The Mountain Thymes

We just returned from a glorious action-packed vacation full of excitement and never-ending surprises. Better than Disney World!   After checking the 10-day weather forecast last Monday, we packed our bags and headed for the mountains of Virginia.  Tuesday morning Cliff continued on to Massachusetts to spend a few days with his mother.  I went to running club at 7:30 AM with Hayden, Sofia, and Grant at their elementary school, to run/speed-walk through the wet mucky grass holding Olivia's hand.  Olivia and I did three laps, didn't have time to get the fourth one in to complete the mile. Olivia getting her lap-card punched. She is a pistol, keeps you on your toes. For each mile completed, the children get a "foot" trinket to add to their necklace.  It's a really neat program.  If I lived closer, I'd join the kids in their "run" every morning.   Back at the ranch, Lauria feeding the chickens.   Karaoke night  Benjamin just turned ...

Some of our early morning hours have dipped into the high 20's nipping the morning glories and glazing the birdbath with a fine icy design.  The days are sunny and range anywhere from 60-74 degrees, perfect for  mountain walking or a warn cup of tea and good reading on a sunny porch.  Mark bought an adorable bungalow out in Kansas City, MO and needed drapes for his bedroom.  Made him three pair of drapes and shipped them out to him.  Baked Oatmeal Chocolate cookies and a banana bread to take when we visit Lauria and family. Cliff spent the weekend at another fire course on pumping rural water supplies.  We don't have hydrants so this is a necessary course.   In December he'll be completing his Level I and Level II fire courses and will be a fully state certified firefighter.  He also is a credentialed EMS and a state certified pump operator.  Not bad for an old retired guy!  Because he completed these courses on his own over a period...

"Our task must be to free ourselves..........by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty."  ~Albert Einstein  It's been over three weeks since we've had a tuna sandwich.  I haven't been able to open a can because not having Max under my feet meowing and waiting for her tuna juice would have been too painful.   Going down to the garden without her has been the biggest challenge but her little cat spirit is there with me.  Lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard are almost ready to be picked. The wire cages are covered each night and sheers pulled back every morning to let the air flow around the leaves.  I'm picking the last of the poblano, sweet banana, and green peppers from the summer garden and have the last two tomatoes ripening on the window sill.  Winter squash and gourds still remain on their vines soaking up the sun.  I planted the morning glories a little late but it's ...

Weather has been just gorgeous, chamber of commerce comfortable.  Leaf color and fall festivals throughout western North Carolina are attracting parades of tourists.  We're at our peak color.  Rain and wind earlier this week thinned out the trees but we still have plenty of color to enjoy.  Last night dropped to mid 30's and today will reach 80 with a front coming through by mid-week bringing us colder nights and a few days of only 54.  Br-r-r.  Last year the acorns rained on our roof and porch covering the porch floor and we experienced a brutally cold snowy winter.  So far this year, acorn dropping is light so we'll see if the winter is milder.  Farmer's Almanac predicts milder than last year.  I certainly hope so.  Lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard seem to be surviving.  Row covers keep the night temps a few degrees warmer and I pull back the covers during the day.  It's a chance I take exposing the tasty leaves to the de...

I suppose the hummingbird feeders can be taken down now for the season, cleaned and stored until late March.  It's been almost two weeks since our last hummingbird made its appearance, but the feeders were left just in case a rogue hummer on its journey south needed to energize.  They are truly resilient and amazing creatures.  No matter what they encounter they have the strength and fortitude to bounce back.  Minutes after laying Maxine in her resting place that Wednesday, the last hummingbird of summer flew into the house,  lodged in between the open window panes, and when rescued took flight into the air to join the others heading south. October's weather has been delightful so far.  A cold front breezed through over the first weekend and we bundled up for the John Campbell Folk School Art Festival only to peel the layers as the sun warmed us up.  Murphy is teeming with tourists enjoying the Blue Ridge Mountain's explosion of fall colors. HAPPY ...

 "If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans." ~ James Herriot I took my coffee out on the porch for the first time this morning as the sun burst through the trees but it just didn't bring excitement to the day.........yet.  Losing our last companion is more difficult since we are retired and can't busy ourselves in our jobs.  And this is the first time ever in my life that I have not had a pet to feed and fuss over and to faithfully smother me with love in return.  Pets give unconditional love.