January Continues it's Cold Ways

Have I already told you about my Bay's bonanza? If not, let's rectify that situation here and now. 

Many people like Thomas's English Muffins, but our family is not amongst those who do. Instead, we are big fans of Bay's, found in the refrigerator case in most grocery stores. They have great sized holes to catch your toppings in the nooks and crannies and the fact that they are pre-cut only adds to their allure.

Except of late, their standards seemed to have slipped, not unlike so many products post-Covid. Wait, we just had Covid, so it's still here, but I guess that is a topic for another day. Anyway, the halves were uneven, the muffins were flat with no crevices and in general, just not the muffins that we have known and grown to love over the years. So, I called them and they could not have been any nicer, responding immediately to my call with none of this, "we will call you back" business." Imagine my surprise when the mail arrived with not one, not two, but SIX coupons each worth $6.00. Presumably they cost that much in some markets, but where we shop it's worth almost two packages. So that my friends that is my Bay's bonanza story, And the good news is also that the quality has improved of late so a win-win that's for sure!

In other news, there is still some light in the sky after 6PM, so that's something else to celebrate!

Folks, this Florida blogger is going crazy what with all the new things I am seeing almost daily. Some days more than others but I am not complaining, rather I am celebrating the fact that we get to do this!! I hardly know where to start! A fair warning friends, there are plenty of birds up ahead! 

Before we delve into that, recently a friend posted an opinion piece on her fb page and it included the quote attributed to Alfred Einstein, wherein he states, "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as if nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." I suppose you know which camp I fall into. How about you?

This would be a Pine Sisken that loves hanging out with the huge, and I mean huge flock of American Goldfinch that have been eating bird seed as if it were a miracle! 

I asked my darling husband some weeks ago about removing the window screen in order for my photographs to be better. As you well know, he does love pleasing me, but sometimes he chooses a funny time to do so, in this case when it was just beginning to snow!

Which means I am often to be found here watching the endless comings and goings of our winter birds.

Indeed it has snowed, albeit not very much. One morning, I can't even remember when it was but last week sometime, I went out at first light and was roaming around a bit when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a few white specks on my new burgundy jacket given to me by Fallon for my birthday. Running into the house, I was squealing with delight as I told Bruce what was happening. You better believe I had a camera at the ready.

It was mighty cold so it wasn't long before I found my perch and watched the action from inside.

Those colors! This cuteness!

This is our set up and it is Mr. Bruce who keeps those feeders filled; lately nearly every day!

I made a list of our birds and there are eleven regular visitors, including two Mourning Doves that only have come to the party in the last few days. For the most part, the birds share with dust-ups only occasionally. 

As we were leaving the transfer station which is at the top of a hill, I noticed snow on the mountain tops at a distance. Honey.....can we drive to see it better?

It wasn't much to most folks, but this Florida gal wants all the snow sights she can find. Actually, I believe I mentioned how there was a whole bunch of snow all around us, but to date ours has been enough to get me excited, yet in reality is very little. What is fascinating is that our weather apps show snow and there is none and then it snows when there is no warning. Technology is great most of the time, but miracles are still happening all around us.

How cold has it been? One night it was 7 degrees! Maybe when we were in Vancouver, but I really don't remember it getting that cold. One great thing here is that while it may be cold as the dickens, many of those kind of days have a gorgeous blue sky, like so, so blue. It's just wonderful.

The pond at the end of the driveway froze!

It has me wondering about the numerous frogs that live there. Wait, are they cold blooded and can withstand this kind of temperature? Let me check.....well duh! My science teacher friends are laughing right about now, that's for certain!

Another day when we came home from somewhere, John mentioned that he wished we had been here a little earlier when the pond was covered with fresh snow. While not still covered due to the wind, it still looked very cool. (no pun intended!) ***note bundled up Mr. Peck

It turns out that there is a lot about winter that I am liking including the light along the river walk,

as well as the long shadows.

So the above is the road to both our home away from home, and the mailbox. It is found about where I am standing to take the above photograph. The mailbox has been mostly empty and now we know why. Each year, for the last ten, Bruce has received a check from Darden restaurants which was his 401K divided by ten. A choice that has been a real blessing to us. For nine years they have mailed the check and it has all gone swimmingly. This year has been anything but. Despite the fact that Bruce filled out all of the paperwork in early December to change it to direct deposit, that did not happen. Instead, the post office thinks that our forwarding request is no longer needed, so it was mailed to Orlando. Bummer, but we do have available help in the form of my sister Nancy. She did all that we asked, which was go to Office Depot where they have a Fedex outpost and after checking that two day for $32 instead of one day for over $100 was our choice, she made it happen. Not so fast! Here it is five days later and no package has been received because it went through the post office instead of Fedex! Not to mention that the tracking refused to update and now we know why. It sat in Orlando for at least three of those days. Oh how I hate the post office right now!!! The nerve of them to charge such exorbitant rates and get away with it! We now know that it is in South Carolina and with any luck it will arrive tomorrow at the Murphy post office, something that remains to be seen. What an ordeal!

Thank goodness for my wonderful husband, who not only heated the string before he could undo the knot in order for him to fill the feeder,

but he also set up our new heated bird bath!!

I was telling Patti about it and she called it a hot tub, so now we are calling it that too! It took a day or so before we had any takers, and while they are not flocking to it, mostly it is for drinking at this time of year. The Carolina Wren gave it a go though.

I read somewhere that you can attract Bluebirds to your feeders with mealworms, as well as chopped apple. 

So far, no Bluebirds have even come close, but one of my new favorites was persuaded to try it out.

Believe it or not, and I would not blame you for being skeptical, we do get out of the house now, post- Covid and let me tell you it has been great! One day the pickleball ladies had an event that involved learning to make greeting cards. We met at the fellowship hall at our new church.

Crafting was followed up with pots of hot tea and homemade goodies, none cuter than this!

Oh my goodness everything was so tasty! Snow, snow! 

Is it any wonder that we are loving this experiment? At home we have one feeder that I cannot even see and while we do get birds, nothing like here. Already documented in this space is my disappointment about not seeing Northern Cardinals enough but maybe our luck is changing.

One thing, and this really boils down to expectations, is that I was hoping to see more stars. I know, I sound darn greedy don't I? Anyway, over the summer, in spite of living on ten acres with hardly anything around us, it was either rainy or cloudy, or both. And now it is crazy cold to go outside but this morning it was so worth it, seeing the beauty of diamonds in the sky. It was dark as could be at 6AM and actually this morning was far warmer than it was last week so in my robe, coat and slippers, turning my head upwards, in spite of my old neck I might add, it was glorious. Miracles are everywhere if you know where to look!

your friend,

Gail

p.s Thinking about our limited winter experience made me go back in time and look at my January posts from Vancouver. It is hard to believe that it has been six years since our Baxie died which I wrote about here.  Don't read that post from January 22, 2018 unless you feel like crying. :(

Let's Begin 2024 Again

Most years my biggest wish is to get through the year without a major health crisis. 2024, so far, is not having the most ideal start. Can it only go downhill from here, or more to my liking, can it only go uphill from here? At any rate, it sure has started with a bang!

That said, the two of us are doing just fine as you read this; maybe a little more tired than typical, but mostly good. I did lose my taste and smell for about five days, but I think that is improving. We even played a little pickleball this morning, such as it was. Only one other fellow, Larry, showed up so it was a rotating two against one type situation. I'll tell you what, in spite of it being pretty dismal weather, we laughed this morning and that is a hard thing to put a price on. Seriously, it seems as if it has been forever since we laughed, so we were glad we went.  And I am here to report, I did not feel that this could have been me only a week or so prior! A fall risk? Say it ain't so!

One of my oldest friends, going way back to x-ray school, commented on my last post that we are no longer spring chickens anymore! She went through a harrowing experience involving strep throat, Canada and Covid that even reading about it made me cringe. I will say that when the EMT guys called the hospital from our place and stated that they were bringing in a 70 year old woman I could not help but wonder what picture that conjured up in the other person's mind. To tell you the truth, I cannot imagine that I am 70 years old. What am I supposed to feel like at 70? In my mind, in spite of all my occasional maladies, I feel pretty darn perky which is probably a very good thing because we all know that that perkiness can come crashing down in a heartbeat. I will take perky more often than not please!

Because I want to be able to go back in time and remember our Covid experience, I am including this bit from the ER doctor that we both thought was just amazing. I was sent home with discharge papers and it included this narrative from the physician:

"Ms. Peck, your testing here was reassuring. I believe you had an episode of syncope from dehydration and possibly a vasovagal episode." Your testing was reassuring! How great is that to read? He was as nice as it seems from his report. He even took the time to explain to Bruce that even though his sister and mother are nurses, when his dad went down with syncope, they panicked and called him. It was a scary situation with no lasting effects, thank God! 

So here's to never having Covid again! Bruce is still in shock that after all this time he was actually sick, so much so that he vows never to do it again. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Before we leave that all behind us I must document how we spent nearly two weeks at home. We watched a lot of PBS! We absolutely fell in love with Vivian Howard and her show A Chef's Life, so much so that we watched all five seasons!  We watched a season of Granchester,  Ken Burn's times several including one on Prohibition and a Holocaust documentary. Oh my gosh! Just when I was getting set up to watch Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris,  a recommendation from Nancy, all hell broke loose, but I did watch it a few days later and it is so heartwarming, watch it NOW!

I am not going to lie, it has been darn cold here. You know me, I've got to have an outdoor thermometer and when Bruce asked what I wanted for Christmas, well this was it!

Mostly our phones are very close, but not entirely and enquiring minds want to know! John just called Bruce and they are driving back from a long weekend in Asheville amongst heavy snowfall. People have suggested we head home to Florida for a bit, which sounds good except what if it snows while we are gone and I miss it? I am dying to see this beautiful landscape covered in snow! I said it was cold, but did I also mention that it is pretty dreary? Some days anyway and today would be one of such days.

I think it was maybe Friday that I finally went walking along the river? I keep posting this exact photograph from the bridge so we can see it in all seasons. There was what might be called a very weak sun that day.

I don't expect you to remember them, but I sure remember when we came here last May to visit the cottage before committing to the long term rental and the banks were bursting with green and countless yellow flowers. Glorious. The Cherokee Scout had a photo last week with the caption that it is not easy remembering the natural beauty of the area during the winter. No kidding!! Speaking of the paper, I wrote a letter to the editor and by golly they printed it. I'm pretty sure they print every letter, but maybe not. You can take Gail out of Orlando, but you can't keep her from writing letters to the editor! Ha ha! Most of you have no idea what a history I have in that department over the decades. I'm here to tell you that I do.

Let's look around here because I haven't gone very many places lately except for one day we did come across these deer and the light was so good I am forced to share.

This morning while looking out the kitchen window I saw a bunch of deer. Getting my camera quickly when I opened the door they shot off. Or should I say they sped off? I'm pretty sure deer do not like the word shot in the same sentence as they are mentioned. Eventually they returned and it was great fun watching them have what appeared as playful behavior, chasing one another all across the ridge. But what do I know? 

I do know my birds though and we are having a hey-day with them! One of the beautiful Spotted Towhees posing for me. Have I told you lately how fascinated I am with the varying eye colors birds see out of?

Does it change their vision I wonder? 

Bird feeders are sprouting like weeds around here. John "bequeathed" a brand new feeder to Bruce because he claims he does a better job of keeping his feeders full. It is not easy these days, I will say that much. 

I took the above photo about three days ago and they are nearly empty and that will happen when you have so many birds visiting it is hard to keep count! It is a happy day when a Cardinal decides to eat here.

I am like freaking out that a White Breasted Nuthatch has been coming around. 

Isn't it so cute? Look at this underside!

The green string is part of Bruce's pulley system to raise and lower the feeders. Even thought winter is difficult for obvious reasons, birding is not one of them. My goodness, once all those leaves return I will miss my perfect view of our avian pets. We may not have a dog, but we do have about thirty Goldfinch at one time! 

On Saturday something very exciting happened here and that was that Bruce built a nest box designed for Bluebirds. It was a labor of love because honestly you can buy them for a quarter of what it cost to build, but isn't that the way with most things? Sadly I might add. That said, it cannot stop us from making things because it is who we are at our core. David is constantly, in his economist voice, telling me it is not cost effective to cook at home the way that I do, in part because when you make so many things from scratch all those ingredients add up. He is very right about that, especially these days. Is there anything at the grocery store under like $3.00 these days? Nancy made a little fun of me the other night when I was talking about making Thousand Island dressing. For a moment she had me thinking she makes it weekly. Only for a moment! Nevertheless, whatever it cost, we are delighted with the results, not to mention that he felt well enough to do it! Digging that hole!!!

Sunday morning I tested negative, using my government issued free test which came in the middle of the week, allowing us to return to church service without worry.

After our pickleball session this morning we went to the store for a few things, including something which is called a baffle to ward off critters from the nest box. We ended up buying one from Tractor Supply a store I never imagined that I might visit, but now that we have, I like it. Plus their bird seed is reasonable so I can see us going there again sooner rather than later. Walking up the hill from the mailbox, I took this shot of Bruce installing the aforementioned baffle. Plus it gives you a better idea of how things look around here.

Kind of golden, reddish brown leaves remain on some of the trees, and then there are the evergreen trees. It's a nice mix and while it does not hold the same beauty as spring green, there is a certain magic to it. At least I see it that way. The cold is most definitely not Bruce's favorite. At all!

Most mornings for the last month or so begin frosty!

If only it would snow instead of teasing me so.

It is very good to be back to my blog and let's hope no other calamities keep me from it. So here's to a Happy 2024 because for us, it is just beginning!

your friend,

Gail

You Knew This Was Coming

While it would have been nice, the notion that I would escape the far reaches of Covid was a fanciful one.  

And as is so often the case with me, it is never a straightforward path from illness to recovery. 

Friday morning I woke up feeling poorly just as Bruce was finishing his full week of being mostly couch- ridden, per his choice. Me, I stay in bed but he just loves the couch! At any rate, my memory is sketchy but what I do remember is on Saturday I asked Bruce to plug in the bedroom television, something we have not even thought to use until now. Nancy suggested I watch a sweet movie, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. Bruce had prepared something to eat and before he had a chance to clean anything up, he began to help me get settled. One moment I was completely fine and the next I was telling him I had to get to the bathroom, not easy when you are already feeling weak. Things began going downhill fast, with a cascade of events that probably should remain unwritten. Meanwhile my dear husband is holding onto me as I tell him I am passing out. Somehow he got me to the bathroom floor, hollering at me, all the while trying to make me come to. According to him, I was out for 30 seconds which of course sent him into a panic. 

Next he dragged me into the shower and hosed me off while I was still in a cold sweat. He's hollering that he wants to call 911 and I am saying no, let's wait. Meanwhile, he's guided me back to bed on lots of towels where I tried getting ahold of myself to no avail. Well, you already have guessed who won the argument, especially after he called Fallon for advice, meaning Bill, David and even Nancy were urging him to not listen to me! 

Before long the EMTs arrived and the three of them were ever so kind, treating me with the utmost respect. Turns out my blood pressure was only 80/50 on the first reading and even lower yet so it was off to the hospital I went in the back of the ambulance. Their diagnosis of dehydration proved to be the ticket and an IV was started. Now if you have been reading for a while, when I had pneumonia, finding my veins was a very big deal and although the first fellow didn't find it, the second one did and the IV was placed in the top of my hand.

Not knowing what to expect, Bruce gathered things, like clothes for instance, and other supplies, following the path of the ambulance to Murphy Medical Center, I think about ten miles away. Honestly my nurse Yvette was as nice as she could be although she, not surprisingly, could not get my vein as the blood only trickled out on her first try, leaving me with a pretty big bruise on my arm, I am imagining from taking the Eliquis, but I don't know that for sure. She did a good job on her second attempt, the doctor was good, the second nurse was good and all I have to say is, our experience with a small emergency room was a good one.

The two bags of fluid improved my blood pressure greatly and we made our way home on that cold, dark night. I did not understand it but the doctor did say they could keep me for observation but would have to transfer me to another facility which did not sound good so our decision was an easy one. 

Upon our return we were aghast at the condition we'd left our sweet cottage. It was as if a bomb went off with stuff everywhere, the counters, the floors, the bed, oh my! The bathroom, holy cow!

Come to think of it, a bomb did go off! 

I've got to be honest with you, until this happened I had largely put Covid out of my mind, going about our daily business with no thought of becoming sick. Apparently one of the folks who we were in close proximity to during the little birthday party at the wine shop tested positive, so perhaps that's where it came from. Fortunately, John and Laura had their boosters and remain Covid-free.

I've not sat at my computer or looked at my cameras for days now so I am just seeing this photo in particular. John has his hand on his new knee and Laura is listening intently to either Harry or Julie. Or maybe even Julie's sister who presumably we got it from. It feels so weird to think that I might have gotten a photo of the very moment when Covid found us. Hmmm.....

In some ways we have been living in this little bubble of good things happening so these 12 days have been a bit of a wake up call. I am well enough to type this much and Bruce has made his first trip to the gym where I hope he will spend only a very limited time until his strength returns. 

Did I mention it is cold? Yup, very much so, yet still there has been no snow. There have been high winds and plenty of rain too. Not to worry though because the house is well insulated and the fire is warm so that's been super positive. John and Laura have done all manner of kind things for us including a big pot of stew. So we have not faced this alone.  

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

your friend,

Gail

 

Beginning the New Year in an Unexpected Way

What's it been, about three years now that Covid has been around? As our son David has said, you can't hide from Covid and perhaps he is right because it has now found us. 

Not me which is weird because if anyone in this family is going to be sick it will be me. Reading through the annals of Camera Crazy, between C-diff, pneumonia, two broken wrists, A-fib, colitis and probably other things I've put out of my mind, it is clear that I am the one most likely to not succeed when it comes to illness. Somehow, despite the fact that Bruce has been sick for five days, I have remained Covid-free. If and when it finds me is a mystery, one that countless other families have experienced. Why does one person in a household get it and the other not? Life is definitely full of mysteries. 

Last Thursday we went on a little day trip because the sky was clear and it had been far too long since we had gone anywhere just to explore. Recently Laura had mentioned Nantahala Lake as a lovely spot and when I saw we could get there by using Junaluska Road, a gorgeous drive, that was the ticket. I love the way to Andrews; the valley looks different on every occasion we have had the pleasure of driving through it.  

Whether it be the clouds, or lack thereof, the fields, the mountains or the trees, I am always so delighted to be in the midst of it. While living in Vancouver I fell in love with mountains, so being amidst them makes me very happy! 

Loads of folks have done whitewater rafting trips on the Nantahala River but few have seen the lake from which the water flows. Duke Energy built the reservoir during WWII to provide power for the Alcoa Aluminum plant to make planes for the war effort. That is a very succinct account of the place, but enough information to make looking at the photograph a little more interesting. Unlike most of the reservoirs around here, this one is owned by Duke Energy rather than the TVA. The brilliant blue sky that day made the water look as blue as blue can be.

More to this story another day, but one thing I can report is that when we drove back through Andrews on our way home, we were going to eat lunch at the Hoppy Trout, however, it was not open so instead we ate at Sage where we had a lovely lunch which we were calling my birthday lunch as it was but days away. Turns out that was a fortuitous decision. 

It is a wonder that they have made it a year but that they have. Not because the food is not delicious and creative mind you but because the town is still finding it's way after some very down years. 

 This appetizer of smoked red grits, goat cheese and a red pepper reduction was fabulous.

Bruce's shrimp and grits, as well as my pork chop, were outstanding. I had to laugh when I noticed the name of the wine he selected. There is a joke around here that he is not a pessimist but a realist! 

The remainder of this lovely bottle is still in our cupboard because one of the wine drinkers in this family has been seriously under the weather. The following morning we awoke to a crazy cold temperature reading, however, being the pickleball enthusiasts that we are, clothes were piled on and off we went to the courts where there were but a few other hardy souls. A pb friend had warned me that snow was in the forecast, but could that really be true? Well, flurries anyway.

Because another person showed up, I opted out, leaving Bruce to play one game with the other hardy souls. God bless him, he struggled through to point 11, but afterwards he told the group, I can hardly move my body aches so much. Well, at the time we were thinking, heck yea you hurt because of the cold. If only that were true. We popped into Ingles for a few things and upon returning to our sweet rented house, Bruce laid on the couch and has been there ever since.

It should be noted how highly unusual this is and maybe it accounts for why he has been so sick. HE NEVER gets sick. In his entire working life he missed maybe two days? I think one of those was for a kidney stone decades ago? Thank goodness for college bowl games, such as they were, because otherwise it would have been like a tomb around here, what with him sleeping the days away! And yes, I watched every minute of the massacre that Florida State endured at the hands of Georgia. No words!

When Bruce was awake, our birdie friends provided a modicum of entertainment as the feeder is just outside the living room window.

As most of you know, Sunday was my 70th birthday and I will admit to having had better ones. On the other hand, it has been a pleasure taking care of Bruce for a change, rather than the other way around! Saturday I received not one, but two, gorgeous floral arrangements, one from David and Michelle and one from Matt and Tom. 

They are absolutely gorgeous and are brightening up our cold winter days like nobodies business. That said, there have been several deer herd sightings which always makes us happy and after some gloomy days, the sky is brilliant blue once again. This morning would be one of those days, well actually New Year's day was gorgeous as well, albeit never getting above 40 degrees! I made lots of soft foods for Bruce including a lovely corn chowder which with all the color in it should be called confetti chowder!

Here's a darling little tea towel Matt got me for Christmas, a throwback to days gone by. I use this phrase on each new day that it is sunny!

Showing that oven photo reminds me of two things. One, although the Yorkshire puddings were a baking success, the oven was a literal disaster due to flying grease which is now cleaned up. Apparently most people are either not cleaning their ovens, or they have self cleaning ones because the choices at Walmart were few and on the very bottom shelf. The young man I had helping me probably thought to himself, "I am so sick of these old people who can never find a thing!" Secondly, the cake disaster prompted me to wonder about the oven temperature which subsequently prompted me to buy an oven thermometer. Sure as the world, it is not correct. When it claims to be preheated it is 50 degrees less, then, after a time it gets hotter than the set temperature. Now I know and can act accordingly. Whether I will attempt to make another cake anytime soon is another story! 

I know it will surprise you to see me back at this typing thing so soon after the my last post but this story begged to be told. We are praying that any day now Bruce will return to his rock-solid self again and for me, it won't be a moment too soon as I miss him!

your friend,

Gail