The Mountain Thymes

Got a call this afternoon from Josh saying he would be "in the neighborhood" and could come by with his  rototiller and do the garden.  We're .6 of a mile up a  mountain road.....who just happens to be in the neighborhood?  Cliff and I have been out in the garden picking up boulders and roots.  heading for the garden job finished in about 20 minutes The soil is nice and loose.  Josh told me to get lime and spread it and I can start planting my potatoes now.   Read a great article from our almost-retired friend, Larry, about planting varieties of vegetables to avoid diseases that could wipe out entire crops. Will stop by Wayne's Feed and Grain tomorrow or Monday and get lime and ask what kind of fertilizer to use in the garden.  Have lots of loose rocks and roots still to pick out of the soil now that it's looser.  There are some great varieties of potatoes to try and so many locals here to help me with my first year gardening....

Can't believe we are still enjoying spring-like weather.  My potted plants are placed out on the porch each morning and brought in each evening because temperatures drop dangerously close to freezing their little leaves.  We watch the Chattanooga news some mornings and weather was forecast to stay about 48 a few nights ago.  Left all the potted plants out on the porch.  Chatt is usually 5-6 degrees warmer than we are but I figured I was still safe.  We woke to 31 degrees up here.  Poor little leaves got burned and they were all shriveled up and some just gave up and went limp.  Brought them all in last night and the temp stayed 51degrees.  Started some more herb seedlings yesterday for my window boxes.  I know we'll get more cold fronts coming through and even a possible quick blizzard but for now we'll take this weather.  We're due for thunderstorms tomorrow so the plants will stay on the porch. Cliff and I have been digging up roots ...

Cliff's younger brother, Bobby, passed away in the night after a short illness.  Bobby had retired after teaching math to middle schoolers for what seemed like 100 years.  He was a dedicated tough teacher,  yet loved by his students and got pleasure in seeing them progress.  We can't do everything perfect in our short time on this earth, but we need to celebrate the skills and talents that we do do well.  Bobby, may your spirit travel with the wind and rest in peace.

Cliff has a friend from Station 25 who is a farmer and has his own bush hog, tree removal and land clearing business.  He came by this week to tell me the best place to clear for my garden and give us an estimate for his work, but that he wouldn't be able to do the job for a few weeks.  Around noon yesterday he called and said he had a job cancellation and would be able to clear away trees and level the land for my garden that afternoon!  coming down the driveway He began the clearing down the slope from the back of the house on the west side.  foreman Cliff loosening the roots before pushing the tree over We needed to keep as many shade trees near the back porch for natural cooling in the summer. gentle sloping land  amazing to watch how easily he picked up trees and place them where he intended. He's been operating equipment since he was 15.  Stacking logs for us to cut and use for firewood. ready to pick out rocks and roots  job finis...

We feel human again!  Even though the nights are still cold, the days have been mostly sunny and in the 60's.  These past couple of days we were able to apply two coats of polyurethane and finish the TV console.  A friend from the fire department helped Cliff transfer the TV to its  new home and we're really pleased with how it looks.  Brought the blanket chest out to the porch this afternoon to apply the first coat of polyurethane over the stain but the wind gusts were about 25 mph and blowing too much debris around. If tomorrow is calmer we'll apply the first coat.  Wednesday is our eat-out day so after we exercised for an hour at the gym, we went to Downtown Pizza with our $1 off coupon, and ate for an hour.  You have to balance your schedule.  It's Cliff's favorite place to eat because for $3.99 you get unlimited salad bar and unlimited pizza.  And he doesn't have to leave a tip!  Last night  I went out on the porch to sit w...

Temperature hit 61 today and we were able to put the first coat of polyurethane on the TV cabinet.  Tomorrow when we get back from the gym, we'll put the last coat on and allow it to dry on the porch.  All the plants went out on the porch today and will be able to go back out all week.   It's been so uplifting to have this forecast ahead of us.  Fleas markets sprung up along the side of the 4-lane and we saw people out riding their motorcycles.  My lettuce seeds are sprouting but the herbs are slow to show.  Cliff met a fellow firefighter who cuts trees and clears land professionally and will give us an estimate on getting the back woods ready for a garden. Yesterday made Polenta and Vegetables with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce  and as usual, I played with the ingredients adding more(like garlic) or less INGREDIENTS: 1 cup uncooked instant polenta 2/3 cup grated Parmesan, divided 1/8-1/4 tsp cayenne pepper vegetable oil cooking spray 2 cloves gar...

First signs of spring???? Saw dozens of robins yesterday on the property at the bottom of our road where we pick up our mail and this morning as I sipped my coffee, found a tiny fly floating belly-up in my cup.  Yesterday Maxine and I sat out on the porch in the sun reading and trying to make vitamin D.  It was still a bit on the chilly side with a dry cold breeze, but it lifted our spirits to be outside.  This morning the temperature was 18 degrees at 6:00 but Max still went out on the porch to smell all the furniture for remains of the night visitors.  Today is forecast to be high 40's and sunny.  Good day for a mountain walk and to plan where I should build my chicken coop.

This morning's peaceful sunrise photo is courtesy of mother nature's pastel palette. In just a few seconds the high clouds changed formation to become softer and wispier.  Thankfully, all we got was about a half inch dusting. The geraniums are last summer's porch plants and this must be the perfect spot because they have flowered all winter.  This weekend and most of next week the plants will be placed back out on the porch during the day.  We are working our way up to sunny and 62 degrees!  I have basil, rosemary, some catnip and cat grass started for Maxine.  Today I planted my indoor lettuce variety.  If nature cooperates with me, this should be a salad bowl in 45 days.  I can throw some tomatoes, olives, and sliced red onions in it, pour balsamic vinegar and olive oil over the lettuce and eat right out of the garden. 

Cliff went out to a medical call in the night and it was snowing...again.  More snow is predicted for Wednesday night into Thursday morning so I bought him a sled.  Just kidding!  Bought this decorative sled to hang outside on the porch in case we have a hot summer like we did last year.  It will be my reminder not to complain too much about the heat and humidity because it could be worse.  Sandy's, an upscale store with tastes too rich for my palate, is going out of business and everything is 50% off.  Also picked up Corinthian Chimes tuned to the key of A.  They are already hanging on the porch waiting for me.  In the night the mountain wind gently whispered through the porch corridor and even with the house closed up tight, we could hear the chimes resonate their ethereal melody.  The soothing sounds lull you back to into a relaxing sleep.  We're in a real dilemma right now.  Spring is coming soon and I want to start my garden...

Temperature hit a glorious 53 today after a slow start.  We had planned on doing the polyurethane coat over the walnut stain on the TV unit that we did a few weeks ago.  But sun never showed its rays until after 11 AM and took until about 1 PM to reach 50 degrees.  By this time I was making a blueberry pie and had my healthy chocolate chip cookie batter in the mixer.  Once we get through this week, temperatures should return to more normalcy so we'll be able to finish in the next couple of weeks. I got my kindergarten homework assignment completed and mailed off Saturday to Hayden's school.  What a fun project it became for me.  I ended up compiling photos and organizing them in the four seasons then included some brochures that we got from our welcome center in town.  I wish I could view the bulletin boards at the school to see the presentation. We're probably the only people on the planet not watching the super bowl tonight. I am missing all th...

O dreary winter You have overstayed your welcome. Day lilies and tulips lie in wait. Oh dreary winter............... It is time for you to go. Thick dreary clouds here.  Temperature is 36.  We had an icy rain all night.  What's going on??!!??

Wishing that the Chinese New Year of the rabbit brings peace, happiness, and good fortune. Two years ago today, Olivia came bouncing into our lives.  It was cold, windy, and raw in Virginia when she was born.  Today she celebrates her birthday and the Chinese New Year................the year of the rabbit.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVIA!!!  Keep the family hopping!! This morning I noticed there were three really spotty over-ripe bananas looking pretty sad on the kitchen counter.  So I mashed them in preparation of making nice warm banana bread.  I always make notes on my recipe pages, of events, or weather, or any little thing of interest the first time I try that recipe.  When I opened the cookbook to the banana bread recipe today, I realized  that I've only made this recipe twice.  Today and...........2 years ago when Cliff and I drove to VA for Olivia's birth.   

John and Carolyn are stuck in LA in the sunshine and warm weather.......Kansas City airport is shut down due to the blizzard so they can't get a flight home until Thursday morning.   Today they visited the zoo.  Tomorrow they'll do the aquarium.  Eating out in restaurants, sleeping in, shopping for extra clothes in Khol's, and enjoying the sunshine is the agenda until they fly home. Carolyn will return to LA in March for her surgery.  Doctors plan on removing the tumor and a portion of the kidney.  I will keep you posted.   Mark is deep in the blizzard in Kansas City, MO and Michael is preparing for its arrival in Center Conway, NH.  Lauria and Jim didn't get the snow but their forecast calls for an icy mix tonight.  We have rain and wind gusts up to 30 mph here with a possibility of thunderstorms later tonight.  Thinking of all our friends and family tonight and sending good intentions and prayers out as everyone deals with thi...