January Days with Cranes, Thursday, January 27

 As I write, Bill and I are sitting in a hotel room in Decatur, Alabama, waiting for it to warm enough to go back out to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (about 5 miles down the road) to see what we can see.  We drove down yesterday and spent about an hour at the viewing area.  We observed thousands of Sandhill Cranes and ONE Whooping Crane.  The Sandhills are magnificent to watch and their yodeling call is beautiful to hear.  We were blessed and privileged to see the rare Whooping Crane, even at a far distance.  He/she was the star of the show!  There are at least twelve somewhere on the refuge.

It has been almost 2 weeks since I picked up my journal to write and 3 weeks since I posted anything.  These have been ordinary winter days with ordinary winter activities with a few highlights.  I will back-fill those days as I am able.  

Last week, I was elected to serve again on the Board of Directors of the Good Samaritan Center.  I am glad to return to a more active roll there.  We have not been able to have church services for three weeks because of COVID cases and exposures.

This week, Pastor Linda invited our small group to view the Rob Bell  video, "Everything is Spiritual." (https://youtu.be/i2rklwkm_dQ). This version was published 9 years ago.  I was excellent, providing a bridge or scaffolding between the "traditional, conservative" understanding of God and a more nuanced and expansive understanding that identifies a creative energy of the universe which we may call God.  When I got home, I shared with Bill my excitement about the video.  On the drive down, we listened, but I picked a newer version, thinking that it would be the same with some updates.  It was not.  (https://youtu.be/JT09JbaEh_I) It was on the same theme and part of the content overlapped, but not all.  We listened with interest for 2 hours and that lead to some interesting discussion 

We got to Decatur eventually and checked into our hotel before making our way to the refuge.  The pictures below tell that story!  For supper we were directed to a local restaurant, Libby's Catfish Diner, where we got two take-out orders of the the best fried catfish, maybe ever!

Later Thursday

We spent about an hour again this morning watching and listening to the Sandhills.  This link is to a one-minute AV that I call Sandhill Meditation (https://youtu.be/T2jllRu048o). The solitary Whooping Crane made its appearance in about the same place as yesterday.  The time came to say good-bye and we made our way back home a 4 hour drive.

January Days, 16-25

For some reason, unknown to me, I did not write anything for these 10 days.  However, I have a few pictures to share.

Sunday, Jan 16

Snow is just beginning as I made my delivery to the Brocks.

Little Snowbird (Dark-eyed Junco) looking for seeds 

Monday, Jan 17

No color on this snow-covered day

I put out some meat trimmings and very soon 2 red-shouldered hawks claimed it.

Red-Shouldered Hawk

I rummaged the freezer to find this boneless leg of lamb portion.  It made a very savory and satisfying roast. The trimmings fed the hawks.

The Matzeks shared their snow-day pics

Amanda is a snow-bird, too.

Tuesday, Jan 18

Snow's gone.  Sunset is gorgeous.

Thursday, Jan 20

Another snow-dust.  This was also taken at sunset!

Sort-of Jambalaya.  Bill was not crazy about this dish.

Saturday, Jan 22

Just finished 2 weeks of chemo cream for a spot on my nose.  I'm glad to wear a mask when I go out.  It will get worse before it gets better!

Home-made all the way.  Crust started with sourdough starter discard and made with items on hand, including home-made sauce.  It came out pretty good!

January Days, 13-15

Thursday, Jan 12

Occasionally I need a day for shopping errands.  This was it. I started at Wild Birds Unlimited Knoxville.  My little birds are emptying 4 feeders every other day and my hobby is getting a little costly. Wild Birds has high quality bird feed and with their member discount it actually costs a little less that Tractor Supply.  It is not as convenient, however, because it is located just past West Town Mall in Knoxville.  From there I worked my way back to Costco where I wandered around just looking and purchased some new towels, then on to Bed, Bath and Beyond in search of a king flat sheet.  No luck.  I always find what I want at Total Wine and am now stocked up on my house white.  By then it was well past lunch time, so I headed home.  No cooking tonight as the chicken pot pies made another appearance.

Friday, Jan 14

Marie and I were scheduled for lunch today but with COVID so hot, I invited her to come here for lunch instead of eating out as we usually do.  I made chicken vegetable noodle soup. Served with homemade bread, it made a great light lunch to go with our usual good conversation.

Claire and Amanda stopped by later for a visit.  Amanda is adjusting to having to go to school at 8 am every day and having a full schedule - CP History, AP Chemistry, Pre-calculus and Creative Writing. Between COVID home schooling and last semester's college English class, she hasn't gone to school full time in a couple of years. Her chemistry teacher, my friend Keith Garrett, has been on COVID quarantine and teaching class by ZOOM.  He was back today for the first time this semester.  Her creative writing teacher has also been out, so that class which she has been looking forward to has not really developed yet.   Pre-calc is hard and history is boring but at least it gives her time to finish other homework.  She has softball workouts 4 afternoons a week plus her job at the golf course on Thursday afternoon and sometimes on Saturday.  The schedule has been a little overwhelming, but he is hanging in there and doing well at it all.  Claire's classes don't resume until Tuesday after MLK day.  She is looking for to a challenging semester and really only dreading physics.  She is most enthusiastic about her lab job.  Unfortunately, it will be an unpaid job this semester due to funding vagaries.  She will also have a new roommate as one of the girls is not coming back.

In my on-going commitment to not be wasteful and use left-overs, I made salmon patties from Wednesday's leftover RT salmon and baked potato.

Salmon Patty from leftovers with asparagus and carrots from Costco

Saturday, Jan 15

Due to forecasts of snow, extreme cold and icing, the Matzek's cancelled their plans to go for a snow-boarding weekend.  They had booked a cabin at Roan Mountain State Park in upper East Tennessee and planned to ski at Beech Mountain in North Carolina.  They are disappointed, but had fun together at home.

I spent all day in the kitchen.  I made bread and shaped 2 of the loaves as baguettes.  One I will share with the Brocks.  I also made a big pot of gumbo, also enough to share.  I had a busy day and good food as a reward at the end.  I won't have to cook again tomorrow!

With predicted now a possibility and COVID still spreading wildly, church will be cancelled tomorrow.  I look forward to a cozy day at home.

Wednesday, January 12, Hiwassee Cranes

When we go on a trip in the RV, whether a day-trip or a weeks-long ad venture, we begin by noting the time and odometer reading.  At 12:15 pm, we set of in the RV for a half-day tripto Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in hopes of seeing Sandhill Cranes and perhaps other waterfowl.  The Hiwassee Refuge is about 80 miles, one way, at the confluence of the Hiwassee and Tennessee Rivers.  It is near a Cherokee Memorial Park that commemorates a site where many Cherokee overwintered in government custody, awaiting  a suitable river crossing.  It is one of the Trail of Tears sites.

On the way down, we stopped at Watts Bar Dam (and the site of Watts Bar Reactor) to have our picnic lunch and see if we might find any interesting birds.  We saw a few gulls and a blue heron, but nothing close-by or unusual.  While picnicking we saw a small yacht lock-through traveling downriver. By 2 pm we we on our way again.

There were a large number of Sandhills in the vicinity of the refuge viewing area.  None were particularly close, but we enjoying watching them at a distance.  I was surprised that we saw very few other species of waterfowl.  We have see numerous ducks, geese and even white pelicans here in the past.

Cooling Towers of Watts Bar TVA Nuclear Generating Plant

Watts Bar Lock

An unusually light Sandhill, not big enough to be a Whooping Crane

Tuesday, January 11

1.3 million new COVID cases reported today.  Every statistic is at an alarming high.  December 13, just a month ago, the first case of Omicron was confirmed in Tennessee, in Memphis.  The spread has been explosive.  With all church activities cancelled, I had another day at home, broken by a trip to the grocery.

Chicken Pot Pie (homemade) has quickly become one of Bill's favorites.  It is savory and satisfying and a complete meal in a bowl.  Making it from scratch, including the broth, makes it healthy, too, except for the biscuit on top.

Chicken Pot Pie

Owen Whitaker
5th Grade, Age 10

Fried Catfish with new potatoes and spinach

 

Saturday, January 8

Snow lingers! I spent the day at home, wondering if I was coming down with COVID. However, my back is better today, so that is a plus.  We finally got the Christmas tree taken down and all the decorations packed away.  Bill took the boxes to our little "warehouse" for storage.  That was enough accomplishment for the day.   No Sunday School to prepare for.

For supper I make port loin cutlets with Cajun dirty rice.

Friday, January 7

Bitter cold overnight, but we stayed toasty warm with no power issues.  We had a few peeks of sun, but not significant melting.  The roads are clear, but I don't have anywhere that I need to go.

I had a call from Walter, looking for a COVID test kit.  He called back later to let me know he found a kit and tested positive.  When we were together on Wednesday, he spoke about feeling unusually fatigue, but no other symptoms. He began to show cold/flu symptoms after choir practice Wednesday night.  So, not only have I been exposed, but also Pastor Linda, Bonnie, and everyone who was at choir practice.  PL and I talked and she decided that the best course of action would be to close the church completely for a week with home of resuming activities on January 16.  

I used pork loin strips that I had on-hand to make BiBimBap for our supper.  Hope I don't get sick!  Too soon to take a test.

Thursday, January 6 - Happy Birthday, Me

Today I am 70 years old! My secret to staying young: hang around with older friends!  January 6 has been a very cold day with snow off and on all day, interspersed with rain and sleet.  We didn't have much accumulation by the end of the day.  Higher elevations got more snow, less of a mix.   This kind of weather is not unusual. I took it as a good excuse for a "snow day," thus no work required.  In anticipation of potentially bad roads, Bill went out around noon and brought home dinner from Aubrey's, an upgrade from our usual Ruby Tuesday dinner.  We enjoyed their Boston Scrod Dinner with Champagne.  Nothing else is required to celebrate! I appreciate the cards and birthday wishes from friends and family.

2022 Begins - Wednesday, Jan 5

I was up and out to church again this morning, this time to help Walter un-decorate the sanctuary, removing tree ornaments and other Christas decorations.  Only Bonnie and I showed up to help.   We worked hard for 2+ hours then adjourned to Bonnie's for lunch from Arby's. Pastor Linda joined us for lunch.

COVID infections are rampant in the area.  I will not go anywhere in public without a mask, but I did work and eat today with my vaccinated, boosted friends without a mask. I hope I won't regret it.  Wayne woke up with cold symptoms and later in the day a home test kit gave him a positive diagnosis.  That really makes me reconsider my activities.

Yesterday's Loudon County COVID update reported 36% positivity rate and that does not even include home tests!  The number of active cases has doubled in the last 9 days.  Still, just 92% of the local population has been fully vaccinated.  There have been 7 deaths in the last 8 days.  My friend Margaret has been in the hospital since before Christmas and sick for almost a month.  As of today, TN gov will begin reporting COVID data weekly instead of daily.  The data will be a week or more behind.

Today, we've been bombarded with bad news - COVID cases exploding, political unrest and a looming snowstorm.  The challenge is to find joy in the midst of it all. We will take down our Christmas Tree soon.  In the meantime, it brings a smile.

2022 Begins - Tuesday, Jan 4

 Pastor Linda's Bible study resumed this morning. We had not quite finished our advent study.  Five of us gathered around the table for reading and discussion. We agreed that the study has been a good starting point for conversation about the joys and struggles of our lives. Today we were led to write down our biggest worry and burn it (at home) as a symbol of releasing the worry to God's providence and grace.

I'm not a worrier type and seldom feel crippled by worry. But I'm afraid my biggest worries are too close to my heart to let go in a simple symbolic ceremony.  The serenity prayer is my go-to and I repeat it often.

After our session, Bonnie and I had lunch.  Later, I had a good "catch-up" phone visit with Deborah. She and George are still looking for property near Madison.

With all our leftovers finally gone, I made a new chicken dish tonight, full of vegetables and no heavy sauce, served over pasta.  Just right!

Chicken Monterey, from the old Silver Palate cookbook

2022 Begins - Monday, Jan 3

We woke up to a light dusting of snow.  I was busy continuing the holiday clean-up and didn't get a picture, but later, on the way to town for PT and groceries, I managed to catch a lovely hillside scene.  

Along Williams Ferry Rd, Loudon County, TN

After a good night's sleep in my own bed, I began the day with better energy and spirit than I've felt in a while.  There is something about new beginnings that is energizing, leaving old stuff behind and beginning again with hope for the new year.

Speaking of old stuff, we had left-over enchiladas and salad.  We finally finished off all the leftovers from the holiday week (except for a little ham.)

2022 Begins - Sunday, Jan 2

I was not very well prepared to lead a Sunday School discussion but it was good nevertheless, as we considered a passage from Jeremiah (29:1-12).  The words spoke to me of hope, of persisting, of overcoming.  They spoke of home and return from exile.  Don't we feel like we've been in a kind of exile for the past 2 years of COVID and political unrest. As begin this 3rd year, words of hope and restoration are sorely needed.

Mid-afternoon, we ventured out for a walk.  The weather was gloomy, portending the snow to come, but we needed the movement.  A walk by our beautiful lake is always restorative.

There were still leftovers in the refrigerator from our taco supper, so they became enchiladas.  One of the ways we can care for creation is to not waste food.  Americans throw away 25% of the food they buy!  This is a huge waste of money, a harmful waste of resources and bad for the environment! We make every effort to minimize food waste.

New Year's Day, January 1, 2022

 The New Year Begins - 

We began the New Year with breakfast for David's family. Biscuits, sausage and eggs for the adults; oatmeal, sausage and cinnamon-raisin toast (GF) for the kids.  They will have the leftover sausage and biscuits for their trip to Chattanooga. Breakfast is the meal at which the kids eat the most, so I have tried to make it hearty and healthy.  There was time for them to play while David and Trisha packed and loaded the car.  They were on the road to Chattanooga before 1 pm.  Owen was determined that he would not smile for my picture.

David, Trisha, Owen, Allison, Evangeline and John
January 2, 2022

We are very worried about them going to this conference in Chattanooga with over 1000 college students, most likely not vaccinated.  I don't know how they will avoid the Omicron infection.

Saturday afternoon, we stripped beds, vacuumed and mopped.   I found a can of greens and a can of black-eyed peas in the cabinet to go with leftover ham for the traditional New Year's Day good luck meal.  I guess I can say we were lucky in 2021.  Neither Bill nor I were sick with COVID or any other sickness.  We did not suffer economically and quarantining when necessary has been no hardship for us.  We even enjoyed an abbreviated beach vacation.  I pray that the New Year will bring blessings to all our family, that we will be safe from serious illness.

Good luck for 2022!

As tired as I was at the end of the day, sleep didn't come easily.  However, getting back to my kind size bed with the soft latex topper was a great relief to my joints.