Fish, Roadside Art, and Brett

As the title suggest, this is a Monday morning mixture of totally unrelated topics. The weekend was something of a bummer. Promised sunshine did not appear. It rained on Saturday's Halloweenfest, our biggest downtown festival of the year. The dogs did not understand why dinnertime came on Sunday with no dinner. Both of them frequently nudged my husband's arm as if to remind him of dinner.

When our neighbor's grandsons came over for trick-or-treat, I totally forgot to get a photograph. They are usually the only trick-or-treaters we have and I always purchase three large bags of candy and dump an entire bag into each boy's pumpkin. According to their mother, the boys had become heroes of their schools when they told their friends about the "candy lady" who gives each a whole bag of candy.

There were a few bright spots in the weekend. My daughter caught her life-time biggest salmon, a Chinook, she thinks. She caught it fishing from the shore of Lake Michigan. She sent a photograph from her cell phone. This is her fish, being held with some difficulty by her fishing buddy. Yes, my nature-loving bird-watching daughter is also quite an angler.




A couple of weeks ago we drove to our favorite cemetery. On the way we noticed some interesting art work on the roadside. Initially I thought it was an old truck that had run off the road. Closer inspection revealed that it was not abandoned at all.





Here's the driver...a full-sized black bear.





A boar peeks from behind the front wheel.





Just a bit further and we found the ultimate flower child car. This one was also driven by a bear.





I suppose I am obliged to talk about THE GAME, painful as it may be. Brett Favre brought his Minnesota Vikings onto Lambeau Field to resounding "BOOs" from the fans. He took off his helmet and revealed his grin that says, "Keep it up, folks. It inspires me." The game was pretty pathetic with the Viking offensive line protecting Farve on each play and a receiver named Rice who caught anything within arm's reach. Meanwhile the Green Bay Packers still could not protect quarterback Rodgers, and committed far too many penalties. It was a sad day. The defensive coordinator apparently knew nothing about the blitz until someone told him late in the game. Penalties made some great plays returned. In short, if you can't protect your own quarterback and you can't get to the opposing quarterback and you add stupid penalty after stupid penalty you don't have much chance of winning.

This photograph shows the mixed feelings among the crowd. Some felt betrayed and others wore their Packer green #4 jerseys.

(Photo from The Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel)

A small plane circled the field with a trailing banner that said, "Retire 4 Ever."

This morning the sun came up as usual. And I'm looking forward to a much better week. I hope the same for all of you.

Fridays are Golden

We left the Golden Girls confused last Friday. Their beds had been taken outside. Lucy was standing bewildered and Ellie had high-tailed it to her crate...the place she can count on for safety and security.

Very soon my husband came downstairs carrying something of interest. Two very curious dogs examined it.



My husband left the room again.
Lucy said, "I'll bet there's going to be another one!"

Sure enough, here came another new dog bed.

You may have noticed that the beds have names on them. I thought this was foolish, but imagine my surprise when Lucy immediately determined that her bed was the one that said, "Lucy." My husband insisted she knew how to read, but I think she just wanted the first one. After all, she deserves to be first in line.

Within 30 seconds and one quick turnaround, Lucy snuggled into the plush new bed.

She immediately fell asleep. "Finally! A bed befitting my status as Princess."

Ellie was typically much more cautious. She seemed a bit unsure that this was really hers. My husband said that unlike Lucy, Ellie couldn't read her name.

Ellie settled in the bed, but looked a bit uncomfortable.

"This is too much like furniture. Are you sure it's all right for me to be lying here?"

Ellie quickly made herself comfortable. In no time at all, Lucy got out of her bed to share Ellie's bed with her. There is a lot of room so she isn't using Ellie for a pillow.

"Thank goodness that's over," says Ellie.

"Cool it, Elllie. There's always the upstairs bed we can share. You are almost as soft as my new bed."

The wind and rain have played havoc on the leaves and this morning is chilly with heavy fog. October is ending. It will be a rough Sunday for the girls since their own clocks do not reset and they will not be happy that dinnertime will be a little later. November arrives on Sunday if you can believe it. As so many wonderful people sang Sandy Denny's lovely song, "Who knows where the time goes?" It surely does fly. (Listen to North Carolina's own Nina Simone, or Sandy Denny, or Eva Cassidy, or Judy Collins sing this beautiful song. So sad that of the four, only Judy Collins remains with us.)

Have a wonderful weekend. Pause to count your blessings in life and think of those less fortunate.

Hold My Chicken Leg While I Burn This Bible

No Trick-or-Treating for these folks. At 7:00 on Halloween night members of tiny Amazing Grace Baptist Church in nearby Canton, North Carolina, will gather to perform an ancient (and illegal) ritual. You may have heard about them. They certainly have tried to out-Gosselin the Gosselins in attracting the media. Why, you might ask, are the Associated Press, national newspapers and television networks, and even the UK Telegraph, so interested in this little pastor and this little church?

Some call it the "Bonfire of the Profanities." Pastor Marc announced a burning of Bibles that are not the King James Version (KJV). He maintains that the KJV is the true word of God and that all other translations of the Bible are satanic. During the past month Pastor Marc and his followers have been gathering the "satanic" versions of the scripture along with sermons, books, and music they consider satanic as well. Writings include those by Mother Theresa, Billy Graham, the Pope. It might seem a bit strange to include Billy Graham since he is a very popular evangelical preacher from the NC mountains. However, he has occasionally used bibles that were not the KJV so his words have lost their Christian context. Contemporary Christian music will be added to the fire.

A scripture reference always provides the explanation for the actions. In this case, the church uses Acts 19:18-20 to justify their Bible burning. "And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed."

This photograph of the church is taken from their Web site:

http://amazinggracebaptistchurchkjv.com/Download99.html

This photograph is Pastor Marc in an interview with an AP reporter.

It is of note that this Bible burning celebration will include a fried chicken dinner with "all the fixin's." The visual of tossing a Bible into the fire while holding on to a piece of fried chicken is almost too much, isn't it?

---------------The bonfire is NOT open to the public. Only church members and others invited by the Pastor will be allowed to attend. Anyone else will be considered trespassing.

---------------While this post is written tongue-in-cheek, there is a serious part of me that is very frightened to be sharing my world with people who so fervently believe only they are correct.

---------------I feel the need to clarify a couple of things. For the most part, the citizens of Canton are just like the citizens of every other little mountain town. Secondly, this "Baptist" church is not a part of any other group of Baptist churches...it is yet another little independent church that names itself baptist. Anyone can start a baptist church around here...just find a meeting place, a preacher, and a couple of families and you have your own baptist church. Oh, you'll also need a collection plate.

More Bad News About the Slide

As the NC Department of Transportation reviews the major landslide across Interstate 40 the stabilization of the mountain and clearing of the debis seems more major than first reported. It now seems likely that this section of I40, a few miles from the NC/TN border is likely to remain completely closed for three months. And that is assuming good weather.

Two methods are being considered by the DOT. A helicopter (or possibly a crane) would be used to deliver hand drilling equipment to the top which would then be used to bore holes for dynamite blasting. The other method involves building a secondary road to the top of the area to allow of bringing heavy equipment. The slide must be stabilized from the top down.

Aerial view of the slide from Asheville Citizen-Times

West to east view - photo from Asheville Citizen-Times

Direct view - photo from the Asheville Citizen-Times

Why is this rock slide deserving of so much attention? Because this section of I40 sees about 25,000 vehicles every day with about half of them being commercial trucks traveling to and from the southeast to the midwest. There is no other Interstate to use as an alternative.

---------------Why am I writing this? To encourage the readers who follow this blog not to change their plans to visit western NC during the next several months. All you need to do is to plan a little extra time to allow for the detours. You will be rewarded with more views of our lovely mountains and small towns. And you will still reach your destination of ski resorts, the Biltmore House, the waterfalls, and all the other wonderful attractions we offer.

The Beach in the Fall Part Three

While very disappointed with the excessive building along the coast of the Outer Banks, we were delighted to find that the Cape Hatteras National Seashore still provides miles of unspoiled beaches and marshes to explore. It is a place of wonder and beauty.

Here are some shots during respites from the rain.

The ocean attracts me like a magnet no matter what the weather. I think part of it is the ever-changing nature. While our mountains do indeed change their garb it is a slower process. The sea changes from minute to minute and I love it.

I was delighted and surprised to find (of all things) a persimmon tree. I recall gathering persimmons (or 'simmons as my grammy called them) and helping Grammy make persimmon bread and persimmon puddings. Every single year my brother would dare (I mean D-Double-Dog Dare) me to bite into one that wasn't quite ripe. And yes, every single year I did it knowing full well it would "turn your mouth inside out." (Hey, you can't just walk away from a D-Double-Dog-Dare, now can you?)

A sunrise on the ocean was a rare occurrence during our visit. The sky is red and predictably we had more rain that day.

Our trip to the Outer Banks was a good one, despite our disappointment in the over-developed shore and the rain. The place holds very special memories of earlier times and helps to ground us and to remember where we came from. Our next beach trip will more likely be to the Georgia Golden Isles, another special place.

Life was made more difficult for the leaf lookers (peepers) and everyone else when a major rockslide closed all lanes of Interstate 40, the major artery from western NC to the north. The landslide is in neighboring Haywood County just a few miles from the Tennessee border. All lanes will be closed for several days (to several weeks) until the slide is stabilized. After that the traffic will likely be re-routed on the east-bound lanes with one lane of traffic in each direction (if we're lucky). Makes travel much more difficult since there is hardly a reasonable detour.

Photograph from the Asheville Citizen-Times

The lookers are already struggling with a Blue Ridge Parkway closure. An unstable area has closed the BRP between Asheville and Mt. Pisgah at mile markers 399.7-401.1. This is a heavily traveled area in the fall and will likely be closed for months.

I hope your Monday starts on a good note and signals a good week for you no matter what you will be doing.

Fridays are Golden

The Golden Girls have complained recently about the quality (or lack of quality) of their beds in the den. The other week my husband and I noticed the beds are getting a bit ratty. With each washing of the covering, the foam inside is a little more lumpy. Perhaps it is time to get the girls new beds.

On the other hand...they certainly don't seem to have any trouble at all sleeping in these as this picture of Lucy suggests.

But you don't know how much circling and pawing I had to do to finally get to sleep. And look how my head is hanging over the side, and my paw as well.

Ellie is sound asleep in her bed as well.

Yes, Mom. I may be asleep but I'm not all that comfortable. These bolsters don't hold up all that well.

Imagine their surprise the other afternoon when my husband picked up both beds to take them outside.

Lucy immediately follows him and almost grabbed one of them.

Whoa Dad. What are you doing?

Both dogs are keenly interested in what is going on. The dogs don't like change. They don't even like it when the covers are being washed, or when the beds are moved for vacuuming. And now their beds are being dragged out right in front of them.

Lucy looks dismayed to see the beds outside on the steps.

I don't get it. Are we going somewhere? We never take these old beds with us.

Ellie takes her typical defensive action.

This is too scary for me. I'm going to get in my crate.

My husband has gone up the stairs and Lucy stares up there in wonderment.

Dad! Have you lost it? You left our beds outside!

Well, girls. Remember that really big package we got before went on vacation? And you were really interested in it?

And soon another identical one arrived.

The tag on the box may give you a clue about the contents.

[TO BE CONTINUED]

After a beautiful sunny week, it is raining and windy here today. The trees are swaying and the leaves are falling in huge numbers. The birds are flocking to the feeders this morning.

WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING THIS WEEKEND AND NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, PLEASE THINK OF YOURSELF AND RELAX A LITTLE.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND, EVERYONE!

The Beach in the Fall Part Two

Neither my husband or I were sufficiently fortunate to be born into wealthy families. We married when my husband was an intern back in the days when interns were paid very little. I made more money as an RN than he did. We each brought student loans and car payments to the marriage.

Every year we took our vacation in the off season. Why? As the Christmas Spirit told Scrooge, "Because it's all they can afford." We loved the quiet and charming coastal towns of Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Rodanthe and Ocracoke. We stayed in one of the few motels and spent the week on the beach. We drove our Jeep on the sand of the National Seashore and spent the days there, my husband fishing and I reading or walking along the shore. Didn't cost a thing except the drinks and sandwiches we brought with us. It was indeed a wonderful time.

We had not been to the Outer Banks since 1985. We expected to find major changes and we definitely did. Houses dot every inch of ocean-front, even in places I recall to be inlets so many years ago (and will no doubt be inlets again some day). We did indeed find the motel where we stayed, but the nearby fishing pier was lost during Hurricane Isabel. Since it is owned by the State, it is being rebuilt. Private fishing piers lost through hurricanes cannot be rebuilt.

When we last visited, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was on the ocean itself and already in danger of being swallowed up by the sea. It has since been moved further inland. (You should see a video of the move. Absolutely incredible!)

It was dark and raining when we visited the lighthouse on this trip. It seemed quite odd that it is no longer sitting on the shore.



This is the Bonner Bridge, a two-and-a-half mile long structure that rises and curves and crosses Oregon Inlet to the National Seashore. Built in 1963, the bridge is old and constantly being repaired. It's scary as the dickens, but you have to cross over it to get to the peaceful and beautiful pristine seashore.

We did not have the best weather during our week. This particular morning showed two positive signs; 1) the sun rose behind the clouds, and 2) the sky was not red.

Sure enough! Sun came out and we had a sunny day...the only one of the week.

We drove up to the Currituck Lighthouse which is in such a lovely setting.

The weather resumed its cloudy, scattered showers pattern the day we went to Ocracoke. The island can be reached only by ferry. My husband took this photograph of the other ferry crossing in the opposite direction.

This is the Ocracoke Lighthouse. Why is it that people are absolutely determined to walk right in front of your camera?

I was dismayed to find the Ocracoke Village has really lost a lot of its charm. Everything is geared to the tourists and there are "tourist trap" type shops everywhere.

I couldn't help stopping to photograph this market sign in Rodanthe. I'm not at all certain what the risky business might be...the start-up of a market, or the chances you take in buying their fish.

If I sound a bit bitter about the massive construction on the shores of the Outer Banks, it's because I am. There hasn't been a major direct hurricane strike in quite some time and folks appear to have forgotten what the seas can do. A direct hit will cut new inlets and wipe out a lot of the houses.

Oh, but they do have insurance which I help to underwrite. Yep, my homeowner's insurance is more costly because I help share the cost of insurance for the houses on the beach.