The Mountain Thymes

The Jim Cantore Program went on at 5:14 AM when I decided I couldn't sleep anymore and needed to know Irene's progress up the coastline.  It was 55 degrees on the mountain at 5:14 and yesterday we had gentle gusts probably to 15 mph from Irene.  Actually, made the afternoon very comfortable.  For everyone experiencing this long drawn out weather event, it's exhausting.........feels as if it will never end. Compliments of Irene, the breezes made it pleasant enough to work in the garden most of the day.  Trimming some of the dead vines away allowed me to see if the main plants could be salvaged a few more weeks and keep producing.  I think the summer squash are low on energy even though the blossoms are huge and yellow. That  stops me from yanking them and discarding the old plants into the woods.  Those blossoms only produce petite yellow squash which in the market would be sold as baby squash at premium prices. Guess I'm not quite ready to put them to rest.  Months ag

This week Cliff and I dropped by Fireside Hearth and Home, our local husband and wife owned shop, to get information and ask questions about a fireplace insert before winter sets in.  There is so much cold air leakage in winter flowing from the top and bottom vents of our existing fireplace that we barely used it last winter.  Cliff made an insulated frame which I covered with a heavy upholstering material and we left it in place most of the season.  Using a conventional fireplace is very ambient but not efficient and much of our time was spent stoking and adding wood.  We considered pellets or propane, but after talking to the owner, we decided that living in the forest with so much available wood, we should go with a wood burner.  Yesterday a service person showed up on his Harley, after dodging moguls and ruts on Boulder Creek Road, measured our hearth and firebox.  This Homestead model is the right one for our small house.  We wanted a unit that was safe to leave when in use.  This

Watching the progression of Hurricane Irene up the eastern coast is surreal for us.  We can't believe a hurricane of such great magnitude is traveling this path.  Jim Cantore's excited voice is the Siren song that lures me to the tv.    Since experiencing property damage and emotional stress from hurricanes Charlie, Francis, and Jeanne, one right after another in the summer of 2004, I understand and empathize the east coast's heightened sense of awareness.  Can you imagine if we could measure the human energy flow along the coast right now on a "Richter" scale.  Evacuating of nursing homes, setting up storm shelters, support teams being put on alert, store shelves being stocked as quickly as they are emptied, families and tourists packing their pets and necessities for safer grounds.  With so many loved ones, friends, and family members who will be impacted by Irene, we'll be tuned in for days watching her move up the coast, change the shoreline in her travels

Our pets bring us such pleasure when they are not underfoot on the kitchen rug while we try to prepare meals or when they are sitting at the door waiting to go out so they can turn around and beg to come in.  They bring us comfort when we're down and share our joys when we're on a high.  Part of our relocation to NC included finding a vet we were comfortable with for Maxine.  Due to her severe anxiety she now experiences when being placed in her carrier and then into the truck, we chose the closest vet for the shortest ride.  Cliff and I became so uncomfortable with this vet's demeanor and Max's increased anxiety during the ride that we decided not to subject Maxine to this experience anymore.  I found a mobile vet with 38 years of experience who would make house calls!  She moved from a large busy veterinary clinic in SC to Murphy for a calmer lifestyle, yet wanted to continue doing what she loves with a different approach and a more rewarding feeling.  So she decided

A 5.8 earthquake  shook the ground around Washington, DC.  Lauria and Jim are only about 50 miles from the epicenter.  Jim felt the quake for about 20 seconds and told me the only thing that came to mind was that the washing machine was going to explode.  My sister called from Cape Cod to see if we felt it and to check on Lauria and Jim.  We never felt anything.  We're too far west.  She and Vic didn't feel any shaking but a neighbor of theirs at the Cape did.  And the whole east coast is preparing for Hurricane Irene. 

Fifty-eight degrees yesterday morning and 54 glorious degrees on the mountain at 6:30 this morning.  Max and I had our coffee on the porch steps while Cliff slept in awhile longer.  Pileated woodpecker "opinions" screeched through the trees and radiant red cardinals chirped as they ate at the feeders.  Finally, the air is breathable.  It was too lovely a day to be inside the gym so we headed to town and walked our long route which takes about an hour.  These couple of cooler mornings we've noticed four unfamiliar adults all bundled up in layers of  sweatshirts and woolen sweaters walking down the road around 8:00 AM.  They must be from Florida vacationing in one of the cabins up here.  My friends in Volusia County, FL have returned to pre-plan this week getting ready for the students next Monday.  So many changes....again.  Just when you become familiar with what the county expects of teachers, they introduce all new methods, strategies, grading systems, and pressures. 

Sunday.......... After hours of searching and reading Picasa Photo Web, which I use sometimes with the blog, we located the albums.   Scroll down for pics of the face cradle covers. Saturday.............We're still alive.  I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to sit and think about what to post.  The garden looks tired and some of the plants need to be relieved of their misery.  I did put in more fall seeds in smaller plots than the spring planting.  The sun is lower in the sky and the garden is receiving less sunlight.  So I'll see how fall planting goes.  The other day as I stood on the porch overlooking the garden to see where the sun spread its rays, I watched a bunny hop happily away, probably with a full stomach.  All week I've been assembling face cradle covers for my massage therapist.  She needed new covers and instead of buying them online, she asked me to make her a dozen.  I had never made anything like these so this was quite a challenge.   T

Just recently I made the comment that there have been no reports or bear sightings.  Summer must be providing plenty of grubs under dead logs and berries and whatever else a bear dines on.  Our squirrel-proof bird feeder was found over near the propane tank.  The yellow wire hook was flung near the rose bush and there appears to be teeth punctures embedded in the plastic tube.  I cleaned the feeder and used clear heavy-duty packing tape to fasten the tube back onto the green base, filled it with seed again and hung it back up in the tree for my birds.  But last night at dusk I brought the feeder in the house.  latest picks  One of my very kind neighbors up on Boulder Creek Rd made a mama bear and two cubs for our yard.  I think we'll try and place them in a different area.  Cliff hit ledge trying to pound them into the clay so they appear to be walking on air. first time I've ever successfully grown winter squash no comment!!!! Mother nature does some strange things.

Yesterday afternoon we had friends from Deltona, Florida come by and visit us.  Karen and Bob, their daughter Mindy and 11-yr old granddaughter, Sarah are staying in Dillard, Georgia for a week's vacation before school starts.  Karen and I taught first grade with Boni, Julie, and our other Karen about 22 years ago when teaching was about the students not FCAT scores.  We used to meet after school and do our lesson plans together, brainstorming and sharing ideas and materials, laughing and enjoying each others company.  Along with Barb, Julie, and our fun-loving Gail, whom we miss very much, we had our "ladies night out" once a month usually at the Olive Garden.  Julie and the other Karen retired first some years ago.  I was next in 2008 and Boni just happily retired in June.  Karen is contemplating her retirement soon so she and Bob can travel the U.S.  Mindy is a Kindergarten teacher............Bless her!!!!!    Sarah loves to read and has a kind spirit.  She enjoyed the

When did a 5-lb bag of sugar become only 4 lbs?        Tuesday was Roma tomatoes day.  The Romas get plucked just before they ripen as I noticed how easily they fall off the vines when they near the ripened stage.  Years ago I bought an Italian cookbook, La Cucina Siciliana di Gangivecchio by Wanda and Giovanna Tornabene, but never tried any of the recipes.  Back then I only sat some evenings, exhausted from correcting and writing positive comments on papers, entering grades, writing progress reports, answering parents emails and notes, immersing myself too much in the school process, and just read about the Sicilian family's restaurant and recipes. I longed to immerse myself into the Italian culture starting with the foods, always the foods.  The pleasure in chopping and preparing fresh ingredients and speaking Italian to those who visit my kitchen.       When we were children, Nona's backyard abutted ours and she always made her own pasta and sauce.  I've never tasted