Posted on February 8, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
Our beautiful maple tree died a few years ago. We had Lopez cut out the canopy a couple years ago, and yesterday we had him come and take it all the way down. He estimated the tree at 60 years old. We will certainly miss its beauty and its shade.
What an amazing character: Abraham Lopez!!! He climbed up into the tree and took it out piece by piece. The main portion of the tree may have been rotted, so he did the work from the smaller section. Stand by for this:
He cut the main part of the tree from this angle. I'm not sure I can stand on terra firma at this angle. But he did it, and the tree is gone. Well, its parts are still on our property, but it isn't standing next to the garden, waiting to fall down.
I hope you will call Lopez Tree Service for your next tree removal; his company is listed under Neighbors sharing, vendors. He is a gem.
HAPPY FEBRUARY!!!
Posted on February 4, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
Walking in the park one day, we saw these growing on a fallen tree trunk. I thought they were interesting standing at attention like this, so I checked in with my Seek app for ID. I always thought they were some kind of lichen, but Seek told me that they are False Turkey Tail mushroom, Stereum ostrea.
They are native to our area, and I've seen them lots of times before. But it is always kinda fun to know what to call plants when we see them.
HAPPY FEBRUARY!!!
Posted on February 2, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
Oh yeah, I just remembered that Julie sent me this picture of baby armadillos in her yard in Mississippi. She told me they wern't afraid of anything, that she had to make a lot of noise to get them to shoo. ICK!!!
I remember a road trip that Julie and I took back in the 1980's. We were traveling from New Mexico to Virginia. Sarah was really young at the time, maybe 7 or 8 years old. Anyway, Julie would send her postcards all along the way until we got home. And I remember her writing, We saw 6, 8, 10, (however many) armadillos today. Of course, they were all belly up on the highway, but Julie didn't tell Sarah that part. We laughed, not at their demise, but at Julie's funny word play.
OK, that's all I know about armadillos, except that they don't just live in Texas and Mississippi. They also live here!!!
HAPPY FEBRUARY!!!
Posted on February 1, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
Well...it was such a beautiful winter day on Thursday, we got busy and pruned the blueberry bushes. I told you that they get pruned when they are dormant, when the flower buds and leaf buds are tiny. No pictures of them, but...
As we were tossing the cut branches out into the driveway, Jon heard a snuffling noise across the road. We looked up and saw this armadillo digging under the leaves. All we could see was his back, and the leaves moving ahead of him. (I HOPE it was a HIM, definitely don't want "rolls" of these things around.) It took about 5 minutes and 10 pictures to finally see his head. For perspective, I guess he weighs about 5 pounds. Bag of flour? Yeah, about that, maybe a little bigger. EEK!!!
I bet Gizmo has seen him, but this was the first time for me. I thought they lived in Texas.
HAPPY FEBRUARY!!!
Posted on January 31, 2025 9:00 AM by Gerry Trout
We went for a walk yesterday, and saw several patches of snow and ice still!!!
It's been three weeks since our big snow, and it is still hanging around. Does that mean it's waiting for more? I doubt it; for the upcoming weekend and all next week the predictions are for highs in the 60s.
We will take it, and be happy.
HAPPY WINTER!!!
Posted on January 26, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
The sun was out, and the temperature was almost 40 degrees, so we went for a walk yesterday. I was surprised to see that there is still ice on the rocks just below our house. It has been two weeks since our big snow, but it has been so cold, the ice and some of the snow hasn't melted YET!!!
We are so happy to see that it should be getting warmer this coming week. I hope you are warm wherever you are.
HAPPY JANUARY!!!
Posted on January 24, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
It took me three days, but I got my valentines made and ready to mail. I started with a few pieces of card stock, some pretty paper, scissors, glue, ink, and a few cool tools. I made 50 valentines for my friends and family. How lucky am I?
HAPPY WINTER CRAFTING!!!
Posted on January 21, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
We didn't get hit like last week, but you can see the snow rolling across the mountains. We can usually see the Great Smoky Mountains in the distance, but on Sunday, all we could see was snow heading our way. The snow didn't amount to much, but the temperature dropped below 10 degrees, and the wind chill was worse.
So, we just stayed inside and got started making Valentines. That always warms me up.
HAPPY JANUARY STILL!!!
Posted on January 19, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
We were able to get out a couple days ago, and the main thing on my shopping list was flowers.
OK, we bought cauliflower and Brussels sprouts and milk too, but I need flowers in the winter. I am so glad the grocery store sells them. I can spend $3, and get enough to fill my little marigold vases.
Some things are essential for winter survival. For me, it's flowers.
HAPPY WINTER!!!
Posted on January 16, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
It snowed here on Friday, and I took this picture the following Tuesday. Some of our roads were still covered with snow and ice. And there is still lots of snow on the ground. So George was out on his tractor clearing what he could.
We tried walking, but it was too treacherous, and I fell a couple times. Not good!!! I'm OK, but, just to be safe, we are staying inside until the roads are clear of ice.
Overnight lows are predicted to be in the teens through next week, so we probably won't be going anywhere any time soon. That's OK, I am happy staying home.
HAPPY WINTER!!!