Greetings! It is Saturday afternoon and while Mr. Peck has gone to the gym, this elderly blogger is staying cozy indoors. Friends, it is cold outside to the tune of about 37 at four in the afternoon. While I could easily go in and out of places in this temperature, walking for an hour just was not appealing in the slightest. It is not so much the temperature but the 11mph winds that would have been so uncomfortable. And really, I am once again behind in my posts, so my time is best used right now behind my computer screen.
Let's get started shall we?
Today is the Great Backyard Bird Count, a global event, that you can learn more about here. Participate!! It is easy and you can then call yourself a "citizen scientist"! Last Sunday we had a new visitor and how pretty is this one?
I have to admit that we had company when it was here, so I will blame it on that, because I originally thought that it was a Goldfinch, well, turning gold. Not yet, even though I keep expecting the scores of Goldfinch to begin their color change. Watching intently at my perch,
I am watching for changes, as well as for those darn bluebirds who have refused to show their faces again! Here is a look at the remaining black sunflower seeds that we purchased in a 50 pound bag.
Let me tell you those birds are going through it like mad. Soon there will be a sunflower forest below the windows I fear! Scroll back up and look at the two main feeders and realize that they were full maybe three hours prior. It is seriously unreal having so many birds. It is also a dream come true for me, so no complaints here. Some people scroll on their phones; I watch the live action just on the other side of the window.
Should you be wondering, those are the Pine Siskins showing off their normally hidden yellow.
Before we move on from birding news, one early morning, about a week ago, I peered out the window while it was still dark outside and saw something highly unusual. Now before I get into the story, this happened the following day while on our Facetime during which we had taken a pretty good ribbing from Matt and Tom who could not believe that we had purchased a hot tub for our birds, so there's that. Did they jinx us from afar? One of life's mysteries. Anyway, no one can really figure out how this happened.
Yup, that really is the hot tub at a 90 degree angle from how it was installed! Not only was it turned on it's side, several of the screws were broken as well. In the 11 years John and Laura have lived on the property, there has never been a bear sighting, so that while that seems the most likely in one sense, history proves otherwise. Whatever happened, it is unlikely to happen again as Mr. Peck repaired it with heavy duty fasteners.
What a great segue to the incredible winning ways my husband has been having. Perhaps you recall that he won a beautiful vase, actually made by
Harry Hearne, a renowned potter around these parts, as well as further afield. I think that was in early October. Well, a week ago Tuesday, we encountered a young lady selling raffle tickets for her elementary school. Set up, along with her Mother, in front of our favorite wine shop. He bought three, not really paying any attention to what the prize would be. Thursday evening the phone rings with the shocking news that he had won a 55" television and we could pick it up the next morning at Peachtree Elementary. Holy cow! On a side note, the young lady who sold Bruce the ticket was featured in the Scout this week, not for selling the winning raffle ticket but for being an outstanding student. Small town life in a nutshell.
It was such a sweet experience because everyone at the school was so excited for him. Arriving at 7:20 in the morning because they were closing at noon that day and we were going to pickleball, they greeted us on our arrival. Everything was all so casual and unlike anything we would encounter in Orlando that's for sure! They did not even ask for identification.
Oh you are Mr. Peck? We are so happy for you! Had the church not been able to benefit from his donation, the school would have as he planned to donate it back. As it was, the church was thrilled.
So now we are talking a beautiful piece of pottery, a 55" television, and to complete the trifecta, he won the pool at the Super Bowl party at John and Laura's, coming away with $90! And to think that he's almost never won anything in his whole life. Is it a sign we are meant to be here? Haha!
People are starting to join me at the park on my afternoon walks.
Well maybe not join me, but finally there are people aside from me. The ballfields are filling with kids, the pathways with dogs and their owners, and the fields with Robins! Here's one having a little bath in the river before heading to the field.
I ran into a little girl walking the dog below and it was far too cute to not document.
It is one thing to appreciate the shocking red of a Northern Cardinal on your feeder, but quite another out in the wild.
So that is a portion of what is happening around here right now. so let's next go back in time.
Let's go on a field trip to Fontana Dam together, shall we?
We have done all of the dams closest to us, so it was time to go further afield and explore the Fontana Dam, the highest dam East of the Rockies. It says so below! No wait, it doesn't.
I did not make that up. But first we had to get there and although the roads were winding, it was a gorgeous day for a drive. You head towards Topton and next to Robbinsville where one direction leads to the dam and the other leads to, another dam! They are everywhere folks! Looking at the drive on our trusty iPad, which seriously is so old it is a wonder it still works as well as it does, but anyway, there was evidence of a traffic stall, practically unheard of in these parts. Turns out there was road construction, widening the road, and it looks a little different here than it does back home.
That's the mountain they are cutting away in the photo above. Below, new grass will grow from that beigy thing.
That sky, right? In some places they put up a wall with a stone-like look that has yet to be installed on the wall below.
Okay, what next you ask? A gorgeous view is what is next!
The trees may not have their leaves, but that sky reflecting in the water makes up for the lack of green! Then again, imagine it with the green....oh my! A little further along that same road, and another beautiful vista, this one including the spot where the Appalachian Trail crosses the dam.
Do you recall how I have written about "winter hours"? Turns out that holds true for dam visitor centers as well as restaurants, museums, what have you.There were some informational placards outside, but more importantly, there was an open bathroom that services the AT through hikers! Whew!
Another amazing view!
Low water, equals a very interesting shot. Or at least it was to us!
We drove back home using the other route I mentioned earlier and I was so excited to come across a lovely waterfall at an entrance to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park, an area called Twentymile Creek, They call it a cascade here, but it's a waterfall to me!
We met some new folks at pickleball, Mark and Mary Beth, that we have spent some time with. Of course they moved here from Florida.
After church we went to lunch and then they came back here for a visit. Naturally birds came up because, how could they not? They are just outside the window so they are hard to ignore, including the above Pine Warbler. Although their range includes Florida, I sure don't remember seeing one before. But hey, we all know how terrible my memory is so perhaps it is included in my 135 species list of birds that I have photographed? Anyway a few days later, Mark was buying the same 50 pounds of sunflower seeds! I may not be a winner of prizes, but I do know how to get folks excited about something I am excited about!
Our monthly pickleball ladies activity was being taught by Diane about essential oils and how useful they can be. We all went home with a little vial or inhaler after enjoying quiche made from their own eggs! I will show you all that in another post, but here's a little group photo missing some ladies for one reason or other.
One of the ladies pictured above lives down the street from the Barfields and she took me to her home for a tour. Lots of things to discuss about that, but for now, as I need to cook dinner, I will leave you with a Hellebore that she says blooms like crazy. Isn't it beautiful.
I must admit seeing a flower mid February was a treat.
Hasn't all of this been so fun? I think so.
your friend,
Gail
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