December already?

It's hard to believe that it's December already and that 2010 is coming to an end.  December also marks two very special occasions for me.  Rick and I will be celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary and it's also the one year anniversary of my retirement from the Air Force.  This year has gone by quickly and I'm ready for a new challenge, hence I will be starting school at UT in January.  Now I'm excited but a bit nervous as well.  I will be one of those students my daughter talks about at times, she is a Freshman in college.  A few times she has mentioned to me "we have a bunch of old people in our class"  and then "they ask alot of questions"....  It takes alot of courage for us "old people to go back to school", but at this point in my life I want to do something for me.  I want to do things on my terms now!  Wish me luck.

This week has been pretty quiet here.  We started off the week by transforming a gourd into a birdhouse.  Rick's dad gave us the gourd and the idea for a birdhouse.  Well after some research by the hubby, he found that you can choose what types of birds will roost, depending on the size of the hole you carve.  So we've gone for 1 1/4 inch and are hoping to get some Bluebirds.  It was alot like carving a pumpkin, the innards are slimy and there are a bunch of seeds.  The seeds were laid out to dry and hopefully can be planted in the spring and we can grow our own.

Another highlight of the week was our visit from a pair of bald eagles.  The hubby was outside and calls me on the cell phone, whispering "look out the window towards the lake".  Well to my great surprise there sat a bald eagle, and a few branches up was another.  So I'm assuming that they were mates.  I attempted to take pictures but was too far away, and as soon as I tried going outside they flew off.  But it was a very beautiful sight to see, and I hope to see more of them this winter.

Speaking of winter, it seems to be sneaking up on me.  There have been flurries twice this week, and I'm so not a winter person.  I guess you could blame Uncle Sam for keeping me in the warm climates for most of my 20 years.  Let's just say this will be an interesting winter to say the least! 

Hope everyone stays warm and safe!

"Thankful"

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching I would like to share what makes me thankful each day.

My amazing husband, who also holds the title as my best friend.  He has taught me how to live life to the fullest, and not be afraid to try new things in life.  Each day we share is a blessing, and he makes me a better person.  He's been an equally amazing role model for the girls, and each day he shares his experience, guidance and love with them. 

Two beautiful girls, who make me proud to be called Mom.  I have treasured each day with you, teaching, guiding, loving, and correcting when necessary.  I've watched you grow and turn into the young ladies that you are today.

A wonderful family who supports me unconditionally, loves me, and are there for me no matter what the situation.

For friends who make me laugh, and share some of life's best memories with me.

Our United States Armed Forces, the brave men and women both past and present who have risked their lives to protect this great nation.  The sacrifices they made to ensure our freedoms, and keep our country safe.  Take time out to thank one of these brave men or women today.

For the opportunity to return to school and follow my dreams.  Many years ago I worked at a nursing home, and enjoyed my job as a nursing assistant.  My hope was to join the Air Force and get assigned to the medical career field.  Well let's just say the plan did go accordingly and I took a 20 year detour.  But on a good note Uncle Sam will be footing the bill for school.

And lastly for the roof over our heads, food on the table, and good health and happiness.

May all of you my friends and family continue to have health and happiness as well.

Bonfire

  I sit on the porch this late afternoon in absolute silent.  The only sounds I hear are the occasional fish jumping in the lake, or the gentle rustle of the leaves.  I enjoy this time...it allows me to collect my thoughts.
  The last few days have been busy, fun filled days for our family.  My family made the trip down from Maryland to spend a few days with us.  I must say I love finally being on the same side of the world as the family.  These days however, went by entirely too fast for my liking, but non the less it was well spent quality time with the ones I love.  At first I was worried, that we would be too far out in the country...it gets really dark here at night, and there are no traffic noises.  But they loved our little piece of paradise!  That first hill is a doozy though, I think they have a new appreciation for paved roads. :-) 
  They were also able to be a part of the annual bonfire.  A tradition that my husband started long ago, but due to military assignments wasn't able to keep these last few years.  The tradition is that they only thing allowed to brought is a chair to sit in, nothing else.  We had hot dogs roasted over the open fire, and even made some smores.  It was a chance to get together with family and friends.  A time to eat, share stories, play games, and to end the even he set off fireworks.  The fireworks are a time to reflect on those who have gone before us, those that were watching down on us last night. 
  As the holidays quickly approach, take a few minutes to reflect and be thankful.

The views all around me!

I'm amazed at the beauty that surrounds me, the views here are simply amazing.  Each day it seems I see something new, or something old in a new light.  The morning fog rising off the lake is one of my favorites.  As a friend of mine has said "you can't beat the East Tennessee mornings" and I would whole heartily agree!  Two of my other latest fascinations are the animal sightings and all of the old structures I've seen.

In the last two weeks alone we've seen an array of animals.  A group of wild turkeys (which have visited us twice so far), a pair of baby raccoons, two osprey feeding on a dead fish, just to name a few.  My favorite by far was just spotted yesterday.  Rick and I were working out in the yard, when suddenly an osprey flew by being pursued by a bald eagle.  It was truly a sight to behold, and of course I didn't have a camera close by to snap a picture.  But on the flip side I also tend to scare off the animals...why you ask?  I have a habit of wanting to talk to the animals, using that voice that Mom's use to talk to babies.  Most of the time the animals just take off running, but you should see the hilarious look I get from the cows.  So perhaps I should listen to the hubby on this matter, and remain quietly on the sidelines and view only.

I tend to be easily mesmerized by the old barns and houses in the area.  Am I the only person who looks at an old house and wonder what it looked like in it's glory days?  I try to imagine...children playing in the yard, families sitting on the porch, happy times.  But then I wonder what caused the current state of disarray?  Didn't anyone care enough to try and save these old homes?  If only those walls could talk what kind of stories would be told?

Check out this old house...

The cows...

I've been loving the new life and all it has to offer, including helping his dad with the farm.  I've been somewhat fascintaed with the normal everyday animals such as the chickens & cows.  Well today was another first for me, we had to tend to a sick cow.  It's been off to itself for the last few days, and his dad seems to think it ate too many acorns.  I guess I never realized something so small could cause a cow so much pain.  Our morning started out by trying to get the sick cow into the shute, so that his dad could get some mineral oil into the cow.  I'm guessing to hopefully get thing moving thru it's system.  You could tell that it was sick, it didn't want to walk up the hill.  No matter what we tried we couldn't get that cow to move, and it put up a good fight.  But I've never been that close to a cow, where it didn't run from me.  So they finally got her down on the ground and got the oil down her throat.  She stayed down and lay there, so we left her alone for a few hours.  Sadly she died later in the afternoon.  It's interesting to watch how the other cows act, how they can sense when something is wrong with one of their own.  They gathered around her, as if to say goodbye.  They also watched while the cow was buried.  Another chapter in life on the farm.

The simple things...

Sometimes the simple things in life make a huge impact on our lives.  Whether it's the simple beauty that surrounds us or the simple kind acts of others. 

I find myself surrounded by nature's beauty.  Fall has brought about the changing leaves in vivid shades of red, orange and yellow.  I smile each time we're outside and Megan and I attempt to catch a falling leaf.  Or it could simply be when we are driving, with the windows wide open, and inhaling the crisp fall air.  I now understand my husbands claim that fall in East Tennessee is the best. 

Listening simply to the stories of days gone by, are another favorite of mine.  I love to hear Rick tell me childhood stories of growing up here.  We can pass something as simple as a wooden box, and he share with me the story of his Papaw being a beekeeper.  Never once does he remember his Papaw wearing any protective clothing, but neither does he remember him every being stung.  But he can clearly remember himself being stung, while cutting tobacco, and grabbing a handful of yellow jackets.  This he tells me is the last time he ever cut tobacco.

And a simple act of kindness can mean so much...over the last few months I have talked about wanting to have chickens.  I've never in my life owned chickens, but now I do.  One day while driving by the barn I noticed chickens, 6 hens in total, that his dad got for me.  And somehow I now have a rooster, although no one seems to know where he came from, but I will gladly keep him.  :-)  Such a wonderful thing for him to do, and it means the world to me.  So today we went and bought cracked corn, and I fed my chickens.  This is going to be another learning experience for me, but a happy one! 

The next time you think that the simple things don't matter, give it a second thought...it may mean the world to someone.

Lessons Learned.

During my short time living here, I have learned many lessons quickly!  The first goes back to a teenage thought...ever have one of those dumb ideas that you thought sounded good?  Luckily for me I didn't have to learn this lesson the hard way thanks to my wonderful husband.  As a teenager I always thought it would be fun to try "cow tipping", because of course cows can't run fast right?  When I mentioned this to Rick, he laughed of course.  He said that maybe that wasn't such a great idea.  Not soon after moving here I got to witness just how fast cows can run.  My father-in-law was rounding up the cows to take some to the market.  There were about 7 men in that field, circling around the cows.  Well all of the sudden those cows took of running, and the sound was amazing.  Of course I was watching on the other side of the fence, tucked safely in my truck.  But I have a new found appreciation for them, and now I just stop and talk to them as we drive by the field.  And of course they give me that "who's the crazy lady" look.  My second is all about nuts, we have more nuts around here than at my last family reunion!  Hickory, Acorn, Chesnut, Walnut...the list could go on for days...and they all end up in the drive way.  Have to ever tried walking down a gravel hill, with a bunch of nuts under foot.  It's like walking on marbles!!!  Need I mention that I'm not nearly as graceful as I was in my younger days.  So I provide humor for the family, arms flailing every which way, trying not to land on my bottom.  But I can identify which type of nuts that are taking me down....and have even ventured to try tasting a few.  Not bad...maybe a little salt to help the flavor.  And the final lesson learned so far is how hard it really is to chop firewood.  The only house I can remember living in with a fireplace as a child was my Grandmother's.  And magically the wood just appeared, it was always there no matter.  Never have I been in a position where I would have to gather wood.  Well over this last week that is just what we've been doing.  Hubby gave me a quick lesson on how to swing an axe, and cut me loose.  First swing, my whole body felt shook, and my hubby just laughed.  Seems that Hickory is one of the hardest woods to chop, nothing like setting your wife up.  But I was determined and after about 15 swings I finally loosened it up and got it to split!  A few days later my father-in-law was helping us, and he was splitting wood like it was as soft as butter.  Give me a few weeks and well see how it goes! 

Life as I know it now....

So I've decided to start blogging about my new life.  For those who know me, I have always lived the city life.  Even during my twenty years in the service, I've always been surrounded by people.  After my husband and I retired from the AF we moved back to his home town in TN.  This is a total shock to my system....never have I lived anywhere where I didnt' have neighbors right next door.  Now granted we have a neighbor about 1/4 of a mile up the road, and I do me up.  Did I mention you need 4 wheel drive to get to the top of that hill?  No bus stops here, we have to drive Megan the 2 miles out to catch the bus.  At night there is deafening silence, unless it's summer and you hear those crazy katydids (sp?).  But as my husband likes to say it's beautiful music to his ears.  So to say it's been a learning experience is an understatement, and I will have lots of stories to share.  Come join me on this adventure!