Archive for January, 2009

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Our Woodpile is Shrinking

January 22, 2009

woodpile01

Our woodpile is shrinking.

This cold snap, and an earlier one in November, have put a dent in our woodpile as you can see from the picture above.

We usually have a fire in the fireplace when the temperature drops below 40°.  We have a fire because a certain blonde in my life likes fireplace fires and also because it helps warm the house.  In the past we’ve had fires mostly in the evenings while watching TV, but it’s been so cold for the past week that we’ve tried to keep the fire going through the night.  I’m not sure if it will help us make up for TVA’s rate hikes, but the heat usually comes on only in the early morning about dawn.  When we get up we get the fire going good again and the heat usually goes off for the rest of the day.

We get our wood cut to length, but I usually split some of the bigger pieces.  That gives me something to do during the day.  I can get even more exercise by carrying the wood from the woodpile to the garage.

We try to maintain a two-year supply of wood so that it has plenty of time to age before we burn it.  So although this year’s pile is dwindling, we still have plenty of wood.  But in spite of that I sure would like things to warm up.

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Posted in Home | 25 Comments »

Watery Wednesday # 19

January 20, 2009
The 14th fairway of Druid Hills. February, 2006.

The 14th fairway of Druid Hills. February, 2006.

We finally got some snow here in the Glade — not much, but enough to give us a white coating.

The picture above (which can be enlarged by clicking on it) was taken in 2006, but it is representative of the way things looked yesterday and today.  The picture was taken on the 14th fairway of the Druid Hills golf course.  (I wonder how many golf balls are at the bottom of that pond?)

I like this picture because of the gray skies, the white coating of snow, the bare trees, the dark waters and the reflection in the water.  All in all it does a pretty good job of showing why we think the Glade is beautiful any time of the year.

To see more of our watery world, check out the Watery Wednesday meme by clicking HERE.

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Posted in Glade | 36 Comments »

My World # 14

January 19, 2009
Our roses in the snow. January 19, 2008.

Our roses in the snow. January 19, 2009.

This is my posting for the My World meme, which last week had 102 people sharing their worlds with us. To join in, click HERE.

As most of you know, my beautiful bride loves snow.  She has been disappointed by the lack of snow this winter.  But we finally got some during the day on Monday, as you can see from the picture above.  So Betsy is now feeling a little happier, although she’s hoping for an additional 3 or 4 inches!

I have to admit that I’m not as enthusiastic about the snow as Betsy is.  The picture also shows a part of one of our rose beds, and the roses sure do look cold.  I want to see them green and in bloom!

Snow on our jasmine bush. January 19, 2009.

Snow on our jasmine bush. January 19, 2009.

I know Betsy would like to have more snow, so I tried to make it look as if we had more snow than we actually did by taking this close up of snow on the jasmine bush.

My world this week was gray, cloudy and cold.  I’m hoping it will be brighter, sunnier and warmer next week!

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Posted in Home | 46 Comments »

It Was Cold Then Also

January 19, 2009
A snowy street in Tianjin. December, 1994.

A snowy street in Tianjin. December, 1994.

As most of you know, Betsy loves snow and has been bitterly disappointed that we haven’t had any so far this winter.  We had a problem with black ice Saturday night/Sunday morning here on Plateau, but that’s not the same thing.

So, being the nice husband that I am, I tried to find a picture with snow that Betsy hadn’t seen.  In the process I reminded myself of what it means to feel cold.

The picture above was taken outside the main gate to Tianjin Foreign Language University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China, in December, 1994.  I was teaching English at the university that year.  The street scene is very typical of Tianjin at that time — a few motorized vehicles, but lots of bicycles.

We didn’t have a great deal of snow in Tianjin that year, but it sure was cold.  Like everyone else, I rode a bicycle when I had to go somewhere beyond walking distance.  My apartment had heat, but the classrooms were unheated.  I’ll have to admit that I never quite got used to teaching with my winter coat and gloves on!

Fortunately spring did come to Tianjin and we all thawed out.  But I do have many happy memories of my year in Tianjin and I hope Betsy appreciates the opportunity to see some snow!

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Posted in China | 19 Comments »

Scenic Sunday 27

January 17, 2009
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. September, 2001.

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. September, 2001.

The picture above, which can be enlarged by clicking on it,  was taken in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, in September, 2001.  It was taken on the first morning of our Caribbean cruise.  The ship had docked fairly early in the morning, and this is the scene Betsy and I saw as we had our breakfast.

St. Thomas was discovered by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in 1493, but the first permanent European settlement didn’t come until nearly 200 years later when the Danish West India Company received its charter from King Christian V to occupy and take possession of St. Thomas and other nearby islands in 1671.

St. Thomas remained under Danish control (with a couple of short exceptions) until March 31, 1917, when it, St. Johns and St. Croix islands were purchased by the United States.

While eating our breakfast both Betsy and I were impressed by the blue of the sky and the deeper emerald blue of the waters of the sea.  We were also fascinated by the small boats in the harbor and the white houses dotting the mountain sides.

To see more beautiful scenes from around the world click HERE or on the logo below.

scenicsunday

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Posted in Travels | 23 Comments »

I Was Tagged

January 17, 2009

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My beautiful bride tagged me Thursday,  I wasn’t able to do anything about it at the time, but now I can share with you what she inflicted upon me.

Upon being notified that I was tagged, I received the following instructions:  “Open a document or a picture folder. Then click on the fifth folder and then the fifth photo. Post the photo and describe it.”

My beautiful bride often doesn’t like to have her picture posted, so there is at least a certain amount of poetic justice involved in following her instructions.  The designated picture (shown above — it can be made larger) was taken in May, 2007, at Cherry Grove Point in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Cherry Grove Point is at the extreme northern end of North Myrtle Beach.  We went to the point one evening after dinner and since it was low tide we were able to walk around the point.  Once around the point, we could see the sun setting over the marsh west of the beach.  That’s when I took this picture — doesn’t she look beautiful in the sunlight?

The rest of the instructions say that I am to tag five additional people.  I’ll admit that I have a problem with that.  Many of the bloggers I visit have fantastic photographs, but I don’t want to impose on them.  I will, admit, however, that it is an interesting exercise.  If you would like to try it, consider yourself tagged and please post the results.

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Posted in Betsy | 26 Comments »

Skywatch Friday 27

January 15, 2009
Little River Neck, South Carolina. June, 2001.

Little River Neck, South Carolina. June, 2001.

The picture above was taken in the early afternoon in June, 2001, on Little River Inlet in South Carolina.  The trees are on Little River Neck, a narrow strip of land between the inlet (part of the Intracoastal Waterway) and the Atlantic Ocean.  The clouds are forming over the ocean.  You can click on the picture to enlarge it.

I lived in the town of Little River, South Carolina, from 1998 – 2000.  Beautiful clear skies in the morning and early afternoon were often followed by clouds and a sea breeze in the afternoon, making for a very pleasant environment.

Betsy and I were on a cruise from Little River out into the Atlantic Ocean when this picture was taken.

If you would like to join the fun of Skywatch Friday or to see more pictures from around the world, click HERE or on the logo below.

skywatch

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Posted in Travels | 27 Comments »

I Don’t Think She’s Enjoying This

January 15, 2009
George and Betsy on a bicycle for two, Cades Cove GSMNP, Tennessee. June, 2007.

George and Betsy on a bicycle for two, Cades Cove GSMNP, Tennessee. June, 2007.

Since our northern friends are sending artic cold weather down here to Dixie, I pretty much stayed in the house after we got back from our weekly grocery shopping trip (love those Wednesday senior discounts!).  I didn’t get as much done with my stamps as I had hoped, but I did get through some pictures, which is where I rediscovered this picture.

Our friends Judy and Charlie take camping trips much as Betsy and I take waterfalling trips.  Judy and Charlie usually camp at Cades Cove at least once a year, and we go over to see them at their campsite.

In addition to camping and hiking, Judy and Charlie also bike and they always bike through Cades Cove at least once while they are staying there.  When we visited them in June, 2007, they had, in addition to their mountain bikes, a bicycle built for two.  Somehow the conversation turned to that bicycle and, after giving us a demonstration, both Judy and Charlie urged us to take a spin.

I’ll admit I was all for it.  I rode my bicycle to work for more than twenty years and I loved biking, although I do not now own a bicycle.  I joined in urging Betsy to take a spin with me and she finally agreed.  But looking closely at the picture above (you can click on it to enlarge it), I think she was less than enthusiastic about the whole thing.  What do you think?

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Posted in American Life | 27 Comments »

Watery Wednesday 18

January 13, 2009
The Ohio River, Madison, Indiana. August, 2008.

The Ohio River, Madison, Indiana. August, 2008.

The picture above was taken along the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana, in August, 2002.

Betsy and I were on a waterfalling vacation that would take us  to Niagara Falls and  other waterfalls in New York.  We had gone to Madison to visit Clifty Falls State Park, which contains several waterfalls.  We found the park to be very nice and we did some hiking, but there was very little water going over the falls.

Madison is a pretty historic town founded in 1809.  It became quite wealthy from the riverboat trade on the Ohio and many of the early homes built in the town are still standing.  Betsy and I explored the historic downtown area in the early evening, and then found a floating restaurant along the river front.  This picture was taken as we were leaving the restaurant after dinner.  I like this picture because of the way the colors in the sky are reflected in the river.  The picture can be enlarged to see more detail.

To see more of our watery world click HERE or on the logo below.

waterywed2c

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Posted in Travels | 35 Comments »

My World 13

January 12, 2009
The South Ward school building, Crown Point, Indiana. July, 2002.

The South Ward school building, Crown Point, Indiana. July, 2002.

This building was an important part of my world in 1947, since I attended kindergarten there.  South Ward in Crown Point, Indiana, is the school shown above in a picture taken in July, 2002.  The picture may be enlarged by clicking on it.

South Ward was on the same street (Court Street) as the house where my family lived.  The house was about three blocks from the school.  When I started kindergarten, my Mom walked to and from school, but after she became convinced that I knew how to cross the streets she let me walk without her.  Most of my classmates also walked by themselves — it was a different world back then.

My class was in the front of the building on the first floor.  It has the windows to the left of the front door.  We had low tables and chairs, too low for adults to use.  If I remember correctly there were four places at each table.  There was also a place in the room for our daily nap time.

Sometime in the last few years the building has been converted to condominiums.  The parking lot is where the playground used to be.  I have not been in the building since it was converted.

One other thing — South Ward used to be South Ward High School.  That was the high school from which my Dad graduated.

To see more views of the world, click HERE or on the logo below.

mwtblack

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Posted in American Life | 30 Comments »

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