Feeling like fall

I took this photo on Monday but have just had the time to look at it. I love the way the mountain seems to float in a sea of mist. This is one of the best times to get good long valley shots up here. The humidity is usually down - today excluded- and most of the hayes is gone.

Mom and I went to Grandfather Mountain a couple weeks ago to a photo seminar and I had a chance to see some of my favorite animals - Otters! I am completely envious of the sleek way they move through the water, how they seem to always be entertaining each other - and any one who happens to be watching. Even in captivity they seem ...I want to say content but I am not sure that is the it.

Bird with a view

Well, It has been awhile since I have been here. Sometimes work just gets in the way of life. Moms has gone on vacation out west and left me with the whole show to run and a gaggle of pups to watch. Yes, I did say gaggle. When you have 5 dogs all under the age of 6 (three of them about 3 and 1 only a year old) and weighing from 5 lb to 16lb, I just can't consider them a pack. Well, my kitties may consider them a pack..a pack of mess! Smokey Joe got a good smack from Indy when he decided he was going to push Indy out of the food bowl he was eating from. Smokey has not tried that again, now he just sits there waiting for Indy to finish and helpfully cleans up any crumbs that are left. He has also learned that kitties do not like it when he walks up behind them and licks there bottoms.

I have confess that last night I did something I really never thought I would do...I forgot Lacey in the car.. Well, Lacey is moms new little shitzu/mix girl and she is a bit scared to get in and out of the car so I have to lift her. When we got home last night it was late and I was really looking forward to the focaccia that I had picked up earlier from Stick Boy, so when the other 4 jumped out of the car running to bark at a tree, I just grabbed the bag and walked into the house. About an hour later I was looking all over for Lacey, calling and calling. I felt like a worm terd when I looked over at the car and there she was sitting in the car seat just waiting for me to lift her out.

Fall has finally started to come on the mountains and hopefully we won't have that first hard frost until the trees have had a chance to put on their show. I was over in Trade, TN the other day and on the way back Snake Mtn. was just beautiful. Trees with their bright fall color at the top bleeding down into a deep green at the bottom. My fingers were just itching for my camera which I had left at home. uggg!

The photo above was taken on Junaluska Rd about a week ago. I tried for the photo of him/her landing but it is just a bit fuzzy. Makes me think of the song that goes..."I can see for miles and miles..."

Laborless day

We had great weather for Labor Day, which is also Sir's birthday this year. You only get to turn 4 once and she made the most of it! All the kids played in the creek, slid down the water slide and played pin the tail on the donkey. (Flopsy the goat is just glad they did not want to pin the tail on the goat!)

I know that we are still in a drought so I should feel guilty about watering my garden but I just can't seem to help myself. Each evening I go out, talk to the still green maters, and turn the water on. Now I don't water if we have had an afternoon shower (cross fingers and knock on wood) but I do go out to see if there is even a hint of red on the maters. I will give them another week or so then if they have not turned they will be fried.

On another note: Indy did something unusual for him- he brought in a chipmunk. Bringing in a chipmunk is not so unusual, what was is that it was still alive. Needless to say it got lose in the house and all 6 of my 4 legged companions felt the need to "help" get it out of the house. I decided to go out and weed while this was going on...All I could hear was an occasional squeal and bark. 10 min later out came Indy with his prize, who stalked off into the lower part of the yard to enjoy his meal in peace.

Happy Cats

I can hardly believe that it is Wednesday already! Where does the time go? Last Sunday I went to A and T's in Wilkes county for a cookout. A must have some kind of internal radar because each time she plans a cookout it rains!! And yes this time it stared raining as I was heading down the mountain. Now we don't let that stop us from having fun we just give the weather the required 10-15 minuets for it to change and we carry on.

This may look like just a bunch of weeds to the human eye, but to a cat it is heaven! We planted cat mint in the yard a couple of years ago and now find it popping up everywhere. I like to pull the whole plant up, dry it, and store it for over the winter. Then in January or so when the cats are getting a little house crazy I just rub some onto there cat scratch and watch them go nuts.

Summer shots

On my way to work this morning it was only 71! Whahoo! We did have a bit of a storm come through yesterday and what a difference it has made. The lower humidity is a welcome relief to all of us including my four legged friends - All three of the dogs at work are going nuts! Chasing each other round and round the house.

I have been a bit of a shutterbug this week and have gotten a couple of great summer shots. The one above was taken on the ridge above the holler on my way home last night.

I found this little gold finch at the edge of Moms garden having a blast with the thistle. I tried to get a little closer and of course that last step was one two many and he flew away.

OK, So I just can't help but add this photo of Fiona sleeping..I guess the light was just too bright!


There is a "chance" of scattered thunderstorms this weekend but you know how it is..it may rain in Boone but not on my side of the mountain. I do have a new way of getting it to rain at my house that is even better then washing the car...I hang out laundry.

I did not get all of my planting done last weekend so I will finish that on saturday, after I go to the farmers market..and my maters have fallen down..that is my fault, I did not put cages around all of them. When I finish all of that I am going to sit in my big orange chair with a mint spritzer and watch for my resident bat to make his/her nightly apparence.

All the chicks in a row

Ah... Monday, Monday...Another week begins and all I am thinking about are the projects left unfinished at home. I have to remind myself that they will all get done in time.

I took this photo a couple of days ago out in Bethel. That rooster looked so sure of himself as he herded all his "ladies" out of the barn. I know several folks (including myself) who would be happy if the people in their lives would/could be maneuvered, coerced, or gently dircted so easily into going in the direction that we deem correct..at least some of the time. Perhaps we are using the wrong reward...bugs and grubs seemed to work for this rooster.

Saints, sinners or animal instinct

As long as I can remember four legged fur babies have figured into my life so I am well acquainted with the habits of hunting cats. I have been left many "presents" and have tried to show my..ah...gratatued....for each one. Well, the 2 cute little Manx girls, Moragan and Fiona, I adopted last November from WHS have really outdone any I have ever known. This spring Indy took them out and showed them the basics that was the end of my peaceful life. I am no longer sure if I should call my girls Princesses or Assasins. As the photo shows they have become quite proficent hunters...Of all the critters they have brought me the most unsual were the frogs (or maybe the same frog caught twice).

Last Saturday my worst fear was realized - as I sat down on the sofa and turned on the tv I saw a little 6" snake scooting across the floor - without the providing kitten in attendance. I managed to keep my wits and grabbed my trusty flower pot and extra long paint brush. This method has worked well on the myriad of other critters I have attempted to remove but this time the snake was having none of it and I was forced to actually touch it.