What a Difference a Year Makes!

As has been stated before, some might say ad nauseam, I love having a blog! You should try it. 

Except more work goes into it than you might imagine, especially as I get older. Of course you see the finished product and for the most part, it looks pretty good. It's meant to. But still I make mistakes and before you even see it I have made many more. Seems as if my typing skills are diminishing lately yet I keep writing and taking photographs because I love them both so much. When it comes to either remembering things, or confirming my suspicions, the blog is invaluable. 

So what prompted that lengthy intro? The heat and more specifically the lack of rain! Undoubtedly the cause for it to be 90 degrees today with nary a cloud in the sky! I do love that Carolina blue, but enough is enough! We need rain. Unlike this post that was written one week after we arrived at the cottage. Not only did I write about the rain that June, but I also wrote how we would not be here more than three months. Shows you what I knew! The second post after our arrival begins with this line: "Do I start with the rain? Lots of steady rain this week, although it did not keep us from adventuring." I even wrote, get this, "that we lit a fire one afternoon." 

Let's just say that it is keeping me guessing! The mosquitos have abated only slightly, however I have discovered that if I immediately rub the bites down with an alcohol wipe, that seems to help.  I was chatting with Daniel, our next door neighbor, and he mentioned the mosquitoes to which I replied, "tell me more." Turns out that once the TVA fills the river with water, essentially making a long lake, the little tributaries fill and the water sits there breeding, yup, mosquitoes. Being just a few blocks from the river has both advantages and disadvantages. Just like everything else, right? The heat and bugs have cut down on my walking, but I did see this the other day.

I've forgotten the name of these puffy pink flowers but they sure look pretty, especially when a cute little sparrow rests on one the branches. 

Not far from there I heard the distinctive call of a Cardinal prompting me to look over my head. I never saw the face of the bird, but with all that green, I thought it made for an interesting photograph.

I started to write that I was seeing far fewer birds and while it is mostly true, one can almost always count on seeing a Mourning Dove, one of the most prevalent North American birds.

One day last week we played pickleball in nearby Andrews because they were doing work on our courts. As has been stated many times before, I love the drive there.

Have you ever wondered why they are called the Blue Ridge Mountains as a whole? It has to do with a hydrocarbon called isoprene. Look at me sounding all scientific! Actually, I learned about it from this website which should you care to learn more, you can click on the provided link. Sounds pretty fancy to me. That same article says the Cherokee Indians had something to do with the name as well.  The folks playing pickleball in Andrews were quite nice and one day soon we will have to return. I really should have posted this picture shouldn't I?

And to think all of the above will change color in a few months. For a Florida gal, that is simply amazing.

Speaking of blue, the hydrangeas are starting to change, is maybe the best way I can put it. Next year I will be able to go back in time and see what happened when I begin to worry about them! 

Maybe it has to do with the heat? Surely I don't know. Some look like the above, and increasingly others, are looking like this.

How interesting is that? I'll answer that question! Pretty darn interesting. The climbing hydrangea has nary a bloom nor does another hydrangea plant that is closer to the backyard. Then again, maybe it is biding its' time? Our neighbor Sandy has all manner of good things growing in her yard. These pink ones, against her house, are beautiful.

As is her Oak Hydrangea.

They began as sort of a creamy white, but as time goes on, it looks like they are changing color as well. 

Another lovely display she has is about four stands of lavender.

Seemingly it changes color too.

Let's have a look around our place now, starting with the Japanese Maple tree along with the Rose of Sharon in the foreground.

More on those pretty pink flowers that look like mini-hibiscus, in my next post but I will say that they are very prolific bloomers and having three such trees is a massive blessing. 

I have neglected to tell you that at the Senior Games banquet I won one of the door prizes and chose this lovely basket with begonias, coleus, and who knows what the pretty little  green disc-shaped plant is.

It is kind of crazy to think that Bruce has won three things since we have been here, and now I have won something as well. Perhaps it is the lack of competition? :)

I picked up a Peach begonia at the farmer's market and is it ever pretty and smells delightful.

Another day I bought three huge tomatoes from a woman and it is safe to say that they were some of the best I have eaten in a long time. Oh my word! I need cottage cheese, a favorite of mine with sliced tomatoes. Except, duh, I went grocery shopping this morning and did not buy any. What was I thinking?

More begonias that sit beside the front door and are blooming like mad.

I know that I should not, but I am already worried about them dying in the winter! That's another thing Daniel told me....winter can be hard. He confirmed that last winter was somewhat out of the ordinary in its' mildness. Hmmm...

The above is a squirrel over at Sandy's house and I'm including it because I wanted to mention that over at our place I have seen a squirrel climbing the brick! 

Back to the Japanese Maple tree in our yard. On Saturday, while Bruce was busy re-building a ramp for a woman in need, 

along with about three other men I want to add, I planted some impatiens under that tree. I kept watching things and before long I saw a Robin find a worm in the yard and fly into the tree. This is on the other side of the tree if you have a good memory and the story sounds familiar.

Two things to note:

1. the underside of the leaves are greenish.

2. that is some kind of latex bandage paper near the bottom of the nest. Where that came from is a mystery to me.

Our favorite wine bar, Fairy Cross Bottle Shop, celebrated one year in business last week. Look who we saw tat the celebration. I'll give you a hint....we rented her cottage!

In that one year it has become many folks favorite hang-out, including ours. Sort of like a pub is to towns all over England, a place for folks to hang out. Those who go there regularly are not going to be among folks who move back to where they came from because they are lonely! Saturday night, after Bruce had worked so hard in the heat, we went back and found all sorts of friends already there. 

Some of whom were celebrating opening a new ladies boutique that day. Our Orlando friend, Gayle, introduced us, from afar to Gene and Lisa who don't go out in public without hats. Plus, she sells them in her shop. I've yet to visit the new boutique, but I plan on doing so soon.

We had Laura, John, and Anna Claire over for dinner on Friday night, during which time I neglected to take any photographs, except for when we had adjourned to the porch for our blueberry cobbler. From our porch, sunsets are now part of our evenings once again. Yup, another red sky at night. 

Downstairs Bruces has been very busy today while I am writing this. I can't wait to show you what he has finally done for himself! 

Living in Murphy has been full of surprises and that is a good thing in my book. We had gone to Tractor Supply, a place I'd only heard of before we came here, and shall I add, a place that I never imagined shopping in? Anyway, as we were heading back to the car, look what we saw.

It looks like it is pretty old, but it also looks like it is in very good shape. Somewhat like our home, right? I said to Anna Claire, imagine how many people have been in these rooms during 99 years? She's only lived in new houses before, so she was intrigued. I showed her some potential paint colors, seeing as she is so artistic, and I value her opinion. Although nothing has changed in that department yet, it cannot be ruled out in the future. 

Indeed, what a difference a year makes!

your friend,

Gail