mountain shadows

Mother Nature is going through the change

Brilliant maple colors

jig saw quilt -halfway done!

Picnic anyone?

Once again the driveway is our best seasonal indicator.

~

Mother Nature is going through the change

She is trying on different outfits,
What to wear today?
Tired of her boring green summer attire
she is ready for a change.

The hot flashes of red oak leaves,
the mellow yellow of the poplar,
let's see, today should the maple
be green or yellow or orange?

Her mood swings are evident in sudden
bursts of wind, like pitching a tantrum
tossing around brown leaves and tree limbs
expecting someone to clean up her mess.

Mother Nature is going through the change
after the brief flash of colors
it will be time to pull out the quilts,
get in the firewood, hunker down for a long winter.

~all photos taken 3 November 2008 here at home

Tour de Georgia

Tour de Georgia comes to Burnt Mountain!

The leaders of the pack whiz by with television cameras following close behind, 12:40 p.m.

The rest of the pack 10 minutes behind the leaders, 12:50 p.m.

Lots of cars along for the ride.

And then they were gone, 12:51 p.m.

Just standing by the mailbox watching the traffic go by, not much different than any other day here in the country. Though I did get some candy thrown to me!

photo album here

~featured on Georgia Blog Carnival #34

the way home

when we first found this old farm road, we went to the top of the hill and declared that this would be a great place for a house

it has not changed much over the years, a dirt and gravel lane
the old blue tractor keeps it in shape, smooths out the bumps

when there is not a drought, the perpetual puddle in the curve gives it character

stray dogs and cats have made their way up the drive looking for food and company, many have stayed - Dolly and Clifford come to mind

new babies made their first trip to their new home

many steps have been made from the school bus to the house, kicking rocks or picking flowers along the way

scars prove it is not practical for bicycles or scooters or skateboards

kids of all ages have sledded on its snow

daughters have learned to drive on it, the trees could tell some stories

there have been 4-wheelers ridden up and down, first by kids, now by grandkids

prom dates have made their way up the country drive, panicked at the dust on their newly waxed cars

moving trucks filled with boxes and a lifetime of memories have traveled out and back again

the familiar crunch of gravel on the tires is a welcome sound, a sign to sleeping children in the back seat to wake up

it changes with the seasons, a row of daffodils in the spring, or lined with rhododendron blooms in the summer

as the seasons change, it is littered with acorn shells, piled with colorful leaves, and eventually may be frosted with a layer of white snow

in November folks come up the driveway from near and far, inlaws and outlaws, to share turkey dinner

our connection to the outside world, there is no gate, all are welcome

whenever away from home - whether just to town, or gone on vacation, or returning from a long stint of work - our driveway is always a welcome sight

it's always good to be home again

~Susan Tidwell 2007

~photos - our driveway circa 1973

enjoy the view

driveway view...



down by the creek



catching some rays



settin a spell on the porch



The mountain laurel is really outdoing itself this year, possibly making up for all the trees and plants that were hit by the late freeze. The woods are full of blooms, sunshine, gentle breezes, birds singing. We saw deer in the yard, squirrels jumping from tree to tree, hummingbirds and bees buzzing around. Ahhhh, spring in the mountains, it doesn't get much better than this.

spring fever

What a beautiful weekend!


birthdays remembered - Wow, 65 years old! The eldest member of our family had a birthday, my sister-in-law, Kay. I can remember her 60th birthday party. Decorations were the usual - old embarrassing pictures, rocking chair, walker, and of course the coffin… her siblings must really love her! Happy 65th to our sister Kay!

And another birthday - Happy Birthday to son-in-law and neighbor - Keith, who turned 34!


on the homefront - Buddy has been working on weekends to fill the woodshed for next year - whew - glad to go back to work on Mondays to get some rest.



winners advance - The Lady Vols won once again - and are now in the Elite Eight! Way to go!

seasonal perks - Ah, spring is here - sleeping with the windows open, listening to the sounds of nature, waking up all stuffed up from snorting pollen…

welcome sight - the flower bulbs I planted last fall are up! And I thought that rascally raccoon got them!

the party's over

the confetti of leaves has fallen
the guests have all gone home,
taking with them
pictures and memories
of the seasonal change
in the mountains

the party is over
nothing left but
the clean up

the driveway looks a little different
than it did this day
last year
the wind and rain
have taken care of the leaves

the deck also looks a little different
than it did just a little while ago
with its summer decor

misty

misty
morning
sunshine
after
a
rainy
night
in
Georgia

winter magic

We have had more snowfalls this year than in many years, about 5 so far. Today's was very pretty, one picture looking out the front windows, another looking down the driveway. (click picture to see the snow falling)
Compare it to my fall driveway picture here.

With scent of wood smoke in the air
and cupboards filled with some to share,
my heart’s at ease as I await
for Winter’s grip to hold my gate.

I dread the wind, the snow and cold.
It wreaks such havoc when you’re old
and hampers all that I had planned,
yet oh the spectacle is grand.
- Susan Maree Jeavons

Country roads

Here is our driveway, looks like this is the peak of the leaf season. It is almost heaven here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, driving down our country roads. Of course, no one says it better than John Denver...

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains
Shenandoah River
Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Growin like a breeze

Country Roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads