Friday, April 12, 2013

Skywatch Friday

It's another Skywatch Friday! This meme is hosted byhttp://skyley.blogspot.com.au/. 



I took these pictures last Saturday afternoon. It was a beautiful, warm day here on the mountain. My husband was tilling up a couple of garden spots. My daughter "helping" him. Couldn't have asked for a prettier day.






Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Novels That Capture Appalachia

I am posting this on both this blog and my other blog, Free Spirit Books.

An avid reader, I decided to make a list of novels that truly capture Appalachia and it's people. This is by no means a complete list- this is just the top of the stack.
I admit the list is heavy with Lee Smith and Robert Morgan, but if you've read them you will know why. No one captures Appalachian people and culture like they do.

I welcome any comments. I'd love to hear what books other readers feel really capture the life in this beautiful corner of the world.

Oral History by: Lee Smith

My Old True Love by: Sheila Kay Adams

Black Mountain Breakdown by: Lee Smith

Cataloochee by: Wayne Caldwell

The Hinterlands by: Robert Morgan

Christy by: Catharine Marshall

The Devil's Dream by: Lee Smith


The Coal Tattoo by: Silas House

Fair and Tender Ladies by: Lee Smith

Gap Creek by: Robert Morgan

Velva Jean Learns to Drive by: Jennifer Niven

Wish You Well by: David Baldacci

Saving Grace by: Lee Smith


 Moon Women  by: Pamela Duncan

A Parchment of Leaves by: Silas House


Roxanna Slade by: Reynolds Price

Friday, April 5, 2013

Skywatch Friday

It's another Skywatch Friday! (I missed last week.) This is a weekly meme hosted by http://skyley.blogspot.com.au/. Since I've been participating in this meme I have met some awesome bloggers from around the world.
Here is my skywatch photo:

This one was taken in my yard a few weeks ago. It was a warm evening, just before dark.

I can't wait to see the other skywatch photos for this week!

If you dropped by, feel free to comment. (I love and read all comments.)
Also- if you follow- I WILL follow you back!

Beth :)

Friday, March 22, 2013

Skywatch Friday

Welcome to Skywatch Friday- a weekly meme hosted by http://skyley.blogspot.com.au/. I love this meme! I've visited some fascinating blogs!
Welcome to all who visit my skywatch! I love your comments!
Please fell free to follow and visit again! I love visits and followers!


This photo was taken from an upstairs window of our house last Sunday evening. Unfortunately we had a tornado Monday (the very next day) and one of the foreground trees is no longer with us.
(See Stormy Weather)

See you next Friday!
Beth :)

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Stormy Weather

Ok I knew we were expecting storms Monday evening, but no one mentioned the T word, ok? My daughter and I had just arrived at home, fed the animals, and were getting ready to get into our Monday evening dinner-homework-bath routine. I noticed the air had that thick feeling, and the only color I can find to describe things was funky-greeny-grey. I said, "You know, we should probably go on and take our baths before the power goes out, while we can still see to do it." And just then, right on cue, the lights went out.
 Within a couple seconds, the world went nuts. I swear, it was hailing quarter-sized hail sideways! I tried to use my cell to check the weather, but no signal. I had been listening to a Rome radio station on the way home and there were no tornado warnings, except in south Georgia. Well, not in Rome, maybe. Maybe I should try a local station now and then. Lesson learned. As it turned out, there was  tornado passing close by. 
When it was over and done with, our house only suffered minor (cosmetic) damage. However, there was a semi-circular path of downed trees that cut a path around our house. Tornado or straight-line winds? I don't know. All I know is, it seemed as if our angels were on our house diverting it around us.
At first I thought we only had one tree down. Not so... as my husband arrived home he found more damage. Luckily, our family and our animals are ok. I am thanking God for that.
The power came back on this morning and we ventured out to look things over in the sunlight.




This is where we found the trampoline- upside down at the edge of the woods.
The top of the sandbox is beside it.

Here it is after it was "rescued".
(Those are my daughter's trampoline steps. Life is hard when you're five, OK?)

This used to be the roof of a chicken pen. No idea where the pen is. No chickens were inside (thankfully),
 Well, this used to be trees.


Chicken house

Unfortunately, there was a chicken house here when this big tree turned over.

This tree fell and took out a section of fence. Luckily, it was an inside section, so nobody escaped.


This used to be a storage building for chicken feed.

All in all, we are so blessed.We are OK. Our house is OK. Our animals are OK. As a good friend told me yesterday, things, after all, are just things.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

A (Short) Boat Ride

My husband has been working on my grandfather's fishing boat. (I think I mentioned that a couple weeks back.) We took it down to the river in Alabama for a ride. It was a beautiful spring day and around 75 degrees. I was looking forward to getting some sun.







Unfortunately, we didn't get many pictures. The boat started having issues and we had to haul her home. He worked on it in the yard awhile and now it's running great. He dceided to take it back out today. But today is cold and windy- not to mention cloudy. I'm sitting this one out.
Maybe next time....