A Century of Basketball

I love watching sports, especially college basketball and professional football. I haven't said much about the UNC TarHeels this season. Truth is, there isn't much to say. Plagued by injuries and other unseen forces, this team just doesn't seem to be able to pull it together. It has been a pretty miserable year for the coaches, the players, and the fans.

One bright UNC basketball spot happened last Friday when 70 former basketball player (ages 21-89) came together in Chapel Hill for a celebration of 100 years of Carolina basketball. The players were assigned to age groups and played for several minutes each.

[Photographs from the Tarheel Blue and Raleigh News and Observer]

Legendary Coach Dean Smith was honored yet again. Such a fine coach and a fine human being.

The players gathered 'round when 89 year-old bobby Gersten (he'll be 90 in August) beat out 83 year-old Nemo Nearman on the opening jump. Gersten still plays pick up games every summer at Brant Lake Camp in the Adirondacks.

Nemo Nearman (age 83) says he was glad they were divided by era. He allows he's not in shape to play those 60 year-olds.

The game ended with a score of 71-70, but no one cared about those numbers. It was a night of fun and memories with walk-ons playing alongside starters. Men who played for the college before I was born (and that, dear reader, was a LONG time ago) and men who graduated last year took turns playing for the crowds.

On Saturday, the current TarHeel team managed to defeat NC State to escape the cellar of the Atlantic Coast Conference. It made the team so happy to provide this victory in time for the banquet they attended with the alumni players.

I wasn't going to mention this...but we got dumped on with yet another snow storm early this morning. I am not at all happy about it. My friend across the street came back last night from a 2-week+ vacation on the sunny Mexican Gulf. She called me this morning and mentioned how beautiful everything looks in the snow. I may have to march across the street and smack her!

Fridays are Golden

Our dogs often share the same bed despite the fact that there are beds for each one. The instigator of this togetherness is always Lucy. It is never Ellie who goes over to lie next to Lucy but she doesn't object when Lucy lies next to (or on) her. Lucy explains her system:


Well, first you find out where Ellie is. Then you go over to that bed and nose around as if you aren't really interested. You sort of look around and then sit on the edge of the bed. You might have to wriggle your butt a bit in order to fit.

You sit there for a minute or two as if lying down is the last thing on your mind. Too bad I don't know how to hum or whistle because that's what I would do to show my disinterest.

Next, you begin to turn around in Ellie's direction. You look out the window as if you are watching something outdoors.

The next step takes a lot of practice. You simply plop down with no real idea how you will end up. This is a temporary move.

Once settled, you can feel free to move and use Ellie as a pillow. It may look simple, but then I have lots of practice.

Another Friday, another prediction for snow! We moved away from Wisconsin to be rid of the winter snow. Of course we are better prepared than some of the deep south states who are likely to get snowed in. What a strange winter.

Wherever you are and whatever your weather, enjoy the weekend with those you love. Take time for yourself and also give some time to others.

And Then the Sun Came Out

Despite a day of rain the icicles on the trees remained and continued to grow. The following morning we finally saw the sun. What a beautiful sight after so many gray and dreary wet and snowy days.

I would have liked to do some walking around to see the magic, but the constant cracking of broken tree limbs kept me grounded. These photographs were taken from our deck.


The Tufted Titmouse pauses during feeding.


The Purple Finch sits on an icy branch.

Sunrise actually brought the dawn. We hadn't seen the sun for many days.

Finally...the sky is Carolina blue.

The ice has melted from the trees but the weather has turned unseasonably cold and we have high winds, certain to bring down more trees. It's a bit scary to drive the mountain roads, not knowing if you will encounter fallen trees around the next curve. Here's hoping for better weather across the country. Stay safe and warm.

Finches in the Icy Trees

We had freezing rain for more than twenty-four hours. Despite temperatures just above freezing, none of the ice melted and the icicles covering the trees grew longer and longer. Branches came crashing down, unable to bear the additional weight. Trees toppled over, broken or uprooted. The branches fell in the forest and none of them threatened our house.

The birds had little trouble managing in the ice-covered branches. We did see a few minor slips as they landed, but for the most part they didn't seem to mind.

Here are a few photographs of the goldfinches who were constantly flying to the birdfeeders.




This one took some seed to the tree and ate there. Not as efficient, but at least no one kept knocking it off the perch.

This one shows a bit more color. Another sign that spring will come.

The trees were full of birds waiting a turn and all the feeder stations were full for most of the day.

The sun did not make an appearance at all on Friday.

I stayed wet most of the day what with shoveling the driveway and the deck and taking the dogs outside. The snow was rather like a giant Slushy, ice and water and each shovel full was very heavy. When I look at the photographs, I appreciate the beauty of the icy trees. That's one benefit of looking back. It certainly didn't seem beautiful to me when I shoveled and walked dogs in the pouring rain and cold. I used a lot of "dog towels" that day. I'm trying to ignore the weather forecast which is predicting another round of snow and freezing rain for us tomorrow. I've had enough!

Sometimes Saturdays are Golden

Another major winter storm descended upon us delivering snow, freezing rain, snow, freezing rain, etc., etc. Widespread power outages were expected and widespread power outages arrived and lingered all day. Everything is still coated in thick ice and loud cracks are heard throughout the forest as frozen limbs can no longer bear the weight. The ice thickly coated our Internet antenna and we had no reception...hence no Golden Friday post.

For the Golden Girls, the day was a bonanza as we spent most of it in the den. We have a generator that will run our house, but in the interest of conservation we turned off one of the heat pumps and settled ourselves in the den. The girls love that since they can freely romp and play there.

I have mentioned before that while we have a basket totally full of various toys, the dogs favorites are tennis balls and an old blue tug.

After yet another trip out in the freezing rain, the dry (but not yet groomed) dogs settled in to rest. Ellie chose to simply lie there holding a couple of tennis balls.




Lucy grabbed several tennis balls and put them in her bed.

You're not going to take this away from me, are you? I'll try not to have too much fun.

Lucy often rolls on the tennis balls for a quick massage.

A tennis ball on either side is better than one.

Sometimes a dog is just too tired to crawl all the way into bed for a nap.

But you can always count on a snuggle next to Ellie, even if there really isn't room for you. Just contort your body a little and you can make it.

This morning the sun is shining and the forest looks like a crystal cathedral. We will likely have more power outages and problems with fallen trees but we are as well prepared as one can be with a generator, good books, plenty of food and two wonderful Golden Girls to keep us amused and grounded.

Have a wonderful weekend, making the best of whatever awful weather you may be having. As you manage in bad circumstances, think of all the others who are in dire straits with no respite in their futures.

Noisy Nuthatches

Oh, is it February already? Guess I'd better keep my promise to resume the blog. Things are still quite hectic but all is well. What a spring it will be when everyone is back to whatever passes for normal.

Like most of North Carolina, we have had some severe weather with huge snow storms, freezing rain and ice. Unfortunately, we are expecting another episode for the weekend. The TarHeel basketball team can't seem to get it together so hopes are dim for a good year for them. Fortunately we have movies to watch and some really great books to read. How convenient that some of my favorite authors have come out with new books this winter. Right now I am mostly finished with Elizabeth Kostova's The Swan Thieves and it definitely proves her first book (The Historian) was not a "one-hit" wonder. A great plot with interesting characters and while totally different from her first book it is equally well-written and absolutely fascinating.

We have enjoyed watching the backyard birds eating us out of house and home. One of our most vocal birds this time of year is the White-breasted Nuthatch. Among our earliest nesters, they have already been searching houses and cavities. I don't recall these rituals so early, but clearly they are getting an early start this year.

The nuthatches checked out his very house last year and decided against it. I do hope they will use it this year but only time will tell.

I'm hoping to do more reading of your own blogs as we approach better times. I'll likely spend quite a few hours catching up because I truly am interested in finding out what's going on in your lives.

HEY! The sun is shining!

Fridays are Golden

The simplest of things often give us pause. I recently had my car serviced and waited more than two hours at the dealership. The time passed pleasantly while I read and listened to good music. As I was driving home I realized that the time spent in the car dealership had been the most quiet and soothing time I had in some weeks.

Aware that I so enjoyed the quiet time at a car dealership of all places, I realized that I am simply trying to do too much. Taking inventory of the things that must be done, I have decided to suspend blogging for the month of January.

I'm hoping that February will bring time for me to get outside and show you more of our winter mountains. Time to take the Golden Girls on the trails and show you how beautiful they are when they are running. Time to sit with my coffee and read your blogs, something I have truly missed. Perhaps even time to lie down for a snooze in the afternoon sun like Lucy and Ellie.








We are all doing well and things are progressing well toward normal. Not typically one to look back at the past year, I can assure you that I am delighted to say goodbye to 2009.

Thank you all for your kind comments on my blog. I have read and cherished every one of them. I will follow your blogs as time permits and hope to be back up and running in a month.

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND BLESSED NEW YEAR!