Late Fall

As I was lying under our comfy quilt this morning, I let my mind jump all over the place. Oh wait...that happens all of the time not just while I am lying in bed! Seriously, one minute I am singing in my head, "Emanuel", and the next I am pondering the worth of travel. Have you ever thought about how lots of people love traveling and then there are those who don't? Countless times at parties, or when you are just getting to know people, travel accomplishments quickly filter into the conversation, don't they? Or maybe it is just me that has had that experience. As for me,  I love seeing new places, but at the same time, I love staying put.  Perhaps that is why we are enjoying this adventure so much because we are enjoying something different like travel, but in our case, for an extended experience? 

In all seriousness, these thoughts were formed yesterday afternoon during my walk on what I would ordinarily call a very ugly day except despite the continued gloom I was so blessed to see all sorts of exciting things such as the little guy below!

To begin with, I imagine you are wondering how my body is feeling and the answer to that is that it is not feeling like it was before the fall, however, aside from a sore rib and a scraped knee, I am on my way to recovery. So I guess that was Monday, and while the weather was cold on that fateful day, it was no match for the ensuing two days when the temperature plunged to 18! Look at the ice on the bird feeder! Much to my surprise, that is a winter Goldfinch. Actually I took it in dim morning light and it was only after looking at the photograph on my computer that I was able to identify it.

But of course I had to go exploring.

Lots of pretty frost on the ground.

Excitement Gail? Carry on....

1. Two trips to Blairsville, one fruitful and the other a test run. It won't surprise you in the least to know that the possibility exists that I wrote down the wrong date for my doctor's appointment. Because it is not the first time I have pulled this stunt, I am willing to take the blame, but still I am left puzzling as to how both Bruce and I wrote it down incorrectly. At any rate, the weather was pleasant unlike the rainy days that followed making that was most certainly a plus. A golf course following days of freezing weather. Looks pretty doesn't it? The drive is about 22 miles with almost no traffic making for smooth sailing.

While we were in Blairsville, it looks like the courthouse is in the same quandary as the rest of us. When do we get rid of our pumpkins?

The museum housed inside the beautiful courthouse has many interesting things to ponder, including this super neat quilt tracing the history of the area that has become known as Blairsville, GA.

3. I neglected to mention two things, we have switched over to the Methodist church because while we really liked the little one, in the end, it was just plain too small. We missed seeing children running around and a real choir. If that sounds selfish, I am in agreement with you. Because we are new and the only way to meet folks is to put yourself out there, we gathered with others to decorate the church last Sunday afternoon.

Homemade chicken noodle soup was available following this, as well as Advent wreath making with all supplies provided. With a little help from the ladies, we now have one on the dining table and we lit the first candle for lunch today.

4. My prints arrived!!

As is always the case, the print quality on archival art paper is outstanding. They have been delivered to the shop in their wonderful crate and what happens next is out of our hands. Hopefully good things, but one never knows.

5. Christmas tree lighting!! Originally scheduled for Friday night, they moved it to Thursday because heavy rain was predicted. It was none other than the now-familiar Laura, along with the mayor of Murphy, who presided over the event. Now it is not the first time that I've been to something like this, but the difference here is that it is all so easy. Parking, the crowd, the safety. What is NOT to like?

It was Laura who led the singing of Christmas songs before she plugged in the tree which sits in one of the four, what they call pocket parks, on the corner of Tennessee and Valley River.

It took a while but I am finally getting the hang of the street naming here which more often than not uses geography for naming. Looking in the direction of the photograph, the road is called Tennessee. If I were to stand beside the tree, looking the other way, the street is called Peachtree because it goes to Peachtree. Just like how we talked about Talc Mine recently which, btw, if you weren't able to open the link to the NYT article about the mine collapse, as I was not, Matthew sent me the link to the article about the tragic accident.

As a refresher, we drive on Talc Mine Road most every day.

6. It was on Friday that the weather was so gloomy, as I mentioned above, but what an afternoon for photography with the gloom and the low fog along the river. 

Let's walk, shall we?

Continuing our way on the paved path,

Perhaps you are wondering what I was wearing and that is a good topic to tackle right about now. I am the first to admit that my clothing choices for this segment of our adventure were less than ideal. First off, I hate wearing pants, but obviously my preference goes out the window when confronted with the above. Trying to coordinate outfits with what I brought, between undershirts, overshirts, jackets or sweaters has proven to be challenging. But of course that is part of the adventure isn't it?

Right about now you might be wondering what the heck is there to photograph and I am here to tell you there was a LOT. Birds, and by birds I mean hundreds of migrating birds! 

Because of the lighting conditions it was not within my power to distinguish what birds they were, however, I have Merlin to help we with those types of situations. In this instance, they proved to be Starlings. And how about these Robins!!

Do you see them clustered on the baseball field? 

Someone was kind enough to leave this for visitors to discover.

The multitude of Nandina berries continues to amaze me.

Back to the clothing talk, I did put a black Gap windbreaker type jacket on over my sweater, one that I bought, get this... 20 years ago for our first visit to England where it proved helpful and by golly, after sitting in the closet for eons, still performs like a champ. Should I pull out the "they don't make them like they used" to card right about now? There may just be some truth to that!

While walking that same afternoon, I texted our friend Linda for confirmation that they were still performing at the Cherokee County Arts Council building. Yes ma'am, or something like that was her reply. It must be remembered that everything is very close to one another. In this instance the river walk and gym, where your favorite blogger and her husband were parked, is super, super close, so it wasn't long before we arrived and were enjoying the music.

I wondered why Linda was standing and the explanation is that she plays a different type of dulcimer than the other ladies. Because I know nothing about either type, I just listened to the Christmas music in a brand new sound. Linda was showing Bruce her beautiful instrument and isn't it something the marriage of modern (ipad) and ancient technology?

Linda is great at pickleball, and what's more she is a weaver, having sold creations for some time. Her scarf? Yup, she made it.

7. Imagine this....more downtown stuff the following day with two indoor markets.  Checking in on Anna Claire who has nearly completed her latest creation. 

In case you are wondering, I did make Santa's nice list! She is so crazy talented!

7b, We stayed up very late last night cheering on our Florida State football team who finished the season undefeated in spite of having to start their third string freshman quarterback due to injuries. While not an easy win, it was the first time they have won the Atlantic Coast conference in a decade. It was so thrilling for the team until around noon today when they were kept out of the College Football playoffs in lieu of not one but two one loss teams! To say that we are all angry is putting it mildly.

Pretty exciting week right? Adding to it was a Cardinal on the the feeder, a rare occurrence heretofore.

What happens next is yet to unfold, but if the past is any kind of guide, it will be interesting!!

your friend,

Gail

Starting Fresh

Just about every Sunday, someone asks me about setting up a booth at the market. What does it cost, where do you get a tent, do you have to come every week, how do I apply?? Those sorts of questions. One question usually left out is, "how hard is it to sell here?" Every now and again someone asks that, but it is rare. So, knowing me as you do, I tell them anyway. I tell them it is hard. Hard to sell art, hard to come every week, hard to manage the heat, and the weather in general, and hard to stay fresh. Sometimes I do a good job with all of those things, and sometimes not so much.

I will admit that lately I haven't done a very good job with the freshness part. Coming home from the market, we are mostly hot and glad it is over, so dutifully we unload the Pilot, and forget about it for the week. The heat of the day is at its most extreme at 5 when we get home, so you can't blame us, can you? Sure, I put in weekly orders, get the prints signed and ready, however, that is merely adding to what we have. With that in mind, this week I put my mind to the task of purging and refreshing my prints. Carrying everything into my office, I went through the whole shebang.

For the most part, people buy the same stuff week after week. That said, I have a lot of repeat customers always looking for something new. Going through my vast, and I kid you not, it is vast, photo library, I search for things that might be appealing to someone other than myself. It's always a crap shoot. During the purge I would look at something, and wonder why it never sold, however, I suppose that is always the way for someone in sales. Cringe here because I can't bear to think of myself as a saleswoman, but essentially that is what I am. I emptied out a lot, and we shall see how things go today. After yesterday afternoon's 3 1/2 rainstorm, we may just be crazy going but as is always the case, while I type, Bruce is setting up the booth...

In other news, looks like the baby Woodpecker is back...

Or maybe it is a new one? While talking on the phone to Angela yesterday I heard what I thought was the sound of a bird flying into the window. Yup, sure enough, this female Red Winged Blackbird found the front door.

The good news is that after a bit, she got the nerve to fly away without our aid. Speaking of woodpeckers, they seem to have been feasting on the trunk of our Chinese Fan Palm out front. I'm pretty sure it is not the squirrels, but then again, when it comes to chewing, you can never count out the squirrels.

The cardinals are beginning to look a little shabby, molting season is upon us. The wimpy stemmed sunflowers are bending under the weight of their flowers for which the birds are most grateful. No impediment to the feeder now!

Speaking of the sunflowers, most of the buds are open aside from these odd ones...

Any day now we shall see what these buds amount to. There are actually three on this stem. So odd, but isn't that what makes life interesting? Surprises everywhere you turn.

The other day, riding by the "reality" show house, this was painted on the front. Do you suppose Keith is the producer?

If these are potential colors for the house, I'm with Keith--NO!

The sky is a mix of mostly big clouds and a smattering of blue...let us hope that the blue wins out today. Nothing worse than taking down in the rain!

Fresh and ready,

Gail

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

A new month--where is the year going??

The great thing about my life is that although each day shares similarities, which is good in my book, as I think all humans need routine, each day has surprises. One of those surprises was my finding the cardinal nest high amongst the Lady palm fronds the other day, just as I'd blogged that it was nowhere to be found. If ever anyone suggests you plant Lady Palms, resist, resist, resist!!They are bamboo in disguise which I discovered after removing the outer husk.

I was cutting some of them out, as they have, and continue to do so, overrun the front corner of our house. Seems like every other day a new one is popping up in places they were never intended to habituate. What a nuisance. Three years ago, when we re-did the back yard and pool, it took three strong young men to remove all of them from behind our house. If Bruce would agree, I'd do the same in the front, but there's about a slim and none chance of that. He loves the jungly look.

This time of the year the cardinal plumage is so bright red it pops out in any landscape you see one.

More palms--we have them everywhere!!

Most of the time when a gift-giving occasion arises for Bruce, I am stymied as to what he might want. For his birthday this year, I gave him bags of Jelly-Bellies. I know, lame, right? Since we began working on Bill's house, Bruce has had the occasion to use lots of his tools, however, he no longer owned a compressor and nail gun, causing, what might be called, "compressor envy" every time Herbert breezed through a project using his. WELL, last week, we banished compressor envy because while at Home Depot, I saw a fantastic small set, including three nail guns. Now we're talking a birthday gift!

Unfortunately it did not come with the gun required to do this big project:

Yup--he's putting up a new fence on the side of our home. Our neighbor Pete kept hinting that it needed replacing, well hinting might be just a little soft, he kind of insisted we do something about it as it was leaning onto his property. Since I took this photo,

all of what you see has been replaced. While I'm in here typing, he is out cutting and painting the next 100 boards.

So, the other morning I made some waffles which turned out anything but pretty.

It took me like the whole bowl of batter before I got two decent looking waffles. Apparently, the more batter the better--let the overrun be cleaned up later.

We got really lucky that the flat tire on Bruce's car happened in our driveway. A few years ago we switched auto insurance carriers, and this is the first time we've had occasion to call them--thank God.

It was a very pleasant surprise to call them, engage with a friendly and helpful employee, and have the tow truck arrive within an hour. Happily, it was only a nail in the back tire.

Speaking of pleasant surprises, for my birthday, December 31, Ray and Jane, Tom's folks, sent me a beautiful basket of live plants. It is a gift that keeps on giving--look at this lovely show the African violets are putting on.

By all accounts, this should not be happening as they sit in full sun, but who am I to argue with success?

Recently I moved the Nuttery back out front, and generally the squirrels are staying away. Mr. Woodpecker is happy, or maybe it's a Mrs?

Sunday, following our rain out at the market, Dana, Bruce and I went for a drink at this cute place adjacent to our spot. Sporting some Hawaiian name, which I promptly forgot, it sure was decorated to the max. I kept wondering where they got the furniture...

The truth is, we had a little rain, but all the folks with their damn phones kept looking at radar claiming we were going to get hit bad. NOT! Packing up by 1 in the afternoon is not good for my business. :(

A good wife would be out helping her husband, and since I consider myself one, it is time for me to do just that.

Until we meet again....
Gail

Twenty Years Ago

Yesterday, on the last day of November, Bruce celebrated 20 years of working for Darden Restaurants.  Reflecting on his hiring date, six months before he turned 40, I realized not only have we both aged during his time there, but so have our children. Why of course they have Gail! Before you think I've gone crazy for writing something so inane, let me explain...

Matt was finishing his senior year at Boone High School, a mere 16 years old. Bill and Dave, really, you pretty much always have to join those names when there are twins in a family, anyway, they were in their last year at Conway Middle School, playing baseball, volleyball, basketball--you name it. Jonathan would have been 9 years old--what grade is that? Maybe 4th? What a handful that Jonathan was. Good grief, the man he is today bears pretty much no resemblance to who he was back then! Just ask his brothers....

Before Bruce took the job at Darden, he'd already built a few Olive Gardens on the contractor side of things, so the traveling part was not entirely new to us. But still, the prospect of every week travel seemed fairly daunting. Money and opportunity--it all came down to that. If you ask Bruce, even today, he always responds that traveling is the easiest part of his job. Casual travelers can hardly imagine that, but if Bruce says something, he means it. I was trying to do a rough calculation of how many times he's flown--probably around 3,000 times! That's really astonishing when you think about it like that isn't it?

Aside from having to teach our boys to drive a vehicle, perhaps the absolute worst part of being a parent, I managed just fine. In fact, I used to think of it as if we were still dating--he'd be gone for some days, with a reunion every week. It's just this last year or so, when he's been gone four, and sometimes five days a week, that it has become harder to live with.

So, while Bruce has been working at Darden, our boys have become men. Matt lives in London, with both a great job and boyfriend. Bill works here in Orlando for Sun Trust, with what you might term, a revolving girlfriend situation. David works for Sun Trust as well, married to the beautiful Michelle, and Jonathan works for the University of Texas in Austin, engaged to be married to the lovely Alissa.

Time indeed marches on....

As for the next 20 years of his life? That is currently under consideration.

Who's ready for a picture??  What shall we look at first? How about the tree where the eagles were perched? In spite of two more trips there, the eagles have not been present--instead it seems to be a landing pad for a whole lot of crows. I've included this shot to give you an idea just how high up in they were.

The top branches are probably 80 feet in the air, think of an nine story building if that helps you process the information.

After checking out the tree, I rode along FernCreek, turning onto Overlake to check out a garage sale. For a while I think Ebay took over the garage sale market, and to some extent it probably still takes a lot of sales off the streets, however, seems like most weekends there are some around the neighborhood. Pulling into the driveway this caught my attention:

Folks, this is a lot of Winnie the Pooh dolls. Perhaps after watching some television show about collecting stuff, the woman decided it was time to cut them loose? I completely forgot to ask how much she was asking for them--duh! Imagine how much she originally paid? A conservative estimate of $5 each, which is probably way, way low, times 200 dolls? Yikes! The front lower bin is chock full of Christmas-themed WtPs, while other bins held working bear outfits, foreign themed outfits--you name it, they made it.  She actually encouraged me to photograph them after I mentioned writing a blog and just knew my readers would like to see something new. If I understood the obsession with Winnie the Pooh more clearly, I'd explain this crazy site, however, it baffles my imagination.

Roger had a few things ready for me so I put that on this morning's agenda. Along Summerlin, by Delany Park, I saw yet another garage sale at a super cool house. You know how when you get to a garage or estate sale and you quickly scan the stuff? You pretty much know immediately if there is anything there for you. Happened to me, and here is my $5.00 buy:

It's an orbiting copper plated sprinkler with a butterfly motif in the center. Pretty cool huh?

Arriving at Roger's house, I couldn't resist this lovely hibiscus:

While preparing lunch I was heartened to see Mr. Cardinal out front preparing to dine at the Nuttery:

This is what you might call a soft-focus photograph, if you were searching for a term to explain the poor quality! Actually, I took it through the kitchen window,  standing on my tip toes to get beyond the screened part. For quite some time, the Nuttery has held seed but no birds came to eat. I finally discovered why last week when I took it apart, discovering that the seed had gone bad. Hard to explain, but now that fresh seed is available, my pretty Cardinals will, once again, make my time at the kitchen sink more enjoyable.

Finally, do you want to see a very cool website? I thought so. Fantastic stuff, however, proceed with caution if you have only a few minutes to spare. If you're a guy you'll love it; girls same for you. Thanks Jonathan for the hook up!

Time for some college football dear readers--Go Noles!

Back to Nature

How many times do you suppose someone has used that either as a phrase, or a title? A bunch, I suspect! It got your attention didn't it?

How about this photo for an attention grabber? Because I only sit on the couch, or in one of the thrones while watching sports on television, I don't often see what is happening with the bird bath. As I sat there hand quilting, several finches sat at the water's edge, with one finally taking the plunge for a little bath!  Naturally I had to get my camera, however, by the time I returned this little rascal had taken their place. It must have been refreshing...

Getting a photograph of anything on the birdbath is no easy feat because, not only is the sofa in front of the window, but there is a screen on said window. I climb on the cushions, fit the camera between the blinds, and hope for the best! The new feeder has done its' job --- the squirrels are no longer eating us out of house and home. Well, make that outdoor pet food, which is what is written on the bag of bird seed. When I saw that it made me laugh because, darn if it isn't the truth!

I'd done some rearranging of the feeders because I thought the townhouse was broken, when in fact it had only come apart. Still and all, I like the red color better on the high wire, and it seems as if the finches do as well, because there have been so many you can't believe.

My understanding is the red on the left-sided finch is from diet. Yes, indeed, the birds have been swarming; here's another look at a tufted tit mouse in case you have been dying to see one.

Again, on the left. They are such cute and lively birds. Hearing a tap-tap-tap sound, I wondered if it was a woodpecker, or a blue jay. What, you didn't know blue jays take their food, tapping it several times on, in our case the fence, before eating? Well, now you do.

No blue jay but a woodpecker way the heck up in one of the Chinese Fan Palm trees which have grown so tall since we moved in. I can almost remember, almost being the key word here, when we looked at this home with Bill, David, and Jonathan after church one Sunday back in September of 1995. Fortunately for us, David, while visiting a friend on Appleton, brought home the Open House flier. Because our home already had a buyer, we were looking, looking, looking. He said, I think you might like this place Mom, and he was right. Wandering the back yard, we were so impressed with all of the palm trees, AND the outdoor lighting. The outdoor lighting was big time! Making an offer on the spot, the realtor almost fainted because, apparently, NO ONE ever buys a home after seeing it just once, AND at an Open House. Well, you know we are different.

Despite replacing almost every system we have, we have always loved this home like no other we've owned. Speaking of replacing/repairing, the squirrels have been at it again. Apparently they are getting back at us for buying the Yankee Flipper by chewing a giant hole in one of the sprinkler system electrical covers. Not only did they chew the hole, but they ate the wire nut cover which is the plastic thing that covers the wire ends!!

Pray tell, what will they think of next? Bruce cut a plexi glass circle which he screwed onto the remaining plastic--let's see them get through that!

Gladiolas anyone?

Although my friend Lois has moved to Gainesville, her legacy continues through her garden. I have met both Dave and Cheryl, who bought her home while on my bike travels, and they are just as accommodating about letting me photograph what's in bloom. I just love, what I'm calling the white piping on these flowers. That's a sewing term for those of you who wonder what I'm referring to.

While we're looking at red, how about the seed pod which forms after a magnolia blooms?

For two weeks or so, I've been thinking that our weather is showing signs of fall. How can that be Gail when everyone knows that fall does not arrive in Florida until at least the end of October? The plants are telling me so. I've seen all sorts of odd things going on, such as some magnolia trees still blooming, our azaleas have a few blooms which is unheard of at this time of the year,

 as well as our outdoor pets behavior.

Furthermore, our Chinese Tallow tree is losing leaves, as are the Sycamores lining Pershing Avenue, (or at least that's what I think they are) showing their fall colors. All very strange, and I might be way off base, but I guess time will tell won't it?

Rain, rain, rain. 5 inches in less than 24 hours! I'm glad I went to Winter Garden yesterday because today is a rain out, which is why you find me blogging instead of selling!

I love those pears in the galvanized bucket, don't you?

Enough photos for you? I thought so.

As you well know, this summer has been somewhat discouraging, which is probably what I say every summer isn't it? Anyway, I finally have some good news to report. It's a long story, involving Mr. Roger, who those of you who have been reading for awhile know as the man who has done my printing for five years now. He's gotten big time, I'm still pretty small potatoes. Why, you ask, am I mentioning this? Well, his name is now the area's most well known as the quality printer with more customers than he knows what to do with. One such new customer is the new Federal Bankruptcy Court. They are decorating their offices with lots of photographs in large canvases, one of which is from your favorite blogger. That's a 40x60 canvas! Several hours after taking that call on Friday, I got an email from Mr. Richard Forbes of the Orlando Historical Board saying they have chosen not one, but two of my photos for next year's City Calendar!! After not getting in the previous two years, I was elated! Plus two small orders have come in via the phone and email. All I needed was just a wee bit of encouragement to keep me going.....

And a very special thank you to my friend Lois, a retired Humanities professor from Valencia who sent me the sweetest note the other day regarding this here blog. She called it fun reading. Let me know if you agree with her, will you?