Patchwork Reflections

Savannah, Georgia

2008-07-25T06:28:00.002-05:00

The Cotton Exchange, established in Savannah in 1872. King Cotton's Palace was designed to stand out from its neighboring buildings as a symbol of cotton's importance to the city's economy.

Spanish moss hanging from branches, a Southern thang - just look, don't touch unless you want some good ol' Southern chiggers!

The United States Custom House in Savannah was built in 1852. The granite columns weigh between 15 and 20 tons each, it took 30 days to transport each column up the 38 foot bluff from the river, each column was lifted off the ship with a block and tackle system and inched up the bluff on rollers.

Completed in November 1990, the new Talmadge Memorial cable-stayed bridge replaced the old Talmadge cantilever truss bridge (built in 1953), which had become a danger for large ships entering the Port of Savannah, the largest single terminal container port on the U.S. eastern seaboard.

Cobblestone street down to the river.

On our recent jaunt through South Georgia, we stopped for just an hour or so in Savannah. A very historic city with lots to see, we would like to go back some time to stay longer and see more of the area.

no chickens here

2008-07-23T08:34:00.004-05:00

On July 11th Chik-fil-A had their annual Cow Appreciation Day, offering a free meal to any customer who isn't "too chicken" to visit any of the restaurants dressed as a cow.

Of course our daughter, her husband, and all our grandkids had to try it! The kids cut out black spots to put on their clothes, everyone had cow horns on their sunglasses, and signs saying, "Eat Mor Chikin!"

Melissa called us on their way to Florida saying, "We just got $40 worth of food at Chik-Fil-A for free!" They posed with the Cow mascot who was walking around the store and were asked to sign a photo release by the PR department. It was an exciting way to start their vacation. Anything for a free meal, and there are definitely no chickens in this family!

Statesboro, Georgia

2008-07-22T08:44:00.002-05:00

The David H. Averitt Center for the Arts in the Old Bank of Statesboro.

Historic Jaeckel Hotel closed its doors in the late 1960s and today it is home to Statesboro's City Hall.

Over the Top, a Celebration of Education - mural in downtown Statesboro.

Bulloch County Courthouse circa 1894

Georgia Southern University

It is good to be home again after our road trip to South Georgia! We saw lots of flat land and green crops, we identified the tobacco growing, and the others may have been peanuts? We saw folks buying locally grown raw peanuts at Walmart to take home to boil. There were roadside produce stands with green striped watermelons for sale. It sure was hot there, prediction for this week was triple digits! Good to be home to the cooler mountains once again.

came out smiling

2008-07-16T06:27:00.004-05:00

We went to the local Pizza Hut last night. They were obviously shorthanded, and a passing waitress called over her shoulder, "Just find a seat!".

Well, we sat and waited, no menus, no drinks, no silverware, strike ONE.

Finally another waitress came by and asked, "Did we want to order a pizza?" No, we just wanted to sit and watch others eat, "Yes, we would like to order a pizza!" So we placed our order. Come to find out, it was Buffet night, and shortly thereafter the pizza buffet started (I didn't look, but I am sure there were kids grabbing food with their grubby little hands, possibly putting it back...).

After waiting what seemed like a half an hour and no pizza, and watching other people eat and leave, we wondered if our pizza was on the buffet, strike TWO.

Needless to say, Buddy was getting pretty ticked by now, expounding on how the business was run, and what he would do if he were in charge…

Pizza finally arrived, but the order was wrong, strike THREE.

I figured that was it for the Pizza Hut, three strikes, you're OUT. But, Buddy just returned the pizza to the kitchen and told them we would eat off the buffet.

We ate our pizza amid grumbling and finally went to pay (since no one bothered to bring a check). The cashier made it all worth while when he asked Buddy, "Please sign here, sir, for the senior discount!" Hah! HOME RUN!

Needless to say, we came out smiling! Well, I did at least...

road trip

2008-07-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Spending a week or so in South Georgia, in the little town of Statesboro. A college town without much else, except for lots of eating places and motels.

Buddy is working, covering a job while the superintendent goes on vacation. I brought my work with me, so while work goes on, we are seeing the area and eating out a lot. Buddy actually was here many years ago building a Chik-Fil-A.

We checked out the beaches this weekend, only an hour to Tybee Island at Savannah. It was good to be at the beach again, the smell of suntan lotion and the sea, the sound of the waves crashing, the feel of the cool breeze and hot sun. Very therapeutic, and free!

a good life all in all

2008-07-11T06:45:00.003-05:00

Another birthay is here, I am now as old as the last two numbers in my birth year, see if you can do the math!

A time of reflection, looking back, looking ahead. As with most things, John Denver said it best...

I have to say it now
It's been a good life all in all
It's really fine
To have the chance to hang around
And lie there by the fire
And watch the evening tire
While all my friends and my old lady
Sit and watch the sun go down

And talk of poems and prayers and promises
And things that we believe in
How sweet it is to love someone
How right it is to care
How long its been since yesterday
What about tomorrow
What about our dreams
And all the memories we share

~lyrics Poems, Prayers, and Promises - music and lyrics by John Denver

hot mail

2008-07-10T07:42:00.002-05:00

Help! My laptop is having hot flashes!

Is it going through the change? Hot flashes, mood swings, memory lapses, moving sooooo slooowww...

Apparently they make laptop stands with built in fans, so if your laptop is having hot flashes like me, I mean mine, there are ways to cool it off, over-the-counter, no prescription necessary. Or you could do like the in-house IT guy here:

You might be a redneck if your laptop is up on wooden blocks and being cooled by a desktop fan.

Update: The IT guy went to Best Buy and now the hot thang is has a new place to sit with a couple of fans built in. Hmmm... I wonder if they make these for...

something that we do

2008-07-07T06:01:00.001-05:00

kisses are a better fate
than wisdom
~e.e. cummings

And I love that you are
the last person I want to talk to
before I go to sleep at night.
~Harry in When Harry Met Sally

Sexiness wears thin after a while, and beauty fades. But to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that's a real treat.
~ Joanne Woodward

I remember well the day we wed
I can see that picture in my head...
Love's not just something that we're in
It's something that we do
~lyrics by Clint Black

Buddy~n~Susan 7/7/73
Happy 35th Anniversary to us!

summer sights

2008-07-03T06:12:00.004-05:00

The July roadsides are decorated with the royalty of weeds, Queen Anne's lace, and orange daylilies. The hostas stop being just green with a burst of purple flowers. The birds and bees are busy on their appointed tasks, and the littlest fuzzy worms just try to get from one place to another without being squashed.

neighborhood watch

2008-07-01T05:45:00.001-05:00

"A mama bear and three cubs have been visiting our yard.
Keep the children safe."

The above picture and message received via e-mail yesterday, the rural version of the neighborhood watch.

We don't see much of our neighbors, maybe in passing on the road, or at Wal-Mart, but when there is news to be shared, we hear from our neighbors, and pass it on down the road.

"Next door neighbor" and "across the street" do not mean the same thing in the country as in town. I cannot look out my window and see my neighbors, to get to their houses I would jump in the car. Most houses are not even visible when driving down the road, but there is a mailbox marking every spot where a gravel driveway heads to a neighbor's house.

Even though we don't see or talk to our neighbors doesn't mean we aren't there for each other. I would not hesitate to call on any of our neighbors if I needed help, I might have to introduce myself and tell them which house I lived in, but I know any of them would be happy to give assistance.

Thanks, neighbor for the heads-up on the bears, we'll be on the lookout for them!

rollin' on the river

2008-06-30T06:34:00.001-05:00

A whole family outing on the Nantahala River on Saturday, 9 people, 2 rafts, cold mountain water, LOTS of fun!

full circle

2008-06-25T05:15:00.002-05:00

This time 35 years ago we were gathering up supplies for our very first camping trip - tent, sleeping bags, Coleman stove, lantern, pots and pans.

We have camped out over the years in many different ways - tents, a truck camper, motorhomes, and a travel trailer. They keep getting bigger and harder to fit into campsites and less like real camping.

Now we find ourselves once again looking at tent camping, so once again we are gathering up supplies - tent, sleeping bags, Coleman stove, lantern, pots and pans. There is not much left from our first camping trip, so far we have only found our original Coleman stove and one sleeping bag.

We got a new tent, it is very different from our first one. The new one is nylon and lightweight versus the old heavy canvas one. But the biggest difference is the poles. The new poles are small, fiberglass, and interconnected with elastic cord. The old ones were of course bigger and aluminum, and who can forget that sound of clanging tent poles echoing through the campground…

Our new tent is pitched in the back yard, and has been there for a few days. We waterproofed the seams as suggested, and let it stay out in the thunderstorm Saturday night. Of course there are a few puddles inside, but what else is new!

Our first camping trip was on our honeymoon 'cross country. We traveled west from Georgia, across the Mississippi River, drove through miles and days of corn in Kansas, and finally arrived at our destination, the Colorado Rockies, just in time for the gas shortage in the summer of '73. We took our place in the long lines at the gas stations in Denver, the gas being rationed out on even/odd days according to your license plate number.

We have come full circle in the 35 years we have been married, it is all so different, yet all so very much the same.

cooking on the Coleman stove 1973

sunday drive

2008-06-23T06:32:00.004-05:00

the open road is calling
feel the wind in your hair
the sun on your arms
see the layers of blue mountains
smell the fresh cut hay
watch the ribbon of road
narrow into the horizon
through the wavy heat lines

It is American as apple pie, ingrained for generations, centuries even. We have been encouraged to travel, see the country. Go West young man! See the USA in your Chevrolet. Get your kicks on Route 66.

With the price of gas, we no longer just hop into the car and drive around. Sure it is easy enough during the work week to not run to town for every little thing, to save up all errands for one trip, saving on gas and money.

But on Sunday, it is a different thing altogether. On Sunday, the sun is shining, the road is calling…

We went in search of waterfalls and found Desoto Falls, Helton Creek Falls, and beautiful daylilies.

~photo album here

perspective

2008-06-17T06:37:00.000-05:00

"It just cost me $10 to go to Wal-Mart!" Buddy said yesterday when he walked in the door, and he wasn't even counting what he bought. His diesel truck gets 17.5 miles to the gallon, and diesel is nearing $5.00 a gallon, so he did the math and figured he used 2 gallons just to go to Wal-Mart and back.

When Carrie came in, we quizzed her about how much it cost her to go to work and back every day. She figured $8.00 a day, saying, "That's a dollar an hour!" (for her 9-5 banking job).

I, on the other hand, work at home and am saving all kinds of bucks not driving my car!

Narrowing down the gas prices to actual daily cost was very enlightening, giving personal perspective to a global problem.

Another note on diesel, that is the same stuff that is in our heating oil tank out in the yard (less the highway taxes of course), and we have already decided to use up what is in the tank this winter and not get a refill. Or do you think we could sell it back to the oil company for a profit? hmmm... something to think about...

We are thinking of replacing our oil furnace for an electric heat pump, but in the meantime, we are already planning to use wood heat more than ever this winter. Hey, we have this very valuable acreage, according to the tax assessor's office, so we might as well use it for some advantage, like fire wood!

~photo found online here

jungle life

2008-06-16T06:31:00.000-05:00

The rhododendrons are blooming in the yard. A native of these mountains, they require no maintenance, grow taller every year, are green year-round, and bloom right on schedule every June.

The moral of the story is just enjoy what grows naturally here in the forest. I wish I could accept that, but every year I try to plant flowers, with mostly no luck at all.

A couple of years ago, it was the deer eating the hostas. Then this spring the rabbits appeared and mowed down the tender hosta shoots as soon as they emerged from the ground. This really bummed me out, and prompted me to say, "I give up!" But daughter Melissa got me some Rabbit-be-gone spray, so I decided to give it another shot.

On Friday, I was cleaning the weeds out of my flower beds in anticipation of going on Saturday to the local hosta farm and possibly to Lowe's to bring home some plants. As I reached down to pull up a little oak tree that had sprung up from a fallen acorn, I noticed the brown pine bark had a rather uniform pattern -eeekkk sssnake!

After I ran into the house, hyperventilating, and swearing not to set foot into the yard again, Buddy went outside to check it out. He confirmed it was a copperhead, and he promptly turned it from a bad snake into a good snake.

Once again my gardening energy was dashed, the empty flower beds look just fine as they are. It is hard enough to get anything to grow anyway with all the shade, but now with all the critters taking over, I give up (once again)! Sometimes I feel like I am living in a jungle! Just one more sign that the forest is taking over!

I will just stick to flower boxes on the deck, and enjoy the annual mountain laurel and rhododendrons.

"I have a rock garden. Last week three of them died." ~Richard Diran

working girl

2008-06-13T06:53:00.002-05:00

Bad hair day?
Village People tryout?

Strappy sandals or steel-toed boots?
I painted my toenails for this?

Melissa is traveling with Keith while he is out working, and sometimes gets talked into helping out.

Just like her dad, with hard hat and work boots, she does whatever it takes to get the job done. I don't think she is going to quit her day job, though!

a peaceful journey

2008-06-11T06:51:00.001-05:00

cruising along the Blue Ridge Parkway

finding flame azaleas

and mountain laurel

stopping to picnic on a rock slab table under the balsams

The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most peaceful place I know. The total lack of civilization, buildings, or commercial signs is very calming. In just 18 miles on the parkway, from Cherokee to the Balsam Mountain picnic area, we passed through at least 4 tunnels, the temperature dropped from 96 to 73 degrees, and we climbed to an elevation of a mile high. A definite recommendation for 'getting away from it all' without having to go too far.

~photos 8 June 2008 along the Blue Ridge Parkway, more photos here

bear sighting

2008-06-10T05:45:00.006-05:00

CHEROKEE, N.C. The town of Cherokee is being overrun by a collection of bears. But, don't worry these bears are completely harmless. Several Eastern Band of Cherokee artists have created a series of large, life-like fiberglass bears and painted them in bright vibrant colors and designs.

Currently there are 13 painted bears completed, located in various spots around downtown Cherokee. An overall total of 25 bears have been commissioned for painting by Cherokee artists and will be placed in the Central Business District and other strategic areas in town to encourage locals and tourists to patronize area businesses, to instill community pride and to draw awareness for the wide ranging talents of Tribal artists.
~ story here

The official website of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation also has a story about the bears, along with the news of a new Wal-Mart coming soon!

~photos 8 June 2008, more pictures here

patchwork in the sun

2008-06-06T06:04:00.000-05:00

Sarah's quilt is back from the quilters! I can't wait for her to get back from her vacation so we can finish up the edges, then she can take it home to stay.

kiss my assessment

2008-06-05T06:36:00.000-05:00

One of the things that welcomed us upon returning home from vacation was a notice from the county of an increase in our property tax assessment for this year. They do this every few years, raise everyone's property assessment, then we taxpayers appeal it, and it goes back down a little bit, never to the rate of the previous year.

This year the assessors' office has outdone itself. Our land value went up 400%, and we have heard of others going up 600%. The entire county is up in arms over this. It would be the topic of conversation at water coolers (if we had them here in the country), but it is definitely being discussed everywhere else, like in line at The Wal-Mart. The local weekly newspaper didn't comment on it (probably not wanting to be partisan or anything), but there were a few paid ads about the injustice of it all.

A local attorney sent out a message proposing a community meeting to discuss options. He received overwhelming response to this idea. Some of the responses must have been quite colorful as he sent out a second email, with the time and location of said meeting, but stating:

We are going to talk about the tax appraisal process. We are not going to burn anyone in effigy.

The county assessments are part of public record, and are posted online. It is interesting to look up all the neighbors and see what their property is worth, what they paid for it, etc.

Buddy's dad purchased this land 55 years ago at $25/acre. Last year it was appraised at $7500/acre, and this year $30,000/acre. Looking forward to the meeting tonight, it should be interesting!

photos - other things waiting on us at home, empty flower boxes (filled now!), rabbits fattened up on hostas

inuksuk

2008-06-04T06:37:00.000-05:00

I discovered this on the first day of vacation in a gift shop, and was intrigued by the story and symbol. We saw them everywhere. All the gift shops had them, constructed of everything from river rocks to wood to expensive jade.

Inuksuks are stone figures created by the first inhabitants of the Canadian north, the Inuit. The Inuit have lived in the areas now called Canada, Alaska, and Greenland for thousands of years and inuksuk can be found in all these regions.

Inuksuit (plural) have been used by the Inuit people as guides and markers for special places in the Arctic, marking trails, caches of food, nearby people, or the migration routes of caribou.

Depending on who I asked, the stacked rocks could mean anything from safe passage to good luck.

We even made our own little stack on top of Sulphur Mountain to mark our trip there.

home decor

2008-06-03T06:26:00.000-05:00

Most of our home decor consists of not art, but posters of places we have been, and handcrafted wooden pieces by the resident carpenter/woodcrafter in the family.

And of course trophies from our many hunting expeditions, check out these two fine specimens we bagged while out hunting in Canada... (in the gift shops):

It has been hard coming down off my Rocky Mountain High back to reality. Hard to get back into a routine, I actually had to cook a couple of meals, bummer, vacation is definitely over!

souvenirs

2008-06-02T04:22:00.001-05:00

On our first day in Banff National Park, we rode the gondola, and in the gift shop high atop Sulphur Mountain, we found these beautiful wooden pieces.

I pointed them out to Buddy, and then I started looking at everything else. By the time I had made my way through the entire shop, I came back to where he was standing, still looking at these two. He was admiring the craftsmanship, the time it took to do the cutting and sanding, and most of all the cheap price - $59 each. As Buddy has done this type of wood work in the past, he knows what goes into it and, as he said, he would not even start to make one for that price. In a matter of minutes, he had decided to get them, decided where they would look good at home, on our living room mantle.

On shopping, Buddy sees something he wants and gets it, it's that simple. On the other hand, I see something I like and have to think about it, at least overnight, and if I still want it, then I go back and get it. This same gift shop is where I first saw what I eventually wanted to take home as a memento of our trip, but of course, it took me the rest of the week before I would actually buy one to take home!

back home again

2008-05-26T10:43:00.002-05:00

hey, it's good to be back home again...

It is good to be back to our own home, bed, etc. Well, except for going back to work, and the bills to pay, and the mountain of laundry...

Canadian Rockies Vacation photo album here

Rocky Mountain High

2008-05-24T20:39:00.005-05:00

Atop Whistler's Mountain via Jasper Tram

Jasper, Alberta townsite, see the tram station on top of that mountain?

As far north as we went, the town of Jasper, Alberta. Lots of beautiful views, lots of trains, a neat town to visit.