It's Definitely Fall!

Yup, it's is. It was cold this weekend, just as it was everywhere else in the north east. It is much to soon for me. I want the warmth of the sun to wash over me. But there are advantages to the cooler weather, such as no need for a/c, no sweating at night, less bugs and of course, birds!

This is a rose breasted grosbeak female, the male is with her and is a first winter male. He looks just like the female except a little darker. A rose breasted came through last spring and then I never saw it again. Now there are two of them. I wonder how long they will stay


Here is a shot of both of them and as you can see, one is slightly darker than the other. Now if they would only turn around!

So far, we have the usual gang: chickadees, tufted titmouse, nuthatch, downy woodpecker, cardinals, and lots of doves that eat up all the food!.

I will keep posting pics of birds that visit my feeders!

Today is Full of Water

The creek is rising all right.  I went out an took some pics of it today. Had to watch where it the bank was undercut.  There is a really deep undercut right underneath one of the hemlock trees which is now leaning a bit.  It will fall towards the land, not across the creek.

This is the trout pool where I feed the fish!  Now today it looks like this:

 

The creek is really full and starting to climb into the yard just a little.  But it is still raining.

So I hope that the creek stays away from the house and pool.  And it is supposed to get very cold tonight, so I took all my houseplants and orchids into the house.

Added more lights to the iguanas' cages for more heat.  They hate cloudy days and do not eat well on those days.  Hopefully the additional light and heat will help.

We went dancing in Asheville on Thursday night.  It was a fantastic dance!  I wore my new skirt that I bought on ETSY.  It twirled beautifully.  The band, Wild Asparagus with George Marshall (whom I had a crush on years and years ago) calling.  They recognized me after not seeing them for 17 years.  Then ran into an old dance friend, Bruce Henderson, that I also have not seen for that long!  What a night!

 
George Marshall
Wild Asparagus
Me and my skirt!
Stev!

We left about 11 pm or later and got home about 1 am.  I am still recovering from the dance!  But it was a wonderful night.

Sterling silver handmade hooks

Sterling silver handmade hooks
Originally uploaded by hemlockhollow

Just made these for the necklace.

End of Summer

Here it is September already and I am not ready for it yet!  I didn't swim enough in the pool, I didn't take enough photographs and on and on.  But now the leaves will change and soon will come winter, when I will cozy up to the wood stove.

I did open up a new shop for vintage stuff!  Frog Pond Vintage.  I've been collecting stuff all my life.  It is time to clear some stuff out!  Ribbit!
 http://www.frogpondvintage.etsy.com

We have had lots of rabbits around the house, baby cardinals just learning to eat seeds, a family of crows.  But the turkey has not been back.  I think she is hiding for hunting season coming up!  

I Can't Believe It!

Yup, we went to Vancouver for the wedding of my stepson, Joshua.  We were gone for eight days.  In that time, my car stayed here and Stev's near the airport in Knoxville.

I hadn't driven the car until the other day.  I noticed a very strong stink! I opened the windows and it seemed to abate.  I figured that the neighborhood dogs had used the tires for their urinating.  Boy, did it stink!

Then I noticed some little black things on the dashboard, not moving.  Figured that maybe some black ants had made their way in and died on the dashboard.  Boy, was I wrong!

I drove my little car to stained glass class yesterday and started noticing all these little black oval hard things - not ants.  

Slowly I opened the glove compartment.  OH NO!  A mouse nest! A big white fluffly nest in my glove compartment!  And oh did it stink!

I now realized that a family of mice had somehow found their way into the car (probably from below) and had taken up housekeeping and such.  There were little turds everywhere! In the back, on the floor, in my cupholder! the nerve of them!

It is now all cleaned out and disinfected.  And I hope they never return!  

Ah, the life of a country gal!

And, IT DOES NOT STINK!

Turkey Trot

 

I looked out the office/workshop window and there was this turkey!! First time I have had one in the yard.  I have been putting down scratch to attract wildlife, not really expecting a turkey!  These pics were taken through a screen window. Came out pretty good.

 

And this is a nest full of phoebes!  there are four birds in this nest!  Momma was on the tree nearby watching me.

I love old houses full of memories. And old buildings in general. This schoolhouse is in Greystone, TN. The house is on Rte 107 in NE TN.

It was a rainy grey day when I shot the house - appropriate.