The Mountain Thymes

Snow showers predicted later today.  We got  about 1.5 inches of rain yesterday.  Standing on the back porch, I can hear the creek rushing down in the hollow and if we go out today we'll see the cascading falls on Boulder Creek Rd.  Yesterday there was so much commotion at the bird feeders, Cliff had to do air traffic control.  This morning forty-pound black crows are walking up and down the driveway as if on patrol and squirrels are foraging under decaying leaves for discarded seed and stored acorns.  I filled the feeders this morning at 7 AM and put out two suet-filled holders.  It's interesting to observe the animals during a cold snap or a front moving through.  Days ago Cliff and I caught a glimpse of at least a half-dozen deer fleeing from our back woods, across Clay Durrett Rd and into the woods across the road from our house.  Until recently, we've only seen 3 or 4, at the most, grazing together along the edge of the woods or in my fr...

Let the decorating begin!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to family and friends!

"I'll tell you how the sun rose one ribbon at a time." ~ Emily Dickinson I love mornings, always have, but enjoy them immensely since retiring.  Each day unfolds the unexpected.  After experiencing 28 degrees at night, the weather turned unseasonably (such a word?) mild about a week ago.  Last night stayed 60 degrees all night.  It's drizzly this morning and will remain warm all day.  We'll take it........ no complaints.  I've been thinking about some new outdoor decorations.  Printed up directions for making log reindeer for the front yard and would like to light up an artificial tree on the front porch this year.  On Black Friday, we'll started hanging wreaths on the windows and lights on the house.  I've been researching the mountain dulcimer and as soon as I can purchase one around here, you'll find me sitting on the porch serenading the birds and the deer. An after thought................this came to mind as I was trying to make toas...

 Larry and Pat drove up from Marble (the Kingdom of Marblonia) to warm up on beef stew and have cake and ice-cream with us before heading into town for the "lighting-of-the-tree" excitement........a big event in Murphy!  They were kind enough to eat my second attempt at making whole wheat rolls and bread.  This recipe is my brother-in-law, Vic's, who is a great cook and very comfortable in his kitchen.  No one could eat the first loaf, but I'm getting more confidence and enjoying the process now. We didn't do a cake on my birthday so yesterday morning Cliff made the "cake-in-the-pan" recipe and did a mighty fine job! The merchants of downtown Murphy kicked off the Christmas season last night with performances by the students from the Learning Center.  Intermediate grades outfitted in festive garb did a really nice job of performing a few of their favorite scenes from the Nutcracker Suite.  Then the primary grades, dressed in holiday reds, sang Chris...

Finally got the last two pieces of unfinished furniture stained and polyurethaned before the weather was too cold to work outside.  Now the porch plants have a home in the winter sun and my sewing boxes and other bits of junk will be out of sight.  Next time we get to the quilting store in Blairsville, GA, I'll pick up some  material, make three little curtains to put on spring rods, and cover the collection of unfinished projects.  Last year I brought in too many porch plants.  This year some are stored down in the crawl space..........sleeping..........maybe.  Whatever doesn't make it will be tossed out in the compost pile in the spring and I'll start over.   Picked the last of our fall spinach. and another couple of lettuce servings.  We may be able to get a few more helpings of lettuce.  The broccoli is still growing now that I protect  it from the hungry rabbits and deer.   When the hummingbirds migrated south for...

 "The heart sees deeper than the eye." ~Yogi Green Tea Triple Echinacea tea bag!      I awoke this morning at 4:27 AM, not able to go back to sleep, as excited as if I were eight years old again and waiting to open my presents.  My gift is the unfolding of each day, embracing unpredictable events, and the peace and blessings that radiate from my family and friends. So as not to wake Cliff at that hour, I quietly settled in the guest bedroom with a hot cup of tea and my soul-soothing Agnus Dei CD playing softly in the background. Propped up on four pillows, I allowed Jan Karon to transport me from the mountains of rural Mitford to beach side Whitecap in her fifth book of the Mitford series,   A New Song.      The temperature remained unusually warm all night, staying about 60 degrees.  As this front passes through, it'll bring a chance of thundershowers and drop the temperature back to high 30's at night.  Today I get to eat ...

DANG!!  The last couple of nights have been wintery, dropping to mid 20's through most of the night and only reaching a blustery 48-50 degrees during the day.  Temperature read 24 this morning and should reach low 60's today.  I woke around 4 AM, got up at 4:30............couldn't fall back to sleep.  Don't know if it was the pull of the harvest moon or too much Mexican food at the Monte Alban last night with our neighbor.  Worse than all that, I had a nightmare that caused me to sit straight up and shudder. I dreamed I was subbing the class from hell.  There were candy wrappers, pillows, blankets strewn about the classroom.  Neither desks nor students had any order.  The assistant principal told me I was upsetting the children with my stern body language.  Thank goodness it's Saturday and the Cherokee County Schools won't call me to sub today. Except for the lingering rusty oak leaves that hang on throughout the winter, the other trees hav...

The afternoon Cliff and I arrived at Lauria and Jim's farm, the kids were anxiously awaiting our visit.  Hayden's birthday was Saturday, but she had to wait for us before opening our gift to her that had been mailed.  So the box sat at the house driving her crazy.  When we drove in, she hugged us and then asked her mother if she could open her gift.  Grant asked if we brought something for him.  Of course we did, I told him.  I brought you MEATBALLS!!  Grant danced around singing YEAH, MEATBALLS!, which started Olivia and Benjamin dancing and singing.  What a lesson in happiness.........to be excited about the simple things in life.  Now once in awhile when I feel sorry for myself because I have to save up for something I think I need,  I can reflect back to that day and be thankful for MEATBALLS!

Cliff's been bringing in our bird feeders each night before dark because the bear has been spotted more frequently even during the daytime.  I've been told that nuts and berries throughout the summer were not plentiful and with winter coming, the animals are coming closer to homes foraging for foods that will prepare them for the cold weather.  Our bears don't fully hibernate and wake often to eat and see who's on their mountain.  Each morning I return the front garden feeder as soon as the sky lightens up because the nuthatches and Carolina wrens perform acrobatics to get my attention.  Some mornings the feisty little wrens fasten their feet in the kitchen screen and greet me at the sink.  Thursday morning and again this morning as I walked off the porch steps with the feeder, I was greeted by our two resident deer.  I was able to go back into the house, get the camera, and slowly return where she kindly posed for her picture. *  *  *  *...