Thursday, October 8, 2026

Deer vs. Car, Water vs. The Entire Downstairs, and oh yeah - Don't Forget to Vote!

 Driving home last Sunday evening on one of our dark, windy, mountain roads a deer ran into our car.


Everyone, including the deer (thank goodness) were okay.  The car was jam packed with our luggage and some random stuff from shopping trips and a project Donald is working on that he brought home with him to complete.  


The car needs some work


The stuff in the car went flying.


Thankfully, Annabelle was tucked safely in her cart.


We were pretty shaken, but happy that the car was able to get us those last couple of miles home.


We usually have a small herd of deer sleeping in our back yard, so I opened the back door and called out that their Uncle Buck had had a bit of a mishap, but was okay.  He'd probably be here pretty soon.


I love our deer and I was upset that this had happened.  They know our place is a safe place for them and I felt like we had let them down.  (don't judge me . . .  🙃 )












Happy to be home, I had a cup of coffee and turned in.


Donald, however, couldn't settle until the car was unpacked.  Where he got this energy after a 9 drive home is a mystery to me.



Like I said, it has been a week.



Some of the shopping I did was specifically for some items to help me do some organizing.


Our house is small.  A lack of space is problematic.


Having that long drive home from Birmingham gave us time to talk about some possible solutions - focusing on the kitchen.


Donald has a real aptitude for these types of projects, and he enjoys them.


On our first full day home, last Monday, we ignored the suitcases needing unpacking, measured a kitchen wall, agreed on some shelving, and off Donald went to Lowe's Hardware.  


For a guy who normally hates shopping, he is like a kid in a candy store once he gets into a place like Lowe's.


When he returned home a few hours later with shelving, brackets, etc., it was to discover that our entire downstairs was flooded due to a failed water heater.



Y'all.



What.
A.
Mess.


Bless Don Barley's heart.  He has worked really hard all week cleaning up the mess downstairs.  First using his shop vac to get up all the water which took a couple of full days and nights.  Then ran the carpet cleaner a few times to get rid of the odor.  Our carpet cleaner died, so he bought a new one to finish the job.

Moved a bunch of stuff in order to dismantle and remove old water heater.

Brought in and hooked up new water heater.

We both lost track of how many trips he has had to make to Lowe's Hardware.


So.

Things in this little house are a mess.  


In the process of getting back to normal, but we're not there yet.



The insurance adjuster has already sent a check to cover the damage to our car, now we just need to get that taken care of.



Another insurance adjuster will be coming out to look at all the water damage caused by  the hot water heater.  

This is going to require a LOT of work. 

 There are many  bookshelves, filled to the brim with books, that need to be emptied, removed, and replaced.













Nasty carpet pulled up and replaced.


The kitchen organization project is on hold, of course, with the new shelving still in the car.


Send good thoughts!



And - early voting is beginning in some places - - - 


Don't Forget to Vote!!!!!!!






























Monday, October 5, 2026

Monday at home in Meat Camp - Award Winning "The Day I Met Don Barley" Chili on the Menu


 After spending two weeks in Birmingham with family, we're home. 


Spending time with Donald's mom and dad was good.


The are both well into their 90s.  Both still enjoying, like their son, their ice cream.










Along with an occasional glass of wine with dinner.






We enjoyed spending time with them.

They raised two fine sons.


Birmingham is a wonderful city.   Great places to eat.  Great places to shop.  But it is hot.  For those of us used to cooler mountain weather, that's an issue.  Whew.


We did have a couple of storms and one of those presented us with a gorgeous rainbow.










We have actually been home a week.  


And what a week it had been.


Short Version -

       -   Deer/Car collision (everyone is fine, including Mr. Buck Deer)


         -  A failed hot water heater (which did not happen until we had been home almost a full day)


More about all that later . . .


Today I'm cooking up a big pot of Chili

The Day I Met Don Barley Chili

(reposted)


Chili


Because I think recipes are fun to make your own, I never follow one to a "T."

Play around, add what you want - remove what you care to.

Below the "notes" is my basic blueprint for chili.

When I was working at Georgia Tech, our office was invited by the
 GT Physical Plant to participate in their chili cook-off.

We won first prize.

And that was the day I met Donald Barley.

He mistakenly thought I could cook, but hung around even after finding
 out that my cooking skills are fairly limited.

But this chili is pretty darn good - thanks to our main chef, 
Georgia Tech Campus Architect, David Savini.

He'd be proud, I think, that this recipe is still around.

(Notes #1 - The original recipe had beans, but I do not like beans in my chili
 and neither does Donald, so you won't find them in this recipe, but feel free 
to add them back in.  Note #2 - This recipe can easily be halved. 
 Note #3 - Play with the recipe and change it around to your heart's content, 
I've never been one to believe a recipe needed to be carved in stone).


The Day I Met Don Barley Chili


Ingredients:

3 ½ lbs. Boneless chuck roast cut into 1/4" cubes
4 lbs. Ground chuck
3 lbs. Extra lean pork loin cut into 1/4" cubes
5 medium sized onions (chopped)
1 medium sized bell pepper (chopped)
6 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 Tbsp. Sugar
2 Tbsps. Salt
2 tsps. Ground pepper
4 dried chili peppers (chopped fine)
2 Tbsps. Cayenne
1/3 cup chili powder
2 Tbsps. Paprika
3 Tbsps. Ground cumin
2 Tbsps. Oregano
1 Tbsp. Mole paste or powder
little Worchester sauce
1 10 ½ oz. Can beef broth
1 12 oz. Can of beer
1 stick of cinnamon
Tomato sauce to the consistency you desire

Sauté each meat separately in a little butter flavored crisco or oil. 
 Throw away the liquid and store meats overnight in the refrigerator. 

Sauté onions and bell peppers in butter.

Place everything in a large pot, add tomato sauce to get your chili to the
 consistency you want.

Bring to a gentle boil, turn down to simmer.  Simmer for at least a couple 
hours before serving. (OR in your crockpot - that's what I do now).


The Prep has begun . . .










Bon Appétit!!!












Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Doing a thing - edited

 

I like to do things to pamper my girly self.


Recently it was a trip to Sephora for a make-up lesson.


Because our skin texture and tone changes as we age, it's ridiculous to think we can continue the same make-up shades and routines for years and years without change.


It was time for me to seek professional help.


And i walked out feeling like a new person.


I put myself in Emily's hands.  


We started off with a chat and Emily asked a few questions after which she decided  that what she was hearing was that I wanted a simple routine, unwilling to spend a lot of time in front of the make-up mirror these days, but still wanting a finished, subtle but elevated, look.


Just right!


And this was the result.


I'm happy.





Note:   For the lesson.  Rather than just having Emily do my make-up, she taught.  She would apply the various products step-by-step on half my face, then i would follow-up by doing the other half.


And then I bought a pretty new dress.


And then my best guy took me out to dinner.


It was a perfect day.


So.

This is me, encouraging you,  to do something to pamper your own sweet self.


❤ ❤ ❤








Saturday, September 12, 2026

Just one more tiny reason I love our little home in the mountains

 

Today's gift.


Annabelle and I stepped out onto the back deck this morning to be greeted by this early glimpse of Fall.







❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤


" Take time to see the quiet miracles that seek no attention”

―  John O'Donohue
















Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Dolly

R.I.P 

Dolly 

1946 - 2026



ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images


Sadly, I never met Dolly Parton but I did see her in concert. 


 Only once.  


At the iconic Great Southeast Music Hall in Atlanta.  In 1977, along with my friends Michael Dean and John Messer.


And here's a fun little memory from that night.

There sat the tiny Dolly Parton on a stool.  Just her.  Playing and singing her heart out.

Some fella was obviously head over heels smitten over Dolly (like the rest of us) and could not stop telling her so.  Alcohol may have been involved.  

After many shouts of "I love you, Dolly." The music stopped.  Dolly stood.  Giggled and said, "I hear ya.  I love you too.  But you are ruining my show.  Now, quit.  Okay?"

And the poor guy apologized, might have cried a little, and we did not hear another peep out of him.

I've thought about that guy today.   He, along with so many, loved him a great woman.  

We are all telling Dolly we love her, and we're all crying a little.  

I hope that guy, in particular, is okay.


Concert Details


Date:
Monday, May 02, 1977
Venue:
The Great Southeast Music Hall
Location:
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Notes:

Info
Concert Date May 02, 1977
Venue The Great SouthEast Music Hall
2581 Piedmont Rd. NE
Broadview Shopping Center
Atlanta, GA, United States
Tickets $4.50 - $5.50
Schedule
Dolly Parton headliner


Dolly Parton setlist:
An exact setlist wasn't found. Here is their closest one (from 05/14/1977), which may be similar:
  1. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher
  2. All I Can Do
  3. Jolene
  4. My Tennessee Mountain Home
  5. Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
  6. Coat of Many Colors
  7. Applejack
  8. Light of a Clear Blue Morning
  9. I Will Always Love You
  10. Getting in My Way
  11. Love Is Like a Butterfly
  12. Me and Little Andy
  13. How Does It Feel
  14. Holdin' on to You

Thursday, August 6, 2026

Home


Another day safe and comfy in these mountains we call home









Friday, July 31, 2026

The Pat Conroy Center Writer's Residency


You might remember me being the lucky soul selected as Writer in Residence for this event in the Fall of 2023






Me with  Kathy Conroy Harvey (Pat Conroy's sister)
and
Cassandra King Conroy (Pat Conroy's wife)



Now could be your turn!



"coinciding with the annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival, the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will offer our Conroy Center Writer's Residency this coming fall, available to writers of all prose genres. Located on a salt marsh, the residency at MarshSong Cottage provides an inspirational, creative space in the heart of Pat Conroy’s beloved Lowcountry. The residency location is a guest cottage on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, approximately 15 minutes from downtown Beaufort and 15 minutes from the beach at Hunting Island State Park.


The residency dates will be October 20 to 27, 2026, overlapping with the 11th annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival on October 23, 24, and 25, which the selected writer will be invited to attend."


TO APPLY FOR THE WRITER'S RESIDENCY


Please submit the following by August 30, 2026, to writersresidency@patconroyliterarycenter.org with the subject line CONROY CENTER WRITER'S RESIDENCY OCTOBER 2026 


For complete info on how to apply, click right here - https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Conroy-Center-Writer-s-Residency--Oct-20-27-.html?soid=1124256585060&aid=nPYEM0yb0ls





Pat Conroy's Desk





Me at Pat Conroy's Desk







Thursday, July 16, 2026

A Beautiful Day in the Mountains

 

Annabelle and I are spending some time on the back deck today.

The past several days our temperatures have been in the 60s.  Perfect!!


I am not a fan of hot weather.  

Unlike a lot of people, I love a good snow day.


Thank Goodness, Donald and Annabelle are in agreement.



Don has taken off on his bike for a ride.






And, here we sit.

Me, my coffee, and a book








and Annabelle close by.


Life is good.






❤  ❤  ❤