HAPPY 2026!!!  

 

Yikes!!!  It was cold yesterday.  Look at that wind chill:  8 degrees.  But also look at the future forecast:  snow!!!

 

It probably won't snow, but it's fun to think about.  I mean, if it's going to be cold, we could at least get snow.  I am not trying to tell Mother Nature how to do her job;  I'm just asking for a bit of the fun stuff.  

 

Anyway, it's supposed to be warmer today.  We will take it.  ;)

 

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

Yep, this is the trail.  Now you see why we needed resting rocks along the way.

 

Blood Mountain is a beautiful section on the Appalachian Trail.  In fact, it is the highest point on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia.   The Appalachian Trail begins at Springer Mountain, Georgia, about 30 miles from this section.  We often meet through hikers in the spring on their way to Mount Katahdin, Maine.  That is the end of the 2,200 mile trail. 

 

Of course, we have no intention of through hiking, but it is always a happy day to hike this little bit of the Appalachian Trail.

 

 

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

 

I showed you the resting rock in our neighborhood last week.  Well, yesterday we hiked up Blood Mountain in Georgia and we stopped at all the good resting rocks.  This was our favorite.  It is a huge rock along the Appalachian Trail, and located at just the right place for a needed rest.  And best of all, there was a spot just the right height for me to park myself for a little rest.

 

It was a gorgeous day for a hike: 73 degrees;  it felt like May or June.  There were lots of folks on the trail, and we all had smiles on our faces.  

 

I hope your weather is nice right now.  I know there are lots of places where it is really cold;  and we will get that soon enough, but for now we are loving our warm December.  

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 

You gotta have pie for Christmas dinner, right?  Well, we made blueberry pie.  This is how it looked ready to go into the oven.  It wasn't quite as pretty coming out, but I'm not going to show you that.  It spilled over a bit.  And once we cut into it, it wasn't all that pretty anymore anyway.  Sure was good, though.

 

Hope you did something fun for your Christmas dinner.

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

How about this for a cute Christmas memory.  

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS, Y'ALL!!!

 

We went for a walk in the park on Saturday, and it was beautiful.  I think the temperature was about 55.  Pretty nice for the last day of autumn.  As we passed this American Beech, Jon mentioned how pretty the bark is:  it looks like camo.  It kinda matched his Mossy Oak hoodie, so I had to take their picture together.    

 

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

Picture borrowed from the Farmers Almanac.

 

Winter will arrive this morning at 10:03 EST.  It is the shortest day, and the longest night of the year. I know you know that already, but the Farmers Almanac has an interesting article on some fun rituals and practices surrounding the Winter Solstice.  Check it out:   https://www.farmersalmanac.com/winter-solstice-first-day-winter

 

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

Yay!!!!  They turned out great!!  I guess the secret is to cut them a little thicker than 1/4 inch.  

 

We cooked them on Wednesday, and they were just like Momma's:  crisp and a little bit crumbly.

 

I just know that Momma and Betsy were cheering me on.  

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

 

 

It is a lot warmer now.  We walked in the park the last couple days, and it is way better.  Yesterday it got up to 60 degrees.  What a difference!!!  We saw this grinch tree and Jon just had to have his picture with it.  Look:  no gloves.

 

You know, winter in the mountains is great.  We get a little cold, followed by a few days of warm, then a little more cold, then a little more warm, easing us into winter.  

 

We love all four seasons.  

 

HOPE YOU ARE HAVING FUN!!!