Memory Lane

"I woke up this mornin' with the sundown shinin' in
I found my mind in a brown paper bag, but then....
I tripped on a cloud and fell-a eight miles high
I tore my mind on a jagged sky
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in"

If ya wanna hear the song and watch the video click on I just dropped in - in the lyrics above.

And now - I'll have my coffee and relax a bit

 For some reason that song has been stuck in my head for the past few days.  Kinda like my present condition.  Since Saturday, I've been in the very low doldrums or sickly  -   to landlubbers.  I had chest constrictions like I was congested, shortness of breath, blah feeling, no appetite, sinus congestion, sore throat - just generally feeling like crap.  Went to the doc and he kinda freaked out - started asking me questions about traveling pain to my arms, back, jaw etc.  I know he was piqued that I hadn't come in sooner and he was checking me for heart attack.  Well, after xrays and EKG and further testing, he determined I have something going on.  WHEW- glad I wasn't just imagining all this.  Anyway some kind of infection, bronchial etc.  Antibiotics cures all and that's where I'm at now

     So - back to the song.  I first heard that (Just Dropped In) in 1967 when I was waiting for a bus at the Greyhound bus station in Washington, D.C. for a trip up to Rhode Island to visit my Honey and now wife - Cathy.

                                       Cathy & I in 1969 at my home in Kinmundy, Illinois

 I remember saying to myself Boy is that guy on drugs or what?  When I finally did listen to the lyrics Sung by Kenny Rogers and First Edition - I was still thinking they were on drugs or had been.  Funny how a song can take you back to a time in your life and trip the memory button.  Just thot I'd share that this bright, sunny morning.  TaTa

Aaaaaaahhhhhhh - Finally - a Warming Trend

Woke up this morning to this wonderful stuff.  It was actually warmer this morning (22 deg) than it has been for the past few days.  As you can see, the sun is shining so it won't last til noon and will all melt away. 

Makes for some pretty pictures.  Really good contrast between the whites and blacks.

We only got about a half inch of snow.  Other areas got as much as 2 inches.  Yesterday the temp got up to the high 30's and it rained almost all day.  Then last night it got really serious and started sleeting then turned to snow.  Fortunately we didn't experience a repeat of a couple of years ago when the ice accumulated on limbs and high lines and broke trees and power poles.  It's just a nice winter day here in the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee.

Catch'n Up

The weather has really warmed up lately.  In fact I was putting polyurethane on the doors for Cathy already.  Didn't think I'd be doing that until spring.  It's great to get out of the house and walk the mountain without having to keep looking up at the sky for rain clouds.  I can deal with the rain and I can tolerate the cold but I just can't deal with wet and cold at the same time.  Anyway - this evening Cathy came up with the idea of making some gingersnap cookies.   Umm Ummm.  I just love them.

So we baked up 4 dozen of them delectables, as you can see from the picture - I already ate 4 of em.  They were still warm and by morning they'll be gingerSNAPS instead of just cookies. 
It has really been quiet around here lately.  I spent lots of time on the computer doing research into the old family tree on the internet.  More and more records are being digitized everyday and are available on the internet.  Just as I finished making an entry on the family tree - the computer shut down.  According to the computer guy, the fratzit went kaputz and fried the smizzelnicker which cost me $170.  I think he had to send to Germany to get the parts or maybe I just didn't understand the terminology.  Anyway - it's back up, for now.  Later Ya'll!!

Dismal Weather (2)

Thought I'd add some better pictures of today's most wonderful outdoor walk.  Firstly - the side of the mountain above our house but closer to the top was really iced over.  This whole mountain top looks like this.

Then - I was able to get a little bit better close-up of the Nuthatch.

While I was chasing this guy around - along came a Black-capped Chickadee

Then a Tufted Titmouse

And finally a member of the woodpecker family - a Northern Flicker.

Still need to work on the focus.  My eyes just ain't what they used to be.  But you get the idea anyway.  Next time I'll invest in an auto-focus telephoto zoom and save all the aggravation, but I sure won't save any money.

Dismal Weather

Like most of the states, Tennessee is experiencing an unusual cold front.  This is one of the times when living in the mountains isn't so enjoyable.  The colder air combined with the warmer water logged land creates a constant ground fog that slowly drifts over the mountain coating everything with a layer of ice.  Two years ago, we had two telephone poles snap due to the weight of the ice on the electrical/phone lines.  Knocked out power to our side of the mountain.  Power line crews were working in wet and sub-zero temps in the early morning hours trying to restore power.  They done good.  Hopefully that won't happen this year.  Woke up this morning to a light dusting of snow and temps in the teens.

Although the ground fog has dissipated somewhat, it's still moving through but not as heavy as earlier this morning.

 Tried to get a picture of this little critter on one of the suet blocks that I put out but couldn't get close enough for a clear shot.  I have to use a tripod with the telephoto because it's really hard to focus and hold steady offhand.  Think it's some kind of finch but haven't been able to identify him yet. Finally found him - it's an adult, male White-breasted Nuthatch.  Neat.

With the colder weather and being somewhat shut-in for bit, what better way to pass the time than to do some baking.  Cookies are always in style around here.  I ain't met a cookie yet that I didn't like.

These be Snickerdoodles.  A sugar cookie with cinnamon mixed in.  Unfortunately they just don't seem to last very long.  Cathy is also working on chicken and home made noodles.  Wow - ain't had those since my sister, Diane, was here last.  She makes 'em just like Mom used to.  Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.