This is what I've been most thankful for my whole life.  

 

Betsy, Julie, Momma, Me, and Linda.  

 

I know the photo is kinda old, December, 2003, and we've all changed since then, but it's still the best way I know to show you my beautiful mother and sisters.  We live too far apart these days, and don't get to see each other nearly enough, but I am so thankful that we will always be BEST FRIENDS.

 

I hope you ALL have a 

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

 

 

 

We were on our west facing deck a couple days ago, thinking how beautiful this fall has been.  It's well into November and the colors are still bright.  

 

As we were sitting there, the clouds parted just in time to light up the hills, and let us see the sunset.  Wish you were here.

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

Nancy and I went for a walk in the woods on Sunday.  What a beautiful sight.  Everywhere we looked, something caught our attention.  The Maple and Beech and Oak  trees are bursting with color, and the creek is running.  We stopped often with mouths agape, enjoying the sights and sounds.  It felt like therapy after a long stressful week.

 

It reminded me of a word I read in a magazine:  SHINRIN-YOKU.  It is a Japanese word that translates to 'forest bathing.'

 

Forest bathing is just one of many Nature Therapies, including garden therapy, and ocean therapy.  They are exercises and activities that improve our health by being  immersed in Nature.  These therapies can restore our mental and physical health, and extend our lives.  If you'd like to read more about Nature Therapy, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_therapy?wprov=sfti1   The article is very interesting.

 

We are so fortunate to live here in Five Forks.  All we have to do is step outside and we are in the forest.  We have safe roads on which to walk, and the Creekside Trail is beautiful in all four seasons.  

 

I hope you are getting out into nature every day, and breathing the fresh air.  Think of it as therapy.  It's free, and we don't even need to go anywhere to get it.

 

 

HAPPY NOVEMBER!!!

 

 

 

Photo of WWI veteran, Joseph Ambrose (1896-1988) here attending the dedication parade for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982, holding the flag that covered the casket of his son, Clement, who was killed in the Korean War.  I copied this picture from Wikipedia.  It is priceless.

 

 

Today is Veterans Day:  the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and has been recognized as a day of remembrance in the United States since the end of World War I in 1918.  On November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the armistice, Woodrow Wilson issued a message expressing what the day means to Americans.  Please go to    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day?wprov=sfti1    and read for yourself what he said.  

 

At first it was called 'Armistice Day,' commemorating the end of World War I at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month.  It is still is called 'Armistice Day' in other countries, but in 1954 it was renamed 'Veterans Day' in the United States.  It is a day to celebrate the service of all U.S. military veterans.  

 

 

To all our veterans:  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!  

 

Now I know who did it!!!  

 

Jo and Mike Cox transformed the Jack O'Lantern haybale into this great turkey.  Thanks Y'all.

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

 

This is what Mark and Karen saw on Thursday morning, the results of hurricane Zeta.  These trees were standing on Wednesday, and early on Thursday they just fell over.  There were about 6 or 7 trees in this small area on the corner of Five Forks and Beaconhill that came down.   Actually this is what it looked like after the road had been cleared.  Cars couldn't pass onto Beaconhill.  But still, what a mess!!!

 

Now, just one week later, this is how it looks.  Thanks to the prompt action of our HOA, and Fidel and his crew.  

 

 

When I rode by, after I had taken the picture, I noticed that those 5 logs are gone.  Good work everybody!!!

 

 

WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD!!!

 

Actually, we voted 2 weeks ago, but since tomorrow is Election Day, I thought I'd let you know how easy it was to vote.  

 

There was no wait, because we were there at 9 am.  Each person was given a baggie with a mask, a pen, a Q-tip, and an I VOTED sticker.  All we had to do was tell the person at the computer our name and address, (no ID required) and she gave us a ballot.  We went into another spacious room with about 10 voting booths, made our choices using the Q-tip on the touch screen, and gave our ballot to the official.  She showed us, as it was fed into the machine, that our votes were counted.  EASY!!!

 

Not sure what it will be like tomorrow, but it couldn't have been any easier to vote in person, in Murphy.  We love our town.

 

I HOPE YOU VOTED TOO!!!

 

Halloween is just a few days away.  Are you ready?  I am.  I love dressing up like one insect or another for Halloween.  

 

For years, I wore butterfly wings, but they were huge, and got me into trouble more than once.  So lately, I've gone for the ladybug look.  Too bad you can't see the antennae.  They are 2" silver styrofoam balls attached with springs on a headband.  They are kinda wiggly.  :D

 

Besides, I love the idea that the appropriate collective noun is "a loveliness of ladybugs."  This costume always makes me feel lovely.

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, a little early.

 

Have you ever wondered what's under those well covers?  Besides snakes...

 

Well...yesterday we were walking the loop, and saw Jim and CB down by well #7.  It's the one down by the creek, near the chestnut trees.  This is what we saw!!!  

 

They were obviously working on the well, but I asked anyway:  Hey, what's up?  The answer was very interesting, and I thought you might like to know about it.

 

CB was installing an Ultraviolet sterilizer to the wellhead.  See that silver cylinder toward the back?  That is the housing for a UV light bulb.  Well #7 has often failed the bacteria test, so this is a reasonable solution for this well.  Not all our wells need this type of treatment system;  they've tested fine for years.

 

I learned that the UV sterilizer doesn't sterilize the water, but disrupts the DNA of bacteria and viruses, preventing them from performing certain cellular functions, essentially disabling them from contaminating the water.  There will also be a 20 micron filter in line before the UV sterilizer, to filter out most of the particles so they don't interfere with the UV system.  

 

This method for water treatment has been in use since the mid-20th century, and is called Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation, (UVGI).  Wikipedia has a good article if you want to explore it further.  Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation

 

A number of residents have installed UVGI systems in their homes, and they offer a sense of confidence when the natural eColi blooms.  But don't think that it comes cheap.  There are perpetual costs:  the UV tube needs to be replaced yearly, and the 20 micron filter even more often, costing hundreds of dollars.  And that's true with the system installed on well #7.  Perpetual costs are part of solving problems like this, but focusing on the safety of the community is the goal.

 

Oh, in case you're  wondering:  these UV tubes are generally using the spectrum called UV-C which kills lots of stuff, (including COVID).  

 

 

THAT'S WHAT I KNOW ABOUT IT.

 

 

 

I told you about Momma and Nanny and BeeBee peeling apples by hand, under the apple tree in the backyard.

 

Well, Momma gave me an apple peeler.  See that contraption on the counter?  It is fabulous for peeling and coring LOTS of apples. Then all you have to do is clean them up a bit and chop or slice for your apple projects.

 

This was our last day of making applesauce.  We canned 17 pints.   

 

WE ARE SO RICH!!!