin in the sky, and for a long while, no cats would use it. Now Mooch and Beau take turns.

'Quarrie' prefers to nap close to people. He likes the back of chairs especially when someone is in the chair. He really likes Mom's chair, and he drapes himself over so his feet touch Mom's head, and then he kneads her hair.

I have been a house bound person this year, really for the first time in a long while as previous years here were not so winterish, and I had lived in the Florida Keys for 14 years prior. Not liking this resemblence to my youth in New England. I like postcard snow. Here today...oh so pretty, ...spring tomorrow please...Not this year!

Its coming, Its coming,Its coming...and today I hung my quilt to the fresh air and my sheets washed and dryed on the line. Can't wait for snuggling down into fresh aired bedding....

makes long nights so comfy.....

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Orchids make me smile

2010-02-25T17:00:00.003-05:00

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Sunrise is quite pretty when the day is expected to be nasty. This was taken a couple of days ago, when our last bout of 'precipitation' was forecast. There have been alot....

The cold and wind outside has me reading more, and cleaning more. I also enjoy my orchids when the weather is so awful outside, these sunny dancing ladies always make me smile.

This bromeliad used to grace my front porch in the Florida Keys. I brought it north with me, and it never has bloomed once in the four+ years we have been here...until now !

Evidently I have found the right light and the right company for this guy.He likes the dancing ladies and he loves the sun...

I have been anxious... for my sister-in-law and her surgery and for my brother Clay and his surgery, which they both came through quite well; anxious with the weather,which is holding up the re-planting of the trees they cut down, and concerned about the land that the company hasn't been able to be back to repair ; anxious with the work situation for my husband (or lack there-of); distraught with Bobs work truck needing such costly repairs; worried, because he has a bad tooth and we can't afford the money to fix it ; stressed with my Mother and all that goes with caring for her on a daily basis...tie in the mini horse that keeps escaping, and the cold that keeps us from being able to re-fence the area properly..

etc.

I have been trying to keep positive..Spring is coming, Spring is coming..

And I know it is, I know also that things could be so much worse,

but I am a worrier, and a doer, and when I can't 'do', its not good...I worry.

So for my friends and my dogs and my orchids that keep me smiling,Thank you...

Better blogs to follow...IN THE SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Smiling..............................

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Caine's birthday, parents married

2010-02-14T15:03:00.003-05:00

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Saturday was Caines 2nd birthday.

He's really into Elmo now, so since I am housebound between a cold, and caring for Mom and the weather, Grandpa went shopping and picked out this talking and singing 'Karaoke' Elmo.

It makes a lot of noise, I suspect Grandpa chose it on purpose.

It was a hit.He loved the Elmo and he and I played all afternoon. He rode his wonderhorse and I dragged him around in a box. He is such a joy.

For some reason all the pictures won't come up, so at least I have this one.

It has been an eventful week. As we made plans for Caines parents, John and Michele to get married in May, they surprised us and told us they went on Friday the 12th to the courthouse in Bedford and got married. Her Mom and step-Dad and Johns Mom and his step-Dad went as well as they were already down for Caines birthday.They didn't call to ask us up, because they knew Bob was working and we had Mom here....The party to celebrate their wedding will still be in May.

The horses keep escaping, they have gotten out 3 times and had to be chased down and drug back, but today, on Valentines Day, Bob and I spent the morning re-fencing and hot-wiring them in. They had been trapped for the last 2 days in a small enclosure, so when we let them into the bigger area, they all bucked and rolled and then tried the fence, getting zapped pretty good. Belle also found out the fence is hot.

I am looking forward to Spring.

Happy Valentines Day to all. Funny I used to look forward to it, but it seems the older I get, the more I realize its just another day with alot of sales hype to buy cards and flowers and candy.

The candy is fattening the flowers die and the cards get tossed.

Valentines day is a feeling, and it can be every day. Getting the horses fenced in right was a good way to celebrate, and when I feel better, I will run the dogs and enjoy the woods...

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February 6th, 2010

2010-02-06T17:33:00.002-05:00

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Snow pictures on Bobs birthday...

My 'Harry Lauder's Walking Stick' tree...

The Deodar Cedar...drooped and behind pine boughs on ground.

This cedar really snapped, I heard it from the bedroom,yesterday.

Sammy Cedar lost one of his eyes.

Looking back towards the house from our noon walk to mail.

The sun came out late day, but the brief warm sun wasn't enough to start a melt. It has turned cold with the suns setting and I think we may have an icy morning tomorrow. Far cry from last February. I guess we were due, but I miss the Keys, my friends,the pool, the canal and my hot tub...

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Ferradiddledumday,January away!

2010-01-31T20:44:00.006-05:00

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Last day of January, 2010. It's been a busy month. We recovered from the late December snow storm, only to have this one hit January 29th, late night.. I can hardly wait for February!

Bob did get this 7ft blade just in time to plow this storm. He was out on Friday to get a start and then finished today. What a great tool!

The creek was really pretty, I ran alone with Belle,as Penny didn't like running in the deep snow. Belle will get on my machine with me, and its a good thing because I wouldn't have gotten up the steeper hills without her added weight in the back!

Bob finished shoveling the back deck late day, and the sun brought it up to about 34 degrees, enough to have him work in his tee shirt !

Tonight the moon is full and the stars are bright..cold and clear.

On the 26th of January, my neighbor Melissa and her daughter Sam, who is featured with 3 other kids in a picture on the back of my friend Becky Mushko's new book, 'Ferradiddledumday', went to the debut of the book at the Library in Rocky Mount, Virginia.
Becky and Bruce Rae, the artist who did the sketches in the book, are shown below doing a skit based on the book.

The room was packed, a really good turn out, with alot of kids.
Ferradiddledumday is a fairy tale based on the Rumplestiltskin tale that I grew up with, but this one is an Appalachian version, complete with the lore and the animals that are here in the Appalachian Mountains. Becky grew up here in SW Virginia, and her accent really set the tale of Gillie, the girl who spins hay into gold. Bruce Rae played her Pa, and also the funny little man, Ferradiddledumday. Bruce is quite the ham! It was a fun night, and both Bruce and Becky did a great job. I was watching Sam's face as the skit unfolded, and she was mesmerized. It was delightful, and I was laughing out loud.

This is Becky and Bruce with Hunter Brown and Samantha Newcomb, who are 2 of the children on the back cover of the book..

This month has ended and next month is my grandson Caines 2nd birthday on the 13th, and my husbands 51st on the 6th. (Sam's birthday is also the 6th).I will make sure my grandson has a copy of Ferradidledumday to keep throughout his lifetime. I think it's important for him to know about this area where he was born, and to learn about its diverse culture, its flora and fauna, and its history.

Ferradiddledumday will teach him and entertain him..

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Yards of snow

2010-01-30T18:12:00.004-05:00

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Friday the 29th of January, Ground Control came and cut back the overgrown plants in my front yard. Bob had done tile work for Donny and they bartered.

They pruned...

They dug my roses and re-planted them near the side porch...

The wisteria got cropped down to the trellis and the lilacs cut down..the hydrangia near the front porch is gone...

So is the deodar cedar that was choking out the pink dogwood, and our view....

Then, it started about 10:30 last night...and it hasn't stopped.

My minis aren't upset, but I think even they have had enough. Their little hooves are packed with snow, and they leave clumps in their barns...but will they stay in their barns??? No way.The snow lays on them like a blanket, which means they are even noticing the cold.Skye is back on antibiotics because the wound still hasn't healed completely. I had to go out and give her medecine tonight, and it's cold...I'm not in love with Virginia anymore..

So, who'll stop the snow?

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Favorite books and authors

2010-01-24T14:36:00.005-05:00

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I love books. I collect books. I have too many books!
I have decided to clean my computer/reading room, and it's taking alot of time. Mainly because I rearrange and restock books that I say I don't need or want. I clean in winter instead of spring, because as soon as I can get outdoors, I'm useless in the house!

They go from discard to, uh, maybe I will want that...Come on Claudia, college algebra?
Ok, thats gone...
Poor Belle and Penny have lost their couch to boxes, pictures, papers and books!

The shelves are getting better organized, and the give away and burn boxes are getting heavy.
I have one shelf that I keep for Appalachian authors or local writers. Those books will never leave, and when I have company I encourage them to read them, but I won't let them go home with them for fear of not getting them back! I love my books...

These are some of my treasures. They are by friend, neighbor and Appalachian author, Becky Mushko.

If you google Becky Mushko you will come up with alot of information about Becky and her books, especially her newest, (well newest published one), 'Ferradiddledumday'. Thats the one on the right. I love them all. Becky is a great storyteller, and I am anxious to read Ferradiddledumday to my grandson Caine. It's a story like Rumplestiltskin , the fairy tale that I read when I was a child. Caine was born here in Bedford Virginia, so I hope to teach him about his native area as he gets older. He's 2 years old this February! 'Patches on the Same Quilt' is the first of Beckys books I read, and its a good one. The short stories in 'The Girl Who Raced Mules" are keepers, too. Beckys sense of humor comes through in one of my favorites, "The Miracle of the Concrete Jesus." That's really funny.

From 'Where There's a Will' to 'Ferradiddledumday', you will become a fan of Becky.

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Promise Spring

2010-01-20T16:55:00.005-05:00

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Inside my house it still is winterish.
These mittens are a pair made by my Aunt Emma, whose been gone for years now.
I don't use them, I just hang them as a memory.

Today is dreary. I got the dogs run early and managed to find time to walk with my neighbor on our usual 2 1/2 mile walk out the main road. I just had a cup of 'Lady Grey' tea while listening to Sting...Brand New Day...one of my most favorite cd's...love Sting. The fireplace is cozy.

There's a promise of Spring outside. Penny is snorkeling again in the creek.

Belle and she are cooling off their paws at the half way pool.

My orchids are happy in the winter sunshine through the windows.

Can you believe that my daffodils are already this high?

There is still some snow, but these day lillies seem to want to rise to the sun.

Ahhh, the promise of Spring.

All things old look new. Spirits rise; creeks rise with the melt and young people feel the natural rhythm, while we of the 'older' persuasion feel the warmer sun on our bones and feel relief.

..."This is the quickening of the year. Tuber and seed and root quicken into the coming of the light...."

Blessings all.

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Sunny/snowy Florida Keys

2010-01-17T12:05:00.004-05:00

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This is my friend Diane in the Florida Keys.
Diane was my water aerobics instructor, lobstering buddy ,wine drinking and all around pal.
This picture was taken in Summerland Key, when a friend of hers won a contest where they would bring in tons of 'snow' for a white Christmas in the Keys. (you may have seen this on National News)
So why am I posting a picture of my friend in her normal Keys wear, a bathing suit?
Because its cold, and dreary and I'm thinking of the Keys and warmth and my hot tub and kayaking the shallows looking for sharks and rays.
Obviously we are never happy since the Keys folk were dreaming of snow and white Christmas's!

I talked to a Keys friend last week when we were in the bitter cold, and they said it was 46 degrees there ! Some people have no heating systems. Thats cold for that far South!
I'm sure that pile of snow was fun while it lasted, but I'm ready for the snow piles that are still around here to go!

This morning the hubby and I cuddled an extra hour under the covers watching his favorite show on Sunday morning, the Salt Water fishermen, and we switched back and forth to my Sunday favorite, Gardening by the yard. All 5 cats were vieing for the best spot up near our pillows where they would be petted. They always watch for the hand (or the foot since they can't distinguish one from the other !). Bob went out in the mess to feed the horses and the birds while I got Mom up and made breakfast...strawberry/almond muffins, hog-jowl bacon and maple sausages, fried eggs and coffee. Then we played the 'required' games of Mom's favorite card game, and now Mom is snoring in the chair and Bob is watching tv, so I get to blog.

A call from a Keys friend, Donna, this morning told me the cold has been really hard on the fish and the local critters. She said the iguanas are dying from the cold temperatures and when she was fishing from her dock yesterday, she saw more parrot-fish belly up ! I guess no matter where you are there is some kind of heart break...we should count our blessings, we could be in Haiti...

Update on Skye:

My little horse is healing nicely, she finished her week of antibiotics and separation from her herd!

My 'Skye'

2010-01-06T20:25:00.002-05:00

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I'm going to caution all my readers who are a bit squeamish. There is a picture of a wound on my little miniature horse's face that is quite ugly......

This is a picture of the morning sky from my porch a few days ago, Saturday .
A beautiful sunrise...Take warning, is the saying...

This is a picture of my miniature mare, Skye. She had a really swollen face that morning, and I assumed one of her fellow mini's had kicked her, probably deserving it, as she is an agitator.. I watched her and she was eating fine, and didn't seem to have any obvious discomfort from the swelling, and I promised myself I would inspect the bump daily.

This was what it looked like (actually worse) the next morning! She had rubbed the hair off, I imagine to release the pus and swelling. I got out my horse bible and then got hydrogen peroxide to clean the wound, and then antibiotic ointment to appy, all this in the frigid weather. Bob was home (Sunday) to help me confine and hold her head. She seemed ok, was eating well, but darn it looked nasty! By Monday morning she had rubbed the ointment off on the salt block in her barn, and I figured, well, salt is good for cuts...

My friend and neighbor, Becky Mushko..http://peevishpen.blogspot.com...
came by to go over something for her newest book to be released soon called "Ferradiddledumday", so I asked her to look at Skye, since she is a horse person too. She suggested I call the vet, which I had entertained, but was trying to avoid yet another vet bill...(the dogs go tomorrow)...but she made me think about the inner infections that could be going on, and after she left I called my vet for the horses, Preston Thornton at Southern Hills. He came out the next day, Tuesday, and said what everybody else does, 'Wow, thats a mess!'
Skye was very brave, he cleaned the wound, and palpated it, and with SEVERAL cookies, she co-operated. (He's a kind man and very gentle. Calls her sweetie, we both like him).
Doc gave her a shot, and left a tub of powdered antibiotics for me to dose her one scoop a day. I got a plastic bowl and put the scoop in, and since I don't grain my horses, he suggested I add molasses. I did. She wouldn't touch it. I added cookies. She ate them from the mess, but still didn't have most of the medicine. I added warm water, a chopped up carrot AND an apple. She messed with it, but I had shopping to do, so I left it in the grain tub, and locked her in the small barn. By the time I returned she had eaten it.
Today was the Sunshine rescue( see Becky's blog), and Becky gave me a small bag of horse pellets. I came home and mixed Skye's medecine with a little applesauce and some pellets, and she scoffed the whole thing up pronto!

Her buddies are not happy with all the attention going on for Skye, so they are each getting a cookie when she has her medecine.That helps, but I am still keeping her segregated while the antibiotic's are being given..

So to all my horsey friends, pay close attention to bumps, because they can go awry quickly!

Skye seems better each day, and Doc thinks her hair will grow back by summer and she shouldn't have much of a scar...I hope not, she's so darned cute!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Winter Thoughts of a New Year's Gardens

2010-01-01T12:43:00.003-05:00

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It's 2010...
A new year of gardening.
Walking around the 'winter mess' in the front of the house I spotted these blooms on the backside of the Camellia bush. I planned to trim that bush way back this Fall, but I am glad I waited. Fresh flowers to start the new year. Perfect.

I start getting anxious to trim back and clean up. I want to cut those butterfly bushes down to nubs, but I know the birds depend on them to hide from the hawks, so I'll be patient. I need to dig up some butterfly bushes for Becky and Melissa and Jennifer. I can't wait for Jan and Clay to move down so I can thin my garden out and transplant to Jan's. But I will wait for her.

.. The New year brings hope, thoughts of fresh starts and clean slates.

I have my first seed catalog, and while the wind howls and 'old man winter' shows how ferocious he can be, I sit with a cup of Earl Grey Tea, and plan for Springtime color. Which tomatoes will I plant? I really need more cucumbers because those pickles went fast! I think I'd like to plant more fruit trees, and so on.
It all sounds wonderful now, but come late summer when I am up to my ears in canning, I will chide myself again, and say, "What was I thinking?"
Lovely winter thoughts of sweet blooms and fresh vegetables....

To all my loved ones and friends, blessings in this New Year filled with hopes and dreams....may they all come true.

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New Year, same old same old

2009-12-28T21:22:00.003-05:00

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It is getting close to the New Year.

We humans mark time by calendars and clocks.

I wonder if my critters care that another year has flown by?

Beau is happy as long as he can look out the bedroom window from the highest perch in the 'cat pagoda', which is so heavy it has to be moved on a dolly.He waits for us to retire at night, and then all 5 cats have their spots on the bed with us. Beau has claimed the closest to me along with Moochie lying against my ribs, while Iris tucks against my left knee. Mac splits the middle of the bed between Bob and I. Quarrie lays against Bobs knees or feet.

Iris is happy to lay on the floor during the daytime, as long as she has this pillow to snuggle into. She only has one eye, so I assume it is hard for her to judge distances like the jump from atop the cat pagoda to the floor...better to stay low for a quick scamper under the bed if a dog should enter the room..

I can see a bright red cardinal in the bush in the left window, and the platform feeder is directly in front of the right window, handy for the cats to view.

The cats are all transplants from the Florida Keys. Mac is laying on the counter in the kitchen hoping his bowl will be filled for the ump-teenth time today. I think they all dislike the cold, and even though the temptation of a bird may keep their attention, they don't venture out. They do have a cat door, which we leave open during the day. Nights they are locked in, just too many things about that could hurt them.

The dogs are Virginians. They also prefer to be indoors during this cold weather, although if I am out, then that's where they want to be. Sometimes a little tug-of-stuffed-animal is called for to break up a long night.

Outside, my mini's wait for their next feeding, which is morning and night. I call them 'furry kegs on legs'. They are as fat as barrels, and their coats are very thick.

So, do the animals mark time in any way?

Mine seem to just consider feeding time until the next. Quarrie, our big greycat... waits for Bob every day, and expects to be carried in and placed next to the dry food dispenser, which he is. I call him Bob's dog.

Do they know another year is passing?

Is it important?

Food, shelter, water and affection seems to be their driving force throughout their lives. That is the basic's for their lives.

Somehow I think we have moved too far away from those basic needs, or maybe it is just that in this stage of my life I want to get back to them.

I watch my 86 year old mother display the same traits as a toddler. She wants to do only the things that make her warm and cozy. She loves to eat, but wants the things she likes, and always wants dessert, and wants them when it suits her. She pouts when she doesn't win at cards and gets cranky if the tv program does not suit her.

So is life a full circle? From infancy through old age, is it an arc? Do we regress back to infancy?

It seems so.

What about the animals?

My cats hunt less now, and are happy to lay back and be taken care of...

I wonder...

I keep asking them, but they won't answer..

Smart animals...they won't be out celebrating a new numbered year, just have the dishes full in the morning, and clean out the cat boxes, run the dogs after they eat, and hay the horses.

Another year....

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The night before Christmas

2009-12-24T22:13:00.002-05:00

Christmas Eve morning, and the sun was rising fast...

The day was busy, making ready for Christmas. Bob cooked Shrimp, and I made potatoe salad. I had made cookies yesterday, and Bob did a store run for last minute things while I dealt with Mom.
We did the evening run with the dogs, and I decided to bring a camera and snap some pictures of the snow laden creek. They are forcasting rain or sleet for Christmas, I'm hoping rain as Michele and John and Caine are coming, as well as Wayne,Trisha,True and Tess...and...the neighbors, Janine, Kevin and their 5 kids will drop by. Janine's bringing lasagna and a pie to add to the feast. I'll put the ham in the oven after breakfast tomorrow...The house will be chaos with all those kids, the dogs will be sequestered in one room and the cats will find their own hiding holes until things quiet again!
So we ran the dogs, our first day at being able to make it through the trails by the creek, and here are some pictures...

Quiet creek..reflective

Critter tracks

Belle and Penny sniffing something I can't detect

Belle's face buried under the snow intent on a mouse? Penny waits.

...Twas the night before Christmas and all through our house, all the cats are nestled in bed, Mom and Bob snore in their chairs, Belle and Penny are asleep on the floor, while a Christmas show of a choir singing, plays on the TV...I sit enjoying a few moments to blog...thinking of Christmas's past...

... I remember Mark coming down to the living room with red pj's, obviously wet and hanging at the crotch, bewildered look on his face,..our stockings hanging with the orange stuffed into the toe, and a large candy cane sticking out the top...Mom crazy with preparations for a big dinner, and us kids happy playing with whatever we got that year...I remember always being happy with the one big gift we got...I remember my baby 'kitten' doll, that looked real with floppy arms and legs...maybe that was it, we didn't get overloaded like kids now...we asked for one thing only, and if it was possible, we got it...We weren't rich but we weren't poor, either. There was always enough food, and we had a house...I being the only girl, had my own room, albeit tiny, it was mine...with pink ballerina wallpapered walls. Life was good...We were loved...

I remember red velvet slacks I received with a white turtle neck from my first serious boyfriend...I thought they were so sexy...I could wear things like that then...

now I would look like Santa, and my thighs would catch fire from the friction !!

Ah well, Christmas memories...

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends and to all...

good night.

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White Insanity

2009-12-19T21:09:00.003-05:00

The horses don't care..

The kids up the hill ride in the kayak..

It goes down the hill fine!

The dogs had a blast untill snowballs form on their butts!!!

Bob got out the John Deere...

We ran the 4-wheelers a bit..I used Clays because it has more ground clearance..

How many times will I clean off the snowballs??

The birds have been feeding heavy..

Still spitting snow and its COLD again tonight. 27 degrees at 9:20 ...

I thought I moved here to avoid hard winters!!!!

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Cowboy Cookies

2009-12-13T20:49:00.004-05:00

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This is my Mom's old cookie jar. I know nothing about it except it was usually filled with our favorite cookies ! I am tickled to have it, it brings back such memories...

So here are the cookies that Mom always made for us. She called them "Cowboy Cookies".
I don't know why.. they are like 'toll house' cookies,but a bit heartier. Here is the recipe, and it is easy..

Cowboy cookies

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees

Cream

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup shortening ( I use Crisco)

2 eggs

add

2 cups Quaker oats (quick cook are easier to chew-you can use whole oats)

2 cups sifted flour

1 tsp. soda

1 tsp. salt

add

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup chocolate morsels

( you can add 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped..or raisens, whatever you want)

drop by teaspoon on cookie sheet, that will make each cookie about 2 inches across, and bake for about 12-15 minutes. I check each batch after 12 minutes.

Thats it!

Enjoy! We did!

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Grabbing minutes for me

2009-12-09T15:42:00.003-05:00

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Today is a pretty good day for Mom, and therefore, me.
Got her breakfast, and played a game of cards, got pills in her, then to the bathroom...washed her up with what I call a "PT" bath while she sat on the hopper...dressed her, ran a quick comb through her hair..(still curly from the pin-curls I did yesterday)..and got her to her chair under the electric blanket...her favorite place. Kinda like a giant Barbie doll.....
Then I took time for me. Got the kitchen cleaned up, started a load of wash and then I grabbed a shower. Next I trimmed my hair and dryed it, then did my nails, complete with cuticle removal and polish ! Between laundry and lunch, Mom needed a complete change of clothes..( I let her sit too long without instructing her to go to the bathroom....my bad, but I pay for it..ahh, such is caring for Mom..
But now I have fed her lunch, entertained her with pictures of her grand-kids and great-grands on the computer until she couldn't sit up anymore! She's in her chair. My wonderful hubby has run the dogs and fed the horses some hay, so I am taking a few minutes to blog before starting dinner...

Penny has not minded the cold at all, she liked the ice cap from the dog water bucket... Anything is fun when you're a puppy!

Mom prefers to be wrapped in heat, her chair is heated and her blanket is too. Bob bought a room-sized electric heater for our tv room, since it is much colder than the other parts of the house...(probably because it was added after the fact)...and that is placed facing her chair. She's snoozing happily.

This morning while playing cards at the dining room table, a goldfinch flew into the window and stunned itself. Bob and I went out and set it where it could recover its whits without the cats having it for a snack... I was glad when it flew away some time later.

We finally are getting some sun ! This afternoon is sunny, but extremely windy! Better than the snow that is piling up in NH right now, adding to their 8 inches !

My orchids are thriving, and these tiny brown and white ones shown below are chocolate orchids, and they really do give off a chocolate scent! The front spike is waning, but another has popped out in the back.

These white orchids are quite lovely, and I have several plants of them. I won't bore you all with the technical names, because I would have to look up the spelling!!
I have showy purple ones and yellow ones that look like dancing ladies.

I wanted to let everyone know that Mom got here safely.She seems to be doing well getting adjusted to this house. The transition is always hard for her, but other than thinking Mark woke her up the first morning and saying she had a lovely "visit" with Claudia, she seems to be clear about where she is now.

I will grab time when I can to catch up on my friends blogs, but if I am MIA for awhile, it's not because I don't want to read them, it's due to lack of personal time. Same for all my friends and family I call or e-mail.

I'm thinking of you always !

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Christmas Angels and 'dear'

2009-12-04T22:13:00.004-05:00

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I have put my paper angel on the fireplace, as I do every Christmas.
I have angels all around me.
I have not blogged in quite awhile, I can't say why exactly, but I guess I have been busy.
My Mom will come in Sunday for the winter, and I am all ready for her visit.
I have been working with the dogs, trying to keep them from jumping up on people.
Bob's Mom was here for the week of Thanksgiving, and she was woken every morning by Penny climbing up on the bed and kissing her.That won't work with my Mom!
Did I mention I had 10 for Thanksgiving dinner?
Caine and Michele and John were part of the group, and Caine was so good, and such a ham! He kept everyone entertained.
Here is a typical picture of my two Australian Shepherds, Penny and Belle. Penny is laying on Belle as she usually does. They are resting up for their annual sleigh pulling chores.

Next is a picture of them gearing up for their chore.

........................... Oh the little dears...

..'On Dasher, on Dancer, on Penny and Belle-Belle......'

HO_HO_HO!!!

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On a clear day

2009-11-18T21:59:00.002-05:00

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There is mass clearing here on our land, that will ultimately end in a re-planting of Loblolly Pine.

I wonder about the violet color in this first photo.
If we were talking about the color of aura's in humans, 'violet is aligned with the psychic, emotional, and spiritual balance in operation on the planet at this time. Violets are the ones who can see the plants of tomorrow in the seeds of today.' 'The single most difficult thing for a Violet to do is to learn to live without guilt.'
The secret is to focus on the vision of the future. I am trying. I feel guilty about the turtles and the rabbits and the coons, etc., etc.

The path leading from the back of our house, is getting shorter. We will be able to see clear through to the mountains beyond the neighbors land. Which also means we will see our neighbors land.

Our little pond is so exposed. This knoll was a pine forest, very thick. It was Virginia pine.

This is just above our house at the base of the hay field in front of the wood barn.

They had to put in a crushed rock drive so the trucks wouldn't get stuck.

I can't tell you how many rocks we have taken OUT of the fields.

Now they are putting rock IN.

So, why do this?

Several reasons. 53 acres. taxes are huge, but we will receive a break for being a tree farm.

So money, the root of all evil?

We had a forester come in before we decided, and he did a complete workup, a whole portfolio on our land, and what the benefits of cutting the Virginia pine off and replanting Loblolly was. It was impressive, and made alot of sense, financially, and for the animals such as turkey and deer and bear, etc. The virginia pine is susceptible to a type of insect that Loblolly is not, and the time it takes before re-harvest, if we choose, is only 15 years. We are leaving some stands around our house, and down by the creek, that are mostly hardwoods, and also areas around the 'seasonal creeks' that run through to the main creek. We don't want to disturb anything that is near the waters.

So I know that we are doing the right thing for all reasons, but I HATE cutting trees.

I am really into natural areas, but I am told that is not always the best thing for the critters and the land.

Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees.

2009-11-13T22:37:00.002-05:00

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Ok, I'm back from my mental health week in Florida.
This was my favorite pool. I look alot like an aquarium in this fishy cover-up!

This is my friend Kim, she's almost as crazy as me. Ok, she might be a tad bit more crazy..

One should never let a friend have access to your camera...

In Celebration, a town built by Disney, this little gator sunbathed on the banks of a lake.

One more view of the pool, and the great artwork painted on the bath house done by the art club. This is a nice safe place for a vacation home for my single friend. It's a gated community, and you can walk around at all hours. Theres a clubhouse and tennis courts, a lake, 2 pools, a golf course and shuffle board and a playground and all the other usual amenities that Florida community's have.

It was a nice break from routine, but I am glad to be home with my guy, and all my furry critters!

Thanks Kim !

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Florida

2009-11-05T10:03:00.002-05:00

Florida
I am here.
I can tell by the palm trees and the bougainvilla, and the golfcarts zipping by my friends place.
The people are grey haired and all dressed in shorts and sandals.
It's 82 and sunny with a light wind.
Yesterday I watched a chamelion skitter past me on the pool deck. The birds make Florida noises. I had forgotten all the little things about here that I loved. Went to Celebration for sushi last night.
Sat and watched kids playing in a water fountain that explodes from the flat concrete disk in synchopated time. I laughed til I cried.
Florida. I missed this.
......
Off to the pool !
Hugs, Claudia

Hallowe'en

2009-10-31T22:01:00.003-04:00

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"Folks think a witch who has familiar spirits

She could call up to pass a winter evening,

But won't, should be burned at the stake or something..."

from THE WITCH OF COOS, by Robert Frost

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Damn, I am a ham...gotta give the folks what they expect a witch to look like!

Happy Hallowe'en, and no that's not a mistake.

"This is the old Celtic feast of Samhain.

It is the feast of the dead and was Christianized as All Hallows' Eve, the eve of All Saints' Day.

It is a fire festival in recognition of the end of the summer and the beginning of winter.

In ancient Manx and Irish Tradition, Hallowmas was regarded as the beginning of a new year."

Boo....!

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My little Rider

2009-10-27T22:32:00.003-04:00

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Caine came Sunday with his Mom and Dad for his Moms 30th birthday dinner of steamed shrimp, potatoe salad and chocolate cake with buttercream frosting.
But before dinner it was a quick trim of his hair and then playing outside, in the dirt and rocks with his stash of toys that are here.

After washing his hands and face in cake, he didn't like the feel of it. What to do ? No problem with Penny in the house...

A little stretch over the high chair tray and the 'cleaning tongue' went to work.

After dinner we had a fire in the pit, Caines first campfire, and of course we had to toast marshmallows, another first for him. He was really mesmerized by the fire, but he doesn't give in, even when he's exhausted.

Below, he had to have one more sit on Grammy's machine that was put away for the night in the shed. He was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open !

RIDERS

(Robert Frost)

The surest thing there is is we are riders,

And though none too successful at it, guiders,

Through everything presented, land and tide

And now the very air, of what we ride.

What is this talked-of mystery of birth

But being mounted bareback on the earth?

We can just see the infant up astride,

His small fist buried in the bushy hide.

There is our wildest mount--a headless horse.

But though it runs unbridled off its course,

And all our blandishments would seem defired,

We have ideas yet that we haven't tried.

A busy afternoon, riding on his wonderhorse 'Tex', riding on the 4-wheeler, playing in the dirt, the fire, then it was time to go home. I sent him home with a lion halloween suit made of faux fur I got for him, and I can't wait to see the pictures his Mom has promised.

He cried.. didn't want to leave and Grammy had to carry him to the car and hand him to his Dad while he screamed and kicked and grabbed for me...broke my heart. Wish he lived closer, but I will see him soon...

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Ferrum Folk Festival

2009-10-24T22:51:00.003-04:00

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What started as a drizzly day, turned into a mix of sunshine and clouds and made a georgeous fall day!
Bob and I went to the Ferrum College for its annual folk festival. There were many halls in use for various venues. I found this hall first..
The quilts!!!!! These were all from a private collection, and all from the late 1800's.

And the crafts people!

Amazingly talented artisans in our part of the world! Thses bowls and rolling pins were wonderful, and this gentleman is from Wirtz.

These gourds were so cool ! I'm drying some now....aspiring to have them turn out half as pretty..

This man really could carve...
My brother Clay would have loved these walking sticks with the snakes on them!

These brooms were awesome too.

There were knife makers and demonstrations by weavers and those who dyed wool with natural colors and so many other crafts people I could never mention them all. There were musicians and flat footers and horse shoe pitching competions, and Becky, there were border collie demonstrations where these great Border Collies were herding sheep !

There were coon hound barking competions, and mule jumping competions...

and horse pulling competions...my favorite !

Bob and I walked and walked and saw people we knew, and chatted with Aussie dog owners and ate and ate at all the church stands and of course got some fresh cracklin !

We had a great day and I hope you all got a chance to go, and if not, try to make it next year!

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Visual delight and olfactory demise...

2009-10-23T21:32:00.006-04:00

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I had to post this picture of our old barn, just to prove our Virginia sky is as blue as the photos of the N.H. sky in my last post.

I think this will be my last rose. It is a Don Juan climber and smells heavenly.We've had a few frosty mornings, and the leaves look a little wilted lately.

This picture was snapped while riding down the Parkway last wekend. Today I drove to do grocery shopping in Rocky Mount, and the foliage was stunning ! Quite distracting ! I couldn't take pictures, I was driving!

This morning I rode the trail with the dogs to the creek. The leaves are getting thick on the forest floor, and the smell is heady. I love the smell of the woods in Autumn!

Now I am sitting with the light on while typing this, and the smell is awful! Stink bugs!They are dive bombing me, and they must be mad, cause they stink!

Today I hard-cooked eggs, and peeled them in preparation for Sunday's dinner of steamed shrimp, potatoe salad, along with chocolate cake and buttercream frosting. Michele's birthday is Saturday, and they are coming Sunday to celebrate..her 30th !

Her choice for dinner. I wonder if Caine will eat that? But the eggs stunk , as they always do!

So I boiled a pan of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves to get rid of the egg smell.yummm.

But NOTHING works with the stink bugs! Its an acrid smell.

To add insult to injury, there are lady bugs everywhere!

If there were an animal or bird that would get those stink bugs, I would get it.

They are like little Sherman tanks. I sent one to our nephew in Baltimore that was collecting insects for a class project, and I impaled it with a pin while alive and sent it through the mail.( I have to admit it gave me an odd pleasure.)

It lived. Probably still stinks, too.

Thats one bug that couldn't smell any worse rotted, than when it is alive!

Tomorrow is Ferrum Farm Days, if it isn't too rainy.

I'll let you know how it goes!

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New England Fall Foliage

2009-10-17T12:17:00.006-04:00

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Since I haven't taken any really good pictures of the foliage change here in Virginia due to the weather lately, I thought I would just post a few of the last ones I snapped while visiting family last October.
Can any of my family, or anyone who knows N.H. tell where this photo was taken?

This twin birch is typical of New England, and no I did not doctor the color of the sky, it is really that blue!

We visited a farm that survives by raising apples, peaches and pumpkins, strawberries and sells home-made bakery products and cider, etc. It is a 'pick-your-own' type farm, and familys flock to it in the fall. They supply little red wagons to pull children and apples along through the well marked rows of different apple varieties, and golf carts for the seniors or handicapped. Love the 'Butternut Farm' near Rochester N.H.

Up by the Blue Ridge Parkway in Bedford ,Va., there are a couple of 'you-pick' orchards and the 'Peaks of Otter Winery' has apples also, but we like 'Gross's Orchard' just off route 43. Today is their apple festival, and my grandson is there with his parents. Have fun Caine ! Grandma will be up this week to visit you and go to the park to see the ducks!

Get out to our wonderful orchards and wineries, and bite into Autumn with a snappy, juicy crisp apple!

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Ocean City to fire pits

2009-10-12T08:56:00.003-04:00

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We are back....!
The end of September took us to OC,MD for Bob's surf-fishing tournament. Lot's of beach time for me and Jan, Clay fished as usual now.
Didn't see a live horseshoe crab, but here's and old shell.

The guys were tired by the end of the tournament. They drew spots along the beach that had sand bars and a rip tide, so getting the bait up,out and over the surf was really a challenge. Usually they are standing but by last session Saturday when I took this, they were sitting.

Yesterday was Clay and Jans last day of their visit post fishing...
We built a fire pit in the back yard, and while we were having dinner, my neighbor Sam,left, and her cousin Sissy came to say Hello. In the country it isn't odd to have someone show up on horse back or tractor or 4-wheeler. In fact where I am, the car visit is more unusual !

The fire pit turned out well. Heres Clay tending, with a touch of foliage turning red showing up in the background.

Bob was showing me his best side.

Brother John is here for a week now. He came in time yesterday to help get wood. We have no lack of firewood on our property!!

The cold weather is starting, and the mornings are crisp. I seem to get out later in the morning to run the dogs.

I hope to get back on track with my blogs after this week, and I need to go back through all my friends blogs and catch up with them!!

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Catty ?

2009-09-26T15:44:00.004-04:00

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I just had to stop and see my friend Beckys' four kittens.(http://peevishpen.blogspot.com)

She has them on her blog, and they are as cute in person. I love kittens...

I love all furry critters.

Looking at her blog pictures reminded me of a poem I had written several years ago.

It was written to the cadence of Robert Frost's poem, Waspish.

Here is my poem, 'Kittenish'.

~~~~
On velvet paws they scamper and thump,

They climb up a chair off the back they jump.

They tangle up with mock ferocity.

They leap and pounce a cat ballet to see.

Cat warriors, they think this game on going

It's just a ploy to keep their bodies growing.

~~~

The inspiration came from my own kittens.

I remember the fun I had with them. Constant entertainment.

Here are four of the fiesty little fuzz balls,

only now they are in their 'elder years',

or as my girlfriend Sandy says,

'The age of elegance'.

Boy, thats a load...Since I am living here in the south I must add after saying that,

'Bless her heart'.

Most mornings I can't get the bed made before they totally take over!

They prefer it messy, they told me so!!

'Meaghan(moochie) foreground,Quarrie,Iris and Beau'
Here is the 5th of the brood, Mac.
I guess they use up all of their energy in their youth...
Cats are alot like humans,
Or am I being very 'catty'?
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Bears!!!!

2009-09-17T21:18:00.002-04:00

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One of the best Christmas presents my husband has gotten me...
and there have been many...
is my Moultrie Game Camera.
I have it set up just off the trail I run with the dogs on a daily basis.
Here are just a few of the lastest" catches". (This is my way of 'hunting'.)

If you set the thing right it will tell you time, date and temperature outside...however, notice I had the date as 11/04/09..
it is actually 9/04/09...i screwed up...
This is the only picture I got of the bear, however I had several pictures that didn't come out for one reason or another...and the camera was moved a little...some critter was camera shy, or a ham, I don't know. I have had pictures of something crawling over the camera...a raccoon I presumed.

This picture above was less than 1/2 hour after the bear picture..

The bucks are usually late night or early morning...

This doe and fawn are late afternoon...I think they frequent my backyard..Not camera shy at all!

This is a really fun way to hunt.

My friend Becky ,

has one and she has used it to find out who or rather what was getting into her garage....!

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Applesauce making and Bee dilemma

2009-09-14T21:11:00.006-04:00

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These apples aren't the prettiest apples. They came from a friends tree, and it is 'au natural'. No spraying for bugs, so they do have blemishes. But they are free, delicious, and did I mention free??
There would be alot of waste if it weren't for my minis who love apples, and deer in the yard, so no waste at all!

All peeled and ready to cut into pieces...

The 'mini fodder' is on the left...this canner has seen better days!

Last of the pint jars...here we go...

Can you smell them simmering?

nutmeg and cinnamon and a little sugar and water....ummmmm!

Penny helped do the pans...she does the 'prewash' cycle...

She seemed to like the applesauce!

Only one casualty...this small jar broke clean around the bottom...must have been a weak spot or even a crack I didn't see..I toss the whole thing to be sure..

Here's the finished product! 8 pints and 2 half pints of applesauce..

Alot of time spent, but worth every minute in taste!

I have learned as I get older, that the prettiest apples are not always the best tasting.

Sometimes a few bumps, bruises and mars will turn you away from some of the sweetest fruit!

Just like people...

the cover does not always attest to what is on the inside..!

Now my Bee problem...The honeybees are taking over the hummingbird feeders. They actually chase the hummers away! I put this dish out with hummerjuice in it for the honey bees...I don't want to kill the bee's, but they have taken over the feeders, and my porch!!

This is a close up of them on the hummingbird feeder I got that has special 'bee guards'.

They don't work.

I really don't know what to do to discourage the bee's from the hummer feeders !

Any ideas??????

I know the bee's need to eat too, and we really need the bee's more than the hummingbirds, but it is getting to be a problem...

Any solutions will be appreciated..!

Meanwhile, I'll keep making sugar water!!!

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Grammy's boy and mountain bike friends

2009-09-11T22:17:00.005-04:00

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Caine spent Wednesday with us here at our place, and he spent the night as well !
He is getting to be quite the 4-wheeler ! Grammy zips her sweatshirt up around him like a seat belt !

I thought that he might turn when he encountered the garden sprinkler, but he just stopped and looked at me and wiped the dirt and water as it pored down his little face!!

He is fascinated with all the equipment Grampy has for his tractor, and everything becomes something to ride...

He loves his wonder pony 'Tex'....that what he calls him. He can really get moving on this thing !

Takes after me with the horse thing...I wore 3 sets of springs off mine before I outgrew it when I was a kid...

I should have stuck with the wonder horse...Mine was called 'Jim Jump'..he never threw me!

He is ready to start this thing up and go ! Bob says start it and see what he'll do...

I did and he didn't even flinch, just looked like...,

ok, now lets get it moving !

Happy guy in the morning! He slept from 7:30 Wednesday night until about 4 am...I changed him and got him his sippy juice cup, but he didn't want it, so I put him in bed with me, and he went back to sleep until about 7:30 in the morning !

He is a sunny guy in the morning, so we 'talked' and sang and got up around 8. Then we had breakfast and he rode the 4-wheeler on the dog run with me, and then he got to be pulled in the wagon when Melissa and I took our morning walk!

He was asleep in the truck almost immediately on his ride home thursday afternoon...

Grammy was asleep by 10 pm !

Today a friend from the lake came over with her daughter and son-in-law. I rode Linda on my 4-wheeler and the'kids' rode their mountain bikes.

We did our trails, and then I took them through West Vaco, and into the Pigg River.

Heres Ashley riding up the river and the next one is her flying down the hill into the river !

They had a really long ride with some good challenges along the trails, and then the river to cool off. They are both working in New Jersey, she's a doctor in a trauma unit of a big hospital there, and her husband works in the medical field, only on the high tech end...computers.

This was Linda's first 4-wheel experience, and she did great!!!

I am really tired after the last few days of 'fun' with Caine...and I'll stick to 4-wheeling !

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September morn with primal urges..

2009-09-04T09:14:00.005-04:00

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The last hurrah...summers last burst of life...black-eyed susans on the trail.

The wisteria has taken over...again.

Coneflowers and balloon flowers fade away as well as phlox and butterfly bush.

The Deodar Cedar has grown even taller...

The cedar lined driveway is getting slimmer; the old barn more weathered...

The hummingbird feeders are fogged with the sugar water having cooled through the night...

the hummers are feeding fast and furious, they are preparing for their long flight.

The 'not-so-scary' scarecrow, is held by browning cucumber vines...

The 'kitty litter' cherry tomatoes make one last push...

The gourds are 'hanging in there'... birdhouses to be.

Will the green beans ever end?????

Golden peppers almost ready...

Summers bounty winding down...

The old oak tree man looks on, expecting nothing and giving everything..

summer shade, fall color and earths fertilizer...then winter's stark beauty..

My little horses are fat and very furry.

They have started their winter coats in earnest...

They are preparing for the winter winds and rains and ice and hopefully snow.

It will not phase them, they prepare...

Today is another outdoor day, pulling weeds, cutting and pruning and preparing for winter in the human way...my breakfast is changing to hot cereals. I crave soups and chili. Must be my body wanting to put on winter fat...primal urges..can't deny them!

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Grandson Day

2009-08-26T20:26:00.004-04:00

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A day with Caine...

Love those ducks !

Any over this thing?

Where did they go ?

I think they are there....

Thats better ! Now I'm on their side of the rails !

Think I'll sit here and watch them...

Love this park ! This is a cool chipmunk !

John Deere colors, like Grampa's tractor...

Found these shades, aren't they cool looking ?

Grandma things I'm really funny !

Playing chase and scare...RAHHHHHH !!

Man, am I in trouble...I really made a mess of the kitchen..

I better stay here, Grandma's pissed !

Boy, that fruit punch was too heavy for me...Grandma should never turn her back on me,even just to wash my sippy cup. One climb up on the chair and I had the handle quick as could be ! I was just trying to help Grammy get it faster !

That was a fun day Gramdma, and I'm sorry about the kitchen. I liked you reading to me, really settled me down and I got tired..

I hate going to sleep for a nap, cause by the time I wake up, your gone!

See you next time you come...

Love you, too !

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