The Mountain Thymes

Sofia, Pau Pau needs your help in the kitchen! I can't work my can opener!

I took an EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operator Course ) the weekend of 20,21 and 22 of November. It was a tough 3 days. All day Saturday was driving thru and backing up thru the course which was setup to NFPA standards. I had to finish the course in 3 different emergency vehicles. I drove 2 fire engine pumper/tankers and a heavy rescue truck which was a 5 speed transmission. The chief officially made me legal to drive the departments trucks on this past Monday night. I had driving training hours with him also, so after demonstrating my pump operation skills he is satisfied and confident that I can do the job. It is an awsome responsibility and not to be taken lightly. I was on the Deltona Fire Department some years ago for several years and I guess it gets in your blood. I have to re-certify all my skills because NC has different standards and it has been a long time since Deltona . I do CPR for the Medical responder in December and then in in February onto medical courses which w...

The alarm went off at 6 AM! What's up with that?! We're retired.....no alarms! Cliff has joined the Bellview Volunteer Fire Dept. and had to meet with the Chief and other new volunteers to practice and pass his EVOC driving. (I think it's EVOC) Driving a fire truck on these steep mountain roads is quite different than the flat FL roads. We've driven some of the roads that are in our fire district and for many, there is no way out. The trucks have to turn around or back out. It's 38 degrees right now and he's still not happy with the cold. He'd like to be able to go south until April. I was ready for the change, tired of the constant heat/humidity, not being able to work comfortably outside in my gardens, and A/C running for 7 months in FL. Our fall days have been delightful, mostly sunny mid 60's to mid 70's. The sunrise this morning is layered with brilliant pink and orange tiers against a baby blue sky. A few mornings ago, I was graced ...

HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY, MATTHEW!!! Do you remember when we had severe thunderstorms in Deltona and the storms used to set Tommy off? The first time it happened and I heard voices coming from your bedroom, I thought Tommy had come to life!!! Your friends got together to wish you a Happy 20th Birthday. Today Talking Tommy is a "Hopi Storyteller." He has collected and remembered stories about you when you were growing up and is passing them down orally to his little listeners. Hopi storytellers often begin their stories by saying "Aliska'i" which alerts the listeners that the entertainment is about to begin. Tommy is telling his audience "qa yaw'i, pas antsa." (This is not hearsay, this is really true.) Tommy remembers a lot so this could be a long day for the little listeners! Maxine wishes you a happy day. She's upset that she couldn't catch the mole for your birthday present. (click on the pictures to make them larger so you can read t...

The new vet met Maxine last week. He's shorter than Cliff and is shaped like a weeble. As he walked through the examining room door, his first words were "this cat needs to loose weight!" Evidently there are no mirrors in his house. Max was 20 lbs. 3 yrs ago when she had a pancreatic attack so we put her on "the greatest looser diet." At last week's weigh-in she tipped the scale at 15.7.......good job Max! After asking about her history and giving her a manicure, he charged us $7.35!! For that price he can insult Max or Cliff anytime! Maxine getting pysched for "mole patrol." "Was that the sound of a can opener?" Squirrels become stealth when she's out on "mole patrol." Carolina chickadees don't fear her even though she sits directly under their feeder. Movement under the leaves. "I know you're in there." "This is too much like work." "Time for relaxation and fun." "I live fo...

Started designing and sewing some holiday wine gift bags to sell. Don't know how or where to sell them yet. One thought is to visit the little winery down the road from us and offer him a % of the sale. There's a site online that I visit for crafts, etc. called Etsy.com where I can sell but have to look into it more. Have 2 Morgie Dogs complete and plan on making some baby booties. This time of year, this is where I spend the afternoons writing letters to Lauria or reading. Barb.....this picture does not do justice to the flaming sunrise this morning! The colors were so vibrant. It was like the old saying "red skies in the morning..............." The sky was even pink over Alberta's house. This is the house up on the hill in the west looking from our back porch. The house is vacant right now. This color is the sunrise reflecting off the windows. Western sky viewed from the back covered porch! The color reflected into the western sky. It was so awesome! ...

The famous Clay's Corner in Brasstown....the Opossum Capital of the World....population 240. On New Year's Eve thousands of people crowd the corner for the possum drop at midnight.....actually it's more like a slow lowering. We didn't go last year for 2 reasons. it was t-o-o c-o-o-ld and i can't stay awake past 10. Clay Logan is the Master of Ceremonies and entertainment will be provided by the Barker Brothers Bluegrass music this year. If anyone wants to attend the drop, let us know and we'll make up the guest bed...........but come in quietly, I'll be under my thick warm quilt.......fast asleep. This much excitement needs two pictures!

Barb and Mike drove up from Florida for a few days of R & R. In the morning, Barb and I wrapped ourselves in blankets, sat out on the porch with our coffee and watched the sun rise. A drive through Brasstown's rolling hills and soothing pastures. I think I deleted Clay's Corner............ We also visited a winery and "Ye Old Goat Farm" but I didn't have the camera with me that day. The goat farm was a story all in itself. Barb and I hoped to get some goat cheese to go with our wine but no cheese, just stories and the histories of all 40 goats. Produce stand in Hiawassee, GA and where we bought sorghum, local grown apples, honey, apple butter. Mike and Cliff in a "husband-of-the-year" photo op in front of the fruit stand. Saturday night Deb and Larry hosted a Halloween party at their Tiki Bar up the mountain road. The weather was dreary, rainy, and raw. Cliff and I went as Bikers wearing our heavy Harley Jackets for warmth. I thought Mike was ...