Winter Comes Early

 Looking out the front door this morning, the scene below greeted me. 

It was the calm following the storm.  Quite a bit earlier than our previous winters here, a fact that I confirmed by checking my handy blog posts! Speaking of blog posts, of late, I don't think I am posting the newest version on Facebook at the right time. As we all  have come to discover, we are shown what the algorithms show us, rather than what we may want to see. Thus, that means my posts don't show up on your feed. Like my last post that went largely unread. All that to say, I am doing my darnedest to post every Tuesday, so look for me then. 

I noticed that I was talking about rain, rain, and more rain in that post.  For sure, I never imagined I would be talking about snow in this one! Before I write more about yesterday, let's back up a few days. 

Finally, after several delays, the soccer conference championship happened and Murphy won! I just love this photo of Grayson with his coach. I took a million so they would have some lasting memories of this historic first championship for Murphy Middle School.

Jeannie, Grayson's Granny, took this of the three of us.

The game was very exciting, with Cherokee scoring first, but our boys were up for the task and at the last minute scored their second goal to take the victory. The fans and boys were going crazy with joy as were the two of us.😀

Meanwhile, back on Campbell Street, our Japanese Maple tree continued turning redder and redder. 

Let's just say I was obsessed and leave it at that.  

Much to our delight, friends Joe and Cynthia from Orlando were staying in Blue Ridge with family for the week. Tuesday evening she wondered if we were free to meet them on Wednesday and of course we said yes. This was their first time seeing the house and after a tour, we went over to the Chophouse where the weather was so delightful we ate outdoors.

As is always the case we do love showing friends what the heck made us abandon everything we know to live here! We had a marvelous visit and will look forward to seeing them again when we return to Orlando for several weeks to end the year. I've not been home for my birthday for three years now, so that will be nice. And instead of being surprised, I've already made plans for a housekeeper to get the place in shipshape before our family comes. It has been ages since we saw our London or Austin family, so we are naturally excited. Christian won't know what to do with all these extra uncles!

I've finally discovered a way to make my quilting a little easier by draping it over a chair as I sew. Why did I not think of this before???

I have about a little over a third of the quilting done. It's a slow process. 

Forecasters were claiming snow was on the way in the next few days so taking it seriously, we began thinking about saving some of our plants before the freeze. My strawberries had perked up and were producing again. It is now in the guest room where there is ample sunshine coming through the tall, double windows. I'm not sure what will happen, but we are fixing to find out!

I picked the little tomatoes and just left them outdoors.

I don't know about you, but I had been getting loads of posts on Facebook about the monarch butterflies coming south. Although I felt they were quite common in Orlando, I don't feel as if I see them very often here, so I was much surprised when I spotted these two intertwined on some weedy flowers along the riverwalk.

I'm not sure what surprised me more, the monarchs, or this fellow doing a podcast from the back of his SUV as I walked by.

Loads and loads of leaves have already fallen which most definitely changes one's sight lines and in some cases, perspective. I was at the kitchen sink when I spotted a Pileated woodpecker in the trees below. Fortunately it was so intent on pecking that I went unnoticed. 

For an unknowable reason, my cookies for Soul Table were mostly uncrinkled.  I have no idea how out of five dozen cookies, only one dozen did what they were supposed to. At least they are delicious to eat in spite of their imperfect appearance. 

The oven temp was the same, I only bake one dozen at a time, AND I rotate the pan half way through. What, oh what is happening to my baking skills??? I've made this recipe for decades!

There were a lot of leaves on the yard in the photo below, and now, the pictured tree has dropped SO MANY more in the super windy conditions and snow yesterday.

Most mornings have been super foggy, including our drive to Hayesville on Tuesday at 9 in the morning.

The sun was trying to break through! 

I walked a lot last week, anticipating the inclement weather to come. But, of course as I was leaving, I had to photograph THE tree.

It looks as amazing outdoors as it does looking out the window. When it was sunny it felt like it might catch fire it was so intense!

So one of the days I walked I passed this area and took a photo.  It might have been Thursday? 

As I mentioned in my last post, I am trying to get out as often as the weather permits in order to soak up all of the color. I'm getting out of order! Nevertheless, the above was taken on the 12th and by the time I walked on Sunday, the 16th, under very gloomy skies, it had changed color!

I am learning what areas do what after two seasons, so I knew that the part of the riverwalk I rarely walk, was going to be interesting. 

I would call the sky, bruised.

If you continue on the path on the right, one will end up at Lowes, something I rarely do, but I could if I wanted to! There are so many fallen leaves, making things a little slippery ,so I usually avoid any situation that I am uncomfortable with. No more falls for me if I can help it!

Normally the full trees block the view across the river but that's not happening again until next April? The deep burgundy plants are called "burning bush".

There is still some deep rust in the trees.

The white buildings are the pool and workout facility where Mr. Bruce regularly lifts weights. I was walking regularly, but this past summer I missed a bunch and am hoping to get back to my walking ways! 

I was meant to go with Bruce to the Libers for a get together on Saturday evening but my tummy thought otherwise, so I just kept sewing and sewing. It's Tuesday now and I've yet to get back to it because yesterday was so darn exciting I just kept going in and out the front door watching the action.

Sunday while I was taking yet another walk before the storm, Bruce was doing what he does best and that is taking care of business. I am a frequent reader of the obituaries, especially here where they are fairly detailed; I always get a kick out of what the deceased interests were. As such, I asked Bruce what he might use for himself and instead of hunting/fishing/kayaking or other traditional pastimes, he told me he enjoyed organizing. Organizing!! No wonder he wanted to tackle the pantry!  No wonder he was so exceptional at this paid job!! At any rate, he brought my flowers indoors, dreaming up an idea on how best to keep them near light and hopefully warm enough.

When we looked at this house, we knew instantly that the basement would be a God-send and we were right! 

Sunday afternoon, beginning my walk with a trip around the block, I will have to admit that Jason's tree might even rival ours.

The main thing to notice in the above photo though, aside from the beautiful tree, is the clouds. In person, it felt so low and just not like regular clouds. 

As I walked down Valley River, past the post office, crossing the street and on to the actual walk, the sky began turning gray.

There are still a few trees with color, especially the bright yellow you see in the distance. It also began getting colder, but I was dressed for that. 

 

The yellow tree is at the entrance to what is known as Fisherman's Loop, a path I avoid in summer due to mosquitoes, but is quite wonderful other times of the year. I carried on as the temperature dropped and the gloom worsened. Once back in downtown I called Bruce to see if he wanted to meet me at Fairy Cross and he said, not yet please. Instead I walked home and once he was done with what he was working on, we went over for a glass of wine. Few people were there, so we did not stay long,  maybe 6PM. the sky was even more menacing.

So often weather forecasts don't hold up, but this time was not one of those times. In fact, the predicted afternoon snow turned out to be morning snow instead. I heard from DAnna that she was having flurries at 9 in the morning and they continued to increase and become actual snowflakes. From my Vancouver experience I remember that they can start as just little specks and about an hour after hearing from her, I saw out our window that we were beginning to do the same. It was blustery to say the least, with the wind chimes going crazy.

Before I knew it, snow was coming down, swirling this way and that in the wind.

As it contined to come down in big bursts, I was running in and out, freezing I might add.

It happened so fast! And a few hours later the sun came out! The fierce winds, not to mention the snow, 

did a number on the gorgeous, too good to be true, Japanese Maple for the year. I just looked outside and the leaves, the ones actually still on the tree, are shriveling as I type. Boohoo!!

I can't really say when it snowed again, sometime after the sun came out and dinnertime, yet when I looked outdoors to see about getting the mail, it had snowed again. 

Aside from watching the tree fall apart, it was so fun, albeit colder than I can remember from last year. Maybe it is somewhat like in Florida, how the summer heat in September can be so brutal, in part because we keep thinking it should not be SO hot at that time of the year.

Did it feel so cold because of the opposite? Good thing I had made chili on Sunday night. It was indeed chilly, to put it mildly. 

your friend,

Gail

A Wet Week

Not the whole week, but almost.

David and Michelle did not take the Sunday rain with them when they returned to Florida, instead it stayed, and stayed, and by Thursday, most of us were mighty sick of it. January in Vancouver came to mind when I would just put on a raincoat and go walking. Yup, that's what I did here too.

So what do you like to eat when it is chilly and rainy? If you said soup, so do we! DAnna's neighbor grew far more potatoes than they could eat, so she shared the wealth with me and I made chowder. Take a gander at these home-grown potatoes, not something one sees every day of the week.

To tell you the truth I wish I had more because the taste of the potato/corn/poblano pepper chowder was exceptional and I'm thinking it is the potatoes. 

Plus it made enough for two meals which I don't need to tell you is an added bonus. 

As you know, I have been working on a new queen sized quilt and I finally came up with a backing which is quite colorful, perhaps a hallmark of mine? This isn't exactly how I made it, but I'll show you the changes once it is quilted which should take me at least a week because we are so darn busy going here and there, even in the rain!

In the living room something much more significant is going on as Mr. Peck has begun working on the built in bookcases that will flank the fireplace. So here's a glimpse of what it looked like...

Taking measurements,

and checking the fit.

He's much further along than this but I will wait for a week or so to show you the progress. To say that I am excited is putting it mildly!

The sad thing is that the wind and rain did not help those who were here for the color; leaves and paths were wet and slippery, littering the ground rather than showing off their beauty on the trees. That said, I decided, as mentioned above, to go walking. One thing about photographic subjects being wet is the photographs can be moody and what's the harm in that?

Walking through the small cemetery, I kept thinking of all the previous Octobers these headstones have witnessed. 

Many amongst you are new readers who have no idea that I wasn't always just shooting pretty pictures. I am actually a fan of a little bit out of the ordinary.

These two were one of the handful of people I came across.

Every now and again, in my two hours of walking and photographing the sights, it rained hard but mostly just a miserable drizzle.

Another rainy day, walking into town, my favorite trees looked mighty sad.

What a difference sunshine makes!!

Your preference? Both have their merits, don't you think? 

That same day I stopped into the new Murphy Paper Company and what a neat store it is. Owned by the same folks as the popular Rare Bird here in town, Bruce had been in and said I was going to love it. He was right.

Anyone who loves clocks is got to be good in my humble, clock-loving opinion. Especially when they are antiques.

My mission was to walk the same way I had in the rain to show you what it looks like. Well, let's be honest, I wanted to see it for myself and because you are a captive audience, you are coming along on the walk. Which reminds me, this summer I was lax on walking because it was warm at the time of day when we had it scheduled. I'll be back at it now that it is cooler.

Are we lucky or what? To have this free entertainment every day of the year. Priceless, as they say.

I bought some shoes for walking before we came but it turns out these old Clarks are the best. Stayed dry in all of the rain.

Woo hoo! I am getting out as often as possible before all of the color has disappeared; fallen on the ground or blown away

Oh how we love this little town.

Everyone is thrilled that the pavers are going down. Not quite as thrilled with the mural as you might imagine.

Today we drove by and the street lighting is going in, so we are getting very close.

Back to a rainy day, because there were many, the wet boardwalks make me a little uneasy, enough so that I have turned around on occasion, preferring to walk on the gravel.

Rain=mushrooms.

And all manner of lichen and moss.

So back to the wet boardwalk....I ran into two ladies who looked pretty confidant, unlike your uneasy blogger. I started chatting, (!!!) and they showed me how to walk with confidence by using a marching technique. Furthermore, when I asked here if she had gone to Maine,

to check out the Maine Cabin Masters, indeed she had, although much to their disappointment, none were at the shop that day. All was not lost though because they went across the street to a stained glass shop and had a nice chat with Ryan's mother. If I had to describe him I might say, he's the scruffy one, married to Ashley and cheerful. Do you watch that show? We have in the past because we do love home renovation! 

But you knew that already, didn't you?

Back to the sunny day which folks, Halloween was when the sun finally came out to play! Sunny but very cold which actually did not materialize until the sun went down much to our relief.

I believe I mentioned in another post that we were going to participate in Trunk or Treat for the first time, and after our fun experience, we hope it won't be the last. Murphy folks show up in great numbers downtown and I do mean great. Everyone getting ready in our soon to be parking, lot adjacent to the church.

Because it was our first time doing it, we joined up with David and DAnna and it worked out well. The trunk was put together in a hurry because there was a misunderstanding as to the time so by 4:00, instead of 4:30, the kids were lining up already.

For probably the last twenty five years plus we have not had the pleasure of seeing everyone dressed up for Halloween for a variety of reasons, but now we have in spades. Estimates varied, but there were at the very least 1,000 children and families that came by our trunk. This was the calm before the storm!

There were challenges getting the tape to stick to the car and get the decorations to stay put, but now we know for next year. Truth be told, the candy was given out at such a rapid pace, they probably did not notice. DAnna found the witches hats on a trip down to Atlanta, finding one for both of us along with some other cute decorations. 

At the same time a food drive for those losing benefits was held and when we were walking back from dropping off our donations, the crowd was dense.

Kids and adults alike dressed up.

All of the downtown merchants hand out candy, there are bands playing, and the mood is super festive. 

There were so many cool costumes I hardly know where to start.

Rather than do a trunk the three witches handed out treats from a decorated table.

Her makeup! Her Mom did it. 

Bruce and I were like, "we could do that costume". How hard can it be to find an apron and hat? The children of that family were so darn cute.

This little one was worn out.

And check this one out....finally a homemade costume and a clever one at that.

Because I was constantly refilling the candy bowls I did not get as many photos as I might have liked. The smile on Bruce's face shows you how very much he enjoyed the evening. While Michelle was here she suggested we get fairy lights, which arrived on Thursday evening. Whew. The only thing is, we did it so early it was only near the end that they showed.

The tape was not ideal but it was the only thing that would stick so you do what you have to do.

I just found this of both of us. 

You might be wondering about my lack of costume but perhaps you are not noticing my bat socks? 

Gosh it was a lot of fun and very little trouble. We bought a ton of candy as did everyone, and those who were not doing the trunks donated beforehand. It ran so smoothly, we will definitely put it on the calendar.

All that aside, I think this is the cutest of all.

Can you even believe our little Christian? Good night he is so cute I can hardly stand it. He turns one on Thanksgiving!! Wisely Fallon is having a very low key celebration because she feels, and of course I agree, he will never remember his first birthday! That said, we will do something when we head down to Orlando, mid-December.

Seriously, those big eyes!

Lastly, I saw that Crafted Dough was having cronuts on Saturday and I just had to try one. Oh my, oh my!

It's nearly dark outside now, at 5:45. I'm not much of a fan of the early darkness but with no choice in the matter I'll try not to complain too much.  Bruce is at a Big Brothers meeting and speaking of which two of our friends decided to become big brothers after seeing how great Grayson is. Because of all the rain, his soccer games were canceled but finally tomorrow is the championship game! 

I'll let you know how it goes!

your friend,

Gail