Thanksgiving 2012

Good Morning my Coffee Friends.  Even though I have not written to you in some time I often think of you especially over Holidays such as Thanksgiving.  I hope you all had an extra special Thanksgiving with family, friends, laughter, warm full homes, and way to much food!!  We are actually cooking for family and friends on Sunday night.  We had Thanksgiving at one of my nephew's homes yesterday.  We are blessed with a wonderful family who can also cook.

Yesterday when we got home it was so warm, around 50 degrees, that I was inspired to string our Christmas lights around the deck rail while it was so nice outside.  I pretested them and then spent approx. two hours putting the lights up plugged them in and yes, really just like you are thinking one of the strands did not work and the timer would not light up correctly and kept going off and on.  So today I am going to fight the Black Friday Mobs to get some more lights and a new timer.  I had planned on not stepping a foot in a store today but I do want to finish out the light project before the cold weather comes in tonight.

We have been blessed with some beautiful weather the past few days - spoiled with some beautiful weather.  Sigmund and I have been going for a long walk every morning up on the mountain top.  What a privilege to have such a beautiful spot in the world.  We thank God every day for getting to enjoy this little spot of paradise.

 This morning the wind is starting to blow.  The eastern sky is beginning to show red as daylight is approaching.   The high today will be in the 50s but tomorrow will only be in the low 30's.  Tomorrow will be a good day to stay in and get the house ready for Sunday's Thanksgiving meal.

Last summer one of my friends recommended a book to me that some of you might enjoy reading.  It is The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews.  While unconscious from a wreck a guy named David travels around and meets various Famous people and they share life changing decisions that help determine personal success.

For example:

Anne Frank - "Today I will choose to be happy" .  What a great choice - we have so much to be happy about even when we have difficulties along life's road.  Our happiness can help uplift those around us that are having a bad day.

Abraham Lincoln - "I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit" - Now that is a mouthful and a mindful.  I am sure you all are familiar with many of his country lawyer philosophies one of which is, "A house divided against itself cannot stand".  Today we need to have a forgiving spirit so our great Country can be whole again.

King Solomon - "I will seek wisdom" - Wisdom, I would love to have more!  

President Truman - "The buck stops here"  - Dropping the bomb was quiet a decision that changed the world for all time.  

Colonel Chamberlain - "I am a person of action" 

You might enjoy reading this book when you have some spare time.

It is daylight now, Sigmund wants to help me type, so I will tell all my coffee buddies goodbye for now.  Have a wonderful day.   

Happy Easter!!

I am thinking of you, my coffee friends, in the quietude of this early Easter Morning.  It is to dark for the birds to be out but the wind chimes are softly tingling in the early morning breezes.  The weather forecast is predicting a lovely Easter Day.  Hope each of you have a wonderful day with your family and friends.  We are cooking for about 12 people tonight.  Ham, deviled eggs, sweet potatoes, green beans, rolls, pineapple salad, clam chowder,   brownies, and blueberry pie.

This morning's daily devotional was so appropriate for an Easter Sunday that I want to share the following scripture with you..

Romans 8:31-39

King James Version (KJV)

 ³¹What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
 ³²He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
 ³³Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
 ³⁴Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
 ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
 ³⁶As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
 ³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
 ³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
 ³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Happy Easter my friends!!

Psalm 100

April Fool's Day 2012 - My goodness how time does fly.  It is another beautiful morning in Boone - More like a May morning and the weather forecast is for a beautiful day.  The birds are out - today we have more finches than anything.  It is almost time for the squirrels.  All the feeders are freshly filled.  We also now have a water wiggler for our bird bath/water bowl.  My niece told me about the wiggler.  It keeps the water moving so that you go not get an algae growth or mosquito larva.

We have a guest this weekend, Nancy Kelley.  You have read some of my comments about our friend George Kelley.  Nancy is his wife.  She lives in Burlington and is doing great at 82.  Still drives, walks, and exercises daily.  One of her friends was coming to Boone and brought her up for a visit with us.

It is almost time for my favorite TV minister, Dr. Charles Stanley so today's coffee is sort of short but I do want to share the following scripture with you.

Psalm 100

 ¹Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

 ²Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

 ³Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

 ⁴Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

 ⁵For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Solitude, Silence, Time to Think

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

Quietude, the new in word.  For some time I have wanted to write a blog about Quietude.  When Bob and I were in Florida this past winter visiting with our friends the Bauers, we were sitting out on their screened in back porch having morning coffee and reading the Tampa Bay Times.  The Perspective by Pico Iyer was dedicated to Quietude.  It seems people are now paying up to $2,285 a night at the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur just to have quietude.  According to the author the future of travel lies in "black-hole resorts".  Places where people go to escape all technology,  Just think no tv, no computer, no cell phone - no busy busy traffic - just silence, reflection, and relaxation.

Maybe Thoreau was ahead of his time.  "The man whose horse trots a mile a minute does not carry the most important messages."   He also noted that we have more and more ways to communicate but less and less to say.   Blaise Pascal wrote, "Distraction is the only thing that consoles us for our miseries and yet it is itself the greatest of our miseries."

We certainly live in a distracting world.  We are constantly bombarded with noise or information of some sort - from TV's, Radios, Computers, iphones, ipads, traffic, trains, planes, cars, trucks, motors of all kinds, and the list could go on and on.  I can see why black-hole resorts are in demand.  In a way it seems like we have gotten addicted to the noise of life - maybe the noise does allow us to hide from what we consider to be our life problems.  (I tend to think our problems are few when compared to the rest of the world).

Have you noticed how many people are walking/running around listening to their music on their ipods?  Of course, in cities/towns where noise can be overwhelming, the music might be much more relaxing, sort of like a mini black hole with noise.  Few people really have the option of listening to quiet and many people are probably afraid to listen to quiet.  I am sure Daily Devotions and Prayer are the quietest time of day for many.  When you think about it - you can see why meditation is so important to many people.  Our minds need time to relax and absorb.   I often think about Simon and Garfunkle's song, "The sound of silence".  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTCNwgzM2rQ&feature=related

Sounds of Silence

Wind blowing through the trees
Wind chimes
Deer hoofs on dry leaves
Bird songs
Bird wings in flight
Bob breathing
Sigmund chasing unknowns in his sleep
Children laughing
Squirrels scurrying about in the woods
Insects buzzing
Roosters crowing
Chickens clucking
Animals voices
Thunder
Trees Falling
Ocean Waves
Rain, Sleet, Hail
Water


Photos of Silence

Clouds
Grass Growing
Flowers
Green
Blue
Brown
Butterfly Wings
Sunshine, Sunrises, Sunsets
Stars
Moon
Rainbows
Lightening Bolts
Snow
Fruit Ripening
Rocks, Mountains, Trees, Desert
Prayer

May you have time for moments of Quietude for they are the best of times..

Signs of Early Spring

Good Morning my coffee friends.  It is another warm morning for Boone in March - 55 degrees.  Wow, can you believe this warm temp. breaking weather we are having.  We are enjoying it very much.  Spring is certainly in the air.

-The grass is green and growing quickly
-Dandelions are blooming
-Daffodils are in full bloom
-Fruit trees are budding and blooming (unfortunately this is still Boone and the fruit will probably be killed with late freezes)
-Regular trees are budding - you can see a soft green beginning to touch the distant mountains
-The cattle for the pasture behind our house arrived yesterday..
-Frogs are croaking and hopping about
-The snapping turtles are crawling out of the ponds
-The fish are already eating food
-Migrating Canada Geese and various ducks have come by our pond for  a rest (we feed then corn)
-Robins are everywhere looking for that choice worm
-Sigmund and I are enjoying our walks of about two miles morning and evening

Spring is such a wonderful time of the year.  I think the greens of spring are some of the prettiest colors ever.

We may go hike Elk Knob today.  It is such a lovely state park and I try to take Sigmund once a year and hike it.  Some of our campers hike it routinely when they are here.

 Tonight I am going to one of our neighbors farms to buy some grass fed ground beef.  It is at least 90 percent lean and we know its history.  I am going to try and buy all of our beef locally - chestnutgrovefarms.net - check them out on the internet - they are only a couple of miles from us - Sigmund and I walk by their farm most every day.  Their prices are very competitive with the grocery store meat prices.  Grass fed beef taste wonderful.  Some of this stuff on the news about pink slime and seeing the photos from slaughter houses/feed lots is not very appetizing.  I would rather know the source of my meat and this way I am watching it  grow on the farm before they take it to a local slaughter house to be processed and then sold at Farmer's Markets and local groceries.

Well it is time to think about something to eat.  You all take care and have a wonderful day...

Oh wow, Oh wow, Oh wow - the sun just peeked its smiling red face over the mountain top - so beautiful - What a DAY!!

Daffodils Just For You!!

Daffodils are my favorite flower, Pansies would be second in line - Hope you enjoy this poem...

Daffodils by William Wordsworth

I wander'd lonely as as a cloud

    That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

    A host of golden daffodils,

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

    And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

    Along the margin of the bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they

    Outdid the sparkling waves in glee: --

A poet could not but be gay

    In such a jocund company!

I gazed, and gazed, but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought.

For oft, when on my couch I lie

    In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

    Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Wind Chimes

As I walked into our sun room this morning, coffee cup in hand, the first thing I heard was the wind chime.  At 5:30 it was still dark outside so this beautiful sound told me ah - the wind is blowing so I checked the temp and discovered it was almost 40 degrees - already on its way to 50 something for the day.  Another beautiful day in paradise.  We still have snow around our house, one of the benefits of living on the north side where we do not get as much sunshine.  The snow on the south side - the campground side of the road has melted.  The advantage of this is that our house is cooler in the summer.

I am sure the birds will be out in full force this morning when daylight arrives.  Maybe all five or our grey squirrels will show up for the free sunflower seeds.  I also sneak a few peanuts in the squirrel feeder for a treat.  No, I do not spoil my animals.  Speaking of spoiled animals, we have finally found a treat that Sigmund dearly loves.  As you know he is not a big eater and I am always delighted when he likes something.  One of our friends in Florida introduced Sigmund to these treats - I would never have thought he would like them.  They are yams wrapped in chicken/duck etc.  He chases me down for them.  He has this great trick that one of our other friends taught him.  He will sit and stay while you hide his treat somewhere in the house and then he will go find it.  He has a great nose so it does not take him long to smell it out.  Then of course he has to have a second treat as a reward for finding the first one....:)

Bob is already fixing his breakfast.  Both of us woke up early this morning but I am not quiet ready to eat.  Anyway we hope you have a wonderful day at your house.

Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Good Morning!

What a beautiful morning it is on the mountain top.  It is about 30 degrees, three inches of snow, wind chimes singing in the morning breeze, birds at all the feeders, squirrels out attacking the sunflower seed feeders with great gusto.  Did I mention a little snow blowing around.  Birds drinking at the heated water fountain.  Sigmund sitting beside me, Sigmund wanting to go outside for a bathroom break and scare everything away.  Here he comes back.  He is such a good doggie.  A hot cup of creamed coffee and and wonderful smells filling the house from a crock pot full of bean soup.  Yes, God's rich blessing surround us.

Today, I think we are staying in and I am continuing onward with office filing, cleaning - it will be in such good shape by the end of the day I will not know how to act.  I will put on the winter clothes and take Sigmund for a nice long snowy walk this morning and then again in this afternoon.  We have been walking about four miles a day.  Of the morning we walk up to the mountain top and out the ridge to what we call the magic stump.  An old stump covered with moss with a tree growing out of it. There is a little rock fairy house with a chimney right beside of it.  You just know the fairies have a lot of fun playing in the woods.  Then this afternoon we will walk down the dirt portion of Ray Brown Road to Cobbs Creek Road to Chestnut Grove Road.  We love walking up Chestnut Grove Road.  It is out of the wind - gets lovely sun when the sun is out- there are new baby calves and the Greene's have about 50 goats.  Their daffodils are already blooming.  I hope this snow doesn't kill them but daffodils are amazingly tough so maybe they will make it.  The Chestnut Grove Grass Fed Black Angus Farm is located on this road.  Check them out on the internet if you want to buy first quality Grass Fed Meat.  They also sell their meat at Bare Essentials in Boone.  They take really good care of their animals.

I have enjoyed having coffee with you and the birds this morning.  Take care and have a great day!!

Its snowing in Boone!!

Such a beautiful snow coming down on our mountain top - a perfect time for a cup of coffee.  The birds are out enjoying their morning snack.  I probably have about 25 right now.  If the snow does not get to deep today we are going to make chili this afternoon and have Charles, Garry, and Larry up for chili.  They love Bob's chili which is really Sam Durden's chili.  He is one of our seasonal's at the campground who shared his super recipe with us.  It is the only recipe we use for chili.

Instead of staying home yesterday, Bob, Sigmund, and I went on another wonderful adventure in our back yard. I have a few photos to share and will write more on that adventure - maybe this afternoon.  Meanwhile I wanted to share a devotional with you from a little book called Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  I like the daily devotionals in this book because it sounds like Jesus talking to us.


     "Try to view each day as an adventure carefully planned out by your guide.  Instead of staring into the day that is ahead of you, attempting to program it according to your will, be attentive to Me and all I have prepared for you.  Thank Me for this day of life, recognizing that it is a precious unrepeatable gift.  Trust that I am with you each moment, whether you sense My presence or not. A thankful, trusting attitude helps you see events in your life from My perspective.
     A life lived close to me will never be dull or predictable.  Expect each day to contain surprises.  Resist your tendency to search for the easiest route through the day.  Be willing to follow wherever I lead.  No matter how steep and treacherous the path before you, the safest place to be is at my side."

Enjoy your beautiful Sunday...

Crossnore and Spruce Pine

Good Morning my Coffee Friends!!  Seems like I have abandoned you but no I have not.  I think of you often, always with a smile and best wishes being sent your way.

We are back from our five week excursion in our new/used motorhome.  We had a wonderful time and I will try to post some more photos and thoughts on the trip as time goes by.

However, for now I will just wander around in my thoughts.  Yesterday was so beautiful in Boone.  It was sunny around 50 degrees, perfect for getting the car out and going for a drive somewhere.  As you know most of the time we go with no agenda and let the day happen and yesterday was no different.  Our first stop was in Crossnore at the school. http://www.crossnoreschool.org/   Although we have lived here forever, this was the first time we had ever visited Crossnore. What a sweet spirit this community has - I guess it is a reflection of the good things that happen with this school.  We visited the Weaving Room and bought two placemats that had been hand made in America at the school.  They have so many beautiful scarves, placemats, napkins, shawls, and many other things they have made.  The money goes to support the school.  Upstairs in this building they have an art gallery where local artist who want to support the school can sell their works.  What beautiful art!!  There was one landscape that was to large for any wall in our house that you could just get lost in.  It was a fisherman on the river almost lost in fog but so peaceful - the same sweet spirit as the community.  It was only priced at $12000.   They also have a second hand store sort of like a Goodwill store that the proceeds from help support the school.  They have nice clothes as many of the resort communites in the area help support the school and drop off their used goods to be sold at the store.  There is a coffee shop that the students work at to make money and learn business skills.  It was great chatting with the young man working there.  Also, the chapel has a fresco by Ben Long.  I did not know they had a fresco there.  It is of Jesus surrounded by the children - so appropriate for this location. There is a little meditation garden that I bet is just beautiful when it is lush with greenery.  If you are out driving around I hope your vehicle takes you to visit Crossnore School.

From Crossnore we drove on over to Spruce Pine to check out the Toe River that runs right through the middle of their town.  They have a lovely little community park on the river - perfect for trout fishing as this is a stocked trout stream that features delayed harvest rules.  We decided that we must return for another visit in our back yard and check out the Penland Art Center and the town of Bakersville.  It is amazing what is in our backyards.

Today, I think we are going to just hang out on our beautiful little Harmony Mountain and prepare for tomorrow's potential snow.  My birds are telling me their feeders need to be topped off so they will have plenty to eat during the snow.  The sun is out although there are a few clouds meandering in the back ground.

You all have a wonderful day!!!

From Sigmund - Things I am learning



Sigmund Patiently Waiting



I wanted to do my very own doggie blog but Mom said I could write on her blog.  I have only been a traveling dog in our motorhome for about a week now but I have learned many things.  I thought it might help other doggies if I shared them.

1.    I can get a free ride by sitting on the sofa when the slide goes out and in.  Also, if I sit on the sofa my precious tail and toes do not get caught in the slide

2.   It is 3250 steps to the pier at the end of Clam Cove Road.  There are many spots to pee and lots of good dog smells along the way



Potential Bathroom Spot



3.       Do not use my back paws to throw my poop way up in the air and spread it everywhere like I do on my very own mountain top back home.  My Mom must pick it up here and that is the rule.  If I spread it this is not an easy task.  I still poop in the tall weeds away from where everyone walks because I am a smart doggie

4.       There are more small dogs than there are big dogs

5.       Small dogs like to bark.  Small dogs like to growl at big dogs

6.       Lots of people use to own goldens or they always wanted to own a golden and therefore they want to pet me

7.       I get more petting if I do not jump on people.  Instead of jumping, I should just sit on their feet and lean up against them, look adoringly into their eyes with my big brown eyes and smile showing them pink tongue and pretty white teeth.  Also, sitting on their feet holds them in place and they cannot move away from petting me



The Jungle where varmits live



8.       Everyone wants to know about my name, Sigmund, Yes after Freud.  My mom tells them I am a therapy dog because I helped her get over Cyrus (the golden she had that passed away two days before I came into Mom’s life).  Everyone seems to like the story and I get extra pats on my head for being such a good therapy dog

9.       If I ever go to Las Vegas I should look up the vet there.  His Dad says he is a vet because he had a golden when he was a little boy and now he has two goldens that  are bigger than me but they are not girls – I might have gone to Vegas for girls because I understand that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas although I do not know what or where Vegas is

10.   One does not drink salty sea water because it is salty



Mom and Me - A good safe spot



11.   If one hears a strange noise in the bushes behind them it is best to run back to Mom’s side just in case

12.   I must get brushed daily so I do not get to much fur in my little home away from home

13.   A roll in the sand is good for the soul



Sand for Rolling In



14.   “Just a minute” means I am suppose to stop and patiently wait while Mom fiddles with the camera – she said I could put some photos on my blog

On The Road Again!!



Jekyll Island Campground



Magical Jungle on Jekyll Island



Don't you just love Willie's song, On the Road Again.  I think of it often in the summertime when I watch campers pull in and out of the campground.  Now I think of it in the wintertime :).  As most of you know Bob and I bought our very own 25 ft 2005 Isata motorhome.  It is turning out to be the perfect size and we love the layout in it.  It has one slide where the sofa is and that makes it very roomy for moving around on the inside.  After 38 years of having a campground, it is about time we are out camping.  We love staying in campgrounds even non KOA's.  Its great knowing so many people who already camp because we are getting some great recommendations on places to stay.



Jekyll Island Beach



As a result of that camper, today's coffe break is on the road from Jekyll's Island, GA.  What a beautiful spot in the world.  Sixtyfive percent of the island has to be left undeveloped .  The beaches are fantastic - broad and long and they seem to gently roll into an ocean that extends so far you can not distinguish the ocean from the sky on some days.  The waves are gentle.  This time of year there are not many people on the beach.  I counted six people yesterday as far as the eye could see.  The temperature is in the low 70's during the day and in the 40's to 50's at night.  Sigmund loves to go walking on the beach but he does not like to get in the ocean.  I have never loaded photos in a blog but maybe later on in the day I will edit this and try to put a photo of the beach so you can see what a pretty place it is.  It is suppose to rain today so we are going to do laundry and clean our little home away from home.  Of course in between showers Sigmon will get his long walk.

Walking Road Across From Campground

  Right across the road from the campground there is a road that winds beneath towering live oaks laden with spanish moss. The road leads  to the sound.  It is almost a mile to the pier on the sound so it makes a two mile walk - speed limit of 15 miles an hour for traffic.  It is a great place to walk me and the dog.  We woke up about 5 am  for Sigmon to have a bathroom break and were treated to an owl hooting and then out near the road we saw two small key type deers.  I quietly sneaked in the opposite direction so as not to interrupt their morning grazing.  The campground also has a bird santuary in honor of departed winter guests - lots of birdfeeders and ferns. It is very quiet and peacful filled with bird songs riding on gentle breezes. Gone but not forgotten.



Jekyll Island Campground Bird Santuary

 Let's see, one of my sisters loves all the funny things that happen along the way.  Laughter is a wonderful medicine.  We bought the camper with the help of Bank of the West.  It seems Bank of the West did not know us and would loan money whereas our very on bank in Boone that knows us would not loan the money.   Who knows?  I told the Boone bank it was their loss!!  So we get the camper home and all is well, Carolina Coach dealership had done a great job - it was clean , everything worked and they were even so kind as to have gotten a tag for it.  Two days before we were to leave for our first great adventure Carolina Coach called and said we needed to bring it back to them for inspection.  I said well it has a tag, it should be ok.  They said no, something was goofed up, good thing we were home, we took it to them on the way out of town and found out we were driving on an expired tag that had belonged to the gentleman who sold the unit on consignment.  (He was selling because his wife was terminal).  Now we are drivng on a 30 day tag and we were thinking we might not be home in 30 days.  I am thinking about were Garry could send our tag to us in Florida when it comes in the mail in Boone.  It was a good thing we did not know the tag was expired as I am sure I would have done something stupied and been pulled over and then how would I we have ever explained something we did not even know??



Little Cedar Creek Campground

 After the inspection stop, it was on the road to Little Cedar Creek Campground in SC (recommended by Sally).  Our first setup and thanks to automatic jacks we looked like pros.  We had practiced at our campground so we knew basically how everything worked on the camper.  We did discover that our TV satellite receiver and converter box no longer worked.  We think a wire somehow came loose during the jarring ride down I40 in NC near Clermont.  This road is awful.  Some of the tarp money should definitely have been sent for its repair.  Needless to say after finally figuring out some of the wiring system, we have wisely decided to wait until we see our friend Johnny in Florida for help.   At Johnny's suggestion we have been reading manuals on this trip and can now operate  the Bose surround system which gives us great radio.  We are surviving fine without TV but it will be nice for Bob when it is working again.



Lake at Savannah South KOA



Our second night of camping on the road was at the Savannah South KOA.  We felt right at home at the KOA and left them some of our brochures.  Hopefully someone will come our way when they read about our cool mountain summers.  This was the first time we dumped our holding tanks.  This worked like a charm thanks to Sally's instructions about dumping the black first and following with the grey to clean out the lines.  Then we ran a lot of water out of the holding tank as it tasted more like chlorine than water.   Have you noticed how much I mention Johnny and Sally in this coffee break?  They are our wonderful friends who have full timed it for about 10 years and are pros on all the stuff we need to know.  Hands on experience is different than being behind the counter at the campground.  We should have done this years ago..  Someday I will have to tell you the story of how Johnny and Sally came back into Bob's life and therefore into mine - what a blessing...



Notice the feet on this Driftwood - We call it walking driftwood!



Well I have typed for an hour and had a wonderful time sharing our beginning adventures with you.  I am hungry so I will go.  You all have a great day...I will try and add photos later. 



Bob and Sigmon showing off at a natural bench on Jekyll's



   

Bob and Sigmon enjoying a rest break!!



Giving Thanks

AT  0 degrees with howling winds making it seem more like -20 something I thought it would be a great day to chat with my coffee friends.  I slept late this morning.  The sound of the wind did not encourage me to rise and shine.  I think it is one of those days when the jet stream is right over us.  The wind sounds like a freight train.  We have an inch or so of snow.  A little snow here, a drift there, none in that spot - all depends on where the wind wants to place it on this day.  The little birds are trying to eat and the wind is blowing them around.  They are landing on the ground to get the food that is blowing out of the feeders. Also we have so many birds this morning there is not room at the feeders for all of them at the same time.  I have four regular bird feeders, a suet feeder, a sunflower seed feeder and two thistle seed feeders.  No one wants thistle seeds today.  They also have a heated water bowl and they are drinking from that.   I would guess at about 50 birds this morning.  The most birds we have had all winter.  Of course, it has been a mild winter for Boone.  We are thankful after the harshness of the past two winters.  One of my friends got me a subscription to Birds and Bloom.  What a wonderful magazine.  I highly recommend it if you love birds.

Hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas and that Santa was good to you.  He was exceptionally good to us this year.  After 38 years of owing a campground we (including the Bank of the West) now own a 2005 25ft motorhome.  Needless to say we are looking forward to some Florida time this winter.  Gee, I can have coffee with you all from Florida.  Technology is wonderful even if my phone is not smart and I do not have an ipad :).  I am the official driver of the mh - look out!!  It will be the first time I have done somethng like this so it will be a learning experience.  Quiet comical I would venture to guess.  One of my sister's says I am to write a travel log for her to read.  I wrote a couple of past adventures into logs and she has kept them for years.  She gets them out to read whenever she needs a laugh.  Be back in a minute, time to heat up the coffee and get some more of that real cream half & half.

Ok I am back with a steaming cup of well creamed coffee.  Also, a half of a banana.  I have not had breakfast yet.  I think I will have oatmeal this morning - seems like a good thing to do on such a cold morning.   I like to put bananas, yogurt, walnuts, raisins, and cinnamon in my oatmeal.  My sister likes to put peanut butter in hers for added protein.  I tried that and it is good.  Have you ever had peanut butter on you pancakes?  That is really good.  A great way to get a little extra protein if you are a vegeterian - of which I am not although I do think about it.  Bob likes meat so we usually have meat around and I eat it.  Of course I like food in general.

Did you all make a New Year's resolution?  I did - one that I can keep.  Mine is to be thank  God every day for life's blessings and to make a list of things I am thankful for each day.  By the end of the year my list should be very long.  Do you ever think of some of the things you are Thankful for?  Let's see to name just a few - I am thankful for Bob, Family (Just listing names would make for a very long list), Friends (another long list by names and you are on it), Boone KOA, Sigmund (our golden retriever), Health, Birds. Bird Food, snow, trees, wind, rain, sunshine, and the list goes own and own. I am especially thankful for each morning I wake up to another wonderful day.  Yes, this will be an easy resolution to keep.  Well, my stomach is hungry and you are probably tired of reading so its off to a bowl of oatmeal.  Take care of yourselves....your friend....Joann