Friday, March 15, 2024

So This is Springtime

We are home this morning because it is storming outdoors, or at least what passes for a storm here in the mountains. Rather than the furious rain and done type we are accustomed to in Orlando, here it drizzles, rains hard for a minute and goes back to drizzling for hours at a time. Unlike some storms since we have been here, this one has been accompanied by booming thunder and lightening which seems to echo off the mountains. I'm digging it, however, I sure hope it does not disrupt the copious amount of blossoms that are sprouting, seemingly overnight. Sometime in the past, Bradford Pear trees, back when they were considered a perfect tree for community planting, were planted along Hiwassee Street to honor maybe veterans? I'm not entirely sure on the details, but nonetheless, they are a striking feature as you head into town. Along a curved road that borders the river of the same name, for months on end they were merely sticks in the air. And then, one day they were not.

While they look marvelous in their summer green, they look exceptional in the spring white! This is only about a third of said trees but they are not the only ones in town that are blooming like mad. 

As you can imagine, I am going crazy. Pictured above is a huge white Magnolia tree, unfortunately planted alongside a park storage area, as are the four pink Magnolias jammed up beside the white one. Talk about full of blooms! 

And to think this beauty came from this.

A few weeks ago while rambling in the park, I came across the buds and thought it would be fun to see what happened next. What happened next proved to be glorious, didn't it? 

Over the years, and I suspect you've seen the same, someone will show a photo of the same tree in all seasons which I have always thought was neat. Having witnessed it in person I now think it is marvelous. The colors, after months of grey or brown are just unreal.  An example is this pictured Forsythia plant, one of dozens I have seen blooming all over town. 

About the same color as our yellow Tabebuia trees back home, soon we will have one too. In fact it is about that same size but only now starting to bud out. We bought some hanging baskets to enjoy and I said to Bruce that the entry was just made for them.

Next time I show you this same scene the yellow blooms will be overwhelming and I mean that in a very good way.

Most certainly I hope you have enjoyed your front row seat in bird watching because I can't promise anything in the coming months, what with the leaves returning. In the meantime, let us enjoy the view while we can. This little Carolina Wren was trying to keep warm the other morning when it was very cold and windy. Isn't it cute how they puff up?

Does it surprise you that I've added another feeding station? It shouldn't. Goldfinch are supposed to love Nyger seed which is what is in that sock thing, but to tell you the truth it is the Siskens that seem to like it the most here on Warren Drive.

In other bird news, we are watching the male Goldfinch molt and become the sunny lemon yellow people are most familiar with.

As a reminder, here is one of last Summer's flock.

So how awesome is this? Watching the trees change, the birds, and soon the deer will sport their beautiful caramel color again.

John is curing his beautiful hand made furniture in the sun.  I believe it is next month that there will be a county-wide art tour where folks will have a map to visit artists studios, one of which will be John's below our living space. That should be neat.

Well, it is time to talk about our wonderful Bluebirds. You knew that was coming and were looking forward to it no doubt. Or were you? If nothing else, surely you can appreciate the blooming tree.

Is this a kiss, or the passing of a tasty bug?

The indigo blue of the male is a sight to behold.

Pinch me friends, I've gone to heaven! 

Before long they will have a good place to hide when the leaves come all the way out, something I am and am not looking forward to.  

I finally felt confidant enough in the kitchen here to host guests. I am darn slow though, spending far too much time doing everything.

Unlike at home where serving platters are readily available, here I am learning to make do. Tammy and John, naturally loved the cottage as anyone in their right mind would, all thanks to Charlotte, John and Laura.

A lovely time was had by all, or so it seemed.

So it is not like we don't have beautiful color in Florida, it is just that the change is not nearly as dramatic because so many trees stay green year round. For some unknown reason, this photo was on my desktop featuring the beautiful pink Tabebuia trees that are so prevalent in Central Florida. Perhaps because I took so many of this sort of photograph? Or was it AI? Now that is a scary thought.Nonetheless, the pink reflection in the lake is pretty cool that's for sure. Here are some pink trees I came across here taken during the rain.

Lucky for us, when John and Laura built their beautiful home, they planted an orchard with 12 fruit trees and called their home, The Orchard House. Seeing as they are right out front, we are getting a front row seat to the wonder of a group of trees beginning to bloom with lovely pink flowers.

Rest assured, this is just the beginning of me posting this glorious happening. Oh my! 

Let's head downtown and a nice shot of our church with the bare trees behind it. How long that will last is a mystery to me, but you will be the first to know when the evidence unfolds.

Following the service last Sunday we had lunch with some new friends, a couple from Sanford with a home here, Randy on the left, and David on the right. Both were former teachers in Seminole County.

The number of former teachers we have met here is a lot. Seemingly, every other person is either from Florida or a former teacher! 

Continuing down the street, is a charming church and the elementary school on the left. While the school is not easy to see, the giant blooming trees sure are. The post office is on the right. All very, very compact.

Just around the bend on the left are the pickleball courts and the river. All this is but two miles or so from the cottage. 

Extra, extra, read all about it!!! 

Mr. Peck, AKA, the love of my life, is going before the County Commission on Monday night!!!

Say what?

The long time players at the courts have done amazing things with both their time and talent, including building a covered pavillion featuring a storage room and a bathroom, almost all done with donations. Since we have been here we have played a very, very small role on the donation front. Anyway, take a look at the courts.

You might note that they are separated by tennis nets and makeshift "gates". Precarious to be sure. Long story is that Harry asked Bruce to negotiate with the park manager for permanent fences and gates. Knowing Bruce you can imagine what a thorough job he did, eventually sending drawings, proposals and photographs to the commission for a request of matching funds to have the fences built. One thing of note is that he received return phone calls from the town within hours and this appearance was set up within a week. You gotta love small town life.

Are you still with me? It's still raining, so I am still writing. 😀

Last Saturday was also a rainy day, but eventually we left the cottage and visited what I am calling the flea market although that might not be the real name. Anyway, it was kind of icky, in part because of the damp cold, but interesting nonetheless. Presumably it is much livelier in the summer.

Across the street it is a little more refined with some very interesting items for sale.

We did leave empty handed aside from some new salt and pepper shakers and a cast iron skillet from the grungy place. We did not come home with these.


From there we did some driving in the country and those white trees are so wonderful!

Coming across this shop was a highlight, absolutely charming both inside and out.

What has been so surprising here is how the grass, despite freezing overnight for more days than I can count, remains mostly green.

The number of days we spent watching our boys playing sports were also more days than I can count. It brings me joy to watch the new generation doing just that.

Here is a tree I am anxious to see once these buds turn into leaves. Amazing right? 

Finally this sky.

During our Sunday walk Diane claimed it is called Carolina blue and who, pray tell, am I to argue with that?

I've not even touched on the wildflowers which are also going wild with the warmer days. Oh by golly, this is so much fun.

your friend,

Gail

Friday, March 8, 2024

As is Common, A Smorgasbord

Good grief things are getting interesting around here!! Wow is popping out of my mouth seemingly every hour. Maybe a slight exaggeration, but not by much. Flowers are popping up out of the ground and trees are one day bare with some buds, and the next day--flowers.  As promised though, plenty more to discuss. Beginning with a super fun photo of a Pine Sisken holding on for dear life in the rain. Note the feet which is something I only just noticed. No wonder they can hang on!

Unfortunately we have had a casualty. On Tuesday of this week, I noticed some unusual behavior from this little one who had just been drinking from the collected water in our sweet sundial given to us by Jonathan and Alissa for our anniversary.

Do you notice anything unusual. I kept my eye on it and the next day I noticed this outside the window. 

I became even more puzzled. Unfortunately yesterday Bruce buried this little one in spite of us taking it indoors with the intention to nurse it back to health. Actually it didn't last long at all.

Perhaps there are some amongst you that have already identified what I was seeing, but it was all new to me. Apparently when a bird is sick or injured they ruffle their feathers. If only I had known perhaps we could have saved it. So that is one piece of sad news.

As we were heading home from practicing pb last Sunday afternoon, I asked Bruce to stop the car, not for the first time as you well know! Anyway, I was dying to get a shot of a huge blooming tree. This, my dear readers is the last photograph I took with my six year old trusty Olympus OMD. It has been by my side for lots of adventures and it is a wonder it didn't conk out when I fell on it and broke my wrist.

Literally I pushed the shutter button and it never opened again. Naturally I was diappointed, but fortunately I was able to order a new camera and the wonderful folks at B&H and FedEx got it to me in less than two days from New York. Now that is some fine service! Below is the first photo I took with the new camera,  an updated version of the old one. I believe these are plum blossoms?

I'd learned of the bush from our friend Angela and actually by the time I took this, if you can imagine, loads of the blossoms had fallen off already..

That my friends is the very definition of "pretty in pink", or maybe this is more your idea of that term?

Maybe two or three weeks ago I photographed this tree and wondered what the buds were going to be and now I know in spades as there are actually four of these Pink Magnolias lined up in a row! 

Here at Charlotte's Cottage, where the lucky Pecks are living, we've had one Crocus so far,

one of the trees has begun blooming,

as has the Forsythia. 

I've begun seeing Forsythia around town and it is going to be pretty spectacular, probably before we know it! 

And, of course there are the birds.

I believe I counted 25 in the shot above, a fraction of who was in attendance at the time as there are another thirty or forty on the ground.  Those are the Pine Siskens and Goldfinch that hang together for now, but I'm thinking I read somewhere that the PS will be moving on. Of course where else will they get this kind of treatment?? 

The Dark Eyed Junco are another bird that I believe will be migrating, so I am enjoying them while I can.

Hey you, get off of my perch!!

The weather has been mild with rainy days and sunny days in equal measure. We are good with either. I was surprised when we saw the spider webs come out in full force the other day.

Had enough of nature have you? Well let's do some people stuff, shall we? 

My sweet friend Brittany, the fab book editor and fab Christmas gift giver, whom I had not seen since Christmas. She is a woman on a mission and has no idea I am taking her photograph!

I love playing with her not only because she is so good, but she is equally as good to me when I make bad shots. Sadly, way more than I like. Let's put it this way....I do almost everything better than I play pickleball. I still try though. :)

Last Thursday we met up for lunch with our friends Jackie and Mike in Blue Ridge, GA, about twenty or so miles away. We ate at the General Ledger and it was delightful.  

We had so much to say, catching up with everything happening at church in Winter Park, that I nearly forgot to get a shot of them. As it was, I had to holler and ask them to pose for a moment! 

So, that was a good time, as was our dinner over at Hank's house. He served his favorite beef stew and we had round two of the day for good conversation.

He is loving it here in North Carolina and if I had to describe his life it would be that he is thriving in his new environment. Not that he still does not miss Carol that's for sure. But he is learning to live without her. 

Tuesday, because it was not raining, we went for a walk on top of the Lake Chatuge dam. Overcast and slightly chilly, the scenery is so special whatever the weather, it is still beautiful.

One thing I have been loving is the appearance of very tiny wildflowers, mostly on the ground. So tiny that I put my shoe alongside them to demonstrate the size. 

Aren't they adorable? While I may not describe the yellow one below as adorable, cheery comes to mind instead. I am seeing these in abundance as well.

While we were at the dam, it won't surprise some of you to learn that we had a nice long chat with Kim and Missy pictured below.

I'll have you know that we did not initiate the conversation, but we sure did jump in with both feet! Or, make that sets of feet. Turns out we had a lot in common. Missy on the left was a carpenter, so there's that. Kim loves photography and birds, and she also has twins! That's one thing about being retired, you can stand there and talk for 45 minutes and it is all good!

Mr. Peck has begun working on the chicken coop.

Per his conversation with John, we will have four chickens and they will be free range, thus Bruce is removing all of the wire that encased the framing. According to him, they will march in at nightfall. This is going to be an exciting new experience for sure.

On the new experience topic, Senior Games is very popular here and most folks we know are participating in one way or another. For example: Bruce is playing men's doubles with Cobby. Bruce and I may pair up but that will definitely not be to Bruce's advantage! See above. Anyway, there are art categories including photography and writing. Now we are talking! Yet, having never entered, I have no idea what to enter. There is a popular photographer around here who usually has that category sewn up. Her photographs are very dramatic with heavy editing that I just can't compete with. I think it was just yesterday that I thought perhaps I could enter something in black and white? What do you think?

This, of course, would tie into my newfound obsession with mushrooms, right?

Just an idea. My other idea is that there is a category for life experiences and for that I am thinking about writing an piece on what it is like to blog for so long. Does that sound interesting? I've got time to ponder on it, but seriously, the days are speeding by. It is hard to imagine that we have been here nearly eight months. What an experience!

Let's do dramatic ourselves. To God be the glory, great things He has done.

I don't know, I do love color photography. 

your friend,

Gail

So This is Springtime