My Good Friend Ann

Ann has been mentioned in several of my previous blogs. Today, I want to introduce you to Ann.

Ann is a wonderful, knowledgeable, caring, intelligent, considerate, giving person. Ann also keeps an immaculate house. Ann is not a pack rat. Why are we friends? Well, don't you know...opposites attract.

 

I always have a fabulous time with Ann. Unfortunately, we rarely spend much time together.

Even though Ann and I live in the same county, maybe only a 30 minute drive between our homes; we are both very busy women. Our separate lives keep us going 24-7. So, when we are able to squeeze in a day to spend together, we are thrilled. These days are few - maybe four per year, tops. (We keep trying for more.) The upside is that if I ever need Ann in an emergency/for a favor, she would be there - no question.

Our key shared interests are: walking; gardening; politics; outdoor activities (Ann hikes -currently in snake boots and bikes; I farm); photography; going to the movies; and eating (Ann is thin and fit - remember....opposites!).

Ann is computer savvy, I am not. I enjoy crafts/sewing/quilting. Ann is needlework-challenged. (I have been trying to teach her basic knitting, just plain knitting, for three winters now.) Ann likes to spend time with her grand kids. I like to read and write. Ann thrives on gaining more knowledge, she loves to ask questions. I am content with my current level of facts and figures. Ann attempts new skills, gets 'down and dirty'. If I need to use a hammer, I seek out Glenn.

Ann is one great role model.

But, when we finally get together; we both talk, and talk, and talk. We tend to accumulate a massive amount of life (stories, feelings, events) for sharing during our occasional rendezvous'.

And, yesterday was one of those days. I invited Ann over to the farm because she has not seen our sheep yet - we added the sheep to the farm in August. So, I had to do what I call a 'quick clean' of the house. (I spend one entire day cleaning.) The house was not perfect, but it was better than the day before. I did not want to be too embarrassed, so I had to get rid of all those annoying dust webs. (At the moment, I believe even those with dust allergies would be safe to enter my home.) Glenn likes it when I invite Ann over. He comments, 'at least the house gets cleaned occasionally'. I hate cleaning!

Pretty much as soon as Ann arrived, we both decided that we were starving. So, off we went to the local restaurant. After an enjoyable, talk-filled lunch; but before leaving Frank's, a trip to the restroom was necessary - first me, then Ann. Ann was taking longer than usual, but....Later, she told me that when she went to flush the toilet the handle went flying off and she could not replace it after many attempts. As I was waiting outside by the car, she was talking to management.  Lucky for me, I used the facilities first.

Then, we drove the short distance to '55' as I wanted to show Ann our new farm. I parked the car and we made a leisurely, loop hike through the pastures, to the old barn for a short tour, up the road, and down the old railroad grade back to my car. As usual, we were talking nonstop the entire time. The weather was sunny, warm, and so accommodating for our outing.

On the drive back to the main farm, we were just about to pass the local vineyard/winery when we decided to stop in for a tour; and tasting, of course. I know the owners of the winery - our kids went to elementary/high school together- but, I had never visited the establishment for a tour. A nice couple from Texas joined us. The tasting, a first for me, was interesting. Ann checked off many of the samples as favorites. Ann left with four bottles of Rockbridge Winery's finest, I a modest one bottle. (Note: I live within minutes of the winery, so I can return most any time.)

Continuing home, we made another quick pull off at the alpaca farm in Raphine (see 9-24-11 blog). Those alpacas are so cute.

Finally, we made it back to the farm where Ann and I sat on the deck munching on my freshly-baked chocolate chip scones, watching the flerd, playing with Buddy; and, what else, continued talking. Soon we found our way into my office where Ann and her exceptional computer skills addressed my many tech problems quickly and with ease; and she provided plenty of helpful, so helpful, instruction. I am definitely the challenged one when it comes to computer competency.

Another perfect day...

I am so grateful that Ann is my friend!

Color in a Most Unusual Place

It is no secret that I love COLOR.  And, I never know where I might be surprised to find it....

A few days back, I accompanied Glenn on a trip to deliver logs to a local sawmill.  Glenn had already loaded the logs on his truck the day before, so all we had to do was jump in the truck (not easy for me - I always seem to sprain my arm from pulling myself up into the cab) and drive.  But first, it was my job to open the gate for the truck to pass out of the pasture, then close it again - have to keep those cattle from wandering off.

As I held the gate open, the truck passed by me, and...lo and behold...wonderful color.

Some of the log ends were highlighted with a fabulous purple color, actually called 'blue stain'. The stain runs the entire length of the log.  Sometimes these logs are discounted at the mill as a defect, and sometimes they are given a premium - it all depends on the buyer and if he has a market for the 'blue-stained' lumber.

According to Glenn, blue stain is caused by a fungus in unhealthy trees. 

I would not mind having some of that sick wood in my house - an ideal accent.

Cluck

A bit of color to brighten up the muted hues of winter...

She produces delicious eggs, too!

Snow on the Mountains

I woke to a beautiful panorama of snow on the mountains - better than in my yard!

As the morning progressed and the sun came out; the snow glowed, then slowly disappeared.

As for Glenn...no plowing today, but he has not given up hope. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GLENN

Today is Glenn's birthday...age, old.

This morning, Glenn and I decided  that we were going to forget about our ages from here on out.  I rarely recall my age anyways, let alone Glenn's; not important figures for me to remember.

Celebration was at a minimum, work was priority as usual.  So, I spent the day with Glenn delivering a load of logs to the sawmill, checked on the fence-building efforts at '55', and miscellaneous smaller tasks. 

But, I did want to get a current photo...so, here is Glenn, on his birthday, with his new (used 1997) pick-up truck (MGM was on the truck when Glenn purchased it  - Mountain Glen M_______.   Any suggestions?) tricked out with working snowplow.  He is ready, the air temperatures are getting colder, there is a chance of flurries in the immediate forecast...well, maybe Glenn will get to try out his new toy.

But, I doubt it!

Snake in my Garden

Yes...it is early February.  Yes...the temperatures are mild, mild in the forties.  Yes...the ground is cold.  Yes...snakes like sun and hot temperatures (or, so I thought).

And, yes...there is a snake in my flower bed.  Albeit, small snake; but snake nonetheless. Again, the weather is mild, but snake mild?

Glenn called it a 'garden' snake and I will believe him. 

Normally, I do not think about snakes while gardening, hiking or otherwise.  I just don't! I think more about tripping over a rock, log, or my feet.  I never think about the possibility of meeting up with a snake.  Unfortunately for my friend, the consummate outdoor gal....

Last summer, Ann was inches away from a mature, birth-giving poisonous copperhead while weeding in her garden, the foot of space between her house and her butterfly bush. Weeks later, after she calmed down; she learned to shoot a gun, bought snake boots; but still, she has not ventured back out to her garden - a place that has always given her peace, pleasure and happiness.  Happy, she is not.

I guess I would say I am lucky.  I only have a garden variety type of snake.

I would prefer the snake not be in my garden, but then I am not going to touch/move it either, so....

I will assume my snake is harmless, leave it to wander off on its own (which it is doing inch by slow inch), and pretend that it was never there - I can do that!

Winter?

As I woke this morning, my view was engulfed in fog.  I could not see past the four-board wooden fence which is located just feet from the house.  No cows, no sheep, no pasture, no mountains, no sky could be seen. There was no evidence of little critter footsteps on the brick walkway or deck - everybody, it seemed, was still asleep and cozy.

What I did see was pure white iciness covering the tops of the fence post, the upper sides of the holly leaves, the roofs of the outbuildings.  The brown grass, the ivy, the twigs of the naked perennials were all  frosted.

Perhaps, this is our winter this year.  I'll take it!

By late morning, the sun came out, and

...our winter melted away.