A Little Bit Wild

A manicured life, that's what I would call all of our living before we came to the mountains.  There are very many areas in Florida that are not manicured, however, they are becoming fewer and fewer with the ensuing years. My family moved to Orlando in 1957 when I was four years old. Bruce's folks came a few years later when Bruce was six. So aside from a year in Canada, and one in California, Orlando was our stomping grounds. Having always lived in neighborhoods, most trees and plants were just that, planted.

And so, with this move, seeing wild things growing here, there, and everywhere, has been a real treat for us. While on the river walk yesterday, the wilder part, 

it struck me that along with all the other new things we are doing, we are also being exposed to much more wildness than ever before. I mean seeing ferns growing wild,

along with a super abundance of wild roses that while they are very fragrant, folks tell me they are invasive.

A constant source of change, between the clouds, trees, sky or water levels, the Valley river from the bridge near the playground. The annual wildflower show along the banks, is in full force, so I have learned to get out there when I can because it only last for a few weeks.

Florida is good and green, but buildings are replacing big swaths of nature there, whereas here, buildings are what are mostly few and far between. At this time of year it is green, green, and more green! I took the one below at the folk school gardens last week when I visited with Bill and Lisa while Bruce was with his little brother. 

Honestly, it was so pretty! There are innumerable shades of green in the scene below.

More from the folk school.

Earlier that same day we went to the local museum in order for Bill to see the "moon-eyed people", something he had seen on a television show. This article explains the mystery. 

We took an alternate route home and stumbled across a campground which is owned by a couple from our church. Ursala was kind enough to show us her pretty rooster, along with

the hens who came out from under the coop.

I still don't quite understand how a Jersey-girl ended up in Murphy, owning a campground, but they seem to be having a ball with plenty of plans for expansion. To the left of the coop are rabbits,

of which I think there were six. On Sunday, she told me that the day after our visit, one of them had eight babies! And now there are fourteen! 

We stopped by the river walk in order for me to show them what I am always raving about.  Bill is a kindred spirit in that he takes nearly as many photographs as I do!

While we were standing there a photo-op occurred roght below us that we were not expecting!!!

Speaking of their visit, on Wednesday we traveled to see the Fontana Dam, the tallest dam east of the Rockies. Since Bill and Bruce worked together in the early days of their construction careers, where concrete is involved, they are all in. Lisa was kind enough to be our chauffeur allowing us to sight see along the way. Lots of green to be sure. 

Look who's taking photographs, with a wall of green behind him!

And to think that only a month ago that wall of green was merely tree trunks! One last beautiful view.

Our next stop was for lunch at the Tapoco Lodge, reached by taking a very, very winding road along the river to get there. 102 curves or so the sign claimed. We drove by a MINI convention of sorts. Meet Bonnie, one of the only original MINIs there. 

We were quite near to the "Tail of the Dragon" a road with over 300 curves in an 11 mile stretch and these MINIs were gathered for a road rally on that. Super fun for this MINI lover.

The dam that Harrison Ford jumped off of in the film The Fugitive.

Sitting alongside the river for lunch is pretty darn special.

The food was fantastic and the grounds filled with blooming flowers, including the wild orange azaleas that are called "flame azaleas", mountain laurel and rhododendron.

We were the second stop on Bill and Lisa's road trip as they left Thursday morning to continue visiting friends along the way.

Soul Table happened the next day and the following evening we went to another art show featuring Anna Claire's terrific art work celebrating her Chinese heritage. John and Laura are so proud and rightly so.

Here's something else of note, a serious one that turned out okay! Big storms came through on Friday night, cancelling the scheduled "Spring Fling" slated for Saturday. Well, during a lull in the rain, David took the trash out. Within moments, a huge lightening bolt hit the ground about ten feet away from him; the force caused him to fall flat on his back on the wet ground. He was so stunned that it took moments before he came to, realizing he was being pelted by rain and he sought shelter in the house. The good news is that he survived to tell the tale of how that strike also knocked out their well for three days until professional help could come to their place. Can you even imagine how scary that was??? He claims he is just fine.

Last story, because time is running out. We are attending a band concert tonight where Grayson (little brother) will be playing an instrument. Bonus points because I will be meeting his grandmother who is his legal guardian.

So, last Mother's Day Matthew had three English roses sent from the North American breeder, David Austin Roses. located in Texas. Talking with him on FaceTime yesterday, we discussed how one of the roses had died last year and I mentioned that the third one was now pink when it was meant to be white.

Perhaps you saw it's neighbor in my last post? Maybe you missed it as it looks like many did. Anyway, he suggested I call for a replacement for the one that died as they are meant to have a five year warranty. Well, sure enough, the woman who answered the phone could not have been one bit nicer, and not just one, but two are slated to be coming my way in the next few weeks!! They are replacing the one you see above which actually opened today and is not only gorgeous, but smells heavenly! It has been so long since I've smelled a beautiful rose. Lots more buds so I will be in business for a while!

Isn't it so sweet and delicate unlike, and I promise this is the last photo, the peonies pictured below that I cut from Sandy's yard. Oh my word these blooms are huge, leaving me in flower heaven around here while I am awaiting my peonies to open.

Living on the "little bit wild side" is suiting us just fine.

your friend,

Gail

Bruce Continues His Winning Ways

 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